Sow 'Em While You Got 'Em..."Wild Oats"

Wild Oats (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange, Demi Moore, Howard Hesseman, Billy Connolly

Directed by Andy Tennant

The Story:

When Eva's (MacLaine) husband passes away, she receives a life insurance check in the mail for $5,000,000. The only problem? It's got a few zeros too many on the check. Instead of the $50,000 she was expecting. She and her best friend Maddie (Lange) decide to cash it and they are off on the vacation of a lifetime! What they don't know is that a dogged insurance rep (Hesseman) is hot on their heels to collect the money back before they can spend it all.

If it's true that Hollywood doesn't have any parts for actresses over 40, apparently the solution is to go out and make a movie that exclusively has main characters featuring older women.

On that, this movie succeeds very well.

Lange and MacLaine seem to have a very great chemistry with one another, and it's a nice reminder of what talented actresses they are.

There are some quirks built into both ladies characters that will either charm or annoy you, but at no time is the film anything less than interesting.

Surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast of older stars that show they've all still got it, especially a beleaguered Hesseman who plays an insurance fraud inspector that's wondering why he hasn't just retired yet.

Nothing fancy, just a quick, enjoyable 90 minutes of light fun and enjoyable characters.

I'll take that any day.

Final Grade:  B-

A Boy And His Zombie... "Fido"

Fido (2006)

Rated R

Starring Kesun Loder, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker, Carrie-Anne Moss, Henry Czerny

Directed by Andrew Currie
The Story:

During the 50s, a cloud of radiation has covered the earth and it turns the dead into zombies! Thankfully, Zomcom has developed a collar that will neutralize those zombies and make them productive members of society! Finally, the Robinson family has a zombie to call their own, and Timmy (Loder) decides to call him Fido (Connolly).

I think the best way I could describe this movie is...

Remember The Iron Giant?

Well, replace the robot with a zombie, and there you go.

But not quite. ;)

However, that's the essence, vibe and feel that the movie gives with the 50s setting and while the zombies are bad, they possibly can be harnessed for good.

It's a throwback feel that's a lot of fun and a great entry into the horror comedy genre.

A fun cast, with Connolly giving a great performance behind the zombie features that still imbues a lot of life into his character.

Which isn't easy to do when you're supposed to be a zombie.

A lot of fun and worth a look if you missed it the first time, like I did.

Better late than never! :)

Final Grade: B

Pixar Stumbles for the First Time..."Brave"

Pixar attempts to outdo what Disney does best: the Princess Movie

The Story:

Scottish princess Merida (Kelly MacDonald) is at odds with her family.  It seems that her mother and father (Emma Thompson and Billy Connolly) are doing what all good Scottish clan leaders did back in the day: attempting to marry off their daughter to another prince to solidify their empires.  Unfortunately, Merida wants nothing to do with the idea.  She's a tomboy who prefers shooting a bow to dancing with guys.  Merida stumbles upon a witch in the woods and begs for a spell that will change her destiny.  The witch obliges, and turns her mother into a bear.

Congratulations, your destiny has been changed.  Good luck saving your mom from your father and everyone else who now wants her dead...

This is the latest Pixar release that I really wasn't sure about watching.  Having been pleasantly surprised by Ratatouille, Up and Wall*E, you would think that I wouldn't question Pixar's abilities.

And yet...

Something about Brave just struck me wrong from the opening trailers.

I don't want to see another Disney Princess film.  If I did, I'd watch Tangled again.

That is Disney territory, let it be.

However, Pixar once again decided to fool me, this wasn't a Disney Princess tale.

No!

It was a different version of Brother Bear!

 

: /

Again...already done by Disney, and done better.

So, while this was a typically great Pixar production: Great voice casting, beautiful to look at...

I can no longer say, and I quote myself : " The worst Pixar movie is still better than the best movie from any other animated studio ."

That this film won the Academy Award tells me that voters simply see the word "Pixar" and punch the ballot.

That is a shame, because of the list of animated movies I've seen since the beginning of the year, this ranks only above Frankenweenie, which I simply despised, but below everything else.

Final Grade: B-

Would I Own It: Only if the kids really want it, and so far, they were left unimpressed.