Yours, Mine & Ours Did it Better: Blended Movie Review

I see few movies reluctantly, but I could smell this one coming as my darling daughter dragged me to it.  I'd seen it in the many, many commercials and previews I've seen for it, all the time wondering why a romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore could look so bad.  Even 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler himself was a decent rom-com.  Then it hit me.  This isn't a Drew Barrymore movie, it's an Adam Sandler movie, and I had solved the problem.  Grown-Ups aside, when Adam Sandler gets together these days with a few friends to have a few laughs, he decides to film it and is never able to translate what I'm sure is a hilarious few weeks of work for them into an even halfway enjoyable 2 hrs for those of us paying to see it.

In this case, I mainly blame direction, but with the recent Here Comes the Boom and ZooKeeper under his belt, I shouldn't have been surprised. (Frank Coraci, what's happened to you since The Wedding Singer!?!?).  There are some good actors in this movie who can't even deliver simple one liners with any kind of comic timing, and I'm sure they all tried their best.  Few things upset me more than when a bad director blemishes an otherwise laudable career because I bet most people blame the actor.  Of course, there is some blame there as well, since they must have seen the script, and I do give some actual credit to whoever cast this mess because they somehow convinced seasoned as well as up and coming promising actors to participate.

Take your pick of poorly rendered aspects of this movie - offensive racist and sexist jokes/themes, check!  going for over the top physical comedy and failing miserably, check!  There were even scenes that had potential and I had (well, not high, but moderate) hopes for that were sloppily directed and edited, leaving the audience with no payoff. 

There were a couple of things I liked about the film.  1) They were successful in making the strikingly beautiful Bella Thorne look frumpy and she really gave herself over to the part, which let her acting skills shine through when others seemingly gave up.  2) The overall theme of step-families was unexpectedly pretty true to real life.  There were no fairy tales here, just a multitude of varied responses to the often difficult realities of blending families and I appreciate realism, so it got me there.

Overall, the movie was uneven with many lows and no real highs and the only people who might really enjoy it are under 8 years old, but it's rated PG-13 and I wouldn't want to start the conversations this movie would undoubtedly cause with that set, especially while they are simultaneously laughing at potty jokes.  Rent Yours, Mine & Ours (2005, PG, Rene Russo & Dennis Quaid) instead.

2 out of 5 stars

Neighbors (at least I think that's what it was called, all I remember is Zac...) - Movie Review

Yes, I know Seth Rogen was in the movie too, but for the life of me, I can't remember him...I'm just kidding of course, Seth was naturally hysterical as always, but truthfully, Zac Efron is completely underrated and he proves it again in this movie.

A kind of Animal House meets The Burbs, this movie had me laughing throughout and reminded me both of my college days and my baby days, with a good balance of relatable jokes from both.  Yes, it's a bit bawdy, but honestly not as bad as I expected ;).  Oh, it's a bit excessive, but doesn't cross that invisible line that Million Ways to Die in the West did recently.  It's equally funny, but I'll give it a higher rating just for that.  Rose Byrne is surprising as the suburban wife with a party past.  She's the straight woman to Seth's bumbling husband, but her timing is suspiciously good, almost like she planned to be cast in a series of over the top comedies like Bridesmaids and last year's Internship.  Maybe the accent was throwing me off the scent...

The secondary cast members provide good support, but there are no stand-outs, which probably would have made this one of the funniest movies of the year, but it doesn't quite get there.  Also, actually being a parent myself, I kept wondering how they could leave their infant daughter alone in the house while they partied, plotted and sabotaged for hours night after night next door, which was a bit distracting for me as an audience member!

3.5 out of 5 stars

Heaving Breasts and Harry Potter - Belle Movie Review

Belle may be rated PG, but it has more going for it than just the squeaky clean Disney-esque rating would suggest.  Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of heaving of corseted breasts, just no actual bodice ripping.  In fact, the two female leads seemed to be competing to see who could show more breast, shove or heave it higher.  However, it turns out this is more of a political film than a mere chick flick or period piece.  Think of it as Lincoln meets Sense & Sensibility, no let's go with the weaker Emma. 

