GOOD BOYS Review

If twelve year-old's could actually see the new Seth Rogen-produced comedy, Good Boys, which chronicles-in too honest a nature for their own sensibilities apparently-the misadventures of this transformative stage from elementary to middle school then there would undoubtedly be a thousand more "bean bag boy" trios popping up across the nation tomorrow and...in all honesty...that wouldn't be such a bad thing. For all of the promotional focus around this movie being on the gimmick of it starring actors too young to see their own movie because of the words and actions they say and do the truth of the matter is that despite this seemingly backwards rule (for the record, I don't think anyone under fifteen should probably watch this if for no other reason than to preserve as much innocence as possible for as long as possible) the heart of Good Boys lies in the fact that a sweetness is ultimately born from the vulgarity it would seem reliant upon. Our three co-leads, best friends and founding members of the aforementioned "bean bag boys" are so oblivious to the true meanings of some of the things they say, so unsuspecting in the ramifications of some of their actions and-most importantly-have the best of intentions in the quest the movie ultimately sends them on that the crudeness that comes to serve as the details in said quest only make to further emphasize the honesty of how kids act among themselves when their parents and elders aren't around. This point of these children being tawdry is just that-to garner cheap laughs from their peers, not because they actually possess such personalities; they're unrefined, sure, but they're not crass. The minutiae of such distinctions allows for the kids themselves to feel blameless in their thoughts and in their words, but more products of their environments in the truest sense of the phrase. This is where Good Boys becomes something wholly different in its approach though, for as much as the movie is, on a surface-level, about garnering laughs from twelve year-old's saying the "F" word writer/director Gene Stupnitsky and co-writer/producer Lee Eisenberg seem intent on emphasizing the fact the title of their film is more earnest than it is satirical; meaning the bean bag boys-despite all the trouble they get into-are in fact, fundamentally, honest-to-God good boys.     

New Trailer for POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING

The more I see of The Lonely Island's Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping the more I excited I get for what it potentially holds. Everything about the film seems to encapsulate what The Lonely Island was put on this earth to create and I can only hope my sky high expectations going in don't set me up for disappointment. If this latest trailer is any indication though, this all seems to be heading in the best possible direction. With a little over two weeks to go before its release the marketing campaign is kicking into high gear with the trio also releasing two new songs this week that we hear in the trailer titled "I'm So Humble" and "Mona Lisa". Again, so far so good as both new tracks, while somewhat abbreviated, promise classic Lonely Island formulas by taking timely and/or brutally honest perspectives and applying them to the superfluous stylings of pop music. Andy Samberg has always been good at portraying dimwitted, but lovable characters and he seems to have captured that essence perfectly in Conner who we'll simultaneously loathe and want to treat like an abandoned puppy. This trailer gives audiences more of an idea for the layout of the film and the fact it is lampooning the recent wave of pop star documentaries to come from those pop stars own camps a la Justin Bieber and Katy Perry. While I've yet to run into anyone who isn't excited for this movie I'm still very curious to see if the film will expand past the borders of Lonely Island fans and reach a broad audience given their last film, 2007's Hot Rod, only grossed $14 million worldwide. As a fan of theirs, I adore Hot Rod and feel the movie has definitely picked up steam since its home video release, which bodes well for Popstar, but let's hope that translates to high praise and recognition right out of the gate this time around; especially if the final product deserves it. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping also stars Sarah Silverman, Mike Birbiglia, Tim Meadows, Imogen Poots, Bill Hader, Joan Cusack, Snoop Dogg and opens on June 3, 2016.

KEANU Review

When Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key began their sketch comedy series in 2012 I wasn't aware of either comic in any large capacity save for a few supporting roles in random comedies. While I never jumped on the bandwagon that was the huge following their Comedy Central show soon amassed I saw enough clips on YouTube to know these guys were smart, insightful comedians who enjoyed commenting on social expectations by upending them in inventive ways. Most of these having to do with race or gender stereotypes, but nevertheless they were smart enough about their approach that many of their sketches quickly became cultural reference points in the same way Chappelle's show had a decade earlier. When Key and Peele's show ended in the fall of last year it was somewhat surprising given their three year run had yielded them great success, numerous opportunities, and it more or less seemed as if the duo were just beginning to really heat up. Talk about going out on top. It seems that with all the free time ending their show opened up for them the comedic duo decided it was time to take their act to the big screen. With the danger of wearing out their welcome by translating what worked for them in a five minute sketch to feature length as well as taking into account the low success rate of sketches turned into feature films the odds were never in their favor, but alas Key and Peele have made their formula work for them more than it doesn't. Again, coming from a position of having seen only a handful of sketches from what I'm sure is a much larger, more illustrious library than I can even imagine I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Keanu, but due to the fact I largely enjoy broad comedies with outlandish premises that expose those premises for all they're worth Keanu largely succeeds in the goals it sets for itself. Of course, given I'd seen only what is likely the highest highlights from their show I was hoping for more consistent laughter, but there are enough big laughs here to tide one over when the movie intermittently forgets what it's supposed to be in exchange for the authenticity of what it is supposedly lampooning.

Red Band Trailer for The Lonely Island's POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING

In what I assume will be premiering with Sacha Baron Cohen's The Brothers Grimsby tonight in theaters The Lonely Island and producer Judd Apatow have released a first, NSFW trailer for their latest film that looks to poke fun at pop star music docs/concert films the way last summer's 7 Days in Hell satirized the 30 for 30 format. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping makes complete sense given that The Lonely Island and its members, including Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer, have been somewhat parodying pop music for years now with their digital shorts on SNL and early hip hop inspired albums including Incredibad, Turtleneck & Chain, as well as 2013's The Wack Album. It was definitely time for some new Lonely Island music to make its way into my life and to finally get a glimpse of what we might be in for this summer given the soundtrack is sure to be just as entertaining as the movie itself is really exciting. In the film, Samberg stars as what looks to be a riff on Justin Bieber with the premise being that when his new album fails to sell records, pop/rap superstar conner4real will try anything to bounce back; anything except reuniting with his old rap group The Style Boyz. While this will certainly please fans of the group I'm curious to see if the film will expand past those borders and reach a broad audience given the Island's last film, 2007's Hot Rod, only grossed $14 million worldwide. As a fan of theirs, I kind of adore Hot Rod and feel the movie has definitely picked up steam since its home video release, but it would be nice to see Popstar get some high praise and recognition right out of the gate, especially if the final product deserves it. It certainly seems to have the potential to be something great. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping also stars Sarah Silverman, Mike Birbiglia, Tim Meadows, Imogen Poots, Bill Hader, Joan Cusack, Snoop Dogg and opens on June 3, 2016.

First Red-Band Trailer for Key & Peele's KEANU

The most I've seen of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele's Comedy Central show that has now come to an end were the clips that gained momentum on YouTube. I always found the clips entertaining and naturally pretty funny and Key has been especially prolific in smaller roles recently where he's stolen the the scenes in which he was included (Horrible Bosses 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Vacation-all golden). All of that said, this trailer for their first feature film (written by Peele and Alex Rubens) had me rolling as it quickly becomes apparent how ridiculous the duo is dedicated to being. Directed by Peter Atencio (who directed every episode of Key and Peele) the film revolves around two very suburban fellas, one of which finds solace in a cute kitten after his girlfriend breaks up with him, who get into a gang war when said kitten is stolen. While clearly a riff on 2014's Keanu Reeves movie, John Wick, this seems to be much more than simply a parody of that particular film, but the action genre as a whole and the always funny circumstances of placing two characters outside of their comfort zone. Kicking this promotional campaign off with a red band trailer isn't a bad idea either as it allows for some strong jokes with sensitive material to come through and set the tone for just what Key and Peele are attempting to capture which, to the comfort of their fans I'm sure, seems to be perfectly aligned with the comedy of their sketch show, but on a much bigger platform. Keanu also stars Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, Jason Mitchell, Luis Guzman, Nia Long, Will Forte and opens on April 29th, 2016.

First Trailer for THE RIDICULOUS 6 Starring Adam Sandler

After the success of Beasts of No Nation (it's been watched more than 3 million times in it's first ten days of release says Netflix) and on the same day that Pixels arrives on Blu-Ray and DVD the streaming service is ready to move on to it's next original film. The trailer for the first of four Adam Sandler films being made for Netflix, The Ridiculous 6, has debuted and couldn't be further from the tone of what Netflix's first original film offered. While Beasts was an intense thriller about child soldiers in Africa, this new Sandler comedy mainly concerns itself with spoofing The Magnificent Seven by featuring Sandler as Tommy “White Knife” Stockburn as a man who goes on an adventure-filled journey across the Old West with his five brothers when their long-lost outlaw father returns. Directed by Frank Coraci (Click, Here Comes the Boom) I have a bit more faith in the film because of his involvement rather than this simply being another Sandler collaboration with Dennis Dugan who tends to give Sandler his laziest results. The film generally looks like a big-budget summer Sandler flick which is exciting and the cast is beyond ridiculous. While we'll have to wait and see if the quality of the film is better than what the comedian has offered as of late on the big screen, this was without a doubt the smartest move Sandler could have made given his dwindling box office returns and that his films are largely comfort food anyway. The Ridiculous 6 also stars Terry Crews, Jorge Garcia, Taylor Lautner, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson, Harvey Keitel and will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 11th beating the 70mm release of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight by two of weeks.

THE LEGO MOVIE Review

Upon initially hearing that there was going to be a movie based solely around the Lego brand and the toys and properties they owned I believed it would turn out to be nothing more than a cash grab, something to build the name (not that it needed it) or possibly expanding the brand may be a better way to approach it. Essentially, I expected this to turn out to be nothing more than one big commercial. There was little reason for it to be more than that, why waste such effort or creative juices on something that would no doubt deliver zero gratification in the end and would only serve as something to decrease further the credibility of Hollywood products and the way in which children's entertainment disparages its audience much of the time allowing itself to get away with body function jokes and funny voices rather than actual, contextual humor? So, why would directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who took something like the beloved 1970's Judi Barrett children's book Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and turned it into a witty, colorful piece of cinema that took some unexpected themes and conveyed them in a manner that allowed the children to enjoy the food falling from the sky while the adults latched onto the insight the story might be re-educating them on, but was at least delivering it to them in a new, almost inspiring light? That these guys went on to direct something like 21 Jump Street, a reboot of an 80's property that no one really put much faith in, and turned it into not only one of the best films of 2012 or one of the better comedies to come out in a good while, but a movie that used its interesting concept to delve into the strange dynamics of male friendships and the actual struggles it takes to maintain those types of friendships as each individual grows up and changes? That film didn't have to be anything more than a re-make slapped together by a board of executives to satisfy humor-hungry teens who move from R-rated comedy to R-rated comedy without a care, but Lord and Miller made it something more, something notable. All of that is to say that the directors have done the same here; they have transformed what could have been that one, massive commercial into something of a reminder, a love letter in ways to the spirit of childhood and how the imagination is just as precious as the adequacy we need to feel as adults. In short, The LEGO Movie is magical and reminds us of how simple it is to feel that little something extra.

