Jason Bourne is back and he is still trying to find the answers to the questions he has about his past. The movie Jason Bourne is the fifth movie in the Jason Bourne franchise and stars Matt Damon as the title character. Bourne has been off the grid for ten years, when suddenly Nicky, played once again by Julia Stiles, finds him and gives him some information that may help him learn more about his past. Will this information finally clear things up for Bourne or will it only create more questions? This movie is directed once again by Paul Greengrass, who directed The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Also starring in this movie are Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander and Vincent Cassel.
So far the Jason Bourne franchise has been pretty spectacular, that is once you forget about The Bourne Legacy, which didn't have Matt Damon or Paul Greengrass. The big question for me going into this movie was would it live up to the first three movies in the franchise or has this franchise lost it's magic and it's time to move on. After seeing Jason Bourne, I would say it falls somewhere in the middle. Some parts of the movie are fantastic while other parts feel like we have been there, done that, let's see something new.
Most people go into a Bourne movie looking forward to the action and this movie delivers in that category. The trailer for Jason Bourne hints at a car chase down the Vegas strip during the middle of the night and boy was that a fun scene to watch on the big screen. Cars are getting smashed left and right and the camera puts you right into the action and makes you feel like you are dodging the cars along with Bourne. Another great chase scene involves Bourne on a motorcycle being chased through a riot in Greece. In this scene you have cops blocking off roads causing Bourne to chase his route numerous times. Along with that, you have protestors throwing Molotov cocktails and shoving burning couches off rooftops that Bourne must dodge. This movie also delivers with some great hand-to-hand combat. During these scenes you can feel the punches being landed. You can feel the chaos and the brutality.
The performances in this movie are pretty solid, especially from Tommy Lee Jones and Alicia Vikander. Tommy Lee Jones plays CIA Director Robert Dewey and like most of his roles recently, he is constantly grumpy looking but he actually smiles a couple times which was fun to see. Alicia Vikander plays CIA agent Heather Lee. Her character is given more to do then most in the movie and goes through various arcs which were fun to see. Vincent Cassel plays an assassin and it seemed like he enjoyed playing that role. Unfortunately I am a little torn with Matt Damon's performance as Jason Bourne. When he is thrown into action he is a blast to watch, but when he isn't fighting anyone, he is very straight face and emotionless. His character didn't have a wide range of emotions like he did in previous films, he is just a one note character. For the first time in the franchise, I wasn't really rooting for Jason Bourne, I was just there for the action and didn't really care what he was going to learn about his past.
The various storylines within Jason Bourne are pretty uninteresting. Besides Bourne trying to learn more about his past, you also have to deal with this giant social networking company that is about to release it's next product. And like most tech movies now, the issue of personal security comes up and the government has to get involved. This storyline was not needed at all. It was only there to help facilitate the movies villain and in the end, there was never a pay off, but I guess that's what sequels are for.
Jason Bourne is a pretty solid action movie. The hand-to-hand combat is brutal. The chase scenes are thrilling and will put you on the edge of your seat. For the most part of the performances are enjoyable, especially Alicia Vikanders. Unfortunately, the character of Bourne was kind of lifeless and I was never rooting for him. The story itself can be rather dull and uninteresting. But, even with those negative points, I still feel you should see this movie in theaters, just maybe see it at a matinee price.
3 1/2 out of 5 Stars
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Star Trek Beyond Review
Growing up I watched a lot of the original Star Trek television series. My dad was a huge fan so it was constantly on our television. I always enjoyed the adventures of Kirk, Spock, Scotty and Sulu. I remember the episode where they drank tranya. I loved the fury little tribbles. As I got older, though, I never kept up on the newer series like The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. Since my dad never watched them, I didn't watch them. We had all the movies recorded on VHS tapes, but I only remember watching The Voyage Home. I liked that it took place at an aquarium and dealt with a humpback whale. I had a thing for aquariums growing up, hence while I also watched Jaws 4 a lot, but thats for another time and place.
In 2009, when J.J. Abrams decided to reboot the film franchise with the original characters I was pretty excited and boy did that movie deliver. In 2013, J.J. Abrams came back to direct another Star Trek movie, Star Trek Into Darkness. Most people were negative about that movie, but I enjoyed it. Now in 2016, we get yet another Star Trek movie, Star Trek Beyond, but this time with Justin Lin directing. Justin Lin was able to rejuvenate The Fast and the Furious franchise, so I was interested to see how he would handle this one. Unfortunately after seeing the first couple of trailers I wasn't one hundred percent sold on this new movie. Would Justin Lin be able to deliver a quality movie or would it be a disappointment like all the other sequels that have been released so far this summer?
Star Trek Beyond takes place with the crew of the USS Enterprise in the middle of their five-year mission. They come across an escape pod with a sole survivor that tells them that her ship is stranded and she needs help. Captain Kirk, played once again by Chris Pine, decides to help, but along the way disaster strikes. It is is up to Kirk and his crew to find out what is going on and help those that are in need.
I thought Star Trek Beyond was a lot of fun. Just like he did with The Fast and the Furious franchise, Justin Lin brings these great action set pieces that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The action flowed smoothly from character to character which is important when you have a movie with this many important characters. The visuals were bright and eye catching and never felt like it was created on a computer or that a green screen was used. I also liked that the action wasn't just people shooting blasters at each other and space dog fights, there was some solid hand to hand combat. The star of the hand to hand combat was Sofia Boutella, who plays Jaylah. Sofia was previously seen kicking ass in Kingsman. I look forward to seeing whatever action movie she stars in in the future.
Another great aspect of Star Trek Beyond is the chemistry between the actors. These actors act like they have been stuck on the Enterprise for two plus years. The banter between them is hilarious, especially between Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock, and Karl Urban, who plays McCoy "Bones". Karl was probably the funniest person in this movie. His character was constantly getting dragged into doing things he didn't want to do and his reactions were priceless every time. It was also fun to watch any of the crew members interact with Spock. You could tell they were tired with how literal he is. You could sense he got under their skin just a little but they were finally comfortable enough to tell Spock how it should be.
I feel like I can't talk about Star Trek Beyond without bringing up Anton Yelchin. Just over a month ago Anton passed away and this is the first film released since his death. It was pretty heartbreaking seeing Anton on the big screen after such a tragic event. But it was also a joy just to see him on the big screen one more time. You can see why he was considered one of the best actors on the rise. His performance was fantastic. It seemed like he had a lot of fun playing Checkov. He ended up having a lot more screen time than I thought he would have and I'm glad, we as an audience, got to spend that time with him.
For me the only disappointing thing about this movie was the villain, Krall, played by Idris Elba. His character fell into the Bane from The Dark Knight Rises trap. For the first half the film I struggled to understand what he was saying. I also didn't feel that he was that menacing. There are a few times he tries to be menacing but never comes across that way and just seems pointless. Also his motives aren't that clear until much later into the movie.
Star Trek Beyond is a great summer blockbuster. The action was spectacular. I was on the edge of my seat and loved how it was choreographed. The visuals were stunning and the hand to hand combat was intense, much better than the hand to hand combat from the original TV series. The chemistry between the cast was fantastic. I loved watching the way they interacted with each other. It felt like they were a family. The summer of 2016 has had some major disappointments when it comes to blockbusters, I'm glad to say that you must see Star Trek Beyond in theaters, you will enjoy the wild ride.
In 2009, when J.J. Abrams decided to reboot the film franchise with the original characters I was pretty excited and boy did that movie deliver. In 2013, J.J. Abrams came back to direct another Star Trek movie, Star Trek Into Darkness. Most people were negative about that movie, but I enjoyed it. Now in 2016, we get yet another Star Trek movie, Star Trek Beyond, but this time with Justin Lin directing. Justin Lin was able to rejuvenate The Fast and the Furious franchise, so I was interested to see how he would handle this one. Unfortunately after seeing the first couple of trailers I wasn't one hundred percent sold on this new movie. Would Justin Lin be able to deliver a quality movie or would it be a disappointment like all the other sequels that have been released so far this summer?
Star Trek Beyond takes place with the crew of the USS Enterprise in the middle of their five-year mission. They come across an escape pod with a sole survivor that tells them that her ship is stranded and she needs help. Captain Kirk, played once again by Chris Pine, decides to help, but along the way disaster strikes. It is is up to Kirk and his crew to find out what is going on and help those that are in need.
I thought Star Trek Beyond was a lot of fun. Just like he did with The Fast and the Furious franchise, Justin Lin brings these great action set pieces that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The action flowed smoothly from character to character which is important when you have a movie with this many important characters. The visuals were bright and eye catching and never felt like it was created on a computer or that a green screen was used. I also liked that the action wasn't just people shooting blasters at each other and space dog fights, there was some solid hand to hand combat. The star of the hand to hand combat was Sofia Boutella, who plays Jaylah. Sofia was previously seen kicking ass in Kingsman. I look forward to seeing whatever action movie she stars in in the future.
Another great aspect of Star Trek Beyond is the chemistry between the actors. These actors act like they have been stuck on the Enterprise for two plus years. The banter between them is hilarious, especially between Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock, and Karl Urban, who plays McCoy "Bones". Karl was probably the funniest person in this movie. His character was constantly getting dragged into doing things he didn't want to do and his reactions were priceless every time. It was also fun to watch any of the crew members interact with Spock. You could tell they were tired with how literal he is. You could sense he got under their skin just a little but they were finally comfortable enough to tell Spock how it should be.
I feel like I can't talk about Star Trek Beyond without bringing up Anton Yelchin. Just over a month ago Anton passed away and this is the first film released since his death. It was pretty heartbreaking seeing Anton on the big screen after such a tragic event. But it was also a joy just to see him on the big screen one more time. You can see why he was considered one of the best actors on the rise. His performance was fantastic. It seemed like he had a lot of fun playing Checkov. He ended up having a lot more screen time than I thought he would have and I'm glad, we as an audience, got to spend that time with him.
For me the only disappointing thing about this movie was the villain, Krall, played by Idris Elba. His character fell into the Bane from The Dark Knight Rises trap. For the first half the film I struggled to understand what he was saying. I also didn't feel that he was that menacing. There are a few times he tries to be menacing but never comes across that way and just seems pointless. Also his motives aren't that clear until much later into the movie.
Star Trek Beyond is a great summer blockbuster. The action was spectacular. I was on the edge of my seat and loved how it was choreographed. The visuals were stunning and the hand to hand combat was intense, much better than the hand to hand combat from the original TV series. The chemistry between the cast was fantastic. I loved watching the way they interacted with each other. It felt like they were a family. The summer of 2016 has had some major disappointments when it comes to blockbusters, I'm glad to say that you must see Star Trek Beyond in theaters, you will enjoy the wild ride.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Hunt for the Wilderpeople Review
It's not often I go into a movie completely unaware of what it is about. Usually I would have seen the trailer for a movie a few times or have seen a few reviews online. The only thing I did know about Hunt for the Wilderpeople was that it currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. After having seen Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I can say that I am glad I knew nothing about the plot and that the score on Rotten Tomatoes is accurate. Hunt of the Wilderpeople is outstanding!!!
I don't want to say too much about the plot of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, so I will keep this brief. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is about a foster boy named Ricky Baker. Ricky is taken in by a couple when something suddenly goes wrong leaving him and a cranky old man named Uncle Hec on the run from the law in the New Zealand bush. Uncle Hec is played by Sam Neill in what has to be his best performance since Jurassic Park. Ricky is played by the relatively new Julian Dennison (this is only his third movie).
