When I saw "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" in 2002, I thought it was such an uproarious film about an over-the-top traditional Greek family with all the dysfunction we ourselves understand, because what family doesn't have some sort of dysfunction? Since then, I have seen few comedies that have even come close to the snappy humor found in this film. Have we lost the ability to be truly funny in this society? Then I saw "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding 2" and fell in love with the genre of comedy all over again.
Still working at her parents' Greek restaurant, Toula's (Nia Vardalos) daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris) is growing up. She is 17-years-old and getting ready to graduate from high school while Toula and Ian (John Corbett) are experiencing marital issues--not having enough time with each other and too much time with family. When Toula's parents, Gus Portokalos (Michael Constantine) and Maria (Lainie Kazan) find out they were never officially married-- the priest forgot to sign the marriage certificate 50 years ago, another wedding is in the works which is spearheaded by Aunt Voula (Andrea Martin). Can this big, fat Greek event help bring the family back together?
This was staged and paced well by director Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine" '98, "Nanny McPhee" '05, "Everybody's Fine" '09, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" '12) plus TV. What I can expressly appreciate with this director is that he presented the same feel of it's previous director of the original, Joel Zwick. One would almost assume that Zwick directed this installment as well. This speaks well of Jones in that he clearly needed to convey to his audience similar character development so you and I would feel like these people never left us. It was humorously written by Nia Vardalos (""My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" '02, "Connie and Carla" '04, "I Hate Valentine's Day" '09, "Larry Crowne" '11). Certainly most of the similarity between the two films is that of Vardalos in writing both films. Sure, the films seem similar, but in this case, this is a good thing in that the original was incredibly well written, so why not do it again. As in both films, Vardalos narrates at the beginning setting the tone of the film. She is pure genius when it comes to comedies, something many comedy writers today should take note on. I feel she is the new Elaine May back in the day, when it comes to a tightly written satirical comedy. Sure, this wasn't quite as good as the original, but most sequels aren't. But then again, maybe it didn't seem as good because we already knew these characters, so it didn't seem fresh and/or new. Hey, remember "Home Alone"? It was also an uproarious comedy, so when "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" came along, it was very similar to the original as well. It was forgiving because the original was hysterical.
Certainly if you liked the original "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding", you'll like this, otherwise why would anyone even walk in the theater door? My hope is that if this is successful as its predecessor was, maybe Hollywood will get the hint and start producing better quality comedies so we can all enjoy without the fear that our intelligences are being totally insulted.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 94mins.
With all the commercial films we are bombarded with, it's so nice to take a break and see something small and quirky that's not only entertaining, but speaks to the heart as well. What is offered is the funny, but also dramatic "Hello, My Name Is Doris". This, like "Lars and the Real Girl", "Little Boy", "Little Miss Sunshine" and the like, transcend us into others' lives where we can either root for, or are concerned for them depending what situation is being played out. It's a great underdog film with all the pitfalls, but also with us as cheerleaders.
After attending a self-help seminar headed up by Willy Williams (Peter Gallagher), a sixty something Doris Miller (Sally Field) starts to look at her life differently. So when Doris meets John Fremont (Max Greenfield), her company's new hip young art director, sparks fly-- at least for Doris. In the cluttered house she shared with her late mother, Doris mines Facebook for information on her one-and-only, guided by the 13-year-old granddaughter, Vivian (Isabella Acres) of her best pal Roz (Tyne Daly). When Doris begins showing up at John's regular haunts, she wins over his Williamsburg friends. Her new life brings Doris a thrilling perspective, but also creates a rift between her and her longtime friends and family, expressly her brother, Todd (Stephen Root) and sister-in-law, Cynthia (Wendy McLendon- Covey) who believe she's making a fool of herself over a guy half her age. Eager for all the experiences she has missed out on, Doris throws caution to the wind and follows her heart for the very first time.
