Rated R, 124 minutes
'The Five-Year Engagement" is the overlong but charming, sweet new relationship comedy starring Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. It tells the story of cute San Francisco couple Tommy (Segel) and Violet (Blunt) who finally decide to marry; yet the ceremony is put on hold when Violet gets an educational research job across country and displaces the successful Tommy, a chef at a local San Francisco eatery. The two want to tie the knot but various things keep tripping them up from walking down the aisle. "The Five-Year Engagement" humorously explains how these rules of engagement can come from any direction and how prepared you must be. Not to be redundant, but Blunt and Segel make for an engaging pair as the engaged couple, and their chemistry together highlights a romantic comedy that isn't altogether efficient and occasionally too talky. Nicholas Stoller, directs and co-writes with his "Freeks and Geeks" colleague Segel, and while the story is sweet, there's too much filler, talk in between some of the more humorous scenes. Chris Pratt ("Everwood," "Moneyball") nearly steals the show as Segel's wise-cracking chef pal; Pratt's singing at a wedding to his own bride is the film's funniest moment. Stoller and Segel could've excised many scenes, particularly most of the middle act, until it finally comes together in the amusing but predictable ending. "The Five-Year Engagement" is too long, but it's mostly an enjoyable matrimonial trip.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Think Like A Man - C
Rated PG-13, 122 minutes
"Think Like A Man" is the new urban relationship comedy based on the Steve Harvey best-selling self-help book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man" that tries to shed light on what men and women go through in dating. Featuring a talented cast including Michael Ealy, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall and Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, the fun but overlong comedy intersects too many stories with uneven pacing and a second act that slows things down too much. Directed by Tim Story of "Barbershop" fame, comedian Hart is the scene stealer with his broad antics, but they grow a little tiresome and annoying after awhile (though it is funny to see the undersized funnyman paired with the statuesque talk show host Wendy Williams). Union, Henson and especially Hart are mostly eye candy going through the paces; we've seen this before and done better. A few heartwarming moments still can't make up for the false, pat finale that tries too hard for a happy ending that literally ties up all storylines. The forgettable, crowd-pleasing "Think Like a Man" goes too long, but there are a few entertaining moments along the way.
"Think Like A Man" is the new urban relationship comedy based on the Steve Harvey best-selling self-help book "Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man" that tries to shed light on what men and women go through in dating. Featuring a talented cast including Michael Ealy, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall and Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, the fun but overlong comedy intersects too many stories with uneven pacing and a second act that slows things down too much. Directed by Tim Story of "Barbershop" fame, comedian Hart is the scene stealer with his broad antics, but they grow a little tiresome and annoying after awhile (though it is funny to see the undersized funnyman paired with the statuesque talk show host Wendy Williams). Union, Henson and especially Hart are mostly eye candy going through the paces; we've seen this before and done better. A few heartwarming moments still can't make up for the false, pat finale that tries too hard for a happy ending that literally ties up all storylines. The forgettable, crowd-pleasing "Think Like a Man" goes too long, but there are a few entertaining moments along the way.
The Raven - C
Rated R, 103 minutes
"The Raven" is the dark, unsatisyfing new thriller that's a fictionalized account of the last days of Edgar Allen Poe, played by one of my favorite actors, John Cusack. Gruesome and bloody, it's peppered with some decent, tense moments but Cusack goes through the paces to resolve the mystery of a serial killer."The Raven" is directed by "V for Vendetta's" James McTeigue, and the movie is set in 19th Century Baltimore, and a serial killer is on the loose, basing his murders on Poe's stories. The police detective Emmitt Fields (Luke Evans) is assigned to case and initially believes Poe is the prime suspect until Poe's girlfriend (Alice Eve) is kidnapped by the serial killer (Sam Hazeldine). Fields and Poe must track down the killer before he harms his girlfriend and possibly Poe himself. "The Raven" is a dark, violent tale with some stylish twists and turns that McTeigue is noted for, but the film strives to be too unconventional, a quality that made his most well-known film, "V for Vendetta," a hot mess. Cusack is always watchable and Brendan Gleeson is around for a good bluster or two, but down the stretch it's hard to believe Poe would've ever got involved in something like this. "The Raven" is an interesting (but very depressing) concept that's mishandled by McTeigue, and in the end it's an unsatisfying trip.
"The Raven" is the dark, unsatisyfing new thriller that's a fictionalized account of the last days of Edgar Allen Poe, played by one of my favorite actors, John Cusack. Gruesome and bloody, it's peppered with some decent, tense moments but Cusack goes through the paces to resolve the mystery of a serial killer."The Raven" is directed by "V for Vendetta's" James McTeigue, and the movie is set in 19th Century Baltimore, and a serial killer is on the loose, basing his murders on Poe's stories. The police detective Emmitt Fields (Luke Evans) is assigned to case and initially believes Poe is the prime suspect until Poe's girlfriend (Alice Eve) is kidnapped by the serial killer (Sam Hazeldine). Fields and Poe must track down the killer before he harms his girlfriend and possibly Poe himself. "The Raven" is a dark, violent tale with some stylish twists and turns that McTeigue is noted for, but the film strives to be too unconventional, a quality that made his most well-known film, "V for Vendetta," a hot mess. Cusack is always watchable and Brendan Gleeson is around for a good bluster or two, but down the stretch it's hard to believe Poe would've ever got involved in something like this. "The Raven" is an interesting (but very depressing) concept that's mishandled by McTeigue, and in the end it's an unsatisfying trip.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits - B
Rated PG, 87 minutes
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" is jolly good stop-motion animation fun, brought to you by the folks who did "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away." Based on the first two "The Pirates!" book series by Gideon Defoe, who also pens the screenplay here, the movie concerns the Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant), who is out to defeat arch enemies Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) and Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) for the coveted Pirate of the Year award. The Captain has bad luck until he finds Charles Darwin (David Tennant), who in turn discovers that the Captain's so-called fat parrot Polly is actually a rare dodo bird that could snatch the Captain fame and wealth. The only thing is, they have to go to London for the award, and pirates aren't welcome there by Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton, having lots of fun). Everyone learns a lesson before it's over, mainly the value and cost of true friendship and success. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" is witty, charming fun in the vein of "Chicken Run," and co- directed by Jeff Hewitt and Peter Lord, who directed that film. The cast seems to enjoy themselves immensely in the entertaining film. The only drawback is that the humor of "Pirates," the tongue-in-cheek, irreverent type that skewers a lot of pop culture, may be above the heads the young ones the film is intended for. Adults will certainly have the best time in "Pirates!," though it's nothing new or revelatory. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" has a booty-share of laughs, just be sure to listen closely to the dialogue. Entertaining and worth a look.
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits" is jolly good stop-motion animation fun, brought to you by the folks who did "Chicken Run" and "Flushed Away." Based on the first two "The Pirates!" book series by Gideon Defoe, who also pens the screenplay here, the movie concerns the Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant), who is out to defeat arch enemies Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) and Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) for the coveted Pirate of the Year award. The Captain has bad luck until he finds Charles Darwin (David Tennant), who in turn discovers that the Captain's so-called fat parrot Polly is actually a rare dodo bird that could snatch the Captain fame and wealth. The only thing is, they have to go to London for the award, and pirates aren't welcome there by Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton, having lots of fun). Everyone learns a lesson before it's over, mainly the value and cost of true friendship and success. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" is witty, charming fun in the vein of "Chicken Run," and co- directed by Jeff Hewitt and Peter Lord, who directed that film. The cast seems to enjoy themselves immensely in the entertaining film. The only drawback is that the humor of "Pirates," the tongue-in-cheek, irreverent type that skewers a lot of pop culture, may be above the heads the young ones the film is intended for. Adults will certainly have the best time in "Pirates!," though it's nothing new or revelatory. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" has a booty-share of laughs, just be sure to listen closely to the dialogue. Entertaining and worth a look.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Safe - B-
Rated R, 95 minutes
For all you guys that had to suffer through "The Lucky One" last week, well now's your turn with the new Jason Statham action flick "Safe," an entertaining, crowd-pleasing movie if there ever was one. Statham ("The Transporter" and others) plays Luke Wright, a former New York City cop turned cage fighter who blows a rigged fight and whose life is now shambles. He runs into a genius-level young Chinese girl named Mei (newcomer Catherine Chan, memorable) who is on the run from the Russian mob, the Chinese mob, some corrupt NYPD cops and the mayor himself because she knows some safe codes that unlock millions of dollars for many involved. Now he must save Mei and himself so they can unlock the valuable safe everyone's after. Muddled and predictable for sure, but "Safe" is fast-paced and contains enough chops to satisfy martial arts enthusiasts. Statham is the star and Boaz Yakin ("Remember the Titans") directs, but the real stars are the action set pieces and the fight scenes, which Statham is adept at, not to mention the lovely Chan, stealing most scenes she's in. It's also nice seeing veteran Asian actor James Hong as a baddie and the underrated Chris Sarandon as the corrupt mayor. The rest of "Safe's" plot is formula fluff that's typical for Statham, but it's so backseat (and a bit anti-climactic when you consider the film's title) to the action and martial arts, it won't matter much. Worth a look for a minute until "The Avengers" arrives next week.
