Ed's Review Dot Com

Les Productions du Trésor, Worldview Entertainment, Caneo Films,

Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Matthias Schoenaerts, James Caan

In 1974 Chris (Clive Owen) has just been released from prison and standing outside the gate waiting for him is his brother Frank (Billy Crudup). Chris has a long history of getting into trouble, and Frank on the other hand is a cop, on his way to making a name for himself in the force. Their Dad Leon (James Caan) seems to like Chris better, despite his history of getting into trouble. These are not young kids. Chris is 50 years old and still looking for trouble. But when it comes down to it, will blood be thicker than water, as Frank has to decide whether despite his promise to show Chris no favors, will he turn him in or protect him in this crime drama.

This movie is really the story of the Prodigal Son from the Bible. Frank’s issues with being the good son and not being appreciated for it, and the Dad’s doting over his troubled son makes Frank feel neglected. He cares for his brother, but he has a strong desire to do the right thing. This is a little known movie. I hadn’t hear of it until it came out on DVD this week, but I was pleased with it. Truthfully, these crime dramas, cop stories about a family being torn apart by problems doesn’t usually appeal to me. There have been so many stories like this, but I found this one to be refreshing. It’s a somewhat new slant on the subject, and the family dynamic is much more important in this story than the rest of the facts. There are some really good stars in this one, and it is interesting to see the effects of crime, especially organized crime, and the effects on 1970’s Brooklyn. This is a story of the streets, and it’s gritty and dirty as it should be. But there’s a look at this family and how choices of on person or another can have a major impact on the whole family. I thought that was a pretty decent crime story, and I can recommend it, mildly, for those who like these kinds of stories. It wasn’t a fantastic film, or a must see, by any means, but it’s decently done, well acted, and fresh enough to enjoy.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks,

Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, Kristen Schaal

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) has saved the world from his horrible food making machine, and is working in a new job, when he finds that his machine is still running and kicking out mutant foods that are terrorizing people. Flint determines that he has to step in and stop it, so he gathers together his crew and sets out to once again save the world.

Sometimes a film doesn’t need a sequel. This one doesn’t. The original film was very clever and unusual. It caught us all off guard, and was very entertaining due to the quirkiness of the story. Every once in a while an off the wall (out of the box) idea comes along and is very refreshing. Then they come along and decide to continue the story with a sequel that doesn’t add anything to the original except for a ton of new puns on food names. Did George Takei write the script?

Some years ago when the Titanic came out, we made jokes about giving away the fact that the ship sank at the end. But when the movie made a gazillion dollars, we quipped about how James Cameron could make a sequel to the story. Someone came up with an idea that Rose arrives in Santa Monica, still grieving her lost Jack who drowned in the icy water when visiting the country club sees a young handsome Jack playing tennis and about has a stroke. But it turns out Jack has an identical twin, and the meet and fall in love in Titanic 2. That way you could bring Leo DiCaprio back too! Another billion dollar film. Of course they had the good sense not to make it. Unfortunately for us, they decided to make this sequel. Nothing is new this time, and it’s no longer quirky, but just weird. Now Andy Samberg can churn out some pretty clever 3 minute short films for TV FunHouse on SNL, but to try to pull that kind of humor for a feature length film is just too much. It’s not near as funny the second time around, and most of the creatures were invented to just tack on funny names. The jokes tend to hang out there, and try as I might, I could not stay interested in this movie. I got bored a number of times and realized I was daydreaming and had to jump back a few minutes to find out what I had missed. The answer to that is, “Not much”. There are some fans of this film, and to them I am glad you liked it, but it just didn’t work for me this time around. This is a good time waster for little kids who will get a kick of the hybrid monster food dishes, but for for anyone over 10 years old, unless you are really a fan of the first, be prepared to lose interest in this sequel that just doesn’t quite cut it.

Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison Productions,

Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Vanilla Ice, James Caan, Milo Ventimiglia, Will Forte, Rachel Dratch, Nick Swardson, Ana Gasteyer, Luenell, Susan Sarandon, Eva Amurri Martino , Colin Quinn, Todd Bridges, Alan Thicke, Ian Ziering

Donny (Adam Sandler) became somewhat of a celebrity due to his having sex with his teacher, and her becoming world famous in the trial that followed. She had a baby, and after being sentences to 30 years in prison, Donny received custody of young Han Solo (Andy Samberg) when he turned 18. No surprise that Donny was not a very good father, and when Han Solo turned 18 he left home, changed his name to Todd, and became a successful adult. But when Donny needed a chunk of money to pay back taxes the same time Todd was getting married, though Donny had no idea where Todd had gone or what had become of him, suddenly his picture is plastered over all the society pages. So Donny shows up to the wedding just in time to insert himself back into Todd’s life and the wedding, and naturally he turns everything upside down in this hilarious dysfunctional family disaster film.

