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Tabari McCoy

McCoy on Movies: Jason Bourne

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Matt Damon is back in most famous solo role … But does Jason Bourne have enough fight left in the tank to deliver a hit?

“Now, for the last time before I start breaking things, explain the ending of No Country For Old Men so that I understand it!” CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) gets confronted by an old nemesis (Matt Damon) when the titular character comes looking for answer in JASON BOURNE. Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon © 2016 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:





KEY CAST MEMBERS: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Riz Ahmed, Ato Essandoh, Scott Shepherd, Bill Camp and Julia Stiles

WRITER(S): Paul Greengrass and Christopher Rouse (screenplay); Robert Ludlum (characters)
DIRECTOR(S): Paul Greengrass

WEB SITE: http://www.jasonbournemovie.com/
THE STORY AS BEST WE KNOW IT: Picking up a decade after the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne begins with showing just how far off the grid the titular character (Matt Damon) has gone, since he earning a living as an underground fighter in Greece. So, when he sees former Treadstone operative Nicolette “Nicky” Parsons (Julia Stiles) only to discover she has information for him … And this information could end up causing Bourne to ask more questions with answers he may not ready to handle.


Meanwhile, CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) is alerted to Nicky’s activities when an old laptop goes off and cyber intelligence agent Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) alerts him to the problem. Now about to launch a program more intense than the Treadstone one that birthed the CIA’s prodigal son, Dewey can’t afford to have Parsons and Bourne popping up causing trouble. Thus, in addition to have teams ready to track him around the world, he has a man simply known as the Asset (Vincent Cassel) ready to strike at a moment’s notice to take care of the problem. But since he’s working very closely with Aaron Kalloor (Riz Ahmed), a Mark Zuckerberg-like head of a company called Deep Dream on its latest software release, Dewey has bigger fish to fry.


That is, if Bourne doesn’t end up frying him and everyone connected to Treadstone and the CIA’s latest Black Ops program first.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Matt Damon fans; Alicia Vikander fans; Edward Snowden enthusiasts; People that enjoyed the previous Bourne films (not including that one starring a current Avengers-alum we shall not speak of)

WHO WILL HATE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Those who are starting the notice all the similarities between the Bourne movies in terms of story and scenes; Julia Stiles fans; Those growing tired of following all the twists and turns as Bourne fills in the gaps in his backstory. 
SO IS IT GOOD, GREAT, JUST ALL RIGHT OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? A film that personifies the mantra “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” Jason Bourne is fine action movie that will satisfy fans of the Bourne series … Even if they’ve seen a LOT of it before. 


Over time, film franchises develop certain traits that become the selling points of their existence. In Jason Bourne, director Paul Greengrass (who also co-wrote the script) makes sure all the tentpoles are present so there’ no mistaken what film you’re watching. Unfamiliar with the Bourne movie staples checklist? It includes: 

  • Jason Bourne will ALWAYS disappear into a crowd and only one person, either his latest attempted assassin or the woman trying to possibly help him will see him right before he turns out of sight;
  • The government official in charge – in this case, Tommy Lee Jones’ Dewey – will ALWAYS have a secondary backup plan in the form of an assassin designed to take Bourne out and be willing to sacrifice the first line of defense to get them into position to kill him;
  • There will ALWAYS be a male assassin that has either a personal connection to Bourne and/or seems to be his equal since they went through similar training that he must fight in a really crowded room or underground space;
  • If you get close to Jason Bourne, you’re going to die … Or at the very least, have to go into hiding;
  • Any cell phone in a Bourne movie will at least be used once or twice to feature a U.S. government official making a veiled or direct threat that will eventually but certainly blow up in their face;
  • Bourne will suffer a series of flashbacks that will only become clear right before his final confrontation sequence;
  • The government official he is set to face off with will always try to convince Bourne he needs to “give in” to being Bourne and forget anything about being David Webb (his birth name in case you forgot);
  • Bourne will ALWAYS learn he was lied to even more than he already had learned he had been lied to before; AND
  • Bourne is ALWAYS gonna leave someone a message to let them know that if they pursue him, he’s one step ahead of them AFTER everything above happens.
Now, while all of the above sounds formulaic … Well, sorry. That doesn’t make it any less true. It also doesn’t make Jason Bourne any less entertaining once things really get rolling after a somewhat slow start.
Looking every bit like a man who has had the government trying to kill him for more than a decade (and a very in shape but definitely 45 year-old man), Damon proves himself more than still capable of making you believe in the mystique that is his character: Calculated, skilled, confused and trying to make sense of it all. When it’s time to punch, kick and/or shoot, he does. When it’s time for him to be surprised by a new revelation that the audience may or may not see coming, he’s surprised and conflicted. And everything else pretty falls into place.
Likewise, Jones plays his role like many of his male predecessors before him: Cold, calculating and calm under pressure with Cassel doing what an assassin with a vendetta against our protagonist would. Jason Bourne isn’t attempting to reinvent the wheel by any means, just make sure it is shiny and still looks good. Per her usual, Alicia Vikander is able to make her character have more meaning (both in terms of her significance to the story and her actions) than one might expect. Doing both of those things is vital to the story working, but without Vikander exhibiting skill in doing so, the film would largely fall apart, so she deserves credit for making sure that not only does not happen, but makes you wonder how her character will evolve in the Bourne universe.
In short, Jason Bourne ultimately proves you’ll remember his name … Even if you remember a little bit of this story because you’ve seen bits and pieces of it before.

RATING OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN:

Who You Gonna Call?

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The most controversial movie of the summer is here … But is the 2016 all-female lead version of Ghostbusters as good, better or worse than the original? The answer lies within

 

“If this was the 90s, one of us would bust out rapping at any second …” Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), Erin (Kristen Wiig) and Patty (Leslie Jones) prepare to stare down evil inside the haunted Mercado Hotel in a scene from Paul Feig’s reboot of GHOSTBUSTERS. Credit: Hopper Stone. © 2015 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Matt Walsh, Michael K. Williams, Neil Casey, Ed Begley, Jr., Karan Soni, Zach Woods and Michael McDonald 

WRITER(S): Kate Dippold and Paul FeigDIRECTOR(S): Paul Feig

WEB SITE: http://www.ghostbusters.com/HERE’S THE STORY: Possibly the most controversial movie of the summer, Ghostbusters is a reboot of the beloved 1984 film that now stars Kristen Wiig as Erin Gilbert, a professor at Columbia University thisclose to obtaining her tenure. Problem is, her old friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) has just put the old book they co-authored together up on Amazon.com. That wouldn’t be so bad if the book didn’t propose the presence of ghosts and other spirits in our world, which Erin knows might make her look like a crackpot and ruin her tenure chances. 


But once Ed Mulgrave (Ed Begley, Jr.) comes calling to Erin to let her know about the presence of a ghost at a nearby museum, Abby and her assistant Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) reluctantly rope her along for the ride to investigate – which turns out to be an experience they will never forget. For not only do they see a ghost, the ghost sees them – which leads to a rather nasty encounter for Erin and her dry cleaning.


Meanwhile, subway worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) is simply doing her job when chasing an aspiring graffiti artist leads to her discovering a ghastly figure of her own and eventually contacting Abby, Holtzmann and the now-fired Erin. And as a series of similarly otherworldly events unfold, the foursome decide to go into business, eventually settling on the name Ghostbusters (much to Erin’s chagrin) and hiring Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) as their secretary … Even though the only thing he knows how to do well it seems is make Erin’s heart aflutter with his good looks.


But why are all these ghosts starting to suddenly pop up in New York City? No one knows for sure … Except maybe for Rowan (Neil Casey), that is …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Feminists; Kate McKinnon fans; Leslie Jones fans; those who like modern sitcom comedy; Chris Hemsworth fans; those who don’t have an affinity for the original 1984 film 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Dedicated fans of the 1984 film; people who generally don’t like franchise reboots/remakes; Melissa McCarthy fans looking for her to do something different; people who come to the movie expecting the humor found in Feig’s previous best-known works like Bridesmaids or Spy

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Much safer and played broad for laughs than it should be, the new Ghostbusters movie is about as polarizing as Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. And unless you’re 100 percent on board with one of those candidates, you’ll realize that is a choice that might make many people want to abstain from electing it as their choice over the original. First, while the well-documented online backlash about the film’s female leads was in many instances ridiculously misogynistic, one thing that it was somewhat valid was the fact that the move was gimmicky. And not just because of the casting of four female leads. For one, while it’s no secret executive producer Dan Aykroyd had been pushing for years to get a third Ghostbusters movie made, neither is the fact that by casting four female leads the production team knew they were going to have a built-in talking point. Despite the success of women like Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Samantha Bee, Jessica Williams and more recently Nikki Glaser, etc., the debate over whether or not are women funny has long since been settled. Because they are. And Ghostbusters co-writer and director Paul Feig’s 2011 female comedy magnum opus Bridesmaids is a prime reason that has since been settled to all but the usual Internet trolls. 



In the case of Ghostbusters, though, once you get past that issue, you have to examine the actual film itself. And in doing so, the flaws start to become more and more detectable by each frame. Whereas Leslie Jones’ character was looked to be made a fool in the trailer – another source of deserved and preventable controversy – she actually makes her character fit into the mix … But for every one person that will see her actions as funny and fitting, there’s the distinct chance others will see her as the loud black female that is usually the loud black male role in a comedy with a predominantly white cast. Feig and Jones’ have defended the character in recent interviews, but depending on what you see (or more accurately, want to see and focus on), it’s going to be hard to tell either side of that argument they are wrong. 



It has its fair share of laughs, to be sure, and the acting – even that of Leslie Jones (which was among the many beleaguered elements of the film’s debut trailer) – is not horrible and works for the characters. McKinnon essentially steals the show with her character’s super wackiness (this is her on Saturday Night Live turned up all the way to “10”); then again, her character is so wacky and off the wall that she might be too intense for some people. (Harold Ramis’ character was weird but subdued; McKinnon’s is NOT subdued to put it mildly.) But other than Jones and McKinnon, the biggest laughs are generated from Chris Hemsworth’s portrayal of an ultra-dimwit male secretary – a not-subtle-at-all dig on gender roles. Despite their comedy pedigree, Wiig and McCarthy’s characters are so one dimensional they are under utilized. While the chemistry among the four female leads is clear, that chemistry isn’t matched with the material as the jokes – for a film that is attempting to flip its haters on its ear – is often to broad and doesn’t go big enough. Often fed with a “here comes the joke!” setup, the 2016 Ghostbusters always make sure you are two steps ahead of them, which hurts the enjoyment of the film. 


While men in the film are often the patsy of the joke, the lead male villain portrayed by the relatively unknown Neil Casey (an actor/contributor to several hit comedy shows in recent years including Kroll Show, The League and Saturday Night Live) is, well, not good – both in terms of as a character and in Casey’s portrayal of it. This is no Gozer or Vigo the Carpathian here, he’s not even a Zuul – he’s just … Corny. Likewise, despite Dan Aykroyd’s self-serving boasts, this version of Ghostbusters, no matter how you slice it, is NOT funnier or scarier than the original. The graphics look better, but that doesn’t make it better. Still, that is not the biggest problem the film has …


No, the biggest problem with this version of Ghostbusters has is the one that was the easiest to prevent: The only thing that is original about it is the casting of the four female leads. For JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE FEELS LIKE THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE FIRST FILM OVER WITH NO NUANCE TO MAKE IT STAND ON ITS OWN. (Sorry for yelling.)

Cast-wise, it’s the same except you’ve got two passive, somewhat simple scientists (the Dan Aykroyd character) instead of one, the wacky scientist (the Harold Ramis character) … And the non-scientist black character (the Ernie Hudson character) – but no Bill Murray character, which was so essential to the first one. Likewise, there’s the delusional I will be the leader of the ghosts character (see the first two films), but no Walter Peck EPA villain that was perfectly snarky to deal with nor any other really intriguing side characters save for some extremely quick cameos from the likes of Matt Walsh and Steve Higgins.

What? Surprised I didn’t mention the cameos from the original cast? That’s because they really aren’t that good – Aykroyd has the best joke of any of them and it’s now in the film’s opening week TV commercials. (It is nice to see Annie Potts in a movie again, though … And the subtle tribute to the deceased Ramis was kinda nice.) There’s also a rehash of Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but they are little more than meaningless nostalgia meant to appease fans of the original – and the usage of one of them makes even less sense. I mean, the original theme song is used and then presented with a lame modern remix for heavens sake – how much more of an homage are you trying to make?!

Therein lies the failed opportunity of a movie that many will say is fine but many more will likely say never needed to exist: It fails to outdo the original, placate many of its detractors (although one must admit they likely may not have ever been placated) and give its four female leads the vehicle worthy of their talent to overcome the monumental task ahead of them. If the mission was to craft a movie worthy of a girls’ night out – sorry again, Mr. Feig – and/or create a simple cinematic diversion for the mainstream, then mission accomplished.

If the mission was to create a film that could be considered as beloved as the original, well, I’m sorry – the question isn’t who ya gonna call, it should have been why did the call to get this version of Ghostbusters get answered.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: THE CONJURING 2

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The world’s most famous paranormal investigators return and head to England for a supernatural sequel that’s actually super.

“Hey – I thought I returned that Halloween costume back to the rental place last week. Oh wait – that ain’t no costume!” Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) comes face to … Mirror with an otherworldly presence in a scene from James Wan’s THE CONJURING 2. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures © 2016 Warner Bros. Pictures and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment. All rights reserved. 



WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Madison Wolfe, Frances O’Connor, Simon McBurney, Lauren Esposito, Benjamin Haigh, Simon Delaney, Patrick McAuley and Franka Potente

WRITER(S): Carey Hayes, Chad Hayes, James Wan and David Leslie Johnson (screenplay); Chad Hayes, Carey Hayes and James Wan (story) 
DIRECTOR(S): James Wan
THE STORY AS BEST WE KNOW IT: Based on a true* (more on that in a minute) story, The Conjuring 2 like its predecessor stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren. Who are the Warrens? Just the married paranormal investigators who looked to see if there really were demonic forces at play that inspired Ronnie DeFeo to commit the crimes that would eventually become known worldwide as “The Amityville Horror.” The case takes such a toll on Lorraine that she tells Ed she really needs a break with no new cases.


Across the Atlantic Ocean, 11 year-old Janet Hodgson (Madison Wolfe), her sister Margaret (Lauren Esposito), two brothers Johnny (Benjamin Haigh) and afflicted-with-a-slight-stutter-Billy (Patrick McAuley)  and their mother Peggy (Frances O’Connor) are dealing with their new life … After Peggy’s husband left to start a new family without them. Getting busted for doing something naughty at school she actually didn’t do, Janet finds herself in a bit of trouble one night and decides to pass the time playing with an ouija board. And then after a bit of weird noises, sounds and and incidents in the presence of the entire family, their neighbors and the police, Ed and Lorraine are eventually asked to come to the scene to investigate on behalf of the Catholic Church.


As one might imagine, things take a steady downturn once our favorite married non-caped crusaders arrive on the scene …
WHO WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Fans of the first film; people who believe in ghosts, spirits and our ability to communicate – positively and negatively – with them; those who enjoy smart supernatural horror/thriller movies; movie fans who enjoy films that have a slow burn to a climax 

WHO WILL HATE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Atheists and people who don’t believe in ghosts/spirits/demons; people who get annoyed with British accents; those who want the film to dive more into the authenticity angle of the events; anyone who scares easily but doesn’t like it when that happens
SO IS IT GOOD, GREAT, JUST ALL RIGHT OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? As a movie critic, I am not here to debate the existence of ghosts. Nor am I here to examine any issues of faith. Thus, if you want someone to dive into a detailed, thorough analysis of the facts vs. what may or may not be true in regards to what the Hodgson family did or did not experience. For that, a simple Google search will suffice, unless you’re extremely lazy and then you can go here or here or even here.  


So, if we’re not here to debate the existence of ghosts, demons and/or the supernatural, the only thing left to ask is whether or not The Conjuring 2 is a “good” movie. And in terms of of a supernatural thriller that is based on a true story, it is good … Very good, indeed.


There are several things happening at once under director James Wan’s eye in The Conjuring 2: [1] You are witness to a love story between a husband and wife who believe in the same things and are bolster in that by their belief in each other; [2] You are watching grown adults attempt to struggle with whether or not they believe what they are experiencing is real and, if so, what that means to their lives on this planet and [3] You are watching a supernatural thriller which doesn’t go for cheap thrills and instead works to scare you on multiple levels. 


Wan has come a long way from his torture porn Saw days (I have it on good authority to never use the words “torture porn” to him, by the way) and The Conjuring 2 is the proof. The story is a told in proper storytelling fashion where characters are allowed to figure things out and make sense of it all in their own mind; instead of doing irrational “horror movie” things (see just about any horror movie made between 1979-1994), the characters reactions feel real, the pacing feels organic and the story unfolds to the point where everything – whether real or not – is enticing. You feel every bump in the night that the Hodgsons and Warrens experience because as well as Wan sets the scenarios up, the cast equals in execution. Farmiga and Wolfe are the true shining stars in the piece as each makes every horrifying moment jump out of the screen, Wolfe in particular as she does that thing that is key to making any movie with a child work: Showing acting talent to the point it doesn’t feel like she’s acting at all. 


Other than that, there’s not much else one really needs to know about The Conjuring 2 save for simple praise. The special effects work without every feeling corny or dumb, the cast avoids doing stereotypically stupid things (for the most part) and the scares build well to the point you will feel at least a little creeped out lying in your bed alone at night … Or at the very least make you want to go church.


That’s probably the highest compliment I can give any supernatural/horror film – and that’s based on true events.
RATING OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN:

 

McCoy on Movies: POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING.

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The Lonely Island continues to skewer modern music with hilarious Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping


“Yes, I stole these pants from the unfinished live action Monsters Inc. movie – what of it?!” Conner4Real (Andy Samberg) performs to his adoring fans in a scene from POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING. Credit: Glen Wilson © 2016 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. 



 


WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
 

 


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Chris Redd, Imogen Poots And a bunch of cameos you may or may not expect …

WRITER(S): The Lonely Island a.k.a. Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone
DIRECTOR(S): Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone
THE STORY AS BEST WE KNOW IT: Written, directed and starring the comedy rap/R&B trio that had its breakthrough on Saturday Night Live as The Lonely Island, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping stars Andy Samberg as Conner4Real, a pop star music sensation. Growing up, Conner a.k.a. Kid Conner was best friends with Lawrence a.k.a. Kid Brain (Avika Schaffer) and Owen a.k.a. Kid Contact (Jorma Taccone), the duo with whom he formed the rap trio known as the Style Boyz. Once they got signed to a major record label, the trio blew up thanks to hit songs like “Donkey Roll.” 


But, to all those who he would consider part of his “Contourage” fan base, it was clear that Conner was true star of the group, leading to his debut album “Thiller, Also,” a 4 million record selling smash. Sure, Lawrence may be mad at him for never giving him credit for any of the Style Boyz success and moved to Colorado to become a lonely farmer, but Owen has settled in nicely as Conner’s DJ, willing to do whatever he can to help his best friend be a star and enjoy a part of the success.


Then, Conner drops his second album, CONNquest – and it bricks. HARD.


Now faced with a conscious of both crisis and concert ticket sales, Conner and his team – which includes Owen, his manager Hank (Tim Meadows) and publicist Paula (Sarah Silverman) – try to figure out ways to stop his fall from grace, only to see one disaster seemingly follow the next. But if there’s one thing Conner knows – as every true pop star knows – it’s that you never stop never stopping … 
WHO WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Longstanding Lonely Island fans; people who are current with today’s music and pop culture trends and what is being both paid tribute to and lampooned viciously here; people who like grade school, lunchroom table jokes done in excess
WHO WILL HATE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? People who are unfamiliar with and/or hate pretty much everything mentioned in the previous section. 
SO IS IT GOOD, GREAT, JUST ALL RIGHT OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? If you are familiar with the docu-style films artists like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry have released in recent years, the world that seemingly exists in its own TMZ bubble and/or the actions of artists like Justin Bieber and other like him, you will find Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping to be a hilarious send up of it all with some of the craziest songs and “I didn’t see that coming!” raw material in years.


If not, you’re probably not gonna like it. At all. But that doesn’t mean you’re right as much as it does you are simply not the audience for this movie. Because what it does well, it really does well to the point you won’t be able to help but truly, as this generation of musicians and its fans would say, LOL from all the OMG and WTF moments throughout its 87 minute running time. 


If you are familiar with The Lonely Island from their not safe for work ditties like this or this or this or even this, you likely already know what to expect what you’re going to get in Popstar: A collection of crazy songs that show you just how crazy certain elements of the modern world are, especially when they are set to music with clever lyrical skill, pitch and cadence and focus as if they were dead serious (which in turn makes them hilarious). What you might not fully appreciate until you see the movie, however, is how they perfectly and expertly capture the essence of not only how many actual pop stars today come off in interviews, how they fall victim to so many silly scandals and bad promo ideas and the stories that permeated just about every Behind the Music VH1 ever aired – or will. 


Whereas Samberg and his Lonely Island crew nail all the lack of self awareness many pop stars have before showing their sensitive-yet-still-unaware sides, the rest of the film’s cast does a great job at doing the same in this mockumentary. Littered with celebrity cameo appearances, everything from the insatiable for headlines and unaware of their own lunacy nature of TMZ to artists talking about how inspired they get by others is on display in Popstar, all to hilarious effect. Be it Conner’s tabloid relationship with Ashley Wednesday (Imogen Poots), his friendship/rivalry with budding rap star Hunter the Hungry (played brilliantly by stand-up comedian Chris Redd channeling what seems to be his inner Odd Future/Tyler the Creator – link VERY NSFW and must be watched till the end to get the full effect of what he is doing/lampooning/paying homage to) or his rocky relationship with his team, Popstar leaves no pop music stone unturned.


Now, if you HATE most of modern pop music and cannot find the humor in it with all of its outrageous characters, explicit lyrics, social commentary and/or general silliness, you may have trouble finding the humor/genius in Popstar. For then, the film will just be a barrage of immature behavior, nudity, crazy sounding beats and commentary on social issues that you may mistakenly find insulting instead of lampooning just how uncomfortable we are talking about them.  


But don’t let that stop you from checking it out for yourself and seeing on which side of the equation you fall …

RATING OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN:

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McCoy on Movies: Alice Through the Looking Glass

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Alice Through the Looking Glass may make anyone who’s hit puberty want to look away for a better family-friendly film

 

“That watch is NEVER gonna fit on my wrist!” Alice (Mia Wasikowska) gets a look at the Grand Clock of time in a scene from ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Credit: Disney Pictures. All rights reserved. 

 

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Lindsey Duncan, Matt Lucas, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry, Rhys Ifans, Leo Bill and the late Alan Rickman
WRITER(S): Linda Woolverton (screenplay); Lewis Carroll (original novel on which the film is based)
DIRECTOR(S): James Bobin
THE STORY AS BEST WE KNOW IT: Loosely inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll, Alice Through the Looking Glass stars Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsleigh. Now grown up, Alice has spent the last few years at sea as the captain of her late father’s boat. Returning to London, Alice comes across a magical looking glass (hence the title) – and of course, she steps in only to find herself returned to the Underland. And once she’s there, she’s reunited with her old friends the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), Absolem (the late Alan Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and
the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). But the Mad Hatter is not himself – for he has lost his muchness and no one seems to know why, save for perhaps the Hatter himself. For he is convinced his family is alive, which prompts Mirana the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to send Alice on a new mission: Find the Chronosphere from Time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen) and see what she can do to help save the Hatter’s life. For the Chronosphere will allow Alice to travel throughout time and – while she cannot change the past – she might learn something that may help figure out how to save his life.But of course, if Iracabeth the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) wasn’t involved in the story, Alice’s quest wouldn’t be the same now, would it?

WHO WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Johnny Depp fans; Helena Bonham Carter fans; people who enjoy easily digestible fantasy tales; those happy to see a strong female character presented in a film 
WHO WILL HATE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Those “over” Tim Burton style movies; adult males who despite the film having a good, strong female lead character will be bored by the story’s somewhat plodding pace and predictable story; those who don’t enjoy children’s fare when it’s strictly kiddie business
SO IS IT GOOD, GREAT, JUST ALL RIGHT OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Alice Through the Looking Glass is a movie that could have been better and honestly should have been better … But given just how well, boring, the finished result is, it would have been better likely being re-done before it hits theaters this week. 


Alice Through the Looking Glass looks like it should be good. After all, the cast is solid, the visuals are good and there is enough of a pedigree present to make this Tim Burton-produced (he didn’t direct this one; that task fell upon James Bobin of Muppets Most Wanted infamy). Likewise, Wasikowska does a formidable job as Alice, making her a convincing lead character that is equal parts courageous and courteous, strong and yet sensitive. And Bonham Carter delivers a very enjoyable performance as the Red Queen, delivering much needed humor that doesn’t feel as zany (but not out of place, mind you) as that as delivered by Baron Cohen as the embodiment of time as a half human, half machine creature.


There’s just one – well, more than one, but that’s not the expression now is it? – problem: Alice Through the Looking Glass is boring, suitable mostly only for children (ages 12 and younger) from start to finish and is fairly predictable for far too long before it garners any intrigue. I don’t say this because I found myself fighting sleep for the first 40 minutes of the film … But because the guy next to me at the screening I saw DID fall asleep … As did the guy behind me. Throw in the fact the women next to me offered up an “eh” shoulder shrug at the end of the film and the claps that were to be heard quickly faded into the larger surrounding silence and you’ll come to the same conclusion I did: This paint by numbers feature isn’t exactly a fabulous fairy tale after all.Does Alice Through the Looking Glass add anything to the tale of Alice in Wonderland or the Tim Burton 2010 release? No, not in particular. Is it horrible? No – it’s just slooooooowwww. Too slow. And the whole Chronosphere time travel device thing never comes together as it should; sadly, while Sacha Baron Cohen plays his over-the-top character in fine over-the-top fashion, the lack of defintion of the character becomes some one note that each tick-tock feels longer than the last. Poor Anne Hathaway looks lost – literally – for most of the picture, so it’s no wonder her character feels like an add-on when she is supposed to be an important cog in the overall story.

If it seems like I’m having a hard time articulating the disappointment of the experience of watching the film, it’s because the film should be so much better than it is. Instead, it comes off so heavy-handed that it’s hard to become engrossed in it when the paint-by-numbers nature of it that feels like it was aimed at nothing BUT a pre-puberty audience. Sure, there are some good moments, but they rarely feel organic and come too few and far between. Sorry, James Bobin, but your lackluster Muppets misadventure has now tagged another would-be franchise with too many lame jokes, outlandish episodes and missed opportunities.

In short, instead of going through the looking glass, poor Alice should have seen that nothing that was as good as it could, should and would have been better if maybe she came back later instead.

 
RATING OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN:

 

McCoy on Movies: The Nice Guys

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“What do we have here … It looks like … A script!” Holland March (Ryan Gosling, left), Jessica (Daisy Tahan, next to Gosling), Holly (Angourie Rice) and Jackson Healey (Russell Crowe, far right) take a gander in a scene from co-writer/director Shane Black’s action-comedy THE NICE GUYS. Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. © 2016 Nice Guys, LLC.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:


 

 


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, Beau Knapp, Matt Bomer, Yaya DaCosta, Daisy Tahan, Jack Kilmer and Kim Basinger
WRITER(S): Anthony Bagarozzi and Shane Black
DIRECTOR(S): Shane Black
THE STORY AS BEST WE KNOW IT: Set in the sleaziest of times of 1977 Los Angeles, The Nice Guys stars Ryan Gosling as Holland March, a private investigator who is more apt at taking gullible clients’ money than he is at actually solving cases. Raising his precocious daughter Holly (Angourie Rice) by himself after the death of his wife, Holland stumbles upon the wrong case when Mrs. Glenn (Lois Smith) asks him to find her niece, adult film star Misty Mountains (Murielle Tielo). 
Unfortunately, Misty died in a massive car crash a few days ago. And the girl that might know something, Amelia (Margaret Qualley), does not want to be found – which is why she has hired Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) – to do what he does best: Send a “message” (via a physical assault) to stop Holland from checking up on her. 
What Holland and Jackson both don’t know, however, is why Amelia is trying to make herself so scarce. But once two thugs (Keith David and Beau Knapp) start showing up and the head of the Justice Department (Kim Basinger) gets thrown into the mix, one thing becomes clear: Amelia’s life is clearly in danger and our unlikely tandem is about to get involved WAY over their head.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? Ryan Gosling fans; people who love the 1970s and all its over-the-top (or at least as depicted in movies) excess; people who can appreciate when a child actress steps up in a big way to not only add to a story, but be an integral part of it; people who like it when characters in films meet ends that seem fitting 
WHO WILL HATE THIS MOVIE THE MOST? People who hate the 1970s and all its over-the-top (or at least as depicted in movies) excess; people who hate when a child actor is an integral part of a story no child should be mixed up in; those who hate watching a lighthearted character in fatal situations; those who can’t buy in to the film’s premise
SO IS IT GOOD, GREAT, JUST ALL RIGHT OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? For a film that on the surface looks like it could be just another mismatched homage to a bygone era, The Nice Guys is actually a very entertaining adventure that allows its cast to use their collective range to the audience’s enjoyment. 
Co-writer and director Shane Black’s 1970s send up is equal parts comical and dramatic while making sure to never let one extreme become too extreme for the film’s own good. While the premise of the film seems a bit outlandish to say the least once you’ve figured out how all the moving parts work together, Black does a stellar job of making sure you understand why they fit within the world he’s created. Never trying to emulate too much a Boogie Nights vibe or imitate other ‘70s crime stories, he keeps The Nice Guys balanced but making sure each scene fits in the overall mix to add as things go back and forth from comical to (somewhat) dramatic. You get your laughs, you get some unexpected surprises and – while he never leans in on making the film have a truly serious tone – you get enough of a semblance of reason to keep you involved in watching his characters progress.
Speaking of the characters, Ryan Gosling is hilarious as the sleazy-yet-sensitive Holland March, proving himself proficient at being both the comical butt of the joke time and time again whilst others get to deliver the (in many cases) literal punchline. His take on the role of the private investigator never falls into the stereotypically stupid department, instead teetering on the line between clever and corny quite well throughout the film’s near 2 hour run time. Likewise, Crowe plays the straight man with artistic ease, using all his off-screen bravado to channel a very simple character into one you enjoy rooting for thoroughly. 
The biggest scene-stealer, however, is by far any of those that happen to feature Angourie Rice as Holly. A classic WAY-too-beyond-her-13-years-of-age character, Rice accomplishes the rare feat of not only making her character essential to the story, but also so likable you nearly forget she shouldn’t be so good – both as a character and an actress. Black gets the most out of his cast by continually placing them into wacky scenarios, but be it one where she needs to help out her dad or provide a sensitive moment, Rice comes out as the biggest winner. While Black and his fellow co-writer Anthony Bagarozzi deliver enough of a story to keep you intrigued with its various twists and not-so-predictable turns, the cast’s ability to run with it is what ultimately makes The Nice Guys as enjoyable as it is. 
And what it is is a pretty nice way to enjoy something different at the movies. 
 
RATING OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN:
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McCoy on Movies: Captain America

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Marvel’s first Avenger returns for another spectacular superhero adventure in Civil War

“… And we say, we like Pepsi better than Coke! What?! ‘Dem’s fighting words!” L to R: Black Panther/T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Vision (Paul Bettany), Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), and War Machine/James Rhodey (Don Cheadle) prepare to square off against their fellow superheroes in a scene from CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. Credit: Film Frame..© Marvel 2016.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



 

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Martin Freeman, Emily VanCamp, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie with Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Marisa Tomei, Daniel Brühl and John Kani.

WRITER(S): Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (screenplay); Mark Millar (comic book); Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (characters) 

DIRECTOR(S): Anthony & Joe Russo

WEB SITE: http://marvel.com/captainamericapremiere
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Following up after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War does something most Marvel movies don’t do: Flashing back in time to 1991 to find Joseph Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes in the control of Hydra agents being read a seemingly innocuous series of words that have a very specific purpose: Triggering the “Winter Soldier,” a near-unstoppable one-man killing machine capable of crimes on command.


The Avengers, however, have their own problem in the modern world: The Sokovia Accords, a document that 117 countries have come together to sign in favor of get the team under control given all the collateral damage they have done in New York, Washington, D.C., Sokovia and most recently Lagos in dealing with Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo), which has earned the ire of King T’Chaka (John Kani), ruler of Wakanda (the African nation where the vibranium comes from. If you don’t know what vibranium is, you’re watching the wrong movie. Anyway …)


Iron Man’s human alter ego Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) knows which side he is on. It’s the same one his best friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes a.k.a Iron Patriot (Don Cheadle), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), the Vision (Paul Bettany) and now Secretary of State Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) is on: Putting the Avengers in check and signing off on the document. Unfortunately, Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America (Chris Evans) is not – and neither is Wanda Maximoff a.ka. the Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Sam Wilson a.k.a. the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) nor the now-retired Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). But despite their objections, the countries are going to sign the document, making it a foregone conclusion that the world’s protectors must play by the rules or be subjected to the law lie anyone else when they wantonly break it. 


Then there’s a bombing in Geneva the day the accords are to be signed, which kills King T’Chaka, much to chagrin of his son T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). And to make things worse, the Winter Soldier is believed to be the culprit. So now, with the world placing blame on the Avengers for even more trouble, the suspected bomber being Steve Rogers’ former best friend Bucky Barnes who’s been on the run since the events of the last Captain America film. So now, Captain America is trying to protect his friend and fight off the Sokova Accords, while Iron Man is trying to bring Cap in before the government does – and not in a nice fashion. And therein lies a bit of a conflict in terms of how far will someone go for friendship and does the end justify the means when people are dying in the process?


And that would be bad enough … But since no one is quite sure what in the world Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl) is up and why, Captain America is going to have his hands full if he is to prevent the world from falling apart. 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Fans of just about every other Marvel movie; Chris Evans fans; Robert Downey, Jr. fans; Chadwick Boseman fans; people who were worried about how Black Panther and Spider-Man would fit into the mix; people who love Stan Lee’s cameos 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Pretty much anyone who still thinks D.C. makes better movies than Marvel and/or anyone who doesn’t like superhero movies 
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? OK, show of hands – How many of you would have picked the Captain America franchise to be the one to turn out three terrific (dare I say classic) superhero films when you heard about Marvel Studios’ plans to make films centered around its core Avengers characters? Exactly. For while Captain America might be the oldest, he certainly was never considered to be the coolest of the bunch in the comic book world. 


Now, not only is Captain America an essential part of the Marvel Universe, he’s possibly its on-screen MVP, with Civil War being another top notch on his belt – or shield, as the case may be. 

Say what you want about superhero movies; there is no way – and if I was to channel my inner Dwayne Johnson, no way! – Civil War would work without the actors behind the characters layering and committing their respective selves to their roles as well as they do in the movie. Fortunately, directors Joe and Anthony Russo and their cast continue their excellent precedent set in The Winter Soldier by ACTING AS IF THEY ARE ADJUSTING TO THE WORLD and NOT AS IF THEY ARE ACTING IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE. If you’ve seen last summer’s disastrous Fantastic Four reboot, you know exactly what I mean. Instead of acting like they are doing something heroic, Evans, Downey, Jr. and company are simply trying to do what each thinks is best to secure the world. Yes, there are moments of cracking jokes and some really dynamic action sequences, but none of it would matter if the characters were not presented in a fashion were you felt their highs, lows and the relationships between them felt as real as possible. Civil War delivers on all those fronts to the point where you are emotionally invested in their individual outcomes, which is enhanced by the storytelling which never drags, features major incomprehensible sequences (looking at YOU, Batman Vs. Superman) and manages to tie up most if not all of its loose ends well. 


Thrown in the grand introduction of a major character seamlessly into the mix and the interpolation of the one that many fans wanted to see in the main Marvel universe and Civil War hits high marks at every turn. Instead of being a typical good-vs-evil story, this is a battle of principles that turns high stakes and adds to the overall Marvel canon. Evans holds the Captain America mantle with ease and aplomb as the moral center while Downey, Jr. serves as the hotheaded-even-though-he’s-calmer-and-less-impulsive perfect adversary (even though both should be concerned with someone else). Meanwhile, Bettany brings the Dr. Manhattan-like (yes, I DID mention a D.C. Comics character in a Marvel review in a positive sense!) nature of the Vision to life better than he did in Age of Ultron and Boseman does a strong job of establishing the man you can now look forward to seeing in two years in his own solo flick. 


While the film is fairly serious in tone, subject matter and its battles, Civil War does feature some great joke exchanges of near Deadpool like quality (but NOT subject manner and language!) Rudd delivers “giant” comic relief as Scott Lang (a.k.a. Ant-Man) and Tom Holland may have found a way to master a role that some may have thought near impossible for another actor to make his own.  To say much more about that would ruin how well things are tied together and excel … And that would be enough to cause a war between myself and anyone who reads this review.


But if you’re still reading this, you likely haven’t figured out you need to just go see the movie, I’m not sure what I can say that will. For Captain America: Civil War is another great Marvel flick – and one worthy of your time and interest … If you’re into that sort of thing.


OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: Keanu

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Visionary sketch duo offer up laughs (but in a less-than-purr-fect) big screen feature debut

“Whaa … Comedy Central was gonna give us the money Dave Chappelle didn’t take if we stayed on the air longer? Son of a …” Clarence (Keegan Michael-Key) and Rell (Jordan Peele), with the titular character, get some new information in a scene from director Peter Atencio’s action-comedy KEANU. Credit: Steve Dietl. © 2016 Warner Bros. Pictures and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved. 


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Keegan Michael-Key, Jordan Peele, Method Man, Tiffany Haddish, Will Forte, Jason Mitchell, Luis Guzmán, Anna Faris, Rob Huebel and Nia Long

WRITER(S): Jordan Peele, Alex Rubens

DIRECTOR(S): Peter Atencio

WEB SITE: http://keanumovie.com/
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): The first feature length offering starring the two leads behind Comedy Central too short-lived hit sketch series Key & Peele, Keanu stars Jordan Peele as Rell, a man who has just been dumped by his girlfriend and is down in the emotional doldrums as a result. Fortunately for Rell, his cousin Clarence (Keegan Michael-Key) is determined to cheer him up with his can-do attitude … And love of George Michael. But before Clarence can reach Rell, his cousin gets an unexpected visitor in the form of an adorably cute kitten which Rell names Keanu. And it blossoms into a beautiful relationship which uplifts Rell’s spirits in a tremendous – some might almost say dangerously obsessive – fashion.


Then Rell and Clarence go out one night – and come back to Rell’s home to discover that the place has been ransacked and Keanu is gone.


Checking with his drug dealer/neighbor Hulka (Will Forte), Rell learns that Keanu might be in the hands of the 17th Street Blips gang, run by a notorious drug kingpin named Cheddar (Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan fame). And once they realize their initial plan of going in to ask for the kitten back won’t work, Clarence and Rell launch a hair-brained scheme on the fly that just might work: pose as the notorious Allentown hitmen (also played by Key and Peele) that just shot up a rival drug dealer’s church hideout. In exchange for their service, Cheddar agrees to give the duo the kitten back, provided they show his crew – Hi-C (Tiffany Haddish), Trunk (Darrell Britt-Gibson), Stitches (Jamar Malachi Neighbors) and Bud (Straight Outta Compton‘s Jason Mitchell) – how to do things like real gangsters.


Now all Clarence and Rell have to do is survive … And prove that when it comes to the drug game, they are the cat’s pajamas. 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Key & Peele fans; Luis Guzman fans; people who can enjoy a silly comedy; kitten lovers; PETA; anyone looking for something … Different … At the movies this Spring.

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who hate movies with silly plots; people who don’t like Anna Faris; people of all races uncomfortable with the use of the “n” word (don’t like you don’t know what I’m talking about) for comedic purposes; those who like comedies that don’t spend an extended period of time setting up the remainder of the movie.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that is not what even the most die-hard Key & Peele fan would expect, Keanu is a ridiculously silly film about a man’s love for his cat … That more often than it does not hits with entertaining jokes. 


As anyone well-versed in Key & Peele’s five season run on Comedy Central (or, prior to that, their respective time on the under-appreciated MADTV), the duo was prone to find humor in just about anything (and I do mean, anything) – but their best work was unquestionably in exploring different racial constructs and deconstructing various avenues of African-American/ethnic culture, such as the East-West college football game, their formerly-of-an-inner-city-school-and-now-in-the-suburbs substitute teacher, the world’s two biggest Liam Neeson fans and of course, President Obama’s anger translator. Keanu, however, really doesn’t do that as much simply present the duo in roles that in anything other than a really silly (and in turn, mostly fun for the audience) situation and watch them work their way out of it. ‘


Now, when I say silly, I mean “silly” with a capital “S.” This is a story of a grown-ass man. Who goes into the nest of a drug dealer. And gets his cousin to go along with him. To rescue a kitten. If you cannot get past that idea because it is admittedly too silly, you should stop here. If you are willing to look past that and just go with it, however, you will eventually be treated to a mix of physical and situational humor that will feel like (or at least, what I assume) a comedic acid trip is like thanks to plays on traditional action movie staples like gun battles, what villains act like and getting out of sticky situations. It will, however, take a moment to get to those moments as for a 1 hour, 38 minute film, Keanu drags a bit for the first half of the film with a lot of needless filler that could be wrapped up quicker (see the Anna Faris scene … Or rather, just see the latter half of it, anyway). 


Other than that, there’s not a whole lot else you need to know about Keanu – stand-up comic Tiffany Haddish does a decent job in her role as do Method Man and Will Forte, but this is really Key and Peele’s show (no pun intended). The duo expands upon their abilities to play things comedically by playing them out as if they are simply just regular guys dealing with extreme circumstances while staying true to the nature of their characters (and in turn, their respective selves).


And if you’re expecting me to end this on a “they’re the coolest cats in the comedy game” bad joke, well … I’m not. But they have laid an interesting foundation that should make comedy fans interested to see what they do next. OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME

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The “Spiritual Sequel” to Dazed & Confused offers up plenty of funky outfits, music and fun despite a lack of emotional depth

“Yeah, boy – let’s rock these horrible 80s pastels & get busy, fellas!” Plummer (Temple Baker), Roper (Ryan Guzman) and Jake (Blake Jenner) get ready to rock the disco in a scene from writer/director Richard Linklater’s “spiritual sequel” to Dazed & Confused, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME. Credit: Van Redin © 2015 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. 


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Will Brittain, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin, Blake Jenner, J. Quinton Johnson, Glen Powell, Juston Street, Tanner Kalina, Forrest Vickery and Wyatt Russell

WRITER(S): Richard Linklater 

DIRECTOR(S): Richard Linklater 

WEB SITE: http://www.everybodywantssomemovie.com/

60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): The “spiritual sequel” to his beloved (by many) 1970s opus Dazed & Confused, Everybody Wants Some begins by introducing us to Jake (Blake Jenner), a 1979 second team high school all-star baseball player preparing to enter his first year in college in his native Texas. Moving into one of the two off-campus houses the baseball team occupies, Jake meets a cast of colorful characters within minutes of each other. 


This includes Roper (Ryan Guzman) and Finnegan (Glen Powell), the unofficial leaders and ladies men of the house who are always down for a good time; Reynolds (Tyler Hoechlin), a strong, Mike Schmidt-styled mustachioed power hitter; Jay Niles (Juston Street), a Detroit-born pitcher who tells everyone who will listen that the “raw dog” is a top pro prospect; resident knuckles game champ Nesbit (Austin Amelio), Dale (J. Quinton Johnson), the resident cool black guy/second baseman; heavy sleeper Coma (Forest Vickery), fellow freshman outfielder Brumley (Tanner Kalina); Willoughby (Wyatt Russell), a California transfer who’s got many tricks up his sleeve and Beuter (Will Brittain), Jake’s country roommate who has very strong opinions on following the coach’s rules. And over the course of the next three days, Jake and his newfound cast of merry men will party hard and often now that they are away from home with no direct adult supervisor to lord over them.


And Beverly (Zoey Deutch) is an alluring young woman on her own … But where could she possibly fit into Jake’s newfound world of beer, babes and baseball? The weekend is young – and he’s got plenty of time to figure that out. 
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who enjoyed Dazed & Confused; those who enjoyed the 70s portion of Boogie Nights before they hit the 80s second act; children of the late 70s/early 80s; people who like upbeat, coming-of-age stories filled with nostalgia; those who enjoyed 70s-era disco and country music and fashion; anyone in search of a light-hearted romp that is more focused on the fun aspects of youth than truly “growing up” 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Those looking for a direct Dazed & Confused link in terms of tone or character development; people who find 70s/80s nostalgia a bit over-romanticized; those who wish the film dived into deeper levels of what it meant to grow up during the time period depicted 
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that is essentially a 2 hour party on film that celebrates all the debauchery, care-free spirit and optimism of being young and male at the onset of the 1980s – as well as how guys become friends – Everybody Wants Some is a fun diversion of a film … Even if it doesn’t say or represent nearly as much as it could. 


Whereas Dazed & Confused had a feeling of “this is how many kids in the 1970s felt about growing up and being on the verge of adulthood,” Everybody Wants Some essentially has one vibe: It’s time to party – and party it does. For if there has been a film that has embraced the mantra of letting the proverbial good times role more than Linklater’s 117 minute homage to bad 80s fashion, Smokey and the Bandit-style hair and the national pastime, you’d be hard to find one that has as much fun doing so. Jenner does a strong job presenting Blake as just a guy – not a bad guy, not a good guy but a decent guy – venturing out into the world on his own for the first time.


Much akin to the fashion that Steve Carell’s character was embraced in The 40 Year-Old Virgin by his co-workers, Jake is quickly swept under the tutelage of his newfound chums, each of which adds their own unique element to the mix, save for a few oddballs that add their own sense of humorous lunacy to the proceedings. Whether its Glen Powell channeling his inner Brad Pitt/Matthew McConaughey while spouting off romantic and/or philosophic witticism, Johnson being the cool black guy who isn’t defined by his melanin or dual butts of many jokes Austin Amelio and Juston Street being, well, the butts of many jokes, everything works well together to add to the fun. 


This makes Everybody Wants Some much more of an outright comedy than Dazed ever was, but in turn fails to give it as much impact on your conscious. (You won’t leave the theater pondering anything other than how much time did it take to get those clothes and get the actors’ hair to have that perfect fall 1980s look.) While Deutsch adds a nice balance that adds a little depth to both the film and Jake as he discovers meeting someone who at first is your opposite but may be the perfect person for you once you get to know and realize your commonalities, Everybody Wants Some isn’t here to be deep.


It’s here for you to have fun – and if you’re looking for some, this is what you and everybody you’re going to the movies with should want.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR

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Unexpected prequel/sequel to Snow White & The Huntsman turns in an entertaining, estrogen-filled experience

 
“I’m gonna hold your face real still … Now work that celery out of your teeth!” Sara (Jessica Chastain) embraces her fellow huntsman – and husband – Eric (Chris Hemsworth) in a scene from THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR. Credit: Giles Keyte. © 2016 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Nick Frost, Rob Brydon, Alexandra Roach, Sheridan Smith and Sope Dirisu

WRITER(S): Evan Spiliotopoulos, Craig Mazan (screenplay), Evan Daugherty (characters)

DIRECTOR(S): Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

WEB SITE: http://www.thehuntsmanmovie.com/#!/
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): A prequel AND a sequel at the same time, The Huntsman: Winter’s War once again stars Chris “I’m more than Thor!” Hemsworth as Eric, a.k.a. the Huntsman who once helped save and then fight alongside (a mostly absent for this go-round) Snow White against the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron). But that’s not where this story starts.


No, it goes back in time a few years earlier when Ravenna was the unquestioned ruler of the land after the unfortunate passing of the king. Her younger sister Freya (Emily Blunt), however, was not as concerned with ruling as she was in love with William (Sam Clafin), who her sister correctly predicted would bear her a daughter. But, as Ravenna also predicted, he would not – despite his promises – break off his engagement with the woman he was supposed to marry for Freya, leading Freya to have an epic breakdown that transformed her into “the Ice Queen.” Leaving Ravenna before her demise, Freya would head to the north and encapsulate the entire land into a frozen wasteland where the children she would “save” would grow into a powerful army for her and live, provided they never broke one rule: Letting their hearts be open to the idea of love – which is what turned Freya into a woman so feared they were afraid to speak her name – was forbidden.


Fast forward a few years later and Freya is now on the warpath to take the one thing she has never tried to before: Snow White’s kingdom. And to do so, she seeks the one thing that Snow White has cast out of her kingdom: The mirror that once belonged to Ravenna, hence the reason Eric and his dwarf sidekicks Gryff (Rob Brydon) and Nion (Nick Frost) are out tracking – or hunting, if you will – where it could be since someone (or something) has stolen it in hopes of finding it before Freya does.


There’s just one little thing that none of the trio counted on getting in their way: Sara (Jessica Chastain), the female huntsman Eric thought was dead … That also just so happened to once be his wife. 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Fantasy film and cosplay enthusiasts; films where female characters drive the story; those looking for a date night activity that will have enough to keep the attention of both sexes (or those in the LGBT community – this is not an exclusionary review!) by catering to traditional male and female story elements of interest; people who enjoyed the more serious, straightforward tone of the first film but wanted a bit more humor at times to balance out the swordplay

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who were not that enthused with the first Huntsman movie; those who are “too grown” to watch a long adaptation of a story based on a fairy tale and/or simply aren’t interested in the subject matter … And anyone who suffers from Achondroplasiaphobia (look it up for yourself; I took the time to type that in correctly!)
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? The original Snow White & The Huntsman was a surprisingly entertaining tale that did what little thought could – or perhaps, more accurately, should – be done: Put a new spin on a told-to-death (no pun intended) story. That being said, one could be forgiven for wondering who (besides Universal Pictures given the previous installment’s success) was actively clamoring for a follow-up, especially one that serves as both a prequel in its first half and a sequel for the second act.


Well, if you were among those who in fact was in that camp, I have news that once again may be surprising as it was the first time: Winter’s War is a fairly entertaining tale that manages to wrap itself up happily ever after. 


For a film that delves more into the Huntsman’s background, Winter’s War is essentially a feminist power movement … That just so happens to be draped in a world of goblins, fairies and mystical characters. For while Hemsworth character does pretty much everything you’d expect – be charming, smile and be self-deprecating while exhibiting powerful strikes and just enough emotion to let you know he’s likable like John Cena at his non-movie day job. However, Hemsworth’s character is not really so much the star of Winter’s War as much a necessary component of a story that dives into a tale that explores sibling rivalry, relationships and the good ol’ element of good vs. evil – all of which is essentially driven by Winter’s War‘s female characters. 


Whereas Chastain plays alongside Hemsworth as his equal and personal protagonist, Blunt and Theron work as extremely well as the films’ overarching villains. Chastain provides a great personal rival for Hemsworth to keep him in check in regards to both his past and present as they work through their respective issues without ever feeling hokey. Whereas you can feel the emotion crack in Blunt’s character’s psyche, you can feel the pure, unabashed and unflappable evil flowing out of Theron with each sneer, calculated body movement and verbal spear. The biggest scene stealer, however, is Sheridan Smith as Mrs. Bromwyn, a fellow dwarf who sparring sessions with Rob Brydon’s Gryff are at times the best parts of the film. The four ladies really produce a nice spectrum of a range of talent in the film that makes things enjoyable and interesting, which is something that most things pertaining to the words “Snow White” are absent for just about anyone over the age of 13 (or at least should be). But back to what matters …


This is not to suggest Hemsworth is capable in his role by any means; it’s simply to acknowledge just how much Winter’s War smartly uses its female stars in ways that showcase their talent and make them integral as much more than any typical damsel in distress. Whereas the roles of women in film is still something of constant debate – just look at the online scuttlebutt regarding Hemsworth’s upcoming other summer film, the all-female Ghostbusters reboot – Winter’s War is another example that quality acting is quality acting, which is all that ultimately should and does matter at the box office. Yes, the film isn’t perfect– there are a few fairy tale staples that are easy to foresee – but thanks to the well-paced melodrama and special effects as executed under the direction of first-timer Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Winter’s War is a welcome addition to the spring movie season.


Feel free to bite this apple with no worries of a poisonous aftertaste. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: The Jungle Book

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Rudyard Kipling’s beloved collection of short stories gets brought to life in grand fashion in Disney’s latest offering

“Please … For the love of everything … Don’t make this a horror movie and eat me!” Mowgli (Neel Seethi) shares a moment with his adoptive wolf mother Raksha (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) in a scene from director Jon Favreau’s live-action adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic THE JUNGLE BOOK. Credit: © 2015 Disney Enterprises. All rights reserved.
 



WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:





KEY CAST MEMBERS: Neel Seethi, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley, Lupita Nyong’o, Giancarlo Esposito, Garry Shandling, Brighton Rose, Scarlett Johansson, and Christopher Walken

WRITER(S): Justin Marks (screenplay); Rudyard Kipling (novel on which the movie is based)

DIRECTOR(S): Jon Favreau

WEB SITE: http://movies.disney.com/the-jungle-book-2016
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Based on part of Joseph Rudyard Kipling’s best-known collection of short stories, the live action version of The Jungle Book stars newcomer Neel Seethi as Mowgli. Mowgli is a “man-cub,” a boy raised by wolves in the jungle after being discovered by Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley), a black panther who discovered him all alone in a cave. While serving as a mentor of sorts, Bagheera turned the young boy over to Raksha (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) and Akela (voiced by Giancarlo Esposito), a pair of wolves who in turn raised him as one of their own. And all is well.


That is until Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba), a tiger with burned face, lets Akela and Raksha that he wants Mowgli turned over to him at once – or face dire consequences. 


Doing what they think is right, Akela and Raksha ask Bagheera to lead Mowgli out of the jungle, which is a tough moment for the young man-cub since he doesn’t want to leave the only mother and father he’s ever really known. But once he’s out on his own, Mowgli will discover a side of the jungle he’s never known, full of characters from the slithering Kaa (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) to the lazy but ingenuitive Baloo (voiced by Bill Murray) and the loquacious King Louie (voiced by Christopher Walken), all of which may make the man-cub have to face a decision he never anticipated:


Is he a man-cub or a man – and if so, what does that mean for him in regards to his place in the only home he’s ever known.  

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who enjoy films with gorgeous visuals; those who enjoy live action films where the the story moves at a snappy pace; those who felt that the animated version of The Jungle Book is a bit too over-the-top happy/sappy; people who want some realistic “edge” to a tale that should, by its very nature, inherently have some. 

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People that find animals talking creepy and/or weird; anyone who believes older, revered films shouldn’t be remade for any reason; those who find the action scenes a bit too intense for young children (or his or her self); anyone who feels a more “hard-edged” Jungle Book is not needed
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that brings a maturity to a coming of age tale that by its very nature needs to embrace its animalistic nature, The Jungle Book is a very well done tale that brings its subject matter to life in a way where the call of the wild is answered loudly and vividly.


Child actors are a very mixed lot; while some make a breakthrough performance in their debut film (see Osment, Haley Joe), others often go on to fail to live up to and/or embrace the talent they show in that role thereafter (see Osment, Haley Joe) or worse (see Lloyd, Jake for a recent example). Newcomer Neel Seethi doesn’t do anything remarkable to show superstar potential as the man-cub of the jungle, but he does a very competent job in bringing the essence of Mowgli – a young boy in a world that is clearly not his by birth but becomes his by his actions and spirit – to life. 


What really makes the movie, however, is the synchronicity between the vocal performances of the film’s animal stars and the animation under director Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Elf, the big guy from Swingers and Chef – don’t get mad at me; he was heavy in both movies!) Whereas Nyong’o brings heart, depth and a mother’s love to her role as Raksha and Kingsley adds a stern, old world father sensibility, Murray brings a terrific sense of humor to Baloo that makes the character lovable at each turn while Walken brings a fantastic balance of blowhard and boyish enthusiasm to his role. 


Still, what brings everything together so well is the coordination of the action, emotion and humor under Favreau’s watch, all of which makes for a wonderfully entertaining package enjoyable for adults and children alike. The intense scenes are truly intense, the heartfelt ones are touching without being sappy and the humor comes at the right times without ever being insulting to your intelligence, no matter your age.


And as far as remakes of films you never thought you’d ever want to see go, The Jungle Book delivers a wild and wonderful romp through the jungle with moralistic undertones of which Kipling himself would likely be proud.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: The Boss

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THE BOSS

“You think I look crazy? You should have seen what happened the last time I had a taco salad!” Orphan-turned-entrepreneur Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) gets some help with her teeth whitening ritual from her assistant Claire (Kristen Bell) in a scene from co-writer/director/McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone’s comedy THE BOSS. Credit: Hopper Stone. © 2015 Universal Pictures. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Kathy Bates, Tyler Labine, Ella Anderson, Cecily Strong , Annie Mumolo, Kristen Schaal, Timothy Simons and Eva Peterson


WRITER(S): Ben Falcone, Steve Mallory and Melissa McCarthy

DIRECTOR(S): Ben Falcone 

WEB SITE: http://www.thebossfilm.com/
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) had it rough growing up in Illinois. Abandoned/orphaned by her parents in her youth, Michelle has overcome her rough upbringing to become the 47th wealthiest woman in America. Now a powerhouse  as the CEO of three various companies, Michelle is on top of the world. Her success hasn’t made life an easier for Claire (Kristen Bell), Michelle’s top assistant, the Smithers to her Mr. Burns who is also a single mother to Rachel (Ella Anderson), a nice young girl who spends most of her free time with her Dandelions youth troop.


Then her former lover and top rival Renault – a.k.a. Ron (Peter Dinklage) – gets her busted for insider trading, which lands her in federal prison for 5 months and her empire in shambles.


Now with nowhere else to go, Michelle comes looking for refuge at the home of her former assistant, who reluctantly agrees to take her in until she can get back on her feet. But as one might expect, going from the penthouse to the proverbial outhouse of Claire’s tiny two-bedroom apartment. But Michelle is a woman with grit, determination and a never take “no” for an answer attitude, so once she sees an opportunity to re-establish herself, she is ready to seize it – even if that means shaking up Claire and Rachel’s world to no end.


And that’s because she’s the boss – and a boss does what a boss has to do to stay on top.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Melissa McCarthy fans; people who enjoy watching children – and to lesser extent, adults – behave inappropriately for their age; people who enjoy movies where the nice guy gets a break; people who like movies with characters that, while they may not be well-developed, are fun

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People that will find Peter Dinklage and/or his character creepy; Anyone who doesn’t find likable characters enough to carry the film’s rather ludicrous third act; people who believe that McCarthy (whether fairly or unfairly) tends to play the same type of characters, anyone who hates when Saturday Night Live sketches seem to run on too long. 
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A movie with some really likable characters that aren’t exactly placed into a great movie all the time, The Boss is entertaining enough to be forgiven for its shortcomings … Which is why at times it feels like an overly long SNL sketch.


McCarthy is very good at playing characters who appear to be one thing but have a little more going on underneath the surface than one might think at first glance. The Boss continues that streak by adding layers to her character, who is all bluster at first before a more sensitive side is eventually revealed. However, given how Dinklage was either asked or chose to play his character in ridiculously creepy fashion, you might find yourself unsettled or at the very least a little freaked out at times and not so much comedically as McCarthy’s husband/co-writer/director Ben Falcone intended. I’m sure the creative team of the McCarthy. Falcone and Steven Mallory were thinking of a Zoolander– or Anchorman-like level comedic foil for McCarthy, but … Nah, it just doesn’t always come off that way. 


Likewise, Bell is capable at playing the straight woman to McCarthy’s antics as her character is supposed to be a dull single mom … And MAN does she nail it almost to the point where you care about everyone around her more than her. She’s too much of the straightwoman at times, which in turn makes you feel her pain way too much. She’s not bad; it’s just that her character has no value on her own and is only best when paired with McCarthy’s or Tyler Labine as her co-worker/potential would be love interest. While we know everyone around Claire is having fun, it gets to a point where EVERYONE but Claire is having fun.


Fortunately, McCarthy has enough to gumption to keep things moving along and both the supporting and younger cast really shine in the lunatic situations in which they are placed. The aforementioned Labine is terrific in representing the everyman who works in a boring job and is a nice guy who deserves better while never coming off as a lovable loser and McCarthy’s female co-stars – Kristen Schaal, Cecily Strong and Annie Mumolo bring a lot of the party as zany/over-the-top sparring partners for McCarthy, Mumolo especially as a would be power mom of an ambitious girl scout-type. (Eva Peterson plays a scary, foul-mouthed teenage girl about as well as you can comedically, so The Boss could be a start of a nice career for her.)


In short, The Boss is entertaining at its best – there’s a rumble sequence that’s phenomenal – but it’s far fro a perfect film by any means. Dinklage’s character is supposed to be over-the-top, but whether or not you find it funny or just dumb remains to be seen. Likewise, there are a lot of lulls between the funny moments and some are much funnier than others, so depending on your attention level you may find the boss somewhere between “good” to “just okay” on your entertainment scale. 


If nothing else, The Boss will serve as a nice palate cleanser to anyone who has found spring’s early offerings at the theaters to be a bit … Well, not suitable for full-time employment. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

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DC Comics two biggest superheroes finally battle on the big screen to mixed results

“That’s right, super guy – this suit won’t rust out in the rain like Iron Jerk’s!” Batman (Ben Affleck) prepares to face off against Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman (Henry Cavill) in a scene from director Zack Snyder’s superhero epic BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. Credit: Clay Enos ™ & © DC Comics. © 2016 Warner Bros. Pictures and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment and Ratpac Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved. 

Clay Enos / TM & © DC Comics


WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE: 


 



KEY CAST MEMBERS: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Ben Affleck, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane … And a few other people in smaller yet notable roles

WRITER(S): Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer (screenplay); Bob Kane and Bill Finger (characters); Jerry Siegel and Joel Schuster (characters)

DIRECTOR(S): Zack Snyder


WEB SITE: http://batmanvsuperman.dccomics.com/
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Following up on the events found in director Zack Snyder’s previous effort Man of Steel, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice finds mankind at odds with the godlike figure that protects them from evil … Who they fear in turn could wipe them all out at a given moment should he choose to do so. This is why billionaire Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. the masked caped crusader better known to criminals throughout Gotham City as Batman (Ben Affleck) is worried about all of the damage and destruction Superman is capable of causing. Bruce’s fears are elevated when Superman (Henry Cavill) shows up on the scene of a supposed terrorist in Africa where journalist Lois Lane (Amy Adams) – has been taken hostage. Considering that Lois is the girlfriend of Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent, however, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Krytonian came to rescue her. Of course, Superman has his own concerns about the armored vigilante that is seemingly running around Metropolis, taking the law into his own hands – or in some cases, permanently onto his “victims” bodies. 


But what might come as a surprise is who set up the whole scenario and why … But let’s just say the offspring of a certain well-known businessman (Jesse Eisenberg) might have a very dastardly plan up his sleeve that might just take out all super-powered people – human and alien – alike. 


That is, of course, if the world’s greatest detective and the adopted son of a farmer from Kansas don’t destroy each other first …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Henry Cavill fans; people who have longed to see a film set-up the arrival of D.C. Comics’ Justice League franchise; people who enjoy extended fight sequences in superhero movies; those who have wanted Lex Luthor to be portrayed with less of a campy villainy to him


WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who don’t like Ben Affleck and/or Jesse Eisenberg; people growing tired of the brooding superhero thing; anyone who has found Zack Snyder’s previous works too bombastic; those who want their characters presented in more traditional than modern means; those who may become bored over the film’s two-and-a-half-hours with all the over-the-top exposition of the plot; anyone suffering from superhero movie hangover; those who just find the whole idea of Superman vs. Batman ludicrous, even in a comic book-inspired world
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that will certainly entertain many while making others entertain the idea of certainly not watching another film in the franchise, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice does enough things well to make it watchable … Even if it isn’t exactly a “marvel” of a start for franchise universe of costumed superheroes and villains. 


The things that B V S does well are fine, but they often come off with the classic “mixed bag” role of effectiveness: While he’s going to be polarizing no matter what he does simply by being in the film, Affleck does a decent job as portraying Batman as a man steadfast in his cause who truly believes in what he’s doing to the point that even if you don’t like him personally, you have to give him credit for his dedication to the role. Likewise, the addition of Jeremy Irons in a Lucius Fox (remember when Morgan Freeman was in those three Batman movies Christopher Nolan did?) role as Batman’s key assistant can be viewed as a breath of fresh air … Provided that you don’t find Irons’ portrayal as droll as his character apparently views some of his boss’ evening pursuits. Eisenberg, who discussed the advanced criticism of his casting as Lex Luthor during his visit to Cincinnati this January, does a fine job of making the role as the new antagonist for Superman and “the Bat” as he calls him his own. Whether or not you are ready for a hipster (or at least one that is much more a hipster than not as you could picture him on a half pipe at the X-Games or at an Arcade Fire concert more easily than any Luthor prior) version of him, however, remains to be seen …Likewise, some might find the critical (in terms of the story) inclusions of Diane Lane as Ma Kent, Adams as Lois Lane and Gal Gadot as Ms. Diana Prince a.k.a. a famous hot pants-wearing woman of wonder in the 70s re-imagined as a more mysterious super “meta-human” here as good moves. For each has a vital role to the plot and each plays their respective role well … Some, however, might be a bit taken aback at just how involved one of those three is in the unfolding events during the film’s climax – and it ain’t gonna be the one you’d think would make the most sense.

In short, it used to be an old standard that it was impossible to make everyone happy when it came to movies, especially those based on comic books. While Marvel has pretty much taken that idea and thrown it out the window, movies like Green Lantern (yeah, I DID like it) and last summer’s debacle Fantastic Four (NO ONE likes that movie … NO ONE) prove that it still rings as true as any good cliché would. Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice isn’t going to end that debate any time soon, but perhaps that was the point: By creating a film with so many different things going on at once, it’s guaranteed to at least get people talking about the film enough to pique most people’s interests …

Here’s to hoping the inevitable and already well on its way Justice League film it sets up doesn’t leave audiences feeling like a hung jury as much as this one might.

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

Two+and+a+half+buckets+of+popcorn
Tabari McCoy (http://mccoyonmovies.blogspot.com)

McCoy on Movies: The Divergent Series: Allegiant

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The first installment of the two-part finale of the Divergent series is here. But is it a post-apocalyptic masterpiece or a dystopian dud?

“Hold me … Now put on that song by The Wknd you know I love so much …” Four (Theo James) and Tris (Shailene Woodley) in The Divergent Series: Allegiant. Credit: Dan McFadden. © 2016 Summit.


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Shaliene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q., Naomi Watts, Miles Teller, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Jeff Daniels, Octavia Spencer and Bill Skarsgård

 

WRITER(S): Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle (screenplay); Josh Campbell and Matthew Stuecken (story)
DIRECTOR(S): Robert Schwentke
 
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): The first of the two part , big screen finale adaptation of the Hunger Games Divergent novel series, Allegiant finds our hero Tris (Shaliene Woodley) and her fellow renegade boyfriend Four (Theo James) ready to venture outside the walls of Chicago. No, not Wrigley Field-loving, deep dish pizza Chicago – this is dystopian, the Cubs finally won a World Series and hell-has-frozen-over Chicago. The evil Jeanine (formerly played by Kate Winslet) has been defeated, but a new potential has risen her place in the form of Four’s mother Evelyn (Naomi Watts), who is warring with Johanna (Octavia Spencer) and her new Allegiant group (the old faction system has been taken down). Caleb (Ansel Elgort), meanwhile is preparing to stand trial for his alleged crimes under Jeanine’s rule ….


While they wish to save Caleb, Tris, Four, Christina (Zoë Kravitz) and Peter (Miles Teller) also have their eyes on a greater journey: Venturing outside the walls to discover who has contacted them and saying they are needed. They soon discover that the man who has been calling them is David (Jeff Daniels), the director of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare who explains to Tris how and why the faction system ever came into existence in the first place. 


But what she doesn’t know is the true nature of David’s plans for the future … And how she is the key to unlocking them all. 
 
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Shaliene Woodley and Theo James fans; people who absolutely love the first two films and/or the book series enough to want to see the final two films
 
WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Jeff Daniels and Naomi Watts fans; Hunger Games fans who feel Divergent detracts from that series; people who hate films with poorly constructed dialogue and/or spotty acting; just about anyone not covered in the groups that will like this film

 

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A movie series that started off strong and has continued to peter out of steam with each installment, the best thing about Allegiant is that its release means there’s only more film to go in the Divergent series. And if that sounds harsh, there’s a reason: It should – because Allegiant is really just not that good.

Poor Theo James. It must be hard being the only actor fully committed to a movie littered with weak, junior high-level dialogue, lackluster efforts from Jeff Daniels, Naomi Watts and what is easily Miles Teller’s worst performance in eons (yup, even worse than that superhero movie from last year that we shall not speak of) and a plot which is executed in a muddled, unexhilirating fashion.


As the Hunger Games series wore on, it did lose a little intrigue each time, but at least it never felt as stale and anti-climatic as the Divergent series has. Woodley, like many of the characters now, unfortunately just feels like she’s along for the ride instead of leading these excursions and the adults have a very obvious going through the motions feel from start to finish. Having not read the books, I cannot obviously say with certainly if they are less muddled than the films, but Allegiant is so jumbled up that by the time you reach the climax, you’re already over it. That may come as bad news since this film is the first of the two-part finale, which has a LOT of work to do to make its villain seem truly threatening and its heroes, well, heroic. For this paint by numbers affair is loaded with tired tropes (the love conflict story, the guy who isn’t what he seems at first, the former coward that does something to redeem himself by acting unselfishly) that if they are this bland in the novel – which is not the same as the story here (it’s true, Google it!) – then one would have to wonder how the Divergent series can hope to offer up anything fresh.


You’d be better off being allegiant to a better to a better teen dystopian series … Or just embracing the apocalypse altogether. 


 


OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

McCoy on Movies: 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE

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The unexpected companion film to 2008’s Cloverfield is here …

“So, the plan for the actual last season of Roseanne was – wait, you’re not Becky!” Howard (John Goodman) and Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) share a moment beneath the surface in a scene from 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE. Credit: Michele K. Short © 2016 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. 


KEY CAST MEMBERS: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher, Jr.

WRITER(S): Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle (screenplay); Josh Campbell and Matthew Stuecken (story)DIRECTOR(S): Dan Trachtenberg

WEB SITE: http://www.10cloverfieldlane.com/60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): A companion to 2008’s hit “scramble cam” sci-fi/horror/monster movie Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Michelle. Who is Michelle? She is an engaged Louisiana resident who is less than happy with her boyfriend Ben (to put it mildly). That’s why she has split and hit the road heading north … At least she was heading north until she is involved in a major car accident leaving her red Jetta turned upside in the middle of a field.


As you might imagine, Michelle is a bit distraught as a result of the crash – but not as distraught as she is when she wakes up to find herself chained at the knee to a wall with a mysterious IV in her arm. This is when she eventually meets Howard (John Goodman). Who is Howard? Well, he’s the former Navy satellite specialist who has built a doomsday bunker with help from Emmett (John Gallagher, Jr.) to deal with the potential end of the world threat he’s long suspected will one day happen. And that’s when Howard and Emmett deliver the bad news to Michelle that there has been an attack on the United States and pretty much everyone she ever knew outside is dead. 


But as scared and frightened as she was once she woke up in Howard’s bunker, she has no idea of what lies ahead. For as the film’s poster says, “monsters come in many forms” …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? John Goodman fans; Mary Elizabeth Winstead fans; fans of 1970s low budget thrillers where story and performance were more important than special effects; people looking for a thriller in a market flooded with a lot of the same type of movie

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People expecting something exactly like the first Cloverfield film; those who find the story tense but too predictable 

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A film that is a slow burn homage to monster/claustrophobia films of days gone by, 10 Cloverfield Lane is an extremely tense, smart and well-acted old school thriller that proves when done right, there is still some life left in a monster movie – especially when you’re not sure who the bigger monster is.


Now, if you skewer Lane with a fine-toothed comb, there is a LOT of foreshadowing that, depending on how closely you pay attention, could put a damper on your overall enjoyment of the film. However, thanks to strong performances on the part of Howard and Goodman, you likely won’t mind so much as they work so well together that their weird father/daughter-or-is-it-pervert/captive-or-perhaps-even-man trying to make up for some crazy past incident/woman who isn’t sure who to trust but maybe he’s not a psychopath interactions will keep you enthralled. This is slow burn theater where each scene is like a someone slowly poking a bear before the bear goes mad. 


It’s hard to truly articulate just how well Winstead and Goodman enact their roles, for seeing is truly believing. Whereas Winstead starts out following the typical tropes of a young white woman in distress in a situation with no way out, she progresses and grows her character into a very capable and formidable figure. Goodman, however, gets a chance to shine in playing against pretty much almost every type he’s known for by bringing the perfect mix of a creepy yet disarming until he is absolutely alarming physical presence. But in playing Howard as a man who may actually know more than he lets on but believes everything he is doing is not only right but necessary, Goodman delivers the type of performance that should be considered for an acting award even though the genre of the film virtually guarantees he never will be. None of this is designed to serve as a slight to Gallagher, Jr., mind you as he serves as a terrific bridge between Goodman and Winstead’s characters and the drama/danger that surrounds them all as the well-meaning but possibly too naive for his own good guy in the middle.


Saying much more would ruin the fun of the film; of course, in a world where The Walking Dead has delivered end-of-the-world devastation to millions on a weekly basis, 10 Cloverfield Lane may not be the scariest flick on the block, but it might be the best. It’s 90-plus minutes of intense, well-paced and even better performed tension with (thankfully) no gimmicky, shaky camera action to be found.
 
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

 

McCoy on Movies: Zootopia

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Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman headline Disney’s latest excellent animated achievement

 

“If this happened in the real world, everyone would be too busy freaking out animals are talking than to care that they are working at the Department of Motor Vehicles!” Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) tries to desperately get information while Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) smiles knowing his friend Flash (Raymond S. Persi) works a computer in a scene from ZOOTOPIA. Credit: © 2016 Walt Disney Studios. All rights reserved.


WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:


KEY VOICE CAST MEMBERS: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Maurice LaMarche Shakira, Raymond S. Persim Alan Tudyk and Phil Johnston

WRITER(S): Jared Bush and Phil Johnston (screenplay); Jared Bush, Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee, Jose Trinidad, Jim Reardon and Rich Moore (story); Dan Fogelman (additional story material) DIRECTOR(S): Byron Howard and Rich Moore; Jared Bush (co-director)

WEB SITE: http://movies.disney.com/zootopia60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): An animated coming of age, fish out of water – or make that bunny out of meadow? – story, Zootopia begins by introducing us to Jenny Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit living in the rural farm town of Bunnyburrow who dreams of one day moving to Zootopia. What is Zootopia? It’s the magical big city where predators and prey alike live in peace and where Judy hopes to live out her dream: Becoming the first rabbit on the Zootopia police force.


Fast-forward 15 years after a life-changing incident and a now adult Jenny has overcome the odds to achieve her dream … Only to quickly learn that life as a police officer that also happens to be a bunny is not as glamorous or great as she imagined it would be. A little down as the case may be, she decides to do a good deed for someone who, by nature, should be her natural enemy: Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a fox who turns out to be quite sly as his species’ reputation would have you believe. But while Nick gets the better of Jenny at first, she quickly turns the tables on him, forcing him to help her with a big case to impress her boss Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) at the risk of getting fired: Discovering what happened to Mr. Otterton, a mild-manner florist who, like several other mammals in Zootopia, has mysteriously disappeared. 


But once Jenny and Nick start going down the rabbit hole, what the predator-and-prey friends discover is bigger than either could have ever imagined …

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Ginnifer Goodwin fans; Jason Bateman fans; adults who will enjoy the allusions to certain decades/elements of pop culture past and modern times; hip kids who get the jokes for the adults; kids and parents who enjoy the light-hearted yet purely Disney positive message of the film

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN’T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Anyone who hates animation; those who feel like the film tries to force feed a message down their cinematic throats; people who dislike mirth

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? With a good amount of pop culture-related humor, plays on traditional roles (for both people and within the animal world) and that trademark movie magic of a life lesson that is stated in the beginning and comes together fully in the final act, Zootopia is Disney’s finest non-Pixar related outings in years and one audiences of all ages will enjoy. 


Whereas Zootopia looks rich and complete as the thriving “what if the world was run by animals?” metropolis its creative team intended to deliver, the characters are truly brought to life by the film’s cast with Goodwin and Bateman leading the way. As Jenny Hopps and Nick Wilde respectively, Goodwin and Bateman have a great vocal chemistry that makes the film, building what goes from a true rivalry to a friendship that compliments each other and feels as natural as can be despite nature’s setup. Whereas Goodwin truly makes Jenny a well-rounded character struggling to find her place in the world while remaining endearing, funny, smart and inspiring for little boys and girls alike, Bateman crafts a nice, snarky yet hard not to appreciative smart guy out of what could have easily become a one note or forced character. 


That’s not to suggest they are the only stars in the film; far from it, in fact. Whereas Elba is sadly limited to just being Jenny’s huff-and-puff boss, Jenny Slate shines as the constantly put-upon vice-mayor Bellweather as does Tommy Chong as ultra-hippie and clueless spa owner Yax. All the characters fit well within the world directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore craft, delivering action sequences totally appropriate for the worlds it explores while making you want to explore it further. 

Likewise, the self-referential jokes work well while being kid-friendly but loaded with more adults sensibility than one might imagine for a PG-rated Disney flick. (Let’s just say there’s a not-so-subtle reference to a very popular TV show that recently ended that has spawned a prequel on AMC that fits into the story so well you might miss it. And that’s not the only one in the movie.) Conventions of police departments and cop movies are broken down, the idea of what it means to fight your limitations are explored well … And if you know someone that collects Funko Pop! figures, expect them to want a Flash, Mr. Big or Clawhauser one soon due to a silly/cuteness factor that continues to bridge the gap between kid movie/adult friendly animated movie. 


Throw in a well-constructed plot twist, an actually interesting story and a general, true sense of fun and Zootopia is a great 3D experience. If you don’t like that, perhaps you ought to be spayed and neutered since your sense of enjoyment at the movies already is. Yup, that’s how good Zootopia is. 

 
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):