Not A Reality Show...Or Is It? "Pawn Shop Chronicles"

Pawn Shop Chronicles (2013)

Rated R

Starring Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Vincent D'Onofrio, Chi McBride, Elijah Wood, DJ Qualls, Kevin Rankin,

Directed by Wayne Kramer

The Story:

A trio of stories involving some meth addicted white supremacists (Walker & Rankin), a man (Dillon) who finds a clue about the disappearance of his wife, and an Elvis (Fraser) impersonator all intersect through a Southern pawn shop.

Doesn't sound like anything you'd be interested in?

You might be right.

But this is a straight up, B movie, let's throw everything at the wall and see what the heck even sticks.

Surprisingly, more of it sticks than misses.

Each tale unfolds one by one, and it's not until you see the next story where you realize they intersect to tell of a single crazy day.

The glue to each tale is the pawn shop run by Alton (D'Onofrio) who sits around being harassed by Johnson (McBride) all day long.

Each tale stands on its own, with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The cast is top-notch playing some of the oddest characters in their careers.

Walker is much missed, and he's hilarious in this role as a white supremacist who finds out the real reason that they even go to the meetings is for the delicious buffet that's served. Otherwise, they really don't have a problem with the people they are supposed to hate.

Yep, that's the kind of crazy we're dealing with.

Or you have an Elvis impersonator who sucks at what he does who is offered a deal with the devil and takes it.

Like I said, it's unusual, but the cast and story kept me involved from beginning to end.

Final Grade:  B-

Misleading Movie Poster In 3...2...1... "Stand Off"

Stand Off (2011)

Rated R for language

Starring Brendan Fraser, Colm Meaney, Martin McCann, David O'Hara

Directed by Terry George

The Story:

Jimbo (McCann) owes a mobster (O'Hara) a large sum of money.  Figuring the best way to repay the debt is to knock over the local fish market, he plans his scheme, never realizing that the same market belongs to the mobster and there is something really, really valuable in the safe there.  On the run from the law (Meaney) and the mob, he holes up in an antiques shop being watched by Joe (Fraser) and realizes he may have also discovered his long-lost father!

To be perfectly fair, this is a heist film that wants to please, but can't quite figure out how to get from Point A to Point B at every turn of the script.

That said, there are some pretty funny bits sprinkled throughout this little caper.

The setup is what drags, the payoff is pretty good.

Brendan Fraser returns to the screen in seemingly the first time in a long time.

Perhaps it was all of his family friendly roles that seemingly ended his leading man career, but he proves that he's still a serviceable actor in any role.

Worth a spin if you're up to the challenge.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Again, aside from the slow beginning, there's an enjoyable caper flick buried in here.

The Wave Of Underwhelming Animation Continues..."The Nut Job"

The Nut Job (2014)
Rated PG

Starring Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl

Directed by Peter Lepeniotis

The Story:

Things are looking bleak in the City Park as the animals were unable to store enough food for winter.  Raccoon (Neeson) the leader, sends Grayson (Fraser) and Andie (Heigl), two of the smartest squirrels out to get the nuts from a local peanut vendor.  However Surly (Arnett) and his mouse pal Remy...no wait...Buddy... are already casing the joint.  Things get complicated when the nut vendors turn out to be bank robbers planning a heist.

Ooo!

An animated heist film.

And you all know what a fan of heist films I am.

I will also give credit, the heist that the humans are planning is pretty ingenious.

It's just a lot of tediousness of getting to the heist that bogs this one down for me.

There's not a whole lot to the main story, so there's a romantic entanglement between Andie and Surly and the treachery of one of their own from the park.

I know... the horror!

The animation is okay.  This is a throwback to the 50s, and that works really well.

The animals themselves though... eh ... I've seen better designs.

Like I said at the beginning, take a look at the mouse best pal.  He's a cross between Pinky and Remy from Ratatouille.

Again, I hate to be overly harsh as I think this is the first feature from this studio.

It's an okay first effort, and hopefully they can build on it.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would pass on both of these options.

Be Yourself...Or At Least Someone Else..."A Case of You"

A Case of You (2013)
Rated R for language

Starring Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood

Directed by Kat Coiro

The Story:

Sam (Long) is a writer who is looking for his muse to break out from the hack jobs he's been hired to write.  He meets Birdie (Wood) and is totally smitten.  Of course, she is fired from her job, and Sam takes to finding her by stalking her Facebook page.  Using her page to try and impress her, the two begin dating.  But the more in love he falls with her, the less of Sam is really being offered.  Will he continue to lie to impress the girl of his dreams, or come clean and risk losing her?

This is another one of those films that I wanted to like more than I did.

Nothing inherently wrong with it, and it passes 90 minutes fairly well.

However, when you're a romantic comedy, you have two very important hurdles to clear.

Be Funny.
Be Romantic.

How did this one fair?

It should have been funnier.

It should have been more romantic.

Again, one I'll chalk up to missed opportunities.

A great list of cameos that popped in to small, pivotal-ish roles to help the narrative along.

Vince Vaughn, Sam Rockwell and Brendan Fraser to name but a few.

Not terrible, not wonderful.

Give it a whirl if you're so inclined.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, I'm good, thanks.

Today We Unveil A "Blast From the Past"

A lot has changed over the years...

The Story: 

Calvin and Helen Webber (Christopher Walken & Sissy Spacek) are expectant parents in the 1960s.  Of course Calvin being a true American, he's ready for the Commies and has built a marvelous bomb shelter under their home.  Fate steps in, and sure enough, the Webbers are forced to use it.  Sealed in for 35 years, they raise their son, Adam (Brendan Fraser) but the day has come when they must go to the surface for supplies.  Adam heads up to get the supplies, and the hope of finding a bride.  And that's when Adam meets Eve (Alicia Silverstone).

It's like destiny!

I proudly admit, I love this movie.

It's both sappy sweet, and funny.

Brendan Fraser gives one of his best performances as the literal thinking Adam who is shocked to see what the world has become compared to what he has grown up learning about it.  He's the wide-eyed boy with a heart of gold and not a cynical bone in his body.

His chance encounter with Eve of course is the perfect balancing act.  She's cynical to the very core, and yet there's something sweet about Adam that makes her unable to be as mean as she could be whenever he's around.

This is Silverstone's second best movie for me, behind Clueless.  Unless you count Batman and Robin.

And nobody I know counts Batman and Robin.

:)

Walken is genius, as always.  His manic persona works effortlessly in this movie, and he's wonderful every moment he's onscreen.

Spacek balances nicely as the loving, but tired of being underground wife.  Thankfully, she's packed almost enough alcohol  to keep her from going insane.

I would be remiss if I don't mention Dave Foley's performance as Eve's best friend.  He's hilarious in his admiration of Adam's lifestyle and helps bridge the gap between Eve and Adam and shows them the obvious clues in their relationship that they are missing.

It's a little charmer, and you can't help but root for Adam in all of his endeavors.

Plus there is the hope and wish that maybe, just maybe, life was as nice as he pictures it in his head.

Final Grade: B+... easy.  Probably A-/A range for me.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own, and it used to get watched quite a bit, but hadn't seen the light of day in about 5 years.  It was a nice reminder of how fun the movie really is.