Archives for : Comedy
The Barden Bellas are back and ready to pitch-slap the world’s best a cappella groups!
It’s been three years since we last saw our Bella’s beat out the exuberant Treblemakers for the national title. Since then, they have gone on to be reigning champs. But just before this all female singing group could finish out their college careers with 4 straight national wins, an unfortunate mishap occurs during a live broadcast performance at the White House. This results in the Bellas being banned from competing in the United States. Their one shot at redemption and reinstatement is to win the international competition, in which no American group has ever won. To make matters worse the undefeated champs from Germany, Das Sound Machine, are incredible!
Anna Kendrick returns as Beca, the aspiring music producer, who is now focused more on life after college and is secretly interning at a record label. Brittany Snow also returns as Chloe, who purposely is failing college every year so that she may remain a Bella. And we are introduced to a new freshman, Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), who desperately wants to become a Barden Bella.
For the most part, Pitch Perfect 2 hits all the right notes. For starters, the film skips straight to the girl’s senior year in college and avoids dragged out year by year sequels. Also, Beca and Jesse (Skylar Astin) are still together and going strong. Nice to see they didn’t have a dramatic break up that would lead to an inevitable reunion. Only problem here is we don’t get nearly enough time with the lovable Skylar Astin. I would have much rather watched more of Jesse’s plan for life after college versus any time spent with newcomer, Emily. I can’t quite put my finger on why Steinfield never clicked with me. Other than her character writing the touching, original song “Flashlight,” Emily is just wasted time that could be spent on the growth of an already beloved character.
Speaking of beloved characters, Bumper (Adam DeVine) and Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) are still keeping their love affair under-wraps. It’s a hilarious and unique pairing that audiences will surely enjoy.
Pitch Perfect 2 is definitely flashier than the first film, yet it is also less charming. Under the direction of Elizabeth Banks, the movie focuses on a sort of girl power theme. That isn’t a bad thing, but it would have been nice to maybe see a collaboration between the Treblemakers and Barden Bellas. It’s a performance I still hope to see one day.
Overall I praise the film for its effort in an original sequel. Instead of recycling story-lines, they allow their characters to develop through new experiences while also highlighting how bittersweet it can be to move on after college.
There is no doubt that fans of the first film will be satisfied with Pitch Perfect 2. The movie is an extremely fun, comedy packed with awe-inspiring musical numbers to which you can’t help but sing-along.
Rating: 4/5
Pitch Perfect 2 opens in theaters May 15.
“Pitch Perfect 2” Official Trailer HD
Not even the Oscar-winning lead actress can save this pathetic excuse for a comedy.
I’m not really sure why Reese Witherspoon signed on to this film. She certainly doesn’t need the work, and the movie is slightly beneath her. But I guess she felt after her captivating performance in Wild, she would just do a flick that requires much less thought and effort.
Hot Pursuit might as well be this year’s Tammy; a lazy, predictable, disaster road trip comedy that manages to have everything go wrong up until it’s final destination. We’ve seen this formula many times. For the most part, films like these never have any real substance, and the slapstick comedy fails to produce any real laughs. The exceptions are a few rare gems like Dumb and Dumber, Overnight Delivery, and Road Trip (Personal favorites).
In Hot Pursuit Reese Witherspoon plays, Cooper, an uptight, by-the-book cop who is stuck working in the evidence room. She has no life and no boyfriend. She’s too intense and scares guys off. But things start looking up for Cooper, when her boss assigns her to protect a newly widowed drug dealer’s wife, Daniella (Sofia Vergara). She must get Daniella safely to Dallas so that she may testify against a murderous drug lord. Of course, what should be a simple task turns into a road trip from hell. As they race through Texas, they are chased by dirty cops and vicious gunmen. They never seem to catch a break. And in a twisted turn of events, they suddenly become two wanted fugitives.
Oh and if you were concerned about Officer Cooper’s love life, don’t be. She runs into a random man (Robert Kazinsky) who’s had trouble with the law himself, and what do you know? He likes how intense she is. It’s a forced romance that lacks chemistry, intrigue, and in all honesty is completely forgettable.
I wish I could say Hot Pursuit was at least funny at times, but the film uses recycled shticks that are poorly executed. The story-line and jokes have no originality, and I could care less about these characters. That might be the most frustrating aspect of the film. Cooper and Daniella never seem to connect with each other, nor do they “make a good team.” A redeeming factor in a comedy that begins with two people hating each other is the end result of them finally caring for one another. Unfortunately, throughout their journey, Cooper and Daniella never have a genuine moment where the audience can believe that these two would become “real” friends.
Hot Pursuit might as well not even be on your radar this weekend. There are plenty of other great films out that provide a much better source of entertainment. Just go see Avengers: Age of Ultron, or Ex Mchina, or literally anything else.
Rating: 1.5/5
Hot Pursuit open in theaters May 8.
It’s been 20 years since we last saw Lloyd and Harry traveling together to “sunny Aspen, Colorado.” Now they’ve come back for another disastrous road trip. Only this time, the drive is a lot less fun.
For the past 20 years Lloyd (Jim Carrey) has been hospitalized due to his heart break over “Mary Samsonite.” Harry (Jeff Daniels) has been visiting him every week, changing his diaper and urine bag. But when Harry tells Lloyd he must stop visiting due to his own new-found illness, we learn that Lloyd is fine and this has just been an elaborate prank. After the two stop laughing over the unfathomable joke, they focus on the fact that Harry needs a relative to donate a kidney so that he may live. He soon discovers that he has daughter, Penny (Rachel Melvin), that was given up for adoption by his ex-girlfriend Friada (Kathleen Turner). With Friada’s resources, the two are able to seek out Penny and hopefully gain her kidney. What follows is an inappropriate love interest, new enemies, deceit, and of course, the predictable slap stick comedy.
If you hated the first Dumb and Dumber for some reason, refrain from ever watching this sequel. The Farrelly brothers have basically recycled the premise and numerous jokes from the previous movie only to result in what I’d call a weak synonym. Fans will either find their formula nostalgic or just plain lazy.
It is obvious Carrey came prepared to give 110% for his return as the dim-witted Lloyd Christmas. However, I can’t say the same for his best friend. Daniels does an adequate job playing Harry Dunne, but it’s clear Jim Carrey has taken full control of the wheel during this second ride.
Dumb and Dumber To is worth the watch for fans of the original. Go in with low expectations, enjoy as many laughs as you can squeeze out from the film, and come out somewhat content.
Side note: Stick around for the end of the closing credits.
Rating: 2.5/5
“Dumb and Dumber To” Official Trailer HD
LAGGIES
Monday, October 27, 2014
7:30 PM
AMC NorthPark 15
8687 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75225
To enter and win passes for this screening you can either go to www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter this code: TCFLIX7JT6
OR
Direct Link – http://l.gofobo.us/wmON9HAZ
Synopsis
Overeducated and underemployed, 28 year old Megan (Keira Knightley) is in the throes of a quarterlife crisis. Squarely into adulthood with no career prospects, no particular motivation to think about her future and no one to relate to, Megan is comfortable lagging a few steps behind – while her friends check off milestones and celebrate their new grown-up status. When her high-school sweetheart (Mark Webber) proposes, Megan panics and– given an unexpected opportunity to escape for a week – hides out in the home of her new friend, 16-year old Annika (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Annika’s world-weary single dad Craig (Sam Rockwell).
Lynn Shelton, whose unique directorial voice created such astutely observed comedies as YOUR SISTER’S SISTER and HUMPDAY, crafts a sweet, coming-of-age romantic comedy about three people who find their lives intertwined in the most unconventional way. Keira Knightley shines as Megan, a rare female slacker hero who shows us that while you never stop growing up, you can choose stop lagging, and start living on your terms.
OPENING DATE: Opens in select theaters Friday, October 31, 2014
Rated R for language, some sexual material and teen partying.
Girl Most Likely was a disappointing, failed attempt at the indie genre for Kristen Wiig. So much so, that my standards were kept low when walking into The Skeleton Twins. But, once again, Wiig’s unsurprising chemistry with another SNL alum creates an on-screen bond that immediately pulls you into their story.
The Skeleton Twins (directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Johnson and Mark Heyman) solely focuses on its two title characters. Bill Hader channels his inner “Stefon” as Milo, the snarky, gay, depressed out-of-work LA actor. He opens the film with an attempted suicide that reunites him and his twin sister Maggie (Wiig), who he hasn’t seen in 10 years. Like her brother, Maggie is also unhappy, but hides her depression behind her marriage to a happy-go-lucky, Luke Wilson, to whom she has had trouble staying faithful. Maggie insists Milo stay with them until she knows he is okay. Milo agrees to come back to New York to live with Maggie for a little while. At this point, the two of them attempt to revisit their past, try to make adjustments to their disturbed selves, and finally realize how important it is for their well-being to have each other in their lives.
What really makes the thematic material in The Skeleton Twins so grasping is that it has such an understanding on a siblings’ connection. Throughout the film it’s referenced that the two had a rough upbringing, which has forced them to rely on one another since childhood. Even though Maggie and Milo are miserable with their lives, their presence together is a silver lining. The two not only share a bond, but also understand each other completely. They make jokes, get high, and even have one of the best scenes this year, a sing-a-long to Starship’s “Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now.”
The Skeleton Twins’ grim tone throughout the film is balanced with its uplifting message of how sometimes the person in your life who completes you can make you realize why life is worth living. There is also enough comic relief through Wiig and Hader’s hilarious, witty banter for you to continuously have a laugh. Watching these two on-screen together is a rare treat no one should miss.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Skeleton Twins opens in select theaters September 19.
Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton team up for the first time in a comedy that will warm your heart, but most likely escape your mind once you leave the theater.
Oren Little ( Douglas ) is a successful, self-centered realtor living in a somewhat secluded, peaceful home. But, his life is quickly turned upside down when his estranged adult son shows up out of the blue and drops a bomb on him. He is about go to jail for nine-months and needs his dad to look after his almost 10 year-old daughter, Sarah (Sterling Jerins). At first Oren is adamant that he won’t be looking after the granddaughter he never knew existed. Luckily, Leah (Diane Keaton), the kind, self-less next door neighbor steps in assuring Oren’s son that she will be in good hands. And so, begins a story you can probably already predict.
Love is not just felt for young Sarah; it is also spreading its way to an unlikely couple. Leah and Oren share a sweet romance, but not an exciting one. Michael Douglas definitely still has “it.” Charm, wit, class, he exudes all of it when he is on screen. Diane Keaton on the other hand offers some shrilling and quite annoying cries throughout the film. The cries aren’t as bad as they were in Something’s Gotta Give, but my gosh. Whoever thought the constant whiney sobs of woman are hilarious is seriously mistaken. Keaton plays a very likeable character and caring one at that, but somehow her moments of comedy failed to produce any real laughs. Douglas and Keaton have great chemistry as friends, but as lovers their relationship felt forced.
Though the romantic aspect of And So It Goes was weak, the family story-line was surprisingly enjoyable. Seeing Oren with his granddaughter or even his limited moments with his son can’t help but make you smile.
And So It Goes hardly stands out among the films currently in theaters, and I can’t even say it should be in your top choices to see this summer. However, if you are in the mood for a light, uplifting, and simple comedy, then I do recommend you sit back and enjoy this endearing story.
Rating: 2.5/5
And So It Goes hits theaters July 25.
And So It Goes Official Trailer HD
She made us cry laughing in Bridesmaid. She had us falling out of our seats in The Heat. And she was the only good thing in The Hangover 3. But, Melissa McCarthy’s hilarity hits a bump in her latest comedy, Tammy.
In a cliché, slapstick comedy way, Tammy (McCarthy) has the worst day of her life. She totals her car after hitting a deer; she gets fired from her job at a burger joint, and then comes home to find out her husband is having an affair with the neighbor. After running home to her mom’s house she decides she needs to get of town and clear her head. Grandma Pearl (Susan Sarandon), who has a car and plenty of cash, overhears everything and forces Tammy to take her along for the ride. Thus begins the typical, reckless road trip where everything goes wrong.
The film is filled with an all-star cast, including Kathy Bates, Sandra Oh, Alison Janney, Mark Duplass, and many more. So you know the acting wasn’t the problem.
I don’t mind the movie’s generic story-line; it’s more that I expect a certain level of laughs when watching McCarthy now. The majority of the so called comedic moments was so weak and forced that I felt like I watching an Adam Sandler rom-com. Frankly, the script was lazy.
Fans are better off skipping Tammy and re-watching The Heat as we wait and hope for better from Melissa McCarthy’s upcoming projects.
Rating: 2/5
Jon Favreau’s recent passion project takes the audience on a charming and delectable ride of self-discovery.
Carl Casper (Favreau) is a high strung chef who has spent years building up his name within the food industry. But when one bad online review by the top food critic in LA gets blasted all over twitter Carl seems to take it personally and can’t shake the negative remarks. This leads him to get on twitter himself, and start a fight with the well-known critic who has quite the following. Eventually, the two are face to face in the restaurant and Carl has a major breakdown. He completely goes off on a screaming rampage.
Unfortunately for Carl, the general public was there to witness and film the entire thing. After the video of his explosion goes viral, Carl is unable to find work in any LA restaurant. But this downfall goes uphill quick, once Carl recognizes that this is really a blessing in disguise. The truth is he’s dreadfully unhappy with his life. Besides the fact that he has been unable to truly share his unique culinary skills, he is also divorced from his wife (Sofia Vergara) and barely knows his son (Emjay Anthony).
During a last minute trip to Miami, he is inspired by the cooking that started it all and decides to start up a food truck. Thus, beginning the predictable yet heartwarming road trip of father/son bonding and realizing what really makes you happy in life. Chef also showed how a “hater’s” words can also be the fuel that pushes you to succeed at your dreams.
The magnificent ensemble cast is rounded out by Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, and many more. You can’t help but fall for the charisma of this film. It is easily relatable to anyone who feels passionate about doing anything they love. And as a film critic myself, I felt motivated by the fact that Carl was making his love for cooking a career no matter what the stipulations were. I also felt a little bit of guilt for any bad review I have given in the past. Obviously I can’t stop, but know that all reviews from an objective standpoint.
The film also greatly exemplifies the use of social media. It is amazing how fast one tweet or Facebook post can become an internet sensation. And if used correctly, it can be the best marketing tool.
Be sure to either eat before or dine during, because the mouth-watering dishes prepared throughout the film will have your stomachs growling. And honestly, there is nothing you can eat after this movie that will be as satisfying as the dishes you have just seen. (Speaking of, can I get the recipe to EVERYTHING that was cooked in this film?)
Chef is a simple story that isn’t looking to compete with box office blockbusters (However, I did enjoy it more than Godzilla). It’s a fun family film with a star-studded cast that includes plenty of laughs and a sincere message about following your heart.
Rating: 4/5
Chef opens in select theaters May 16.
Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com
It is Rogen verses Efron. And in this battle, we, the audience are the winners.
After his let down performance in That Awkward Moment, I was a bit wary when walking into this film. I wasn’t sure if Efron could compete with Rogen in the “real” battle at hand. Which star can generate more laughs? And would Zac Efron offer more to the story than just his chiseled abs and deep blue eyes? Well folks, I’m here to tell you that Zac Efron not only proves himself as a genuine comedic actor, he is also able to hold his own against Seth Rogen. At times, he is even funnier than the Knocked Up star himself.
The more I think about this movie, the more I appreciate the whole premise. Such a simple idea/nightmare has made for a truly fantastic laugh out loud comedy.
Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) have just moved into the perfect home with their beautiful new born baby. Kelly is a stay at home mom who gets to spend all day with baby Stella. Mac works a 9-5 desk job that he tries to endure with a little bit of help from “Mary Jane.” Their days are starting to feel routine, and they are unable to go out because of the baby. It’s beginning to feel stagnant for the new parents. But all that changes when we hear the sound of the boisterous fraternity that has moved in next door. In hopes of keeping this a quiet neighborhood for their little girl, the couple head to the frat’s first rowdy party. What was supposed to be a quick noise complaint visit turned into a refreshing night out for Mac and Kelly. And after having what will probably be remembered as the best debate over “who is Batman,” Teddy and Mac form a bond and an understanding of trust is made. Unfortunately that trust is broken within 24 hours, and leads to an epic war between the two houses.
It is hard to even pick a side because both leaders of the house are written as such likeable characters. On one hand, you have a new father trying to prove to his wife and himself that he can handle being the responsible one, while still being cool. Then you have the devoted frat president who spends way too much time partying, and caring about the mark he leaves behind in his brotherhood rather than thinking about the real world that is ahead of him.
Neighbors is not just carried by their two stars. This film has a strong supporting comedic cast filled with even better cameos. Rose Byrne is the perfect mix of wit and wholesome beauty. Dave Franco plays Teddy’s Vice President, Pete, and shares great chemistry with his fraternity brother. Young Franco is easily following in the footsteps of his talented, successful older brother; and I look forward to seeing him in many more projects, hopefully in leading roles. A shout out also goes to The Mindy Project’s co-writer and cast member, Ike Barinholtz. Like on his sitcom, Barinholtz’s role as Rogen’s best friend may not be huge, but produces enough chuckles to make him memorable.
What is most satisfying about Neighbors is how it is more than just a hilarious slapstick comedy. There is heart and a sense of authenticity. A lot of us are afraid to grow up. It can feel as though we will be missing out on “the party,” when in reality, your life and how you choose to live it can be the most legendary party that never ends.
Rating: 4/5
Neighbors hits theaters May 9.
Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com