Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The World's End
Released 8/23/13, now in theaters
Those whacko Brits, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up for the third time with director, Edgar Wright in the sci-fi comedy, The World's End. After the success of both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, the pressure is on these three to end this pseudo trilogy with a bang. Is there enough energy left in this comedic tank to do so? That is the question.
Almost from the beginning, it's obvious The World's End does not have the kind of inspired lunacy of the other movies. Try as they might, the cast just seems to be searching for jokes that work. Some of them do. Seriously, it would be hard for the team of Pegg and Frost to be totally unfunny. But many times I simply felt mild amusement and not the sidesplitting laughs I'm used to when watching this duo onscreen.
The story begins with Gary King (Pegg) recalling his younger teenage days spent with his four good friends, Peter (Eddie Marsan), Oliver (Martin Freeman), Steven (Paddy Considine), and Andy (Frost). Gary, an addict, quickly realizes as he is speaking to his support group that one of his greatest regrets is not completing the legendary Golden Mile with his mates years ago. The Mile is a pub crawl encompassing 12 bars in their hometown of Newton Haven. Through manipulation and lies, Gary is able to convince his now estranged buddies to take up the challenge again determined to drink his last pint at the final bar on the tour, The World's End.
Gary and crew begin their journey but they are not met with the hero's welcome Gary thinks they should have upon the group's return to Newton Haven after more than a decade's absence. In fact the people in town are a little strange. They get off to a good start in the first three bars and are joined briefly by Oliver's sister, Sam (Rosamund Pike), who had a fling with Gary when they were teens, much to the chagrin of Steven who has always secretly loved her. Things go awry at the fourth pub when Gary gets into a brawl with a teenager who is much stronger than he should be. The brawl escalates to include the remainder of the group where they all discover there might be something not so human about the residents of Newton Hall any longer. But, despite a possible apocalypse, Gary is still Hellbent on reaching The World's End by the end of the night!
So, my thoughts are why would seemingly successful, professional people follow the lead of someone who is stuck in a timewarp from over a decade prior and gives no indication of leaving it? Gary is a hedonistic party animal who was an untrustworthy liar when they were all teens. He proves he's an untrustworthy liar when he re-enters their lives. It doesn't really matter how good natured he is. He's trouble. This reminds me of The Hangover series in the sense that the other characters always allowed Zach Galifianakis' man-child to hang around. Again, the guy is nothing but trouble. Ah, but I guess we couldn't progress the story without people being stupid right? It just doesn't make much sense to me. But maybe it's not supposed to make sense and it simply is what it is.
When Gary and Andy finally arrive at The World's End, the movie takes an unexpected turn for the melodramatic as the audience is given a brief look into the demons that are haunting Gary. It's not a bad scene between the two. It just felt a little weird and awkward that this type of somberness invaded a movie this silly. A movie that again I felt was sometimes trying and failing to find its comedic footing in the first place.
The World's End isn't a bad component of this aforementioned trio of films. But, it is clearly inferior to both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. It's funny, but not raucously so. It's worth a viewing, but I would have been more satisfied not paying theater prices to see it. This one is more of a renter than an owner if you know what I mean.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
You're Next
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
You're Next
Released 8/23/13, now in theaters
Home invasion movies, like most sub-genres of horror, have very little that's new to offer. Sure, there are some that amp up the creep factor like the very underrated, The Strangers. But, those seem to be few and far between. That is what intrigued me about this week's release of You're Next. From the first trailers I saw months ago, I was hooked. I knew this was something I had to see. Of course, this can also be a curse if You're Next turns out to be a huge letdown.
One thing I can say about director, Adam Wingard, is that he does have a flair for the absurd. He also directed "Tape 56" segment in last year's underrated V/H/S. You're Next is a crazy blend of visceral gore and unsettling dark humor. And while the film doesn't necessarily break any new ground, it works incredibly well as pure, naked entertainment.
