Showing posts with label Owen Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Owen Wilson. Show all posts
WTF? Little Fockers Lacks the Little Laughs
Meet the Parents was a nice little film that was not only funny, but it also uniquely told the story of a man meeting his in-laws and struggling to fit in. Meet the Fockers had us meeting the other side of the family and the quirks they possessed. Little Fockers has kids, fraternal twins that are supposed to be the basis for the humor. A problem occurs though, they forgot the humor.
Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) is coming to Greg and Pam’s (Ben Stiller and Terri Polo) house to celebrate the 6th birthday of their two children, and yes he is still watching them. Things have change though…Dr. Bob is splitting from his wife (an affair) Kevin (Owen Wilson) is half way around the world looking to get engaged. And the Fockers (Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman) are apart as Bernie tries to find himself while Roz hosts her sex therapy show.
As Greg is trying to do the best for his family, he takes on a night job as a spokesman for Sustengo (the new erectile dysfunction drug) with his drug rep Andi Garcia (Jessica Alba). So who is watching who, and why, and will this birthday party happen?
This is a hard review to write. Why? I like everyone in this film. In many instances, they have put out a range of films that have generated every emotion within me. But this film had such little emotion that I had to check my pulse when I left.
Sure there are some scenes in here that gave me a chuckle, but there were so many more that felt miserable. It felt miserable all over. I felt bad for the actors. I felt bad for the individual sitting next to me and I felt real uncomfortable for those who mistakenly brought young children to the film.
The movie was supposed to be about the “little” Fockers…but they had what seemed to be small roles in a much bigger movie, so that’s kind of a misnomer.
This film just didn’t work on so many levels. I really don’t want to trash these good people, so I’m not going to. It’s the Christmas season and I will just say, don’t see it. Rent Meet the Parents or buy Meet the Fockers instead either will be a much better selection. Otherwise you may just resort to texting a friend WTF on your way out of the theater.
C- / D+
Little Fockers
Universal Pictures
Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand
Rating: PG-13 for mature sexual humor throughout, language and some drug content.
Runtime: 98 minutes.
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Meet the Parents was a nice little film that was not only funny, but it also uniquely told the story of a man meeting his in-laws and struggling to fit in. Meet the Fockers had us meeting the other side of the family and the quirks they possessed. Little Fockers has kids, fraternal twins that are supposed to be the basis for the humor. A problem occurs though, they forgot the humor.
Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) is coming to Greg and Pam’s (Ben Stiller and Terri Polo) house to celebrate the 6th birthday of their two children, and yes he is still watching them. Things have change though…Dr. Bob is splitting from his wife (an affair) Kevin (Owen Wilson) is half way around the world looking to get engaged. And the Fockers (Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman) are apart as Bernie tries to find himself while Roz hosts her sex therapy show.
As Greg is trying to do the best for his family, he takes on a night job as a spokesman for Sustengo (the new erectile dysfunction drug) with his drug rep Andi Garcia (Jessica Alba). So who is watching who, and why, and will this birthday party happen?
This is a hard review to write. Why? I like everyone in this film. In many instances, they have put out a range of films that have generated every emotion within me. But this film had such little emotion that I had to check my pulse when I left.
Sure there are some scenes in here that gave me a chuckle, but there were so many more that felt miserable. It felt miserable all over. I felt bad for the actors. I felt bad for the individual sitting next to me and I felt real uncomfortable for those who mistakenly brought young children to the film.
The movie was supposed to be about the “little” Fockers…but they had what seemed to be small roles in a much bigger movie, so that’s kind of a misnomer.
This film just didn’t work on so many levels. I really don’t want to trash these good people, so I’m not going to. It’s the Christmas season and I will just say, don’t see it. Rent Meet the Parents or buy Meet the Fockers instead either will be a much better selection. Otherwise you may just resort to texting a friend WTF on your way out of the theater.
C- / D+
Little Fockers
Universal Pictures
Director: Paul Weitz
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand
Rating: PG-13 for mature sexual humor throughout, language and some drug content.
Runtime: 98 minutes.
It’s Hard To Know
Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is a motivated and driven woman. She is a professional softball player that has a past with the US Olympic team. This year is different. The team is going younger and Lisa isn’t as quick or as strong as the youth movement the new coach is moving towards.
She is dating Matty (Owen Wilson). He is a hot pitcher for the Washington Nationals and knows what he wants. What he wants is Lisa, oh and he knows how to relate that fact, even if he doesn’t have an ounce of tact in his system.
This is all complicated a man named George (Paul Rudd). He’s an executive that is about to be indicted. Though he’s done nothing wrong, it’s the company his father has put him in charge of that is in trouble. It could be that his father (Jack Nicholson) has some involvement in the problems, or it could be he knows nothing.
