Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: RED 2. Once again retired, former CIA operative Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) leads a quiet life with his girlfriend Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). But when a leaked document connects Frank to Nightshade, a missing nuclear weapon smuggled into Moscow during the Cold War, the government makes the capture of Frank their top priority. With the help of Marvin (John Malkovich), Frank and Sarah must locate the device before it falls into the wrong hands.

RED 2 is an action comedy with an ensemble cast and a cavalier approach to the spy genre. The sequel to RED, RED 2 features solid action, entertaining characters, and a creative setting. Frank’s world is alive with spies and adventure, and the balance of slick stunts and casual banter gives the film a healthy sense of charm. RED 2 is a light romp with much of the quality of the original, missing only some of its novelty.

Like its predecessor, RED 2’s biggest selling point is its impressive cast. Bruce Willis returns as Frank Moses, a legendary CIA operative with an extensive network of contacts from the old days. He is joined again by Mary-Louise Parker as Sarah, his ordinary, adventure-loving girlfriend, and John Malkovich as Marvin, his paranoid best friend. The three characters make for an effective team and a satisfying comedy trio.

The supporting cast is also appealing. Helen Mirren reprises her role as Victoria, a polite but deadly British assassin. Brian Cox returns as Ivan, Frank’s sometime Russian ally. Anthony Hopkins joins them as Edward Bailey, the half-mad scientist who designed Nightshade. Byung-hun Lee plays Han, a world-class killer with a grudge against Frank, while Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Katja, a Russian agent who once loved Frank.

RED 2 has a few flaws not present in the original. The pacing is less deliberate, making the payoffs less satisfying, and the plot is a little less personal. The new characters also lack the punch of the original cast when they were first introduced. But beyond these slight issues, the new additions to the canon are a good tonal fit, the action is just as plentiful, and the humor just as entertaining, making RED 2 a worthy sequel.

Watch RED 2 when you are in the mood for an amusing, stylish action film. RED 2 is a great choice for those who appreciate the fun, ridiculous side of the action genre. It’s not a flawless film, but it is a well-rounded one that excels in terms of tone and humor. Skip it if you prefer serious or realistic action, or if you disliked the original.

6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good action and fun characters.

Today’s quick review: Charlie’s Angels. Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Alex (Lucy Liu), and Dylan (Drew Barrymore) are the members of Charlie’s Angels, a talented team of crime-fighters organized by a mysterious millionaire. When Bosley (Bill Murray), their loyal manager, brings them a kidnapping case, the Angels must don a series of disguises to rescue Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell), a tech magnate, from the clutches of his business rival Roger Corwin (Tim Curry).

Charlie’s Angels is an action movie based on the classic TV series. Charlie’s Angels aims to return the sense of fun to the action genre with its breezy plot, comedic elements, and lack of gore. The movie succeeds in keeping a light tone by never taking itself too seriously and mixing plenty of humor in with its action and intrigue. But its execution falls short, keeping the charming premise from living up to its full potential.

Charlie’s Angels offers up a healthy dose of Hollywood-style action. The phony kung fu and wire stunts can’t compete with the action of a dedicated martial arts film, but the fight scenes are entertaining nonetheless. The film finds a way to work in its fair share of big stunts, explosions, and exotic locales, and while none of these are all that impressive compared to the film’s competition, they succeed in giving Charlie’s Angels a sense of spectacle.

The action is supplemented with a steady stream of comedy. Bill Murray leads the comedy side of the movie as Bosley, the Angels’ good-natured but bumbling manager. Natalie’s innocent double entendres, Alex’s and Dylan’s doomed attempts to maintain normal relationships, and a colorful cast of supporting characters keep the humor coming. The jokes are not brilliant, but they help keep the movie interesting between action sequences.

However, the movie has a few core flaws that keep it from living up to its potential. The plot is more an excuse to drop the Angels into a series of tricky situations than a cohesive story. The dialogue is passable but not inspired, and the acting has a few rough spots. The film is packed with moments that are just slightly misjudged: stunts that are a little too fake, jokes that don’t quite land, and plot developments that don’t have quite enough impact.

