DVD Review For February 24, 2015

BIG HERO 6

Rated: PG

Stars: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter

Plot: A young genius uses a robot and his friends to help solve a mystery. 

Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD today

When you get the geniuses from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel all in on a movie you end up with some epic awesomeness. BIG HERO 6 is epic awesomeness. This is a movie that will be inserted into the DVD player and set to "Repeat".

The animation is crisp, detailed, layered and filled with background fun for those of you that like to search for Marvel Easter Eggs. The story is very well told. It is compelling, emotional, funny and engaging for children and adults.  

This film is really action-packed and some of it may be a bit too intense for the under 5 crowd, but aside from that, everyone else will enjoy this film. Grab the whole family and enjoy an evening of fun. 

WHIPLASH

Rated: R
Stars: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons
Plot: A student at a prestigious music college is invited to play in the top band, but soon discovers the band director is abusive
Trailer

Clint Says: Watch this on DVD this week

This is an amazing film. J.K. Simmons character is one of the most evil villains to hit the big screen in years. He is so brutally abusive to his students that you truly hate him with your entire being. His creative use of the F-word is almost mesmerizing. His efforts have garnered him a lot of hardware this awards season, including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

It is fascinating to watch Miles Teller's character grow throughout the film from a cocky but insecure student into a driven man willing to risk everything for the sake of his career.

This is an outstanding "overcomer" film that is worth seeing as soon as possible.

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2

Rated: R
Stars: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Chris Pine
Plot: After their business is sabotaged, three guys come up with a plan to get their money back, but their plan gets hijacked by a scheming sleazeball.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD soon, if you can handle the raunch

The original HORRIBLE BOSSES was a raunchy, hysterically awesome movie. HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 is the same. My jaw hurt when I left the theater after this movie, but I also felt like I needed a shower. This movie is so raunchy they couldn't even make a 2-minute trailer without several cuss words in it.

As with any comedy, the movie may be funny but it's only as good as its plot. In this case, the plot is outstanding. Sure, it has a few minor holes, but nothing that will hurt your head. It's fun and funny, but with significant moments of suspense and drama. The juxtaposition is what makes this movie so good.

If you can handle the offensive humor this is a sequel worth seeing.

BEYOND THE LIGHTS

Rated: R
Stars: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver
Plot: A pop-star falls in love with the cop that saved her life, and they try to build a relationship while dealing with the bright lights of stardom.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD if you don't have something better to do

This is one of those films that is just fine. There is nothing great about it, there is nothing bad about it. There is nothing that I will remember about this movie and there is nothing that I desperately wish to forget.

It's a nice love story with an interesting, if not unique, premise. Both of the leads play their parts well and for the most part it's believable.

If you are looking for a decent love story without having to think too hard about plot, this film would be an okay choice this week.

Movie Review For November 14, 2014

DUMB AND DUMBER TO
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
Plot: Lloyd and Harry go on a trip to find Harry's long-lost daughter to help save his life.
Trailer

Clint Says: If you love stupid humor flicks drop everything and go see this now

Rarely does a sequel live up to the original. Even more difficult? A sequel that can hold its own against an iconic original. That was the task laid out for DUMB AND DUMBER TO as the second installment to the potty humor franchise. (We do not count DUMB AND DUMBERER as a prequel...in fact, it shall henceforth be know as THE MOVIE THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED).

I had my expectations set low as I sat down to watch this film, and much to my pleasant surprise, the cast and crew delivered an awesomely dumb movie. I was laughing hard throughout the flick, cringing in all the right places, and shaking my head in gleeful disgust at the stupidity and depths of the juvenile humor.

If you are a fan of DUMB AND DUMBER this movie will not disappoint. For the new generation of movie-goers, this is a stellar introduction into the DUMB. If you are not a fan of stupid humor flicks, stay far, far away from this film. There is nothing for you here. The plot is dumb, the jokes are dumb, and the acting is dumber. Not to mention that we get to see WAAAYYYY to much of Jeff Daniels back side.

I saw this movie with a 13 year old guy. He thinks it should win the Best Picture Oscar. That's all you need to know.




BEYOND THE LIGHTS
Rated: R
Stars: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver
Plot: A pop-star falls in love with the cop that saved her life, and they try to build a relationship while dealing with the bright lights of stardom.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

This is one of those films that is just fine. There is nothing great about it, there is nothing bad about it. There is nothing that I will remember about this movie and there is nothing that I desperately wish to forget.

Five months from now when the DVD is released I'll say, "Oh yeah, I remember seeing that film. Now what was it about again?"

It's a nice love story with an interesting, if not unique, premise. Both of the leads play their parts well and for the most part it's believable.

If you are looking for a decent love story without having to think to hard about plot, this film would be a good choice this weekend.




SAVING CHRISTMAS
Rated: PG
Stars: Kirk Cameron, Darren Doane
Plot: A man that hates the commercialism of Christmas is taught by his brother-in-law a new way to look at the holiday.
Trailer

Clint Says: I. Can't. Even.

I honestly don't know what I saw when I saw SAVING CHRISTMAS. It's not a movie (as the trailer makes you believe), it's not a documentary (as some have suggested), and it's not a sermon (although it feels like that for 90% of the film). For simplicity's sake, I'm going to refer to it as a movie.

I feel it necessary to disclose that I have worked with Kirk Cameron in the past, I like the guy a lot and I want to see him do well. I also have friends that work at Provident (one of the companies behind this film) and I wish them nothing but the best.

That said, this movie is horrible. I get the idea of the film, but the execution is super-low-budget and it feels like the entire concept was thought up, written down and set in stone over lunch at Panera Bread with no further creative meetings allowed.

This is one of those "I have a point to make" films that pushes the plot to the side. In this case, the plot is pushed almost completely off the screen. Nearly an hour of the 75 minute long movie is a straight up sermon you might hear at any non-denominational church on any given Sunday in December. The other 20 minutes or so are random diatribes about conspiracy theories, dance breaks or well, that's about it.

This film also ends at least four times. I mean it really, truly ends. Like, I'm sitting there and I see the scene fade to black and I start to get up and then there is more. It was really weird. It's hard to believe that a 75 minute long film can feel long, but this one felt like it dragged on for hours.

I will say this for the film, if you are a Christian and you have an issue with the commercialism of Christmas, you may want to see this movie. It may change your mind, it may not, but it will at least give you another perspective on the holiday.