“Horrible Bosses”
“Horrible Bosses” kicked of the summer season with hilarious jokes and Colin Farrell. The film centers around three friends, Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day, co-creator of FX’s “Always Sunny In Philadelphia”), each of whom have bosses they hate. After hypothetically suggesting they kill their bosses, a cokehead car dealership owner (Colin Farrell), a power-crazy C.E.O (Kevin Spacey) and a nymphomaniac dentist (Jennifer Aniston), the men decide to hire a murder consultant (Jamie Foxx).Casting alone puts the film in a class of its own. Sudeikis steps away from his typical role to play a sex-crazed car salesman, a refresher after years of playing the normal guy on “Saturday Night Live.” Farrell also shines in the film, even through his fat suit and bald cap. Farrell embodies the opposite of the debonair Irishman I have come to know and love in his role as Sudeikis’ overweight, bald and all over repulsive boss. By the end of Farrell’s first scene I was begging for him to be killed off.Overall this film has the taste that is lacking in other raunchy comedies released this summer along with the talents of many strong actors and enough twists to keep the film interesting. Fans of Day, Sudeikis or any of the other actors are guaranteed to enjoy this out of the box comedy.
4/5 Stars
“The Trip”
Originally a British mini-series, “The Trip” takes comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon through the English countryside as they review local restaurants. The film first gained notoriety after a clip of the two stars arguing over their Michael Caine impersonations became a YouTube sensation. “The Trip” is an indie gem full of dry wit, sarcasm and plenty of celebrity impressions.
Though the film does feel more like a mini-series than a movie at times, “The Trip” holds your attention well overall. Whenever the film felt tedious it was easy to watch the beautiful scenery of the English back roads roll by.The best part of the film is the chemistry between Coogan and Brydon; their back and forth banter and constant attempts at one-upping the other create a semi-tense atmosphere that is almost always broken by an impression or joke.The intellectual humor and quotability of “The Trip” is a rare breath of fresh air compared to the typically vulgar comedy pervading theaters of late and a must-see for anyone with a dry sense of humor.
4/5 Stars
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Let me preface this with saying I have no emotional ties whatsoever to the “Harry Potter” series. I did not read all the books, but I have stayed up to date with the films.
That being said, this movie made me cry like a baby. And I don’t cry at movies. Ever.
The final part of the multi-billion dollar franchise could not have ended with a bigger bang. After ending “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One” with a cliff-hanger (at least for anyone who hadn’t read the books) the next film had plenty of room to fail. But instead of being a sappy or weak ending “Part Two” rivals “Part One” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.”
Not only were the duels and action scenes well-choreographed and intense but the special effects necessary for these magical fights didn’t detract from what was going on, instead they only improved the scene. Along with that, the emotional scenes carried such weight and intensity that the entire theatre was silent.
The end of “Harry Potter” has given fans a film, and film series, that didn’t disappoint. Although I may not be a big fan of the “Harry Potter” phenomenon, I freely admit that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two” is the hands-down best film of the summer.
4.5/5 Stars
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