You're Next follows the Davison family as they converge on their remote vacation house for laughter and good times. Not all, however, is rosy between all family members that include the patriarch and matriarch (Paul and Aubrey), their adult children (Drake, Crispian, Felix, and Aimee), and the children's significant others (Erin, Zee, Tariq, and Kelly). Bad feelings begin to come to a head at the dinner table one night. However, before the family can come to blows, they discover they have a larger problem. Three masked killers wearing animal masks are lurking outside, and they make their presence known in a murderous way (poor Tariq). The killers use a signal jammer to block all cell phones essentially trapping the Davisons in the house with no hope of rescue, particularly from the closest neighbor who the killers take care of in the first minutes of the film. So, why are the killers doing this? True, the Davisons are well off. Is it all about money? Is there a vendetta held here? The family has to find the answer quickly as they are systematically being hunted. However, in a surprising twist, the Davisons may have some aid within the house as one of their own may be the most talented killer of all!
The standout performer here is Sharni Vinson as Erin. I don't know much about her as her most noteworthy credits appear to be an Australian soap opera and Step Up 3D (guess why I don't know much about her). But, she undergoes a transformation that keeps You're Next from becoming a standard run-of-the-mill horror movie. Sure, it still has some of the same horror clichés that most movies in the genre have, but there is a wicked sense of humor among the gore that will have you smiling as the blood is splattering. If you've been waiting for a scary movie where the victim fights back with a vengeance, this is the one for you.
On the Sinister-o-meter, I would say You're Next registers about an 8. It's not that it's particularly chilling, but it gets points in my book for having prey that fights back. And by fights back, I mean someone who coldly and calculatingly knows how to do it. It also gets points for its dark humor. It's not humor in the same sense as Evil Dead II or Army of Darkness (which I consider more comedy in some cases) because you still have to keep in mind that people are dying horribly. It's humor that usually stems from over the top violence.
You're Next is not a down to your soul creepy movie. But, what it lacks in full-on actual scares, it more than makes up for in sheer entertainment value. It's a movie I intend to add to my horror collection when the time comes. And could there be a more perfect name for a horror movie?
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
*** 3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
You're Next
Released 8/23/13, now in theaters
Home invasion movies, like most sub-genres of horror, have very little that's new to offer. Sure, there are some that amp up the creep factor like the very underrated, The Strangers. But, those seem to be few and far between. That is what intrigued me about this week's release of You're Next. From the first trailers I saw months ago, I was hooked. I knew this was something I had to see. Of course, this can also be a curse if You're Next turns out to be a huge letdown.
One thing I can say about director, Adam Wingard, is that he does have a flair for the absurd. He also directed "Tape 56" segment in last year's underrated V/H/S. You're Next is a crazy blend of visceral gore and unsettling dark humor. And while the film doesn't necessarily break any new ground, it works incredibly well as pure, naked entertainment.
You're Next follows the Davison family as they converge on their remote vacation house for laughter and good times. Not all, however, is rosy between all family members that include the patriarch and matriarch (Paul and Aubrey), their adult children (Drake, Crispian, Felix, and Aimee), and the children's significant others (Erin, Zee, Tariq, and Kelly). Bad feelings begin to come to a head at the dinner table one night. However, before the family can come to blows, they discover they have a larger problem. Three masked killers wearing animal masks are lurking outside, and they make their presence known in a murderous way (poor Tariq). The killers use a signal jammer to block all cell phones essentially trapping the Davisons in the house with no hope of rescue, particularly from the closest neighbor who the killers take care of in the first minutes of the film. So, why are the killers doing this? True, the Davisons are well off. Is it all about money? Is there a vendetta held here? The family has to find the answer quickly as they are systematically being hunted. However, in a surprising twist, the Davisons may have some aid within the house as one of their own may be the most talented killer of all!
The standout performer here is Sharni Vinson as Erin. I don't know much about her as her most noteworthy credits appear to be an Australian soap opera and Step Up 3D (guess why I don't know much about her). But, she undergoes a transformation that keeps You're Next from becoming a standard run-of-the-mill horror movie. Sure, it still has some of the same horror clichés that most movies in the genre have, but there is a wicked sense of humor among the gore that will have you smiling as the blood is splattering. If you've been waiting for a scary movie where the victim fights back with a vengeance, this is the one for you.
On the Sinister-o-meter, I would say You're Next registers about an 8. It's not that it's particularly chilling, but it gets points in my book for having prey that fights back. And by fights back, I mean someone who coldly and calculatingly knows how to do it. It also gets points for its dark humor. It's not humor in the same sense as Evil Dead II or Army of Darkness (which I consider more comedy in some cases) because you still have to keep in mind that people are dying horribly. It's humor that usually stems from over the top violence.
You're Next is not a down to your soul creepy movie. But, what it lacks in full-on actual scares, it more than makes up for in sheer entertainment value. It's a movie I intend to add to my horror collection when the time comes. And could there be a more perfect name for a horror movie?
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
*** 3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Kick-Ass 2
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Kick-Ass 2
Released 8/16/13, now in theaters
The ultra-violent, wickedly funny comic book series from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. is the latest 2013 film to get the sequel treatment this week in Kick-Ass 2. The sequel is a mash-up of Millar's and Romita's Kick-Ass 2 and Hit-Girl mini-series, and of course it's the follow up to the 2010 cult favorite movie, Kick-Ass. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (what's with all the 3-word names) reprise their roles from the first film. Jim Carrey is the major new addition to the cast this time around as the irreverent and brutal, Colonel Stars and Stripes.
As with the first movie, several liberties are taken with the story of Kick-Ass 2. So, purists beware. It's not exactly like the comic. And while I count myself among the purists at times, the changes in Kick-Ass 2 aren't necessarily a bad thing.
We find our somewhat hapless high school hero, Dave Lizewski (Taylor-Johnson), coaxed into resuming his costumed career by his sometime ally, Mindy Macready (Moretz), aka, the brutal teen vigilante, Hit-Girl. But, Dave usually takes more of a beating than he gives, so Mindy agrees to train him with some hilarious results. However, Mindy becomes torn between continuing her promise to her deceased father to defend the city and her desire to please her guardian, Marcus (Morris Chestnut), by retiring her vigilante persona. Eventually, Marcus wins out after catching Mindy in costume, and the teen hero reluctantly retires to live a normal life leaving Kick-Ass without a partner.
Dave isn't left alone for very long as he soon falls in with a group of do-gooders codenamed, Justice Forever, led by ex-mafia enforcer-turned born again Christian, Sal Bertolinni. Sal now goes by the moniker Colonel Stars and Stripes. These would be heroes have been inspired to fight the good fight by Kick-Ass' example.
Meanwhile, Chris D'Amico (Mintz-Plasse), has become obsessed with making Kick-Ass pay for the murder of his father by way of bazooka from the first film. He has abandoned the faux superhero persona of Red Mist that he created. Through a series of events that further unhinges him and through the assistance of his right hand man, Javier (John Leguizamo), D'Amico assembles his own team of not so super, but deadly villains, and adopts the new name of...The Mother$#%*@. Together with his hired thugs, D'Amico is determined to lay waste to everything and everyone Kick-Ass cares for.
Kick-Ass 2 has been getting a rough ride critically and I'm not exactly sure why. It has all of the ingredients that made the first one so fun to watch. It's as much a testament to bad taste as the first film. And I can say that having read the both the Kick-Ass 2 and Hit-Girl mini-series myself, director, Jeff Wadlow, has done a more than credible job of mashing both of those stories together. Much of the criticisms I've read seem to stem from an unfamiliarity with the source material. Admittedly, a movie of this nature with its blinding and sometimes sickening violence and toilet humor may not be for everyone no matter how knowledgeable you are with the story's origin.
And is it any surprise that once again Chloe Moretz steals this show again as Hit-Girl? Moretz is still the same swearing little ninja dynamo she was in the first movie, but she also show's an unexpected vulnerability as she's trying to lead a normal life. She isn't all about swords and spinning kicks. She can be emotionally hurt by the cruelty of other teenagers just like anybody else.
In contrast to the film's offbeat comedic tone, it takes a decidedly dark turn when D'Amico forms his group. People begin dying in gruesome ways that some may find objectionable. As I stated before, I think that might be the problem that viewers have with it if they're not familiar with the Millar/Romita story. For anyone who does have a problem with the extreme violence depicted here, I will tell you that Wadlow did show some restraint. There are scenes that aren't nearly as graphic as they were in the mini-series. I wonder if Jim Carrey was aware of that when he recently pulled his version of a Katherine Heigl and came out against Kick-Ass 2. It's a shame as it kind of colors my opinion of his nice performance for the brief time he's involved. Carrey is in need of a hit badly and this could possibly be one. You have to wonder what he'll say if Kick-Ass 2 does take off.
Kick-Ass 2 should delight fans of its predecessor. Strip down its over-the-top violence and cursing and you have a story of people who just want to make a difference in the world. Of course there are better ways to make a difference than trying to be a superhero, but that's the point of both movies. These people aren't special in any way other than having a willingness to do something about the injustice they see. Most have no special training or high tech weapons. They definitely don't have super powers. The danger of them getting seriously hurt or dying a bloody death in the street is very real. This is one of the objections I had with last year's The Dark Knight Rises as its implied that there is a Batman in all of us. That's wrong. Not everyone is Bruce Wayne. Not everyone can do what he does or has the means to do what he does. Anyone can't be Batman. I do, however, think anyone could be Kick-Ass.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Kick-Ass 2
Released 8/16/13, now in theaters
The ultra-violent, wickedly funny comic book series from Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. is the latest 2013 film to get the sequel treatment this week in Kick-Ass 2. The sequel is a mash-up of Millar's and Romita's Kick-Ass 2 and Hit-Girl mini-series, and of course it's the follow up to the 2010 cult favorite movie, Kick-Ass. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (what's with all the 3-word names) reprise their roles from the first film. Jim Carrey is the major new addition to the cast this time around as the irreverent and brutal, Colonel Stars and Stripes.
As with the first movie, several liberties are taken with the story of Kick-Ass 2. So, purists beware. It's not exactly like the comic. And while I count myself among the purists at times, the changes in Kick-Ass 2 aren't necessarily a bad thing.
We find our somewhat hapless high school hero, Dave Lizewski (Taylor-Johnson), coaxed into resuming his costumed career by his sometime ally, Mindy Macready (Moretz), aka, the brutal teen vigilante, Hit-Girl. But, Dave usually takes more of a beating than he gives, so Mindy agrees to train him with some hilarious results. However, Mindy becomes torn between continuing her promise to her deceased father to defend the city and her desire to please her guardian, Marcus (Morris Chestnut), by retiring her vigilante persona. Eventually, Marcus wins out after catching Mindy in costume, and the teen hero reluctantly retires to live a normal life leaving Kick-Ass without a partner.
Dave isn't left alone for very long as he soon falls in with a group of do-gooders codenamed, Justice Forever, led by ex-mafia enforcer-turned born again Christian, Sal Bertolinni. Sal now goes by the moniker Colonel Stars and Stripes. These would be heroes have been inspired to fight the good fight by Kick-Ass' example.
Meanwhile, Chris D'Amico (Mintz-Plasse), has become obsessed with making Kick-Ass pay for the murder of his father by way of bazooka from the first film. He has abandoned the faux superhero persona of Red Mist that he created. Through a series of events that further unhinges him and through the assistance of his right hand man, Javier (John Leguizamo), D'Amico assembles his own team of not so super, but deadly villains, and adopts the new name of...The Mother$#%*@. Together with his hired thugs, D'Amico is determined to lay waste to everything and everyone Kick-Ass cares for.
