Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

My Grade:  B-

8 Mile was a film about a fictional character played by Eminem who shared a lot of similar characteristics with the real life Eminem. He wasn’t playing himself in the film, but he sort of was. Well, think of Popstar as 8 Mile for The Lonely Island.

For those of you who don’t know, The Lonely Island is a comedic music group that featured heavily on "Saturday Night Live" and features cameos from artists of varying degrees of popularity in most of their satirical songs. The group is made up of Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, and the one you’ve actually heard of:  Andy Samberg. 

The plot of the film follows Samberg’s character, Conner4Real, who becomes a big star for his work in The Style Boyz and, thus, leaves the other two “boyz” behind to start a lucrative solo career. He does take one of his bandmates (Owen) with him to be his DJ, but their other bandmate and friend (Lawrence) leaves the music business altogether because of a dispute with Conner4Real. As is to be expected in a movie like this, Conner4Real starts out on top of the world, then his second album bombs leaving him in a personal and emotional crisis. He learns the error of his ways and it’s all good at the end. Pretty standard stuff. 

What’s not standard are the laughs and solid, pointed satire of the music industry. These are things I expected from the film because of the quality of comedy The Lonely Island features in their songs. Sure, lots of jokes miss; but there are so many jokes throughout the film that many of them hit, too. It doesn’t get much funnier than Justin Timberlake’s cameos and it doesn’t get much more precise with it’s skewering of the music industry than the following:  “Nobody cares who writes it, they only care who performs it.” This is a sad but true indictment of the pop music industry. The number of artists who don’t write their own music is astounding; yet they get all the credit as an amazing artist.

While you will laugh a lot, Popstar never reaches the emotional depths that it strives for. It asks you to invest your feelings in Conner4Real even though he is a shallow, arrogant, bigoted idiot. It’s tough to really root for a character like that whose only honorable trait is his love for his sickly pet turtle. Without fully investing in his character, we can’t get too emotionally vested in the quest for reuniting these old friends who have drifted apart. The filmmakers really try to get you there, though. 

Overall, Popstar gives us exactly what we could hope for and expect from The Lonely Island:  raunchy laughs, smart satire, and lots of celebrity cameos (some much better than others). It unfortunately doesn’t offer any more than expected, though. A more likable character, layered supporting characters, and a real antagonist may have led to more emotional investment in the film making it something to remember. As it stands, it’s an easily forgettable film but is an entertaining hour and a half if you’re a fan of The Lonely Island’s music. The soundtrack is the best part.

Deadpool

My Grade:  A

If you thought the marketing campaign for The Force Awakens was good, Deadpool’s was even better. I could write an entire review about Deadpool’s marketing campaign, but I won’t because the marketing campaign isn’t coming out on blu-ray May 10, the movie is. So before that blu-ray breaks the fourth wall of your home theater system, take a moment to read my thoughts on the highest grossing rated R film of all time.

Deadpool is a comic book character that is known as sarcastic, crude, immature… basically Ryan Reynolds in a skin tight suit with super healing powers. So, it’s a good thing they cast Mr. Reynolds in the lead role. He embodies this anti-hero better than anyone has embodied their comic book role ever (including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man which is a pretty close second). The fact that Reynolds is a perfect fit for the character is a mixed bag because some people find his brand of humor annoying. Judging by the box office receipts, the majority of people don’t. I’m one of those that find him to be very funny. And, thus I find this movie to be very funny. Between Deadpool’s knack for addressing the audience and his interplay with the surprisingly hilarious supporting cast, you will do a lot of laughing. The best comedic moments are when the movie makes fun of itself and/or superhero movies in general. It’s actually quite surprising that a company like Marvel (who takes themselves so seriously) would make a movie that makes fun of themselves. I’m glad they did, though.

It’s not all laughs, though. Deadpool features some of the best action set pieces you’ll find. The choreography is stunning and the special effects are stellar. That should be no surprise, though, because of Tim Miller. Before directing Deadpool, he was best known for his visual effects work. This was his feature directorial debut and it has become the highest grossing R-rated film in the history of cinema. If they gave out Rookie of the Year awards, he’d certainly be nominated.

Deadpool isn’t without its flaws, though. Apart from Deadpool himself, the other characters are pretty flat. His love interest Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) claims she’s “played a lot of roles but damsel in distress ain’t of of them.” Unfortunately, if she hadn’t before, she has now. While her romance with Wade Wilson (Deadpool) has its funny moments (the rather memorably raunchy montage), it never really hits enough sweet notes for us to really buy it as the impetus for Wilson’s entire journey. Then there’s the baddie, Ajax (a career making turn from the little known Ed Skrein). We know he’s a bad guy, he has super human strength, and he can fight. Beyond that, he doesn’t have much to offer other than some really twisted torture tactics.

Other supporting characters like Wilson’s friend "The Weasel,” his roommate “Blind Al”, and two lesser known X-Men (Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus) all come in and out of Deadpool’s story to serve their purpose but never really get any development beyond how they relate to Deadpool. It would have been nice to see them fleshed out a little more. Because of the huge business this movie did at the box office, though, this will be a franchise allowing plenty of time to learn more about them.

Overall, Deadpool is simply a good time. if you can handle the intense violence, bad language, and raunchy jokes, you’ll enjoy this breath of fresh air that the superhero genre needed. 

Spy

My Grade:  A

I wouldn’t say I am a Melissa McCarthy fan, but I don’t dislike her either. I find her style of comedy mostly funny but obnoxious at times. That’s why I have a hard time dealing with her when she is forced to carry an entire movie (like the absolutely terrible Tammy). With a strong cast to back her up and carry some of the comedic load, though, McCarthy soars in the recent action/comedy Spy.

Spy takes a pretty boring premise and makes a fun movie out of it. Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is an analyst at the CIA with dreams of being something more. She doesn’t, however, have the charisma, confidence, or really anything else that would make you think she was capable of being a field operative. But, when a deadly arms dealer discovers the identity of all of the CIA’s field operatives (which happens in multiple James Bond movies, Mission Impossible, and pretty much every other piece of spy genre entertainment), the unknown Cooper volunteers to step up and save the day. And, it turns out she is actually very good at it. 

