Movie Review For June 5, 2015: ENTOURAGE and SPY

NOTE - INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 also opens this weekend, but I am on vacation and haven't had a chance to review it yet.

ENTOURAGE
Rated: R
Stars: Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven
Plot: Ari Gold's first movie as movie studio head is to hire Vincent and his buddies to make a movie, but some people aren't as confident in the outcome
Trailer

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

Fans of the TV series are going to love this movie. For those of you that have never seen the show, never fear. The movie is a great stand-alone. It's fun, funny and an overall enjoyable summer flick.

There are times when it feels like it's nothing more than a long episode of a TV show in quality, but the story is good enough to carry this film to big-screen status.

Kevin Dillon steals the show except for one notable exception, every scene with Rhonda Rousey and Turtle is awesome.




SPY
Rated: R
Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law
Plot: After the covers of all of the CIA's field agents are blown, A CIA analyst must become a field agent to stop terrorists from getting a nuclear bomb
Trailer

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

This movie really surprised me. I was pretty much done with Melissa McCarthy prior to this film because she is the same annoying character every time. I was expecting more of the same in SPY. Thankfully, this movie is great.

Melissa McCarthy plays a character that is smart, confident and kick-butt. But even more than that this is a really well done spy flick at its core. The mystery is intriguing and the stakes are high. The twists and turns are throughout and you don't see them coming.

Jason Statham is actually the funniest person in the movie. His over-the-top tales are hysterical and non-stop. And speaking of over-the-top the ending is absolutely ridiculous, but it's okay because it is a comedy as well. There are several moments in the last 20 minutes where you will have to decide whether you want to roll with it or give it an eye roll.

I can't believe that I'm actually recommending this film, but I'm happy that it is good enough that I can.

POST VACATION UPDATE: I wrote this review while running between events on my vacation and wanted to add a couple more points to it. 1. This movie is rated R for a reason. It includes graphic nudity. So, if you don't like that kind of thing you should avoid this film. 2. Melissa McCarthy's character has a very empowering arc that adds to the enjoyment of the film.

DVD Review for June 17, 2014

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Rated: R
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe,
Plot: A world-class concierge trains his protege in the art of fine hotel service while going on a grand adventure.
Trailer

Clint Says: Go to the store and buy this DVD now

This may be Wes Anderson's best work yet. Ralph Fiennes is spectacular as are many of the other peculiar characters throughout the film. If forced to put this movie into a category, I'd have to call it a dark comedy, but it is much more than that.

The plot is uniquely interesting, the music is outstanding and, even though we are way too far out from the 2015 Academy Awards for Hollywood to remember this film, it wouldn't surprise me at all for this film to get an Oscar nod for cinematography. Every scene in this movie is framed like a beautiful painting.

Wes Anderson's work isn't for everyone, in fact, some of his former films I find to be a complete waste of time (FANTASTIC MR. FOX and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), but if you've ever enjoyed any of his quirky works, you will love your stay at THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

The best way I can describe this movie is that it is a cross between MONTY PYTHON and CLUE.



THE LEGO MOVIE
Rated: PG
Stars: Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks
Plot: An average LEGO construction worker leads the Master-Builders in a quest to stop Lord Business from ruining LEGO life as they know it.
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go buy this DVD now

This movie was significantly better than the trailers made it look. It is very funny, the plot is interesting to kids and adults and there is a twist at the end that you will never see coming. It's funny, heart-warming and enjoyable for all ages.

Bonus: The STAR WARS cameo is awesome. Everything is awesome. (You'll understand that after you've seen the movie...in fact, that phrase will probably be stuck in your head for days).

Movie Review for March 28, 2014

NOAH
PG-13
Stars: Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins
Plot: A man is told by God to build a massive ship in order to save his family and animals from a world-destroying flood.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let somebody else rent it

Director Darren Aronofsky said NOAH was the most unbiblical bible movie ever made, and he wasn't kidding.

It feels like Aronofsky read a children's version of the Noah story, realized he had enough material for a 15 minute film, then filled up two more hours of preaching about how humans mess up the earth and why animals are better than humans.

Russell Crowe does a fine job as Noah, but again, this is not the biblical Noah. This is a man that is just as flawed and crazy as the people dying outside the ark.

Putting aside the issues bible believing people will have with this film, it's just not a very good movie. It's slow moving, it's preachy, and the special effects are sub par for a movie of this magnitude.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Rated R
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Edward Norton
Plot: A world-class concierge trains his protege in the ways of hotel service while going on a fantastic adventure.
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now

This may be Wes Anderson's best work yet. Ralph Fiennes is spectacular as are many of the other peculiar characters throughout the film. If forced to put this movie into a category, I'd have to call it a dark comedy, but it is much more than that.

The plot is uniquely interesting, the music is outstanding and, even though we are way too far out from the 2015 Academy Awards for Hollywood to remember this film, it wouldn't surprise me at all for this film to get an Oscar nod for cinematography. Every scene in this movie is framed like a beautiful painting.

Wes Anderson's work isn't for everyone, in fact, some of his former films I find to be a complete waste of time (FANTASTIC MR. FOX and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), but if you've ever enjoyed any of his quirky works, you will love your stay at THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL.

The best way I can describe this movie is that it is a cross between MONTY PYTHON and CLUE.



CESAR CHAVEZ
PG-13
Stars: Michael Pena, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson
Plot: The biography of Cesar Chavez, a civil rights leader and labor organizer.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

Growing up in California, I was very excited for this movie to hit the theaters. Just about every town in California has a street named after Cesar Chavez. It took a while, but his contribution to the Latino community finally caught the attention of Hollywood. Unfortunately, this is the only wide-release Latino-based movie scheduled for release in 2014.

I really wanted this movie to be good, and it's not bad at all, but it is very slow. I'm sure it can't be easy making an exciting movie about migrant farm workers unionizing, but this movie could have been something really special given a better screenplay.

I hope this movie does well, because I'd like to see more like it coming out of Hollywood, but the truth of the matter is, this movie will appeal to only a small portion of movie-goers and will probably fade away quickly.



BAD WORDS
Rated R
Stars: Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand
Plot: A 40 year old man finds a loophole in the rules of a spelling bee meant for young kids and, to the dismay of everyone, joins the competition.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

Jason Bateman makes his feature directorial debut with the darkly funny BAD WORDS. While the movie isn't awful (it's actually quite good in several parts), it tries to be too many things to suit too many people. It is full of the raunchy joke style we saw from Bateman in HORRIBLE BOSSES, but it also tries to be heartwarming in the end.

This movie could be so much better if Bateman decided to choose one or the other. Basically, all you need to know about this movie is how to spell D-V-D.



SABOTAGE
Rated R
Stars: Arnold Schwarzennegger, Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard
Plot: A group of highly-trained DEA agents find themselves under attack after taking down a cartel safe house.
Trailer

Clint Says: No review yet

The studio did not put SABOTAGE out early for reviews. (Usually not a good sign). If you happen to see it, feel free to post your thoughts about it in the comments section.