A Night Out With Kevin Smith (Q&A Show) - Review

Kevin Smith @ The Rialto Theater, Tucson, Arizona

I’m sitting in the crowded two-floor Rialto theater in Tucson, Arizona. It’s hot and muggy from the people crammed into the theater. I am four rows back and It smells like sweat and desperation. These are my people.

We’re waiting for our lemming leader, Kevin Smith to come out and spew forth stories of his life in acting, directing and general existing in the entertainment world. And I wonder if after being at four of his events prior to today, there will be overlap in the stories he tells as he appears on stage. He is smaller than I remember, nearly half the size he was when I first saw him in Red Bank, New Jersey; but he is dressed the same. He is consistently dressed in “jorts” as he references in his opening speech and a hockey jersey of some sort, all with the number 37 on them.

For those that are unfamiliar with Kevin Smith and what his events are like, generally they are a question and answer forum in which a few (likely only 2-4) people from the audience ask him a question. At which point Smith will begin babbling about some story relating or not relating in his life that can last for 15 minutes to 2 hours.  This event is no different and his first story discusses Jason Mewes obsession with the CW and how he came to work on The Flash and Supergirl. (Side note: these shows are awesome and you should all be watching them.)

He discusses his fanboy attitude towards the show and childlike wonder for the magic that is created behind the scenes and how the zoop becomes a thing in the show. The “zoop” is of course, relating each respective character appearing or disappearing from screen using their super powers (Flash’s running, Supergirl’s flying.)

Each story seems to meld into-one another. And while the questions can vary from the audience, we are a specific breed of nerd and thus quite possibly predictable (insert sex jokes and Star Wars references.) And without warning, Smith launches into what I dub as Grandpa Smith, dispelling his knowledge, empowering and imploring us to create. Anything. To write, to sing, to act, to tell our story, insisting that each of us is unique. And then feverishly he notes that anyone can create a podcast and how in the beginning we will draw from those who inspire us before eventually finding our own voice. And it costs us nothing to create.

Kevin Smith @ The Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona

Smith insists on the need for one to create and cultivate ourselves.  I am unexpectedly inspired. I’ll be honest, Smith had never really created that feeling for me before. Sometimes disgust, sometimes admiration, even a little jealousy for his lifestyle, but never inspired. I’m in it for the charming abrasive personality and the good looks and of course he makes movies I can get into.  (Yes, Yes I do have a crush on Kevin Smith… fight me?) (Side note: Please do not fight me, I am weak, I will not win.)

For as much as Kevin talks about rolling onto stage and spewing forth his words, I suspect that there is more planning to the execution then he leads on because the stories and ties flow effortlessly together and we are all laughing every three to four seconds with his expressions and punchline deliveries. Even more so is his ability to uplift his fans and ask for greatness from them. He is brilliant, hilarious, deep but also shallow and unabashed in his nerd-tendencies and this night was awesome.

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Why Him? - Box Office Review

When marketing gives you a concept of a film, or automobile or even delicious taco’s and all that was advertised turns out to be true… well that’s a good day. The marketing for this next movie was as true and honest as could be. What you see is what you got. So let’s dive in and take a look at “Why Him?” in this box office review…

The overall tone of the film is light hearted and humorous. It’s jokes are raunchy, rude and inappropriate. The characters each represent a specific personality and are over emphasized for comedic purposes. This movie required so little brain power that I loved it. After the emotionally charged, character driven oscar worthy films I’ve already reviewed, here comes a comedy that permits you to shut your mind off and laugh. It’s a good time and it pulls no punches.

The main plot is boy meets girl and falls in love and attempts to win over her family in his own unique, albeit peculiar, way. Laird Mayhew (James Franco) is the most honest individual in the film, both emotionally and verbally. By the end of the film Ned Fleming (Bryan Cranston) realizes that Franco’s character isn’t pretending. He legitimately doesn’t have the capacity for lies. The surprise highlight for me was Gustav (Keegan-Michael Key). He plays the property manager/best friend/martial arts expert. His forced German accent was noticeably terrible but he owned the awfulness too well and made it comical. Hearing him shout “Shiza” periodically throughout the film was a small treat. There’s also a well placed joke about “bukake” that pays off well in the second act of the film. It’s tiny little comedic moments like this peppered throughout the film that made this an enjoyable time spent at the movies.

There’s also a few surprise cameo’s in this film that I won’t spoil here because they add to the moment and are also completely ludicrous. Each character in this film represents a specific personality and every actor plays that stereotype to the fullest. Even the voice over work for “Justine” the house AI was done well. This is a silly, inappropriate and entertaining comedy for the holiday season.

“Why Him?” is in theaters now! I won’t recommend you rush out and see this before it leaves the theater but I will encourage you to put it on your Redbox or VOD list. It’s a fun film that will provide plenty of laughs if you enjoy crude humor, which I do. The story doesn’t ask for much and you won’t walk away from this film in deep thought but you’ll be smiling by the finale and you may even find yourself quoting the film going forward. No clowning.

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Hank Boyd is Dead - Indie Film Review

I received an email asking me to considering reviewing this Horror/Comedy. After reading the entire email, looking over the credits on IMDB and watching the trailer I decided to watch the film and review it here. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I am not familiar with writer/director Sean Melia. So, let’s dive in and take a look at my thoughts on “Hank Boyd Is Dead” in this Indie review…

First we can start with the story. A suspected killer has died and a catering service is hired to feed the folks attending the post funeral gathering. Things immediately don’t go as planned as one of the two caterers has to leave. The remaining caterer, played by Stefanie Frame, has to deal with the bizarre family, their questionable past and dangerous future.  Stefanie is an actress I wasn’t familiar with at all but she performed panic, fear, distress and confused all quite well. Overall, I found myself enjoying the story after I was able to get a feel for the tone of the film and the writing style. At first I wasn’t quite certain where the jokes were but that was only because I wasn’t familiar with Melia’s writing. Once I get a sense for his style I found myself enjoying some laughs at seemingly appropriate and (because of my own sense of humor) inappropriate places. The horror aspects of the story were also well done. The suspenseful twists towards the end did in fact surprise me. The story plays out similar to that of a Greek Tragedy and I was, by the end of the film, quite happy I made the decision to spend some time watching this movie.

The characters in this film also were quite different from each other. The initial introduction to one of the characters felt odd but that was only because I wasn’t familiar with the writing style. After a few lines of dialogue it was clear that Michael Hogan was going to be comedic relief. So as the film progressed it was quite surprising to see how his character developed. The character David Wells played also started off feeling a bit two dimensional and forced however by the end of the film I was on board, entirely. His character develops nicely as the movie progresses and the levels his character will go to for his family is truly terrifying and creepy. 

All in all, "Hank Boyd Is Dead" starts off a bit odd but again I feel that is only because I was unfamiliar with how Sean writes film. If the movie didn’t progress as well as it does I probably would be feeling differently. The movie ends well and it’s quite surprising once we get to the third act. The entire story falls into chaos and it’s thrilling to watch. I really enjoyed the characters, the story was paced pretty evenly and the tension builds from start to finish until the film finally ends and we’re left to consider the events that just took place on screen. I recommend giving this film a viewing. You can find it on Amazon and if you enjoy Horror/Comedy indie films I think you’ll appreciate this story. 

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Ghostbusters - Box Office Review

The wonderful thing about reboots is that no matter what you think of the reboot you will always have the original. The 1966 Adam West Batman didn't disappear because Ben Affleck is now Batman. We live in a time that allows us to enjoy the past and present while still being excited about the future. So was the Paul Feig reimagining of the beloved franchise "Ghostbusters" enjoyable or will it haunt movie goers as another failed reboot? Let's dive in and take at a look at my thoughts in this box office review...

The cast of this film is fantastic. I'm not limiting "cast" to just the stars. I'm talking about the cast as a whole. The film starts with Zach Woods giving a tour of a haunted mansion in New York and only goes forward from there. If you aren't familiar with Zach go back and watch "The Office" for a look at his comedic timing early on. His delivery of lines is done so well that even simple reactions were funny. From there we get to meet all the ghostbusters, their receptionist and even the Chinese food delivery guy "Bennie" played by Karan Soni (who you might remember as the taxi driver in the Deadpool movie earlier this year). This cast is packed with comedy goodness and that only makes this film more enjoyable. 