The reason this story works is because of the interplay between all the characters. Cooper is in love with Agent Bradley Fine (a hilarious Jude Law) but he just sees her as his buddy. She is also bullied by hardcore, foul-mouthed Agent Rick Ford (Jason Statham) in some of the funniest exchanges in the entire film, but he turns out to pretty much be all talk. And when Cooper makes contact with the violent, stuck-up arms dealer with a huge sense of entitlement, Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), their relationship has a great arc that constantly changes and keeps you guessing. These relationships are mined expertly for every ounce of comedy by writer/director Paul Feig who delivers his best film to date with Spy.

As the film presses on, the story grows quite a bit more ridiculous with each passing scene; but that’s okay because it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it serves as a wink at the spy genre in general. It also throws some decent twists at you. While some of them may be a bit of a stretch at times, they work well enough and don’t distract you from the rest of the story.

The biggest disappointment in this film is Miranda Hart as Nancy, Cooper’s co-worker and friend. Most of her jokes didn’t land for me and she annoyed me in most of her scenes. To counteract that disappointment, there is the biggest surprise of the film:  Jason Statham’s comedy chops. He is hysterical. He tells these ridiculous stories of his past experiences as a field operative and his delivery is outstanding. He basically spoofs every character he has ever played and I could watch it all day. Also, Rose Byrne is perfect. Simply perfect in this role.

Overall, Spy is surprisingly good. It’s Melissa McCarthy’s best film to date and shows that Paul Feig has taken huge strides in his writing/directing prowess since Bridesmaids (which everyone seemed to like except me) and The Heat (which I liked but it wasn’t a great movie by any stretch of the imagination). The strong supporting cast allows us to get just enough Melissa McCarthy and serves up a solid spy spoof with some heart.

Get Hard

My Grade:  B

When I first heard Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart were teaming up for a film, I was stoked. I have been a long time fan of Ferrell and I have recently gotten into Kevin Hart’s stand-up comedy. He’s hilarious on stage but I hadn’t seen many of his movies (his cameo in The 40-Year-Old-Virgin is one of the best scenes of that film), so I wasn’t sure how well his stand-up would translate to a narrative film. It turns out that this comedic pairing is outstanding. 

Get Hard follows millionaire James King (Ferrell) as he is arrested for fraud. The judge is tired of seeing white collar criminals do easy time in fluffy, low-security prisons, so he sentences King to do hard time in San Quentin. Rightfully terrified that he won’t do well in such a place, King turns to the guy who washes his car, Darnell Lewis (Hart) to prepare him to survive in prison. Lewis has a clean record and is by no means a thug, but King assumes (because he’s black and poor) that he has been to prison. Needing some money to get his daughter to a better, safer school, Lewis agrees to be King’s incarceration preparedness trainer. They have thirty days before King gets locked up, so they have to hurry. Comedic hijinks ensue, as you may expect.

As with most comedies of this nature, many of the major plot points are highly unrealistic. I can’t fault Get Hard for this because it’s a comedy and comedies are supposed to go a little beyond reality. Some of it is a little too out there, though. And, the “surprising twist” they throw at you in the end is hardly a surprise. You see it coming a mile away.

Intricate plots and mind-blowing twists aren’t what this kind of film is about, though. It’s about farming its outlandish premise for every possible laugh. And it succeeds in that effort. This movie is hilarious. Ferrell and Hart play off each other incredibly well with impeccable timing. Their vastly different looks play nicely on screen as well. Even the supporting characters add a good many laughs including rapper T.I. whom I have never liked in a film before this one.

The most surprising thing about this film, though, is Hart. From the little bit I’ve seen of him in films, he yells through a lot of his performances and is at his best when being a hyperactive ball of energy and (usually) anger. In Get Hard, though, he gives a much more grounded performance adding layers of nuance to his comedy that I hadn’t seen before. It’s something that makes me want to watch him lead in more movies instead of just popping in for a quick, side-splittingly hilarious cameo.

Overall, Get Hard is not a comedy classic but it does what it’s supposed to do:  make you laugh for almost all of its 100 minute runtime. If you can handle a good bit of bad language and a lot of not-so-politically-correct comedy, then this is a good one to check out. 

Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

My Grade:  A

Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) took home all the big awards at the Oscars this year - Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Picture of the Year. I don’t always enjoy the Best Picture winners (The English Patient made my list of worst movies I’ve ever reviewed), but I thoroughly enjoyed Birdman.

The film follows a former superhero film star that tries to salvage his career and feel like a real artist by writing, directing, producing, and starring in a Broadway play. It’s not really about the play, though. It’s about this broken man who just wants to be loved. Being recognized from his superhero days isn’t the same as being loved. Having fans doesn’t matter to him when he doesn’t have a good relationship with his daughter or his ex-wife. So, just like the play in the film, it’s a film about what it means to be loved.

The first thing everyone talks about in Birdman is the acting. This is no surprise because it features a stellar cast at the top of their game. Michael Keaton goes all out for this role and delivers the best performance he will probably ever deliver. Then there’s Edward Norton whom I haven’t enjoyed watching this much since American History X. He is equal parts cocky and vulnerable which seems like it would be tough to pull off. Those two were nominated for Oscars along with the stunning Emma Stone who has never been better (except maybe in The Help). She is aided (as are the others) by being given a very complex character to play. The other standout, though, is funny man Zach Galifianakis. Seeing him in a film like this playing a rather serious, dramatic role doesn’t seem right; but he holds his own in a film chock full of extraordinary performances. I’d even like to see him in some more dramatic roles because it was nice to see him expand his range.

The other thing everyone talks about in this film is that it was done in ONE SHOT! It’s something you may not notice unless you are a film buff or been involved in film production, but it makes the film have a unique feel and is very impressive as longer shots are more challenging to pull off. There is one part near the end with some cuts which is used beautifully as a contrast to the rest of the film to really nail the frantic feeling the director was going for.

My only dislike in Birdman is the drum score played by Antonio Sanchez. If you haven’t seen the film, then you may not understand what I mean by “drum score.” Essentially, the entire film’s music is all drums and cymbals. There are some other kinds of music in there, but the majority is all played on a drum set. As a drummer, I can respect the challenge of scoring a film with only a drum set and the drumming is spectacular. It’s also a unique way to score this very unique film. I just didn’t care for it. It’s simply personal taste, but it’s the only reason I didn’t give this film an A+. I found it distracting at times.

Overall, Birdman is an amazing and unique film which deserves every bit of the critical acclaim it has received. It’s also nice to see a film like this succeed because it is an entirely original film in a Hollywood space crowded with sequels, remakes, and adaptations. See, there is still creativity in Hollywood!

Kingsman: The Secret Service

My Grade:  A

What if Quentin Terantino directed a Bond movie? He hasn’t and probably won’t ever, but there’s something even better:  Matthew Vaughn directed a quasi Bond movie and it’s awesome. Who is Matthew Vaughn, you ask? He is the action genius behind the camera for two of the best superhero flicks to come out in recent history:  Kick-Ass (2010) and X-Men:  First Class (2011). He’s also quickly becoming one of my favorite directors.

Kingsman is not your momma’s spy movie. It is ultra violent, rather raunchy, and irreverent to a fault. It follows a rough street kid, Eggsy (a name-making turn from little known Taron Egerton) who gets recruited by a refined gentleman, Harry (a refreshing role for the extremely talented Colin Firth) who works for an ultra-secretive agency called The Kingsmen. Once recruited, Eggsy has to compete against other highly touted recruits in an action-packed and dangerous training program/tryout. Only one of these recruits will be allowed to join The Kingsmen and help rid the world of various types of evil.

Spy movies have been done and done in Hollywood; but Kingsman breathes new life into the genre by abiding by the spy movie tropes while simultaneously spoofing them. It makes for a very smart film and the action that Vaughn weaves in is spectacular as always. It also offers some relevant social commentary about our obsession with tech and social media, but it doesn’t beat you over the head with its message. That’s about the only subtle bit of this film, though. Over-the-top is a good way to describe it.

The action is ridiculous, the situations are insurmountable, the violence is in-your-face, and the skills of these Kingsmen are almost to the level of absurd... but that’s what makes it so much fun. Within the world of the film, everything works together without too many leaps of logic, though. When you crank the insanity meter up to 11 from the very start, you can do just about anything - including having a bulletproof umbrella that can also fire explosives.

One thing that I have to mention is Samuel L. Jackson as Valentine. He’s a tech genius with a weak stomach for violence (yes, you read that correctly) and a lisp. Oh yea, and he also has a very unique and violent way to save the Earth via population control. He is a very cool and effective bad guy because he thinks he is doing the right thing. He doesn’t just want to see the world burn, he honestly thinks he is helping. That makes him compelling. And it’s Samuel L. Jackson; he’s always fun!

The only issue I find with the flick is it seems a bit divisive with mood at times. Sometimes it is bordering on ridiculous spoof (like Kick-Ass) but other times it is very, very dark and gritty (like Christopher Nolan super-hero films). I don’t mind the drastic shifts in mood but it could be rather jarring for some folks and makes the film seem a little unbalanced.

Overall, Kingsman, is an exhilarating thrill ride with stunning action scenes and strong acting. It even keeps you guessing with a handful of twists and turns that I seriously doubt you will see coming. If you aren’t easily offended by bad language or violence and you’re a fan of impeccably directed action scenes, see this film. You won’t regret it.   

Mortdecai

Written by Clam Sepulveda

(note:  Clam's thoughts do not necessarily reflect Nolan's thoughts on the film)

Clam's Grade:  D

Well that was just terrible - yes, just awful. I cannot actually count the number of times I rolled my eyes when I was watching the movie, and they actually had the gumption to make it Rated R. If I can't think of anything shocking the entire two hours, except a ton of sexual innuendoes (which no child will probably get it). There were no PPs or BBs, BLs or VGs visible - but they talked about them a lot. If you don't get my cryptic abbreviations feel free to ask. But, honestly, it may be the worst movie so far this year, and I hate dissing some great actors, but one must ask "why"? The only really interesting character was poor Jock, and that was just bizarre. I really can't say anymore - I can't. This movie makes my head hurt to think about. It makes me question why I didn't see that Jennifer Lopez movie instead (and that's pretty bad). Ultimately, rent it on DVD if you love Johnny Depp that much... then you can fast forward.

About the Author

Clam writes for The Outlook, a local paper in Newton, NC. He is an actor in live theater, film, and television and has been reviewing movies for nearly fifteen years. Some day he hopes to get his big break, and maybe make it to Broadway. Please feel free to e-mail you questions or comments HERE.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil

My Grade:  B-

I’m a sucker for a good B movie horror, so I had to check out Tucker and Dale vs Evil. I had heard good things and it just so happens to reside in the streaming portion of Netflix. Easy decision.

The story is simple and ripe for satirical comedy:  two rednecks on vacation at their dilapidated cabin in the woods get mistaken for killers by a group of preppy college kids. It’s brilliant because it turns the tables on the horror genre. Usually, these types of films are about the preppy, good looking college kids who get attacked by homicidal hillbillies. No so in this film. The college kids are the monsters.

There is plenty of blood and gore for fans of the horror genre, but the almost slapstick ways in which the “kills” take place would make Sam Raimi proud. It’s a wonderful blend of comedy and gore, but it’s not as scary as it should be as it takes shots at the horror genre. Amping up the fear would make the satire much more potent and the comedy hit harder.

It’s refreshing, though, for this film to not fall back on nudity and bad language as many similar films do. There is enough language for it to earn its R rating, but is very tame compared to most R rated films these days. That fact adds to the idea that Tucker and Dale are just a couple of nice, innnocent guys that get thrown into a situation that is out of their control and gets way out of hand.

That heartbeat which drives the film keeps us invested in these two lovable characters. If they weren’t crafted in such a way that we could empathize with them, this film would feel tedious and overly long despite running a short 89 minutes. It definitely doesn’t feel its length which is a good thing but the ending drags out a bit and some of the twists and turns feel forced.

Overall, Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a fun riff on the horror genre that could be improved by being a little scarier and a little more creative as it tries to surprise its audience. It benefits from a strong but simple premise and delivers a good dose of laughter. I enjoyed it and, if you’re a fan of horror-comedies, I think you will, too.

