Month: April 2019

“I want room service!” —Johnny

Today’s quick review: Johnny Mnemonic. In the high-tech future of 2021, Johnny (Keanu Reeves) works as a “mnemonic courier” who smuggles sensitive data using implants in his brain. Desperate for enough cash to get out of the business, Johnny takes a risky job that requires twice his maximum storage capacity. Now Johnny has only days to deliver the data before it fries his brain, a task made more complicated by the yakuza who want what’s in his head.

Johnny Mnemonic is a cyberpunk thriller based on a short story by William Gibson. Johnny Mnemonic takes place in a dark future where corporations rule, wars are fought digitally, and technology eats away at humanity through a degenerative neurological disorder. The film features a briskly paced plot, an elaborate cyberpunk world, and a skewed 90s attitude. Its cast includes Dina Meyer, Ice-T, Dolph Lundgren, Takeshi Kitano, and Henry Rollins.

Johnny Mnemonic has the over-the-top attitude typical of 90s sci-fi. Its action is fairly gory, its plot hits most of the right beats, and it trades character development for faster pacing. The film has a few rough spots. Its vision of the future hasn’t aged gracefully. Its dialogue is hit-or-miss, and there are a couple of memorable instances of overacting. The whole package is rounded out with tacky CGI and an outlandish portrayal of computers.

Johnny Mnemonic occupies a cinematic grey area: too weak to stand solely on its merits, too entertaining to dismiss completely, and split almost evenly between straight-faced dystopian cyberbpunk and tongue-in-cheek excess. For the right kind of viewer, one who relishes 90s sci-fi and doesn’t take the film too seriously, it can be a fun watch. But those looking for either a serious sci-fi action film or a true comedy should look elsewhere.

For a movie that handles the technological aspects of the setting with more credibility, check out The Matrix or one of the Ghost in the Shell adaptations. For a similar flavor of action, check out Escape from New York. For a dedicated sci-fi comedy with greater charm, check out The Fifth Element.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a mixture of decent sci-fi and camp.

Today’s quick review: Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. George Beard (Kevin Hart) and Harold Hutchins (Thomas Middleditch) are a pair of fourth-graders who spend their time pulling pranks, drawing comics, and staying one step ahead of Principal Krupp (Ed Helms). When they manage to hypnotize their principal with a toy ring, they convince him that he is one of their comics creations: the bungling superhero Captain Underpants.

Captain Underpants: The Epic First Movie is a CGI-animated family comedy based on the books by Dav Pilkey. Captain Underpants is an energetic movie that captures the fun and creativity of being a child. George and Harold are the audience’s guides to Jerome Horwitz Elementary, a school ruled by the joyless Principal Krupp. The boys’ antics are the sole hope for the students there, at least until the principal’s transformation shakes things up.

Captain Underpants excels at a goofy, imaginative flavor of comedy that combines superhero parody, playful fourth wall breaking, and general silliness. Its peculiar style of 3D animation replicates Dav Pilkey’s original drawings, and it retains enough of the visual conventions of 2D animation to feel like a cartoon. The movie shows plenty of love for its source material and its characters, diving into their world wholeheartedly.

Captain Underpants does have its weaknesses. The plot has little substance to it, and a significant portion of the film is spent watching a hypnotized Krupp cause unwitting trouble around the school. The humor has all the bluntness one could expect from a kids’ movie and it seems to get more juvenile as the movie goes on. Not all of the gags are winners, although their quantity and rapid-fire delivery make the flops easy to ignore.

Try Captain Underpants: The Epic First Movie when you’re in the mood for an honest, energetic romp. Its particular sense of humor won’t resonate with everyone, but its enthusiasm and charm make it an excellent pick for anyone who misses the uncomplicated joys of elementary school. Skip it if you’re looking for a sharp or subtle comedy. For other movies in a similar vein, check out The Lego Batman Movie, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, or Meet the Robinsons.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for unbounded enthusiasm and a good sense of humor.