Quick Take: 'American Hustle' (2013)

It seems that David O. Russell has somehow flown under the radar over the past few years despite pumping out The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, two of the more entertaining (extremely entertaining for that matter) films that the given time period has offered. Both The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook have a highly energetic pace but Russell’s latest, American Hustle, is nearly absent of this which is a real shame considering that a faster, sporadic pace would nicely complement the sting operation plot and the characters that come with it. The story it’s self is flat but that could largely be contributed to Russell wanting the focus to be on the characters involved. Aiding in this is a more than capable cast in the form of Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner that take on these already solid characters, causing for the films issues to be easier to look past. Each of the main characters is interesting in their own right due to not just what is revealed but what isn’t. There is depth to these characters and if one can dig deeper than the upfront entertainment value that each has they become even more special. American Hustle is a film that looks at how easy or how difficult it can be to deceive or create a perception of a situation for someone else and how human relationships and personalities can get in the way of this. This is carried out the only way it can be, through the characters that make up the film.         

Grade: B                      

Blind Review: The Best Man Holiday

Disclaimer: Blind Reviews are fictional accounts of what I imagine happens in the movie based on the trailer and gratuitous leaps of faith. I have not seen the movie and the review should not be taken seriously in any way.

What do you get when you combine old friends, messy relationships, Christmas, and Blurred Lines? A flawed film that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of life, love, and friendship in the early to mid-2010s. The Best Man Holiday (BMH), sequel to 1999’s The Best Man, won’t change your life, but it will become a Christmas staple airing every holiday season on TBS. That will be enough to make it trend on Twitter once or twice a year which is basically all that matters these days. BMH is leap years ahead of 2013’s other reunion based sequel, Grown Ups 2.

Filled with a talented and multi-cultural cast, BMH has some of the best character acting you’ll see all year. It’s amazing that writer-director Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother, Scary MoVie) could coax such great performances out of actors who have struggled of late. Terrence Howard turns in his best performance since he was the original James War Machine Rhodes (Rhodey) in Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. Howard, who plays Quentin, in the film has an amazing chemistry with all of the key players, but specifically his rival Harper who is played by Taye Diggs. The rivalries here are top notch.

Not to be outdone by the guys, the ladies provide the film with the depth that will make BMH worth revisiting.  Regina Hall steals the show as Candace, a smart successful woman who any man would be lucky to have. The Mia and Shelby characters have a cat fight for the ages about Shelby’s risqué behavior. The tension here is real, but the whole fight is a lot of fun.

The film isn’t all great though. There’s literally a stretch of the film, almost 10 minutes, where several characters compare and contrast the major phone operating systems. As interesting as the battle between iOS and Android is, and how culturally likely we as Americans are to discuss phones at a holiday get together in 2013, I just didn’t enjoy it. I’d have left this scene on the cutting room floor. There’s also a song and dance number where the guys cover a popular Boyz II Men track that is complete filler. It adds nothing to the feature and makes no sense.

Despite its flaws, BMH is the perfect film for the whole family this Thanksgiving. Sure, there are some scenes that won’t be age-appropriate for the young ones, but they’re going to be seeing this stuff sooner or later. Why not let them learn it from these beautiful people in the controlled environment that is your local cinemaplex? You certainly wouldn’t want to take the kids to see the Hunger Games sequel which will have people killing each other. Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than murder. Here’s to hoping The Best Man series will continue with The Best Man Divorce or The Best Man Funeral 15 years from now.

B-

Review: 'Monsters University' (2013)

Disney/Pixar

It wasn’t long ago that Pixar was the elite studio in the animated film genre. For years, the nearly flawless, wildly original features that Pixar produced appealed to both adults and children. After an absolute brilliant three year run that included Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Up, the studio has gotten away from the originality that made it so great as three out of its last four features have been sequels. Pixar’s latest revisiting of past projects, Monsters University (a prequel to Monsters, Inc.) continues the discouraging trend of ordinary films that we have seen from the studio as of late.

