Movie Review: The Avengers

When it comes to superhero movies, there’s nothing more exciting than having the main Marvel comic book heroes together in one place for our viewing pleasure. Brought together by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the heroes are all in attendance, including Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor’s brother, is transported to Earth to steal the Tesseract. For those who didn’t see Captain America, this is a small cube that can be used as a power source -- something more powerful than anything found on Earth. Fury is using the cube to develop weapons against invasion; something he is keeping secret from the public. After possessing Hawkeye to use as muscle against Fury and his team, Loki sets about creating a device that will open a portal from his home planet, Asgard, leaving Earth open for invasion.

Led by Captain America, the superheroes have a bit of a rocky start banding together to fight Loki. They each have their own reasons for joining the Avenger initiative --  Captain America was bred to be a soldier and follow orders blindly; Black Widow will do what she can to save Haweye in order to repay a debt; Iron Man, whose alter ego Tony Stark is a innovator in alternative energy use, thinks there’s something fishy about being brought onto the project so late in the game, and is more curious about finding the truth behind Fury’s actions and his real use of the Tesseract; Banner just wants to interpret gamma rays for Fury so that he will be left alone to live his life in peace; and Thor’s sole purpose for helping is to return his brother and the Tesseract back to Asgard. Together, this band of heroes have to find a way to put their differences, and in Iron Man’s case ego, aside to save Earth.

While Iron Man is by far my favorite of the Marvel superheroes, I have to admit that the Hulk stole the show in this film. As Bruce Banner, Ruffalo showed a very vulnerable side to the character, showcasing a tormented doctor doing everything in his power to contain the beast within. However, when The Hulk does emerge, he’s nothing short of a fantastic and impressive beast that will have audiences in awe of his might and laughing at his indifference to all those around him, good or evil. Even after fighting alongside the Avengers, he still punches one of them, just for the sake of it. While we don’t see as much of the actual Hulk until the end, he is well worth the wait.

All the actors were great as their characters, offering just the right mix of action and comedy to make their characters relatable -- show the human side to their superhero alter egos. Evans is every much his apple pie self that we’ve come to expect in Captain America. All he cares about is the good of the people, even if that means sacrificing himself. This, of course, doesn’t sit so well with Iron Man, who is all about the show and flash. Downey Jr. doesn’t disappoint with his smart ass wit and sarcasm. Whether fighting a demi-God, a Hulk, or an all American hero, you can always expect him to show the same level of respect. None. That’s what is so great about RDJ and his portrayal of Iron Man. No matter how much of an ass he’s being, his charm and eventual desire to do good will always have you backing his corner.

Superhero movies may not be for everyone, but the Avengers is definitely worth watching. It’s not just action and flying men in ridiculous suits. It’s funny and will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Overall Grade: A-

Movie Review: Hysteria

In the 19th century, women were expected to be content in their roles as wife and/or mother. However, anyone with the need to voice their unhappiness or discomfort (physical or emotional) were considered hysterical, and in need of medical assistance. Basically, women who were strong-willed and opinionated were eventually institutionalized for their stubbornness, and upper class housewives who weren’t being satisfied by their husbands at home, went to a doctor who took care of their needs for them. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), fired by his previous employer for being too concerned about germs and his patients getting infections, decided he wanted to make a difference in the medical world. Up to date on trade journals and medical advancements, Granville was looking for an opportunity to make a name for himself. Luckily, Dr. Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce), who specializes in aiding women with hysteria (i.e. unsatisfied housewives), took Granville under his wing, molding him to eventually take over the practice -- and, on a side note, marry his younger daughter, Emily (Felicity Jones). Unfortunately, as time went on, Granville found his hand was cramping and wasn’t able to perform his duties in the manner that satisfied his clients. To keep from being fired, he takes an invention created by his friend, Edmund (Rupert Everett), and tweaks it so it can be used as a hand-held vibrating device. And thus, the vibrator is born.

Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is Dr. Dalrymple’’s older, more difficult, daughter. She’s not happy being the typical, mild mannered daughter of a wealthy doctor, and would rather get her hands dirty, starting a school for the underprivileged. Gyllenhaal doesn’t really depart too much from characters we’re used to seeing her play. Her characters are opinionated and difficult, quick to berate the leading men in her films. But, she does it well and delivers her lines with the perfect amount of wit and infliction.

