Movie Review: THE WEATHER MAN

THE WEATHER MAN

2005

R

"Hello, America."
-- Dave Spritz

The Weather Man is a 2005 dramatic comedy directed by Gore Verbinski. It tells the story of a TV weatherman named Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage) who is desperately attempting to land a job on the nationally-syndicated show Hello, America. Recently separated - and possibly divorced? - from his wife Noreen (Hope Davis), Dave has a slew of issues that are keeping him from both pursuing his dream as well as being happy as an individual. He is constantly working to impress his father Robert (Michael Caine), an accomplished and awarded author who develops a rapidly-spreading case of lymphoma, leaving Dave little time to gain his ultimate approval. At the same time, he must handle the troubles of his son Mike (Nicholas Hoult) and his daughter Shelly (Gemmenne de la Peña), who are both struggling to find happiness in their own lives. As his world starts to spiral out of control, Dave tries to keep everything together as Hello, America comes knocking at his door.

Since this film was released in 2005, I've always been drawn to watching it. Whenever there proved to be a time, however, I usually dismissed it and chose something that seemed a tad bit more entertaining. Fortunately for the film, I have finally taken the time to sit down and give it a view; unfortunately, I cannot say that all my waiting was worth it.

I'm going to start with the acting because that's where I have the least issue. I know that there are plenty of people out there who are adamantly against Nicolas Cage as an actor, but I do think that he has quite the performing ability when given a proper script and character. One need only look toward films like 2002's Adaptation. or 2005's Lord of War, where he was able to bring forth fantastic performances. Sure, in recent years, he's delved into some questionable roles, but my opinions and views of Cage are not for this time or this post. Rather, I would like to say that he's serviceable here in The Weather Man, but I think he could have brought a little bit more to the screen. Our supporting cast works well, with special mention going to ever-splendid Caine and to the young Gemmenne de la Peña, who proved to be one of the better actors on-screen. Davis and Hoult are okay, but they're not really bringing much. Also be on the watch for a relatively funny cameo from Bryant Gumbel as the host of Hello, America.

No, the issue with The Weather Man isn't the acting; it's the screenplay. The films is billed as a dramatic comedy, which generally fashions some interesting films. Some recent examples of splendid dramatic comedies include the 2011 films Beginners and The Descendants. Where those films - as well as other films in the genre - succeed is in their script and their tone, which is ultimately dictated by the screenplay. The storyline in The Weather Man proves to be just a little too muddled for the audience's attention. There's so many things happening all at once that it's a tad bit difficult to maintain one's focus on one facet of the storyline. Should we care about Dave's job aspirations? Or his attempts to appease his father? Or perhaps we should focus on his failing marriage? There are ways to blend all of these things together, but The Weather Man doesn't find a way to do just that.

One of the biggest problems, however, is the issue of one. As the genre dictates, a dramatic comedy will have ample doses of both drama and comedy. Successful films will find a way to blend the two together in such a manner that keeps the storyline flowing seamlessly. We'll be able to laugh at the dramatic moments, and we'll feel emotion at the comedic bits. That's the sign of a great dramatic comedy. The Weather Man, however, feels a little bit jumpy, almost as though it can't quite figure out which type of film it wants to be. One moment, we're watching a drama. The next, we're delving into drama. And we go back and forth and back and forth, never quite getting that wonderful blend that we so desire. Instead, we're getting a choppy look at a man's life that's filled with dry humor, but it doesn't flow continuously. The film just has a strange feel to it.

At the end of the day, The Weather Man is a serviceable film that doesn't really burst off the screen. I had high hopes for the flick, but I do have to say that it underwhelmed. Still, we're getting a solid performance from Nic Cage, and the movie does have its moments. Just don't expect it to blow you away or anything.

Movie Review Summary

Grade: C

Should You Watch It? Maybe

Movie Review: THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

1992
G


"If I could work my will, every idiot who goes around with a 'Merry Christmas' on his lips would be cooked with his own turkey and buried with a stake of holly through his heart."
-- Ebenezer Scrooge

The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 comedy film directed by Brian Henson that serves as the Muppets' retelling of the classic Charles Dickens tale. The Great Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz) serves as our narrator as he tells us the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), the meanest man in the city of London who has no time for the Christmas holiday. One early Christmas morning, he is visited by the ghosts of his old partners Jacob and Robert Marley (Waldorf and Statler, respectively), who tell Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits during the middle of the night. The first, the Ghost of Christmas Past, shows him his boyhood memories and the tale of love lost. Then, he is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows Scrooge the family of his top employee Bob Cratchit (Kermit the Frog) as they celebrate the holiday the best they can despite their poverty. Finally, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him what lie ahead in his life should he refrain from changing his ways.

Because there has been so many different incarnations of Dickens's classic tale, I had quite a difficult time deciding which I wanted to watch this holiday season. However, I finally made the decision on the Muppet's version considering I ran across a cheap copy of the DVD a few months ago and had to pick it up. With it being so conveniently available in my own personal collection, I had no choice but to give this one a view. While I know I've seen this film before, it must've been years and years ago when I actually had the opportunity to watch it all the way through. And having just watched the new Muppets film last night, I thought now would be as good a time as any to re-watch this one.

Because this is such a classic tale, it's difficult to decide whether the screenplay actually works all that well without comparing it to the other Christmas Carol films I've seen in the past. The story itself is the basic story we've all grown to know and love, but having the Muppets in the film just seems to make it all the more jolly and fun. However, there doesn't seem to be much of a Muppet emphasis, so to speak. In a sense, it's almost as though the Muppets are regular actors portraying the characters from the story rather than having them be incorporated into the story itself. Each character - except for Rizzo the Rat - embodies a character from the story rather than their own personality. I suppose I was just hoping that the filmmakers might add a Muppet touch to the story, but instead, we're just getting the story as told by Muppets. I hope I've made all that clear.

The acting is actually pretty good considering the type of fare we're receiving. To be fair, the Muppets are the Muppets, so the only real "actor" otherwise in the film is Michael Caine. However, he turns in a splendid performance as the miserly old Ebenezer, and his transformation from hardened old man to joyous lover of life is truly splendid to behold.

The film is also a musical, as the Muppets movies generally are, and we're getting a couple decent original songs throughout the movie. Be on the listen for the opening number entitled "Scrooge," as well as the songs "One More Sleep 'Til Christmas" and "When Love Is Gone," which plays almost like the film's theme.

Ultimately, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a fine retelling of a wonderful holiday classic. Even though the Muppets don't necessarily take over the film, it's still nice to see them grace the screen. If anything, this film should serve as a fantastic entry into the story for younger audiences, who will enjoy the characters and the music. Perhaps it will help them get into the story and, ultimately, into higher forms of literature from there. I suppose we can only hope.

Movie Review Summary
Grade: B
1.5 Thumbs Up

Movie Review: CARS 2

CARS 2

2011
G

Cars 2 is a 2011 animated film directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis that serves as a direct sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. The film picks up the storyline seemingly a little while after the events of the first film, with Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) now the winner of four Piston Cup Championships. When Sir Miles Axlerod (voiced by Eddie Izzard), the maker of a new alternative fuel, announces the formation of a World Grand Prix, McQueen's best friend Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) inadvertently gets McQueen to agree to join the race, the two embark on a trip around the world as they try to win the title. However, while they're in Japan for the first leg of the race, Mater finds a way to get caught up in a conspiracy looking to take down Axlerod and his line of alternative fuel. Mater teams with a couple of British spies, Fin McMissile (voiced by Michael Caine) and Holly Shiftwell (voiced by Emily Mortimer), both of whom mistake him for a trained American spy. As they trio tries to solve the mystery of who wants to take down Axlerod's empire, it becomes eerily apparent that the evildoers' plot intertwines with the World Grand Prix itself.

I do have to say that I was having some reservations going into this film. Of the eleven Pixar feature films released prior to Cars 2, all have managed to score at least a 74% approval rating on the online critical aggregate RottenTomatoes.com (Note: The 2006 film Cars scored the 74% approval rating - the other ten films have all achieved higher than a 91% approval rating.). Because the first Cars film was the least well-received, I probably shouldn't have expected critics to be terribly kind to this new installment. The fact that it plummeted to a 33% approval rating definite gave me a moment's pause simply because of the monumental drop. It marks the first time that any Pixar film hasn't been positively received by critical consensus. So you can imagine my hesitation, especially considering that my tastes often tend to stay in line with what the "professional" critics think. I did enjoy the first Cars film - I gave it a 'B+' grade, and it nabbed three nominations in my "Best of 2006" awards, so I did have a little bit of hope for this one.

And I can honestly say that I enjoyed this second installment almost as much. While the coming-of-age tale presented in the 2006 film would have been difficult to pass, I personally thought that Cars 2 came rather close to meeting those expectations. I think one of the knocks against the Cars story has always been that it lacked a little bit of the magic that other Pixar films have brought to the screen. However, when you have to compete with toys coming to life and anthropomorphic animals, it's tough to find a niche. At the end of the day, the Cars franchise will still be remembered as head-and-shoulders above the majority of animated films that hit theaters. Unfortunately, we almost automatically start to compare any Pixar film to the other films they've produced, and that's where the negativity is going to stem for Cars 2.

We actually get a decent, multi-faceted storyline this time around. On the one hand, we have the story of the World Grand Prix, with Lightning McQueen doing his best to beat out his newest rival in Francesco Bernoulli (voiced by John Turturro) for the world's top spot. However, the race - as well as McQueen himself - truly takes a back seat to the drama unfolding behind the scenes, so to speak. This film is definitely more Mater-centric than anything else, taking us on his adventure rather than sticking with the humdrum existence of an established race-car because we already got to see the ins and outs of that in the first film. Add to the fact that Mater's storyline has a very James Bond feel to it, and you've got the makings of an action-packed flick that's sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Now, because the film is more centered around Mater's story, you really do have to kind of like Larry the Cable Guy's brand of humor. I know he might be a little polarizing for some, but in the constructs of this movie and his character, I think it works exceptionally well. As the funniest character in the film, he needs to be consistent, and that's exactly what Larry conveys throughout the movie. The film actually benefits from the bringing in of some new voice talent, especially in the inclusion of Caine and Mortimer, who complement one another quite well throughout the film. Also be on the listen for the likes of Brent Musburger, Thomas Kretschmann, Jason Isaacs and Bruce Campbell in smaller roles.

Oh, and the visuals are simply astounding. I know that Pixar has truly outdone themselves in the past, but this film is equally brilliant. I could go on and on about the action sequences, but I personally thought the races were simply astounding. At times, I felt like I was watching real-life races because the cars' movements were so realistic. I had to give Pixar massive amounts of kudos for always upping the ante a little bit when it comes to their animation. They also found a way to bring out the life of each of the film's main settings (Japan, Italy and England). We definitely get a strong sense that we're actually there, whether it be the off-beat Japanese humor we Americans have taken a liking to or the grand family-oriented parties in Italy. Good job, Pixar, on bringing all that to life in Cars 2.

Overall, I thought that Cars 2 was a rather good continuation of the story set forth in the first film. I think if you're going to see it, you should try to view it for what it is, rather than compare it to the classic films of Pixar past. If you look at it through those tinted glasses, then you're going to have a tough time enjoying this particular movie. It's definitely a good one, and it definitely deserves your attention.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: B
1.5 Thumbs Up

Movie Review: GNOMEO & JULIET

GNOMEO & JULIET

2011
G

Gnomeo & Juliet is a 2011 animated film directed by Kelly Asbury that puts a comedic, family-friendly spin on William Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers. In two gardens separated only by a fence, there lives two rival groups of garden gnomes: the Reds and the Blues. For as long as anyone can remember, the two groups have feuded, and the feud has become deeply ingrained into the Blues' favorite son, Gnomeo (voiced by James McAvoy). One night, he decides to infiltrate the Reds' garden, and after an unsuccessful attempt to wreak havoc, Gnomeo spots a shadowy figure running along the top of a fence towards an abandoned yard's greenhouse where a beautiful orchid sits in full bloom. He chases the figure to the flower, and after a short interchange, he realizes that she the Reds' favorite daughter, Juliet (voiced by Emily Blunt). Initially, the two are repulsed by the others' true identity, but they cannot deny the immediate spark they both felt. They make plans to meet in the abandoned yard the following day, and the forbidden love affair begins. The two do their best to keep their love a secret, but with each passing moment, they have to fight to hide their affections from their families and their respective gardens. To top it off, they have to balance their feelings with the ever-growing resilience that both the Blues and the Reds are feeling towards one another, and Gnomeo and Juliet must ultimately choose between their love and their families.

When I first started seeing trailers for this film, I was originally rather excited to see it. Anything even remotely related to the tale of Romeo and Juliet - or anything Shakespearean in general - is sure to garner my attention, so Gnomeo & Juliet looked like it might be right up my alley. Upon its release, however, it started to garner some mixed reviews, and I soon found myself a little bit wary to give it a shot, chalking it up to another early-year dud. Still, something kept me wanting to watch it, and I finally had the opportunity to do so, and I have to say that I'm not quite sure why it was panned so widely.