Dumb and Dumber To

My Grade:  B

Dumb and Dumber stands as one of the best comedies of all time. I will stand behind that statement and vehemently defend it to anyone who wants to disagree. It simultaneously explores the innocence and stupidity of its two protagonists while throwing joke after joke at you, some of which are very subtle and almost, dare I say, high-brow. Unfortunately, the recent follow up does not capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle awesomeness but still offers some great laughs and a bit of heart.

The beginning of the film is rather disjointed and not all of the gags work out very well. I was happy to see Harry (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd (Jim Carrey) back at their antics (and even see a few throwbacks to the original film) but I wasn’t impressed and didn’t laugh a lot. Once we hit the second act, though, and the dimwitted pair takes off on their journey (with the hilarious Rob Riggle in tow), the film becomes 90 minutes of pure laughter that feels more like a quick 30 minutes.

The story is equal parts nostalgia and originality. It mirrors the journey of the first film but with a murder plot rather than a kidnapping plot and going to Texas instead of Colorado. But, unlike The Hangover Part II, Dumb and Dumber To doesn’t feel like a remake but an actual sequel. And there are just enough connections to the first film to satisfy the hard-core Dumb and Dumber fan, but it still holds up as a standalone film - something that seems to be less and less important in the studio system these days.

The standouts in this film are the same things that stood out in the original:  Jim Carrey’s mastery of physical comedy and the chemistry between Carrey and Daniels. Carrey is one of the best physical comedians to ever grace a screen. Whether he’s dancing, eating a hotdog in the most unconventional but hilarious way, or making absurd faces, he can get the laugh every time. This is what some people dislike about his brand of comedy, but there is no denying his knack for it. And there has never been such a perfect marriage of comedy genius than Carrey and Daniels. I don’t know what it is about them, but their timing and delivery of jokes paired with their banter back and forth... amazing.

Overall, Dumb and Dumber To is not as good as it’s predecessor but is a satisfying follow-up to one of the best comedies of all time. One thing is for sure, though:  if you didn’t like the first one, you won’t like this one. To be honest, I thought I was being foolishly hopeful that Dumb and Dumber To would be any good, but I’m proud to report that fans of the first should be very satisfied. 

Chef

My Grade:  B

It’s not common to find a feel good comedy that is rated R. Well, I found one in Chef written and directed by Jon Favreau who also stars as the titular chef. Yes, this is the guy that directed the somewhat cheesy Christmas comedy Elf as well as the first two installments in Marvel’s massive Iron Man franchise. That’s quite the varied filmography which also includes raunchy comedies like Made and, one of my favorites, Swingers. Chef is a decidedly different brand of rated R comedy than his previous efforts. Mostly because the only thing giving it an R rating is language (which is far more mild than most R rated films out these days). It’s almost a family film... almost.

Favreau plays Carl Casper, a head chef at a reasonably high end restaurant who no longer gets to add his own style and creativity to his food. When a popular food critic blasts his food, Carl learns about Twitter and what “going viral” means when he is on the losing end of an embarrassing viral video. He loses his job but starts his own food truck (funded by his estranged wife’s ex-husband... awkward) and finds joy in cooking and, more importantly, in life once again.

The story isn’t anything groundbreaking but it feels good and is fun. It helps that the cast is having a blast on screen together. The chemistry really shines through when they are on the food truck feeding the masses. Also, it features a breakout performance from Emjay Anthony who is only 11 but plays Carl’s son like a pro. He is funny, vulnerable, and has a blast with his on-screen dad. He steals most scenes he’s in and even helps tug at the heartstrings during the more emotional scenes. Look out for him as he gets older and takes on more roles!

The really cool thing about this story is how it integrates social media in the business of Carl’s food truck. In today’s viral market, small businesses must have a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. in order to reach a large enough customer base to thrive. And I have never seen that captured so perfectly in a film until Chef. More importantly, the way it is integrated into the story isn’t in a hokey anecdotal way; it actually helps drive the action.

The other notable thing is Robert Downey Jr.’s cameo. This is no long an actor that just does cameos. If he is in a movie, he’s the lead or at least a second lead. It doesn’t come as a huge surprise, though, because he and Favreau have become friends; but it’s still interesting to see him pop up in one surprising and hilarious scene, then back off for the rest of the actors to shine. I enjoyed it.

Overall, Chef is a rare, R rated, feel good comedy and it is a joy. It doesn’t even fall into the predictable tropes of these kinds of comedies which is refreshing. Some scenes do go on too long or seem tacked on just to get a laugh which isn’t there, but it’s not enough to ruin the other positive things this film has to offer. When a scene does nothing to further the plot or contribute to character, it should end up on the cutting room floor. Some scenes which belong on that cutting room floor found their way into the film making it a little long but still a solid film with a strong heartbeat to accompany the consistent laughs.

22 Jump Street

My Grade:  A-

Seldom is there a comedy sequel that tops the original. But, when a comedy does huge numbers at the box office, then you and I both know that the studio is going to capitalize on that success and release a sequel as quickly as possible. That is what happened with 21 Jump Street and it’s more recent follow up, 22 Jump Street. The interesting part, though, is that the movie (in one of many very meta moments) acknowledges this fact.

The meta moments are what set this sequel apart from other comedy sequels. The characters equate the high school undercover mission from the first film to the actual first film and the college undercover mission to the second film. Jokes are made about the increased budget this time around and how they should do exactly the same thing as the first time around because that’s how sequels work. There is even a great moment where Jenko (Channing Tatum) mentions that they could go protect the white house or something (as he did as Cale in White House Down). These jokes work every time in the film. So, 22 Jump Street ends up being a sequel about sequels.

The jokes that don’t work all the time revolve around the “bromance” themes. The interesting thing is how the filmmakers shape the relationship between Jenko and  football star Zook (Wyatt Russell). They have a meet cute, the relationship develops, breaks down, and essentially follows all the tropes of a standard romantic comedy. I like that idea but it isn’t executed quite right to really work. The problem is how in your face it is. If it were more subtle and the audience was allowed to realize on their own that it was following the rom-com path... that would have been much better. But the film makes a point to let us know that their initial meeting is a “meet cute” and it’s an awkward moment.

What really shines in this film, though, is what shined in the first film:  the on screen chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Comedically, they play extremely well off each other and their types are polar opposites which allows for some great comedic moments. Hill’s type is the not-very-physical, somewhat out of shape, awkward, emotional, sometimes effeminate nice guy. While Tatum’s type is the kind of dumb, physically impressive, bro-tastic meathead. That means these roles are crafted perfectly for these two actors and they are a blast to watch. I’ve got to say, though, that Ice Cube steals pretty much every scene he’s in as the angry Captain. The only part of the film in which I cried laughing was when he goes ballistic at a parent/student luncheon. Hilarious stuff.

The big surprise in the film, though, is that it actually throws some twists at you that make sense and work. It would be easy to fall back on comedy and the chemistry of the two leads and ignore the need for a solid story. 22 Jump Street does not make that mistake, though, which is quite refreshing. There are still some logical leaps that aren’t quite believable, but it’s a comedy so they are forgivable.

Overall, 22 Jump Street is a lot of fun and a solid follow up to one of the best action comedies to be released in recent history. Tatum and Hill shine in roles that seem to be written perfectly for them and the supporting cast steps up to the plate and provides laughs of their own. Add a solid story with some twists and turns and you have a really strong summer movie. I look forward to 23 Jump Street, which we all know will happen because 22 Jump Street has already done big numbers at the box office.

Neighbors

My Grade:  B-

Nicholas Stoller, as a director, has brought us the greatest, R-rated rom com of all time (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), a very solid follow up to that rom com (Get Him To The Greek), a reasonably well-received comedy that I haven’t seen (The Five-Year Engagement), and a TV movie that I’ve never heard of. That’s a pretty decent track record for the director and, now, he has brought us the raunchy tale of a young family living next to a frat house. It’s simply called Neighbors and, contrary to what you might think, there’s more to it than just raunchy comedy.

Seth Rogen actually plays a grown man with a job, wife, and kid. It’s against type for him, but his usual type (underemployed, stoner, man-child) is played by a younger generation of actors who do it better. Zac Efron is the fearless leader of the frat and he’s hysterical. I’ve never been a fan of his but it seems that he was born to play this role. He even proves that he may make a pretty scary villain in a film one day. I am a fan, however, of Dave Franco who plays Efron’s second-in-command. Unfortunately, I didn’t like him as much in Neighbors as I did in 21 Jump Street. He just seems uncomfortable in most of the film but his character offers hope for these keg-guzzling frat boys because he had ambitions beyond college. Then there’s Christopher Mintz-Plasse who will forever be “McLovin” to anyone who has seen Superbad. I like him (especially after he rocked the house in Kick Ass 2), but he barely says anything in this film. I wanted more of him. To get back to Rogen, he is still hilarious in this film and his chemistry with Rose Byrne (his wife) is outstanding. They make comedic gold together which is not something I would have expected.

Apart from the acting, the story is outrageous and unbelievable. It works, to an extent, because it’s a comedy and comedies can pull off “over-the-top,” but it is too much at times. It does, however, play on a theme that will hit home to a lot of young adults. The film is all about that transition period from the rebellious, immature party days of college into responsible adulthood in which you have to hold down a job and possibly provide for a family. That transition period is a tough, confusing time for some people because of the belief that “adulthood” is stuffy and boring. While I like that there is some depth to the film, it does get a little in-your-face with this message. I would prefer it to be a bit more subtle so that we can glean the message on our own.

Overall, Neighbors is hilarious, albeit a bit too over the top and unbelievable. Rogen and Efron have great chemistry as do Rogen and Byrne which makes for a fun movie-going experience. And it’s great that it’s about something under the surface, but it could be a bit more sneaky about pushing it’s themes. Ultimately, this film proves that I am quickly becoming a Nicholas Stoller fan. I can’t wait to see what he does next!

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

My Grade:  B+

The news team is back together for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and it’s bigger this time... because it’s NETWORK news! They are still the same quirky, womanizing news team, though, which is good news for fans of the first installment. This film also includes a number of throwbacks to its predecessor which work wonderfully. At just shy of 2 hours, though, it’s a bit too long with a few too many laugh-free streaks.

Our favorite anchorman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), gets fired from his job, his wife gets promoted, and he leaves her. With his life in shambles, he gets offered a job at a brand new 24-hour news station and he takes it. After assembling his lovable, albeit moronic news team from their various outlandish jobs that they turned to after they left the news, they head to New York. They don’t really fit in at this new station but they end up reshaping the way news is reported forever. Of course some assorted hijinks and some conflict within the news team make the story interesting and as ridiculous as ever, but it wouldn’t be Anchorman without that.

The problem with the film is not the comedy. It’s more of the same in a good way. Some of the more creatively nonsensical dialogue that you’ll ever see (“Andre the Giant gave a surprisingly nimble foot rub”). Some of the best examples of this kind of dialogue come from the amazingly funny and quasi-sweet scenes between Brick Tamland (comedic genius Steve Carell) and his unlikely love interest, Chani (the always hilarious Kristen Wiig). These were some of my favorite scenes in the entire film. There is also just enough substance in the film to make it relevant. It has a lot to say about mass media and the way news is reported but it doesn’t use a sledgehammer to drive its point home... it uses satire.

The problem is that the inevitable moment when Ron hits rock bottom (you know it’s going to happen because... well, it’s just is that kind of film) feels contrived. It leads to more of the hilarious, silly dialogue and unrealistic story lines that dominate the film, but it doesn’t work for me as a plot point. Honestly, I feel it’s a little to heavy for this kind of film. Also, the ‘love story’ involving Ron comes out of nowhere and doesn’t really affect the overall story. It provides some laughs (which is the point in a comedy... I get it) but it could have been done better and matter a little more in the grand scheme of the film.

Overall, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is a solid follow up to a comedy classic. It has a little substance and provides plenty of laughs despite its handful of flaws. Also, be on the look out for some awesome, unexpected cameos that were successfully kept under wraps during the marketing blitz for the film.

Don Jon

My Grade:  A-

As a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it comes as no surprise that I have been excited about Don Jon since I first heard about it and it was tentatively titled Don Jon’s Addiction. Gordon-Levitt writes, directs, and stars in this film and I’m quite impressed. Not only is the writing supremely smart, but the film looks good, too. Sometimes when actors get behind the camera, they tend to focus more on performance because that’s what they know, but Gordon-Levitt delivers a well-rounded directorial debut with strong performances, great editing, and lots of laughs.

The protagonist, Jon Martello (Gordon-Levitt), loves a few things: his body, his pad (apartment for those of you that may not understand the term), his ride (car... duh), his family, his boys, his girls (which he gets a lot of), his church, and his porn. Yep, church and porn are right beside each other on that list. He has a nice little routine going of visiting his family, watching porn, working out, watching porn, going out and taking home a random, then watching porn in the living room while she’s in the bedroom, going to church and confessing his sins, then watching more porn. Throw in some time to clean up his place and you have a pretty good understanding of Jon’s life. Jon’s routine allows Gordon-Levitt the ability to use parallelism to show small changes in this routine for comedic and artistic purposes as well as to show growth of the character. For instance, every time Jon goes to the gym, he walks by the basketball courts and straight to the weight room to work out by himself. As the film progresses, though, and Jon gets outside of himself a little, he stops, turns, and goes to work out with others. The metaphor hits you like a ton of bricks and you get it. Then you can’t help but realize that this is a smart movie.

A kink is thrown in Jon’s routine when he comes across Barbara (Scarlett Johansson). She won’t go to bed with Jon the first night but he’s ready for the “long game” as he discusses with his buddy Bobby (a hilarious turn from the little known Rob Brown) since Barbara is “more than a dime.” She has a list of things that she wants him to do including taking a night class so he can get out of being a bar tender for a living, meeting her family, watching romantic comedies, and stop watching porn. He does everything else, but can’t stop the porn which, in true romantic comedy fashion drives them apart and we suspect they may get back together by the end... but this film mocks the conventions of the romantic comedy genre, so you’ll have to watch to find out if they actually get back together. Toss in the older, not as attractive Esther (a wonderful turn from Julianne Moore) and Jon is about to get his entire world flipped upside down.

For all the smarts Gordon-Levitt’s screenplay exhibits, it ends up confused by the end because it thinks it’s about love when it’s really about sex. It certainly explores sex in a daring, unique, honest way, but as much as the film wants to be about love, it is not. So, on that level, maybe it doesn’t take a very honest or daring look at sex because it essentially equates sex with love. Another way the film seems a bit confused because it essentially damns the watching of porn as selfish and unfulfilling, but it plasters sex scenes, nudity, and more up on the screen for the viewer which is reminiscent of... you guessed it... porn.

If you put aside the confusion this film has about its message, it is still a highly entertaining film with great acting performances, fantastic use of music (which I didn’t really delve into but it’s superb), outstanding editing, and a sharp screenplay. It proves what I’ve been saying (and many others have been saying) for years... Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most talented people in Hollywood and we should all be looking forward to more of what he has to offer in the years to come in front of and behind the camera.

Kick-Ass 2

My Grade:  B-

It’s truly a shame that Matthew Vaughn did not direct this follow up to his cult hit Kickass (2010) because it is one of my favorite superhero films. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and skillfully combines ironic wit, self-awareness, and graphic violence. Jeff Wadlow’s (Never Back Down) sequel simply isn’t as good as its predecessor but it’s still highly entertaining. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is back as high school wanna-be super hero Kickass and so is the gem of the first installment, Chloe Grace Moretz as the foul mouthed killing machine, Hit Girl. We don’t get quite enough of her but maybe there will be a spinoff (fingers crossed). But this time, there are more “superheroes” most notably Donald Faison (“Scrubs”) as physics-teacher-turned-masked-crusader, Dr. Gravity and the leader of a sort of super hero social club, Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey). This group mostly does community service and tame patrols, but they occasionally get into some serious stuff like shutting down a child prostitution ring... heavy stuff, right? It feels a bit uneven but therein lies the tongue-in-cheek nature of the film.

Kickass and the Colonel have their work cut out for them, though, because Chris D’Amico, a.k.a. Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), is out for revenge of his father’s death and once he gets a taste of being a super villain, it intoxicates him. And you may be surprised, but Mintz-Plasse makes a very good bad guy. I never knew he could really act apart from being a high school dweeb. He especially impresses when he first dons his outfit as the MF’er (we’ll keep it edited for the sake of this review) and robs a gas station. He skillfully shows his character completely lose it while hitting the punchline at the end of the scene perfectly. Kudos to the young man.

What really sends D’Amico over the edge, though, is when he goes to see his uncle (who now runs the family from prison). For the sake of saving spoilers, I won’t mention what happens but Mintz-Plasse knocks that scene out of the park as well. That leads him to create an evil army and wreck havoc on the city in search of Kickass and revenge. And boy, does it get violent. His army is SCARY. Where the first film reveled in cartoonish violence and slow motion, this film smashes you in the face with over-the-top but raw, brutal violence. Some critics lambaste the film for this, but I think it’s great because it helps push the point of the film that real life is not a movie and violence has consequences. At the same time, though, the film takes detours from this message to overload you with inspirational exposition about how anyone can be a hero with or without a mask. 

While these dialogue heavy scenes weigh the film down, the third act is non-stop excitement and flies by. The one other big problem with the film, though, is Hit Girl’s side story of integration into the high school cliques. That makes for some decent scenes but it doesn’t feel necessary.

Overall, Kickass 2 doesn’t live up to it’s origins but showcases an amazing performance from Christopher Mintz-Plasse and a perfect pairing of actor and role with Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. The character itself is quite uneven in my mind, but it’s a great role for Carrey. It is certainly an entertaining film, though, so if you liked the first one, be sure to check this one out.

The Heat

My Grade:  A

I didn’t like Bridesmaids as much as a comedy as I did as a drama... and I didn’t really even like it as a drama. But I went to see The Heat anyway (it’s directed by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids) and I am very happy I did. I don’t really care that other critics have called it predictable, boring, too long, or disjointed because I was laughing consistently and that’s all that matters in a comedy film. Because ultimately, who cares what the case that they are trying to solve is? I was a criminal justice major in college and I don’t care. I just want to laugh and The Heat certainly serves up plenty of opportunities to do just that.

I seldom expect well-rounded characters in a comedy film like this, but Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) and Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) are surprisingly not the most two dimensional characters I’ve ever seen. Yes, they are a bit cliche, but there’s some solid character development in there that allows us to get to know these characters more so than just recognizing their archetypes. So kudos to Feig and even the first time screenwriter Katie Dippold (MADtv) for giving us a little more than just a couple of cliche characters being funny for 2 hours. They were even able to give the story a little bit of a heartbeat... emotional core... whatever you want to call touching stuff in a film. I didn’t cry, but I was touched.

The reason this film really works, though, is because Bullock and McCarthy are a perfect comedic pair; mostly because they are such polar opposites. It’s the same idea as pairing the brash, raucous McCarthy with the straight laced Jason Bateman in Identity Thief earlier this year but The Heat works much better. These two women are simply a match made in comedy heaven (which I’m not sure anyone expected).

Ultimately I don’t see The Heat being up for awards like Feig’s last effort, but at least this film knows what it is and delivers exactly what it’s supposed to deliver:  tons of laughs. This isn’t a film that will be remembered for years to come or go down in the history books as a classic, but it’s still nice to see an original film thoroughly entertain AND make money at the box office. Of course, they have already announced a sequel which I’m not exactly thrilled about; however, it may be worth watching McCarthy and Bullock pair up again to bring “the heat.”

Identity Thief

My Grade:  B-

I have to start this out by saying that Jason Batman cracks me up in pretty much everything he does. So, despite trying to come at this thing free of personal bias, I’m coming at it as a big fan of Mr. Bateman. I want you to keep that in mind since you are probably going to decide whether or not to see this film based solely on this review.

Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman) is a complete and utter cliche. He’s a good father, he works a not-very-glamorous job but is great at it, and he has a wife and two kids. He also has another kid on the way and is not sure how they are going to afford another kid... I’m sure you’ve heard of that character before. He’s a good dude, which is why it sucks so bad when his identity gets stolen by the rude, crude Diana (Melissa McCarthy).

Since the local cops apparently can’t handle a situation like this (she has stolen his identity in Florida while he’s in Colorado), Sandy is forced to take his fate into his own hands and bring her back to Colorado so the law can deal with her and he can get his life back. Does that seem a bit ridiculous to you? Good, because it is. The FBI or some sort of federal agency probably handles this kind of thing and, if Sandy can find her, the FBI surely can.

Absurdly ridiculous plots aren’t uncommon in comedies, so I am okay with that aspect, but there are also drug dealers and some sort of bounty hunter coming after them. These bad guys are purely motivated by greed (Diana has a 50,000 dollar price on her head). Needless to say, they are very flimsy, one dimensional characters.

The most astonishing thing about this film, however, is not the absurd plot, the paper-thin bad guys, or the repetitive jokes that circle around Diana being overweight. It’s the fact that Identity Thief is hands-down the most emotionally manipulative comedy I have ever seen. Diana has such a pitiful background story that the writer (Craig Mazin of The Hangover II) is trying to shame you into believing that it’s almost okay that she has committed multiple felonies. She eventually gets Sandy on her side, so why shouldn’t we (the audience) be on her side? Because she’s a HORRIBLE PERSON!

Now that I have sufficiently covered almost everything that is wrong with this film (other than the fact that it’s unashamedly predictable and far too long), I have to say that I did enjoy watching it. This film provides enough laughs to be tolerable and Melissa McCarthy puts on a seriously impressive performance. She’s expectedly funny but surprisingly good in the emotionally manipulative parts. She’s a big part as to why the film successfully manipulates your emotions. Kudos to her.

Overall, Identity Thief is rife with problems but good enough to get out of Redbox one night when you have a free rental code and want some mindless, intermittently funny entertainment... especially if you like Jason Bateman, like I do.

Warm Bodies

My Grade:  A-

Warm Bodies combines romance and action with... zombies? That doesn’t sound right, does it? Well it’s right and it’s pretty cool. I’m a sucker for fresh, original premises, though. I wasn’t even planning to see this film, however, until I realized that it’s written and directed by Jonathan Levine. He was the genius at the helm of the hands-down best film of 2011, 50/50 (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen), so I figured I’d give Warm Bodies a shot. I’m glad I did.

This film follows introspective zombie, R (an understated but amazing turn from Nicholas Hoult), as he falls for (and kidnaps) a living, breathing human girl, Julie (the gorgeous and genuine Teresa Palmer). It also teaches us a little more about why zombies eat human brains, which is great. When a zombie eats a human brain, they get to experience what that human experienced. It’s the closest they can get to dreaming. Sounds a bit cheesy, I know, but it’s very sweet and almost makes us want them to get the chance to eat brains... almost.

The best thing about this film is the self-aware, witty thoughts of our protagonist, R, which we are made privy to via voiceover. He is hilarious and he tries so hard to be a good person despite having an unquenchable hunger for humans. The film sags in the middle, though. It’s the whole “getting to know you” portion of the rom-com (which this film is, despite it effectively fooling some people) and it’s a rather boring version of that rom-com necessity. But, introducing the premise at the beginning is great, and the ending is surprisingly action packed. 

Now, the whole thing about zombies sort of gradually becoming more alive (which you should know from the trailers... no spoilers here) is kind of hard to cope with if you’re a big fan of zombies. It also comes off a bit cheesy if you think about it too long. Love can literally warm a heart... like the metaphoric phrase “heart warming.” I personally am cool with it and like the hope that it gives, but some of the more hardcore zombie fans may scoff at that idea. I guess it’s a good thing this film isn’t aimed at hardcore zombie fans.

It also has a great look. The gloomy, washed out nature of the film fits the mood perfectly and makes the vibrant flashbacks and dream sequences that much more incredible to watch. There are also some very creative shots. The most impressive thing visually, though, is how real the “bonies” (zombies with all their flesh gone) look. They are terrifying and amazingly realistic.

Overall, Warm Bodies is a welcome breath of fresh life in an overdone genre and it contains some wonderful performances. I mentioned Hoult and Palmer, but Analeigh Tipton (Crazy Stupid Love) and Dave Franco (21 Jump Street) are very fitting casting choices as well. And, of course, John Malkovich is always great. You wouldn’t think a zombie film would make a good date movie, but Warm Bodies would. Bring your tissues, though, because some of the more emotional audience members will probably shed a tear or two.

Silver Linings Playbook

My Grade:  A+

Bradley Cooper. Robert De Niro. Chris Tucker. Jennifer Lawrence. Does that sound like the cast of an independent film? I didn’t think so. But Silver Linings Playbook is at least independent enough to screen at the Independent Spirit Awards. Their definition of “indie” is clearly a bit subjective, but Silver Linings Playbook fit and garnered 5 nominations in 2013.  It was also nominated for 8 Oscars but only took home the statue for Lead Actress (Jennifer Lawrence).

According to an article in the LA Times, one of the reasons Silver Linings Playbook is considered more “indie” than other movies with this caliber of talent is because of its relatively modest budget of 21 million dollars (which, after tax breaks and other things, fits the “under 20 million” rule at the Independent Spirit Awards). The other reason is because of its “uniqueness of vision.” And that’s what makes it great. It’s quirky, funny, and emotionally gripping, but it’s also refreshingly different from the usual rom-com faire (if you consider this a rom-com... which it only sort of is).

It does (kind of) follow the rom-com conventions of a meet cute, growth of the relationship, tear that relationship down, then hope they get together at the end. But it’s so much more than that and (best of all) you can’t predict the ending... probably. I couldn’t, at least.

Bradley Cooper is at his best in this film as the emotionally unstable guy, Pat, trying to rebuild his life after a trip to “the looney bin.” Emotionally unstable is hard to play... and this is the guy from The Hangover. He kills it, though. Then, of course, there’s the juggernaut that is Robert De Niro. He is Pat’s sports loving, highly superstitious, gambling-addicted father. He is also a bit emotionally unstable as he is given to outbursts of anger. This isn’t the caliber of performance De Niro has in Taxi Driver, but it’s strong, nonetheless. Trying to hold his own on screen with these two is funny man Chris Tucker, who hadn’t appeared in a film since Rush Hour 3... five long years earlier.  Maybe the time off did him some good because he does very well in this film. His role isn’t major, but he provides some good laughs and stays out of the way for the bigger players.

The most outstanding things about this film have everything to do with Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). Not only does Lawrence put on a show that Cooper and Tucker could learn from... but De Niro could even learn a thing or two. She’s unbelievably good in Silver Linings Playbook. It helps that her character is superbly crafted, giving her a lot to work with; but I can’t even describe everything she is able to do in this film (including dance her heart out) - she’s just that good. The only problem I have with the film also has to do with Tiffany, though. I am left to come up with my own ideas about her motivation in the film. I get it with the other characters. They have personal motivations that lead them to do things and change them based on other characters. I have my guesses with Tiffany, but it’s not clear what motivates her or what she gets out of everything that goes on.

Overall, this film is outstanding. It looks great, the acting is superb, the story is funny while still tugging at your heartstrings, and the characters are surprisingly well-developed. Silver Linings Playbook also gave me a once in a lifetime (so far) experience:  at one point in the film, the entire theater erupted in applause. Not at the final credits as if to collectively say “good film.” I mean outright, full-on applause complete with cheering. And it’s not like one person started it, slow-clap style. It was spontaneous and powerful... amazing. Never had I seen that happen in the middle (well, near the end) of a film before.  And, of course, I joined in.

Surviving Family

My Grade:  B

If you know me or have read my reviews, you have heard me go on and on about independent cinema and how much it has to offer in the vein of fresh, original content and undiscovered talent.  If you haven’t heard that from me, you have now.  I recently got the good fortune to connect with Mara Lesemann who wrote and produced a drama called Surviving Family.  She enjoyed my reviews enough to want my semi-expert opinion on the film, so I viewed it and enjoyed it.  As with all films, it’s not without its problems, though.

As a writer, I tend to talk mostly about story... and this story is fine.  Terry (played by the gorgeous Sarah Wilson) is about to marry california dream-boat, Alex (Billy Magnussen), but they have only known each other for six months!  When they go to see Terry’s family, things have changed since the last time she had been home... almost two years ago.  The family borders on dysfunctional at times, but tend to come through for each other when they really need each other.  They do have a rough history, though.

This film captures the idea that every family has its problems.  It’s slow at times and some scenes are too long, but that’s how these family gatherings are.  It’s a lot of talking and reminiscing.  The biggest issue I have with the story is how it seems to dwell in the past. The characters all have their problems because of their past, so it’s natural that the past will come up; however, it slows the pace a bit much for my tastes (but it’s a drama, so slow is fine).  The film itself dwells in the past, too, by showing numerous flashbacks; some of which are VERY striking because they are completely silent.  This was a bit off putting at first, but I feel they are more powerful because they are silent.

There are some extremely touching moments in the film.  I’m not one to cry in a film and I didn’t almost cry, but I could see where someone would cry... especially at one particular moment:  Terry is at her most vulnerable and Alex says a beautiful line that immediately strengthens her, dries her tears, and puts a smile on her face.  (That was my way of trying to explain the moment without spoiling anything... I hope it worked.)

The thing that stands out the most in this film is the look of it.  Timothy Naylor’s cinematography is wonderful.  It won’t blow you away and Naylor doesn’t take a lot of chances with super complicated shots or weird angles, but it’s exactly what it needs to be.  The lighting is great, too.  Almost every time we see Sarah Wilson she looks like an angel as the sun dances off her hair.  And the unorthodox wedding looks good for what it is.  It looks thrown together... but that’s the point.  And I must say that it’s thrown together pretty well.

The only other issue I have with the film is some of the acting.  The entire cast is great at times and just okay at times.  Some of the emotional scenes seem forced but some of them are great.  Some of the lighthearted comedy scenes get a bit awkward, but most work very well.  This is definitely a talented cast but they do have their ups and downs.

Overall, Surviving Family is a wonderful first foray in the feature realm for director Laura Thies and writer/producer Mara Lesemann.  I’m not a huge fan of straight drama, but I was pulled in by this film.  The story flows well and is touching at times, the cinematography works very well, and the cast has moments of brilliance.