Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Holes. Wrongfully convicted of stealing a pair of shoes, teenager Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBeouf) is sentenced to eighteen months at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile work camp where the Warden (Sigourney Weaver) forces the boys to dig holes in the desert. There, Stanley makes friends with a quiet boy named Zero (Khleo Thomas) and uncovers a long-buried secret.

Holes is a family adventure based on the book by Louis Sachar. Shia LaBeouf stars as Stanley, an ordinary boy who has to get used to living and digging at a desert work camp. Unlike some other family movies, Holes is well-grounded. The characters and conditions at Camp Green Lake are entirely believable, and there’s no slapstick or overt humor. Instead, the movie engages the viewer with Stanley’s journey and the secret behind the camp.

At the center of Holes is a mystery spanning generations. Stanley’s family believes that it was cursed by the actions of Stanley’s ancestor, causing everything from his father’s career troubles to Stanley’s wrongful arrest. Meanwhile, Camp Green Lake has secrets of its own, which are told through flashbacks throughout the movie. The way these puzzle pieces combine gives Holes an interesting story with a rewarding payoff.

Give Holes a shot when you’re in the mood for a prison drama without the bleakness. Seeing Stanley adapt to his surroundings and connect with Zero makes for a satisfying character arc, while the mystery of the camp gives the characters something concrete to interact with. The result is a relatively mature kids’ movie that tells a balanced and engaging story.

For a more fanciful movie about a child in a bad situation, check out Matilda. For a more mature prison drama, try The Shawshank Redemption or The Last Castle. For a more comedic tale of imprisonment and escape, try Chicken Run.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for an original premise and a well-told story.

Today’s quick review: Matilda. Ever since she was a baby, Matilda (Mara Wilson) has been neglected by her parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman). Now six years old, Matilda convinces them to send her to elementary school. But school turns out to be a terrifying place, thanks to child-hating Principal Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). Matilda’s only comfort is Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), a kind-hearted teacher who takes Matilda under her wing.

Matilda is a family fantasy comedy based on the book by Roald Dahl. Matilda tells the story of a bright young girl trapped in a family that doesn’t appreciate her. Left to her own devices, Matilda takes solace in books, Miss Honey’s lessons, and the peculiar telekinetic powers she manifests when stressed. The movie features a creative story with uplifting themes, a talented cast, and an especially liable lead in Mara Wilson.

Matilda is a colorful comedy that caricatures the perils and joys of childhood. Many of the adults in Matilda’s life are cartoonishly dysfunctional, from her self-absorbed father and mother to her abusive principal. Her few pleasures in life are just as pure: reading a good book at the library, meeting the occasional friend, or pulling one over on her clueless elders. The result is an exaggerated world that’s easy to grasp.

Against this backdrop, Matilda tells a unique story about finding happiness and the power of a good education. Matilda puts her brains and her powers to good us as she tries to stay out of trouble, and even her smallest triumphs are heartwarming. The movie relies on slapstick for many of its gags, but some clever flourishes make the jokes worthwhile. Matilda also benefits from a cast that perfectly fits the tone of the movie.

Matilda is an enjoyable watch for older and younger audiences alike. Its exaggerated world and emphasis on slapstick will seem a little crude to more sophisticated viewers, but anyone willing to take the story on its own terms will find it to be a joyful experience that’s well worth trying.

For a full-fledged fantasy adventure about a boy who escapes his troubled family life, try the Harry Potter series. For a somewhat less endearing story about the power of books, try The Pagemaster. For a more action-filled family adventure with a similar sense of heart, try Secondhand Lions. For an animated comedy with similar themes, try Chicken Run. For another Roald Dahl adaptation, try Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a charming and creative story.

“One little murder and I’m Jack the Ripper.” —Larry

Today’s quick review: Throw Momma from the Train. Struggling novelist Larry Donner (Billy Crystal) makes a big mistake when he tells Owen Lift (Danny DeVito), a student in his creative writing class, that he wants his ex-wife Margaret (Kate Mulgrew) dead. Taking this as a cue, Owen kills her, leaving Larry as the prime suspect. To make matters worse, Owen expects Larry to return the favor by killing his insufferable mother (Anne Ramsey) for him.

Throw Momma from the Train is a crime comedy starring Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito. The movie centers on the odd relationship between a frustrated author and his misguided student. Through a poor choice of words, Larry finds himself at the center of a murder scheme he never agreed to. Crystal and DeVito have a natural chemistry that carries the movie, while Owen’s convoluted scheme gives them some interesting material to work with.

Throw Momma from the Train specializes in cheap but effective humor. The movie has a few sources of comedy it goes to repeatedly: Larry’s frustrations with his work and his ex-wife, Owen’s lack of personal boundaries, and the abuses of Owen’s mother driving a kind-hearted man to murder. The script cannot sustain the premise for very long, but it covers all the ground it needs to, and it puts its actors’ talents to good use.

How much you get out of Throw Momma from the Train will depend on your taste in comedy. The movie skews a little dark in places, but not enough to jeopardize its upbeat tone. Fans of witty, understated humor may also find it a little too blunt. But for fans of Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal, or their style of comedy in general, it makes for a breezy watch.

For the same premise played for suspense, check out Strangers on a Train. For a black comedy in a similar vein, check out The Ladykillers, What About Bob?, or So I Married an Axe Murderer. For a stranger story about a frustrated writer, try Ruby Sparks, Barton Fink, or Adaptation. For another comedy about domestic murder, check out How to Murder Your Wife.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for simple but effective humor.

“Goonies never say die!” —Mikey

Today’s quick review: The Goonies. On the last day before they are evicted from their home, Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin) and his older brother Brand (Josh Brolin) discover a map in their attic that points the way to One-Eyed Willy’s legendary treasure. With their friends in tow, the boys follow the map to a hidden cavern. But their plan hits a snag when they run into a family of criminals hiding out nearby (Anne Ramsey, Joe Pantoliano, and Robert Davi).

The Goonies is a family adventure comedy directed by Richard Donner. The movie follows a spirited group of teenagers on the hunt for buried treasure. Mikey, Brand, and their friends (Corey Feldman, Jeff Cohen, Ke Huy Quan, Keri Green, and Martha Plimpton) must brave puzzles, traps, and fugitives to find the treasure and save their home. The Goonies is an enthusiastic romp with a charming story and a keen spirit of adventure.

The Goonies has a knack for drawing the audience into its world. The movie introduces its enormous cast with surprising economy, quickly sketching out each character while deftly setting the stage for the story to come. The treasure hunt strikes the perfect balance between peril and humor, and each of Mikey’s friends gets plenty of screen time and a chance to shine. And while the movie can be dark in places, it never loses its optimism or wonder.

Overall, The Goonies is a movie that’s easy to like. Its characters are vivid and well-written, but they still feel true to life. Its plot is a kids’ adventure in the classic mold, but it has enough of its own identity not to feel like a retread. In general, the movie makes excellent use of a large cast, giving it an energy that’s hard to come by. The Goonies will not click for every viewer, but it’s well worth a try for those looking for fun.

For a more visually spectacular adventure about the search for pirate treasure, check out The Adventures of Tintin. For a horror-tinged comedy with some of the same attitude, try The Lost Boys. For a more eclectic adventure with strong fantasy elements, check out Time Bandits. For a less successful attempt at tapping into a classic spirit of adventure, try The Pagemaster.

7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for infectious fun.

“E.T. phone home.” —E.T.

Today’s quick review: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Elliott (Henry Thomas) is an ordinary boy who lives with his older brother Mike (Robert MacNaughton), his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and their mother Mary (Dee Wallace). Elliott makes an extraordinary discovery when he finds E.T., an alien who was accidentally left behind on Earth. With the help of his family, Elliott must find a way to get E.T. back home.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a family sci-fi adventure from director Steven Spielberg. The movie has a simple but iconic premise: a boy befriends an alien he discovers in his backyard. From there, the movie proceeds to tell an endearing story about friendship and loyalty. The bond between Elliott and E.T. gives the movie a rich sense of heart, while E.T.’s gradual acclimation to life on Earth is a source of both humor and wonder.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial gets a lot of little things right. The characters are entirely believable, behaving the way a family would behave when confronted with such a strange situation. The tone strikes a nice balance between light danger and family-friendly humor, with a dash of mystery thrown in when it comes to E.T. and his powers. Attentive direction and an iconic soundtrack from John Williams round out the film well.

Give E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial a shot when you’re in the mood for something light and wholesome. Likable characters and a charming premise make it an easy movie to get into, while its craftsmanship makes it a worthwhile pick even for skeptical viewers. The film’s only real flaw is that it’s telling a straightforward family story, which limits its depth and the number of surprises it has in store, and even this issue is mostly down to taste.

For another story about alien contact from Steven Spielberg, check out Close Encounters of the Third Kind. For another story about a boy making friends with a visitor from outer space, try The Iron Giant. For a darker twist on a similar premise, try Super 8.

7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for solid craftsmanship and cultural impact.

Today’s quick review: F.R.E.D.I. Dr. Andi Palmer (Kelly Hu) is the creator of F.R.E.D.I. (Candace Cameron Bure), an advanced robot designed to protect humans. But when her boss Grant (Angus Macfayden) sells her work to the military, Dr. Palmer steals the robot and hides it in the woods nearby, where it is found by James Nash (Lucius Hoyos) and his friend Danny (Reid Miller), a pair of local high school students.

F.R.E.D.I. is a family sci-fi adventure about a boy who discovers a helpful robot. The movie is cut from the same cloth as any number of other films in the genre: James and his friends must protect F.R.E.D.I. from Grant and his bumbling goons, all while having their lives changed for the better by their extraordinary friend. F.R.E.D.I. is a relatively competent execution of this formula, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table.

F.R.E.D.I.’s main failure is one of imagination. The title character is meant to be a source of delight and wonder. Instead, it is a bland robot that can perform a few minor tricks and has little personality of its own. Its relationship with James is only as deep as the social status it earns him. As such, instead of taking the audience on an emotional journey, F.R.E.D.I. merely goes through the motions of one.

The rest of the movie is unexceptional. James and his friends are credible teens but not particularly interesting characters. His relationship with his divorced father Randy (Tyler Christopher) holds promise, but the movie never explores it in depth. F.R.E.D.I. also struggles to establish dramatic tension, resulting in a low-stakes plot. As for the action, it’s limited to a few chase scenes where the robot’s abilities never really matter.

F.R.E.D.I. will still have some appeal for younger audiences, but it lacks the depth, the heart, and even the excitement of better entries into the genre. It copies the formula without adding to it, resulting in a movie that never fully captures the audience’s interest. Fans of the genre will find that they can do better elsewhere.

For a family-oriented sci-fi movie with a similar premise and a more interesting companion, try A.X.L. or Monster Trucks. For a more imaginative story about a boy who discovers a robot, try Iron Giant or Big Hero Six. For a more endearing story about a helper robot, try WALL-E or Robot & Frank.

5.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a bland but passable story.

Today’s quick review: Monster Trucks. Tripp (Lucas Till), a high school student who works at a junkyard, makes an unlikely friend when he meets Creech, a subterranean creature unearthed at an oil drilling site. Hiding Creech in Tripp’s truck, Tripp and his classmate Meredith (Jane Levy) look for a way to return the creature to its home. But first they must outwit Reece Tenneson (Rob Lowe), an oil executive who wants to get rid of Creech entirely.

Monster Trucks is a family sci-fi adventure about a teenager who befriends an intelligent creature with tentacles and a thirst for oil. Monster Trucks’ main appeal comes from its premise. With Creech taking the place of his engine, Tripp pulls off some creative feats with his truck, which he uses to stay one step ahead of Tenneson’s thugs. Apart from this one gimmick, however, the movie is quite shallow, making for a pleasant but insubstantial watch.

Monster Trucks doesn’t have much bite to it, even by the standards of its genre. Tripp makes for a lukewarm protagonist except for the rare occasions where he gets to show off his passion and ingenuity. The story follows the same template as other family adventures, with Tripp and Meredith trying to protect Creech from a sinister cover-up. The movie also has a habit of abandoning its subplots, with a few promising threads that are never finished.

For all of these faults, Monster Trucks never makes any significant missteps. The story is serviceable, the characters are likable enough, and the action, while tame compared to some movies, has some charm to it. Monster Trucks is a fine pick when you’re in the mood for something light, safe, and family-friendly. Anyone looking for hard-hitting action, surprises, or a substantive plot will want to steer clear.

For another sci-fi movie about a teenager who makes friends with a strange creature, try A.X.L., Max Steel, or E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. For a more entertaining sci-fi adventure in the same vein, try Sonic the Hedgehog.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a shallow but pleasant family adventure.

“Sting like a bee.” —Bumblebee

Today’s quick review: Transformers: The Last Knight. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) travels to Cybertron to confront Quintessa (Gemma Chan), the creator of the Transformers, only to fall under her control. Meanwhile, Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins), the last member of an ancient order, tells Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), a fugitive fighting for the Autobots, that he holds the key to defeating Quintessa and preventing the end of the world.

Transformers: The Last Knight is a sci-fi action adventure and the fifth film in the Transformers series. The movie expands the Transformers universe by introducing Quintessa, a being who wishes to wipe out the Transformers and rebuild Cybertron by absorbing Earth’s energy. The Last Knight returns to the classic Transformers formula of goofy humor and large-scale action. However, its busy plot and poor sense of continuity undermine its efforts.

To its credit, The Last Knight walks back the excessively dark tone seen in Age of Extinction. Even though its events are similarly cataclysmic, the Autobots face them with optimism and a sense of humor, resulting in a much more palatable watch. Otherwise, The Last Knight has the same high stakes and over-the-top action as Age of Extinction. It also benefits from an expansive cast of Transformers, including a couple of creative new designs.

However, The Last Knight suffers greatly from its lack of consistency, both in terms of the big picture and from moment to moment. The changes it makes to the Transformers universe are hard to reconcile with the previous films, and the plot does not hang together very well. The film drops plot threads, forgets important details, and ignores characters entirely whenever they become inconvenient, making it a shallow watch that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

The result is a peculiar movie that’s hard to pin down. The Last Knight has the tone of the first three Transformers films, the scale of the fourth, and a host of new ideas that never quite pay off for it. Fans of the series who are willing to forgive the film’s many lapses in logic will find it to be a chaotic but enjoyable popcorn action flick. Steer clear if you are hoping for artful storytelling or a coherent plot.

5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for strong action and a fun tone saddled with jumbled and inconsistent storytelling.

“It’s a bad idea, but I’m all about bad ideas.” —Hound

Today’s quick review: Transformers: Age of Extinction. Five years after the Decepticons’ attack on Chicago, a CIA black ops team commanded by Director Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer) is hunting down Autobots and Decepticons alike. Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), a mechanic from Texas, and his daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz) get caught in the fight when they find Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), the injured leader of the Autobots, and help repair him.

Transformers: Age of Extinction is a sci-fi action adventure from director Michael Bay. The fourth movie in the series breaks with the previous three, scrapping most of the cast and status quo in favor of a darker storyline. Age of Extinction features a staggering amount of destructive action, as well as a sprawling story with plenty of twists along the way. However, its unruly plot and serious tone make it a harder watch than its predecessors.

Age of Extinction maintains the heavier tone seen in Dark of the Moon. The movie is a grim struggle that pushes the Autobots to their limits and casts humanity in a more villainous role. Heroism and bits of comedy help offset the bleakness, but the movie’s high body count and relative lack of humor take an emotional toll. The upshots of this decision include higher stakes and less of the goofy humor found in previous films.

The other notable change in Age of Extinction is its plot. Even with its lengthy run time, Age of Extinction has a hard time fitting in everything it wants to. Important plot threads include Cade and Tessa’s story, the CIA’s alliance with Lockdown (Mark Ryan) to hunt down the Autobots, visionary CEO Joshua Joyce’s (Stanley Tucci) attempts to create artificial Decepticons, and the apocalyptic device that killed the dinosaurs.

These threads are all interesting on their own, but they are too much for one movie to handle. Age of Extinction has to swap awkwardly between them to keep the plot moving forward, with the result that no single idea gets its due. More significantly for an action movie, this wreaks havoc with the pacing. Instead of being an action-packed thrill ride, Age of Extinction is a bloated movie that mismanages its story and overstays its welcome.

Transformers: Age of Extinction still holds some appeal as a popcorn action movie. Viewers in the mood for something flashy and destructive will find that it fits the bill, with large-scale fights and the budget to back them up. But the combination of less humor, a longer run time, and an unfocused story makes Age of Extinction a clear step down from its predecessors. Transformers fans should approach with caution.

For gritty sci-fi action in roughly the same vein, try Terminator: Dark Fate. For sci-fi action in a similar style, try Pacific Rim: Uprising. For an alien invasion with more heart, try Independence Day.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid action attached to an unfocused and overly bleak story.

“Who would you be without me, Prime?” —Megatron

Today’s quick review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon. While on the hunt for a job, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) stumbles onto a government conspiracy covering up the existence of an Autobot ship that crashed on the Moon. Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) rescues Sentinel Prime (Leonard Nimoy), the former leader of the Autobots, from stasis on the disabled ship. But it’s not long before the Decepticons try to steal the powerful weapon Sentinel controls.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a sci-fi action adventure from director Michael Bay. The third film in the Transformers series chronicles the next phase of the Autobots’ sojourn on Earth, a time of escalating tensions between the Autobots and their human allies. Meanwhile, the Decepticons scheme from the shadows and prepare their largest attack yet. Impressive action and a large-scale plot are hurt by loose storytelling and some odd decisions.

Dark of the Moon’s greatest success is the way it scales up the action. From the early skirmishes with the Decepticons to the cataclysmic finale, the movie delivers plenty of sci-fi action, backed by flashy set pieces and a hefty special effects budget. The action scenes have the same sense of chaos as the previous films, but they are somewhat easier to follow. The fight choreography is also more violent, which helps to raise the stakes.

Dark of the Moon suffers from some of the same flaws as the previous movies, only amplified. The plot hangs together loosely at the best of times, a series of twists and revelations that have little of the dramatic weight the movie intends them to. The goofy humor centered around Sam and some of the Autobots never quite hits its stride. The tone also takes a dramatic turn halfway through the movie, splitting it into two distinct parts.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a solid pick for anyone looking for a popcorn action movie that emphasizes special effects and destruction. Fans of the series may not like Dark of the Moon’s status quo changes and tonal shift, while general audiences will be critical of its story logic. But for anyone willing to overlook these issues, Dark of the Moon offers sci-fi action of a kind that few other movies can match.

For a superhero movie with similarly cataclysmic stakes, try Man of Steel or The Avengers. For a smaller-scale story about a heroic robot, try Iron Giant. For a sci-fi action movie with somewhat similar action, check out Rampage.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for flashy action held back by an uneven script.