Ed's Review Dot Com

Monkeypaw Productions,

Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon, Anna Diop, Kara Hayward, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nathan Harrington, David M Sandoval Jr., Madison Curry, Duke Nicholson

The Wilson Family is on vacation up in Santa Cruz, Ca near the seashore. They need a break, and some time to unwind. But after a visit to the famous boardwalk, when they return to the cabin, four strangers are standing in their driveway. As they investigate further, they determine that the four characters look like each of the family members, and as time passes, they definitely intend harm to the Wilsons, their neighbors, and lots of other people. It’s going to be a long night.

I wanted to see this movie opening weekend. I’m glad I did, as I’m starting to see a lot of whines and complaints about this movie, most of which are not really justified. This is a really creepy story with lots of violent actions, and a great deal of suspense. However, it’s not you usual horror film with no real story, just lots of loud noises and sudden jumps. This is a deeply dark and suspenseful story that is quite complex with a lot to think about and figure out. So those who just want another straight forward horror fest are going to be disappointed. You need to be aware that the story is a lot more complex than it appears on the surface, and be prepared to invest some brain cycles to figure it all out. Secondly, this is the second film from Producer/Director Jordan Peele. This makes it normal that people would want to put the two films (The other one is Get Out) side by side and compare them This is a big mistake because these films are not at all alike. Now on the other hand, there are some problems with this movie. It might be because it’s only Jordon’s second film, or it could be simply some bad advise. It’s also hard to discuss this all without giving away too much, but speaking generically, they took great pains to try to explain how this all happened. Unfortunately, it’s not a very good explanation, and leaves us with some really strange plot problems. It seems like the tried to throw in a twist in the end, as it seems proper to do, but it doesn’t work at all with the entire rest of the movie, and was very ill advised. Sometimes we are better off not knowing the cause for the crisis, and it is better to leave a lot more up to the viewer to determine what it all means. Still, I did enjoy this film (although my companions in theater did not) and I think it was worth the trip to see it. I do like stories with thoughtful questions and deeper meanings, and every horror film does not need to be a shallow slasher with no plot. I just wish they had done a little more work on the script to fix some of the problems in the story. This film would have been a lot better with a little more thought into the plot holes and how to plug them up.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Sycamore Pictures,

Joel McHale, Lauren Graham, Clark Duke, Oliver Platt, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Tim Heidecker, Candice Bergen, Robin Williams

Boyd Michler (Joel McHale) is roped into going to his parents house with his family for Christmas. Boyd hasn’t spoken to his Dad (Robin Williams) in years because he missed out on most of his childhood, and especially Christmas by an alcoholic Dad who just wasn’t there for him. But when he arrives, he realizes that he left his son’s presents at home and this may be the last year for a real magical Christmas for him. So he heads off on the road just as a blizzard hits to make the 8 hour round trip back to the city to retrieve the presents before dawn so as not to disappoint his son. Dad comes along for the ride, and it’s a time for them to come to grips with their differences and to take shots at each other. Naturally things go horribly wrong, and if it wasn’t for a “hobo Santa” they would be in serious trouble.

This is not a comedy, although much of it is funny, but the subject is so dark, that it is off-putting to many people. I must say that I did not dislike this movie at all. I was quite interested in the story and the characters, especially the Dad played by Robin Williams. But I can understand the hatred this movie drew from surprised viewers as it’s a really dark story. Boyd really hates his father and is nowhere near ready to forgive him. He has some real reasons to be angry, but nowhere near as mad as he is. Likewise he has lived his life with such ambition and perfectionism that he’s a tough person to stand to be around. Joel McHale is the actor to portray the wise cracking, sarcastic, SOB that he plays, as this is his best character. Fans of Community will understand the severely sarcastic self absorbed character. Even with all the jokes and humor thrown into this film, it still was definitely not a comedy in the least. This is dysfunctional family syndrome to the nth degree. A good cast, and a decent story, but not a feel good Christmas movie like we’re used to seeing. This is definitely on the dark side, and you have to keep that in mind if you’re going to watch this movie, or else you’ll be disappointed.

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Verisimilitude, Silverwood Films, Periscope Entertainment

Jacob Wysocki, John C. Reilly, Bridger Zadina, Creed Bratton, Olivia Crocicchia, Tim Heidecker, Justin Prentice, Mary Anne McGarry, Tara Karsian

Terri is the story of a very strange overweight orphan who lives with his uncle who is taking large doses of meds, and is becoming senile. Terri has to take care of him, and take care of himself as well. He’s a strange kid, who comes to school in his pajamas because they are comfortable, and in the process makes an even stranger high school principal Mr. Fitzgerald (John C Reilly). Terri wants to fit in, but he is in an impossible situation and just can’t seem to get it together.

This is a very strange film. Some people are really going to love this. I didn’t like it very much, but I also had a morbid curiosity about the damn thing that meant I could not turn it off. It was like peeping in someone’s window. Mr. Fitzgerald is totally nuts. He makes friends with all the screwed up kids and has weekly meetings with them, making each of them think they’re the only one. You think he’s really a pervert, but I don’t think he is, at all. He’s just very, very lonely and seems to fit in better with the weirdos. He must have had a totally screwed up childhood himself. Terri comes to the aid of a fellow female student who was caught in a very compromising situation. He makes friends with her too, but his other friend is dead set on getting in between them. This sets up an all night party of sorts that is the most awkward thing I have ever seen. All the way through, you are expecting some kind of revelation or some kind of solution to make it all make sense, but it never comes. When we’re done with the film, it’s still like were were just peeping thorough the curtains at one of the dumb fat kids that we used to torture when we were in grade school. I don’t think Terri could survive in a real school, but these kids leave him alone for the most part. Luck for him, because in my school, he would have been beaten up every day, I’m afraid.

This is a Sundance type artsy film that is not supposed to give us any real sense of fulfillment. It’s just a window into the life of an orphaned fat kid who can’t fit in. If you’re a fan of the artsy films, then give it a go, but I wish I had passed on it, myself. The acting is pretty decent. John C Reilly is good, as is Creed Bratton, who plays the senile old uncle. But the story is really weak in my opinion. Strange. Very Strange.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog