It took me quite awhile to see the Oscar winning Toy Story 3. But it was well worth the wait! In this latest installment the toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic just as Andy (John Morris) is about to leave for college. Now Woody (Tom Hanks) must convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to try to return home. The film is just the right mix of humor, GG wow and genuine heart. Seeing the gang back together after a long hiatus was a great ride! If you still have not seen this--You are truly missing out!
Regular readers of TLR know that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Will Ferrell...But as the voice of Megamind he hits a bulls eye! The film puts a fresh coat of paint on the superhero movie. Super villain Megamind’s dreams come true when he conquers the city’s protector, Metro Man (Brad Pitt), gaining control of Metro City. But when a new villain (Jonah Hill) is created and chaos runs rampant, the world’s biggest “mind” and his sidekick Minion (David Cross) might actually have to save both intrepid reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) and the city. The script by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons has plenty of nods to the the genre to make you laugh out loud...Ferrell's impession of Marlon Brando's Jor-El in Superman The Movie made me laugh so hard that my ribs hurt.
On the other hand--when Ferrell teamed with Mark Wahlberg in the comedy The Other Guys the pairing doesn't quite work. New York City Police Detectives Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and P. K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) are the toughest and most famous cops in the city with the best capture rate--doing no matter what it takes to get their man, even if the city must pay $12 million in property damages . However, in their ranks, there are wo other detectives that are want-to-be heroes sitting in the wings. Detective Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) just want their chance in the sun. When a big case lands in their laps mayhem ensues. The problems here start with an unfunny script by director Adam McKay & Chris Henchy. It's not enough to have Ferrell's character married to a hot wife (Eva Mendes) and Wahlberg's character be a bit of a loser--The case itself the one the Guys are working on--didn't generate many laughs or heat for that matter.
Still in theaters the alien invasion flick--Battle: Los Angeles is an OK genre film...But it certainly didn't do anything that would make it stand out either. Cities around the world are being bombarded by meteors that seem to be slowing down once they hit the earths atmosphere. We suddenly find ourselves being invaded by space aliens with powerful weapons The military is ordered into action. Marine Staff Sergeant Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), who was about to retire, is reassigned to a new platoon. The platoon, flown by chopper to the forward operating base at Santa Monica Airport, is being led by a new 2nd Lt. Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez). They are sent on a mission to rescue some civilians who are trapped at the police station within alien territory. They only have 3 hours to complete their mission and get out before the military bombs that zone. Director Jonathan Liebesman tries really hard make the genre cliches seem fresh and exciting but alas. The characters are even written as cliches so much that when I was supposed to feel something for them--I instead went meh...
Director Duncan Jones really impressed me with his his debut feature Moon, which came outta nowhere. and now he scores 2 in a row with the mind bender Source Code. The film centers on Captain Colter Stevens, (Jake Gyllenhaal) a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, who wakes up in the body of a man he doesn’t recognize on a commuter train to Chicago. Before he can comprehend anything, a bomb goes off, killing him and everyone on the train. He then awakens in some kind of chamber, where he is told he is inside the ‘Source Code’, and has to go back and relive the last eight minutes continuously until he finds and identifies the bomber, so that another terrorist act can be prevented. Armed with an excellent script by Ben Ripley, a great supporting cast in Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright and a few Twilight Zone-like twists the movie draws you in from the opening and keeps you there. In the film Gyllenhaal gets to play a hero with depth--showing off why he can do a wide range of films and be solid every time. His chemistry with both ladies is evident--even though Stevens' interaction with each of them is unique to say the least. Every time the audience gears up to relive the train bombing it's like watching it for the first time. Not an easy feat folks. Go and see this film!!
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