Movie Reviews For November 13, 2015: LOVE THE COOPERS and THE 33

LOVE THE COOPERS
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 13, 2015
Director: Jessie Nelson
Stars: Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Olivia Wilde
Plot: A Christmas family gathering makes them all take a new look at family bonds
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

To quote another Christmas movie, LOVE THE COOPERS sits on a throne of lies! This film has been marketed through the trailers as a fun holiday comedy. The truth? It's a sad, depressing, shallow movie that tries to redeem itself with three minutes of Christmas magic at the end.

The ensemble cast is great, and this may be Olivia Wilde's best work, but the plot is so terrible that their performances are overshadowed. 

If you are looking for a movie to get you into the Christmas spirit, stay far away from this one. The only gift this movie gives you is when the end credits finally roll.

THE 33
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 13, 2015
Director: Patricia Riggen
Stars: Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche
Plot: Based on the true story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped in a mine for 69 days
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

In the Fall of 2010 we all sat glued to TV screens desperately hoping we would see the first miner come up through a small hole in the ground. When he finally did, you could almost hear the whole world cheering as one. No movie could ever recreate the sense of drama and intensity of that moment, but this film comes close.

It is impossible to imagine what life would be like living, for 69 days, under a rock that could shift and kill you at any second. The stress and fear must have been all but unbearable. We get to see some of that in this movie, but there are so many stories that the director tried to get in that we never really get to go deep into any of them.

The same can be said for the stories of the families waiting for their loved ones to be rescued and the rescuers. We get to see bits and pieces of a lot of stories, but we are never given enough to really care about individuals. Thankfully the story is so compelling itself that it makes the movie worth watching.

If you are looking for a dramatic and inspirational story, you will find THE 33 satisfactory.

Movie Review For July 31, 2015: VACATION, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION, and THE END OF THE TOUR

VACATION
Rated: R
Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein
Stars: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, and Steele Stebbins
Plot: Rusty Griswold decides to give his family a Wally World vacation like he had as a child.
Trailer

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

In the past year we have seen two all-time classic comedies release a sequel decades later. First, we had DUMB AND DUMBER TO which was really well done, now we have VACATION, and it is awesome!

It is rude, crude, gross, riotously funny and it stands up well to the original film in this franchise. There are a few moments that feel like tired rehash of the first film, but for the most part, this is an original film with it's own story and comedic value.

Ed Helms does a fine job, but this is some of Christina Applegate's best work. Chris Hemsworth and Steele Stebbins steal the show. Both are stomach-pain funny. Charlie Day also makes a very funny appearance.

Ironically, the only part of the film that felt forced and out of place to the story were the scenes with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Goofball humor from a 70 year old man just looks like a 70 year old man that has motor skill issues.

As long as you can handle the raunchiness of the jokes and the ummmm...size of little Chris Hemsworth, (which does make an appearance), this is a movie that is well worth theater prices for all of the laughs it has to offer.




MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION
Rated: PG-13
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg
Plot: The IMF team must figure out a way to destroy The Syndicate, a group that wants to destroy IMF.
Trailer

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

It is impressive and fun to see this franchise continue to give us great popcorn flicks. It's also impressive to see the incredible stunt work Tom Cruise is still doing.

This movie has everything you want in a summer action flick. It's got a decent plot, high intrigue, interesting twists, edge-of-your-seat suspense, explosions, car chases and fighting. The effects are well done and the acting is above average as compared to your typical action movie.

The only downside is that this movie feels long and then is wraps up super quick. It doesn't feel like the pacing is off until the last 20 minutes of the movie, but by then you're completely engaged in the story so it won't affect your viewing enjoyment too much.

If you are looking for a good, fun action flick this weekend. MI5 is a great choice.




THE END OF THE TOUR
Rated: R
Director: James Ponsoldt
Stars: Jason Segel, Jessie Eisenberg
Plot: The story of an on-tour interview between ROLLING STONE writer David Lipsky and critically acclaimed author David Foster Wallace after his release of INFINITE JEST.
Trailer

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

If you told me Hollywood was going to make a movie about two guys having a five day long conversation and make it entertaining I would bet my house against it. But that is what they did and it works.

This is a very thinky, introspective and loquacious film. (I'm only using these big words because the film is full of them. It might be a good idea to offer a dictionary with every ticket sold). I felt myself wanting more as the film went on. Not in a way that I felt the film was lacking, but in a way where I wanted to find out more about them on my own.

This is a very good film, but I'm not really sure what audiences would enjoy it. I'm sure that fans of David Foster Wallace will, but beyond that I can't see this film gaining traction. I think that had there been more at stake for the characters it could have been a better movie that would be more attractive to larger audiences. As it is, this film will do only slightly better than your typical art house flick.