REVIEW: Odd Thomas

MOVIE
Odd Thomas

CAST
Anton Yelchin, Addison Timlin

RATING
NR (PG-13 material)

RELEASE
Febraury 28, 2014
(VOD/LIMITED)

DIRECTOR
Stephen Sommers

STUDIO
Image Entertainment

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 36 minutes








STARS
***1/2











REVIEW:

Back in July of last year, news spread around the inter webs that a movie called "Odd Thomas" would not see the light of day in a movie theater anytime soon.  The reason for this was due to legal actions with the production company, and things among that nature.  So to be perfectly honest right now, I first saw this movie back in August when it leaked onto the internet for the sole reason that I thought it wouldn't see the light of day until like 2016 or something.  Stupid thinking on my part, as the film was actually announced for a theatrical/VOD release for this week.  At least that gave me time to revisit the film and see if it holds up upon a second viewing, because I actually really enjoyed this upon first viewing.  Low and behold, "Odd Thomas" held up really well, and overall it is still a fun and entertaining little movie that I really hope people will be able to find.

Odd Thomas lives up to his name, Odd.  He was born with the ability to see ghosts and monsters that crave carnage only known as "Bodachs."  In order to live a seemingly normal life, Odd works at the local diner as a fry cook, where he is beloved by all.  With his ability to see the dead, who help him catch vicious murderers in the town, Odd helps the police out with catching these criminals, even though they see him as a weird person.  Odd also has a loyal girlfriend named Stormy, who supports and understands Odd's paranormal abilities.  When one Bodach shows up in Odd's town, it's easy to brush it off, as long as they don't know you can see them.  But when hundreds of Bodachs start showing up, this tells Odd that carnage on a massive scale is about to ensue, and he is the only one who could stop it from happening.

I've always admired Anton Yelchin and I think he's one of the most promising young actors of this generation.  It's great to see him getting a lead role like this, because he is simply perfect for it.  He has a good sense of humor throughout, plus he makes a solid action hero in general.  Think of "Charlie Bartlett" but with paranormal powers.  Willem Dafoe pops up in here as a police captain who can only take Odd's word for the criminals that he helps to catch.  While it's not Dafoe's best performance, he still has an enjoyable presence here in general.  Then, we have Addison Timlin, who you might have seen in "That Awkward Moment," "Stand Up Guys," and most notably the Showtime TV series "Californication."  Timlin plays Odd's beautiful, supportive, and awesome girlfriend Stormy, and I loved every single second she was on screen.  It might have been because she's insanely beautiful, but I personally think that she was really good in the film in general.  The rest of the cast is solid as well, but none are as prominent as the three mentioned here.

The man responsible for making this film happen is director/screenwriter Stephen Sommers.  Notable for the popular "Mummy" franchise, as well as the underrated "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," Sommers takes this story, adds some witty humor and some cool elements in general, and overall makes a really fun movie.  The special effects aren't anything to go gaga over, but they are still pretty good for an independent movie like this.  In a way, the film felt like an animated comic book coming to life, and I really liked that about it.  This isn't the best book-to-movie adaptation one will see, due to some inconsistencies, flaws in the script, and some unintentionally laughable moments, but I still found a lot of enjoyment out of it, with its story being interesting, the cast being really solid, and the film overall feeling satisfying for those who watch it.  I doubt this will appeal to everyone, but I could see this getting a cult-following considering the type of release it's getting.  Plus, the film alludes to a potential sequel at the end, and I'd personally love to see that happen.  "Odd Thomas" is an odd little fantasy flick, but that's exactly why I enjoyed it both times I saw it.

REVIEW: The Monuments Men

MOVIE
The Monuments Men

CAST
George Clooney, Matt Damon

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
February 7, 2014

DIRECTOR
George Clooney

STUDIO(S)
Columbia Pictures,
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 58 minutes







STARS
***1/4








REVIEW:

Leave it to George Clooney to bring audiences back to the darkest time in modern history.  While we've seen stories about concentration camps, Jewish people in hiding, and countries unifying to battle the common enemy, Clooney and screenwriter Grant Heslov bring a different side of World War II into the mix.  "The Monuments Men" tells the story of eight men who travel to Europe in order to save priceless pieces of art that the Nazis are taking and holding hostage.  Looking at the film on the outside, it sounds incredible.  Not only does Clooney direct and co-write the screenplay, but he also stars in it, alongside A-list stars like Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, and Bill Murray.  Normally, this would be a sure-fire hit, but many seem to be on the contrary for this film.  I, apparently, am in the minority by saving that I really enjoyed this movie.  It's not the amazing, Oscar-quality film that many were hoping for it to be, but it is enjoyable still, and I am really glad that I saw it.

The biggest flaw that the film possesses is that it doesn't balance its stories out quite well.  It seemed like the filmmakers were trying too hard on focusing on either the story between Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett's characters, or they were focusing on obtaining this one particular piece of art for reasons that are somewhat, but not entirely, explained.  Clooney isn't as prominent in the film as one may think, being absent from the film for nearly 20 minutes at one section of the film.  What I wish that Clooney could have done was either A.) fully flesh out the stories that he presents on the film, or B.) focus on one set of characters and have the rest of the cast show up towards the end of the movie.  Despite this flaw, the film still strives thanks to its sense of humor and its incredible cast.

George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett were all really good in the film, enough said.  John Goodman and Jean Dujardin from "The Artist" have great moments together.  Even Hugh Bonneville has some decent spots present.  But without a doubt, my favorite scenes in the film involved Bill Murray and Bob Balaban.  Not only do they bring the most humor and the most "Hell yeah!" moments, but they also have some great chemistry, and even have a really touching scene together that was well-executed and well edited.  If the film had just been about these two guys, I probably would have loved the film as a whole.  While Clooney and Damon give solid performances, it's Murray and Balaban that steal the show, without a doubt.

George Clooney stated in an interview that this film was not an "Oscar film," and boy was he right on the money with that.  That's not a bad thing, particularly; it's just that this isn't the type of movie that is made to win awards.  This film was made solely to tell a true story that not many knew about, and it tells that story very well.  The action sequences, as brief as they are, are well-executed and fun.  As a whole, it drags a tad, but the overall product is a satisfying film that history buffs will definitely go gaga over.  It's not the best World War II movie ever made, but it is a solid and entertaining movie that I would willingly revisit if the opportunity presented itself.



PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

Divergent


Captain America: The Winter Soldier


The Amazing Spider-Man 2


X-Men: Days of Future Past


A Million Ways To Die In The West

MINI-REVIEW: Alan Partridge

MOVIE
Alan Partridge

CAST
Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney

RATING
R

RELEASE
February 27, 2014 (VOD)
April 4, 2014 (LIMITED)

DIRECTOR
Declan Lowney

STUDIO
Magnolia Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 30 minutes






STARS
***3/4









REVIEW:

Just to simply get this out in the open: "Alan Partridge" is hilarious.  I mean, wow, I did not expect to laugh as much as I did, and yet this 90 minute romp had me on the floor more than once.  Based on Steve Coogan's iconic character, "Partridge" tells the tale of the title character, a relatively popular DJ in Britain, who is being held hostage by his former co-worker who was just laid off due to a new era of "radio" beginning to pour in.  Having heard much praise from friends in the UK, as well as friends who saw it at the New York and Philadelphia Film Festivals, I was pretty interested in seeing this flick.  And once the opportunity presented itself to me, I jumped on it, and I'm extremely glad I did.

Steve Coogan brings so much to the role of Partridge, and that's mainly because of how hilarious he is. Even though the character is a selfish person who seems to only care about his future success after the hostage crisis is over, one could still relate and/or just laugh at the dialogue he's spewing out.  In fact, Coogan was one of five writers for this movie.  Normally that's something that would turn me personally away, but in all honesty, it seems like everyone's ideas in the script worked well.  Even when you think the movie is going to go the cliche route and have that melodramatic moment between the two leads, it one ups you and throws more laughs your way.  Needless to say, this is the funniest and smartest script I've come across since "Nebraska."

