Gru welcomes a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who's intent on tormenting his dad. However, their peaceful existence soon comes crashing down when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against Gru.
Director: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, Stephen Colbert
Despicable Me 4 is light, colorful and breezy enough to entertain, thanks in large part to Steve Carell and Will Ferrell's voice work, but this entry proves to be far more forgettable. Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage direct the film at a slightly manic pace by offering an overstuffed roster of characters and storylines which makes the whole story feel scattered. The animation is still incredibly sleek with its bright, angular look which gives children and adults alike plenty of eye candy throughout. Story wise the film's a overly busy for no reason which leave each story thread feel uncooked. The addition of Will Ferrell as Gru's nemesis Maxime Le Mal works incredibly well especially when he and Carrell are throwing barbs back and forth at each out. Ferrell, using a heavy faux French accent, is clearly having a ball voicing the character and the film would have been smart to make him the primary focus since the film works best when his character is onscreen. The side story's about Gru's Wife and Poppy the aspiring teen villain next door who blackmails Gru, just aren't all that interesting in spite of Kristen Wiig and Joey King's best efforts. The much advertised Mega Minion's also prove to be little more than seeding for a future spinoff as opposed to a fully formed storyline. The standard issue minions are still good for a handful of laughs throughout which keeps the whole thing rolling along at a steady pace. The Despicable Me franchise was never the deepest around but its always been fun, this fourth entry continues that trend but lacks the focus to be truly memorable.
After discovering she can see everyone's imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
Director: John Krasinski
Cast: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, Liza Colón-Zayas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Steve Carell
Release Date: May 17, 2024
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.
Runtime:1h 44m
Review:
John Krasinski’s first foray into family films, IF, has plenty of ideas for its saccharine sweet story but its unfocused nature keeps it from really being something special. Krasinski's film does have a certain earnestness that's endearing enough to carry the film through some of the film's slower moments. However, there is a somber undercurrent that pervades the film's narrative as it deals with the trauma of loss and grief which stands in contrast to the candy-colored visuals onscreen. It works in sections but for a film that's only an hour and forty-four minutes it feels decidedly longer than it actually is because it can't maintain a consistent rhythm. It’s a shame because you're left feeling there's a better film in there somewhere if Krasinski had focused on the original trauma angle and storyline instead of pivoting to rediscovering your inner child theme in the back half of the film. Story issues aside he's blessed with a game ensemble cast of Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge doing solid work throughout. Fleming has a likable screen presence throughout which makes her easily relatable as we follow her journey. Reynolds plays against his usual sarcastic type here playing more of a straight man against the CGI creations that pepper the screen. Steve Carrell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge carry the lion's share of the voice work as the imaginary friends who get the most screen time with both doing strong work even if their characters could have benefited from some added depth. Louis Gossett Jr. manages to leave a strong paternal impression with his final screen credit as an elderly teddy bear who sets up a retirement home for forgotten Ifs. A bevy of other A listers voice cameo as other Ifs which makes for a fun game of whose who as they pop up onscreen. You can't deny that IF has its heart in the right place and it delivers some emotional punch in spots, but it proves to be more of a middling experience when compared to something like Monsters Inc. which covers some of the same territory.
In the 1970s, young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader -- the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles. When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance -- Wild Knuckles himself -- and soon discovers that even bad guys need a little help from their friends.
Director: Kyle Balda
Cast: Steve Carell, Pierre Coffin, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Alan Arkin
Your enjoyment of Minions: The Rise of Gru will depend heavily on whether you still find the yellow denim clad underlings adorable or grating. The target audience is sure to be delighted by the colorful hijinks and adults will appreciate the bevy of 70s references thrown on screen in rapid succession. Kyle Balda directs the film with energetic ease in this unapologetically light and breeze children's film. Sure there is a message ingrained through the film's story but none of it is overly heavy or heart wrenching and for this franchise it works. The three central Minions, voiced again by Pierre Coffin, are the central focus of the film regardless of the film's title and their adventures deliver the biggest laughs. Their training with Michelle Yeoh's Master Chow is a particularly fun sequence especially since you get the feeling she's really enjoying herself. Taraji P. Henson's Belle Bottom is set up as the primary villain and she's fun when she's onscreen but the film doesn't take advantage of her or her crew which are voiced by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. Alan Arkin gets a bit more time to shine as Wild Knuckles who is Gru's idol and ultimately his mentor. If you are still in business with this franchise by the fifth entry, Minions: The Rise of Gru will offer an fun easy going family film.
Gov. George W. Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be
his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to
politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of
staff, House Minority Whip and defense secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow
margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and
the world.
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve
Carell, Sam Rockwell, Jesse Plemons
Release Date: December 25, 2018
Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Rated R for language and some violent images Runtime: 2h 12 min
Review:
Vice is an interesting movie to
experience.At its base it’s about a Washington power player who ascends to the highest levels of
office and enacting some of worst portions of the Bush presidency.Vice, though, isn’t interested in a
straightforward approach.Instead Adam
McKay opts for something a bit more comedic and much more meta.As such, the film is entertaining because of how the story is told
even while rooting around in some of the darker parts of the last 10
years.In addition to McKay’s style, the
cast is all stellar with each of them disappearing into their respective roles.Christian Bale leads the film with one of his
body transformations.But outside of the
drastic body transformation, Bale simply dissolves into Dick Cheney utterly
inhabiting his skin. It’s the type of performance that’s a shoe in for an Oscar
nod.Amy Adams, in a quieter and less
showy role, is equally impressive as Cheney’s Lady MacBeth Lynn Cheney.The supporting roles are peppered with
familiar faces like Sam Rockwell and Steve Carrell all of whom turn in quality
performances that make the film all the better.Ultimately, your enjoyment of the film maybe tempered by your political
stance since the film isn’t necessary going to win many approving nods from one
side of the isle.If the film has a
major fault it’s that even with all the excellent performances, we are kept at
arms length from the characters themselves.We never get a real sense of who these people are or what truly
motivates them.We see their actions but
never truly know why they do what they do and perhaps that’s McKay’s point.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas with approximately eight million children for Despicable Me 3.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Having failed to apprehend his arch-nemesis, Gru and his Minions turn back to villainy(ish).
Despicable Me is a "family" franchise that usually has plenty of laughs for fans of any age, and the third installment is no different. It boasts fun, funny characters who are easy to love. You'll have seen most of Gru's best bits in DM3 trailers, but there's plenty of cuteness from Margo, Edith, and Agnes to earn the price of a ticket. Judicious use of the Minions makes their appearances both entertaining and welcome; they are, as usual, the movie's highlight. Series newcomer Trey Parker is hilarious as this outing's stuck-in-the-80s super-villain. His musical choices and pop-culture references are clearly filmmakers throwing parents a bone for bringing their darling eight-year-olds to the show, but they are totally rad! Despicable Me 3 features bright, colorful art, constant-motion animation, and lively tunes sure to keep the kidlets engaged. I had a full house for my screening, and it didn't seem anyone in the room was much in agreement with the picture's mostly middling reviews; rather, kids and grownups alike were all laughing and having a great time.
Despicable Me 3 runs 90 minutes and is rated PG for "action and rude humor."
The Despicable Me franchise may have lost some of its magic along the way, but Despicable Me 3 is still a huge step up from 2015's standalone Minions movie (for whatever that's worth!). Of a possible nine Weasleys, Despicable Me 3 gets five and a half.
Dearest Blog: A point I've previously belabored: Awards Season necessitates sacrifice, and, thus, yesterday I found myself drowning in a triple-bill of critical darlings at Marquee Cinemas, rather than enjoying the second Star Wars viewing I'd have preferred.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or, I guess, from real life, as all three of these films are based (at least loosely) on actual people and events.
First on my agenda: Concussion.
After uncovering the disturbing results of repeated head trauma among former players, a medical examiner faces off with the National Football League.
Dear reader(s), I gotta be straight with ya: I don't like football.
There, I said it. In a place where the sun rises and sets on the Pittsburgh Steelers, where many fans would sacrifice a virgin, cut off a limb, or bop their neighbors on the head with a hammer for that seventh Super Bowl ring, I couldn't possibly care less. Thus, I figured Concussion for the lemon in yesterday's lineup. I figured wrong.
Will Smith is extraordinary as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Allegheny County coroner who first discovered the potential link between the game's violence and former players' mental and physical troubles. As enthusiastic for new knowledge as he is horrified by his findings and determined to prevent further damage, Smith is sincere, believable, and fierce. A non-believer myself, I found it oddly comforting that Omalu is portrayed as both a man of science and a man of faith, two things that seem almost mutually exclusive in today's world.
Concussion's supporting cast is solid, and the story is fascinating and well executed, as Omalu and a few allies butt heads (see what I did there?) with a juggernaut reluctant to acknowledge a very serious potential black mark on its image.
Concussion clocks in at 123 minutes and is rated PG13 for "thematic material including some disturbing images, and language."
Concussion is a well-written, well-acted film that will have no trouble holding your attention from start to finish, even if you don't know the difference between a quarterback and a cornerback.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Concussion gets eight.
Next up: Joy.
A young divorcee hopes to improve her complicated life with a new invention.
Joy is essentially a showcase for Jennifer Lawrence, who is fantastic in the title role, yet the constantly-exaggerated circumstances leave her looking a bit like a female Forrest Gump. The supporting cast includes notables like Robert DeNiro, Virginia Madsen, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini, and Edgar Ramirez, but their characters are little more than paper dolls, every move entirely predictable.
Bradley Cooper turns up for a cup of coffee, only because, of late, it seems director David O. Russell doesn't want to make a movie without him, a sad waste of his talent and charm. The story's a jumble that always seems to be moving, yet never gets anywhere, making the movie feel longer than it is. All in all, Joy is much more interested in showing off its star than it is in being a great movie.
Joy runs 124 minutes and is rated PG13 for "brief strong language."
It's nothing special, but Joy is still an enjoyable watch.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Joy gets six and a half.
And the final item on yesterday's docket: The Big Short.
A handful of financial fringe operators predict (and attempt to cash in on) the big bust of 2008.
The Big Short is a hard film to pin down. It's funny, but it shouldn't be. These guys the film would have you rooting for? They're in the market to rip someone off just as much as the ones you're rooting against.
The terrific cast has already nailed down some awards love, but nobody turns in a game-changing performance. Smart, funny dialogue gets lost in a sea of gratuitous swearing. (Deadwood fan here, so I'm not timid about bad words, but they're not always the right fit.) The story is frenetic, yet the movie seems slow and long.
The narrative setup is interesting, I love the way the film marks time, and, though the characters are comical, The Big Short eventually brings home the gravity of a disaster that destroyed millions of lives.
The Big Short runs an excessive 130 minutes and is rated R for "pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity."
A comic take on a story that's anything but funny, The Big Short is depressing and entertaining at the same time.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Big Short gets seven.
Until next time...may the Force be strong enough to scare off unwanted holiday visitors, so I can squeeze in another Star Wars screening before going back to work!
Will Ferrell returns to the role of Ron Burgundy in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which finds the popular San Diego television newsman pulling up stakes with co-host Veronica (Christina Applegate), his intrepid reporter Brian (Paul Rudd), overenthusiastic sports reporter Champ (David Koechner), and imbecilic weatherman Brick (Steve Carell) in order to move to New York City and launch the first ever 24-hour news network. Adam McKay, who directed the original, returns as well to helm this comedy. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Christina Applegate
Release Date: Dec 18, 2013
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, drug use, language
and comic violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 59 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Let’s get this out of the way right from the start. Anchorman 2 isn’t as funny or consistent as the original. Sky high expectations from fans, like myself, left the sequel with the nearly impossible task of topping the first film. That being said, the sequel does have plenty of bright spots with certain sequences veering into outlandish hilarity especially a certain cameo filled sequence near the end. Will Ferrell loves this character, in case you didn’t notice his 5 month in character publicity tour, and I still think it’s his most complete creation. The returning cast is all fun even if some get less screen time while others get more with varying results. Kristen Wiig’s role isn’t as large as the trailers lead you to believe but she has good chemistry with Steve Carell. I do think their portions of the film will split people, some loving it and others finding it utterly stupid. Meagan Good is a solid addition to the cast and she shows off some real comedic chops throughout. The plot is fairly clever even though there are a handful of recycled sequences from the first film. The biggest issue is that the film overall is overlong. The original film was a lean hour and half comedy. The sequel clocks in at nearly 2 hours and it has too many dead spot to warrant that runtime. All in all, the sequel is like Ron Burgundy’s life, filled with hilarious peaks and so-so valleys.
A couple of new trailers have hit the interwebs over the last few days so let’s dig right in.