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't know the basic story of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, and this film essentially follows the same formula (although, as you can probably imagine, the ultimate finalé is a little tamer than the dual-suicide that Shakespeare originally wrote). We're given a relatively good screenplay that's full of goofy jokes and gags, but there's definitely enough there for adults to enjoy and laugh at. There's quite a lot of self-reference to the original story, and I think that plays pretty well throughout the story. There's even a scene where Gnomeo meets a statue of Shakespeare himself and recants his tale, to which the Shakespeare statue tells him that he knows of a very similar story. But I digress... At the end of the day, there's a lot of goofs and gags for the kids, but there's enough for an adult audience to enjoy as well.

One reason that I particularly enjoyed this film was for its astoundingly huge-name voice cast that brings life to the gnomes and other characters on-screen. I've already mentioned McAvoy and Blunt, and having those two rising stars attached to this movie already gives it quite a bit of validity, but here's a list of some of the other big names that make vocal appearances throughout this one:

Dolly Parton (as Dolly Gnome)
Jason Statham (as Tybalt, Gnomeo's main enemy)
Jim Cummings (as Featherstone, a lawn flamingo)
Maggie Smith (as Lady Bluebury, leader of the Blues)
Matt Lucas (as Benny, Gnomeo's best friend)
Michael Caine (as Lord Redbrick, leader of the Reds)
Ozzy Osbourne (as Fawn, Tybalt's friend)
Patrick Stewart (as Bill Shakespeare)

As you can see, we're given quite the list of British-accented actors to lend their voices to the film, so it was quite a treat for a film buff like myself to hear the collective voices resonating throughout the movie. Oh, and we even get a little bit of a vocal cameo from Hulk Hogan, so be on the lookout for that one (it's pretty obvious).

I'd also like to take a moment to talk about the music in the film, which is almost entirely centered around the music of Elton John. In addition to a couple of visual references to the man himself, our ears are given a taste of such Elton songs as "Crocodile Rock," "Tiny Dancer," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," and "Your Song," as well as a few others. Although there's really no real explanation as to the usage of his music, the simple fact that we're graced with Elton John tunes throughout the movie makes it all the more watchable, in my opinion.

Overall, I'm not quite sure why this movie was received with mixed reviews. Sure, it's not the greatest animated movie I've ever seen, but it's by no means the worst I've seen either. When you add solid animation, an age-old tale, a fantastic voice cast and incredible music, you're going to come out with a winner. So grab the kids and give this one a gander. They'll enjoy it, and so will you.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: B-
1.5 Thumb Up

Movie Review: HARRY BROWN

HARRY BROWN

2010
R

You can watch the trailer here

Honestly, you can't really go wrong with Michael Caine.

Harry Brown is a 2010 action film directed by Daniel Barber that tells the story of a man named, well, Harry Brown who consistently visits his sick wife in the hospital and spends the rest of his day drinking and playing chess with his friend Leonard (David Bradley). Harry knows that there has been a rise in youth violence in his neighborhood but chooses to ignore it as best he can. One night, when he receives a late-night phone call saying that his wife is dying, Harry moves as quickly as he can but has to take the longer, safer route to the hospital causing him to arrive too late to say goodbye. Days later, Leonard confides in him that has been harassed by some of the young people in the neighborhood and he has decided to take action on his own. The following day, police inspector Alice Framptom (Emily Mortimer) informs Harry that Leonard had been killed the previous night. Harry starts to think that the police aren't doing enough to find Leonard's killers, so he decides to take matters into his own hands, using the skills he learned decades earlier as a Marine.

Truthfully, that plot synopsis doesn't really give the story much justice. The screenplay is solid but it's not necessarily going to wow you. It plods along pretty slowly, every once in a while showing its teeth. The only problem is that it doesn't really show its teeth enough. The story moves so slowly that I got pretty bored with it about half an hour in. On top of that, it's a bit predictable, but that's neither here nor there. Nowadays, it seems more common to have a predictable story than an original one. You have to look pretty hard to find something completely original, but when you find it, it's definitely worth the watch.

Without Michael Caine, this movie would be a bit of a travesty. It's his performance that kept me even the slightest bit captivated, especially since the rest of the cast is good at best. Caine is slightly better than good, but this performance doesn't come close to some of the other roles in his repertoire. However, if you put any other older actor in his position, I'm not sure they'd be as compelling as Caine in the role. So I have to give some props to him.

So, if you're going to watch Harry Brown, watch it for Michael Caine, but don't expect anything great. It's a decent flick, and it'd probably be good for a lazy afternoon, but it's not going to stand against the test of time.

Movie Review Summary:
Grade: C+
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