NEBRASKA Review

Naturally, the most involving stories are those we usually relate to best. I personally love a good comedy but the consequences most characters face in those films are unrealistic. I can enjoy a horror flick without actually becoming wrapped up in the mythology of what the film justifies its actions with or convincing myself it is real and an actual possibility in this world. The same goes with science fiction and over-the-top action movies. Sure, I love Star Wars and have become enamored with the barrage of comic book films we’re hit with every year, but I like to think of myself as a diverse viewer in the fact that while I can enjoy even the mainstream genre films that big studios deem worthy of their big budgets it is perfectly acceptable to understand why the smaller, indie movies that typically end up on critics end of year best-lists are just as enticing and deserve to be taken on their own terms for the point in which they were made and what ideas they were looking to explore and fulfill (just as those bigger budget ones). All of that to say that when something like Nebraska comes along it is easy to take it for granted, but in reality this is a film that captures all of the complexities of life in as simple a package as our day to day lives make it seem most of the time. As told by director Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) it was clear that this very human story would have a very personal tone to its proceedings, but Nebraska is surprisingly insightful not only for the dynamics between the family members and the core relationship between the father and son that examines big questions in small ways, but because it is, like its main character, so matter of fact about these big ideas. There is nothing overly exceptional about the film, but that too is due to the fact it dials down its philosophical and nostalgic questions that delve into the choices we make and how they effect our happiness, how we don't always think them through in the moment and how they may, in the long run, determine more than just the quality of life but our satisfaction with it. Payne has always had a knack for exploring human pain and contemporary American life with a touch of dark humor and he almost provides that in excess here as the crux of the plot is a senior citizen buying into one of those million dollar marketing ploys, but this silly gimmick only serves as the entrance point to a family many will feel all too familiar with and be happy to be re-assured we are not alone in each of our hectic/tiring/uplifting/pathetic/routine lives.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 Review

Back in 2009 I walked, unsuspecting, into an IMAX theater on a rainy, early morning looking to fill my day with nothing but pure escapism and hopefully a little fun. It was a weekday and no one else was in the theater and so I sat in what I could most accurately pinpoint as the center of this massive room and kicked back in front of the largest screen my state has to offer to watch an animated film. I had no expectations, but I was beginning to attempt to see as many films as possible so I could write about them regularly and though I hadn't heard much about this smaller, but impressively cast flick I was excited because the great Bill Hader was getting a leading role and I'd heard good things about the source material it came from. Needless to say, I came out of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs having done nothing short of escaping the dreary day outside and getting wrapped up in the story of Flint Lockwood and Swallow Falls. Not only had the film provided gorgeous animation to drench the world and its creations in, but it was relentlessly funny. I laughed from beginning to end. Directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord (21 Jump Street) had given the film a quirky sense of humor and a pacing that never allowed the audience to get hung up on anything they didn't want them too, keeping the focus on Flint and his invention while littering this world with interesting and funny supporting characters that added layers and layers of, well, character. Once again, needless to say, I was slightly worried when they announced a sequel, but not because I wasn't interested in the further adventures of Flint and his gang, but because Miller and Lord wouldn't be returning to the directors chairs and what set the film apart from the rest of the pack was its off-brand of humor and break-neck pacing that matched its protagonists energy. Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn do well to take notes from their predecessors though as they allow Cloudy 2 to pick up the comedic end of the stick and run with it while delivering all the food puns you could ever hope to enjoy. In a year filled with sub-par animated features, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 stands to be the funniest and most enjoyable trip of the year.

First Trailer for NEBRASKA

I'm a moderate fan of director Alexander Payne. He gets a lot of credit for his 2004 flick, Sideways, but I much prefer 2011's The Descendants simply because of where I was at in life and how it hit me. I haven't re-visited Sideways in a few years and I never made it around to seeing his 2002 feature About Schmidt or 1999's Election, but regardless I'm rather excited to see his latest film, Nebraska. Having premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to lukewarm reviews it has still managed to gain a good amount of momentum and will be making its premier stateside next month at the New York Film Festival. It seems that here it will find a home and we may get a better understanding of what the point of the film is and what it is trying to say as it is essentially a small film set in small town America and tells a story of an old man in a new generation who seems to want to contend rather than sit by and let his final years pass him by. That may even sound a little too mainstream a synopsis to capture what the film is going for, but from the mood of the first trailer it is evident that Payne is going for that same type of tone and wit that made Sideways such an underground hit. What might be the most exciting aspect of this for me is that Payne has given Will Forte the chance to spread his wings in something more than just a bit role in a major comedy or the string of MacGruber-type flicks that may or may not end up being his lot in life. Naturally, Bruce Dern as the lead is getting more of the attention and the trailer displays why as he's a guy who receives one of those "winning" sweepstakes letters in the mail and, convinced he has actually won a million dollars, makes it his mission to walk from Montana to Nebraska to claim his prize. Nebraska also stars Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, June Squibb and opens November 15th.

