Transformers: The Rules Have Changed, But Not In A Good Way

 

So, first of all, I loved the first three Transformers movies.  They were action-packed, funny, even well-acted and charming.  Unfortunately, Transformers 4: Age of Extinction only has the first of those four traits.  Yes, it’s action-packed, I know that’s a surprise, but at almost 3 hours long, action can only keep your interest for so long.  Note to the director, you need more to keep me from leaving in the middle to get another drink (which I did).  I just came back from a trip to Universal Studios and even without a drink, the Transformers 4D ride that lasted only about 7 minutes was better.

Mark Wahlberg is a good actor when the right script and the right direction come together (check out the little seen Pain & Gain), but this movie is made for wooden acting, so that’s what it gets.  As for the beautiful girl cast as his daughter, I’m guessing after the Megan Fox debacle, they thought any pretty model would do, but again, wrong.  The only thing Nicola Peltz has going for her is that she is a pretty crier, but at least Megan could act too.  The relationship between Mark as a would-be inventor and his daughter who is constantly taking care of him after the death of her mother and subsequent adoption of a broken down vehicle evokes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but even that homage is just an insult to Ian Fleming.  Stanley Tucci is by far the best thing about this movie (and most movies he’s in).  He’s diabolical and funny at the same time with just the right amount of camp, as though he was the only one on set trying to give the audience what they’ve come to expect from the series.

The plot is more convoluted than usual, as it intertwines space saga with technological greed as this sequel’s take on good vs. evil.  In fact, I thought at times that I might be watching the Asylum Studios (of Sharknado fame) version of Transformers, which could be titled: “Dinobots vs. Microsoftbots”.  Actually, that might keep me in my seat, well for two hours anyway.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Think Again: Begin Again Movie Review

The director of Once tried to make lightning strike twice and...it didn't.  Begin Again is nice, light romantic comedy fare, with a love of music thrown in, but it's unevenness and Amelie-esque perkiness prevent it from becoming any more.  Mark Ruffalo gives a very full and sincere performance, to the point of matching the desperation of his character, but Keira Knightley's constant smiling belies her character's supposed equal level of drama and the result is a mis-match of acting styles that leaves the audience off-balance as to how to even interpret many scenes. 

The movie itself revisits old themes done better in A League of Their Own and Bad News Bears to name to sport motifed films. It's a nice ode to New York as we follow another failed singer songwriter through her final attempt at success after hooking up with a drunken, washed up music executive.  There is a humorous cameo by Cee Lo Greene, but I'm sure this film was meant to make the audience recognize the acting skills of Maroon 5 lead singer, Adam Levine in one of the lead roles.  His character serves as a fairly good caricature of his own industry and pop idol status, but he ultimately takes himself a bit too seriously.  The ubiquitous Hailee Steinfeld shows up in a small repeat performance of her recent Kevin Costner movie (3 Days to Kill) turn as a mildly rebellious teen, but I always like to see her and she learned to play guitar for one of the best scenes of the movie.  Catherine Keener is woefully underused...again.  When will she get her breakthrough lead role!?

I'd like to talk about the elephant in the room on the screen - hair.  It's a recurring theme throughout the movie, though I believe unintentionally.  Mark Ruffalo's character has let himself go and the main way they express this is through showing lots of his body hair gone awry, from that on his head, to chest, legs and on and on.  Then there's Adam Levine's hair, which undergoes many changes throughout the film, most pointedly when he grows a much-maligned mega-beard.  Now to Keira.  She is supposed to be understated and constantly downplaying her own natural good looks, but she is in the exact same messy ponytail throughout the film, even when she goes to see her ex-boyfriend for the first time and when she goes out to see his show.  Not. Believable. Female. Behavior.

My 11 year old daughter enjoyed this film (mostly because she's a huge Hulk fan) but I couldn't muster anymore than "good" to describe my feelings about it and even then, with a lilt in my voice.  The generally enjoyable music is what saves it from falling below a "3".

3 out of 5 stars

Another Great Movie to Review! Earth To Echo

Most people are saying this is a modern day E.T. and while that is a tremendous complement and not too far off the mark, I would say it's more like Stand By Me meets Close Encounters with a little E.T. and Blair Witch Project thrown in.  It has the coming of age and kids on the road aspect of SBM, with the Richard Dreyfuss aspect of CE, the bad guys of ET and the camera angles of BWP LOL. 

This movie was fast-paced and so well-written and well-acted by these young actors that most of the time it did feel like a reality show, the way it is filmed by one of the main characters.  Real life is happening all around these youngsters, with all the angst and awkwardness, even amidst an otherworldly encounter and numerous dangerous situations.  I smiled constantly at them and laughed out loud frequently at their unintended one-liners and pubescent naiveté.

Yes, the little alien is cute, but he doesn't take up very much screen time - it's all about the kids.  The special effects and music were top notch as well.  I would say the adult characters were one-dimensional and almost cartoony, which detracted just a bit, but they were also such minor parts of the film that I quickly forgot about them.  The song played immediately after the movie ended, over the credits, was a strange choice and a bit jarring in contrast to the mood music so effectively used throughout the film itself, but it's one of my favorite current pop tunes (One Republic's Counting Stars), so I can see why they added it.  Other than that,  there was no aspect of this movie that my daughter and I didn't like and we immediately wanted to see it again, like we just got off a ride at Disneyland, or better yet, Universal Studios.

P.S.  There is an extra scene after all the credits that hints of a sequel - I hope it's true!

4.25 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Jersey Boys

Sorry, I went on vacation right after seeing this movie, so it's taken me awhile to post it, but even if I hadn't gone on vacation, I'm sorry to say I wasn't too excited to write this one.  It's not a bad movie, it's just kind of there.  Uh-oh, I think I just made you stop reading...but just in case you didn't, here is what I have to say about Jersey Boys.

Jersey Boys is based on a hit Broadway musical that should have stayed on the stage.  I'm sure it is great to see this kind of thing on stage, because I've seen several in this style (Saturday Night Fever for one) and they have been wildly popular in recent years, with some even successfully making the jump to screen (Mamma Mia for one).  However, in transitioning to the screen with Jersey Boys, a little more drama and a little less stage effects would have served the story better.  The music is fantastic and most of the acting is decent, but it's too polished overall (stage costumes) and the multitude of characters talking directly to the audience just don't work. 

My favorite moment was when the most passive member of the band goes verbally postal when the group falls apart, which may have been unintentionally funny.  I also enjoyed the little hints of the film's directory, Clint Eastwood, with one of his daughters playing a minor character in one scene and Clint himself gracing a "screen on screen" when one of the main characters is watching TV and it just happens to be playing an old Clint Eastwood movie.

Still, the story is interesting, if a little rushed and there are definitely funny moments, but the stage number at the end, involving formerly sinister characters and enemies smiling and singing together was what put it over the edge for me.  This too is a traditional Broadway stage ending, but it doesn't work for this story, at least on screen.  Let's reserve those for happy endings.  Neither the plot nor the future of Jersey Boys has that.

2.75 out of 5 stars