Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 (2016): Out of the Shadows

While continuing to fight crime at night following the incarceration of the Shredder, the turtles are still in the crosshairs of the criminal mastermind and his Foot Clan. They attempt to thwart a rescue attempt during a prison transfer of the Shredder, but the turtles fail to prepare for a mysterious escape. Even the Shredder was shocked by his trip, but it takes him to a new ally and gives him access to a new mutagen to create his own counter the turtles. Now there are alien threats coming to Earth and our favorite ninjas have to find a way to stop the coming force.

Classic Characters Reimagined: Besides the return of the characters introduced in the first film, this sequel brought in the Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady, and Casey Jones. The warthog and rhino added a mutant combo ready to counter our heroes, while the Krang was possibly more cartoony than portrayed even in the various cartoon series. The banter and challenged partnership between the villains helped to create some additional layers to the overall conflict against their own power struggle and against the turtles. As for Casey, throwing in the policeman angle was a bit different but his character was less of a development for the franchise than a plot device for the story.

Dimension X & the Technodrome: Besides the intro of new characters, the inclusion of alien invaders took the story to the next level. The Krang with his mechanical suit and battle station has been such an important part of the franchise. While the point of the story was for the turtles to find a way to stop the Krang, it was exciting to see the plan almost come to fruition. If the series continues, there is definitely potential that the Krang will attempt to transport the Technodrome again or the turtles will travel to Dimension X to battle on its home turf.

A New Age of Mutants: While the casting choice of Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman was rather interesting…the hidden mutant genes inside all humans was actually a more interesting one. The science was exceptionally weak but, since it was a movie, it does not really matter that much. It brought Bebop and Rocksteady into the fold. There was even a quick mention connecting Baxter to the insect he should be.

Final Verdict: This is not even close to a perfect film, but it is an improvement over the first entry. The turtles contemplate their existence and Michelangelo and Raphael consider what it would be like to fit in. There are a lot of pieces in this story that could be adapted to improve and legitimize the franchise, but that probably will not happen.

Dan’s Rating: 2.5/5

Central Intelligence (2016): Saving the World Takes a Little Hart and a Big Johnson

After an embarrassing incident in high school, Robbie Weirdicht disappears from contact for 20 years, with only a moment of kindness from Calvin “The Golden Jet” Joyner serving as a glimmer of positivity. Calvin’s life took a roller coaster, as he married his high school sweetheart but never seemed to reach the professional success he appeared destined to achieve. Right before his 20-year high school reunion, Calvin gets a Facebook message from Bob Stone, who he comes to learn is a reinvented Robbie Weirdicht and a CIA agent. His life is about to take a turn for the exciting as he has to navigate whether Bob can be trusted.

Hart & Johnson FTW: There have been a lot of comedy duos that have stepped up in recent years. While this duo is a little more slapstick than some of the other great combinations, both actors have proven their range and willingness to put it all out there. Kevin Hart may seemingly stretch himself thin with the number of films he stars in, but there is no shortage of energy from the man. He is willing to play the fool to pull the laughs out of the crowd. For Dwayne Johnson, he has proven himself both as a comedic and dramatic actor. The range helps emphasize the goofier side of his personality.

Double Secret Spy Games: The film centered around the idea that a confidential list potentially was going to end up in the wrong hands. While Bob initially promoted a version of the story of being framed and trying to do the right thing, Calvin was quickly approached by CIA agents highlighting a very different description of past events. While Calvin had no interest in getting caught up in the chaos in the first place, he struggled with Bob’s kindness and the conflicting stories balanced against his own safety as to whether he should continue to stay involved.

Physical Comedy Versus Comedic Themes: The comedy was twofold in this film. On the one hand, there were the physical elements, such as Hart’s flips and attempts at combat. What made the film funnier was actually Johnson’s awkward character development. While Calvin was a man who was focused on his failure to meet expectations after high school, Robbie was a man who never seemed to actually emotionally or culturally develop after high school. Wearing unicorn t-shirts, obsessed with Calvin’s letterman jacket, and always equipped with the fanny pack, Robbie was just as likely to break a jaw as he was to break into a John Hughes movie reference or make a sexually-suggestive reference without realizing it.

Final Verdict: While not necessarily a breakthrough comedy, it also still feels like it could be the first in a series of potential sequels. I would definitely enjoy watching more of this duo.

Dan’s Rating: 3.0/5

Finding Dory (2016): Have You Seen Her?

Having lived with Marlin and Nemo for the past year, Dori has gotten into a routine living on the reef. A flash of a memory passes through her, causing a panic of emotions about losing her parents. After some convincing, Dori is able to get Marlin and Nemo to join her on the journey going from the Great Barrier Reef to the California coast. Finding her parents will not be be easy considering her short-term memory challenges and having lost them so many years ago. Regardless, she is determined to find them regardless of how difficult it may appear.

Expected but Effective Emotions: One of the things that Pixar is well known for is their ability to get movie-goers to feel what they want them to feel. As with the first film, the story of Marlin, Nemo, and Dori was one with a lot of fearing for safety and loss. Even if the end result is a predictable ending, the journey was still filled with everything from strained friendships to scary encounters to joy-filled reunions.

If Only She Could Remember: In both of the films, the conflict and the journey have been defined by Dori’s inability to clearly remember details. While it was an address in the first film, this second story was defined less by the main location and more by their navigation of the facility. It seemed insurmountable to be able to traverse an area with gaps in areas of water, but the small fish keep finding a way and somehow always connect with the necessary resources to just keep swimming.

Magical Animation: If it is not the emotions that Pixar maximizes, it is the imagery. This film took place in two main locations: the reef and the marine center. As Dori, Marlin, and Nemo search the facility, each of the areas include their own sense of personality. The danger of the interactive exhibit feels real. The dreariness of the algae covered pipes and the kelp forest give a sense of hopelessness. Meanwhile, the reef and the great sea exhibit have a brightness that provide an image of hope.

Final Verdict: Finding Dory has all of the great elements of Pixar classics but it also does feel a little too similar to the story of the first film. Regardless of how similar everything is and how predictable it is, the film still maintains a lot of heart and will still be one of the best animated films of the year.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

Now You See Me 2 (2016): The Second Act

Having gone into hiding after their big heist of Arthur Tressler, the Four Horsemen are itching to get back into the spotlight. Daniel Atlas had been getting particularly edgy about following Dylan Rhodes and his plan to follow The Eye. When Octa announces that they are releasing a new tech program that threatens people’s privacy, the Horsemen jump to action to expose the tech giant. The trick is on them, as they are interrupted during the middle of their show and captured at the command of Walter Mabry, an incredibly wealthy businessman in hiding. He forces the team to steal a high-tech computer chip for him, while Dylan tries to track his Horsemen down.

New Horseman: With Isla Fisher not returning for the sequel, the executives cast Lizzy Caplan as the new member of the team, Lula. While some of the same tropes were used with her style of magic and source of eye candy for the big screen, her character was given a better sense of character. Isla was not much of a counter to anyone on the team in the first film. She just was there. Lizzy was imbedded into the comedy and served as a counter to Jesse Eisenberg and interest for Dave Franco. Her actual use of magic was a little more subdued than her teammates, but that leads into the next element.

Slight of Hand…Slightly: While the tricks are somewhat bigger in the second film compared to the first one, there is also a lot of telegraphing as the consistent message is about elements like 3-card monty and slight of hand. This not only applies to the tricks but also the character connections and big reveals at the end of the long game. The big names are back and the introduction of more backstory for Dylan Rhodes meant there would be a rounding out of a backstory to explain why and how Dylan got involved with the Horsemen. Too bad it was not nearly as complicated as it appeared.

Now Here’s the Reveal: One of the things that this sequel does that the original did not is reveal how much of the magic is performed. The unfortunate side effect was that it diminished the impressiveness of the tricks. Particularly toward the end, the whole final act was a series of tricks that included a clear set of explanations for how they pulled almost all of them off, but some smaller tricks in the middle of the action seem to simply be movie magic rather than real magical illusions.

Final Verdict: For all of the things one could criticize about this film, it is entertaining to watch how the characters are tricked into a trap and have to trick their way out. It may be easy to decipher how they get into and out of their messes, but the film does have at least a few small tricks up its sleeves.

Dan’s Rating: 2.5/5

Infinitely Polar Bear (2015): What It Takes to Keep a Family Together

After suffering a manic-depressive breakdown, Cam Stuart tries to reconnect with his family. Worried about their financial status, Maggie decides that she needs to go get her MBA and find a job to help support them. With no other solution in sight, she convinces Cam to find structure for himself by taking care of their girls. At times, everything seems to be smooth and loving. When everything is not calm, Cam feels at war with his girls, himself, and the world around him. Although she fears for their future, Maggie continues to press through her career and hopes for the best for her daughters.

Honesty & Mental Health: One of the truly amazing pieces of this film was the acting of Mark Ruffalo. Always diving full-on into his roles, he portrayed the variety and the intensity of someone struggling with their manic and depressive swings. At its greatest, he lost control in front of and at his own daughters, often failing to recognize how abusive his behavior appeared. Ruffalo appeared out of control in those most providing the realism this film truly needed.

Reversing Gender Roles: While it is still looked upon as abnormal for women to serve as the breadwinners in a heterosexual marriage while the men serve as stay-at-home parents, there were several moments where the film took a chance to point out the stigma associated with this different family structure. David was challenged by receiving a compliment for doing something that most men would never consider doing (staying at home with the kids). He also felt like an outcast from the other stay-at-home parents, as the only man doing this in his building. For Maggie, she was immediately discriminated against for having children while pursuing a career, even after expressing the independence of her girls and her won ability to work long hours.

Based on True Events: Director Maya Forbes was not just familiar with the story but rather she lived it. Having experienced the manic episodes of her father, she had a unique perspective to express what it was like growing up in an unstable environment. She even cast her own daughter to play her younger self as a child trying to live with and understand the challenges her father presented.

Final Verdict: While imbalanced like Cam Stuart, the film portrays so much heart and growth to maintain intrigue from start to finish. It also helps to have such a phenomenal actor like Mark Ruffalo and a supporting cast including Zoe Saldana’s more tempered performance and the young actresses (Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide) big personalities.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

The Lobster (2016): An Unconventional Love Story

Being single is no longer an acceptable practice in society. If not partnered by a certain age, single people are taken to a special hotel to find a mate in 45 days or be turned into the animal of their choice. For David, his time to discover love is now. After his brother failed to meet the deadline, he wishes to avoid the same fate and sets his sights on three different women. Befriending a couple of other men, they discover their matchmaking will not be that easy. Forcing partnerships seems like the only way to avoid their animalistic fate, but it still seems more preferable than being hunted the wild as a single person.

Sterilized Romance: While the hotel was focused on helping people find an ideal mate, the partnering process had been stripped down to seemingly practical methods. Partners with similar physical ailments were matched together because they could sympathize with each other. Guests at the hotel received regular reminders of why the single life was dangerous or wrong. This theme carried throughout the film, as even the slightly more life-filled city seemed a little too serene and calm, with police ensuring that no one was ever left standing around alone.

It’s Truly Tough to Be Single: While the growing sense of dread of running out of time was strong enough at the hotel, life as a single person outside of it was even more devastating. Living in the woods (like animals), single people had to come to grips with choosing to break away from the new societal norms and vow to remain single at all costs. This also meant they were hunted by the guests of the hotel (like animals). Getting captured was the end of their lives, which led them to come to terms with the possibility of death coming for them at any time.

The Evolution of the Belief in Love: One of the truly amazing elements of this film is the way it explores the evolution of David’s understanding of love. It was a life or death situation at the beginning, where even his choice in animal focused on the possibility of a long life. When he became an outcast at the hotel and ended up with the single people in the woods, he locked eyes with the Short-Sighted Woman and finds an instant attraction. This eventually leads to both of them rediscovering what it means to truly care for someone. Feeling like the only two who are out of place, they devise a plan to try to run off and start a life together.

Final Verdict: This is truly a strange one. The acting is on point and the concept is complex and meaningful, but it is somewhat hurt by how consistently drab the overall environment feels. Even in the moments where true love starts to seep in, the world around the main characters feel overly grey. Much of this can be overlooked but it still feels a little too niche for a more general audience.

Dan’s Verdict: 3.5/5

The Nice Guys (2016): They’re Not That Nice

Jackson Healy is the type of guy you call when you’re in a little trouble and need someone to use a little force to get the job done. Holland March is not someone anyone should call, but he works as a somewhat crooked PI just trying to make it. The two get caught up in the same case when Jackson realizes that he is protecting the same girl, Amelia, that Holland is seeking. They both lose track of her but discover that there is a bigger problem. The girl is the daughter of DOJ representative Judith Kutner. Now working together, they start to put the pieces together of why Amelia is constantly on the run and what Judith is actually in uncovering by getting her daughter back.

