June 2015

Mortdecai
Stars - Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Munn
Plot - A zany art thief tries to find a stolen rare piece of art.
Thoughts - This movie is legit terrible and it's not just because I am one of the few people who can't stand Johnny Depp (I think he is just a cartoon character at this point). Even McGregor, who I think is the most underrated actor alive, and who is sort of good here, can't save this disaster.
Grade - D

The Last Five Years
Stars - Anna Kendrick
Plot - A relationship runs it's course, forwards and backwards through song.
Thoughts - First things first, Kendrick is great. Big surprise!  But, for me, the movie really oscillates between being good and boring, between having catchy, good songs and forgettable ones.
Grade - C+

Entourage
Stars - Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven
Plot - Vince directs his first movie, the gang continue to degrade women.
Thoughts - I mean, if you liked the TV show, which I did in spurts, then you will likely enjoy the movie. Still, Piven's Ari Gold is one of TV'S finest performances and characters so it's nice to see him again.
Grade - C+

Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Stars - Adam Scott, Clark Duke
Plot - The gang must travel back in time to find out who kills one of them.
Thoughts - If the first movie was fun in a stupid kind of way, then the sequel is a complete and utter waste of time and talent. The only good news I have about this movie is that Christian Slater (who, for some reason, has a cameo) has aged rather nicely.
Grade - F

The Boy Next Door
Stars - Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman
Plot - A teacher and mother has a steamy tryst with her new neighbor, who is a student, and so hot that you automatically forget how inappropriate relationship is. Also, he's a psychopath.
Thoughts - I was hoping this would be campy and fun, like that Obsessed movie starring Beyonce from a few years back. I was wrong. Ryan Guzman, though.
Grades - D

Lost River
Stars - Christina Hendricks, Ben Mendelsohn
Plot - I honestly have no idea.
Thoughts - Ryan Gosling's directorial debut is seriously weird and crazy, like a David Lynch movie, or a less trashy Harmonie Korine movie. I almost never understood what was going on. Still, Gosling has got a great eye, and the movie was beautiful to look at. It's a shame he couldn't make a better movie. Maybe next time.
Grade - D+

Dope
Plot - A high school nerd and his friends get caught up in a drug deal.
Thoughts - So great and funny and charming and endearing and smart. It's a shame they didn't edit some of the long winded, silly third act because this could have been a truly great movie instead of a really good one.
Grade - B+

Project Almanac
Plot - Some nerdy friends invent time travel, decide to use it to go to Lollapalooza.
Thoughts - This movie is actually pretty fun for the most part, and the young cast all have an easy chemistry. Still, I think it's best if you don't think too much about a movie like this because now I have A LOT of questions!
Grade - C+