DVD Review For November 11, 2014

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
Rated: PG
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchette
Plot: Hiccup and Toothless must fight to keep the dragons from falling into the hands of an evil warlord.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD as soon as possible

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, simply put, is another outstanding offering by the DreamWorks team, and it is just as good at the first in the series.

It is action-packed, funny and heartwarming. The story is compelling and will keep audiences of all ages engaged throughout. There was very little that I didn't like about this film, and those things were easily overlooked due to the general amazingness of the rest of the film.

The artwork on HTTYD2 is incredible. Several times I found myself mesmerized by the intricate detail, especially the fur on the clothes and the scales on the dragons. It's worth the price of the DVD just to see the artwork, but you get so much more.

Grab the whole family and enjoy this film together.



TAMMY
Rated - R
Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon
Plot: A middle-aged, down-on-her-luck woman tries to find herself while on a road trip with her grandmother.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD when you get around to it

The trailers for TAMMY are almost completely misleading. This movie sits on a throne of lies! Yes, this movie is funny, but it's not nearly the slap-stick riot the trailer portrays it as. In fact, this film is much more of a relationship film that is heartwarming. heartbreaking and will make you cry with a bunch of Melissa McCarthy humor thrown on top.

I won't say I didn't like the film, because I thought it was fine, but I felt like I had been misled by the trailers. I saw it in a packed theater and halfway through the movie a few people had already walked out and never returned. I don't think it was because they hated it, they were simply expecting something different.

If you are not a fan of bad language you'll want to avoid this movie as McCarthy is in rare form throughout, even by her standards. But for those of you that are Will Ferrell fans, he is one of the producers of this film so you'll see the typical Ferrell cast of characters in several different roles.

If you are wanting a full-fledge comedy, this is not a good choice for you, however if you are looking for a knee-slapping STEEL MAGNOLIAS go rent TAMMY and enjoy.



LET'S BE COPS
Rated - R
Stars: Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson
Plot: Two buddies dress up like cops for a party, but when people start taking them seriously they keep the charade going.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this if you've already seen everything else worth seeing

This is one of those comedies that could have been so much better than it was. It has a few funny moments, but for the most part it just lays there flat. 

There are so many more police comedies that are way better than this film. If you really want to see one this week, I'd suggest renting one of the others before spending any money on this one.

Movie Review For June 13, 2014

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
Rated: PG
Stars: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchette
Plot: Hiccup and Toothless must fight to keep the dragons from falling into the hands of an evil warlord.
Trailer

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

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, simply put, is another outstanding offering by the DreamWorks team, and it is just as good at the first in the series.

It is action-packed, funny and heartwarming. The story is compelling and will keep audiences of all ages engaged throughout. There was very little that I didn't like about this film, and those things were easily overlooked due to the general amazingness of the rest of the film.

The artwork on HTTYD2 is incredible. Several times I found myself mesmerized by the intricate detail, especially the fur on the clothes and the scales on the dragons. It's worth the price of admission just to see the artwork, but you get so much more.

Grab the whole family and enjoy this film together.




22 JUMP STREET
Rated: R
Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
Plot: Two undercover drug cops enroll as college students and try to blend in to the college scene in order to make a huge bust.
Trailer

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

Very rarely is a sequel better than the original, but in this case it is. 22 JUMP STREET is riotously funny and Channing Tatum completely steals the show.

The story-line is similar to the first film, which typically would be boring, but in this case they use it to their advantage to make fun of themselves and, on several occasions, they make self-aware, tongue-in-cheek comments about the fact that they are in a sequel.

This film is almost as raunchy as the first one, but it makes up for the juvenile humor with a surprisingly interesting story that has several twists and turns uncommon for a typical action/comedy movie.

I haven't laughed this hard at a movie in a long time. If you are looking for a really fun date flick, check this one out.




WORDS AND PICTURES
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche
Plot: A washed up, alcoholic English teacher and an ailing Art teacher use their rivalry to inspire each other and their students to push harder than they ever have through a Words versus Pictures contest.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

I went into this movie having no idea what to expect and came out pleasantly surprised, for the most part. Clive Owen and Juiliette Binoche have a quirky, intriguing chemistry that keeps the movie afloat through the slow parts. Unfortunately, the film relies on secondary characters to move the plot along and they don't carry their weight as well as one would expect.

The film is about 30 minutes too long and the soundtrack makes you feel like you are watching a cheesy love story from the early 80's, but the words and pictures are beautiful. There were times when this film reminded me of DEAD POETS' SOCIETY, but this movie is nowhere near that level of mastery. At best it's a poor man's version of DPS, at worst it's a blatant, but wrongheaded, attempt to be a knockoff film.

I did enjoy the inspiring nature of the movie and the passion and reverence it exudes for the art, both written and painted, was worth the price of admission. This film will not change your life, but it may inspire you to try a bit harder at life.