Guilty As Charged..."American Vandal"

American Vandal (2017)

Starring Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Jimmy Tatro, Camille Hyde, Eduardo Franco, Calum Worthy, Camille Ramsey, Karly Rothenberg

Created by Dan Perrault & Tony Yacenda

The Story:

Dylan Maxwell (Tatro) stands accused of a heinous act of vandalism: drawing dicks on 27 teacher's cars at the local high school. Now the school's morning show is out to discover whether Dylan is indeed guilty, or being framed.

This Netflix Original premiered this morning.

I posted the trailer the other day, and now halfway into the 3rd episode, it's every bit as compelling as the true crime documentaries that it's poking fun of.

Satire. Loving homage. Mockumentary.

However you want to classify it, they're taking the components of "Making a Murderer" or any other true crime series and making their storyline just as compelling.

But also, hilariously funny.

Each episode is a half hour, so it flies by much quicker than an hour-long drama.

But the cast is believable and again, the storyline works perfectly as a crime whodunit that keeps you captivated.

And at the end of each episode, they toss the next curve ball at the audience to make you go "no way!" and then you're hooked for the next episode.

Not sure how it's going to end, but with nearly half the series over...

A-

The World's Greatest Rockumentary! "Popstar! Never Stop Never Stopping"

Popstar! Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Rated R

Starring Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Shaffer, Tim Meadows,

Directed by Jorma Taccone and Akiva Shaffer

The Story:

Once upon a time, The Style Boyz were America's favorite pop/rap group. Success broke the band apart, and now Connor (Samberg) is about to release his newest release since going solo. Thankfully, the camera crew is on hand to document the success...

However when things don't go as planned, Connor must work twice as hard to stay relevant, and he's willing to do anything...

Except reunite The Style Boyz.

From the talented minds of The Lonely Island by way of Saturday Night Live, Samberg, Taccone and Shaffer release a mockumentary that is well produced and allows seamless cameos of musicians and celebrities, then and now, to give accolades to The Style Boyz and Connor.

The characters are hopeless, yet endearing, and as the movie progresses, you know where the film is headed, and they make you enjoy every roadblock and stumble on the way to the inevitable reunion.

Filled with wonderful supporting player, they bring the movie vividly to life, each adding another strange piece to a weird celebrity lifestyle that is both embraced and parodied, all at the same time.

Is it this generation's Spinal Tap? Probably.

Whether it meets or exceeds that one will be in the eye and taste of the viewer.

That said, the more I watched the movie, the more the characters grew on me and by the end of the film, I too was waiting for the inevitable reunion.

Can't ask for much more than that.

Final Grade: B-

Vampires Finally Reveal "What We Do In The Shadows"

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Johnny Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford

Written and Directed by Clement & Waititi

The Story:

Vladislav (Clement), Viago (Waititi) and Deacon (Brugh) are flatmates in New Zealand. They also happen to be vampires. After promising not to harm the camera crew that films them, they agree to let humankind take a peek behind the curtain and see what it's like to be a vampire. Sure, they're immortal, but not having mirrors really wreaks havoc on one's fashion sense. Then there are the endless arguments about chores. Plus, don't get them started on their dislike of werewolves. The dynamic of the group changes when they turn a local (Macuer) and he begins to disrupt the status quo of the group entirely.

This Is Veinal Tap.

A mockumentary that treats the subject both respectfully and with a sense of fun, after all, these are vampires in New Zealand!

The special effects are not bad at all, and it's easy to forget that this film was probably shot on a shoestring budget, compared to just about anything shot in North America.

Where I normally pick on a director and writer who are one and the same because they often don't know when to change something, these two obviously put a lot of effort and time into their film to make sure that there was very little waste or boredom in the film.

I won't go too much more into the plot other than this:

In a nutshell, if you like horror, horror comedy, mockumentaries or movies filmed in New Zealand, this one will be right up your alley.

Plus, the inevitable conflict between vampires and werewolves is ultimately more satisfying than anything you may have seen in Twilight.

Final Grade: B

A Badly Written Movie About Aspiring Novelists...How Ironic... "Authors Anonymous"

Authors Anonymous (2014)

PG-13 for language

Starring Kaley Cuoco, Teri Polo, Chris Klein, Dylan Walsh, Dennis Farina

Directed by  Ellie Kanner

The Story:

Hannah (Cuoco) is in a group with other writers who meet and chat with one another about their work.  Misery loves company, but when impending news that she has a publisher interested in her work, jealousy begins to creep into the group.

What a waste of a talented cast.

I made it 20  minutes into this mockumentary style film before I gave up.

So many different characters, and the mockumentary kept going to them for true confessions like a reality style confessional.

This caused the movie to just lurch and jolt forward with the narrative to the point where I just didn't care anymore.

Henry (Klein) is in love with Hannah but slow to act on it.

Colette and Alan (Polo and Walsh) are a married couple with delusions of writing grandeur.

The biggest disappointment, and best part of the film, was gun-loving, scenery chewing John K. Butzin (Farina) who was great, but in too small of a dose to keep watching.

RIP Mr. Farina.  You deserved to go out better than this.

Final Grade: D

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No thanks.  Welcome to the Turkey Pile.