Good...Not Great..."Battle of the Sexes"

Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Bill Pullman, Sarah Silverman, Elisabeth Shue

Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

The Story:

In 1973, Bobby Riggs (Carell) challenged Women's # 1, Billie Jean King (Stone) to a tennis match to prove that men were the superior sex in the world of sport. Shenanigans ensued.

I'll file this under uneven, and leave it at that.

Except, where's the fun in a one line review?

So stretching to 2 hours, because half the movie seemingly focuses on King's sexual discoveries with hairdresser Marilyn Bennett (Riseborough).

It's a necessary portion for a biographical picture such as this one, but it's also the weakest part of the entire movie.

Much more interesting were the break from the tennis circuit by King and all the ladies under the leadership of Gladys Heldman (Silverman) and their clashes with Jack Kramer (Pullman).

Even more interesting was Bobby Riggs and his quirks that were quietly destroying his relationship with his wife (Shue).

When it's Riggs vs. King at the finale of the movie, the energy is there and it's quite good.

I'd go so far to say that it's Carell and Pullman in the adversarial roles that helped shaped King's career that make this movie as watchable and entertaining as it is.  Remove them, and this would be a bland mess.

Final Grade:  B-

If The Shue Fits... "Adventures in Babysitting"

Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Rated PG-13 for Language

Starring Elisabeth Shue, Maia Brewton, Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp, Penelope Ann Miller

Directed by Chris Columbus

Recognize the poster by Drew Struzan? :)

The Story:

Chris (Shue) is going to babysit 3 kids (Brewton, Coogan, Rapp) when her date (Bradley Whitford) stands her up.  Ah, but one fateful call from best friend Brenda (Miller) sets the foursome out on the wilds of Chicago to pick her up from the bus station.  Naturally, one crazy night filled with mishaps and adventures ensues.  Will they survive the night and make it back to the suburbs in one piece?

Rose colored glasses need not apply to this review.

I remember watching a bit of this back in 1987. 

I was mostly bored.

Uh-Oh...This Review Won't End Well...

Fast forward over 25 years later and I caught this one again and thought, hey, maybe I was too young  or preoccupied to care for this cimematic classic.

Nope.

Still mostly bored.

:)

Don't get me wrong, there was a few good gags and chuckles along the way, but for the most part, I am indifferent to the film.


I'll admit, the random needing to sing the blues to get out of the club was a pretty funny scene.

Possibly the Best Part of the Movie

For those that this was ingrained as an important part of your 80s viewing habits, rock on.

Much like Say Anything, I wonder if I had watched it and enjoyed it at the time, if I wouldn't be singing a different tune.   Then it would be a classic for me instead of "meh, it was okay, but nothing special..."

I suppose I could try again...

I'll save it for the 50 year anniversary.

:)

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Nah, but I can at least cross another 80s film I've never seen off the list.  One step closer to finally seeing E.T.

No, "Chasing Mavericks" is Not the Sequel to Top Gun

Surf's up.  Way up!

The Story:

The inspiring true story of 15 year old Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) who just loves to surf.  Inspired by his neighbor Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler), he wants to learn how to surf Mavericks.  Those are the giant waves that will kill normal mortals.  The two begin their training as they prepare to face the Mavericks at the end of the season.  Will Jay be ready??

Of course he will!

Now, I'm not sure how inspiring it is.  This has to be one of most downer of an endings movie I've seen in a bit.  More on that in  a second...

First, the relationship between the two surfers is an interesting dynamic.  Again, Butler's charisma on screen carries him through most roles fairly effortlessly.

Here's a man that doesn't want to give up surfing, and yet has every reason to do so.

Fate naturally will intervene later and make sure that Frosty never suits up again to stare down the Mavericks, and sadly, Frosty has to grow up and learn that lesson.

As for Jay, well, him and all of the other "teenagers" are played by kids that look older than me. ;)

But seriously, I don't for a minute believe any of them are young enough to still be in High School.  In fact, the movie has a real issue with characters and aging.

Heck, Elisabeth Shue plays Jay's mom, and she looks younger than the girlfriend!

Aside from that, the scenes on the ocean are spectacular.  If they really surfed, it looked great and believable.  If it was done CGI, it was well done and didn't look fake.

Thankfully, most of the movie is filmed on the ocean, so it keeps you involved.

Then when the movie ends, you just think to yourself... Really?  That really happened?

That's the hardest part to believe, moreso than surfing monster waves.

Shame.

Final Grade: C+, carried on Butler's shoulders and the cinematography.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again in the distant future, but won't actively seek it out.