MOVIE REVIEW: TOM AND JERRY

 

A legendary rivalry reemerges when Jerry moves into New York City's finest hotel on the eve of the wedding of the century, forcing the desperate event planner to hire Tom to get rid of him. As mayhem ensues, the escalating cat-and-mouse battle soon threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the hotel itself.

Director: Tim Story

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, and Ken Jeong, Nicky Jam, Bobby Cannavale,  Lil Rel Howery, William Hanna, Mel Blanc, June Foray, Frank Welker

Release Date: February 26, 2021

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for cartoon violence, rude humor and brief language

Runtime: 1 h 41 min

Review:

Tom and Jerry is very much a throwback on multiple levels.  The titular pair are some of the most iconic characters in the history of animation with this being the second outing on the big screen.  It’s not the mess that the 1992 film but still scattershot and uneven for its runtime.  The live action hybrid works fairly well even though there are multiple times that you can tell the cast is reacting to air or placeholders.  Its still a very impressive feat on a technical level and the animations looks wonderfully fluid.  It’s hard to watch this without getting some Who Framed Roger Rabbit vibes in spots with a more family friendly approach.  The story and direction are harmlessly broad for the most part but there are bits of edge, some of which works well while others fall flat.  Tom and Jerry mostly stay true to their classic iterations which is a win for people who remember the classic shorts.  The human cast is solid if bland with Chloë Grace Moretz carrying the larger portion of the film, Moretz is a talented actress but her delivery here feels a little wooden and uninspired.  Her character never really connects as a fully formed entity but just a vessel to move the story along.  Michael Peña likewise doesn’t feel as naturalistic as he usually does which leads me to be believe that there might be a disconnect between the live actors and their animated counter parts.  As such, we are left with an overlong film that works in spots but lulls in others.  Tim Story’s film would have benefited from trimming but overall it’s a solid mindless family film that’ll keep most kids entertained. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SHADOW IN THE CLOUD

 

While travelling with top-secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress, a female WWII pilot encounters an evil presence on board.

Director: Roseanne Liang

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Taylor John Smith, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale, Callan Mulvey

Release Date: January 1, 2021

Genre: Action, Horror, War

Rated R for language throughout, sexual references and violence

Runtime: 1 h 23 min

Review:

There’s a clear point in Roseanne Liang gonzo Shadow in the Cloud where you’ll either check out or go all in with the nuttiness on screen.  Its first half is deliberately paced serving as a wonderful showcase for Chloë Grace Moretz talents.  She’s always been an engaging actress whose deserving of a bigger spotlight, this film isn’t nearly good enough to give her a solid boost.  The film itself is a hodgepodge of ideas mashed up into a strange B-Movie where Moretz’s character battles sexual stereotypes, gremlins, the Japanese and motherhood.   Once the film decides to go all in with it’s insanity, it’s best to throw any semblance of logic out the window because the film doesn’t care if any of what you see makes any sense.  You get the sense that in the hands of a better filmmaker there might be a better film in there somewhere.  Unfortunately Roseanne Liang, who heavily rewrote Max Landis’s original screenplay, just isn’t that talented as a filmmaker.  The 2^nd half is clunky on various levels which leaves the movie feeling more like one of the nameless direct to video movies that pepper streaming services.  At the very least, Chloë Grace Moretz makes Shadow in the Cloud far more watchable than it deserves to be.

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: GRETA

Frances finds a handbag on the New York subway and promptly returns it to Greta, an eccentric French piano teacher who loves tea and classical music. Having recently lost her mother, young Frances strikes up a seemingly harmless friendship with the lonely and kindly widow who enjoys her company. But when Greta's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and obsessive, Frances does whatever it takes to end the toxic relationship before things spirals out of control.

Director: Neil Jordan

Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Colm Feore, Stephen Rea

Release Date: March 1, 2019

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Rated R for some violence and disturbing images

Runtime: 1h 38 min

Review:

Greta is one of those odd ball thrillers that pulls you in because of the talent assembled but never provides anything new or groundbreaking.  Neil Jordan’s film is wonderfully shot which makes it look far better than it deserves.  So it has a nice glossy veneer that elevates the subject matter even when it’s at its most ridiculous.  Isabelle Huppert is a decorated actress fully capable of playing this role in her sleep and she makes the entire thing run even if you do wonder why such an acclaimed actress is slumming it in such routine Fatal Attraction/Single White Female knock off. Chloë Grace Moretz is solid overall even though her and Huppert’s characters are so thinly written that there’s very little depth to either of them.  Maika Monroe makes the most of her supporting role even making more nuanced as the film moves around.  Ultimately, Greta is one of those films that pops up on cable down the road and is just interesting enough to keep you from changing the channel.         

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: SUSPIRIA

Young American dancer Susie Bannion arrives in 1970s Berlin to audition for the world-renowned Helena Markos Dance Co. When she vaults to the role of lead dancer, the woman she replaces breaks down and accuses the company's female directors of witchcraft. Meanwhile, an inquisitive psychotherapist and a member of the troupe uncover dark and sinister secrets as they probe the depths of the studio's hidden underground chambers.

