Cindy Prascik's Review of It Chapter 2

Yesterday it was (finally) back to the cinema for It Chapter 2.

Spoiler level here will be moderate, nothing plot-related, but I'll offer one general thought that may be considered spoilerey. Forewarned is forearmed.

Nearly three decades after the events of Chapter 1, the Losers Club is called back to Derry to face off with their old nemesis.

It Chapter 2 is easily the weaker half of this iconic Stephen King tale, and stretching it to a bloated three-hour runtime did it no favors, though steady pacing keeps the movie from bogging down too much. Creature and gore effects are solid, and the de-aging process used on the youngsters from Chapter 1 didn't bother me, though it's been much maligned elsewhere. There isn't much scary about the film--even the cheap jump scares are too obvious to have much effect--but it is blessed with a talented, likable cast, fronted by Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain and Golden Globe nominee James McAvoy. McAvoy and the less-decorated Bill Hader are especially strong throughout. The kids from Chapter 1 are still solid, though with far less to do than in round one. Frankly, the adults are never quite as interesting.

On the strength of its cast and well-formed characters, It Chapter 2 works best when focused on people and relationships. The story of friendship, reconnecting, and redemption is a timeless one that never fails to engage; unfortunately, the horror/fantasy aspects just don't measure up, and even come off a bit laughable. Thanks to a few tweaks, this version of IT feels less melancholy than the original, and I fear it will fade from memory much more quickly.

It Chapter 2 clocks in at 169 minutes and is rated R for "disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual material."

Despite its many flaws, you'll still want to see the Losers Club through to the end with It Chapter 2.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, It Chapter 2 gets six. Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: IT CHAPTER TWO

Defeated by members of the Losers' Club, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again. Now adults, the childhood friends have long since gone their separate ways. But when people start disappearing, Mike Hanlon calls the others home for one final stand. Damaged by scars from the past, the united Losers must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise -- now more powerful than ever.

Director: Andrés Muschietti

Cast: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean

Release Date: September 6, 2019

Genre: Horror

Rated R for disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some crude sexual material.

Runtime: 2 h 50 min

Review:

It Chapter Two has the unenviable task of trying to tie up the story started in the original film.  Much like the original novel and mini series adaptation the latter half of the story doesn’t quite have the pop or elegance of the first half of the story.  This sequel is bigger and has a more expansive mythology.  It has an impressive collection of big name actors as the grown versions of the Losers Club who all play their roles fairly well.  Still, as you sit through Andrés Muschietti’s nearly 3 hour opus you keep waiting for something amazing or truly terrifying to happen.  It never does as we go through a variety of side stories and back stories.  That’s not to say there aren’t any thrilling or mildly scary sequences because there are but the problem is that it all feels sort of routine leaving the film like a hodgepodge collection of horror tropes blended into a single film.  It’s never a bad film per say but it’s not a great film either.  The main issue is that the central villain is put on display much too often which makes each subsequent appearance less and less scary.  By the conclusion some of the moments come off as funnier as opposed to spine tingling, making it feel closer to a late era Nightmare on Elm Street which is fitting since there’s a visual nod to the 5^th film in that series.


B-

MOVIE REVIEW: SAUSAGE PARTY

A misplaced sausage (voice of Seth Rogen) and his food friends embark on an existential adventure through the aisles of a massive supermarket in this raunchy animated comedy. While they are initially excited by the prospect of a Fourth of July sale, the perishable pals are soon horrified when they learn the full truth about what happens after they are purchased.

Director: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon

Cast: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera

Release Date: Aug 12, 2016

Rated R for pervasive Language, Drug Use and Strong Crude Sexual Content

Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min.

Genres: Animated, Comedy

Review:

Sausage Party is every bit as raunchy and politically incorrect coming from the minds of  Seth Rogen, Johan Hill, and Evan Goldberg.  If not for the sheer amount of F bombs and sex jokes this would fit right in with any Pixar movie.  The basis of the plot is very similar to some of the Toy Story films taken to the extreme with a focus on sex while skewering organized religion and various other topics along the way.  It’s pretty easy to get lost in all the raunchy fun but the script does a great job of satirizing a lot of big themes.  Even with it’s headier themes mixed into the plot the film accomplices it’s primary goal of being laugh out loud funny for the better part of it’s runtime.  The trek through the grocery store is a cornucopia of set pieces which are incredibly impressive and fun all leading up to a final scene that will either make you laugh uncontrollably or shake your head in disbelief.   