First up is the trailer, which looks surprisingly impressive, for the Captain America sequel. There’s a noticeable tonal shift from the first film which I never loved or hated. This one seems more like an international flavored action thriller with superheroes in the mix. Lots of familiar faces pop up along with plenty of new ones, check it out….
Earlier this week a couple of new Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues trailers hit. The 2nd US trailer showcases plenty of new footage. If that didn’t wet your appetite check out the international trailer which has even more new footage. I’m a huge Will Ferrell so I can’t wait for this, check them out below…
Dearest Blog, a hot, humid, rainy day means one thing to me: lots of people sharing my cinema. It's a prospect that doesn't thrill me, to say the least, but off I went anyway for a double-bill of Despicable Me 2 and R.I.P.D.
Spoiler level here will be mild, limited to things you'd know once you'd seen a trailer or two.
Our leadoff batter was the animated sequel Despicable Me 2.
Former super-villain Gru has gone straight, and spends his days being a father to Margo, Agnes, and Edith, and trying to start a business, his own line of jellies and jams. When a new threat emerges, the Anti-Villain League recruits Gru and his super-villain knowledge to help thwart it.
I liked Despicable Me 2 easily as well as its predecessor, in fact, maybe even a little better. The Despicable Me franchise has learnt that its bread is buttered on the Minion side, and the little yellow fellows play an even bigger role this time around, which is to the film's benefit.
The solid voice talent includes Steve Carrell and Russell Brand, reprising their roles from the first film, as well as newcomers Kristin Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Ken Jeong, and the delightful Steve Coogan. The movie looks great, too. I saw it in 2D, and while I could certainly see things that were designed for 3D effectiveness, there's nothing that didn't look right in 2D, and everything is clear and bright. The second half does fall off somewhat from the first, which might have left me with a less-positive impression if the ending weren't so much fun.
Despicable Me 2 clocks in at 98 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor and mild action." It's a family-friendly good time, well worth your movie dollar.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Despicable Me 2 gets seven and a half.
Next up on my agenda was the comic book movie R.I.P.D.
A cop (Ryan Reynolds) is killed on the job and joins R.I.P.D. ("Rest In Peace Department"), a team of undead good guys who keep undead bad guys from taking over the Earth. He's partnered with an old West lawman (Jeff Bridges) who disdains the idea of any partner, let alone one of the newly-dead.
Now, dear Blog, I try to make a point of being a well-educated consumer. As such, it's not often I get stuck paying for a movie I hate. For sure some are better or worse than I anticipate, but as long as the trailers aren't misleading, seldom am I all that disappointed. R.I.P.D. is the unfortunate exception to the rule; I was bored out of my gourd from beginning to end.
If we're being honest, I don't think most of us expected R.I.P.D. to be anything more than a poor man's Men In Black: good action, some awesome monsters, and hilarious wisecracks. Unfortunately, the action isn't exciting, the monsters look terrible, and the wisecracks are anything but funny. I don't think I laughed even once. The plot didn't engage me for a second, and the whole thing looks so dark (even daylight scenes) that it appears to be under a heavy fog. By luck of the schedule draw, I ended up seeing this in 3D, which is pointless.
The cast is decent, but mostly phones it in. Ryan Reynolds is as likable as any actor working today (ditto his leading lady Stephanie Szostak), but his role is so bland I couldn't say I was actively rooting for him. Academy Award winner Bridges has cornered the market on crusty-but-lovable, kooky old guy roles, but unfortunately this one is just crusty and not at all lovable. By rights he's supposed to provide most of the comedy, but he left me totally flat. Any way you slice it, I was getting stuck with one of my most-despised actors, Mary-Louise Parker, this weekend, as she also stars in the weekend's other big action flick, Red 2. It goes without saying her presence didn't help anything. My beloved Robert Knepper has a cameo that's so bad I'd have been happier not seeing him at all. Other than Szostak, pretty much the only thing the movie has going for it is Kevin Bacon, who is oddly perfect for his role. Oh, and if they got one thing right, it's that Boston is surely a bastion of the undead...I know every time I look at Aerosmith.
R.I.P.D. runs 96 minutes, which seem like 96 hours, and is rated PG13 for "violence, sci-fi/fantasy action, some sensuality, and language including sex references."
Of a possible nine Weasleys, R.I.P.D. gets three.
If I hadn't had to wait for my ride anyway, I probably would have walked out on it.
Dearest Blog, last night the Prascik women decided it would be a good idea to rent The Incredible Burt Wonderstone via Xfinity On Demand. The Prascik women's judgment skills may require adjusting.
Spoiler level here will be mild.
Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and his partner Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi)--once the biggest magic show in Vegas--see their glory fade as more cutting edge acts like Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) vie for the public's attention.
Regular reader(s) will know I seldom pay to see a comedy at the cinema. Reasons include, but are not limited to, the fact that most comedies aren't so grand I need to see them on the big screen, and that so few comedies are actually funny outside the bits that make the trailers. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone gives me no reason to reconsider my stance on seeing comedies at the cinema.
For a so-so movie, Burt Wonderstone boasts a well known and mostly well thought-of cast. I, personally, don't much care for Steve Carell. Occasionally he's funny, but mostly he just annoys me. Wonderstone falls firmly on the annoying side of things, due to the fact that his character is pretty much a total dick. Steve Buscemi does as well as possible, given the material, but I cringe at his even being a part of this, ditto the decorated Alan Arkin and James Gandolfini. Though past his prime, Jim Carrey usually makes me laugh, but this character is so awful that he's uncomfortable to watch. The stunning Olivia Wilde is a welcome addition, even in a flat role that does nothing for her or the movie.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone puts all its comedy eggs in the obnoxiousness basket. Done right, that can be great (think Jack Black in Tropic Thunder), but here it's just...well...obnoxious. The movie does have its laughs, and some of them are good ones, but I spent far less time laughing than I did feeling sorry for the actors involved, and wondering what on Earth James Gandolfini's and Alan Arkin's agents ever thought this script brought to the table for them.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone runs 100 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident, and language." Trust me when I tell you, dear reader(s), it is far from incredible.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone gets three.
First trailer for Anchorman 2, which shows some actual footage, has hit and it doesn’t show its hand too much. A few bit here and there made me grin but nothing made me laugh out loud.
I’m working on the assumption that they are keeping the best bits for the actual movie or at least hoping so since Anchorman is a personal favorite of mine, expectations are a tad high…
Steve Carell and Keira Knightley star in this apocalyptic comedy following two neighbors who set out for one last road trip after learning that a massive asteroid will wipe out all life on Earth in just three weeks. Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightly) are both having a very bad day. This mismatched pair spend their time on the road together, their journey takes on a new meaning -- one that neither could have ever seen coming, but which both sense was the way things were meant to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Lorene Scafaria
Cast: Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry.
Release Date: Jun 22, 2012
Rated R for language including sexual references, some drug use and brief violence
Runtime: 1 hr. 41 min.
Genres: Romance
Review:
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a tonally uneven film that goes from one extreme to another. While the cast is committed to their roles and both bring some verifiable heart to the roles and story, you wouldn’t be the only to feel like you are watching 2 different films. During the first half of the film it works well as a dark comedy dealing with all the extremes that seem plausible in the face of impending doom. The 2nd half plays more like a romantic comedy with a heady philosophical slant. The shift is clunky and noticeable occurring as soon as the musical cues become more and more pronounced. Lorene Scafaria, who directed the underrated Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist, seems to have a lot on her mind here and there’s some strong themes and ideas at work but she never seems to finds a steady cohesive flow for it all. Carrell and Knightley seem incredibly mismatched at first glance but as the film moves on they find a certain rhythm together, sharing some impressive yet subtle scenes together. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a strange film that could have worked had it picked a direction and stuck with it. That being said, if you prep yourself for a massive shift in tone, you may find plenty to like here.
This action comedy tells the tale of mild-mannered married couple Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire (Tina Fey) who fear their relationship may be falling into a stale rut. During their weekly date night, they impetuously steal a dinner reservation, which leads to a case of mistaken identity. Turns out the reservation was for a pair of thieves, and now a number of unsavory characters want Phil and Claire killed. If they can survive a wacky life-threatening night, they may just rediscover the passion missing from their marriage. Directed by Shawn Levy. Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, and Kristen Wiig co-star. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Directed by Shawn Levy
Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson, Jimmi Simpson.
Release Date: Apr 09, 2010
Rated PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference
Runtime: 1 hr. 28 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Date Night is unapologetically broad in its laughs and if it weren’t for the excellent comedic talents of Tina Fey and Steve Carell it’d probably be kind of unbearable. Shawn Levy has made a career of making broad easy to consume comedies and he doesn’t change his stripes here. The jokes and situations are mostly paint by the numbers. Its fun light entertainment that keeps you mostly entertained with only occasional moments of tedium. Carell and Fey keep you interested with their strong dynamic and experienced talents. Carell brings a tenderness and earnestness to his character along with the expected goofiness. Fey is sharp and quick witted always keeping the interplay lively and energetic even in clichéd segments. Mark Wahlburg, James Franco, Mila Kunis, William Fichtner and Ray Liotta all have fun little cameos with characters that are goofy send ups of their usual roles. Date Night is the kind of movie that easily forgettable but never terrible. Considering Carell and Fey strong chemistry it would be nice to see them work with a more talent director and concept. For the time being this little nugget will work well as an appetizer.
C+
ON DVD
THE FOURTH KIND
Set in the fall of 2000 and purportedly based on actual events, The Fourth Kind stars Milla Jovovich as Dr. Abigail Tyler, a Nome, Alaska-based psychotherapist whose videotaped sessions with her patients offer the most compelling evidence of alien abduction ever documented. Elias Koteas and Will Patton co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Hakeem Kae-Kazim.
Release Date: Nov 06, 2009
Rated PG-13 for violent/disturbing images, some terror, thematic elements and brief sexuality
Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min.
Genres: Thriller
Review:
The Fourth Kind is the type of film that has an interesting approach to what is a fairly well worn genre. Sadly, director Olatunde Osunsanmi shows his inexperience throughout and presently he doesn’t have the talent to make the concept a cohesive believable whole. It’s a shame because he has an interesting style that’s aggressively interesting and he does have a few inspired moments which impress. Unfortunately, those moments are few and far between and he fails to achieve the most important thing necessary here, credibility. The film, it starts with Milla Jovovich telling you this is based on true events, demands that you have some level of belief in the proceedings for it to effectively creep you out. Instead everything comes off as fake and manufactured especially the purported “real” footage. The cast across the board is stiff and unconvincing the reenactments never feel any better than old Unsolved Mysteries shorts. It’s all kind of a uneven hodgepodge of ideas that never reach the mark. Films like Communion and Fire in the Sky do a better job with this genre. Not a great sign when the latter is a fairly laughable Walken vehicle.
D
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
A wily fox uses his formidable cunning to outsmart three feeble-minded farmers, who resort to extreme tactics to protect their chickens in director Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of the popular Roald Dahl children's book. For 12 years, Mr. and Mrs. Fox (voices of George Clooney and Meryl Streep) have lived a peaceful life in the wilderness with their son, Ash (voice of Jason Schwartzman). Shortly after their young nephew Kristofferson (voice of Eric Anderson) arrives for a visit, Mr. Fox's long-suppressed animal instincts begin to take over and the faithful family man resorts back to his old ways as a cunning chicken thief, endangering not only his family but the entire animal community as well. When evil farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean force the animals underground in a desperate attempt to capture the audacious Mr. Fox, dwindling food supplies force the frightened animals to band together in one last attempt to fight for the land that is rightfully theirs. Bill Murray, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, and Owen Wilson provide additional
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky.
Release Date: Nov 13, 2009..
Rated: for action, smoking and slang humor
Runtime: 1 hr. 27 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
It’s rare that you find such a charming piece of filmmaking that keeps you smiling throughout via its wittiness and emotional highpoints. There is something incredibly quirky and heartfelt in all of Wes Anderson’s films and this stop motion isn’t any different. Proving that he can work his magic on stop motion dolls as effectively as his live actors, Anderson breathes life into these characters and plot almost from the instant they hit the screen. It’s no small task and he makes it seem utterly effortless throughout. The A list voice cast is up to task as well. Clooney provides just as much as charisma and sentiment as he did in Up in the Air. Meryl Streep’s work is graceful as ever providing Clooney’s titular character his moral center. Jason Schwartzman is wonderfully understated and heartfelt. The story, adapted from Roald Dahl’s children’s book, is just as smart as it should be, something the will give both adults and children something to enjoy. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a stellar achievement in film making and something that should be enjoyed by all.