Sophisticated Slapstick: Russel Crowe has had an up and down career in terms of the range of his acting, but an area where he can definitely play to the role is quirky action comedy. As a hired muscle, his stature and fighting abilities served him well in the actions sequences of the film, but the delivery somehow also maintains a lightness to raise the entertainment level. Gosling boosted the comedic element to a greater extent as an often lucky but still clumsy detective who allowed self interest and alcohol to commonly cloud his judgment. Rarely can someone have multiple pratfalls in a film and flow between the hilarity of the situation and transitions into more serious plot points.

Corruption in 70s Hollywood: With Judith Kutner serving as a champion against moral depravity, her interest in retrieving her daughter and fighting against the growing industry of sexual media seemed to be a great cause for a government official. As Jackson and Holland fell deeper down the rabbit hole, they discovered that everyone in their situation had ulterior motives beyond their involvement in pornography. Even when they finally find Amelia, they discover how little they know about what they got caught up in and what they would have to do to get out of it. Eventually, someone was going to tip their hand, which was when Jackson and Holland had a chance to strike.

Relationships are Central to Success: While not a main theme of the film, one of the important side products of the story was the importance of having people you care about. For the Kutners, Judith seemed less concerned about her own daughter than the situation with which she was involved. More importantly, Holland’s daughter Holly was a clear fixture in their investigation. While he made constant attempts to keep her out of the fray, she forced her way back in to help wherever she could. She saw that her father was still suffering from the loss of his home and his wife, and she did not want him to loss his way.

Final Verdict: In some slight ways, the comedy of this film felt like Lethal Weapon and it truly worked. Crowe and Gosling made an interesting and entertaining pair, with a solid story of corruption and deceit framing their character development.

Dan’s Rating: 3.5/5

Deadpool (2016): A New Class of Superhero

Going back to the beginning, Wade Wilson was former military but has been serving as a mercenary for hire. When he runs into Vanessa, his world changes. They share the same sarcasm and fall in love completely. Life gets turned for a loop when Wade discovers he has stage 4 cancer. He tries to distance himself to avoid dragging her down with his pain, leading to him running off for a controversial and unethical treatment to keep him alive. The treatment both saves and ruins his life, as he no longer looks like the man he once was but has superhuman abilities. He continues to serve as a mercenary, but gets called to action by the kidnapping of his girlfriend and the opportunity to reestablish his once boyishly good looks.

Marvel Goes Rated R: Superhero movies have been comical, dark, and everything in between, but this is the first big market film to truly embrace the rated R tag. The jokes are crude and the violence is gory. It truly embraces the Deadpool atmosphere and takes the comedy farther than any previous Marvel film has been able to go.

Ryan Reynolds Redemption: After playing the Green Lantern and Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds had a lot of making up to do. His first iteration as Deadpool actually was not bad, but his loudmouth antics were cut short and he was left with his mouth sewn up. This film actually made fun of both of these previous characters and completely captured the comedic styling of the Deadpool of the comics. He regularly pokes fun at his enemies and breaks the fourth wall to talk with the audience. There is something special here to build upon for future films that could introduce additional Marvel characters which do not seem to fit the more traditional X-Men and Avenger films.

A Film of References: Besides Reynolds’s previous characters, there is a plethora of references to the Marvel universe and other classic media. The stinger at the end pays homage to Ferris Buller’s Day Off, while also teasing the possibility of future films and characters. Wade and Vanessa (Morena Baccaran) joke about Star Wars, while Wade continually pokes at Ajax (Ed Skrein) using a bit from Stripes. The entire script is littered with these, in addition to all of the other random comments and slapstick committed by the anti-hero.

Final Verdict: Breaking away from the traditional representations of superhero films, Deadpool biasted through expectations and served as a fresh, new concept that saved Ryan Reynolds’s career in this genre. The jokes are well planned and the production team made due without having to have the constantly growing rosters of Marvel’s other series.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5

The Hateful Eight (2015): No One to Trust. Everyone to Hate.

