Jul 27 2017

The Boss (2016)

Director: Ben Falcone

Writer: Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone, Steve Mallory (Screenplay)

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, Ella Anderson, Tyler Labine, Kathy Bates

 

Plot: A titan of industry is sent to prison after she’s caught insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Mixed up Comedy

 

Story: The Boss starts as we see how Michelle Darnell (McCarthy) who has become one of the most powerful businesswoman who is self-centred and builds by stepping over the people including her business rival Renault (Dinklage). Michelle’s power is shattered when she is arrested for insider trading and spending 5 months in a luxury jail.

Once released from prison Michelle learns all her assets have been seized and the only person from her old life that will give her any time is her former assistant Claire (Bell). Michelle comes up with the idea of using Claire’s cooking ability to build her own cookie company working with Claire and her daughter Rachel (Anderson).

 

Thoughts on The Boss

 

Characters/Performance – Michelle is a powerful businesswoman that loses her power after being be convicted of insider trader. She wants to rebuild her empire but must deal with her former business associates have turned against her. This character does become annoying very quickly and doesn’t fit between the ruthless businesswoman or the joke turning lady, we only needed one of these characteristics. Claire is the hard working assistant of Michelle that is the only one that would take Michelle in but her responsibilities to her daughter means she isn’t taken the risks Michelle can afford. Renault is the business rival and former lover of Michelle’s, he wants to see her crash and burn on every business venture.

Performance wise, Melissa McCarthy continues to play characters that just don’t seem to fit the film needed, we don’t need her to go this over the top for a story with meaning. Kristen Bell is good in her role knowing how to play this type of character well. Dinklage gets to have a lot of fun playing his role which can be over the top because of the rivalry created.

Story – The story itself is about a ruthless businesswoman that steps on everyone who must go on a redemption story, this is all fine, it is the wildly over the top, jokes that make no sense to the context of the story that makes this all fall flat on its face.

Comedy – The comedy is weak, very weak throughout most of it just comes off awkward at times too.

Settings – The settings are simple and show the different business world for Michelle to go through.

Final Thoughts – This is a comedy that doesn’t manage to send over the correct message and just turns a failed attempt to make McCarthy funny.

 

Overall: Lazy comedy.

Rating

 

 

Jul 27 2017

The Simpsons Challenge Season 3 Episode 14 – Lisa the Greek

The Simpsons Challenge

Season 3

Episode 14 – Lisa the Greek

Couch Gag – This time the family sit on the dog pulling him out from between the cushions.

Plot Synopsis – Homer uses Lisa (and her prognostic skills) to help him bet on football games.

What is going on really – We start with Homer getting ready for the start of the American Football season, placing his bets and filling his face with unhealthy snacks. When Lisa tries to show off her newly made Malibu Stacy home she wants to bond but struggles to connect.

When Lisa looks join in on the football experience and offers him a chance to bet on certain teams to win, with this going on Bart is forced to go cloths shopping with Marge.

When Lisa becomes the success for Homer the two-start spending time together every Sunday. Homer has been making money left right and centre but when the season is over Homer doesn’t want to spend the time with Lisa, breaking her heart.

Star Character

Lisa

Final Thoughts – This is an interesting episode because we get to see the relationship between Homer and Lisa shine but the Bart and Marge storyline seems to get forgotten half way through the episode.

Rating 3/5

Jul 26 2017

Balto (1995)

Director: Simon Wells

Writer: Cliff Ruby, Elana Lesser, David Steven Cohen, Roger S H Schulman (Screenplay)

Starring: (Voice Talents) Kevin Bacon, Bob Hoskins, Bridget Fonda, Jim Cumming, Phil Collins, Jack Angel, Danny Mann

 

Plot: An outcast half-wolf risks his life to prevent a deadly epidemic from ravaging Nome, Alaska.

 

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

 

Verdict: Nice Hero Story

 

Story: Balto starts as we see the sledge racing in Nome Alaska, Steele is the most famous lead dog in all the races, he breaks the rules as well as being feared by the other dogs, Balto a stray half breed roams the streets trying to impress the female husky Jenna with his bumbling sidekick goose Boris.

When Nome is struck down with diphtheria the town is running low on antidote they have no way of getting the antidote to the town directly, the only option is to put together a team of the fastest sledge dogs to pick up medicine with Balto showing the town he is fastest in town, but still not welcome to the town’s team.

