Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear..."xXx: The Return of Xander Cage"

xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Toni Collette, Samuel L. Jackson,

Directed by D.J. Caruso

The Story:

When Augustus Gibbons (Jackson) is killed, the government seeks out Xander Cage (Diesel) to retrieve 'Pandora's Box'. The problem, he's not the only one looking for the device, and Cage will be going head to head with Xiang (Yen) to retrieve the box and all the secrets it holds. Does Xander still have what it takes to be part of the xXx program?

What?

You weren't clamoring for a sequel 15 years after the original xXx movie?

Well, it's only been 12, if you count the sequel that Diesel had no part of, but had Ice Cube as the lead agent.

Now if you've seen either, or both of those, then you know exactly what you're going to see here, and you shouldn't walk away disappointed.

Unless you disliked either, or both of those, but then, why would you be renting this one?  In the hopes it got better with age?

Pfft.

The stunts are fun. The action is good.

I had no problem with this movie at all.

While it won't generate on my best of the year list, it was enjoyable and I would watch it again downt he road.

I'll take popcorn movies like this nearly any day of the week.

Final Grade:  B-

School's Out For Summer..."Fist Fight"

Fist Fight (2017)

Rated R

Starring Charlie Day, Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, Jillian Bell, Dean Norris, Christina Hendricks,

Directed by Richie Keen

The Story:

On the last day of school, English teacher Andy (Day) inadvertently gets History teacher Strickland (Cube) fired from his job. Strickland decides to retaliate and says at 3:00 when school is out, they're going to fight. Andy then spends the rest of the day trying to make amends or do whatever he can to get out of the fight. Naturally, it doesn't go so well.

Here's where I'm up on my soap box with the language issue. The movie is littered with a mine field of f-bombs to navigate through.

But as I've always said, if you can take the language out, and the jokes would still work, then it's actually funny.

And, I laughed way more often than I was expecting/hoping during this film.

I would say that 90% of that comes squarely because of Charlie Day.

He has perfected the exasperated everyman character to a "t" in his previous film outings where he often plays the buddy of the main character.

Well, here he graduates to the star of the show and carries the entire film on his shoulders. Everything that happens is based on his actions and the spiraling descent into madness as he feverishly works to avoid a confrontation at the end of the day.

So, if you don't like Charlie Day, you'll likely not care for the film.

Ice Cube has less screen time, but his presence is always felt as the hour ticks closer to the 3:00 showdown.

They are also surrounded by some of the worst teachers ever to grace the screen, especially Holly (Bell) the school guidance counselor who is a train-wreck of emotional baggage. :)

So yes, it's crude, but I laughed a lot and the movie kept me interested.  I can live with that.

Final Grade: B-

Luke Cage Is Looking For Work... "Barbershop: The Next Cut"

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Anthony Anderson, J.B. Smoove, Common, Nicki Minaj,

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

The Story:

Calvin (Cube) and the rest of the regulars are back, but things have gotten darker in neighborhood since we last visited the shop. The place is now co-ed, with the ladies taking half the space, and at least half the conversation. And the neighborhood is getting more dangerous, and Calvin's thinking that a move might be what's best for his business, and his family.

Well, couple this with My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 as  two sequels I was not expecting in 2016. Considering the originals came out clear back in 2002, it's rare to get one sequel that far removed, let alone two different movies from that same year.

But, much like that one, this was also a nice trip down memory lane with most of the cast returning and you ease right into the storylines because you're already familiar with who they are and what they will be doing or saying.

Lee steps in to helm the franchise, and does right by everyone involved. It's funny, but has heart. There's a message, but it's not going to be bashed over your head. It doesn't approach the manic fun of his best film, Undercover Brother, but again, it's a worthy addition to the franchise and not just a cheap cash grab on name recognition.

The chemistry amongst the cast is still excellent, and the new cast members integrate seamlessly into the storyline. Pretty much everyone who has been in the series is back, either for a really brief moment or to propel the storyline to the finish.

As usual, Cedric the Entertainer gets most of the great lines, but not all of them.

If you've ever enjoyed any of the previous installments, you'll enjoy this return trip to the shop.

Final Grade: B-

Undercover Brothers..."Ride Along 2"

Ride Along 2 (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong,

Directed by Tim Story

The Story:

Ben (Hart) is getting married to Angela (Sumpter) soon, but before the wedding, he has to head to Florida with James (Cube) on assignment. There they begin to unravel a plot thanks to AJ (Jeong) that implicates a very wealthy businessman (Bratt) who the local police (Munn) refuse to believe could possibly be dirty.

In other words, if you enjoyed the first Ride Along, you should have just as good of a time, or better, on their latest trip.

I've enjoyed both films. They were good, but I'd like to see better by the time the 3rd one rolls around.

Ice Cube is great, as usual, and works really well with Kevin Hart.

Hart is an actor that has grown on me over the years, and I've enjoyed his performances more and more as I've watched him.

He's like a short Chris Tucker.

:)

Now put those two together in a movie, and let's see what happens.

Anyway, the movie is fun, the cast seems to have some genuine chemistry among them, and I'd happily return for the next ride if they're willing to make it.

That, or have these guys crossover with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys: The Ride Along and I'll be there opening night!

Final Grade: B-

My First Exposure To The Group And Their Music..."Straight Outta Compton"

Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Rated R

Starring O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge, Paul Giamatti

Directed by F. Gary Gray

The Story:

The rise and fall of the rap group N.W.A. is chronicled in this autobiography about how they met Jerry Heller (Giamatti) and he signed them to a deal. Yet as the accolades and money came pouring in, dissension in the group between Ice Cube (Jackson Jr.) Dr. Dre (Hawkins) and Easy E (Mitchell) began to tear them apart.

I'm sure you can imagine that I have a ton of rap albums in my music catalog.

:)

No, but I can tell a good story when I see one, and everything I saw in the trailers led me to believe that this would be a good story.

I believed correctly.

Aside from Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, I had little knowledge of the group or their music. Though I do remember hearing about them in the news for all of their controversy and hate-filled lyrics towards the police.

After watching the film, and maybe even more so today with the news of police brutality on the rise, well, perhaps the boys weren't as incorrect as the public was led to believe.

But, the important thing to note, and it is stressed in the film, it wasn't an anthem to direct violence towards the police, it was supposed to be a wake up call about the violence the police were directing towards blacks.

Some great performances by the cast from top to bottom, but I'll start with the obvious, and as I watched O'Shea Jackson Jr., I kept thinking, man, he looks and sounds an awful lot like Ice Cube.

See, I told you I didn't know much about the group. So a quick visit to IMDB, and lo and behold, now I figured out why the resemblance was so strong.

That had to be cool for both son and father to get to see your life story up on screen, and it's your son bringing it to life.

It's a really solid movie from beginning to end, and you don't have to be a fan of the group to enjoy the ride.

Final Grade:  B+

The Undercover Brothers Like No Others! "22 Jump Street"

22 Jump Street (2014)

Rated R

Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube,

Directed by Phil Lord

The Story:

Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are going back undercover to college this time, instead of high school. In basically the exact same movie as the last one we saw!

Their words, not mine.

But the joke is indeed, that this film is pretty much a note for note remake of 21 Jump Street.

Which is fine, because 21 Jump Street was one of those surprise hits from a few years back.

Tatum showed he has a great sense of humor, Hill showed off that he could be an action hero.

Mostly.

:)

Again, it would have been a bit better had this go-round been not entirely a retread of the first one.

The buddy cop saga does grow a bit between the two leads, and that makes for about the only real growth in the movie as the two realize that their brotherhood is real, and that's a nice development.

When the funniest part of the film is the extended credits for each of the subsequent numbered Jump Street sequels, then perhaps there is no future for the franchise.

Somehow, I'm sure we'll see 23 Jump Street at least.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Once was probably enough for me on this one.

You're Invited For A Little "Ride Along"

Ride Along (2014)

Rated PG-13 for language and violence

Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, John Leguizamo, Laurence Fishburne

Directed by Tim Story:

The Story:

Ben (Hart) is a security guard in love with Angela (Sumpter).  However, her big brother, James (Cube) is an Atlanta detective who doesn't approve of the relationship.  In order to get rid of Ben, he organizes a ride along to scare Ben away from wanting to be a cop, and wanting to be with his sister.  However, when things take a dangerous turn, maybe Ben will show he actually has what it takes to make the grade.

One of the first box office hits of 2014 is available to own on DVD, and it's a pretty good one.

Ice Cube does great, as usual, as a comedic action star.

Reunited with Tim Story (Barbershop), he's back at the top of his game as the tough straight man to Kevin Hart's antics.

Meanwhile, Kevin Hart continues to impress with this follow-up to Grudge Match, this time as a full-fledged co-star and not just the comic relief.

He pulls off the role really well, and keeps the character from being annoying, which is really important to making the film enjoyable.

If you don't like Ben, you won't root for him to succeed and win James' approval, and then the whole movie falls apart.

This film takes the perfect buddy cop, oil and water, formula and plays it to perfection.

You will probably see the twists and turns of the police investigation unfold, but that's okay.

At the end of the day, you'll be glad you came along for the ride.

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would have no qualms about adding this one to the library, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.