August:
Trainwreck - 87%, B+
Having not really known Amy Schumer before this, I can say that I was definitely impressed with her acting and writing in this film. I'll admit that the first 15 minutes had some significantly dry jokes, but it certainly gets better from then on out. As a comedy, it still has some misses spread throughout, but as a romantic-comedy, it has tons of hits. The two leads are adorable together, you really want to root for them as a couple, they have nice chemistry, and they're also somewhat polar opposites that still manage to mesh. The acting between them was really top notch as well, like some of the best parts were the arguments they had because everything said was so accurate and those scenes felt so realistic. The characters are really likeable as Amy is a constant mess but you can still relate to her, feel for her and want to support her, even after some not-so-good decisions. Overall, Trainwreck thankfully doesn't live up to its name and delivers one of the pleasant surprises of 2015.
Ted 2 - 89%, B+
Ted is one of my favorite comedies of all time, and I was super hyped for this from the start. Then the trailers came out, and I was pretty concerned about if I would even like this. Luckily, it all turned out alright because while Ted 2 might not come as close to the original, it still definitely holds its own. Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane return as the thunder buddies we've loved, but without Mina Kunis this time around. Instead, Amanda Seyfried takes her place and I feel that she filled her spot just fine and was a great character. This sequel doesn't stray too far away from the type of humor its predecessor had, though the plot is a little more "serious" for an R-rated comedy, and also kind of silly considering its lead character. Either way, the film's quality isn't too harmed by it, and viewers are put through another fun and crazy adventure that should entertain everyone who loved the first one.
Spy - 90%, A-
I wasn't too excited for this because the trailer didn't do much for me at first. Also, Melissa McCarthy had several bad films before this so I wasn't sure whether to watch, and it didn't seem like it'd be as funny as films like The Heat. Once I saw the glowing reviews, though, I was in. Just like The Heat, this is a very well done action-comedy. Melissa shines as she starts out as a shy sidekick and then blossoms into a hilarious, foul-mouthed badass. The other stars are also incredible, with Rose Bryne and Jason Statham providing dozens of laughs as well as funny arguments with McCarthy. The comedy is excellent, the action is fantastic, everything is incredibly amusing and there's even a nice double twist that you might not see coming.
September:
Tomorrowland - 44%, F
I wasn't sure if another film from this year could top Jurassic World's level of boredom, but Tomorrowland definitely achieved that. I had some high hopes for this since the premise was intriguing and everything (director, trailers, teases) had me hooked... so it's sad for me to say that this film was really a waste of time. The first 25 minutes were kind of boring, then things got better when we actually lead up to and eventually see Tomorrowland itself (or at least a bit of it.) But while the wonderful world of Tomorrowland is exciting, the journey to get there once again was not. The lead actress (Britt Robertson) was pretty great, but unfortunately couldn't really save the story that drags on for too long with little to no payoff. The scenery and visual effects were stunning, but so much attention was put on these elements that the overall entertainment value and pacing had to suffer. By the time we were nearing the final half hour, I was just so bored and didn't really care what happened after that point. Everything becomes too tedious to watch, the things you most wanted to see weren't shown, and the finale is just a preachy lesson on how to keep Earth alive. A big waste of potential.
W A T C H 0L I S T :
Out Now:
Cinderella [03/13]
Ex Machina [04/10]
The Age of Adaline [04/24]
Aloha [05/29]
Inside Out [06/19]
Paper Towns [07/24]
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials [09/18] | Coming Soon:
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 [11/20]
Sisters [12/18]
Daddy's Home [12/25]
Joy [12/25] |
the movie was perfect