Fright Night Review

Fright Night Review

Remakes of classic films are seemingly everywhere. Hollywood has essentially become obsessed with the idea that what was once out dated can once again be classic if dusted off, cleaned up and of course updated for the youth market. There is no doubt in my mind that this version of Fright Night is very much aimed at teens and young adults who without question wouldn't have known this was a remake unless people like me told them. There is nothing sacred about the original Fright Night from 1987. It is and was just your standard vampire next door movie. So when it comes to remakes I don't mind them digging up lumps of coal and turning them into...well, shiny polished lumps of coal.

The Fright Night of 2011 is something that in 23 years will be looked upon in a similar fashion to the Fright Night of 1987. The story is not spectacular, and neither are the effects. Don't get me wrong they are both perfectly adequate and are neither distracting or awe inspiring. They are in a word acceptable. Acceptable for a movie of this caliber. However, where this version of Fright Night excels is in the performances.

Colin Farrell shines as the wicked vampire "Jerry." He absolutely relishes in the role and as he preys upon and stalks his unwitting victims you can tell he was born for this kind of charming monster. Also exceptional is Anton Yelchin as the teenager who discovers that his charming neighbor is a creature of the night. Yelchin brings a quiet intensity to the part that allows you to believe he is just another naive kid but also take him seriously when he decides to take control and go on the offensive. The final performance of note is also quite possibly my favorite of the film. Peter Vincent, played by David Tennant is an example of a brilliantly written character played perfectly. Vincent is your typical Vegas Magician. He is full of flash and theatricality, a shining example of gothic indulgence and mystery, but all of that is smoke and mirrors. Behind closed doors his true nature is revealed, and that is just a cowardly english slob, who drinks as heavily as he curses. His true nature of course is a result of his tortured past, which led him to the occult and why our hero seeks his advice. Tennant plays the multi leveled character so well he steals every scene he is in and, were it not for his ferocity and delight, would have stolen the movie away from Colin Farrell.

Jerry is quite a pleasant and charming fellow, all the better to suck you in before he sucks you dry. But Jerry is nothing more than a serial killer or a sociopath, putting you at ease with his charisma just long enough to gain the element of surprise when he attacks his victims. Vampires have always been romanticized by Hollywood. It is easy to make these beastly characters sympathetic immortals who are tortured by their curse. Fright Night is not your brooding, moody, romantic vampire story. No, it is a brutal, violent and vicious vampire film. Vampires are monsters, they are predatory creatures, preying on humans like lions prey upon gazelle. The bloodsuckers in this movie are less Soap Opera more Shark Week and it is refreshing to see monsters on film actually be monsters again. While the violence in the film is never gratuitous or overly gory, much blood (most of it CGI) is spilled, splattered and spewed.

The movie is full of dark humor, traditional vampire eroticism, jumps, scares, and of course action. While Fright Night may not be a perfect film; it fits nicely into the end of the summer when audiences are ready for something other than mindless action, but not quite ready to think heavy yet.

Horrible Bosses Review

Horrible Bosses Review

About two months ago, in my review of Bridesmaids, I stated that the differences between men and women would be defined by Bridesmaids. Based on its box office success, women have responded appropriately. Now it's the men's turn. Horrible Bosses is every bit as funny as Bridesmaids, but without the clunky love story, getting in the way.

The real stars of the movie are the three horrible bosses themselves. Kevin Spacey lords over Jason Batemen in a similarly reminiscent fashion to his classic Swimming with Sharks role. He is demanding, treacherous, and devious. Jason Sudekis is tormented by Colin Farrell,  a real son of a boss, and another b-word. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as the swarthy, balding, incompetent Bobby. Then there is Jennifer Anniston. Who a nymphomaniacal dentist, who sexually harasses Charlie Day. She has the sex drive of a porn star, and the mouth of a sailor ("I really don't see your problem here" is often uttered to perfection).

So what are these three desperate men supposed to do about their respective problems? Well they could quit, but, as another desperate friend reminds them, that could be worse, a lot worse. So since they cannot quit, and are trapped in their jobs, well the next logical step is to go ahead and have their bosses murdered.

They seek out an expert, and come across a murder consultant in Dean Jones. Dean Jones is Played by Jamie Foxx who steals every scene he is in. Jones suggests that the men simply eliminate the other's problem. criss cross style. If this sounds familiar it is because it has been used as a plot device before. The first time was in Stranger on a Train. Truly one of Hitchcock's greatest suspense thrillers, more recently, and popularly known as the inspiration for Throw Momma from the Train.

The three men are not adapt at murder, they just don't have the heart or the stomach, and that's ok. We like them too much, and really don't want them to succeed at killing anybody, because then we couldn't root for them any longer. But because they are so inept at killing they do manage to create enough damage and chaos to lead to a happy ending with out the guilty conscience.

While it does get dark in places, Horrible Bosses is much more Throw Momma from the Train, than it is Strangers on a Train. It is very funny, and the three lead characters, (Bateman, Sudekis, and Day) play off of one another perfectly with impeccable timing. They have all the wit of Abbot and Costello mixed with the physicality of the Three Stooges. You rarely see all-star comedies with this kind of real chemistry, and I hope that these guys keep working together.