3 Box Office Big Ones (Plus an Indie)
"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues"
starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, James Marsden, Greg Kinnear, Kristen Wiig, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Harrison Ford
written and directed by: Adam McKay
To say that I was extremely underwhelmed by the highly anticipated sequel to one of the only movies that has had me physically on the floor laughing in the theatre's aisle the first time I saw it, is quite an understatement. That being said, thanks to the first film's now notorious cult following, its sequel had so much to live up to that it was not possible. Anything less than the original would be deemed a disappointment. How much of a disappointment would be determined after the fact.
And now, that being said, "Anchorman 2" does not necessarily continue the legend, so to speak, it more or less recycles the legend.
Ron Burgundy is fired from his job and Veronica, his wife, is chosen as the new lead anchor on the nightly news. A dream come true for her, of course. Ron spirals out of control, losing his wife and son in the process, until he is chosen to be part of a 24 hour news team (GNN) with his news team partners in crime (you know, Rudd, Carell, Koechner). It's a bit of a dull set-up, but the writing makes it relevant to our time period. Regardless, the film also then settles for familiarity in the joke department, along with the rhythm of the delivery of the jokes. The scenes that really made the original film work so well by seemingly letting the comedic actors improvise and work off each other seemed very condensed and edited (as I read in a few articles- the film was originally about 5 hours long, thanks to the improv); but these seems scenes that worked so well the first time around are never built upon or stretched out.
Because Veronica isn't in the film so much, they've decided to add a new romantic element to the mix- this time in the form of Ron's African American lady boss (played by Meagan Good, who reminds me of Pam Grier). Of course, there's misogyny from Ron Burgundy (who'd expect any less), but now there's the added element of racial insensitivity, which actually drew some gasps from the audience I was with.
Ultimately, it's a bunch of old jokes, recycled, and old ideas that cheapen the film and really cheat the audience of a "true" sequel. It's almost like a slap in the face to a devote crowd that was willing to pay the price of admission, because the filmmakers knew everyone would line up to see what they came up with almost 10 years later. It's not worth it, unfortunately.
..................................................................................................
"Captain America: The First Avenger"
starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Richard Armitage, Samuel L. Jackson, Stanley Tucci
"Captain America" is a pleasurable comic book film because it contains the essentials for a decent film: a hero we can care about (first in the form of a 90 pound weakling, who is transformed into an Army-induced and scientific experiment and a one-man army), dimension, and weight to the story.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable (comic book) film for everything that is offers the audience. Set design of the 1940s, the CGI that isn't necessarily thrown in your face, the story, the acting. Good job, Marvel!
I can't wait for this sequel, because it certainly has potential and promise.
......................................................................................
"Despicable Me 2"
voiced by: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove
Here is another unfortunate sequel that fell victim perhaps to the studio bigwigs who simply saw dollar signs in a potential franchise. The only problem here is that the original "Despicable Me" was a funny, sweet and self-contained story about the guy/villain named Gru who ultimately renounced villain behavior and came to embrace fatherhood for 3 adorable little girls who were orphans. Because of Gru's transformation by the end of the first film, "Despicable Me 2" is grasping at straws for a storyline because its hero has essentially been neutered (for the great cause of those 3 little girls- who are not in this film enough).
Of course, with that element to the story gone and Gru now a decent human being, more focused on making his little girls happy and keeping them safe, the filmmakers decide to toy around with the plotline of bringing Gru a potential lady-friend/mate and the 3 adorable little girls a mother-figure. Unfortunately, this storyline is not really developed at all and the film that could've happened gets glossed over at the end of the film, having skipped over the details of Gru and Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig).
There are a few emotional heartstring-tugging moments in this film, but not enough to really make the film work or worth a viewing. The greatest parts of the film actually involve Gru's little yellow minions, who are always around for a good laugh.
Watch the original and be satisfied enough.
...........................................................................................
