We're the Millers (Quick Review)

I believe about 99% of people deciding whether to go see We’re the Millers would mainly want to know, “is it funny?”  My opinionated answer to this is, yes, it is funny.  In fact the sum up of how funny I thought We’re the Millers is would be, “this film made me crack up laughing multiple times throughout the running time.”  We’re the Millers contains some great scenes of dark, raunchy comedy; moments that made me snicker and snort with laughter.  It was nice to find the film did not chicken out with the potential of some of its materials’ darker humor; going all the way across the line of no return on multiple occasions with delightfully hilarious results.  When the moment came for We’re the Millers to strike comedic gold it didn't disappoint; it’s just a shame these moments didn't encompass the entire film.

Quartet (Quick Review)

While Quartet has many positive qualities to it (comedy, characters, music, etc…), what I really enjoyed about it was its self-awareness that life for most of these characters is nearing the end and that sometime soon (maybe several years, maybe several weeks) they quite possibly could be dead (Now I know that sounds horrifically grim, but hold on and see where I’m going).  Each of the four main characters is shown to be having issues with their mental and physical health (a bad heart, a decaying memory, a damaged hip).  Even the issues they’re facing in the film are shown to be short termed; for example during the scene where they discuss how the four main characters’ quartet can make enough money to save the retirement home, it’s not said “you’ll save it so the retirement home can go on forever” but instead “you’ll make enough to keep it going for at least another year, maybe even two.” 

Fruitvale Station (Film Review)

Fruitvale Station begins with the actual video recording that took place New Years Day in 2009, where an African American male was fatally shot by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale train station.  The video is shocking to say the least, yet is little more than a violent recording; revealing little to no information about the victim involved.  The film recreates the same scene near the end of the film (with near complete accuracy), this time using its actors, actresses, and a set; only this time around I found myself shaking from the pure intensity and emotion brought on by it.  This could be seen as praise for how sound, editing, and cinematography can help better change a perspective; but the real difference between the two scenes is simply that the person shot goes from being an nameless victim, to a fleshed out, three dimensional human being named Oscar Grant.

Grown Ups 2 (Film Review)

I did not want to go see Grown Ups 2.  In fact I wanted to stay as far away as possible from this Dennis Dugan production, who (with the occasional exception) is notoriously bad at making Adam Sandler collaborative films.  The original Grown Ups was no exception to the rule; being boring, unfunny, and possessing the experience of watching a stranger’s home video tape where all the jokes and laughs are inside ones.  The reason I ended up going to see its sequel was because my fiancée really wanted to see it (something I reluctantly agree too).  Turns out she’s a better picker of movies than I am (which I should have figured out after she dragged me to see that “lame” film The Conjuring {see review for prove of being wrong}); as not only did I find Grown Ups 2 entertaining and funny, but a surprisingly likable treat!

Pacific Rim (Film Review)

Okay, let’s be honest here.  There’s one real reason anybody would want to go see Pacific Rim.  The one and only reason people could possibly be attracted by trailers to go see this film.

It’s got giant robots fighting giant monsters

Turbo (Film Review)

Turbo is a garden snail (played by Ryan Reynolds) who has an obsession with going fast, even being a huge fan of the Indy-500.  Yet (as you’d expect) he lives a slow and dull life, working with his brother (Paul Giamatti) and a community of other garden snails on gathering Tomatoes.  One night he makes a wish to go fast and ends up being sucked into a supercharger of a race car; absorbing the nitrous oxide which (through the miracle of movie magic) turns him into a car like snail with headlights, a radio, and super speed.  Soon Turbo gets caught up in a series of events that ends with him getting signed up to race in the Indy-500 against his favorite idol.  So if you thought that the plot to Turbo sounds completely ridiculous…you’d be right.  But what allows Turbo to work as a film are the comedy, characters, and visuals.