MOVIE REVIEW: BRIDESMAIDS

IN THEATERS

BRIDESMAIDS



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.

B-

[Trailer] Fright Night

Trailer for the Fright Night remake has hit and it’s looks to stick fairly close to the 80’s cult classic, have no feel as to whether or not it’ll be any good……..it looks alright but can't say I saw enough to say it'll be an upgrade in anyway.

[Trailer] Horrible Bosses

From the look at this trailer it’s almost impossible to figure out how this film could disappoint.

An allstar cast, Jennifer Anniston thrown in there as well and according to chatter she might go topless...desperation anyone...

Anyway back to the movie, it looks like it'll be a more twisted version of the 80’s flick 9 to 5.

TV SHOW REVIEW: NIKITA SEASON 1 (2010)

TV SHOW REVIEW: NIKITA (2010)



Nikita is a trained Assassin gone Rouge trying to stop a secret U.S. agency known only as Division for trying to requite deeply troubled teenagers and train them to be Assassins.

Starring Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley

REVIEW;

I’ll be the first to freely admit that the only reason I started watching this show was because of the endless promo of Maggie Q in a killer red bikini kicking some serious butt. I’ve had a crazy crush on Maggie Q since I first saw her in Mission Impossible 3 so I was an easy sell. All that being said, I’m no fool, this property had been done 3 times now (La Femme Nikita 1990 French original, La Femme Nikita TV series 1990s series, Point of No Return American Remake) and the chances of it doing any exciting or interesting were decidedly low. I didn’t expect much outside of some mindless entertainment. For the first handful of episodes that pretty much what it delivered, nothing terrible complex outside of a seemingly indestructible Nikita foiling Division’s plans on a weekly basis, it was enjoyable but just generic fast food. Around the mid point of the season something funny happen, the mythology of the show expanded. The supporting cast (Fonseca, West, Stanford & the wonderful Melinda Clarke) really found their footing and the characters were fleshed out. Maggie Q was totally in her element right from the start but once the story and supporting characters followed suit it become so much better. The latter half of the first season is just full of wonderful pulp melodrama and secret spy intrigue. Twist and turns abound as it all comes to a raucous finale that sets up the next season, hopefully it’s renewed, extremely well. There are a handful of drawback of course, as mentioned the start of the series is pretty formulaic even with Maggie Q strong presence and it’s the type of show that doesn’t want you to think about anything for too long otherwise you’d find plenty of logical gaps and happy coincidences to rack your brain. Then again you are watching a show that about a super secret government agency, so how hard you want to think about any of this is up to you. That being said it’s really one of those shows that surprise you as it goes on and is worth picking up whenever it hits video.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: THOR 3D

IN THEATERS

THOR



Exiled to Earth after his arrogance fans the flames of an ancient conflict, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) of Asgard discovers the meaning of humility when a powerful old foe dispatches a destructive force to crush humanity. Only when the banished prince has defeated an opponent capable of crushing him in battle will he learn what it takes to be a true leader. Anthony Hopkins}, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, and Tadanobu Asano co-star in a comic-book adventure from acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård

Release Date: May 06, 2011

Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi action/violence

Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

REVIEW:

Thor is one of those properties that sounded like a looming disaster from the outset. A comic book property that included a Norse god that some how had to be meshed into an Earth setting. Hiring Kenneth Branagh, Shakespeare cinematic stalwart, to direct seemed like an April fool’s joke. This turned out to be a master stroke with Branagh in the director’s chair the story hits the screen in a believable but not overtly serious manner that’s first and foremost fun. Branagh give this property enough standard Shakespearean light turns to make the Asgard set pieces entertaining and intriguing. The earth set pieces are funny but occasionally feel flat when compared to the grandeur of Asgard. Chris Hemsworth in the title role is spot on perfect. Initially cocky rash and arrogant, Hemsworth doesn’t overplay the role and allows it to feel natural and organic. In doing so the character’s growth over the course of the story rings true, all a testament to Hemsworth’s work. The rest of the cast is fine but very few standout, mostly due to unwritten parts. Tom Hiddleston is given a fairly generic role to play as a double dealing underappreciated sibling. To Hiddleston’s credit he gives the character a bit more depth in the 3rd act. Natalie Portman is equally handcuffed by a paper thin role that’s a romantic interest simply because there must be one. Portman and Hemsworth have very little chemistry together and the entire romance feels shoehorned and forced. Thor’s Asgard cohorts, The Warriors Three and the Lady Sif, are terribly under development and underused. The film itself is strongest in the 1st and 3rd acts with a noticeable lag in middle which, unsurprisingly, Earth centered while the others are mostly set in Asgard. Still as fun mindless summer fun Thor delivers the goods more than it doesn’t.

B-

TV SHOW REVIEW: SPACED THE COMPLETE SERIES [DVD]

Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner rent a flat pretending to be a couple. There, they meet Marsha, the alcoholic landlady; Brian, the disturbed and troubled painter downstairs; Mike, Tim's war-crazy best friend; Twist, a fashion designer and Daisy's best friend; and Colin the dog. What follows is the group's crazy and comical adventures.

Starring: Jessica Hynes, Simon Pegg, Julia Deakin, Nick Frost

Director: Edgar Wright

REVIEW:

Being a late a party can typically be a terrible thing but on occasions if you are late you still showed up and had a good time. Having heard of Spaced through reputation over the years had left me longing to see it but after they released it on DVD, I figured I’d wait for a high definition Blu-ray release. Sadly, that release never came and doesn’t seem to be on the horizons so I went ahead and picked up the DVD set. First off, I’m a huge fan of Pegg, Frost & Wright so this was required viewing, it was never a matter of if I’d like it but how much. So after finishing the series in short order recently I’m left kicking myself wondering why it took me so long. Any 30 something nerd slacker needs to watch this series. Besides its general comedic greatness it served as something so much more, a time capsule of me in my mid to late 20. So much of the show rings so true that it’s almost scary. That in of itself is enough for me to love the series as a whole. Add to that seeing the genesis of Wright, Pegg & Frost’s collaboration is just film nerd nirvana. Honestly, it’s almost scary at how good everything works from the start and its always fun to see the evolution continued over the 2 films they did together and what was sorely missing from Pegg & Frost’s Paul. The rest of the cast is all stellar with Jessica Hynes & Julia Deakin leaving the biggest impression on me. The series as a whole is short sweet and outside of a few references, Star Wars Episode 1 and a PS1, it’s kind of timeless as well. The minute the sadness washed off from having finished the last episode I had a need to watch it all again, ala Extras, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Seinfeld & Arrested Development.

A
[DUH!]