THAT'S MY BOY Review

This was never expected to be that great of a movie and I can accept that. Despite my soft spot for Adam Sandler it is impossible to ignore the fact that in the past two years his Happy Madison productions have gone nowhere but down in terms of quality and the amount of laughs they deliver. While I felt like one of the few who really enjoyed Funny People for what it was supposed to be rather than what audiences expected it to be everything that Sandler has done since proves he learned nothing from the experience of making that movie. It seemed things might be turning around this year though as Sandler (kind of) left his comfort zone where instead of being surrounded by his usual cohorts he teamed up with prime-"SNL" star Andy Samberg for an all out raunchfest. While Samberg has certainly brought his random and ridiculous humor to the table there is also the very evident touch of writer David Caspe who is credited with several episodes of the well-reviewed show "Happy Endings" and director Sean Anders who before directed the underrated teen comedy Sex Drive. The free-wheeling tone of the film can absolutely be credited to their guidance and though Sandler does resort to silly make-up and a greasy wig to make the character more than just a version of himself he goes backwards a few steps with the over-exaggerated northern accent. To his credit though, this is certainly the funniest thing he's done in recent memory and in that regard I guess we can be thankful. Maybe it is a step in a funnier direction, but as I write this he is making his first sequel and out of all the films he could have picked from we will be watching Grown Ups 2 next year...maybe.

Todd (Andy Samberg) shows his dad, Donny (Adam
Sandler) the tattoo he gave him when he was eight.

That's My Boy is a movie that unlike most of Sandler's comedies doesn't carry the heavy weight of a lesson learned. It does, but it's not out in the forefront at the conclusion of the film like so many corny lessons usually are. The film instead simply goes for the laughs and Sandler is in a no holds barred mode as he let's the f-words fly with no regard to what others will think of him. His character, Donny Berger knocked up his jr. high teacher and fathered a child he was forced to raise by himself until the boy turned 18. That the film goes there so early is an indication of where it is heading and while most of what we will see is going to be a predictable mess the writers throw in some good jokes along the way as well as a few genuine surprises even if they are completely out of left field and devoid of any real substance. Donny finds himself nearing 40 and has spent all of his money earned from his 15-minutes of fame as the kid who hooked up with the hot teacher. He owes the IRS $40,000 and is in need of some quick cash so he can avoid the same fate as his lover/teacher. Donny's son, who left when he was 18 to make a life for himself is now getting married, is super wealthy, and has changed his name to Todd. As Todd, Samberg plays the straight role to Sandler's out of control Donny and for the most part the story arc and the relationship works. I would liked to have seen Samberg get a little more crazy as he and his dad begin to mend their relationship, but despite the vulgarity of the jokes being there the antics don't ever seem to get to out of control. There is a nice underlying point here in that the family Todd is marrying into is just as crazy and messed up as his own, but they have to go to some pretty extreme lengths to make this true. I couldn't believe they actually went where they did as it just seemed pointless and didn't exactly get a huge laugh, but to their credit it was an unexpected, weird, and ballsy move.

Donny and Todd reunite with their old friend Vanilla Ice.

