Three overstressed, overworked mothers (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and
Kathryn Hahn) decide to blow off their responsibilities and have some fun, but
their wild ways cause them to clash with a rival mommy (Christina Applegate) who's
dedicated to preserving the facade of her perfect life. Jada Pinkett Smith
co-stars. Written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. ~ Jack Rodgers,
Rovi
Director: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Jay
Hernandez, Annie Mumolo
Release Date: Jul
29, 2016
Rated R for Full Frontal Nudity, Drug and Alcohol
Content, Language Throughout and Sexual
Material
Runtime: 1 hr. 41 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Bad Moms is a fairly straightforward women behaving badly
comedy that offers a decent amount of laughs.It’s a great showcase for Mila Kunis who is a gifted comedic actress
who’s deserved a showcase for a while.Kunis is great in her role but Kathryn Hahn nearly steals the show as
her bawdy new friend.Hahn is always the
most interesting person on screen and covers for some underlying script
issues.Kristen Bell is solid if
unimpressive, mainly due to a thinly written character.There in lies the films biggest issue.The actors really make a weak script far
better than it should be.The characters
are all types more than actual people.It’s not a terrible flaw since the actors all turn in solid work but
noticeable enough to make you wish they’d spent a bit more time fleshing these characters
out.
Dearest Blog, yesterday I decided to leave Sausage Party to the grownups (my blog partner Daniel!) while I headed off to Marquee Cinemas for the inoffensive pairing of Pete's Dragon and Florence Foster Jenkins.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: Disney's remake of Pete's Dragon.
An orphaned boy survives in the wild with help from his best friend...who happens to be a dragon.
Dear Reader(s), I have not seen the 1977 version of Pete's Dragon. I like to think that leaves me free of nostalgia that might unfairly bias my opinion of this remake, but, sadly, I am still underwhelmed. My first issue is that the dragon looks awful, resembling a jungle cat with wings more than anything else.
The movie attempts to imbue him with pet-like mannerisms, but doesn't come close to the excellence of How to Train Your Dragon in that regard. Both television and film have set a pretty high barre for dragons these days, and a picture with a titular dragon cannot afford to fail on that front. Filmmakers have loaded the movie with an environmentally-conscious message, cookie-cutter good and bad guys, and moody pseudo-folk tunes, but none of that is any help to this dull rehash of a tired tale that's been told a thousand times before, with only the details varying.
There's an unintentionally hilarious moment where two adults, first faced with the dragon, hide behind a child (really??) and, despite having nothing else to date the movie outside a few older-looking vehicles, everyone in Pete's Dragon still uses a land line.
I found that even more unbelievable than dragons! Having said all that, even the worst movie has its positives, and Pete's Dragon boasts some gorgeous scenery and dizzying aerial shots.
It's also worth noting that "Forest Ranger" Bryce Dallas Howard has learnt her lesson from Jurassic World and is at least wearing sensible shoes to run around the wilderness this time.
Pete's Dragon runs 102 minutes and is rated PG for "action, peril, and brief language."
Pete's Dragon is a weak effort from Disney that has very little to recommend it. Maybe take the kids to see Secret Life of Pets again instead.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Pete's Dragon gets three.
Fangirl points: Robert Redford. Karl Urban.
On the same screen. I nearly swooned myself to death!
Next on the agenda: Florence Foster Jenkins, a.k.a. This Year's Meryl Streep Oscar Nomination.
The true story of a a wealthy heiress who, encouraged by her husband, pursues a singing career despite a notable lack of talent.
There's no hiding the fact that Florence Foster Jenkins' primary function is the annual throwing of Meryl Streep's hat into the Awards Season Sweepstakes. She is her usual magnificent self here, expertly playing both the comedy and the tragedy of Jenkins. Jenkins was a terrible singer who believed (or was led to believe) she was actually good, and Streep tackles her performances with the earnestness of a woman who not only believes in herself, but is making a genuine effort to learn and improve.
On the surface, there are sadder aspects of her story (a chronic illness and an unfaithful husband, for starters), but to me none of it seems any more tragic than being the butt of a joke of which everyone but her is aware.
It makes the character sympathetic, bordering on pathetic, and makes the movie almost too uncomfortable to watch at times, though its saving grace is it's never mean spirited. Hugh Grant is charming as Jenkins' enabling husband, and Simon Helberg is delightful as her young accompanist. His reactions to her caterwauling are some of the movie's funniest moments.
Like Eddie the Eagle before it, Florence Foster Jenkins presents viewers with some awkward questions: To what point can devotion and enthusiasm substitute for talent and skill? Is it better or more kind to destroy a loved one's dream than to let him make a fool of himself? If a good movie is one that leaves you thinking about the points it raises, then Florence Foster Jenkins certainly fits the bill.
Outside of Streep's extraordinary work, the film probably isn't special enough to create much of a stir come awards time, but if you love music more than anything else (as I do, and as Jenkins did), you're going to feel this one in your very soul.
Florence Foster Jenkins clocks in at 110 minutes and is rated PG13 for "brief suggestive material."
Florence Foster Jenkins is a delightful, if sometimes awkward, story that's bolstered by strong performances and likeable characters.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Florence Foster Jenkins gets seven.
A misplaced sausage (voice of Seth Rogen) and his food
friends embark on an existential adventure through the aisles of a massive
supermarket in this raunchy animated comedy. While they are initially excited
by the prospect of a Fourth of July sale, the perishable pals are soon
horrified when they learn the full truth about what happens after they are
purchased.
Director: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon
Cast: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader,
Michael Cera
Release Date: Aug
12, 2016
Rated R for pervasive Language, Drug Use and Strong Crude
Sexual Content
Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min.
Genres: Animated, Comedy
Review:
Sausage Party is every bit as raunchy and politically
incorrect coming from the minds ofSeth
Rogen, Johan Hill, and Evan Goldberg.If
not for the sheer amount of F bombs and sex jokes this would fit right in with
any Pixar movie.The basis of the plot
is very similar to some of the Toy Story films taken to the extreme with a
focus on sex while skewering organized religion and various other topics along
the way.It’s pretty easy to get lost in
all the raunchy fun but the script does a great job of satirizing a lot of big
themes.Even with it’s headier themes
mixed into the plot the film accomplices it’s primary goal of being laugh out
loud funny for the better part of it’s runtime.The trek through the grocery store is a cornucopia of set pieces which
are incredibly impressive and fun all leading up to a final scene that will
either make you laugh uncontrollably or shake your head in disbelief.
Director David Ayer (Fury) takes the helm for this Warner Bros. production
adapted from the DC Comics series about a group of super-villains who are given
a shot at redemption by embarking on a heroic mission that will most likely
mean the death of them all. ~ Rovi
Director: David Ayer
Cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai
Courtney, Cara Delevingne, Jay Hernandez, Jai Courtney
Release Date: Aug
05, 2016
Rated PG-13 Disturbing Behavior, Action Throughout, Language,
Sequences of Violence and
Suggestive Content
Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
Suicide Squad isn’t a perfect film and there are plenty
of hints of the turmoil and studio tinkering abound but, almost in spite of
itself, it’s still a fun film.David
Ayer really tries to deliver a comic book film that will make fans happy and he
succeeds on various levels.The film’s
strength is its collection of characters and actors.The film spends the most time with Will
Smith’s Deadshot and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn with both delivering
excellent performances that really drive the film.Viola Davis
is pretty much pitch perfect as Amanda Waller, the government agent who puts
the squad together.As a longtime fan, I
did appreciate the amount of effort put into the characterization of some of
these characters even if some do end up on the periphery, Killer Croc and
Katana fare the worst.The chemistry of
cast is pretty strong through out with a few surprises like Jai Courtney
Captain Boomerang and a nice bit of emotional depth from Jay Hernandez.The biggest issue the film has is the film’s
overall plot and primary villain.It’s
pretty straightforward and follows the tropes we’ve seen plenty of times in
superhero film with the villain coming off as under written.The Joker, Jared Leto’s take is more crazed
gangster than Ledger’s anarchic take, would have probably served as a better
foil for the team.Still, even with it’s
issues Suicide Squad is an enjoyable comic book film that’s got plenty of
characters that you’ll want to revisit.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for DC Comics' latest effort, Suicide Squad.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
The US government recruits some of the world's worst criminals for a special mission.
My dear reader(s), I'm gonna be upfront with ya: I'm a DC girl through and through, but my eagerness for Suicide Squad was mostly hinged on a bit of bonus Batman between headline gigs.
