Genre: Musical
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Cast: Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Harry Shum Jr., Ashley Fink
RunTime: 1 hr 24 mins
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References)
Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/Glee3DMovie
Opening Day: 1 September 2011
Synopsis: The multi-generational phenomenon that has inspired millions to embrace their inner-Gleek will soon bring them together to experience Glee a whole new way.
Movie Review:
It’s as simple as this: Do any of these names ring a bell to you? Quinn Fabray, Rachel Berry, Blaine Anderson, Kurt Hummel. No? How about these? Mercedes Jones, Brittany Pierce, Artie Abrams, Santana Lopez. If your face lights up with, err, glee at every mention of these names, then this 3D concert is a must watch for you. If you, like this reviewer, have no clue why this American comedy drama TV series is all the rage, you can, like this reviewer, step into the theatres and don those 3D glasses to experience the phenomenon that took a whole generation by storm yourself.
The movie is a recording of the Glee Live! In Concert! Tour, performed by the members of the cast from the popular TV series. The tour was, of course, produced due to the overwhelming response from the series about a high school glee club competing in choir competitions while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues.
Here, fans can hear songs from the show’s first and second seasons (the reason why you have to sing along in the cinema is because the concert never travelled to Singapore, get it?) and see some behind the scenes footage. Also, the movie also intertwines interviews with teenagers from New Jersey to portray the positive influence of the musical drama series on young people.
Before talking about the Kevin Tancharoen directed movie, let’s look at the rising popularity of concert movies. Remember Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (2009), Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009) and more recently, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)? And productions of such genre not screened in local mainstream cinemas include Shine a Light (2008), U2 3D (2008) and Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour (2008). Plus, we have upcoming 3D concerts featuring Mayday from Taiwan, Super Junior from Korea and Ayumi Hamasaki from Japan.
Seems like someone out there has milked this genre really well, and with the advent of 3D technology, the filmmakers (we are pretty sure the purists will not refer to them with this term) promise their viewers a “up close and personal” experience with their favourite stars. So what’s there not to enjoy about concert movies?
In this case, if you are a fan of the series created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, you would be enjoying every minute of this 84 minute production. Yes, you are a certified Gleek if you find yourself singing along to “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Born This Way”, “River Deep – Mountain High”, “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and every other song in the movie. As one can see, this movie is a guaranteed field day for Gleeks.
For the rest of us, it’s really about understanding why the series is such a hit with teenagers. You’ll hear from young people dealing with homosexuality (cue the PG13 rating!), Asperger syndrome (significant difficulties in social interaction) and a short stature. They talk about how the TV show has made them realise that they are not the only ones alone fighting the battle of being different, and how they have gradually begun to accept themselves. Inter cut these sequences with songs and dance filmed during the North American leg of the concert tour, and you get an extremely feel good movie that non Gleeks will enjoy – even if the bulky 3D glasses aren’t that comfortable.
Movie Rating:
(A must watch for Gleeks - For the rest of us, it’s really about stepping into the cinema to enjoy 84 minutes of feel good moments)
Review by John Li
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Magical Opening Weekend Box Office for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2Posted on 18 Jul 2011 |
Genre: CG Animation
Director: Chris Miller
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.pussinbootsthemovie.com/
Opening Day: 24 November 2011
Synopsis: Way before he ever met Shrek, the legendary Puss In Boots goes on a heroic journey, teaming up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs. It’s the adventure of nine lifetimes!.
Movie Review:
It’s not usually a good thing to let the cat out of the bag, but in the case of the swashbuckling feline ‘Puss in Boots’, it’s probably the best thing that DreamWorks Animation has done. When Puss first appeared in 2004’s ‘Shrek 2’, the dashing kitty stole the show from the titular ogre and his donkey pal- though in the subsequent two entries, the scene-stealing sidekick was not immune to the declining charms of the franchise. Thank goodness then that Pussy finally gets his chance in the spotlight without the distraction of the rest of the Shrek ensemble, this solo outing a lively spirited return to the playful allure of the character’s origins.
Taking more than a leaf from the Spaghetti Westerns, screenwriter Tom Wheeler casts Puss as the outlaw framed for a crime he did not commit. The reference to the genre is clear right from the beginning, as Puss casts a long, mysterious shadow at the door of a noisy crowded bar before walking in like the lone enigmatic traveller in a Sergio Leone western. But Puss is no laconic drifter- on the contrary, he is a smooth-talking Casanova with a lyrical Spanish accent, a Zorro-like feline character if you must know. Antonio Banderas is once again the voice of Puss, and the Spanish actor does a marvellously seductive purr with his accent. Truly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another voice for Puss, Banderas effortlessly making the character his very own.
Like the ‘Shrek’ movies, Puss’ story borrows irreverently from the beloved fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. Here, Puss’ tale of adventure sees Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris respectively in full redneck mode) as a pair of hulking outlaws with thoughts of settling down and having a human baby; as well as Humpty ‘Alexander’ Dumpty (‘The Hangover’s’ Zach Galifianakis) as Puss’ erstwhile best friend turned enemy who recruits Puss to steal three magic beans that will help make good their past misdeeds. Oh and in between the mishmash of fairy tales is the magic beanstalk, the goose with the golden eggs and Mother Goose as a Godzilla-type which in the finale threatens the sleepy South-western border town of San Ricardo.
It’s a packed ensemble all right, every frame bursting with colourful characters and delightful action that will keep the tots entertained from start to finish. Director Chris Miller (who co-helmed the lacklustre ‘Shrek 3’) impresses in his sophomore directorial attempt, never letting the proceedings get too frenetic for their own good. Instead, the action-packed story wows with standout sequences such as Kitty’s pursuit of the sassy cat burglar Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) across rooftops, balconies and alleys; Puss’ and Kitty’s daring canyon heist of the magic beans; their equally thrilling theft of the golden goose; and last but not least Puss’ courageous attempt to save San Ricardo and its townsfolk from imminent destruction.
There is plenty of visual pizzazz throughout the movie, and Miller’s choice of split-screens and slow-downs for certain action sequences enhances the storytelling. Adult auds will additionally enjoy the sharply drawn characters and witty one-liners. Rather than rest on Puss’ laurels, Wheeler has sketched exciting new supporting foils. Humpty, for one, is a fascinating blend of good and evil, a complex character with a heart of gold often overwhelmed by his desire for acceptance, his envy of Puss and his greed for (erm) gold. His clumsiness and his intentions (is he a good egg or a rotten one?) are some of the film’s running themes, and also some of its best moments.
The rest of the latter are supplied by Puss’ romantic interest Kitty, who shares great chemistry with Puss. The slick-fingered seductress proves to be a worthy match for the quick-witted Puss, as much on the job as on the dance floor- and one of the most entertaining moments in the film is a sizzling flamenco dance-off between Puss and Kitty (choreographed by Laura Gorenstein Miller of L.A.'s Helios Dance Theater). Banderas and Hayek ooze with as much hot-blooded romantic tension as possible in a child-friendly animation, the pair clearly having a hoot bouncing lines off each other.
There are however more winking adult moments, such as allusions to a feline one-night stand and catnip that Puss explains away as for his glaucoma. But these are likely to fly over the heads of younger audiences, who will no doubt be taken with the non-stop dazzling action scenes- complimented by Henry Jackson’s energetic score, which mixes Leone riffs smoothly with flamenco guitar. Fun, lively, amusing and irreverent, it’s everything we loved about the ‘Shrek’ franchise before it went stale- and cat or dog lover, you’ll be glad that this kitty finally got its own solo spinoff adventure.
Movie Rating:
(Delightfully amusing swashbuckling action-adventure that trounces even the best of the Shrek franchise)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Comedy
Director: David Dobkin
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Mann, Mircea Monroe, Alan Arkin, Andrea Moore
RunTime: 1 hr 52 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: M18 (Coarse Language, Nudity and Sexual References)
Official Website: http://www.thechangeupmovie.com
Opening Day: 6 October 2011
Synopsis: Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman star in The Change-Up, from director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), writers Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (The Hangover) and producer Neal Moritz (Fast & Furious, Click). The R-rated comedy takes the traditional body-switching movie, ties it up tightly and throws it off a cliff. Growing up together, Mitch (Reynolds) and Dave (Bateman) were inseparable best friends, but as the years have passed they’ve slowly drifted apart. While Dave is an overworked lawyer, husband and father of three, Mitch has remained a single, quasi-employed man-child who has never met a responsibility he liked. To Mitch, Dave has it all: beautiful wife Jamie (Leslie Mann), kids who adore him and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. To Dave, living Mitch’s stress free life without obligation or consequence would be a dream come true. Following a drunken night out together, Mitch and Dave’s worlds are turned upside down when they wake up in each other’s bodies and proceed to freak the &*#@ out. Despite the freedom from their normal routines and habits, the guys soon discover that each other’s lives are nowhere near as rosy as they once seemed. Further complicating matters are Dave’s sexy legal associate, Sabrina (Olivia Wilde), and Mitch’s estranged father (Alan Arkin). With time not on their side, Mitch and Dave comically struggle to avoid completely destroying each other’s lives before they can find a way to get their old ones back.
Movie Review:
Body-swapping comedies are so 80s. But with The Change-Up, David Dobkin, director of the bloke hit The Wedding Crashers, puts a ribald spin to the genre. Those who can't stand scatological jokes and profanity ought to steer clear. Unless you're a Judd Apatow fan. Although in this movie, you should expect much less emotional poignancy.
It is refreshing to see Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds take on atypical roles. As the overachieving lawyer Dave with a stiff upper lip, Bateman steps into those loafers comfortably. Often typecasted as the jokester, he is now the model family man who works so hard till his wife, Jamie, feels neglected. On the other hand, Reynolds who mostly comes across as serious or amiable, gets to be the mildly offensive, profanity-spewing lothario, Mitch.
Dave and Mitch have diametrically-opposed characters and they play off each other very well. A hilarious encounter with a Roman statue by a fountain in the park, while they take a leak, allows them to magically swap bodies. Seeing them switch bodies to play opposite personalities and scramble (amusingly) to adapt to their new lives is central to the enjoyment of the movie. And through living each other's lives, they learn to improve themselves.
Dave enjoys independence and freedom from his stifling marriage, while in Mitch's body. At same time, getting jolted and turned off by Mitch's odd sexual partner, lewd profession and bizarre bedhopping antics. Meanwhile, Mitch gets to clean up his bawdiness and straighten up his waywardness while taking on the responsibilities of married life's daily grind, which includes changing the soiled diapers of two impish toddlers.
While the movie adopts the predictable narrative of flawed characters being transformed for the better, the journey is fun and occasionally goes apeshit. So check your brains at the cinema door and just go with the absurdism.
Movie Rating:
(A hilariously zippy ride that offers big laughs)
Review by Adrian Sim
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THE PERPETUAL FIGHTPosted on 19 Jul 2011 |
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'YEN-MISTRY'Posted on 19 Jul 2011 |
Genre: Comedy
Director: Oliver Parker
Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Dominic West, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Kaluuya
RunTime: 1 hr 42 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.johnnyenglishreborn.com/
Opening Day: 15 September 2011
Synopsis: Rowan Atkinson returns to the role of the improbable secret agent who doesn’t know fear or danger in the comedy spy-thriller Johnny English Reborn. In his latest adventure, the most unlikely intelligence officer in Her Majesty’s Secret Service must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos. In the years since MI7’s top spy vanished off the grid, he has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia. But when his agency superiors learn of an attempt against the Chinese premier’s life, they must hunt down the highly unorthodox agent. Now that the world needs him once again, Johnny English is back in action. With one shot at redemption, he must employ the latest in hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI7. With mere days until a heads of state conference, one man must use every trick in his playbook to protect us all. For Johnny English, disaster may be an option, but failure never is.
Movie Review:
Humour is a funny thing- you either get it, or you don’t. Rowan Atkinson’s ‘Johnny English Reborn’ trades in the specific brand of humour called slapstick, and if you think your funny bone responds to that kind of humour, well let’s just say you’re in for a riotous treat. Reprising his role eight years after the original, Atkinson is once again in top form as the bumbling British Intelligence agent who screws up just about every plan but somehow manages to save the day.
It’s improbable certainly, but ‘Johnny English’ was never a character that was borne out of reality. Rather, it was originated by Atkinson for a series of 1992-97 Barclaycard commercials to spoof the iconic James Bond films and subsequently given the big screen treatment by regular ‘Bond’ writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Neither return for this sequel- instead it is ‘Mr Bean’s Vacation’ scripter Hamish McColl who brings the incompetent secret agent out of his exile in a Tibetan monastery.
The rebirth here refers to his call back into action by MI-7 chief Pamela Thornton (Gillian Anderson) from a life spent mastering ‘mind over body’ techniques (e.g. surviving heavy kicks to his genitals and walking on hot coals) after an embarrassing mission gone wrong in Mozambique. Apparently, there’s been a plot to assassinate the Chinese Premier, and MI-7’s informant Fisher (Richard Schliff) will only talk to English. The reason why isn’t that convincing, but let’s face it, isn’t particularly important at all.
Indeed, as with other Atkinson films, the plot is second fiddle to the gags and only present to provide some form of continuity. Fortunately then, the hit-to-miss ratio of the gags in this sequel is pretty high- thanks in no small measure to Atkinson’s impeccable comic timing. Right from the beginning where we witness English’s ‘gruelling’ training, it’s clear that Atkinson has not lost his unique gift for deadpan comedy. You would have seen some of the best bits in the trailer (like English raising and lowering his chair at an intelligence briefing with the Prime Minister), but even these are just as hilarious when you see them once again.
As with ‘Mr Bean’, the recipe lies in Atkinson’s ability to remain straight-faced through all kinds of nonsensical shtick- and nowhere is this demonstrated more clearly than in English’s banter with his young sidekick Agent Tucker (Daniel Kaluuva in an obvious allusion to Chris Tucker’s character in the ‘Rush Hour’ movies). Watching how English runs rings around his smarter counterpart especially when the latter is plainly right is simply hilarious, just as when English rubbishes Tucker’s deduction of the mole within MI-7 or insists on his own memory of what the various gadgets do.
But this sequel is also much funnier than the original because of director Olivier Parker’s sharp eye for screwball comedy. A recurring gag where English mistakes Pamela’s mum- and subsequently the Queen- for a Chinese assassin (Mind Your Language’s Lim Pik-Sen) is amusing, and so too is English’s escape on a motorised wheelchair from his fellow MI-7 agents after being framed. The true gems in the entire movie however are two uproarious sequences- the first an extended pursuit that sees English in Hong Kong constantly outsmarting a much more agile enemy; and the second a lesson in ‘how not to fly a helicopter’ with English as the pilot. We guarantee both will crack you up silly, complemented of course by Atkinson’s spot-on delivery.
Because Atkinson is so singularly outstanding, the supporting players are inevitably eclipsed. Anderson’s no-nonsense routine is too typical to stand out, and Rosamund Pike’s behavioural psychologist cum English’s love interest doesn’t get enough play in the film. Ditto for Dominic West’s fellow agent Simon, who looks like he wandered off the set of the next Bond film onto this spoof. It isn’t their fault that their characters get so short shrift, but this is ultimately a movie that rests on Atkinson’s shoulders.
Of course, if there’s anyone who can pull off Johnny English, you can be sure that Rowan Atkinson will do it handily. Atkinson shows why he is truly a comic genius by reaching into his bag of tricks and displaying them without reservation for his audience- no matter physical gimmicks, farce, wordplays and his signature Bean-faced rubber expressions. Nonetheless, ‘Johnny English Reborn’ is as a parody of just about every spy film ever made built on the language of slapstick- so check your brains at the door if you must and prepare to be rib-tickled silly.
Movie Rating:
(Rowan Atkinson is amusing as ever, and this sequel is a zany, lively and outright hilarious spoof of the James Bond films)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet
RunTime: 1 hr 47 mins
Released By: Warner Bros
Rating: PG13 (Brief Coarse Language and Disturbing Scene)
Official Website:
Opening Day: 8 September 2011
Synopsis: "Contagion" follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.
Movie Review:
Strange things have been happening to this reviewer recently. As he types away on the keyboard to complete this review, he is also coughing profusely. Yes - profusely. This is the reason why he thinks people around him at the preview of this Steven Soderbergh directed movie were staring. Yes – staring. This sickly columnist doesn’t blame these concerned looking folks. After all, they were in the middle of a movie about an unknown airborne virus that is wiping out humans faster than one can imagine.
Soderbergh’s latest work is a thriller film centered on the threat posed by a lethal disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to deal with the fast spreading outbreak. As the world fights against time to find a vaccine to battle the virus, fear breaks out in the disintegrating society.
If there’s one person who can bring together an ensemble of A listers to star in the same movie, it is Soderbergh, the man behind Traffic (2000), Full Frontal (2002), and not forgetting the very chic Ocean’s Trilogy (2001, 2004, 2007), Here, the Oscar winning director has gotten not one, not two, but three Academy Award Best Actresses to play different roles in the film. Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) and Kate Winslet (The Reader) are just some of the big names to watch out for in the movie. Other well known names in the ensemble piece include Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Elliot Gould and John Hawkes. Audiences in this part of the world would recognise Hong Kong’s Josie Ho and Chui Tien You, as well as Singapore’s very own Chin Han.
But let’s not allow big names to get in the way. The focus here is how a virus can strike so suddenly and silently that the human race can be wiped out within a matter of months. You may remember the harrowing memories that were SARS and H1N1, and this potent film is a stark reminder how vulnerable we are to these unknown attacks. Soderbergh sends shudders down his viewers’ spines by showing how the things we touch (did you know that we can touch our own faces 2000-3000 a day?) can actually be very dangerous. By transporting us from urban living rooms and jam packed public transport to sanitised medical laboratories and crowded rural villages, the film reminds us no one is safe when an outbreak occurs.
With a very agreeable runtime of 107 minutes, this slickly shot production brings us around the world to cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dubai, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The vexing music score by Cliff Martinez and the well paced editing by Stephen Mirrione also add to the impressive production value of the film.
The screenplay written by Scott Z Burns is complemented by the fine performances of the film’s ensemble. Each and every one of the star studded cast delivers an impressive, if not, brief performance. Without giving away too much, let’s just say one Oscar Best Actress will leave you dumbfounded with her unfortunate death minutes into the movie.
As the film ends with the revelation of how this fictitious virus came about, you would leave the theatre, cautious of what you touch and the people you come in contact with. Also, as this review comes to an end, this unwell columnist can only wish that he survives this illness to pen another review in the near future.
Movie Rating:
(A highly recommended thriller that is also a harrowing reminder of the vulnerability of the human race)
Review by John Li
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Director: Mark Mylod
Cast: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Joel McHale, Zachary Quinto, Dave Annable, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Chris Pratt, Ivana Milicevic, Eliza Coupe, Mike Vogel, Martin Freeman, Aziz Ansari, Thomas Lennon
RunTime: 1 hr 46 mins
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene and Some Coarse Language)
Official Website: http://www.whatsyournumbermovie.com/
Opening Day: 13 October 2011
Synopsis: Anna Faris is Ally Darling, who after reading a magazine article that leads her to believe she's going to be forever alone, begins a wild search for the best "ex" of her life. Ally's hunky new neighbor Colin (Chris Evans) helps her track down her exes, in exchange for Ally helping Colin avoid his.
Movie Review:
These days, it’s not enough for a rom-com to be plain romantic or funny- instead, there’s gotta be raunch somewhere in there. And so following in the footsteps of this summer’s ‘Bridesmaids’ is the equally racy chick flick ‘What’s Your Number’, starring the very adorable Anna Faris and the very swoon-worthy Chris Evans. The comparison is inevitable, given that its opening scene- which sees Faris’ hopping out of bed to primp herself before her boyfriend Rick (Zachary Quinto) wakes- recalls a similar moment between ‘Bridesmaids’ Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm.
But the similarities end there- whereas ‘Bridesmaids’ was a breath of inspired hilarity, Mark Mylod’s ‘What’s Your Number’ is only sporadically funny, resorting to crude jokes about penises, vaginas and sex almost desperately to try to get some reaction out of its audience. And because it is never quite as amusing as it should be, it also wastes the sharp comedic talents and the lively chemistry between Faris and Evans, both of whom deserve much better than the slipshod sitcom material on display here.
Adapted from Karyn Bosnak’s 2006 novel “20 Times a Lady” (in reference to Lionel Ritchie’s ‘Three Times a Lady’), it is premised on a free-spirited girl Ally Darling (Faris) who panics when she reads an article in Marie Claire that most women who have slept with more than 20 men are likely to stay single. Ally is already at 19, and after she inadvertently sleeps with the boss who has just fired her (Joel McHale) following a drunken night out, she resolves to stay celibate until she finds the man of her dreams. Rather than start afresh, Ally also decides to go through the list of her ex-es, hoping to find Mr. Right somewhere in there.
As formula would dictate, Ally would just happen to live across from a caddish commitment-phobic hottie Colin (Evans) with a heart of gold. In exchange for hiding out at her apartment while his one-night stands find their way out of his apartment, Colin agrees to track down her ex-es in order of eligibility. At least for the first half of the movie, frequent sitcom writers Gabrielle Allan and Jennifer Crittenden subject Ally to a laundry list of former boyfriends- including Chris Pratt (of ‘Parks and Recreation’) as a now-slim soon-to-be-married man, Andy Samberg as a nerdy puppeteer and Anthony Mackie as a gay politician- but none of these vignettes- sans Ally’s accented encounter with a British guy (Martin Freeman)- prove to be particularly clever.
Mylod’s direction also offers little help- a seasoned veteran of TV sitcoms such as HBO’s ‘Entourage’, he assembles each scene with the same loose hand that allows his actors to play out the material as naturally as possible. Such a technique requires solid material, which unfortunately this film possesses little of- and the result are dull sequences which lack punch-lines and outstay their welcome. As if aware that their ‘reunion with the ex-es’ premise is fast running out of steam, Allan and Crittenden change tack in the second half of the movie by placing the subplot of Ally’s sister Daisy’s (Ari Graynor) marriage front and centre.
Gone is the search for Mr. Right- Ally instead spends her time unknowingly falling in love with Colin while playing strip basketball and indulging in her stick figurine hobby. And just when you think that Ally and Colin are headed for that happy ending, the filmmakers decide to deny you that pleasure for a little while longer by throwing in a rich, handsome and very available ex in the form of Dave Annable. Add to that some motherly expectation by ‘Meet the Parents’ veteran Blythe Danner of what an ideal husband should be, and you have your obligatory complication that will eventually untangle itself predictably on Daisy’s wedding day.
Originality is often too much to ask of Hollywood rom-coms, but this supposedly contemporary take on romance turns out to be a cop-out when all that dirty talk about one-night stands and casual sex amounts to a denouement too typical of shamelessly sentimental chick-flicks. If there is still an undeniable sweetness to it, Faris and Evans are the very reason to its existence. Faris’ vivaciousness shines through the tedium of the movie, complemented nicely by Evans’ laid-back charm. Both Faris and Evans also boast great sex appeal, and the fact that they spend a considerable amount of time half-naked doesn’t hurt too.
But as much as Faris and Evans are enjoyable to spend time with, one can’t quite shake off the feeling that their combined star wattage is wasted in a by-the-numbers rom-com. Most of the jokes that don’t involve sex fall flat, and those that do tend to think being filthy is the same as being funny. Neither is the timing of this movie in its favour- arriving after a much sharper, wittier and more amusing ‘Bridesmaids’, this raunch-com is also not nearly as fresh as it thinks it is. If you’re in the mood for Hollywood fluff, this is probably as serviceable as it gets- but everyone else need not bother.
Movie Rating:
(Trying- but failing- to be the next raunchy chick flick a la ‘Bridesmaids’, this rom-com is watchable only for its appealing leads)
Review by Gabriel Chong
SYNOPSIS: From the Farrelly brothers comes your ticket to fool around! Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) are best friends, each married many years. When the guys show signs of restlessness at home, their wives (Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate) take a bold approach to revitalizing their respective marriages: granting them a "hall pass", one week of freedom to do whatever they want... no questions asked. At first a dream come true, it's not long before Rick and Fred find their expectations of the single life - and themselves - are completely and hilariously out of sync with reality.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Before people liked Judd Apatow and Todd Philips unleashed their brand of raunchy sex comedies, there’s the Farrelly Brothers. Remember “There’s something about Mary” and “Kingpin”? The duo’s career has been on the decline for the past years and “Hall Pass” seems like the one that is likely to resurrect it. Too bad, it’s still not the chosen one.
Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) are two best friends who are given a ‘hall pass’ by their wives. For a week, they are given absolute freedom to do what they want including ogling of girls and all the sex they have always dreamt of. However, the course of things never went as smoothly as expected and the duo ran into more troubles than they will ever imagine.
Jason Sudeikis who is not exactly a household name in this part of the region totally rules the flick with his rapid-fire wisecracks and gross-out gags. Owen Wilson, definitely the bigger name in “Hall Pass” on the other hand pales in comparison to the SNL alumni and he looks more than willing to share the limelight with Sudeikis. Given the weak script and uneven pacing, the pairing allows them to engage in total nonsense under the Farrelly’s directions, sometimes with gag that stretches way beyond the runtime. Like their screen characters who wishes to get back to their younger days, the Farrellys even attempt Apatow-style boy men-bantering sessions to keep up with the trend but fails miserably.
The movie alternates between banter and gags that work and some which falls pretty flat, take for example, the wives of Rick and Fred having a fling of their own with some baseball players that never gel with the rest of the story. The outrageous third act even had a car chase and gun fight, utterly disastrous. At least the Farrelly Brothers proved they are still a master at ahem masturbation gags. One of the funnier scenes has Rick pleasuring himself in his minivan right in front of his porch. Since we do not have anything along the league of say Cameron Diaz with her gel hair in “There’s Something About Mary” or Jim Carrey rubbing himself in “Me, Myself And Irene”, Sudeikis’ antic will do just fine. The almost unrecognisable Richard Jenkins appears as Rick and Fred’s buddy, Coakley that is largely a breath of fresh air.
The writers and Farrellys have a message to convey nevertheless at the end of the day. Something about making your marriage better I guess. But hey, this is a Farrelly branded comedy, we expect better laughs not a half-baked marital lesson.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
There’s only one not-that-exactly-funny Deleted Scene which feature the Richard Jenkins’ character getting his way out of drink driving.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Colours are lifelike and images are sharp in the video presentation. There’s nothing outstanding for the audio department with the exception of ambient sound effects in pub and restaurants. Dialogue is clear without you missing any of the jokes.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
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