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| Courtesy of Universal |
Furious 7
(Rated
PG-13 for prolonged frenetic sequences of violence, action and mayhem,
suggestive content and brief strong language.)
The
cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana
Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson and Kurt Russell.
What
it’s about: At the end of Fast & Furious 6 (I still don’t understand the
random naming conventions of this franchise), Dominic Torretto (Diesel) and his
crew of fugitives had their records cleared and finally got to come home. But
they also took down a terrorist who’s got an angry big brother (Statham) – now
he’s out for revenge, vowing to kill the team one by one. There’s also some
complicated plot elements involving spy technology and shadowy government
agents, but that’s all background noise as the franchise says goodbye to the
late Walker and his character.
The
good: These films continue to be highly entertaining, testosterone-laden soap
operas. No one is going to confuse Furious 7 for high art, but it’s
ridiculous, crazy fun. The camaraderie among the cast remains strong, and
Russell’s new character is intriguing enough that I hope he comes back for the
next sequel. I still like these guys enough that I want to keep hanging out
with them – even when they’re not performing insane stunts that defy the laws
of physics.
While
we’re on the subject, director James Wan (taking over for Justin Lin, who
helmed the previous four installments) might be responsible for the best
sequence in the franchise’s history. I don’t want to give anything away, but it
involves cars (obviously), an airplane, a highway chase around a mountain and a
bus plunging off a cliff. Those few minutes alone are worth the price of
admission.
The
not-so-good: Obviously, I wish Furious 7 was a different movie than what we
got. Walker was mostly finished with his scenes when he died in a horrific car
accident in 2013, but the CGI seams definitely show in the sequences Wan had to
shoot after his death. I realize that’s a horrible element to mention, one the
movie can’t exactly help, but it’s going to be the elephant in the room for
most viewers. The actor gets a fitting sendoff, but it definitely ends the
movie in a strange, downbeat place compared to the cartoonish romps of the last
two entries.
Grade:
B
 |
| Courtesy of DreamWorks |
Home
(Rated
PG for mild action and some rude humor.)
The
cast: The voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin and Jennifer Lopez.
What
it’s about: When an alien race called the Boov invade Earth, they send all the
humans to Australia and claim the rest of the planet for themselves. But after
Oh (Parsons), a lovable-yet-annoying member of the Boov, accidentally transmits
the new address to their longtime enemies, he finds himself on the run from his
own people. That’s when he meets Tip (Rihanna), an adventurous teenage girl who
is searching for her mother. Though they don’t trust each other at first, they
eventually decide to work together.
The
good: Home is a fine movie for young kids – it’s short, there are cute
creatures, the humor is easy to understand and the story carries just enough
emotional weight that they get invested. There are also real stakes involved,
with certain characters making huge decisions that should leave children slightly
worried about their fates, but not so much that they’re scarred for life.
The
film is colorful, funny and features solid work from its cast. Parsons isn’t
stretching out of his comfort zone, but he puts a slightly different spin on
his instantly familiar voice. The well-meaning, purple-skinned Oh is basically
what Sheldon Cooper (Parson’s character on The Big Bang Theory) would be like
if he wasn’t a horrible person. Rihanna is also making a solid name for herself
as an actress, instilling a lot of heart and strength into Tip. Lopez is good
in a small role, and Martin puts his standard “incompetent guy who thinks he’s
a genius” routine to fun use.
The
not-so-good: I don’t think we’ll be considering Home a family classic any
time soon. It’s definitely fun, but it’s also surprisingly disposable. Just a
few days after seeing it, I’m struggling to remember characters’ names and
specific plot points. But that tends to happen with most films coming from
DreamWorks Animation (excluding the How to Train Your Dragon franchise).
Grade:
B
 |
| Courtesy of Radius-TWC |
It Follows
(Rated
R for disturbing violent and sexual content including graphic nudity, and
language.)
The
cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi and Daniel
Zovatto.
What
it’s about: Jay (Monroe) is an average teenage girl, spending most of her days
stressing out about school and crushing on a mysterious boy. But after a
seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself being stalked by
lurching, corpse-like figures. She can easily outrun them, but they never stop,
so a dreadful sense of inevitability eventually overtakes her. She confides in
her little sister (Sepe) and closest friends (Gilchrist, Luccardi and Zovatto),
and the group must figure out how to defeat the evil that never stops following
her.
The
good: It’s like writer-director David Robert Mitchell set out to make a horror
movie that appeals directly to my preferences about the genre. It Follows is
frightening, the tension builds to crazy, unrelenting levels and it’s more
interested in creeping viewers out than bombarding them with gore. If you’re
like me and prefer psychological scares to nonstop blood and guts, the flick
should be right up your alley.
Mitchell
makes full use of the screen, forcing your eyes to dart constantly in every
scene to make sure there’s no one shuffling into frame behind our protagonists.
The story is smart, putting a modern spin on the typical “sex equals death”
formula usually found in horror. The score is fantastic, leaning heavy on synthesizers
in a way that’s reminiscent of John Carpenter’s work in the 1980s.
But
the best part about It Follows is Monroe, who is quickly becoming one of my
favorite young actresses after her terrific work here and last year’s awesome The
Guest. She’s got shrewd instincts, keeping things subtle when most performers
would choose to go over the top. I can’t wait to see what projects she’ll have
on deck in the next few years.
The
not-so-good: The movie’s a slow burn, which I love. Still, other viewers might view
it as boring, especially if they’re used to modern kill-a-minute slasher
flicks. The ending is proving to be controversial as well – I’m sure lots of
viewers will scream “that’s it?!” as the credits roll, but I think it’s a gutsy
choice that works both in the context of the plot and on a metaphorical level.
Grade:
B+
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