I am pleased to report that the movie is worth a lot more than that.
Suicide Squad kicks off with an epic intro, and you can tell right away it's something different from the norm. I think the last time I was this impressed with how well a movie's appearance captured its very essence was Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
This comic book movie just LOOKS like a comic book, and it's fantastic! Introductions run somewhat long, but that's justifiable given that most of these characters aren't comic A-listers with whom the general public already will be familiar. The acting is overall quite solid, and not just "for a comic book movie." Singling out those who made the biggest impression (good and bad):
Cara Delevingne as June Moone/Enchantress: The mousy June/evil Enchantress is a dual role with extremes that exceed the talent and skill of model Delevingne; throw in some weird CGI with her movements, plus those distracting eyebrows, and she is almost unwatchable.
Margot Robbie as Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn: Robbie's turn as Harley is truly disturbing, yet she looks so amazing you wouldn't turn her down even knowing she's utterly bananas.
As Frank Valente once said, "Psycho chicks are the best!"
Will Smith as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot: One of the more likeable actors working today, Smith brings all of his considerable appeal to his character, turning in a tough, funny, and sympathetic performance.
As great actors do, Smith becomes the clear "star" of this ensemble picture, without needing to be heralded as such.
Jay Hernandez as Chato Santana/Diablo: Having turned over a new leaf in prison, Diablo is reluctant to use his terrible power, even for good. Hernandez is heartbreaking, and his is my favorite work in the movie.
Finally...
Jared Leto as the Joker. I love, love, LOVE this take on the Joker, and I want more of it like yesterday.
Leto is insane and terrifying, everything this character should be.
Suicide Squad seems a bit jumpy, a feeling exacerbated by the inclusion of almost too many good tunes in too-quick sucession.
Occasionally it plays more like a series of cool music videos than a coherent whole, which also leads to spots where it stalls in progression, if not in action.
It doesn't lag or lose your attention, but it does sometimes feel like everything that's going on still isn't getting it from point A to point B. The CGI is mostly great, and, as mentioned, it looks fantastic. There's a certain element to this movie that's more deeply unsettling than your average comic book picture, and I genuinely think an R rating would have been more appropriate and would have better served the material.
Suicide Squad clocks in at 123 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of violence and action throughout, disturbing behavior, suggestive content, and language."
Suicide Squad is a rollicking good time, loaded with action, humor, and great characters.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Suicide Squad gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: Joel Kinnaman! Oh, and...Batman! Batman! Batman!
Until next time...
Matt Damon reprises his role as the titular former CIA agent with a
hazy past. Jason Bourne is the fifth installment in the action franchise, and
the third to be directed by Paul Greengrass. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent
Cassel, Alicia Vikander
Release Date: Jul
29, 2016
Rated PG-13 for Intense sequences of violence and action,
and brief strong language.
Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Review:
Jason Bourne marks the welcome return of Matt Damon and
Paul Greengrass to the Bourne franchise.The results are mostly good with only a few hiccups here and there,
mostly script wise.Matt Damon easily
slips back into Bourne’s skin with solid results.Damon has always given Bourne a tortured
quality which is rare in the spy genre and one of the things that makes the
franchise so interesting.There are
plenty of new faces in this entry with one lone returning cast member being
cast off after setting the plot in motion.Tommy Lee Jones, at his most scowly, serves as the big bad this go
around and he’s serviceable even though his character is slightly
underwritten.Vincent Cassel suffers a
similar fate the assassin on Bourne’s trail throughout the film which is a
shame because it’s a waste of a fine actor.Alicia Vikander, who you can tell is serious because her hair is pinned
up throughout, does the best she can with the character she’s given.A late act turn is fairly interesting but
would have made for a more interesting plot line had it been explored
throughout the movie.The biggest issue
with Jason Bourne isn’t that it’s a bad movie, far from it, its that it feels
very familiar, following familiar beats we’ve followed through most Bourne
films.Still, Greengrass delivers some
fantastic sequences especially the logistically impressive Greek riot sequence
and collateral damage excess of the final act’s Vegas sequence.The hand to hand fight to top off the film is
probably one of the brutal fights I’ve seen in recent memory.Jason Bourne adds up to a solid film even
though it’ll leave you wishing there was a bit more innovation.
