Movie Review - Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Neil Casey, Karan Soni, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, and more.

Directed by: Paul Feig Written by: Katie Dippold and Paul Feig Based on the film written by: Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis Cinematography by: Robert D. Yeoman Music by: Theodore Shapiro

Premise: Erin Gilbert is on the cusp of gaining tenure at her university when the past comes back to haunt her. An old colleague has republished the paranormal book the two of them wrote together. A book that might cost her everything, as it isn't seen as being real science. Trying to get Abby to take the book off the market, Erin ends up going with her to a historic house in New York. And comes face to face with the supernatural. (Rated PG-13) 

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: One of the things that made the original 1984 Ghostbusters film fun were all the quirky and memorable characters. The new film has a basket full. Kriten Wiig did well as the socially awkward and insecure Dr. Erin Gilbert. Melissa McCarthy was fun as the gutsy Abby Yates. While hard to out do Egon, Kate McKinnon did things her own way as the unique, happy-go-lucky Jillian Holtzman. Chris Hemsworth had way too much fun as Kevin, the brainless, and I mean brainless, receptionist. lol. Bill Murray as the debunker Martin Heiss was a brilliant choice for a multitude of reasons.  And a lot of the original cast is back for some awesome cameos too!

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: If you get a chance to see the film in IMAX 3D, I would definitely recommend it. The special effects are well worth the higher price. The first and second ghosts were super detailed and the 3D made their lack of a corporeal body that much cooler to look at.  

Lots of great gadgets and fun looking machinery. Rowan's machines had a strong steampunk feel to them. Our favorite proton streams are back and used in all sorts of new ways. 

There's lots of slime and even Slimer! He has a grittier, more substantial look, and he still knows how to party. The balloon ghosts were creepy. And Rowan's mirrors were fab!

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: The original Ghostbusters film is one of my husband's all time favorite movies. He's been frothing to go see it. And was quite happy with the results. 

A lot of the main players in the original cast do cameos in the film! Awesome! And what's really neat about the cameos is how they have more substance to them than you normally get from such things. A tons of in-jokes in those little snippets as well. Sadly, Harold Ramis passed a couple of years ago, so he did not get to appear. Though a bust of him shows up in one of the scenes. It was a nice touch. 

Like in the original, the story begins with a paranormal incident. The build up to it was great. Not only is the tour guide full of bizarre commentary, but he's also a charlatan of sorts, until... (That whole beginning sequence was great!) 

From the moment the film starts there are 'winks' and 'nudges' heralding back to the original film. They were made up of all kinds of bits - visual, vocal, and musical. If you loved the first film, you'll love this one just for all the awesome homage!

Though the story parallels the original in certain aspects. (It even pokes fun at it.) It's also a whole new tale on its own. A lot of themes get thrown in to go along with the humor and nostalgia - friendship, family, as well as daring to believe in yourself and others. 

Stay all the way through the credits! Not only were they a blast, but several more bits are throw in. The last, if you've seen the original, was priceless! Speaks of possible things to come. :)

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Lots of great gags. Felt sorry for the people dealing with the 'Saturday Night Fever' pose. lol. Bodies get thrown around, and there's even some hand-to-hand. 

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The original Ghostbusters was filmed for the most part in New York. This time around, they recreate several places in NY City, but most locations are actually in nearby Massachusetts. Even so, we got some lovely scene sweeps and neat shots.

6) Music - Totally Thumbs Up: They sneak in the original theme here and there. The first time gives a great jolt of nostalgia when they bring it in right after the starting sequence. The snippet of new songs and background music all worked quite well.

Conclusion: Despite all the negativity before the film's release, hubby and I loved the heck out of it. A ton of homage bits and all the awesome cameos added a lot to the film's overall fun. Sit through all the credits! They're a ton of fun and have more added bits. :)

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Great visuals and all that homage! Woot!) (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again.)

Movie Review - Despicable Me 2

Despicable Me 2

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Elsie Kate Fisher, Dana Gaier, Moises Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, and more.

Directed by: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud Screenplay by: Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul Original Music by: Heitor Pereira and Pharrell Williams

Premise: Gru is approached by AVL, the Anti-Evil League, after an entire laboratory in the Arctic Circle is stolen. AVL wants his help in identifying whoever took it and retrieving the dangerous compound PX-41. At first having no interest, Gru changes his mind when Dr. Nefario leaves his employ. Plus it's also a great way to avoid his neighbor's and daughters' efforts to set him up with women to date. (Rated PG)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: All the fun people and the great characters from "Despicable Me" are back! Steve Carrel is too much fun as Gru. And with the new emotional challenges he's presented with in this film, he excels even more. Kriten Wiig had been part of the last film as Miss Hattie, and she's back again, this time as Agen Lucy Wild, one of the members of AVL. Her voice acting range is great, so I can definitely see why they wanted her back. She's great as the super competent, yet overeager Agent Wild. Directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud also bring back their own voices for all the beloved minions in Gru's employ.

New to the Gruverse is Benjamin Bratt as Eduardo. He had to have had a blast playing the character because it shows. Though I have to say his chicken almost succeeded in upstaging him.

2) Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Illumination Entertainment's quality of animation is superb. The attention to even incidental detail adds a lot to the overall effect. Even more fun are the telltale angles and camera sweeps used in other types of films which they recreated for theirs to bring forth specific genre treatements. The very beginning of the film is a slow, winding shot of the Arctic tundra and the lab facility being hidden there. You'll forget you're about to watch a comedic animated film, and instead think you're about to watch a 007 spy thriller.

Visual gags abound. Not only do we get our fill of the minions and their antics, but the film is filled with other more subtle visual jokes and in-jokes, many from spy and science fiction films. Gru at the toupee shop trying to scan for trace elements of the missing PX-41 while keeping the shopkeeper unaware was crude but utterly hilarious. The scenes with the chicken were just too funny. (The chicken gets used in a hilarious in-joke from the movie "Alien" that was too hilarious) Not to be outdone, the minions do music parodies at the end of the film that will have parents in stitches.

The flashback to El Macho was so over the top it was fantastic. And wait untill you get a look at how to enter the secret lab! (And make sure to stay for the credits - minion mischief abounds as they hold auditions for the 2014 spin-off movie "Minions"!)

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: The plot has several threads which interweave with the whole. On the one hand you have Gru trying to find a niche to further a career of some sort and support the girls, while also spending time with them and watching them grow. On another, the neighbor and the girls are trying to match Gru with someone to date, though unknown to them Gru has only had bad experiences in the dating arena. Add in the complication that Margo is getting old enough to notice boys herself, and Agnes wondering what it is to have a mother, and the story now has an explosive combination of themes to explore.

And yet there's more! Throw in a supervillain, an aggression increasing potion, and a mall full of suspects, and there's plenty to keep the kids and adults enraptured throughout. (The guacamole chip hat was awesome!)

4) Music - Total Thumbs Up: All the great themes from the original film are back! And they've also added new ones. It was obvious they had a lot of fun with music in this one. Especially the parodies.

Conclusion: "Despicable Me 2" was everything and more than we could have hoped for in a sequel. You'll keep replaying certain moments in your head, because they were just so much fun. Totally worth it!

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)

Movie Review - Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Rebel Wilson, Chris O'Dowd, Matt Lucas, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and more...

Directed by: Paul Feig   Written by: Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo  Original Music by: Michael Andrews

Premise: Annie Walker has had a run of bad luck in her life and is trying to cope. Things get more complicated when her best friend suddenly gets engaged. Annie is asked to be the matron of honor and is happy to do so until she meets the rest of the bridesmaids. One of whom is trying to upstage her as BFF.

Review:  If you like the type of humor in The Hangover, you should love Bridesmaids.  Anything that can go wrong will go wrong, in just about every level of Annie's life. Body humor, crude humor, and bad situation humor abounds.

Not normally my cup of tea, so on a humor level the film did little for me. I was pretty much teary eyed or crying for about the last half of the thing, however, empathizing with just about everyone. lol. (Sometimes it's the curse of an author - seeing all sides.) :P 

Annie's self destructive spiral is well understandable, especially when pushed along by Helen. So when she finally gets a clue and starts to pick herself up, you're cheering for her. And they don't make it simple either. There's the point (for a while anyway) where you see that you can be sorry all you want, but it doesn't mean you'll be forgiven. Kudos to them for that.

Watch Melissa McCarthy, this is such a deviation from anything I'd seen her do before I didn't even recognize her for a while. Her character seems insane, but she was the funniest one of the bunch. And Megan has deeper, unexpected layers. 

Well acted, well scripted, just not my type of humor. So again, if you enjoyed the Hangover, this should be for you! Enjoyable by both guys and galls, if you like that style.

Rating: 3 of 5 (But again, I didn't enjoy the Hangover) Hubby was out of town, but in absencia I'm still sure he'd be saying Worth Full Price of Admission for him) :)