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Chloë Grace Moretz, Angela Winkler, Renée Soutendijk, Ingrid Caven, Sylvie Testud

Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery

Runtime: 2h 32min

Review:

Remaking Suspiria was an interesting choice and one that could have gone terribly wrong.  The fact that a high end director like Luca Guadagnino decided to undertake the task made the idea of a remake interesting to say the least.  Luca Guadagnino decision to reimagine as oppose to simply remake it was a wise one.  Fans of the original techincolor fever dream may not enjoy this version for a variety of reasons.  Guadagnino ditches the highly stylized visuals and delivers a dense Polanski type horror film.  It’s engaging and always interesting but it feels overly complex and obsessed with itself at the same time.  There are plenty of sequences that will leave a lasting impression such as an early dance sequence which is beautiful, brutal and vicious.   Guadagnino talent as a director is on full display but at times it does seem to lack forward momentum.  To say it’s a slow moving film is a bit of an understatement, the film moves at a glacial pace and it feels every bit of a it’s 2 and half hour run time.  It can be a detriment but there is so much to appreciate in terms of craftsmanship that you can enjoy it multiple levels especially once the final reveal uncorks an insane sequence.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: CARRIE

Stephen King's Carrie gets a new life in this remake starring Chloë Grace Moretz as a teenager who discovers that she has the extraordinary ability to move objects with the power of her mind, which eventually leads to mayhem and horror at her high-school prom. Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry) directs, and Julianne Moore co-stars as Carrie's overbearing mother. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Director: Kimberly Peirce

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday, Judy Greer

Rated R for bloody violence, disturbing images, language and some sexual content

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min.

Genres: Horror

Review:

Remakes are a tricky business. More times than not they are simply money grabs trying to capitalize on name recognition. This remake is tough to review simply because as a stand alone film it’s not terrible. It’s fully competent with a decent cast featuring Chloë Grace Moretz who delivers a fine performance even if she’s miscast. Kimberly Peirce, clearly in paycheck mode, gives us a sleek and efficient little film. Unfortunately it hits all the exact same beats as original 1976 film. There are scant bits of modern touches (Youtube, Cellphones!) but considering the subject matter and current focus on bullying I can’t help but feel like there are plenty of missed opportunities. The remakes is solid but (in my best old man voice) do yourself a favor and watch the original or read the book because the remake is simply a rehash, albeit a decent one.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: KICK ASS 2

His heroic antics having inspired a citywide wave of masked vigilantes, Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) joins their ranks to help clean up the streets, only to face a formidable challenge when the vengeful Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) transforms himself into the world's first super villain in this sequel written and directed by Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down). John Leguizamo, Donald Faison, Morris Chestnut, and Robert Emms co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Jeff Wadlow

Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jim Carrey, John Leguizamo, Donald Faison

Release Date: Aug 16, 2013

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and brief nudity

Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.

Genres: Superhero, Action/Adventure, Comedy

Review:

The first Kick Ass film was always going to be a tough act to follow. That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty to like in this serviceable sequel. Actually there’s a lot to like actually, especially for fans but watching the sequel you jhave a sense that there’s something missing. It provides the over the top violence and witty dialogue from the first but lacks some of the punch. It has a strange over the top but neutered softer feel throughout. There are big tonal shifts throughout which exasperates the issue. Another issue is that Hit Girl is sidelined for big chucks of the film. Chloë Grace Moretz is mostly relegated to dealing with mean girl instead of kicking ass. When she’s in costume, Moretz brings the same kind of spark and energy she did in the original, something this sequel sorely needed. That being said, Moretz’s subplot achieves a rather poignant moment of vulnerability in the third act, really showing off her range. Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t as impressive but he’s solid throughout. He brings the same goofy aloof earnestness to the titular character. Johnson is adequately wide eye throughout but it’s a tougher to believe that he’s an actual high school senior this time around. The remaining supporting cast is fun but most are underused and underdeveloped. Jim Carrey in particular is underused even though he shines in his limited scenes. He brings the wacky energy that Nic Cage did in the original and I wish there was more of him. Donald Faison has a small role as an overly caffeinated hero; it’s a fun little role which also could have done with a tad more screen time. The rest of the heroes are kind of background noise even Kick Ass’s new love interest played by the lovely Lindy Booth. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is a bit of a mixed bag as the villain. He’s never menacing enough to be taken seriously. The script doesn’t do him any favors with some clunky dialogue. To Mintz-Plasse’s credit he does provide some funny moments. So is this a worthy sequel to Kick Ass? It works more than it doesn’t but it never reaches the heights of original. Fans of the original, like myself, will find plenty to like here. Just don’t expect to be blown away.

B-

[Trailer] Kick Ass 2

Red Band trailer for the sequel to one of my favorite movies from the last few years is out and it look like it’ll more than live up to the original!

The only thing that makes me a bit worries is the new director’s previous films which don’t inspire a ton of confidence. Either way, I’ll be checking it out for sure.