Monsters University quickly makes it clear that the friendship between Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman) did not exactly hit it off right away. Mike has always dreamed of being a scarer (a monster that goes into the human world to cause children to scream which powers the monster world). Even though he doesn’t exactly possess the same characteristics of the average scarer, Mike becomes a student at Monsters University and work’s hard to not just do well academically but also to become a successful scarer. His roommate just happens to be the naturally scary Sully who comes from a long line of scarers, giving him the mindset that there is no reason for him to actually try academically. These two different personalities and backgrounds clash making the young relationship far from smooth but when the two find their backs against the wall, they must attempt to put differences aside and work together.        

Don’t get me wrong, Monster University isn’t Brave bad. If we were to look at Monster’s University as a animated film from any other studio than there would not be a whole lot to complain about because it would be slightly above the norm. The problem is that Monsters University is a product of Pixar which means it is judged by high standards set from the gecko and maintained for 15 years. Fair? Maybe not but it also means that these films are being looked at as valuable works for all ages and not just animated movies for one demographic.

One aspect of Monsters University that although not revolutionary but positive considering it is directed towards a younger audience is its message. As the origins of Sullivan and Mike’s relationship are explored, the differences and effects of earning or working for something compared to inheriting or falling into a title or status is also delve into. You have Mike who must work hard to be a good scarer and on the other side of things is Sully who comes from a family of legendary scarers giving him not just a natural nack for it but a sense of entitlement. These personas and characteristics match the characters well and are initially used in a heartfelt manor that stresses how important hard work and determination is.

The problem is that soon after these characteristics and character motives are made clear, narrative decisions are made that goes against what was previously established. In a scene where both Mike and Sully are preparing for a class final that requires them to display a level of scariness, Mike, after studying all semester, scares Sullivan. With this tension filled scene, the audience is given an authentic chance to not only pull for Mike but to believe that his hard work has paid off. However this moment is quickly dismissed and the plot becomes set on the idea that Mike will never be an effective scarer regardless of the effort he puts into it.

Nothing can be considered ground breaking when it comes Monster University’s collegiate setting. There are the fraternity’s. There is the usual competition or rival between these fraternities. There is the underdog taking everyone head on. It’s the formula for every other dance movie so why shouldn’t a post-creative Pixar give it try? The result is as expected: nothing more than ordinary. With that said though, it is this competition that children will find the most laughs.

A lot of what I have said about Monsters University is similar to what I said in a review of Brave a year ago. Like Brave, Monster University fails to connect with all ages. It’s humor and motives harmlessly aims for a younger audiences approval but unlike a strong majority of it’s Pixar predecessors it falls short of being anything original or something that can be valued for years to come. So what should Pixar do now?

I remember watching an extended trailer for Wall-E that featured director Andrew Staunton speaking about how before Toy Story was even released, himself along with other members of the original Pixar creative team such as John Lasseter, Pete Doctor and Joe Ranft sat down and discussed several ideas that included all of Pixar’s first eight original films. Maybe this is in order again or at least something of this nature. It could be important to just take a step back and examine what made Pixar so great and why it isn’t on that same level now.

Grade: B-                    

Quick Take: 'Thor' (2011)

It’s no secret that there are plenty of outlandish comic book anthologies out there. The impossible not only becomes possible but is even seen as normal in the world that it all takes place in. Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby’s Marvel comic, ‘Thor’, is no exception. Norse mythology meets the superhero filled comic book world. Because of this it is no surprise that Thor’s silver screen treatment is a little on the goofy side. This starts with Thor himself due to not just the classical, over-the-top dialogue he is given but also the delivery by Chris Hemsworth. Surprisingly, this is one of the more entertaining aspects of the film as nearly everything about the character is melodramatic but at the same time fun. In a satisfying performance, Hemsworth embraces how silly the circumstances are which only increases chances of enjoying the character.

Like the Norse characters, similar eloquent and artsy characteristics are incorporated into the scenes that feature their home of Asgard. The scenery is given plenty of time to take center stage which is accompanied by a Patrick Doyle score that attempts to give the shots even more of a noble feel.  The problem is that this artsy, sophisticated approach causes pacing issues. The most notable issues when it comes to pacing comes in the form of awkwardly slow choreographed action sequences. Also keeping Thor from getting into an effective rhythm is the constant setting switch between Asgard and earth with both featuring several emotionless moments. Aiding in this lack of emotion is the fact that nothing is left unsaid (maybe this is why I enjoyed Idris Elba in the role of Heimdall so much). This would not be so bad if the dialogue actually meant something most of the time but this is not the case especially when it comes to the human characters.   

Grade: C-              

2013 Summer Box Office Showdown - Results

It feels like a thousand years ago that Brad, Nick, and I had our 2013 summer movie draft. Well, the results are in and they're shocking. I think this graph really shows it best.

Brad wins, it really wasn't even a contest.

Dollar Totals

Brad               $      1,254,981,853.00

Nick               $        -228,354,885.00

Josh               $         524,119,735.00

Brad absolutely ran away with the victory. I honestly thought that I couldn't be beat with Iron Man 3 but I couldn't have been more wrong. Major losers like Paranoia, Pacific Rim, and White House Down were almost bad enough to completely erase IM3's $700 million plus adjusted gross. Brad proved that the family dollar is plentiful as Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University combined to haul in over $850 million in adjusted gross. Fast and Furious 6 also played a large part in Brad's billion dollar total. Nick had several high grossing films, including the surprise of the summer Purge and Man of Steel, but couldn't overcome the anchor that was The Lone Ranger.

If you care to look at the complete financial picture, take a look at our public spreadsheet. You're welcome to analyze the data in any way, shape, or form, just make sure that you comment here about what you find. 

We've already drafted our movies for the Fall 2013 season, so be on the lookout for a post covering who got what. The Summer 2013 was a good time and I can't wait to see the what surprises the fall has in store.

Review: '2 Guns' (2013)

Universal Pictures 

As the summer movie season reaches its final month, 2 guns appears to be an appropriate film for this point in time. August is somewhat of a cool down month as the big name, mainly franchise installments of the summer have come and gone and all that is left is smaller films with lower expectations (less pressure). This summer is unique though in the way that no film, the ones I have seen anyway, has really lived up to or surpassed expectations, making a film like 2 Guns something that is needed rather than easily dismissed as it could be if circumstances were different.

 It’s clear that 2 Guns isn’t trying to flip the industry on the top of its head as it is not a heavily marketed, big budget spectacle looking to be the first of a franchise. 2 guns looks like a film that blends action and humor while not doing anything more than highlighting the admirable traits of its two stars, Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg and guess what?  That is exactly what it is, making it surprisingly refreshing (oddly enough).      

2 Guns begins with Robert ‘Bobby’ Trench (Denzel Washington) and Michael ‘Stig’ Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) planning to rob $3 million dollars from a bank. It is here that the audience is introduced to the smooth swag of Trench and the energetic, flirtatious ways of Stigman. The duo runs into problems though when the robbery does not go as planned and drug lord Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos), the DEA, the CIA and the Navy all get involved.

I’m aware that the above plot description leaves a lot to be desired but with how things transpire and who’s who plays a major part of the plot, going any further in an explanation would likely spoil something. I will say that it is important to pay close attention due to all that is going on. With all the multiple parties involved along with the motives they possess it becomes difficult to keep everything straight.

To be honest, 2 Guns cluttered plot and the odd use of supporting characters is the films weakest aspects. Earl (Bill Paxton) from the CIA and Deb (Paula Patton) from the DEA are both characters that have a major impact on the plot but these are moments that never feel earned as they continue to abruptly become a part of a situation without any real setup. I guess this is what happens when you have such an outlandish plot which only gives another reason not to take it all too seriously. The good news is that it doesn’t take long to realize that realistic thought isn’t needed. Even better news is that the people on screen are also aware of this.

With all this this said though, it isn’t the story that it is the selling point. Washington and Wahlberg are obviously the two draws and this is where the movie is. So if you’re a Washington or Wahlberg fan than 2 Guns maybe something you should consider watching and if your fan of both then it should be a no brainer. Yes, they both give performances that you have likely seen from them before and there are a few times when things are a little too hammed up but for the most part they fit into the roles quite nicely. Wahlberg has been successful with his tough guy persona mixed with humor which is exactly who Stigman is. Trench is a much darker, subtle character that often gives off the impression that he is in control, something Washington has down pat.

By no means should movies strive to just be ‘alright’. Unfortunately a lot of movies do have ‘alright’ or ‘average’ as a goal and a majority of the time they fail to even reach this poor goal which could be the reason for the heightened entertainment of 2 Guns.  2 Guns is nowhere near a perfect film or even one that has a wide appeal but given how this summer has played out, it’s alright to have a film like this come along. Over the past few months few films have been able to live up to expectations so with 2 Guns not surpassing but meeting expectations, it is a recommendable summer movie even if only for Washington and Wahlberg. 

Grade: C+

Review: 'Coffee Town' (2013)

Launching in 1999, College Humor is a mildly successful website where people can go to watch videos that are usually pretty entertaining. They aren't always great, but I always get a laugh out the ones that star Ben Schwartz. The folks that head up College Humor must have felt similarly because Schwartz is featured prominently in CH's debut feature length film, Coffee Town. Schwartz, who most notably plays the fantastic Jean Ralphio on NBC's Parks and Recreation, shines in a cast full of underrated comedy TV titans including Glenn Howerton (It's Always Sunny) and Steve Little (Eastbound and Down). Coffee Town, a comedy in the spirit of 1999's Office Space, is dark, poignant, and possibly the funniest comedy of 2013. Betcha didn't predict that from kind of praised heaped on College Humor's debut film.

Coffee Town is the story of a disillusioned website manager named Will (Howerton) who works out of a coffee shop, Coffee Town, three blocks from his house. In the year since he was laid off from his office job and started working inside the Coffee Town, Will has grown attached to his new office. It has everything. His friends, the dimwitted Chad (Little) and the incompetent cop Gino (Schwartz), are there, his dream girl, Becca (Palicki), is there, and Will thinks things will stay like this forever. There lies the problem, the management of the Coffee Town wants to transform their best store into a Coffee Town Bistro, where, if this shop is transformed into the bistro, Will would no longer be able to live the good life.

The management of Coffee Town hasn't quite settled on which shop they should make into their flagship bistro store, this spawns an idea. Should Will's Coffee Town be robbed, there is no chance that the management would see this store in the light. Your best store isn't the one with the most risk. So, Will, Chad, and Gino formulate a plan to rob the store. That's plausible, right? From the inception of the idea to the aftermath of the follow through, there are several amazing scenes. One such scene is when Chad fights a kid with Down Syndrome is centerpiece of truly well-written and well-acted film.

Howerton, who never really gets the praise he deserves for his portrayal of Dennis Reynolds on Always Sunny, has a real coming out party here. He has deserved a starring role in a film for years and it's nice to see College Humor reward him. Howerton plays the straight-man to Schwartz' and Little's outrageous characters. Little proves he has a career waiting for him in film when Eastbound and Down comes to a close later this year.

Penning the script sitting in the director's chair, was Brad Copeland (Arrested Development) in his debut film. Copeland displays the same quick wit that was shown throughout the television run of AD and I can't wait to see what he has coming up next in his career. Apparently he has signed on to write a reboot of Knight Rider, which should be, at the very least, interesting.

There's a real synergy to all of the components at play in Coffee Town. It was clear from the trailers that the movie had potential, but I didn't expect it to be this good. From the very first sound of the film, Ratatat's "Lex", I knew that the $7 I paid to rent this film from amazon.com, amazingly on the same day it was released in theaters, would be the best $7 I've spent this summer. Coffee Town isn't a perfect movie but it does everything it sets out to do, and it does so in style. Will worries that if he loses Coffee Town, the world will forget about him, I'm sure that Coffee Town will become a cult classic and will not be forgotten any time soon.

Grade: A-

See it, you'll be glad you did.