The overall story was surprisingly more thought out than I was anticipating however I did feel like all of a sudden in the third act of the film everyone realized we need to up the risk factor. The movie is moving along at an even and delightful pace then suddenly, the world is in chaos. It felt a bit rushed towards the end but in all honesty that's really my only complaint. The characters were great and even "Slimer" was entertaining despite the fact he appeared to be a hillbilly. That was kinda odd but I didn't think too much on that during the movie and won't here in this review.

I am not familiar with Kate McKinnon or Leslie Jones at all. This film was my first introduction to them as actors and comedians. I was bothered by how Jones was portrayed in the trailers because she appeared to be a stereotypical hollywood movie black person which I'm not particularly a fan of because it feels a bit degrading as a main character to be so one dimensional. I am happy to report that her character is much more involved and developed in the film and the trailer does her an injustice. McKinnon had some of the best one liners in the film. One of my favorite comes towards the very end where she talks about who the new president is and how far into the future we are. Also, you can't have Melissa McCarthy without her enduring some physical struggle/slapstick humor. Thankfully that only lasts for one scene and then her character is actually something to enjoy on screen. 

"Ghostbusters" is in theaters now! Overall, I enjoyed this movie a lot. It was a fun time in the theater and it mixes action and comedy very well. After seeing this movie one has to wonder if Paul Feig makes intentionally bad trailers to lower people's expectations or if he just doesn't realize how poorly made the trailers are for his films until it's too late. Either way, go see this film on the big screen. The special effects are pretty solid and since I'm always honest in my reviews you might consider seeing it in 3D. I know that you're probably shocked by that statement if you follow my reviews. You already knew how much I can't stand 3D. However, I did see this in 3D and it was incredible. If you're wondering why I saw it in 3D it's because the only time I could get to the theater to see this film was for a 3D showing. I'm glad I went. It is remarkable in 3D and the movie itself is entertaining. It's nothing like the original and it doesn't have to be. It stands on its own and I'm looking forward to a sequel if one is made. Lastly, the cameo’s from the original cast was a fun time.

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Central Intelligence - Box Office Review

Two powerhouses of entertainment coming together to make what could be the summer comedy hit we've been waiting for. A film that would combine action and humor has the potential to franchise itself if done well. So did "Central Intelligence" meet the expectations I had? Let's dive in and take a look in this box office review...

First, you can't really go wrong with casting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The guy has so much charisma I'm mostly certain that people would watch him talk about soap for 2 hours. You can't help but find the guy entertaining because his personality is electric. Second, Kevin Hart is probably one of the funnier comedians around right now because of his personality. His jokes might not always hit but you can guarantee that people will laugh at a bad joke when his animated self takes over on stage or screen and blows up into something uniquely special. So putting these two talents in a film together made perfect sense to me. They're both funny, entertaining and charismatic. 

The film itself however didn't quite hit for me the way I had hoped. The characters on screen felt awkward more than they did humorous. It also took far too long to establish the personality of Johnson's character. His overacting and hyper enthusiasm felt unnatural and uncomfortable for me. It's eventually revealed why he acts that way but I would've preferred to get that information sooner than later. At times, especially in the beginning, he's almost creepy. It was an odd choice but eventually it paid off, kinda. 

The story is pretty simple as well. The basic plot is that the CIA believes Johnson's character has murdered his partner and is hunting him down because of the information they believe he has. Of course, it's revealed that he isn't the bad guy but by the time the big reveal occurs I didn't really care because I had concluded that all on my own. The story itself was still entertaining because you have Hart and Johnson leading the charge. Their chemistry on screen was probably my favorite part of the film. These two played off each other so well. Even though the story itself didn't do anything for me, their relationship and interactions did. I'm actually curious if there will be a sequel just because of how much fun watching those two together was. 

The ancillary characters in the film were decent. There is one character who is beyond obnoxious in that he overacts so much in his brief on screen moments I was actually glad he is knocked out by use of a taser. I felt relief knowing he won't be talking anymore in that scene because he's tasered on the floor. So that was a moment of positive film making as far as I was concerned. 

