Film Review -- Rock of Ages

This movie musical is directed by Hairspray's Adam Shankman and its all-star cast includes Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Malin Akerman, and Tom Cruise. Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Sherrie (Hough) moves to the City of Dreams to pursue her passion of singing. There, she meets aspiring rocker Drew (Boneta) and he gets her a waitressing job at the famed Bourbon Room on the Sunset Strip. Its love at first sight, but their relationship is tested by the prospect of fame and fortune. Other story lines, involving all others mention above, also occur, but they're not worth describing. I was expecting this film to be a satire, as I could not imagine anyone, not even the actors and director, taking this seriously. However, the film was so un-funny that I began worrying that they were being serious. It turns out that it was a satire, because it was so painfully bad that it had to be. I don't know what possessed all of these talented people to sign onto a project so ridiculous as this one. All of the musical numbers felt out of place, the lip-synching and auto-tuning were god-awful, the acting was mercifully bad, and the characters were just laughable. Tom Cruise, almost fifty and well under six feet tall, makes a fool of himself playing a rock star/sex god. I laughed guiltlessly every time he appeared on screen. Zeta-Jones and Akerman were also some of the worst offenders. Their characters were so incredibly ridiculous that I almost couldn't bear to watch. Shankman, with Hairspray, was able to craft a funny, poignant, and relevant musical, which I really enjoyed, but this one was a huge miss. I left the theatre angry that the film wasted two-and-a-half hours of my life.

Should you see it: No
Grade: F

Rock of Ages gets the distinction of being the first film on my blog to receive an F.

Film Review -- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Written by Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winner who penned Slumdog Millionaire, this indie stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas. Dr. Alfred Jones (McGregor) is one of Great Britain's leading fisheries expert, and he is approached by a consultant (Blunt) to a Middle-Eastern sheik (Amr Waked) about bringing the sport of fly fishing to the deserts of Yemen. He at first finds the idea appalling, unrealistic, and ridiculous, but an indirect threat on his job by the Prime Minister's spunky press secretary (Scott Thomas) forces him to take on the project. At first, his reluctance causes stiffness in his working relationship with Blunt's Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, but soon both of them come to wholeheartedly believe in the project, as well as develop a liking for each other. The film is very offbeat and quirky; the plot is definitely unlike any other I'm aware of. I did find the concept a little ludicrous, but I figured that if Dr. Jones believed the project to be rubbish throughout the film, it would turn out to be a very clever piece of satire. I assumed that, with such a ludicrous concept, the film would  never take it seriously; however, when Dr. Jones becomes an avid supporter of the project, the film's believability factor went way down. Nevertheless, it is a very mild and pleasing film.

Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B

Film Review -- The Amazing Spider-Man

Directed by indie darling Marc Webb and starring Andrew Garfield. Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans, this reboot of the relatively recent superhero franchise tells the story of Peter Parker, a shy and awkward high school student whose parents vanished mysteriously when he was just a young boy. Raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field), the teen one day discovers a briefcase that belonged to his father and that may hold a very important clue to the truth about his parents. The holdings in the briefcase lead Peter to Dr. Curt Conners, his father's old research partner. Unknowingly, Peter gives Dr. Conners a vital piece of information that will threaten all of mankind, and it is up to the unlikely hero to go undercover and save the day. I was skeptical since the announcement of this film, because the first Spider-Man film only came out ten years ago, and it seemed way too soon to be rebooting it already. However, I enjoyed it more than the original -- Garfield and Stone make a more attractive and believable pair. I did, however, gripe with one major plot hole (which I won't reveal directly, but it involves Peter's camera) that completely ruined the film for me; I just could not forgive it, and could not believe a smart guy like Peter could've made such a stupid mistake. After that, my enjoyment level suffered quite a bit, but I was still very much entertained overall by the film's tense pacing.

Should you see it: Sure
Grade: B-

Film Review -- Ice Age: Continental Drift

The fourth installment of the franchise features the voices of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Wanda Sykes, Peter Dinklage, Queen Latifah, and Jennifer Lopez. Manny the mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger, along with Sid's pesky granny, embark upon another adventure when their continent breaks apart and they are separated from the rest of their herd, which includes Manny's wife Ellie and daughter Peaches. When their iceberg float is "captured" by Captain Gut and his odd crew, the gang must outsmart the pirates and find their way home before its too late. As always, the highlight of this film is the hilarious Sid, with the welcome addition of his granny. Sid remains one of my favorite animated characters, so my level of tolerance for some of the absurdities in the story is quite high, simply because I'm too busy laughing at Sid to mind. This film, however, was definitely an improvement over the forgettable second and third films, though the first remains unmatched. Still, it is an entertaining and silly but enjoyable family film.


Should you see it: Yes
Grade: B+

Film Review -- Brave

This year's PIXAR entry tells the story of Scottish princess Merida (voice of Kelly MacDonald) and her quest to save her family from a beastly curse. Fiercely independent, athletic, and outdoorsy, Merida defies the traditional duties required from a princess, much to the dismay of her mother, Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). After a quarrel between mother and daughter over Merida's (lack of) intent to marry, the younger flees the castle and ends up at the door of a witch "woodcarver" deep in the woods. Looking for a spell to alter her destiny, Merida receives a spell from the witch (voice of Julie Walters) that will "change her mother." Instead of merely changing Elinor's mind about her daughter marrying, the spell physically changes Elinor into a bear, an animal with dangerous ties to the family. Merida only has two sunsets to change her mother back into a human and take control of her destiny. The first positive quality of this film is that it's the first PIXAR film to feature a heroine -- one who can challenge anyone -- boys included -- in the smarts and wit departments. The film is also very different from its predecessors, set in the past and featuring lots of "green" scenery and thick Scottish accents. I loved the central plot of the film, due to the message of the importance of family that it transmits. Though predictable, as are most fairy-tale like stories, I was still genuinely touched by the film. Perhaps it isn't the best PIXAR film, but it is one of the most innovative.


Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-

Film Review -- To Rome With Love

The 2012 Woody Allen film stars, among others, Allen, Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Judy Davis, Roberto Benigni, Ellen Page, Greta Gerwig, and Jesse Eisenberg. Set in the Eternal City, it tells the intertwining stories of different couples who live in, love, and are affected by the city. Although the critics aren't being terribly kind to it, the film is definitely one of the funnier Allen films I've seen. There are many genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Although there are plenty of characters and story lines, they all feel fresh and are all very entertaining. Though last year's Midnight in Paris was more rich in history and culture, there is still plenty to like in this year's charmer. Allen's writing is as on point as ever here. 


Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-

YMS -- You've Got Mail & Julie and Julia

In memory of Nora Ephron -- who died Tuesday of leukemia at 71 -- this YMS (You Must See) is for two of her films (coincidentally, my first YMS was for an Ephron film as well, Sleepless in Seattle, one of her most famous films). 
The first is You've Got Mail (1998), the second Meg Ryan -- Tom Hanks pairing. It tells the tale of a small bookstore owner, Kathleen Kelly (Ryan), who unkowingly falls in love with her bookstore chain-owning competitor, Joe Fox (Hanks) over the Internet. It is one of the better "chick flicks" I've seen, carried by its charm and the charisma of the actors. 
The second Ephron film featured in this YMS is Julie and Julia (2009), starrin Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. Streep plays world-famous cook Julia Child, and Adams plays aspiring cook Julie Powell. The account of Child's rise to fame is intertwined with the account of Powell's modern-day undertaking of cooking all of Child's recipes from the latter's famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The film is carried by Streep's (routinely) exceptional performance, and by enough food to make your mouth water. 
Ephron's contributions to the industry are unparalleled, paving the way for more women writers-directors and making many films with strong female protagonists. She redefined the term "chick flick," and such films of hers will continue to impress and delight men and women alike.