A conflicted great-looking less-than-entertaining movie about a kid, yet not made for kids

Ever since I saw the first trailer for Where The Wild Things Are, I’ve been excited to see it. I remember loving the children’s book when I was that age, so when I saw that it was brought to life in the exact same way I remember seeing it in my mind, it became one of the movies I anticipated the most this year. Imagine my disappointment upon seeing it dragged out and far less exciting than I remember it being.

First, let’s talk about the book. Ten sentences about an imaginative boy named Max who gets in trouble for messing with the family dog, runs away, ends up in the make-believe world where the Wild Things are, becomes their king, almost gets eaten by the Wild Things, so he goes home. The end. Simple story, right?

While the movie is simple too, it’s simply too long. Considering that there’s no plot to Where The Wild Things Are, crossing 100 minutes in length, it feels like an eternity. And even as simple as the story to the film appears on the surface, nothing is shown that doesn’t express some form of child psychology – mostly along the lines of loneliness and sadness, creating an unnecessary and not entertaining tone that exists throughout the whole movie.

The story to Where The Wild Things Are is extremely repetitive. It basically consists of Max and the Wild Things constantly getting offended. Max assigns tasks for the Wild Things to do, someone gets their feelings hurt. Max and the Wild Things play too hard, someone get physically hurt. Why do we need to see it over and over again? I understand that everything that happens where the Where The Wild Things Are is a representation of some aspect of Max’s psyche and his friendless life with his mom and mean sister, but why do we need to be beat over the head again and again with the same thing?

Being based on a famous children’s book, you’d think that being PG-rated movie, it would be for kids too. But it’s not. It’s far from a kid’s movie. In the press screening I attended, the audience was filled with families with children of all ages. From the amount of crying, rustling and parents taking kids out of the theater, I can tell you without a doubt that Where The Wild Things Are is not a movie for your kids. The fun moments are scarce, it’s not a movie you laugh through and it’s very frightening. Kids will go from being terrified to being bored out of their minds, over and over again. I’m not even a kid and I was bored out of mine! This film is made for adults who loved the book; adults who want to go back to where the Wild Things are; adults who can look past the awful pacing issues just to experience the nostalgic memories of childhood; adults who were once loner kids – the ones without friends that were left to their own imaginations. Other than those who admire it’s brilliant filmmaking, I can’t see anyone outside of those boundaries finding enjoyment in Where The Wild Things Are.

After the pacing and storytelling problems, my next big complaint lies in the characters. Other than Max (12-year-old Max Records, The Brothers Bloom), there’s not a single other character you’ll care about. Not Max’s mom (Catherine Keener, Into The Wild) nor her boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind). Not his sister. Not any of the Wild Things – voiced by James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine), Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Chris Cooper (Breach), Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and Michael Berry Jr. (Mission: Impossible III). If you’re like me, you’ll actually dislike the Wild Things. Throughout the entire movie, all I could do was hope and wait for Max to go home so I wouldn’t have to see them on screen again. Max – Max Records – is the only actor that feels like he showed up to film a movie.

Am I glad I saw Where The Wild Things Are? Yes. It looks amazing. I’m astonished at the world that director Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) created with Jim Henson’s puppets, miniatures and very little special effects. It’s absolutely beautiful, exactly what I imagined as a child. Would I see it again? Maybe once more in my life simply to enjoy the way it looks. But my Blu-ray shelf is not a place where the Wild Things are going to be found.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Clive Owen stars in Scott Hicks’ (Shine) latest indie flick

The Boys Are Back tells a far-from-typical story about JoeWarr (Clive Owen, Children Of Men), a recently widowed man not only struggling through his own grief, but with properly raising his now motherless son. And as if things couldn’t get any harder, Joe’s ex-wife pawns off their teenage son on him too. The film takes you on their journey to getting their feet back on the ground.

There’s not much of a plot to The Boys Are Back, but that’s not a bad thing. Instead of feeling like a contrived Hollywood picture, it feels like you’re fly on the wall witnessing this realistic story. Because of the natural feeling of the film, you never get bored – it feels like real life. And it’s from this element that the film can be recognized for such high levels of excellence.

Although the cast is comprised of mostly unknown actors, there’s not a bad performance in it. Owen’s recent action roles haven’t given him much of a chance to prove his acting talent, but he gives nothing less than a brilliant performance here. And every other actor, young or old, matches his genuine charisma, adding a great depth to the picture as a whole. One to watch out for is 17-year-old British actor George MacKay (Defiance), playing Joe’s oldest son Harry. Forgive him for the fact that he looks a lot like Harry Potter‘s Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).

The Boys Are Back is one of those rare gems that we’re fortunate to have opening here in Utah. Depending on how the rest of the year’s movies play out, don’t be surprised if this is one of the films you see nominated come awards season. Do feel ashamed if you never took the time to see it.

Photo credit: Miramax

More than just a sports movie

When I was about 18-years-old, a few friends turned me on to the idea that being for California, it was required of me to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. Since then, I have been. At that time, Kobe Bryant was the latest and hottest addition to the team, so for me he’s one of the best. Imagine how offended I was when there were talks of some new kid coming out of high school being “better than Kobe” and “what Kobe could be if not for his ego.” Because of the trash-talking comparisons, I’ve never liked LeBron James. Until now.

More Than A Game shows the well-documented personal experiences of LeBron James, the “Akron Fab Five” and their coach. Although their defying-the-odds story is well-known to sports fans, it’s their little-known and extremely touching and coming-of-age story that’s shown here – the ups and downs of families, friendships, teammates and basketball. Although More Than A Game tells a story you already may know, it shows what it took those players to get through it. It shows you the type of character you have to be to accomplish such things.

I’m still a Lakers fan and I’ll still root for Kobe one hundred percent of the time, but I’ve got nothing but respect for LeBron. I learned he’s a good, loyal, friendly and happy person with a great big heart. Do I want to see him win a championship? No. But I do want to see him play as hard as he can and go as far as he can.

Go Lakers!

Photo credit: Lionsgate

New to DVD & Blu-rayJust in time for Halloween

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman, Matchstick Men) is an attractive young loan officer. When her boss tells her that she needs to prove she’s ready for a big bank promotion by making “the hard decision” with delinquent accounts, Christine jumps at the chance to deny an old gypsy woman her undeserved loan extension. Feeling humiliated, the gypsy attacks Christine and casts an ancient curse upon her – in three days, she will be dragged to hell by an unstoppable and merciless demon.

Writer/director Sam Raimi is a horror mastermind. Although other contemporary horror movies now act opposite this idea, he knows that less is more. Nowadays, too many horror movies go over-the-top with ultra violent, grizzly and graphic murders and mutilations. They thrive off those moments in an attempt to project fear, when in reality it’s just shock. Raimi proves otherwise by not showing anything at all. Working in a PG-13 manner, he can make a film just as scary – if not scarier – than any of the others.

While featuring plenty of extremely frightening and crippling scenes, he’s able to add a great level of comedy. Now I’m not talking jokes and punchlines, but funny situations and actions. For some, these humorous elements may go right over your head – which is okay. You’ll still enjoy the the scary nature of the film. But for those who get it, you’ll be surprised at how smoothly Raimi transitions from laughs to screams. One moment you’ll be scared out of your wits, the next you’ll be cracking up. Then he’ll make you jump out of your again. It’s absolutely brilliant.

For those who avoid unnecessary “unrated” editions, keep in mind that this is titled Raimi’s “Director’s Cut,” meaning this is the way he originally wanted it to be. If you’re like me, you wont touch it unless is holds that title (except for The Lord Of The Rings extended editions). Even if you still want nothing to do with the Director’s Cut, know that both the DVD and Blu-ray versions of Drag Me To Hell feature the theatrical version as well.

If you are one of those people who wont watch an unrated movie because of it possibly containing R-rated content, fear not with the unrated version of Drag Me To Hell. Just as Universal is claiming, the unrated version is simply “too intense for theaters.” Only seconds longer than the theatrical cut, the Unrated Director’s Cut offers alternate Raimi-esque sequences to those in the PG-13 version, featuring just a little more blood. I counted two:

Beware spoilers:

- Christine’s spraying nosebleed begins as bloody vomit.
- Instead of an implied animal sacrifice, we see Christine’s face as she performs the act. Blood sprays up in her face and on her clothes – more blood than could possibly fit in the tiny animal’s body.

End spoilers.

There is only one special feature on the DVD release of Drag Me To Hell. The thirty-something minute “Production Video Diaries” briefly take you through the films production. It’s hosted by co-star Justin Long (Live Free Or Die Hard) and is also found on the Blu-ray.

The Blu-ray also holds three exclusive features: BD-LIVE allows viewers to connect to the internet and access new and exciting exclusive online and interactive features, including My Scenes Sharing and My Chat; a digital copy of the Drag Me To Hell Unrated Director’s Cut can be transferred to your iPod, Mac or PC; and the Universal Ticker is Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s newest feature – an up-to-date system for checking out news about upcoming titles, Blu-ray features and exclusive events.

Although the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Drag Me To Hell Blu-ray is $39.98, for this week only you can purchase it for $24.99 at Target – which is an exceptionally good price for what I deem one of the most fun and satisfying films of the year.

Photo credit: Universal Studios

A comedic, heartfelt odd take on long-lasting relationships

The subject matter of team screenwriters Jon Favreau (Swingers) and Vince Vaughn (The Break-Up) is starting to show signs that the two are “growing up.” Their themes are getting more serious and many of their laughs derive from adult situational experiences. While they are still capable of writing their typical funny scripts, they are progressively including deeper morals and themes. This idea is completely evident in their latest film, Couples Retreat.

Dave (Vaughn) and Ronnie (Malin Akerman, Watchmen) are the main couple in Couples Retreat. They have been married longer than any of their friends and are the only ones who have children. They play the “normal” couple. No matter what troubles they go through, everything “just works.” After being worn down from years of unsuccessfully trying to have children, their friends Jason (Jason Bateman, Arrested Development) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) begin having marital problems, questioning if divorce is the answer. Jason and Cynthia seek the help of Dave and Ronnie to convince the rest of their couple friends to join them in on a couples retreat where their marriage will be evaluated by a world renowned love guru (Jean Reno, The Professional), helping them to make the right decision. After being convinced by Dave and Ronnie, Joey (Favreau) and Lucy (Kristen Davis, Sex and the City) – a secretly dysfunctional and soon-to-be-divorcing couple – and Shane (Faizon Love, Idlewild) – a recently divorced “good man” – and Trudy (Kali Hawk) – Shane’s young and wild new girlfriend – come along for fun and moral support. Once upon the island, all realize that this dream resort is more like a refiners fire that will try each couple, forcing them to fully participate in the program or go home.

While Couples Retreat is filled with plenty of good laughs, serious themes are constantly arising. But the balance between sad truths and good laughs is perfect. At times it feels like a typical Vince Vaughn comedy, and others feel like a light drama. Not all of the dramatic moments work as well as intended, but the shifts between the two flow perfectly and always occur at the right moments.

The casting for Couples Retreat could not have been any better. Vaughn, Favreau and Bateman play their always-entertaining typical characters, giving plenty of room for the females to really shine. For the first time, I actually enjoyed watching Akerman on the big screen (maybe that’s because she’s usually playing unlikable characters or the movie she’s in is simply an awful. Examples: The Heartbreak Kid and 27 Dresses). She perfectly played the realistic and stable female. Both Bell and Davis were also very fun to watch do their thing. And the mostly unknown supporting was great as well.

Any adult who is (or has been) married and doesn’t mind appropriately rated PG-13 humor should be considering Couples Retreat this weekend. It’s a funny movie with a heart and honest morals.

Photo credit: Universal Pictures

- Rated PG-13 for sexual content including crude dialogue, language and drug material.

- Who’s going to like it: everyone.

Pure, laughable entertainment with a heart

It’s always refreshing when you go to a small movie knowing nothing about it – zero expectations – and it ends up being something fantastic. All I knew about Whip It before the screening was that it starred Ellen Page (Juno), it was about girl’s roller derby and that it was directed by Drew Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels). Leaving the screening, I was glad that was all I previously knew about it because it ended up being one of those little gems you rarely get to enjoy.

Page plays Bliss, a high school teen coming into her own, learning that she’s not the beauty pageant participant that her controlling and overbearing mother (Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River) raised her to be. While trying to discover her true self, Bliss sneaks out of her small town of Bodeen, Texas to watch Austin’s local roller derby league play. Intrigued by the newly found sport, Bliss decides to strap on her old Barbie skates, polish up on her rollerskating skills and try out for the team. Upon seeing her speedy skating abilities, coach Razor (played by Luke and Owen’s little-known, yet hilarious brother Andrew Wilson) adds her to the Hurl Scout team, giving her the skating name Babe Ruthless. Teammates include Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig, SNL), Bloody Holly (Zoe Bell, Deathproof), Rosa Sparks (musician Eve) and Smashley Simpson (Barrymore). With the help of their new talented teammate and Razor’s new playbook, the Hurl Scouts begin the long season of roller derby with the goal of beating their arch rival Iron Maven (Juliette Lewis, Natural Born Killers) and her team, the Holy Rollers.

What a great little film! With it’s great cast and hilarious script, it’s filled with so many charming and memorable laughs. Jimmy Fallon (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) arguably gives his best performance as the league’s dirty announcer “Hot Tub” Johnny Rocket. Alia Shawkat (Maeby from Arrested Development) plays Bliss’ smart and slutty best friend. Daniel Stern (Home Alone, City Slickers) also arguably give his best performance as Bliss’ loving and proud push-over dad. And how can you no laugh at all of the derby girl names? Jaba the Slut. Eva Destruction. Juana Beat’n. Kami Kaze.

There’s just one little dismissable thing that keeps Whip It from being a perfect four-star movie – it has a few typical plot points. The majority of the film is completely original. But some of the story flows in a typical manner. In those cases, it usually breaks your predictions. But the fact that it goes down that same old road again is the one thing keeping Whip It from being what I call a “perfect” film.

Again, don’t just take my word on how good Whip It is – look it up online. Critics and general audiences alike are loving it. I guarantee that Whip It will end up being just as big an indie hit as Juno and Little Miss Sunshine.

Photo credit: Fox Searchlight

Intelligent satirical comedy from always-entertaining Gervais

There is no reason why the name Ricky Gervais shouldn’t be known in ever American household. There are few people who do not know about the hit television series The Office, and even less who know that The Office wouldn’t exist had Gervais not teamed up with friend Stephen Merchant to write and star in the original BBC series that spawned the American version. Their unique view of mundane careers through intimate documentary-style filming is now know and imitated across the globe.

After The Office, Gervais and Merchant reteamed for another BBC series – later picked up for American distribution by HBO – titled Extras, focusing on Gervais’ character, a film extra trying to make his acting break. Each episode of Extras featured major celebrity cameo who played a self-centered or idiotic version of him or herself. Between The Office and Extras, Gervais has given us great, intelligent satirical comedy that focuses on and explores odd aspects of society.

Last year, Gervais broke through onto mainstream American cinema opposite Tea Leoni and Greg Kinnear in his first lead role in Ghost Town, a great blend of standard American comedy and Gervais’ awkward and dry British humor. With that success, Gervais was able to make a movie that is one hundred percent Gervais, meaning it’s dry and awkward, it’s a social commentary and it’s really funny. It’s The Invention of Lying.

Co-written and co-directed by Gervais, The Invention of Lying takes place in an odd little world where people are completely incapable of telling lies. They often blurt out offensive truths in tactless manners. Because of this, there is no such thing as fiction, films or religion. There is simply truth – as painfully honest as it can be.

Gervais plays lead character Mark Bellison, a non-fiction writer whose life is sadly headed down the drain because of truth. The woman he fancies, Anna (played by Alias‘ Jennifer Garner), although she thinks he’s a very good guy, refuses to date him because he’s a “chubby little fat man with a pug nose” – and that wouldn’t be good a good genetic match if they ended up having children. Mark is about to be fired because he can’t find any good non-fiction stories to tell. And his mother is dying, knowing she’s about to cease to exist. Amidst all of this pressure, worry and depression, Mark’s brain changes and allows him to do something that nobody has ever done before – he lies. And because of his new superpower, he can do and get away with whatever he wants.

The first half of the film is about Mark discovering and using his power to benefit himself and his friends. Mark becomes successful at work as he begins writing far-fetched fictional tales that the public take as true stories. When withdrawing money from a bank, he claims there must have been a clerical error causing his account to be empty and the naïve clerks simply trust him and give whatever amount of money he asks for. The only selfish thing that Mark will not do is manipulate Anna into loving him.

In the second half of the film, Mark begins using his power for the good of others – creating hope, comfort and happiness – but not without digging himself deep into trouble and conflict. It’s at this point where the film takes an odd turn, one that some people will find blasphemous and anti-God. But if you sit it out, you’ll find that it only shows the good that comes out of religion.

