Eventually They Will Finish... "The Nice Guys"

The Nice Guys (2016)

Rated R

Starring Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Margaret Qualley, Angourie Rice,

Written and Directed by Shane Black

The Story:

Holland March (Gosling) has been hired to find a girl (Qualley) who has gone missing. Coupled with the recent death of a porn star, it seems like everyone is trying to find this girl, including another private eye, Jackson Healy (Crowe). The two cross paths, exchange blows, and soon thereafter reluctantly team-up to try and solve a pair of cases that seem intertwined while navigating around some crazy people that make up Los Angeles in the late 1970s.

This is a strange one.

The trailer seemed like it would be a really good movie, but it failed to connect with audiences when it came out.

My only guess on that would be that perhaps Shane Black made the movie too dark and seedy, centering a great bit of it around the porn industry in the tale of a missing girl and a murdered starlet.

Not exactly the best date material for starters, or I guess, at least not out in public.

:)

Plus, when the smartest character in the movie is March's daughter (Rice) that also doesn't bode well.

That said, there are several great moments scattered throughout the film, and it's also bogged down by several stretches of "meh" as well.

It's a game effort by all involved, especially Gosling who is possibly the most nuanced private eye ever to grace the silver screen. How he managed to get, and keep, his job is a wonder.

Crowe gets to play the requisite heavy, and the two share a pretty good chemistry together.

It's no Lethal Weapon, but we've been waiting to see a buddy team-up like that for nearly 30 years to no avail.

Black tries to catch lightning in a bottle again, but comes up a bit short.

Bottom line, I liked it, but didn't love it like I hoped I would.

Final Grade: B-

Undercover Brothers..."Ride Along 2"

Ride Along 2 (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong,

Directed by Tim Story

The Story:

Ben (Hart) is getting married to Angela (Sumpter) soon, but before the wedding, he has to head to Florida with James (Cube) on assignment. There they begin to unravel a plot thanks to AJ (Jeong) that implicates a very wealthy businessman (Bratt) who the local police (Munn) refuse to believe could possibly be dirty.

In other words, if you enjoyed the first Ride Along, you should have just as good of a time, or better, on their latest trip.

I've enjoyed both films. They were good, but I'd like to see better by the time the 3rd one rolls around.

Ice Cube is great, as usual, and works really well with Kevin Hart.

Hart is an actor that has grown on me over the years, and I've enjoyed his performances more and more as I've watched him.

He's like a short Chris Tucker.

:)

Now put those two together in a movie, and let's see what happens.

Anyway, the movie is fun, the cast seems to have some genuine chemistry among them, and I'd happily return for the next ride if they're willing to make it.

That, or have these guys crossover with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys: The Ride Along and I'll be there opening night!

Final Grade: B-

Sounds Like Fun..."Let's Be Cops"

Let's Be Cops (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr.

Written and Directed by Luke Greenfield

The Story:

Ryan (Johnson) and Justin (Wayans) are struggling in their current jobs. When they dress as cops for a college reunion instead of dressing for a masquerade ball, the duo realize that maybe they are getting the short end of the stick of life. However on their way home, everyone treats them like real cops, and the guys begin to blow off steam by playing fake cops for fun. However, when the duo stumble upon an actual crime, they begin to take their play seriously, and begin to unravel a case that deals with the mob! Hopefully they brought some fake bulletproof vests!

This is one of those movies that you see the trailer or hear the title and roll your eyes thinking, "okay, that will probably be silly fun, or downright stupid, I'll catch it on DVD".

I did.

I'm glad I did.

It's actually quite a bit of fun and has a good time with the buddy cop genre.

Even though these guys aren't really cops!

Most of the jokes work without fail, and really the only thing I will knock them for is adhering to their R rating.

This is one I can't just have playing in the house due to the small ears that roam around and barge in.

But that's a problem at my house, not with the movie itself.

Both of the stars do a fine job carrying the film, and I guess the best thing I can say is this:

Let's Be Cops...Again!

I'd happily watch a sequel.

Final Grade: I'm giving this one a solid B.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I will likely purchase this one in the future and will watch it again someday when the kids aren't around. :)

You're Invited For A Little "Ride Along"

Ride Along (2014)

Rated PG-13 for language and violence

Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, John Leguizamo, Laurence Fishburne

Directed by Tim Story:

The Story:

Ben (Hart) is a security guard in love with Angela (Sumpter).  However, her big brother, James (Cube) is an Atlanta detective who doesn't approve of the relationship.  In order to get rid of Ben, he organizes a ride along to scare Ben away from wanting to be a cop, and wanting to be with his sister.  However, when things take a dangerous turn, maybe Ben will show he actually has what it takes to make the grade.

One of the first box office hits of 2014 is available to own on DVD, and it's a pretty good one.

Ice Cube does great, as usual, as a comedic action star.

Reunited with Tim Story (Barbershop), he's back at the top of his game as the tough straight man to Kevin Hart's antics.

Meanwhile, Kevin Hart continues to impress with this follow-up to Grudge Match, this time as a full-fledged co-star and not just the comic relief.

He pulls off the role really well, and keeps the character from being annoying, which is really important to making the film enjoyable.

If you don't like Ben, you won't root for him to succeed and win James' approval, and then the whole movie falls apart.

This film takes the perfect buddy cop, oil and water, formula and plays it to perfection.

You will probably see the twists and turns of the police investigation unfold, but that's okay.

At the end of the day, you'll be glad you came along for the ride.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would have no qualms about adding this one to the library, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Chicago Is In Good Hands... "Running Scared"

Running Scared (1986)
Rated R for violence and language and nudity

Starring Billy Crystal, Gregory Hines, Joe Pantoliano, Dan Hedaya, Jimmy Smits

Directed by Peter Hyams

The Story:

Detectives Ray (Hines) and Danny (Crystal) are two of Chicago's finest.  However, when the duo are almost killed, their Captan (Hedaya) orders them to take a vacation.  A trip to the Florida Keys convinces them that perhaps it's simply time to retire and open a bar.  As they go to finish up their tour on the force, the two become very conservative in their behavior, and that could prove costly as they attempt to take down local drug kingpin Julio Gonzales (Smits).

Long live the Buddy Cop film!

Although this film takes a different slant on the buddy cop genre.

Instead of the duo being oil and water, Ray and Danny are like an old married couple.

They can complete each other's sentences, know what one another is thinking...

In other words, best friends on and off the force.

Hines and Crystal's chemistry serves the duo well, allowing both to take on the air of serious action stars while maintaining their sense of humor and general likeability.

The supporting cast is great.

Hedaya makes a wonderful beaten down head of detectives an Pantoliano is perfectly cast as two bit villain Snake.

Some great dialogue, pretty fun action sequences, and you'll find this is one of the underrated action comedies of the mid-80s.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and I love it.

Time To Go! "Fled"

Fled (1996)

Rated R for language and violence

Starring Laurence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin, Will Patton, Salma Hayek

Directed by Kevin Hooks

The Story:

Piper (Fishburne) and Dodge (Baldwin) are convicts on a chain gang.  When a break-out happens, the two convicts make a run for it.  It seems that Dodge has some incriminating evidence on a disc that will lead to millions of dollars.  Piper... well there is more to his story than he is willing to share with Dodge.  They are pursued by Detective Gibson (Patton) who thinks something smells fishy about the whole setup.

This is another guilty pleasure movie for me.

It's about 90 minutes of pure adrenaline that never slows down, and rarely pauses for anything other than a quick joke, and then back to the action.

You've seen the movie, even if you've never seen the movie before.

They basically steal every scene in their movie from other movies and put their spin on it.

Heck, Dodge spouts out movie references and quotes throughout the movie with a wink and a nod to allow us to enjoy the joke.

The best one comes at the end of the movie, when he references another movie that Fishburne was in.

Comedy. Gold.

:)

Slow night, can't figure out something to watch, that's when Fled gets the call.

It's a B movie that knows it's a B movie and has a blast attempting to be the best B movie it can be.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I already own it, and I would say it sees the light of day every few years or so.

"I Spy" With My Little Eye...A Movie That Should Have Been Better

I Spy (2002)

Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Eddie Murphy, Owen Wilson, Famke Janssen, Malcolm McDowell

Directed by Betty Thomas


The Story:

The Switchblade, the US government's newest stealth prototype is stolen by arms dealer Arnold Gundars (McDowell), the government sends in crack spy Alex Scott (Wilson) to save the day.  However, they team him with a professional boxer (Murphy) to help provide his cover, and the two must make sure the plane does not fall into the hands of the enemy.  Surely there will be no problem.

Action comedy. Buddy picture.

You name it, this movie wanted to be it.

The problem, it never amounted to much of anything.

There were bits and flashes of comedic brilliance.

Or an action gag would work very well.

But overall, the movie just sort of drags, never really able to capture any oil/water chemistry between Wilson and Murphy.

It's passable entertainment, but nothing you really need to rush out and watch if you've never seen it, or more likely, haven't seen it in over a decade.

I cannot comment on what connection, if anything besides title alone, that I Spy shares with the television show upon which it was based.  My guess...

Absolutely nothing.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Low to watch again... No for the purchase.

"2 Guns" Are Better Than One.

2 Guns (2013)
Rated R - Violence/Language/Nudity

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg

Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur

The Story:

A DEA Agent (Washington) and an undercover Naval intelligence officer (Wahlberg) are working together to take down a drug lord (Edward James Olmos).  Neither realizes the other is an undercover agent until after they rob a bank they think contains his money.  It turns out it holds a lot of money from the CIA, and they want it back.  Can the two put their differences aside and work together to save their own lives?

I remember watching the trailer for this movie and thinking, "that looks like it will be a pretty fun movie."

Yay!

I was right.

The chemistry between Washington and Wahlberg makes this film an enjoyable buddy cop/action flick.

Someone Is Going To Be Shot

They play very well off of one another, and I have to admit that I really enjoy seeing Denzel Washington play a little more humor with his character than he normally does.  Wahlberg coasts through his part with a wink and a smile, literally, and both are engaging throughout.

As each of their single stories unfolds, the mystery and intrigue to the plot deepens.  Layers of who do you trust? are revealed as both men find out that they cannot trust the people they work for any longer.  However, it's when they are onscreen together that the movie really shines, and the film wisely keeps them partnered up through most of the screen time.

Plus, with the bank robbery and the shenanigans that ensue with double and triple crosses, it's a heist film.

I think I've been pretty clear on my love for the heist film.

:)

Let's Play A Game...

The layers of bad guys includes the Navy (James Marsden) and the sinister head of the CIA (Bill Paxton) who want the money that has been stolen.

Based on a Boom! Studios graphic novel, it does play very much like a well-made comic book.

I approve!

Final Grade: B+

Would I Watch It Again? Yes, I would happily watch this one again.

Would I Buy This Movie? Yes, I'm adding it to the Christmas List of 2014.

No Rest For the Weary..."R.I.P.D."

When there's something strange...

In your neighborhood...

Who ya gonna call?

The Story:

Nick (Ryan Reynolds) is a cop who gets killed by his partner (Kevin Bacon).  Suddenly he finds himself landing a new gig in the Rest in Peace Department.  He is teamed with Roy (Jeff Bridges), a wild west lawman who's been doing this for years, but hates having partners.  Too bad, so sad, because the boys are going to have to learn to work together, and fast, if they want to prevent the impending apocalypse!

So, why does everyone hate this movie?

I don't know.

The trailers made it look like Ghostbusters meets Men in Black.

Mission accomplished.

The premise is fun: the dead that refuse to leave this world are hunted by the spirit world's best cops. 

It's a supernatural buddy cop film!

The cops of course look different to us humans: Nick is a Chinese man (James Hong) and Roy is a woman (Marisa Miller).  The effect is used to amusing potential throughout the movie.

However, therein lies the problem with a film with so much promise to its premise.  There was a lot of great potential to this story to live up to Ghostbusters or Men in Black...

And it never quite makes it.

It's fun, but not FUN! It's good, but not GREAT!

When you aim to be an amalgam of two science fiction/comedy classics, you've got to pull out all of the stops and not just rely on upgraded special effects to wow the audiences.

That said, the leading men, especially Bridges though, seem to enjoy what they are doing and give a fun performance as lawmen from the other side of the pearly gates.  Reynolds is shoehorned into the straight man role, and maybe that's part of the problem.

His mouth and sarcastic wit are his selling points, and when you have him playing the straight man reacting to the new crazy world that he's thrust into, he doesn't get to react as cleverly as he should, or at least, as audiences expect him too.

While it's not the greatest movie of the year, it is nowhere near the worst movie ever to grace the multiplex as many people seemed to think this year.

It's a movie with unrealized potential that could have been much better, but the bar maybe was set too high going into it.

The trailer told us too much, and made the comparisons inevitable.

Sometimes less is more, that would have been good advice for the trailer.

Sometimes less is less.  That might just sum up the movie.

Final Grade: C+ish

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I picked it up from Blockbuster sight unseen, not having done that in ages.  Don't regret the purchase, just wish there had been more for me to like.

Spice Things Up With..."The Heat"

If you can't stand The Heat...

Well, I don't know if "can't stand" is the right choice of words.

The Story:

FBI Agent Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is an uptight, by the book agent that none of her fellow agents really like.  She's bucking for a promotion, and needs to head to Boston to catch the latest suspect that could put her at the top of the list.  There she meets a detective (Melissa McCarthy) who's a foul-mouthed, uses a book to beat the suspect instead.  Needless to say the two don't get along from the start, but they must work together if they want to solve the case and stay alive.

Hilarity ensues.

How much, is totally dependent on the individual.

So, here I come to stomp over another favorite comedy of 2013.

:)

It was a box office success, and people raved about how awesomely funny it was.

Meh.

There were some genuinely hilarious moments/bits of dialogue throughout the movie.

The rest... it was incredibly average.

Sandra Bullock took her Miss Congeniality FBI agent, stripped it of a personality, and voila!  She's the straight man to the bumbling McCarthy.

Got it.

This is the second straight box office success for McCarthy that I really didn't care for (Identity Thief).

And again, most of the laughs are generated by her performance, but otherwise, I guess I'm finding her to be a one-trick pony?

Kudos to the effort to bring a 2 female lead to the buddy cop action comedy, and I'm pretty sure there will be a sequel being greenlit as we speak.

And sure, I'll probably watch it as well.

I'll be hoping it's better than this one though.

Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again if I had to do it.  Won't likely find myself in that situation though. ;)

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas..."Lethal Weapon"

I'm too old for this...

The Story:

Veteran cop Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is nearing retirement.  He finds himself saddled with a new partner, a burn-out, possibly suicidal maniac, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson).  The two are pulled into a suicide which leads them back to an old Army buddy of Roger's.  The question then becomes, who is going to kill the cops first, the bad guys, or each other?

Come on, how much of a plot synopsis do you want me to give to Lethal Weapon?

It's over 25 years old and is a classic in its own rights.

If the film didn't define it, it at the very least redefined the entire Buddy Cop action flick.

Want to take film-making 101 for making that kind of movie, look no further.

First, get two polar opposites that bicker and squabble with each other, but come to depend and work well with each other by the end of the film.

Literally put them on death's door or as much of a physical wringer as you can muster, and you'll see what they are made of on the inside as well as how tough they are on the outside.

This was Shane Black's first feature movie that he wrote, and he knocked it out of the park on his first try.  He's kept the Christmas feeling over the rest of the movies he's worked on, most recently with Iron Man 3.

Aside from pairing Glover and Gibson together, they also put them opposite Gary Busey who is simply unleashed on the screen as possibly the most psychotic villain to plague 80s cops.  If Die Hard had the suave Hans Gruber to counteract the everyman John McClane, Lethal Weapon offered up Mr. Joshua as the psychopath who could channel Riggs inner rage, and give in to it.

You have to believe that the villains can beat the hero, and literally our heroes limp across the finish line when it's all over.

Tying this all together is Richard Donner.  If push comes to shove, I will say that he is, for overall body of work, my favorite director of all time.  His movies are nearly always entertaining and in a way, timeless.  While this movie is made in the 80s, it could just as easily be now, or earlier.  That's just how Donner works, and his movies age really well.

Plus, much like Die Hard, it's got a Christmas theme, so it's a way to get some adrenaline during the holidays pumped into your system.  Normally I try and squeeze these into holiday viewing when I'm wrapping gifts for the kids.  Now that they've figured out how great Die Hard is, I wonder when they'll come waiting to see this one?!

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I love 'em, I own 'em!

Do You Understand the Review That Is Coming Out of My Mouth? "Rush Hour"

It ain't 'you all', it's y'all!

The Story:

Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) comes to America to help find the kidnapped daughter of his old boss.  He is handed over to LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) by the FBI who want those two as far away from the case as possible.  Can the two figure out a way to work together long enough to save a little girl's life?

Well, duh!

: )

15 years ago, Rush Hour burst onto the scene.


It was a Lethal Weapon for a whole new generation.

Though this action flick was not nearly as gritty as before, there was much more emphasis put on the comedic tone of the movie than Lethal Weapon had employed.

Which also explains why the kids have seen this franchise, and not thrilled to the exploits of Riggs and Murtaugh...

Yet!

But they followed the formula of oil and water...night and day... with two cops that are polar opposites, but both are really good at what they do, and when they finally work together, magic happens.

Helmed by Brett Ratner, one of the more disliked directors in Hollywood.  However whenever I see a Brett Ratner movie, I've always enjoyed it.  Heck, I own most of his library!

:)

Jackie Chan of course, was the big draw to this film for me.  I've always loved his action films and stunt work.

The big surprise was Chris Tucker, who did not annoy me to death when I watched the film.  The more I've watched the franchise, the more fun I've had watching these films.  He has the best lines, and delivers them with style.

Finally, whenever the song "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey plays on the radio, I can't help but think of this movie.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'd say it gets watched roughly once a year, and yes, I happily own it.

Leave the Meter Running... "Taxi"

The Fast and the Furious sequel everyone forgets about...


The Story:

Belle (Queen Latifah) is a New York City taxi driver who aspires to be a race car driver.  In fact, she's souped up her taxi quite a bit.  Perhaps a bit too much as she winds up crossing paths with a cop (Jimmy Fallon) and the two become partners trying to solve a series of bank robberies.  Naturally, the two have a lot to teach one another.  Well okay, basically Belle has a whole lot to teach Washburn...

:)

This movie is closing in on a decade old.  That's about the last time I saw it, and I found it fun(ny) back then.

Watched it again recently, and it was still a pretty good film.

Oh, don't get me wrong, it's nothing earth-shattering, but it's not that bad.

Why?

Again, much like yesterday's film, Queen Latifah has a personality that just transcends film and makes her instantly likeable.

She takes a heist film (one of my favorite genres!) originally scripted by the great Luc Besson, and elevates the material with her delivery and charisma.

This is Jimmy Fallon's first foray as a leading man after years of working the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchor desk.

He plays a bumbling noob, and he does it really well. :)

Finally, director Tim Story does a great job with his first action flick.  His first feature (that I saw/know of) Barbershop, was a really good movie, and Story branched out into action comedy with this one.  His next film would be The Fantastic Four, and yes, I know a lot of people hated it, but he got The Thing and Human Torch correct, so that film (and its sequel) will always get a pass with me.

: )

Final Grade: C+/B- ish...

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  I meant to buy this one within the last decade.  Perhaps the upcoming decade I will finally get around to it?

"Bullet To The Head" ? That Sounds Painful...

That's going to leave a mark!

The Story:

James Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone) is a hitman living in New Orleans.  After completing a job, his partner is killed and James barely escapes.  Meanwhile, detective Kwon (Sung Kang) comes calling to find his partner who was also murdered.  The two cross paths, and then reluctantly join forces as they realize that the killer ( Jason Momoa) took out both of their partners.  They'll uncover a layered web of corruption and deception as they work their way to the top of the food chain. However, how long can Kwon tolerate Bonomo's less than legal actions as they seek out the information they need?

Has anyone had a better late career boost than Sylvester Stallone?

He's hung around long enough to be cool again! ;)

Personally, I think the movies that he is making now are also much better than what he was making years ago.

Granted, Stallone also has no problem bringing back the gratuitous violence that embodied the 80s action films, and added an extra layer of splatter to make the movies more violent and less cartoony.

Though sometimes when people die, it's still pretty funny watching them explode... : /

Nice to see that Sung Kang is getting some work outside of the Fast and Furious franchise.  We'll see where he turns up after this.

It appears that this movie is based on a French Graphic novel, so yay, comics win again!

It's directed by Walter Hill who hasn't done many feature films in quite a while, and his heyday was also in the 80s with 48 Hours probably being the best movie of his career.

It's probably nothing groundbreaking that you haven't seen in a million and one other action/buddy cop movies.

It is a nice spin having a hitman and a cop team up, and how they are able to one-up each other, and tear down each other often at the same time.

Not bad...

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably pass on purchasing or watching it again.  I have to choose my action films carefully around here. :)

The Movie is "Bulletproof", But is it Critic Proof?

 
Is there a better word to describe Adam Sandler's movie career? : )

The Story:

Two criminals, Keats (Damon Wayans) and Moses (Adam Sandler) are working for drug lord Frank Coltan (James Caan).  However, Keats is an undercover cop, and Moses accidentally shoots him in the head during a shoot out.  Keats survives and gets a metal plate in his head.  He can neither forgive or forget, and imagine how happy he is when he learns that he must protect Moses when Coltan orders a hit on him.  Can Keats get him to safety, or will he wind up dead this time?

I'd seen about 10 total minutes from this film over the last 17 years.

Coming out in 1996, this is probably the forgotten movie in Sandler's career.

Possibly because he was just a co-star, versus the star of the film.

Or maybe because compared to the movies that surrounded it:  Billy Madison before, Happy Gilmore at the same time, the Wedding Singer afterward, it's easy to get lost in that shuffle.

There's nothing wrong with this movie though, it's just one that definitely doesn't fit the mold of what Sandler was putting out at the time, though much of his schtick comes through during the film.

Instead, he is given the buddy cop formula to play in, and he does his part rather well.

Oddly, these movies normally work best when you have a straight man as the partner, not another comedian.  Wayans has to reel himself in for the role, and it's probably to the detriment of the movie that he isn't allowed to be as funny since he is the cop.

It's a minor quibble, but there you have it.

Otherwise, pretty enjoyable film that was worth finally seeing the whole thing.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability Purchase Factor: While I own a lot of Sandler's films, I don't know that this one is in any hurry to be added to the library.