The new Steve Harvey produced Think Like A Man Too is out, and what a smash at the movies, raking in tens of millions opening weekend.
This is the second installment of the large ensemble piece that was a big success out a year or two ago, and again this is lead by Kevin Hart. Hart is the hottest comic on the planet right now, and he can't seem to do a lot wrong these days. There was a stretch he had 4 movies in theaters at one time. Right now, this is the only one, but this is going to be a huge hit.
What this is, is the same characters from the first movie, and it picks up where they left off. This is a battle of the sexes comedy, as one of the couples is getting married in Vegas, and the bachelor and bachelorette parties are underway out there. And the fun is on. Or it's supposed to be.
Kevin Hart serves as our primary character and also as the movies narrator, and being honest, he holds up his end of the bargain. Hart is utilized well here, and does not wear out his welcome. As funny as Hart is, he can be fatiguing after a while, as his shtick is funny but generally limited.
As good and as well received as Harveys books that these are based on are, this is not translating well to the theater in a quality sense. There are too many characters here and it becomes confusing. Also, for some reason, they branch off on some silly tangents, including a "music video" halfway through. Being fair, what this is, is you watching a bunch of people partying in Vegas for a night. If that's your wish, then go to town. But there is little story, and less substance. This has been compared to The Hangover, but that's ridiculous. The only thing those two movies have in common is that they take place in Vegas.
You know, wanting to like a movie, and actually doing so are two different things. These books are huge, and having a party in Vegas sounds like a good thing. But this really doesn't work, and this movie falls into the sad level of "forgettable."
Think Like A Man Too. Not good.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
LOCAL GOLF - Sunday Morning Golf Course Review
Course: Thunderbird Hills - South
Location: Huron, Erie County
Directions: Right on Rt. 2, about 30 easy access from highway.
Minutes From: 30 from Cleveland, 60 from Akron
Dewsweepers Tee Time Was: 630
Thunderbird Hills Website
Save on LOCAL GOLF by clicking here.
It has been awhile since we have checked in for a review and it's good to be back. We had some bad weather, and were rained out some. Also, some courses were having troubled conditions, and we had some scheduling issues as well, but today we played in perfect weather.
Thunderbird Hills South, is one of two courses at the Thunderbird complex wich also includes the older, more mature North Course. Both are terrific, and worth the drive to play. The South course is much newer, and very different that it's older sibling, and is fast becoming a great, great golf course.
This is about 6,500 yards with tons of pines trees, and rapidly growing pear, and oak trees that line most fairways. The tee shots generally are generous, as The South is nothing tricky or sneaky. It's right out in front of you, and if you keep it in the fairway, life is good. Miss it, and the rough is difficult, and the trees come into play. The South also plays uphill seemingly the whole way - and it dos so adjust clubs accordingly. There are only a couple elevated greens, but many approach shots play uphill from the fairway, although gently and it can confound you if you don't make adjustments.
The greens are flat out terrific. They are not hugely fast, I would call them quick. But they are amazingly true, and rolled perfectly. Putt it there, and it does there. They held shots well, and were very receptive for a public golf course. They have mild slopes and curves, and today's pin placements were a nice mix of front to middle to back. I like when courses do that, mix it up.
Today we all played pretty well. We all kept the ball in play for the most part. We all took turns scrambling a times, but overall there was some consistent play. Joe Red, back from some work travels was the most steady today, posting a very nice 83 by keeping the ball in play, and making some very nice 2-putts that helped save his score. Tex, is hitting his driver so much better and today hit it straight, and well, and set himself up for easier second shots. Tex had a few putting woes, but still posted a 90 on a tough course.
Beef played pretty well all day, but had a few self-inflicted mistakes that can get you down, but he kept fighting and was able to post an 86. I played fairly well, but I battled an erratic driver at times, but kept the damage as minimal as I could till the 18th hole, when I took a horrible 7, triple. My only bad number of the day, posting an 85.
Course highlights? Number 3 is as tough a par 3 tee shot as you will have all summer. 175 yards, to an elevated green protected by sand, with NO room right at all because of the lake that runs the entire length of the hole. A par there is great. All 4 par 5's are designed for you to score on and get you back in the round, although number 10 is a tough tee shot. Also, number 9 is a tough driving par 4, 375 yards with water at the landing area. Number 11, same thing, except it plays uphill and into the west, tha means wind in the face. Number 15, is a great par 3, that plays downhill, 170 yards, and don't be long. (Tex birdie today, great score there). And Number 18, brutal number 1 handicap, 425 yards, playing west, which means wind in your face again, and two fantastic shots are required - period. And Beef did that today smashing a unreal 220 yard fairway wood on the green off a hill around a tree.
A great day would be to drive there and play both sides. The North is great as well, and plays as tough as The South, although ti plays differently. Great service, and really good deals too, as they run fantastic during the week specials. This is worth the drive, The South is a great place to play.
Scores
Joe Red - 83
Wynn - 85
Beef - 86
Tex - 90
Next week we play a nice old course that has been revitalized and it on the rise, Hickory Nut in Columbia Station, Lorain county.
Check out other courses we have recently played and reviewed.
Location: Huron, Erie County
Directions: Right on Rt. 2, about 30 easy access from highway.
Minutes From: 30 from Cleveland, 60 from Akron
Dewsweepers Tee Time Was: 630
Thunderbird Hills Website
Save on LOCAL GOLF by clicking here.
It has been awhile since we have checked in for a review and it's good to be back. We had some bad weather, and were rained out some. Also, some courses were having troubled conditions, and we had some scheduling issues as well, but today we played in perfect weather.
Thunderbird Hills South, is one of two courses at the Thunderbird complex wich also includes the older, more mature North Course. Both are terrific, and worth the drive to play. The South course is much newer, and very different that it's older sibling, and is fast becoming a great, great golf course.
This is about 6,500 yards with tons of pines trees, and rapidly growing pear, and oak trees that line most fairways. The tee shots generally are generous, as The South is nothing tricky or sneaky. It's right out in front of you, and if you keep it in the fairway, life is good. Miss it, and the rough is difficult, and the trees come into play. The South also plays uphill seemingly the whole way - and it dos so adjust clubs accordingly. There are only a couple elevated greens, but many approach shots play uphill from the fairway, although gently and it can confound you if you don't make adjustments.
The greens are flat out terrific. They are not hugely fast, I would call them quick. But they are amazingly true, and rolled perfectly. Putt it there, and it does there. They held shots well, and were very receptive for a public golf course. They have mild slopes and curves, and today's pin placements were a nice mix of front to middle to back. I like when courses do that, mix it up.
Today we all played pretty well. We all kept the ball in play for the most part. We all took turns scrambling a times, but overall there was some consistent play. Joe Red, back from some work travels was the most steady today, posting a very nice 83 by keeping the ball in play, and making some very nice 2-putts that helped save his score. Tex, is hitting his driver so much better and today hit it straight, and well, and set himself up for easier second shots. Tex had a few putting woes, but still posted a 90 on a tough course.
Beef played pretty well all day, but had a few self-inflicted mistakes that can get you down, but he kept fighting and was able to post an 86. I played fairly well, but I battled an erratic driver at times, but kept the damage as minimal as I could till the 18th hole, when I took a horrible 7, triple. My only bad number of the day, posting an 85.
Course highlights? Number 3 is as tough a par 3 tee shot as you will have all summer. 175 yards, to an elevated green protected by sand, with NO room right at all because of the lake that runs the entire length of the hole. A par there is great. All 4 par 5's are designed for you to score on and get you back in the round, although number 10 is a tough tee shot. Also, number 9 is a tough driving par 4, 375 yards with water at the landing area. Number 11, same thing, except it plays uphill and into the west, tha means wind in the face. Number 15, is a great par 3, that plays downhill, 170 yards, and don't be long. (Tex birdie today, great score there). And Number 18, brutal number 1 handicap, 425 yards, playing west, which means wind in your face again, and two fantastic shots are required - period. And Beef did that today smashing a unreal 220 yard fairway wood on the green off a hill around a tree.
A great day would be to drive there and play both sides. The North is great as well, and plays as tough as The South, although ti plays differently. Great service, and really good deals too, as they run fantastic during the week specials. This is worth the drive, The South is a great place to play.
Scores
Joe Red - 83
Wynn - 85
Beef - 86
Tex - 90
Next week we play a nice old course that has been revitalized and it on the rise, Hickory Nut in Columbia Station, Lorain county.
Check out other courses we have recently played and reviewed.
DVD - New This Week Streaming and DVD
This week there is a small list of new choices on DVD or streaming services. But again, there is something for everyone. The summer is here, and the box office is so big right now, there are not a lot of new choices on your service. So this is a good chance to get caught up on movies you have missed.
Keep in mind, we only feature major motion pictures here, and not straight to DVD, or TV shows just now coming to TV. Where applicable, I will link you back to my original movie review from the theater run to help you make a informed choice before you rent, buy, or hit buy on your remote.
New This Week
A Winter Tale
A mid winter romance about time travel, and ponders the question, is love prearranged or is luck. Nice cast, and a nice movie.
Keep in mind, we only feature major motion pictures here, and not straight to DVD, or TV shows just now coming to TV. Where applicable, I will link you back to my original movie review from the theater run to help you make a informed choice before you rent, buy, or hit buy on your remote.
New This Week
A Winter Tale
A mid winter romance about time travel, and ponders the question, is love prearranged or is luck. Nice cast, and a nice movie.
300: Rise of an Empire
The next Installment of this sort of movie, sort of video game, sort of animated action movie, a long time coming and in the making.
The Lego Movie
This was huge, and everyone seemed to love this from last winter
scott@wqmx.com
Friday, June 20, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - Jersey Boys
The first thing you have to do when you go to see the new Clint Eastwood directed, Jersey Boys, is forget that it is a Tony Award winning play. It is one of the greatest Broadway shows ever, and that's fine, but this is the movie.
There are going to be differences, as there are limitations, and new opportunities because of the differences of the medium. But the one thing that will carry the day is the amazing true story of the early days, the downfall, and the eventual rebirth of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The story takes place between 1951 as they begin and 1990, when they are inducted into the Rock Hall. The story has always been the main reason this has been so wildly successful, along with the great music. All great movies have a great story.
This has been reviewed very mildly by some national critics, and I think they are out of their minds frankly. This is handled so well in movie form, Eastwood should be applauded all day long. There is tremendous pressure in taking this to the screen, and it is delivered wonderfully. It is cast beautifully, the music is sensational, and it clips along at a very nice pace for all 2 hours 10 minutes.
This movie also looks incredible. The sets, the costumes, and the makeup takes you back perfectly to the 1950's and 1960's when the bulk of our story takes place. This is meticulous in its effort to get it right for you. And they do get it right. I for one, am glad this is now a movie, as it opens this up to a whole new audience that will not, or can not go to a play.
I will be the first to say, this is NOT the play. But his translates well to the movies. Of course you can't quite capture the power of live music that you get from the stage, and yes that thundering in your chest element is missing, but it's not near a deal breaker. There is no substitute for well done live music - anywhere. That's just reality.
I went to 171 movies last year, and I can tell you there are hardly any where people clap at the end. They did here, and loudly, and there were people singing, clapping in rhythm and dancing during the closing credits, where the movie does become a play. People cheered, and they were ready for more, and that's refreshing at any movie - any time.
I am sad to a degree this is getting lukewarm reviews nationally. I fear too many "big" critics are so jaded by the state of movie making today with the CG, and 3D, IMAX, and animation superhero's, they may not be ready for a movie that is far more pure like this. Or they have a problem with Eastwood politically and have jumped off his movie making ship. But with everything aside, from my seat, this is terrific. Should be noted I am not, nor have ever been a gigantic Four Seasons fan. I know the music like you do, but it doesn't make any difference here if you are a fan or not. This is just flat out good movie making.
Jersey Boys. Pay no attention to the national reviewers, go and have fun. This is a GREAT story, fun, entertaining, powerful and very, very good.
There are going to be differences, as there are limitations, and new opportunities because of the differences of the medium. But the one thing that will carry the day is the amazing true story of the early days, the downfall, and the eventual rebirth of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The story takes place between 1951 as they begin and 1990, when they are inducted into the Rock Hall. The story has always been the main reason this has been so wildly successful, along with the great music. All great movies have a great story.
This has been reviewed very mildly by some national critics, and I think they are out of their minds frankly. This is handled so well in movie form, Eastwood should be applauded all day long. There is tremendous pressure in taking this to the screen, and it is delivered wonderfully. It is cast beautifully, the music is sensational, and it clips along at a very nice pace for all 2 hours 10 minutes.
This movie also looks incredible. The sets, the costumes, and the makeup takes you back perfectly to the 1950's and 1960's when the bulk of our story takes place. This is meticulous in its effort to get it right for you. And they do get it right. I for one, am glad this is now a movie, as it opens this up to a whole new audience that will not, or can not go to a play.
I will be the first to say, this is NOT the play. But his translates well to the movies. Of course you can't quite capture the power of live music that you get from the stage, and yes that thundering in your chest element is missing, but it's not near a deal breaker. There is no substitute for well done live music - anywhere. That's just reality.
I went to 171 movies last year, and I can tell you there are hardly any where people clap at the end. They did here, and loudly, and there were people singing, clapping in rhythm and dancing during the closing credits, where the movie does become a play. People cheered, and they were ready for more, and that's refreshing at any movie - any time.
I am sad to a degree this is getting lukewarm reviews nationally. I fear too many "big" critics are so jaded by the state of movie making today with the CG, and 3D, IMAX, and animation superhero's, they may not be ready for a movie that is far more pure like this. Or they have a problem with Eastwood politically and have jumped off his movie making ship. But with everything aside, from my seat, this is terrific. Should be noted I am not, nor have ever been a gigantic Four Seasons fan. I know the music like you do, but it doesn't make any difference here if you are a fan or not. This is just flat out good movie making.
Jersey Boys. Pay no attention to the national reviewers, go and have fun. This is a GREAT story, fun, entertaining, powerful and very, very good.
Monday, June 16, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - 22 Jump Street
Here comes the second installment of this comedy series, the 21 Jump Street comedy franchise, 22 Jump Street and it brought in big bucks last week. To the tune of 60 million.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back as our aging, bungling, undercover cops that infiltrate schools and try to sniff out the problems. This time since they are older now, they are sent into a college campus, again as students to crack a drug ring that is dealing a new synthetic drug. That is basically the entire plot. As you might imagine this isn't real deep, and the target audience isn't going to really care anyway. They just want to laugh, and they will. I did.
This is similar to the first one, 21 Jump Street, with it's brand of exceptionally edgy humor, that in most cases isn't grandma friendly. It is raunchy at times, and crude at others and that's OK. It never really decides to completely go off the deep end, and that's a great decision. What this does very well is parody the original TV show, the actors actual age, the first movie, college life, and millenials attitudes and values in general. And it does it very, very well. This again is loaded with fun cameo's and some funny pop-culture referenced humor and what you have is a pretty funny, young adult comedy.
Channing Tatum was hilarious in the first movie as this stoner cop who doesn't really have a clue, and he is very funny here. He is physically funny, and delivers a real fun performance as this dude cop with issues. It is funny to see him do this kind f comedy, especially after some of this earlier roles in Magic Mike and some Nicholas Sparks sullen love story films. He is hilarious.
Hill, is who he is. Although his comedic performances are a bit the same and limited, he is funny here, when again asked to give he same performance. I am starting to like him more and more away from "buddy comedies" as I loved him in Moneyball, and Wolf Of Wall Street. Both earned him Oscar nominations, and for Moneyball, he could have won.
The supporting cast is fun with Ice Cube as the boss, and there are a few funny twists and turns that keep you watching. This is certainly not a perfect movie, and it is a niche audience but for mid-summer comedies, this is pretty fun. Again, an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone.
22 Jump Street. We need a laugh right now, and we've got one. This franchise though could wear out it's welcome.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back as our aging, bungling, undercover cops that infiltrate schools and try to sniff out the problems. This time since they are older now, they are sent into a college campus, again as students to crack a drug ring that is dealing a new synthetic drug. That is basically the entire plot. As you might imagine this isn't real deep, and the target audience isn't going to really care anyway. They just want to laugh, and they will. I did.
This is similar to the first one, 21 Jump Street, with it's brand of exceptionally edgy humor, that in most cases isn't grandma friendly. It is raunchy at times, and crude at others and that's OK. It never really decides to completely go off the deep end, and that's a great decision. What this does very well is parody the original TV show, the actors actual age, the first movie, college life, and millenials attitudes and values in general. And it does it very, very well. This again is loaded with fun cameo's and some funny pop-culture referenced humor and what you have is a pretty funny, young adult comedy.
Channing Tatum was hilarious in the first movie as this stoner cop who doesn't really have a clue, and he is very funny here. He is physically funny, and delivers a real fun performance as this dude cop with issues. It is funny to see him do this kind f comedy, especially after some of this earlier roles in Magic Mike and some Nicholas Sparks sullen love story films. He is hilarious.
Hill, is who he is. Although his comedic performances are a bit the same and limited, he is funny here, when again asked to give he same performance. I am starting to like him more and more away from "buddy comedies" as I loved him in Moneyball, and Wolf Of Wall Street. Both earned him Oscar nominations, and for Moneyball, he could have won.
The supporting cast is fun with Ice Cube as the boss, and there are a few funny twists and turns that keep you watching. This is certainly not a perfect movie, and it is a niche audience but for mid-summer comedies, this is pretty fun. Again, an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone.
22 Jump Street. We need a laugh right now, and we've got one. This franchise though could wear out it's welcome.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - The Fault In Our Star
Opening to about 50 million its first weekend out, this movie is going to be loved by many for years to come.
This is a tear-jerking teen cancer movie, and a love story that knows exactly who is watching, and zero's in. This will be a movie that many will see multiple times, and then buy the Blu-Ray in 90 days. It has shades of Nicholas Sparks, (although it is not) and enough syrup to cover a tall stack, and enough sap to make it.
This is the story of a 17 year-old really nice kid named Hazel, (Shailene Woodley). She has terminal lung cancer and is struggling not only to stay alive, but to live. She meets Augustus (Ansel Elgort) at a cancer support group meeting for teens. He is a cancer survivor himself, and is immediately attracted to Hazel. She is reluctant of course, and tries to distance herself to a degree from him, all the while slowly falling in love with him. And he her.
It's the story of these two and their journey into love for the first time as they each are battling the clock and cancer demons. Hazel as a patient, and Gus as a survivor. We watch them meet, and court and eventually fall in love at a healthy pace for real life, but an agonizing pace on screen. Will they be able to overcome all of the obstacles that life has in general, not to mention the challenge of terminal illness? That, in a nutshell is The Fault In Our Stars.
Up front, Woodley was born to play Hazel. I am a fan of hers for the most part. I loved her in the Spectacular Now, last summers surprise hit. But not so much in the super boring Divergent this spring. She is a wonderful mix of vulnerability and underdogedness that really makes her amazingly believable and easy to watch. Woodley is blessed with a simpleness that makes her real and authentic, and perfect for these awkward teen love stories. She is the gas in the engine of this movie, and it fails without her.
But this movie has a few jagged edged problems that are just too big to ignore. This is certainly too long, and overblown. It also makes the same sappy point time after time, and belabors its point to the point of nausea. It strives for as many "awww" moments as it possibly can, and that will endear this movie to a whole new generation of young girls that will make this movie this generations The Notebook. In years to come, this will be on a whole lot of personal "favorite movie lists."
But among the sap and cheese, there is some nice humor here at times that is hard to ignore so we can breathe, and this does develop characters well. There are probably a couple too many, but that's not a deal breaker. Woodley is great in this large role and carries the day. Elgort is adequate at best, but the writers didn't do him any favors, as he is asked to be supremely sweet every time he walks on screen - period. While Woodley is given far more room for depth and to maneuver.
This is not a bad movie by any stretch, and I do understand I am not the target audience. But this deals with tough stuff, and it deserved better in many ways. A screen rewrite for some spots. A tighter editing blade, and a more powerful star next to Woodley.
The Fault In Our Stars. The target will LOVE this movie.
This is a tear-jerking teen cancer movie, and a love story that knows exactly who is watching, and zero's in. This will be a movie that many will see multiple times, and then buy the Blu-Ray in 90 days. It has shades of Nicholas Sparks, (although it is not) and enough syrup to cover a tall stack, and enough sap to make it.
This is the story of a 17 year-old really nice kid named Hazel, (Shailene Woodley). She has terminal lung cancer and is struggling not only to stay alive, but to live. She meets Augustus (Ansel Elgort) at a cancer support group meeting for teens. He is a cancer survivor himself, and is immediately attracted to Hazel. She is reluctant of course, and tries to distance herself to a degree from him, all the while slowly falling in love with him. And he her.
It's the story of these two and their journey into love for the first time as they each are battling the clock and cancer demons. Hazel as a patient, and Gus as a survivor. We watch them meet, and court and eventually fall in love at a healthy pace for real life, but an agonizing pace on screen. Will they be able to overcome all of the obstacles that life has in general, not to mention the challenge of terminal illness? That, in a nutshell is The Fault In Our Stars.
Up front, Woodley was born to play Hazel. I am a fan of hers for the most part. I loved her in the Spectacular Now, last summers surprise hit. But not so much in the super boring Divergent this spring. She is a wonderful mix of vulnerability and underdogedness that really makes her amazingly believable and easy to watch. Woodley is blessed with a simpleness that makes her real and authentic, and perfect for these awkward teen love stories. She is the gas in the engine of this movie, and it fails without her.
But this movie has a few jagged edged problems that are just too big to ignore. This is certainly too long, and overblown. It also makes the same sappy point time after time, and belabors its point to the point of nausea. It strives for as many "awww" moments as it possibly can, and that will endear this movie to a whole new generation of young girls that will make this movie this generations The Notebook. In years to come, this will be on a whole lot of personal "favorite movie lists."
But among the sap and cheese, there is some nice humor here at times that is hard to ignore so we can breathe, and this does develop characters well. There are probably a couple too many, but that's not a deal breaker. Woodley is great in this large role and carries the day. Elgort is adequate at best, but the writers didn't do him any favors, as he is asked to be supremely sweet every time he walks on screen - period. While Woodley is given far more room for depth and to maneuver.
This is not a bad movie by any stretch, and I do understand I am not the target audience. But this deals with tough stuff, and it deserved better in many ways. A screen rewrite for some spots. A tighter editing blade, and a more powerful star next to Woodley.
The Fault In Our Stars. The target will LOVE this movie.
DVD - New Streaming and DVD for June 10
This week two mid-winter thrillers that did moderately well at the box office, with no shortage of Hollywood star power. Since the weather was so bad, you may have missed these during the theater run so here they are.
We only feature major motion picture releases here and not straight to DVD, or TV shows making their way to DVD this week I will link you back to my original review too, to help you make an good decision before you buy, rent, or hit pay on you remote.
New This Week
Non-Stop
Liam Neeson plays the same guy as he did in Taken, and Taken 2....without actually being the same guy. A look inside the U.S. Air Marshall Department, as Hollywood sees it.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Chris Pine is the new Jack Ryan, and Kevin Costner is along for the ride here. Also the wonderful Kiera Knightley is here are well. Jack Ryan from the beginning and for a new audience.
scott@wqmx.com
We only feature major motion picture releases here and not straight to DVD, or TV shows making their way to DVD this week I will link you back to my original review too, to help you make an good decision before you buy, rent, or hit pay on you remote.
New This Week
Non-Stop
Liam Neeson plays the same guy as he did in Taken, and Taken 2....without actually being the same guy. A look inside the U.S. Air Marshall Department, as Hollywood sees it.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Chris Pine is the new Jack Ryan, and Kevin Costner is along for the ride here. Also the wonderful Kiera Knightley is here are well. Jack Ryan from the beginning and for a new audience.
scott@wqmx.com
Saturday, June 7, 2014
MOVIE REVIEW - Edge Of Tomorrow
The end f the world, Sci- Fi action flicks keep rolling out, and we keep rolling in and this week it's the new Tom Cruise movie, Edge Of Tomorrow.
In short, this is the deal. Earth has been invaded by The Mimics. They are an alien force that is waging war world wide and winning. The entire world has united together and is fighting for our very survival as the human race. For some reason the enemy always seems to know what the humans are planning and where they will be in the war, so we cannot make any inroads to winning The war seems lost.
