Heed The Warning..."Get Out"

Get Out (2017)

Rated R

Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, LilRel Howery,

Written and Directed by Jordan Peele

The Story:

Rose (Williams) is taking her boyfriend Chris (Kaluuya) on a weekend getaway to meet her parents (Keener & Whitford). There are a few odd things around the house that cause Chris concern, but even he is unprepared for the horrible fate that awaits him unless he can...

Get. Out.

Okay, I'm sorry, but this was not a horror film.

A thriller? Maybe suspense film?

Absolutely.

But when I think horror, this is not at all what I think of in a film.

There's a few parts that make you jump, but no, I'm going to have to say I was sold a bill of goods for one movie, and presented another.

That's fine.

It's like being told a movie is a comedy, and then not laughing.

As long as the film is a good one, I can adjust, no harm, no foul.

Just bad advertising.

That's where I'll put Get Out.

It's a movie I'm deliberately talking around, because I hate to spoil films for anyone that may not have seen it yet, even though I'm usually the last guy watching something.

:)

Otherwise, really good movie. Jordan Peele does a great job as first-time (I believe) writer-director for a movie that isn't a comedy.

Though yes, there is some humor to be found in the movie.

Kaluuya is phenomenal carrying the movie as pretty much 95% of the entire movie centers directly or indirectly around him.

Oh yeah, and not to scare anyone away, but the movie does tackle some weighty issues such as racism and classism, but not in nearly the "we have to hit you over the head with it" way that many films try and portray things.

Which makes this film the best kind of 'ism' film, escapism.

Final Grade: B-

Special Delivery..."Storks"

Storks (2016)

Rated PG

Starring Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Anton Starkman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Danny Trejo, Stephen Kramer Glickman

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland

The Story:

Storks deliver babies. Or at least they used to, until one stork (Trejo) became too attached to Orphan Tulip (Crown) and refused to deliver her. After that, Hunter (Grammer) turned the service into CornerStore.com and the storks deliver packages to your doorstep with much less muss and fuss. Today, their top deliverer, Junior (Samberg) finds out he's going to be promoted. His first order of business is to fire Orphan Tulip.

Meanwhile, Nate (Starkman) pens a letter to the storks requesting a new baby brother with mad ninja skills. His parents (Burrell and Aniston) simply don't have the time to spend with him, so he wants someone to share his life with.

You can guess how these stories are about to converge, can you not?

:)

Warner Brothers Animation delivers an adorable and very funny animated film to kick off 2017 for our house.

It runs the gamut of emotions, and had quickly become a new family favorite in our house.

I should stop for a minute to mention that the film was written by Nicholas Stoller who also directed this alongside Doug Sweetland, a former Pixar animator. Both make their animated directorial debut with this film, and they've set the bar high for future installments and for the future of Warner Brothers Animation department.

The voice cast is superb from top to bottom and the story is compelling as you wait with each scene to see what is going to happen next.

The relationship between Tulip and Junior is one of the sweetest comic pairings in ages.

And no, they don't have some awkward physical relationship, but they do provide proof that a family is what you decide to make of it.

Add to the mix some of the craziest side characters ever in an animated film, especially Key & Peele's wolf pack and Pigeon Toady (Glickman) and you have a recipe for a very fun film, and one that will be revisited at the end of the year.

How you like me now?

:)

Final Grade: A-

Here Kitty Kitty..."Keanu"

Keanu (2016)

Rated R

Starring Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Jason Mitchell, Jamar Malachi Neighbors, Luis Guzman, Will Forte, Nia Long,

Directed by Peter Atencio

The Story:

Rell (Peele) is having a rough time when a wonderful kitten that he names Keanu winds up on his doorstep. Rell is smitten, and begins enjoying life again. However, when he comes back home with his cousin Clarence (Key), someone has broken into the house and kidnapped Keanu. The duo pretend to be a pair of notorious drug dealing hitmen in order to infiltrate a local gang and free Keanu!

Yep, that's it.

It's a tale of two guy pretending to be two guys they aren't, all to rescue a cute little kitten.

It shouldn't work as a feature length movie, yet it does.

The main reason, of course, is the comedy duo of Key & Peele.

Full disclosure, I've never seen their show, so I've got nothing with which to compare their comedic antics.

I'll assume their show was this much fun, which means I'll probably be watching it down the road.

But their chemistry is one of a well-honed comedy duo and their antics serve both short-term laughs and long-term comedy payoffs.

Plus, they recognize the musical genius of George Michael, and that's always a plus!
:)

Final Grade: B+