Others to round out the cast are Beth Behrs as Brooklyn, Elizabeth Reaser as Dr. Edwards, Natasha Lyonne as Sally, Kumail Nanjiani as Nasir, Kyle Mooney as Niles, Caroline Aaron as Val, Rebecca Wisocky as Anne and Amy Okuda as Des.
This is directed with amazing subtlety by Michael Showalter ("The Baxter" '05) plus TV. I say subtle, because the nuances of emotions in which Field's character of Doris were incredible whereas she would go from being depressed to excitement to worry and concern and back again. Of course, Sally Field is a consummate actor, Showalter simply scored here, especially considering his lack of directing. It was written well by Laura Terruso and Showalter based on a short film, "Doris and the Intern" by Terruso. Showalter is the one with the majority of writing experiences here, however Terruso's imput was imparitive considering this is based on her short film. This is basically her only theatrical film to her credit--her other experience is that of shorts, but she has proven herself with this screenplay. It flowed well and was well thought out scene by scene. The character development was spot on showing us all that change in one's life in not only important but is crucial as well. This was a true tour-de-force for Field as Doris. She could garner a Oscar nod come that time.
Certainly this is not meant for a mass audience appeal, however it is a film that, if people could have an open mind, could be a film that all could enjoy. It has it all: humor, drama, sadness and victory, and doesn't life have all these characteristics in it anyway?
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: R 95mins.
You know that Hollywood could be doing better financially when the big-budget flicks are starting to be released way before May--the kickoff month for the summer season. First, "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" was released recently, and secondly, we have now in the offing, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice". Is this now the new summer? If it is, when does the next big-budget film become released, next week?
Following his titanic struggle against General Zod, Metropolis has been razed to the ground and Superman/Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) is the most controversial figure in the world. While for many he is still an emblem of hope, a growing number of people consider him a threat to humanity, seeking justice for the chaos he has brought to Earth. As far as Bruce Wayne/ Batman (Ben Affleck) is concerned, Superman is clearly a danger to society. He fears for the future of the world with such a reckless power left ungoverned, and so he dons his mask and cape to right Superman's wrongs. The rivalry between them is furious, fueled by bitterness and vengeance, and nothing can dissuade them from waging war. While Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) orchestrates and manipulates the intense hatred between Batman and Superman for his own selfish means, a dark new treat arises in the form of a third man-- Doomsday created by Luthor, and this one has the a power greater than either of them to endanger the world and cause total destruction! So it's up to Superman and Batman to set aside their differences along with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to stop Lex Luthor and Doomsday from destroying Metropolis.
Others to round out the cast are Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Clark Kent's mother, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Editor of the Daily Planet, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, Holly Hunter as Senator Finch, Scoot McNairy as Wallace Keefe, Callan Mulvey as Anatoli Knyazen and Tao Okamoto as Mercy Graves.
This was directed with grit and a ton of energy by Zack Snyder ("Dawn of the Dead" '04, "300" '06, "Watchmen" '09, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" '10, "Sucker Punch" '11, "Man of Steel" '13). Certainly this film isn't a film this filmmaker hasn't done before, hence his resume. So with this being familiar ground, his knowledge of managing a plethora of actors together in a bazillion scenes is something he can handle, which can be difficult for the most seasoned director. It was effectively written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer based on the DC Comic Books--"Batman" created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and "Superman" created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. This took quite the feat to write this considering that it covers not one, but two franchises--the Batman and Superman franchises. While this was written as well as anyone could expect, considering all that was going on, there were some choppiness and inconsistencies in how one scene would relay to another The cohesiveness between scenes could have been a bit better. Hey, don't get me wrong, with as many actors, scenes that were used, AND two franchises were incorporated, this storyline actually was quite solid. Both writers are pros in their field. Terrio wrote "Argo" and Goyer has written many films including "Dark Knight". The best developed character here has got to be that of Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor. Eisenberg really pulled off this role with elements of humor and creepiness all rolled into one. The visual effects predominantly created by Weta Digital, Double Negative and MPC (Moving Picture Company) were seamless, however one would have to know this before you walk into the theater.
