The Other Guys (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, August 5th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
The new Will Ferrell action-comedy runs for 107 minutes. If only director Adam Mckay had trimmed this down to 90minutes, leaving out the excessive and uninteresting action finale. Even at its current length, this is the funnest comedy of summer 2010. Pudgy wimp Ferrell is the paper pushing desk jockey that craves order and civility, that shys away from danger and violence. Mark Wahlberg plays his fiery partner, Terry Hoitz, who’s restricted to a desk and paired with Ferrell as punishment for shooting New York Yankee Derek Jeter. Look for that scene to draw applause in – Continue reading…
Black Dynamite (2009) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
3 Stars
A spot-on satire of the ‘blaxploitaion’ films of the 1970’s. The genre’s strengths and shortcomings are lovingly recreated by director Scott Sanders; Michael Jai White embodies the title character ‘Dynamite’. A loose cannon seeking revenge for the murder of his kid brother. As he works his way through the criminal underworld, our hero stumbles upon a conspiracy to shrink the genitals of all black men. A hilarious throwback to the genre classics ‘Three the Hard Way‘ and of course ‘Shaft‘. Jai White is excellent as the afro-centric Kung-Fu bad-ass, he brings loads of charisma to the action scenes – Continue reading…
What Happens in Vegas (2008) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
Recently fired slacker (Kutcher) and high maintenance dumpee (Diaz) have a wild fling in Vegas leading to a midnight wedding. Once sober; both parties agree to call the whole thing off, until Kutcher hits a 3million jackpot using a quarter Diaz gave him. Under court order these two unhappy newlyweds must co-habitat for six months in order to divorce and split the winnings. In the process realizing that they really are perfect for each other. A rather bland romantic comedy, complete with lazy writing and uninspired direction. Which is a shame because Kuther and Diaz have chemistry – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Friday, June 25th, 2010
3 Stars
Adam Sandler and his friends are back in this lightweight mid-summer comedy about five infantile men in their 40s who reunite for the funeral of their childhood basketball coach. A handful of fitfully funny scenes are buried in the films 100 minute running time. Outside of a couple of ‘gross-out’ gags, the film is relatively tame in comparison to most Sandler vehicles. Maybe he’s growing up, too often the film goes for a pleasant, family friendly tone when the material could have been so much better with a more aggressive and adult comedic touch. Sandler is coming precariously – Continue reading…
Knight and Day (2010) – Review
By Trevor Anderson | Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
3 Stars
Tom Cruise was born to play this role. Just looking at him makes you wonder if this cool, calm and collected person can really be crazy. Knight and Day uses this to great effect. Cruise plays an FBI agent who is protecting a young genius that has created a power source that never dries up. All the while the film keeps you guessing as to Cruise’s true intent as he racks up a body count and the FBI pursues him.
Cameron Diaz plays the fish out of water character very well; this coupled with Cruise’s insane coolness under pressure – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
An intriguing premise is wasted in this misguided blockbuster. An excellent first act gives way to an overly self-important second act that rings false. Will Smith is ideal in the role of the drunken, anti-social superhero who must atone of all the damage he’s caused by spending time in jail. Jason Bateman is an unsuccessful P.R. man, whom sells Smith on the idea that; while incarcerated the public will realize they need a savior. So far so good. Then the screenplay by Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan takes an unexpected and serious turn, in the process – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
The last and best of the Will Ferrell sports comedies. This one a hilarious spot-on send up of the 1970’s American Basketball Association (A.B.A) and the disco era in general. Ferrell is one-hit wonder Jackie Moon, owner of the Detroit franchise, Flint Tropics. He’s also the team’s coach and worst player. Straddled with a losing record, a prima- dona, and a fading star, the tropics must fight for survival in a league collapsing due to a forthcoming merger with the NBA. The story is a silly excuse for some of the most giggle inducing scenes in – Continue reading…
By Trevor Anderson | Monday, June 7th, 2010
1 1/2 Stars
In an attempt at recapturing the fun in 2005’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Killers fails on every level. At first it is a simple romantic comedy, without the romance and severely lacking in laughs. Then at around the hour-in point, there’s some action. Not good action, but long action sequences that compliment the boring beginning of the film. The couple are attacked, bullets fly and the attacker is killed. Nothing more nothing less.
Ashton Kutcher plays his hit man as a nice likable guy. And Katherine Heigl doesn’t turn in a performance that hurts the film. The fact – Continue reading…
Get Him to the Greek (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
3 Stars
The quasi-sequel to 2007’s ‘Forgetting Sara Marshall’ isn’t quite on the level of its predecessor. Yet it does offer a welcome return for Russell Brand’s hedonistic character Aldous Snow, and a nice comic performance from Apatow regular Jonah Hill. During the opening moment of the film, Snow is filming the video for his latest single, “African Child,” a horrifically and hysterically miscalculated effort. Following the failure of this project and being dumped on national T.V. Aldous takes a long fall off the sobriety wagon. Leading to an 8 minute montage of Snow’s bad behavior through clips on various – Continue reading…
Sex and the City 2 (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, May 27th, 2010
1 1/2 Stars
The sequel to the wildly popular first film is a long, unfunny and at times embarrassing experience. The four gals from New York are back and more self-absorbed than ever. Carrie is married and upset her former playboy now prefers evenings at home watching old movies. Charlotte is concerned that her husband is eying the new nanny who doesn’t believe in wearing bras. Miranda has to battle with a chauvinistic boss while Samantha is battling the onset of menopause. So what’s a girl to do? Descend on Abu Dhabi with more outfits and accessories than humanly – Continue reading…
By Trevor Anderson | Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
3 Stars
MacGruber is a feature length adaptation of the Saturday Night Live skit poking fun at MacGyver. Strange to think this could even have been a possibility as a feature, seeing as Anchorman 2 is so hard to get made. Even stranger is just how entertaining this flick is.
In order to fill an hour and a half of screen time the movie ingeniously expands from just MacGyver fun to all out 80s action flicks. Big explosions, lots of blood and ridiculous dialogue make MacGruber a real hoot to watch. Its R-rating is well earned, and had my jaw dropping – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Friday, May 14th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
The new Basketball themed Romantic comedy staring Queen Latifah and Common is a predictable yet pleasing date movie. Former hip-hop artist Common acquits himself nicely in the role of Lesile Wright, star player for the New Jersey Nets. Latifah and her gold digging beauty of a best friend ,Morgan (the charming Paula Patton) are the teams biggest fans. After a possible career ending injury, Latifah begins therapy treatment with Wright in order to aid in his rehabilitation. Slowly the two realize they have more in common then a love for basketball. All of this leads to a – Continue reading…
Rajan: i am sure a certain harrison ford will equal that record. Stallone becomes 1st Movie Star to Headline #1 Openings in last 5 Decades – News