How About Another Sequel? "Tremors 5: Bloodlines"

Tremors 5 (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Michael Gross, Jamie Kennedy,

Directed by Don Michael Paul

The Story:

Burt Gummer (Gross) is filming his survivalist show when a new kid in town (Kennedy) rolls in to become his new cameraman. It's just in time, because it appears that Graboids have been discovered in South Africa, and they need Burt's expertise to save the wildlife preserve from the terrible menace.
Of so they would have you believe...
The little franchise that could!

Who knew there was a 5th (!!!) offering this year in the Tremors franchise?

Released to little fanfare, unless there is a Tremors fan club out there (and, I'm sure after typing those words, there has to be...) Tremors keeps chugging along and producing fun little B-Movie horror films that are pretty darn fun.

Michael Gross will hopefully keep churning these out as long as they want the franchise to keep moving forward.

Bringing in Jamie Kennedy allows the mantle to be passed if Gross can't or doesn't want to continue, but he looks like he's still having fun, so we'll see what happens next.

If you've seen any or all of the first 4 films, you know what to expect and you won't be disappointed.

Even if you haven't, you can enter the Tremors-verse here and you won't be left too far behind.

:)

I ordered the disc, and then Netflix added it to the streaming library, so there you go. No excuses to miss out.

Final Grade: B-

WWE Studios Makes Movies By "Bending the Rules"

 

 

You Think You Know Me...

The Story:

Detective Blades (Edge...Adam Copeland) is on administrative leave from the force while on trial for corruption by the assistant District Attorney (Jamie Kennedy).  Of course when circumstances force the two adversaries to work together, can the two survive each other long enough to find the person that wants them dead?

Coming from WWE Studios, this wasn't half bad.

A budget film to be sure, but Edge has the charisma and charm to carry over into Hollywood films.  He does just fine throughout and keeps the movie watchable.

Jamie Kennedy as the assistant DA is an interesting choice.  He isn't over-the-top funnyman, so he acquits himself well.

The movie itself isn't quite balanced with humor and action to be a perfect buddy cop comedy, but they try really hard.  They spend too much time waffling... "do we want to be funny..."  or "do we want to go full-tilt action..." and are otherwise unwilling to fall completely into one mode or the other.

With a bigger budget, this could have been a contender.

As it is, a worthy entry into the buddy comedy/action genres.  Not as good as the classics, but not the bottom of the barrel.

Final Grade: C+

Would I Own It: If I found it on sale, I could pick it up.  Edge was always one of my favorites. : )

You Suck..No...You Suck! "Heckler"

 

If you don't like them, tell them how you feel!

The Story:

Jamie Kennedy hosts a documentary that's as much about him, as it is about stand-up comedians in particular, and performance artists in general.  With interviews and anecdotes from dozens of other comics, filmmakers, singers as well as counter points and opinions from a variety of hecklers and critics as to why they do what they do.

It's not always alcohol that fuels it.

Mostly, but not always.

: )

This is an interesting documentary that does focus a bit much on Jamie Kennedy and the disastrous reviews his movies (Malibu's Most Wanted and Son of the Mask) received.  But hey, it's his documentary, so fair enough.  He comes off a bit desperate in a few of the bits, but as the documentary plays out, you have to start feeling for him, and the rest of performance artists who are subject to critiques and reviews from critics both professional and amateur.

The bad thing is, and they talk to a real doozy in here, about reviewers who make the reviews personal.

It's one thing to give an opinion, "hey, I saw this movie, liked/didn't like it, you might feel the same way and spend/save your money".

That's what I attempt to do here, and one of the reasons I did my Greatest 100 movies, so you could peer back into my warped mind and see what I liked and what I didn't, and see if our opinions mesh more times than they diverge.

What I don't do, at least I don't think I've done here, is belittle a performer or their performance.

Even some of these direct to DVD features with big stars (Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta Jones, etc) I try and give the benefit of the doubt.  Have the stars done better? Yep! Do I wish them to be crucified because of a poor choice?  No way!

Some of the criticism that Kennedy and others endure in this film (and their careers) is downright brutal.

Wishing death on a performer?  Come on folks, dial it back a notch or twelve.

Anyway, it's interesting to watch, though realize that with a bunch of stand-ups, it's f-bombs galore in this otherwise interesting documentary that all reviewers (and performers to boot!) should watch to see how this relationship works.

 

Now available for streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+...B- range.

Would I Own It: No, the point was made, and again, replay value is low in this house due to language.