21 Jump Street (2012)

Two rookie cops who went to school together find themselves assigned to flesh out the ranks of the recently revived 21 Jump Street unit.  Their mission is to pose as high school students and infiltrate and expose a drug ring.  When they start school they find that the social dynamics of high school are not as they remember them.  Hilarity ensues as they struggle to adapt to their new identities, their roles in the school and to track down the drug ring.

When I first saw a trailer that siad they were remaking 21 Jump Street and it was going to be a buddy comedy, I looked at Tony and told him "Some things should not be remade."  I had no intentions of watching the movie and frankly figured it was going to suck.  I was very wrong.

This movie is hilarious.  I haven't laughed this hard since The Hangover (although The Hangover has this movie beat).  Now this movie plays on all sorts of stereotypes so some might get offended.  The dialog is what makes this movie so hilarious.  While Channing Tatum gives a good performance, Jonah Hill really carries the movie.  His comedic timing, and body language are spot on.

Naturally the law enforcement aspect is incredibly unrealistic and weak, but the movie is funny enough that even cops can overlook it.  21 Jump Street is rated R for numerous reasons.  I would say it could probably pull off a PG-13 rating if it weren't for the drug usage in the movie.  This movie is one you really need to watch.  I give it 9 / 10.  (KopOut Magazine score 5 / 5.  Go see in the Theater)

Wanderlust (2012)

George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) live in New York and finally buy a tiny apartment in the West Village.  Murphy steps in and their finances dry up.  They find themselves unable to afford their home, and unable to sell.  They decide to move to Atlanta to live with George’s jerk brother.  On the way they stay the night at a bed and breakfast that turns out to be a hippie commune.  The next day, they leave and move in with George’s brother.  It doesn’t take long before living with his brother becomes unbearable and they decide to give life on the commune a try.

Wanderlust mixes banter, situational comedy and slapstick into a hilarious comedy. It is crude and has a fair amount of nudity in it, but unfortunately, it isn’t anyone you would actually want to see nude.  “That which has been seen, cannot be unseen.”  One incredibly long scene is not very funny and drags on far too long.  It really kills the flow of the movie and I am not sure what the director was trying to accomplish with it.  The casting was great and everyone really fit his or her character.  Costume and set design were awesome as well. 

In all, I really enjoyed Wanderlust.  It is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug usage and language.  The rating is more than appropriate.  I would discourage letting kids watch this movie, at all.  I give it a 7 / 10.  (KopOut Magazine score 3 / 5  - Watch it on DVD/Netflix)

John Carter: IMAX 3D (2012)

Captain John Carter is a treasure hunting cowboy in the West not long after the Civil War.  Thanks to an amulet, Carter suddenly finds himself on Mars.  Due to the low gravity (about 37% of Earth's) he has superior strength and jumping ability. The planet is dying and there are only two great human-like cities and a few scattered tribes of indian-like aliens.  The cities have been fighting for 1000 years, but the evil city has just obtained a weapon that threatens to end the millennium long stalemate.


Will's Review:
The first thing that surprised me is that this movie is exceptionally violent for a Disney film.  The second thing is that the movie has a unique plot element, but it's implementation feels like a rehash of other movies, especially Star Wars The Clone Wars and Superman.  There is even a gladiator arena execution complete with giant beasts and a massive final battle.  I noticed a couple of continuity issues, but considering the scale of the special effects, and number of people (characters, CG and extras) it could have been much worse.


That being said, the movie is very entertaining and as visually stunning as one of the main characters played by Lynn Collins.  I really enjoyed watching the movie despite its flaws.  If you have read many of my reviews, you know that I don't approve of the trend of making every movie in 3D just to wrest more money from the pockets of movie goers; especially since many movies are not improved by being in 3D.  That being said, I watched John Carter in IMAX 3D, and the 3D effect is done amazingly well and actually improves the visual experience of the film.


The acting is okay, but nothing special in my opinion.  The fight choreography is good and the CG is beautiful.  The overall experience is one worth watching.  The PG-13 rating (for intense violence and action) is appropriate, so don't equate 'Disney' with kid friendly for this film.  I give it 8 / 10. (KopOut Magazine score 4 / 5.  Worth Going to See in the Theater)

Gone (2012)

In Gone, Jill (Amanda Seyfried) was kidnapped from her home by a stranger and thrown into a pit in the forest.  In the bottom of the pit Jill found human bones.  When the kidnapper climbed down to kill her, Jill fought back and managed to escape.  The police initiated a search but never located the killer or the pit into which he had thrown Jill.  The police eventually decided Jill was crazy and began to ignore her.  A year later, Jill’s sister Molly disappears in the middle of the night from Jill’s home.  Believing the kidnapper had come back, Jill sets out to save her sister before it is too late.

This movie was better than I expected.  It is suspenseful, engaging and has a few red herrings that keep you guessing.   The acting is good but not Oscar worthy.  My only real complaint about the movie is that the suspense builds the entire movie, but the final climax is a bit anticlimactic.  

The movie is worth seeing but definitely not kid friendly.  I give it 7 / 10.