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Charlie Cobra Reviews (1840 KP) rated What We Do in the Shadows in TV
Jul 7, 2020
Ridiculously Funny And Absurdly Delightful
What We Do In The Shadows s a 2019 comedy/horror mockumentary television series written by Jermaine Clement and Taika Waititi. It's based on the 2014 movie of the same name. The show was produced by FXP, Two Canoes Pictures, and 343 Incorporated. The series stars Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen, and Mark Proksch.
After an unexpected visit from their dark lord and leader, four vampires who've "lived" together for hundreds of years in Staten Island are reminded they were tasked with total and complete domination of the New World over a century ago. A verite camera crew follows along and gives a documentary-style look into their daily lives as they go about achieving said domination.
This show is ridiculously funny and just as good as the movie it's based on. It is a great mix of two genres that don't always mix well horror and comedy but with a mockumentary style akin to The Office. The only thing I would say is that the show's sense of humor isn't for everyone. But I like it and enjoyed it and am super excited it's been renewed for a second season. I love how it expands on the vampire lore of the world that they built upon and how they satirize the whole vampire genre. How they aren't afraid to make fun of the cliches and tropes often overused and familiar for fans of the genre. I give this show a 8/10.
After an unexpected visit from their dark lord and leader, four vampires who've "lived" together for hundreds of years in Staten Island are reminded they were tasked with total and complete domination of the New World over a century ago. A verite camera crew follows along and gives a documentary-style look into their daily lives as they go about achieving said domination.
This show is ridiculously funny and just as good as the movie it's based on. It is a great mix of two genres that don't always mix well horror and comedy but with a mockumentary style akin to The Office. The only thing I would say is that the show's sense of humor isn't for everyone. But I like it and enjoyed it and am super excited it's been renewed for a second season. I love how it expands on the vampire lore of the world that they built upon and how they satirize the whole vampire genre. How they aren't afraid to make fun of the cliches and tropes often overused and familiar for fans of the genre. I give this show a 8/10.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Happy Death Day 2U (2019) in Movies
Dec 31, 2020
There is enough increasing absurdity in Happy Death Day 2U to ensure that it's just as fun and entertaining as the first movie. It's sadly less rooted in horror this time around, and instead opts for a sci-fi/comedy approach, with the occasional sprinkle of PG-13 slasher tropes.
Jessica Rothe is honestly, for a second time, fantastic. Neither of these films would work half as well without her. Her character Tree, is hugely likable, and has great chemistry with the other cast members. This goes double for when director Christopher Landon decides to blindside the audience with an emotional beat. There's one scene in particular with Tree and her Mother that has all the potential to be a cheesy mess, but thanks to Rothe and Missy Yager, hits all the right notes. It's all good stuff that is unexpected from what is a standard family friendly Blumhouse flick on the surface.
As mentioned, the plot is so silly, but it's attempts to explain how the events of the first film even happened are admirable, and shakes up the formula enough to ensure it doesn't get boring, even though it has familiar moments. Some of the twists are a little convoluted, and the comedy aspects go a tad overboard sometimes, but overall the dumb narrative works a treat.
Happy Death Day 2U is a great if flawed switch-off popcorn movie, that's frequently funny, and has just enough horror elements to belong in the genre. Worth checking out!
Jessica Rothe is honestly, for a second time, fantastic. Neither of these films would work half as well without her. Her character Tree, is hugely likable, and has great chemistry with the other cast members. This goes double for when director Christopher Landon decides to blindside the audience with an emotional beat. There's one scene in particular with Tree and her Mother that has all the potential to be a cheesy mess, but thanks to Rothe and Missy Yager, hits all the right notes. It's all good stuff that is unexpected from what is a standard family friendly Blumhouse flick on the surface.
As mentioned, the plot is so silly, but it's attempts to explain how the events of the first film even happened are admirable, and shakes up the formula enough to ensure it doesn't get boring, even though it has familiar moments. Some of the twists are a little convoluted, and the comedy aspects go a tad overboard sometimes, but overall the dumb narrative works a treat.
Happy Death Day 2U is a great if flawed switch-off popcorn movie, that's frequently funny, and has just enough horror elements to belong in the genre. Worth checking out!
Method Man recommended Napoleon Dynamite (2004) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken (2017) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Absolutely hysterical, through sheer commitment and idiosyncrasy achieves the once impossible task of turning 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘐𝘯𝘤. into a comedy. I do have a few gripes, one of which being that - since this is objectively more 'professionally-made' than most of his other works, it sort of lacks some of that personal quality which made a lot of Spurlock's docs so distinctive. But overall that's such a minor quibble because this is still just as eccentric. Also gets a bit deceptive towards the end, though even then the base claims it sets out to make are still objectively correct so not a huge issue. Certainly not the first film to tackle this subject and won't be the last either, but it's definitely the most enjoyable - still ripe with enlightening information (if not nearly as much as the first) and insane charisma. I find it endlessly intriguing to see Spurlock create this morbid pitch-black comedy/doc hybrid that acts as this absurd birthing video showing him help raise the monster (faux-healthy fast food hysteria) that he helped create. Also the parody restaurant he makes at the end is hilarious. For anyone else I'd say this "imagine (company)... but honest!" filmmaking is an easy target that sort of has no meaning anymore but naturally Morgan delivers the goods with his ever-watchable personality and trademark filmmaking so here it seems admittedly different. Really good. Better than Where in the 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘖𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘉𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯? and 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦, not as good as 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥 or the original 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘔𝘦.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Hubie Halloween (2020) in Movies
Oct 9, 2020
I would class Happy Gilmore as a good Adam Sandler comedy. I would class Jack & Jill as a straight up abomination of cinema. Hubie Halloween sits somewhere comfortably in the middle.
It's pretty much follows the formula of what's come before - Adam Sandler portrays a loser that falls over a lot and talks in a silly voice, there's some sort of heart-warming redemption plot that results in him not being a loser and getting the girl. It's ball achingly predictable, but is wrapped up in a very Halloween-y package, so that's nice I guess.
The main issue is that I just didn't laugh. There are a few amusing lines here and there (June Squibb wearing vulgar novelty t-shirts is always a good shour) but most of the humour falls flat. Adam Sandler talking in a silly voice has never been funny, and you can't change my mind.
The supporting cast is a fairly impressive collection of names - Steve Buschemi, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Maya Rudolph, Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things, Tim Meadows, Michael Chiklis, Ben Stiller, goddam Shaquille O'Neal (legit probably the best part of the whole movie) - even Kenan Thompson of Kenan & Kel fame. And of course Kevin James, this being a Sandler film and all....
There's not much really to say. The mystery aspect of the plot doesn't really feel intriguing at any part, and it's honestly just another run of the mill Adam Sandler comedy. Relatively entertaing as a seasonal watch, and I'm sure kids will love it, but ultimately, pretty damn average.
It's pretty much follows the formula of what's come before - Adam Sandler portrays a loser that falls over a lot and talks in a silly voice, there's some sort of heart-warming redemption plot that results in him not being a loser and getting the girl. It's ball achingly predictable, but is wrapped up in a very Halloween-y package, so that's nice I guess.
The main issue is that I just didn't laugh. There are a few amusing lines here and there (June Squibb wearing vulgar novelty t-shirts is always a good shour) but most of the humour falls flat. Adam Sandler talking in a silly voice has never been funny, and you can't change my mind.
The supporting cast is a fairly impressive collection of names - Steve Buschemi, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Maya Rudolph, Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things, Tim Meadows, Michael Chiklis, Ben Stiller, goddam Shaquille O'Neal (legit probably the best part of the whole movie) - even Kenan Thompson of Kenan & Kel fame. And of course Kevin James, this being a Sandler film and all....
There's not much really to say. The mystery aspect of the plot doesn't really feel intriguing at any part, and it's honestly just another run of the mill Adam Sandler comedy. Relatively entertaing as a seasonal watch, and I'm sure kids will love it, but ultimately, pretty damn average.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) in Movies
Jan 25, 2021
Comedy comes in many forms and is certainly subjective. Unfortunately, slapstick comedy which is plastered all over the second outing for Indiana Jones really holds the film back as a whole for me.
Where Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade are more straight shooting adventures, the comedic elements in them are placed fantastically, sparingly, and add to the overall experience. Temple of Doom is more of a gauntlet of jokes and over the top silliness, and most of it unfortunately doesn't land.
A lot of this comes from Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw), who acts as (constant) comic relief and Indiana Jones' love interest. The character is written in a way that she ends up at worst not being remotely likable, and at best being hugely grating.
Thankfully, the final third of Temple of Doom redeems matters a fair bit. The whole last sequence is unrelenting in its series of events. The action is masterfully executed, and feels like Spielberg was just constantly trying to one up himself in what he was doing, and his efforts result in an extremely fun and thrilling final act.
Once again, a lot of practical effects on display that lends this blockbuster series a sense of magic in a pre CGI age, and an as-per-usual incredible score from John Williams can be considered huge positives.
Overall then, Temple of Doom is a mixed bag for me, and easily my least favourite of the initial trilogy, even if I do have some find childhood memories attached to it!
Where Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade are more straight shooting adventures, the comedic elements in them are placed fantastically, sparingly, and add to the overall experience. Temple of Doom is more of a gauntlet of jokes and over the top silliness, and most of it unfortunately doesn't land.
A lot of this comes from Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw), who acts as (constant) comic relief and Indiana Jones' love interest. The character is written in a way that she ends up at worst not being remotely likable, and at best being hugely grating.
Thankfully, the final third of Temple of Doom redeems matters a fair bit. The whole last sequence is unrelenting in its series of events. The action is masterfully executed, and feels like Spielberg was just constantly trying to one up himself in what he was doing, and his efforts result in an extremely fun and thrilling final act.
Once again, a lot of practical effects on display that lends this blockbuster series a sense of magic in a pre CGI age, and an as-per-usual incredible score from John Williams can be considered huge positives.
Overall then, Temple of Doom is a mixed bag for me, and easily my least favourite of the initial trilogy, even if I do have some find childhood memories attached to it!
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Mayhem (2017) in Movies
Aug 24, 2020
Mayhem is a pretty fun comedy horror from Joe Lynch for the most part.
Centred around an outbreak of a virus in an office building, the workers inside are sealed in for 8 hours whilst the airborne anti virus does it's thing. The virus itself causes people to lose control of their inhibitions, and in an office space, that includes a whole lot of violence towards people that you would naturally grow to hate over time.
It's a simple premise executed well enough.
The two leads Stephen Yeun and Samara Weaving are a hugely likeable pairing, and have a great supporting cast to work with. The dialogue is often funny, and everyone involved nails the humour - I can't remember any of it falling flat.
The story is fairly predictable and it's one of those films that likes to cut away rather than show violence - not everytime, but certainly on multiple occasions, which takes away a lot of the impact Mayhem could have otherwise had.
The Last Drive-In host Joe Bob Briggs raises a good point - in a world awash with horror comedy, it would have been interesting to see how this film would have turned out if it had been played straight. As I said, the humour is genuinely good, but I agree here - it could have really benefitted from being a full on horror experience.
Overall though, Mayhem is entertaining, and I no doubt will watch it again at somepoint. It's hard to not enjoy a film that includes a brutal fight sequence whilst Faith No More plays in the background.
Centred around an outbreak of a virus in an office building, the workers inside are sealed in for 8 hours whilst the airborne anti virus does it's thing. The virus itself causes people to lose control of their inhibitions, and in an office space, that includes a whole lot of violence towards people that you would naturally grow to hate over time.
It's a simple premise executed well enough.
The two leads Stephen Yeun and Samara Weaving are a hugely likeable pairing, and have a great supporting cast to work with. The dialogue is often funny, and everyone involved nails the humour - I can't remember any of it falling flat.
The story is fairly predictable and it's one of those films that likes to cut away rather than show violence - not everytime, but certainly on multiple occasions, which takes away a lot of the impact Mayhem could have otherwise had.
The Last Drive-In host Joe Bob Briggs raises a good point - in a world awash with horror comedy, it would have been interesting to see how this film would have turned out if it had been played straight. As I said, the humour is genuinely good, but I agree here - it could have really benefitted from being a full on horror experience.
Overall though, Mayhem is entertaining, and I no doubt will watch it again at somepoint. It's hard to not enjoy a film that includes a brutal fight sequence whilst Faith No More plays in the background.
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated Playing for Keeps (2012) in Movies
Dec 11, 2017
Unmemorable
Contains spoilers, click to show
This film has a great cast, some big names, so you'd have thought it had potential. It is supposed to be a rom-com but it was sappy, unfunny and unbelievable. Other than being an ex soccer star the main character has nothing going for him but a bevy of beautiful women are all throwing themselves at him! It was all pretty pathetic. He tries to woo back his ex wife who has been settled with her new fiance for three years and is due to get married within days, but of course she will realise that she's not truly in love with said beau. and call it all off.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) in Movies
Jan 4, 2018
Why Rum Gone
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) plays our beloved pirate to love and hate in this adaption of a Disney ride. The movie from the word go is filled with action,comedy and suspense as we follow our captain take possession of a powerful boat with the help of Orlando bloom and try to rescue our damsel in distress Nightly and recover the last gold coin of a lost treasure to try and break and long time curse. This movie storyline took time and patience to make sure everything flowed right and it does. To me there is not a moment of down time and my favorite line when marooned on an island is "Why Rum Gone" Enjoy
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Dumb and Dumber (1994) in Movies
Jan 6, 2018
Want hear the most annoying sound in the world.
Ok. This the Jim Carey we kind of grew up with. Crazy,zany,funny, no limits in this character for him. Jeff Daniels reaches in and pulls out his inner Carey in this wacky film about two idiots who take a cross country trip to return a briefcase to woman they both don't know. I don't believe I have laughed so hard in a theater in my life and I still crack up every time I watch it. I can't wait til one day my daughter is old enough to see it and understand the comedy. Danger lurks around each corner but, being the idiots they are they slip right around it.