Clearly The Never Rented Blind Fury Back In The Day... "Don't Breathe"

Don't Breathe (2016)

Rated R

Starring Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto,

Directed by Fede Alvarez

The Story:

Rocky (Levy) is trying to find a way to make a better life for her and her little sister and escape their current life. She has been breaking into houses and stealing things with her boyfriend Money (Zovatto) and their friend Alex (Minnette). When they stumble upon the house of a blind veteran (Lang) who has an insurance settlement  that they know is just sitting in that house in cash, waiting to be pilfered, they decide to embark on one last score.

After all, it's some old blind guy, what could possibly go wrong?

Buckle up for a tension-filled ride if you've missed this one.

This is another thriller disguised as a horror film, and the tension just continues to mount as the movie rolls along.

If you haven't seen, or don't remember the trailer, it pretty much fills you in on what to expect.

A home invasion goes horribly wrong for the invaders when the blind guy inside is so much more than the 3 burglars could possibly be expecting.

This is a man that knows every inch of his house, and soon becomes the hunter as the intruders struggle to find a way out of the house.

Creepy little thriller that will grab you and keep you intrigued until the end.

My only complaint, this movie, and many others, that keep opening with a scene that chronologically doesn't appear until near the end of the film.

While it can be an effective way to jump right into the action, it's use in horror/thriller movies often takes a little wind out of the sails later in the film because you know that scene is coming.

Unless of course, you've forgotten all about it.

Final Grade:  B-

Guaranteed To Give You "Goosebumps"

Goosebumps (2015)

Rated PG

Starring Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush

Directed by Rob Letterman

The Story:

Zach (Minnette) moves to a new town, and he's just not that into it, but then he meets the mysterious girl next door (Rush), Hannah. She seems great, but there's something about her dad (Black) and his overprotective ways that wants to keep Zach and Hannah apart. When Zach winds up discovering that her dad is the author R. L. Stine, and that he keeps all of his books locked up because the monsters from his books are very, very real. And now they are all loose. It's up to these 3 to get them back under lock and key before it's too late!

I suppose I should start with the fact that I've never read a Goosebumps book, never watched the show, so I have nothing to compare this to.

And I think that's okay.

I saw the trailer, it looked amusing enough, so I figured why not?

I was not disappointed.

For once I had a couple of teenagers that weren't trying to alter a dystopian future or change the world.

Nope, they were running from monsters!

Yes, it was quite a refreshing change of pace.

A great cast, led by Jack Black (in multiple roles) and a solid script keep things fun and exciting for the duration of the film.

It was nice to have a movie for the whole family that we all watched together, and when it was over, thumbs up all around.

Never boring, nobody doodling or checking their phone while it was on.

I'll take that kind of film every time.

Final Grade: Solid B, a B+ could even be argued and I wouldn't object.

We've All Had Days Like "Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day"

Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould, Dylan Minnette, Kerris Dorsey,

Directed by Miguel Arteta

The Story:

The Coopers (Carrell, Garner, Minnette and Dorsey) have a pretty good life. All except for Alexander (Oxenbould), who feels that he has a pretty bad day (see story title), every day!  So naturally on his birthday, he makes a wish on his cupcake that for once, his family could feel what it's like to not have a perfect day.

Remember kids, be careful what you wish for!

Okay, admittedly I rolled my eyes when I heard this was being adapted into a movie. I vaguely remember the book from my youth, and I'm not sure I've ever read it to my kids when they were growing up.

But from what I remember, there's no way that book becomes a movie.

However, put the ball in the other court, and show the rest of his perfect family having a very not-so perfect day, and you've struck gold.

Or, at least with my rating, how about silver?

It's a perfectly fine family comedy, but isn't that what we've come to expect from Disney over the years?

Carell gets some amusing gags throughout the film, and Garner has an exceptional bit with legendary Dick Van Dyke.

And if there is any wonder on whether or not the Coopers can turn it all around before the credits roll...

Well, this isn't  your first Disney film, is it?

: )

Final Grade: B-