Enter Major Gage (Cruise). He is an Army public relations officer with no combat experience and is summoned to the lead Generals office to get his orders to film the war for promotional purposes. Gage is ordered to the front lines to film, and he is refusing to go. So after an ill-advised blackmail attempt on the General, Gage is arrested, knocked out, and wakes up in London as a new combat recruit, railroaded into combat detail.
There, after his first actual combat experience, he is somehow "blessed" or "cursed" with the ability to live the same day over and over again with the potential to getting it right, and altering the future. He meets another soldier named Rita, (Emily Blunt) who earlier was a war hero, as she was blessed with the same curse. Could this curse be the key to winning the war? Seems so.
In an era where there is not shortage of big action flicks that portray the end of times, and a gloomy future, somehow this one is a bit different and cuts through in a pretty creative way. This is a good mix of action that overall is not belabored, and over the top. It mixes in some slick effects, and some real fun humor and spins it into a real nice and tidy 1 hour and 40 minute summer fun flick. Being honest, this works only because of Cruise and Blunt. They are good together, and this movie needs their presence to win. The story is adequate, as some of the premise is borrowed from recent end of times movies, but that's not a deal breaker.
This movie makes some good decisions in not taking itself too seriously, and is entertaining from first frame to last. It looks too, like this could be a long and drawn out affair. But it's not. It has a story, and tells it, and moves on. And to me, that is one of it's best attributes. Cruise is the Cruise we like, and not the "I'm Tom Cruise," Cruise. Blunt is always worth a ticket, as I think she is one of Hollywood's most underrated stars.
Edge Of Tomorrow. Not perfect, but pretty fun.
In short, this is the deal. Earth has been invaded by The Mimics. They are an alien force that is waging war world wide and winning. The entire world has united together and is fighting for our very survival as the human race. For some reason the enemy always seems to know what the humans are planning and where they will be in the war, so we cannot make any inroads to winning The war seems lost.
Enter Major Gage (Cruise). He is an Army public relations officer with no combat experience and is summoned to the lead Generals office to get his orders to film the war for promotional purposes. Gage is ordered to the front lines to film, and he is refusing to go. So after an ill-advised blackmail attempt on the General, Gage is arrested, knocked out, and wakes up in London as a new combat recruit, railroaded into combat detail.
There, after his first actual combat experience, he is somehow "blessed" or "cursed" with the ability to live the same day over and over again with the potential to getting it right, and altering the future. He meets another soldier named Rita, (Emily Blunt) who earlier was a war hero, as she was blessed with the same curse. Could this curse be the key to winning the war? Seems so.
In an era where there is not shortage of big action flicks that portray the end of times, and a gloomy future, somehow this one is a bit different and cuts through in a pretty creative way. This is a good mix of action that overall is not belabored, and over the top. It mixes in some slick effects, and some real fun humor and spins it into a real nice and tidy 1 hour and 40 minute summer fun flick. Being honest, this works only because of Cruise and Blunt. They are good together, and this movie needs their presence to win. The story is adequate, as some of the premise is borrowed from recent end of times movies, but that's not a deal breaker.
This movie makes some good decisions in not taking itself too seriously, and is entertaining from first frame to last. It looks too, like this could be a long and drawn out affair. But it's not. It has a story, and tells it, and moves on. And to me, that is one of it's best attributes. Cruise is the Cruise we like, and not the "I'm Tom Cruise," Cruise. Blunt is always worth a ticket, as I think she is one of Hollywood's most underrated stars.
Edge Of Tomorrow. Not perfect, but pretty fun.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
MOVIE REVIEWN - Chef
Here comes a big helping of refreshing, along with a side of pure, and a pinch of great, all served up by a Chef that knows what he's doing. This is a comedy, and a drama. But what it is above all is great!
Chef is a new John Favreau movie that also boasts a real nice supporting cast, that is the years best movie so far. Never mind that this also stars Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Sophia Vegara, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman, and Oliver Platt. Honestly, none of them makes any real difference. The star of this movie is...the movie.
Chef is a little movie in very limited release that is the story of a Chef named Carl Casper (Favreau) and his very dysfunctional life in Los Angeles. He is very talented, with an enormous ego and works at a high end restaurant in LA owned by Riva (Hoffman). After a horrible review of his menu on a HUGE food website, he falls off the deep end and confronts the critic (Platt) in public and the whole entire ugly (but funny) meltdown is captured on video and goes viral on the Internet. All the while unintentionally starting a Twitter war with him in public, and Carl finds himself out of a job. Carl has been a bit absent in the world the past few years and needs to catch up.
His life is a disaster, as he is divorced from his wife, (Vegara) and is an absentee father to his 10--year old son, Percy. But now, he has to go back to the beginning and somehow find his new life. And he does, going back to find his passion for cooking and making people happy, by buying a food truck of all things from his ex-wife's, ex husband (Downey Jr.) on a trip to Miami. So with the help of one of his ex-chef partners (Leguizamo), and Percy, they trek back across country in the truck, stopping along the way to serve Cuban sandwiches, and Carl reconnects all the dots that he had let become disconnected all these years. All the while not knowing he is doing it.
This movie is so good, it could be the best movie of this year, or any year. Chef uses food and cooking as the backdrop of a man's life that has fallen apart unbeknownst to himself through self-indulgence and personal drive. You get to see so much amazing food in this movie, don't go hungry. But what you really see is a character driven movie that is amazingly pure in an era of movie making that isn't. With the theaters jammed up with Godzilla, X-Men and countless others that are cartoons, animated, or computer generated loud fests, Chef is why you go to the movies. A brilliant story you've never seen told this way before, with a great cast, written, filmed and directed beautifully.
It has been a long time since there has been a small movie this good in theaters. This little movie may get lost as it is a strange time to release a flick like this, with the box office so driven over the summer by over the top movies, but try to find this and go to it. This will certainly and without fail be mentioned in major award shows later this year and early next. It's that good.
Chef. Absolutely fantastic!
Chef is a new John Favreau movie that also boasts a real nice supporting cast, that is the years best movie so far. Never mind that this also stars Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Sophia Vegara, John Leguizamo, Dustin Hoffman, and Oliver Platt. Honestly, none of them makes any real difference. The star of this movie is...the movie.
Chef is a little movie in very limited release that is the story of a Chef named Carl Casper (Favreau) and his very dysfunctional life in Los Angeles. He is very talented, with an enormous ego and works at a high end restaurant in LA owned by Riva (Hoffman). After a horrible review of his menu on a HUGE food website, he falls off the deep end and confronts the critic (Platt) in public and the whole entire ugly (but funny) meltdown is captured on video and goes viral on the Internet. All the while unintentionally starting a Twitter war with him in public, and Carl finds himself out of a job. Carl has been a bit absent in the world the past few years and needs to catch up.
His life is a disaster, as he is divorced from his wife, (Vegara) and is an absentee father to his 10--year old son, Percy. But now, he has to go back to the beginning and somehow find his new life. And he does, going back to find his passion for cooking and making people happy, by buying a food truck of all things from his ex-wife's, ex husband (Downey Jr.) on a trip to Miami. So with the help of one of his ex-chef partners (Leguizamo), and Percy, they trek back across country in the truck, stopping along the way to serve Cuban sandwiches, and Carl reconnects all the dots that he had let become disconnected all these years. All the while not knowing he is doing it.
This movie is so good, it could be the best movie of this year, or any year. Chef uses food and cooking as the backdrop of a man's life that has fallen apart unbeknownst to himself through self-indulgence and personal drive. You get to see so much amazing food in this movie, don't go hungry. But what you really see is a character driven movie that is amazingly pure in an era of movie making that isn't. With the theaters jammed up with Godzilla, X-Men and countless others that are cartoons, animated, or computer generated loud fests, Chef is why you go to the movies. A brilliant story you've never seen told this way before, with a great cast, written, filmed and directed beautifully.
It has been a long time since there has been a small movie this good in theaters. This little movie may get lost as it is a strange time to release a flick like this, with the box office so driven over the summer by over the top movies, but try to find this and go to it. This will certainly and without fail be mentioned in major award shows later this year and early next. It's that good.
Chef. Absolutely fantastic!
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