Here's To All The "Bad Moms" Out There!

Bad Moms  (2016)

Rated R

Starring Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith,

Written and Directed by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore

The Story:

Amy (Kunis) has finally had enough. She's been trying to juggle all the demands that come with having a job and kids, but she's always late for something and letting someone down. So when the head of the PTA (Applegate) adds one more task to Amy's never-ending to-do list, Amy offers up a big "F.U."to the world and quickly realizes that being a bad mom might actually do her some good.

On paper, the premise for this movie is hysterical.

In practice, it is very scattershot.

Some jokes land like a guided missile and just destroy with laughter.

Others fizzle out and arrive as a dud on impact.

That's the risk you take when you dial up the stakes on R-rated raunchy comedies.

I say it every time, if you've got to be profane, so be it, but you've got to be funny, first.

If the joke doesn't make you laugh before you add all the profanity, it's rarely going to work as the finished product.

The cast though, is immensely likable and keeps you invested in the movie.

Kunis does her best to carry the whole thing on her shoulders, and she does a great job.

The hardest part is accepting Kunis as a 30-something year old with pre-teens.

I've always seen her in the flirty romantic comedies or what-not, but never as a mom before.

That said, she channels the frustration and annoyance at a life that is so dictated by everyone else, you believe her when she snaps, and you're actually happy for her.

That they dialed a few too many situations up to 11, well, that's on the writing and directing tandem of Lucas and Moore.

Hahn works as the aggressive, over-the-top new best friend, and Bell makes the most of her timid, mousy friend who is just excited to be accepted by anyone, and that becomes empowering all on its own.

Applegate also does a great job as the villain of the film. Her comeuppance at the end is both satisfying and heartbreaking in equal measure.

I'm not sure where they'll go next with the inevitable sequel, but I'll come back and see how they're doing.

Final Grade: C+

This Isn't Your Father's "Vacation"

Vacation (2015)

Rated R

Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins

Written and Directed by John Francis Daley, Johnathan M. Goldstein

The Story:

Rusty Griswold (Helms) decides to take the wife (Applegate) and kids (Gisondo & Stebbins) on a road trip instead of their usual family vacation. And if you're a Griswold and need a vacation, where do you go?

Walley World.

What could possibly go wrong?

While the world awaited with breathless anticipation for the latest installment of the Star Wars saga, I'm not sure too many people were clamoring to see what happened next with the Griswold family.

Thankfully, they decided to continue, and not reboot, the adventures of the world's most inept travelers by passing the mantle to Rusty.

Funny idea, halfway through the movie, they should have changed out actors to play Rusty and not have the family miss a beat at all.

:)

As I mentioned in the title, this isn't your father's vacation. It's not yours, either.

Most of us grew up on the original and Christmas Vacation, and those two are beloved classics.  That the original Vacation is saddle with an R rating is pretty much overlooked, because it is so tame compared to what would receive an R rating in ensuing years.

And in 2015, that R rating is going to be a machine gun of language from start to finish, from every character under the sun, especially the youngest son.

So no, it's doubtful this will ever become a classic addition to the franchise because there are doubtful few families who would watch this together and find it funny.

That said, many of the gags are funny.

However, many are not.

It's an uneven Vacation at best, but their heart was in the right place and you have to give the entire cast an A for effort.

Which ends up on the bell curve of movies:

Final Grade: C

Quite A Tale In "The Book Of Life"

The Book Of Life (2014)

PG

Starring Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate

Written and Directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez

The Story:

Best friends Manolo (Luna) and Joaquin (Tatum) grow up as rivals for the adorable Maria (Saldana).  As grown men, the rivalry continues. The relationship catches the eyes of some supernatural beings (Perlman & Applegate) who make a wager on which man will win Maria's hand. When trickery comes to play however, not even death can stop true love and Manolo embarks on a journey of a lifetime.

From the company that brought you Free Birds...

I know, that sentence alone had me very worried as well, as I found that movie to be rather on the boring side of things...

But they fixed my complaint from that movie, which was a rather poor storyline, with a much tighter narrative, and now I'm pleased to say that this has been one of the better animated films I've seen this year.

I never had a problem with their animation, most animation studios are really killing it in terms of look and feel of their films.

Reel FX goes the extra mile on this film as many of the characters look wooden and have puppet joints. The care and attention that went into the work is nothing short of amazing to watch.

A voice cast of names, but aside from the always superb Danny Trejo, I think you'll be hard pressed to feel that the "name" overpowers the voice, and you may be wondering who the cast really is during and after the movie has concluded.

I was expecting to be disappointed going into this one as it pretty much bombed in theaters.

Instead, I'm more disappointed that unless it has Disney or Pixar on the banner, families are staying away from most other animated fare unjustly.

Final Grade: B+

Keep It Classy America... "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues"

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)

Rated PG-13/R  for Language

Starring Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koecher, Christina Applegate

Directed by Adam McKay

The Story:

Ron Burgundy (Ferrell) has moved on with his wife (Applegate) and their child and is now co-hosting the news in New York.  When she is selected to be the first prime-time female news anchor, and he's fired, well Burgundy spirals out of control as his life is effectively over.  But when Ron is approached to be part of a crazy new idea: a 24 hour news channel... can Ron reassemble his old team from San Diego, and help convince the world that news, 24/7 is a good idea?

I remember seeing Anchorman a few years ago, it was amusing, but not the amazing, hilarious cult film that many people I know make it out to be.

The sequel...

Pretty much the same.

There are a couple of insanely funny gags... and a lot of otherwise enjoyable laughs.

However, there's nothing here for me to want to come back to and watch again in the future.

And for me, that's the ultimate test and tribute to a comedy:  How many times can I watch this film, and it still be funny every time?

What actually worked for me in this film was when the movie focused on how Ron and his team actually created history on the air.  Those segments were the best, and revisionist history being what it is, you could believe that in this day and age, it was Ron Burgundy, or whatever real anchor he is indeed cloned after that came up with these ideas that "hey, this could be news!" and the people ate it up.

And still do.

If you enjoyed the first one, I see no reason why you won't enjoy the latest installment.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Maybe in a few years I'd watch it again, but no hurry, and no need to own it.