Kick-Ass 2 has been getting a rough ride critically and I'm not exactly sure why. It has all of the ingredients that made the first one so fun to watch. It's as much a testament to bad taste as the first film. And I can say that having read the both the Kick-Ass 2 and Hit-Girl mini-series myself, director, Jeff Wadlow, has done a more than credible job of mashing both of those stories together. Much of the criticisms I've read seem to stem from an unfamiliarity with the source material. Admittedly, a movie of this nature with its blinding and sometimes sickening violence and toilet humor may not be for everyone no matter how knowledgeable you are with the story's origin.
And is it any surprise that once again Chloe Moretz steals this show again as Hit-Girl? Moretz is still the same swearing little ninja dynamo she was in the first movie, but she also show's an unexpected vulnerability as she's trying to lead a normal life. She isn't all about swords and spinning kicks. She can be emotionally hurt by the cruelty of other teenagers just like anybody else.
In contrast to the film's offbeat comedic tone, it takes a decidedly dark turn when D'Amico forms his group. People begin dying in gruesome ways that some may find objectionable. As I stated before, I think that might be the problem that viewers have with it if they're not familiar with the Millar/Romita story. For anyone who does have a problem with the extreme violence depicted here, I will tell you that Wadlow did show some restraint. There are scenes that aren't nearly as graphic as they were in the mini-series. I wonder if Jim Carrey was aware of that when he recently pulled his version of a Katherine Heigl and came out against Kick-Ass 2. It's a shame as it kind of colors my opinion of his nice performance for the brief time he's involved. Carrey is in need of a hit badly and this could possibly be one. You have to wonder what he'll say if Kick-Ass 2 does take off.
Kick-Ass 2 should delight fans of its predecessor. Strip down its over-the-top violence and cursing and you have a story of people who just want to make a difference in the world. Of course there are better ways to make a difference than trying to be a superhero, but that's the point of both movies. These people aren't special in any way other than having a willingness to do something about the injustice they see. Most have no special training or high tech weapons. They definitely don't have super powers. The danger of them getting seriously hurt or dying a bloody death in the street is very real. This is one of the objections I had with last year's The Dark Knight Rises as its implied that there is a Batman in all of us. That's wrong. Not everyone is Bruce Wayne. Not everyone can do what he does or has the means to do what he does. Anyone can't be Batman. I do, however, think anyone could be Kick-Ass.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
We're the Millers
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
We're the Millers
Released 8/7/13, now in theaters
Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and Will Poulter star as a makeshift family attempting to transport drugs across the Mexican border in this week's comedy, We're the Millers.
It seems this is the year for me to praise comedies that are critically panned (i.e. Identity Thief and Movie 43). "Millers" is arguably the best non-animated comedy I've seen in 2013.
We're the Millers is the story of small-time marijuana peddler, David Clark (Sudeikis), who is robbed of his stash and money by a gang of thugs while trying to be a good samaritan. This is a big problem for David as part of his boss's money is stolen in the process. His wealthy and eccentric boss, Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms), gives David an opportunity to make good on the loss. If he travels to Mexico, acts as the courier for "Pablo Chacon" (Brad's Mexican alias), and transports a "smidge and a half of mari-ju-ana" into the U.S., David's debt will be repaid. David is reluctant to become a drug mule, but he can't turn down the $100,000 Brad is paying him for the job or ignore the insinuation of death if he refuses.
But, how does the scruffy drug dealer cross the border twice without arousing suspicion? He receives unexpected inspiration from a "Brady Bunch" type family traveling in an RV. Noticing that a police officer is more than happy to assist the lost family with directions without a thought, David comes up with the idea that if he travels across the borders with his own "family", the border authorities won't give him a second glance. First, he has to make himself over to look like someone respectable. Second, he has to do some recruiting. With some coaxing and bribery in some cases, he finds his family. There's his down-on-her-luck stripper neighbor, Rose (Aniston), who plays his "wife"; there's the geeky Kenny (Poulter), a teenager whose mother abandoned him after a night out drinking who will be his "son"; and, finally, there's Casey (Roberts), a tough runaway teenager with an unhealthy love for her Iphone who will play the role of his "daughter." Thus, the "Millers" are born.
As you would expect, things don't go quite as planned for the Millers as the "smidge and a half" of pot turns out to be two tons of it. They also unknowingly steal it from the real Pablo Chacon and he's not happy about it. Insert ensuing wackiness here.
Comedies depicting drugs and drug dealers tend to wear thin with me as I've stated before primarily because I don't find drug use particularly funny. What I really enjoyed about We're the Millers is that it was madcap lunacy that happened to have drugs in the plotline. It wasn't all about the drugs themselves. Marijuana was more of a prop than a focus. And for that, I thank all involved.
Much of the cast is on point when it comes to bringing the chuckles. Even the weird and uptight Fitzgeralds (Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn) get in on the act. There's a tent scene involving boob fondling and sticking ones finger in a very unusual place that has to be seen to be believed. But, I have to say the standout here is Aniston. Much like how she stole her scenes in Horrible Bosses, Aniston displays comedic chops that I'm still shocked she has. As the least funny character on Friends, I didn't know she could genuinely be funny during that show's run. She more than holds her own with Sudeikis, a comedic heavyweight. And let me say once again how happy I am that she is veering away from rom coms. She's better than that. It would be a true disappointment if she returns to that type of film.
We're the Millers may grab for the lowest common denominator at times for its laughs, but it is exactly what a movie that calls itself a comedy should be. It's hilarious. The laughs are churned out throughout it's 100 minute running time. That can be difficult for a comedy to stay funny that long. It also has a heart among its crudeness as each of the Millers discovers in their own time that they actually don't hate the other members of their ragtag band. Kudos to the cast and the direction of Rawson Marshall Thurber. I was entertained from start to finish.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
****1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
We're the Millers
Released 8/7/13, now in theaters
Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and Will Poulter star as a makeshift family attempting to transport drugs across the Mexican border in this week's comedy, We're the Millers.
It seems this is the year for me to praise comedies that are critically panned (i.e. Identity Thief and Movie 43). "Millers" is arguably the best non-animated comedy I've seen in 2013.
We're the Millers is the story of small-time marijuana peddler, David Clark (Sudeikis), who is robbed of his stash and money by a gang of thugs while trying to be a good samaritan. This is a big problem for David as part of his boss's money is stolen in the process. His wealthy and eccentric boss, Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms), gives David an opportunity to make good on the loss. If he travels to Mexico, acts as the courier for "Pablo Chacon" (Brad's Mexican alias), and transports a "smidge and a half of mari-ju-ana" into the U.S., David's debt will be repaid. David is reluctant to become a drug mule, but he can't turn down the $100,000 Brad is paying him for the job or ignore the insinuation of death if he refuses.
But, how does the scruffy drug dealer cross the border twice without arousing suspicion? He receives unexpected inspiration from a "Brady Bunch" type family traveling in an RV. Noticing that a police officer is more than happy to assist the lost family with directions without a thought, David comes up with the idea that if he travels across the borders with his own "family", the border authorities won't give him a second glance. First, he has to make himself over to look like someone respectable. Second, he has to do some recruiting. With some coaxing and bribery in some cases, he finds his family. There's his down-on-her-luck stripper neighbor, Rose (Aniston), who plays his "wife"; there's the geeky Kenny (Poulter), a teenager whose mother abandoned him after a night out drinking who will be his "son"; and, finally, there's Casey (Roberts), a tough runaway teenager with an unhealthy love for her Iphone who will play the role of his "daughter." Thus, the "Millers" are born.