"Central Intelligence" is in theaters now. Sadly, I won't be recommending you view this on the big screen unless you want to laugh and enjoy the main actors. The story is decent, the overall tone is fun but it takes awhile to develop an understanding of the characters themselves and the ending is predictable. It's a fun movie and if you do decide to make it out to the theaters, go for a big screen viewing. You will laugh but you won't walk out of the theater, necessarily, with that same sense of "wow" that you got from action comedies like "Beverly Hills Cop" or Lethal Weapon" films. It's definitely worth seeing on Redbox or VOD. 

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Keanu - Box Office Review

If you are a fan of sketch comedy then you probably know the names “Key and Peele” and for good reason. These two incredible comedians took the comedy world by storm back in 2012 with their hilarious show “Key and Peele” and please youtube some skits for laughs. So what happens when two brilliant comedians take the next step into film making? Well, lets dive in and take a look at my thoughts on “Keanu” in this box office review…

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this film. I knew I would laugh and that was the bar for me. Make me laugh and I’ll be happy.  The advertising campaign for this film wasn’t blowing me away and there wasn’t a push for “big name” actors appearing in the film either. So, for an initial big screen viewing I just wanted them to make me laugh and they did. I had some very loud laughs and if you’ve ever seen a movie with me you know that “loud” is an appropriate descriptive word. There were some chuckles as well. Overall, it delivered on laughs and for that I was happy.

The story was surprisingly well written. I was not expecting some of the twists which added to my level of enjoyment. It wasn’t just a story about a guy and his cat but a look at life when you’re determined to achieve what you said you’d achieve. The characters were mostly adequate and I didn’t feel they took away or distracted me from enjoying the film. 

On the other side of things, this film did feel like it was made by two people who haven’t made a film before. I felt the disconnect in the story because it did feel, at times, like scenes and not an entire story. The visual side of the story worked but the actual story felt choppy. I’ve used this phrase before in other reviews, but “paint by numbers” is how I would describe it. You could feel the steps to get the story from point A to point B, C and so on. This is not to say the story suffered, because I enjoyed the story overall. I’m merely saying that I could feel the step by step approach. It’s the first film though so I’m not going to dwell on this point. I have faith that future films will progress and be even more developed and entertaining. 

“Keanu” is in theaters now! I feel you can wait to redbox this film or stream it on any VOD service you use. This isn’t a movie that needs to be seen on the big screen but it should be enjoyed at home on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Plus, the George Michael soundtrack is hilarious and you’ll never listen to his music the same way again. Enjoy folks!

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Movie Review: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Stanley Kramer directs this film about an interracial couple who are breaking the news of their marriage to their parents.  This film was released in 1967 and the way of the world within the United States was different than it is now.  This is a film that has seen it's share of remakes but nothing comes close to this classic.

Sydney Poitier plays the part of Dr. John Wade Prentice who wishes to marry Joanne Drayton(Katherine Houghton).  Their on screen chemistry is absolutely wonderful.  They played off of each other in a way that made you believe that, while in love, they knew to be a certain way around others.  Poitier's character was nervous about the racial situation while the younger Drayton was surprised that anyone would take issue.

Much of the dialogue took some getting used to.  The racial terms used in 1967 are not the same as we use today.  It was not as if anything was meant by the terms, other than to be descriptive of the particular race.

Katherine Hepburn plays the mother of the would-be bride and really keeps this movie going as she is the voice of reason in the world.  She sees how happy her daughter is with Dr. Prentice and realizes that is what is most important.  Spencer Tracy's character grew the most within this film.  Playing the part of Joanne Drayton's father, he wasn't too keen on the idea of the young couple but at the end when he delivers his speech to the entire family, you see how fantastic he is as an actor.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a classic film worth viewing.  Being filmed during a time when sixteen states did not allow interracial characters, this film was a huge risk.  It was a pleasure to see and it's wonderful how far we've come as a society.

Columbia Pictures re-released Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in 2015 on blu-ray under the Twilight Time label.  Extras include introductions by Karen Kramer, Steven Spielberg, Tom Brokaw and Quincy Jones; multiple mini-docs that talk about what went into the making of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and the sacrifices made to make this film happen.

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Zoolander 2 - Box Office Review

Here's the thing, sometimes you decide that fast food is ok for dinner. The final meal of the day doesn't always have to be gourmet, home made or delivery. The same philosophy can be applied to the movie-going experience. "Zoolander 2" was the Taco Bell or Del Taco version of quality when it comes to a cinematic experience. I walked out of the theater feeling satisfied to the point my expectations were met and additionally regretful that my hard earned dollars were spent on such poor quality entertainment.

If you enjoyed the first one, which I still do, then there's plenty of familiar comedy that will have you chuckling out loud. There's also the plethora of celebrity cameo's that were peppered throughout the film. My favorite cameo was probably the Susan Boyle appearance. That was so unexpected and timed so well I did laugh out loud. Outside of that the movie wasn't paced well, the edits were choppy and the dialogue felt like something from a teen fiction novel. I really can't recommend this film to people but if you loved the initial offering you'll appreciate moments in the sequel. 

There was one silver lining to this oddly made film. Will Ferrell. Now, I know that sounds obvious but stay with me. His character was twisted and mentally deranged. This wasn't comedic. His character was actually a demented psychopath who has been plotting his revenge the entire time between films. The story for his character was also something of a brilliant criminal mastermind who is comfortable killing people and asserting his dominance to get what he wants, both mental and physical. His performance, storyline and acting actually captured my attention. Everything about his character elevated my enjoyment of the film. As soon as he arrives on screen the entire film felt like one ended and a new one began. Similar to how Josh Trank's Fantastic Four felt like two films, so did this. 

"Zoolander 2" is in theaters now! I refuse to give this film any acknowledgement beyond my review. It's really not that good. It's borderline offensive to people who are overweight. The majority of the jokes don't land well. Its timing suffers. Its dialogue is cheap and to think it took over a decade to make and this was the best they could do was disappointing. At the very least, Penelope Cruz looked smoking hot in a black bathing suit towards the end of the film. Unfortunately, you had to endure the entire film for that moment. See it in theaters if you want, but I'd recommend you wait for it to be on basic cable at 2 in the morning when you're so out of your mind you won't even notice how bad this movie is. And now Penelope Cruz, because Penelope Cruz.

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Hail, Caesar! - Box Office Review

If all you know about this film is what you saw from the previews, you know little about this film. If you paid attention to how few details were given in the trailers you knew ahead of time that your uncertainty was designed. This film deals with an abduction, sure, but it's so much more than that. This film takes you on a journey of movie-making that will entertain you, confuse you and tickle you in multiple ways. The Coen Brothers have successfully delivered to us, the movie-going audience, a film unique in its delivery but familiar in its story and because of that "Hail, Caesar!" is quite the cinematic experience.

The film has a cavalcade of all star talent that is peppered throughout the film. It's remarkable how a cast this talented was even manageable but that's the Coen Brothers for you. They managed to get each talent to portray a particular hollywood stereotype so splendidly this film managed to be about multiple films in a film. I can think of maybe two other films I've enjoyed that share that theme, one is "Get Shorty" and the other is "What Just Happened" but neither do as well as "Hail, Caesar!" to create this particular worlds within a world atmosphere.

The primary story or pulse of the film deals with the character "Eddie Mannix" played by Josh Brolin. This entire movie rests upon the fact this character must survive and succeed in his daily dealings with the Hollywood people. Everything that happens, to each character, somehow manages to find its way to his office and his desk. Each character has their own tale that is occurring and by the end of the film we find out that it's all connected but if you blink, laugh or bathroom break you might miss the one line that connects the dots you're following.

The moments in this film that really elevate this to the next level are embedded deep in the story. It feels natural and humorous all at the same time. The fact the communists are wanting equality and better wages while sitting in a mansion on the beaches of Mailbu, California was just one of the humorous moments. The song and dance number felt like something ripped from the projector of a theater circa 1950. There was delightful choreography and charming dialogue. The scene with the director trying to voice coach the actor... amazing. There is much to be enjoyed but at the end of the day, it's a Coen Brother's film which means it won't necessarily end the way you think it will or should for that matter. 

"Hail, Caesar!" is in theaters now! I give this movie all the Tilda Swinton's imaginable and after you see the film that reference will make sense. So go see it and enjoy that reference with me. If you like to laugh this is for you. If you like a story peppered with irony, for you. If you enjoy character study films, also for you. This film has something for everyone unless you only like the horror genre. If that's the case, why on earth are you even reading this review? Go watch someone get chopped up or possessed and stop reading this but do share it with someone you know who enjoys more movies than you. 

Comment below if you’ve already seen it and share your thoughts! Join in on the fun of movie watching and share this post with anyone who enjoys going to the movies.

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Ride Along 2 - Box Office Review

I wasn't expecting much from this film and I didn't get much either. The little I did receive from this film was worth it. I walked out of the theater smiling and thinking, "I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I just did" and that's ok in my book. So let's take a look at "Ride Along 2" and some areas of opportunity and accomplishments I saw while watching this movie.

First, Rotten Tomatoes has this film at ratings low enough to make anyone question why I'd bother to see the thing. The critic score is abysmal sitting at 13% rotten. I wasn't surprised by that and to be honest I don't care. Certain films are made for a single purpose and this film falls in that category. This film was made to entertain and provide chuckles. So we'll excuse the critic score from the conversation because it's the user score that should more accurately reflect how enjoyable this film was. After all, the user score indicates what we the viewers think and hopefully we're seeing films that interest us. Critics have to see everything. Users pay to see what they prefer. That being said, the user score is 56% rotten. Ouch. Even the people who enjoyed the first one, like the characters, the actors, everything did not enjoy this film by a slight majority.

Overall, this film had potential to be so much better than it was. Unfortunately, I blame the writing and directing for all the short comings present in this film. This movie was stuffed with cliche's and predictable moments. So much so I groaned out loud once or twice in the theater. Additionally, tell one story if that's what your movie is supposed to do. Don't tell tell one story with half the cast, then tell the same story differently but at the same time with Kevin Hart's character and finally add Ken Jeong as comedic relief when one of your stars is Kevin Hart! The whole movie is happening at one speed, then Kevin takes over and changes the tempo of the film. Interestingly enough, it was Kevin Harts character that made the film enjoyable. The manner in which the story developed with his character was the entertaining and enjoyable part. The whole movie is happening and it feels like a process. Then Kevin takes over and the movie becomes entertaining. Then it goes back to process. On, off, on off. It was ridiculous.

Ken Jeong and Kevin Hart sharing screen time and dialogue was great. The timing these two comedic actors have actually made me forget how poorly made this film was. It was like being in a desert of boredom only to find comedic water bottles sporadically along the way.

Kevin's character had a story line that stayed consistent, was humorous and at times very original. Then it switches off him and becomes step-by-step movie making that we've all seen hundreds of times before. I couldn't get over how poorly directed this film was. I went back and looked at Tim Story's IMDB page and found out he's made other terrible films like the early 2000's "Fantastic Four" and the even bigger stink pile that was "Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer".  So, it made sense why the directing was so bad here when there's a pattern of garbage films in his resume. 

"Ride Along 2" is in theaters now! Overall, I don't recommend anyone see this film in theaters. If it comes on TV, OnDemand, VOD or you "win" it at a white elephant gift exchange then take a viewing just for the Kevin Hart storyline. Theres more bad than good here but the good is quite entertaining to be fair. Also, Tika Sumpter is gorgeous in this film so that helps bump up the positives.

Comment below if you’ve already seen it and share your thoughts! Join in on the fun of movie watching and share this post with anyone who enjoys going to the movies.

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Movie Review: Hits (2014)

David Cross writes and directs a tale of fame set in the small town of Liberty, NY.  The film shows how the internet can make you famous, even if it wasn't the way you intended for it to happen.

Meredith Hagner plays Katelyn, a nineteen year old girl with a dream to be on the NBC television show, "The Voice."  She feels she has what it takes and is willing to do just about anything to be heard.

Katelyn's father Dave, who is brilliantly played by Matt Walsh, has issues with his city council.  He continues to go to the town halls and is shut down.  This has progressively made him more upset and the videos of his city council outbursts have become mildly popular on YouTube.  This is where Donavan(James Adomian) comes in.  He becomes quite interested in Dave's cause when his drug dealer(Michael Cera) shows Donavan and his wife(Erinn Hayes) the YouTube video.  Donavan, who lives in New York City, and his group of friends are part of an internet group called "Think Tank" and he feels Dave is the perfect subject.

Everything culminates in the small town of Liberty.  Katelyn is looking to record a demo, Dave is becoming more and more popular on the internet, Donavan is surprised by the amount of attention, and there are a lot more characters that have integral parts within this story.

David Cross masterfully weaves all of the characters into this film.  There is a lot going on, but he finds a way to give each character enough screen time so that you are able to keep up with this interweaving tale.  There are also characters who may play small roles but had me laughing out loud.  Derek Waters was remarkably funny in his role as the awkward and always hungry Larson.

Those that are looking for fame do find it.  It just doesn't come the way they might have thought it would.

I'm giving "Hits" three out of five Pile Drivers.  Definitely worth watching if you like a tragic comedy.

You can read more of my reviews here on Cinema Head Cheese and also please check out my blogs, reviews and podcasts on http://maskerpiecetheatre.blogspot.com/

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

This review came from one of my earlier Cinema Head Cheese blogs.

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Movie Review: Krampus (2015)

Before watching The League on FX, I had never heard of Krampus.  But after hearing Jon LaJoie's character Taco singing Krampus carols and running around the mall chasing children as the fabled devil beast, I knew we needed a movie.

The previews for this film made Krampus look like a fun horror film.  The movie is also rated PG-13 so I figured this would make for a fun daddy/daughter day on Christmas Eve.  With everything being Star Wars at the movie theaters, it wasn't hard to find a seat.  The theater was actually empty until a couple of minutes into the film.

The two of us had a great time watching Krampus.  It was a fun horror film that included some recognizable stars along with some new faces.  Prior to seeing Adam Scott cast in this film, I was wondering what direction the film would go.  I was glad to see there was a level of humor to go along with scary parts.

Krampus doesn't travel alone and his helpers made this movie even more insanely fun.  Demented clown looking beasts, psychotic ginger bread men and evil elves assisted Krampus against the family that were not in the Christmas spirit.

Emjay Anthony was the real star of this movie as he was the one who started out with the most amount of Christmas spirit.  As more family members showed up to the home, his spirit becomes broken and a great storm comes along.  This is where things go downhill for all of them.


Although not a huge cast, every member of the cast mattered in their own way for Krampus.  Michael Dougherty did well directing the film and giving screen time to each actor.  Adam Scott and Toni Collette played the parts of parents to Emjay Anthony and Stefania LaVie Owen's characters.  David Koechner and Allison Tolman's redneck-type characters brought along their children and surprise everyone with Aunt Dorothy played by Conchata Ferrell.

While I said Emjay Anthony was the star, it is because of his interactions with Krista Stadler as his grandmother.  She is well aware of Krampus as you can tell by the way she talks in trailer for the film.  She gives us backstory to Krampus which is told through an animated flashback, which seems to be the way you do flashbacks nowadays.

If you're looking for some scary holiday fun, give Krampus a shot.  I know it's not Gremlins, but it's worth checking out.  I'll give Krampus three and a half out of five pile drivers.

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Daddy's Home - Box Office Review

There are films that take you to new worlds, exciting landscapes and spark thoughts that challenge and stimulate the mind. “Daddy’s Home” is not one of those films. It would be a boring life if movies were all the same and thankfully certain films are produced just to make you laugh. This is a movie designed for laughter. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg return to the big screen to entertain and delight once more. 

The premise of the film is identifiable for some, which helps create an emotional connection, which is important for film. A stepfather is attempting to earn a place in the hearts of his step-children. Things are going well when the biological father returns and shakes up the family dynamic being established. That’s it. It’s humorous and it attempts, slightly, to deliver a positive message about family togetherness and acceptance. 

There are a few scenes where special effects were necessary for story telling and it was noticeable. I believe the decision was made to make even the special effects look humorous. If I believed anything else I’d be disappointed in how fake they looked. This movie doesn’t ask a lot from the audience except to laugh. I won’t ask a lot from this movie based on that impression. 

