The Happytime Murders

My View: The Happytime Murders  (2018) R  In a world where humans and puppets co-exist, a puppet cast of an 80’s children’s TV show is being murdered one by one. A disgraced former policeman (Bill Barretta) and a detective (Melissa McCarthy) team up to find the killer. First off this is not for kids, there is a lot of languages, violence, and even some puppet sex. The film isn’t funny enough to make it fun to watch, it goes for the easy laughs too often, and the plot is incredibly weak. I am also getting tired of Melissa McCarthy’s one-note act in every movie she is in. The final problem with this film is that all the funny bits in the film are in the trailer.   My Rating: Cable

In Case You Missed It (A movie just released on DVD/Blu-Ray): Life of the Party  (2018)  PG-13  After her husband asks for a divorce, a middle-aged mother (Melissa McCarthy) goes back to college to complete her degree at the same school her daughter goes to. Another comedy dud from the married team of Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy. This tedious and unfunny film feels twice as long as its one hour and forty-five-minute running time. The film’s plot is highly predictable and with plot holes the size of a keg of stale beer. McCarthy’s fish-out-of-water performance gets old very fast, and Gillian Jacobs’ performance as ‘Coma Girl’ is strange and offsetting. Rent Back to School, instead, and stay away from this mess of a film.    My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again    The Happytime Murders

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers but Just Looks Like a Bad Idea): Hell Fest (2018)  A masked serial killer turns a horror-themed amusement park into his personal killing zone. When you don’t recognize any of the cast, it’s never a good sign.   Hell Fest Website

Forgotten Film:  Croupier  (1998) An writer, Jack (Clive Owen) who is down on his luck and takes a job at a London casino as a croupier (a dealer). As Jack’s relationship with his girlfriend (Gina McKee) starts to fall apart, Jack starts seeing a woman  (Alex Kingston) who is drowning in debt to the casino. She proposes that with Jack’s help they defraud the casino. The reason to watch this film is Clive Owen, who gives a mesmerizing performance as a man who thinks he is in control of his world but soon realizes he isn’t.    My Rating: Full Price   Croupier Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Happytime Murders: Puppet Builder

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Love Gilda  (2018)  In her own words from a recently discovered audio tape, Gilda Radner tells her life story in her own words. She was my favorite from the original Saturday Night Live cast, and I can’t wait to see this documentary.     Love Gilda Website

Until Next Time!

The Fault in Our Stars

My View:  The Fault in Our Stars (2014) PG-13  Gus (Ansel Elgort) is a cancer survivor with a prosthetic leg.  Hazel (Shailene Woodley) has cancer, and her constant companion is an oxygen tank.  They meet  at a cancer support group and fall in love.  Just how long will this relationship last?  Get out your box of tissues (you will need a full box), and get ready for an excellent story of how thrilling first loves can be and how life can be so unfair.  Woodley, in her best performance to-date, is magical as the girl fighting cancer with her attitude and her heart. Elgort is perfectly cast as the boy with a great sense of humor who falls hard for Hazel. Their chemistry is amazing to watch, and there is a real connection between the two. While cancer is present in almost every scene (almost as its own character), the real heart of the story is about two people finding each other and accepting that they must make every moment count.  My only complaint (and it’s a small one) is that there were moments in the film where I got choked up, but there never was that big, hard hitting emotional spot, just a whole bunch of little ones. My Rating: Full Price  The Fault in Our Stars Website

Indiefest:  Cold in July (2014) R Awakened in the middle of the night, Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall) kills an unarmed intruder in his home.  When the dead man’s father (Sam Shepard) shows up, Richard feels threatened.  So he hires a private detective (Don Johnson) to protect him and his family, but things just get more and more complicated.  I loved this suspenseful film that had numerous twists and turns with one big twist that I didn’t see coming.  Hall does an excellent job of playing a man who gets deeper and deeper into a situation that he isn’t equipped to handle.  Shepard is perfect as a man who could explode at any moment. I loved Don Johnson as the outrageous P.I., chewing up scenery with gusto.  This is a brilliant film that keeps you on your toes.  My Rating: Full Price  Cold in July Website  

Indiefest:  Words and Pictures (2014)  PG-13 Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) is an artist who has developed rheumatoid arthritis. She needs help on a daily basis to get around, so she moves to a new town and begins teaching at a prestigious private high school. She instantly clashes with the English teacher, Jack Marcus (Clive Owen), an alcoholic writer who hasn’t written anything in years. Now the question is which is more meaningful…words or pictures?  Binoche and Owen are let down by the script, which starts out strong but ends up being predictable and heavy-handed.  The film works best during the first half where the two characters are debating, but as the film progresses, and the two become more than just colleagues, their chemistry seems to fizzle. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Words and Pictures Website

Forgotten Film: Klute (1971) R  John Klute (Donald Sutherland) is a Private Investigator who is hired to find out what happened to a businessman who has been missing for six months.  His only clue - a handwritten obscene letter written to a Manhattan call girl (Jane Fonda) by the missing man.  Now, Klute is part of a cat and mouse game where no one can be trusted and his life may be in danger.  This is an interesting film where you really don’t know what is going on or whom you can trust.  Sutherland is very different in this role, playing a man who isn’t too sure of himself or his abilities. Fonda is absolutely gorgeous and is perfect in the part of the call girl who is in way over her head.  It’s a film that will keep you guessing until the very end.  My Rating:  Full Price Klute Info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD/Blu-ray):  Son of God (2014) PG-13 The story of Jesus (Diogo Morgado) from his humble beginnings, his lifelong teaching, his crucifixion and to his resurrection.  Morgado is admirable in the role and has a pleasing presence on the screen with the perfect amount of charisma the part needs.  I felt that while Son of God isn’t a bad film, it just doesn’t bring anything new to the story of Jesus.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee Son of God Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Fault in Our Stars:  Textile Artist

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Wish I Was Here (2014)  Zach Braff is a father who, at age 35, is still trying to find his way.  His life is changed when he takes his kids out of private school and begins home schooling them.  I really enjoyed Braff’s first film that he wrote and directed, Garden State (2004), so I can’t wait for this one.   Wish I Was Here Website

Until Next Time!