As you would expect, things don't go quite as planned for the Millers as the "smidge and a half" of pot turns out to be two tons of it. They also unknowingly steal it from the real Pablo Chacon and he's not happy about it. Insert ensuing wackiness here.
Comedies depicting drugs and drug dealers tend to wear thin with me as I've stated before primarily because I don't find drug use particularly funny. What I really enjoyed about We're the Millers is that it was madcap lunacy that happened to have drugs in the plotline. It wasn't all about the drugs themselves. Marijuana was more of a prop than a focus. And for that, I thank all involved.
Much of the cast is on point when it comes to bringing the chuckles. Even the weird and uptight Fitzgeralds (Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn) get in on the act. There's a tent scene involving boob fondling and sticking ones finger in a very unusual place that has to be seen to be believed. But, I have to say the standout here is Aniston. Much like how she stole her scenes in Horrible Bosses, Aniston displays comedic chops that I'm still shocked she has. As the least funny character on Friends, I didn't know she could genuinely be funny during that show's run. She more than holds her own with Sudeikis, a comedic heavyweight. And let me say once again how happy I am that she is veering away from rom coms. She's better than that. It would be a true disappointment if she returns to that type of film.
We're the Millers may grab for the lowest common denominator at times for its laughs, but it is exactly what a movie that calls itself a comedy should be. It's hilarious. The laughs are churned out throughout it's 100 minute running time. That can be difficult for a comedy to stay funny that long. It also has a heart among its crudeness as each of the Millers discovers in their own time that they actually don't hate the other members of their ragtag band. Kudos to the cast and the direction of Rawson Marshall Thurber. I was entertained from start to finish.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
****1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
2 Guns
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
2 Guns
Released 8/2/13, now in theaters
Based on a graphic novel, the action comedy, 2 Guns, features the talents of Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg playing rival law enforcement officials who are caught in a deadly conspiracy. Now aren't comedy and deadly conspiracy a bit of a contradiction. Maybe. But, it all kind of fits together in 2 Guns.
Robert Trench, a.k.a., "Bobby Beans (Washington)" and Michael Stigman, a.k.a., "Stig (Wahlberg)", are partners and general "lowlifes" as the film begins. They have infiltrated the crime syndicate of Mexican drug lord, Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) attempting to set him up with a cocaine purchase. When Greco doesn't take the bait, the partners devise a new plan, each unaware the other is working undercover for a different agency.
Bobby returns to his colleagues in the DEA with a plan to rob Greco of $3 million stored in a small town bank that he has staked out with Stig in the hope of convicting the drug lord on money laundering charges. He convinces his superior, Jessup, and associate (and sometime lover), Debra (Paula Patton), to keep him undercover for the heist. DEA will be waiting for the two agents to emerge from the bank with the money and, then, arrest Stig before taking custody of the illegal funds. Meanwhile, Stig, a Naval Intelligence officer, has been given the go ahead from his commanding officer, Quince (James Marsden), to commit the robbery with Bobby and to kill him when the task is completed. Stig believes the money will be used to fund future covert ops for the Navy.
Bobby and Stig pull off the bank robbery, however, there is a lot more than the $3 million in the safety deposit vault than they believed. The agents have taken over $43 million in cash. Bobby is uneasy when the DEA doesn't show up as planned, but decides not to break cover. When the "thieves" stop to regroup in the desert, Bobby attempts to arrest his partner. Stig follows orders and betrays Bobby by shooting him (not fatally) and taking the money to Quince. Stig, in turn, is betrayed by Quince and barely escapes with his life. Now, with both agents not knowing who they can trust, they form an uneasy alliance and have to fight enemies on several different fronts for the possession of the money, including, Earl (Bill Paxton), a mysterious man who has a surprising connection to one of the players in this dangerous game.