Different individuals with different paths all searching for the answer to the question; how do you know?
Director James L. Brooks has made us laugh for years with a real life backdrop. Even his “bad” films that others dislike, I have tended to enjoy. How Do You Know is a tough film as it seems to have lost some of the regular sensibilities that you are used to finding.
Reese Witherspoon is likable, and I found myself coming away from this film with even more of an appreciation for everything she does. She plays a woman who is motivated and driven, using motivational words, phrases and techniques. Her ability to slip into her role as a champion softball player, with party side is amazingly fun.
Co-star Paul Rudd is perfectly cast as the nice guy who is caught in the middle of things. It’s a role he has gotten used to, and does it well. Owen Wilson gets to take his Fockers character and add a bit of attitude to it to create Matty. Sometimes it felt that it just wasn’t real enough. I almost wanted a bit more attitude out of his character, but you couldn’t help but “like” him and see the side that Lisa saw in him.
I know there were a number of laughs in this film. I know I like Reese Witherspoon more than I did before I saw this film. But ultimately, did I like this movie? It’s hard to know.
B- / C+
How Do You Know
Columbia Pictures
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.
Runtime: 116 minutes.
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Lisa (Reese Witherspoon) is a motivated and driven woman. She is a professional softball player that has a past with the US Olympic team. This year is different. The team is going younger and Lisa isn’t as quick or as strong as the youth movement the new coach is moving towards.
She is dating Matty (Owen Wilson). He is a hot pitcher for the Washington Nationals and knows what he wants. What he wants is Lisa, oh and he knows how to relate that fact, even if he doesn’t have an ounce of tact in his system.
This is all complicated a man named George (Paul Rudd). He’s an executive that is about to be indicted. Though he’s done nothing wrong, it’s the company his father has put him in charge of that is in trouble. It could be that his father (Jack Nicholson) has some involvement in the problems, or it could be he knows nothing.
Different individuals with different paths all searching for the answer to the question; how do you know?
Director James L. Brooks has made us laugh for years with a real life backdrop. Even his “bad” films that others dislike, I have tended to enjoy. How Do You Know is a tough film as it seems to have lost some of the regular sensibilities that you are used to finding.
Reese Witherspoon is likable, and I found myself coming away from this film with even more of an appreciation for everything she does. She plays a woman who is motivated and driven, using motivational words, phrases and techniques. Her ability to slip into her role as a champion softball player, with party side is amazingly fun.
Co-star Paul Rudd is perfectly cast as the nice guy who is caught in the middle of things. It’s a role he has gotten used to, and does it well. Owen Wilson gets to take his Fockers character and add a bit of attitude to it to create Matty. Sometimes it felt that it just wasn’t real enough. I almost wanted a bit more attitude out of his character, but you couldn’t help but “like” him and see the side that Lisa saw in him.
I know there were a number of laughs in this film. I know I like Reese Witherspoon more than I did before I saw this film. But ultimately, did I like this movie? It’s hard to know.
B- / C+
How Do You Know
Columbia Pictures
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson
Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language.
Runtime: 116 minutes.
Cars 2 Doesn’t Lap The Field
Radiator Springs seems like a world away in the new film Cars 2.
Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is back home relaxing after winning yet another championship. Half a world away a new competition is about to take place. The World Grand Prix will pit some of the best cars from a variety of disciplines in races across three countries. These cars will compete with an alternative fuel and try to show the world what is possible.
Of course, Tow Mater (Larry The Cable Guy) insists McQueen will dominate. And this bragging brings the crew overseas to take on the world.
When they arrive; the gang is thrown into the midst of a devious plot as someone is trying to wreak havoc on the new fuel and all those who use it. Now Mater is mistaken for a master spy and the world, as we know it, just could come down to Mater’s ability to make a difference. Can McQueen win? But more importantly, can Mater save everyone?
Fairly or unfairly, Pixar has raised the bar on animated films. With that said, it’s tough to watch a film like Cars 2.
I enjoyed the first Cars, just didn’t fawn over it like most. In fact, I was one of few that was only mildly supportive of the film. With Cars 2, the film felt more action, more excitement, but also a little messier. In fact I liked this film a touch more than the original.
The story may not have flowed the same as most Pixar films, but that doesn’t mean the action didn’t jump a notch or two. The attention to detail is wonderful and worth seeing as some of the background fun is truly a sight in and of itself.
The problem for Cars 2 is the fact that we now know what can be done in animated film, and we expect more. It doesn’t make Cars 2 a bad movie, just not one that easily laps the field. Caution ahead, the film is in for a pit stop, but the future is still bright at Pixar.
B-
Walt Disney Pictures
Director: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis
Cast: Larry The Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard
Rating: G
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes