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Reviews
War Dogs (2016)
War Dogs - A Different Movie the Second Time Around
Some movies are exactly the same every time you see them. Todd Phillips's The Hangover is a perfect example. It is my go-to film anytime I'm blue and need a laugh. It is always the same stupidly funny movie that makes me laugh in all the same places ("Not you, fat Jesus.."). The same director does something very different with War Dogs. I loved this film when I saw it in the movies so I knew I'd enjoy it again recently on DVD. In the theater I thought it was funny - a great buddy film featuring two former middle school friends who reconnect and have an amazing adventure. Jonah Hill's character seems a brash, funny wheeler-dealer - the kid who always has big ideas. By the end of the film you see him for who he really is - a much darker, malignant personality - cunning and manipulative with no regard for others. And that is what makes War Dogs so different the second time around. The scenes he made funny and maybe a little endearing the first time you watch are much darker on second viewing as you see how he pulls people into his web. It was fascinating to see the same movie twice and get such a different feel the second time - if you liked War Dogs, it is definitely worth a repeat watching.
Megan Leavey (2017)
Not Your Typical War Hero
Part way through I began to feel the story was a bit slow moving, maybe a little flat. I realized this is not an indictment of the film, but of Americans' movie going habits. Everything these days is a blockbuster - LOTS of action, tons of special effects, one- dimensional super hero characters. Megan Leavey is a quiet, understated film about real life and real people, and they are not always pleasant, exciting or interesting. If you like your war heroes shiny, perfect and larger than life - this film will not be for you. Megan Leavey is about a flawed, troubled, not very likable young woman who joins the Marines with no heroic idealism - she is just looking for an escape from her miserable life - made so very much by her own doing. And Rex is not Lassie. There is no instant, feel-good bond between a girl and her dog. Rather, the story illustrates the importance of showing up - taking one step at a time, and that with hard work and patience - redemption and second chances are possible. Not an easy feel-good film but worth the effort, as is true of most important things in life.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Surprised and Delighted..... Not Your Typical Comic Book Hero Film
I can't add much for die hard GOTG fans but for those who might be on the fence about seeing this or dreading having to sit through it with your kids - GO ! Full disclosure - I saw this film in the main auditorium at the Senator Theater in Baltimore, MD - and that makes any film better. In 2014 Men's Journal listed the Senator among the top 20 movie theaters in the world. I had low expectations for this - not particularly a sci-fi fan, not particularly a comic book movie fan - I expected to be by far the oldest person in the theater - but it was a rainy day, and it was the film chosen to entertain a young family member, so off we went. First, I was surprised by the make up of the audience - lots of family groups, and lots of older viewers - I was not sitting in a sea of teens as I expected. This movie was simply put great entertainment. The characters were well fleshed out, the acting was stellar, and it was funny - laugh out loud funny. You have to love running jokes about David Hasselhoff, and I'm still wondering exactly how they pulled off the "Benjamin Button" reverse aging of Kurt Russell in the opening scene! Don't pass this up just because you aren't a fan of the genre - it is much more - fun and entertaining !
Gifted (2017)
Heart Warming but....
This was a movie that pulled at my emotions - laughed, cried while I watched - but as soon as I left the theater my brain reasserted itself and started arguing. Several problems - first and foremost, Octavia Spencer was wasted - really given nothing to do. What would have been wrong with her being cast as the potential love interest / teacher? In fact, all the adult women characters were one dimensional - saints or demons. There was a lovely, funny scene when it appeared grandmother and son were going to have a rapprochement - then she reverted to her previous behavior making that scene almost feel like a continuity error. There was a great scene in a waiting room - no spoiler, you'll have to see it. And in spite of reservations - the movie is worth watching for the performances of Chris Evans and McKenna Grace - and for the father / daughter dynamics - not a false note there - it was almost hard to believe they really aren't father/daughter.