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Rache (174 KP) rated The Happytime Murders (2017) in Movies

Jan 6, 2019

Funny (1 more)

Inappropriate

Noir Humour (0 more)

Nearly But Not Quite

Contains spoilers, click to show

Starting with the introduction of a puppet private detective, this is intended to be a gritty, noir, detective story with the added twist of Jim Henson puppets as characters. While film technology has vastly improved since such films as Cool World, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, puppet technology hasn't really changed, so the puppets all have overtones of The Muppets and Sesame Street.
Despite the humour inherent in puppet characters, and the use of puppets as an analogue for minority populations (up to and including a puppet who has been 'humanised'), it's neither funny enough nor enough of a social commentary to fit into one of those two dichotomous genres.
Noir comedy, carpet-bombed with dick jokes, riddled with puppet humour, and boiling with 'social commentary', this film doesn't really land in a single genre, and the ones it tries to are too different to make a really good film. It turns out a bit like 'Muppets She Wrote' with added swearing and crudery.
Melissa Mccarthy plays the typical irreverent, foul-mouthed, stereotypical racist cop, and interacts really well with the puppets, but even all of her talent can't save this film.
It's funny (the puppet sex scene is just insane), carries some preachiness about racism (trying to decide how much 'puppet' makes someone a puppet based on a surgical implant), thoroughly irreverent (foul mouthed, 'drug' addled puppets), has an okay storyline (the twist is fairly well written), and concludes with the usual happy Muppets ending, but it feels like it's trying too hard to do too much. Perhaps, if it had tried to do less, it could have been a really good film.
All of that taken into account, it's not bad for something to watch for lighthearted fun, if you don't want to think too hard about it.

Kudos

Andy K (10821 KP) rated Klute (1971) in Movies

Jul 21, 2019

Klute (1971)

1971 | Classics, Drama, Mystery

7.4

(5 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Great 70s thriller!

Another great thriller from Alan J. Pakula, director of All the President's Men, The Parallax View and Presumed Innocent starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.

A down and out call girl teams up with a private detective to try and solve a missing persons case.The two end up in a torrid relationship both persons seemingly using each other for their own gains. The investigation has several twists and turns through some drug addicts, an unsavory pimp and even some disco nightclubs. Tensions mount as the call girl herself becomes a target of the mysterious vigilante.

I love 70s thrillers like Play Misty for me, Blow Out, Dressed To Kill and this film. Something about the characters talk to each other and also seeing the vintage hairstyles, wardrobes, cars and music always puts you right in the mood.

Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland are perfect together onscreen as they both portray somewhat unsavory characters in this film but you are still rooting for them. Those who don't like slow developing stories might be bored; however, I thought it was well put together and worth the wait.

Highly recommended!