Bridesmaids Review

Bridesmaids Review

There is a profound and significant difference between men and women, so it is no surprise that a movie which claims to be the female version of “The Hangover” is profoundly and significantly different. Bridesmaids is a smart, sweet, clever, and extremely funny movie. It is not nearly as raunchy, or as debaucherous as it’s trailers, and ads suggest. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but don’t go into this movie expecting naked asian men jumping from the trunk of a car.

As I said above the movie is very funny, but sometimes there are moments of real awkwardness, which while funny are so painful to watch you just want them to end.  I found that most of the movie could fall into three categories: The awkward, too painful to watch, so it is funny comedy; the over the top crazy behavior, so it is funny comedy; and the gross out defecating in the street, so it’s funny comedy. Of course the reality is that all of the things that happen in the movie could easily happen to anyone and that is what makes the movie so honest, and funny.

Kristin Wiig plays Annie, a thirty something woman who’s failure in love is only matched by her failure in business, and well to be honest, life in general.  Annie has been having a very rough few months. First, her bakery business failed. Second her boyfriend dumped her, and her current “man friend,” played pitch perfectly by Jon Hamm is a stereotypical male douche bag ("I really just want you to leave, but I don't want to sound like a dick.") And lastly her roommates are a couple of English twits who are equal parts creepy, mildly incestuous and generally nauseating. All of this is where Annie starts out, and we spend most of the movie watching in horror as she collapses further and further until she eventually hits rock bottom.  When she does hit bottom she proceeds to have a final cataclysmic tantrum that can only be analogous to a three year old's tantrum. Despite being difficult to watch, it is hilarious, and one of the most memorable moments in the movie.  The entire cast is very well put together, adding the perfect amount of spice to this cupcake of a movie.  My only worry is that the cast is so large that some characters (two in particular) are given too little to do, and in my opinion may have a boatload of unused jokes on the cutting room floor.

There is a line when a comedy goes too far, when a movie takes that joke too far, and it becomes unfunny, or in poor taste.  This line serves as a point in which a joke should be taken to, but not past. It is a delicate and fine line to be sure, and because of that comedy is the most difficult thing to to well. My only complaint about Bridesmaids is that it is too afraid to pass that line. In fact more often than not it prevents itself from even getting close to it.  I started my review talking about the profound and significant differences between men and women.  Bridesmaids is going to serve as a perfect example of this statement.  The movie will more than likely be perceived, especially by women, as an instant classic. I don’t think that many men will agree.  I, as a man, agree that it is a good movie, but I cannot agree with anyone who claims that Bridesmaids is an instant classic.  The movie is successful at being funny, and at least two moments in the movie left me bent over, and in tears; however, it is hard to respect a movie when it forcibly pulls it’s own punches.  The fact that the movie refuses to take risks is why I cannot call it an instant classic.

Let me know what you think when you see the movie.

Thor Review

Thor Review

Comic book superheroes typically fall into one of 3 categories.  Armed vigilante (think Batman,  or Iron Man,), Alien sent from a distant planet to save us (think Superman, Green Lantern), or Mutant Humanoid (X-men, or Spiderman.) If I had to pick one of these categories to lump Thor into he would most definitely fall into the Alien Hero category.

The film starts out with the question "Where did he come from?" We are then immediately given an entire mythology lesson in less than five minutes similar to the way Peter Jackson described the Hobbit in the Lord of the Rings.  It's short, it's sweet, its very well done, and my only complaint is that it is too brief to give us any real sense of the size or scope of the outer realms.  We discover that the mythology lesson was in fact just that, King Odin telling the tales of his triumph over the Frost Giants to his two sons Thor & Loki.  Jump ahead a few years and we are at the coronation of his eldest son Thor.  Thor is to replace his father on the throne, and Loki of course is jealous.  It is here that we get our first sense of who Thor is.  Honestly I didn't like him. He is more than unlikeable he's an arrogant prick, he's the star quarterback who thinks he is better than everyone else, and he is beyond selfish.  His arrogance leads him to be easily manipulated by Loki, a smart and devious younger brother who craves the power his brother is too easily given.  When Thor disobey's his father and in the process destroys a centuries old truce, he is banished to earth. Unlike in the comics he is banished not to a wheelchair but in his standard body.  I would have liked to have seen this film take on the challenge of the wheelchair, but I understand why they chose not to.  When he arrives on earth he is the same jerk he was on the other planet, but now his oafishness, is punctuated by its lack of context.  Thor is sent to earth by his father in order to learn humility, grace and above all wisdom.  I know I said I didn't like him, but we as an audience are meant not to.  He has to be unlikable in order for us to appreciate his change and cheer his achievements later in the film. When he is banished the movie turns for a bit into a fish out of water story as Thor begins to accept and adapt to his modern surroundings. We soon discover that just like King Arthur and the sword in the stone, Thor's hammer has landed and is currently being studied by S.H.I.E.L.D, the militant homeland security team that eventually gives birth to the Avengers. For Thor getting his hammer back means he can once again return to Asgard.

At it's core this movie is a Shakespearian narrative, one of betrayal, redemption and heroism.  Initially the film was going to be directed by Matthew Vaughn.  When Vaughn stepped out the studio wisely replaced him with Kenneth Branagh I say wisely because nobody directs Shakespeare better than Kenneth Branagh.  The movie isn't about a hero, it's not about stopping a villain, or saving the girl. Unlike Superman, or Batman Thor is just trying to get home, he has no love for earth, no desire to stay.  Surprisingly the movie is not at all as earthbound as the trailers would have you believe. It intentionally strives to become the Lord of the Rings of comic book movies. The best parts of the movie take place away f on Asgard and the other realms that are not Earth. These scenes are truly amazing, full of beauty, and story, and because there is such a strong base here it made me wish that entire movie had taken place there. I really am hoping to see a sequel that explores the Asgard and outer worldly realms.  The strength of the film lies in the portions of the movie set away from earth, and I would like to see more of that world.What the movie really struggles with plot and character development.  There are so many subplots vying for attention that none of them are really served, nor do they really serve the main plot which is Thor's banishment and his subsequent return. The characters, with rare exception, are one dimensional and superfluous, I know they all have a greater purpose in the mythology, but did we really didn't need half of them. The motives of the villain Loki are also a bit bewildering, aside from the fact that he is jealous and he wants to take over Asgard, you never get a real sense of what his plan is. Having said that, The entire movie is enjoyable, action packed, and surprisingly funny.  Don't expect a huge uptick in Thor costumes, or merchandise though.  Unlike most comic book movies I think that this will be the least marketable to children because most of the film will be over their heads, but that again is not a bad thing.

Be sure to stay and watch all of the credits.  I promise you will be rewarded with a spectacular nugget of Avengers goodness.

Let me know what you think when Thor comes out Friday May 6th, 2011