Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) – It wasn’t Broke, They tried to Fix it and Failed

horrible-bosses-2

 

I liked the original movie “Horrible Bosses”: but they didn’t seem to leave much room to make a sequel. Needless to say, I was curious as to how it was going to work out. While it hasn’t done as well as the original, Horrible Bosses 2 is doing well at the box office, though it’s not performing as well with critics.

In this story, our previous leads have invented something called the Shower Buddy. They form their own company, so they can be their own bosses and never have to deal with bad bosses again. They strike a deal with some unscrupulous distributors. When the deal goes sour, the three create an improbable kidnapping scheme (via 9 to 5) in order to take back their invention.

I’d say my biggest complaint was how far away they strayed from the original. Though exaggerated, the bosses in the original were actually bosses you could have. The bad guys in this one are complete caricatures of snake oil salesmen, and it’s pretty amazing that the three fall for their schemes.

Of course, that was accomplished by the three somehow dropping like 30 IQ points a piece since the last movie. The guys in the first movie were unlucky, but they weren’t stupid. The ones in this movie are complete idiots. The reason I liked the first movie so much was because I could say “hey, those guys remind me of me.” In this movie, they don’t remind me of anyone I’ve ever met.

In fact, they were so dumb it was nearly impossible to sympathize with them.

The office genre comedy is successful because there are so many office drones out there who feel the same way. Whether it’s tedious work, irritating coworkers or bosses that are more robot than human, we all feel like we’ve been there. Horrible Bosses 2 loses the magic of that, by turning these guys into business owners with a ridiculous invention, and then having them fail because they made a bad business decision.

horrible_bosses_2

horrible-bosses-21

It’s much harder to sympathize with a character in one of these movies when they’re the ones making the mistakes. I mean, I’m a business owner. I would never work with a distributor without vetting them first…. or even talking to a lawyer. In this movie, the cause of the conflict was so completely unrealistic, and the characters changed so much, I could no longer empathize with them. I didn’t even care about them.

I had another problem with the movie and that was Jennifer Aniston’s character. While playing the foul mouthed sexual harassment vixen in the first movie, she was hilarious and hate-able. In this one, she does something that I think went way too far, when she pretty much sexually assaults a man who has been drugged. If the genders had been reversed, this would have been outrageously controversial and not a bit funny. I don’t care how pretty the aggressor is. If you’re going to make a joke about something like that, you better damn well be able to make it hilarious.

They didn’t

I have to say that I was disappointed by the sequel. In fact, I wish I had never seen it so I would still have the memory of the first good movie in my head. Now, that memory has been forever tarnished.

WE GAVE IT: 2.5 Stars

2.5 Stars
[youtube id=”pa8U_15D0OE” width=”680″ height=”383″]

horrible-bosses-2-poster

Movie Review: Annabelle (2014) – As lifeless as the possessed doll that is Its namesake

annabelle

My son and I have been arguing about the premise of this movie ever since the previews came out. He think that the only time a horror movie should have a doll as its main evil protagonist is when it’s a funny horror. Think Chucky. I think it never works because in honestly, I could take just about any doll in a fight. One word. Flamethrower.

If Annabelle, the creepy doll, looks familiar, you should note she appeared in The Conjuring. Apparently, she was evil there too. We start out the movie by meeting a couple of nurses talking about their own experiences with the doll from hell. Then, we meet the Warrens. Pregnant Mia (Annabelle Wallis) and husband John (Ward Horton) move into an apartment and acquire the doll, possibly for their ‘incredibly creepy dolls from hell’ collection. Of course, the doll is there to take the couple’s newborn baby’s soul and pretty much everything that follows is Chucky without the laughs.

I’m just going to say it. Demon possessed or not demon possessed, it will be a cold day in hell before I fear a doll. It’s a friggen doll. Just kick it, for Gods sake. Annabelle would have never survived in my house, because after my son cut all her hair off and died it blue, he probably would have tossed her in the microwave for a bit. And no more Annabelle.

annabelle2

annabelle-movie-poster-10

The scares are repetitive, tired and go on too long for the punch line. Its lots of paranormal scares, where you squint at the screen and say “wait, that wasn’t there before…” before rolling your eyes. The scares are those pretentious ‘smart people’ scares, like watching a Halloween episode of Jeopardy. I hate being required to pay attention to a horror like I’m paying attention to the Usual Suspects.

Enough with squeaky floors being scary. I grew up in a New England farmhouse. Trust me, I don’t fear creaky floors or even mysterious figures in white. Where I come from, a mysterious zombie-like figure wandering around in the house just means grandpa forgot to take his meds again.

You’re going to have to try a bit harder to scare me, Annabelle.

This movie is about as lifeless as the possessed doll that is its namesake. The scares are clichés and the premise is too silly to be scary. Every time I saw that doll start to run around on her little possessed legs, I had to fight off a fit of giggles.

There’s one point at the beginning of the movie that’s actually scary. Weirdly, it’s when the young couple gets attacked by psychotic hippies. They got a few jumps out of me on that. But I wasn’t sure what the hippies had to do with anything.

WE GAVE IT: 2.5 Stars

2.5 Stars

 

[youtube id=”paFgQNPGlsg” width=”633″ height=”356″]

Annabelle-2014-Movie-Poster-750x1111

Movie Review: The Expendables 3 – Makes the First two look like Film Masterpieces.

expendable 2014

I have to caveat this review with: If you are a senseless violence, explosion, action movie, big budget film fan, then ignore this review and go see the movie. Despite the review if there was an Expendables 8, I would be there the first day.  The below is me putting on my film critic hat.

I try to check out every single Sylvester Stallone flick because I love watching a good train wreck. Stallone is men’s answer to Madonna. He refuses to accept the fact that he is no longer 27 and can’t play the same rolls anymore. Instead, he desperately clutches onto his last vestiges of youth. It’s really an undignified, but utterly fascinating struggle.

In this third installment, Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team come face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who from his last name and the fact that he’s played by Mel Gibson, is obviously a bag guy. Once upon a time, Barney and Stonebanks were the best of friends, right up until Stonebanks because a ruthless arms trader. This time, Barney destroys the purpose of the Expendables in the first place, by bringing in a bunch of new kids who can actually do the job.

The whole reason the Expendables was even watchable was thrown out in this movie. The Expendables are supposed to be a bunch of old men that no one cares about anymore. In order to breathe new life into a tired premise, as well as give us some younger than 50 boob shots, a bunch of younger more tech savvy (and flexible in the morning) people are hired.

Which kind of eliminates the need for the Expendables.

arnie-expendables-3-5

hr_The_Expendables_3_21

Is it just me, or does Stallone’s face not move anymore? I swear to God, I did not see it move once during this film. Whether he was shooting down bad guys with an AK-47, or catching up on American Idol, Barney wore one expression. It was the slightly surprised look of a fading star in his 50s who got a too tight facelift.

Mel Gibson seems to be embracing these villain rolls, but he doesn’t really have a choice. I mean, when you go off on an anti-Semitic tirade against an industry that’s like 90% Jewish, you’re going to get type cast as a villain. But I think Gibson might have found his calling. I like him so much more now that he admits he’s evil.

The newbie’s in this film are a bunch of forgettable eye candy, there to keep younger viewers watching.

The Expendables was never high art, but the third installment of the series makes the first two look like Schindler’s List. This really was a poor effort and a shameless money grab.

I’m a bit disappointed in the fact that Lionsgate would even put this out as is. This is an action franchise that had a great premise. It was the premise that kept people coming back, when Stallone’s rubber face would have scared them away. To completely change the formula in the third installment smacks of desperation. Perhaps Lionsgate is losing faith in their dying franchise.

It isn’t dead yet though. The Expendables 3 is currently performing at number 4 in the box office, having earned a little over $15 million. Despite those numbers I have to say, the Expendables 3 is utterly…expendable.

WE GAVE IT: 2.5 Stars – Watch the Official Trailer and Official Movie Poster below!

stars

 

[youtube id=”EhjRZDLOW7Y” width=”633″ height=”356″]

The-Expendables-3 (1)

Movie Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Exhausting, Terrifying, Successful Crap.

teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-elevator

I grew up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was one of the first kids saying “wait, mutant ninja turtles? How high was the person that came up with that?” I’ll admit; I was a sophisticated 12-year-old. So when I learned that the turtles from my childhood were back, I had to check them out.

The premise is a classic one for the turtles. Shedder and his evil foot clan have corrupted the leadership of New York. Then, four incredibly scary looking turtles come from the sewer and learn they are destined to fight crime. Toss in some Megan Fox in the form of spunky reporter, April O’Neil and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and you have the perfect formula for success.

Imagine me shaking my fist at the sky screaming “Michael Bay, stop destroying my childhood!”

My first complaint is regarding the turtles themselves. When I was a kid, the turtles were cute. In this movie, they’re friggen terrifying! Like “I’ve been doing steroids and lifting weight in the prison yard all day’ terrifying. If these had been the turtles of my childhood, kids wouldn’t have watched them. They would have checked for them under their beds at night.

Megan Fox as April O’Neil was kind of a good fit. After all, April O’Neil was kind of a one dimensional character to begin with. She’s mainly just there to look good, and Fox can do that. Hell, that’s all she does.

teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-megan-fox-April

Oh god, and the Shredder. What was with that costume? He looked like a Japanese Megaton, with a Jason facemask. Why did they need to make him as terrifying as well?

teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-shredder1

You know what happened here? Someone tried to make a ninja turtles movie without fully understanding the concept. They probably didn’t even watch the original series. The fact is, it reveled in ridiculousness. It made fun of itself. It didn’t take itself too seriously. After all, it was about ninja turtles, so God’s sake.

Then, Michael Bay came along and turned the cuddly heroes of my childhood into giant steroid monsters. When will it end Bay? Where will it end? You gonna go after “My Little Ponies” next?

It’s crap. It’s complete crap and it’s successful crap. The movie is currently number 2 in the box office, raking in an astonishing $65 million.

How is he doing this? How is Michael Bay continuing to make these crap movies and then selling them to us for millions? This is a man who could sell one of his sweat socks to MGM for $500 million.

teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-splinter-megan-fox-group

The movie is heavy on special effects and battle scenes, so you won’t have to wait long for action, but again, the battles go on too long and leave you exhausted. There’s very little recovery from one fight to the next.

It’s also heavy on product placement, because corporate America is in league with Michael Bay’s mad subliminal message skills.

If you are a 12 year old boy, and can get past the terrifying turtles, you might enjoy this.  If you are anything else; this is a wait for video flick. America might be loving this movie, but personally, I with they’d flushed it.

WE GAVE IT: 2.5 Stars

2.5 Stars

 

[youtube id=”gUIC4XuOHs0″ width=”633″ height=”356″]

Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-2014-Movie-Poster

Movie Review: Sex Tape (2014) – A disappointing effort from two stars that I usually like

1138130 - SEX TAPE

As a fan of both Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel, I was thrilled to see they were starring in a movie together. But unfortunately, the lack of chemistry really caused this one to fall flat.

The premise is this. Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) are couple that has fallen into the boredom that most married couples face after ten years of marriage. To try to spice things up, they decide to make a video of themselves getting it on. Of course, the video is lost and then they have a wild night of trying to get that video back before they become as famous as Kim Kardashian.

The premise is cute. I’ll give them that. But a great premise does not a great movie make.

Diaz and Segel lack the chemistry to play a couple. It’s weird, apart both of the stars are incredibly likable and enjoyable. Together, they’re just not believable as a couple. I don’t know why I didn’t buy it. They both played their parts reasonably well, with the confidence of knowing they’re two popular stars that would have a hard time pissing off their fans. But together, they just don’t work for me.

SEX-TAPE-Official-Poster-Banner-PROMO-FIRST-PHOTO-STILL-06JUNHO2014-04

Also, I wasn’t buying how the sex tape got out in the first place. Apparently, Jay has an endless supply of iPads that he hands out like confetti? The makers of this movie are aware that those things are pretty damn expensive, right?

The antics aren’t fun. They’re just exhausting. After an hour of watching the two slapstick their way around town I really felt like I needed a nap. The antics are nothing new. They have to break into a house and surprise, surprise, the home owner has a German Sheppard. Guess what happens after? If your answer is someone gets chased by a dog but no one gets seriously hurt, you’ve pretty much summed up a comedy trope so overused it feels like they added it in because it was required.

1138130 - Sex Tape

This was a disappointing effort from two stars that I usually like. The premise is cute, but it’s accomplished in such a weird way that it makes it unbelievable and the movie falls apart from there.

Also, I’m sick of watching Diaz play the bubbly blonde. It was cute when she was in her 20’s, but now, it’s starting to get a bit pathetic. I much prefer her playing bad assed types, like in Bad Teacher.

As far as romantic comedies go, some married couples might relate to this duo, looking to spice things up after 10 years of marriage, but then the movie goes too over the top. A three hour sex tape, really? Handing out iPads so people can have your play list? A mommy blogger who is worried about her big fat blog paychecks if the sex tape gets out? I don’t know that many bloggers making that much money, I mean, it’s 2014 not 1998. Blogs are a dime a dozen.

It feels like someone came up with a really cute idea, and then just phoned in the plot line because they couldn’t be bothered to make it plausible. It feels like they rested the responsibility solely at Diaz and Segel’s feet to make the movie likable. The two don’t work as a couple and this movie didn’t work at all.

WE GAVE IT: 2.5 Stars

2.5 Stars

 

[youtube id=”sxl4aOyHSwo” width=”633″ height=”356″]

sex_tape_ver3_xlg

Movie Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Transformers Age of Extinction - Movie PosterIt was a high budget art film; shot by George Bush

2.5 Stars

The fourth sequel of the blockbuster series “Transformers” came out last Friday and quickly shot to the top of the charts, garnering nearly $100 million in its opening weekend. So it just hype, or is Transformers: Age of Extinction really that good?

We start off where we usually start off in a Transformers movie. The town has gone to crap and an evil new villain is planning on changing the course of history. Then, a cast of humans, lead by the ever foxy Marc Walberg teams up with Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to save the world, yet again.

And it still takes them one hundred and sixty six minutes. Seriously, 2 and a half friggen hours of the same damn thing yet again. Because that’s what it really was. It was the same exact thing as the last three Transformer movers. The only thing changing is the cast.

Also, question. Was Michael Bay trying to make an art film? If not, what was with all the sun set shots? Transformers 4 kind of felt like it was a high budget art film; shot by George Bush. Over the top patriotism and American flags abound, because let’s not forget that America is the center of the universe…even when half the flipping movie is set in China.

I didn’t understand that at all. What did China have to do with anything? I’m serious, someone please explain to me why they went to China, because I totally missed that plot point.

Transformers Age of Extinction 3

I will say Mark Wahlberg was pretty great, but he’s always been great. I really haven’t seen that guy fail yet, even when he gets cast in a terrible movie. All the other players were entirely forgettable. I’m pretty sure they threw another hot girl in there, to play the spunky eye-candy heroine, but I really didn’t find her that memorable. She was no Megan Fox and I didn’t find her character that interesting. She did the whole ‘damsel in distress’ thing a few times and I really didn’t care if she made it or not.

Also, the Autobots, who were once buddy-buddy with the humans are now a threat and are being hunted by the government. Screw plot continuity, Michael Bay needs more conflict!

Of course, this did allow of the excellent addition of Kelsey Grammer as the CIA op in charge of hunting down the Autobots.

transformers-age-of-extinction-nicola-peltz

Transformers Age of Extinction 2

As if this pile of garbage wasn’t going to make a ton of money anyway, the makers decided to cram in as much product placement as humanly possibly. Everything from Bud Lite to Ford F150s make an appearance.

The movie really should have been called Transformers 4: Brought to You by Red Bull. I understand a little bit of product placement, but the placement I saw in this movie was astonishingly bad and obvious.

transformers-age-of-extinction

Apparently, Bay is threatening to produce two more of these atrocities. Yeah people, this is just the start of yet another trilogy. You know why he’s doing this, right? He needs to raise enough money to produce his own army of evil robots so he can take over the world.

Stop playing right into his hands!        Watch the Official Trailer Below:

[youtube id=”CKD5SNYUpUk” width=”633″ height=”356″]

 

Movie Review: The Grand Seduction (2014)

the-grand-seductionA comedy that is not Grand, not Seductive and not much of a comedy

2.5 Stars

Despite the name, The Grand Seduction is not a sex movie. In fact, it’s incredibly sweet, and incredibly clever. It actually reminded me a bit of the Michael J. Fox classic, Doc Hollywood.

In a small fishing village, jobs and the economy are on the line as the acting Mayor Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) tries to secure a lucrative big business contract. Their only problem is the fact that they have no doctor in town; a fact that could keep them from landing that contract. Luckily, big city doctor Paul Lewis (Taylor Kitsch) lands in their town, and it’s up to the residents to get him to stay.

This is not a sweet innocent story, like you would expect in the premise. Most of the residents in town are scamming welfare, including the mayor who is collecting a dead friend’s check. The doctor himself is stuck in the town because he got busted with cocaine in his carry on at the airport. I liked the fact that they didn’t turn everyone into a bunch of goody-goody characters. These people were realistic, if a little bit gritty.

The premise is nothing that hasn’t been down before. Big city person becomes charmed by small town shenanigans. But the characters play it off well and the leads brought their own charm to the roles.

The Grand Seduction 1

This is a drama that’s a little bit too heavy for the premise, and I think the more humor would have made the movie a lot better. The scenery is drab and the drab mood of the townspeople is almost too heavy and depressing. It doesn’t have its moments, but for the most part watches a lot like a depressing Lifetime movie.

The speeches get a bit sanctimonious and over the top, and they drag on for a bit too long. It plays like all doctors have a responsibility to live wherever they’re needed, regardless of low pay. The problem with that kind of statement is the fact that most doctors have already made a lot of sacrifices to get where they are, including racking up 6 figures of student loans.

This movie would have played better as a comedy. It was a bit too whiney for me to enjoy it. I’m sorry, but if I need medical treatment and there is no one in town, I’ll go to the next town. I won’t take a trip to the local butcher.

Especially in a country that has a socialist medicine policy.

The Grand Seduction 3

" THE GRAND SEDUCTION "

Unlike Doc Hollywood, there really is no kind of character connection. You don’t feel Paul fall in love with the town. Instead, you feel like he got guilt-tripped into staying.

In a drama, it’s a lot harder to deal with plot holes, and the plot holes in this movie are gigantic. I’m sorry, but in the post 9-11 world, you just can’t bribe an airport security official who catches you with coke in your carry one. Not to mention, once Paul is in the town that he clearly doesn’t want to go to visit, why does he stay?

The Grand Seduction is cute and charming, but not all together memorable. It’s still watchable, if a little bit heavy. This is a film that would appear to older audience rather than younger ones.  Watch the Official trailer below.

[youtube id=”z61XwqxI8hM” width=”633″ height=”356″]

Movie Review: Winter’s Tale (2014)

MV5BNTMyNjI1NTM4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjcwMzc1MDE@__V1_SX640_SY720_Just like Winter, I wanted this to be over
2.5 Stars

With the Valentine rush of romantic movies was one that got little metnion.   This week I watched the minimally advertised “Winter’s Tale”.

