Step Up Revolution Review

      Stance off dance off-a group of dancers protest against a huge development in Step Up Revolution
                   I have been surprised by the last three Step Up films.....they were surprisingly fun and the third one even had excellent 3D. Step Up Revolution is the black sheep of this group. It takes all the elements that made the first three so entertaining...the dancing, the lack of plot and makes them flaws. Sure...some of the dancing was good but the story was incredibly boring and the 3D sucked. In fact...the 3D hurt my eyes quite often.

                 The film follows Sean (Ryan Guzman) and Emily (Kathryn McCormick). Sean is part of The Mob..a dance squad who constantly (and not so cleverly) makes public disturbances. Emily is the father of Bill Anderson (Peter Gallagher)...a developer who plans to tear down Sean's community. We can't root for Sean because he's not likable in the slightest. In fact....we start to root for Bill to tear down his neighborhood which makes the conclusion extra dumb.

                 There are three pretty cool dance sequences involving the protest against Bill but even those go on for too long. The whole film feels too long in fact and the fact that those dance sequences are five minutes each therefore taking up only 15 minutes of the film make this a boring excursion. Also...lest we forget we can see great dancing by REAL dancers on the internet for free anytime.

                 I can not believe I even just explained the whole plot because the plot is just there to allow for terrible acting and pretty good dancing. I never felt the romance between Sean and Emily even begin to bloom and the only character I slightly enjoyed was Bill. This is because unlike all the other characters in this film...Bill has aspirations and goals.

                 When it comes down to it...there is no need to pay to see this film. In a world of 10 dollars per movie ticket (even more if you pay for the bad 3D)...don't waste your time and money on something you can see anywhere else for free.
(1 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for some suggestive dancing and language)

               

The Watch Review

 Will the real alien please stand up? Jonah Hill, Ben Stiller, Richard Ayoade and Vince Vaughn in The Watch
                                 The Watch is the newest film from Akiva Schaffer who had previously directed his Lonely Island partner Andy Samberg in the hysterical Hot Rod. That was one of my favorite comedies of the last couple of years and while The Watch does not quite live up to his previous effort...I loved it. The Watch made me laugh..what can I say?

                                  Naturally...I was a bit skeptical that they were making what is essentially an Americanized version of the great British film from last year Attack The Block. However....this film is just as fun as Attack The Block in its own crazy way. Naturally...I was pretty pumped with all the talent comic behind The Watch. You've got Jonah Hill-always reliable as the idiot of the group. You've got Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn-both excellent in their straight men roles. And then you've got Richard Ayoade..hilarious on the British show The It Crowd taking up an American role here and nailing it. In fact...all four of these guys really get their roles down to a science.

                                 Also...the supporting cast including Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte and an excellent role by Billy Crudup brings some big laughs and let the film chug along nicely. This kind of film really should be no more than 90 minutes. However, at 100 minutes the film does allow you to get to know these characters more and seems pretty fast.

                                 Of course...we do get the obligatory aliens VS. humans scene at the end and the not being able to get pregnant bit featuring Ben Stiller and Rosemarie DeWitt. The thing that surprised me, however was the relationship between Vince Vaughn and his daughter, Chelsea (Erin Moriarty). It is a surprisingly sweet sub plot that could have easily been plodding and dumb.

                                The Watch is a very funny film that may be better suited paying five bucks to see it on Pay Per View rather than paying ten dollars to see it on the big screen. However, if you like any of these four comics and are going in with fairly low expectations..you might be pleasantly surprised on how much it was worth that ten bucks.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for some strong sexual content including references, pervasive language and violent images)

Katy Perry: Part Of Me Review

      You're hot and you're cold....Katy Perry is explored in the new documentary Katy Perry: Part Of Me
                  In one way or another...everyone likes Katy Perry. For me...it's because she's extremely attractive and talented. For others..it might be one or the other or something else. While I think Perry is a talented musician and a beautiful young woman...when I heard they were making a documentary on her my first thought was "do I really need to learn anything more about her?" Well..I am glad to say that unlike last year's Never Say Never about pop sensation Justin Bieber...I did not regret seeing Katy Perry: Part Of Me. It will be far from my favorite film of the year (it is very flawed) but it is an informative and extremely entertaining look at someone who has heated up the music industry as we know it.

                The film follows Perry on her one year concert tour across the world. It explores her life both on and off stage as she struggles to deal with relationships, pressure, fans, ETC. I enjoyed seeing her fans talking about how much they love her and I loved the idea of making a documentary that focuses on the pressure of being famous much of the time. The film is a zippy 90 minutes but does drag a few times. Where does it drag? Well....the relationships part is pretty bland. We get looks at her relationships with everyone. There is nice insight into her relationships with her make up artist, assistant, ETC. So why am I saying the relationships are bland? Well...most of the relationship stuff the audience gets involves her long time (now EX) boyfriend Russell Brand. This took up a good chunk of the film and really should have just been a quick topic of interest. Sure..I think both of them are talented but have we not heard about this in the news enough?

             However...that is not even the biggest flaw of the film. The major (and only other) flaw is the 3D. Anyone who sees this can see it in 2D. No matter how die hard of a fan you are...there is no reason to throw down five extra bucks to get a couple pieces of confetti thrown at the screen in the last minute. Also..the 3D hurt my eyes because much of the movie is concert footage and Perry's wacky costumes are always somewhat flashy and mostly totally flashy so seeing these bright colors in 3D makes the colors too bright.

           Still...who am I to complain? I really enjoyed Katy Perry: Part Of Me even if it did have its flaws. I was expecting nothing from this film and I was very pleasantly surprised. I recommend this film for both the die hard fans (or as they call themselves...Katy Cats) and the not so huge fans who are just looking for a good time.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG for some suggestive content, language, thematic elements and brief smoking)

Savages Review

            All drugged up with nowhere to go-Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson are pot dealers in Savages
                       Let's be honest-Oliver Stone was once a great director but has gone downhill quite a bit in the 2000's. In fact-in the last 12 years he made six films and only one-W. was decent. Savages is his seventh film in this decade and let me say right away-Savages not only does not break the mold of his bad film streak but makes it that much worse.

                      Where to begin with Savages-a film so boring and stupid I regretted not buying safety pins to help me keep my eyes open during the film. Well...the performances are terrible. Taylor Kitsch continues to go from one terrible role to the next. This year's Battleship (which I forgot so fast that I couldn't remember to review it) and John Carter features terrible Kitsch performances and this film is no better. Aaron Johnson-so good in Kick Ass and Nowhere Boy plays a complete idiot here. I guess that could be said for all of the cast, however so Johnson was actually my favorite thing about the film (which is like saying a kick to the groin is my favorite thing about losing a fight.) Blake Lively narrates and plays the disgusting free spirit of the story. Her narration is grating to the ears and adds nothing to the story. John Travolta plays one of the blandest characters in film history. Also..what are Benicio Del Toro and Salma Hayek doing in this film? They are talented people but here they play boring villians.

                         Secondly-the whole film feels like it was written by a really, really dumb six year old who was too hopped up on coffee that he did not realize how many ideas he was throwing out. None of these ideas are good, either. Also...the so called "twist" at the end of the film is nothing more than a way to wrap things up and not quickly enough.

                          I remember when Stone was churning out the Platoons and Talk Radios of the world. Now...he is reduced to making big chunks of nothingness. At over 2 hours long....Savages is the closest I have been to walking out of a film in quite some time. Just remember my reviews of For Greater Glory, Wrath Of The Titans and John Carter to recognize how huge of a statement I have just made.
(0 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for strong brutal and grisly violence, some graphic sexuality, nudity, drug use, and language throughout)

The Dark Knight Rises Review

              Stranger danger...Tom Hardy as Bane in the new action film The Dark Knight Rises
                           I tend to throw the word great around. My readers may not know this because I try to avoid that word in many of my reviews. I mean when I am talking to someone on a day to day basis...I use the word great quite often. Throughout this review, however...I will have to use the word great because there is no other word to describe this truly masterful film.

                         As with Martin Campbell giving us a human look at James Bond in Casino Royale....Director Christopher Nolan has made a trilogy that makes Batman a man who we can relate to and that we feel for. Sure....Nolan delivers on the actions and gives us our extra eight dollars worth for the IMAX but in The Dark Knight Rises....we get a story that touches the heart. This might just be because it is truly the end of a great trilogy but there is more emotion than that here.

                       In it...we get a scene between Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) and his butler, Alfred (Michael Caine) that is more emotional than anything ever displayed in any "tearjerker." We also get a creepy villain out of Tom Hardy playing Bane. Bane is a deeply disturbed man and has the audience shaking at what he is going to do next. At many points...the audience can not understand what Bane is saying but that is part of the point. Because of this....we are freaked out at his unpredictability. By this I mean if we knew everything that Bane was saying....we might know too much about him...making him that lesser of a villain.

                      Of course...I can not talk about this film without talking about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He gives a performance that could have easily been the cliche cop. Levitt elevates this to a guy who we are rooting for. Also...I loved Anne Hathaway in this. She is sexier than ever and turns Catwoman into someone that Halle Berry could not...a cool cat (pun intended.) Gary Oldman is also great as Commissioner Gordon who is always one step ahead of everybody. Matthew Modine, Marion Cotillard and Morgan Freeman all gives excellent performances in their respective roles.

                     Sure..there are issues with The Dark Knight Rises. I am, however willing to forgive it for how great it is. It is exciting, fun and truly emotional. Also...see it in IMAX if there's a theater like that around you...it is totally worth throwing down the extra bucks.
(5 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some sensuality and language)

Random Blog: The Colorado Movie Massacre, James Holmes and The Victims

Unlike any other post I have ever done...I am not putting any pictures up for this one. I do this because although I was tempted to show just who the monster who killed 12 people and wounded 58 was...you already know. His name is James Holmes....a college drop out who was going for his PHD in neurological science. It makes me think...actually. Why did he do this? What caused him to snap? Also...why at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises? Yes...I'm sure he had the intention of making what was guaranteed to be the film of the summer the tragedy of the year but once again..why? Holmes went in dressed (inaccurately may I add) as The Joker...the Batman villian famously played by Heath Ledger. He went into the theater..threw some gas cans and immediately after started shooting. As I tweeted earlier..."I think giving James Holmes the death penalty would be letting him off way too easy..we have to let him rot in jail for the rest of his life." Yes...I think simply throwing this man on a chair is too easy a let off. He will want to die in there and die he shall. However...it should be done the proper way...by giving him I'd say about 50-60 years of solitary confinement until he naturally dies. Speaking of which...they have to keep him in solitary confinement with duct taped windows to prevent other prisoners from killing him. According to local news reports...that is all the other prisoners are talking about. You know you deserve to die rotting in a padded cell when other prisoners (among them fellow murderers and rapists I'm assuming) want to kill you. You may ask why I am being so harsh on the matter. Well...let's see...he killed a 6 year old girl, nearly killed that girl's mother, killed a 52 year old man with 4 kids and a wive and killed a man who just turned 27 not a half an hour before he got killed. He was celebrating his birthday by going to the movies. He should be allowed to that. In fact...he got killed saving his girlfriend and brother. The 6 year old girl was named Veronica Moser Sullivan. The 52 year old man was named Gordon W. Cowdon and the 27 year old man...Alex M Sullivan. Let us remember these along with the 9 others who got their lives taken for no good reason. Holmes is truly a despicable person. He was using the same drugs that killed actor Heath Ledger and told police he was the joker during questioning. Also...he was smiling in his mugshot. It takes some nerve to kill innocent people but then to give off the impression that you are happy about it is a whole other ballpark. Also....we cannot forget that this took place in the same town as The Columbine Massacre. This brings to order the question are these isolated incidents? I suppose they are but it makes me wonder. Finally....after this man with whom words cannot describe his evil killed  and wounded 70 people with guns he purchased over the last couple of months....none of our leaders are doing anything about gun control laws. What kind of society do we live in anyway? At least they didn't let him get away. 

Under The Radar Review #7: Rolling Kansas

                            A group of stoned friends take a road trip in the comedy Rolling Kansas
                                  Once in a blue moon I watch a fantastic film that has yet to be discovered. Over the years....Rolling Kansas has been the only undiscovered gem that has truly made me wonder why the heck it has not been discovered. It stands as one of my favorite films and the first time I watched it a couple years back was one of the most magical experiences of my life.

                                The film follows three brothers...Dick (James Roday), Dinkadoo (Sam Huntington) and Dave (Jay Paulson) who along with their two friends...Kevin (Charlie Finn) and Hunter (Ryan McDow) go on a road trip for the ultimate marijuana forest.

                                All five of the characters are extremely likable in their own ways. They are not stereotypes nor are they just stoned guys. They all have their own special qualities about them and all make you realize what a stoner comedy has the potential to do. The film is very funny but also very heartfelt in its relationship among the five.