What was smart about Sandler's move here is that he likely knows what the internet and fanboys are saying about him and though he probably could care less as long as he gets his box office returns that guarantee his checks (the reason Grown Ups is getting a sequel) but you know it has to hurt him a bit when so many people make the critique that he is no longer funny. People genuinely used to think the guy was funny and a lot of that has been lost. Teaming with someone like Samberg who practically is Sandler from 16 years ago will give the Sandman an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of those who have given up on him. In that regard, the movie should be a success. This has a lot of laughs and is a flat out comedy that could be described as a party movie but overall it is just a fun, R-rated night out at the movies. It has no more depth to it than that and shouldn't be expected to. It is what it is and one of the best things about that is the fact it isn't ashamed to act out or be loud and obnoxious. The argument could be made that the movie should have gone a little deeper, maybe even exploring the humor in dark situations such as the realization on the teachers part that she literally ruined the life of a young child. Sure, it was fun and they can call it love, but this boy could have amounted to be anything in the world but was robbed of those opportunities because of one adults selfish (I know it's hard to see things that way) actions. There was not a shot in hell that is where this movie was going. The film gets as deep as showing a man child learn to be an adult from the kid who took away his actual childhood. It is very subtle in these themes as the dick jokes are pushed to forefront, but give it a while to resonate, they're there if you want them to be.

Joined by his best man Phil (Will Forte) and future
brother-in-law Chad (Milo Ventimiglia) Todd and Donny
meet with the priest for the wedding rehearsal.

As with any Sandler comedy there is a host of cameos here, most of which actually improve the film and are accountable for many of the laughs. The biggest and most obvious is that of Vanilla Ice playing himself. He actually (surprisingly) does a pretty good job at playing up his image and making fun of what most would likely hope he is doing now. As a fellow celebrity alongside the fictional Donny in the 80's Vanilla comes into play as an integral part of the mayhem and an influence in Todd's young life. This is just one of the many examples of how ridiculous the movie gets. Sandler staple Nick Swardson has some funny bits as does Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes, Tony Orlando has a pretty stable supporting part and "SNL" alums like Will Forte and Rachel Dratch pop up occasionally. In actual supporting roles Leighton Meester does nothing for me as the evil bride to be though her brother as played by "Heroes" alum Milo Ventimiglia steals his handful of scenes. It is another ridiculously exxagerated role that in the end turns into something weird and unexpected, but the acting ability he displays almost makes the whole thing feel plausible. Kudos to Milo. In the end this will likely show up on Sandler's filmography as an effort to re-cement himself as the funny man he once was. It is hard to say whether it will be embraced or not. It is a film that is all out raunchy and dirty for the sake of being raunchy and dirty but it does deliver serious laughs consistently. The additions of Samberg's credibility will certainly lend some interest in the project that Sandler will lose by skewing to the older demographic. I liked the movie, I laughed alot, and came out of the theater not feeling like I wasted my time but in fact that I found enjoyment in the comedy. You can't really expect or really want more out of a comedy than that. Maybe a little more class to the jokes, maybe a little more sense to the script but it is what it is and I hope people give Sandler another shot.

THAT'S MY BOY Review

This was never expected to be that great of a movie and I can accept that. Despite my soft spot for Adam Sandler it is impossible to ignore the fact that in the past two years his Happy Madison productions have gone nowhere but down in terms of quality and the amount of laughs they deliver. While I felt like one of the few who really enjoyed Funny People for what it was supposed to be rather than what audiences expected it to be everything that Sandler has done since proves he learned nothing from the experience of making that movie. It seemed things might be turning around this year though as Sandler (kind of) left his comfort zone where instead of being surrounded by his usual cohorts he teamed up with prime-"SNL" star Andy Samberg for an all out raunchfest. While Samberg has certainly brought his random and ridiculous humor to the table there is also the very evident touch of writer David Caspe who is credited with several episodes of the well-reviewed show "Happy Endings" and director Sean Anders who before directed the underrated teen comedy Sex Drive. The free-wheeling tone of the film can absolutely be credited to their guidance and though Sandler does resort to silly make-up and a greasy wig to make the character more than just a version of himself he goes backwards a few steps with the over-exaggerated northern accent. To his credit though, this is certainly the funniest thing he's done in recent memory and in that regard I guess we can be thankful. Maybe it is a step in a funnier direction, but as I write this he is making his first sequel and out of all the films he could have picked from we will be watching Grown Ups 2 next year...maybe.