REVIEW: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS
dr. Will Gluck
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632708/

"While trying to avoid the clichés of Hollywood romantic comedies, Dylan and Jamie soon discover however that adding the act of sex to their friendship does lead to complications."

The rom-com is a tired formula.
Helmed by director Will Gluck (Easy A) Friends With Benefits looked promising as any rom-com could from it's two and a half minute trailer. The leads, both painfully attractive, have chemistry and the dialogue seems good enough. Suffice to say I wasn't dreading it and months before it opens in the UK I got to watch FWB and got to see how it played out on the big screen (or my laptop).

THE GOOD:
• The chemistry between Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.
• Cameos from Rashida 'My Wife' Jones, Jason Segel, Andy Samberg and the awesome Emma Stone.
• Fresh snappy dialogue and a decent amount of decent humour and pop culture references.
• Woody Fucking Harrelson
• The best first half to a rom-com I've seen all year.
• Mila Kunis sideboob.
• Mila Kunis in general.

THE BAD:
• The poor supporting cast of parents: Alzheimer's dad and slutty mum.
• Forgettable and bland soundtrack.
• Yet again, two overly attractive leads with cushy jobs and sweet ass apartments. Where's the squalor man?
• The final half is low on the snappy dialogue, character or anything else that made the first half so good.
• The fact that JT doesn't immediately want to get with Mila Kunis baffles me.


Overall Friends With Benefits is pleasing. The good outweighs the bad and if the second half and the supporting cast could improve (minus Harrelson of course) it would be the best rom-com of the year for sure. Saying that I can't think of a better rom-com I've seen so far this year and with Kunis and Timberlake being as charming as they are, they don't honestly have to try very hard.

7.4/10

RANDOM: SUPERMAN RETURNS

SUPERMAN RETURNS
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150/

Sticking with the superhero theme I thought I'd post the recently released deleted opening sequence from 2006's Superman Returns that's making its round across the Internet. The scene sums up how the movie felt for me; style over substance. I mean the film looked great but Superman is hard character to write and the story evidently fell by the wayside. So here's the scene which supposedly cost $10 million to make.

Also don't know how I feel about Man of Steel, on the one hand there is Christopher Nolan and Amy Adams but on the other hand there is Zach 'Sucker Punch' Synder, hmm.

REVIEW: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
dr. Joe Johnston
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/

"After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals. "

Now comic book movies have began to slide recently, I mean over the past year or so we have had the walking disappointments that are Thor, Green Lantern and Iron Man II. The recent Marvel films are just an endless advert for the upcoming Avenger's Movie (okay we get it all ready) while DC is having a hard time recreating the Dark Knight success. Now Captain America: The First Avenger (Marvel) starts well, the time period is well staged and it's seventy years away from any Avenger's talk. Chris Evans is well suited to play Cap in the same way Ryan Reynolds was perfect for Green Lantern and for a while the former man's movie outdoes it's DC counterpart but inevitably so the supporting cast of stock characters begin to sour and the story dips. Captain America is pleasant enough and despite weak action sequences Joe Johnson manages to keep a decent tone but overall the film is let down by weak storytelling as well as yet another pointless romance that for some reason must be present in almost every superhero flick.
And Nick Fury also manages to pop up in the last two minutes and remind us yet again that an Avenger's movie is in fact coming out. Just in case you didn't know already.


6.8/10

RANDOM: COMMUNITY/MEAN GIRLS

One of the best TV shows on at the moment and one of the most quotable films in the history of cinema.

TRAILER: 50/50

50/50
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1306980/
Not too keen on the film title, I personally liked I'm With Cancer more. But with JGL, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick in starring roles I'm going to be there when it opens for sure. Jonathan Levine directs who is known for his film The Wackness which was all in all a decent take on the 'stoner flick genre'. Will Reiser wrote the script from personal experiences and Rogen and Evan Goldberg produce. Early buzz was hinting at Oscars but I'm not sure it's an 'Oscar film' and the best films tend not win Oscars any way.

EXCITEMENT SCALE: 10/10

UPCOMING: JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588334/

Directed by mumble core siblings the Duplass Brothers, produced by Jason Reitman and starring my best friend Jason Segel, as well as Ed 'The Nard Dog' Helms and Judy Greer, Jeff Who Lives At Home rolls into theatres March 2nd.
March couldn't come soon enough if you ask me.

REVIEW: BEGINNERS

BEGINNERS
dr. Mike Mills

"A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover."

Beginners really is a charming movie. Fronted by two strong performances from Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer the movie manages to toe the line of pretentiousness and yet stay fresh. Similarly, it never grows too dark despite its subject matter which is ultimately down to Mills who keeps a strong balance of humour and despair throughout. Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds) and her sideboobs act as McGregors love interest in the movie and despite the storyline being overshadowed by the cancer/gay dad plot, the chemistry is there and Mills and the actors succeed in winning over the audience. Beginners is a sensitive and refreshing tale anchored by a directors deep personal story and infused richly with artsy touches (subtitled dog + stock photography) and strong acting that sits head and shoulders above most this year.

8.4/10

FRESH START

MOVIES
I decided to start anew. And therefore try and make this whole thing better.
I'll do shorter more concise reviews and concentrate more on news, trailers and images of upcoming releases as well as timeless classics. Hopefully it will stick.
Let me know what you think.