 |
| Courtesy of Netflix |
(Rated TV-MA for strong language, drug content and brief nudity. Now streaming on Netflix.)
The cast: Will Forte, Domhnall Gleeson, Martin Mull, Joel McHale, Thomas Lennon and Emmy Rossum.
What it’s about: An irreverent biopic about the brilliant but troubled Doug Kenney (Forte), who took famed comedy magazine Harvard Lampoon national. The publication’s incredible success eventually spawned movies like Animal House and Caddyshack and many of its alumni became superstars on Saturday Night Live. But, as frequently happens with brilliant comedic minds, the success ended up fueling Kenney’s demons rather than bringing him happiness.
The good: A Futile and Stupid Gesture, based on Josh Karp’s acclaimed book, is a gold mine for comedy nerds. Not only does it chronicle a defining era in American satire, it does so using many of today’s great comedic actors.
The 47-year-old Forte is clearly too old to play a guy who recently graduated college, but the movie jokingly breaks the fourth wall to point that out. Besides, it’s tough to argue with director David Wain’s decision to cast him in the role. I haven’t always been a fan of the former SNL vet’s work, but he’s terrific here, handling comedy and drama with equal aplomb.
Mull is also quite good as the older version of Kenney, a performance that gains surprising poignance in the movie’s final moments – especially if you’re not familiar with the character’s history. However, the biggest surprise might be Gleeson, who’s virtually unrecognizable underneath a shaggy black wig and thick glasses. He possesses a killer deadpan that works well when contrasted with Forte’s manic energy.
A host of other recognizable faces appear as comedy giants with varying degrees of success (Lennon plays the demented Michael O’Donoghue, Seth Green plays Christopher Guest, Jon Daly plays Bill Murray, etc.), but the most ingenious bit of casting comes from McHale playing Chevy Chase. He looks nothing like the actor, but he perfectly captures his essence. Plus, there’s an added bit of irony for viewers who remember how volatile their relationship was when they co-starred on NBC’s Community a few years ago.
The not-so-good: Wain, along with screenwriters Michael Colton and John Aboud, do their best to break out of the standard biopic constraints by occasionally breaking the fourth wall to point out where the movie takes artistic liberties. Still, when the story inevitably addresses the darker aspects of Kenney’s life, it can’t help but lean into the tropes it also tries to poke fun it. I mean, is it possible to play “the wrong kid died” straight after Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story skewered it so mercilessly?
Grade: B
Paddington 2
 |
| Courtesy of Warner Bros. |
(Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor.)
The cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters and Brendan Gleeson.
What it’s about: After the events of the first film, Paddington (Whishaw) is happy with the Brown family and has become a popular member of the community. While searching for a gift for his Aunt Lucy’s birthday, he finds a beautiful pop-up book and takes on a series of odd jobs to save up the money for it. However, when a washed-up actor (Grant) steals the book and frames Paddington, the lovable bear’s family must work to clear his name.
The good: Basically, everything about it. Paddington 2, like the original, is a joyful cinematic experience. It’s not just good “for a kid’s movie.” It’s a genuinely great movie, period. Paddington’s inherent kindness (along with Whishaw’s charming vocal performance) is a refreshing oasis in this time of bitterness, anger and cynicism. His beloved Aunt Lucy’s motto – “if we’re kind and polite, the world will be right” – is one we’d all do well to adopt. I want a sequel every January so I can feel better about life.
Returning director Paul King, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, has an ear for clever dialogue, good-natured jokes and a talent for writing interesting, creative villains. Nicole Kidman was fantastic in the first movie, but Hugh Grant might be even better. His delightfully oddball actor/thief might just be one of the best performances of his career. He, along with every other actor in the movie – especially Hawkins (a current Best Actress nominee for The Shape of Water) and the wonderfully deadpan Gleeson – look like they’re having a blast.
The not-so-good: My only complaint with the film is it establishes a formula that could become tired if the franchise leans on it too long. Characters mistrust Paddington, his kindness shines through, characters realize the error of their ways and admit they should’ve listened to him from the beginning. Still that’s a small quibble for such a gem of a movie.
Grade: A-
Blu-ray Review: A Bad Moms Christmas
 |
| Courtesy of Universal |
The cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon.
What it’s about: The three overworked, underappreciated women (Kunis, Bell and Hahn) from 2016’s surprise hit decide to rebel against the unrealistic expectations of the Christmas season, which society views as the Super Bowl for moms. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, they must also cope with surprise appearances from their own mothers (Baranski, Hines and Sarandon).
The good: Bad Moms wasn’t the kind of movie that left viewers begging for a sequel, but it made nearly $184 million worldwide on a reported $20 million budget. In today’s hit-thirsty industry, that kind of return on investment practically requires a follow-up. From that perspective, it could’ve been a lot worse.
Kunis, Bell and Hahn are incredible comedic actresses with crazy chemistry, so I can’t blame filmmakers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore for wanting to get the band back together. They keep the story relatively simple, relying mostly on scenes where the characters hang out and have funny conversations. Sure, there’s the occasional “action sequence” – like a dodgeball fight at Skyzone – but Lucas and Moore know where their strengths lie and what audiences came to see.
Sequels always require “more,” so increasing the number of moms was probably inevitable. Fortunately, Baranski, Hines and Sarandon are perfectly cast. They seem like they could actually be the main actresses’ mothers, both in looks and personality.
The guys in the movie don’t have much to do, but Jay Hernandez is solid as Kunis’ supportive boyfriend. I also must admit it’s embarrassing how excited I got when Peter Gallagher (who will always be Sandy Cohen on The O.C. to me) popped up as a cool grandpa.
The not-so-good: Again, there’s honestly no real reason for the movie to exist. I can’t imagine popping this Blu-ray in every Christmas like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Scrooged or Elf. It’s a fun, albeit instantly forgettable, watch.
Special features: Gag reel, additional scenes and crew music video.
Grade: B-
Comments
Post a Comment