This film is like a reunion of many of our favorite characters like in any Sandler film. Surprisingly Rob Schneider is nowhere to be found however. This is a pretty funny film, although a lot raunchier than most of the Sandler films, and that extra edginess may have hurt this film a lot in the box office. It wasn’t horrible by any means, but it was a little bit strange. Sandler does one of his awful accents again (like he idea he had in Little Nicky and in The Waterboy) and it is a bit annoying throughout the film. I’m not sure it was necessary, but he was trying to develop some character for Donny I guess to make him annoying, if he wasn’t annoying enough already. Basically it’s a little nastier that usual Happy Madison film that never quite goes over the top. Not always as funny as it should be, this is not going to be remembered as one of Adam’s better films, but if you a Sandler fan, as I am, and don’t mind a little nasty stuff, this is pretty good humor after all. This guy is really a pain, but he’s got a good heart, and Todd (Han) needs to learn too not to be too stiff and uptight all the time. In the end, they work out a lot of the issues. The SNL alumni that show up give us a few good guffaws, and all in all it was worth watching. Just don’t go in expecting too much, and it won’t disappoint you.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Paramount Pictures, Mallick Media, Oxymoron Entertainment

Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, James Caan, Jacinda Barrett, Kevin Pollak, Laura Ramsey, Rade Serbedzija, Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer

Buck (Gabriel Macht) and Wayne (Giovanni Ribisi) know that everyone is addicted to porn, and in this time frame the only way to get it is to walk into a sleazy theater or go to some dive rental store and rent a video tape. The internet is here, but no one has a way to use it. These guys write a program that allows you to bill a credit card on the internet, and can put their meager collection of porn on the internet and charge for it. Jack Harris (Luke Wilson) brings the two guys together with a brilliant idea. Leave everyone else to develop the content and setup the web site and develop a system of 3rd party billing. Take a cut, and send the rest to the content provider, and provide the customer with a generic billing charge that does not give away the secret of what they’ve been watching. So the first internet billing clearinghouse was born. Justifying it like all the cable companies and hotels that provide the service but have nothing to do with making the product. Problem is that everyone wants in on the action from the DA to Russian mobsters to the FBI. Gangsters and Porn, what a concept.

This is a mediocre film. It’s not that bad, but it’s not great either. Luke Wilson is actually pretty good with a leading role, and carries it off pretty well. The rest of the cast is not bad either. For a movie that is about the porn industry, it’s highly sanitized. There are some topless ladies running around, but nothing gross. All the rest of the stuff is talked about but not shown. There also are no good guys in this film. Everyone is bad in some way or another as all of us are flawed. Jack is a pretty decent guy, but the money gets the best of him and ruins his home and life. He has his epiphany and the “who am I really” moment, but is it too little too late. There are some funny scenes here, but all in all it’s mostly dramatic. James Caan is a son of a ***** in this movie. He’s one of the sleaziest of the bunch, but he’s pretty decent in this role. All in all, it’s not a great film which is why it got such a limited release, but it’s not that bad. Just a mediocre crime drama with some decent acting and a half way decent script. And the soundtrack, although not always being on target with the film, has a collection of classic rock that is a pleasure to hear and fits the time period.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

New Line Cinema, Guy walks Into a Bar Productions, Gold/Miller Productions

Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Danial Tay, Faizon Love, Peter dinklage, Amy Sedaris, Michael Lerner, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, Artie Lange, Leon Redbone

Once while delivering toys to an orphanage a tiny baby crawls into Santa’s sack and arrives at the North Pole.  Santa is a sucker for babies, so he can’t send him back to the orphanage so Papa Elf (Bob Newhart) arranges to adopt Buddy.  But Buddy, although raised as an elf, eventually realizes that he is quite different.  So Papa Elf teaches him about his history and tells him about his “real” father back in America.  So Buddy sets off on a quest to find his real dad.

This is probably one of the most loved of recent Christmas films.  The amount of innocence and love Buddy (Will Ferrell) brings to the film is awesome.  This is probably going to be Will’s most memorable role ever.  Walter Hobbs (James Caan) who is on the naughty list, is perfect as Buddy’s real father and has the right mix of sweetness and meanness to pull it off perfectly.  Ed Asner is a wonderful Santa, though not a big part of the movie, he’s memorable every time he’s on screen, especially in the exciting finale.  And Zooey Deschanel plays Jovie, a elf in the department store who becomes Buddy’s best friend is adorable.

This is just about the perfect Christmas fairy tale, and one that people wait for every year.  It’s not really necessary for me to review this, as it’s about as well known as Christmas itself, but let me say that this is one you don’t want to miss!  The music is charming, and at the end, when Santa’s in trouble you’ll remember the law of the elves says “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”

Sing along with Buddy and his Dad and the rest of New York as the sing to save Christmas.