MOVIE REVIEW: SONG SUNG BLUES

Two down-on-their-luck performers form a Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.

Director: Craig Brewer

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, Mustafa Shakir, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi

Release Date: December 25, 202

Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music, Musical

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some strong language, some sexual material and brief drug use.

Runtime: 2h 13m

Review:

Song Sung Blues is earnest, almost to a fault, in its utterly non cynical approach to telling the peaks and valleys of Mike and Claire Sardina powered by a pair of stellar turns from Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.  Craig Brewer’s film carries an air of authenticity that borders on schmaltzy at various points during the runtime but thankfully veers away from at decisive moments in the film.  The opening act where the two fall in love and begin their rise as Lighting and Thunder with the two downtrodden dreamers finding their way to success.  Those moments are incredibly uplifting and hard to resist regardless of how you feel about Neil Diamond’s music because there’s just something rousing about the whole thing.  Brewer smartly lets his cast do the heavy lifting during the numerous musical numbers that pepper the film and serve as the beating heart of the whole thing.  That opening act is a wide eye exercise in exuberance in their unabashed pursuit of their dreams before tragedy brings it all to a screeching halt.  Once the story hits its middle segment it allows Jackman and Hudson to really flex their dramatic muscle as they provide an honesty to their performances that shows these people’s heart laid bare.  Both are fantastic during the series of well staged musical as they leave every ounce of energy on the stage but the quieter moments really display the breadth of their talent.  Their chemistry together makes the whole thing work so well that you can’t help but root for the couple to finally make it to the top, all thanks to their nuanced turns.  Song Sung Blues does suffer a bit from some overly hokey dialogue which fall flat in the hands of lesser performers but Jackman and Hudson take you on an emotional journey that makes you feel every triumph and heartache on a personal level.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: COMING 2 AMERICA

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York - where it all began.

Director: Craig Brewer

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones

Release Date: December 18, 2020

Genre: Comedy

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and drug content

Runtime: 1 h 50 min

Review:

Coming 2 America feels like many of recent unnecessary sequels to beloved classics in that it offers fun bits of nostalgia but never reaches the level of the original.  Craig Brewer’s film fits some familiar beats which will leave fans of the original happy but some maybe surprised to find that much of the film takes place in Zamunda and the story’s mainly focused on Jermaine Fowler’s character.  The story flips the script of the original by making the Folwer the outsider; it’s a decent if uninspired take.  Folwer is capable enough but he’s hardly on the same comedic talent level of Eddie Murphy or Arsenio Hall.  The latter do have plenty of chances to shine and they make great use of their screen time in revisiting their classic characters.  The supporting cast is filled with familiar faces with Wesley Snipes clearly having a ball playing General Izzi.  Ultimately, Coming 2 America is a fun little bit of comedic comfort food even if it’ll never touch the originals quality. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: DOLEMITE IS MY NAME

Performer Rudy Ray Moore develops an outrageous character named Dolemite, who becomes an underground sensation and star of a kung-fu, anti-establisment film that could make or break Moore.

Director: Craig Brewer

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, Wesley Snipes

Release Date: October 25, 2019 

Genre  Biography, Comedy, Drama

Rating: R for some sexuality, full nudity and brief language

Runtime: 1 h 58 min

Review:
Craig Brewer’s Dolemite Is My Name is a fun film that could have been easily forgettable if it weren’t for his central star.  Sure, the true story of Rudy Ray Moore is a fascinating anecdote from Hollywood’s past but without Eddie Murphy’s un-containable energy and charisma it wouldn’t be nearly as watchable.  Murphy’s performance is like a throwback to his classic performances not like his slew of rinse and repeat family comedies he churned out for the better part of late 90's and 2000’s.  The film reminds you why Murphy was such a singular star in those classic films like Coming to America, Trading Spaces and even Bowfinger to a certain extent.  He’s such a magnetic performer that you can’t help but enjoy this bawdy biopic.  The story itself feels familiar but Murphy keeps you interested in this underdog tale.  His supporting cast is made up a who’s who of African American actors and comedians with each making the film better than it deserves to be with Da'Vine Joy Randolph & Wesley Snipes leaving lasting impressions.  Ultimately Dolemite Is My Name is the type of film that’s better than it deserves to be because of inspired casting.


B+