Ed's Review Dot Com

Cold Spring Pictures, DW Studios, Handsomecharlie Films

Natalie Portman, Justin Kutcher, Kevin Kline, Cary Elwes, Greta Gerwig, Lake Bell, Olivia Thirlby, Jake M. Johnson, Mindy Kaling, Ophelia Lovibond

Emma (Portman) is a doctor and a loner. Her Mom and Sister worry about her because she’s all alone. Adam (Kutcher) is the son of a famous actor who works in production of a teen high school musical type TV show. He’s having a bad streak after losing at love so many times, but he and his roommates keep trying. In a series of serendipity experiences, Adam and Emma bump into each other but never connect. Now Emma just moved to LA and the meet. Neither is involved, so they setup a deal where they are friends with benefits. But the deal is that if either feels anything more for each other they will quit. They’re keeping it strictly physical. Of course that’s never going to work out, and no matter the promises of no fighting, no jealousy, and no caring about it each other, both of them start to feel for each other. Really Adams wants to get closer, but Emma is scared to get close to anyone. But as her sister’s wedding comes up, the whole house of cards comes falling down.

Of course this is not anything new, but it is not nearly as bad as all the critics would have you believe. Portman isn’t so bad as the girl who is afraid of feeling anything. Kutcher is just Kutcher, so you get what you get, but some of the side characters are really funny. The whole back story with Adam and his Dad (Kevin Kline) is pretty funny and though he’s not a big part of the story, he manages to steal several scenes. Ludicrous is one of the gang of friends Kutcher hangs around with, but the whole bunch of them are pretty funny. By the time the ending rolls around, you know what’s going to happen, but it’s pretty decently played, so it’s not boring, at least. There are parts that are pretty racy, so this thing has earned it’s R rating for sure, and some of the language is pretty descriptive! Also there’s a pretty close inspection of Mr. Kutcher’s posterior. So it’s a bit raunchy and worth a few pretty good laughs, so if this is the thing you like, don’t let the professional reviewers scare you away. It’s not brainy, but it worth a shot.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

DW Films, DW Studios, Everyman Pictures

Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Ericka Jensen, Barbara Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, Kevin Hart, Daisy Tahan, Colin Baiocchi, Thomas McCarthy, Harvey Keitel

Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam (Teri Polo) are ready to celebrate the twins 5th birthday.  They want the whole family to gather for the event.  Greg and Pam are planning a move to a new home, and the plan is to hold the party with a bounce house and all in the back yard of the new house.  But contractor Randy (Harvey Keitel) is dragging his feet and everything else he can drag.  Plus Dad Focker (Dustin Hoffman) is in Spain on some kind of mid life crisis learning how to dance the Salsa.  Meanwhile, Teri’s father, Jack Byrnes (Robert DeNiro) who was also a fan of Doctor Bob (Thomas McCarthy) since he was so much better than Greg, but Dr. Bob has cheated on Teri’s sister and now is divorced leaving Greg in line to manage the family.  Meanwhile, Greg and Teri are trying to get the twins into a very expensive private school called “The Early Human School” run by Prudence (Laura Dern).  The only thing that could mess things up worse is if Kevin (Owen Wilson) (who just loves Teri, his ex) would show up, and of course he does.  The final straw is a sexy drug rep name Andi Garcia played by Jessica Alba who seems intent on seducing Greg.

Little Fockers is the third in the series.  It’s much better than the last one (Meet the Fockers), but not near as good as the first (Meet the Parents).  That first entry falls into the category of one of the funniest movies of all times!  The characters were really well developed and played off each other wonderfully. With characters so well developed, the only thing that could really go wrong is if they have nothing to do.  I think that’s what happened here.  After the third movie with the “circle of trust” and Jack misinterpreting what Greg is doing, and Greg’s parents being over sexed and crude, and so on, it’s the same recycled jokes.  That is the problem with this film.  It’s like a comedy series that has already run it’s course and run out of new jokes.  Most everything here has been used before.  But still it’s very funny, as always, and these are the same characters we know from before.  It’s like going home again in a way.  Owen Wilson has a slightly longer part this time around, and we get to know him a little better.  Jessica Alba is a good add, as we haven’t seen Greg tempted before.  Greg is supposed to be the one to carry on the Byrnes family crest as “the Godfocker”, and immediately he gets stressed and starts losing it and proving he’s not worthy.   It’s comfortable around this time, and I think a good deal better than the last go round.  If you don’t want to see it in the theater, watch it on DVD when it comes out. It should make the move to small screen very well.   Oh, and one last thing.  Take note of the PG-13 rating very carefully.  Though nothing is shown, there are quite a few crude and rude jokes and gags that, although not shown, may be tough to explain to a small kid.  I was unhappy to see a lot of 8-10 year olds in the theater which made me very uncomfortable for them.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog