They Don't Just Report The News... "Special Correspondents"

Special Correspondents (2016)

Rated TV-MA

Starring Ricky Gervais, Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, Kelly MacDonald, Kevin Pollak, America Ferrera, Raul Castillo, Benjamin Bratt,

Written and Directed by Ricky Gervais

The Story:

Frank (Bana) is a great radio journalist in New York who pushes the envelope too often. His boss (Pollak) warns him that the next screw up will be his last. Taking technician Ian (Gervais) with him on assignment to Ecuador will be just the assignment he needs to show his boss that he's still got what it takes and keep his job secured. But when a strange turn of events leaves them stranded in New York, the duo hatch a scheme to report what's happening in Ecuador right from the streets of New York. When they begin breaking bigger news stories than anyone else, they find themselves at the very heart of the news they are reporting!

One of the Netflix original movies currently available for streaming, as noted it is written, directed and stars Ricky Gervais.

So unless you can't stand him, you might like this movie.

:)

The movie has a bit of a slow start, but it picks up nicely as the boys do all of their reporting from "Ecuador".

That's where a lot of the fun and humor sets in as they continue to break a story that wasn't a story at all, until they break it.

Eventually, the two become center to the storyline itself, and then it stretches credibility by making the guys break into Ecuador so that they can resolve the storyline honestly.

It would have been much easier to fake their way out of the country, but then you don't get the emotional finale.

It's a wonderful cast, and it's fun to see Bana again, in just about anything now that I think about it, but also looking to be having a little bit of fun with his character.

Final Grade: B-

The Trilogy Concludes..."Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb"

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Rebel Wilson, Dan Stevens, Rami Malek

Directed by Shawn Levy

The Story:

The Tablet that brings the exhibits to life at the Museum of Natural History is beginning to corrode. If Larry (Stiller) hopes to fix the problem, he needs to get the tablet and some of his exhibits to London to see if they can unravel the secret of how the tablet works before it is too late.

Eight years ago, Night at the Museum arrived, and it was pretty cute, good family fun with a nice supporting cast making the exhibits.

Five years ago, they brought forth a sequel, and aside from remember seeing it, it was rather boring and lackluster.

Needless to say, I was surprised that they made a third installment in the franchise, but after seeing it, I'm glad they did.

It brought back much of the fun and enjoyment from the first one, and allowed the movie to correct the mistakes of the second film, and let the franchise go out on a high note.

I'm assuming it will be the end of the franchise as everyone is older now, and with Robin Williams passing, they are missing a key part of the team.

Traveling to London allows them to introduce a whole new cast of characters and creates a villainous foil in Sir Lancelot (Stevens) who may just unwittingly cause all of the exhibits to cease living after shortly coming to life for the first time.

If you liked the previous installment(s), I think you'll find the conclusion to their story a fitting end to the adventures.

Final Grade: C+/B-

At Least More Wanted Than The Last Film..."Muppets Most Wanted"

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Rated PG

Starring Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell

Directed by James Bobin

The Story:

In the aftermath of the last movie, Kermit and the Gang are approached by an agent (Gervais) to go on a world tour. However, it is all a nefarious plot  to abduct Kermit and allow the most dangerous frog alive, Constantine, to take his place and steal priceless works of art. Kermit must attempt to free himself from a Russian gulag run by Nadya (Fey) and get back to his friends and Miss Piggy, none of whom even noticed Kermit had been replaced.

True story: I enjoyed this sequel much more than the 2011 film, The Muppets. It was okay, but I wanted to see the Muppets. Instead, much of the focus was on a brand new Muppet, Walter, and his brother (Jason Segal) and his love interest (Amy Adams).

Hello?

It's a movie about Muppets.

Nobody wants to see humans, except in supporting roles or bit cameos to enhance the story.

When the humans are a large chunk of the story, the charm is missing.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Instead, this film breaks right into the first of many musical numbers (so if you're scared of musicals...run away!) where they even explain why they're doing the sequel.

Comic genius.

The only problem? The sequel was better, so well done to James Bobin who also helped write the movie.

Overall, pretty fun stuff and the new voices of the Muppets are doing a fantastic job.

Of course, I'll give a special shoutout to Dave Goelz, the man behind Gonzo.  As the only original performer still working on his characters, he makes a great link to the storied past with Henson and the bright future that the Muppets are headed into.

If you've loved them before, this one is worth coming back to.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably not as I am the biggest Muppet fan in the house, but one I could watch again in the future and enjoy.