This Is the End is one of the few comedies to come out this summer and it does not disappoint. [Read more...]
For Your Renting Pleasure
11/15/2011 by 2 Comments
In this week of rentals I found myself disappointed with many of this years “better” comedies, where two other films ending up where I expected them to be. If you’re considering renting The Alphabet Killer, Horrible Bosses, Your Highness, or Win Win then read my thoughts before making your choice this coming weekend. [Read more...]
Film Review: 30 Minutes or Less
08/12/2011 by Leave a Comment
The last time I saw a film about bank robbing was when The Town was in theaters, and I don’t know about you but my self-emanating laugh track was not in danger of being worn out that day. 30 Minutes or Less goes for the apposing drama mask for its take on the heist film genre, creating a decent comedy structured around a simple and ridiculous premise. [Read more...]
Review: Kung Fu Panda 2
05/27/2011 by Leave a Comment
Kung Fu Panda 2 is a heartfelt and action packed sequel that moves us deeper into the series’ mythology but seems to double down on stupid non-character based humor that pulls you out of the picture every time.
The film picks up shortly after the first with Po and The Furious Five protecting the lands around their temple but we also learn a bit about Po’s background. We are treated to a brief history lesson of China’s former Peacock Emperors and their son Lord Shen. Shen was a master of fireworks and when the Royal Soothsayer sees Shen’s future demise at the hands of a black and white warrior, the country’s pandas are placed in grave danger. Shen is ultimately banished and his eventual return will call Po and The Five to action.
The main through line of the film for Po is him coming to terms with his past and adopted daddy issues; with Shen falling right in line with Po’s past. The moments between Po and his dad, Mr. Ping, are full of heart and very emotional and this applies to both the flashbacks the film’s present timeline. The mystery behind Po’s biological parents is intriguing, if a bit thin, but that story is going to be further explored in the next film. As it is, Po’s flashbacks do a great job of giving us enough to wet our appetite for Po catching up to his past, it makes Shen a really evil character, and helps build our love for Po and where he has come from.
Review: Your Highness
04/08/2011 by 1 Comment
Your Highness is a solid fantasy film throwback that also happens to be quite funny as it lovingly sends up the genres heyday of the 80′s.
I worded that opening pitch to emphasize that I think you should view this film as a throwback fantasy film first and a comedy a close second. That is not to say that the film isn’t funny, it is very much so, but it is just as much a weird and creative fantasy world for our characters to play in. Following a pair of prince brothers, Fabious the brave hero and Thadeous the lazy underachiever, the two must set out on a quest to retrieve Fabious’ bride to be with the hopes of Thadeous finally being able to prove himself a worthy prince. Things don’t go smoothly and the two find themselves getting into a lot of trouble along the way.
Now Playing Review – Due Date
11/05/2010 by 2 Comments
Road trips seem like a fun idea on paper because of all the excitement they promise. There is the car crammed like a clown car full of duffle bags and people, mix tapes to sing joyously along to, snacks to munch on because restaurants are for the undedicated, etc. But once you are actually in the car the excitement quickly wanes and before you know it half your friends are asleep and someone is doing their seated pee pee dance. And just think, these are the car trips that we choose to take. Due Date is a completely different story.
In order to get to why two very different individuals are stuck on a cross-country road trip together we have to take a few steps back. When Peter Highman woke up this morning he thought his day was going to be pretty simple. All he had to do was get on a plane and fly home, giving him more than enough of a cushion to wait out the rest of his wife’s pregnancy before the due date. [Read more...]
Review: Due Date
11/05/2010 by Leave a Comment
Due Date is the latest from Todd Phillips and he smartly lets his leads of Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis make the most of a good but far from great script/story.
Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) is a straight shooting architect, with occasional rage issues, that is on his way home to witness the birth of his first child. His plans are delayed though when his path becomes intertwined with an odd wannabe actor with a dog, Ethan (Galifianakis), and the two end up on the no fly list and have to drive cross country to get home in time. Of course shenanigans occur along the way and the two get into a lot of trouble as their trail gets weirder and wilder.
Review: Up in the Air
12/11/2009 by Leave a Comment
Up in the Air is a painfully honest film that not only looks into the lives of our three main leads but will cause a number of viewers to reflect back on their own in these troubling times.
Jason Reitman adapts the novel by Walter Kim into a funny and sad tale that takes us all across the country and into the life, or lack there of, of Ryan Bingham; played wonderfully by George Clooney. Bingham’s home is the airport, or should we say, airports. Living his life almost literally in the skies as he flies from company to company around the country as he is hired to come in and make employees redundant. This job has made him numb to the world and unable to make any real connections to just about anyone. Bingham even gives seminars about how to detach yourself from the things that hold you back and possess you instead of possessing them. We see him doing his job, which he does well, and the company he works for sells their business as helping these employees look toward their future and helping them cope with this traumatic moment in their life. [Read more...]
Review: Land of the Lost
06/05/2009 by Leave a Comment
Brad Silberling’s latest adaptation is a silly, funny, and fun adventure tale that uses all of its assets to great effect, from the actors, the camp silliness of the original show, and the tongue in cheek fun of the premise.
Dr. Rick Marshall believes in quantum paleontology, time travel, and parallel universes. Upon writing his book and appearing disgracefully on the Today Show, Marshall becomes the laughing stock of society over his taceon time travel machine and theories left to pander to children working at the La Brea Tar Pits. When a young and attractive British graduate student, Holly Cantrell, comes to meet Marshall and tells him how his work inspired her to study all of his work, he gets the boost he needs to finish his taceon machine. The two set out to a site Holly informs Marshall of that has high taceon energy and the two of them and their local guide Will are thrust into a worm hole of some sorts that takes them into another dimension where past, present, and future all exist together. The threesome is trapped in the dimension due to the loss of the taceon device that got them there and enlisting the help of a local ape looking man, Cha-ka, the begin on a search for their chance to head home. [Read more...]
Review: Observe and Report
04/15/2009 by Leave a Comment
Jody Hill’s second feature is an odd, bizarre, yet often hilarious picture that is definitely not for everyone but will definitely win over some of us with dark, dark senses of humor.
Ronnie is head of mall security at Forest Ridge Mall and he is called into action when a flasher begins exposing himself to women in the parking lot of the mall. He takes his efforts to another level when the flasher strikes his crush in the cosmetics department Brandi; who is emotionally but not physically harmed by the incident. Ronnie assembles his team of security which includes Dennis a lisp talking curly haired Mexican, John and Matt a pair of squat Asian decent twins, and fresh recruit Charles who is helping out from his normal job at one of the shops in the store. Ronnie sees himself as a crack detective who is going to break the case and when the real cops, led by Detective Harrison, come into try and crack the flasher case, the two leaders begin to butt heads rather quickly. Added to this mess, an untimely robbery brings the cops into the mall even more, much to Ronnie’s chagrin, which cause Ronnie to begin his pursuit of becoming a real life cop and to prove all of the cops that he isn’t worth a damn wrong. Ronnie also looks to pursue the girl of his eye, Brandi, even though a man of his looks and personality probably doesn’t stand much of a chance. [Read more...]
Review: Pineapple Express
08/07/2008 by Leave a Comment
Seth Rogen and James Franco star in a stoner/buddy/action/comedy that is usually fairly humorous, but drags at the end and maybe over stayed its welcome a bit too long.
Dale (Seth Rogen) is a process server, handing out subpoenas all day while intermittently getting high between stop to stop. Saul (James Franco) is Dale’s dealer of two months who spends his day watching two TV’s and getting high himself. After a recent stop to Saul’s, in which he and Dale had a bit of a bonding experience over his exclusive rights to the very good Pineapple Express weed, Dale is about to serve Ted Jones (Gary Cole) when he witness him murder and Asian man with the assistance of female cop Carol (Rosie Perez). Dale attempts to flee the scene, making a scene himself ramming into the cars around him, tossing his joint out the window and rushing to Saul’s for help. Jones finds the joint and is able to detect that it is Pineapple Express, hence sending his goons to Saul’s to figure out what just happened and to shut up who ever saw him. The odd couple gets bent out of shape on paranoia and flees into the woods as the try and figure out how they can track them with their ridiculous philosophies. [Read more...]
