Jonah Hex

If you’re familiar with this blog or me at all you know that I tend to cling on to the positive aspects of films and come out of the theater liking most efforts. The majority of people would say I rate films too high in almost every case and I’m ok with being overly optimistic in these instances. However, once in awhile I run into something in which I just can’t find the bright side. Enter DC Comics adaption, Jonah Hex.

The concept is not the main issue with the film. Josh Brolin stars as the title character who uses his bounty hunter skills to track down a terrorist, played by John Malkovich, who is trying to blow up the post Civil War United States. Hex also has some super-natural powers and that terrorist happened to burn His family alive. Now where to start? Malkovich played his usually creepy self in a role that lacked any kind of dimension. He was a Confederate who wanted to destroy the Union… literally destroy the Union, as in blow it up with a giant cannon. The issue with developing an evil mastermind is that the film has to convince the audience someone would want to go about their evil plan. In this case, so many innocent civilians were murdered with no plan to impact the overall scheme I just couldn’t buy it.

Josh Brolin’s performance was fine. That’s really all that can be said because almost everything out of his mouth was a campy one-liner. I know better than to blame that on the actor instead of the screenwriter. Though no amount of script doctors could have saved Megan Fox’s performance. The prostitute, Lilah, that she played was not important to the story and did nothing except bring a woman into the fold. Yeah fine, Megan Fox is hot blah, blah, blah but she is a very weak actress. Her poor southern drawl came and went multiple times and the complete absence of chemistry with Brolin created a number of very awkward scenes. To draw a comparison, it was like if Alfred and Two Face started making out during The Dark Knight… exactly. Michael Fassbender’s over the top performance as Burke, the Irish henchman was a rare bright spot, and deserves to be mentioned.

The last of my major complaints comes with the glancing over of certain aspects of the film that could have strengthened it. One of the early scenes is animated with comic book style graphics. But that one scene was the only time. The theme doesn’t even return for the credits. It was as if the director forgot to film that sequence and decided it would be cheaper to draw it. That obviously didn’t happen but that’s what it looked like. The other theme was Hex’s ability to rouse the dead. It was one of the few unique elements in the film, but it’s hardly used. I guess Jonah Hex is just another reminder that all comic books shouldn’t be made into movies. I don’t want to dissuade potential viewers from seeing it however. It’s the best Post-Civil War-Sci Fi-Apocolyptic thriller since 1999’s Wild Wild West. (4.3 out of 10)

The A-Team

Who could have foreseen that a film reboot of a campy 70’s action show would have a script strong enough to bring in some of Hollywood’s best to star? O.K, so “Hollywood’s best” definitely needs quotation marks but this cast deserves recognition. The story of four military outcasts on a mission to clear their name of a wrongful charge, The A-Team is a brand that is best remembered for one of the cheesiest of catchphrases, “I pity the fool…” Luckily, those words were never uttered in the new version. But they did make a cameo as a Baracus tattoo.

Now back to the cast that is lead by the unquestionable Liam Neeson, who tends to be strong no matter how lousy a movie is. His portrayal of Colonel ‘Hannibal’ Smith was a quality performance. However, I must say that for once he did not steal the show. Sharlto Copley, previously of District 9, reinvents the over the top character, Murdock to great affect. Who knew he was such a strong comedic actor? The other two leads (B.A. Baracus, played by Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, and Face played by Bradley Cooper) were high quality accomplishments as well. Rampage could still improve a bit on his acting but for a character originally played by Mr. T the bar isn’t that high.

Add those individuals to this strong multi-layered script and we have a movie that I consider to be the strongest of the summer so far. It had more laughs than most comedies and was able to combine a smart conspiracy plot with absolutely ridiculous events. I can’t imagine you can control a free falling military tank by blasting the cannon in certain directions but they made it seem possible in the film, which is enough for me. The action is pretty sick as well. I wouldn’t expect any less from the director of Smoking Aces, Joe Carnahan who helmed The A-Team. But unlike that previous effort this movie has more than just explosions and dying.

Cinematically, the film had a number of very interesting compositions that brought the viewer into the film. I almost broke a sweat watching some of the desert scenes because of the warm tint laid over the shots, and that’s just one example. It was just a great all around effort. I really wish I had an “I pity the fool” joke here, but I’ve got nothing. Damn. (9.0 out of 10)

Get Him To The Greek

I can only imagine how this movie was pitched to studio execs. Let’s take one of the mediocre characters from a funny movie and build a story around his drug addiction and really minimize the impact it has on people… I guess there’s more to it than that but Russell Brand’s spinoff of his Forgetting Sarah Marshall character Aldus Snow strays from the off the cuff comedy that made the first incarnation such a hit.

This time, Brand portrayed an even more extreme version of Snow with drugs and alcohol being the basis for his antics. It’s possible the writers intended to use the tons of drugs to convey a sort of anti-drug awareness message, but it struck me as kind of bazaar as I left the theater cringing at the after effects the characters would feel from the sheer tonnage of narcotics hit. But drug movies never speak to me as much as some other people.

This is the only instance I can remember where I actually enjoyed a Jonah Hill performance. His portrayal as an aspiring entrepreneur in the music business was likeable most of the time and the scenes with ­­­­ ­­Elizabeth Moss who plays his girlfriend, Daphne are probably the strongest and most realistic in the entire film. However, those already mentioned drug scenes change his character into the usual dumb teenager Hill portrays in teen comedies like Superbad and Knocked Up.

For some reason Brand is good at playing a celebrity engulfed in his own image battling drug addiction… I don’t know why. But with all the negatives it is important that I point out how funny the film actually is. It channeled The Hangover for overboard shenanigans and never went too long without a laugh. The writers built on the ridiculous songs from Forgetting Sarah Marshall giving Snow a hysterical catalog of fictional hits.

Another positive was the pacing of the film. It’s rare you get a film that has constant comedy and doesn’t come off as too short. It fit a full story arch into one film with no reason for there to be a sequel. I can attribute that to the plotline only taking place over a few days as opposed to some kind of epic journey through the years. Then throw in Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was probably the funniest part of the whole film, and I can say the film was a strong success. Is it wrong to say that when a rapper is the funniest actor the surrounding team of comedic performers kind of look bad? Insert “Bad Boy For Life” reference here. (8.5 out of 10)

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

A summer blockbuster produced by Jerry Bruckheimer starring Jake Gyllenhaal? How could it miss? Well with Prince of Persia: Sands of Time they came fairly close. Based on the video game of the same name, Gyllenhaal plays Dastan, the fully-grown version of an orphan taken in by the king of Persia after displaying his bravery. He then finds himself framed in a conspiracy for the throne, of which he has no interest in filling. A ton of twists and turns follow.

Overall, the script is original with interesting characters and events, though occasional instance of lazy dialogue weakens the performances and authenticity of the story. While avoiding any spoilers, the film’s resolution presents an “easy way out” scenario for the writers while speaking out against one of the film’s central themes, living with your own mistakes.

Luckily, the actors were able to carry the film and turn it into a successful effort. Gyllenhaal presented a believable and strong performance in his first role as a jacked up action hero. His usual wittiness shined through despite the questionable accent he used. The emphasis on the character’s gymnastic “parkour” abilities jumping from rooftops was impressive but overused. The chemistry between him and Gemma Arterton, who played Princess Tamina was more realistic than most romantic comedies as the pair evolve from hating each other to “love” throughout the story. Sir Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina provide great support to the relatively young cast. Molina is even “laugh out loud” funny in some of his moments.

One thing I can hardly find acceptable in a 2010 Disney film is the video game like CGI that can be seen at times. The high-budget standard these days is a complete realism in digital effects. Somehow Sands of Time has a handful of deep and establishing shots that look like a syndicated sci-fi TV. Show. It hardly ruined the film but I found this weakness hard to believe.

It’s tough to judge whether a sequel will be made. It will, like always, depend on revenue but I would be interested in watching this franchise build mainly because of the likable characters. Plus if they made another one where I wasn’t questioning the ridiculous “jewel button” on the dagger for half the movie it would be a bit stronger. They might as well have had the characters tap y on their xbox controller. It would be equally as cheesy. (7.9 out of 10)

MacGruber

Films based Saturday Night Live skits have a terrible reputation, and rightfully so. The only ones I can think of with a positive legacy are the Wayne’s World duology, which are even questionable at times. Enter MacGruber, the MacGyver satire with Will Forte playing a self-indulgent decorated war hero who couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag. The skit isn’t even one of the strongest in the current SNL lineup yet somehow it found its way to the big screen.

There is really no way that any critic or casual viewer could give this film high marks. The plotline flip-flopped too often between an attempt at quality action and schoolboy humor. The humor was definitely there, however the minutes that passed between each laugh made it tough to enjoy. The script could have definitely used some tightening up. The action was basically just some below average fight choreography teamed up with explosions. Not to mention some unnecessarily gory throat rips that were more gruesome than funny.

The main positive in MacGruber comes from the cast, which consisted of half SNL cast members and half film regulars. Will Forte and ­­­­­­Kristen Wiig play the two leads in a surprisingly well-done transition from the static characters they portray on television to big screen players. I’d be interested to see both of them, particularly ­­Wiig, in more films in the near future.

In regard to the seasoned actors, Ryan Phillipe was good but didn’t steal the show and Val Kilmer was fine. He was funny at times, and I’m glad to see Kilmer back on the job. Director Jorma Taccone, one third of the comedy trio The Lonely Island, directed the film and I would have to position it as a misstep. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here. Unfortunately, the probable lack of box office revenue the film will bring in may limit his next project, but you never know.

So, it seems that MacGruber was a transitional film for almost everyone involved. The actors, director and others could probably do better, although Forte shows he is quite talented with a stick of celery. (6.2 out of 10)

Shrek Forever After

In my opinion, Shrek revolutionized what animated films can be. The elements that children find entertaining are equaled if not surpassed by innuendo and pop culture references teens and adults would snicker at. The box office numbers the first three Shrek films put up would suggest that people do in fact enjoy them. But, in modern- Hollywood fashion Dreamworks couldn’t walk away from Shrek and Donkey after the trilogy was complete. They had to go for that one more film.

Shrek Forever After lacked the hype and taglines that drew me into the theaters. Of course I was in seventh grade when the first one came out but I don’t think age was the difference. It was an unoriginal premise… It’s a Wonderful Life with ogres. Luckily the movie was better than my initial impression from the trailers.

The film’s script bounces back and forth between clever and lazy writing. Rumplestiltskin is the villain in the film who seeks power by changing history through a secret meeting with Fiona’s parents, the king and queen of Far Far Away. Along with “Rumple” there are some new characters from classic fairytales who make appearances.

But, with the original supporting characters thrown on the back burner it forced the main players to pick up the slack, which they didn’t. Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz came off as pushy in all of her scenes including those in the alternate reality. Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots was hardly present but had some funny moments. The same goes for Eddie Murphy’s iconic character, Donkey. His parts were smart as usual and I would have preferred his screen time was doubled so we had less of the tepid Shrek who was only tolerable at the best of times. New ogre characters played by John Hamm and Craig Robinson overshadowed Shrek and Fiona with better jokes and more original parts.

It’s difficult to judge this film on its own because the other three have built such a reputation. But, even with the weaker storyline, and character development issues Shrek Forever After was successful in presenting a mood and pacing that keeps the viewer’s attention and produced laughs and excitement. I don’t think a fourth installment was necessary to finish the Shrek series, but it fits in just fine and I think it will stand up as a conclusion to a very influential portion of animation history. (7.5 out of 10)