Snow White & The Huntsman

You have probably noticed as I have, that occasionally Hollywood releases the same types of movies at the same time.  For example, in 2010 there was Knight & Day and Killers, two very similar movies released within a month of each other.   There are other examples, but the most recent would be earlier this season when both Disney’s Mirror Mirror (starring Julia Roberts) and Universal’s Snow White & The Huntsman were released.  The former looked like children’s fare, while the latter appeared to put a different, darker twist on the classic fairy tale.  I was also drawn in by the cast, which included blonde beauties Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) and Charlize Theron (Hancock).

Theron stars as Ravenna, the evil queen that we’re all familiar with.  In the movie she is both beautiful and cunning, a narcissist who will stop at nothing to maintain her beauty.  Kristen Stewart (Twilight) is Snow White, princess of a thriving kingdom.  When she is just a young girl her mother dies, leaving Snow White and her father behind.  Distraught and vulnerable after his immense loss, the King falls prey to the to the beauty of a prisoner his men encounter on a sojourn in the woods.  He marries the beguiling dame, thus making her queen of his kingdom.  The honeymoon is over almost instantly, and the new queen reveals her true motives.  She murders the king, drawing youth and beauty from the taking of another life.  She banishes Snow White, imprisoning her within the castle walls.  Everyone thinks she is dead, and years go by.  The once thriving kingdom has grown black and joyless.  Every day the Queen asks her “mirror” who is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.  One day it tells her that another has emerged who is more beautiful.  It is Snow White, and her life is in danger.  She has supplanted her nemesis, a woman who views beauty as power and will stop at nothing to keep it.  Each life taken by the Queen restores and freshens her beauty and youth, ensuring that she is the fairest in the land.  Her mother instilled in her at a young age the importance of her beauty, and now there is a sort of supernatural force enabling her.  Snow White gets wind of the Queen’s plans for her and escapes into the Enchanted Forest.  Unable to retrieve her, the Queen enlists the help of the Huntsman, played by Chris Hemsworth.  This guy might end up being typecast as the big brawny hero in all of his movies, because other than Thor I don’t know what else he can do.  Oh well, there’s nothing wrong with using your physical attributes in character portrayals. If he’s capable of greater thespian feats, I’m sure we’ll see it eventually.  Dispatched by the Queen to capture Snow White, The Huntsman intends to follow her orders but changes his mind when he meets Snow White and has cause to question the Queen’s motives.  He ends up protecting her, and they navigate the Enchanted Forest together, along with the dwarves they have befriended.  The longer Snow White lives, the weaker the Queen becomes – because Snow White threatens her beauty and thereby her vitality.  The Queen’s true age is beginning to show and she will stop at nothing to remain eternally beautiful.

That’s the basic plot of the movie, which for the most part was very good.  I’ll admit that my eyelids got heavy at one point, but I attribute that to the warm weather and a momentary lull in the action.  Snow White and The Huntsman spent a lot of inconsequential time in the woods, and it was at that point that I nodded off briefly.  I enjoyed the movie, because I appreciated the more independent, warrior-like dimension they added to the classic character.  Snow White was not a helpless damsel in distress; she was a princess who fought for her kingdom fearlessly.  The Queen was a more complex villain, and Charlize Theron is so beautiful that her natural attributes lent themselves perfectly to the storyline.   Was it the best movie of the season?  Of course not, but Snow White & The Huntsman made for an enjoyable day at the movies. Grade: B+


 


Men in Black III

Will Smith (Seven Pounds) is a proven commodity, his movies having grossed over 5 billion dollars worldwide.  Marketing one of his movies during a post-Avengers lull shouldn’t be difficult, and since Hollywood is fond of beating dead horses, it was only logical that Columbia Pictures decided to make the Men In Black franchise a trilogy.  I’ll admit that I imagined Men In Black III to be a blatant money grab, but despite my reservations, it managed to add a new dimension to the series and was arguably the best installment yet.

