Just In Time For The Olympics..."The Bronze"

The Bronze (2015)

Rated R

Starring Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan, Haley Lu Richardson, Cecily Strong,

Directed by Bryan Buckley

The Story:

Hope Annabelle Greggory (Rauch) was the little Olympian that could, fighting through an injury to win Bronze in gymnastics. Years removed, she lives like the Queen of Amherst Ohio, living the life of a celebrity. But now there is a new gymnast in town, Maggie (Richardson) who has the potential to go all the way. It's up to Hope to see that she gets there, but Hope isn't sure she's ready to give up her status as the most talented Olympian in her hometown.

If you saw the trailer, you know that Melissa Rauch is going to spout some of the most vulgar insults you've ever heard in a film about the Olympics. That she can pull it off with a straight face and a crazy delivery is just one of the things that starts to win you over about this film.

Or at least, it won me over.

She co-wrote with her husband, the movie, but she gives plenty of good material to the rest of the cast to equally enjoy in the antics.

Gary Cole gets most of the best parts as her beleaguered father who wants only the best for his little gymnast, and may have been a bit of an enabler over the years.

Sebastian Stan also arrives as the Olympic coach who has a past with Hope and wants to get Maggie's services for the Olympic team.

The gymnastic routines themselves are quite good, and the filmmakers did a nice job of sprinkling in actual former gymnastic stars as commentators which helps lend an additional air of authenticity and fun to the proceedings.

Final Grade: B-

Here's Your Spoiler-Free Review Of "Captain America: Civil War"

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Elizabeth Olsen, Emily VanCamp, Tom Holland

Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo

The Story:

Following some recent disasters where the Avengers have caused damage and death of civilians, the United Nations wants the Avengers to operate under their jurisdiction. Tony Stark (Downey) agrees. Steve Rogers (Evans) does not. Lines are drawn and friends are about to throw down.

You've seen the trailers, and odds are if you're reading this, you've either seen the movie, or plan to see it.

So here goes:

It is a Captain America movie. I've heard many say it's Avengers 2.5, but it's not. The best comparison I could give it would be for those that grew up reading comics, this is a crossover where the story starts in the pages of Captain America and when the issue is over, it's continued in the pages of Iron Man or the Avengers.

The tone, the direction, it's all deftly handled by Anthony and Joe Russo. The Avengers franchise is in great hands going forward. They have given us, in my opinion, the best of the superhero movies that Marvel Studios has produced.

Better scripts, better action than either of the Whedon directed Avengers, they show how to balance a cast of players, giving everyone their moment (or several) but never at the sacrifice of the overall story.

Spider-Man (Holland) and Peter Parker were fleshed out more in this short foray into the actual Marvel Cinematic Universe than nearly all of the previous iterations combined. And I actually liked the reboot. :)  We're hitting the ground running with no new origin, it's on, and I'm looking forward to next year's adventure.

The Black Panther gets introduced and is great from the start. You're told everything you need to know, and I don't know that an origin movie is in the cards. Maybe a rehash for those that may have skipped Civil War.

:: cough cough fools cough cough ::

Marvel continues to set the bar high, and just when you think they might stumble, they soar over that thing with all kinds of clearance, and you wonder why you even had doubts.

You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll sit on the edge of your seat.

Bravo.

Oh, and sit through the credits people.

ALL the credits.

Final Grade: A+  I think you'll see this again at the end of the year honors as my favorite film of 2016.

Houston, We Have Another Problem... "The Martian"

The Martian (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover,

Directed by Ridley Scott

The Story:

During the latest manned mission to Mars, a violent storm forces an early evacuation by the crew. During the storm, Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is struck by debris and assumed dead when the captain (Chastain) is unable to locate him. They leave the planet and head home to Earth. However, Mark's death is slightly exaggerated and he recovers and finds himself alone on Mars. He must find a way to survive, make contact with NASA, and wait and hope for his eventual rescue with the next planned return to Mars in a few years!

The fun part about coming to review these movies so late in the game is that much of the furor has died down. "Greatest movie ever!" "It sucked!" All those varying opinions are out there, and I just brush them aside and figure out if I liked the movie or not. 

And I quite enjoyed it!

I will mention that this one is nearly 2 1/2 hours long, but it's one where it doesn't feel like it, so that's always a plus.

If you're going for distance, make that time spent on the movie an enjoyable one.

Ridley Scott directs a stellar (no pun intended) cast who all provide outstanding support to Damon.

Damon, however, does the bulk of the heavy lifting as he has to be the center of the movie, acting and reacting to dire situations as they arise during his stay on Mars.

That said, though this is essentially a drama, there is enough humor and levity both on Earth and Mars, that you keep smiling and laughing even as you're on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next and will they get to him in time.

Because quite frankly, if they don't rescue Watley, you're going to feel angry and upset when the film is over.

But, at least you know they tried.

It's quite the enjoyable ride, and if you haven't seen it yet, you're likely in for a great experience when you get around to watching it.

Or, you'll hate it.

:)

Final Grade:  B+

Meryl Streep: Guitar Queen! "Ricki and the Flash"

Ricki and the Flash (2015)

Rated

Starring Meryl Streep, Rick Springfield, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, Audra McDonald, Sebastian Stan, Nick Westrate

Directed by Johnathan Demme

The Story:

Ricki (Streep) loves performing with her band, The Flash. So much so, that she left her husband (Kline) and their kids (Gummer, Stan, Westrate) to pursue her passion. When their daughter Julie winds up nearly killing herself, Ricki is invited back home to help deal with the depression. She may have been a terrible mom, but she still loves her kids and might do better with this second chance.

Once Meryl Streep decides she wants to sing, she's going to keep on singing. Apparently Mama Mia scratched an itch for her, and she's going to indulge it.

This dramedy actually has quite a bit going for it, and Streep's singing is actually the least of it.

Watching her reconnect with her kids that clearly don't want her around, then come to accept that she is who she is, which is their mom, and she's doing the best that she can, the only way she knows how is not really rushed as it unfolds.

Kevin Kline, charming as ever, plays the dad perfectly, however the clear winner of the cast here is Audra McDonald who comes in late to the action as "Mom # 2". She's sweet, charming, level-headed, and everything that Ricki was not to the kids. In fact, it was all of her intervention over the years that even allows the kids to have a relationship with their mom at all.

Now, if the struggle with her former family isn't enough, there's also the romantic subplot between her and her lead guitar player (Springfield). He clearly loves her, but she wants to keep things strictly physical.

There's a lot to like here, and I will have to chalk this one up to being pleasantly surprised at how engaging it was, considering how many different minor subplots they try and toss in the air to juggle at the same time.

Final Grade: B-

I Should Have "Gone" For A Different Movie. :)

Gone (2012)

Rated PG-13 for language and peril

Starring Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan

Directed by Heitor Dhalia

The Story:

Jill (Seyfried) was abducted and escaped her would-be killer.  The police (Sunjata) really don't believe her fantastical tale, and the medications she is taking are because everyone thinks she's crazy.  However, when her sister is abducted, Jill knows it was the same killer, and she sets out to find him, without the help of the police.

Meh.

It's your average thriller that's less than thrilling than it should be.

Boy meets girl.
Boy abducts girl.
Girl escapes boy.
Boy pursues girl.
Boy kidnaps different girl.
Girl seeks revenge on boy.
Happy ending, except for boy.

You'll see every twist.
Anticipate every turn.

Stifle every yawn.

I used to expect more from Amanda Seyfried, but lately, I'm not so sure anymore.

Ah well...there's always Mean Girls. ;)

Totally your call if you want to take the ride.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: None for me, thanks.