My Review: The Other Woman (3/10)

"We got played by the same guy... do you want vodka or tequila?"

We got played once again with another familiar and cliched romantic comedy with uninspired performances, weak direction, and poor writing. I guess Leslie Mann could have used some help from her husband, Judd Apatow, because the material she had to work with here was completely unfunny, or at least she should have asked him for advice before accepting to make this film. I'm sure she had a lot of fun making this, but I wish we could have at least had half the fun watching this as she did making it. She was really annoying, especially during the first half hour, and it's a shame because she is an extremely funny actress. I've seen Cameron Diaz playing similar roles before (for example in The Sweetest Thing which this film reminded me a lot of) so I wasn't as surprised with how uninspiring her performance was. Kate Upton looked great, but that is all she had to offer in a film where she felt completely lost playing alongside Diaz and Mann. As for Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, well he is much better as a Lannister. I really can't blame the actors because the material they had to work with was too cliche and their characters completely one dimensional. They were all stereotypes and their was no personality whatsoever to this comedy. The jokes are all recycled and there are very few funny moments. I wasn't expecting much from this film really, but I didn't think it would be as bad as it was.

The Other Woman (or should I say, The Other Women) lacks substance and the funniest scenes for me were the ones borrowed from other comedies I'd seen in the past. I don't know why Hollywood producers think poop and vomit jokes need to be included in all comedies, but it needs to stop because they are not funny anymore. I'm all up for female empowerment, but this isn't really the way to go. This is easily one of the worst movies of the year and I should have avoided it. We have several contenders here for the Razzies and I forgot to mention how bad Nicki Minaj was in her supporting role here. 

My Review: Rio 2 (6/10)

"We are not people, we're birds. We have to get out into the wild and be birds."

Director Carlos Saldanha takes us back to the colorful world of Rio in this sequel that takes place mostly in the Amazon jungle. I enjoyed the first film for the animation and how beautiful they made it look. Rio 2 is probably my least favorite animated film of 2014 so far, but I still have to give it a pass for the gorgeous animation. The film looks beautiful, it's a shame that the characters aren't as well developed. I wasn't a huge fan of the plot either, but the animation is so breathtaking that it is worth it. Adults might not have as much fun because it isn't as smart or witty as other recent animated films, but kids will enjoy this for the colorful characters. Of course like in most sequels you have to try to outdo yourself, more characters are introduced and ultimately the film just felt too crowded and the subplots and new characters didn't work very well. They kind of took me out of the movie, but the Amazon jungle is so gorgeously captured that I still had a decent time with this. I'm giving this a mild recommendation, but there isn't much more to this sequel other than that. 

As for the plot, the film continues to center on the surviving blue macaws that are living in a special reserve in the city of Rio. Believed to be the only surviving birds of their species Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) have formed a family of their own and have three kids. Things take an unexpected turn for them when they discover that there might be more macaws in the heart of the Amazon jungle. They decide to travel to the wild jungle to meet up with the rest of their kind. They are not alone on their journey however, as Nigel (Jermaine Clement) is waiting for the perfect moment to have his revenge along with his new sidekick, a venomous frog named Linda (Leslie Mann). Once they arrive they are surprised to discover that among the surviving birds there's Jewel's father, Eduardo (Andy Garcia), who is happy to have found Jewel again. However, Blu has trouble adopting to the lifestyle of the wild and his father in law doesn't seem to take a huge liking of his city ways. 

The sequel has some funny moments and I chuckled a few times, but the plot was weak and predictable. It felt a bit long and dragged at times. It also felt too preachy with all the ecological messages and I could have done without those subplots with the humans tearing down the trees. Most of the characters are back from the first film and a lot of new ones were added although I really didn't care much for any of them. There are some fun musical moments that helped me get past the more tedious moments but overall I didn't have such a good time as I did with The LEGO Movie or Mr. Peabody & Sherman. The film is not even as close in terms of being witty, but it does look more beautiful and kids might enjoy it more for all the colorful scenes and the choreographed musical numbers. By the end of the film I kind of felt tired and exhausted, but the kids seemed to have enjoyed it.

