The Remake Will Come Out...Tomorrow... "Annie"

Annie (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Quvenzhane Wallis, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale

Directed Will Gluck

The Story:

You all know the hard-luck life story of Annie (Wallis). Well, bringing her from the depression of the 30s into the 21st century, now Annie is going to find her Daddy Warbucks in the form of entrepreneur Will Stacks (Foxx) who has decided to run for mayor. His campaign manager (Cannavale) swears that taking this kid in will boost his campaign through the roof. 

We'll see.

History of the movie from my point of view:

Announced - eyes rolled.

Trailer viewed - opinion changed.

Movie viewed - it was alright, it had its moments.

The update, overall, was not bad. The annoying red-headed girl is gone (except for a brilliant cameo at the beginning) as the story centers on a different Annie under the care of Hannigan (Diaz) and the other charges.

Some of the familiar songs are here, it wouldn't be Annie without them, and they get an update courtesy of the films producers like Jay Z and the like.

More of the film works than it doesn't, and the production looks like they had a pretty good time romping through a musical.

Wallis does great as the unknown who has to shoulder the burden on carrying 90% of the film, and she does a great job. She's cute, but not in an overly precocious or annoying way.

Foxx winds up with most (but not all) of the best lines and moments, but he plays very well opposite Wallis and the two share a wonderful bond onscreen.

Overall, if you like the story and want to see an update, you'll be pleased.

If you hate musicals, you'll probably want to stay away.

Though come on, Hard Knock Life is a great song.

Final Grade: C+

Watching Paint Dry Is More Exciting Than Watching This "Sex Tape"

Sex Tape (2014)

Rated R

Starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segal

Directed by Jake Kasdan

The Story:

Annie (Diaz) and Jay (Segal) are now married. Once upon a time they had sex.

A lot.

I'm assuming that years later, now that they are married with children, they don't have it as much and want to recapture some of the  magic.

Naturally, things go awry.

I assume this, because after a prolonged montage of revisiting the two having sex all the time, anywhere, I was already bored, disinterested and really could care less where this film went.

So perhaps it got better.

I'll never know.

Final Grade: F

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I see no reason to even keep watching to see if it gets any better or funnier.

Try Not To Offend "The Other Woman"

The Other Woman (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikola Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Niki Minaj

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

The Story:

Carly (Diaz) is a successful lawyer who has found the guy of her dreams (Waldau).  However, when she finds out that he is married to Kate (Mann), she immediately ends things.  When Kate discovers that her husband was cheating on her, she becomes depressed, then obsessed with hanging out with Carly.  When they both discover that he had been cheating on BOTH of them with Amber (Upton), then it's on.  The trio team up to take the scumbag down.

This was much funnier the first time I saw it.  It was called "The First Wives Club".

:)

This version falls squarely into the "it's okay" pile.

Good, not great.

Diaz does fine as the lead.  The story does a nice job of ensuring that none of the ladies are to blame for anything.  This is all squarely on the shoulders of the guy.  None of the girls know the others even exist, so you can sympathize with each of them.

However, while I normally enjoy Mann's work in film, this time she dials the screeching nutjob up just a hair too much and spends much of the movie being annoying.  You would think that someone that smart and supposedly independent would be a little stronger and less needy when the chips are down.

Upton isn't given a whole lot to do except parade around in a bikini.

However, she's given a funny ending that you'll see coming but is still a nice payoff for her character by the end of the film.

Why they decided to include Niki Minaj in this film, besides being able to say "this is her first role" is beyond me as that role could have (should have) been given to anyone that can actually act. :)

Finally, it was nice to see Don Johnson pop up, albeit way too briefly in the film.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Sorry, not enough going for this one to merit a purchase or to really bother to see again.

Bait And Switch... "Gambit"

Gambit (2012)

Rated PG-13 for language and partial nudity

Starring Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Tom Courtenay, Alan Rickman

Directed by Michael Hoffman

The Story:

Harry Deane (Firth) is an art curator who is sick of his boss (Rickman).  So he decides to conspire with The Major (Courtenay) to dupe him into buying a fake Monet painting.  Their plan hinges on the cooperation of a Texas rodeo queen (Diaz).  But with all good heists... things never quite go as planned.

This is a fun little heist caper, written by the Coen brothers.

It starts off with a perfect retelling of what is supposed to happen with the heist as imagined by Harry.

Naturally, as soon as the wheels are set in motion...

Everything falls apart!

As with most heist films, I don't want to divulge too much.

The cast did a great job, and there's a couple of inspired scenes in the movie.

I would have liked a little more like those scenes with word-play or character actions/reactions/interactions.

That said, it wasn't too bad, and Firth and Rickman are both great in their roles, as usual.

Final Grade: B-...maybe a B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't think I'd buy it, but I wouldn't mind seeing it again in the future.