For all you guys that had to suffer through "The Lucky One" last week, well now's your turn with the new Jason Statham action flick "Safe," an entertaining, crowd-pleasing movie if there ever was one. Statham ("The Transporter" and others) plays Luke Wright, a former New York City cop turned cage fighter who blows a rigged fight and whose life is now shambles. He runs into a genius-level young Chinese girl named Mei (newcomer Catherine Chan, memorable) who is on the run from the Russian mob, the Chinese mob, some corrupt NYPD cops and the mayor himself because she knows some safe codes that unlock millions of dollars for many involved. Now he must save Mei and himself so they can unlock the valuable safe everyone's after. Muddled and predictable for sure, but "Safe" is fast-paced and contains enough chops to satisfy martial arts enthusiasts. Statham is the star and Boaz Yakin ("Remember the Titans") directs, but the real stars are the action set pieces and the fight scenes, which Statham is adept at, not to mention the lovely Chan, stealing most scenes she's in. It's also nice seeing veteran Asian actor James Hong as a baddie and the underrated Chris Sarandon as the corrupt mayor. The rest of "Safe's" plot is formula fluff that's typical for Statham, but it's so backseat (and a bit anti-climactic when you consider the film's title) to the action and martial arts, it won't matter much. Worth a look for a minute until "The Avengers" arrives next week.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Lucky One - C
Rated PG-13, 101 minutes
Zac Efron has legions of fans, and I'm sure they'll love every minute of his charming but formulaic chick flick "The Lucky One," based on the Nicolas Sparks novel of the same name. Due to the popularity of Sparks' "The Notebook," he has become to romance films what Stephen King has become to horror films. "The Lucky One" is pretty standard issue romance fare, not terrible but so reliant on the Spark formula that you can easily count the dots quicker than you can say tear-jerker. A marine named Logan (Efron) finds a photograph of a young woman after a rough tour of duty in Iraq. The photograph saves his life, though he is unsure who the woman is or the owner of the photograph. He eventually tracks down the woman (Taylor Schilling from "Atlas Shrugged - Part 1"), a single mother named Beth in North Carolina, living with her crusty grandmother (scene stealer Blythe Danner, having fun) and not so far from her douche ex-husband Keith (Dallas' own Jay R Ferguson). Romance, death and lots of tears ensue. Throw in some cute dogs, semi-steamy love scenes and precocious kids and you have one foolproof movie in "The Lucky One," designed to both manipulate and charm at the same time. Not to be redundant, but "The Lucky One" fortunate to have director Scott Hicks, who helmed the Oscar-winning film "Shine" and manages a low-key, easy-on-the-eyes performance from Efron, who'll no doubt satisfy his fan base. He doesn't do much here, but then Efron probably (and in the vein of Channing Tatum and Taylor Lautner) doesn't really need to do much but stand there. You'll connect the dots easily as the film goes on, and it becomes near impossible to hate "The Lucky One" or Efron, regardless of your feelings about him (he's better than both Tatum and Lautner, but that isn't saying much). With the summer guy movie season steadfastly approaching and "The Avengers" upon us very soon, I'll give this one to the ladies. Have at it and enjoy the predictable "The Lucky One" for what it is: eye candy romantic fluff and little else.
