[Trailer] This Is 40

Trailer for the sort of sequel to Knocked Up is out, looks cute and funny but after the dour Funny People his shine has worn off a tad. He’s produced far more than he’s directed, we’ll see if he can get back in the zone. The cast is great so cautious excitement is in place…

MOVIE REVIEW: LOCK OUT

IN THEATERS

LOCK OUT



The U.S. government strong-arms a man accused of treason into rescuing the president's daughter from a maximum-security space prison that's been taken over by the inmates in a brutal riot. Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, and Peter Stormare star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: James Mather

Cast: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Vincent Regan, Joe Gilgun, Lennie James

Release Date: Apr 13, 2012

Rated PG-13 Language, Intense Sequences of Violence, Intense Sequences of Action and Some Sexual References

Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

There’s not an original note in Lock Out’s runtime. Every element is “borrowed” from somewhere else with the most obvious being John Carpenter’s Escape from New York. Director James Mather shoots his film with a choppy hand. Occasionally he’ll hit a fun note but it’s rarely sustained. His biggest failing is never getting much out of his actors. Guy Pearce, who I’ve always thought should have been a bigger star, does the best he can even if his dialogue comes off clunky from time to time. Maggie Grace is equally stiff and shares very little chemistry with Pearce. Peter Stormare mugs through a few scenes adding very little. Even with its obvious failings, Lock Out is extremely watch able as pulp sci-fi fun. The first 2 acts breeze easily with the film coming to a screeching halt in the final act which saps the film of any energy it had.

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: 21 JUMP STREET

IN THEATERS

21 JUMP STREET



The television series that shot Johnny Depp to stardom makes the leap to the big screen in this reboot starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) have the kind of faces that could let them pass for teenagers. Eager to prove themselves as effective policemen, the pair join the Jump Street program and go undercover to investigate a high-school drug ring. Now, the only thing more daunting than the prospect of taking on violent adolescent dope slingers is the possibility of experiencing the torture of their teenage years all over again. Ice Cube, Brie Larson, and Rob Riggle co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle

Release Date: Mar 16, 2012

Rated R for drug Material, Crude and Sexual Content, Pervasive Language, Some Violence and Teen Drinking

Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy

Review:

Lame remakes are a dime a dozen and when I first heard about this reboot I thought it’d fit nicely into that category. Impressively after the first 15 minutes it lets you know in obvious terms that it’s totally aware of itself and the genre. Once you know it’s going to have some fun with itself, it frees the audience to sit back and enjoy the palatable comedic energy brimming from its vulgar self. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller keep their comedy moving loosely and quickly, satirizing a handful of buddy cop comedy tropes and clichés. The strength of the film lies with the 2 leads who display some excellent chemistry together. By this point in time you know what to expect from Jonah Hill and here he’s in good form. The real surprise comes in the form of Channing Tatum, displaying some excellent comedic chops. Up until now Tatum had done a generally impressive job of underwhelming me in every role I’ve seen him in but here he’s funny, really funny. Brie Larson makes for a strong supporting female, she comes off as the most adult of the group. Ice Cube hams it up in a small role to great effect; along with some other well know actors popping here and there. All in all, it makes a nearly 2 hour comedy feel substantially shorter.

B