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AH BOYS TO MEN Interview With MenPosted on 06 Nov 2012 |
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Golden Village's GVmax Unveils Largest Cinematic Sound System in Asia featuring Dolby AtmosPosted on 06 Nov 2012 |
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WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUNPosted on 19 Nov 2012 |
Genre: Comedy/Action
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Rob Corddry, Tony Shalhoub, Bar Paly, Rebel Wilson, Ken Jeong, Yolanthe Cabau
RunTime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence, Drug Use And Coarse Language)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: http://www.painandgainmovie.com
Opening Day: 1 August 2013
Synopsis: A pair of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong.
Movie Review:
In exchange for his service at directing the next lucrative Transformers gig, Paramount agree to finance this long in-development Michael Bay’s pet project based on a true crime in Miami. This is definitely Bay’s most serious movie since Pearl Harbor (don’t snigger please) and of course the cheapest at a mere US$22 million.
What is the American dream? Has that got to do with your personal greed or worst, your steroid-fueled ego? Mark Wahlberg plays Daniel Lugo, an ex-convict who now works as a personal trainer for Sun Gym. This guy knows how to talk, he knows how to sell and he seriously knows fitness. Within three months, he turned Sun Gym from a gym for old folks to one of the hottest gyms in Miami. But Lugo is not satisfied. He is chasing his dream. After attending a motivational talk, he is determined to be a doer. Ironically his plan of becoming rich is to turn to crime. Roping in his fellow bodybuilders, Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie), the trio decides to kidnap one of Lugo’s rich clients, Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub) planning to force and torturing him to turn his assets and money to them.
Not to spoil your viewing experience, the trio did manage to get away with the scheme. Apparently, the police found Kershaw to be such a dickhead that they didn’t follow up with his report. But then money is so evil at times that human just can’t get enough of the social status, luxurious cars, women and drugs that the dollar sign can buy. Doyle for one spent all of his money on cocaine; stripper and he yearn for a bigger scheme with his buddies-in-crime. This time, it’s a road of no return for them.
For a director who sealed his reputation with noisy effects-driven movies, Pain & Gain liked he promised is a much toned down product. Opting for more character-driven sequences and grounded storytelling, Bay with the help of screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (The Narnia franchise, Captain America and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World) delivers a straight-forward “Be a doer but don’t do crime” cautionary tale. The crime as it is portrayed onscreen is so ridiculous that Bay needed to assure the audience that this is still a true story at the 108 minutes mark.
Bay being Bay however still sneaks in a couple of his trademark execution being the spiral shot (showcased in Bad Boys II), slow motion shots and excessive use of lens flare (Transformers) throughout the duration. His gratuitous jabs at libido, homosexuality, prominently display of tits and strippers and unnecessary grisly bits can be quite a turn-off. The millionaire filmmaker simply thinks the audience find these amusing; we on the other hand rather focused on the performances of his cast which in one word – brilliant. Dwayne Johnson stole the whole show with his portrayal of a born again Christian with a cocaine addiction and he comes across a genuine good guy who is being pushed to the wrong side of the road. Mark Wahlberg is a force to be reckoned with as the prolific star chalked up yet another charismatic performance. Ed Harris, the solemn, no-nonsense actor appeared late in the movie as an ex-cop turned private detective while Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect) provides some comic-relief as the wife of Doorbal.
If the editing has been tighter, Pain & Gain might just ended up as an accomplished black comedy. When you come to think of it, comedy is not really a good word to describe it because watching three idiots with their lives spiraling down to hell isn’t funny after all.
Movie Rating:
(No joke, it's all pain watching testosterone-fueled bodybuilders on the way to hell)
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Andres Muschietti
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nellsse
RunTime: 1 hr 40 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: NC-16 (Horror)
Official Website: http://www.mamamovie.com
Opening Day: 17 January 2013
Synopsis: Guillermo del Toro presents "Mama," a supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are rescued years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night. Five years ago, sisters Victoria and Lilly vanished from their suburban neighborhood without a trace. Since then, their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), have been madly searching for them. But when, incredibly, the kids are found alive in a decrepit cabin, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home. As Annabel tries to introduce the children to a normal life, she grows convinced of an evil presence in their house. Are the sisters experiencing traumatic stress, or is a ghost coming to visit them? How did the broken girls survive those years all alone? As she answers these disturbing questions, the new mother will find that the whispers she hears at bedtime are coming from the lips of a deadly presence.
Movie Review:
The age old question remains: If you have seen one horror movie, does it mean you have seen them all? While we would like to give the benefit of the doubt whenever a horror flick comes along, more often than not, we end up leaving the cinema feeling that we have seen the movie somewhere before. The latest offering landed on our laps is branded with Guillermo del Toro’s name (cinephiles would associate him with the beautiful Pan’s Labyrinth). Does this bode well for the Spanish Canadian production?
Always include kiddies in your supernatural thriller. Here, two little girls vanished into the woods the day their mother was murdered. As the story would have it, they are rescued years later and are supposed to live normally like any other normal little girls. Taken care of by their uncle and his girlfriend, the two girls begin behaving strangely, and the couple begin wondering whether they have allowed something unwelcoming into their house.
Directed by first time director Andres Muschietti, the 100 minute scare fest does deliver some decent frights. You know, the type that plays with sudden loud audio effects, the type that plays with shadows and lights, and the type which leaves you giggling after an unexpected startle. The filmmakers know what works, especially with del Toro playing the producer role. The visuals creates a looming dread which doesn’t go away, and the visuals are moodily created, which puts this production a notch above most of the other mediocre scare fests we’ve seen.
Now, the story. As much as the screenplay (written by the director, Neil Cross and Barbara Muschietti based on the short film of the same name) tries to develop an arc to flesh out the plot and the characters’ personalities, it can’t escape the fact that the tale is nothing too original. Coupled with some contrived plot lines and convenient occurrences, the story only serves to distract viewers from its more decent scares.
Fortunately, the cast fares well. Megan Charpentierand Isabelle Nélisse are genuinely creepy and will send chills down your spines with their death stares. Danish actor Nikolaj Coster Waldau (TV’s Game of Thrones) does not break out of the “male protagonist who becomes helpless, leaving the female protagonist to run around alone” mould, but still gives a fine performance. Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life, The Help), on the other hand, gives a surprisingly endearing take on the horror movie femme fatale role. Playing a close cropped brunette, she plays the American sweetheart no more, impressing us with her gung ho performance.
The film starts off on a good note, meanders through the second third and becomes almost melodramatic in the last third. The special effects team may have done a good job in creating the supernatural realm, but as the movie begins feeling like it has overstayed itself, the effects does nothing more than delivering obligatory scares. It is, fortunately, the performances of the cast which saves the movie from being another forgettable flick you watch on late night TV 10 years down the road and say: “This looks kinda familiar…”
Movie Rating:
(A decent scare fest which, although delivers good ol’ scares, does not bring anything new to the genre)
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, MOONRISE KINGDOM tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.
MOVIE REVIEW:
One is a troubled girl. The other an orphan boy. Together they ran off to a quiet cove and ignite a series of romantic delight.
The acclaimed Wes Anderson continues to mesmerize in his 7thfull-length feature film. Set in the summer of 1965 on a fictional island called New Penzance, two 12-year-olds, Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) falls in love and make a secret pact to run away to the wilderness. While their young love blossoms, Suzy’s parents, the local sheriff, Sam’s Khaki Scout leader and his troops embark on a search operation around the island. Will the adults thwart the plan of the two lovebirds?
I for one actually look forward to live in the world created by Anderson. In New Penzance, everything is as nice as pastel painting. The houses and sheriff’s post are unusually quaint. The sky, beaches, streams and trees look very much vivid. Coupled with award-winning Alexandre Desplat’s beautiful score, “Moonrise Kingdom” is stunning on the visuals and ears alone.
Anderson’s usual trademarks can be found once again, the dysfunctional family, quirky characters and gorgeous cinematography by his collaborator, Robert D Yeoman. Regular cast member of Anderson’s movies Bill Murray (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou) pair up with Frances McDormand (Fargo) to play parents to Suzy. Walt and Laura Bishop might be lawyers on the small island but they both seem to have a distanced relationship between their four children and themselves. Other big names include Edward Norton who plays the gung-ho Scout leader and Bruce Willis who are about to die hard next year turns in a rather low-key performance as the town’s bachelor sheriff (who I must add may be having an affair with Laura). Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia) also appears as Social Services, another regular of Anderson, Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited) pops up as Cousin Ben, another trooper who assists Sam and Suzy’s second escape. There’s always a role for everyone in Hollywood and strangely, all the stars fits nicely and promptly into Anderson’s world everytime. George Clooney has lent his voice to “Fantastic Mr Fox” and we are waiting for his buddy, Brad Pitt to appear in the future.
But none of the familiar names match the performances of newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. The two young stars have an amazing chemistry and play out the require emotions like established pros. Sam is a confident Boy Scout and a sad orphan as well. Suzy hates her mother and steals library books. Under the hands of Anderson and his writing partner, Roman Coppola, the duo delightfully layered the complexity of the characters with much charm and wit that you can’t help rooting for them as they first discover their own sexuality followed by an innocent Chapel wedding.
Like a good old storybook, it’s both bittersweet and funny though I find the overly dramatic third act which feature a major thunderstorm unnecessary. While “Moonrise Kingdom” feature lots of youngsters, it’s not a movie for them, it’s a movie dedicated to that innocent kid in all of us.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
A Look Inside Moonrise Kingdom is a brief 3 minutes segment that takes viewers behind-the-scenes, shots of Anderson and Bill Murray.
Narrated by Bob Balaban, Welcome To The Bonus Features Island of New Penzance focus on the movie’s main cast members including Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Wes Anderson.
Set Tour With Bill Murray as describedtakes you around the sets with some oddball comments from the actor.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The DVD transfer retains the stunning images and colours intended by the filmmakers. Dialog remains clear throughout while sound effects are constrained by the 2.0 soundtrack.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
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Golden Village Introduces the Next Generation of Cinemas at City Square MallPosted on 08 Nov 2012 |
Genre: CG Animation
Director: Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Al Pacino, Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong
RunTime: 1 hr 38 mins
Rating: G
Released By: UIP
Official Website: http://www.despicableme.com/splashpage/
Opening Day: 4 July 2013
Synopsis: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's worldwide blockbuster, "Despicable Me," delighted audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. In Summer 2013, get ready for more minion madness in "Despicable Me 2." Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy animated adventure featuring the return of Gru (Steve Carell), the girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions... and a host of new and outrageously funny characters.
Movie Review:
No one could have quite predicted how delightful and heart-warming ‘Despicable Me’ would be, and therefore how the debut toon of Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment could have come out of nowhere to give Pixar a good run for its money. Boasting ingenuity and heart in its story of three orphan girls who reform a criminal mastermind and his army of yellow Minions, the film became a monster hit in the summer of 2010, all but guaranteeing this entertaining but slightly less outstanding sequel.
Indeed, despite the return of directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud as well as writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, Gru’s return feels less inventive than its predecessor, let down most noticeably by the absence of a more character-driven plot. Whereas the first film emphasised Gru’s change of heart after turning into foster parent, this one struggles to find a defining character arc for him following his bad-to-good transformation, settling instead for some mild over-protectiveness and a new romantic interest.
Gone are the poignant parent-child bonding scenes between Gru and his adopted kids, - Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and little Agnes (Elsie Fisher); other than an opening sequence where Gru purposely dresses up as a fairy princess to please Agnes during her birthday party, the rest of the movie barely lets Gru spend any time with his kids. A later subplot that sees Gru’s fussing over Margo’s teenage crush for a cool Mexican boy feels almost like an afterthought, with most of the attention instead placed on his budding relationship with a female partner Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig).
Wilde is the only missing piece to Gru’s otherwise picture perfect family existence, so the writers have constructed a skeletal mystery as an excuse to bring Gru and Lucy together. A new agent of the Anti-Villain League, she is tasked by the League’s director Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan) to recruit Gru in tracking down the villain responsible for the theft of a dangerous transmutation serum from a top-secret laboratory in the Arctic Circle. Some initial resistance aside (which culminates in a hilarious send-off for Gru’s evil mad scientist Dr Nefario - voiced by Russell Brand), Gru opts to join forces with Lucy.
Their investigative work largely takes place within a shopping mall, where they set up a cupcake shop as a front to observe the other suspicious shopkeepers - including the owner of a Mexican restaurant called Eduardo (Benjamin Bratt) and the owner of a wig show with the even more eccentric name of Floyd Eagle-san (Ken Jeong). Intended as a perfect complement to Gru, the gregarious Lucy literally bounces and dances around Gru - but though their scenes pop with verve, their relationship lacks the endearment of Gru’s with his three girls in the first movie.
Seemingly aware of this, the directors carefully balance Gru and Lucy’s hyperactive romance with almost stand-alone sequences of the ‘oh-so-cute’ and utterly irresistible Minions. Not simply in droves - whether making jam and jellies in Gru’s lab or rushing in line for a dubious ice cream truck that comes around the neighbourhood - they also appear in amusing twos and threes as firemen, housemaids and babysitters, and perhaps even more so than before, threaten to steal the whole show. Rather than just Gru’s assistants, they also have a bigger role to play in the hysterical finale, which deftly ties together what often exists as disparate story strands in the rest of the movie.
Yet even though the plotting could do with a little more meshing, the lively visuals and consistently zany energy will surely keep you engaged throughout. Whereas Pixar or even DreamWorks’ animation tend to go for beautiful visuals and even a fair amount of restraint, the French-based animators on the ‘Despicable Me’ movies have opted for complete and unfettered amusement as their top-most priority, and the maniacal energy and sheer nuttiness with which they have crafted many of the laugh-out-loud scenes are infectious to say the least.
It certainly helps that they have a voice cast to match their ambition. Steve Carell’s combination of deadpan and an Eastern European accent once again lend Gru an inimitable persona, while Wiig’s brisk and bouncy delivery works superbly as his accompaniment. In equally comical fashion are other new additions Coogan and Jeong, but the one deserving of special mention is Bratt, whose devilish intonations lend Eduardo (or otherwise referred to as El Macho) both charm and menace.
The uniformly excellent voice cast keep up the snappy pace of the movie, which together with the lovable Minions, strive to sustain the same entertainment value as its predecessor. And largely, this is as amusing, lively and even uproarious as the original; yet, beyond the slapstick and physical hijinks, there is still something lacking. As one character remarks in the movie, you cannot quite top Gru’s out-of-this-world scheme of stealing the moon; and for that matter, neither does Gru’s tale of falling in love quite match the same poignancy and sweet-natured charm of his coming-into-fatherhood story the last time round.
Movie Rating:
(As lively, amusing and wacky as the original, but Gru’s falling in love is pure slapstick that lacks the heart and poignancy of his turn as an accidental father the last time round)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Director: Jonathan Levine
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, John Malkovich, Analeigh Tipton, Dave Franco, Cory Hardrict
RunTime: 1 hr 38 mins
Rating: PG13 (Violence and Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 14 March 2013
Synopsis: A funny new twist on a classic love story, WARM BODIES is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human – setting off an exciting, romantic, and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.
Movie Review:
You’ve got to admit – a romantic comedy about a sensitive zombie who falls in love with a teenage girl he rescues seems pretty damn intriguing. Not only does it sound like quite possibly one of the most inventive spins on the classic Romeo and Juliet love story, it also has the potential to breathe life (pun intended) into an increasingly staid genre that’s seen one too many ‘Resident Evil’ wannabes. Thankfully, in the sensitive hands of writer/ director Johnathan Levine, this genre-bending exercise referred to by some reviewers as a ‘zom-rom-com’ is funny, sweet and often quite charming.
In adapting Isaac Marion’s playful ‘what-if’ novel of dating the walking dead, Levine makes the astute choice of retaining the narrative device of R’s voiceover narration. R, by the way, is the name of our Romeo, who for the life of him, can only remember so much of his name. By virtue of his undead nature, he – like the rest of his kind – can no longer have proper conversations, so much so that what passes for speech is grunting and perhaps an occasional monosyllabic word.
But R’s thoughts reveal a thinking and feeling human self on the inside, as he ponders over the meaninglessness and absurdities of his monotonous life. As Marion does, Levine gives R a wry sense of humour through his inner voice, and let’s just say it makes for pretty amusing stuff. Wit meets romance when Julie enters the picture, R’s Juliet whom he has a love-at-first-sight moment with on one of his regular hunts for food. While R’s hunting pals devour the rest of Julie’s company, R is compelled by something entirely unfamiliar to protect her – though that doesn’t extend to her duty-bound boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) whom he feasts on without any compunction.
R brings Julie back to his home, a 747 jet sitting on the tarmac of an abandoned airport where their unlikely bond of love develops in the course of the next few days largely over R’s extensive vinyl collection – including Bob Dylan’s Shelter from the Storm and Bruce Springsteen’s Hungry Heart. “They sound alive,” R explains when Julie brands him a purist for his love of vinyl, and indeed, the subsequent days of both physical and emotional intimacy with a human being will awaken something long thought dead within him.
A lesser director might have turned the high-concept material into something contrived, but Levine – who in his earlier films ‘The Wackness’ and ‘50/50’ has demonstrated a knack for turning Hollywood’s romantic equation on its head – infuses R and Julie’s relationship with a delightfully offbeat sweetness. Sure, the use of alt-rock ain’t exactly original after indie rom-coms like ‘500 Days of Summer’, but there’s no denying that Levine’s choice of music here is a perfect mood-setter.
Completing the equation here are its two beautifully matched leading stars, Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. Better known as the boy in ‘About A Boy’ as well as Jack in Bryan Singer’s ‘Jack the Giant Slayer’, Hoult plays off his character’s inabilities for physical and emotional expression brilliantly, especially so in R’s interactions with Julie. Watching R struggle to express what he thinks inside is hilarious, and the film’s best moments are found in the middle act where it is just R and Julie together in the former’s 747. Palmer is equally pleasing as R’s opposite, exuding an infectious verve that complements Hoult’s deadpan act.
Unfortunately, that whimsical charm is somewhat lost as the film builds towards a more conventional action-packed climax pitting humans against the bad zombies, or otherwise referred to as ‘Boneys’. Those familiar with the book should know that Levine has cut out several scenes that emphasise the complex relationship between Julie and her single-minded authority figure of a father General Grigio (John Malkovich), diminishing the poignancy of a finale meant to give new meaning to the age-old adage about the power of love.
Yet even though it does lose dramatic momentum when transiting from comedy to action, there is more than enough quirky appeal in this light-hearted post-apocalyptic Romeo and Juliet spin to ensure that you will not be left cold. As is evident from its schmaltzy fairytale ending alone, the strength of this adaptation lies too with its cast, including luminous supporting turns by the likes of Rob Coddry as R’s buddy M and Analeigh Tiption as Julie’s best friend Nora. Oh, it also earns extra marks for its smart pop-culture references, most evidently in its use of a balcony scene between R and Julie.
Movie Rating:
(Funny, sweet and often quite charming, this genre mashup – otherwise known as a ‘zom-rom-com’ – is a lively post-apocalyptic spin on a Romeo and Juliet love story that will leave you with a warm smile)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Justin Chon, Sarah Wright, Jonathan Keltz, Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, Daniel Booko, Francois Chau, Daniel Booko, Dustin Ybarra
RunTime: 1 hr 33 mins
Rating: TBA
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/21andOver
Opening Day: 7 March 2013
Synopsis: Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him. But when his two best friends Casey and Miller surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, he decides to do what’s unexpected for a change, even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery in this outrageous comedy.
Movie Review:
Are Jon Lucas and Scott Moore so desperate to replicate the success of ‘The Hangover’ that they have to title their first writing project which they are also assuming directing duties for ’21 and Over’? In fact, besides the titular association, were they so short of ideas that they had to recycle the basic premise of ‘The Hangover’ using the excuse of a twenty-first birthday celebration? Given the thematic similarities, you might as well stop reading here if you’ve never liked ‘The Hangover’; but if you enjoyed it as much as we did, then allow us to share just how much fun we had with this coming-of-age version of their runaway hit.
Like ‘The Hangover’, ’21 and Over’ opens with our main characters in a ‘WTF have we done last night’ moment. That honour here belongs to Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin), whom we see walking butt naked across an open campus ground with only a sock each to cover their penises. That’s a teaser of just how crazy things have gotten, before the story rewinds itself one day earlier when both former high-school buddies – the not-so-academically inclined Miller who’s gone to a less prestigious university; and the more academically inclined Casey who is a Stanford student - meet up to pay their best friend Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) a surprise visit on the day of his twenty-first birthday.
As bad luck would have it, Miller and Casey bump into Jeff Chang’s stern disapproving father (Francois Chau) when they turn up unexpectedly in his room. Branding them ‘dimwarts’, he warns them to get Jeff Chang back early so he can be ready for an important interview the next morning – though you probably know better than to take their word for it. Nonetheless, at least among the two of them, there is one friend (i.e. Casey) responsible enough to urge caution when Jeff Chang throws it into the wind and gets high and loose. On the contrary, Miller is just his diametric opposite, egging Jeff Chang on shot after shot after shot.
It doesn’t take long before Jeff Chang is utterly wasted, but not fast enough before he does stupid things like standing on a bar top and peeing on everyone else in the room or riding a mechanical bull and puking all over the place. Yes, as it was in ‘The Hangover’, alcohol is the catalyst for shit to happen. The quest to get Jeff Chang back in his own bed forms the basis for the rest of the night’s riotous events, including trespassing a Latino sorority house, crashing a pep rally and participating in a progressive dorm drinking party that is akin to clearing a multi-level video game.
Of course, it isn’t all about Jeff Chang. Casey has the pleasure of a romantic interest in Jeff Chang’s female friend Nicole (Sarah Wright), while all three of them get to experience the wrath of Nicole’s boyfriend Randy (Johnathan Keltz) with whom they have a few unfortunate run-ins over the course of the night. This being a buddy comedy, you can be sure that friendships will be tested and truths will be revealed along the way, even as it all comes to an affirming finish by the time everything is said and done.
Indeed, you’ll probably have seen enough of such comedies to know the ending even before it comes along, so all that matters is whether Lucas and Moore make the ride to that known destination worth the while. In this case, the answer is a definite and affirmative yes. There is great fun to be had in the sheer unpredictability of just how the boys’ raucously over-the-top adventure will turn out – though we have to warn you that what passes for humour here does tend to get rude, offensive and politically incorrect – and Lucas’ and Moore’s playful sensibilities clearly demonstrated in both their writing and directing are perfectly suited for the characters’ comic misdemeanours.
That fit is also found in the casting, which finds great camaraderie among Teller, Astin and Chon. But more than that, each actor in his own way makes his character come alive. Teller is suitably irascible as the reckless and immature fool, but his eventual resolve to become a better person hits a sweet and tender spot. Ditto for Chon, who proves to be more than just a younger version of Ken Jeong by playing his character with surprising sensitivity - especially when Jeff Chang reveals his own dark secret. Compared to Teller or Chon, Astin seems saddled with the least interesting character, though it is not entirely his fault that Casey appears bland next to Miller and Jeff Chang.
Thankfully, the movie isn’t dull; instead, it manages with lewdness and sheer lunacy to recreate the pleasures that fans of ‘The Hangover’ had with that movie, with its writers Lucas and Moore effectively using the template they had created four years ago to offer an unbridled look at just how crazy your twenty-first celebration could be. Is that considered ripping off yourself? We don’t really care – ultimately, what matters is whether the movie is fun and entertaining, and we assure you ’21 and Over’ is one heck of a crazy ride you will want to relive the moment it is over.
Movie Rating:
(Replicating the formula of ‘The Hangover’ with a teenage cast, this riotous comedy is lewd, rude, crude, offensive and a whole lot of sheer exhilarating fun)
Review by Gabriel Chong
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