But don’t take just my word on The Invention of Lying – here’s a list of major actors that obviously like Gervais’ work enough to want to be in this movie: Jonah Hill (Superbad), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Rob Lowe (Wayne’s World), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Mission: Impossible III), Louis C.K. (Parks and Recreation), Edward Norton (Fight Club), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Christopher Guest (The Princess Bride) and Bobby Moynihan (SNL).

If you’re a not-so-easily-offended-by-religion person up for a witty, satirical comedy with lots of heart, don’t miss The Invention of Lying. It will make you think and laugh, as well as appreciate Ricky Gervais all the more.

Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Pay attention to the facts – not Moore’s interjections – and it’s worth it

Everybody knows what capitalism is, but Michael Moore is here with Capitalism: A Love Story to more deeply define it and show us how it has become the dark power to strip the USA of its democracy. Before seeing it, I assumed it was going to be 100% B.S., but after reviewing the facts, I must eat my words.

Just to name a few, here are some of the things that I found informative and shocking: the details on the supposed “bailout,” “Dead Peasant” insurance policies and Plutonomy. Because of these examples and many others shown in the film, I fear not only for the state that our nation is in, but also the direction in which we are headed.

Being a controversial documentary, of course Capitalism is biased, but not nearly as much as his previous films. This one appears to be his first film that’s not directly tied in to one single political party – although it could have used more Republican voices.

Not being a fan of Michael Moore (considering he charged my school $40,000 for a one-hour speech) nor his highly biased films, I was not looking forward to screening Capitalism: A Love Story. Even after the screening I was disappointed at the film and how much mindless, arrogant Michael Moore material he included in it – in other words, how much of himself he included in it. But after a few days, I noticed that I was constantly telling people about the irrefutable and appalling facts, memos, testimonials and video clips he showed – things that I had never heard about. If you can push aside the asinine segments where Moore goes to Wall St. and asks for the bailout money back, shoveling through the many manipulative moments of people being evicted from their foreclosed homes, paying attention to the facts alone, then Capitalism is a film well-worth watching.

Photo credit: Overture Films

It’s like an animated version of Hot Rod made for kids and adults alike

The trailers for Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs made it look like the least entertaining kid’s movie since Ice Age. To say the least, I wasn’t looking forward to the Saturday 10:00 AM press screening – but I went anyways. Just three minutes into the movie, I was sold. My mind was changed and I was glad I had stumbled out of bed for what ended up being my second favorite kid’s flick of the year – even better than Monsters Vs. Aliens, but not quite as good as Up.

Loosely based on the children’s book, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs tells the story of Flint Lockwood (voiced perfectly by SNL‘s Bill Hader) – a nerdy living-at-home twenty-something failed scientist/inventor. When his latest discovery – a machine that turns cloud water into any desired food – turns out successful, Flint’s gloomy mid-Atlantic island town of Swallow Falls looks towards him and his invention to boost their quality of living by bringing to tourists to experience the food rain phenomenon. To show this odd occurrence to the rest of the world, a mainland weather channel sends new anchor Sam Sparks (voiced by The House Bunny‘s Anna Faris). Being both science nerds, Flint and Sam experience a natural attraction towards one another and end up having to save Swallow Falls on their own.

As a kid’s film, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs works perfectly. But at the same time, it’s also absolutely entertaining for adults too. Being from two of the makers of ABC’s How I Met Your Mother, what else would you expect? The laughs never stop and always only seconds away for each other. Unlike the Shrek movies’ use of innuendos to appeal to adults, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs relies on good old classic comedy to keep them entertained and laughing.

Unlike other recent animated flicks – like 9 – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs is appropriately voice cast; they didn’t just look for big, named actors to lend their voices. Along with previously mentioned Hader and Faris are Andy Samberg (Hot Rod, SNL), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Army of Darkness), James Caan (Elf, The Godfather), Mr. T (does he really need an explanation?), Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models), Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality, Law & Order), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Harold & Kumar), Will Forte (SNL) and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls, Bad Santa).

Not matter if you’ve got kids to take the movies this weekend or not, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs is a strong choice. I can’t think of anyone who wont love it. It’s pure fun for everyone.

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures