Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker (Tom
Holland) returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of
mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as
Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine -- distracted
by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood
superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture
emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei, Michael
Keaton, Robert Downey, Jr., Donald Glover
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some
language and brief suggestive comments
Release Date: Jul 07, 2017
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Spider-Man: Homecoming was going to have an
uphill battle being the 3rd
iteration of the character in so many years.Thankfully Tom Holland is a great fit for the role, really taking the
character back into the high school world in earnest.Holland has a great gee whiz charisma that fits the film and
this take on the character.The story
itself is a solid coming of age tale that feels familiar without becoming
burdensome.It’s a fun story which makes
good use of Robert Downey Jr. in the mentor role which seems like a logical fit
being Marvel’s first hero.Michael
Keaton makes for a solid villain, a rarity in the Marvel movies, with his
motivations making more sense than your usual bad guy.Keaton uses his low key intensity to great
effect here even though the film could have used some focus in terms of
conflict.At times it almost feels like
Keaton’s villain is secondary to other plot lines in the film.It’s a shame because it’s a decent character
that could have made a larger impact if the film had allowed him to.A few quibbles aside, Spider-Man: Homecoming
is a fun film that avoids the entire “origins” trope by basically sidestepping
it entirely and doing it’s own thing.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you haven't learned already from trailers and clips.
Young Peter Parker works his way through high-school angst, frustration with his mentor, and part-time hero-ing.
Well, dear reader(s), I am fond of saying I always keep an open enough mind for something to surprise me. Usually that's a positive, but this weekend, unfortunately, the opposite is true.
I adore Spider-Man. He's my third-favorite superhero, behind The Tick and Batman, if anyone wondered...okay, probably not. Thanks to solid trailers, good word on the street, and an entertaining appearance in Captain America: Civil War, I had high hopes for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and it hurts me deeply to declare it a disappointment. Still, the movie has a fair few positives, so I hope to focus mostly on those, beginning, as I usually do, with the cast. Tom Holland is a great Peter Parker, perfectly embodying that challenging age when young adults are certain they're capable of more than the grownups think. It helps that Holland, barely old enough to drink, is within (web) shooting distance of our high-school hero's age. While both effectively play younger onscreen, and both, for my money, were terrific Spideys, Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield were in their mid- to late-20s when they put on the tights, so at some point they were bound to feel a bit removed from those difficult-but-exciting teen years. The supporting cast is filled with awesomeness in the forms of Marisa Tomei, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly, and the now-obligatory appearance by Robert Downey, Jr., but it's Michael Keaton, as the film's chief baddie, who really steals the show with what might be the best performance in any Marvel movie, ever. Keaton's can't-look-away work is worth the price of admission all on its own. (For the record, on the subject of RDJ, Homecoming never feels like Iron Man 3.5, as the trailers sometimes promised/threatened.) Spider-Man: Homecoming features some really great CGI as well as some inexplicably wonky CGI. There are times when you'd believe Spidey was actually swinging through the sky above you, other times when he might as well be a Colorforms that someone's moving across the board by hand. (Does anyone remember Colorforms? Do I need to change that analogy?) Some of the worst of it comes at the expense of the climactic Staten Island Ferry scene hinted at in the trailers, which can't help but leave a bad taste. Also on the subject of visuals, even brighter scenes are a bit dark, leaving dark scenes too muddy to see much of anything. A bit of darkness is an understood side effect of seeing 3D product in 2D, but if a movie is showing in both formats, then filmmakers and cinemas really need to figure that out. Marvel's forced cheekiness is getting old as well; they're like that Facebook friend who's constantly posting the same duck-face selfie and expecting a hundred likes; it's just not as cute as it thinks it is, and the Stan Lee cameos are ho-hum, at best, these days. Ultimately, though, if you're wondering what makes this movie so disappointing, the answer is simple: It's boring. Homecoming is only slightly overlong (a 15-20 minute trim would have done it a great service), but it seems to go on forever without getting anywhere. The first half is insufferable, and the second act cruises towards its finale without ever gaining much momentum. Big action pieces are dropped between funny or heartfelt exchanges among Peter, his classmates, Aunt May* (*hottie version), and Tony Stark, but it's all too familiar and forgettable. There's a mid-credits scene that's worth your sticking around, but the final post-credits stinger is a waste of time that, again, isn't nearly as cute as it thinks it is.
Spider-Man: Homecoming runs an interminable 133 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments.”
If you're a fan of the genre who plans to see Spider-Man: Homecoming regardless, big-screen is definitely the way to go for this effects-driven extravaganza. If you're just looking to go to the movies this week, go see Baby Driver instead. (If you've already seen it, see it again.) Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spider-Man: Homecoming gets five.