Like the movie, The Heat, the treat of 2 Guns is the interaction between its two stars. Washington and Wahlberg have an easiness in their dialog and interaction that makes you believe they have been working with each other for years. The plot is formulaic to be sure. But you don't care as the stars play off each other. None of interaction is forced. All of it is a pleasure to watch onscreen.
The pacing of the film hits the right notes as well. It tells its story and doesn't overstay its welcome. There is just enough action and just enough laughs to keep you on your toes. And there's the added bonus of not having plot holes that you can drive a tractor trailer through.
2 Guns is not a cinematic tour-de-force so it is likely to receive little recognition for its two stars at award time. And, that's a shame. When I went into this movie, I didn't think Washington and Wahlberg would work together as great as they did. They're totally different types of actors. The pairing was odd, but it turned out to be gold. Well, they may get some recognition with the MTV Movie Awards. They will definitely receive recognition from me at year end. These two are that good here.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
2 Guns
Released 8/2/13, now in theaters
Based on a graphic novel, the action comedy, 2 Guns, features the talents of Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg playing rival law enforcement officials who are caught in a deadly conspiracy. Now aren't comedy and deadly conspiracy a bit of a contradiction. Maybe. But, it all kind of fits together in 2 Guns.
Robert Trench, a.k.a., "Bobby Beans (Washington)" and Michael Stigman, a.k.a., "Stig (Wahlberg)", are partners and general "lowlifes" as the film begins. They have infiltrated the crime syndicate of Mexican drug lord, Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) attempting to set him up with a cocaine purchase. When Greco doesn't take the bait, the partners devise a new plan, each unaware the other is working undercover for a different agency.
Bobby returns to his colleagues in the DEA with a plan to rob Greco of $3 million stored in a small town bank that he has staked out with Stig in the hope of convicting the drug lord on money laundering charges. He convinces his superior, Jessup, and associate (and sometime lover), Debra (Paula Patton), to keep him undercover for the heist. DEA will be waiting for the two agents to emerge from the bank with the money and, then, arrest Stig before taking custody of the illegal funds. Meanwhile, Stig, a Naval Intelligence officer, has been given the go ahead from his commanding officer, Quince (James Marsden), to commit the robbery with Bobby and to kill him when the task is completed. Stig believes the money will be used to fund future covert ops for the Navy.
Bobby and Stig pull off the bank robbery, however, there is a lot more than the $3 million in the safety deposit vault than they believed. The agents have taken over $43 million in cash. Bobby is uneasy when the DEA doesn't show up as planned, but decides not to break cover. When the "thieves" stop to regroup in the desert, Bobby attempts to arrest his partner. Stig follows orders and betrays Bobby by shooting him (not fatally) and taking the money to Quince. Stig, in turn, is betrayed by Quince and barely escapes with his life. Now, with both agents not knowing who they can trust, they form an uneasy alliance and have to fight enemies on several different fronts for the possession of the money, including, Earl (Bill Paxton), a mysterious man who has a surprising connection to one of the players in this dangerous game.
Like the movie, The Heat, the treat of 2 Guns is the interaction between its two stars. Washington and Wahlberg have an easiness in their dialog and interaction that makes you believe they have been working with each other for years. The plot is formulaic to be sure. But you don't care as the stars play off each other. None of interaction is forced. All of it is a pleasure to watch onscreen.
The pacing of the film hits the right notes as well. It tells its story and doesn't overstay its welcome. There is just enough action and just enough laughs to keep you on your toes. And there's the added bonus of not having plot holes that you can drive a tractor trailer through.
2 Guns is not a cinematic tour-de-force so it is likely to receive little recognition for its two stars at award time. And, that's a shame. When I went into this movie, I didn't think Washington and Wahlberg would work together as great as they did. They're totally different types of actors. The pairing was odd, but it turned out to be gold. Well, they may get some recognition with the MTV Movie Awards. They will definitely receive recognition from me at year end. These two are that good here.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***3/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
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