                               The film is written and directed by Thomas Haden Church...a very funny and smart actor who proves his skills further here. Here's hoping that he makes more movies...hopefully with characters as great as the ones in Rolling Kansas.

                                Rolling Kansas is readily available for $5 including shipping on Amazon. If you want to laugh or be touched or both...there is no excuse not to watch it.

Under The Radar Review #6: Seven Days In Utopia

  A hole in one: Lucas Black is a golfer and Robert Duvall is the man who saves him in Seven Days In Utopia
                             I remember being one of the lucky ones who got to see Seven Days In Utopia when it came out. It went to a couple of theaters-including one that was *somewhat* close to me. There was no one in the theater besides me and two other people. I know what you're thinking-"well no one has heard of this film." That is why I am giving my readers yet another Under The Radar Review.

                           The film stars Lucas Black as Luke Chisolm...a professional golfer who stunk up the course in his last tournament. Desperate and angry....Luke drives not knowing where he is going and crashes his car. It turns out he drove into the fence of a local man named Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall.) Johnny then attempts to help Luke step up his game for the next tournament against a competitive golfer. A romance also blooms between Luke and Maggie Swanson (Sarah Jayne Jensen.)

                         I think everybody should see the film for the reasons that I loved it. For one-it's a G-Rated film and is certainly appropriate for kids of all ages but can be enjoyed by anyone-old, young, or middle aged. Also..the message of the film is great. I am saving the message for the end of this review because it can not be explained without giving away the ending.


                       I also loved the film for the performances. Black and Jensen have excellent chemistry. Duvall and Melissa Leo (as another local) are terrific as always. Duvall here is especially sweet and tender (no pun intended) as a man who wants to give someone another chance in life.


                      Now for the SPOILER. The end of the film follows the tournament in which Luke has to make just one more shot in order to win. At the very last second...we never see the shot because according to the narrator "it doesn't matter." This is a great message for anyone...win, lose, or draw..you should enjoy life no matter what. This is another reason why I loved the film.


                    Seven Days In Utopia is streaming on Netflix and is very easy to find on DVD. It is a bit more expensive on Blu Ray but whomever is reading this review has no excuse not to see it. It is a film that should truly be seen by everybody. 

Ice Age Continental Drift Review

                         No mammoth is an island-the old gang is back in Ice Age Continental Drift
                            Over the years..there have been four Ice Age films. Let me tell you about these films-they're not bad. I sat through all four and I was not even close to walking out of any of them. However..now with Pixar and Dreamworks...you have to give adults something more than watchable films. Sure...kids will enjoy this film...really really dumb little kids. I'm talking kids five and under will enjoy it. Otherwise...there is no reason for people to go see this.

                           The film follows the old gang...Diego (Denis Leary), Sid (John Leguizamo) and Manny (Ray Romano). They get split away (so to say) from their family except Sid's granny (Wanda Sykes). This time...the crew is stuck in the middle of a war with the evil Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage). In their defense...all of the actors here do great voice work. Why wouldn't they? They're excellent actors. They bring the film to life as does the beautiful looking animation. Dinklage especially makes his characters (as Family Guy's Stewie would call it) "deliciously evil." Sure..Gutt is no Charles Muntz from Up but it's an Ice Age film.

                           This is what I'm talking about...when you have Up, the Toy Story Films, and other classic animation such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King available on home video...why pay $13 a piece for a 3D movie that you-as parents won't even enjoy. Sure...there's nothing like the big screen but you'd be safer popping your little ones in front of a TV screen. I keep saying you because the only people that will most likely enjoy the newest Ice Age outing won't be interested in what I'm saying because they're going to enjoy it regardless. Also..not to mention that some of Ice Age's audience can't even read yet. It's not bad for its target audience but I am talking to the parents here..the ones who will really have to suffer. I am not a parent but I am not a little kid either and I did not care for it.

The Amazing Spiderman Review

                       Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield in the new action film The Amazing Spiderman
                                Let me say straight off the bat that while I was a huge fan of the Sam Raimi Spiderman films..I was actually looking quite forward to this one. Andrew Garfield seemed perfect for their roles as did the rest of the respective cast. Boy was I right. This is a truly excellent film that explores the origin story of Spiderman deeper than I thought it could ever get into.