Dancy brings a certain charm to the film, as the serious doctor stuck pleasuring women for a living, rather than curing the seriously ill. All he wants is to make a difference in the medical field, but all he gets is...well, hand cramps. He does, obviously, make a name for himself, but I’m pretty sure it’s not what he had in mind.

Hysteria takes place in England, so the wit and humor are a little dry. However, the story is well told and the film well acted. It’s a ridiculous story if you really think about it, but entertaining non-the-less. I’m not saying you should rush to theaters to see it, but it will definitely make an entertaining way to spend a night in.

Overall Grade: B

Movie Review: Think Like A Man

It really is a battle of the sexes when it comes to determining who holds the power in a relationship. Based on the best-selling Steve Harvey book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man, this film tells the story of what’s it’s like when women get their hands on a man’s dating playbook. With insight into the male psyche, women learn the rules to getting their men -- categorized as ‘the player’ (Romany Malco), ‘the momma’s boy’ (Terrence Jenkins), ‘the dreamer’ (Michael Ealy), or ‘the non-committer’ (Jerry Ferrera) -- to commit. However, when the guys learn that their secrets have been revealed, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and manipulate their women into thinking that they have changed. But, all they’re really doing is lying to get what they want. Basically, even with the rules, no one really knows what they’re doing when it comes to relationships.

The cast is incredibly good looking and provides more than enough eye candy to help you sit through 2 hours of this romantic comedy. But, more importantly, this ensemble will have you laughing so hard you’ll end up missing parts of the movie because you can’t hear over the audience. This happened so often while I was in the theater that my friend mentioned that she could have used subtitles to help understand the dialogue better. While the writing and storyline is nothing original, -- just think of this as an African American version of Valentines Day-- it’s the delivery that makes watching this movie worthwhile. 

Kevin Hart, as the happily, but secretly lonely, divorced guy, does more than his fair share of keeping the audience entertained. What’s great about watching him onscreen is that he doesn’t deliver his lines as continuous punch lines, like so many other stand-up comedians. He’s loud and eccentric, but not in an obnoxious way. 

It was also nice to see Jerry Ferrera (aka Turtle from Entourage) out of Vince’s shadow and being his own person. A lot of times it’s hard to picture someone outside of the character they’re so well known for, however, I didn’t have that problem here. He was a little typecast as the pot smoking boy who didn’t want to grow up, but overall I think he’s done well of stepping out of his Entourage shadow.

Unfortunately, the downside to having such a large ensemble cast is that talent, like Taraji P. Henson, doesn't get showcased as much as it should be. She’s an actress that can access such range, but in this film you only see a portion of what she’s capable of. Lauren (Henson) is a headstrong woman, who knows exactly what she’s looking for in a man. However, she falls for a dreamer, Dominic (Ealy), who lacks any kind of real follow-through and ambition. They both change each other for the better -- and all that other clichéd nonsense -- but you don’t really get to see her transformation. You just see her jump from being all about wanting a man that’s good on paper, to wanting to be with someone who actually cares for her. It’s one of those details that get explored more when you don’t have to worry about fitting in the various storylines of such a large cast. 

Even though the film is a romantic comedy, it definitely leans more towards comedy and will have you laughing from beginning to end. It’s a movie you can sit back and enjoy, especially since there haven’t been a whole lot of great movie options to choose from as of late. It’s fun and entertaining, and definitely worth watching.

Overall Grade: B+

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

One of the most highly anticipated movies of this year, The Hunger Games opened at #1 at the box office and set a record w/ the 3^rd highest opening weekend in history. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, this tale of love, sacrifice, and heroism was brilliantly brought to life on the big screen for audiences to enjoy.

After an uprising by the 13 Districts of Panem goes wrong, the Capitol has a yearly, televised competition between the 12 surviving Districts, leaving only one Tribute the Victor. Picked from a lottery, known as the Reaping, one boy and one girl (aka the Tributes) are chosen from each district to fight in a gruesome, bloody battle to the death, while everyone else watches. As the people of District 12 assemble for the Reaping, everyone is silent as the first name is picked…Primrose Everdeen. The shock of the young 13 year-old being picked is only overshadowed when her sister, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), volunteers in her place. This is the type of thing that only happens in Districts 1 and 2, where the tributes are wealthier and spend their lives training for the Games. It’s almost unheard of in the other Districts. And thus begins the harrowing tale of sacrifice, courage, and strategy that is the Hunger Games.

The film does an amazing job bringing Collins’ words to life -- From the destitute and starving people of District 12 to the overly indulgent and lavish people of Capitol. The use of color and costume alone signifies the difference between the two classes. District 12 is drab and very washed out, while Capitol is full of color. Even their hair and eyelashes are so vibrant and colorful. It’s really fun to see how the people of Capitol are depicted.

Once the Game begins, all the tributes are transported to an abandoned field with a cornucopia of weapons in the middle. It’s a bloodbath from the get go, with tributes brutally fighting and killing each other. It’s particularly gruesome to watch the younger kids being killed because it’s truly a savage scene that starts off the Game. However, after that initial scene, the scenes get a little tamer, showing audiences more about the strategy involved with surviving, rather than the actual killings. It also showcases Katniss’ independence and rebellion against Capitol, and how she uses Peeta’s affections towards her to keep them both alive. I wish there was more action during the Game, but that may be because I read the books and know that there is so much more detail to everything that happens. However, they did a great job with the time they had.

While the film centers on Katniss’ selfless sacrifice for her sister and her unwavering determination to survive, what we don’t see as much of is the love triangle between Katniss, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) – Katniss’ best friend and hunting partner, and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) – the second tribute selected to represent District 12, who is also in love with Katniss. The film only touches on the triangle, showing Gale’s reaction to watching the Game, but didn’t really reveal how special their relationship really is. They also drop the ball a bit on showing the audience the kind of person Peeta is. He’s more complicated than the movie lets on. They show us, to an extent, how much he feels for Katniss, but there’s still so much more below the surface. However, these details being left out didn't bother me because the importance of this film was to showcase Katniss and the Game. The love triangle seems like something they will explore more in the sequels.

Action and plotlines aside, the cast alone is a great draw to watch the film. Jennifer Lawrence does a fantastic job embodying the role of Katniss. She’s expressive and has the ability to invoke very strong emotions with just one look. Rounding out this very colorful cast is Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, and Lenny Kravitz. Kravitz’s character, Cinna, was described as more flamboyant and over the top in the books. However, in the film he was much more subdued…not really someone who looked like he would have come from Capitol. Aside from that, the characters were perfectly cast and represented.

The movie was 2hr and 22 min. of pure entertainment. It was fast-paced and you were engaged throughout the entire film. While it is understandable why certain details had to be cut out, I would suggest audiences read the books in order to get the full effect of the story. The excitement is in the details. Don't’ be discouraged by the fact that the book is for young adults because it is definitely a story to be enjoyed by people of all ages. That aside, the film is a visually stimulating and not to be missed.

Overall Grade: A-

Movie Review: 21 Jump Street

For those who don’t remember the original 21 Jump Street, it was about a police program that placed young-looking, undercover cops in high schools in order to take down local drug operations. It was one of the cheesiest, most poorly acted television shows from the 80’s, but it also introduced us to Johnny Depp. On a Side Note: You can’t help but laugh at his acting in this series, but luckily his skills have greatly improved over the years. Jonah Hill, who wrote the story with Michael Bacall, does a good job creating a remake that isn’t just a carbon copy of the original story -- unlike the disaster that was Footloose. They are able to take an old concept, and successfully make it their own.

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are rookie cops trying to make a name for themselves. After a drug dealer is released because Jenko forgot to read him his Miranda rights -- actually he doesn’t even know the Miranda rights – he and Schmidt are reassigned to the newly revived Jump Street program, from the 80’s. The Deputy, played by Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), makes a comment that the people in charge lack creativity and original ideas, so all they do now is recycle stuff from the past and expect everyone else not to notice. I took it as a good sign that they were making fun of themselves from the start. You know from the beginning that they were not going to be taking themselves too seriously, and it made sitting back and watching the movie more enjoyable.

Classmates in high school, Schmidt and Jenko weren’t exactly part of the same crowd. Schmidt was a Slim Shady wannabe, while Jenko was a popular jock. Now they find themselves back in high school, but with their roles reversed. What was cool ten years ago isn’t acceptable behavior now. The high school hierarchy has changed and the ‘cool’ kids are the sensitive, politically correct types, rather than the condescending jock types. Schmidt finds himself being embraced by the cool kids, while Jenko surprisingly makes friends with the science geeks. This change in dynamic puts a strain on their relationship, as well as their ability to take down the supplier of a new synthetic drug.

This is the type of role that is perfect for Channing Tatum because it doesn't require a large emotional range or any kind of serious acting. It’s a platform for Tatum to act and sound ridiculous, which is much more his speed. He also has great chemistry with Jonah Hill, and they play off of each other well. Hill offers his trademark one-liners and under-the-breathe remarks that we’ve come to know and love. It’s not really a stretch from what we’re used to seeing, but that may not be such a bad thing.

The highlight of the film definitely came at the end when Hanson (Johnny Depp) and Penhall (Peter DeLuise) made cameos as undercover officers after the same drug cartel. It was great seeing the original 21 Jump Street officers because it was a nice flashback to the show. You kind of forget you’re watching a remake for a while, and those cameos just brought the whole thing full circle.

What I expected to be a cheesy knock-off, turned out to be a really funny buddy comedy. I was pleasantly surprised.

Overall Grade: B

First Look...

Bent

Bent is a new half hour sitcom on NBC, about the relationship between a recently divorced lawyer and her contractor. Alex (Amanda Peete) is single mother whose ex-husband is in jail for insider trading. Starting fresh, she buys a new house and hires a contractor, Pete (David Walton), to renovate her kitchen. While Alex is a type A, responsible parent, Pete is the complete opposite. He’s irresponsible, but trying to get his life back together after getting fired from his last job, for sleeping with the homeowner’s wife, and losing all his money while gambling. Their conflicting personalities will inevitably give us a ‘will they, won’t they’ situation. However, the chemistry between Peete and Walton is strong enough that it will be fun to watch the predictable outcome unfold.

Bent offers audiences smart writing and a great supporting cast, including Jeffrey Tambor as Walt, Pete’s father and an aspiring musician, and Joey King as Alex’s daughter, Charlie. The acting is good and the storylines entertaining. It’s not over the top or laugh-out-loud funny, but enjoyable just the same. It wasn’t advertised heavily and has fallen under the radar for a lot of people, so I’m hoping it will slowly catch on as more episodes air. It’s definitely worth giving a try.

The show airs Wednesdays at 9 & 9:30 pm on NBC.

Overall Grade: B+

Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23

When June’s (Dreama Walker) dream job turns out to be a bust -- the government seized the company because the CEO was embezzling money -- and she loses her apartment, she finds herself having to start over. Luckily she finds a great apartment and sweet roommate, Chloe (Krysten Ritter), to help ease her transition. Only Chloe turns out to be a less than ideal roommate -- She steals June’s money and sleeps with her fiancé…on her birthday. June doesn't take this lying down, and her actions earn her the respect of her manipulative roommate. But, as the episode continues you learn there’s more to Chloe than meets the eye. While she may not be the kindest person in the world, she stands by her friends, and June learns that her roommate may not be as horrible as she thinks.

Krysten Ritter is very funny in this role and gives her character a lot of depth. She allows you to see only a glimpse of the good, before she’s back to being her old, con artist self, and that is very entertaining to watch. Her best friend on the show is James Van Der Beek, who plays a fictitious characterization of himself, and their interactions are sweet and funny. The show gives you fun and bitchy storylines that will surely make you laugh. It’s the kind of show you can just sit back and watch without having to think…at all.

This midseason replacement (taking Happy Endings’ timeslot) will premiere on April 11, but you can watch the pilot episode on Hulu or ABC.com.

Overall Grade: B+

BFF

After her husband files for divorce, Jessica (Jessica St. Clair) moves in with her best friend, Lennon (Lennon Parham), and her boyfriend, Joe (Luka Jones). Jessica expects everything to be the way it was before, when Lennon and her were roommates, and finds it difficult to adjust with Joe always being around. Joe, on the other hand, is doing everything he can to be accommodating and not kill Jessica. And in the middle is Lennon, trying to broker the peace.

I didn’t hear about this show until I started seeing billboards a few weeks ago, and maybe that’s a good thing. The show lacks the trifecta -- a strong story, cast, and writing. Jessica is selfish and whiny, and all I want to do throughout the whole episode is slap her in the face. She’s not a character that invokes sympathy and I don’t find myself feeling bad for her at all that her husband left her.

I’ve seen Lennon Parham perform at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC, and she’s funny. I saw her do improv and she has good instincts. However, this show doesn't use her talents. She just comes off as a doormat, trying to please her selfish best friend.

The show lacks anything that would make it entertaining and I see it falling the way of Working It and How To Be a Gentleman.  Never heard of them? Exactly.

Premiering on April 4^th, you can watch the premiere now on Hulu or NBC.com.

Overall Grade: D