My Review: Admission (4/10)

"You all want to know the secret formula for getting in. Of course everyone thinks we're sadists, that we like saying no. We are in this job for one reason, to say yes."

Paul Weitz became a household name in Hollywood after his successful 1999 comedy, American Pie, but everything he has directed since has been a bit of a let down for me. I haven't seen all of his films, but the ones I got to see were not actually good. I had higher expectations for Admission considering it had two of today's most successful comedy actors: Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. Tina is just so smart and hilarious, while Paul Rudd has great comedic timing and the pair usually choose their roles wisely. I guess this was one of those movies where the comedy worked more on paper, because on screen it really didn't. One may argue this wasn't actually supposed to be a comedy, but I didn't feel it worked well as a drama or a romantic film either. The characters weren't developed very well and I don't know why Tina Fey didn't just butt in and re write the entire script which would've helped this movie a lot. Tina Fey is such a great writer, I would simply let her write the entire dialogues for me. Admission is actually based on a novel written by Jean Hanff Korelitz and it was adapted for the screen by Karen Croner (who hadn't written a screenplay since 1998, One True Thing). It is a shame that the potential of these actors was put to waste here with such an awkward and weak script. Stay away from Admission, this is one film you won't want to be enrolling in.

Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) has spent the last 16 years of her life working at the admissions department for Princeton University. Her boss, Clarence (Wallace Shawn), is getting ready for his retirement so Portia is really looking forward to the promotion. The position could be hers or Corinne's (Gloria Reuben) since they both are the main admissions officers. Princeton has always ranked as the number one University students want to apply for, but this year they are number two. All Clarence wants before retiring is to leave on top so everyone is working overtime. Portia begins visiting several schools around the nation to look for the perfect candidates for Princeton. She receives a call from a former college classmate who is now overseeing an alternative school. John Pressman (Paul Rudd) wants her to come visit his school because there is a special kid named Jeremiah (Nat Wolff) who he wants her to meet. Portia visits the school but doesn't think much of its students. The real reason why John invited her is because he believes that Jeremiah is Portia's son who she gave up in adoption during their college years. He asks Portia to get to know the kid without having to commit to anything because he hasn't mentioned anything to Jeremiah about her. When Jeremiah shows interest in wanting to go to Princeton, Portia will try to do her best to help him. Some complications and funny situations ensue as Portia's life begins to unravel when the man she's been living with for seven years (played by the talented Michael Sheen) bails on her for another woman.

The characters in this film are all pretty much stereotypes we've seen before. I think these stereotypes usually work in comedies, but this film was a little more serious. You have the classic elements were two co-workers begin competing for a same position, a man abandons his companion for another woman, and a romance ensues between two distinct characters with opposite personalities. Rudd and Fey are great actors but I really never believed the chemistry between them here despite their natural likability. The film doesn't work at any level really, not as a comedy and not as a romantic story. There are some funny moments but they are too few and too scattered through. The film is predictable although there are a few surprises here and there that you might not see coming, but they are just smaller details in an otherwise formulaic film. This isn't your typical slapstick college comedy, but it is rather predictable on the romantic side. There are a few witty and cultural jokes thrown in here and there, but it simply wasn't enough. Despite some interesting subjects tackled in the film, Weitz really doesn't take any risks and the film felt bland.

My Review: Megamind (7/10)

¨All men must choose between two paths: Good is the path of honor, friends, and family. Evil, well, it`s just cooler.¨

Megamind is a very fun animated film that doesn´t have to be taken seriously like other recent animated movies. It doesn`t try to look or feel real, it knows what it is: a cartoon. Megamind will be fun for both children and adults alike (unlike recent animated films-like Rango- that try too hard to target adults and forget that kids want to have a fun time as well). This isn’t a movie that has deep meaning to it, or a strong message, or a lot of heart, but it does entertain audiences thanks to the strong voice acting and funny one-liners. The characters are rather simple and one dimensional, but fun to hang around with. Director Tom McGrath has already had success with these animated films as he directed both Madagascar films, and just like those two movies, Megamind should be enjoyed for what it is: an animated picture that is fun for the entire family. I thought that the writers, Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, did a decent job with the script making it really funny at times thanks to some witty one-liners. With Will Ferrell and Tina Fey you really don`t know how much was scripted and how much was really improvised, but the final result is what matters, and the movie was able to entertain all audiences. This isn`t an original or memorable film, but it does manage to entertain and I really had a fun time with the movie.

While Megamind (Will Ferrell) is going through a near death experience he tells us the story of his life from the very beginning. The blue creature with a giant head was born in another planet. This planet was being destroyed when his parents decided to send him to Earth as a baby in order to save his life. Megamind is travelling through the galaxy along with his talking fish named Minion (David Cross), who lives inside some sort of robotic suit. But Megamind is not the only alien headed for Earth. Another baby is headed this way with a normal human appearance; his name is Metro Man (Brad Pitt). Somehow destiny plays a joke on Megamind who ends up being raised by prisoners from a local jail, while Metro Man is raised by a rich family. Both kids grow up and become nemesis: Metro Man turns into the hero of Metro City, while Megamind finds his calling in life as a villain because it is the only thing he seems to be good at (although he doesn`t do a very good job at it because Metro Man is always defeating him and sending him to jail). The people love Metro Man and declare him a local hero, while Megamind unsuccessfully tries to destroy him by being the Super-Villain. Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey) is the local News Reporter who is covering the inauguration of the Metro Man Museum when she is kidnapped for the hundredth time by Megamind. Against everyone`s unbelief, including Megamind`s, he destroys Metro Man and is successful for the first time in his life. But without an enemy, Megamind gets bored and loses his purpose in life so he decides to create another hero using Metro Man`s DNA. This hero happens to be Titan (Hal), who actually turns into a villain himself instead of saving the city, so now Megamind will be forced to become the hero.

The plot has several similarities to many superhero stories, and we might be reminded of other similar animated films such as The Incredibles, but Megamind still works as an entertaining animated film because it has an excellent voice acting cast. This film will have you entertained for 95 minutes and at the end you will leave the movie with a smile in your face. It doesn`t try to be something that it isn`t and that is why it is so fun. You don`t have to remind yourself that you are watching a cartoon like in other movies that try to fool you by making these animated films look real and authentic. You can just sit down and enjoy Megamind for what it is, a fun and simplistic cartoon. Another plus is the soundtrack which just adds to the overall feeling and mood of light fun the film tries to convey. The vocal wit makes up for the lack of originality the movie has. This film should be taken lightly, but it does have a pretty positive message for those who like searching for meaning in movies: it reminds us that heroes are made and not born. We don`t have to let our past and our surroundings shape our lives, we can change the course of our destiny and improve our past actions. It’s not an original or strong meaningful message, but it reminds us that it`s never too late to find our purpose in life in a very light, fun, and entertaining way.

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My Review: Date Night (7/10)

¨ He turned the gun sideways! That's a kill shot! ¨

(7/10) Tina Fey and Steve Carell are great comedians and both have the funniest shows on TV at the moment, Fey starring in 30 Rock and Carell in The Office, so when I heard they were going to make a film together I knew it was going to be worth the ticket price. This is a movie you won`t want to miss because these two actors are probably the smartest comedians around and can turn any bad script into something funny. Shawn Levy directs Date Night and he is used to working with great comedians as he has worked with Ben Stiller in the Night At The Museum movies and with Steve Martin in Cheaper By the Dozen and The Pink Panther. He is not known for making memorable movies, but they are entertaining nonetheless because he always works with a talented cast. The same can be said with Date Night, it is an enjoyable movie, a good date movie because it mixes comedy and action with a little bit of romance, but it is not a great film, it will just be remembered for the great cast and good chemistry between Fey and Carell. Is it better than what they do on TV? Probably not, but it is still worth the watch. The script, written by Josh Klausner (who wrote Shrek the Third) is not the strongest part of this film, but the way every actor delivers each line with comedic excellence is what makes Date Night a fun movie to watch for the entire family and the supporting cast is just great as well.

Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire Foster (Tina Fey) are a married couple living in New Jersey with two kids. Their married life has become a routine which pretty much consists of waking up early to make the kids breakfast and then head off to work. They manage to have a date night once a week although it also has become a routine since they always end up doing the same thing. They also have a book club where they spend time with their friends Brad (Mark Ruffalo) and Haley Sullivan (Kristen Wiig) who just confess to the couple that they are getting divorced because their married life has turned into just being good roommates. This serves as a wakeup call for Phil and Claire who decide to do something different for their next date night. Phil decides to take Claire to the city to eat at a fine restaurant. The problem is that they don`t have reservations so Phil suddenly decides to take another couple`s reservation when he hears they haven`t showed up. The couple are really enjoying the meal together when all of a sudden two men named Collins (Common) and Armstrong (Jimmi Simpson) interrupt them and ask them to step out. They pull a gun at Phil and Claire mistaking them for the couple who had really made the reservation, the Tripplehorn`s, who happened to have stole from a mob boss named Joe Miletto (Ray Liotta). This is where the action begins and the routine ends for the Foster`s as their lives are at stake.

Date Night combines action with comedy very well thanks to Fey and Carell who have great chemistry together. They both are really good actors, but the supporting cast is also excellent. Some of the funniest scenes come from the small roles played by Mark Wahlbergh playing a security agent who is a friend of Claire`s, James Franco and Mila Kunis who are really the true Tripplehorn`s. The scenes with these characters are probably the funniest ones in the movie. I really enjoyed Date Night although it won`t be one of those memorable movies that I will want to watch over and over again or that I can take something out of, but it is a fun movie to watch with your date or family. It is also good to see Fey and Carell working together and hopefully they will continue to work together because these are two of the most respected actors in comedy. Their chemistry together was great. Hopefully next time they will do something less light, but for now it was just good to see them on screen together. Date Night isn`t a must see movie unless you really appreciate Tina Fey and Steve Carell, but it isn`t bad either. It will entertain you and that is pretty much the goal for most moviegoers and it will make you laugh.