Dumbo

There are reboots that are produced a mere ten to fifteen years after the originals, then we have a reboot of "Dumbo" which was produced 78 years ago. Now that's a reboot that can be justified. Most reboots are made to rake in the profits, because they are usually not very well executed, however this rendition of "Dumbo" was artistically created anywhere from the editing to the direction--and delineated with care and passion.

 

From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure "Dumbo" expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight.

Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell), after his stint in the Great War (WWI) and back without an arm, and his children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus in 1919. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur larger-than-life entertainment venture and aerial artist Colette Marchant (Eva Green) swoop in to make the little elephant a star.

 

Others to round out the cast are Alan Arkin as J. Griffin Remington, a circus backer, Roshan Seth as Pramesh Singh, Lars Eldinger as Hans Brugelbecker, Deobia Oparel as Rongo, Joseph Gatt as Neils Skellig, Miguel Munoz Segura as Ivan the Wonder and Douglas Reith as Sotheby.

 

This was directed by visionary filmmaker Tim Burton ("Pee-wee's Big Adventure" '85, "Beetlejuice" '88, "Batman" '89, "Edward Scissorhands" '90, "Ed Wood" '94, "Sleepy Hollow" '99, "Planet of the Apes" '01, "Big Fish" '03, "Corpse Bride" '05, "Alice in Wonderland" '10, "Frankenweenie" '12, "Big Eyes" '14, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" '16) plus others, TV and shorts. One can always tell they are viewing a Burton film since his characters typically have a whimsical yet boldness feel about them. It's almost like watching a fairy tale what with the over-the-top characters his actors convey to the audience. Whether the characters have evolved from a previous work or they are new, the characters ring true with the different characters telling their story. If you're a Burton fan, as I am, his "Beetlejuice 2" has been announced. It was written by veteran Ehren Kruger ("Arlington Road" '99, "Reindeer Games" 2000, "Impostor" '01, "The Skeleton Key" '05, "Blood and Chocolate" '07, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" '09, "Tin Man" '14, "Ghost in the Shell" '17) plus others, TV and a video short, based on the novel by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. Hence this amazing resume, this writer is a consummate pro and knows what it's like to create a fresh and original screenplay. Although this is a reboot, whereas the original's story centered around the animals, this version centered around the people and their story and how that story connected with the animals, specifically Dumbo and his mother Mrs. Jumbo. What makes this classic story resound is that it shows us that our differences can be embraced and that the connection of family trumps that of profit and success. This was a much needed message in 1941, but this message is as needed today as it was back then. Once again, Burton uses Danny Elfman for it's whimsical score and Colleen Atwood for the amazing costume design. He's used these consummate pros many times and repeatedly goes back to them with good reason. The visual effects predominantly created by MPC (Moving Picture Company), Double Negative and Framestore were seamless and simply enhanced the story and its characters.

 

Between the direction, writing, ensemble cast and production values, this film reeks of a fresh and original slant on an old, classic story replete with heart, family values, action and redemption all rolled up in a splendid, grandiose film to please one and all, old and young in an entertaining and thought provoking way. Caution: you will need a half box of Kleenex for this since it does pull the heart strings, but it definitely pulls them in a positive way.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                     Rated: PG                                        112mins.

 

 

 

Us

Horror films have never been one of my favorite genres, so when I see a trailer on one, I typically avoid them. They're creepy, predictable, violent and usually poorly written with one dimensional characters. Ghost stories are OK such as "The Others" '01 and Ira Levin's "The Stepford Wives" '77 was amazingly suspenseful with a twist you didn't see coming. When I saw "Get Out" in '17, it was like "The Stepford Wives" gone violent and was very well executed. So since Jordan Peele was behind "Get Out", I felt that "Us" surely would be too, and it was--maybe better than "Get Out".

 

Accompanied by her husband, Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke), son Jason (Evan Alex) and daughter Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o) returns to the beachfront home where she grew up as a child. Their plans are to meet their friends, the Tylers, Josh (Tim Heidecker), Kitty (Elisabeth Moss), Becca (Cali Sheldon) and Lindsey (Noelle Sheldon). Haunted by a traumatic experience from the past, Adelaide grows increasingly concerned that something bad is going to happen. Her worst fears soon become a reality when four masked strangers descend upon the house, forcing the Wilsons into a fight for survival. When the masks come off, the family is horrified to learn that each attacker takes the exact appearance of the family.

 

Others to round out the cast are Yahya Abdul Mateen II as Russel Thomas, Anna Diop as Rayne Thomas and Madison Curry as Young Adelaide Wilson.

 

This was brilliantly directed by Jordan Peele ("Get Out" '17). This is only his second film he has directed and when watching this, it is staged and paced as though a seasoned director helmed it. The connection between the characters as well as reactions to what's happening in this story is amazingly realistic. He is an actor and I'm sure that has something to do with his ability to convey his ideas to his actors, but I truly believe that this filmmaker is a natural. His style has certainly helped this tired genre which has become hackneyed for years. It was written with intensity, tightness, and cohesiveness by Peele ("Keanu" '16, "Get Out" '17) plus a plethora of TV. I must say Peele has certainly improved his writing ability just in the last three years. His "Keanu" was a waste--the screenplay simply jumped and meandered all over the place and the lines were trite and unfunny. Then "Get Out" was a vastly improved attempt at a screenplay. However it did win the Academy Award for best original screenplay, I feel there were still some problems with it--it was a bit choppy. However, with this screenplay, he pulled out all the stops and created a fresh and original story that is like no other. Think about it: being terrified by yourself--what a concept! Actually, the only thing about this where I had any issues at all was that we don't really know why these attackers were the victims and where did they come from. Where they come from was mentioned, but nothing detailed was given the audience. I suspect if Peele was to go into more detail, the movie would've been longer and was it necessary? Who knows. If you like this filmmaker's writing, his "Candyman" is in pre-production for a 2020 release. He is a busy man as he should be. His writings has a quality that is similar to that of Rod Serling who created "Twilight Zone". Interesting that Peele is supposed to be hosting a new resurgence of "Twilight Zone", and hopefully Peele will be writing some of the episodes.

 

Mind you, there are a few twists and turns that you might not see coming, but this just makes the film that much more intriguing. For the horror fans, you'll be in horror heaven, but even those who aren't, like me, the premise of the film along with the writing, directing and the effective cast will be enough to keep you on the edge of your proverbial seat. Boo! This is scary!

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                       117mins.

 

Wonder Park

One type of film Hollywood seems to be remiss in supplying more of is that of the family movie. Although I realize that the profit-making demographic is the 18-24 single males-- cha-ching, but I believe it is just as important to provide films that kids can watch as well. Not only is "Wonder Park" a great family film, it is a cleverly executed animated film too.

 

This tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June (Brianna Denski) and her mom (Jennifer Garner) comes alive. One magical day, June is running through the woods to find her way home where she discovers an old rollercoaster car and climbs inside. She suddenly finds herself in Wonderland, an amusement park she had created using her imagination and ultimately put aside. All of her rides and characters are brought to life but are falling into disarray without her. Now, with the help of her fun and lovable park characters including Greta (Mila Kunis), Steve (John Oliver), Boomer (Ken Hudson Campbell), Peanut (Norbert Leo Butz) and others, June will have to put the wonder back in Wonderland before it is lost forever.

 

Others to round out the cast are Matthew Broderick as June's dad, Kenan Thompson as Gus, Ken Jeong as Cooper, Sofia Mali as Young June and Oev Michael Urbas as Bandy.

 

The director in this is not actually credited because the original director, Dylan C. Brown was fired by Paramount for alleged sexual misconduct. He was dismissed close to the ending of production, so co-direction was completed by Robert Iscove, Clare Kilner and David Feiss, however no one was credited. Considering all of the turmoil connected with the directing, this was remarkably helmed effectively well. The characters all had distinct personas which definitely showcases the directing talent. I suspect the vast amount of this film goes to Brown and deserves credit where credit is due. It was creatively written well by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" '11, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" '14, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" '16, "Salamander"  (TV movie) '17) plus a plethora of TV. This was written with an abundance of freshness, originality, imagination and cohesiveness. The only thing I could possibly say to the negative is that it had a couple of small choppy places in the script, otherwise this storyline simply soared. By the trailer, I wasn't expecting anything that I eventually got-- believe me, the trailer doesn't sell this film. The characters are delineated well with positive and different personalities that will definitely resonate with children 5-13 years of age and parents as well.

 

This animated film is exquisitely well designed by Paramount Animation and Ilion Animation Studios, and it had heart and soul, imagination, team work, and self redemption all rolled up in one solid film. The Dolby Atmos sound was incredible as well.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: PG                                          85mins.

 

Captive State

As Hollywood keeps churning out apocalyptic films, we are dealt with films that are grim, dark and ugly in nature. Let me give examples: "Fahrenheit 451", "The Omega Man", "The Andromeda Strain", "District 9", "9", "The Book of Eli", "Elysium"--get the point? So, when I saw the trailer on "Captive State", I thought this would be a very interesting premise, and I was right, however it just didn't click.

 

Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force in the year 2026, this story explores the lives on both sides of the conflict--the collaborators and dissidents. Gabriel (Ashton Sanders) and his brother Rafe Drummond (Jonathan Majors) are attempting to survive in an apocalyptic society whereas not truly knowing which is the enemy--a police commander, William Mulligan (John Goodman) and the police commissioner, Eugene Igoe (Kevin Dunn) or the extra-terrestrials monitoring the planet. This is a true suspenseful cat and mouse game with lives at stake.

 

Others to round out the cast are Vera Farmiga as Jane Doe, James Ransone as Patrick Ellison, Alan Ruck as Charles Rittenhouse, Madeline Brewer as Rula, Colson Baker as Jurgis, Kevin J. O'Connor as Kermode, Ben Daniels as Daniel and Caitlin Ewald as Anita.

 

This was grippingly directed by Rupert Wyatt ("Subterrain" '01, "The Escapist" '08, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" '11, "The Gambler" '14) plus TV and shorts. While this filmmaker hasn't helmed a plethora of films, what he has directed has certainly been intensely gripping. I usually say filmmakers should branch out and direct something fresher and different, but my take is that Wyatt would be better off doing what he does best. It will be interesting to see his "Storm King" which he wrote and directed now in pre-production. However, the problem with this lies in the writing by Erica Beeney ("The Battle of Shaker Heights" '03) and Wyatt ("Subterrain" '01, "The Escapist" '08) plus shorts. These writers have limited experience, but even with this as the equation, the writing should've been more cohesive and tighter than what the final script conveyed. The premise was interesting in that the bad guys weren't just the aliens, but the 'big brother' officials as well, however it all became mired in choppiness and then the story started meandering and it was apparent there were problems. Also it was shot way too dark that it became diificult to see some parts of the film. The acting by the ensemble cast was believable and plausible, but their performances weren't enough to keep the audience riveted.

 

If you like apocalyptic films, you'll love this even though the script needs polishing. As aforementioned, it has an interesting premise, but a good idea does not a good film make. You be the judge.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 1.5                                    Rated: PG-13                                       109mins.

 

 

 

Five Feet Apart

Romantic or love stories have been around for many years--so much so that it has exhausted its different ways to woo an audience. So, they have taken a different turn it that these love stories have an entirely odd origin in how the two meet. Sometimes they can be in a mental health facility or have a disease, whether it be terminal or not. We've seen It's Kind of a Funny Story" '10, "The Fault in Our Stars" '14 and "Everything, Everything" '17. These films put two characters in difficult situations and they flourish in spite of the hardships. So now we have "Five Feet Apart" to add to that list.

 

Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is every bit a seventeen-year-old...she's attached to her laptop and loves her best friends. But unlike most teenagers, she spends much of her time living in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control--all of which is put to the test when she meets an impossibly charming fellow CF patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse). There's an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them, hence the title, five feet apart. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction. Further complicating matters is Will's potentially dangerous rebellion against his ongoing medical treatment. Through friend and fellow CF patient, Poe (Moises Arias) and their nurse, Barb (Kimberly Hebert Gregory), Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest, but can Stella ultimately save the person she loves when even a single touch is off limits?

 

Others to round out the cast are Parminder Nagra as Dr. Noor Hamid, Claire Forlani as Meredith, Will's mother, Emily Baldoni as Stella's mother, Gary Weeks as Tom, Stella's father, Sue-Lynn Ansari as Nurse and Ariana Guerra as Hope Gomez.

 

Interesting that this was directed by a virtual documentarian, Justin Baldoni ("My Last Days: Meet Shane Burcaw" (documentary) '13, "Rebel With a Cause: The Sam Simon Story" (TV movie documentary) '15) plus TV and shorts. I can surely appreciate someone getting out of their comfort zone and attempt a new area in which to delve into. Of course, he has TV to his credit, but feature films are a whole new breed. He truly was able to showcase these actors to be real as these cystic fibrosis patients without them getting maudlin which would be easy to do. If you like his brand of directing, his "Laughing At My Nightmare"  (documentary) is in post-production for a 2019 release. It was adequately written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis (video). Considering the limited experience of these writers-- they are virtually new to writing screenplays, this was an exemplary job done. This certainly wasn't an Academy Award winning screenplay--it wasn't without issues, but an admirable attempt at what it would be like to have such a devastating disease as cystic fibrosis. There was some choppiness and inconsistencies, but otherwise an intriguing story and approach to it. Given the chance to produce more work and these writers will excel. In fact, their "The Curse of La Llorona" is completed and is slated for a later 2019 release date. The best thing about this is the fact that even though the cards are stacked against these two characters, they learn to adapt to a situation in spite of the obstacles involved. Kudos to these two writers to allow us to see this.

