Slapstick humor, laugh out loud moments and Mark Wahlberg shirtless… I give Daddy’s Home an A-. Brad Whitaker (Will Farrell) has always wanted his step-children to see him as their “dad” and just when it’s beginning to happen, their real father, Dusty Mayron, returns to win back his children and his ex-wife. This dad vs. step-dad movie hits on many of the issues found in blended family relationships. Speaking from experience, it’s like navigating a mine field yet Daddy’s Home shows the humor involved, leaving you snickering and laughing over all the jealous and insecurity. And while Wahlberg’s hot body and Farrell’s goofy brand of humor are showcased, the children steal the show! From step-daughter, Megan’s pictures used in the opening to her lack of a filter, she has some of the cutest moments. Mark Wahlberg is the fun dad. He comes in and gives the kids money and candy, while Farrell shows the responsible side of being a father…classroom dad, basketball coach, carpooler. It takes Farrell to show Wahlberg what it takes to be a real father. The two downsides to the movie are the scenes with a shirtless Farrell…not for the faint of heart and the predictability of the storyline. Going to the movie, you can expect potty humor and a happy ending after many misunderstandings. Real life blended families don’t work out that easily. Luckily for movie-goers the video trailers show only a portion of the funny scenes. Each one shown is just a small part of the bigger gag and is much funnier in the movie. You’ll be sure to laugh a lot during this movie and while it doesn’t teach us any big lessons, taking time out to enjoy some laughter can be a wonderful way to spend the holiday break.
A blend of new and old, Star Wars has returned. I give Star Wars: The Force Awakens an A. Much like the recent movie: Creed, Star Wars blends the old and new in a way to delight old and new fans alike. It’s been thirty years since the Galactic Empire was overthrown. A new evil has awakened, The First Order strives to take over where Darth Vader and his minions left off. Now a new group of young heroes must find a way to defeat the Dark side. A Stormtrooper develops a conscience and a young female salvage collector team up to return a droid to the resistance. It contains a map of how to find the legendary Jedi master, Luke Skywalker. Teaming up with familiar faces, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia to prevent The First Order from blowing up their homebase. I enjoyed the new characters. Rey, the salvage collector, is feisty and smart. She’s quick on her feet in both the action sequences and in thinking. She certainly keeps up with the guys. Finn is a man who finds himself a friend and a mission that he can believe in. But it’s Kylo Ren that steals the show. His performance of a man torn between the light and the dark, his family and the ideals he believes in…It doesn’t hurt that he’s cute too. I’m sure we will see more of this character as he returns to the force. Packed theaters, sold out movies. I know this one movie is making theaters have a happy holiday. It’s a family movie, which has action and thrills to entertain everyone. Since most of us are of an age, that the first movie made such an impact on our lives…bringing our children into the series makes perfect sense. And with all the nods to the past movies, fans are seeing this one again and again.
After over 90 days stranded at sea, even Thor ends up looking like a stick man. I’m giving The Heart of the Sea a B+. This tale is woven between the true story of a Nantucket ship’s experience with a gigantic white whale which brings about the destruction of the ship, Essex and the death of most of its crew and the search by Herman Melville’s, author of Moby Dick, search for the truth. Directed by Ron Howard, this movie is full of details and accuracy about the whaling men of early America who sought to make their riches off the blubber of whales. These men went out on small boats armed with a harpoon to take down a mighty whale in order to keep the towns lit and safe. Whale oil was a cleaner way of lighting (prior to electricity) and a single whale could bring in 40-60 barrels of oil. But The Heart of the Sea is also about relationships…Captain Pollard is green, having never captained a ship and strives to live up to his famous name. Owen Chase, played by Chris Hemsworth, is from a land family so he has to work twice as hard to prove himself. The class difference between the two men as well as their own need to be the boss, causes conflict which sets in motion the destruction of the Essex. Even with the amazing acting and action, this movie falls a little flat. Fans of sweeping epics will love this movie but if you are looking for non-stop action, this movie had moments but a lot of the time is spent on lifeboats, starving and slowly dying.
Sometimes you can go home again. Watching Creed and you are back in Philly with Rocky once again, training for the championship. I give the movie an A. Donnie (Adonis) Johnson is the product of an affair between a woman and the married former heavyweight boxer champion, Apollo Creed, who died before Donnie was born. After the death of his mom, he is sent to juvie for fighting then finally adopted by Creed’s wife, where she tries to turn his life around. But the call of the ring becomes too strong. Donnie seeks out his father’s old mentor, Rocky Balboa to train him. Creed is a wonderful blend of the past and the future as we see Rocky visiting his wife’s and Paulie’s graves, yet we get to see some new moves and hard hitting ring action including a fight that went on for over 5 minutes of screen time. The up close images of blood splatter and swelling brings some amazing realism to the movie and doesn’t sugar-coat the dangers of boxing. Michael B. Jordan is outstanding as Johnson/Creed who struggles with his own past and the shadow of his father. It was a fan moment when he was asking his “Uncle” Rocky about the outcome of the never seen fight at the end of Rocky 3. It’s this way that director Ryan Coogler weaves the past with the present. Stallone shows his acting chops...or maybe it’s because as Rocky, he’s really never had to act. Rocky is as much a part of him as his own “How you doin’?” accent. He can’t do the big fight scenes like he could in the 70’s and 80’s but when he speaks about his own losses, you know he’s talking from the heart. Hanging out on the streets of Philly has never been sweeter as Creed tugs at the heartstrings and has you cheering on the bloodshed over your popcorn and soda. Bring your teenager…just be prepared to share your old Rocky movie with them as well.
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Melissa KeirIt's all about the movies... Archives
January 2020
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