Tra La Laaaaaa... "Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie"

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)

Rated PG

Starring Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll,

Directed by David Soren

The Story:

George (Hart) and Harold (Middleditch) are best friends whose overactive imagination and love of comic books has landed them in trouble one time too often with Principal Krupp (Helms). To get them out of trouble, they hypnotize the principal into believing that he is the super-powered Captain Underpants. What could possibly go wrong?

Dreamworks Animation offers up a movie I would never have imagined watching in all my life.

I had seen the books in the libraries and bookstores over the years, and I always rolled my eyes and shook my head.

The artwork was always a turn off for me, and I had no desire to read whatever the story could be to my kids.

So here comes this one, and I groaned...

Until I saw the trailer.

Then I laughed.

So I figured, what the heck, how bad could it be?

It's from Dreamworks, and as I've mentioned before, their track record in our house runs a bit higher than Disney over the last decade.

Honestly, we were not disappointed.

The voice cast is tremendous, and the laughs and jokes are non-stop.

Plus, buried beneath the funny there's a little heart to the story about growing up tucked away in there as well.

Kudos to Ed Helms for double-duty as the stern principal and the goofy hero who alternate throughout the movie, often at the snap of the fingers.

I'm not sure if there will be a second movie, but if it is, we'll be there.

Final Grade: Solid B

Proof That "The House" Doesn't Always Win

The House (2017)

Rated R

Starring Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas, Ryan Simpkins, Nick Kroll,

Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen

The Story:

Scott (Ferrell) and Kate (Poehler) are excited that their daughter Alex (Simpkins) will be winning their annual community scholarship program. However when budget shortfalls kill the scholarship, they panic and turn to Frank (Mantzoukas) who suggests they earn the money by turning their house into a casino.

Game on.

This had to be a can't miss on paper.

Ferrell and Poehler.

Two Saturday Night Live legends starring together in an R-Rated comedy.

However, whatever paper it was written on, was not the paper that ended up getting filmed.

That said, there are some tremendously funny spots in the movie, some great cameos, and Mantzoukas doing what he does best, and that's making every movie he's in better than it should be.

Unfortunately it's not enough to save the film.

It's watchable, but sadly, it's forgettable.

Too many missed opportunities like this in the movies lately, especially for both leads.

Maybe next time?

Final Grade:  C