Winter’s Tale ties in so many different plot lines, it feels as though half a library was placed in a blender. Our main protagonist Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) is a modern day Moses who washed up on the shores of Ellis Island in a basket. Then, it flashes forward to him running from Pearly Soames (Russell Crow) and his gang of hooligans. But it’s ok, because he is saved by a magic angel horse Athansor. Pearly is pissed, and his face morphs into a Demon shape when he’s mad. He goes for a meet with the Devil (Will Smith) where they talk about some chick that is dying that Peter is in love with. On, and then for some reason we flash forward in time about 100 years. And then some other stuff happens as well.

You ever have a four year old child tell you a story? Most four years olds aren’t great story tellers of course, so you generally wind up with a disjointed mess that doesn’t go anywhere and gets more and more preposterous as it goes on.

winter-s-tale-image05

That’s what happened here. I spent the majority of the movie in the complete friggen dark as to what was going on. When I did understand it, it was either so ridiculous that I laughed out loud or it was just plain stupid.

I can’t believe that Akiva Goldsman was responsible for this. I really can’t. This is the screenplay writer who brought us “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Davinci Code”. Winter’s Tale, while clever, was never really a novel that was suited to the big screen.

And the dialog. Just as a sample “If you don’t make love to me now, no one ever will.” Honestly, if the heroine goes around saying that a lot, I can see why no one ever has. It’s kind of a downer.

The effects and direction were equally clumsy and lacked the pace needed to make a movie as convoluted as this one flow. There is a horse chase scene in the film that most directors would view with pure embarrassment as the cuts are so choppy and desperate, most would have scrapped the scene rather than show it.A WINTER"S TALE

The leads do nothing with the movie and it’s clear that everyone, with the exception of Crowe, is there to collect a paycheck and move on. Crowe does a good job of making his character come alive, but the character itself is so over the top that it wouldn’t be hard.

It’s a shame that this movie came out so poorly, because I am usually a huge fan of Goldsman’s work. However, this novel was difficult enough to adapt to the big screen, without getting lazy on effects and camera work as well. This was a disappointing effort and not a recommended watch to anyone who is a fan of Goldsman’s regular body of work.

You can watch the trailer below.

[youtube id=”DBSj1MKwx6A” width=”633″ height=”356″]

Movie Review: Best Night Ever (2014)

Best Night Ever 1“Worst Headache Ever”

2.5 Stars

Have we learned nothing from every bachelor or bachelorette party ever set in Vegas? At this point, movie characters are just stupid for thinking they can go to Vegas the night before their wedding and make it back in one piece.

In Best Night Ever, Bride-to-be Claire (Desiree Hall), sister Leslie (Samantha Colburn), party girl Zoe (Eddie Ritchard), and quirky new friend Janet (Crista Flanagan) head off to Vegas for a one night bachelorette party. Of course, it doesn’t go the way they anticipated and the girls wind up staying in a sleazy motel and find themselves lost and broke, wandering the streets of Vegas.

Unfortunately, this movie is just a paler, unfunny version of “Bridesmaids”. The antics, while over the top, are nowhere near as funny as the antics to be found in “Bridesmaids”, or the much better “The Hangover”.

As an example, in what is supposed to be a side split-tingly funny scene, the girls sing a “4 non blondes” song while in a dumpster.
The plot is poor and depends on devices in order to keep it moving. When broke, the girls decide they have to ‘earn’ the money to get back to LA. Apparently, they can’t just call someone to wire them the $40 for a bus ticket. It’s Vegas to LA, for God’s sake, not Vegas to India.

Best Night Ever 4

The fact that the movie isn’t very good wasn’t a surprise to me when I learned that it was written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. This notoriously unfunny duo has been responsible for such works of genius like “Vampires Suck” and “The Starving Games”.

This movie borrows most of its plot from other, much funnier movies. When they can’t seem to find something funny to do, they just throw in some poop as well.

In order to differentiate this movie from its much better counterparts, the directors went ahead and introduced another tired gimmick. Found footage. The film is filmed on the girls’ cell phones at various times. This will again make you wonder why these girls didn’t just turn off the record option and use their cell phones to call their agents and fire them.

Best Night Ever 3

Best Night Ever 2

The film direction relies allot on reaction shots of the characters. This is probably necessary, as if it wasn’t for the reaction shots, I probably wouldn’t have known where to laugh. The majority of the ‘shocking funny’ site gags are just gross.

It’s impossible to tell who this movie is supposed to be marketed to. At first glance, you would think it would be like a “Hangover” for women. But there is so much raunchy girl on girl hate and unnecessary boob shots, that it instead would have been better focused on an audience of drunk frat boys. There’s no underlying motivation in the film, like in the much better “Bridesmaids”. Instead, the entire movie seems to be focused on punishing the girls for wanting to have a good time.

Best Night Ever is probably best skipped by those looking for a laugh out loud Vegas comedy. Between the found footage gimmick, the girl’s constantly screaming “woooo” and recycled plot lines, Best Night Ever is guaranteed to give you the Worst Headache Ever.  Watch the trailer below!

[youtube id=”CkBXOKQP1FU” width=”633″ height=”356″]

Movie Review: That Awkward Moment

that-awkward-moment-600-370

That Awkward Movie!

2.5 Stars

That awkward moment…when you realize you are watching a very uncomfortable version of Sex in the City with an all-male cast. This week, I took the time to sit through a very weird romantic comedy starring Zac Effron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan.

Jason (Zac Effron), Daniel (Miles Teller) and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) are horny 20 somethings trying to navigate relationships and life together. After Mikey’s marriage fails, the boys decide to avoid relationships together in a show of solidarity. In order to avoid said relationships, the boys decide to engage in a marathon of one nights stands, bailing as soon as the awkward moment arrives, i.e. the girl wants to take it to the next level. Of course, wackiness ensues and everyone meets their soul mates. [more…]

To start off with, I do need to give props to the actors. The three all had their own charm and charisma, which gave a little bit of heart to this ‘deep as a puddle’ movie. If the screen play had been better, if the plot line had been better, if the dialog had been better, and if the producers had decided on an actual direction for this film, it might have worked.

This movie feels like it was an attempt to create an American Pie style movie. Unfortunately, by turning the guys into one dimensional sex-robots, it was just irritating. The guys in this movie didn’t have any redeeming vulnerabilities, like in the classic comedy American Pie. Instead, they left the viewer wondering “why are these guys worried about getting stuck in relationships? No one would want them anyway.”

awkward_Moment_Trailer_News

The plot line and the character motivation is paper-thin. Mikey is having a troubled marriage, so the guys all decide to start having one night stands? It was the equivalent of a mid thirties girl shrieking “All men are a-holes. I’m just getting a cat!”

Speaking of females, I’m not even going to list the actresses who played the love interests in this movie, because they should be ashamed of themselves for taking the parts in the first place. These low self-esteem dames could have been replaced with cardboard cutouts. None of them had any personality traits whatsoever, other than being attractive and wanting desperately to attach themselves to guys that don’t treat them that well.

awkward

I mean, at one point, Jason apologizes to a girl that he ditched, explaining that he did so because he thought she was a hooker…and she is completely ok with that.

One thing that really bothers me is that the studio that released this movie, “Focus Films” is the studio that has brought us some of the greats like “Milk” and “Lost in Translation”. I have no idea what they were thinking green lighting this project. I can only assume that they were counting on Zac Effron to carry the movie.

The best part of the movie occurs towards the end, when a taxi cab hits one of the more obnoxious characters. I clapped so hard my hands hurt…but then I stopped clapping when I realized that the taxi cab didn’t back up and finish the job.

Here is the trailer…..its much better then the movie itself.

[youtube id=”JE_bE_kswEw” width=”633″ height=”356″]