                                What The Amazing Spiderman does truly well is find an actor who makes Tobey Maguire look like a complete vacuum. Don't get me wrong-Maguire was very good but Garfield is magnificent. Also...Emma Stone really envelopes the role of Gwen Stacy. Here Stone shows us she's no one trick pony. Sure...she showed us that in Easy A but here she steps into more dramatic territory. Furthermore...Denis Leary as Captain Stacy..Gwen's father and the man who believes Spiderman is a menace to society.

                                Even more so....Rhys Ifans is fantastic as the villain here. He really digs deep into the role of Dr. Connors who later becomes The Lizard when he tries to cure his missing arm. Martin Sheen and Sally Field also offer dynamite performances as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Need I say all the performances are fantastic?

                               Onto the action..which is phenomenal. It is given new height and depth..especially when seen on an IMAX screen in 3D. When you see Spiderman swinging from building to building.....you will not believe your eyes. The film never feels long even at 2 hours and 15 minutes, either. In fact..it flies by (no pun intended.)

                               The Amazing Spiderman is accurate in its title, fantastic in its performances and visually stunning in all its mighty ways. It is a pretty flawless film that shall not be missed.
(5 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence)

Take This Waltz Review

                Is this love? Luke Kirby and Michelle Williams in the new drama Take This Waltz
                        There is something abnormally annoying about a film that features some great performers starring in such a pretentious film as Take This Waltz. This is a film that features very few good scenes and lacks the emotional arch that director Sarah Polley is trying to go for. There is a quote from Anna Karenina that reads "everything intelligent is boring." While this quote is not completely accurate...it does speak to movies like Take This Waltz. The film is boring but it is boring in its intelligence. By this I mean it is a realistic look at the world but it is realistic in the way that people as annoying as the people in this film really exist.

                         The film follows Margot (Michelle Williams) who meets Daniel (Luke Kirby) on a plane after an embarrassing *kind of* run in with him. When Margot tells Daniel she is married to Lou (Seth Rogen)...he continues to pursue her as if she's not married. Daniel is one of the most annoying characters I have seen in any movie. Unlike something like Safety Not Guaranteed...I hated every single character in this film. If Daniel would just leave Margot alone or even just be friends with her..I wouldn't have minded this film. Some argue that this may be even more boring but it's annoying the way he pursues her. On top of this..Lou is such a likable guy that you wonder why Margot would ever think about going for Daniel the way she does.

                         The film does not feature one good performance. Rogen, Williams and Sarah Silverman who plays Rogen's sister are all talented people. They are stuck with badly written, unlikable characters, however.

                        Finally..lest we forgot that this film goes on for two hours. The run time really allows the film to drag on as much as possible. Take This Waltz is not a terrible film. It is just a boring one with unlikable characters. The film got on my last nerves but I can't say I despised it.
(2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for language, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity)

Safety Not Guaranteed Review

               Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass as potential time travelers in Safety Not Guaranteed
                      This is going to be one of my hardest reviews to write yet. Why..you may ask. Well, it's because I can not put into words how much I loved Safety Not Guaranteed. I will try anyway for the sake of the reader. It follows Jeff (Jake M Johnson), Darius (Aubrey Plaza) and Arnau (Karan Soni)...a journalist and two interns at a Seattle magazine. When Jeff suggests to the head of the magazine that he write an article on a man who believes he can time travel...the head instantly agrees and there begins his road trip with Darius and Arnau.

                     The man who can supposedly time travel is Kenneth (Mark Duplass) and the movie does a good job of not telling us whether he's completely out of his mind or a genius up until the end of the film. Director Colin Trevorrow directing his first feature-length film proves that first time directors can be a master of the craft. What Trevorrow does is along the lines of someone like Jonathon Demme...he gets great performances out of his actors. Plaza is beautiful, funny and just quirky enough here while Duplass is likable and unpredictable. Also, Johnson (who plays Nick on the Fox TV show New Girl) is perfect here. His character has many issues but he is also an unbelievably nice guy with very good intentions most of the time. Finally...Soni, who has been in hardly anything at all gives a great performance as a nice guy who just needs to live a little.

                    The film is in equal parts funny and touching. There is a scene between Jeff and Arnau that actually had me crying. Also....the film has a very nice message about living for today. This is ironic considering that it's a film about people who want to travel back in time but believe me...that message is crystal clear in the film.

                    My only complaint with the film is that it's too short. At 80 minutes (not including credits)..the film goes by too fast. I wanted to spend another hour or so with these characters and get to know them more.

                     Safety Not Guaranteed is an excellent film that fans of indie comedies should enjoy. Even beyond that...almost everyone should enjoy this film. Safety may not be guaranteed but what is guaranteed is that this is definitely the best movie I have seen in years.
(5 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for language including some sexual references)

Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection Review

                     Tyler Perry and Eugene Levy hop a flight in the new comedy Madea's Witness Protection
                             Perhaps I have been a bit too harsh on Tyler Perry. Mr. Perry has done many bad films but me comparing him to the likes of Robin Williams or Adam Sandler in his comedy seems just plain wrong. Yes...all three of these actors can be really funny but Mr. Perry has something else going for him. He has a certain charm that these two others do not quite have. Perry is a good actor, also. He can pull a very nice dramatic performance as we have seen in Good Deeds or he can pull a just plain nice performance like in Star Trek.

                             With all this on the table...I will say that while it has its fair share of obvious, corny jokes..Madea's Witness Protection is actually one of Perry's better films. What really sold it for me was that the incredibly talented supporting cast really brings their A game and elevates this material to *sometimes* very funny levels. Perry also proves that Madea is not a one trick pony any more. Yes..we still do get the word "heller" thrown in the movie much too many times but Madea also has some sweet moments and some clever ways of getting what she wants. An example of both of these happening at the same time is when Madea tells the spoiled daughter of George (Eugene Levy) and Kate (Denise Richards) some breaking news to make her realize what really matters in life.

                              Speaking of which...Levy is actually very funny here. Sure...you can poke fun at him for having done so many bad films (Gooby and the Direct-to-DVD American Pie films come to mind) but he's still got it. Levy created one of my favorite characters in movie history-Jim's Dad from American Pie and up until a phony ending in which Levy has to take something that is rightfully his back-he creates a similar character. Richards is good here but the film really didn't need here because Perry and Levy are the ones who really shine. Perry also plays Joe..Madea's house guest and Brian-an attorney for George. All three of these characters bring something special to the table.

                                There are a couple particularly unfunny scenes which include a failed attempt at a car robbery and a scene involving trying to get everyone out of bed. Still....the film succeeds at proving that Perry still has some fight left in him.
(3 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for some crude sexual remarks and brief drug references)

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World Review

              Patton Oswalt and Steve Carrell have a talk in Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World
                                 Dodge (Steve Carrell) has just found out the world is ending. Penny (Kiera Knightley) is just plain miserable. In Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World...they team up and hit the road to find Dodge's ex-girlfriend who's "the one that got away." This is not a straight comedy. It has its moments of drama and this is where the movie really shines.

                                 See....the film with its obvious end of the world and sex jokes fails. However, the movie is actually very well made when being downbeat. The film really picks up in the third act when it turns into a film in the vein of last year's Melancholia. While I didn't much care for that film...I did respect its humorless approach. That's what made it somewhat fascinating and thought provoking. In this film...we get that approach for the last half an hour along with a surprise appearance by one of the best actors working in Hollywood whom I choose not to give away.

                                Carrell and Knightley-while being completely different people have-dare I say..chemistry. They are both very good actors and while their characters do not seem to belong together..they bring particular charms to their characters. They are both so likable that we can't help but believe that these two sweet people belong together.

                                The film is very weird..a point I must make before I conclude this review. When I said this is not a straight comedy I mean even the humor is extremely weird. Like I said...it has its fair share of obvious, normal jokes but the film is so not what you would expect from any of the actors in this film. It is one of the weirdest movies I have seen, in fact.

                                I can't quite recommend Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World. It is too weird and simultaneously obvious for its own good. However..the third act (as in the last half an hour) is good enough to save this film from complete doom.
(2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for language including sexual references, some drug use and brief violence)

Magic Mike Review

         Matthew McConaughey teaches Alex Pettyfer the art of stripping in the new comedy Magic Mike
                   For anyone who is wondering what Channing Tatum's butt looks like..this is the movie for you. As a straight male...I had no desire to see that side of Tatum (although he is admittedly handsome.) However...I loved Magic Mike. Yes...despite my personal issues with seeing a film about male strippers...I can not help but admit that this was one of the most enjoyable films I have seen all year.

                   As I mentioned...I am a straight male but by far my favorite part of the film is the stripping scenes. Yes...it is not because I enjoyed seeing these men strip down to their thongs but because they were so well choreographed. Director Steven Soderbergh does a great job at directing these scenes and adds the perfect type of music to fit the scenes. Also...the actors had obviously practiced their moves because no one can be this good at stripping without practicing.