What is great about Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the relationship between Uncle Hec and Ricky. The two of them could not be anymore different yet similar in many ways. Ricky is this rough and tough kid from the streets that just wants to be a gangster, yet is just a sweet and gentle young lad. Uncle Hec is a grizzled old man who as been living in the New Zealand bush for years and has had very little interaction with other people, let alone teenagers. It was hilarious to watch Ricky make pop culture references and having Uncle Hec be completely clueless to what Ricky is talking about. It was also fun to watch Ricky act like a tough gangster yet be completely out of his element in the New Zealand bush. The differences they have end up forcing them to rely on one another and with that brought a lot of heart to the movie. I used to be a young adult leader that worked with middle schoolers and I got to know a kid that was just like Ricky so I could relate to what Uncle Hec had to put up with. I could relate to dealing with a rough and tough kid that could be annoying at times but deep down is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.
This movie also has a lot of laughs with the social worker named Paula, who needs to locate Ricky, and the cops trying to assist her. Paula will stop at nothing to get Ricky back and that puts her in some hilarious scenarios. At one point, Paula and Ricky run into each other with only a stream separating them. This leads to some great dialog where they argue which one is like the Terminator and which one is Sarah Connor. It's these little pop culture references that I really enjoy in movies. By Paula's side is a police officer named Andy, who Paula seems to have no respect for. At one point in the movie she says, "Let's call the police" and he is like "I am the police". It's these things like this help keep the laughs consistent throughout the movie.
The only thing I can think of that bothered me about Hunt for the Wilderpeople, was that at times there were some pacing issues. At the beginning of the movie, it was hard to tell whether this movie wanted to be a comedy or a serious drama. There would be a few jokes and then get really serious and then get back to the jokes only to be hit with more serious situations. At a certain point in the movie, the jokes and the serious situations started to flow together a lot better and that caused my enjoyment in the movie to pick up and remain until the end. This is really just a minor gripe and didn't change how I felt about the movie overall.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of those movies that don't get released often. This movie will have you in tears, whether its because you are laughing so hard or because you are crying from the touching moments Ricky and Uncle Hec experience. The performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison are fantastic. The supporting cast is phenomenal and bring some of the movies best one liners. If you have the opportunity, please go see Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It will be one of the most original movies you will have seen in a long time and with this being the summer of sequels it will be a much needed experience.
I don't want to say too much about the plot of Hunt for the Wilderpeople, so I will keep this brief. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is about a foster boy named Ricky Baker. Ricky is taken in by a couple when something suddenly goes wrong leaving him and a cranky old man named Uncle Hec on the run from the law in the New Zealand bush. Uncle Hec is played by Sam Neill in what has to be his best performance since Jurassic Park. Ricky is played by the relatively new Julian Dennison (this is only his third movie).
What is great about Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the relationship between Uncle Hec and Ricky. The two of them could not be anymore different yet similar in many ways. Ricky is this rough and tough kid from the streets that just wants to be a gangster, yet is just a sweet and gentle young lad. Uncle Hec is a grizzled old man who as been living in the New Zealand bush for years and has had very little interaction with other people, let alone teenagers. It was hilarious to watch Ricky make pop culture references and having Uncle Hec be completely clueless to what Ricky is talking about. It was also fun to watch Ricky act like a tough gangster yet be completely out of his element in the New Zealand bush. The differences they have end up forcing them to rely on one another and with that brought a lot of heart to the movie. I used to be a young adult leader that worked with middle schoolers and I got to know a kid that was just like Ricky so I could relate to what Uncle Hec had to put up with. I could relate to dealing with a rough and tough kid that could be annoying at times but deep down is one of the sweetest people you could ever meet.
This movie also has a lot of laughs with the social worker named Paula, who needs to locate Ricky, and the cops trying to assist her. Paula will stop at nothing to get Ricky back and that puts her in some hilarious scenarios. At one point, Paula and Ricky run into each other with only a stream separating them. This leads to some great dialog where they argue which one is like the Terminator and which one is Sarah Connor. It's these little pop culture references that I really enjoy in movies. By Paula's side is a police officer named Andy, who Paula seems to have no respect for. At one point in the movie she says, "Let's call the police" and he is like "I am the police". It's these things like this help keep the laughs consistent throughout the movie.
The only thing I can think of that bothered me about Hunt for the Wilderpeople, was that at times there were some pacing issues. At the beginning of the movie, it was hard to tell whether this movie wanted to be a comedy or a serious drama. There would be a few jokes and then get really serious and then get back to the jokes only to be hit with more serious situations. At a certain point in the movie, the jokes and the serious situations started to flow together a lot better and that caused my enjoyment in the movie to pick up and remain until the end. This is really just a minor gripe and didn't change how I felt about the movie overall.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of those movies that don't get released often. This movie will have you in tears, whether its because you are laughing so hard or because you are crying from the touching moments Ricky and Uncle Hec experience. The performances by Sam Neill and Julian Dennison are fantastic. The supporting cast is phenomenal and bring some of the movies best one liners. If you have the opportunity, please go see Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It will be one of the most original movies you will have seen in a long time and with this being the summer of sequels it will be a much needed experience.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
The Infiltrator Review
The Infiltrator is a true story crime drama about a U.S. Customs special agent that goes undercover to bust the famous drug lord Pablo Escobar. The movie stars Bryan Cranston as Robert Mazur who goes undercover as Bob Musella. Musella is a businessman that helps launder money for Pablo Escobar's drug organization. The movie also stars John Leguizamo as Emir Abreu, who goes undercover with Mazur, and Benjamin Bratt as Roberto Alcaino, a man who is high up in Escobar's organization that Musella becomes close friends with.
This movie is pretty simple so there isn't much to say about the plot. Most of it we have all seen before in other movies, just with new names and faces. Luckily for this movie, the actors in this movie make it watchable. Bryan Cranston was a joy to watch whenever he was on screen. He is believable as this special agent that must go through some dangerous situations while interacting with the drugs lords. You feel his pain and anguish as he as to juggle his family life along with the drug life. He is a likable guy, so you can believe that those in the drug organization would let him in without asking too many questions. John Lequizamo was also great in this movie. His character was the complete opposite of Cranston's. He doesn't always play by the rules, likes to have a little fun and sometimes trusts people he shouldn't. Lequizamo brings this energy to the movie that at times is very serious.
The Infiltrator mainly deals with the money side of the drug world, because of that, it can be pretty boring at times. It deals a lot with transferring money from one bank to another or from one business to another. For me that wasn't that interesting. I would have like to see more of the transferring of drugs and learning how it got into the U.S. rather than just money transferring hands electronically. I've always heard Pablo Escobar is a legendary drug lord and it would have been nice to spend more time with him rather than those a little bit lower on the ladder. I have not seen Narcos on Netflix, but I have a feeling this could be an interesting companion piece to that tv show.
The Infiltrator has a decent story that can be interesting at times but the performances are what make this movie watchable. Bryan Cranston is great like always. If this movie seems like it would be interesting to you, I would say watch it at home when you can rent it in a few months.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Ghostbusters Review
In 1984, the original Ghostbusters was released. I wasn't even a year old yet so it never really had an immediate impact on my childhood. In 1989, Ghostbusters II came out and I remember seeing it in theaters and enjoyed it. I remember the creepy pink ooze, the scary painting and the cute little baby. But it still never really struck me as a movie I needed to watch over and over again. Now in 2016, we get yet another Ghostbusters movie, but this one isn't the sequel everyone had been hoping for, well almost everyone, I didn't really need one. Nope, instead this was a reboot. This reboot would have a whole new cast and the events of the first two films never happened. Would this reboot live up to those first two films or would it fail to reach the cultural impact of those films.
The 2016 Ghostbusters is directed by Paul Feig and stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones as the four members of the Ghostbusters. The Ghostbusters start investigating these strange ghost sightings that are happening around New York City. They must find out where these ghosts are coming from as well as convince those around them that ghosts are real.
For me this new Ghostbusters movie was pretty hit or miss. For the first half or so of the movie, I was really enjoying it. I was sitting there thinking this is a pretty fun movie, I could see myself buying it. It was funny and the characters were interesting. I was curious about the adventures the Ghostbusters were going on as well as interested in the technology they were creating to capture the ghosts. But then at a certain point I thought, I'm kinda bored now. The pacing just started to feel all over the place. One minute the jokes were flying left and right and then the next thing you know, it gets bogged down by side characters that told jokes that just fall flat or story elements that weren't really needed. The comedy would start to pick back up again, but then they throw in some cameos for fan service that would just take you out of the movie. Especially when you have people in the audience trying to explain to others who the cameo is. Also at times, it felt like the main actresses where acting in a parody or an extended Saturday Night Live sketch. It felt like they were going over the top with their performances and that took me out of the film.
There were two performances in Ghostbusters I really enjoyed. These were by Kate McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth. Both their characters pretty much only had one shtick, but that was okay with me. McKinnon's character, Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, was the groups crazy inventor. She always had this crazy look on her face and would move her body in strange ways. She brought this fun energy to the team. Chris Hemsworth played Kevin Beckman, the teams clueless receptionist. With Chris Hemsworth, it was just fun to see him play a comedic character. In the past we have seen him in the Marvel superhero movies or in dramas like Rush and In The Heart of the Sea. His roles have all been more serious, it was fun to see him loosen up a bit. It felt like he was have a blast playing Kevin Beckman and made me curious about how much of his lines were ad-libbed.
I also enjoyed most of the third act of the movie. The visuals were great. The ghosts had this bright vibrant color that was very appealing. I also liked that you finally got to see the Ghostbusters use the technology that they had been working on throughout the movie. Each character had their own set of weapons and it was a lot of fun watching them work together to fight the ghosts.
The new Ghostbusters movie is all over the place. At times I was having a fun time watching it, but then something would happen that would take me out of it. When the jokes landed, they were great, but often, especially with the side characters, the jokes fell flat. The cameos were unnecessary and distracting. At times the movie felt like a parody of the ones made in the 80's and other times it felt like they were making something original and clever. I think Ghostbusters can be a fun time but probably doesn't need to be experienced in theaters. Save your money and rent it when it comes out on Redbox.
The 2016 Ghostbusters is directed by Paul Feig and stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones as the four members of the Ghostbusters. The Ghostbusters start investigating these strange ghost sightings that are happening around New York City. They must find out where these ghosts are coming from as well as convince those around them that ghosts are real.
For me this new Ghostbusters movie was pretty hit or miss. For the first half or so of the movie, I was really enjoying it. I was sitting there thinking this is a pretty fun movie, I could see myself buying it. It was funny and the characters were interesting. I was curious about the adventures the Ghostbusters were going on as well as interested in the technology they were creating to capture the ghosts. But then at a certain point I thought, I'm kinda bored now. The pacing just started to feel all over the place. One minute the jokes were flying left and right and then the next thing you know, it gets bogged down by side characters that told jokes that just fall flat or story elements that weren't really needed. The comedy would start to pick back up again, but then they throw in some cameos for fan service that would just take you out of the movie. Especially when you have people in the audience trying to explain to others who the cameo is. Also at times, it felt like the main actresses where acting in a parody or an extended Saturday Night Live sketch. It felt like they were going over the top with their performances and that took me out of the film.
There were two performances in Ghostbusters I really enjoyed. These were by Kate McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth. Both their characters pretty much only had one shtick, but that was okay with me. McKinnon's character, Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, was the groups crazy inventor. She always had this crazy look on her face and would move her body in strange ways. She brought this fun energy to the team. Chris Hemsworth played Kevin Beckman, the teams clueless receptionist. With Chris Hemsworth, it was just fun to see him play a comedic character. In the past we have seen him in the Marvel superhero movies or in dramas like Rush and In The Heart of the Sea. His roles have all been more serious, it was fun to see him loosen up a bit. It felt like he was have a blast playing Kevin Beckman and made me curious about how much of his lines were ad-libbed.
I also enjoyed most of the third act of the movie. The visuals were great. The ghosts had this bright vibrant color that was very appealing. I also liked that you finally got to see the Ghostbusters use the technology that they had been working on throughout the movie. Each character had their own set of weapons and it was a lot of fun watching them work together to fight the ghosts.
The new Ghostbusters movie is all over the place. At times I was having a fun time watching it, but then something would happen that would take me out of it. When the jokes landed, they were great, but often, especially with the side characters, the jokes fell flat. The cameos were unnecessary and distracting. At times the movie felt like a parody of the ones made in the 80's and other times it felt like they were making something original and clever. I think Ghostbusters can be a fun time but probably doesn't need to be experienced in theaters. Save your money and rent it when it comes out on Redbox.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Review
Comedies are an extremely hit or miss movie genre. Some contain original premises and jokes while others are just a bunch of poop, fart and sex jokes. For me, the movie Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates falls right in the middle. Parts feel original and the rest is just crazy, insane sex jokes.
This movie is about a pair of brothers, Mike (Adam DeVine) and Dave (Zac Efron), who ruin all family events they go to due to their crazy party antics. When their sister is getting married in Hawaii, their parents tell Mike and Dave that they must bring dates to the wedding in hopes that it will calm them down. They post an ad on Craigslist that ends up going viral and lands them on The Wendy Williams Show. Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick) end up seeing Mike and Dave on TV and decide they want to be the girls that go with them to Hawaii. The only problem is that Tatiana and Alice are actually bigger partiers than Mike and Dave. Will Tatiana and Alice keep Mike and Dave in check or will Mike and Dave ruin their sister's wedding day?
For comedies to work there needs to be chemistry between the leads and with this movie the chemistry is fantastic. Adam and Zac did a great job of bringing that brotherly chemistry to Mike and Dave. They were able to bounce jokes off each other left and right that were highly enjoyable. Then you have Aubrey and Anna who had this great dynamic between them that only occasionally got annoying. Whenever the four of them are on screen together you can tell that the movie was probably a lot of fun to make. Everyone seemed like they were having a great time and because of that, I had a fun time watching the movie. Also I absolutely love Anna Kendrick and her charm comes through every time she appears on the screen.
Another important part of comedies are the jokes. In Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates I felt that the jokes came at a decent pace and the shock value was pretty consistent throughout. For most comedies the third act always seems to slow down and get serious with the jokes slowing to a halt. When I started to feel like this movie was falling into that trap, they were able to pull the rug out from underneath me and give a pretty hilarious and shocking scene. Also in the latter half of the movie there is a scene where the Mike and Dave's sister is getting a massage that goes insanely off the wall and is absolutely hilarious.
Unfortunately this movie doesn't hit all the marks of a comedy classic. Adam Devine is a comedian that gets on my nerves quickly. He is just incredibly loud and obnoxious and I get tired of him if he is on screen too long. If the other three actors weren't in this movie I would have been really annoyed. Also this movie doesn't have that much heart. Most of the characters are not likable at the beginning of the movie and they never improve throughout. Anna Kendrick's character has a little bit of an arc, but they had to keep reminding you throughout the movie about her past. It would have been more enjoyable to see her change than spend time watching her reminisce about the past.
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates was a lot of fun. I was laughing throughout the entire movie and loved the chemistry between the leads. The jokes were completely inappropriate and at times cringe worthy, but for me they never went too far. Unfortunately the characters never change throughout the movie and are not that likable. I think this movie is a rental when it comes out on Blu-ray in a couple months. You will enjoy the laughs while watching it, but you will not need to see it again.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The Secret Life of Pets Review
So far in 2016 we have had two solid animated movies, Zootopia and Finding Dory. We have also had some not so stellar, but watchable, animated movies, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Angry Birds. As well as one downright boring animated movie, Ratchet & Clank. This week another animated movie gets released, which category will The Secret Life of Pets fall in?
The Secret Life of Pets is about this dog named Max (voiced by Louis C.K.), who lives with his owner, Katie (voiced by Ellie Kemper), in an apartment in Manhattan. When Max's owner goes to work, Max and the other pets around the apartment interact. Whether it is hanging out on a walk or sneaking into each others apartments. One day, Max's owner comes home with a giant new dog named Duke (voiced by Eric Stonestreet). Max immediately does not like Duke and demands that Katie get rid of Duke. Katie just hears barking, but Max thinks she can understand him. Duke overhears this and decides he needs to get rid of Max. While at the dog park, Duke tricks Max and drags him off into the city streets. Max and Duke end up getting captured by Animal Control, where they run into a cute little bunny named Snowball (voiced by Kevin Hart) and his crazy cast of misfits. Snowball and his crew do not have the best of intentions when it comes to Max and Duke. Will Duke and Max make it back to Katie or will they be strays for life?
What I enjoyed most about The Secret Life of Pets was the small jokes about the way pets act when their owners are not around. You see Max just sitting by the door, patiently waiting for Katie to come home. You have Chloe (voiced by Lake Bell), a cat that doesn't like her cat food and just wants to eat the food in the fridge. Chloe also has the stereotypical cat attitude of "I don't care about my owner". There are dogs that just bark at squirrels sitting outside their window. There is Sweet Pea, a parakeet, that breaks out of her cage and uses a fan to act like she is a fighter pilot. I also really enjoyed Snowball. He was completely insane and a blast every time he was on screen.
I also enjoyed the adventure that Max and Duke went on to get back to Katie. I was never bored with it. The things they encountered felt original and the characters they ran into brought a fun energy. The laughs seemed to come at a consistent pace. When the action felt like it was about to slow down, it would cut to another cast of characters and pick right back up. The runtime of the movie also helps. Since it is roughly 90 minutes long, there isn't a lot of fluff and goes by really quickly. It never felt long but also didn't feel like it was missing anything.
The one thing that The Secret Life of Pets lacked, that great animated movies have, is that emotional punch. At one point in the movie, it felt like they were going to hit us with a sad, teary-eyed scene, but then nothing happened with it. I never felt that the main characters were in any real sense of danger. There are no scenes in this movie that reach the heights of the first twenty minutes of Up or the beginning of Finding Nemo or the ending of Toy Story 3.
The Secret Life of Pets was a lot of fun. I was laughing throughout the entire movie. I enjoyed watching the relationship with Max and Duke. The supporting cast brought a lot of fun energy to the movie and helped mix things up when needed. If you have kids this movie is a must see. Kids will love the bright colors and laugh at all the crazy characters. Adults currently have pets or grew up with pets will relate to a lot of the characters and their crazy little antics, but will probably disappointed it never reaches the emotional heights of Pixar classics. If you are looking to have a fun time at the movies, go see The Secret Life of Pets, it is an enjoyable little adventure.
The Secret Life of Pets is about this dog named Max (voiced by Louis C.K.), who lives with his owner, Katie (voiced by Ellie Kemper), in an apartment in Manhattan. When Max's owner goes to work, Max and the other pets around the apartment interact. Whether it is hanging out on a walk or sneaking into each others apartments. One day, Max's owner comes home with a giant new dog named Duke (voiced by Eric Stonestreet). Max immediately does not like Duke and demands that Katie get rid of Duke. Katie just hears barking, but Max thinks she can understand him. Duke overhears this and decides he needs to get rid of Max. While at the dog park, Duke tricks Max and drags him off into the city streets. Max and Duke end up getting captured by Animal Control, where they run into a cute little bunny named Snowball (voiced by Kevin Hart) and his crazy cast of misfits. Snowball and his crew do not have the best of intentions when it comes to Max and Duke. Will Duke and Max make it back to Katie or will they be strays for life?
What I enjoyed most about The Secret Life of Pets was the small jokes about the way pets act when their owners are not around. You see Max just sitting by the door, patiently waiting for Katie to come home. You have Chloe (voiced by Lake Bell), a cat that doesn't like her cat food and just wants to eat the food in the fridge. Chloe also has the stereotypical cat attitude of "I don't care about my owner". There are dogs that just bark at squirrels sitting outside their window. There is Sweet Pea, a parakeet, that breaks out of her cage and uses a fan to act like she is a fighter pilot. I also really enjoyed Snowball. He was completely insane and a blast every time he was on screen.
I also enjoyed the adventure that Max and Duke went on to get back to Katie. I was never bored with it. The things they encountered felt original and the characters they ran into brought a fun energy. The laughs seemed to come at a consistent pace. When the action felt like it was about to slow down, it would cut to another cast of characters and pick right back up. The runtime of the movie also helps. Since it is roughly 90 minutes long, there isn't a lot of fluff and goes by really quickly. It never felt long but also didn't feel like it was missing anything.
The one thing that The Secret Life of Pets lacked, that great animated movies have, is that emotional punch. At one point in the movie, it felt like they were going to hit us with a sad, teary-eyed scene, but then nothing happened with it. I never felt that the main characters were in any real sense of danger. There are no scenes in this movie that reach the heights of the first twenty minutes of Up or the beginning of Finding Nemo or the ending of Toy Story 3.
The Secret Life of Pets was a lot of fun. I was laughing throughout the entire movie. I enjoyed watching the relationship with Max and Duke. The supporting cast brought a lot of fun energy to the movie and helped mix things up when needed. If you have kids this movie is a must see. Kids will love the bright colors and laugh at all the crazy characters. Adults currently have pets or grew up with pets will relate to a lot of the characters and their crazy little antics, but will probably disappointed it never reaches the emotional heights of Pixar classics. If you are looking to have a fun time at the movies, go see The Secret Life of Pets, it is an enjoyable little adventure.
Monday, July 4, 2016
Swiss Army Man Review
What would you do if you found a farting corpse that has an erection that works like a compass? Yes, you read that right, a farting corpse with a compass erection. In the movie Swiss Army Man that is what Paul Dano finds while stranded on a beach.
Swiss Army Man stars Paul Dano, as Hank and Daniel Radcliffe as Manny. Hank is stranded on an island and about to commit suicide. Right when he is about to hang himself, he sees a corpse lying on the beach. When Hank approaches the corpse, it starts to fart. Hank decides to use the farting corpse has a jet ski, yes that's how powerful the farts are, and rides it to the mainland. Unfortunately Hank is now lost in a forest and must use the corpse, who's named Manny, to reach civilization. Manny soon starts to talk to Hank. At first Hank is frightened, but soon enjoys having someone to talk to. Along the way, Hank teaches Manny about life and with the assistance of Manny, Hank learns more about himself.
Just be reading the first line of this review, you know this movie is probably going to be insane, and boy is it. Visually Swiss Army Man was fantastic. Most of the movie revolves around Hank explaining to Manny what it means to be alive. To do this, Hank uses garbage that is found throughout the forest to create objects that resemble items most people use on a daily basis. For instance, Hank is describing what it's like to ride on a bus. Hank recreates a bus using branches and takes magazine ads and arranges them on a device that he spins to make it look like the scenery moving past a bus window. He also takes pencil eraser tops and makes them into headphones. It was these little subtle details that would bring smiles to my face.
Another thing I really enjoyed was just how multi-purpose Manny's body was for Hank. Manny would spit out drinkable water for Hank to drink. And when I say spit, it wasn't just little drops of spit, it was a fire hose of water coming out of Manny's mouth. Manny's farts weren't just used to move along the way, they could be used to start fires so Hank could cook and keep warm. Manny's erection was used like a compass that allowed Hank to find his way out of the forest. His body could be used as a tool to chop down trees and fire rocks at creatures so Hank could have food to eat. All these new discoveries were a joy to learn about and discover and you couldn't help but laugh every time Hank learned a new way to use one of Manny's special abilities.
The performances by Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are fantastic. For most of the film Radcliffe is just lying or sitting there, staring off into space. But just watching him do that, without blinking and occasionally saying a few words, was mesmerizing. It was also a blast to watch the way he would react when Paul Dano's character would teach him something new. In Swiss Army Man, Paul Dano once again proves he is one of the best actors around. He was stellar as Hank. Watching him be confused by what was going on with Manny was a joy to experience. I had a smile on my face pretty much the entire time because of the chemistry between Dano and Radcliffe.
The only negative thing I can think of when it came to Swiss Army Man is that I was never emotionally gut-punched. I feel like that is a negative thing I bring up for a lot of movies I see, but I really enjoy when a movie hits me and brings me to the verge of tears. With Swiss Army Man, I never felt that and for the most part I'm okay with that. It didn't really take away from the experience. It is just a minor gripe.
Overall I absolutely loved Swiss Army Man. It is a completely original experience that is a blast to watch. I was laughing throughout the movie and in awe of all the things Hank would do to Manny. Visually the movie is fantastic and creative in every way possible. The performances by Dano and Radcliffe were spectacular. Swiss Army Man is a movie that needs to be seen. It is completely insane and a joy to experience. Please go see Swiss Army Man, you will never see anything like it.
Swiss Army Man stars Paul Dano, as Hank and Daniel Radcliffe as Manny. Hank is stranded on an island and about to commit suicide. Right when he is about to hang himself, he sees a corpse lying on the beach. When Hank approaches the corpse, it starts to fart. Hank decides to use the farting corpse has a jet ski, yes that's how powerful the farts are, and rides it to the mainland. Unfortunately Hank is now lost in a forest and must use the corpse, who's named Manny, to reach civilization. Manny soon starts to talk to Hank. At first Hank is frightened, but soon enjoys having someone to talk to. Along the way, Hank teaches Manny about life and with the assistance of Manny, Hank learns more about himself.
Just be reading the first line of this review, you know this movie is probably going to be insane, and boy is it. Visually Swiss Army Man was fantastic. Most of the movie revolves around Hank explaining to Manny what it means to be alive. To do this, Hank uses garbage that is found throughout the forest to create objects that resemble items most people use on a daily basis. For instance, Hank is describing what it's like to ride on a bus. Hank recreates a bus using branches and takes magazine ads and arranges them on a device that he spins to make it look like the scenery moving past a bus window. He also takes pencil eraser tops and makes them into headphones. It was these little subtle details that would bring smiles to my face.
Another thing I really enjoyed was just how multi-purpose Manny's body was for Hank. Manny would spit out drinkable water for Hank to drink. And when I say spit, it wasn't just little drops of spit, it was a fire hose of water coming out of Manny's mouth. Manny's farts weren't just used to move along the way, they could be used to start fires so Hank could cook and keep warm. Manny's erection was used like a compass that allowed Hank to find his way out of the forest. His body could be used as a tool to chop down trees and fire rocks at creatures so Hank could have food to eat. All these new discoveries were a joy to learn about and discover and you couldn't help but laugh every time Hank learned a new way to use one of Manny's special abilities.
The performances by Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are fantastic. For most of the film Radcliffe is just lying or sitting there, staring off into space. But just watching him do that, without blinking and occasionally saying a few words, was mesmerizing. It was also a blast to watch the way he would react when Paul Dano's character would teach him something new. In Swiss Army Man, Paul Dano once again proves he is one of the best actors around. He was stellar as Hank. Watching him be confused by what was going on with Manny was a joy to experience. I had a smile on my face pretty much the entire time because of the chemistry between Dano and Radcliffe.
The only negative thing I can think of when it came to Swiss Army Man is that I was never emotionally gut-punched. I feel like that is a negative thing I bring up for a lot of movies I see, but I really enjoy when a movie hits me and brings me to the verge of tears. With Swiss Army Man, I never felt that and for the most part I'm okay with that. It didn't really take away from the experience. It is just a minor gripe.
Overall I absolutely loved Swiss Army Man. It is a completely original experience that is a blast to watch. I was laughing throughout the movie and in awe of all the things Hank would do to Manny. Visually the movie is fantastic and creative in every way possible. The performances by Dano and Radcliffe were spectacular. Swiss Army Man is a movie that needs to be seen. It is completely insane and a joy to experience. Please go see Swiss Army Man, you will never see anything like it.
Our Kind of Traitor Review
I don't know what author has had the most books turned into movies, but I have feeling John le Carre has to be near the top. Our Kind of Traitor is his tenth book to be turned into a movie. Previous ones include The Constant Gardener, A Most Wanted Spy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Tailor of Panama.
Our Kind of Traitor stars Ewan McGregor as a college professor named Perry. Perry and his wife, Gail (Naomie Harris) are on vacation when they run into Dima (Stellan Skarsgard). Dima is a Russian money launderer who fears he and his family are about to get killed by the Russian mob. Dima gives Perry some important information and wants him to give it to MI6 in hopes they will move Dima and his family to London. Unfortunately the British government needs more information and Dima will not give them more unless Perry is involved. Perry and Gail find themselves in a world that is way more complicated then they would like, but care about Dima and his family and want to see them safe.
As a British spy thriller, Our Kind of Traitor succeeds for the most part. Throughout the film I was on the edge of my seat. I was eager to see how Perry would get out of the various situations he finds himself in. There is one scene in particular where Perry must help Dima get out of a hotel where he is meeting with the Russian mob. Unfortunately, the scenes of tension where followed lulls, that took me out of the movie. Our Kind of Traitor also has scenes that are by the numbers for spy thrillers. There are corrupt government officials, paper work that gets in the way and gets resolved at the last possible moment, and scenes where normal people act like they are trained killers. It would have been nice for a little bit of originality.
The performances in Our Kind of Traitor are all pretty decent. I thought Ewan McGregor did a fine job as Perry. For the most part he seemed believable as a college professor that was in over his head. The only problem I had with his character was when he had to fire a gun or fight someone, it just felt out of place for a college professor. I would have liked to have seen Namoie Harris have a little more to work with. Early on in the movie you learn that her character and Perry's marriage is on the rocks, but that tension never really arises again and seems to get resolved quite nicely. Stellan Skarsgard also does a decent job, but his performance just reminded me of his character in the Thor movies.
Our Kind of Traitor was a solid spy thriller that had me on the edge of my seat for various parts of the movie. The plot was interesting enough and the performances were decent. I would say this is a movie that doesn't need to be seen in theaters, but is well worth a rent.
Our Kind of Traitor stars Ewan McGregor as a college professor named Perry. Perry and his wife, Gail (Naomie Harris) are on vacation when they run into Dima (Stellan Skarsgard). Dima is a Russian money launderer who fears he and his family are about to get killed by the Russian mob. Dima gives Perry some important information and wants him to give it to MI6 in hopes they will move Dima and his family to London. Unfortunately the British government needs more information and Dima will not give them more unless Perry is involved. Perry and Gail find themselves in a world that is way more complicated then they would like, but care about Dima and his family and want to see them safe.
As a British spy thriller, Our Kind of Traitor succeeds for the most part. Throughout the film I was on the edge of my seat. I was eager to see how Perry would get out of the various situations he finds himself in. There is one scene in particular where Perry must help Dima get out of a hotel where he is meeting with the Russian mob. Unfortunately, the scenes of tension where followed lulls, that took me out of the movie. Our Kind of Traitor also has scenes that are by the numbers for spy thrillers. There are corrupt government officials, paper work that gets in the way and gets resolved at the last possible moment, and scenes where normal people act like they are trained killers. It would have been nice for a little bit of originality.
The performances in Our Kind of Traitor are all pretty decent. I thought Ewan McGregor did a fine job as Perry. For the most part he seemed believable as a college professor that was in over his head. The only problem I had with his character was when he had to fire a gun or fight someone, it just felt out of place for a college professor. I would have liked to have seen Namoie Harris have a little more to work with. Early on in the movie you learn that her character and Perry's marriage is on the rocks, but that tension never really arises again and seems to get resolved quite nicely. Stellan Skarsgard also does a decent job, but his performance just reminded me of his character in the Thor movies.
Our Kind of Traitor was a solid spy thriller that had me on the edge of my seat for various parts of the movie. The plot was interesting enough and the performances were decent. I would say this is a movie that doesn't need to be seen in theaters, but is well worth a rent.
The Legend of Tarzan Review
The Legend of Tarzan is a movie that feels like a bad sequel to a movie that would have probably been good if they had actually made it.
The Legend of Tarzan takes place years after Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) and Jane (Margot Robbie) have met and have moved from the jungle to England. Tarzan, who goes by Lord Greystoke, is invited to go back to the Congo and report on the developments of the Belgium government, who are in control of that region. When Tarzan, along with Jane, arrive, they learn that the Congolese population is being enslaved and the man in charge, Captain Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz), wants to capture Tarzan and give him to Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou), a leader of one of the African tribes. The Legend of Tarzan also stars Samuel L. Jackson. The movie is directed by David Yates, who also directed the last four Harry Potter movies and is also directing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
For me The Legend of Tarzan was a mess. The story was all over the place. It contained flashbacks to when Tarzan's parents were killed and he briefly how he was raised by the gorillas and also when he first met Jane. Considering the main focus of this movie wasn't his origin, it was a little annoying to have these flashbacks. I would have preferred to have just seen a movie that was the origin story. I was more interested in seeing Tarzan with the gorillas and seeing the dynamic between them. The story line involving Chief Mbonga was not needed. For the entire length of the movie I was wondering why does he want Tarzan so badly, this story doesn't make sense and then you finally learn why and it gets resolved in two seconds. Another problem I had was Captain Rom. He never felt menacing. There was no reason for us as an audience to feel that Tarzan was in any real danger.
Not only was the story messy, the CGI in this movie was laughable. Throughout the movie you could tell when a green screen was used. In the flashback scenes, both Tarzan and Jane had these light halos around their faces, telling us that the bodies were someone else and they just added the actors faces later. When Tarzan is swinging in the trees, nothing about it is believable. The vines look extremely fake and the green screen jumps out at you. For a Tarzan movie, swinging in the trees is important. If the creators of the movie can't get this right, why did they even make the movie.
Within The Legend of Tarzan, you can tell there is an interesting movie somewhere inside, unfortunately it is only briefly seen in the flashbacks. The story was uninteresting, the villain was never a threat and the effects were laughable for a major blockbuster. There is no reason for anyone to see this movie. It's completely forgettable and hopefully this won't become a franchise.
The Legend of Tarzan takes place years after Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) and Jane (Margot Robbie) have met and have moved from the jungle to England. Tarzan, who goes by Lord Greystoke, is invited to go back to the Congo and report on the developments of the Belgium government, who are in control of that region. When Tarzan, along with Jane, arrive, they learn that the Congolese population is being enslaved and the man in charge, Captain Leon Rom (Christoph Waltz), wants to capture Tarzan and give him to Chief Mbonga (Djimon Hounsou), a leader of one of the African tribes. The Legend of Tarzan also stars Samuel L. Jackson. The movie is directed by David Yates, who also directed the last four Harry Potter movies and is also directing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
For me The Legend of Tarzan was a mess. The story was all over the place. It contained flashbacks to when Tarzan's parents were killed and he briefly how he was raised by the gorillas and also when he first met Jane. Considering the main focus of this movie wasn't his origin, it was a little annoying to have these flashbacks. I would have preferred to have just seen a movie that was the origin story. I was more interested in seeing Tarzan with the gorillas and seeing the dynamic between them. The story line involving Chief Mbonga was not needed. For the entire length of the movie I was wondering why does he want Tarzan so badly, this story doesn't make sense and then you finally learn why and it gets resolved in two seconds. Another problem I had was Captain Rom. He never felt menacing. There was no reason for us as an audience to feel that Tarzan was in any real danger.
Not only was the story messy, the CGI in this movie was laughable. Throughout the movie you could tell when a green screen was used. In the flashback scenes, both Tarzan and Jane had these light halos around their faces, telling us that the bodies were someone else and they just added the actors faces later. When Tarzan is swinging in the trees, nothing about it is believable. The vines look extremely fake and the green screen jumps out at you. For a Tarzan movie, swinging in the trees is important. If the creators of the movie can't get this right, why did they even make the movie.
Within The Legend of Tarzan, you can tell there is an interesting movie somewhere inside, unfortunately it is only briefly seen in the flashbacks. The story was uninteresting, the villain was never a threat and the effects were laughable for a major blockbuster. There is no reason for anyone to see this movie. It's completely forgettable and hopefully this won't become a franchise.
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