My Review: Mr. Peabody and Sherman (7/10)

"If a boy can adopt a dog, I see no reason why a dog can not adopt a boy." 

As soon as the credits began rolling my little brother looked at me and said "wow, this was even better than The LEGO movie." I wouldn't go as far as him, this isn't on the same level, but I was surprised considering I never thought this film would be any good. My expectations for this movie were really low, but as soon as Mr. Peabody and Sherman's excellent adventure through time began I was hooked. It was a fun little history ride as we got to travel with the characters to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, the battle of Troy, and the French Revolution. Some of the characters in this film were hilarious (I'm pointing at you Leonardo Da Vinci) and the gags and puns were witty. Mr. Peabody & Sherman is based on the Rocky and Bullwinkle segments from the 50's, "Peabody's Improbable History," and it was directed by Rob Minkoff (who has had more success directing animated films such as The Lion King than live action films like Flypaper and Forbidden Kingdom). This was a very pleasant experience and an animated film children and adults will enjoy  alike.

The screenplay was adapted by Craig Wright from Jay Ward's short animated series. We are introduced to Mr. Peabody (voiced by Ty Burrell from Modern Family), an advanced canine who happens to be a genius inventor. In order to teach his adopted son, Sherman (Max Charles), history lessons he builds a time machine called WABAC, and travels with him to the past. Together they share thrilling adventures, but the greatest adventure of all turns out to be Sherman's first day in school where he is bullied by a fellow student named Penny Peterson (Ariel Winter). After biting her for calling him a dog, Mr. Peabody is called to school by Ms. Grunion (Allison Janney) who threatens to take his son away from him. In order to make things right, Mr. Peabody invites Penny's parents, Paul (Stephen Colbert) and Patty Peterson (Leslie Mann), to dinner. Sherman gets into trouble again when he shows Penny the time machine and both of them end up in Ancient Egypt causing all sorts of trouble. Mr. Peabody goes to their rescue before Penny's parents discover anything is wrong, which would hurt his chances with Ms. Grunion to maintain his parenting rights.

Beside all the fun adventures through time, the film also happens to be a delightful and good hearted movie about father and son relationships. The supporting cast is memorable and Stanley Tucci's Leonardo Da Vinci is the standout. Some of the sweet and tender moments don't work as well as they should and there are also several poop and butt jokes that don't work, but despite those flaws the film manages to stay afloat thanks to some clever and witty jokes and some entertaining and colorful adventures. It's an engaging animated film that works much better than the trailers would lead you to believe. I had a fun time, but by no means is it as witty and engaging as the LEGO movie, but it works just as well.

My Review: The Bling Ring (7/10)

"I think we just wanted to be part of the lifestyle. The lifestyle that everybody kinda wants."

Sofia Coppola is a talented writer and director, and despite not being able to equal her masterpiece, Lost in Translation, she still continues to surprise me with films like this. Her approach is different from most other directors, she isn't interested in trying to delve into the psyche of these characters and explain why they act a certain way, she kind of takes a distant approach and lets their actions speak for them. The Bling Ring is Sofia Coppola's way of putting a mirror in front of today's youth and letting them see how empty and shallow they've become. There is no denying that our young generation is obsessed with fame, celebrities, and social media. We see it every day in television through so many reality shows, and in The Bling Ring Sofia Coppola gets this point across from the very opening scenes where we see the main characters speak obsessively over fashion and celebrities while at the same time taking pictures of each other at a party and simply posing. That moment where you arrive at a party and everyone is sitting down in a same table with their eyes glued to their cellphones. Those are the sort of moments that Coppola captures from a distance in this film and she never tries to judge or explain their behavior. This detachment is what generally works in Coppola's work and I really was drawn into this world. As opposed to Lost in Translation and Somewhere, this film actually has a lot more going for it plot wise, despite not being as good as Lost in Translation. I really liked the dark comedy in this film and the performances from relatively unknown actors were also great. Emma Watson plays a very different role from what we've seen her in the past and she delivers despite not being the lead actress here. The Bling Ring isn't a perfect movie, but it is a detached observation of today's youth culture.

The Bling Ring was adapted by Sofia Coppola from Nancy Jo Sales's Vanity Fair article "The Suspect Wore Louboutins" about the real life crimes committed by a group of teenagers in 2008. This group, which the media called The Bling Ring, stole more than 3 million dollars worth of clothing and jewelry from celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bilson, among others. They checked the whereabouts of the celebrities on the internet and then looked up their home address and simply entered their homes. Marc (Israel Broussard) has just moved to California and on the first day of High School he quickly befriends Rebecca (Katie Chang) who invites him to hang out with her and Chloe (Claire Julien) at the beach. They click right away because they both seem to share an obsession for fashion and after hanging out Rebecca asks him if he knows anyone who's family is away. Marc mentions one and Rebecca convinces him to break into their home and take a few things. This is just the beginning of their adventures as the two realize they can do the same with celebrities' houses. Rebecca's friends Nicki (Emma Watson) and Sam (Taissa Farmiga, who happens to be Vera Farmiga's youngest sister) also join them on some of the robberies. The members of the Bling Ring begin enjoying their lives of luxury and feeling like celebrities, but their excesses catch up with them and soon will run into trouble with the law.

If this weren't a film based on true events I would say it was ridiculous that someone would've come up with a plot like this since I wouldn't expect these celebrities to have such bad security systems in their homes, but this really happened although I'm betting things have changed now. Emma Watson's character is so dislikable but she manages to give a great performance nonetheless. Her character depicts everything that is wrong with today's youth. The final scene where she is being interviewed along with her mother (played by Leslie Mann) is just hilarious. She simply shines in every scene she's in here. Broussard and Chang also have great chemistry together and carry the movie despite being unknown actors. I know that a lot of people found this film shallow and pointless but I think that was exactly the point that Coppola was trying to get across: how shallow these people really are. This is a very fun film although probably a forgettable one as well considering the main themes of the movie. The critique of American culture is right on the mark here and perhaps that is why the film might leave you with a sense of emptiness as well, but that was exactly the reaction that Coppola was looking for.

My Review: This is 40 (5/10)

¨All of a sudden we`re a magnet of negativity. What did we do? ¨

Judd Apatow has produced, written, and directed some of the best comedies since the late 90`s. There is no doubt that he has reinvented the genre and made some memorable comedies like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. With Funny People he switched to dramedy, a more serious type of comedy that`s sort of a reflection on today`s society. This is 40 is sort of a sequel to Knocked Up since it focuses on some of the supporting characters in that movie, but it follows a similar premise as Funny People because it is much more serious in tone. It has some really funny moments, but at the same time it is an authentic portrayal of an upper middle class Beverly Hills family facing a midlife crisis. Apatow not only directed this film, but he wrote the screenplay as well and worked with his family, so this was a very personal project. The script is funny, but sometimes Apatow relies too heavily on sex and bathroom gags that have already grown old. For the most part this film is enjoyable, but it suffers from an overlong screenplay and some pacing issues. I enjoyed Funny People a little more than this because This is 40 was kind of the same thing. There were some very funny performances and some great cameos as well, but the film gets irritating at times. Some scenes worked really well, while others felt completely out of place making most jokes either hit or miss.

If you haven’t seen Knocked Up it really doesn’t matter because the film works independently from that one since we only follow a few supporting characters from that movie. The story takes place a few years after the events of the previous movie focusing on the lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), a middle class married couple living in California with their two daughters: Sadie (Maude Apatow) and Charlotte (Iris Apatow). When the film begins Debbie is turning 40 and she is having trouble accepting her age, while Pete doesn’t think it`s a big deal. Debbie doesn’t want a party, she passes the day with her family while they plan Pete`s party which will be in a few days as well. The plot is pretty simple as it follows their everyday ordinary lives and the problems they face. Pete`s routine revolves around riding his bike and working at his independent record company, while Debbie works out with her trainer Jason (Jason Segel) and owns a clothing store. Both Pete and Debbie are going through some financial issues as the record company is having trouble selling and someone has stolen 12000 dollars from the store. Debbie suspects it`s Desi (Megan Fox), but doesn’t want to say anything because she is her best saleswoman. Jodi (Charlyne Yi) also works in the store and blames Desi. Due to their financial troubles, Debbie asks Pete to stop helping out his father, Larry (Albert Brooks), but he can`t help it. Pete and Debbie must find a way to adapt to their midlife crisis before their entire family and marriage collapses. 

Despite playing really spoiled and unlikeable characters, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann, manage to give very strong and likeable performances. The supporting cast was also pretty strong with some very funny scenes between them and Albert Brooks. There is also a great scene involving Melissa McCarthy which I thought was the highlight of the movie. Leslie Mann gave one of her best performances and she must have enjoyed working alongside her husband Judd and two daughters. Their performance wasn’t really strong and at times it felt that they were reading off scrip cards, but I didn’t have a major problem with it. The story felt real and authentic, but I just couldn’t sympathize with these spoiled characters. The comedy has its moments, but it is just too little in such an overlong and difficult to bear story. I wouldn’t say that Apatow has lost his touch, but this film is probably his weakest effort to date. Everyone can have a strike or a miss; hopefully he will come back with another home run, but in order to do so he needs to bring something new and original back to the genre instead of remaking his films over again. We do have to appreciate the honesty he brings to his films, and that is why he has had such a successful career.

My Review: Rio (7/10)

¨This is great. I'm chained to the only bird in the world who can't fly! Is there anything else I need to know? ¨

Carlos Saldanha gives us one of the most colorful movies of the year, and it couldn´t have been any other way considering the story takes place in beautiful Rio de Janeiro. Saldanha pays homage to the city where he was born, and does it by showing us the beauty of its locations, its people, and its music, during one of the most fun and colorful events that take place every year: Carnival. It`s impossible not to like this animated film, despite having a weak and predictable plot, because not liking it would be like not enjoying a trip to Rio. Saldanha takes us to his city and shows us all the beauty Rio has to offer. The visuals in the film are excellent and we get plenty of aerial shots of the city, we see its beautiful beaches, tropical forests, and even get to experience a motorcycle ride across its infamous favela. We also get to meet some of their eccentric characters (Saldanha has a lot of fun with the stereotypes), although the main attraction of the movie are the colorful animals. Animated films have matured greatly over the years and we`ve come to expect excellent visual effects, but in Rio the visuals are the main attraction and the characters are just a product of their environment. Rio is much better than the other animated film 2011 had to offer: Rango. Rango was an animated film I disliked, but I admitted the visuals were fantastic. Neither of the films have a decent story or memorable characters, but the difference with Rio is that when you have Rio de Janeiro the city itself becomes a character and a very memorable one for that matter. That is why the movie is such fun because it’s all about Rio and not so much as the rest of the characters.

The film opens in the tropical jungles of Brazil where a blue macaw`s life will change forever when a group of poachers take him captive and smuggle him to the States. Somewhere along the way the bird ends up in chilly Minnesota after the truck that is smuggling him hits the breaks a little too hard and the box where he`s in ends up flying out of the truck. The macaw is fortunate enough to be found by a young girl named Linda (voiced by Leslie Mann) who takes good care of him. She names the bird Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and they both seem to be enjoying a comfortable life together when all of a sudden they get a visit from a Brazilian ornithologist, Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), who claims that Blu is the last male bird of his species. Tulio has found a female macaw (Jewell, voiced by Anne Hathaway) and needs Linda to take Blu to Rio so the birds can breed and save the species. Linda unwillingly takes Blu to Rio and that is where the fun begins because Jewel and Blu don`t get off to a right start. She is more of a free spirited bird who enjoys her liberty, and he is a domesticated macaw who can`t even fly. Somehow both birds are kidnapped from the lab by a smuggler named Marcel (Carlos Ponce) along with his stupid accomplices, and accompanied by an evil and scary cockatoo named Nigel (Jermaine Clement). Blu and Jewel manage to escape from these poachers but not before they end up being chained together. Both birds end up on a journey trying to free themselves while escaping from Nigel and the poachers and along the way they befriend Rafael (George Lopez) the toucan, Pedro (Will.i.am) the red-crested cardinal, Nico (Jamie Foxx) the yellow canary, and Luiz (Tracy Morgan), the bulldog.        