Fangirl points: Mostly musical this time, with soundtrack appearances by the Ramones, The English Beat, and A Flock of Seagulls, as well as the classic Spider-Man theme.
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.
A partially deaf getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) gets caught up in a botched
heist in this action comedy from writer/director Edgar Wright (Edgar Wright,
Edgar Wright). Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm,
and Sky Ferreira co-star. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi
Director: Edgar Wright
Cast: Jon Bernthal, Kevin Spacey, Ansel
Elgort, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx
Release Date: Jun 28, 2017 Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy
Review:
Edgar Wright’s latest film, Baby Driver, is
another strong entry into his catalogue.He delivers a musical infused crime thriller that’s innovative even
though the basic plot is well worn.The film
has an impressive rhythm from the opening car chase.The impressively choreographed stunt driving
is some of the best I’ve seen in a years.It’s a testament to practical stunts that you feel every collision and
rumble during any of the sequences.The
car chases are far better than any of the CGI infused trickery in another large
car franchise.The characters themselves
are fun and interesting even if they never feel like actual people.Ansel Elgort makes a fine lead, supplying the
character with a healthy amount of innocence and charm though he’s outshined by
the supporting characters.Kevin Spacey,
John Hamm and Jamie Foxx all deliver fun performances.Spacey is totally in his element as the boss
and Hamm and Foxx make for great villains at different points
in the film.Foxx is at full level crazy
as the most despicable member of the crew.Hamm’s role is tailor suited to his talents of being
charming while looking like he’s suffering from a lifelong hangover.Lily James makes for a cute love interest but
doesn’t really register when compared to the rest of the cast.Still, Baby Driver is one of the most fun
films you’ll watch this year.
Andrew J. Cohen directs this romp about a
mother and father (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler) who blow their daughter's
college fund and start an illegal casino in their basement to recoup the
losses. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi
Director: Andrew Jay
Cohen
Cast: Will Ferrell, Amy
Poehler, Allison Tolman, Rob Huebel, Michaela Watkins
Rated: R for language
throughout, sexual references, drug use, some violence and brief
nudity
Genres: Comedy
Review:
The House is an
unfortunate example of how getting an impressive collection of comedic talents
together doesn’t guarantee a funny movie.The premise sounds good and it should work but unfortunately the film
just never finds its footing with most of the jokes and situations missing the
mark.There a few laughs to be had here
and there probably birthed out of sheer will by Ferrell and Poehler but it’s
not enough to save the film.First time
director Andrew Jay Cohen can’t seem to create any sort of energy for the cast
which is a shame because it feels like there is a funny movie in there
somewhere.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for one of my most highly anticipated titles of 2017, Edgar Wright's Baby Driver.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
To repay an old debt, a young man is forced to use his extraordinary skills in service of a criminal mastermind.
Dear reader(s), in the interest of full and fair disclosure, I'll confess my firm conviction that Edgar Wright makes perfect movies, all the time. As writer or director, and especially as writer and director, the guy is a visionary. I keep an open enough mind that pretty much anything can surprise me (pleasantly or unpleasantly), but honor demands I admit there was very little chance I wouldn't love Baby Driver. That's the Cliff's Notes. Now, onto the meat and potatoes...
Edgar Wright's love and respect for music lend his films unparalleled attention to detail where it is concerned. Each and every song is selected, each and every note perfectly placed, to underline, energize, advance, or complete its moment, event, or scene. While that's the case with all of Wright's efforts, Baby Driver willfully and overtly makes music its star, the sun around which all the other moving pieces revolve. If you love music, you will feel this film from the roots of your hair to the soles of your shoes. That's not to say the picture's "other" stars are lightweights. Decorated names such as Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx have ample opportunity to shine brightly in Baby Driver's galaxy. "It" girl Lily James charms her way through the movie like an old pro, and Ansel Elgort is a delight in what's sure to be a star-making turn.
Baby Driver is an action film, filled with thrilling chase scenes and beautifully choreographed stunt driving. Baby Driver is a comedy, its humor blooming organically from genuine performances and crazy scenarios. Baby Driver is a drama, boasting sincere moments among layered, engaging characters. Baby Driver is extraordinary filmmaking from an extraordinary filmmaker, everything you could want from a movie and more.
Baby Driver clocks in at 113 minutes and is rated R for violence and language.
Baby Driver is a beautiful, clever, unique cinema experience that should shut up the "Hollywood is out of ideas" crowd for at least the weekend.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, I am pleased and unsurprised to give Baby Driver all nine.
Fangirl points: OHMYGOSH YOU GUYS THERE'S A DAMNED SONG IN THIS MOVIE!