As film franchises go, this was a very solid film--nothing Academy Award worthy, but does anyone really go to these types of films to see an Academy Award winning screenplay or even best acting performances? I don't think so. This is the quintessential popcorn film with all the trimmings all in an IMAX and 3D format if you wish. Have fun.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 151mins.
Inspirational films have certainly been a hot commodity in recent years--in fact, to put a more fine point on it, films about heaven have really soared in popularity. Two years ago we saw "Heaven is for Real", last year "90 Minutes in Heaven" hit the multiplex, and now we are offered "Miracles from Heaven" to whet our movie going appetites. Is there an end to these films? Not sure, but as long as there are people wanting to know more about an afterlife, my guess would be 'no' to the previous question.
This is based on the incredible true story of the Beam family. When Christy (Jennifer Garner) and husband, Kevin (Martin Henderson) discovers their 10-year-old daughter, Anna (Kylie Rogers) has a rare, incurable intestinal disease, they become ferocious advocates for their daughter's healing as they search for a solution. Through Dr. Burgi (Bruce Altman), they learn of the top specialist in the field, Dr. Nurko (Eugenio Derbez) in Boston whose waiting list is nine months to obtain an appointment. Eventually, quicker than expected, an appointment comes up and Christy and Anna fly from Texas to Boston to seek help. After many tests, procedures, medications and the like, Anna is home, and after a freak accident, an extraordinary miracle unfolds in the wake of her dramatic rescue that leaves Dr. Nurko and others mystified, her family restored and their community inspired.
Others to round out the cast are Brighton Sharbino as Abbie Beam, Anna's older sister, Courtney Fansler as Adelynn Beam, Anna's younger sister, Queen Latifah as Angela, John Carroll Lynch as Pastor Scott, Wayne Pere as Ben, Hannah Alligood as Hayley and Zach Sale as Dr. Todd Blythe.
This was directed by a filmmaker with quite the eclectic resume, Patricia Riggen ("Under the Same Moon" '07, "Revolucion" (Segment "Lindo y querido") '10, Lemonade Mouth (TV movie) '11, "Girl in Progress" '12, "The 33" '15). She is an effective director in knowing how much emotion is needed depending on the scene at hand. Such as the build up of emotion Garner exuded when the ER doc was trying to tell her that her daughter's problem was only an anti-reflux problem when a true mom knows better and she finally made her opinion adamantly known. It was written by Randy Brown ("Trouble with the Curve" '12) based on the book by Christy Beam. Truly this wasn't a difficult script to write considering the storyline, however with only one other film under this writer's belt, this was a well thought out script about a young girl getting sick and the parents' desperation in seeking help from the horizontal--medical field, and the vertical--faith and God, and the miraculous healing that takes place subsequently. Before I went to see this, I thought it would be another "Heaven is for Real", but it definitely has its own standing. Sure, it's not perfect--there's a few inconsistencies, but overall it's a nice tight script. Kudos to this newbie writer. The one that truly steals the show here is Eugenio Derbez as Dr Nurko. If he played this doctor true to form of this person, that doctor must have a heart of gold and oozed with compassion.
Whether one is a spiritual person or not, there's something here for everyone. There are times to see something fluff-filled, airheaded and simple, but then I believe there are times to watch a film that will cause us to think about what's out there that transcends beyond our time on this planet, and this surely fits the bill.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG 109mins.
It isn't even summer yet and Hollywood is already hitting us up with film franchises. I suspect that the producers wanted to beat the summer mad rush of one franchise film after the other, and for this reason I can understand using all the objectivity I can muster up. It's getting to be a March staple of releasing yet another Divergent installment, especially since all these films have been released in March previously. This installment in the offing is appropriately titled "The Divergent Series: Allegiant- Part 1".
After the revelations of "Insurgent", Tris (Shailene Woodley) must escape with Four (Theo James) and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time, they along with Caleb (Ansel Elgort), Peter (Miles Teller), Christina (Zoe Kravitz), and Tori (Maggie Q) will leave the only city and family they have ever known. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation about the society that they come face-to-face with who has been manipulating their civilization within their wall. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites beyond the walls of Chicago which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.
