"The Reunion" is the Perfect Place to See Family You Can't Stand

You only hate the ones you love.

The Story:

Sam (John Cena) and Leo (Ethan Embry) are brothers who hate each other.  Sam's a cop...Leo's a bail bondsman.  They are brought back together by their sister, Nina(Amy Smart) when their father dies.  She introduces them to their half-brother, Douglas (Boyd Holbrook) whom they've never heard of, and who is a thief by trade.  Nina informs them that it was their dad's dying wish that the boys all work together in a family business, and if they could do that for 2 years, they would inherit a windfall.  However, Nina may not have actually been truthful with her brothers.

This could have been the turning point for WWE Films as a studio. 

Again, John Cena takes center stage, but they don't rely on him to carry the action of the film, like they did with him in The Marine.  Instead, they develop the other characters and have actual actors help shoulder the burden and allow Cena to simply be one of the characters, instead of "The Star".

The results?

Actually, a pretty amusing/dramatic action flick that knows when to have fun and when to build tension.  The interplay between the family works as they banter, bicker and flat out brawl.  However, like all families, when push comes to shove, only they have permission to pick on each other. 


That's how family works!

Granted, it's no Academy Award winner, but it's a 90 minute diversion of entertainment, and that is why they make movies.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  A definite rewatchable for me, and if I find it on sale, why not?

Excited for Today's Review? I Know, I "Can't Hardly Wait", Either!!

Every generation needs it's party...

The Story:

Graduation has come, and tonight, the seniors are going to party.  Will Preston (Ethan Embry) finally be able to tell the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Love Hewitt) that he loves her? What happens when Denise (Lauren Ambrose) and Kenny (Seth Green)  get locked in a bathroom together all night?  All of this and more await at the senior party.

Yes, I know, you can't hardly wait!

I had never seen this one before, so apparently I missed out on the 90s ode to High School.

I suppose that American Pie may have overshadowed it, though that seems to be the 2000s answer to the High School film for a generation.

Makes me long for the innocent days of John Hughes tackling life in the 80s.

: )

But I digress...

This film is amusing and odd at times, as they just throw stuff out there and hope some of it sticks.  Much of the high school clichés are played out throughout the party that spoke to the generation that saw it in theaters.

I assume.  : /

So for them, it's their Fast Times, Ferris Bueller or the Breakfast Club.

For me, it was more fun seeing who the background characters were that shot to fame after their appearance in this movie, and pretty much eclipsed any/all of the main stars of the film.

That said, it wasn't a waste of my time, and I enjoyed pretty much the whole thing.  No complaints.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No hurry to do either again, but not a bad film.  The more sentimental it is to you, the more you'll enjoy this one.