Aside from some minor problems here and there in the script, which don't take anything away from the script as a whole, "Alan Partridge" is a freaking hysterical comedy.  Steve Coogan is brilliant in this movie, as is the rest of the cast.  The script is dynamic, clever, and hilarious, with a joke coming in at least every 3 minutes.  Most of all, this movie felt genuine and something from the heart.  Many films these days feel like they're being made only for money and a #1 position at the Box Office.  This movie felt like Steve Coogan and the filmmakers were trying to make a film solely to entertain both fans of the original "Alan Partridge" TV series and people who've never heard of the character.  As someone who had never heard of Alan Partridge prior to the film, this was a pleasant surprise and something I look forward to revisiting in the future.  If you're looking for a smart, hilarious, and awesome indie comedy, then look no more, because "Alan Partridge" is here to save the day.

MINI-REVIEW: Grand Piano

MOVIE
Grand Piano

CAST
Elijah Wood, John Cusack

RATING
R

RELEASE
January 30, 2014 (VOD)
March 7, 2014 (LIMITED)

DIRECTOR
Eugenio Mira

STUDIO
Magnet Releasing

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 30 minutes






STARS
***1/2








REVIEW:

It's one thing when a horror film goes all out on its gratuitous violence and amount of blood being poured on screen.  However when a horror or thriller go out to have the audience imagine the bloody violence that occurs, as well as have the setting and music give off such an eerie vibe that it will have you on the edge of your seat, THAT is when a filmmaker shows the he understands that a scary movie is more than scary and bloody imagery.  In the new indie-thriller "Grand Piano," a man reluctantly comes out of a five year retirement from playing piano only to find a note on his music sheets that exclaims that if he plays one wrong note, then he will be killed.  If he tries to tell anyone about the death threats, then the man's beautiful wife will be killed.

From that little synopsis, the film sounds interesting but a little generic, if I must say.  Luckily, it's far from that.  Aside from an ending that feels a little rushed to an extent, this is a great movie.  The cinematography is incredible, the direction is great, the script keeps the audience invested with great situations that keep going on, and the editing during some of the more intense moments of the film is superb.  Elijah Wood gives a powerful and great performance, and John Cusack is incredibly menacing for being just a voice in Wood's ear for most of the film.  Even the supporting actors, who can sometimes be annoying, play well with the story, and they never overstay their welcome.  Overall, "Grand Piano" proves to be an engaging and intense thriller that is definitely worth seeing thanks to the eerie suspense that director Eugenio Mira effectively pulls off, the fantastic performance from Elijah Wood, and a different, yet brilliant look at the meaning of "stage fright."

REVIEW: Winter's Tale

MOVIE
Winter's Tale

CAST
Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
February 14, 2014

DIRECTOR
Akiva Goldsman

STUDIO
Warner Bros. Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 58 minutes







STARS
**







REVIEW:

"Winter's Tale" is one of those movies that think it's more meaningful and powerful than it actually is.  It tries to tell this incredible love story that spans over a century while mixing Lucifer, Demons, and Angels into the mix, but what it does overall is clutter itself with exposition and storylines that didn't need to be there.  It saddens me to say this, to an extent, because I actually thought this looked like a promising little movie.  Plus, this is the theatrical directorial debut of Akiva Goldman, who is responsible for writing such films as "A Beautiful Mind" and "Cinderella Man."  Then again, he did also write "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin," so this could have gone either way.  Sadly, it went down a bad path, and in the end is just a mediocre film.  The only things that are redeemable from it are Colin Farrell's performance and the aspects of the story that are actually taken from the novel that this film is based upon.  Otherwise, there's no real reason to really go and check this one out.

Peter Lake was an orphan saved by his parents with the help of a miniature sailboat after they couldn't get past Ellis Island when trying to immigrate to America.  20 years later, he is a robber who is on the hunt by a ruthless crime lord who wants his head for some personal reason that is never explained.  Upon finding a mysterious white horse, Peter finds himself with Beverly Penn, a 20 something year old girl who is dying from tuberculosis.  As these two become head over heels about one another, Beverly succumbs to her disease and dies, leaving Peter alone and sad that his one true love is gone.  However, it is the love that Peter has for Beverly that keeps him alive, untouched by age, for over a century.  Peter must find his purpose for living such an unusually long time, and come face to face with enemies from the past.