Attempting to beat a blizzard on the way to Red Rock, a stagecoach is stopped on its path when Major Marquis Warren requests for assistance heading the same direction as a fellow bounty hunter looking to collect on a few bounties. Though hesitant, John “the Hangman” Ruth agrees to let him join the trip and agrees to help protect each other’s rewards. Before making it to their resting point, they come across the supposed new sheriff of Red Rock stuck out in the blizzard on foot. They agree to take him in as well and proceed onward to Minnie’s Haberdashery.  Upon arrival, there are several men already inside and Minnie is nowhere to be found. Suspicions start to run high as nobody appears to be who them claim.

Tarantino’s Intensity through Cinematography: While he is best known for a violence-laden style of storytelling, Tarantino has continued to claim that filming on 70mm provides a unique and detailed experience not provided by most films. It was clear that cinematography was a focus in this film, as the blizzard conditions and the single location of the haberdashery were gorgeously harsh and covered in detail. While his direction complemented his strong storytelling nature, there was also a bit too much lingering in these details that it somewhat took away from his actual story.

Complex Characters, Slowly Revealed: One of Tarantino’s other staples happens to be his deep character development. It can take an entire movie to understand the true backstory and personality of even a lead character, but this film takes that to a higher level. All the way until the end of the film, Major Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) and Sheriff Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins) remain a bit of a mystery. With a story covered in lies and deceit, it is no surprise that the only character who appears to be clearly who they say they are is John Ruth (Kurt Russell), the bounty hunter.

The dialogue and character development were certainly intriguing, but the way the storytelling was dragged out felt like it could have presented the same detail in nearly a hour’s less time. One could say that the audience is trying to work out the details at the same time as the characters, but it still felt like it was dragged out. There certainly were a few surprises, including the ones involving Bob (Demian Bichir), Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), and Joe Gage (Michael Madsen). It just felt like characters had to keep repeating things out loud for exaggerated dramatic effect.

Final Verdict: Between some engaging visuals and creative character development, there is much to appreciate about this film. The 2 hour 4o minute run time is not one of those things. Tarantino still continues to fill the need for people to mix that character development with some exaggeration gratuitous violence. I can definitely give some credit to Jennifer Jason Leigh for her gritty performance and ability to hold her own against such a strong male cast.

Dan’s Rating: 3.5/5

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015): A Higher Class of Hero

In the midst of the Cold War, American and Russian spy organizations realize that there is a bigger threat out there than the opposing nations. With word of a nuclear scientist having gone missing, CIA spy Solo and KGB agent Illya are forced to put aside their differences for the mission. Taking the niece of the scientist as part of their cover, they head to Rome to meet with her family and discover where the scientist may have ended up. As the two men attempt to work together, they discover a clear set of differences in their skills and abilities, but they also find a similar focus regarding Gaby’s safety and completing the mission.

Sophisticated, Sexy Action: With many modern films using more skin and visual representation of sex to sell their stories, this film has a much classier and classic feel to its more sensual moments. Whether it be the vocal performances of Henry Cavill (Solo) and Armie Hammer (Illya) or the more physical comedy of the entanglement between Illya and an intoxicated Gaby (played by Alicia Vikander), the presentation by Guy Ritchie just simply hits the mark on all accounts. He knew exactly how far he needed to go to capture viewers without overreaching.

Marriage of Opposites: Solo and Illya were cut from somewhat similar cloths, but their approaches remained intriguingly different. For the American Solo, he projected a strong suaveness through his more metered actions and style. While not always perfectly in control, he still never seemed to go down without a high level of grace. For Illya, his combat training and temper made him a more volatile agent but not always as aware of his actions. Forced to be a little more out of his element, the partnership with Solo proved to be a chance to branch out of his more violent methods.

Spy vs. Spy: Similar to the back and forth of Solo and Illya, the nations were at the center of this conflict and focused on a third party. While working together, there were also expectations from each of their handlers regarding how the mission should end. The opportunity for backstabbing was always present between the two spies, but there were other players in the game. While Victoria’s (played by Elizabeth Debicki) innocence, or lack thereof, was never in question, her level of awareness of the spy mission against her was not always clear. With the way the mission played out, there was always a sense of mystery with how everything would come to conclusion.

Final Verdict: Even with this film being set several decades in the past and being based on a classic TV show, there was something fresh about the story and the presentation. The acting was solid and the entertainment value will keep people interested in the next mission.

Dan’s Rating: 4.0/5