The result is an entertaining but half-baked action film that makes for decent popcorn but little more. Watch Charlie’s Angels when you are in the mood to relax in front of something light. Just don’t expect too much in the way of storytelling. For an action comedy with a similar tone and better craftsmanship, check out RED.

5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for fun action without the quality of writing or acting to let it truly excel.

Today’s quick review: The Royal Tenenbaums. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman), the estranged father of Chas (Ben Stiller), Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Richie (Luke Wilson), returns home when his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) considers getting remarried. While Royal attempts to make amends for a lifetime of bad parenting, the rest of his family work through their own lingering issues.

The Royal Tenenbaums is a quirky comedy from director Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums features an interesting ensemble cast, a character-driven story, and the meticulous, stylized direction Wes Anderson is known for. The humor is tucked away in awkward moments and idiosyncrasies, a dry style of humor that rewards close attention from the viewer. The film makes excellent use of its soundtrack, a light but sentimental collection of familiar songs.

The Royal Tenenbaums is a surprisingly touching film. The Tenenbaums begin the story as cardboard cutouts, detached characters with eclectic and seemingly meaningless backstories. But as the film goes on, more of their character is revealed through conversations, recollections of the past, and the crises they face as a family. By the end of the film, they manage to make the leap from cerebrally interesting to emotionally engaging.

Beyond the Tenenbaums themselves, The Royal Tenenbaums is a well-crafted movie. The main cast is joined by Owen Wilson, Danny Glover, and Bill Murray in supporting roles. The plot is more character-driven than event-driven, but the subplots interact well with each other, and a few defining events help give the film a sense of momentum. The direction is top-notch, showcasing Wes Anderson’s penchant for symmetry, focused presentation, and tight writing.

Watch The Royal Tenenbaums if you are a fan of Wes Anderson’s other work or you are willing to take a chance on an unconventional movie. Its dry humor, mature themes, and peculiar style restrict the film’s appeal, but its smart writing, well-drawn characters, and curious style are more than enough to reward a patient viewer. Skip it if you are looking for an unadulterated comedy, admirable characters, or a linear plot.

7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for gorgeous presentation and surprisingly moving characters.

Today’s quick review: Jonah Hex. Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin), a disfigured bounty hunter, gets a second chance at revenge when Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), the Confederate general who killed his family, resurfaces years after his supposed death. Using his mystic ability to talk to the dead, Hex must hunt down Turnbull and his men before they can unleash a stolen superweapon on Washington, D.C. and bring the United States to its knees.

Jonah Hex is a fantasy Western based on the DC Comics character. Jonah Hex mixes a Western foundation with fanciful technology, fantasy elements, and superhero influences to produce an unusual take on the action genre. As well as leads Josh Brolin and John Malkovich, Jonah Hex’s solid cast includes Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, and Will Arnett. However, a weak script and mediocre direction keep the keep the film from living up to its full potential.

As a rule, Jonah Hex has interesting ideas but poor follow-through. Nowhere is this more apparent than Jonah’s ability to speak to the dead. The ability is explained in passing as a result of Jonah’s own brush with death, but apart from helping Jonah track down Turnbull, it has no bearing on the plot. The scenes where this ability is put to use have interesting dynamics, but the concept is never expanded upon.

The same goes for the film’s technological indulgences. Horse-mounted Gatling guns and dynamite crossbows make a good impression but have no lasting effect on the film. More broadly, the plot is predictable and about twenty minutes too short, needlessly glossing over Jonah’s origin story. The direction is passable but noticeably flawed, with a tendency to rush the pacing, overuse darkness, and misapply flashbacks and visions.

As far as acting goes, the film’s actors are let down by a lackluster script. Josh Brolin makes for a fine protagonist in the jaded gunslinger mold, but without the character development or killer lines to make him stand out. John Malkovich plays an oddly typical villain for an actor known for his unusual delivery. Michael Fassbender makes the most of his role as Burke, Turnbull’s psychotic right-hand man, falling just short of memorable villain territory.

In the end, Jonah Hex makes for a decent action film and a weak Western. Inventive ideas on the technology and fantasy sides help give the movie a flavor of its own, but the movie doesn’t follow through on its most interesting concepts and its execution is not strong enough to make it memorable. Give Jonah Hex a shot when you are in the mood for an action movie that blurs genre lines, as long as you are willing to forgive it some lapses in quality.

Other movies that play in a similar space include The Warrior’s Way, which adds Eastern assassins to the Wild West; Ghost Rider, which works Western elements into a supernatural superhero film; and Cowboys & Aliens, which fuses the Western and sci-fi genres. While all of these films have their flaws, their experimental takes on the Western genre may be of interest to a certain type of viewer.

4.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for interesting ideas held back by poor execution.

Today’s quick review: Caddyshack. While Judge Smails (Ted Knight), a stuck-up country club patron, feuds with Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield), a boisterous newcomer, caddy Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe) jockeys for a college scholarship. Elsewhere on the golf course, Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), a wealthy idler, works on his putting and Carl (Bill Murray), a dimwitted greenskeeper, hunts down an elusive gopher.

Caddyshack is a comedy with an impressive cast and a freewheeling style. Caddyshack follows a host of colorful characters as they argue, romance, and golf at the Bushwood Country Club. The style of comedy is a blend of slapstick, golf humor, and character-based absurdity that gives the film’s cast the chance to shine. However, the humor comes at the cost of cohesion, with little in the way of story and isolated scenes that feel stitched together.

Caddyshack is at its best when it lets its actors put their skills to use. Between Rodney Dangerfield’s affable, out-of-control personality, Chevy Chase’s quirky banter, and Bill Murray’s unhinged, iconic performance as Carl, Caddyshack has all it needs in terms of comedic talent. Ted Knight’s arrogant elitism makes him a useful target, while Michael O’Keefe plays a straightforward, sympathetic protagonist to tie the movie together.

Watch Caddyshack if you are in the mood for a silly comedy with a heavy focus on individual comedians. Not everyone will appreciate its deliberately wacky style or its disjointed storytelling, but Caddyshack packs in enough strong jokes to be worth checking out. For a college comedy in a similar vein, check out Animal House.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for talented comedians and a decent script.

“Mess with the best, die like the rest.” —Dade Murphy

Today’s quick review: Hackers. Dade Murphy (Johnny Lee Miller), a hacking prodigy, moves to a new high school during his senior year and falls in with the computer crowd there, butting heads with fellow hacker Kate Libby (Angelina Jolie). But when one of Dade’s new friends breaks into a highly secure system, he puts them all in the crosshairs of a security expert (Fisher Stevens) with a secret plan to hold several oil tankers hostage.

Hackers is a cyber thriller that drops a group of high school hackers in the middle of a plot to squeeze millions from a major energy company. Hackers offers a highly romanticized look at the world of cyber security. Buzzwords fly, code names abound, and computers bristle with flashy interfaces. And at the center of it all, Dade must prove his chops to Kate without getting caught by the Secret Service.

Hackers has a suite of flaws that make it either hard to watch or entertaining, depending on the viewer. The film takes liberties with both computers and the culture surrounding them. It aims for a standard of coolness that hasn’t aged well, and it misses by a wide margin. The characters are borderline caricatures, the plot is slow to unfold and holey when it does, and even the film’s non-technical details have errors.

In spite of all this, Hackers is a moderately entertaining watch on its merits. Though not perfect, the plot is mostly coherent. The characters are shallow but play off each other well. The hacks are fanciful but occasionally clever. Really, Hackers is a kids’ film in disguise: apart from a bit of swearing, the light tone and loose plot logic make it a surprisingly good fit for the genre.

Give Hackers a shot if you are in the mood for a flawed thriller, a decent kids’ film, or are just curious to see Hollywood’s take on 90s-era computer culture. For a kids-with-computers movie with a bit more cohesion, check out WarGames. For an action movie with a similarly loose approach to hacking, check out Swordfish. For a cyber thriller with a tighter script, check out Sneakers.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for modest entertainment value hampered by mediocre writing and an odd attitude.

Today’s quick review: Kickboxer: Vengeance. After his brother Eric (Darren Shahlavi) is killed in an underground fight, Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) travels to Thailand to get revenge on Tong Po (David Bautista), the muay thai expert who murdered him. With the support of Liu (Sara Malakul Lane), a Thai police officer, and the training of Master Durand (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Eric’s trainer, Kurt prepares himself for the fight of his life.

Kickboxer: Vengeance is a martial arts action movie with a revenge plot and a healthy number of fights. A budget film, Kickboxer: Vengeance is plagued by weak writing, thin acting, and awkward direction. However, it makes up for these shortcomings with near-constant fighting and remarkable feats of athleticism. The result is a subpar story wrapped around decent action, nowhere near the best of the genre but passable.

As a protagonist, Kurt is almost too much of an underdog. Even at his best he only comes across as a halfway-decent fighter, and he reliably takes more hits than he dishes out. His moves and physique are impressive in absolute terms, but he lacks the presence of the fighters around him. The training he receives under Durand helps with some of these issues, but Kurt never quite shakes the impression of being an underdog too weak to win.

The rest of the cast is high on fighting ability and low on acting. Dave Bautista makes for a formidable villain in Tong Po, with his massive frame, stony expression, and extensive tattoos. Jean-Claude Van Damme is a fun addition as Durand, Kurt’s quirky but rigorous trainer. The supporting cast has a few solid fighters in it, but no one truly jaw-dropping, and the characters are uniformly shallow.

The action fluctuates between one-on-one fights, where Kurt is consistently outclassed, and group fights, where he has more of a chance to shine. The former are quasi-realistic martial arts duels, while the latter have more of a traditional action movie flair. However, Kickboxer: Vengeance lacks the flashy, implausible stunts to make the group fights exciting, so the action only really hits its stride in a few of the longer solo fights.

The writing is token at best. There are no cringeworthy lines, but one or two plot holes, a generic story, and flat delivery mean that the film has barely enough juice to see it through to the end. The direction makes a few jarring mistakes, such as unnecessary flashbacks, mistimed shots, and more than a few limp moments. The movie only just manages to work as an action vehicle, and even then it’s best watched by those with lax standards.

Watch Kickboxer: Vengeance when you are in the mood for a martial arts film without some of the excesses of ordinary action movies. However, the film is badly outclassed by other movies in the genre, and in spite of one or two good points, an interested viewer would be better served looking up The Protector or The Raid: Redemption for jaw-dropping martial arts.

4.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 to 6.0 for decent action marred by bad storytelling.

Today’s quick review: His Girl Friday. On the eve of his ex-wife Hildy’s (Rosalind Russell) wedding, newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) convinces her to cover one last story for him in an effort to lure her back to the life of a reporter. As Walter schemes to get rid of Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy), Hildy’s fiance, Hildy finds herself drawn into the elaborate case of a man about to be executed for murder.

His Girl Friday is a comedic romance set in the heyday of sensationalistic journalism. Cary Grant stars as Walter Burns, a charming but unscrupulous newspaperman who will stop at nothing to get his wife back. Rosalind Russell plays opposite him as Hildy, a born journalist who accepts one last job before her marriage and retirement. Hildy must choose between the tumultuous life she left and the peaceful one she claims to want.

His Girl Friday makes for an unusual romance. The plot unfolds at a breakneck pace, mirroring the constant churn of the newspaper business. Walter Burns makes for an odd romantic, trying every dirty trick he can think of to keep Hildy in town long enough to win her back over. The dialogue is rapid, the ethics are flexible, and the romance is a slow-motion train wreck as Hildy finds herself caught between her scoop and her marriage.

Watch His Girl Friday if you are a fan of classic films and you are game to follow a circuitous plot. Thanks to its shady characters and chaotic tone, His Girl Friday is not the best choice for those who want to be whisked away. But fans of the era will appreciate its acting, writing, and craftsmanship. Lovers of the classics should at least give it a shot, while newcomers may want to ease in with a more straightforward movie.

8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for good writing and acting, tempered by morally dubious characters and rapid pacing; your score will be higher if you’re a fan of its tight patter and skewed approach to romance.

Today’s quick review: Police Academy. When the police department loosens its hiring standards, dozens of underqualified applicants enroll in its training program. Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), a sly troublemaker, signs up as an alternative to jail time, with every intention of getting kicked out. But fellow recruit Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall) gives him a reason to stay, even if he has to put up with the academy’s abusive drill instructor (G.W. Bailey).

Police Academy is a police comedy with a light, mischievous tone and a cast of colorful characters. Police Academy follows a familiar comedy formula, pitting an eclectic group of misfits against an unreasonable authority figure. As far as such movies go, Police Academy skimps on the plot but offers a healthy dose of humor. Mahoney makes for a fun protagonist as he tries everything he can think of to get kicked out, and he plays well with his love interest Thompson.

As a comedy, Police Academy is entertaining but not outstanding. Its scenes tend to be short and end abruptly, a lot of its humor is forced, and its writing lacks the heart of, say, Ghostbusters. But in spite of these flaws, Police Academy is a fun watch, with goofy characters, slapstick humor, and general hijinks. Not every gag lands perfectly, but enough do to make the film feel worthwhile.

The cast of Police Academy is an odd group, including an enormous ex-florist, an unstable gun enthusiast, and a Latin lover. Few of the characters have much depth, but each is given a brief story arc to fill out the film. Michael Winslow deserves special mention for his performance as Larvell Jones, Mahoney’s friend and a master of sound effects. His vocal talents and silly sense of humor are responsible for some of the film’s best gags.

Watch Police Academy when you are in the mood for a fun movie with a few good laughs. Skip it if you are expecting a deep plot or sharp writing. For other movies in a similar vein, check out Animal House, a wild college comedy; Major League, an underdog sports comedy; or Stripes, a comedy about Army boot camp.

6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for fun if imperfect comedy.

Today’s quick review: Code Name: The Cleaner. Jake (Cedric the Entertainer) wakes up in a hotel with a dead FBI agent, a briefcase of money, and a bad case of amnesia. He is whisked away from the police by Diane (Nicollette Sheridan), a woman claiming to be his wife, but Jake soon decides to investigate on his own. Together with Gina (Lucy Liu), a waitress who knows him, Jake pieces together the clues to reach a shocking conclusion: that he is a spy for the CIA.

Code Name: The Cleaner is a spy comedy that puts a silly spin on the amnesiac thriller genre. Cedric the Entertainer stars as Jake, a sweet, honest man caught in the middle of a web of intrigue. Lucy Liu joins him as Gina, a waitress who knows about his past and is willing to hide him from his pursuers. The two make a charming duo, neither one a phenomenal character, but good with one another.

Code Name: The Cleaner follows a simple formula: place Jake in an unusual situation and watch him react to it. These digressions offer up some lowbrow humor and slapstick, but they tend to lose sight of the main plot for minutes at a time. The story itself is not particularly elaborate or clever, but it is enough to keep the fiilm moving. Code Name: The Cleaner has the vibe of a primetime comedy, a lax affair with a basic premise requiring little thought or attention.

Watch Code Name: The Cleaner when you are in the mood for an easy and mildly amusing watch. Though far from a comedy masterpiece, its likable characters and decent sense of humor make it a nice palate cleanser. Skip it if you are looking for something good rather than decent. For another Lucy Liu crime comedy with a better script, check out Lucky Number Slevin. For a martial arts comedy with a similar premise, check out Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?.

4.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent humor and charm.