Others to round out the cast are Jeff Daniels as David, Naomi Watts as Evelyn, Octavia Spencer as Johanna, Daniel Dae Kim as Jack Kang, Bill Skarsgard as Matthew, Jonny Weston as Edgar, Keiynan Lonsdale as Uriah, Nadia Hilker as Nita and Andy Bean as Romit.
This was effectively directed with the same amount of grit and action as he projected in "Surgent" by Robert Schwentke ("Tattoo" '02, "The Family Jewels" '03, "Flightplan" '05, "The Time Traveler's Wife" '09, "RED" '10, "R.I.P.D." '13, "Insurgent" '15). By his very resume, this filmmaker certainly knows his way around this type of genre, so the fact that this was expressly difficult would be an extreme farfetched stretch. I'd like to see what this director could do with an extremely well written comedy. Yes, he has directed comedy, however, I'd be very interested in how he could pull off a very funny whacky comedy. It was structurally written well by Noah Oppenheim, Adam Cooper and Bill Collage based on the novel by Veronica Roth. Interesting that "Insurgent" used three totally different writers than those that were used for this installment. I'm not sure why, other than the possibility of the unavailability of the other writers. Also if Adam Cooper writes a screenplay, assuredly Bill Collage will be along for the ride and visa versa, since they are a writing team. Not that this was a complex storyline or script, but these writers were very successful in creating a similar feel of the last installment which makes for an evenly translated continuation. This film does leave you wanting more. Hey, this gives nothing away since this is labeled Part 1. It would behoove the producers to commission these same writers to write the next installment so as to keep that same feel as with this one.
Mind you, this isn't a great film--there's several areas that feasibly couldn't happen, and there are a few slower spots in storyline, but it's a nice way to spend a couple of hours to just go to another time and place and simply escape and enjoy this popcorn flick.
Out of 4 Stars: 2.5 Rated: PG-13 121mins.
Inspirational films are and have been, of late, fashionable to see probably because of the crazy world in which we live. The stress, sickness, financial downfall, unemployment, violence, divorce, etc. have caused people to look for ways to cope, to escape, to find healing (physically and mentally) and the like. It's no wonder why these films have gained popularity and assuredly will continue. So now, just soon after the release of "Risen" do we have "The Young Messiah".
At the age of seven, Jesus Bar-Joseph (Adam Greaves-Neal) lives with his family in Alexandria, Egypt where they have fled to avoid a massacre of children by King Herod of Israel. Jesus knows that his parents Joseph (Vincent Walsh) and Mary (Sara Lazzaro) have secrets they are keeping from him, secrets about his birth and about traits that make him very different from other boys. His parents, however, believe him too young to grasp the truth of his miraculous birth and purpose. Learning that the murderous Herod is dead, they set out to return to their home of Nazareth in Israel, unaware that Herod's namesake son, (Jonathan Bailey) is, like his father, determined to see the boy Jesus dead. So Herod enlists Centurion Severus (Sean Bean) to fulfill the task of finding this boy and kill him.
Others to round out the cast are Christian McKay as Cleopas, Jesus' uncle, Rory Keenan as The Demon, the tempter to all to hopefully see Jesus dead, Isabelle Adriani as Seleni, David Bradley as Old Rabbi, David Burke as Blind Rabbi, Jane Lapotaire as Sarah and Finn Ireland as James, Jesus' brother.
This was directed with taste and finesse by Cyrus Nowrasteh ("Veiled Threat" '89, "The Island" '98, "The Day Reagan Was Shot" (TV movie) '01, "The Stoning of Soraya M." '08) plus TV. This filmmaker has a very eclectic resume which is encouraging because this means that going out on a limb not only becomes challenging for him, but a want in his eyes. Most directors stay in their 'comfort zone' which is understanding, but when one is more open, they can convey a film like this with increased objectivity. It was written by Betsy Giffen Nowrasteh and Cyrus Nowrasteh. Like the recent "Risen", this story works from the premise of fictional history, whereas the writer takes a fictional character and places him/her in an actual historical time. In "Risen", the fictional character of a Centurion was enlisted by Pilate to ensure that Jesus' dead body wasn't stolen from the tomb. Whereas in this film, fictional character Centurion Severus was enlisted by the evil Herod to find the boy Jesus and kill him. It's an interesting combination, and one that will probably be utilized in the future of filmdom. These writers have a fair amount of experience, and it showed for the continuity and cohesiveness was executed well. It was slow in a couple of places, but certainly not enough to take away from the story and message this film holds. This is sort of a 'what if' storyline in that some of the background of what the biblical scriptures indicate could of played out in the way this was conveyed. This certainly makes this concept, as with "Risen", interesting, thought provoking and entertaining.
If you're into inspirational films, one will be in inspirational heaven--excuse the pun. However even if these type of films aren't your cup of tea, one can surely learn from them, and maybe find something to think about well after you leave the multiplex.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 111mins.
As I've stated in previous reviews, apocalyptic films are typically grim and laced with an unforgiving future of either total obliteration or a hideous, despairing society with really nothing to live for. What makes "10 Cloverfield Lane" stand out from all the rest of this genre is it centers on three distinct individuals instead of mass numbers of people, and being shot in a bomb shelter, one must use their imagination far more than other films of this type.
A young woman, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up after a terrible car accident to find that she's locked in a bomb shelter/bunker 40 feet underground with a paranoid doomsday survivalist, Howard (John Goodman), who insists that he saved her life and the life of a young man, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) and that the world outside is uninhabitable following an apocalyptic catastrophe. Uncertain what to believe, Michelle soon determines that she must escape at any cost and trusts Emmett to assist her in this endeavor. Is this survivalist insane or is he just so stressed that he comes across as someone bent due to the amazing pressure he and all are experiencing?
Others to round out the cast are Douglas M. Griffin as Driver, Suzanne Cryer as Woman, Bradley Cooper as Ben (voice), Michelle's boyfriend, Sumalee Montano as Voice on Radio and Frank Mottek as Radio Broadcaster.
This was directed by a virtual newbie, Dan Trachenberg (TV and shorts), and considering this film only really had three actors in the cast, he was amazing in bringing out just the most effective of emotions out of these actors which keeps the audience glued. Of course, with a consummate actor as Goodman is, this obviously helped. This filmmaker will undoubtedly receive more work. With J.J. Abrams producing; he's not going to choose a lackluster director. This was intensely and creepily written by Josh Campbell, Matthew Stuecken and Damien Chazelle based on a story by Campbell and Stuecken. What makes this clearly work is that of the character of Howard played by Goodman. This was written in a way where the audience was going back and forth with their emotions wondering where this character is coming from. Is Howard a psycho, an angry survivalist, a hurt individual, a truly concerned individual? All these questions are going through one's mind as this film plays out. These three people would have good times in this bunker, bad times, indifferent times, etc. Again, considering the lack of experience of both Campbell and Stuecken, this was a very tightly written script. Chazelle is really the only writer here with any writing experience to speak of, but this being the brainchild of the other two writers, they, of course, received first billing.
This film has it all: suspense, mystery, fear, retaliation, uncertainty all rolled up in a script that will have you biting your nails wondering what's going to happen as each scene is presented. This does not give audiences what they expect, and this makes for a great story on any level.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 103mins.
Just when you thought that the summer high adrenaline, action flicks hadn't started yet, the film "London Has Fallen" is released. You know this one. This is the successor sequel to 2013's "Olympus Has Fallen" with a lot of the same cast. As with the majority of sequels being lackluster to their predecessors, this is certainly as good as the first installment. Not that the first film was fantastic by any stretch of the imagination, this was still one that certainly held the audience's attention.
After the British Prime Minister has passed away under mysterious circumstances, all leaders of the Western world must attend his funeral. But what starts out as the most protected event on earth, turns into a deadly plot to kill the world's most powerful leaders and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. the President of the United States, Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), his formidable secret service head Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), his secret service director, Lynne Jacobs (Angela Bassett) and a MI6 agent, Jacqueline Marshall (Charlotte Riley), who trusts no one, are seemingly the only people that have any hope of stopping it.
The film starts out with a covert operation attacking a terrorist compound, but inadvertently killing innocent family members of this compound--being collateral damage, and the leader, Aamir Barkawi (Alon Moni Aboutboul) is bent on exacting revenge on the President of the United States for his actions. And what a better place to pull this off than setting up a scheme in London where all will be there, especially the president. This happens two years later.
Others to round out the cast are Morgan Freeman as VP Alan Trumbull, Robert Forster as General Edward Clegg, Jackie Earle Haley as DC Mason, Melissa Leo as Defense Secretary Ruth McMillan, Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning, Mike's wife, Sean O'Bryan as NSA Ray Monroe, Waleed F. Zuaiter as Kamran Barkawi and Colin Salmon as Chief Hazard.
This was adequately directed by Babak Najafi ("Seebe" '10, "Easy Money: Hard to Kill" '12) plus TV and Shorts. This filmmaker doesn't have a ton of feature film experience, but a film like this one is certainly familiar territory to him. Interesting that Antoine Fuqua didn't reprise his position as director, but he was probably committed to another project at the time, not to mention that this director had to be exceedingly less expensive to hire since Fuqua has quite the name in the directing realm by now. It was written by Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt, Christian Gudegast and Chad St. John, based on a story by Rothenberger and Benedikt, which is based on characters created by Rothenberger and Benedikt. OK, did you get all that? Surprisingly, this wasn't badly written, especially considering the plethora of writers involved. The fact that this was written by two of the four writers who created these characters helped in this being as well executed as it was, but there were still a few places of choppiness and inconsistencies. Otherwise this was certainly a better script than usual considering the genre and the fact there were four, yes four writers involved. The par is if there are more than two writers, the storyline can easily become convoluted, but this, although needed some polish, was snappy and definitely kept the audience's attention.
Crime, action, thriller. All great elements of a high adrenaline, high explosive, big-budget film. If this is what you want, this will certainly fit the bill. Hey, if one has seen the trailer on this, and how could you miss it, one would have to know what they're walking into. This is big action at its finest, and isn't this enough for an action-packed slice of escapism?
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 99mins.
While normally the quality of films during this time of year are often less than desired--this being a 'dead zone' time of year, once in a while, we are handed a little gem so we can keep watching and hoping that there will be more gems to follow. One such gem is "Zootopia", where I got a lot for than I bargained for.
From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) becomes the first rabbit to join the police force--the ZPD, it being her life dream, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious case, much to the chagrin of Chief Bogo (Idris Elba). Unfortunately, since her street smarts are incredibly limited, she must work with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a wily, street smart fox who makes her job even more difficult, especially since she has only 48 hours in which to solve this case or loses her position on the force. Can she solve the case using Nick's assistance, or will Nick cause her to throw in the towel?
Others to round out the cast are Jenny Slate as Bellwether, Nate Torrence as Clawhauser, Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps, Judy's mom, Don Lake as Stu Hopps, Judy's dad, Tommy Chong as Yax, J.K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart, Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterton, Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton, Shakira as Gazelle, Raymond S. Persi as Flash, Della Saba as Young Hopps, Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big and Phil Johnston as Gideon Grey.
This was deftly directed by relative newcomers to feature films, Byron Howard ("Bolt" '08, "Tangled" '10) plus shorts and Rich Moore ("Wreck-It Ralph" '12).plus TV. The staging and pacing in this was executed with amazing delineation and the fluidity of continuity was unsurpassed. The writing by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston was equally well executed. Bush has a ton of TV to his credit whereas Johnston has that and a number of screenplays to his credit as well. Truly their well-orchestrated script wouldn't be the script it was if it wasn't for Howard, Bush, Moore, Johnston, Jennifer Lee, Josie Trinidad and Jim Reardon having the insightful story idea in which the screenplay is based. The continuity, cohesiveness, and well thought out story was not only creative, but had an awesome message that all needs to witness.
Certainly, knowing that Disney Studios, being the company that produced this, created this caused me to be quite leery of seeing this because the studio is simply part of that Hollywood machine into marketing a product to death so as to make a ton of bucks, but with all objectivity, this film soared on so many levels. Hey I went into the theater hoping to catch errors, and left finding none. Kudos to Disney Animation Studios! Jason Bateman's role as Nick simply stills the show.
Honestly, if you're into animated flicks, you'll be in animation heaven, but even if you're not, this is still entertaining and carries an amazing message that all can learn from--whether one is old or young, male or female, any race. Enjoy!
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG 108mins.
As we continue with new films for the new year, we also continue, as with past years, with films based on a true story. As I've mentioned in prior reviews, truth is and can be stranger than fiction. Coupled with that, we have yet another Middle East war based film thrown in the company of "Hurt Locker", "Thirty Dark Zero", "Stop Loss", even the recent "13 Hours". "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" being a combination comedy/drama makes this a bit different than the aforementioned films, but it is definitely another one of these films to encapsulate what has happened over there for generations later to learn from.
Eager for a new professional challenge, TV reporter/journalist Kim Barker (Tina Fey) decides to serve as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan, where she is embedded with a Marine unit. During her time abroad, she is forced to contend with a fiery U.S. general named Hollanek (Billy Bob Thornton), befriends an affable Marine, Specialist Coughlin (Evan Jonigkeit), a fellow reporter, Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie) and a British photographer Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman).
This true story of Kim Barker's years as a reporter in both Afghanistan and Pakistan starts as a flashback in 2006 and takes us back to 2002 where she was pondering if she really wanted to do this. Her recounting the details of what occurred during this time was obviously therapeutic for her as was it a teaching aid for the audience watching this.
Others to round out the cast are Alfred Molina as Ali Massoud Sadiq, Christopher Abbott as Fahim Ahmadzai, Kim's driver and confidante, Nicholas Braun as Tall Brian, Kim's cameraman, Stephen Peacocke as Nic, Kim's security guard while there, Sheila Vand as Shakira Khar, Fahim Anwar as Jaweed and Josh Charles as Kim's boyfriend.
This was effectively directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa ("I Love You Phillip Morris" '09, "Crazy, Stupid, Love. '11, "Focus" '15) plus TV. These filmmakers work as a team and it shows in that could they survive individually instead of collectively? This can be a great way in which to work, because what one guy can't come up with, the other will see something else from a different perspective to give the particular scene that element it really needed. We've seen this with the Coen Brothers, the Wachowski Brothers and others, and it actually pays off well when it comes to more effective filmmaking. It was written by Robert Carlock (TV experience since 1996). Considering this was this writer's first feature film script it wasn't bad and his plethora of TV writing has to be credited of why. When one sinks their teeth as much has this guy has done in TV scripts and stories, this simply hones the talent they have. There were places of inconsistencies, and some jumping around, but all in all, once this story got going, it was the interesting story this guy was obviously attempting to convey. I'm definitely curious to see what this guy is going to do next, and there will be a next time. This being a comedy/drama is interesting especially with Fey performing drama instead of her straight comedy which allows her to go out on a limb a bit more.
As war films go, this is certainly as effective as most, but with a screenplay that definitely needed some extra polish, one might be more interested in focusing on the characters than that of the actual story structure. Kudos to Kim Barker who wrote about her experiences in such a war torn, desolate area.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 112mins.
When I saw "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" in 2002, I thought it was such an uproarious film about an over-the-top traditional Greek family with all the dysfunction we ourselves understand, because what family doesn't have some sort of dysfunction? Since then, I have seen few comedies that have even come close to the snappy humor found in this film. Have we lost the ability to be truly funny in this society? Then I saw "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding 2" and fell in love with the genre of comedy all over again. 
