Coming to America (1988)

Direceted by John Landis and starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall with Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall this is  a comedy. It follows Prince Akeem played by Eddie and his Man Servant Semmi played by Aresenio Hall as they come from Africa to America to find a Queen. The lead actors play several roles in the film and they play it for laughs and it really works for me.

This is a fish out of water comedy with Eddie and Arsenio not fully understanding America or how things work. There is the love story as the Prince finds his Queen and you have the usual it is not what he is but what he says that causes a problem. Some of the jokes have seeped in to pop culture references like Sexual Chocolate a song sung half way through the film. And the constant references to McDowells compared to McDonalds are funny especially right at the end.

With support from James Earl Jones as Akeem's father, Madge Sinclair as his mother, Shari Headley as the love interest, Allison Dean as her sister and John Amos a their father. I think that this film is hilarious and still works today, there is also a nice little reference back to Trading Places, overall this is a fun filled 4 star recommend from me and I think everybody should see it.

Men in Black 2 (2002)

The 2002 sequel to the 1997 film Men in Black sees K and J back together as they have to try and find the light of Zartha and save the world from Serleena played by Lara Flynn Boyle who is supported by two headed Johnny Knoxville, of Jackass fame. This film is very much in the same vain as the original ad brings back many of the characters including a bigger role for Frank the dog, voiced by Tim Blaney and Z played Rip Torn. The love interest for J this film is Rosario Dawson playing LAura Vasquez

As with any sequel it takes the basic concept of the original and replays it in many ways with the same characters and the same jokes coming up again. There are some new jokes and what sets this up as quite a good sequel is there a lot of expansion of the universe it is set in and some development of the lesser characters, there is a lot more comedic characters this time with Johnny Knoxville, Frank the Dog and the Worms all playing it for laughs.

If you enjoyed the original then you will appreciate and enjoy this film and it really makes a good compliment for it and I always find that I cannot watch the first without wanting to see the sequel and when I see them both I enjoy them, overall another 3 star film.

Men in Black (1997)

The Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones science fiction comedy film, it follows Will Smith as he chases a criminal down and this leads to Tommy Lee Jones hiring him to work for a shadowy organisation that tracks and watches all of the aliens currently on Earth. They have cool suits, shades and awesome cars and they have to track a giant bug.

This is a family fun filled romp and follows the experienced and all knowing K played by Tommy Lee Jones as he initiates J, the Will Smith character as they attempt to save the world. J falls for the morgue technician played by Linda Fiorentino as they attempt to save the galaxy. You have some great fun and some excellent effects as you discover the world at the same time as J and they use some wonderful real life examples to have a laugh.

This is a good family film and it has recently had its second sequel and I think that if that film is half as good as the original it will be very good. Overall this film is a strong 3 star recommend a good science fiction comedy and well worth seeing.

Innerspace (1987)

Film of 2012 #75


Starring Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan and Martin Short this film is from the family science fiction corner and has the premise of minaturising a test pilot to inject him into a Rabbit but something goes wrong and he ends up being injected in to Martin Short, who plays a Hypochondriac Jack Putter. Directed by Joe Dante this is a fun film that has a sense of danger and excitement as Jack Putter discovers his inner hero through helping Dennis Quaid as Lt Tuck Pendleton get safely resurrected and get Meg Ryan back. 

The effects in this film are for the time fantastic you do actually believe that Dennis Quaid has been shrunk and is floating around inside Martin Short. The danger posed by the evil corporation is while quite cartoonish fits in really well with the film. You have Victor Scrimshaw and Dr Margaret Canker played by Kevin McCarthy and Fiona Lewis ably supported by the ever imposing Mr Igoe played menacingly by Vernon Wells. Capers and comedy ensue and you have good old fashioned character development of Jack Putter to the realisation from Tuck Pendleton what is important. 

This film is great it is a bit dated with the styles of 1987 and they play loose with scientific possibility but overall this really is a fun and enjoyable film, I have seen it several times and will watch it again in the future. Overall this is a 4 star recommend from me go and see how a sneeze can save your life. 

Weekend at Bernies (1989)

Film of 2012 #74


Two losers who in the middle of a heat wave try and show their boss that they are really good workers and at the weekend they discover a discrepancy in the books and they take it to Bernie and as a reward he invites them to his island home. The comedy from there ensues as Bernie is defrauding the company and when he tells his boss that someone is on to him, they decide to take care of him. When Larry and Richard, played by Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman arrive at the Island they discover that Bernie is dead but instead of letting it ruin their weekend they pretend he is still alive and from there the comedy commences.

I had heard of this film but never even really seen or heard that much about it before I saw it and I actually really enjoyed it. There is a bit where you have to believe that the main characters can be that stupid and that people would really believe that Bernie is alive when you see him. However it is from the farce school of comedy and actually really works quite well.

Yes there are serious flaws if you are not willing to give them any credit but if you can go with what they are doing with the comedy. If you do not think about it to hard then it really is a fun film and a good 3 star recommend from me to see this film if you get the chance. There is a sequel which appears to be about Voodoo so will probably not be looking that film up.

Rare Exports:A Christmas Tale (2010)

Film of 2012 #55

This film is from Finland it is based upon a folk tale they have around Santa Claus, which is a very different story to what the Western representation of Santa Claus. This film is subtitled and is very much a cultural film and therefore it will not appeal to everybody. I think that it is supposed to be a comedy and there are certainly elements that make you smile but you have to be aware before going in that there is an element of comedy. You follow a young boy called Pietari Kontio played by Onni Tommila whose real life father Jorma Tommila plays his father in the film. Upon research this film is the 3rd film in a trilogy with the first two parts being short films that this story was adapted from.

This is quite a dark film and there are some adult scenes with some male genitalia on show at the later part of the film and there are some scenes of blood and gore. I think that if you can see the comedy in this film and appreciate it as a whimsical comedy then you will really enjoy it. The acting is strong enough and the effects while not brilliant are not terrible, there are some issues around being comfortable where the story goes and why they do what they suggest at the end but overall this is a fun film.

There are not enough foreign films that I really enjoy but if you liked things like Let the Right One In then while this is not in the same league as that film there is a certain level of enjoyment within this Christmas film, 3 star recommend if you do subtitles.

Ferris Buellers Day Off (1986)

Film of 2012 #47

The 1986 John Hughes film considered by some as a classic got dusted off for a revisit and I was impressed how well it holds up. This is one of the first films I am aware of that clearly breaks the 4th wall and it is very much an extreme film that pushes the boundaries of realism and believability, it is a comedy and if you accept it, it really works well. The story follows Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller the ultimate teen, whose view on life is that while in his teens he wants to enjoy himself before he grows up. You have parts in this film for Jennifer Grey as his sister, Charlie Sheen as a cameo in the police Station, Jeffery Jones as the Principal trying to catch Ferris and Sloane and Cameron (insert friends) that go on the adventure with Ferris.

Some of the good things about this film, as with the breaking of the fourth wall you also have little back story to Ferris and his situation. You do have the cartoonish fact that his parents and everybody at school loves him including the fact that a running joke through the film is Save Ferris all over the place. The only people that hate him are his sister and the principal who are constantly trying to catch him out. You get the feeling from the film that they have been at this for a while and it almost plays like a series with this just being an episode. The thing I really like about this is the fact there is no apology for it and I actually wonder that if you approached the studios today with this idea whether they would actually go for an idea that is out there and different.

This film could be remade or a sequel but I think that in today's age they would struggle to capture what the film was. It is almost like an experiment in film making without being so obvious and when you watch it you can just enjoy the teenage rebel who is not evil if he is a little selfish. And really what I think John Hughes was trying to say was enjoy life, the principal and his sister end up in trouble trying to catch out Ferris and yet he is not really doing them any harm. All I can say is SAVE FERRIS and watch this film a solid 3 star recommend.

Bad Teacher (2011)

Film of 2012 #41

Cameron Diaz as a teacher, I know that I would have enjoyed that when I was at school and how she goes about teaching her students works for me to begin with and I know that I would have learned lots from her. This is comedy with several good jokes going on in it and there were several good laughs with Cameron Diaz trying to get the money, however she can to have a b**b job and to then woo the rich teacher in this case played by Justin Timberlake. And you have her battles with the well liked Miss Squirrel who is also competing for the affections of Justin. 

This is a grown up coming of age and works quite well in the world where nobody wants to grow up and you have seen the basic story told so many times before, the difference in this film is that it is not portrayed by teeneagers. There is a nice scene when you have Cameron Diaz explaining something to a pupil and the light comes on in her eyes about her own situation. The real issue with the film is that it is not total slap stick so it borders on the unrealistic but reality and there were a lot of things that do not jar well with this and there is an obvious ending that has questionable morality. 

Overall this is a light hearted comedy played well by the main characters and shows how someone will go as far as they can to get what they think that they want and it shows their coming of age. This is a hard film to recomend it is a weak 3 star for me some of the jokes are worth a giggle and if you saw it on, it is worth seeing but will not be a great miss if you do not see it. 

Ruthless People (1986)

The classic 80's comedy from Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker, starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater. This is the story of Ken and Sandy Kessler, payed by Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater when wronged by Sam Stone, played by Danny DeVito they kidnap his wife Bette Midler just before he can get rid of her himself and the hilarity of misunderstood and misconstrued ideas leads to some classic scenes.

This is one of these brilliant comedies that gets slightly overlooked when talking about 80's classics as quite often people only get as far as the John Hughes films which are great but overlook the other films that are out there. The acting cast is stellar for the time with DeVito, Midler and Reinhold fulfilling all that you expect and Helen Slater who was famous as Super Girl being brilliant as the ditsy blond. And you also have Bill Pullman and Anita Morris playing great roles as some of the side characters.

Another film that revisited for the first time in a long time and was really glad that I did, there are some flaws with a lot going on and some of the comedy just being down right Silly. Overall this is a recommend for those that have not seen it and maybe time for a re--watch for those that have not seen it for a while 4 stars.

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Finally watched the Mel Brooks classic from 1974, the Western spoof where a Black Sheriff played by Cleavon Little is appointed to a town by Harvey Korman who wants the land, because when the railway goes through it will be worth a fortune. With Gene Wilder as the Kid and Slim Pickens as Taggart this is a brilliant comedy film.

I have to be honest and say that several of the jokes are out of place and the use of the N word in today's society is unacceptable so there is a jarring call when it is uttered in the film, however the film addresses this itself and makes a fool of it really well. I love one of the first scenes with the sing off "Camp Town Races" makes me smile every time just to think about it. The jokes mainly hold up, the camp fire scene is one of the most famous and is still funny even if this is on a totally base level.

I have to say even though some of the comedy and references are a bit out of date and out of place this is a solid 4 star film and everybody should watch it at least once.

The Inbetweeners (2011)

I will be upfront and say that I have never seen any of the TV Series and know nothing about any of the characters but the Fiance wanted to see it as it appeals to her funny bone. The premise is that the main characters do not fit in even within their own families and they decide to go on holiday to the Greek island Malia. Firstly this film is almost the same as Kevin and Perry Go Large the out of place guys who are thick go on holiday and I wonder how it will turn out?

Now some of the jokes are hilarious the dance scene will go down in YouTube history when it comes out on DVD, having looked online this seems to be Neil played by Blake Harrison. A part from that and some other jokes the film is too cringe worthy for me, it is very much laugh at these people not with them and this is not the sort of comedy I appreciate as I simply feel bad fro them as I want them to succeed and every time you think they are winning the pull the Dumb and Dumber ending which is what made me hate that film, but that is a different review.

Overall if you like the series I am sure you will love the film and if you liked Kevin and Perry then this is for you, however it was not for me but a couple of the jokes were funny enough so 2 stars.

The Change-Up (2011) Trailer

So they have made another version of Freaky Friday and this time they have decided to do a best friend switch, I have never been that big a fan of these films from the version with Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris to the Jamie Lee Curtis and Linsay Lohan version and the Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage film Vice Versa this idea has been done many times before. Now I have to say that the idea that they change it the way they does makes it different but still it is the same basic idea, they will get a better understanding of each others lives and be happier in their own.

Now my preconceptions might be wrong and there maybe some really funny high-jinks while they find this out but to be honest it is not a film that appeals to me. Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds are both excellent actors and I like them both but I thin that this is definitely a wait for DVD if I see it at all.

UK Release Date - 16th September 2011

Troll Hunter (2010) Trailer

This film was first brought to my attention by the guys at www.bloodygoodhorror.com and their podcast and since then I have been keen to see this film. It is a hand held film from Norway where they go hunting for Trolls, now really do you have to know anything else?

I have watched a few trailers for this film and there are a couple out there that seem to show an awful lot of the trolls so i am even more intrigued to see where this film goes, in all honesty it is the sort of film I am starting to really appreciate and look forward to. The best ideas and best delivery seem to be coming from countries outside the UK and US. Some great examples have been Timecrimes and REC from Spain, Let the Right One In from Sweden and Ip man.

I am really looking forward to seeing this film and I just hope it gets a wide enough release that I get to see it locally.

UK Release Date - 9th September 2011

Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010) Trailer

A fun trailer for me to review as I have seen the film but i have to review it to show everybody else how much fun it is and that you should see it, i saw it at Horror Hound Weekend in March and here is my original review here.

The trailer is a good and honest appraisal of the film, you can see the trailer and the website here.

I have to say that I hope this film gets a wide release and i hope that everyone that enjoys horror films and comedies should go and see this film if it is in a cinema near you or find a cinema it is in.

UK Release Date - TBC

Friends With Benefits (2011) Trailer

I saw this trailer in front of Horrible Bosses and I have to say that while it falls into the category of romantic Comedy while not the sort of film that I would normally like it did look funny. You have Mila Kunis from Black Swan and Justin Timberlake from the Social Network and pop star status who are friends and decide to try and introduce a sex without emotion relationship into there friendship and shenanigans ensue.

I have to say that I think I have where the story goes figured out but you never know I might be wrong and it certainly looks like it will be interesting to see how they do get where they are going.

Sure my better half will want to see this so will possibly end up at the Cinema to see it and I am sure that I will enjoy the film on the big screen, Mila Kunis is certainly not a hardship to watch.

UK Release Date - 9th September 2011

The Smurfs (2011) Trailer

The little blue Smurfs get the big screen make-over, the Belgian cartoon is the latest 80's program to b ere--imagined on the big screen. Having seen the trailer for this I have to say that it looks good, really they can make any film and idea appear to be a good thing and the CGI looks good, however I do not think this is a film for me.

There seems to be the idea that the Smurfs end up in New York City and they have to find away home, this is a bit like the story of Enchanted which was a good film in itself and I am sure that the film will appeal to the target audience which is obviously children.

I do not think that I will end up seeing this film, however I think that on DVD I will probably give it a watch I have certainly given time to films that are more than likely a lot worse than this appears to be. I will perhaps wait to see what the reaction of the critics is.

UK release date - 10th August 2011

Zookeeper (2011) Poster

Having seen the trailer for this film and looked at it here. I saw this poster and thought well I really do not need to see this film now. The trailer shows Kevin James trying to win Leslie Bibb and yet you get the attached poster showing the animals pushing him towards the Roasrio Dawson character which was where you think it will end up anyway as it is standard fare but hey why not just show you the whole story in the trailer and posters.

It just goes to show where Hollywood is today that they have no surprise in film any more they just want to tell you everything before you see the film and yet they wonder why no one goes to the movies anyway.

Why not do what Simon Pegg and Nick frost wanted to do with Paul when they wrote the film and released it they wanted it released with no reference to the fact that Paul was an alien and imagine the impact when you were in the cinema and out of the dark here comes Paul it would have been an awesome reveal in the cinema and would have gone down in film history but the execs decided that it was to much and wanted to show what the money had been spent on so we get nothing but alien in the promotional material.

Zookeeper (2011) Trailer

I have seen this trailer a couple of times it is the film of the year where the big comedy star gets to act ll silly and stupid with some funny partners. In this case it is Kevin James with a cast of zoo animals who get to to show him how to get the woman of his dreams, Leslie Bibb with Rosario Dawson in the wings, my cynical heart asks wonder how this will play out?

I laughed at the trailer the Gorilla, going to TGI Friday's screams product placement but it is pretty funny, just glad it is not McDonalds.

I will probably skip this film at the cinema to childish even for em that enjoys the children's films and I will wait for it coming out on DVD.

UK Release Date - 29th July 2011

Death at a Funeral (2010)

I had not seen the original film so had very little to base what I thought of this going in and I was pleasantly surprised, it is essentially a slapstick comedy with a serious and slightly dark edge starring Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Zoey Saldona, Keith David and Danny Glover. The premise is the funeral of a father and how his family deal with the funeral and a little surprise that turns up.

The comedy in this film is actually quite clever and funny, it is by no means a masterpiece and i will not be rushing out to see it again but happy that I have seen it. It is quite good as some of the funny moments are telegraphed but not really thrown in your face so it treats you with a bit of maturity, but Martin Lawrence is the biggest annoyance he just annoys me for some reason but Chris Rock is good and Zoey Saldona actually has some really good timing.

Worth seeing but not worth searching for 3 stars.

Your Highness (2011)

This is another film that I had wanted to see at the cinema pretty much because Natalie Portman was in it and I enjoyed watching Natalie Portman, the rest of the film was laughable and not in the good comedy way. I have no idea where this film came from, it was like a gaudy comedy that decided to go for the R rating in the USA and to hang with making sure it was funny. James Franco was fine in the role he played and the supporting cast were okay but Danny McBride was just wrong in so many ways, it was like I want to write a film where I am the star and for some reason they let him make it.

The jokes were poor and the story itself would have been funny had I been stoned, I was straight and really it felt painful. Part of the problem was that they ended up getting more stars than they knew what to do with and they did not get a chance to do what they were good at. Portman was sort of like, well we will ask her, she will probably say no and for some reason she said yes and they were like wow, now what do we do?

I would say avoid this unless you are into lowest common denominator comedy and are perpetually stoned cause then I think you will find it funny, a very disappointing 1 star film for me.