 

When you go to the multiplex to see this, you'll have to bring a half a box of Kleenex in order to get through this. Not that it's maudlin, but it does deal with a truly deadly disease where the only redemption of the disease is a pair of transplanted lungs--and there's still no guarantee that they'll take. The ensemble cast wins the audience over which helps with the seriousness of the situation. If anyone has a dreadful disease or knows someone who is going through a tough situation, this speaks volumes.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                Rated: PG-13                                 116mins.

 

Apollo 11

One of my favorite film genres is that of the documentary, because they are typically well thought out and informative as well. We've seen many down through the years: "Bowling for Columbine" '02, "Super Size Me" '04, "The Corporation" '04, "Murderball" '05, "Capitalism: A Love Story" '09, "Fed Up" '14, and the most recent "They Shall Not Grow Old" released earlier this year. There are many more, so when I noticed that "Apollo 11" was to be released, I had to see this and it was stunning!

 

A cinematic event 50 years in the making. This 50 year anniversary of Apollo 11 features never before seen large format archival footage of the mission to land on the moon from lift off to splash down involving the U.S.S Hornet all led by commander Neil Armstrong and pilots Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins. This is a journey that should only be experienced on the big screen. Even if you saw it in 1969 when it took place, it was only on TV, so with this, the experience on the large screen certainly gives it that wow factor of which you soon will not forget.

 

It was painstakingly well delineated by documentarian director Todd Douglas Miller ("Gahanna Bill" (documentary) '01, "Scaring the Fish" '08, "Dinosaur 13" (documentary) '14). It is obvious that this filmmaker did his homework in culminating the material that he was able to obtain to present a riveting, awe-inspiring visual of man's first trip to the moon. Not only does he include the now famous statements "Houston, the Eagle has landed" and Neil Armstrong's moving "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", but he includes all new footage, well, new to us, that he was able to obtain from the NASA archives to bring an even more stimulating documentary to us--the audience. He also edited the film with extreme precision. Most documentarians edit their own work so as to keep the fresh approach they were striving for. This filmmaker proves this concept in spades. When that rocket takes off in Florida, I had goose bumps seeing it on the large screen as opposed to the small screen otherwise known as the TV.

 

As with other historical events in our past, assuming you were alive and old enough to remember this event, I believe all can recall where they were and what they were doing at the time. I know I can remember. This was an awesome time in our country's history that will never be forgotten, and this is an amazing documentary chronicling this massive undertaking. This is a film all should see and learn from. 

 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                         Rated: G                                        93mins.

 

The Kid

The western genre has reinvented itself through the decades mostly because of the change of our culture. We've gone from "How the West Was Won" '62 to "The Outlaw Josie Wales" '76 to "Unforgiven" '92 to "The Magnificent Seven" '16 to "The Kid" which is in the offing this time around. The only similarity between these films is that they are all westerns, otherwise they are extremely different.

Based on a true story, in this thrilling western, a young boy, Rio (Jake Schur), is forced to go on the lam across the American Southwest in a desperate attempt to save his sister, Sara (Leila George) from their abusive, villainous uncle, Grant Cutler (Chris Pratt). Along the way, he encounters Sheriff Pat Garrett (Ethan Hawke), on the hunt for the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid (Dane DeHaan). Rio finds himself increasingly entwined in the lives of these two legendary figures as the cat and mouse game of the Kid's final year of life plays out. Ultimately Rio is forced to choose which type of man he is going to become, the outlaw or the man of valor, and will use this self-realization in a final act to save his family.

Others to round out the cast are Vincent D'Onofrio as Sheriff Romero, Adam Baldwin as Bob Olinger, Keith Jardine as Pete, Tait Fletcher as Bill Cutler, Grant's brother, Jenny Gabrielle as Mirabel, Ben Dickey as Jim East and Stafford Douglas as John Poe.

This was intensely and grittily directed by veteran actor Vincent D'Onofrio ("Don't Go in the Woods" '10) plus a short. Considering this filmmaker only has one feature film in the director's chair to his credit, this was amazingly well staged and paced. He has made the transition along with fellow actors, Clint Eastwood, Penny Marshall, Bradley Cooper, etc. There are certainly amazing directors out there that have never acted, but the ones that are actors can definitely be incredibly effective so to be able to relate to their actors, as with D'Onofrio. Chris Pratt was reported saying that he'd never played a villain, however D'Onofrio  told him that he could make Pratt bad. And I must say, he was bad. Maybe I've been used to Pratt playing the 'good' role, because it seemed that at times you could see Pratt's light-hearted side, but this might be me not being used to seeing him play an evil part. It was effectively written by Andrew Lanham ("The Shack" '17, "The Glass Castle" '17). Again, Lanham is fairly new to the writing realm, however the films to his credit are well thought out and definitely original and quirky. There were a couple of places of the script being disjointed and somewhat choppy, but all in all, this storyline was interesting and fresh on the genre of the western. If you like his brand of writing his "Just Mercy" is in post-production for a 2020 release.

Certainly if you are into the western genre, you'll love this, but even if not, this is quirky and fresh enough to capture ones' attention and keep you riveted. It's got a great ensemble cast and is painstakingly well directed. It's definitely worthy of a viewing in the multiplex to simply enjoy the large screen experience.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                       Rated: R                                       99mins.

Captain Marvel

As we are approaching the summer movie season--it starting about the end of April, what better way to approach the season than with a high-budget, high-adrenaline film replete with visual effects galore in the form of Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel".

 

Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. Living on Earth in 1995, she keeps having recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) Captain Marvel tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls.

 

Others to round out the cast are Ben Mendelsohn as Talos/Keller, Jude Law as Yon-Rogg, Annette Being as Supreme Intelligence/Dr. Wendy Lawson, Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Lee Pace as Ronan and Rune Teate as Bron-Char.

 

This was effectively charged by directors Anna Boden ("Young Rebels" (documentary) '05, "Sugar" '08, "It's Kind of a Funny Story" '10, "Mississippi Grind" '15) plus TV and a short and Ryan Fleck (the same list as above and "Half Nelson" '06). As with all the films based on comic books, they become increasingly charged as the story unfolds. The huge problem in directing this type of film is that there's so many different characters in which to coordinate that to keep everyone squared away can be a monumental task. Considering these filmmakers don't have the experience of directing a film based on a comic book, they actually pulled this off in spades. It was written by Boden, Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, which is based on a story by Nicole Perlman, Meg LeFauve, Boden, Fleck and Robertson-Dworet. With as many subplots as this and all the other 'comic book' films have, it's amazing how thorough and cohesive these films have been--this film included. And as mentioned before, these writers don't typically write these types of films. There were a couple of small, slow areas in this storyline, but again, considering the fact that these writers haven't written any other 'comic book' films, I was quite impressed. The one aspect that was intriguing about this was knowing about the origin of Nick Fury and how he becomes an integral part of these superheroes' lives. As with films as big as these are, the visual effects can be as integral as the plot itself, and the visual effects predominantly designed by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic), Digital Domain, Framestore and Luma Pictures, were not only seamless, but were as much the stars as the cast itself.

 

If the plan is to see this this, you've got to see it on the large screen, because it will lose everything on a 40 incher if you plan to wait to stream it on Netflix. Films as these were made for the large screen, especially when they are offered in a nifty IMAX or 4DX format along with the regular format as well. Grab the popcorn and enjoy!

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                   Rated: PG-13                                   123mins.

 

Run the Race

As we approach Easter, we start seeing a number of inspirational films. Considering this type of film doesn't traditionally profit hugely, it has become convenient for Hollywood to release these films now, since we are still within the 'dead zone' period which can help these films box office wise. So now we are offered "Run the Race" to fill that inspirational void.

 

In this story, two desperate brothers sacrifice today for a better tomorrow. Reeling from his mother's death from cancer and his father, Michael Truett's (Kristoffer Polaha) abandonment, Zach (Tanner Stine), an All-State athlete, finds glory on the football field, working to earn a college scholarship and the brothers' ticket out of the small Florida town in which they reside. When a devastating injury puts Zach--and his dreams--on the sidelines, Dave (Evan Hofer) laces up his track cleats to salvage their future and point Zach toward hope. Things would seem grim if it wasn't for the support of their godmother, Louise (Frances Fisher) and Zach's coach, Coach Hailey (Mykelti Williamson) for their attempt to hold the brothers together emotionally and spiritually.

 

Others to round out the cast are Kelsey Reinhardt as Ginger, Zach's girlfriend, Mario Van Peebles as Pastor Baker, Caleb Castille as Dexter, Eddie George as Tom, Gianna Simone as Dr. Stevens and Darrell Foster as Donald.

 

This was effectively directed by Chris Dowling ("Rock Slyde" '09, "Where Hope Grows" '14) plus a short. The characters in this came across as real people instead of actors being maudlin in their roles. The chemistry between the two brothers was amazingly realistic in that they could've been brothers in real life and one would actually believe it. All this is talented directing. It was written by Jake McEntire, Jason Baumgardner and Dowling, based on a story by McEntire. Although Dowling has the lion's share of the writing experience here, it was still written with a fair amount of cohesiveness and continuity. Other than a couple of places of choppiness and inconsistencies, this storyline kept me attentive of what was going on within the script. This was McEntire's first screenplay which is amazing in and of itself. The character development of the two brothers was delineated incredibly realistically, that it made it so effortless in watching the two on that screen, because you wanted to believe they actually were brothers.

 

While there are so many films out there that cater to people that want to see violent, sex-ridden, four-letter-word films, it is certainly a pleasant change of pace to see something that the entire family can view. This has many elements that challenge us: fear, love, anger, redemption and connection all rolled up in a 100 minute running time.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                    Rated: PG                                     102mins.

 

A Madea Family Reunion

When it comes to comedies, Tyler Perry has conquered just about every topic and holiday whether it be Christmas, Halloween, reunions, witness protection, jail time, divorce and now we have him covering funerals in the form of "A Madea Family Funeral".

 

A joyous family reunion turns into a hilarious nightmare as Madea (Tyler Perry) and the crew, friend Hattie (Patrice Lovely) and family Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis) and Brian, Joe and Heathrow (all played by Perry) travel to the backwoods of Georgia and unexpectedly plan a funeral, which threatens to reveal sordid family secrets. As these different family dysfunction events start to unfold, it's all that Madea can do to hold her composure. However, we all know that the more Madea attempts to hold her emotions in, the more explosive the situations become. Let the fireworks begin!

 

Others to round out the cast are Ciera Payton as Sylvia, KJ Smith as Carol, Quin Walters as Renee, Aeriel Miranda as Gia, Courtney Burrell as A.J., Rome Flynn as Jessie, David Otunga as Will, Vermyttya Erahn as Hattie, Jen Harper as Vianne, Derek Morgan as Anthony and Ary Katz as Undertaker.

 

This was wittily directed and written by veteran director Tyler Perry ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman" '05, "Madea's Family Reunion" '06, "Daddy's Little Girls" '07, "Meet the Browns" '08, "The Family That Preys" '08, "Madea Goes to Jail" '09, "I Can Do Bad All by Myself" '09, "Madea's Big Happy Family" '11, "Good Deeds" '12, "Madea's Witness Protection" '12, "Madea Gets a Job" '13, "A Madea Christmas" '13, "Tyler Perry's: Madea on the Run" '17, "Boo 2: A Madea Halloween" '17, "Acrimony" '18, "Nobody's Fool" '18) plus others, TV and videos. According to Perry, this is the last 'Madea' film he will produce. He feels he needs to retire her. He is turning 50 years old and he feels he doesn't want to be doing these films when he reaches the age that Madea is. I truly believe that this is a good call, because the last few 'Madea' films haven't been as fresh and original as the earlier films. This happens to anyone when even a good thing is recreated multiple times. Anything will eventually become not as cutting edge. Now, don't get me wrong, this had many funny moments, but some of the jokes seemed forced and stagy. I really feel that the reason why people like Madea is because she says and does whatever she wants, toward anyone she wants, as much as she wants, whenever she wants and doesn't care of the ramifications. People wish they could be like this but know they can't. So it's like people live their lives vicariously through Madea. I'm sure Perry could make many more of these films, but it's better to end it when they are doing well instead of Perry being forced to stop producing them which would eventually happen. Of all the topics in which to showcase Madea, I would've thought Perry would've delved into the death and funeral topic quicker. There is so much dark humor which can be interjected in the script, which he definitely took advantage of.

 

For all the Madea fans out there, this will have plenty of foot-in-mouth scenes by the scene stealer herself and has an interesting script. But the best thing, other than the uproarious presence of Madea, are the messages these films convey amongst all the family dysfunction. So, if you are a fan, hit the theaters to see this last film with Madea. You fans will be in film heaven.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                Rated: PG-13                                    109mins.