"Bringing Up Bobby"
starring, Milla Jovovich, Bill Pullman
written, directed, and produced by: Famke Janssen
I genuinely feel bad for Famke Janssen, because let's face it, she's not a decent actress (I mean, she'll forever best be known for her role as Jean Grey in the "X-Men" franchise. I first saw her as a Bond girl in "GoldenEye" back in 1995, and then as a sort-of leading role potential in "Deep Rising" in 1997. Perhaps around 2011 she finally received the memo that she'll never really live up to her somewhat potential of being a lead A-list actress, and so what did she decide to do? Produce, write and direct her own film. Well, at least she had the sense to stay out of it, acting-wise. Instead, she lets Milla Jovovich take the reigns in this trainwreck from the start.
Jovovich plays Olive, a single Ukrainian-immigrant mother trying to escape or run away from her con artist and thieving past (still slightly present) in order to raise her progeny- a bratty and punkish son named Bobby. There's a bit too much mother-son love between them that it borders on creepy and incestuous, but Janssen steers clear of anything like that. Instead, Olive's past finally catches up with her and she's arrested. Bobby is then put under the care of a married couple (the husband, played by Bill Pullman, happens to be Olive's lawyer and decides to do her a favor and take in her son, helping to raise him with his wife, played by Marcia Cross).
There's a simply and obvious lesson to be learned from this film's story, and it has to occur with Olive. She has to realize that her felonious lifestyle, regardless of its present day relevance or not, is not the best example to be set for her obviously troubled son, who's trying to figure out how to grow up (and be like his mother or not).
The film screams: "I learned it from you," all over the place. It's too blatantly obvious to work at all. A nice attempt at a first film, but unfortunately none of it works at all. You're essentially just waiting for the film to play itself out and be over.
starring: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Dylan Baker, Meagan Good, James Marsden, Greg Kinnear, Kristen Wiig, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Harrison Ford
written and directed by: Adam McKay
To say that I was extremely underwhelmed by the highly anticipated sequel to one of the only movies that has had me physically on the floor laughing in the theatre's aisle the first time I saw it, is quite an understatement. That being said, thanks to the first film's now notorious cult following, its sequel had so much to live up to that it was not possible. Anything less than the original would be deemed a disappointment. How much of a disappointment would be determined after the fact.
And now, that being said, "Anchorman 2" does not necessarily continue the legend, so to speak, it more or less recycles the legend.
Ron Burgundy is fired from his job and Veronica, his wife, is chosen as the new lead anchor on the nightly news. A dream come true for her, of course. Ron spirals out of control, losing his wife and son in the process, until he is chosen to be part of a 24 hour news team (GNN) with his news team partners in crime (you know, Rudd, Carell, Koechner). It's a bit of a dull set-up, but the writing makes it relevant to our time period. Regardless, the film also then settles for familiarity in the joke department, along with the rhythm of the delivery of the jokes. The scenes that really made the original film work so well by seemingly letting the comedic actors improvise and work off each other seemed very condensed and edited (as I read in a few articles- the film was originally about 5 hours long, thanks to the improv); but these seems scenes that worked so well the first time around are never built upon or stretched out.
Because Veronica isn't in the film so much, they've decided to add a new romantic element to the mix- this time in the form of Ron's African American lady boss (played by Meagan Good, who reminds me of Pam Grier). Of course, there's misogyny from Ron Burgundy (who'd expect any less), but now there's the added element of racial insensitivity, which actually drew some gasps from the audience I was with.
Ultimately, it's a bunch of old jokes, recycled, and old ideas that cheapen the film and really cheat the audience of a "true" sequel. It's almost like a slap in the face to a devote crowd that was willing to pay the price of admission, because the filmmakers knew everyone would line up to see what they came up with almost 10 years later. It's not worth it, unfortunately.
..................................................................................................
"Captain America: The First Avenger"
starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Richard Armitage, Samuel L. Jackson, Stanley Tucci
"Captain America" is a pleasurable comic book film because it contains the essentials for a decent film: a hero we can care about (first in the form of a 90 pound weakling, who is transformed into an Army-induced and scientific experiment and a one-man army), dimension, and weight to the story.
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) dreams of joining the Army and defending America against the Nazis. Turned down as 4-F, he tries again and again to enlist, and eventually makes it into basic training.
He has courage which attracts the attention of the hard-boiled Col. Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) and a scientist named Erskine (Stanley Tucci), who supervises a secret government program. In no time at all, the new Steve Rogers is now a foot taller and built like Mr. Universe. He adopts a costume and a stars-and-stripes shield, which serve primarily to make him highly visible, although the shield has special powers. And Captain America is born. Young Steve's Army confidante both before and after his transformation is the sultry Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).
Now the full-bodied story comes into play, involving a first-rate villain. This is a Nazi commandant named Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), who essentially controls his own private army and has schemes of surpassing Hitler. He has dreams of creating super weapons. Eventually, Captain America will pair off against Schmidt, who is revealed to be the hideous Red Skull. Schmidt demonstrates once again that, when it comes to movie villains, you can't do better than Nazis.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable (comic book) film for everything that is offers the audience. Set design of the 1940s, the CGI that isn't necessarily thrown in your face, the story, the acting. Good job, Marvel!
I can't wait for this sequel, because it certainly has potential and promise.
......................................................................................
"Despicable Me 2"
voiced by: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove
Here is another unfortunate sequel that fell victim perhaps to the studio bigwigs who simply saw dollar signs in a potential franchise. The only problem here is that the original "Despicable Me" was a funny, sweet and self-contained story about the guy/villain named Gru who ultimately renounced villain behavior and came to embrace fatherhood for 3 adorable little girls who were orphans. Because of Gru's transformation by the end of the first film, "Despicable Me 2" is grasping at straws for a storyline because its hero has essentially been neutered (for the great cause of those 3 little girls- who are not in this film enough).
Of course, with that element to the story gone and Gru now a decent human being, more focused on making his little girls happy and keeping them safe, the filmmakers decide to toy around with the plotline of bringing Gru a potential lady-friend/mate and the 3 adorable little girls a mother-figure. Unfortunately, this storyline is not really developed at all and the film that could've happened gets glossed over at the end of the film, having skipped over the details of Gru and Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wiig).
There are a few emotional heartstring-tugging moments in this film, but not enough to really make the film work or worth a viewing. The greatest parts of the film actually involve Gru's little yellow minions, who are always around for a good laugh.
Watch the original and be satisfied enough.
...........................................................................................
"Bringing Up Bobby"
starring, Milla Jovovich, Bill Pullman
written, directed, and produced by: Famke Janssen
I genuinely feel bad for Famke Janssen, because let's face it, she's not a decent actress (I mean, she'll forever best be known for her role as Jean Grey in the "X-Men" franchise. I first saw her as a Bond girl in "GoldenEye" back in 1995, and then as a sort-of leading role potential in "Deep Rising" in 1997. Perhaps around 2011 she finally received the memo that she'll never really live up to her somewhat potential of being a lead A-list actress, and so what did she decide to do? Produce, write and direct her own film. Well, at least she had the sense to stay out of it, acting-wise. Instead, she lets Milla Jovovich take the reigns in this trainwreck from the start.
Jovovich plays Olive, a single Ukrainian-immigrant mother trying to escape or run away from her con artist and thieving past (still slightly present) in order to raise her progeny- a bratty and punkish son named Bobby. There's a bit too much mother-son love between them that it borders on creepy and incestuous, but Janssen steers clear of anything like that. Instead, Olive's past finally catches up with her and she's arrested. Bobby is then put under the care of a married couple (the husband, played by Bill Pullman, happens to be Olive's lawyer and decides to do her a favor and take in her son, helping to raise him with his wife, played by Marcia Cross).
There's a simply and obvious lesson to be learned from this film's story, and it has to occur with Olive. She has to realize that her felonious lifestyle, regardless of its present day relevance or not, is not the best example to be set for her obviously troubled son, who's trying to figure out how to grow up (and be like his mother or not).
The film screams: "I learned it from you," all over the place. It's too blatantly obvious to work at all. A nice attempt at a first film, but unfortunately none of it works at all. You're essentially just waiting for the film to play itself out and be over.
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