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.

DVD Review for October 21, 2014

EARTH TO ECHO
Rated - PG
Stars: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt
Plot: A group of friends find an alien and are trying to return it to space before the authorities capture it.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD this week

This film is essentially a mashup of THE GOONIES, LEAN ON ME and SUPER 8, and like those movies it holds it own and will even have you on the edge of your seat at certain moments.

I am not a big fan of movies that are supposedly shot by one of the main players, mainly because I dislike the shaky camera effect. This movie almost entirely eliminates the shaky camera effect, but still makes it feel like these are just a group of kids filming what they see.

I was surprised at how intense and suspenseful the film is, but it's still tame enough and clean enough to take kids probably as young as 7 or 8.

Overall, this is one of the better "coming of age" movies we've seen in the last couple of years.



SEX TAPE
Rated - R
Stars: Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz
Plot: A couple tries to rekindle their sex life by making a sex tape that accidentally gets uploaded to the internet.
Trailer

Clint Says: If you're married rent this now, if you're young and dating you won't get it

I saw this movie with my wife and I can't remember the last time she and I laughed so hard at a movie. For all of you married couples out there, this film absolutely nails it when it comes to romance after marriage. This is not a date movie for the newly-in-loves.

As the title implies, this is a raunchy movie, but it also has a compelling plot and great chemistry between Diaz and Segel as their characters work to rekindle the fire from their early relationship days.

Watch this movie with your spouse, but be prepared because you are probably going to pee a little from laughing so much.



THE PURGE: ANARCHY
Rated - R
Stars: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Soul
Plot: A man hits the streets bent on revenge during the annual 12 hours of legalized crime, but a small group of helpless people change his night.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent it, but only if you can check your brain at the door

The premise of this film franchise is so ridiculously moronic that I was surprised the first film did well enough to warrant a second. Apparently there are enough people out there willing to go beyond a typical suspension of disbelief and wander into the theater in a zombie-like trance to make these films successful.

That being said, the film is actually very suspenseful and thrilling throughout. It will give you all the jumps and chills that you would expect from a movie like this, and it will give you several eye rolls as well.

The plot holds up fairly well until the last 20 minutes of the movie when everything goes off the rails. But really, by that point you've already signed your free thought over to the Director so what's a few more ridiculous breaks from reality.

This is a fun, suspenseful popcorn flick. Just don't think about it...at all.

Movie Review for July 18, 2014

PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Rated - PG
Stars: Dane Cook, Ed Harris
Plot: Dusty becomes a firefighter after pushing his engine too hard while racing.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This movie has a lot of action and adventure for the younger crowd, but parents will not be amused. The plot has potential but the execution is fair at best. It feels like the honchos on this film just went through the motions knowing that no matter how good or bad it is it will still draw crowds and make a nice profit.

I will say that the animation in PLANES is spectacular. In fact, there are a couple of scenes that I thought might be real. If incredible, true-to-life animation is your motivation then this movie will blow your mind.

One aspect of the film that some movie-goers will not appreciate is the seemingly constant use of plays on words to make it sound like the characters are cursing. One example being when Dusty says, "I kicked As...ton Martin." I'm really not sure why the creators of films for kids do this. It adds nothing to the movie and offends a portion of the crowd.

The movie does have a few good lessons on listening, patience and perseverance, but I wouldn't say that it is worth the price of a movie ticket. If your child can't wait to see this movie then they will like seeing it in the theater, but if your child has a take-it-or-leave-it view then the DVD will be satisfactory.



SEX TAPE
Rated - R
Stars: Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz
Plot: A couple tries to rekindle their sex life by making a sex tape that accidentally gets uploaded to the internet.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters (if you are married)

I saw this movie with my wife and I can't remember the last time she and I laughed so hard at a movie. For all of you married couples out there, this film absolutely nails it when it comes to romance after marriage. This is not a date movie for the newly-in-loves.

As the title implies, this is a raunchy movie, but it also has a compelling plot and great chemistry between Diaz and Segel as their characters work to rekindle the fire from their early relationship days.

Go watch this movie with your spouse, but be prepared because you are probably going to pee a little from laughing so much.



THE PURGE: ANARCHY
Rated - R
Stars: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zoe Soul
Plot: A man hits the streets bent on revenge during the annual 12 hours of legalized crime, but a small group of helpless people change his night.
Trailer

Clint Says: See it in theaters if you can check your brain at the door

The premise of this film franchise is so ridiculously moronic that I was surprised the first film did well enough to warrant a second. Apparently there are enough people out there willing to go beyond a typical suspension of disbelief and wander into the theater in a zombie-like trance to make these films successful.

That being said, the film is actually very suspenseful and thrilling throughout. It will give you all the jumps and chills that you would expect from a movie like this, and it will give you several eye rolls as well.

The plot holds up fairly well until the last 20 minutes of the movie when everything goes off the rails. But really, by that point you've already signed your free thought over to the Director so what's a few more ridiculous breaks from reality.

This is a fun, suspenseful popcorn flick. Just don't think about it...at all.