Showing posts with label Ryan Reynolds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Reynolds. Show all posts
A Fastball to the Funny Bone
Dave Lockwood (Jason Bateman) is a family man. He’s a man that has moved forward with his career, he’s about to become a partner at the firm. He’s got wonderful family that loves him. Everything a guy would want; well most guys.
One guy who wants what Dave has is his friend, Mitch Planko (Ryan Reynolds). Mitch is the guy who has never grown up. Drinking, cussing, carousing and more every hour of the day, Mitch lives for the next girl, or his Tuesday night girl.
The two envy each other so much that in a drunken stupor one night they each cry out their wish to be the other. And of course, that is who they wake up as the next morning.
Now Dave is Mitch and Mitch is Dave. As is usually the case, the grass is not always greener on the other side and as each other Dave learns that is wife isn’t as happy as he had thought. And Mitch learns how much his Dad does appreciate them.
Ok, sure, along the way there are some diversions from the funny, to the gross and everywhere in between. The big question is, will they get back to the people they were before or are they “stuck” in their new roles? And a second question, do they want to return to their old life?
We’ve seen the body switching movies before. Freaky Friday, Like Father Like Son, Vice Versa and the list rolls on. When you are dealing with this kind of comedy, it is essential to get funny people in the rolls, or the switch doesn’t work. Thankfully, for the most part, there are funny people involved in this film and you will find yourself laughing more often than not.
Call me a fan, but Jason Bateman has a way of delivering the goods when he steps in front of the camera. No matter what he is asked to do, it seems he always delivers the goods. Working with Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde and more only adds to the fun in this case.
There are a number of scenes that seem way out there and in fact derail this film from time to time. (Did we really need the poo to the face scene?) But overall with a decent script and some funny folks involved, The Change-Up is a straight on fastball to the funny bone.
B / B-
Universal Pictures
Director: David Dobkin
Cast: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Gregory Itzin
Rating: R for pervasive strong crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use.
Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes
He’s Green, He’s Ripped, He’s Ryan Reynolds
Super heroes, there have been a number of films about these individuals that rise above and battle the forces of evil. Now it’s the Green Lantern’s turn.
Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) knows how to fly planes, fast. He seems fearless when he is in the sky doing his job. His fearlessness is why he’s in the air with ex-Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) for a big military test. But this test will expose the fact that maybe Hal isn’t as fearless as everyone thinks.
Meanwhile, back in another part of the universe, we are introduced to the Green Lanterns, protectors of us all. But there is a dark force that is trying to eliminate the lanterns and capture the strength of all of humanity.
When one of those guardians is ready to pass on, he heads to the nearest inhabited planet, Earth, to have the ring choose the next lantern.
The ring has a power that knows who is best suited for a job where you need to be fearless and guard the universe against evil. In this case the ring chooses Hal and he is whisked away to see his future.
Now Hal must not only adapt to these newfound powers, but also understand that much of the safety of his home will be his responsibility. Possessing the powers of the ring is just the beginning. Will he be able to conquer his inner fears and get the girl?
I love super heroes. I really do. But let me get this out there right off the bat so there is no confusion in what I’m about to say. This is NOT a good movie, BUT it IS fun!
Ok, let me explain. This is a comic book film; I’m ok with it taking some liberties with my sensible nature. That said, there are so many times where I found myself scratching my head, wondering how Hal knew where to go in deep space and how to get there. Plot holes and story holes that had me just wondering who put the film together dot this effort. Everything I look for in a good film was missing.
That said, I also found myself actually enjoying the 3D treatment that was before me. This was one of few films that just felt right from a 3D perspective. And just watching the crazy action had me smiling. I enjoyed myself amidst the muck that was packaged in the film.
It’s crazy, there are moments where Ryan Reynolds tries out his new look that are just fun and smile inducing. In fact Reynolds OWNS the green suit; I have no problem admitting that. Then there are moments as the story bounces all over the map that are cringe inducing.
What does that mean for me? Well the grade is average; but I’m sure I’m not going to pass this by if it’s showing on a premium channel or when it pops on Blu-Ray (which I expect to be pretty amazing). I’m sure there is a lot of green in the future, and I could actually see a sequel getting better (gasp, did I really say sequel?) but this effort doesn’t run rings around the competition. Bottom line, he’s green, he’s ripped and he’s Ryan Reynolds. And that will be enough for some to see this film, but if they keep going, I need more.
C
Warner Brothers Pictures
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Review – The Croods
Grug (Nicolas Cage)is a family man. He is there to make sure his family thrives and survives in a prehistoric environment. Getting food for his family takes the wits and style of the entire family to creatively acquire their daily meals. The environment is filled with challenges around every corner.
To Eep (Emma Stone), the world is full of mystery. While her father tries to monitor everyone, Eep sees a mysterious light peering into her cave one night and decides to push back the stone and investigate. The investigation finds Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a man that is on a journey and surviving outside of a cave.
Now things get a little crazy and the families’ cave is destroyed. Grug, Eep, Ugga (Catherine Keener), Thunk (Clark Duke) and Gran (Cloris Leachman) must now set out with Guy to find another home. This is a scary journey for Grug as his only goal has always been to keep his family safe. Now he must put trust in his family and another individual in Guy that he doesn’t know.
The journey puts them face to face with new challenges, new creatures, and new friends. Can they survive and make it to a new home? Or will they not be able to survive as the world changes around them.
At its core, The Croods is a Daddy/Daughter movie. Sure the whole family is here and the boy that will play a role in Eep’s life, but it all boils down to a girl who is growing up and a dad who doesn’t want to let go. And that’s the unfair part. As a dad, who sat and watched the film with his 8 ½ year old daughter, I couldn’t help but fall in love with parts of this film. It does a great job of not making the dad a joke and instead shows how much he really cares at his core.
The voice talents match the characters and Emma Stone shows the inquisitiveness that a teenage daughter or a “caveman” might have exploring the unknown. Nicolas Cage comes off well as the paranoid, protective father. And Ryan Reynolds enjoys showing the world to Eep and her family.
My daughter proclaimed that this movie was hilarious and a great family movie after it ended. I agree, somewhat. This is a great family movie as the family dynamic shows through all of the action and fun onscreen. Is it hilarious? Well, it’s fun and funny… I might not go that far though. (But hey, she’s 8…she doesn’t understand all the critic nuances yet.) The Croods isn’t a date night movie but it is a great movie for the whole family (especially your young ones) to sit down and enjoy. In honor of Belt (a character in this movie) Duh Dah DAH … I liked this movie.
B
20th Century Fox
Director: Kirk De Marco, Chris Sanders
Cast: Voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke
Rating: PG for some scary action.
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes