Movie Reviews By Movie Reviews Pro

Year One - Jack Black

Rating:

Movie: Year One (2009)

Studio : Columbia Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 97min

Website : yearone-movie.com

Trailer : http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8wfsx

Review:

When my friend Rob proposed that we see Year One, I jumped at the chance.  Here we had Jack Black and Michael Cera, two of my favorite actors, collaborating with Harold Ramis, a comic legend.  Where could they go wrong?

 The answer: the script.  Year One is such an unfocused, unfunny mess I don’t even know where to begin tearing it apart.  The movie naturally takes place in “year one,” in which Black and Cera are two hunter/gatherers. Black, in all his manic wisdom, manages to eat the “forbidden fruit” (Biblical parallels, anyone?) and is subsequently expelled from his tribe.  In yet another parody of Jerry Maguire, Black announces that he intends to explore the outside world and invites anyone willing to accompany him.  Cera (playing essentially the same milquetoast from Juno and Superbad) volunteers, and the two are off on their adventure.

 The movie doesn’t seem to have much of a story, as the two of them meet various Biblical icons, including David Cross and Paul Rudd as Cain and Abel, respectively, Hank Azaria as Abraham, and Christopher Mintz-Pleasse as Isaac.  Mintz-Pleasse had my sides splitting as McLovin, so I naturally thought any movie with him in it wouldn’t be all bad.  Unfortunately, his comedic talents are wasted, as he has maybe nine or ten lines throughout the movie.
 
Black and Cera do what they can with the material, but they can’t save the script. We’re treated to a story that plays mostly like a series of unfinished Monty Python sketches, along with Cera urinating on himself, Cera rubbing oil on a hairy Oliver Platt, and a couple of smiles, but no laughs.  The rowdy high schoolers who populated the theater remained mostly silent throughout the ordeal.  I remained silent during, and after the movie, wondering to myself why I had paid 12 bucks to see it on opening weekend.  Although it’s nearly out of the theaters, if you haven’t seen it, I’ll steer you away from renting it on DVD or even catching it on cable.  See a Monty Python film or History of the World, Part I instead.

-Craig Wynne

Adventure, Comedy, In Theaters Adventure, Comedy, jack black, year one

The Hangover - Bradley Cooper

Rating:

Movie: The Hangover (2009)

Studio : Legendary Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 100min

Website : hangovermovie.warnerbros.com

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8l0df

Review:

The Hangover follows four friends as they recuperate from a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas the night before. Their action-packed fun comes to an abrupt halt when they realize the groom of the wedding is missing, and with misty eyes and splitting headaches, the crew must make sense of their hazy remnants of memories. Slowly but surely, the guys acquire clue after clue and jump from lead to lead in an attempt to retroactively reconstruct the night in order to save the wedding later the next day.

Already being hailed as a strong candidate for best comedy of 2009, The Hangover provides a perfect cast with raunchy yet sensible comedy in a fairly relatable situation: the crazy party scene of Las Vegas made possible by thorough intoxication. Comedic heavyweights such as Zach Galifianakis (Dog Bites Man) and Ed Helms (The Office) play extremely different characters, but effectively evoke the same type of uncontrollable belly-laughter that makes this film so praiseworthy. Stu (Ed Helms) is the most mature of the bunch, but is also the quickest to rebel as he finally has some freedom from his overbearing and emotionally abusive girlfriend, who constantly calls to check on him. Stu is that guy that everybody knows, the type that is plagued by incessant misfortune, but you just can’t stop yourself from laughing at his unlucky situations and pitiful lamentations. Alan (Zach Galifianakis) is the eccentric brother of the bride, a sort of peculiar character whose generally awkward and slightly clueless demeanor yields unintentional humor line after line.

The range of characters and consistent production of ridiculous humor greatly outweighs the drawbacks of this movie. The pace is a bit slow, but the story seems to get more and more intriguing as the viewer gets another piece of the events that transpired. All in all, The Hangover is a certifiably amusing tale with sustained comedy and an unconventional method of storytelling.

-Daniel S.

Comedy, In Theaters The Hangover Movie

Up - Edward Asner

Rating:

Movie: Up (2009)

Studio : Pixar Animation; Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 96min

Website : disney.go.com/disneypictures/up

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lbph

Review:

Up follows the adventure of Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner) and Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai), as they set out on a trip around the globe in Carl’s house, which is floating thanks to thousands of helium balloons. Carl imagines this scheme after being relentlessly annoyed by construction workers for him to move, as his old house has become a bit of an eye-sore among the jungle of skyscrapers and futuristic buildings. Following a brief altercation with one of these construction workers, Carl is ordered by a judge to move into an assisted living community. Intent on keeping his home, Carl sets his plan in motion; however, he does not know that Russell, who is working for his “Assisting the Elderly” badge as part of his Boy Scout program, was on his porch when he lifted off. Together, the two embark on a wild journey to visit exotic locations as well as inadvertently forge a rather unlikely friendship.

Over the years, Pixar has been known as a powerhouse for producing comical, clean movies that are entertaining for children and adults alike, and Up is no exception. The incredible animation, aesthetically pleasing vibrancy and beautiful film score alone are worthy of positive reviews, but the compelling storyline and relatable characters make up the bulk of my praise. Up is not only a tale of adventure, but it is also a heartfelt story of undying love; this is evident in Carl’s unyielding desire to visit Paradise Falls, an exotic destination in South America that he vows to visit, as per his deceased wife’s request. This extremely realistic enterprise, coupled with flawless execution, results in a movie that is instantly relatable for viewers of all ages. Young or old, average movie-goer or film fanatic, you are absolutely guaranteed to enjoy Up.

-Daniel S.

Comedy, Family, In Theaters Comedy, disney, edward asner, Family, Up

Rating:

Movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Studio : 21 Laps Entertainment; 20th Century Fox

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 105min

Website : nightatthemuseummovie.com

Trailer :
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8626c

Review:

Battle of the Smithsonian is the sequel to the incredibly lucrative Night at the Museum, released in 2006. This movie picks up a few years after the first finished, and now Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is the creator of his own infomercial inventions company, home to items such as a glow in the dark flashlight. After discovering that his old museum is being absorbed by the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, Larry abandons his hectic schedule to answer a distress call from Jedediah Smith (Owen Wilson), which is one of the exhibits that have come to life. Jed and his crew are in possession of the Tablet of Akmenrah, an artifact integral to Kah Mun Rah’s (Hank Azaria) evil plot to take over the world. This relic becomes the center of battle, as both sides attempt to secure it.

Ben Stiller’s satisfactory performance is greatly overshadowed by Hank Azaria’s adept portrayal of a flamboyant Egyptian monarch hell-bent on global dominance; Amy Adams’ role of the adventurous, precocious Amelia Earhart is also superb. Several other actors have noteworthy performances as well, including Owen Wilson, Bill Hader as General Custer, and Christopher Guest as Ivan the Terrible.

Despite its remarkable special effects, a predictable storyline and ordinary comedy amass to a movie that seems to please only children, not the entire family. But for its genre, Battle of the Smithsonian most certainly delivers with a pure PG rating and sparkling clean humor that is perfectly fit for younger audiences. These factors, plus the inherent celebration of museums and history, make for a movie that is certainly worthy of a parent’s approval.

Night at the Museum – Battle of the Smithsonian opened in theaters nationwide on May 22, grossing nearly $54 million on its first weekend. It is now playing in theaters across the country.

-Daniel S.

Comedy, Family, In Theaters Ben Stiller, Comedy, Family, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum 2, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian