Tag Archives: Comedy

“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” Doesn’t Connect

image Jeff Tremaine’s hidden camera road trip comedy Bad Grandpa (C-) offers Johnny Knoxville in full makeup as a cantankerous codger and child actor Jackson Nicoll as his sidekick and prank co-conspirator in a threadbare plot about delivering the boy from jailbird mom to even worse dad for custody. Knoxville is game for the high-jinks but fails in adding any authenticity to his character, which means Nicoll carries most of the film’s minor charms on his small but mighty shoulders. The highlight is the film’s finale, an infiltration of a kid beauty pageant, and even that joke has been done before in Little Miss Sunshine. Still, as a prank and gag-filled throwaway endeavor, it’s got some occasional sweetness. The end credit bloopers make it look incredibly fun to make, even if that fun only intermittently manifests onscreen.

“Frozen” Works in Spurts

Frozen-movie-posterChris Buck and Jennifer Lee’s animated Disney movie Frozen (B+) mixes up the princess formula with some unexpected twists and largely enchanting results. This Scandanavian storybook adventure is filled with fresh ice effects, compelling heroines, charming sidekicks and winning songs by Kristen and Bobby Lopez. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel’s power ballads and a snowman’s serenade to sunny climates – by Book of Mormon‘s Josh Gad – are among the highlights.

“We’re The Millers” Only Occasionally Funny

were-the-millers-522a8a6a6eebeWe’re the Millers (C+), a comedy directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, hearkens back to the spirit of National Lampoon’s Vacation, although this time around it’s a fake family on a road trip to smuggle drugs across the Mexican border and get them back to Denver, Smokey and the Bandit style (except in an RV) for a crime boss. Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston are workmanlike as the leads, neither over the top nor pouring on too much wit or charm into the roles. Individual episodes and lines sporadically land, but there’s too much reliance on throwaway pop culture references for the film to amount to much on its own terms. Still, it’s a funny enough vehicle for its ensemble and an occasionally witty satire about the suburban mystique. More bawdy than brainy but often worth the journey for a handful of laughs.

“The To Do List” (2013) Doesn’t Deliver

Writer/director Maggie Carey’s ’90s-set The To Do List (C-) is radical only in its gender-bending-premise of a young female character being the one looking to lose her virginity come hell or high water. Alas a wooden central performance by Aubrey Plaza and a sloppy structure that just doesn’t deliver on enough laughs thwarts this limp episodic comedy. Despite its occasional charms, this carnal clap-trap is definitely not a keeper.

2013 “Much Ado About Nothing” Amusing

much_ado_about_nothing_poster__v1__by_bluemoonpriestess-d6a208pDespite being a wizard of witty wordplay, Director Joss Whedon belabors The Bard in his black and white limited release Much Ado About Nothing (B-). It’s artfully shot and decently acted by an ensemble of Joss’ journeyman actors, and the film is often frothy and fun. It’s a neat conceit that it’s filmed in and around Whedon’s own home, but alas it doesn’t match or improve on the 1993 version in any notable way. I was hoping the Buffy creator would bring on more blithe and bonny.

“This Is The End” is Raunchy, Funny

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s This Is The End (B) is a super-raunchy, self-aware, nihilistic comic adventure with zeitgeist to spare. Playing winking versions of themselves, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride and James Franco are among the most hilarious of a raucous ensemble as the apocalypse comes to the Hollywood Hills. Although it overstays its welcome, this is a blissful mash-up of The Goonies, Ghostbusters, Dogma and Entourage and has more offensive laughs per minute than any comedy in a long time.

“The Way Way Back” is Nostalgic Summer Comedy

Being a sucker for movies about lonely teens gaining new confidence, it’s no surprise that I adored Jim Rash and Nat Faxon’s The Way Way Back (A), a coming of age dramedy buoyed by a charming ensemble including Liam James as the troubled hero and Sam Rockwell as his unlikely role model. A beachside summer domicile and a classic water park become the East and West Egg of the action as the protagonist maneuvers life with his insecure mom (the always marvelous Toni Collette) and her slick suitor (a restrained Steve Carell) and his new set of secret friends. Allison Janey is also a delight as the sauced-up next door neighbor. Funny, moving and fun in all the right measures.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is Family Fun

Wreck-It-Ralph-Movie-PosterRich Moore’s Wreck-It Ralph (B+) is a highly creative and charming CGI fantasy about an 8-bit ’80s arcade game character who must become a hero of a different kind in today’s virtual age. Waves of nostalgia, knowing in-jokes and clever hazards help this sometimes overlong film please audiences of all ages.

“Magic Mike” Makes for Lightweight Drama

imageSteven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike (C) is the origin story of a Tampa-based stripper group (ahem, male entertainment) and is made notable by both the titular character played and danced by a charming Channing Tatum and by the veteran emcee and ringleader placed by a wily and entertaining Matthew McConaughey. Alex Pettyfer plays the film’s mangenue, and his and all the film’s subplots are threadbare indeed. As drama, it doesn’t have heft. As escapism, it’s not quite trifle or truffle. It all compares unfavorably to Boogie Nights, which plumbs the adult entertainment industry with much more vivid aplomb. The fun in Mike comes in some of the ribald choreography and music/dance sequences, but I expected Soderbergh to well, step it up. The magic goes poof pretty quickly.

“Ted” is a Cuddly Buddy Comedy

imageSeth MacFarlane scores big as director, co-writer and voice of Ted (A-), a teddy bear brought to life as the boon companion of Mark Wahlberg in a hilarious Boston-set comedy. The teddy bear is a boozy, profane sidekick who gets his human companion in trouble a bit, especially as he courts Mila Kunis. The film is funny and an insightful look at rejuveniles gasping for childhood wonder and freedom as the onslaught of adulthood hits. The film is vulgar and very funny. Wahlberg deserves a lot of credit for creating a realistic bond with a plush buddy.

“21 Jump Street” is a Laugh Riot

image Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s very loose comedic remake of an ’90’s police TV series of the same name, 21 Jump Street (B+) is a riotously funny buddy comedy about older guys posing as high schoolers to help bring down a drug ring. The unlikely pairing of schlubby, hilarious Jonah Hill with hunky and surprisingly witty Channing Tatum is the inspiration that makes this film so successful. The duo’s outrageous misadventures make for a magnificent story punctuated with laughter, nostalgia, wit and raunch. One of the best bits involves the protagonists accidentally ingesting the drug that is circulating throughout the school: the effects on them in art class and physical education make for some great comedy. The film is a bright example of starting with subject matter that seems the fodder of cynical Hollywood studio executives and making something original and special out if it.

Comedy “Pitch Perfect” Takes Viewers Inside A Capella Competitions

image Jason Moore’s Pitch Perfect (B) is a charming, often funny and very musical look at the world of competitive collegiate a capella singing groups. It’s a great showcase for Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin and Rebel Wilson, who often steals the show as “Fat Amy.” Just when it seems to devolve into gross-out humor or overly formulaic characters, the film trots out new surprises and dazzles with its bag of vocal tricks. All in all, it’s well worth a watch and a listen.