Review: Horrible Bosses

Horrible Bosses

7/25/11

Carmike Cinema 10-Private Screening

Large Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

I’m a big fan of high-brow comedy and not a big fan of gross-out, raunch-fest comedy.  Unfortunately that line gets blurred all too often these days and movies that should be one or the other end up being both.  Its genius marketing if you think about it, ropes in both audiences.  So, when a movie can toe the line and manage to tastefully pull off both genres, it becomes an instant winner.  The Hangover did it, The Hangover 2 didn’t.  Anchorman did it, Jackass didn’t.  You get the point. 

For those of us who have had a Horrible Boss in the past, this movie hit’s WAY too close to home.  Jason Bateman, Entertainment Weekly’s “Man of Summer” (who I think is one of the funniest people on the planet), Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day play three guys who all hate their boss and decide it’s time to take action.  You may think the idea of killing the three superiors may seem a little aggressive until you see how they treat these guys.  Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Anniston play the three bosses respectively.  Bateman is in a corporate office environment, Sudeikis is in a small business and Day works for a dentist, so we cover nearly any workplace conflict; which by the way are intimidation, insanity and sexual harassment.

All six of the main characters turn in great performances but in my opinion Anniston and Bateman steal the show.  Anniston plays a nymphomaniac who tries and tries again to get engaged Day to stray from his to be marital commitment.  For those of us who are Rachel from Friends fans to start with, you’ll never see her the same again.  And Bateman essentially plays me about 15 years ago so I’m watching the movie thinking “Damn, I should have thought of that!!”  You can’t help but cringe watching his boss continually hammer him.

There are a few too many “F” words for some people and some obviously mature themes so the rating is a hard “R” but as long as you know that going in I think you’ll see that all of it fits.  This is the funniest movie of 2011 so far.  And I say that knowing that there have been a few record-breaking comedies released this year.  Like The Hangover and Anchorman both, I have a feeling this one will get better and better with time. 

My review: 

3/4, B+, See it in the theater

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

7/19/11

Carmike Cinema 10

Large Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

The Harry Potter franchise was a first for many of us.  We watched Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and the rest of their Hogwarts classmates grow up in front of our very eyes.  Radcliffe was eleven years old when he was cast as Harry.  I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I changed quite a bit from the time I was eleven to the time I was 22.  No franchise in film history has granted an opportunity to view the lives of characters through 8 consecutive films over 10 years.

Nor has any series been so beloved by so many, adding amazing amounts of pressure to the producers, writers and directors of the subsequent films.  Bringing Harry to the screen has been an extremely complex and daunting task, which is part of what makes the final installment so fulfilling.

Adapting a 759 page book to the screen was a challenge to begin with.  Splitting the book into two movies proved the only option.  I thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part 1 was an excellent movie on its own.  Part 2 hits the ground running and never lets up, even after the final “Avada Kedavra!!”  In fact, one of my criticisms of the movie is that in order to complete the saga in two films, there was no room for any character focused moments whatsoever.  It almost felt rushed. 

By now everyone knows the plot of the final Potter film:  Harry must find the 4 remaining Horcruxes containing pieces of Lord Voldemort’s soul and destroy them in order that he can defeat the evil Lord during their climactic final battle.  The action moves to Hogwarts for the epic final battle which is fitting since that’s where our story began.  I loved the way that all of Harry’s friends had a chance to have their shining moment as the story concludes, including Neville Longbottom who has always been one of my favorite characters. 

The movie had several standout moments:  Ron and Hermione’s first kiss, Harry finding out the true events of Dumbledore’s death and having a chance to see his parents, his Uncle Sirius and other allies.  And of course the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, that the entire series has lead us to, was a great climax. 

But my favorite thing about the movie may surprise you:  the female heroines.  I loved the fact that Maggie Smith’s “Professor McGonagall” and Julie Walters’ “Molly Weasley” got to have their moments in the spotlight and kick some serious butt.  It was a fitting ending to a groundbreaking epic.

I don’t know about you guys, but for me, it’s a bittersweet farewell to our favorite boy wizard.  Well done, Harry.

My review: 

3.5/4, A, See it tonight in the theater

Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Transformers:  Dark of the Moon

7/6/11

Carmike Cinema 10

Large Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

The question you have to ask is:  “What were you expecting?”  I mean, at this point don’t you know what you’re getting from a Transformers movie?

 I’ll admit it, I read other critics reviews, sometimes before I go see the movie.  I know, I know, it’s poor form.  Whatever, I don’t really care.  I’m just a guy who likes movies and likes to tell others what I think about them.  So, a few of these stuffy shirts just killed this movie.  One of my favorite critics, whom I’m often in complete agreement with, went so far as to give it zero out of four stars.  Are you kidding me!!??  I’ve never seen that before.  I was going to go see it just because of that alone!!

By the third installment in the Transformers franchise, we know exactly what we’re getting.  And let me tell you:  THAT is what makes this movie so good.  Returning Director Michael Bay doesn’t even try to disguise this as anything other than a showcase for how unbelievable computer generated effects and explosions can be.  They have perfected it to the point that you really do forget you are watching something that isn’t real.  The actors and effects blend seamlessly. 

Yes, there is a plot, and a pretty good one at that.  For the second time this summer (see review of X-Men:  First Class), actual historical events are re-imagined into a fictional theme.  This time the first Apollo moon landing serves as a vehicle to find out what’s behind a mysterious craft that crashed on the dark side of the surface.  Turns out it’s from Cybertron and carrying some pretty bad dudes.  This time Optimus Prime’s best buddy is played by none other than Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy as Sentinel Prime, a conflicted Autobot who wants an alliance with a now resurrected Megatron, who of course wants to take over the planet. 

Back once again as the kid who can’t catch a break is Shia Labeouf as Sam but this time there is a new hottie taking the place of Megan Fox named Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, a former Victoria’s Secret model.  She plays Sam’s girlfriend, Carley and really does a pretty good job. Otherwise it’s all the usual suspects and that’s a good thing. 

Look, if you want a good movie with awesome graphics and lot’s of explosions and action, you can’t do much better.  And Michael Bay isn’t going to try to make you think otherwise.

My review: 

3/4, B, See it in the theater