The plot is probably the weakest part out of the 96 minute movie because it is very predictable: it`s a formula picture where we have a male and female lead character that can`t stand each other at first only to end up discovering they have feelings for each other. We`ve all come to expect these stories from Hollywood were opposites attract. Fox-Blue Sky Studios may not have the depth in their stories as Pixar does, but they sure can deliver great visuals. Don`t expect a heartfelt story like Pixar`s Up or Toy Story and I guarantee you will enjoy this fun colorful movie because Rio de Janeiro is a fun place to be, especially during Carnival. The city itself becomes the main character in this film and that is why the movie is called Rio and not Blu or Jewel. The details of the city and the beautiful locations couldn’t have been enjoyed more if it wasn`t for Carlos Saldanha and his love for the city in which he was born. Rio is a fun and entertaining movie where kids and adults will have a good time alike thanks to the beauty of its scenery enjoyed mostly through aerial shots, and the soundtrack full of Samba which identifies the city. Saldanha couldn’t have picked a more different location from his previous film: Ice Age, and the result is visually noticeable. Rio is a lot of fun and I recommend this animated film for the entire family.

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My Review: I Love You Phillip Morris (7/10)

¨My whole life was nothing but a bunch of lies. Lies to make people give me their money, lies to make people love me, and lies to keep them from leaving me, and in the process I lost track of who I was.¨

Jim Carrey plays the love interest of Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) in this romantic comedy/drama directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. The directors have worked together in the past writing the screenplay for Bad Santa and Cats and Dogs, but this is the first time that they actually direct a film written by them. This is not your typical Jim Carrey goofy comedy, the performance is a little more serious and it is a different type of comedy that isn`t afraid of taking risks and being original. Carrey`s performance is more like the ones he did in Man on the Moon, The Majestic, or The Truman Show. The screenplay is adapted from Steve McVicker`s book which is based on true events about a gay conman who meets the love of his life in prison and will do whatever it takes to escape from prison to be with him. Carrey is a good actor, but I think who really steals this movie is Ewan McGregor who plays a very different kind of role than what we have seen from him in the past. This movie hasn`t been released in the US yet, although it was previewed in January 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival. I don`t know why it has taken so long for this movie to find a wide release in the US, but it is a very original comedy that may have a little trouble at finding a target audience. This movie takes a lot of risks and therefore probably was never meant to become a hit, but more of a small and quiet indie comedy. It is the Catch Me if You Can movie for gays.

The movie is narrated by the main protagonist Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) who is lying in his hospital bed and telling us the story of his life. When he was a young boy his parents let him know that he was adopted and ever since he becomes obsessed with trying to find his biological mother. He is a happily married man living with his wife Debbie (Leslie Mann) and working as a police officer in order to try to discover who his real mother is. Once he finds the information he needs, he visits her and discovers she wants nothing to do with him. Steven doesn`t understand why she gave him up for adoption, even more since he was the middle son. From that point on he decides to quit the police force and tell his wife about the secret he has been keeping from her: that he is gay and has been for a long time. This confession sets him free and he begins to live life to its fullest, although this lifestyle he`s living is pretty expensive. He moves to Miami and finds a boyfriend Jimmy (Rodrigo Santoro), but their luxurious lifestyle together makes him become a conman and it is not too long until the police catch up to him and arrests him. But fate has a funny way of doing things and it is in prison where he meets his soul mate Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Their romance blossoms in the prison and when they are released as well, but Steven continues to live a life of lies and sooner or later it will catch up to him again.

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are one of the reasons this movie stands out. They give some good and strong performances and impress us by doing something different. The movie has its ups and downs, it is not an excellent film or a laugh out loud movie, it is more of a romantic drama that will make you smile at some points. Carrey`s character is so buried in a world of lies and frauds that one would think he would be impossible to like, but he creates a difficult character because it is hard not to sympathize with him. We find ourselves rooting for him each time he escapes from prison, impersonates a lawyer, or becomes a chief financial adviser for an important company. These are the people everyone hates in real life, conmen, but Carrey makes his character a likeable one while at the same time not trying to sugarcoat him the way Hollywood does with most thieves. Steven Russell knows his flaws, but we identify with him because we see his actions as some sort of addiction and issue he can`t surpass. He knows it will affect his relationship and his life, but he can´t help from being a conman because it is what he is good at. The film works combining all these elements very well into this sort of romantic comedy/drama. It is not a film for everyone, but I found it entertaining.

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My Review: Funny People (6/10)

¨You're not funny. You look funny, but you're not funny.¨

(6/10) The writer/director who brought us The 40 Year Old Virgen and Knocked-Up now brings us his latest feature film, Funny People. Judd Apatow has directed, written, and produced very funny stuff (Pineapple Express, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad, Talladega Nights, among many others) and he is one of the men responsible for changing the way we view comedies in this decade. This is why I found it fitting that Judd Apatow would want to write a movie about comedians and their rise to fame and do it in a much darker and serious tone. At moments this movie feels more like a drama than an actual comedy, but with a talented cast like this one they will always get laughs out of you anyways. However don`t go see this movie expecting to laugh throughout the entire thing because it is a very slow paced film with a lot of drama, sprinkled with some humor here and there. There are moments of the film that seem very real and personal and makes you wander if the film might be biographical in any way (the film actually begins with real footage of Adam Sandler doing classic pranks when he was young and makes you think that perhaps many of the things that happen throughout the movie are experiences many comedians have actually faced in real life). If this is the case, many comedians will reconsider choosing a different profession.

The movie revolves around the life of a struggling comedian named Ira Wright who is played by the very funny Seth Rogen (Observe and Report, Superbad, Knocked-Up, a Judd Apatow favorite). Ira shares an apartment with Leo (Jonah Hill, who also works a lot with Rogen and Apatow) and Mark (Jason Schwartzman, Darjeeling Limited and The Royal Tenenbaums). Leo and Mark are also aspiring comedians. Mark is beggining to have success as a leading man in a new television comedy series, and Leo is receiving more attention as a stand up comedian than Ira is. The three are friends although they seem pretty competitive towards each other and envy the other`s success. One day at a stand up show Ira encounters George Simmons (Adam Sandler) who is a very famous Hollywood popcorn movie comedy star who has done hit movies such as Mer-Man (similar to the one Ben Stiller did in Zoolander) and Re-Do (Sandler plays a man in a baby`s body). George has just been diagnosed with a rare blood disease that is mortal and it is during this stage of his life that he meets Ira and decides to hire him as his personal assistant, among which one of the many job requirements is to write him jokes because he has decided to go back to his roots and do more stand up comedy. Ira accepts the offer and both of them form a friendship although a very different one from your typical buddy-comedy. George begins to reconsider the important things in his life during his life threatining disease and remembers the girl he loved and let get away. George visits Laura (played by Leslie Mann who is actually Apatow`s wife in real life) and they become romantically involved even though she is married to Clarke (Eric Bana) and has two daughters with him (played by her real life daughters Maude and Iris Apatow). As George`s assistant Ira is dragged along into this mess.

The movie has a very talented cast. When you see names such as Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, and Leslie Mann you would expect to see a hilarious comedy, but this movie is much more serious than expected. Adam Sandler plays a more dramatic role like he did in Spanglish or Punch Drunk Love, but he is great in his role and gives a good performance. Seth Rogen also plays a much more serious role than what we are used to seeing him in and he delivers as well. The funniest guy on this film is probably the one I would expect the least from: Eric Bana, he is really funny in this movie. There are also several cameo appearances that will make you smile from Eminem, Ray Romano, Andy Dick, James Taylor, Sarah Silverman and many others. The movie has all the right ingredients to be a success, but it drags for long periods of time during it`s 150 minute run and at the end it feels like a lot more could have been done with these actors. I don`t think this film is up to par with Apatow`s other works, but it is unfair to compare because this is a different movie. At the end I have to agree with Iris`s co-worker from Otto who told him: ¨You're not funny. You look funny, but you're not funny.¨ I think this line is what better describes Funny People.