 |
| Courtesy of STX |
(Rated
R for sexual material, full frontal nudity, language throughout, and drug and
alcohol content.)
The
cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate and Jada
Pinkett Smith.
What
it’s about: An overworked mom (Kunis) with a seemingly perfect life decides to
fight back against the pervasive culture that insinuates mothers are terrible
if they falter under insanely unrealistic expectations. She gains the
admiration of two fellow moms (Bell and Hahn) while simultaneously provoking
the wrath of their perfectionist PTA president (Applegate).
The good: I’m late to
the party on Bad Moms, which recently crossed the $100 million mark and has remained in
the top 10 since it opened in late July. I’ve heard from numerous people who
enjoyed it – including quite a few who don’t seem like the movie’s target demo
– so I finally decided to give it a shot. I’m glad I did.
Bad Moms probably
isn’t going to become a phenomenon like The Hangover, which filmmakers Jon
Lucas and Scott Moore also helped create, but it’s a solid comedy aimed at an
audience that’s often underrepresented at the multiplex. Plus, as the dad of
two young daughters, I can vouch for how relatable the subject matter is (in a
cartoonishly exaggerated way, of course).
The movie is packed
with terrific actresses having the time of their lives, because they know roles
like this are rare. I’ve always thought Kunis is an underrated performer, so
it’s great to see her going crazy here. Hahn, doing absolutely bonkers work,
continues to prove she’s a national treasure. I’ve been a fan since her
supporting work in 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, so it’s way past time
for her to be a household name.
The not-so-good: It’s
depressing that Kunis and Bell (who doesn’t get enough to do here) have
officially reached the age at which Hollywood only allows them to play wives
and/or mothers. Robert Downey Jr. is still playing Iron Man at 51, but the
women best known for their roles as teenagers on That ’70s Show and Veronica
Mars are now typecast for the foreseeable future.
Certain sequences in
the film feel like they’re trying too hard push the envelope. I’m not a prude
by any means (see my recent positive review of Sausage Party for proof), but
there’s a difference between raunchiness for the sake of story and being crude
for no reason. When Bad Moms leans in the former direction, it’s hilarious
stuff. But when it attempts the latter, it comes off as if the filmmakers don’t
trust the strength of the material.
Grade: B
 |
| Courtesy of A24 |
(Rated
R for teen drug use and partying, sexual material, brief nudity, and language
throughout. Now playing in limited release and On Demand.)
The
cast: Markees Christmas, Craig Robinson, Carla Juri and Lina Keller.
What
it’s about: A 13-year-old kid (Christmas) with dreams of becoming the next
Notorious B.I.G. moves with his single dad (Robinson) to Heidelberg, Germany,
where he’s quickly branded a weird outsider. To make matters worse, he
immediately falls for Katrin (Keller), his rebellious, 15-year-old classmate
who views him more as a curiosity than a love interest.
The
good: Performances are strong across the board, particularly Christmas’
charismatic work and Robinson – mostly known for his comedic roles – showcasing
his unexpectedly low-key dramatic delivery. Keller is also quite good, taking a
fairly one-note role and making it more complex than it initially seems. As one
might expect in a movie where music features so prominently, the soundtrack is
outstanding; it’s packed with some killer hip-hop and R&B.
The
not-so-good: Aside from the unusual locale, Morris from America is a fairly
standard coming of age tale. There’s practically no drama or suspense, which is
why it’s a blessing that the acting’s so good. More surprising is the film’s
frank depiction of teen sexuality, particularly considering the young actors’
ages. It definitely provokes an unsettling feeling while watching the story
unfold, which means the movie’s definitely not for all audiences.
Grade:
B
 |
| Courtesy of IFC |
(Rated
R for some language. Now playing in limited release and On Demand.)
The
cast: Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, Danny Glover, Azita Ghanizada
and Michael Chernus.
What
it’s about: A mysterious woman (Weisz) who prides herself on reinvention
attends a birthday party with her new date (Chernus). When they arrive, the
guest of honor (Shannon) is convinced she’s a woman he used to be in love with
– before she disappeared from his life 15 years earlier. When the situation
gets too intense, she flees once again and he follows her in search of answers.
The good: Director
Joshua Marston (who co-wrote the screenplay with Julian Sheppard) evokes an
effectively moody atmosphere, which goes hand-in-hand with the film’s central
mystery and somber tone. Shannon is perfectly cast since his trademark
intensity works really well for a man who grows more obsessive throughout the
film. On the rare occasion when his character actually cracks a joke, it comes
off as unsettling instead of funny. Weisz is great as well, though her role –
by design – has to be more subtle than showy. As a result, when the story’s big
reveals come, you’re still not sure whether or not you believe them.
The not-so-good:
Although the film’s running time is a brief 90 minutes, the methodical pace
will still be off-putting for many viewers. My tastes often skew a bit artsier
than most and even I found myself glancing at the clock a few times. There’s
also the odd sense that such a ponderous and morose story still feels slight
once the characters’ backstories and motivations have been revealed, especially
once the ambiguous conclusion presents itself.
Grade: B-
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