The onscreen chemistry between Will and Mark continues to delight. The combination of their personalities is one of the highlights of this comedy. Thankfully, when they share screen time it’s entertaining and comical. These two actors compliment each other so well in comedies. Will is the straight laced, tender hearted, smooth jazz listening stepfather. Mark is the motorcycle riding, marathon completing, manipulative, bad boy, biological father. They play off each other so well and you can’t help but laugh. 

“Daddy’s Home” is in theaters now! I give this film a piano ballad by Yanni with a jazz flute solo and a rock tune by AC/DC for good measure. If you need a break from life and thought this is a film for you. If you decide that you would enjoy shutting off your brain box for an hour or two and enjoy some laughs, again, this is your movie. If you score matinee prices you might enjoy it more but if it’s date night, purchase those tickets and share some laughs with that special person in your life. 

Comment below if you’ve already seen it and share your thoughts! Join in on the fun of movie watching and share this post with anyone who you feel would enjoy another one of my Box Office Reviews.

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Sisters - Box Office Review

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are two comedic talents that instantly spark my curiosity when they are working on something. The fact they decided to make a movie together was immediately intriguing to me. I might have been the only guy in the theater not on a date but I still found myself laughing out loud and enjoying some humorous moments on screen. “Sisters” came out to a decent weekend earnings and even better critic and viewer reviews. There wasn’t much of a drop in earnings from week 1 to week 2 either. This suggests that word of mouth helps carry this movie along and for good reason.  

Amy Poehler plays the responsible, career driven, sister who is tasked with informing her sister that their childhood home is being sold. Tina Fey is the free spirited, snarky, party sister who believes that responsibility is just a really long word. The cliche’s don’t end there as we see the basic plot points of stories like these manifest throughout the film. The responsible sister lets loose and learns something about herself and life. The party sister learns how everyone must grow up at some point, no matter how many failures you endure. The basic concept of this film is standard and lacks creativity. There’s nothing memorable with the overall story because we’ve seen it before in countless “coming of age” films.

The characters were entertaining and a familiar few faces appeared throughout the film. If you watched “Parks and Rec” and/or “30 Rock” you might have noticed a certain counsel man and an awkward writer who always picks the worst lunches. Nice little touches here and there helped make this film entertaining. The comedic timing in this film was done well, thankfully. It almost felt like the female version of “Step Brothers” which I was fine with. Watching two grown women try and reclaim the best night of their high school life was definitely entertaining. There were a few moments where the women in the audience were laughing and I wasn’t but only because I wasn’t sure where the joke was. The female audience seemed to understand so that demographic was satisfied, surely. Overall, I laughed many times and walked out of the theater pleased I made the purchase to see this comedy.

“Sisters” is in theaters now! I give this movie all the “dear diary” entries discussed in the film and maybe a few more. I recommend matinee prices but if you are looking to treat your lady to a comedy she’ll enjoy, date night this film. It never hurts to see a film your girl will like, probably more than you, from time to time. It’s funny. It’s entertaining. It’s not gender specific like a Lifetime movie. Overall, this was a good, laugh filled, time in the theater and I enjoyed seeing Tina and Amy on screen together.

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The Binge Watcher Review: Black-ish

"Black-ish"

Starring Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Tracee Ellis Ross, Deon Cole,

Jenifer Lewis

Synopsis:

A family man struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising 

his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

The Good:

By far the star of this show is ever appearance by Laurence Fishburne. He might 

even be funnier than Anthony Anderson. Also Deon Cole’s Charlie Telphy is a must have in each episode 

The Bad:

Tracee Ellis Ross, Dre’s wife in the show. She is more annoying than funny and 

maybe that is the point. I find it hard to watch scenes that require her to be the 

main focal point.

Final Thoughts:

I am not sure what many of you thought when first hearing about this show. 

I know when I did; I wanted nothing to do with it. Thank you Hulu, because 

I would have missed out on one of the funnier shows on Television. Outside 

of Brooklyn 99, this show has to be the funniest on TV. Currently in its second 

season the show seems to be going strong, Anthony Anderson is great and the 

scene stealer of the show is Laurence Fishburne.

I definitely recommend this show to everyone, if you’re behind check out past 

episodes on Hulu. My suggestion, go to the Halloween Episode this season. I 

give this show Two Thumbs Up. Please let us know what you think of the show and leave a comment below.

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