When Steele’s team goes missing in the snowstorm, Balto goes out with Boris, Jenna and polar bears Muk and Luk to collect the medicine to save the town making himself the hero.

 

Thoughts on Balto

 

Characters– Balto is the outsider of the town, never fitting in but given the chance to prove himself to the whole town by returning the medicine, he is the reluctant hero type. Boris is the sidekick here for extra laughs in the story, with Jenna being the love interest needed for the story. Steele is the typical arrogant villain that doesn’t want anyone to take his place. All of the character blend together to make this a pleasant viewing experience.

Story – The story is loosely based on the true events of the sledge team that saves a small town from a medical disaster, we get to see this from the dogs side of the events which does take away from the true story of heroism the real dogs went through.

Adventure/Family/History – The adventure is great to see unfold keeping us on edge, it does have a couple of dark scenes going on through the film which could be slightly too much for the younger members of the family. I don’t think this story does enough justice to the true history story though.

Settings – The settings all look fantastic showing just how peril filled the journey would have been for the dogs as well as the people stuck with no chance of rescue unless they get the medicine.

Animation – The animation all looks great with the darker characters including the bear feeling terrifying and the heroes all looking pure.

Final Thoughts – This is a great adventure movie but does forget the true story involved too much to make a family friendly movie.

 

Overall: Great fun animated movie that can be enjoyed by all.

Rating

 

 

Jul 26 2017

Trailer Alert – The Vault

THE VAULT

In UK cinemas 8th September

 

Starring:

Francesca Eastwood, Taryn Manning, Scott Haze, Q’Orianka Kilcher, Clifton Collins Jr. and James Franco

CONTENT MEDIA TO RELEASE THE VAULT STARRING FRANCESCA EASTWOOD,TARYN MANNING, SCOTT HAZE, Q’ORIANKA KILCHER, CLIFTON COLLINS JR. ANDJAMES FRANCO

IN UK CINEMAS FROM 8th SEPTEMBER

 

UK, London: Thursday 13th July 2017 – Content Media is delighted to announce it will release The Vault in UK cinemas from 8th September 2017. The Vault is an action-packed supernatural heist thriller, filled with tension, frights and mind-bending horror.

Directed by Dan Bush (The Signal) and Produced by Tom Butterfield and Luke Daniels, The Vault stars Francesca Eastwood (Outlaws and Angels), Taryn Manning (Orange is the New Black, 8 Mile, Hustle & Flow), Scott Haze(Granite Mountain, Midnight Special), Q’Orianka Kilcher (The New World) with Clifton Collins Jr. (Pacific Rim, Star Trek) and James Franco (127 Hours, Rise of the Planet of the Apes).

 

In order to save their brother Michael’s life, the Dillon sisters, Leah and Vee have organized a bank robbery, but when the upstairs vault doesn’t have enough money to cover Michael’s debt, on the advice of Assistant Bank Manager Ed Maas, they drill into the downstairs vault. But the bank’s basement hides a terrible secret and before long, the Dillons have to choose whether to face the police outside or the terrible supernatural forces in the vault below.

Come at watch the trailer Here

Jul 26 2017

The Simpsons Challenge – Season 3 – Episode 13 – Radio Bart

The Simpsons Challenge

Season 3

Episode 13 – Radio Bart

Couch Gag – This time the sofa turns in a bounce castle with the family just bouncing away on it.

Plot Synopsis – After Bart receives a microphone which can transmit through radios, he decides to pull a series of pranks and eventually convinces the town that a boy has fallen down a well.

What is going on really – Starts with Lisa trying to get money for Bart’s birthday present but Homer is sold on a television commercial for a radio microphone.

Bart celebrating his birthday has collected vouchers around town for free gifts including a sundae, shaving and tango lessons. All this before his birthday party at the arcade. Bart is left disappointed with his presents but it is Marge that shows how good Bart’s present from Homer is.

When Bart takes things to the next level of pranks he places his receiver down a well, grabbing the attention of the whole town. We get to see how the celebrity world will come together for a good cause with Sting joining forces Springfield celebrities to record a song, something we see now.

When Bart goes to receive his equipment, he finds himself trapped in the well paying for his own prank, but the town doesn’t show the interesting in Bart as they did for Timmy.

Star Character

Bart

Final Thoughts – This is a great episode to show Bart’s rebellious side, we see his struggle be it with need for attention and plays into the story of children who have fake their disappearance which we have seen in real life.

Rating 5/5