Colin Farrell always does a solid job in the roles he chooses, and here he is really good.  The girl playing Beverly, Jessica Brown Findlay, is also quite good in the film, and her chemistry with Farrell is sweet and believable.  Then there are small, cameo-esque performances from actors like Jennifer Connelly, Eva Marie Saint, and Will Smith, and they are all solid.  And finally, we have the weakest link in the cast, Russell Crowe.  His performance as this vengeful crime lord is so annoyingly over the top and zany that it makes his portrayal of Javert in "Les Misérables" look passable.  Crowe is a great actor, as he has proven many times before, but he is just trying too hard here, and he was just that person who you want to slap on the face and say "get out of here" to.  Then again, the screenplay is probably the best thing to blame for writing Crowe's character so poorly.

Akiva Goldsman, the director of the film, also wrote the screenplay for it.  I will give him some credit, for his directing styles weren't that bad, and actually pretty solid for a first time filmmaker.  His screenplay, on the other hand, is trying to be this incredible and epic tale of love that it forgot to A.) take its time with telling the story fully, and B.) write its characters pretty poorly.  For example, Eva Marie Saint's character is an older version of this little girl from when Peter Lake was loving Beverly.  While it benefits the story and further advances it, the one big problem with this type of situation is that nobody, not even a 9 year old girl in 1914, could live to 2014 and still be living, breathing, and working like she did.  I kept going through this in my head while she was on screen, and there was simply no way that this woman could be living such a successful life on her own at such an old age.  That might be considered to be a nitpick, but I don't care, that just really bugged me.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*
After reading the detailed plot of the book itself, I noticed that the entire second half was only loosely based on what happened in the book, and to me, it really wasn't needed that much.  The idea of having a man living over a century without aging I think is a great concept, but adding a subplot with a little kid having cancer, and trying to add Russell Crowe back in to the mix for no particular reason other than to have a climatic ending, I feel is lame.  For a 2 hour film, it felt pretty rushed, especially in that second half, as we, the audience, are never given enough time to care for the newly added characters into the story, as well as give a damn about Crowe, a demon working for Lucifer, being out for revenge after a century of believing that he killed Lake.  What could have been a sweet and powerful love story, thanks to Goldsman's script, becomes a story that overstays its welcome and tries to add all of these new layers to it in oder to obtain the illusion that it's this amazing magnum opus that will be remembered throughout the ages.
*END OF SPOILERS*

Even though I didn't care for "Winter's Tale," I still found it entertaining, and I was invested the whole way through.  It's not the best told romantic story so far this year, but I was interested in what was going to happen to Peter and Beverly. Unfortunately, that's not enough to make a good movie overall.  The story had potential, but instead it felt rushed through and it focused a little too much on lights personally. (See the movie and you'll understand what I mean)  The script had some decent spots, but it is overall mediocre and clunky, so much so where it rushes through its second half and doesn't give us time to get fully invested with these newly introduced characters.  The acting is good from Colin Farrell and company, but Russell Crowe is just trying to hard and comes across more of a school bully rather than a menacing villain.  "Winter's Tale" had the potential to be a good, maybe even great romantic love story for Valentine's Day, but in the end, it's just a forgettable, mediocre movie that I doubt anyone will be talking about much come next weekend.  And just to give one last little nitpick, the haircut that Colin Farrell dons for about 90% of the movie is one of the worst haircuts I've seen in recent memory.  I mean, seriously, it looks like a yamaka on top of a poorly placed toupée.



PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

3 Days To Kill

Interstellar

One Chance

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Jupiter Ascending

The Other Woman

Blended

MINI-REVIEW: Nurse

MOVIE
Nurse

CAST
Paz de la Huerta, Katrina Bowden

RATING
R

RELEASE
February 7, 2014
(VOD/LIMITED)

DIRECTOR
Doug Aarniokoski

STUDIO
Lionsgate

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 23 minutes







STARS
*1/2







REVIEW:

"Nurse" for me is a hard film to fully digest mentally.  On one hand, it's a gory, well-executed slasher flick with a great performance from "Boardwalk Empire" star Paz de la Huerta.  On the other hand, it's a stupid, dumb, and excessively gory film  that's graced with an annoying performance from Paz de la Huerta.  I mean, the film can be considered to be "so bad it's good," but sometimes it was just annoying to watch and I just wanted someone to ax the crazy nurse already.  People can not be THIS stupid to actually believe that the girl who just got a job as a nurse is crazier than the lady who likes to fully pronounce every little word and squint her eyes at everyone.  Look, this isn't the absolute worst horror film one will see this year, but I can almost guarantee that not many people will remember this film by the end of 2014, myself included.  Overall, "Nurse" could have been a self aware, funny, and extremely entertaining slasher flick, but instead it has stupid characters, an intriguing but annoying villain, and 3D "pop out" moments that belong in 2011.  If you want a REAL self aware, funny, and extremely entertaining horror flick, then go watch "The Cabin in the Woods."

REVIEW: Robocop

MOVIE
Robocop

CAST
Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
February 12, 2014

DIRECTOR
José Padilha

STUDIO(S)
Columbia Pictures,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 58 minutes







STARS
***1/4








REVIEW:

Just so we can get this fully out of the way, I have not seen the original "Robocop" from the 1980s.  It's not that I didn't have interest in seeing it, it's just that I became lazy and just never got around to checking it out.  Having said that, I wasn't that excited for the remake of it coming out, despite its impressive cast.  People weren't that interested in a "Robocop" remake, nor were they even asking for one in the first place.  And yet, the honchos at Sony went through with the production, and thus, here we are today.  As someone who is all for remakes as long as they can add something new to the mix, "Robocop" surprised me.  It might not be the best remake you will ever see, nor is it the first great blockbuster of the new year, but thanks to the solid acting, great visuals, and fun action sequences, "Robocop" is a movie that is well worth seeing if you're not into any of the sappy Valentine's Day films coming out this week.

The year is 2028, the city is Detroit, Michigan, and Detective Alex Murphy is on the hunt to take down a local drug lord who has practically the whole town on a string.  In a devious act to kill Murphy, the drug lord plants a bomb under his car to blow up when he pleases.  So when Detective Murphy, a loving husband, father, and devoted cop, is critically injured from said bomb, his wife gives consent to help give her husband a second chance at life.  Omnicorp, a company responsible for creating robots for every country in the world to serve as a replacement to cops, sees Murphy as their golden opportunity to turn him into a half man, half machine breed.  With Murphy as this hybrid, they can train his mind and his body to be the police officer that America, a country that does not want an emotionless robot prowling and protecting their streets, can truly desire.  However Murphy has other plans, being that he wants to take down the people responsible for his attempted murder.

For an actor who, so to speak, is up and coming, Joel Kinnaman really holds the film up well as both Alex Murphy and Robocop.  Not only is he able to play the human, dramatic side of Detective Murphy, but he is also able to channel the monotone, robotic side of, well, the Robocop.  I'd need to see him in a couple more roles in order to fully determine that he has what it takes to become a big Hollywood star, but from what I saw here, he definitely has the potential.  The rest of the actors are really good in the film, but none quite stand out from the rest of the film to me personally.  Gary Oldman has some great scenes, Michael Keaton is really good here, and Samuel L. Jackson is playing Samuel L. Jackson, and there is nothing wrong with that.

For a movie that one would think a studio wouldn't care much about because of its release date, the visual effects and the action is done extremely well.  The visuals reminded me a bit of "District 9" and "Elysium," in which the robots look pretty real at times.  There's a scene where you see the remains of Murphy that not only looks gruesome, but also shockingly great.  As for the action, there is a little bit of shaky cam here and there,e but for the most part the action is well done, and is a lot of fun to watch.  For those who complain about the action and the visuals not being practical, I feel that they have to suck it up and understand that very little movies are done with practical effects in this day and age.  I would love to see more films done practically, but CGI is here to say, and I am personally ok with that.

What I want the most with remakes is to see what the filmmakers can do to put a different spin on the "classic" tale. so to speak.  From what I've seen of the original "Robocop," that's exactly what they did.  The emotional aspects of seeing the family of Detective Murphy coping with this transformation that the husband/father has to go through is actually pretty damn compelling.  What they do with Murphy's character and all the people who control his robotic ways is actually engaging and entertaining to watch.  The two setbacks that the film has that took me out of it is that A.) the villains are typical action movie villains who lack some substance, and B.) the film becomes really slow about 30 minutes into it, which really shouldn't happen in a big-budgeted blockbuster.  Other than that, "Robocop" is a solid February release with great action, solid acting, and great visuals.  Definitely check this out if either "The Lego Movie" is sold out or you've already seen it.

MINI-REVIEW: The Lego Movie 3D

MOVIE
The Lego Movie

CAST
Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell

RATING
PG

RELEASE
February 7, 2014

DIRECTOR(S)
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

STUDIO
Warner Bros. Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 40 minutes






STARS
***3/4







REVIEW:

Who would have thought that the movie about Lego figurines would be the most original thing to come out of Hollywood so far this year?  Well in a way, I did.  The directors/screenwriters of this film are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and in case you don't recognize those names, they are the men responsible for making the hilarious kids flick "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," as well as the hysterical R rated action comedy "21 Jump Street."  So far, these men haven't done anything considered to be "bad," so I had some serious hope in this movie, despite how ridiculous the concept may sound.  After seeing the film, I can happily say that Lord and Miller have still yet to disappoint me, because this was just flat out awesome.  One part "The Matrix," another part "Toy Story," "The Lego Movie" offers kids and adults the opportunity to explore their imaginations and just to have a great time seeing some incredibly iconic characters bundled up into this unique and inventive story.

There really isn't too much wrong with this movie whatsoever.  Other than the fact that, for me, it was a little overhyped from the universal acclaim it received from critics and my peers, I really don't have anything to really complain about.  The voice actors are great all around, with each giving off their own comedic spin and all have their own moment to shine.  The animation in the characters and the settings look incredible, making the film feel fast and zippy while looking like a stop-motion film at the same time.  People may complain about the third act of the film, but for me, it really wrapped the film up smoothly and made me look at things featured in the film differently.  Screenwriters/directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have yet to disappoint me, as they have proven themselves to be a creative force that you can't mess with.  Overall, "The Lego Movie" is fast, gorgeous, hilarious, and a film that has something for everyone, both young and old.  I even think the older viewers will get more of a kick out of this than the kids will, believe it or not.






PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

The Boxtrolls

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

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MINI-REVIEW: That Awkward Moment

MOVIE
That Awkward Moment

CAST
Zac Efron, Miles Teller,
Michael B. Jordan

RATING
R

RELEASE
January 31, 2014

DIRECTOR
Tom Gormican

STUDIO
Focus Features

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 34 minutes







STARS
**1/2









REVIEW:

Romantic comedies usually follow a typical formula that seems to get people into seats almost every time.  First, we cast the attractive male and female actors.  Following that up, we have a predictable story about how man and woman meet at a bar and hook up, only to have some horrible situation bring them apart, and then they get back together in the end.  And to end off the three-way recipe of every generic rom-com, we have the fact that the jokes are either really tasteless, really stupid, or mildly entertaining.  In the case of "That Awkward Moment," the concept, being that this romantic tale is told solely from the perspective of the men, is different, but the execution of all of the plot points were still the same as they have been in any other movie your girlfriend dragged you to see.  Having said that, the actors are charming enough and the jokes hit hard enough where the film is good enough to recommend.

My main problem with the film is that we're supposed to care for these characters, more specifically Zac Efron's character, when in the end he's an unlikable womanizer who doesn't really have much redeeming about him.  I mean, he was fine in the film itself, but his character was written as too much of an unlikable person that it was hard for me to care for him all the way through.  Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan are in the same ballpark, but you can understand why they're acting the way they are, plus they pull off their parts extremely well.  Zac Efron's "girlfriend" in the film, played by Imogen Poots, is also fine in the movie, but her American accent needs some serious working on, because I could honestly hear her actual accent screaming "please let us out!"  All in all, the cast was fine, but the characters weren't written as well as they could have been.