The established actors in this movie (Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson and Miranda Richardson) bring needed depth, but are basically wasted in this movie.  However, it was fun to see the conniving characters from Harry Potter brought back to life in the mini reunion between Miranda (Rita Skeeter) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy).  I really thought at any moment that Mr. Felton was going to spit Harry's name on accident.  Unfortunately, the lead actress doesn't bring much but a pretty pout and pretty cry to the role, which I suppose is suited to the PG rating and is sufficient to get the point across.

The movie starts off as the story of the lead character who is actually referred to by her first name, Dido, throughout the movie.  Her early years are almost comically curtailed into a very choppy and lacking reminiscence of missed opportunities that could have helped support the storyline better along the way.  However, after we arrive at the present day of the heart of the film, that's when the screenplay shines.  Dido's coming out as a young woman coincides with her crashing into the real world of repressed and racist slavetime England.  As she develops as a young woman and an independent mind, it becomes clear that this is the thread of the story that is why the movie was made.  The politics of slavery in England was new to me and since this is based on a true story, kept my interest, while the typical Jane Austen style romance and societal issues go on in the background.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Seth MacFarlane Can Act? - A Million Ways to Die in the West Movie Review

How  many of you have seen Seth MacFarlane in a leading role?  In fact, how  many of you have seen him act on screen for more than just a few minutes at a time?  His presence in a couple of Gilmore Girls episodes has thus far more than sufficed for me.   I figured the reason he cast himself in the lead in this particular movie is because his love interests were Amanda Siefried and Charlize Theron, but it wasn't very long into the movie before it hit me - he can act.

Going into the movie, I already knew my general tolerance level for MacFarlane-written antics, my approximate 5 minute Family Guy limit but making it all the way through Ted...this movie was at once sweeter and raunchier than those.  It was kind of adorably cringe-worthy.  For myself, I've learned there's a line in a movie that once crossed, means I don't care to see the film again and can only recommend the entire film to a select few.  Yes, MacFarlane crossed that line again...and again in Million Ways.  However, I want to make it clear that it was funny and clever and I appreciate this homage to Blazing Saddles (there were some particularly good bits about farts, if you can believe it).

There are a few scenes that either went too far or too long for my taste, which I have grown to expect, so consider yourself forewarned.  However, it is also laugh out loud funny and enjoyable to watch the rest of the time.  I love the layering of modern day sensibilities over the absurdities of the past.  MacFarlane has written and directed a clever satirical screenplay that plays like a loving roast of the old western.  There are also so many small roles and cameos, that it is clear everyone in Hollywood wanted a piece of this movie.

Another caveat, however.  If you are familiar with his work, you know that he also blurs the lines of racism, sexism and any other -ism he can get his hands on.  You may fall on the opposite side of those lines several times during this movie, as did I, but it remains to be seen if any actual controversy will arise.  I'm confident the worst of it was left on the cutting room floor, however.

3 out of 5 stars

Mom, Bikers and, oh what the heck, God! - Mom's Night Out Movie Review

There has been a new trend in movies lately, well it's not new, it's one of the oldest ideas actually - God.  In movies like Heaven is For Real, Noah and Son of God, I knew about the religious aspects when I bought my ticket.  However, in Mom's Night Out, I did not.  This is a full on God movie, people, so just know that going in.  I saw all those other movies, so I don't have a problem with that theme in itself, but I like to know what kind of movie I'm paying for up front.  Of course, knowing that much ahead of time would not have saved this movie anyway (pun intended).

Rest assured, there is definitely an audience for this movie, and there were 3 older folks in the theatre with us to prove that point.  Sweet PTA moms and very small children might like it as well.  However, it was not funny and where it tried to be heartwarming, it failed almost entirely as well.  With a respectable cast with their hearts in the right places, I believe I have a right to expect more.  The best part was the much more than just a cameo role of Trace Adkins as a biker.  He wasn't quite a revelation, but he can actually act.   The lead actress you can tell was meant to burst on the scene with this movie, but I'm afraid she's going to have trouble building a resume off this one.

I guess I was looking for what the previews promised - a madcap, but sweet (rated just PG!) story about moms having a night away from their kids, but I did expect funny and didn't come to be told I'm good enough because Jesus loves me.  I know all that.

2 out of 5 stars