Picture the scene. It's October 2011, and Joss Whedon is taking a holiday from post-production work on The Avengers. Having spent a a lengthy period working on one of the most hotly anticipate movies for years, dealing with the stresses of huge expectations from the legions of fans (and as we know, expectation is the root of all heartache*) and working all the plot strands into … [Read more...]
Monsters University (2013) review by That Film Guy
Monsters Inc. was the fourth feature film to be released by animation giant Pixar. A critical and commercial success, it has taken over 10 years for the follow-up to be released in the form of a prequel Monsters University. Reuniting the original cast along with newcomer Dan Scanlon as director it is the fourteenth film released by Pixar. … [Read more...]
John Dies At The End (2012) review by That Art House Guy
John Dies at the End started life as a web-serial book in 2001, written by David Wong. It was released as a paperback in 2007, and shooting on a movie version began in 2010. The narrator and protagonist, David Wong is a slacker stoner type in his early 20s. But he's not your average slacker stoner type “ he and his friend John can sometimes communicate telepathically and … [Read more...]
The Hangover (2009) review That Film Guy
Heading to Las Vegas the weekend before his wedding, groom Doug (Justin Bartha) and his three groomsmen Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifiankis) have a night planned. But after an initial drink they awake the following morning to find a scene of devastation having gained an unknown baby and lost Doug. Using the clues scattered around the hotel room they … [Read more...]
The Hangover Part III (2013) review by That Film Guy
After the nasty second instalment of the $1b franchise of The Hangover films, fans of the Wolfpack would be forgiven for feeling some trepidation before the release of The Hangover Part III. Gone is the ˜morning after the night before' premise that underpinned all the events of the first two films and instead we are given what is effectively a coming-of-age tale for the … [Read more...]
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) review by That Film Guy
Directed by Don Scardino, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a magic-based comedy that pokes gentle fun at the old-style Vegas magicians as well as the modern stunt artists. In Las Vegas, magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) are successful headliners, who appear to have lost the passion for magic. After the arrival of growing global … [Read more...]
21 & Over (2013) review by That Film Student
Apparently turning 21 entails a shaggy-dog story of misadventures including tampon-scoffing, runaway balls and concluding your alcoholic enlightenment with a circumcision by teddy bear. 21 & Over screams, or rather drunkenly hollers, ˜live life to the fullest!' … [Read more...]
Mean Girls (2004) review by That Film Guy
Some films have the good fortune to be massive commercial successes on their release, while others find an audience after some time, usually being tagged ˜cult classics.' Mean Girls, directed by Mark Waters has managed to achieve both feats. Based on a small part of the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman and blessed with a great young cast, while … [Read more...]
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) review by That Film Guy
Shane Black, who made a name for himself by writing Lethal Weapon put himself in the director's chair for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Loosely based on Brett Halliday's Bodies are Where You Find Them, it creates a wry, snarky pulp fiction noir-comedy-thriller set in modern day Los Angeles. … [Read more...]
Scary Movie 5 (2013) review by That Film Brat
The parody genre has experienced a bit of a downhill slide in recent years. Films like Airplane, Hot Shots, Top Secret, and a host of others are now considered comedy classics. However, in 2000, the Wayans brothers decided they would take a crack at the parody genre and released Scary Movie, a parody of the 90s self-aware slasher movie, specifically Scream and I Know What You … [Read more...]