I
love having conversations with you fine readers. At least a few times a week – usually
at a restaurant, a grocery store, Target, etc. – I’ll run into somebody who
recognizes me and we’ll talk about movies for a
couple of minutes. Most of the time, the chat goes in a familiar direction: the
person enjoys reading my reviews (thanks!), but he/she can’t remember the last
time he/she went to a theater.
Well,
this week’s column is for you. Below are my thoughts on three great movies you
can watch from the comfort of your living room. Just add them to your Netflix queue
or swing by a Redbox kiosk. (Then send your own review to
joshsewell81@gmail.com after watching.)
Pitch Perfect
(Rated
PG-13 for sexual material, language and drug references.)
 |
| Courtesy of Universal |
Who’s
in it: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow.
What
it’s about: Beca (Kendrick) isn’t interested in fitting in at her new college;
she’s just biding her time until she can move to Los Angeles and become a music
producer. That changes after she is drawn to the Barden Bellas, one of the
school’s prestigious a cappella groups. Beca quickly clashes with the Bellas’ hierarchy,
but even their leader (Camp) can’t deny that the newcomer’s talent for mash-ups
could lead them to a national title.
The
good: Pitch Perfect would’ve been a contender for my Best of 2012 list if I’d
seen it during its theatrical release. I was a performing arts kid in high
school, so the flick is right in my wheelhouse. The script is smart and
hilarious, the characters are deeper than the one-note cartoons on Glee and
the music is outstanding. I don’t understand why Kendrick isn’t a superstar
already. She is consistently one of the best aspects of every movie she’s in,
from Oscar contenders like Up in the Air to disposable junk like What to
Expect When You’re Expecting and Twilight. As great as Kendrick is, Wilson
comes close to stealing the entire movie. Every line she utters is pure gold. Pitch Perfect kept a grin on my face for almost two hours straight.
The
not-so-good: A couple of scenes misfire due to an overindulgence in gross-out
humor. But that’s a minor quibble as long as you don’t have an ultra-weak
stomach.
Grade:
A-
10 Years
(Rated
PG-13 for language, alcohol abuse, some sexual material and drug use.)
 |
| Courtesy of Anchor Bay |
Who’s
in it: The better question is who’s NOT in it. The film features a ton of
recognizable young actors, including Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Justin
Long, Chris Pratt, Scott Porter, Oscar Isaac, Kate Mara, Aubrey Plaza, Anthony
Mackie and Lynn Collins.
What
it’s about: A group of old friends meet up to attend their 10-year high school
reunion. They include Jake (Tatum), who is planning to propose to his
girlfriend (Jenna Dewan-Tatum, his real-life wife) when he runs into his old
girlfriend (Dawson); Cullly (Pratt), a former jock who wants to apologize to
all the people he bullied in school; Marty (Long) and A.J. (Max Minghella),
best friends who become rivals competing for the hottest girl in the class
(Collins); and Reeves (Isaac), a rock star who is hoping to run into his former
crush (Mara).
The
good: 10 Years is being billed as a comedy, but that’s a bit misleading. There
are plenty of funny scenes, but it’s actually a fairly realistic depiction of a
high school reunion. That means glorious reconnections as well as awkward
run-ins that don’t go anything like the scenarios certain characters have in
their heads. The standout sections include Jake’s struggle to align his past
and present, and Reeves doing his best to establish a genuine connection with
his crush while everyone else is fawning over him. The second one has a wonderfully
sweet karaoke number that genuinely surprised me.
The
not-so-good: The film drags in spots, particularly during the never-ending
conversations between Marty and A.J. There’s a nice (albeit predictable)
resolution to their story, but wow does it take forever to get there. I was
also bummed that Porter doesn’t get more to do. He’s an amiable presence in the
flick, and his character’s subplot was much more compelling than others who got
more screen time.
Grade:
B+
ParaNorman
(Rated
PG for scary action and images, thematic elements, some rude humor and language.)
 |
| Courtesy of Focus Features |
Who’s
in it: The voices of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey
Affleck and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
What
it’s about: Norman (Smit-McPhee) is an odd kid, treated like an outcast by almost
everyone – even his parents. What they don’t understand is he acts the way he
does because he can communicate with the dead. It’s a talent that comes in
handy when the town comes under attack due to a witch’s centuries-old curse. Now
his community is overrun with zombies and an angry mob, and only Norman –
accompanied by his sister, his sole friend, his friend’s jock brother and the
school bully – can put things back to normal.
The
good: ParaNorman, in the style of creepy kid flicks like The Nightmare
Before Christmas and Coraline, is an enjoyably bizarre film that features
quirky characters, a simple-but-important message (that isn’t shoved down
viewers’ throats) and tons of inside jokes for horror fans. The voice cast is
top notch, particularly McPhee, Albrizzi and Kendrick, and they do justice to
the funny, heartwarming script by Chris Butler (who co-directed with Sam Fell).
The
not-so-good: It’s a bit slow getting started and it might be too intense for
younger kids. There are also a few jokes that might cause some raised eyebrows
on adult viewers, but they should fly right over most children’s heads.
Grade:
B+
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