Movie Review For July 17. 2015: ANT-MAN and TRAINWRECK

ANT-MAN
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll
Plot: A down-on-his-luck man is recruited by a scientific genius to help make sure his greatest invention doesn't end up in the hands of Hydra.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

This is the third comic-book movie I've walked into with a bad feeling about it. The first was GREEN LANTERN and those feelings were justified. The second was GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and that is currently my favorite comic book film of all time. This time I walked out of the theater pleasantly surprised.

On a comic book scale, ANT-MAN is not quite as good as AVENGERS, but as an origin story, it is better than the first IRON MAN.

The actors all do a nice job and the characters all have a depth to them that is pretty rare for comic book movies. Even the villain has a nice arc and motivation.

I will say that the movie does feel like it digresses into an adult version of HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS at points, but there are other times where the attention to detail when Ant-Man is small is spectacular.

The action is well done and virtually non-stop throughout the second half of the film. Which leads me to say that while I highly recommend seeing this movie in 3D, I would stay away from the IMAX or Big D screens because the massive 3D action is really quite fatiguing after a while.

Overall though, this is a great summer action flick worthy of your movie-going dollars.




TRAINWRECK
Rated: R
Stars: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, LeBron James, Colin Quinn
Plot: A woman with a deep fear of commitment ends up falling for a guy that might be the one.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

I saw this film in a theater full of 20-something women and the general consensus on the way out was that they loved it and many wanted to see it again. I, being firmly outside of the target audience for this film, didn't like it nearly as much as they did.

There are several funny moments, but the film also feels like it drags on. This movie is 100% formulaic rom-com. If you walk into this movie with a Rom-Com Bingo card it will be blacked out by the credits.

Bill Hader is fantastic and LeBron James is surprisingly talented as an actor. Amy Schumer is Amy Schumer. If you like her you'll like her in this, if you don't, she will annoy you.

There is nothing noteworthy in this film that makes it worth seeing in theaters. You would be just fine waiting for the DVD. That said, if you are a 20-something girl, grab your friends and make a fun night of it. I'm sure you will enjoy it thoroughly.

Movie Review For June 19, 2015: INSIDE OUT and DOPE

INSIDE OUT
Rated: PG
Stars: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, and Mindy Kaling
Plot: The emotions of a young girl are thrown into chaos after she moves
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now

This film is an instant classic. If you are looking for a DVD to finally replace FROZEN, you only need to wait about four more months. I put this movie on par with the likes of UP and TOY STORY.

The world building is spectacular and the animation is beautiful. The story is told well and is highly compelling. This movie will make you laugh to the point of shooting your drink out of your nose and it will make you ugly cry as well.

The writers did an excellent job on this screenplay by taking characters that are quite literally one-dimensional (they are emotions like joy and sadness and can only act in those ways), and made them interesting.

My only problems with the movie are that there are a couple of scenes that may be a little too intense for the 5 and under crowd, but it is a PG film so that's not really a big deal. The more pressing issue is that joy is characterized by a tall, skinny, pretty girl while sadness is short and fat. Is that really what we want our kids to believe?

Those issues aside this may well be the best animated film of the year when 2015 comes to a close. Grab the whole family and enjoy this Pixar masterpiece.




DOPE
Rated: R
Stars: Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons, Tony Revolori, Zoe Kravitz
Plot: Three misfit high school students, intent on making their lives better, end up forced to deal drugs or face the consequences
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and make someone else rent it

If I was giving a score for potential this film might be the winner. The concept is so unique and interesting, unfortunately the execution was horrible.

The film makes huge plot jumps that force the viewer to fill in major gaps in the action, there are scenes that don't make any sense to the plot at all and other scenes that give us way more information than we needed.

If the powers that be on this film got it into the hands of the right people this idea could have been turned into an Oscar contender. Instead, it will be completely forgotten by the masses before the Oscars even air.

As I walked out of the theater I looked at the time. I was shocked that this movie was only 90ish minutes long. If you had asked me to guess the length I would have legitimately thought it was somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3 hours long. I can't even begin to tell you how this movie drags on.

I also hate the use of racial slurs, this film drops the N word about 150 times. I get that it's a cultural thing, but you can make the point without putting in the actual word every other sentence.

It's really unfortunate that a film with such a great concept isn't worth your time or money.

DVD Review For December 16, 2014

THE MAZE RUNNER
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Dylan O'Brien, Aml Ameen, Will Poulter
Plot: A group of teens, trapped in a maze, must find their way out and who put them there.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD as a gift for the YA lover in your life

This is yet another Hollywood offering to the rabid fans of Young Adult Dystopian action flicks, and overall, it's a pretty good film.

The cast does a great job and the story is interesting and intense. In fact, there were several moments where I caught myself holding my breath due to the intensity of the action or situation on the screen.

As with most movies of this ilk, there are a few eye-rolling moments and a couple of minor plot holes, but overall the movie stands up well.

Young Adult fans will enjoy this film as will fans of sci-fi thrillers. I saw it with several uber YA fans and all of them thought the movie was great.




TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Megan Fox, Will Arnett
Plot: The four turtle brothers must work together to bring down the criminal rule of Shredder.
Trailer

Clint Says: If you have to watch it, make someone else rent it

This is one of this reboots that nobody asked for, but Hollywood made it anyway. The turtles are creepy, the story is tired, Megan Fox still can't act, and the action scenes move and jump so fast it's hard to tell what is going on.

There are several things that happen that are way too coincidental or convenient giving the audience ample opportunities to eye roll.

It's also a film that misses its core audience. The older fans are going to be turned off by the sheer stupidity of the film and it is too intense for the under 8 crowd.

This film is significantly less cheesy than the 1990 version, but it's still not worth seeing.




THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU
Rated: R
Stars: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda, Corey Stoll
Plot: A mother and her four grown children return home to grieve the death of their husband and father.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for it to stream on Netflix

This is one of those films where the teaser trailer lies to you. It looks like a comedy with a little bit of heart-warming gooeyness thrown in for good measure. In reality, this is a sad, dark, weird, boring movie.

It's somewhat like THE BIG CHILL, only the Dysfunctional Family Feud version.

If I wanted to see a dysfunctional family peck at each other I'd just go home. If I have to see it on the big screen it should at least be funny. Unfortunately, almost all of the funny moments in the movie are revealed in the trailer. And in context, some of those moments aren't all that funny.

I stayed for the whole movie, but mentally I said THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU about 30 minutes into it. Save your money on this one.



THE SKELETON TWINS
Rated: R
Stars: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson
Plot: Twins try to reconnect with one another after they both almost die on the same day.
Trailer

Clint Says: I haven't seen it yet, but I hear really good things about it

I am anxiously awaiting this DVD because I was unable to see it while it was in theaters. I've heard a lot of good things about this film and it is up for several awards.

If you have already seen it, please let us all know what you thought about it in the comments section below.