My dear reader(s), this weekend I caught up with Jerry Seinfeld's directoral debut, Unfrosted.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing plot-specific.
In the 1960s, two warring cereal giants race to create a new kind of breakfast pastry.
First, let's be clear: Unfrosted is the Rocketman of breakfast stories, that is, a fantasy loosely based on some things that probably happened not at all the way they're depicted here. Imagination: Yay! Realism: Nay.
Jerry Seinfeld's humor isn't for everyone, but if you're a fan, or not actively anti-Seinfeld, you're likely to enjoy Unfrosted, particularly if you're of a certain age. The movie features familiar faces - indeed, to the smallest role, there's hardly anyone unrecognizable - and nostalgia reigns supreme. Unfrosted is short, moves quickly, and is full of easy humor, absolutely nothing challenging or uncomfortable. It's not the kind of thing that would ever be a critical darling, even when Seinfeld was better regarded, and it never would have been a must-see big-screen release, but I found it enjoyable enough. Also, a random fact: Until I saw this movie, I had NO idea that Thurl Ravenscroft ("You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") was Tony the Tiger, so I guess it's educational too.
Unfrosted clocks in at a quick 97 minutes amd is rated PG13 for "some suggestive references and language."
Unfrosted takes some well-known faces on a humorous, nostalgic spin through breakfast history. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Unfrosted gets five.
In 1963, Kellogg's and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever.
Director: Jerry Seinfeld
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer
Release Date: May 3, 2024
Genre: Biography, Comedy, History
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive references and language
Runtime: 1h 33m
Review:
Unfrosted, Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut, is a fictional farce fueled by nostalgia and an endless supply of celebrity cameos but it's noticeably lacking on the story side. Right off the bat, the film has a goofy, surreal tone that only becomes more prevalent as the film goes on, making it readily apparent that this story is mostly detached from reality outside of a few incidental exceptions. Instead, it leans heavily into a cartoonish series of outlandish sequences, there's even an absurdist take on the events of January 6th, played out by equally cartoonish characters that gives Seinfeld's collection of famous friends a chance to ham it up throughout. It makes for a mixed bag of results with some bits working better than others as the story uses the skeleton of The Right Stuff as a loose map for the entire thing. Seinfeld is clearly having a ball as he embraces ever silly instinct and a cast who is more than willing to go along with it. Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield and Amy Schumer get the largest share of screen time and they're surprisingly uneven especially early on as the story tries to find some sort of comedic footing. Hugh Grant fares far better as the Shakespearean actor slumming it as a cereal mascot with the film perking up every time he pops up. It’s a recurring theme as the film hits its highpoints during some of the extended cameos that pepper the back half of the film with one in particular being the biggest surprise even though it’s the most obvious crossover once it occurs. A recurring joke with Walter Cronkite is equally effective but it’s not enough to keep the comedic energy going making the film feel much longer than it actually is. It all makes Unfrosted feel like a missed opportunity that never takes full advantage of the impressive amount of talent assembled.
The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy
Rob Marshall's live action The Little Mermaid is a colorful and lively remake that's elevated by a strong cast and lavish visuals. This newest entry into Disney's live action remake cash cow isn't as inventive as 2021 Cruella instead it hews closely to the original which gives it an old fashion feel throughout. There is a matter of changes like the much talked about change in the main characters race and a larger variety of ethnic diversity all around in addition to some lyrical tweaks, song deletions and additions. Unless you are a diehard traditionalist these changes don't really affect the central story much, if at all, and are far less distracting than the realistic versions of Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle which takes some getting used to. Changes aside, the film doesn't take long to hit its stride with wonderfully staged versions of classic songs like Part of Your World and Under the Sea which allows Marshall to splash a kaleidoscope of color and energetic camera moves that make those moments pop. Ursula's Poor Unfortunate Souls already has hints of Chicago's When You're Good to Mama built into the song which perfectly pairs with Marshall's repertoire. The songs and staging are excellent, and the cast is led by luminous Halle Bailey in what is sure to be a star making role. Bailey possesses a natural onscreen presence which makes her performance undeniably likeable, especially once she starts belting out those classic songs. She keeps your attention throughout, even in the film's latter half which starts to drag noticeably. Jonah Hauer-King isn't able to match Bailey's turn as he comes off as bland and forgettable even with a solo song. Melissa McCarthy is scenery chewing machine as Ursula with the aforementioned Poor Unfortunate Souls serving as her showcase. Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay and Awkwafina turn in solid voice work as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle even though the random rap added for the latter feels a little out of place. Javier Bardem isn't tasked to do much outside of sound stern and fatherly which does with general ease. Together the cast keeps the film entertaining even though it loses steam as it moves into its final act which makes its extended runtime even more of headscratcher. A bit of editing would have helped this film keep its energy going from start to finish. That being said this live action redo of The Little Mermaid stands above most of the other adaptations due in large part to a well matched director and actors.
In the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, two clashing detectives -- one human and the other a puppet -- must work together to solve the brutal murders of former cast members of a beloved puppet TV show.
Director: Brian Henson
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks
Release Date: August 24, 2018
Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime
Rated R for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material
Runtime: 1h 31min
Review:
Your enjoyment of
The Happytime Murders will depend on how “cutting edge” you consider the
conceit. If you think it’s the first
time felt puppets have gone R rated raunchy then it’ll be a more enjoyable experience
than those are familiar with an old Peter Jackson film. The Happytime Murders isn’t Meet The
Feebles. It’s raunchy and vulgar but it’s
never as offensive as it thinks it is.
To its credit, the film does hold some solid laughs for people who came
to see R rated hijinks on the puppet side of life. Melissa McCarthy seems to be enjoying herself
while partnering with her puppet partner.
McCarthy and Bill Barretta share some solid chemistry even if his
character is just a 40’s noir detective.
The biggest drawback of Brian Henson’s film is that once you get past
the puppet sex, drugs and vulgarity your left with a pretty standard film noir complete
with a femme fatale. It plays along those
beats predictably throughout making it’s 90-minute runtime feel longer than it
actually is. It’s a shame that they didn’t
take some more risk with their story and go for something truly outrageous. Instead it plays it safe and starts to
overstay it’s welcome as it heads toward the finale. The Happytime Murders is one of those high
concept films that has a great idea but doesn’t take advantage of its full
potential.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a pair of strange bedfellows: The Infiltrator and Ghostbusters.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: The Infiltrator.
A US Customs officer launches a dangerous undercover mission to catch one of the world's top drug kingpins.
It is both a blessing and a curse that The Infiltrator is good, but not special. In an age where the Internet has no problem convincing people they hate films they haven't even seen yet, being neither great nor terrible enough to be buzzworthy isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Still, structured as it is around a decorated actor (Bryan Cranston) in a role tailor-made to earn him more hardware, the tense tale ultimately can't help feeling a little disappointing.
Cranston is solid in the lead, but it's John Leguizamo who steals the show as his loose-cannon partner. Diane Kruger, Benjamin Bratt, and Joseph Gilgun are also terrific in supporting roles.
Characters are well fleshed out, so that even the worst earn a bit of sympathy. Focusing on the money side of the illegal narcotics trade, The Infiltrator is less sensational than movies that detail the gorier realities of drug running, but the intense plot has no trouble holding your attention. Sadly, if it's details that elevate a good movie to great, that's where The Infiltrator fails.
Some of the direction is decidedly amateurish, with too-obvious foreshadowing and lingering frames that almost stray into comic territory. Hairstyles, fashions, and music are sometimes not correct for the picture's 1985 setting. There's no obvious filler, but the movie runs a hair too long and drags noticeably in the second act.
The Infiltrator clocks in at 127 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language throughout, some sexual content, and drug material."
The Infiltrator boasts strong performances and well-definted characters, offering solid "grown-up" counterprogramming on a blockbuster family-release weekend.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Infiltrator gets six and a half.
Fangirl points: Jason Isaacs!
Next up: the poliarizing reboot of Ghostbusters, a.k.a. why it's best to ignore Internet trolls.
Three scientists, an MTA employee, and the world's best-looking receptionist team up to quash a ghost infestation in New York.
Dear Reader(s): We all have things we love enough to drive us past the point of reason. I am no stranger to this phenomenon, and, thus, in my presence it is best not to speak of that unfunny, unholy, disrespectful dumpster fire that is 2004's Starsky & Hutch. Herein I shall attempt to give even the staunchest fan of the original Ghostbusters a few reasons why 2016's Ghostbusters is NOT 2004's Starsky & Hutch.
Ghostbusters is a well-and-truly funny comedy, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Rather than bastardizing beloved characters, it reboots with new ones. Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy are delightful as estranged friends reunited by the spirit crisis; their chemistry is fantastic. Leslie Jones' wisecracks and physical comedy provide the movie's funniest moments, and Chris Hemsworth is perfect as the dopey but ridiculously-hot office assistant.
There's nostalgia aplenty for those who want it, in faces both living and undead, the recurring Ghostbusters theme, and that very familiar logo.
Though rarer than laughs, there are a fair few proper scares to be had as well. The movie boasts super effects and 3D that is not just worthwhile, but great! Ghosts run the gamut from pretty terrifying to pretty hilarious. The comedy slows up a bit in the movie's second act, displaced by some fun, well-executed action sequences.
Only Kate McKinnon's character, Jillian Holtzman, is a weak link, so jarringly off that every appearance becomes an unfortunate distraction. Writers and actress must share blame for bringing to life possibly the most irritating character I've ever seen on the silver screen (and, yes, I'm including Jar-Jar Binks in that equation).
Ghostbusters runs 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "supernatural action and some crude humor."
Ghostbusters is a uniformly funny movie with a great cast and terrific effects. Only that rare individual who strongly feels Chris Hemsworth is better used in something like Black Hat wouldn't find something to enjoy here.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ghostbusters gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: Michael Kenneth Williams and one teeny glimpse of my beloved Shubert Theatre!
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon,
Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth
Release Date: Jul
15, 2016
Rated PG-13 for supernatural action and some crude humor.
Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters isn’t the disaster many
predicted but it’s not good enough on it’s own to prove it was necessary
either.I’m one of the few people who
always liked Ghostbusters but was never in love with it even though I grew up
with it.There’s a definite fondness for
the original film but I never really thought it was sacrilegious to remake it
with women.The director and cast do the
best with what they have but it’s clear that there’s an issue with the
story.The overall plot hits a lot of
the same notes that the original did but with a more generic punch.As the film goes on, it does feel like
everybody is reigning it in a bit, making me wish they’d decided to go for a
full on R rated comedy.I think that
would have been a better choice for this director and cast.As is, the cast is solid throughout with
Chris Hemsworth leaving the biggest impression by displaying some strong
comedic chops.The film is a tad
overlong by about 20 minutes or with some noticeable dead spots that could have
been easily excised.The Ghostbusters’
remake isn’t a train wreck but it’s not as good as it should have been to
justify its existence.
Academy Award®-nominated star Melissa McCarthy
(Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy) headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is
sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready
to rebrand herself as America’s
latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and
forget.McCarthy is joined in The Boss by an all-star cast led by Kristen Bell,
Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates. Directed by Ben Falcone (Tammy), the comedy is
based on an original character created by McCarthy and written by McCarthy and
Falcone alongside their Groundlings collaborator, Steve Mallory. The film is
produced by McCarthy and Falcone through their On the Day productions and Will
Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy through their Gary Sanchez Productions.
Director: Ben Falcone
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage,
Kristen Schaal, Kathy Bates.
Release Date: Apr
08, 2016
Rated R for Sexual content, language and brief drug use.
Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
The Boss is a comedy that’s sporadically funny and
consistently uneven through out.It’s
not nearly as bad as Tammy, also directed by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone,
but it does feel like a missed opportunity.The supporting cast is made up of an excellent collection of comedic
actors like Tyler Labine, Cecily Strong and Kristen Schaal but proceeds to give
them nothing to do.Kathy Bates passes
through and doesn’t really add much to the film which is a shame because it
does seem like there’s a much funnier movie in there but it just never hit’s
the sweet spot.Melissa McCarthy, to her
credit, is committed as always and she delivers some of the films funniest
lines.Peter Dinklage seems incredibly at
home on the comedic side, I just wished his character was a bit more fleshed
out.Overall it’s a forgettable comedy
that’ll probably end up on a late Saturday afternoon double header with
Identity Crisis.
After years of doing work integral to the success of major missions, an
intelligent but self-conscious deskbound CIA analyst (Melissa McCarthy) is
finally given the chance to go undercover as a homely "cat lady" in
order to save her missing partner (Jude Law) and thwart a global disaster at
the hands of a dangerous arms dealer, in this comedy written and directed by
Paul Feig. ~ Erin Demers, Rovi
Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Bobby
Cannavale, Allison Janney
Release Date: Jun
05, 2015
Rated R for Language Throughout, Violence, and Some
Sexual Content Including Brief Graphic
Nudity
Runtime: 1 hr. 55 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy
Review:
Spy is Paul Feig’s wonderfully vulgar spoof of the spy genre
that could become comedic classic down the road.It’s hilarious from the start and rarely lags
even with it’s hefty 2 hour runtime.Melissa McCarthy carries the film ably but the real standouts are her
supporting cast.Jason Statham and Rose
Byrne are clearly having a ball hamming it up.Statham steals just about every scene he’s in; thankfully Feig doesn’t
overuse him making him more effective.Byrne and her hair piece are slightly larger players but just as funny
as the sexy villainess.Mix in strong
turns by Miranda Hart and Allison Janney and you’ve got a cast firing on all
cylinders.Paul Feig’s script is sharp
and witty even going as far as giving us a fairly interesting spy plot to keep
things interesting and hilarious all the way through.
Dearest Blog, yesterday it was off to the pictures for the new Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy comedy, Spy.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
After a mission goes awry, a formerly office-bound CIA agent takes to the field.
Well,
dear reader(s), the truth of the matter is I don't burn many cinema
trips on comedies. There are several reasons for that, not least of
which is that you usually spend your ten bucks and two hours only to
find you've already seen all the really funny bits for free in a
two-minute trailer. However, as Jason Statham goes, so go I, and I'm
pleased to report that this time the captivating Mr. Statham is not
responsible for two hours I want back. (Lookin' squarely at you,
Redemption!)
It's fair to say you haven't heard the last of Jason
Statham here, but Melissa McCarthy is the gal with her name above the
title, and the comedienne ably keeps the laughs rolling as her
accidentally-capable agent plays perfectly off other staples: the
debonair Bond-type (Jude Law), the buffoonish superstar (Statham), the
desk-jockey best friend (Miranda Hart), and of course the slick and
slimy baddies (Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale).
Spy couldn't be more
brilliantly cast, but as a fan I have to give a special shout-out to
Miranda Hart, whose terrific turn hopefully will bring her lots more
notice on this side of the pond. And then there's Jason
Statham...oh...Jason Statham. If you didn't already know Statham can be
funny, well, you just aren't paying attention, but he's a legitimate
scene-stealer in Spy, and I couldn't be more delighted. Well, I *could*
be more delighted if I hadn't had to wait 13 full minutes for him to
make an appearance, but, other than that...probably not. Spy keeps the
laughs coming, and if I worried this might be another of "those"
waste-of-time comedies, that concern was already off the table before
Statham even turned up.
Spy clocks in at an even two hours and is
rated R for "language throughout, violence, and some sexual content
including brief graphic nudity."
Smartly written and perfectly
cast, Spy is a laugh-out-loud comedy with fantastic action and fight
sequences, some beautiful locations, and nice twists.
Of a possible Nine
Weasleys, Spy gets eight.
Until next time...*
*Author's note: This review sucks because I have no Starbucks today!
The Wolfpack set out in search of Mr. Chow after Doug is kidnapped by a criminal seeking to recover $21 million from the diminutive hustler as the decadent Hangover trilogy winds to an outrageous close. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, John Goodman, and Melissa McCarthy star in this Warner Bros. release from director Todd Phillips. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, John Goodman, Melissa McCarthy
Release Date: May 23, 2013
Rated R for Drug Content, Brief Graphic Nudity, Pervasive Language, Sexual References and Some Violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
“The End.” “It All Ends.” “It Ends.” Etc… I really hope those taglines at the top of the posters are a firm promise. Some series really shouldn’t go past its original film. It’s fairly apparent that The Hangover was the kind of movie that never should have been a franchise. It would have been a smart decision to avoid sequels, like Phillips did with Old School. Instead we were dealt one of the laziest sequels ever. This 3rd film is only marginally better. I do give Phillips credit for mixing up the formula this go around even though it creates a weird serious / comedic tone throughout. As a comedy, it’s never consistently funny. At best it, delivers a handful of chuckles here and there along with long stretches of nothing. By nothing, I mean nothing. No fun, no thrills, no suspense. The audience is just left wading through uninteresting exposition until we get to the next set piece. The cast is just as disinterested as most of the audience, Cooper and Helms in particular. They both seem content in delivering lines from the past films and not much else, not that I really blame them. Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong both get larger roles here and are given free reign to do whatever they want. Both take their characters to extremes with grating results. John Goodman and Melissa McCarthy are terribly underused in one note characters. The film has a strange feel about it, like it’s disinterested in itself. The few chuckles that come through don’t last long enough to reach a zenith. It only finds a tad breath of energy in a post credit scene which comes after an awkward slow-mo montage. Let’s hope they don’t renege on their promise to let it end.
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…
Director Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow team with co-writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo for this comedy about a devoted maid of honor whose life falls into ruin as she plans her best friend's dream wedding. Upon hearing the news that Lillian (Maya Rudolph) has gotten engaged, ecstatic Annie (Wiig) leaps at the chance to plan the perfect wedding. With the big day rapidly approaching, Annie struggles to put her romantic and financial woes aside in order to give her dearest friend a day of memories that will last a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey
Release Date: May 13, 2011
Rated R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Bridesmaid is a funny movie but it delivers a lot more than you might expect and while it might be shackled with being a “chickflick” it most avoids a lot of the worst clichés of the genre. Starting with a raucous sex scene, Bridesmaids seems like it’d settle into being a Hangover type film with women. In reality it’s something much meatier and even thoughtful. Kristen Wiig, who cowrote this film, is center stage and she truly impresses. Playing a frazzled neurotic woman who’s moments away from a nervous breakdown, she delivers the comedic portions with ease but where she’s truly shines is her ability to deal with the dramatic part. Her performance is the best thing in the film and she’s on key throughout. TV director/actor Paul Feig lets his cast do the work and kind of stays out of the way for the most part. It’s a smart move since the cast is populated with funny women who all shine with limited screen time. Melissa McCarthy is given some of the best lines in the film and leaves a strong impression. Jon Hamm and Chris O'Dowd, as the requisite romantic interest, both have limited roles but are funny with the latter being extremely charming. While the film is strong for the most part, it’s overlong and lags from time to time with the romantic subplot that feels a tad out of place. Even with those issues it’s still an impressive film that really shows off the talents of the cast, Wiig in particular.
