Movie Review: "Pacific Rim"

Many have told me that Pacific Rim is the film the ten year old inside me always wanted to see. And, in a way, that's true. Ten year old me would have gone crazy in the theater watching this movie. Films like Pacific Rim play an important part in our film community: they allow young viewers to realize just how great films can be and encourages them to start seeking out other films. We all have a film like Pacific Rim in our past: for me, it was Spider-Man. And I certainly don't fault people for enjoying films that  are mindlessly entertaining and take them back to their early years of film geekdom. But the problem is: I'm not ten years old anymore. My film taste has grown since then and I've started to learn what works for me with movies and what doesn't. And Pacific Rim just doesn't work for me.

While originality is hard to come by in the world of action movies, I suppose it is worth noting that Pacific Rim is an original property. We have, technically speaking, never seen these characters before. But we have seen them before- just under different names. Pacific Rim is an original property built out of the leftover scraps from films in the past. From Top Gun to Transformers and Armageddon to Jurassic Park, there are elements of action films from the past on display for the audience to see. Just because a film changes the names and modifies the details a bit doesn't change the fact that we've seen it before. Calling this film original is only a half truth.

But a lack of originality, while certainly not a good thing, isn't necessarily bad. Under the right circumstances, a director could make any film work. And while there is no denying that Guillmero del Toro is a talented man, he simply didn't bring enough to the director's chair to make those clichés disappear. In fact, characters practically announce the clichés to the audience without the slightest bit of irony or even a hint of self awareness. Whether it be virtually every character remarking that Charlie Hunnam's Raleigh is a loose cannon or Charlie Day screaming exposition to the audience, the screenplay for this film is about as subtle as a robot flying through a city.

And while the action is certainly visually stunning, I just wasn't as impressed as the 71% of critics and legions of fans were. Robots fighting monsters certainly sounds exciting, and their are moments that pack quite a punch in terms of the "wow" factor. I can admire the way del Toro staged some of the scenes- unlike so many films in the age of shaky cam and quick editing, Pacific Rim's action scenes are easy to follow and constantly remind you of how big the creatures at war are. But action scenes, like comedies, are subjective- what works for one person might not work for another. I could watch Arnold Schwarzenegger face off against Robert Patrick all day, and sit wide eyed in amazement as Neo takes tries to rescue Morpheus with the most badass helicopter in cinema history. But, other people could watch those same scenes and remain unimpressed.  Well, for every moment that left me impressed in Pacific Rim there were two that left me unmoved, and there wasn't a single moment that left me bowled over with excitement. Who knows, maybe the ten year old within was taking a nap. After all, I saw the film late at night.

If anything about this film deserves to be praised, it's the cast. Filled with actors that are on the cusp of breaking into mainstream movies, everyone in Pacific Rim radiates with screen presence. Charlie Hunnam is an excellent leading man who perfectly balances his cocky attitude with his immense likability. He's not given the best material to work with, but he makes the most out of it. Idris Elba also commands the screen, while never soaring over the top. I hope MGM takes note and offers him the role of James Bond once Craig fulfills his contract- that would be an example of fan casting that really works. And, while his character's sole purpose is to (loudly) explain plot devices and make the deus ex machina of an ending a bit easier to swallow, Charlie Day is excellent as a quirky scientist with a unique perspective on the dangerous monsters. I haven't watched much of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" but Day's work in Horrible Bosses was exceptional and I have a feeling that he could bring a lot to the table if he's ever given a starring role. His scenes with Ron Perlman are the highlight of the film- in fact, I'd much rather see a film about the two of them than I would any other character in the film.

Many champions of Pacific Rim are calling for Hollywood to take note of Pacific Rim's perceived originality. While I have a problem with calling this film "original", I do hope producers notice one major distinguishing factor in the film: its diversity. I try not to get political in my reviews but Pacific Rim is a rare action film with a cast made up of numerous different cultures and a women at the center of the action who can more than hold her own in a fight. While the film does (unfortunately) feature a few too many clichés, it's refreshing to see a movie that doesn't have a whitewashed cast of manly men saving the day. Rinko Kikuchi's Mako Mori joins the ranks of Black Widow and Hathaway's Catwoman as a badass action heroine and a positive role model for female viewers in a summer dominated by men in tights. If anything good comes out of Pacific Rim it will (hopefully) be that some action films will start having a female star at its center.

I've seen a number of headlines over the course of the weekend saying something to the effect of "Pacific Rim's box office performance is why we can't have nice things." But... is it? Pacific Rim may not be a brand of action figures or a comic book series, and I commend del Toro for at least attempting to bring a new brand of heroes to the screen. But the film is hardly original. There have been many films like it in the past, and there will be many more films like it in the future. And when given the option, I'd much rather see the films Pacific Rim borrowed plot points from than sit through this movie again. I have no problem with some people enjoying it. Hell, I really liked Man of Steel and audiences were practically lining up with their pitch forks and torches to tear it down. If someone found some sort of nostalgic joy in the film, then good for them. But, I did not.

OVERALL GRADE: C-

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Movie Review: "The Heat"

Director Paul Feig and actress Melissa McCarthy had a tremendous hit on their hands with Kristen Wiig's hilarious comedy Bridesmaids. The film was one of the funniest comedies to hit the big screen in years and while Melissa McCarthy was sidelined to an (Oscar nominated) supporting role in that film, the idea of Feig putting the breakout star at the front of his follow up seemed too good to be true. Their latest film, The Heat, gives McCarthy plenty of time to shine and the actress gets to prove yet again how funny she can be. But The Heat also proves something else: that Kristen Wiig played a major part in Bridesmaids success.

The Heat is a tale as old as time- two cops, one straight laced and professional (Bullock) and one wild and edgy (McCarthy) are forced to team up and overcome their differences to become great partners and friends. But comedies are far from unpredictable and it's the responsibility of the screenwriter to make the story feel fresh or, at the very least, less stale. But writer Katie Dippold just can't bring that sort of energy to the screen. Even worse, The Heat doesn't develop its tired plot, instead using it simply as an outline to bridge together comedic moments. This same problem occurred with Bridesmaids- the funny scenes felt like long, hilarious sketches while the less comedic moments were essentially just there to fill in the blanks. But The Heat magnifies this problem. Whenever the film isn't trying to be funny, it half heartedly tries to further the plot and then quickly moves the characters to the next scene so they can make the audience laugh again. Not to mention that Bridesmaids had heart and was genuinely relatable. While the blossoming friendship between Bullock and McCarthy has it's sweet moments, they mostly feel manufactured.

The film also stumbles in the way it depicts violence. The Heat definitely tries to take its slim plot seriously, which is commendable, but the amount of violence in the film is awkward and off putting. While some scenes (at least try to) come off as funny, it's very hard to find something to laugh at when women are being tortured with knives and men are being shot in the testicles. The cast certainly tries their hardest to make us laugh, but it's not the brutal violence that's the problem: it's that brutal violence is out of place in this film. Bouncing back and forth between slapstick (characters being dropped in cars, having phone books thrown at them, etc.) and realistic violence just doesn't feel natural and gives off the impression that the writer and director were going for two very different tones.

But now I'm going to take my critic's hat off and just come out and say something: The Heat made me laugh. A lot. Comedy is clearly subjective and what I find funny others may not, but I think Melissa McCarthy is hilarious and she singlehandedly makes the film worth seeing. While some may accuse her of being a one-trick pony, I admire McCarthy's willingness to be savagely crude and foul mouthed while still managing to be charming and constantly likable. But she also brings a sense of seriousness to her part that most comedians lack. She's not playing her part as if she's a cartoon character- she takes her role seriously and gives her layers during the (cheesy and tacked on) serious moments. The rest of the cast is fine- Bullock specifically tries her hardest but is stuck (mostly) playing the straight man. But this is McCarthy's movie and she owns it.

I'm quite picky when it comes to comedies. So if a film makes me laugh as much as The Heat did, I think it's worth grading on a (slight) curve. The script is flawed and the story is hardly original, but Melissa McCarthy proves yet again just how much she brings to the table While I hope she starts to take more serious projects soon (I'd hate for her to become the female Adam Sandler) I have no problem giving this often funny film a mild recommendation. But if you're looking for a truly funny summer film, seek out This is the End. You'll go home much happier.

OVERALL GRADE: C+

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Movie Review: "White House Down"

Writing about White House Down is a surprisingly difficult task. Not because the film presents anything intellectually challenging. In fact, it's the opposite: there is virtually nothing to write about. But I'm going to try anyway.

For two and a half hours, White House Down left me mildly entertained and constantly aware that I was watching a very stupid movie. If anything can be said about Roland Emmerich's directorial abilities as made evident in this film, it is that he manages to instill just the right amount of stupidity into the action scenes. The film is never smart, but it never really reaches a point where I rolled my eyes and yell "Come on!" With a title like White House Down and Emmerich's habit of blowing up the White House in his movies, I expect the film to be a fairly over the top exercise in mindless action.  In that respect, it didn't disappoint. White House Down is filled with action from beginning to end, and it is just as mindless as I imagined. While the plot is about as far from realism as you can get, it never becomes any less believable than, say, Air Force One, True Lies or Taken. Where it runs into problems, however, is that Emmerich only occasionally takes the time to poke fun at the story.

Between stripping down to a tank top and being only a few letters away from being called John McClane, I think it's pretty clear that White House Down is trying to evoke Die Hard. But there is a crucial difference between that classic film and this one: nobody in Die Hard took itself too seriously. But while Tatum and company certainly fit a few jokes in, White House Down has long stretches where Emmerich tries to get the audience to feel the weight of this ridiculous situation and it just doesn't work. Between an overly complicated story and a father/daughter dynamic that feels forced down our throats, White House Down would have benefited considerably if its plot was simpler and had Tatum and Foxx trade wittier, more self aware banter. I mean, this is a film where Jamie Foxx plays the Leader of the Free World and still manages to drop an F bomb and fire a rocket launcher. Yet, he's still asked to give inspirational speeches and tries to be a serious hero. That's just not a good mix.

Even more annoying is that the action is (oddly enough) not the least believable thing in the movie. Instead, I found myself rolling my eyes at writer James Vanderbilt's numerous story devices, which almost entirely come off as unbelievable or ridiculous. There are clichés aplenty, plot holes galore, and a deus ex machina that comes in the form of secrets tunnels allegedly used by JFK to help Mariyln Monroe sneak into the White House. Right. The fact that I had less trouble believing that the President can fire a rocket launcher at terrorists than I do some of the developments in the story is never a good sign.

But to be honest, there really isn't much worth analyzing when it comes to this film. For all it's plot holes and story problems, the film is clearly trying to be nothing more than a good time at the movies. And I suppose it's moderately successful at that. While the aforementioned serious tone certainly dampens the mood, there is enough action to keep audiences excited. Some moments certainly work better than others, and none of them reach the level of films like Man of Steel or Iron Man 3 but it's still fun. The trailer also does its best to not spoil any of the best scenes, instead only hinting at what's to come. And, as someone who's typically found Emmerich's methods of filmmaking distracting and irritating, this film certainly felt like his most exciting to date.

Much of the film also lies on the shoulders of Channing Tatum who, despite this film's middling box office receipts, has found himself at the center of a handful of big hits. When Tatum first came on the scene I found him unbearable- his wooden delivery and complete lack of screen presence made me pray he'd disappear. Fastforward a few years and C-Tates has completely won me over. Maybe he was just working with bad material (Step Up was never going to win any Oscars) or maybe he's improved exponentially as an actor, but there is a certain quality to Tatum's performances that feel natural. Despite his chiseled abs and movie-star good looks, Tatum always comes off as realistic. While he's never given any great dramatic scenes like those in Magic Mike and he isn't as funny as he was in 21 Jump Street, his performance in White House Down is still quite strong. He makes John Cale a relatable hero and, despite this film's status as a box office flop, I don't think Tatum's career is going to slow down in the slightest.

The rest of the cast, however, fails to stand out. Jamie Foxx is completely wasted thanks mostly to the material. His character isn't very convincing during the dramatic moments, and Foxx's comedic scenes come off as unnatural. Meanwhile great actors like James Woods, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Richard Jenkins phone their work in- we've seen them all give performances just like this. One standout, however, is 14 year old Joey King, who stars as Tatum's spunky daughter who (no surprise) finds herself at the center of the action. While King's character is no different than any other kidnapped kid from an action movie, she manages to make her character slightly more interesting and pulls off both her comedic and dramatic scenes. Having already appeared in films like The Dark Knight Rises and Oz the Great and Powerful, I don't think its an exaggeration to say that this little girl is going places.

As I mentioned before, White House Down is almost impossible to write about. While you can rip apart the film for it's crappy script and unrealistic story, I never once believed that anyone involved in film had strived to be more than just an action movie. And, while it's not the most entertaining film you'll see this summer and I don't think you'll miss much if you choose to sit this one out, it does (mostly) succeed as an action movie. I was entertained by the film, and I forgot about it after a few minutes and moved on with my life. Anybody toting the film as something more than a decent is being hyperbolic. Anybody ripping the film apart and calling it terrible is being overdramatic. It's as simple as that.

OVERALL GRADE: C

Movie 'Review': "Texas Chainsaw 3D

NOTE: This review will be taking a slightly... different approach to what you're used to if you're a frequent reader of this blog.

In my mind, it should be more difficult for a film to get an F rating than it is to get an A. I mean, an F says a lot- to me, it means that a film has absolutely no redemptive qualities. But it also means that the film offends me on some level, either as a filmgoer or as a human being. Prior to watching Texas Chainsaw 3D, I had only given five Fs:

1. The Covenant- a film so poorly made that it has (thankfully) been forgotten by the moviegoing public.
2. Battle: Los Angeles- a film so unoriginal it feels that a computer wrote the script.
3. The Change-Up- a disgusting, unfunny and misogynistic film 
4. Law Abiding Citizen- torture porn dressed up as an "important" movie
5. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry- quite possibly the worst film I've ever seen. A film so homophobic it's actually disgusting.

Thanks to Texas Chainsaw 3D I now have to use two hands to count down my least favorite films.

Slasher films are my guilty pleasure but finding anything pleasurable about Texas Chainsaw 3D is a daunting challenge. The film is unwatchable. The fact that anybody involved in the production of this film- be it a producer, director, writer, actor, or even a make-up artist- could see this film and think that it was completed and fit for distribution is truly shocking.

When it comes to slasher films, the main attraction is, obviously, to see the dumb teenagers at the center get killed in a variety of brutal ways. But Texas Chainsaw 3D can't even get that right. There is no suspense, no dramatic weight to the brutality of the violence, and the bodies of the men and women being tortured are so obviously fake you'd think they sent some intern to the dollar store down the street to pick up a mannequin or two. There is no budget listed on Box Office Mojo, but I feel like anything higher $1 million sounds too high. I'm assuming that getting a C-list rapper like Trey Songz to "act" would cost at least that much.

Speaking of the acting- I know that slasher movies don't get the most talented casts, but I've seen better acting in a Cialis commercial. This cast makes Paris Hilton's emotionless turn in House of Wax look like Oscar material. The actors in this film are only asked to do so much- scream, run, make sex jokes and drop an occasional one liner ("Welcome to Texas, motherfucker!"). But not once did it seem genuine or even remotely convincing. Previous Texas Chainsaw films saw the debut performances of actors like Matthew McConaughey or Renee Zellweger. The actors in this film would be lucky to have a supporting part in a Lifetime movie.

And then there is the script. I guess you can give the film's writers some credit for trying to develop a plot slightly more interesting than the average slasher. Too bad the plot they've developed is absolute crap. I don't want to spoil the film for those who are interested in seeing it, but the twist at the end is baffling- not because it doesn't make sense, but because I can't imagine any writer actually thinking it was a good idea. But the twist isn't the only problem- the film's plot is so underdeveloped it feels like the actors were still figuring it out as they uttered the dialogue into the camera.

Texas Chainsaw 3D fits my criteria for an F rating. There is not a single redemptive thing about it, and it offends me as a filmgoer. I didn't pay any money to see the film (thank God for local libraries...) but if I did, I would feel robbed. I don't ask for much with a slasher film. Throw in a serviceable plot, shlocky acting, ridiculous gore and maybe even some gratuitous nudity and I'll feel like I got my money's worth.  But Texas Chainsaw 3D steals your money, 92 minutes of your time and leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth. I hated this film with every fiber of my being and pray that we don't see another film this bad in 2013- both for the sake of the film community, and my own sanity.

OVERALL GRADE: F

"Texas Chainsaw 3D" is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray and Video on Demand. I advise you to never, ever, watch it. 

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Movie Review: "Warm Bodies"

Supernatural romance is all the rage and like all things that gross over $100 million dollars at the box office, Hollywood has been churning them out faster than you can say "Edward and Bella." But with that famous vampire series finished and dwindling box office receipts for the latest offerings in the genre (February's Beautiful Creatures made $19 million through its whole run- less than the last Twilight movie made in a day) it seems that Hollywood is trying to mine as much gold as they can before audiences decide to go elsewhere with their money.

Enter Warm Bodies, a film that seemed to defy everything audiences know about supernatural romance- based on the film's trailers, it didn't take itself too seriously, had some comedic bits that really worked, a kickass soundtrack and, yes, romance. Unlike the Twilight Saga, Warm Bodies managed to do the impossible and actually appeal to men. And while $66 million at the domestic box office might not be that much (it's still less than Breaking Dawn: Part II made in one day) it's still a very solid result for a film of its genre. But trailers can be deceiving- what I wanted to know is if Warm Bodies could become a supernatural romance film for people who hate supernatural romances.

While the bond between zombie R and human Julie is certainly more interesting and less infuriating than the borderline misogynistic relationship between Edward and Bella, writer/director Jonathan Levine (adapting a book by Issac Marion) finds himself in a tricky situation. On one hand, Levine wants to highlight the ridiculousness of the situation by infusing comedy into the mix. The idea of having a zombie fall in love with a human is ripe with comedy and Levine tries his best to make the audience laugh. Some of the jokes work, but Levine still misses quite a few opportunities for some much needed comedic relief. Even worse, certain scenes of the film are taken far too seriously and destroy the more lighthearted tone Levine worked hard to create. The conflict between the humans and the zombies, for example, is treated like a legitimate crisis that the audience will have no trouble feeling the dramatic weight of. But there is no suspense in these scenes, and not nearly enough comedy, so they come off as ridiculous. Even worse is the cringe worthy story device in which R eats the brains of a supporting character he killed to see what it's like to be human. Is this supposed to be funny? Creepy? Sad? Levine never infuses comedy- or anything, really- into these moments, making them random and awkward.

Levine also fails to build tension during the film's climatic moments. There is apparently a lot at stake in the film, as the character's constantly seem to be stressed about something when they aren't falling in love or cracking jokes. But the film never really sells the tension to you- there is no suspense, no real drama and nothing worth caring about. The "Romeo & Juliet"-esque war between humans and zombies that R and Julie find themselves trapped in feels like an afterthought. Granted, a paranormal relationship dramadey was never going to be the most suspenseful film of the year. But a conflict has to do more than fill the space in between the comedic or romantic moments- it has to make the audience care about what's going on in the film. And Warm Bodies's conflict does not.

But praise must be bestowed unto stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, who bring life to the script and make the romantic moments come alive. The two have an infectious chemistry, solid comedic timing and are immensely likable. They do much more than make out and revel in teen angst- they make their characters interesting, and add dimension where the script is lacking. While it would have grown old eventually, the montages between the two characters are the highlights of the film, thanks in part to a terrific soundtrack.Best of all, the progression of their romance feels oddly realistic (or as realistic as a relationship between a human and a zombie can be). And while I did find the film's message- that, without love, we'd live a long and lonely life- a bit overbearing, the two stars manage to make it easier to bear.

Some of the comedic bits also work really well. Many of the scenes involving Julie's best friend Nora made me laugh, mainly because her character pokes holes in the film's convoluted logic. Hoult's inner monlogue also serves as an excellent comedic device, especially when coupled with his emotional facial expressions. While many of the best scenes have been spoiled in the trailer- namely R's reactions as Julie changes in front of him- they all land well and provide a window into how great the film would have been had they relied on comedy more often. But, it must be noted that a number of great comedians are wasted in supporting roles. Outside of a line or two, Rob Corddry's M is nothing more than an unnecessary supporting character. And the talented John Malkovich feels sorely miscast as the film's villain of sorts.

There is a lot of potential in Warm Bodies, but Jonathan Levine has only tapped into the surface. The film tries to differentiate itself and almost spoof films such as Twilight by incorporating a sarcastic sense of humor and sort of self-aware script. But the film's dramatic moments are poorly handled and feel like something you'd see in... well, Twilight. Levine, who directed 2011's excellent 50/50, tried his hardest to breath new life into this tired sub-genre and while it's a valiant effort, I think it's time we put an one final nail in the supernatural-romance coffin.

OVERALL GRADE: C

"Warm Bodies" is currently available on DVD, Bu-Ray and Video on Demand.

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