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.

This Means War (2012)

Just about all of us have one; the friend you have known for years, that is like a brother.  One for whom you would do anything.  Now imagine that you and your friend both separately meet the girl of your dreams, only to find out you are both dating the same girl.  This is the premise for “This Means War.”   Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine) are both CIA agents who fall for the same girl, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon).  They decide to not let her know that they know each other, and to let her date them both and may the best man win.  Their gentlemen’s agreement breaks down and they each bring the power of the US intelligence agency to bear on each other in an effort to sabotage their rival.  Hilarity ensues.

This Means War is hilarious.  I was laughing through half the movie.  The dialog is funny, and the physical comedy is top notch.  Now the plot is obviously unrealistic, but it works for this movie.  This is the kind of movie critics hate but audiences love.  It is just a comedy, with no real depth or message.

It is not going to win any of the major awards but it is worth watching.  The film is rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence and action.  It was originally rated R and they edited to get the PG-13 rating.  I’m guessing they barely got it because there is a bit too much sexual innuendo, etc for younger audiences.  I give it 8 / 10.

One for the Money (2012)

One for the Money is the film adaptation of the first book in an 18 book series by Janet Evanovich.  I’ve never read the series myself but I’m told the movie does not stick to the book.  With that said, I’m pretty sure that there won’t be a film adaptation for “Two for the Dough.”

The movie is the story of Stephanie Plum, an unemployed lingerie store manager who, desperate for a job, goes to her sleazy cousin Vinnie who is a bail bondsman.  Instead an office job, she becomes a bounty hunter.  When she tries to bring in a cop wanted for murder, she ends up investigating the murder instead.

The movie stars the beautiful Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) alongside Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova).  The two have some witty banter back and forth that carries the movie.  The law enforcement investigations side will leave any police officer sighing at the absurdity.  Joe Six Pack may not have problems with it, but this movie will frustrate police officers to no end.

The movie has a PG-13 rating that I think is appropriate.  However, I wouldn’t waste your money at the theater watching it.  It might be worth watching on Netflix or Redbox though.  I give it 6 / 10.

Puss in Boots (2011)

DreamWorks Animation usually puts out great kid friendly movies that parents can enjoy too.  I loved watching movies like Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, etc with my kids.  The movies are geared toward kids, but have subtle double entendre jokes for the adults.  Puss in Boots, a spinoff of the Shrek franchise, is no exception.

The movie is the back story for one of the main characters in the Shrek movies, Puss.  For those who don’t know, Puss is a “Zoro” like cat voiced by Antonio Banderas. When Puss runs into his childhood best friend turned enemy, he sets out on an epic quest to capture the goose-that-lays-the-golden-eggs, and to clear his own name.

The story is very entertaining, and the banter is first rate.  I took my daughter to watch it and she laughed the whole time and actually stayed in her seat (a major feat.)  The movie is paced well, and, at about 90 minutes long, is a good length for a kid’s movie.

The movie is still playing in the discount theaters, but should be out on DVD on February 24, 2012.  It is well worth seeing or getting for the kids.  I give it 9 / 10.

Rubber (2010)

Rubber is the story of a car tire named Robert who somehow comes to life and has psychokinetic abilities.  Robert is sociopathic and kills just about everything he sees.

The movie starts out with a monologue by the sheriff explaining that the movie is an homage to 'no reason'. As in "Why did they do that?... No reason." this is  something the film fully exploits.  There is pretty much no reason for anything in the movie.  It is totally nonsensical and random.

The cinematography is done well, but that is about the only positive thing I can say about it.  It is so bad that on some levels it is cult classic good.  I am glad it is less than 90 minutes long, because any longer than that and it would go from being mildly entertaining, to a total waste of time.

The movie is rated R and rightly so.  Unless you want your kids to be scared of every tire swing and tricycle they encounter, don't let them watch this train wreck of a film.  In fact, I wouldn't recommend anyone waste their time unless they are high or having a B movie marathon. I give it 3 / 10.