For a movie that's called "That Awkward Moment," there's not much that's actually considered to be "awkward."  Sure, there's a scene where Zac Efron's character wears a dildo to a classy party, but other than that, there's nothing much that anyone even considers to be awkward.  Hell, I don't even think the word was mentioned more than twice in the movie!  That's really just a nitpick, though, because overall the film is good, but nothing special.  The directing is passable, the screenplay lacks in proper development of certain storylines and characters, and the film as a whole is nothing really memorable.  It's a fine rental at best, but other than that, this is a decent attempt to make a romantic comedy for men, but it could have been so much better given the potential it had to begin with.  Overall, there's nothing awkward about "That Awkward Moment," but there are some laughs to be had, and some fine performances from its cast despite a lacking script and directing that's nothing forgettable.




PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

Tyler Perry's The Single Mom's Club

Veronica Mars

Neighbors

About Last Night

A Haunted House 2

The Other Woman

Bad Words

MINI-REVIEW: Ride Along

MOVIE
Ride Along

CAST
Ice Cube, Kevin Hart

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
January 17, 2014

DIRECTOR
Tim Story

STUDIO
Universal Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 40 minutes







STARS
**1/2









REVIEW:

A few weeks ago, a movie called "Ride Along," starring famed black comedians Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, came into theaters and made a lot of money.  In fact, this movie made so much money that it went on to stay #1 at the box office for 3 weeks, and has already had a sequel green lit by Universal Pictures.  My mind started to wonder, "of all of the January successes, what is so special about this one?"  Truth be told, there's nothing special in "Ride Along" whatsoever.  That's not to say that it isn't mildly entertaining, because it is.  Plus, the chemistry between Kevin Hart and Ice Cube is in fact really good, and does give off to some of the film's most entertaining moments.  Unfortunately, the typical comedic jokes are still present, the "twists" that everyone is supposed to get surprised at are still there, (and they're still able to be spotted a mile away) and the film overall just makes its audience go "meh" after watching it.  If it wasn't for the great chemistry between the film's two leads, along with some decent jokes here and there, "Ride Along" would have had people who weren't the target demographic walking out feeling bored and underwhelmed.

When the jokes do work, they really hit for the most part.  There were many times throughout the film that actually had me laughing.  However, I don't think those parts were thanks to the film's screenwriters, but rather Kevin Hart's loud, girly, and over the top acting abilities.  The screenplay itself is incredibly predictable, lame at times, and overall pretty lackluster.  The direction from Tim Story is ok, but nothing very memorable.  As a whole, "Ride Along" is a decent attempt to follow in the footsteps of "The Other Guys" and "The Heat," but overall it fails at keeping its audience fully invested, as well as to maintain the continuity of funny jokes.  This isn't the worst thing you'll see in 2014, but it's nothing to rush out to the theater to see.  Overall, "Ride Along" is an ok attempt to make a fun buddy-cop comedy, but that's only because of the great chemistry between the eccentric Kevin Hart and the tough-as-nails Ice Cube.






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RIP Phillip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014)

To say that Phillip Seymour Hoffman was one of the best actors working today is something that could only be believed if you saw any movie he was in.  From cult favorites like "The Big Lebowski," to bigger Hollywood movies like "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," to an Oscar winning performance for his portrayal as Truman Capote in the film "Capote," Hoffman gave it his all in every performance he presented to filmgoers, and many seemed to really love what he could do.  It's a terrible shame to discover that Hoffman has passed away at the age of 46 from a drug overdose in his Manhattan apartment.  When I have the upmost respect for an actor like Mr. Hoffman, it truly makes me shake when I find out things like this.  Seriously, words cannot describe the amount of doubt and disbelief I am currently going through, especially since I literally just got back from seeing a sweet romantic comedy the moment I received the Facebook notification from a buddy of mine telling me this.  Another friend of mine just saw him at a Q&A at Sundance for a new film he's coming out with that premiered at the festival.  My heart goes out to his friends, family members, and anyone who was ever close to him.  To see someone with a tremendous amount of talent pass away is a true shame, but when it's someone who you care about dearly, which I'm sure pertained to many of Mr. Hoffman's colleagues, that can be a true stab to the heart.  To all of the people who ever knew him personally, I wish you all the absolute best of luck getting through this horrific and unbelievable tragedy.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman, you will surely be missed. Rest in Peace.