"The Campaign" stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifanakis as opponents for a House of Representatives seat in North Carolina. Ferrell is the long-time Congressman Cam Brady, who has run unopposed for four terms but after a public blunder (he leaves a sexually explicit message meant for his mistress on a family's answering machine by mistake) corrupt business men named the Moch brothers (played by John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd) see an opportunity to beat Cam. Enter political newcomer Marty Huggins (Galifanakis). Cam's dirty tactics overwhelm the more innocent Marty at first but the Moch brothers send in a seedy campaign manager (Dylan McDermont) to help him more effectively compete in what becomes an ugly race.
There is some good supporting work here by Sarah Baker and Katherine LaNasa as the wives of the candidates and expect some cameos from famous political talkers like Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, and Mika Brzezinski. However, I wanted to like this movie, but unfortunately I couldn't. There were a few laughs, though many were in the promos for the film, but overall I just thought the requisite raunchy jokes and adult language were too much. What I really wanted was more of the biting commentary/parody of American politics, though there was some of that. I think fans of Ferrell and Galifanakis, as well as Jason Sudeikis, in terms of their typical work will like this film, while those looking for more than the typical R-rated comedy (like me) will probably be better off passing on this one. D+
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Movie Review: The Five Year Engagement (2012)
"The Five Year Engagement" is a romantic comedy following Tom (Jason Segal) and Violet (Emily Blunt) who become engaged a year after they started dating. As they begin to plan their wedding, the couple face set backs that keep them extending the engagement and putting off the wedding. One major obstacle is that Violet's academic career has the couple move from San Francisco to Ann Arbor, Michigan. The move puts considerable strain on their relationship when Violet flourishes in her post-doctoral position and grows close to her boss (Rhys Ifans) while Tom is unhappy with his lack of career opportunities in Michigan.
As far as "romantic comedies" and "R-rated comedies" go, I have to give this film some credit. I thought Segal and Blunt had believable chemistry and did a good job with the material. There's clearly some unintentional awkward spots in the movie and what seems to be the expected raunchy material and adult language though it's minimal. The film seems to run a bit too long, which makes me wonder how it would've played without some of the awkward places in the writing. Overall though I liked that the film showed a couple going through normal problems and just as in real life these problems aren't solved easily. There's also some real great supporting acting in this film from Ifans along with Alison Brie.
While there's some uneven spots in the writing and it feels a little long, this movie is still pretty good especially for the "R-rated comedy" genre. B-
As far as "romantic comedies" and "R-rated comedies" go, I have to give this film some credit. I thought Segal and Blunt had believable chemistry and did a good job with the material. There's clearly some unintentional awkward spots in the movie and what seems to be the expected raunchy material and adult language though it's minimal. The film seems to run a bit too long, which makes me wonder how it would've played without some of the awkward places in the writing. Overall though I liked that the film showed a couple going through normal problems and just as in real life these problems aren't solved easily. There's also some real great supporting acting in this film from Ifans along with Alison Brie.
While there's some uneven spots in the writing and it feels a little long, this movie is still pretty good especially for the "R-rated comedy" genre. B-
Movie Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is a British comedy/drama about a group of British seniors (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Ronald Pickup, & Celia Imrie) who decide to move to India in order to stretch their retirement savings. The problem is that the Marigold Hotel, where they move, is not exactly in the shape they thought it would be - the hotel is a work in progress under the direction of Sonny (Dev Patel) the ambitious young hotel manager. The film becomes a fish-out-of-water story as members of the group of seniors attempt to deal with living in the hotel and living in India. Some members readily adapt to their new surroundings while others not so much.
This film is really a treat especially in terms of the casting and acting. It's hard to imagine a better cast for the film and I thought they had good chemistry as a cast. It's a good story with excellent character development. I like that even when the characters are behaving badly, such as racist behavior, it's not glossed over but fully developed. This is really a well-done mature film with beautiful scenery and a good message. It's never too late to step out of one's comfort zone and what's really nice is the film demonstrates this theme through the older characters as well as the younger. It's not about age but rather attitude.
I think that overall this is a well-crafted film in terms of casting, acting, writing, and production. It's not a typical comedy but more of a drama. B+
This film is really a treat especially in terms of the casting and acting. It's hard to imagine a better cast for the film and I thought they had good chemistry as a cast. It's a good story with excellent character development. I like that even when the characters are behaving badly, such as racist behavior, it's not glossed over but fully developed. This is really a well-done mature film with beautiful scenery and a good message. It's never too late to step out of one's comfort zone and what's really nice is the film demonstrates this theme through the older characters as well as the younger. It's not about age but rather attitude.
I think that overall this is a well-crafted film in terms of casting, acting, writing, and production. It's not a typical comedy but more of a drama. B+
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Movie Review: Magic Mike (2012)
"Magic Mike" really can be described as two movies in one: first there's the male strip-show that you expect from the previews with hot guys (Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, Kevin Nash) dancing and second is the in-depth investigation of the life of male strippers that covers the typical "empty" life of partying, sex, drinking, drugs, and excess. The film focuses on the star of a male revue named Mike (Tatum) called "Magic Mike" onstage. Mike meets and begins to mentor Adam (Pettyfer) in the ways of male stripping, which doesn't set well with Adam's sister Brooke (Cody Horn). Though Mike is casually seeing Joanna (Olivia Munn), he is attracted to Brooke and promises to keep her brother safe. However, Adam (also called "The Kid") becomes immersed in the whole scene and soon makes a deal with the show's DJ to sell drugs on the side. Mike begins to see through Adam's immersion and his interactions with Brooke that he wants something more for himself.
I described this film as having two-faces since I feel like a lot of the advertising promotes the film as this fun, party-type movie about male strippers. There is that element but the storyline is really focused on Mike mentoring Adam and Mike discovering that he wants something more for himself by seeing his lifestyle through Brooke's eyes. It's the typical "empty" life of a stripper theme but it works here as the audience clearly sees through Adam's transformation from wide-eyed boy to the next headliner. I'm just not sure there's really any new ground here except that this movie is about male strippers rather than female.
The acting in this film is all over the place. I felt Tatum was pretty on the money in his role but Pettyfer and Horn really were dull. There just wasn't anything about Horn's portrayal that made me believe that Mike would be interested in Brooke. Pettyfer just seemed a bit too aloof. The scene-stealer of the film is Matthew McConaughey as the owner of the male revue and former stripper himself. McConaughey is slick and entertaining in all his scenes.
My advice is to only rent this one if you want to see not only the fun, dancing scenes but also follow the storyline as well (the mentor/mentee story where the teacher becomes the student). C-
I described this film as having two-faces since I feel like a lot of the advertising promotes the film as this fun, party-type movie about male strippers. There is that element but the storyline is really focused on Mike mentoring Adam and Mike discovering that he wants something more for himself by seeing his lifestyle through Brooke's eyes. It's the typical "empty" life of a stripper theme but it works here as the audience clearly sees through Adam's transformation from wide-eyed boy to the next headliner. I'm just not sure there's really any new ground here except that this movie is about male strippers rather than female.
The acting in this film is all over the place. I felt Tatum was pretty on the money in his role but Pettyfer and Horn really were dull. There just wasn't anything about Horn's portrayal that made me believe that Mike would be interested in Brooke. Pettyfer just seemed a bit too aloof. The scene-stealer of the film is Matthew McConaughey as the owner of the male revue and former stripper himself. McConaughey is slick and entertaining in all his scenes.
My advice is to only rent this one if you want to see not only the fun, dancing scenes but also follow the storyline as well (the mentor/mentee story where the teacher becomes the student). C-
Movie Review: Salmon Fishing in Yemen (2011)
Billed as a "romantic comedy" but really I think is more of a "romantic drama," "Salmon Fishing" is a beautiful little film that has romance but also faith and friendship. The story opens with Harriet (Emily Blunt) contacting a government fisheries expert Fred (Ewan McGregor) to enlist his help with a project one of her clients wishes to undertake - he is a wealthy Yemeni sheik and wishes to bring his beloved salmon fishing to his homeland. Fred is immediately dissmissive of the project but is forced to participate when the Prime Minister's press secretary Patricia (Kristin Scott-Thomas) wants to promote the project as a feel-good Anglo-Yemeni photo op. Fred meets with the sheik and gradually becomes a believer in the project. Meanwhile, as they become friends both Harriet and Fred have relationship issues - Fred realizes that he is not happy with his career-driven wife and Harriet's new soldier boyfriend is deployed and goes missing in action.
I felt this film was much more than what I expected. It's really not a "romantic comedy" and actually "comedy" doesn't fit so much. I'd say "drama" fits better and though there is romance it's more of a friendship romance than a red-hot love affair. The acting is spot-on with McGregor expertly portraying Fred's bookish resistance and even his touch of Asperger's syndrome, which causes his character to have trouble relating to others. Blunt is good but the real scene-stealer is Scott-Thomas, who shines in her small role and provides some laughs. While the storyline is a bit predictable, there's quality here and a good bit of depth for the characters. I loved the theme of what is faith and how do we have it even when we don't think we do. Also I really liked the scenery as the film is beautifully shot in Scotland and Morocco.
Pass on this one if you're looking for a romantic comedy because that's just not what this film is. Rent this one if you are looking for drama with some heart and depth. B-
I felt this film was much more than what I expected. It's really not a "romantic comedy" and actually "comedy" doesn't fit so much. I'd say "drama" fits better and though there is romance it's more of a friendship romance than a red-hot love affair. The acting is spot-on with McGregor expertly portraying Fred's bookish resistance and even his touch of Asperger's syndrome, which causes his character to have trouble relating to others. Blunt is good but the real scene-stealer is Scott-Thomas, who shines in her small role and provides some laughs. While the storyline is a bit predictable, there's quality here and a good bit of depth for the characters. I loved the theme of what is faith and how do we have it even when we don't think we do. Also I really liked the scenery as the film is beautifully shot in Scotland and Morocco.
Pass on this one if you're looking for a romantic comedy because that's just not what this film is. Rent this one if you are looking for drama with some heart and depth. B-
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