Category: Comedy

BURNT

Bradley Cooper is Chef Adam Jones a celebrated 2 star Michelin Winner and celebrity among the Paris Restaurant scene. He loses everything because of his “Bad Boy” ways. In order for Adam to obtain his own kitchen again and win a third Michelin star he will have to clean up his act and leave his “Bad Boy” ways behind him. The story unfolds from there…

The story has bones, but starts off dis-jointed and continues throughout the movie. There are too many elements missing and you have to piece it all together yourself. That’s not why we go to the movies. We want the story to unfold and all of the parts to be there. We should not have to guess or assume anything.

“BURNT” is a bit funny and heart-warming, but is incomplete.

“BURNT” is best viewed on cable. It’s not worth the price of a DVD or Blue Ray.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie

Our Brand is Crisis

“Our Brand is Crisis” is in and of its self a “CRISIS”.

“Our Brand is Crisis” is a political satire that doesn’t quite hit its mark. Sandra Bullock plays Jane a political strategist who is enjoying semi-retirement until she is summoned to assist a team that goes down to a war-torn area in South America to help install a new leader. The story unfolds from there…

There are a few intense comedy moments, be hard hitting and have some meat, but unfortunately “Our Brand is Crisis” does not contain any strong elements to endear its self to the movie going public. Sandra Bullock is the best element in the movie.

“Our Brand Crisis” is best viewed on cable. It’s not worth the price of a DVD or Blue Ray.

This is a 1 Star Movie!

The Intern

Director Nancy Meyer’s “The Intern” to be delightful and witty”

Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a retired business owner who decides to go back to work. He creates a video of himself and sends it off to a successful Fashion Design Website Company that is run by a young successful career woman (Anne Hathaway). Ben interviews along with many others, some around his age and some younger. Ben is one of four who land a job with the Fashion Design Website Company. He is assigned to work with the owner, but she wants him assigned to someone else. The story unfolds from there…

The story is a bit weak and there isn’t really a plot, but the movie is enlightening and entertaining. There are many good moments in the movie. How can you not like a movie that stars Robert De Niro. He is such a great actor!

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

Ricki and The Flash

I love Meryl Streep! She is one of my favorite actresses. She gets into her characters like nobody’s business. She gave it everything she had, but I wasn’t convinced.

Ricki (Streep) gave up everything to live her dream as a rock and roll singer/guitar player. She and her band “The Flash” play nightly gigs in a local bar in Southern California. They play to good crowds.

One day Ricki receives a call from her ex-husband (Kevin Kline) about their daughter Julie (Mamie Gummer). She needs her Mom. Ricki puts aside her feelings and travels across country to Indiana to try and pick up the pieces and attempt to make things right with her family. The Story unfolds from there…

Rick Springfield plays Greg a member of “The Flash” and he is also in love with Ricki (Streep). Greg has his own family demons that he is dealing with.
“Ricki and The Flash” is a deep movie but it only skims the surface. There are unfinished stories in the movie. The movie ends a bit too soon.

There is lots of live music and entertainment. The music is good. You will be dancing in your seat.

Mamie Gummer is Meryl Streep’s real life daughter. They have excellent on-screen chemistry.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Magic Mike XXL

I did not see the 2012 installment of “Magic Mike”. I thought it was cheesy, so I decided to skip it. After seeing an extended trailer I decided to give “Magic Mike XXL” a look.

All I can say is “Ooh La La!!! Eye Candy, Six-Packs and G-Strings Galore!!”

Mike (Channing Tatum) has given up the Stripper Life and owns his own Furniture making business in Florida. His old stripper friends come calling. They want to do one last blow-out show. With great reluctance Mike (Channing) agrees to join them, so they hit the road for Myrtle Beach.

What keeps “Magic Mike XXL” from being a 4 or 5 star movie is that the first 40 minutes is BORING!!

In comes Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith) and wow! The story picks up! From that point until the end you do not want to leave your seat!

Its sultry eye popping moves and G-Strings flying. The enticing dances are smooth and slick. “Magic Mike XXL” works really hard to keep it “R” rated, but with a little imagination it’s all “X” rated.
BTW…For you NFL fans, former NY Giants player Michael Strahan is in this movie. You will see him like you have never seen him before. I was shocked!!

“Magic Mike XXL” is definitely a “Chick Flick”. It’s all for the ladies. It’s definitely worth seeing even though the first 40 minute are a drag. The music is awesome!

I anticipate that “Magic Mike XXL” will do better than the $40 million opening weekend its 2012 predecessor enjoyed.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Danny Collins

Based loosely on a true story, an aging 70’s rocker Danny Collins (Al Pacino) continues to live the fast life of an entertainer, but when his manager presents him with a Birthday gift that is an undelivered hand-written letter from John Lennon, after reading the letter Danny decides to clean up his act and chart a new course by attempting to mend some fences related to his estranged son and find a new love.
The story unfolds from there…

The story is witty, entertaining and engaging. Al Pacino keeps the story moving. This is probably Al Pacino’s best performance in years.
The only problem is that the movie ends a bit abruptly. You are sort of left hanging.

Only open in limited-release; “Danny Collins” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, is a sequel to the 2011 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Now that the hotel is full with long term residents, co-managers Muriel and Sonny (Maggie Smith and Dev Patel) have dreams of expansion.

This movie highlights the journey that Muriel and Sonny take to get the expansion completed.
At best the movie is “Ho-hum”. I was a bit bored. It does pick up during the last 20 minutes.

“The Second Best Marigold Hotel” is best viewed on DVD, Cable or Blu-ray

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!

Focus

“Focus” is about a con-artist who takes on an apprentice, they become romantically involved, sensing things were getting too deep he breaks it off and then years later she gets in the way of a his biggest score.

I am sure the concept on paper reads well, but on the big screen this movie was lost to me. There were way too many “twists” and not enough “turns”. The ending was even weird.

There was about 25 minutes of real intrigue and then I was bored.

“Focus” was billed as a Drama/Comedy. I failed to find anything funny about the movie.

It’s been a while since Will Smith has made a movie that I liked. I guess that drought will continue.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Night At the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

“Night At The Museum: Secret of The Tomb” was more like “Chaos and Confusion at the Museum”.

Larry (Ben Stiller) embarks on a wild night-time epic adventure to try and save the magic before it’s too late.

There were a few funny, crazy scenes, some great music and it was great to see a lot of the familiar museum pieces from the previous installments and there are even a few new pieces, but this installment is clearly lacking and disjointed.

I am sure the stars had fun making this film, but it’s time for the museum pieces to go back to the “Still Life”.
The magic has clearly run its course.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Top Five

“Top Five” plainly stated is Chris Rock “Stand-up in the Raw and on the Move”.

“Top Five” is about the “Show Business” bed being unmade. Chris Rock and his star studded cast blend comedy and seriousness with politics and everyday life situations from alcohol and drug use to romance, marriage and sex.

If you like Chris Rock in his stand-up comedy shows, you will like “Top Five”.

This movie is definitely not for anyone under the age of 17. There is strong profanity, strong sexual content, explicit nudity and crude humor throughout the movie.

This is a 3 Star Movie!