Zac Efron has legions of fans, and I'm sure they'll love every minute of his charming but formulaic chick flick "The Lucky One," based on the Nicolas Sparks novel of the same name. Due to the popularity of Sparks' "The Notebook," he has become to romance films what Stephen King has become to horror films. "The Lucky One" is pretty standard issue romance fare, not terrible but so reliant on the Spark formula that you can easily count the dots quicker than you can say tear-jerker. A marine named Logan (Efron) finds a photograph of a young woman after a rough tour of duty in Iraq. The photograph saves his life, though he is unsure who the woman is or the owner of the photograph. He eventually tracks down the woman (Taylor Schilling from "Atlas Shrugged - Part 1"), a single mother named Beth in North Carolina, living with her crusty grandmother (scene stealer Blythe Danner, having fun) and not so far from her douche ex-husband Keith (Dallas' own Jay R Ferguson). Romance, death and lots of tears ensue. Throw in some cute dogs, semi-steamy love scenes and precocious kids and you have one foolproof movie in "The Lucky One," designed to both manipulate and charm at the same time. Not to be redundant, but "The Lucky One" fortunate to have director Scott Hicks, who helmed the Oscar-winning film "Shine" and manages a low-key, easy-on-the-eyes performance from Efron, who'll no doubt satisfy his fan base. He doesn't do much here, but then Efron probably (and in the vein of Channing Tatum and Taylor Lautner) doesn't really need to do much but stand there. You'll connect the dots easily as the film goes on, and it becomes near impossible to hate "The Lucky One" or Efron, regardless of your feelings about him (he's better than both Tatum and Lautner, but that isn't saying much). With the summer guy movie season steadfastly approaching and "The Avengers" upon us very soon, I'll give this one to the ladies. Have at it and enjoy the predictable "The Lucky One" for what it is: eye candy romantic fluff and little else.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Chimpanzee - B
Rated G, 78 minutes
"Chimpanzee" is the latest heartwarming Earth Day documentary offering from Disneynature and narrated by Tim Allen. Charming and handsomely filmed, it's remarkably brief and entirely suitable for families and young children, even if the story itself feels unoriginal and slight. The film follows young chimpanzee Oscar, his mother Isha and the tribes leader in navigating the complex territory of the African forest. They must not only survive the elements but a rival gang of brutal chimpanzee's out to take over the area where Oscar and his tribe of chimps have lived for years. The chimps themselves, particularly the lovable Oscar, not to mention the luscious African forest, are the real stars of the short documentary; it's not a history of chimps designed to unload a lot of facts, "Chimpanzee's" motive is to tell Oscar's story of survival, and that's just fine. The narration by Disney star Tim Allen of "Home Improvement" and "Toy Story" fame helps move the film along, even if you get a strong sense that Allen is just reading directly from a well-placed script. Kids and families should find it funny, fascinating and often times humorous (especially when it comes to the chimps attempting to break open nuts or eat fruit). "Chimpanzee" is hardly groundbreaking, this type of thing has been done before, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining or heartwarming. Worth a look especially for animal lovers, a portion of the proceeds from the film will go to the Jane Goodall Institute, who also co-produced the film with Disneynature.
"Chimpanzee" is the latest heartwarming Earth Day documentary offering from Disneynature and narrated by Tim Allen. Charming and handsomely filmed, it's remarkably brief and entirely suitable for families and young children, even if the story itself feels unoriginal and slight. The film follows young chimpanzee Oscar, his mother Isha and the tribes leader in navigating the complex territory of the African forest. They must not only survive the elements but a rival gang of brutal chimpanzee's out to take over the area where Oscar and his tribe of chimps have lived for years. The chimps themselves, particularly the lovable Oscar, not to mention the luscious African forest, are the real stars of the short documentary; it's not a history of chimps designed to unload a lot of facts, "Chimpanzee's" motive is to tell Oscar's story of survival, and that's just fine. The narration by Disney star Tim Allen of "Home Improvement" and "Toy Story" fame helps move the film along, even if you get a strong sense that Allen is just reading directly from a well-placed script. Kids and families should find it funny, fascinating and often times humorous (especially when it comes to the chimps attempting to break open nuts or eat fruit). "Chimpanzee" is hardly groundbreaking, this type of thing has been done before, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining or heartwarming. Worth a look especially for animal lovers, a portion of the proceeds from the film will go to the Jane Goodall Institute, who also co-produced the film with Disneynature.
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