Nov 30: Men in Black 3

"Agent J travels in time to MIB's early years in the 1960s, to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history."

Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld, Rated: PG-13, 106 minutes

It's hard to believe it's been ten years since we last saw Agent J and Agent K. In 1997, we were first introduced to the rather unusual duo of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Since then, Smith has become a megastar and Jones has begun to find the humor in his old age. Repairing them at this point in time seemed damn near impossible, with both of them going off in their own directions, but of course, in Hollywood, anything can happen (and of course it does). With Men in Black 3, we see a return to a world filled with intergalactic aliens, secret organizations, and even a little bit of time travel. However, we aren't treated to 90 minutes of Tommy Lee Jones but instead are gifted with the incredible talent of Josh Brolin emulating the man to absolute perfection.

Seriously, it's terrifying how exact he is in emulating Jones. 

Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) is an alien terrorist that's on a path of revenge. He's an alien that has smaller aliens living inside his arms and after Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) severs one of them, Boris is sent to a prison on the moon. There, he's locked away for 40 years until he manages to escape and more motivated than ever to get back at K. So he steals a time traveling device and takes a first class ticket to 1969, where he lost his arm and where he plans to kill K before it can happen. Agent J (Will Smith) figures out Boris' plan and time jumps into the past as well, and vows to save his partner from a most certain death. In 1969, J runs into a much younger K (Josh Brolin) and comes to realize that the man was always a bit uptight, but had a thing for a woman and eased back when it came to pie. Together the partners must stop Boris from changing history and of course, protect each other from you know, dying. 

While he's not as gruesome or sinister as Edgar, Boris does prove to be memorable, even if he's not the most developed of villains. 

Men in Black 3 is far above it's predecessor and gives the first film a run for its money. While the first two movies focused heavily on the effects and wide variety of aliens, MIB3 focuses on the two characters we have grown to love. Even through their adventures already, J was never able to understand or even learn a lot about K and MIB3 not only answers a lot of questions, but makes you appreciate the two's relationship even more. It's complex but very much a father-son relationship and while Tommy Lee Jones isn't on screen as much as you'd hope, Brolin still manages to deliver on those complexities. Yes, the film has a hell of a lot of humor throughout with Will Smith reminding us why he's the megastar we all love on countless occasions  but MIB3 actually has some moments of real drama that are genuinely sad. It's really interesting that a film so many of us have waited for really turns out to be vastly different than the first two installments, but still gives us what we want in its own little way. After this many years since seeing the two fight aliens, I guess it's about time we get to know them a little better.

We are also given the chance to see the continually amazing Michael Stuhlbarg as the all-knowing-every-possibility alien, Griffin. 

While the film is far from perfect, Men in Black 3 still manages to be much better than a majority of the blockbusters that roll in and out of theaters. The movies does not have as many aliens or creatures or even explosions and guns as the first two, and instead takes a more mature approach to a story that all of us can feel for. It's a character study disguised as an action comedy and it surprisingly works. It's not a game-changer by any means but it's smart in that the filmmakers knew how invested we were in these characters and that at this point in time, we really just want to see more of them, even if its not shooting giant alien bugs with even larger guns. Director Barry Sonnefeld returns us to a world we're glad to be in, and even better, reminds us it's a place we'd love to stay. For me, I'm excited to see more of J and K, even if it's just them sitting at a diner and talking for 90 minutes. At least there is pie.

The Good:

seeing what J and K are up to after ten years of doing God knows what

The Better:

and along with that reunion, being reminded that the world that MIB exists in is not only fun and entertaining, but has thousands of stories that can be told over and over

The Best:

being surprised by a more character-driven drama than anything else- something quite unexpected

Overall: 7.5/10

Discussion Question:

Should the Men in Black franchise carry onward or is this installment a nice end to a rather successful trilogy?

Trailer:

Nov 16: Magic Mike

"A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money."

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh, Rated: R, 110 minutes

There has been so much excitement surrounding Magic Mike, most of it coming from the middle-aged female demographic. Thus, my hestitance on finally getting around to watching it can be justified. It's simply not the kind of film I'd be running to see nor really get that enthusiastic about. However, after watching the movie, it's really not exactly what I expected and proves to be decent, if anything. It's a misguided movie that has several glaring flaws but it does have some great performances and a lot of energy. Even if that energy comes from the sequences featuring muscled men tearing off their clothes to dance remixes of popular songs.

It's raining men (with STDs)!

Channing Tatum stars as Mike in his quasi-auto-biographical film about an aspiring entrepreneur who's looking to get out of the world of male stripping and find his place in the world (like every stripper hopes for!). Mike takes Adam under his naked wing and gets him a job at the Xquisite Strip Club run by Dallas (Matthew McConaughey). Naive, immature, and at times, out of control, Adam proves to be a challenge. Mike realizes that the kid's arrogance and ignorance remind him too much of himself and only strengthen his desire to get out of the stripping game. Mike also sees himself compared to Dallas and Tarzan (Kevin Nash), two older strippers that realize there's nothing else for them in the world and that they've not only settled but have no desire to change. Of course, you can't have an entire movie about male strippers and not have some women so Mike falls in love with Adam's sister, Brooke (Cody Horn), as well as juggling a strictly physical relationship with Joanna (a topless Olivia Munn's ).

Yes, the super "nerd" gets naked. 

I'm a straight man but I have to say the most entertaining parts of Magic Mike are the actual sequences at the strip club. Each dance number is full of energy and style and makes you wish you were a six-pack toting man on a stage grabbing up all sorts of dollar bills. Well, it didn't make me wish I was on stage as much as it made me feel really out of shape. For any of you hesitant on watching the film, during these strip scenes the only thing shown is a bunch of muscle and banana hammocks. It never goes "too far" and focuses more on the excitement in the club than the junk in the pants. Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11f) is a master at capturing the moment and the energy of his environments and changing the setting to a strip club doesn't change anything. While Soderbergh doesn't elevate these sequences to beautiful works of art, he manages to make them tolerable and fun (for everyone). They're most certainly the takeaway of the film and the scenes between full of "story" and a romantic subplot are just boring. Mike is the pure focus of the film and his rather interesting co-stars are never given any depth or back story. Fortunately, Channing Tatum does a great job in the role and probably has the best performance of the film. Hitting close to home (as he was a stripper before acting), Tatum submerges himself in the familiarity and isn't embarrassed by it. He's an entertainer with a dream and Tatum jumps in and out of character with ease. Unfortunately, his love interest in the very unattractive Cody Horn lacks any of that same charisma and feels like a complete mismatch. They lack any chemistry and their relationship makes the entire film suffer. However, while Magic Mike won't be considered his Forrest Gump or My Left Foot, it's a step in the right direction for Channing Tatum and he shows he has some genuine talent.

I'll admit, the punk can act.

Magic Mike is far from terrific. It's poorly paced, has moments that are incredibly boring, and doesn't really have an ending. While Mike develops as a character throughout the film, you're never rewarded with seeing where he goes or what he has planned. Instead of being involved in his journey, the audience just takes a peek at a small part of his life and those surrounding him. Looking back on the movie in the future, all that will be remembered is the fact that it is "the male stripper movie" but I'd like to see it as the movie that showed us Channing Tatum has talent as an actor. Yes, it's forgettable and yes, it's nothing special, but I'd still recommend Magic Mike. It's a fun look at a world not many are familiar with (nor really want to be) and has enough energy to keep you entertained, even if it putters out from time to time. Go for the show but leave your dollar bills at home. Yep, I'm ending this review with that.

The Good:

Channing Tatum's performance and some very interesting scenes at the strip club

The Bad:

poorly paced script that lacks any substance or depth and drags on way too often

The Ugly:

actually enjoying particular parts of the film, knowing completely ahead of time the subject matter

Overall: 6.2/10

Discussion Question:

Showgirls or Magic Mike?

Trailer:

Jan 31: Mystery Team

"A group of former Encyclopedia Brown-style child-detectives struggle to solve an adult mystery."

   Mystery Team is a nice little comedy about a group of teenagers who think they have what it takes to solve a murder mystery. Donald Glover stars as Jason, the leader of the group, who is struggling with growing up, love, and not knowing what his place is in the world. He is a man-child, full of innocence and a 1950's "gosh golly" attitude and he finds himself, and his friends, way over their heads when a real crime happens in their neighborhood. It's almost a mix of Napoleon Dynamite, The Brady Bunch, and a who-dun-it crime novel. The whole thing is even filmed with the kind of fuzzy lighting you would only find in an old time-y PG Christmas TV movie, where everything is happy go lucky and nothing bad ever happens. 

Like this, but in color and with MUUUURRDDDEEERRR. 

   The comedy in Mystery Team is very hit and miss. The type of humor is very dead pan and almost satirical but, at times, it gets rather annoying. I feel the film was almost like a good variety show skit that dragged out a little too long. The jokes were not necessarily repetitive or tiresome, but the whole ordeal just chugged along a little too slow towards the end. I know there are a lot people who enjoy everything Derrick Comedy Productions makes (the company behind Mystery Team) but, for the most part, all of their productions have been short YouTube clips. Imagine 90 minutes of auto-tuned news, Chocolate Rain, or kittens. It just would all get old after awhile. 

Never mind! I'd never get tired of you!

   The acting in Mystery Team is pretty good, even with a sub-par plot and execution. Donald Glover is amazing as Jason, and I cannot wait to see more of what he does (see Community). D.C Pierson, the man who plays the "nerd" of the group, grows insanely annoying very quickly. Imagine Napoleon Dynamite, but a bigger asshole and an even worse haircut. Aubrey Plaza, who plays the daughter to the murder victims, is her perfect deadpan self and, for some reason, I find her insanely attractive. 

Deadpan humor is sexxxxxy. 

   Overall, Mystery Team proves to be an enjoyable comedy with a handful of issues that some may or may not ignore. It's refreshing to see a movie made by a bunch of people that just wanted to make a movie, even with a very small budget. The film is fun, to an extent, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend against watching it, but I do warn you, it can get somewhat frustrating. 

Sight: Clearly filmed on a cheap budget, Mystery Team isn't the most beautiful of films. 

Sound: I really don't remember much of the score. 

Skill: Solid acting here and there, the film would be nothing without Donald Glover. 

Script: The script is decent but at too many times it feels dragged out to every inch of it's life. 

Overall: 6.1/10

Best Quote:

Jordy: "When I was fifteen years old, when I got this job, I said to myself, "I am going to work here until the day that I kill myself."

Jan 22: Mr. Popper's Penguins

"The life of a businessman begins to change after he inherits six penguins, and as he transforms his apartment into a winter wonderland, his professional side starts to unravel."

   Mr. Popper's Penguins is exactly like the other "family" films that are churned out each and every year. The film follows a man who doesn't want to be in the position he is in, but manages to make the best of it and learn a lot along the way. Crazy antics ensue which include nut shots, fart jokes, pooping, and the over cliched divorced dad who seeks to regain the love of his kids. Oh, and I forgot to mention that he's a businessman who just focuses a little too much on his work, and not enough on his family. All of this happens, of course, in New York City...around Christmas. Sound familiar? (see Santa Clause, Elf, etc.)

Tis the season for cheesy family films..

   Even though Mr. Popper's Penguins is insanely predictable and nothing special, I did find myself laughing at a couple of scenes. Penguins, no matter what setting they are in, will always be entertaining and this time around is, unexpectedly, no different. Sure, at times, their CGI-ness is laughable but a lot of the stuff that they do is worth a chuckle. Just like the same flightless birds in Madagascar, the penguins are the only saving grace. In fact, I would have totally sat down and watched the penguins play for 90 minutes then have to sit through the boring story and unoriginal jokes. It actually gets worse as the film goes on. There is a scene, I kid you not, where Jim Carrey holds the penguins over a toilet, and squeezes the poop out of them. 

The toilet refused to comment.

   Overall, Mr. Popper's Penguins proves to be the same old run-of-the-mill family flick you see once a year. The only exciting things it brings to the table are the penguins and, although entertaining for a large part of the film, the too frequent pooping or running into things grows very frustrating. Sure, I know the film was made for kids and you may wonder why I even bother watching it, but that does not justify the stupid toilet humor. Jim Carrey really needs to get his act together and produce some quality work again. One takeaway I have for this film is my now stronger desire to own and raise a penguin. I prefer to not have to go through a messy divorce and lose the respect of my kids in order to get one. 

Sight: They did, in fact, use real penguins for certain scenes, however the CGI used for a large portion of the film adds to the cheese factor. 

Sound: I may want a penguin of my own, but their ridiculous honking, is rather annoying. From a soundtrack aspect, the film's score is just as unoriginal as the plot, sounding just like every other family movie.

Skill: Jim Carrey shows off his physical comedy on multiple instances, but the fact he signed on for the role is just discouraging. Also, kid actors suck... always.

Script: Whoever decided to write in all of the toilet humor needs to be fired. Let that then be a lesson to every screenwriter out there who thinks that kind of shit (no pun intended) is funny. 

Overall: 4.1/10

Best Quote: 

"Yeahbsolutely" nothing worth mentioning. 

Jan 9: Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol

"The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name."

   Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol, or as I like to call it Mission: Incredible- Epic Awesome, was one of the most entertaining movies I have ever seen. Oh, and I saw it in IMAX, which just made it an even cooler experience. I saw it all on a four story screen and felt the blast of every explosion in my loins. Actually, that could have just been the the stud and badass who is Tom Cruise. Haters gonna hate, but that man knows how to make a movie. 

Oh God, he can read minds now!

  Tom Cruise continues to kick so much ass that you don't even realize he's 49 years old. He throws himself off of buildings and avoids explosions at half a century old, while I hope that, at that age, I can walk up the stairs without getting winded. Cruise takes a constant beating throughout the film. He's launched through the air into a skyscraper, falls stories onto tops of cars, gets hit by cars, crashes cars, and well, him and cars don't get along well. This is all happening over the course of a few days. I complain and act like a baby when I stub my toe, so I can't imagine the pain he felt "saving the world". Oh, and he climbs the tallest building in the world with power gloves.

He's a middle age Spider-Man without the cracking voice.

   Now His Badassness Cruise doesn't carry the movie alone. His supporting cast is perfect. Simon Pegg kicks the most butt since Hot Fuzz and Jeremy Renner shows that he has what it takes to grab the reins to the Bourne Franchise. He has a specific scene that is an obvious throwback reference to the first Mission Impossible. Paula Patton, who I had never even heard of before seeing MI-GP, is not only gorgeous, but she easily holds her own with the guys. 

You were expecting a picture of the lady, weren't you?

  The entire movie was amazing and I am very happy I saw it in IMAX, not that it wouldn't look good on any big screen. From the eye-catching and clever open credits to the ending (there could be more!), I was entertained. The now classic Mission Impossible theme is strung throughout the movie and brought a smile to my face every time I heard it. I knew that awesome was coming. The stunts performed were some of the coolest I have ever seen and I am now more than positive that there needs to be a new Oscar category specifically for the work done. I cannot recommend this movie enough. 

Sight: A wonder to the eyes, the stunt work is incredible and the special effects are mind blowing. 

Sound: There is a good score by the always impressive Michael "I Scored Up" Giacchino, and the sound effects are just as impressive. 

Skill: The fact that Tom Cruise does most of his own stunts should say enough. With an excellent supporting cast, Cruise isn't the only thing carrying the movie. 

Script: Not a lot of twists and turns in the script, but the dialogue is funny between the team and their chemistry works well. 

Overall: 9.4/10

Best Quote: 

Anything and everything Simon Pegg says. 

Running © Tom Cruise, Every Movie Ever