Smith returns as Agent J, brash covert government agent and understudy to Tommy Lee Jones’ (Captain America: The First Avenger) Agent K.  Agent J is still a cocky loudmouth, but now he has the experience to back it up.  Agent K was his mentor and although J complained about him, none of his subsequent partners measured up to the grisly vet after his brief retirement.  Only a unique individual would find comfort in the anonymity of the Men In Black, a secret police force charged with protecting Earth from alien life forms.  In addition to policing aliens, the MIBs are an immigration and safety agency, helping the aliens co-exist with humanity, unbeknownst to the masses.

The Agency is really tested when an infamous alien criminal named Boris the Animal escapes from the lunar prison he’s inhabited for the past 40 years.  He’s hell-bent on punishing the man who put him there, none other than Agent K, who apprehended Boris back in 1969 at Cape Canaveral.  Boris’ arm was shot off in the process, and he’d love nothing more than to go back in time and wipe out Agent K before he maims him.  However, if Agent K’s life is cut short in 1969, he will not go on to create the Arcnet, a global defense system that includes a force field that shields the planet from alien invaders.  This is important because if Boris is allowed to alter history, his alien race of Boglodite brethren will not be rendered extinct and will ultimately invade and destroy the Earth.  Needless to say, it is critical that Boris be stopped.  Agent J travels back in time to 1969 to save K’s life, thereby saving humanity.  He tries to stay as far away as possible from K, focusing instead on Boris.  Eventually J and K’s paths cross, and J tries to convince a 29-year-old K to help him nab Boris, declining to mention that K’s own life is in danger.  J has a small window in which to operate, and Boris seems to be one step ahead of him.  There are infinite permutations of destiny that can fatefully occur, and the odds are against J.

In the first two Men in Black movies, Tommy Lee Jones had top billing over Will Smith.  This time it is Smith who clearly deserves top billing, whether because his career has blossomed tremendously since the last sequel or because Jones isn’t featured much in this third installment.  Instead, it is Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men) who steals the show as the younger Agent K.  His southern deadpan is spot-on, and he sounds and looks just like Agent K, albeit a much younger and more handsome version.  Smith was fine in his role, but I don’t think much was required of him.  I actually thought his first few lines fell flat in their delivery.  Eventually he found his groove and was his usual charismatic self, but I remained more impressed with Josh Brolin.

I was skeptical about this movie, but it didn’t feel like a total re-tread, and the special effects advanced the storyline nicely.  The depiction of a 1960’s Manhattan was interesting, though not entirely original.  Director Barry Sonnenfeld presented a straightforward plot, but managed to have some fun with the time period, and of course – the aliens.  One of the funnier scenes involved Agent J at a party at Andy Warhol’s “factory,”  where it is revealed that Warhol is an alien.  Given his talent and eccentricity, this real-life addition to the plot was clever.  The Men In Black have always been a seemingly futuristic organization, and it was interesting to see that anachronistic concept play out in the past of 1969.  With enough cool tricks to please young and old viewers alike, Men In Black III made for a pretty good day at the movies.

Grade: B+

This article first appeared at http://poptimal.com/2012/05/men-in-black-iii-review-adds-new-life-to-this-old-franchise/#.T8j5gHgijww and was reprinted with permission.

Meet Jameel Saleem: Exit Strategy

In life, some people sit on the sidelines, and some people get in the game.  The thing that separates dreamers from achievers is one simple word: action.  If you believe in something, make it happen.  This blog is a small representation of my dream of becoming a writer, and a small representation of the immense love and joy I get from the art of film.  I encourage all dreamers to make their dream happen.  And when you do, I’ll support it.  With that being said, I’d like to introduce anyone reading this post to Jameel Saleem, a very promising young filmmaker with a bright future.  You heard it here first.

Hailing from Baltimore, Saleem’s first solo directorial effort was Cream Soda, a comedic romp about an average twenty-something who seeks comfort in the simple things in life (like his favorite soda) when things get complicated.  Exit Strategy is his third film, and the growth Saleem has shown is nothing short of remarkable.  He stars as James, a young man who finds himself in a predicament when he is evicted from his apartment.  Kimelia Weathers is featured as his girlfriend Kim, and there are notable appearances from Quincy “Q Deezy” Harris as James’ best friend, along with comedian/actor Kevin Hart (Think Like a Man) and radio personality Big Boy in supporting roles.  When James is evicted, he is forced to rapidly accelerate the pace of his relationship by moving in with his girlfriend of three months.  This was a very believable premise, because we all know that fate has a cruel sense of humor and life will bite you in the ass before you can blink.  Normally James wouldn’t be living with a girlfriend he hasn’t even slept with yet, but it’s either move in with Kim or live on the streets.  James goes into it with an open mind, but quickly realizes that Kim has the patent on a new and improved type of crazy.  She nags and bosses him around like a parent, telling him when to go to bed and forcing him to do chores on Sunday rather than allowing him to watch football.  How can another adult “allow” you to do anything anyway?  He’s a grown ass man!  These are the things you don’t know about a person until you live with them.  She’s so delusional that while brushing her teeth during a conversation with James, Kim inexplicably spits her toothpaste in his hand rather than walk the five feet to the bathroom sink.  If I were James, at that point the curb might not look too bad.

When your home life sucks, everything else seems to follow suit.  Eventually the domestic discontent begins to permeate every aspect of James’ life.  He finally enlists the help of his friends to end his relationship.  Complicating matters is the fact that James wants to break up with Kim but remain living with her, as roommates.  He doesn’t want to take their relationship to the next level; he wants to take it to the previous level.  His efforts prove futile when it looks like Kim just wants to be in a relationship, no matter how terrible it is.  She won’t take no for an answer, so James gets more creative in planning his “exit strategy.”  If Kim won’t let him break up with her, he’ll force her to break up with him.  Unfortunately, his efforts at undesirability fall short, but all is not lost.  Eventually Kim has her “light bulb moment” after James resorts to the most extreme tactic to turn her against him.  I won’t tell you how it ends, but let’s just say that everyone is happy.

Exit Strategy was one of the best independent movies I’ve ever seen.  The writing, editing, and direction belied no inexperience and the premise was perfect for a screwball “unromantic” comedy.  I salute Jameel Saleem, and the sky is the limit for this exciting young filmmaker.  We must nurture and support young talent so that it may thrive as an example to others.  Be on the lookout for Exit Strategy in a city near you.

The Avengers

My mom reads my reviews, so I’ll censor myself a bit for this one.  Suffice it to say that the excitement I feel when I see a good movie trailer is akin to the adrenaline that coursed through the veins of the women who used to throw their panties on stage at Marvin Gaye et al.  When I saw The Avengers trailer, I didn’t throw my panties at the movie screen.  But I could have.  Oh yeah, I wanted to.

This is my favorite movie going time of the year.  The Oscar movies tend to come out some time in the fall, but it’s the summer (and early spring) that gives us the popcorn fare we love.  There was no question I’d be front and center for The Avengers, even if I couldn’t swing the midnight showing.  The excitement in my theater was nearly palpable, and we were all in for a treat.  If you’ve seen Iron Man, The Hulk, or Thor – you’ll at least be somewhat familiar with these Marvel mainstays.  The movie begins with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, Meeting Evil), head of S.H.I.E.L.D., a covert government organization charged with protecting American interests on domestic and global levels.   It picks up where Thor left off, as Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth, The Cabin in the Woods) nefarious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston, War Horse) has obtained the tesseract, an otherworldly energy source that can destroy the planet.  He wants to harness its power and bring humanity to its knees, enslaving the populace.  Fury knows that he can’t stop Loki on his own, after witnessing him take out an entire room of armed security forces.  His first call is to the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, We Bought a Zoo), a spy who is already in the fold.  The other members of the team will require varying degrees of persuasion.  Starks (Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) is in.  Thor comes forward of his own volition to battle his brother and fellow Asgardian.  Captain America (Chris Evans, What’s Your Number?) is a soldier who is accustomed to taking orders and as such, requires the least prodding.  Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, The Kids are All Right) is the most reluctant of the bunch, as he’s spent the better part of a year trying to keep his cool.  Rounding out the group is Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner, MI: 4), a recently rogue agent who was temporarily under Loki’s powerful spell.  Hawkeye and Black Widow are a tandem, bound by a shared mysterious past.  The movie highlights each hero’s skillset, and by the end they have accepted the values of teamwork and cooperation while forming an unbreakable bond.

The plot wasn’t terribly important, and it’s about what you’d expect: good guys unite to defeat the bad guy, whose wish list includes the subjugation of all mankind.  Some have an issue with the simplified plot, but I don’t.  I mean, it’s always a variation of the same theme.  I didn’t have a problem with the plot but I did have an issue with Loki’s reasoning that humanity’s natural desire is to be enslaved.  Quite the contrary, humans have an innate desire for freedom – so I thought writer Joss Wheedon could have tweaked that element a bit more.  It’s my only very minor criticism in a movie that was otherwise perfect.  What I enjoyed most about the movie was the interplay between each superhero.  Each character in his/her own right is capable of saving humanity, but it will take a concerted effort to defeat a foe as formidable as Loki, who has enlisted an entire interplanetary army to help him.  There was a natural chemistry among all the actors, and I can tell they genuinely had fun making this movie.

The Avengers succeeded where other superhero movies have failed.  Just because a movie is family-friendly does not mean that it has to be corny.  Spiderman 3 was horribly cheesy, and Superman Returns was equally bad, for similar reasons.  There has to be a middle ground between the darkness that Christopher Nolan brings to the Batman franchise and the corniness of those two aforementioned movies.  I believe The Avengers had the right balance of heft and fluff, if that makes sense.  It wasn’t all smiles and sunshine, as Black Widow has a shady past, Captain America is woefully out of touch, Thor is dealing with the worst form of sibling rivalry, Hawkeye needs redemption, and The Hulk is just trying not to spazz out.  The dialogue and interplay between characters was well worth the price of admission.  I think people should refrain from superlatives though.  This was not the best superhero movie ever made.  As long as Batman is still considered a superhero, that distinction remains with The Dark Knight.  That being said, The Avengers is a must-see summer blockbuster.  Grade: A+

American Reunion

Hollywood seems like a rough place.  People who were once hot or up-and-coming are barely relevant now.  Remember Chris Klein?  What about Tara Reid?  Which leads me to my next point.  I think American Reunion was made just to give the cast an excuse to meet up, have some fun, and collect a paycheck.

When American Pie was released in 1999, it was an instant hit, featuring raunchy laughs and memorable dialogue.   It even spawned the term ‘MILF,’ a pop-culture mainstay.  That’s gotta count for something.  I don’t want to call it a classic, but that’s sort of what it was.  Most of the well-known 80s teen movies featured horny kids trying to get laid, and I think that’s the familiar aspect that resonated most with viewers of the original movie.  The sequel was ok, but I passed on the subsequent installments.  Since American Reunion brought back the original cast, I thought it might be worth a look.  The gang is about 30 years old now, and things have changed a lot.  Kevin is married and Oz (Chris Klein) is a minor celebrity with a broadcasting career and an appearance on a dancing reality show.   Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are married with an adorable toddler.  Finch is completely swagged out.  And Stifler…well, I’m not sure what Stifler is doing exactly, but he is living in his mom’s basement.  Jim and Michelle are suffering from a lack of intimacy, which is probably not uncommon for young married couples with a small child.  The movie opens with a hilarious scene of them independently trying to pleasure themselves without being disturbed.  Jim has always been the maven of masturbation, so nothing’s changed.  At least no pies were harmed this time around.

Kevin thinks it will be a good idea if the gang all reunites for their 13th high school reunion.  Why, I don’t know. Nobody celebrates the 13th of anything, unless it’s a birthday or anniversary.  It’s an unlucky number and there’s nothing significant about it.  5, 10, 15 or 20 year reunion – I get it.  But 13th?  Ok, whatever.  Jim’s dad is the same old dad, always ready with a humorous albeit unwanted piece of sexual advice.  Stifler and Finch haven’t buried the hatchet since Stifler’s mom made a man out of him, and he wasn’t exactly high on the guest list for the reunion festivities.  Closer inspection reveals that things aren’t as great as they seem to be with Finch, or Oz.  They may have been keeping up appearances in the real world, but it takes the reunion to remind them of a simpler time and what real friendship is all about.  I’m just as close with a few people in high school as I was when we were teens; so I could relate to that aspect of the storyline.

American Reunion was a pretty funny movie.  It’s not one that needed to be made, but that’s ok.  Most of the cast hasn’t done anything noteworthy since American Pie, and that made me sad and nostalgic for some reason.  The plot was simple, and like I said – this was just an excuse to make a couple of dollars and rehash an old movie whose stars have since fizzled.  You know what though? It worked! I laughed out loud repeatedly. Grade: B.

Wrath of the Titans

Sam Worthington (Man on a Ledge) definitely has my attention.  He’s not the most handsome, and he’s not the best actor, but I like him.  I think Clash of the Titans is what did it for me.  Too bad the much-anticipated sequel was not as effective.  When we first met Perseus, he was totally unaware of his godly heritage.  Clash worked because it gave us a hero who was called to save humanity while realizing his true destiny.  It’s literally the stuff stories are made of.  I enjoyed the depiction of the iconic Greek gods, and the story was a good one.  Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about Wrath of the Titans.  It wasn’t a bad movie, but it was not as good as the first.

This time around, the gods of Mt. Olympus are in dire straits.  They derive some of their power and strength from humanity, through prayer and adulation.  Maybe things are going pretty well for mankind, because people haven’t been calling on the gods much lately.  Thus, they are getting weaker and vulnerable to attack.  You’ll recall from the first movie that god of the underworld Hades has a beef with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon.  I’d be pissed if my siblings ruled the heavens and the sea while I was sent to hell too.  Anyway, Hades is still ticked off.  Now that the gods are getting weaker, they’re ripe for the taking.  Hades, with the help of Zeus’ son Ares, god of war, is plotting to unleash the titans from their prison so they will destroy their traitorous offspring.  The titans gave rise to the gods, who in turn defeated them. Confusing stuff if you don’t remember the mythology, and my memory is a little rusty.  Anyway, Hades kidnaps Zeus and takes him to the underworld to drain his remaining power and release the titans.  His godly brethren are useless, so Zeus must once again call on Perseus, the demi-god and reluctant hero.  Now with a boy of his own, Perseus is adored by his countrymen but lives the simple life of a fisherman.  He must once again summon his inner greatness and rise to the occasion, with the help of his trusty steed Pegasus.

I’ll start with the good.  The movie was exciting and entertaining. I saw it in 3D, which was cool.  I’m kinda over the whole 3D thing though.  Unless it’s a dope ass epic movie like Avatar, I’m usually underwhelmed by it.  Unfortunately, Wrath of the Titans failed to live up to its predecessor because it lacked a compelling storyline and was comprised of weak characters.  Perseus is often told that being only half god is not a bad thing.  He is told that he possesses all the best of humanity and the gods.  My issue with his character was that this is not his first time at the rodeo.  That was the last movie.  Perseus, you don’t know what you’re doing yet? You saved the world before; you released the MF kraken – and you’re still afraid?  That just didn’t work for me.  Perseus should just be more…special.  I also found aspects of the storyline to be implausible, whether it was a timely reconciliation here, or a transparent betrayal there. *yawn*.  Anyone who saw Clash of the Titans probably liked it and would be amenable to the sequel.  Be forewarned, you may be mildly disappointed.  Wait for Netflix.  Grade: C+

The Hunger Games

I didn’t read the book, ok? Hopefully you still find my thoughts on The Hunger Games relevant.  I’m not one of those people that must read the book before I see the movie. Movies are my passion, and I haven’t been a voracious reader since adolescence. I think all of this higher education dulled my ability to read for pleasure, and I’m working on getting that desire back.  But who cares, let’s talk about The Hunger Games.  When I was a kid I read a short story called “The Most Dangerous Game,” about a man who was hunted like an animal by another man.  It was a fascinating look into man’s most sadistic urges.  The Hunger Games promised to touch on a similar theme of self-preservation, and it presented an interesting portrait of a bleak future – a striking cultural dichotomy.

In a fictional future, the country has been fractured by civil war.  The rebellion was quelled, but now instead of states, American territory is divided into twelve districts.  As penalty for their uprising, the citizenry must offer a periodic sacrifice, or “tribute.”  Each district must randomly select one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 to compete in The Hunger Games, a televised battle pitting the 24 contestants against each other in a fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen (Jessica Lawrence, X-Men: First Class) lives in District 12, and here’s the dichotomy I was talking about.  Although the movie depicts a futuristic world, District 12 looks like it’s straight out of The Great Depression.  Known for coal mining, the residents of District 12 are covered in soot, both downtrodden and hungry.  Food is a precious commodity, doled out in parsimonious fashion.  People barter for food by agreeing to submit their name into The Hunger Games lottery.  If you’re starving and don’t have any currency, you bargain with your livelihood.  At least that’s what I managed to glean from the cinematic version.  If you literary enthusiasts need to correct me on that point, feel free.  Katniss has an adorable little sister named Primrose, who at the age of 12 is newly eligible for the Games.  She’s understandably petrified at the prospect of the competition, but Katniss reassures her that the chances of her being selected the first time are slim.  Turns out the odds are not in young Primrose’s favor, and her name is pulled for The Hunger Games.  Fiercely protective of her sibling, Katniss offers herself as tribute in Primrose’s place.  The male contestant randomly selected is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, The Kids Are All Right), Katniss’ childhood friend.

That’s the basic gist of the plot, which you probably already knew. Most of the movie takes place in a faux wilderness of sorts, the setting for The Hunger Games.  The contestants compete in a controlled environment, manipulated by the producers of the show.  Katniss is a skilled huntress, deft with a bow and arrow.  She uses this to her advantage in the savage game, one that allows for the possibility of a twelve year old girl fighting an eighteen year old boy to the death.  Talk about the deck being stacked against you.  Recently the movie has come under fire from the omnipresent vocal minority of racist idiots that call the internet home.  Again, I haven’t read the book, but one of the characters named Rue (Amandla Stenberg, Colombiana), has been criticized for not living up to the lily white image some viewers were expecting.  I thought she was adorable, and I’m not going to entertain any criticism of her performance, which was flawless.  The nubile Ms. Lawrence was equally impressive in her role, both stoic and compassionate as the reluctant warrior.

The film was a provocative exploration of the human desire for bloodlust.  It’s just a movie though, right? We’d never have something like The Hunger Games in real life…or would we?  I think the idea of a random drawing goes against the very cornerstone of American freedom, but don’t tell me there isn’t a deep dark part of human beings that loves blood sport.  Gladiators used to battle in a Coliseum while people laughed and pointed and had a grand old time.  And how many people love MMA fighting?  Oh sure, it’s not quite the same, but you get my point.  Google Faces of Death.  People got quite a kick out of that.  The Hunger Games was rather intense for the average little kid, and I wouldn’t take my first grader (if I had one).  Otherwise, I thought it was a treat, and a definite must-see movie.  Grade: A-.

A Thousand Words

Eddie Murphy is a curious case. In his heyday he pioneered the buddy cop genre and was a fixture in some classic 80s movies like Harlem Nights and Coming to America. A few years ago he even won an Academy Award for a supporting role in Dreamgirls. In many respects, Murphy is an accomplished actor. But in other respects he’s responsible for some of the worst movies of the past decade. I present Exhibit A and B. Murphy’s resume is so spotty that I don’t know what to expect from his movies. I had low expectations for A Thousand Words, but it wasn’t as bad as some of his more recent duds. A tepid endorsement for sure, so I wouldn’t rush out to see this one.

Murphy stars as Jack McCall, a fast-talking literary agent who isn’t above bending the truth to get what he wants. His latest target is a new age self-help guru named Dr. Sinja, a fictionalized Deepak Chopra who looks like he raided the Dalai Lama’s closet. Sinja’s philosophy involves finding inner peace by shutting out the noise of the world and looking inward. Jack lives a life polar opposite from Sinja’s, but he is impressed by his massive following and wants to translate Sinja’s popularity into riches. He lies about his motivations, and gets Sinja to sign a book deal. During his spiel to Sinja while visiting his compound, Jack encounters a mystical tree in his garden. It is supposed to be a source of peaceful reflection, but Jack leans against it while lying to Sinja and cuts his hand on the bark, leaving behind some blood. The next day Jack and his wife Caroline (Kerry Washington, For Colored Girls) are shocked to see the massive tree sprout up in their backyard. As he talks, the tree loses leaves. When all the leaves have fallen from the tree it will die, and so will Jack. By the time Jack notices what’s going on, there are about a thousand leaves left on the tree. Jack has a thousand remaining words to speak and is forced to find other ways to communicate. He is also forced to listen to his inner voice since he can’t use his outer one. Unable to BS his way through life anymore, he tries the introspection he should have attempted long ago, but will he learn his lesson before it’s too late?

A Thousand Words wasn’t the most original movie concept. It reminded me of two Jim Carrey movies, Liar Liar and Yes Man. In both movies, Carrey’s ability to communicate was severely hampered so that he could learn a bigger life lesson. He couldn’t lie in Liar Liar and he couldn’t say no in Yes Man. In A Thousand Words, Eddie Murphy can’t talk at all. This lead to a lot of comedic, physical acting and Murphy gave a capable performance. I felt his character’s frustration and his sincerity as he tried to communicate without speaking. There are those who will take a glance at this movie and dismiss it as Murphy’s usual tripe, but I think that would be a bit unfair. The movie may have taken itself too seriously at times, but at least it tried. Despite being largely forgettable, it featured some talented actresses, including Ruby Dee (American Gangster) and Allison Janney (The Help), in addition to the aforementioned Kerry Washington. Though it probably won’t fare well at the box office, I thought A Thousand Words wasn’t nearly as shameful as some of Murphy’s recent offerings. It made for a passable day at the movies, but there are more exciting choices currently in theaters. I give it an A for effort.

This article first appeared at http://poptimal.com/2012/03/a-thousand-words-review-a-for-effort/ and was reprinted with permission.

This Means War

I’m proud to be an American, but the quickest way to turn me off from something is to dub it “America’s fill-in-the-blank.”  For example, “America’s Team” would be the Dallas Cowboys.  Or maybe the New England Patriots.  Either way – I ain’t with it.  Similarly, we’re fond of calling people “America’s Sweetheart.”  I’m not a fan of the expression or what it represents.  Take “America’s Sweetheart,” Julia Roberts.  I’m over her; she doesn’t get a pass for mediocre movies or that obnoxious toothy laugh.  However, there is one notable exception to my disdain for all things patriotic.  Reese Witherspoon – one of America’s Sweethearts who doesn’t annoy me.  Plus she played Tracy Flick in Election, so she can’t be that much of a goody two shoes.  Check that one out on DVD if you haven’t seen it, especially if you’re a fan of black comedy.

I was curious about her latest movie, an entrant into the relatively unique action rom-com genre.  If you don’t know what an action romantic comedy is, think Mr. & Mrs. Smith.   I digress.  Witherspoon (Water for Elephants) stars alongside Chris Pine (Unstoppable) and Tom Hardy (Warrior) in This Means War, a spy vs. spy movie that ended up being pretty entertaining.  Best friends Tuck and FDR are CIA agents who discover that they are casually dating the same woman; a cute thirty-something named Lauren who is none the wiser.  Being the competitive chaps that they are, Tuck and FDR refuse to back off and defer to each other.  They lay down some ground rules, and the game is on.   As secret agents they bring all of their espionage talents to bear, complete with high-tech gadgetry.  Unbeknownst to their boss (played by the wonderful Angela Bassett), they use Agency resources to take cock blocking to unprecedented levels, complete with surveillance and wiretaps.  Lauren genuinely is interested in both guys for different reasons.  Tuck is nice, humble and sweet, while FDR is brash and cocky.  Advising Lauren every step of the way is her sister Trish, played by the hilarious Chelsea Handler in her big screen debut.

Witherspoon’s character was relatable and endearing.  Lauren needed to be capable of making two guys battle each other tooth and nail for a shot with her.  Considering that most men hate to lose, it wasn’t a far-fetched idea.  Tom Hardy continues to impress me with the wide range of roles he accepts.  He’s quite versatile, capable of being both a romantic leading man and a diabolical villain (check him out in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises).  Chris Pine doesn’t really do it for me, but I understood his character’s appeal.  Everyone had good chemistry with each other, both comedic and romantic (not the two guys, obviously).  The movie doesn’t sacrifice Tuck and FDR’s friendship either, supporting the old adage of bros before garden tools.  To sum it up, this was a great date movie.  It has a little something for men and women alike.  Grade: B

Act of Valor

Navy SEALS are among the most elite of our American military.  To say that their training regimen is rigorous would be an understatement.  These men have unmatched dedication to country and they reject accolades and recognition.  On the contrary, the selfless nature of their service and the demands placed upon them require absolute anonymity.  Recently the SEALS have garnered more attention due to their successful elimination of Osama Bin Laden last year.  Last night I viewed Act of Valor, a movie that has been marketed as action-packed and groundbreaking due to its inclusion of real life active duty Navy SEALS.  The concept of the movie is amazing, and I was mesmerized watching the SEALS in action, but I was unimpressed with Act of Valor as a whole.

The movie centers on the mission of a particular group of SEALS who are tasked with recovering a kidnapped CIA agent.  The agent is Lisa Morales (Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace), who had been posing as a doctor while gathering intelligence on an arms smuggler and drug dealer named Christo (Alex Vedov, We Own the Night).  Christo is suspected of conspiring with Abu Shabal, a Ukranian terrorist and former childhood friend who is plotting an attack on American soil.  Morales was monitoring their relationship and when she got too close she was abducted.  The movie focused primarily on her rescue mission and its fallout as well as the backstory of two SEALS, one of whom is an expectant first-time father.  The SEALS are portrayed as a band of brothers whose focus on family and country is paramount.  They are salt-of-the earth people who live by a basic, unwavering code of bravery and sacrifice.  I’m sure this aspect of the story will resonate with many people in America’s heartland, a place where these attributes are similarly revered.

Welp, it’s my job to critique the movie, and despite the overwhelming surge of patriotism Act of Valor may inspire, it was not without its flaws.  There are plenty of excellent documentaries on the Navy SEALS and other elite branches of the military, such as the Army Rangers.  I’d suggest watching one of those if you want insight into what a day in their life would be like.  The dramatization provided by Act of Valor was very intense and exciting, and there were some hear-stopping battle scenes, but those scenes were not enough to hold the movie together.  An entire movie is the sum of its parts.  There was little character development, and that may have been to underscore the idea that no one SEAL is above his team.  I thought maybe the filmmakers wanted to de-emphasize their individuality, much as a SEAL might do in real life.  But there is a moment in the film where clearly I as a member of the audience am expected to sympathize with a character and be moved by their sacrifice.  Perhaps if his character were developed beyond cursory expository dialogue, I would have been moved.

That wasn’t the only issue I had with the movie, and I’m going to choose my next words carefully.  As an American whose freedoms are protected every day by our servicemen and women, I can’t express my gratitude enough.  The two principal characters, who I assume are real SEALS – should be commended for their service.  Unfortunately, the acting in this move was not as praiseworthy.  I feel bad for even saying that, but I have to give an honest assessment of any acting performance.  I thought a lot of the dialogue between the SEALS was hokey and poorly delivered.  I don’t mean to be overly critical, and I’m sure the filmmakers have made even more Americans appreciative of our soldiers with the creation of this film.  But as a cinematic offering, I think it faltered in certain places.  The movie excelled when it focused on the SEAL’s duties and their field operations, not their personal lives, which highlighted the deficiencies in the main characters’ acting abilities.  This is just one person’s opinion.  Please don’t revoke my American citizenship!

This article first appeared at http://www.poptimal.com and was reprinted with permission.