                   The film features solid performances from Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Cody Horn, Matthew McConaughey and the Olivia "the most beautiful woman on Earth" Munn. Speaking of McConaughey...this is the most fitting role for him. It is in fact even more fitting than his role in Dazed And Confused. The film does get a bit too mushy at the end with a typical romantic comedy ending but that's nothing compared to the rest of the film.

                   As it is, I thoroughly enjoyed Magic Mike. It is well acted, well directed and gives new life to the art of male stripping. As a film critic..I try to see every movie for what it is. I try not to feel gay watching a movie about male strippers and because of this...I got to see one of the most enjoyable movies of the year.
(4 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for pervasive sexual content, brief graphic nudity, language and some drug use)

Ted Review

                            Mark Wahlberg has a heart to heart with his talking teddy bear in Ted
                                  Ted is a film about a talking teddy bear. Don't be fooled..it is a very funny and dirty film about a talking teddy bear. While it is not as funny as this year's 21 Jump Street...it does make the cut as being funny enough to recommend. The only problem with it is that Ted..the title character is surprisingly not in it as much as you may expect. Ted is voiced by Seth MacFarlane..putting on a voice that sounds like Brian Griffin, Peter Griffin, and Donny from That's My Boy combined. This is actually the perfect voice for the character.

                                 Mark Wahlberg is John..the lowlife who wished Ted alive when he was but a little boy. Mila Kunis is Lori..John's girlfriend. The problem with Ted not being in it as much as you may expect comes when John and Lori try to interact with each other. Ted is such a funny character that when he's off screen..we just want to see more of him. I didn't buy John and Lori's chemistry for a second. Sure..the two actors are talented but they can't get past the script they are given without the title character. The only funny thing that came out of the scenes with just them is a very funny spoof of a particular 1970s film whose soundtrack may be the best selling album of all time (hint, hint.)

                               I've been talking too much about John and Lori when the film is called Ted. MacFarlane does a perfect job of bringing the character to life and when John and Ted meet a creepy man in the park named Donny (Giovanni Ribissi) and his overweight son...things just get better and better. The supporting cast, including Joel McHale, Patrick Warburton and a certain 80's star as themselves were all great. The best of the supporting cast comes from Ribissi who I have always found to be a very solid actor. He brings the perfect mix of creepy and funny here not ever being too over the top.

                              Ted does go through all the regular cycles of a film about relationships and a raunchy comedy but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very funny and actually has some accurate things to say about the world we live in. Just don't go in expecting the movie to completely live up to its title.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language and some drug use)

Rock Of Ages Review

                      Tom Cruise and Paul Giamatti as Stacee Jaxx and Paul Gill in Rock Of Ages
                           Rock Of Ages is one of the worst films I have ever seen. I usually do not start off with such a huge statement in a review but I just had to get it off my chest. Director Adam Shankman and the whole cast and rest of the crew including writers Justin Theroux, Chris D'Arienzo, and Allan Loeb should be ashamed of themselves. Theroux wrote the hilarious Wanderlust from February of this year, and now him, along with the other people mentioned have ruined some of the greatest rock songs known to man. I have to give them credit, however. To ruin such great and beloved songs as Sister Christian, I Want To Know What Love Is and Pour Some Sugar On Me is quite honestly..impressive. It also takes some guts. Still..this movie is just awful.

                          The film stars two of the blandest performers known to man...Julianne Hough and Deigo Boneta. It figures because Hough came from Dancing With The Stars and Boneta is probably best known for being in five episodes of Pretty Little Liars. I have seen Hough on Dancing With The Stars. She is undeniably gorgeous and can burn up a dance floor like nobody's business but she can not act or sing. Also...the more well known supporting cast including but not limited to Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Bryan Cranston and Alec Baldwin are all wasted. These are talented people who are stuck in awful roles in which they have to belch out cringe-inducing retreads of classic songs.

                          Where Rock Of Ages succeeds is that it is funny. I mean this as not a compliment but an observation. By this I mean that if you ever have to sit through a film this awful...you can't help but laugh at how bad it is. There are no likable characters and all the plots are terrible and then forced to connect in one final group song.

                          Rock Of Ages will only be enjoyed by the most impressionable. To quote one song that was played in this film "in my life there's been heartache and pain." In watching this film...I have indeed experienced both of these things.
(0 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking and language)