A

MOVIE REVIEW: TRAINWRECK

Since she was a little girl, it’s been drilled into Amy’s (Schumer) head by her rascal of a dad (Colin Quinn) that monogamy isn’t realistic. Now a magazine writer, Amy lives by that credo—enjoying what she feels is an uninhibited life free from stifling, boring romantic commitment—but in actuality, she’s kind of in a rut. When she finds herself starting to fall for the subject of the new article she’s writing, a charming and successful sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), Amy starts to wonder if other grown-ups, including this guy who really seems to like her, might be on to something.

 Director: Judd Apatow

Cast: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn

Release Date: Jul 17, 2015

Rated R for strong Sexual Content, Nudity, Language and Some Drug Use

Runtime: 2 hr. 2 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Amy Schumer, comedy’s IT girl at the moment, first film is a solid romantic comedy.  Yes, there’s here trademark vulgarity and wit but at it’s core it’s a rom-com anyway you cut it.  That’s not a knock but you notice all the same beats in you’ve seen in every rom-com.  In Judd Apatow’s hands its funny and sometimes insightful look into relationships and growing up to a certain extent.  As with all Apatow films it’s overlong by a good half hour and there are some steady bits of deadtime.  That being said, Schumer and Hader have good chemistry together with both settling into their roles comfortably.  Schumer’s voice is rarely lost in the film which, outside of a weird love hate relationship with sports, is a good thing.  Especially since a lot of comics can get sucked into becoming a parody of what made them famous.  Trainwreck doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it just shows you that when done right, it does roll along just fine.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: INSIDE OUT

Emotions run wild in the mind of a little girl who is uprooted from her peaceful life in the Midwest and forced to move to San Francisco in this Pixar adventure from director Pete Docter (Up, Monsters Inc.). Young Riley was perfectly content with her life when her father landed a new job in San Francisco, and the family moved across the country. Now, as Riley prepares to navigate a new city and attend a new school, her emotional headquarters becomes a hot bed of activity. As Joy (voice of Amy Poehler) attempts to keep Riley feeling happy and positive about the move, other emotions like Fear (voice of Bill Hader), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) make the transition a bit more complicated. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Pete Docter 

Cast: Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black

Release Date: Jun 19, 2015 RealD 3D

Rated PG Mild Thematic Elements and Some Action

Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min. Genres: Animated, Family

Review:

Inside Out is a great Pixar film that’s thematically dense and impressive on multiple counts.  It works wonderfully as a kid’s film but I can’t help but think that small kids who see this now will view it differently as they grow older.  That’s what makes this film so special.  There’s something universally relatable about the story being told.  Peter Docter directs his film with a breezy sort of feel while keeping his audiences thoroughly engaged in all the characters.  The animation designs are wonderfully realized with a sort of retro feel to them.  The voice cast is excellent all around with Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith carrying the majority of the weight.  Poehler, whose performance is akin to a Leslie Knope squared, and Smith make for a great pairing with each being a perfect counter balance to each other.  Richard Kind’s Bing Bong, Riley’s imaginary friend, shows up about half way through the film seemingly for comic relief but the character leaves a massive emotional impression.  Inside Out is that good of a film and destined to become a classic.

A

Cindy Prascik’s reviews of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Machete Kills

Dearest Blog, this weekend's cinema schedule left me with two options: act like a real grownup with a movie blog and catch a pair of bonafide awards season hopefuls (Rush and Captain Phillips), or watch a cartoon and a splattery action flick with lots of cleavage and bad language.

Dear Blog, I think we both know where this is heading.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you haven't seen in the trailers.

First on today's agenda was Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.

When scientist Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) finds out his most famous invention is wreaking havoc, he teams with his childhood hero Chester V. (voice of Will Forte) to put a stop to the chaos...with surprising results.

So...I half-remember seeing the first Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I'm pretty sure I liked it, because I was reasonably eager to see the sequel, but I don't remember much about it. Now I'm sorta remembering why. Cloudy 2 is passable entertainment that's safe for the kids, but doesn't offer much for anyone else.

The voice talent in Cloudy is a bunch of folks I generally find pretty funny. In addition to Hader and Forte, there's Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Schaal, and Terry Crews. I don't think the cast is to blame for a lackluster picture, but I can't say anybody jumps out and saves it, either. It's not unheard of for really beautiful art to salvage a so-so animated flick, but this unfortunately falls flat in that regard as well. There are some imaginative creations, but nothing all that memorable or special.

It may be that my expectations of "family" entertainment have become unreasonable, but when I see a family movie these days, I expect it to be just that: something for the whole family, not just something that's suitable for kids. I expect the gorgeous art and clever humor of Finding Nemo, Elton John's hit parade in Gnomeo & Juliet (which had me and all the other grownups in the room dancing and singing along), or something truly special like How to Train Your Dragon, a spectacular film that compares favorably to any other movie, animated or not. The kids in my cinema today seemed to be getting a real charge out of the goofiness and bodily-function humor in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, but I think I only chuckled once...and I checked the clock three times. There's no invention that can turn that into anything good.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 clocks in at 95 minutes and is rated PG for "mild rude humor." It's suitable for kids, but is likely to bore adults to tears.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 gets four.

Next on my agenda was a sequel I more eagerly anticipated, Machete Kills.

Machete is recruited by the US President himself when an ex-Cartel leader points a missile at the good ole U.S. of A.

Machete Kills is a smorgasbord of familiar faces, cartoonish violence, and uber-hot babes. Dear reader(s), you know how I'm always saying an honest trailer is the key to a good movie-going experience? Well, a trailer whose lynchpin is Sofia Vergara firing giant boob guns tells you all you need to know about this one.

Danny Trejo is enjoyable as always, sticking with the less talk and more action plan.

Charlie Sheen is a hoot as the President, and Oscar nominee Demien Bichir is way over the top as the guy with his finger on the trigger. It's always a pleasure to see Walton Goggins, however briefly. Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard, Sofia Vergara, and Lady Gaga are so hot I'm surprised the screen didn't melt. There's blood and silliness aplenty, and...did I mention boob guns? While the movie's not grossly overlong, I do think it would have been better had they trimmed it to 90 minutes.

Machete Kills runs 107 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence throughout, language, and some sexual content." It is exactly as advertised: an explosive, silly bit of brain candy.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Machete Kills gets six. Oh, and...boob guns.

Until next time...



No, seriously...boob guns!

MOVIE REVIEW: THE TO DO LIST

A high-school valedictorian makes a list of all of the sexual acts she wants to try before college, and seeks out the right partners to help expedite her sex education in this semiautobiographical comedy from writer/director Maggie Carey.

Director: Maggie Carey

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader, Alia Shawkat, Sarah Steele, Rachel Bilson

Rated R pervasive strong crude and sexual content including graphic dialogue, drug and alcohol use, and language - all involving teens.

Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.

Genres: Comedy

The To Do List has the makings of a comedy gem. A strong comedic female lead flanked by an equally impressive supporting cast with a funny premise. Unfortunately, it’s evident from the start that Aubrey Plaza is miscast as the valedictorian straight arrow trying to up her sexual IQ. Plaza’s greatest strength is her deadpan sarcastic delivery and this role doesn’t fit her strengths. As a result she never seems comfortable in the role. The script does her very little favors since it can’t help but make obvious jokes, some of which miss badly, and remind us endlessly that it’s set in the 90s. The supporting cast filled out their roles nicely but considering some of the talents they fell slightly underutilized especially Bill Hader and Connie Britton. Rachel Bilson and Plaza have a fun bit of sister chemistry which helps the film in some of the dead spot. There are a few inspired sections that provide some good laughs but they are few and far between unfortunately resulting in a ho-hum comedy that feels a lot longer than its runtime. It could have been Park and Recreation’s Leslie Knope The R Rated Teen Years meets American Pie instead it just misses the mark.

C