Month: August 2018

Today’s quick review: Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Sick of playing second fiddle to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck throws a tantrum that ends both his career and that of DJ (Brendan Fraser), a security guard and aspiring stuntman. But when DJ’s father Damien Drake (Timothy Dalton), a star in spy movies and an actual spy, is captured, DJ and Daffy must rescue him from the clutches of the ACME Corporation’s evil chairman (Steve Martin).

Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a cartoon comedy that mixes live action and animation. Back in Action is a metafictional romp through a cartoon-infested version of the real world. There, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are comedy actors, Yosemite Sam owns a casino, and ACME is a diabolical corporation with plans to conquer the world. Back in Action offers cartoon slapstick, a bevy of pop culture references, and plenty of homages to classic Looney Tunes bits.

As a comedy, Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a mixed bag. The script works well enough, but a lot of the jokes miss their mark. Many of the pop culture references have aged poorly, and the blend of cartoon antics and live action can be jarring at times. Steve Martin goes a bit too goofy to work as a villain, even in a cartoon. The movie also has a few rough spots where it gets trapped in a failing gag but has to see it through to the end anyway.

But Back in Action does have its moments. Brendan Fraser is an excellent fit for the movie, silly enough to feel at home in a world of cartoons while still working as the straight man. The movie has a great sense of energy, and the gags it flubs are quickly forgotten. And tucked away in the whirlwind of humor are a few gems of slapstick or self-reference that make the whole thing worthwhile.

The result is a flawed but entertaining movie that runs the gamut from off-putting to side-splitting, often in rapid succession. You will get the most out of Looney Tunes: Back in Action if you are tickled by meta humor, Hollywood references, and jokes slipped into the background. Back in Action gets enough wrong that most viewers will find it a mediocre watch, but those willing to forgive its flaws will find plenty to laugh at.

For an earlier, more developed interaction between cartoons and humans, check out Who Framed Roger Rabbit. For a more memorable foray into the world of Looney Tunes, check out Space Jam. For a more thorough spy parody, check out Austin Powers.

5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for large quantities of decent humor with a dusting of great humor.

Today’s quick review: Rat Race. Donald Sinclair (John Cleese), a wealthy casino owner, has come up with a new way to entertain his high roller customers: a no holds barred race from Las Vegas to Silver City, New Mexico, with a prize of $2 million. The contestants, six strangers picked from Sinclair’s casino, must drive, fly, and cheat their way to Silver City while Sinclair’s wealthy gamblers follow their progress and place bets.

Rat Race is a madcap comedy with a simple premise and an ensemble cast. Rat Race follows a colorful cast of characters in their chaotic attempts to beat each other to the cash. Slapstick humor, wacky situations, and unlikely coincidences form the movie’s comedic backbone. Its decent script is backed by a talented cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Seth Green, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jon Lovitz, Rowan Atkinson, and John Cleese.

Rat Race lives up to some, but not all, of its potential. The movie relies on a succession of individual gags to keep the viewer engaged, and these tend to be hit or miss. The situations often feel contrived, and the script tends to go for the cheapest humor available. Rat Race scores enough hits to be an entertaining watch, but there is little in the way of plot, character development, or subtlety.

Watch Rat Race if you are in the mood for a light, straightforward, and chaotic comedy. Rat Race is missing the heart and thoughtfulness needed to be a great film, but it packs in enough humor to work as a popcorn watch. For a better take on the same basic premise, check out It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, a classic comedy with a smarter script, richer characters, and the patience it needs to make the most of its setup.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a few good laughs with little real substance.

Today’s quick review: Total Recall. Plagued by dreams of Mars and a woman he has never met, Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a construction worker living a mundane life, goes to Rekall, Inc. to have false memories of a Mars vacation implanted in his brain. But when the procedure uncovers memories that were buried, Doug learns that he is actually a rogue secret agent with ties to a rebel group on Mars.

Total Recall is a science fiction thriller based on a short story by Philip K. Dick. Total Recall’s bread and butter is action in the 80s mold, complete with a muscular hero, one-liners, and plenty of gore. But Total Recall also has a solid plot built around an interesting science fiction premise. The result is an unusually well-rounded movie that works as both a straightforward action film and a clever sci-fi adventure.

Total Recall deals with questions of memory and identity. The movie posits a future where memory alteration exists and has been commercialized, making it difficult to separate fact from fabrication. Total Recall uses this central issue to kick off an action-oriented thriller plot that tours a futuristic world of space travel, mutants, and interplanetary intrigue. The story’s steady progression and significant plot twists give the movie an excellent backbone.

Total Recall delivers plenty of spectacle as well. The action kicks in after Doug’s trip to Rekall, Inc., and it doesn’t let up for more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time for the rest of the film. The movie also takes advantage of its science fiction setting to show off the advanced technology and bizarre sights of the future. Like other action movies of its era, Total Recall mixes a hardcore attitude with a touch of absurdity.

Total Recall is a well-executed movie that should please action fans and science fiction fans alike. The strange setting and high levels of violence may turn off some viewers, but anyone familiar with either the action or sci-fi genres from the 80s or 90s should feel right at home. For a somewhat sillier movie in a similar vein, check out Demolition Man. For a slick sci-fi thriller also based on a story by Philip K. Dick, check out Minority Report.

7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for good action, a tight plot, and solid execution.