Review on the Side: Cinderella

Release Date: March 13th, 2015
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writer: Chris Weitz
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests

Cinderella is the live action adaptation of the classic Disney cartoon of the same name. The 1950's Cinderella was a powerful movie that helped establish Disney as a brand that can make quality films. In the last few years, Disney has produced a series of live action adaptations and re-imaginings including Alice in Wonderland, and Maleficent. Both movies were visually stunning with a less than stunning plot. With Cate Blanchett headlining this film as the evil step mother, it's easy to presume this film will be another re-imagining of sorts.

Instead, Cinderella is quite faithful to the original cartoon, and surprisingly the original Grimm fairy tale. It's the traditional story of a poor girl who is abused by her step-mother and step-sisters and goes to the ball to meet a prince with the help of a fairy. No psychedelic universe, or cartoon settings. It's refreshingly simple and enchanting.

Lily James as Cinderella encapsulates that blonde, fair maiden look that Disney loves so much. I always will have trouble with a lead who has no flaws, and Cinderella is meant to be nothing but kind and good, although she never comes across as tooth-ache sweet. Despite the role being an fashioned cliche, James draws you in with her sincerity.

Cate Blanchett does steal the show quite a bit as the evil step mother. It would have been very easy to make her character inherently evil through and through, but instead the step-mother becomes a sympathetic character. Blanchett radiates talent, and without her I think this movie would fall flat. Helena Bonham Carter also brings a lot of charm to her role as the Fairy Godmother. She frequently plays fantastical characters, but the Fairy Godmother is different from her normal fair. She gives life to the story when it starts to grow dull, and has a wonderful presence as the narrator.

The biggest issue I have with Cinderella is with director Kenneth Branagh. The film feel drawn out and flat. Similar to his Marvel movie Thor, Branagh takes a magical fantastic universe and does a disservice with flat comedy and slow steady pacing. His style is simply quite boring. The second half of the movie seems to lose all urgency and stakes. There's nothing wrong with this or any of his movies, they will simply will never surprise you.

It does need to be said that like many old fairy tales, the portrayal of women is steeped in old fashioned ideals with less than stellar stereotypes. There's no getting around that. There's an argument to be had about the way women are portrayed in these morality films, and how that affects gender roles but I don't have it in me to fight that battle. Yes, it's old fashioned, but the essential message of kindness over selfishness isn't going to ruin a nation of kids. There does seem to be a conscious effort to represent diversity with some of the minor characters, so at least there's that.

Cinderella is a nice movie. I might recommend it to kids who enjoyed Maleficent but as an adult my nostalgia lies in the cartoon, I'd rather hear the old fashioned "Bippity Boppity Boo" than sit through this version again. It's a totally fine movie with some rather nice moments, but there's nothing to take away from it besides some impressive costumes and a hefty payday for Disney.

IMDb - Cinderella (7.2)

Review #46: Jenny's Wedding

Release Date: July 31, 2015
Writer: Mary Agnes Donoghue
Director: Mary Agnes Donoghue

Logline: Jenny Farrell has led an openly gay life - except with her conventional family. When she finally decides to start a family and marry the woman they thought was just her roommate, the small, safe world the Farrells inhabited changes forever. They are left with a simple and difficult choice - either change with it or drown. (IMDb) Comedy, 94 minutes.

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

After reading this interview with writer/director Mary Agnes Donaghue, I was really looking forward to Jenny’s Wedding. Films centering around LGBT issues are unfortunately scarce and I’m always happy to see people attempting to help bridge that gap. While the effort is valiant, the finished product unfortunately doesn’t quite pay off. With mediocre performances, stiff dialogue and a blatant over usage of that Macklemore song from 2012, Jenny’s Wedding squanders its opportunity to tell an important story that is both needed and wanted in our current age of sequels, remakes and male centered action blockbusters.

This film could have benefited greatly from better chemistry between the two leads. Katherine Heigl’s Jenny and Alexis Bledel’s Kitty are so boring together that it’s easy to see why Jenny’s family had no problem believing they were just roommates. They are the beigest of beige. Too basic to even fit the categorization of basic bitches. Although the film is truly about Jenny and her family, a little more time focused solely on her relationship with Kitty may have produced a deeper level of empathy from the audience.

The combination of on-the-nose dialogue and preachy overtones makes the film seem more like a made for tv movie than an authentic discussion on coming out and being true to yourself. It just feels a little clunky, a little outdated and a little disjointed. When you add all these problems up, they equal a disappointing experience and a mediocre film.

Portrayal of Women: On a positive note, it’s nice to see the women in the film grow into more confident versions of themselves. Jenny escapes her state of fear and learns to stick to her guns. Her mother does the same as she lets go of a lifelong desire to fit into the cookie cutter

stereotype of a perfect family.

And then there is Jenny’s sister, Anne, who is played beautifully by Grace Gummer and is arguably the most interesting character in the film. Trapped in a horrible marriage and an unhappy life, Anne comes to the understanding that the only way to ensure your own happiness is to take action. She is consumed with this idea that happy people don’t have dead grass – something her yard has been plagued with for years. I really wanted to get on board with this, but like the rest of the film, it was too forced to actually be effective. 

Sisterhood Moment: The dynamic between Jenny and Anne is almost worthy of its own film. The implied rocky history seems to be founded on jealousy and mistrust – feelings that are sometimes impossible to avoid between sisters. The moment Jenny asks Anne to be her maid of honour is sincerely sweet and shows that the bond of sisterhood is truly stronger than anything.

Rating: 1 gossiping neighbor with questionable hair choices

IMDb - Jenny's Wedding (5.4)

Wikipedia - Jenny's Wedding

Rotten Tomatoes - Jenny's Wedding  (8%)

Review #45 - Something Borrowed

Release Date: May 6, 2011
Writer: Jennie Snyder Urman, Emily Griffin (novel)
Director: Luke Greenfield

Logline: Friendships are tested and secrets come to the surface when terminally single Rachel falls for Dex, her best friend Darcy's fiance. (IMDb)

Comedy, Romance. 112 minutes. 

Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review

Is it just me or is Something Borrowed always playing on TV? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was scrolling through the channel guide and didn’t see it listed somewhere. This has resulted in it becoming a sort of fixture of background noise in my house. Cleaning out the fridge? I bet Something Borrowed is playing on W, I’ll put that on. Painting my nails? Something Borrowed is on TBS, the perfect companion. Need something to do while I eat an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos? I’ll switch over to the French network – an educational way to view Something Borrowed!

If you’re thinking that all of this leads up to a grand declaration of love for this movie, you thought wrong. I HATE this movie. So much. Why do I keep watching it? I have no idea. I just can’t say no – it’s like some kind of form of self torture.

The characters aren't likable and the dialogue is far from charming but the real reason I can't stand this movie is because why would anyone pick Dex (Colin Egglesfield) when they could have Ethan (John Krasinski)? This is just too big of a plot hole to ignore and it makes me rage every time I think about. Although I generally try to avoid judging a movie solely on a plot decision I don't agree with, I can't help myself with this one. On the other hand, Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) is boring as hell so her and Dex probably deserve each other.

If you're still upset about the ending of Pretty in Pink, skip this one.

Portrayal of Women: The women in this movie take on so many sterotypical traits that they become caricatures. Rachel is the modest, meek girl who lives to take care of everyone else. Darcy (Kate Hudson) is the bitchy life of the party who is too self absorbed to have any kind of depth. Claire (Ashley Williams) is the crazy single girl who will stop at nothing to get her man.

Unfortunately, these one dimensional women are also defined by their relationship to men. Their value goes up when they have a significant other which makes having/keeping a boyfriend the most important goal in their lives. Lifelong friendships are tossed aside, honesty is completely disregarded, and lying is considered an absolute essential - all in the name of finding love.

We are tricked into thinking this movie is about a woman finding her voice and fighting for what she wants. In reality, it's about women being horrible to each other while using manipulation and deceit to get what they want. And what is it that our 'hero' is rewarded with? The opportunity to pick up dry cleaning for her basic bitch boyfriend. What a dream come true.

Sisterhood Moment: I'll admit that the choreographed dance to Push It is everything I've ever believed in. It's magical. 

Rating: 1 dropped pencil

IMDb - Something Borrowed (5.9)

Wikipedia - Something Borrowed

Rotten Tomatoes - Something Borrowed  (15%)

Review #43: The Debt

Release Date: August 31st, 2011
Writer: Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, and Peter Straughan
Director: John Madden

Logline: In 1965, three Mossad agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the agents share come back to haunt them. (IMDb)
Thriller, 113 minutes
Bechdel Test: Passes all 3 tests

Review
I love a good spy movie. There aren't nearly enough of them. Give me Jason Bourne over Captain America any day.

The Debt is an American/British remake of an Israeli film. The adaptation was written by the action film duo of Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class, Kickass) and spy film writer Peter Straughn (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) The director John Madden has a few Oscar films under his belt, including Shakespeare in Love.

The reason I'm outlining all that information is to explain why I has such high hopes before I watched this film. When you bring together a stellar list of experienced hit-makers, you do so expecting a hit. Maybe The Debt was a success; it made it's budget back, and put Dame Helen Mirren on the poster for an action film. I'm not sure it lived up to all of my many expectations.

Sold as a tangled web of deception around a CIA operation that happened during the Cold War, The Debt has a narrative that shows what happened in the 1960's and the fallout many years later. Agent Rachel Singer, portrayed as Jessica Chastain in the 1960's and as Helen Mirren in the 1990's, was part of a three man operation to capture and bring to justice a Nazi war criminal.

Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington in The Debt

The first half of the movie brings the audience on several spy missions that are beautifully shot and executed. There is a nail biting sequence during which the CIA operatives pose as ambulance drivers to extract their target, with the real ambulance on the way, only moments behind. Many action movies rely on technology to keep a sequence interesting, or the counting clock of a man set to watch out for the team. John Madden plays into the fear of the unknown in The Debt, reminding the audience that there is no fall back, that time is ticking and there is no way of knowing if or when the agents will be found out.

The weakness of the film, is of course the very narrative structure by which it is framed. The characters have been introduced as old men and women, so there is a bit lost in watching their younger selves in dangerous situations. We know they make it out alive. Ironically, I found the second half of the film, taking place 30 years later, to be the slowest part. While the characters are more interesting and complex, with secrets to cover up and uncertain allegiances, the action significantly drops off.

Helen Mirren in The Debt

I'm not sure I can place The Debt in the list of spy movies I really love. While there are some great scene of tense action, and gut wrenching suspense, the story itself falls off the map. With characters who swap actors, and motives that become muddled, I didn't get suspense all the way though the film.

Portrayal of Women: Before going into the movie I had a fleeting thought "how nice that they put a woman in the spy movie," for now. While she appeared to portray an important character in the trailers, I had a suspicion that her role would be undercut by some stereotypical trope.

I'm pleased to say Rachel Singer's character wasn't used as a love interest or reward, and she wasn't incompetent. She wasn't a cold, manipulative villainess either. At no point was she heroically saved by a man. Rachel Singer fought her own fights, and was the most valuable part of the CIA's mission. Her character was used for her vulnerability, and perhaps earned sympathy for being considered weaker, but I don't think that detracts from her capabilities as a woman. Her character captivated the audience, and ultimately controlled the story.

Sisterhood Moment: Rachel Singer recaps the events of the past through the book her daughter wrote about her. What a fantastic little tag to a movie about spy's, deception, and lies. Rachel Singer might be a lot of unsavory things, but she's also a mother and a hero to her child.

Rating: 3 Jason Bournes out of 5 franchises

IMDb - The Debt (6.9)
Wikipedia - The Debt
Rotten Tomatoes - The Debt (77%)

Review #42: Juno

Juno (2007)

Release Date: December 25th, 2007
Writer: Diablo Cody
Director: Jason Reitman

Logline: Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child. (IMDb)
Comedy/Drama, 96 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.


Review

I love this movie.

For a while that sentence was the whole review. I love the story, the characters, the writing. When it came out in 2007 it was so fresh and endearing. Not a whole lot has changed since then.

I hate describing this as a quirky comedy because I want every movie to be as confident and stylized as Juno. The Wes Anderson meets indy music video visual style hasn't really been successfully replicated since. Juno put both Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman on the map for their bold innovation. Cody showed a phenomenal range of characters, from the crass wit of High Schoolers Juno and Leah, to the prim and educated Vanessa and Mark. It's a movie that deals with teen pregnancy, abortion, relationships, abandonment, divorce, plenty of difficult issues without a hint of being preachy or judgmental.

The iconic scenes and lines that came from Juno are worth talking about alone.

-Juno swigging Sunny D and Rainn Wilson's "you're eggo is preggo." and "This is one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet." Come on. Every single person did an impression in their head immediately after those lines.
-Hamburger telephone. Worthy of getting a landline.
-"It's probably just a food baby." I've had food pregnancy before.
-Brenda telling off the ultrasound technician? What a great moment. No evil stepmother cliche just mama-claws ferocity.
-"They call me the cautionary whale" The image of preggers Juno walking the halls and the students parting like it's Moses and the red sea? What a great scene.
-"Thundercats are GO!"


Portrayal of Women: I love a movie that shows how bitches get stuff done without being an overt chick flick. Juno somehow managed to find that sweet spot of being a movie about girls supporting girls, without being patronizing or so boring that half the audience falls asleep. Juno makes her own decisions. She decides what to do with her body and what to do with her baby. Vanessa is a different kind of go-getter but hey she gets what she needs out of life even if it's not in a man-pleasing way. Bren and Leah? They are some fantastic supporting characters with their own personality and goals.

To see a film where there are two leading women have clear and present goals, and are basically the emotional core of the film? Oh, and that ISN'T a rom-com? That comes along once every few years at best. Juno is kind of an important film in that respect.

Sisterhood Moment: Despite all the fantastic moments Juno has with her friends that I could endlessly laugh about, it comes down to the ending for me. Juno writing that note for Vanessa? Come on, that's a REAL sisterhood moment. Juno and Vanessa both had their plans fall apart, but they still supported each other.

Rating: 5 feet of twizzlers and a jumbo blue slushie for good measure.

IMDb - Juno (7.6)
Wikipedia - Juno
Rotten Tomatoes - Juno (94%)

Review #41: Elaine Stritch: Shoot me

Release Date: April 19, 2013
Director: Chiema Karasawa

Logline: The uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner is showcased both on and off stage via rare archival footage and intimate cinema vérité.

Review

I didn’t know much about Elaine Stritch before watching this film, all I knew was that she was Jack’s mom on 30 Rock and the lady who swore on the Today Show. By the end of the film, I had completely fallen in love with her.  She is a legend for a reason and that reason is her rare ability to be difficult and absolutely enchanting at the same time. She had amazing talent, she spoke her mind, and she didn’t wear pants – can you get any better than that?

This is one of my favourite documentaries that I’ve ever seen. It lets us observe Stritch’s daily routine as she struggles with alcoholism and diabetes while preparing for performances, but also tells the story of her successful and interesting career.  It’s heartbreaking to see her so frail and sick but also completely full of joy as we see her determination, gratitude and spark shine through.  Her relationship with her pianist Rob is also a real highlight. If you love inspirational ladies, this is a movie for you.

At the time of filming, Elaine was 87 and although she was still successfully performing, her age and health issues were taking their toll. My favourite moment of the film came when she forgot her lyrics in the middle of a show. What could have been an embarrassing turned into a moment of honesty, hilarity and magic. She showed that mistakes are the perfect opportunity to find a laugh and I love that.

Other things I learned from Elaine

• It’s okay to use a paper bag as a purse
• Sometimes you have to date someone simply because they’re much too attractive to leave behind (this happened to her with JFK)
• Know what you want and go for it
• Even legends get scared sometimes
• Speak your mind and be confident that what you have to say matters
• Everybody’s got a sack of rocks
• The key to happiness is accepting and respecting yourself

Portrayal of Women: Obviously this is a movie celebrating the life of a woman and her many accomplishments. I love how it perfectly demonstrates how wonderful Elaine was even though she wasn't necessarily nice all the time. The film captures her complexity as a performer and as a woman in a compelling way.

Sisterhood Moment: I'm sure we've all thought of the benefits of chewing food and spitting it out as a way to curb weight gain. 

I can’t recommend this documentary enough. You can’t truly appreciate Elaine’s feistiness until you see her in action. She was often described as a force of nature, and that’s a fitting description.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Bay's English Muffins




IMDb - Elaine Stritch Shoot Me (7.5)
Wikipedia - Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me
Rotten Tomatoes - Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (98%)

Review on the Side: Wild

Release Date: December 19th, 2014
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writer: Nick Hornby (Based on the novel by Cheryl Strayed)
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.

Last night I cleaned my kitchen. Took a nice hot bath. Made cup of tea. Got in my PJ's, with blankies and my puppy on the couch, ready for snuggles. Then I turned on this movie and was unable to look away.

I highly recommend anyone else who wants to watch this film to do the same. Not only was it a nice Sunday night, this movie is highly deserving of your focus and attention. And you will probably also need something to snuggle.

Wild follows the story of Cheryl Strayed as she hikes across the west coast of the United States via the Pacific Crest Trail. It's a story of her learning to deal with her past, as the journey on the hiking trail reflects the journey her life took to get to this point. You might even call the hike the b-plot because the "flashbacks" are really the focus of the film.

There is really something wonderful about the relatability of Cheryl in this film. Women are so often portrayed as either strong and cold, or weak and flirtatious. This is as close to the female "every-man" as I've seen on screen. Her character reflects the way people are composed of contradictions. She's a character full of love, compassion, and empathy, but also makes selfish and impulsive decisions. She struggles to deal with things that are hard to deal with. She doesn't have the answers. She has to make hard mistakes to figure out who she is. So rarely are women given the opportunities to see those stories told on film, even though this one made for one fantastic film.
Reese Witherspoon is vulnerable and raw, but also optimistic. She brings so much dimension to this already complex character. Laura Dern is undeniably charming, as she often is on screen. Her moments in the film are brief but haunting. I've always felt like she was an underrated actress. I think Jean-Marc Vallee brought out some quality performances from the cast.

So yes, I highly recommend Wild. It fits somewhere outside the normal convention of film. It's a drama that isn't agonizing. It's a female-driven film that doesn't dwell in romance. It's a biographical memoir told in an unconventional way. This is what I like about independent films. Sometimes going just a few steps outside of the 'expectations box' can lead to wonderful things.
(X-post from Sarah Does Movies)

Rating: 4.5/5
IMDb - Wild (7.3)

Review #40: Life Partners

Release Date: November 6, 2014
Writer: Susanna Fogel, Joni Lefkowitz
Director: Susanna Fogel

Logline: Sasha and Paige's co-dependant friendship is tested as Paige gets serious with a guy for the first time. (Source IMDb) Comedy/Romance, 93min.

Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests

Review

When you think of heartbreak, it’s pretty likely that the first thing that comes to mind is the breakup of a romantic relationship. Although this may be the most talked about kind of heartbreak, it is far from being the only kind. Life Partners tackles the heartbreak that happens when your best friend gets a boyfriend – it’s that impossible frustration of being genuinely happy for your friend but also completely miserable over the fact that they no longer need you as much as they once did.

The film begins by making us all wish that we had a spirit as kindred as Sasha (Leighton Meester) or Paige (Gillian Jacobs).  They’re the kind of friends who completely understand each other – they do hilarious bits in traffic, they watch ANTM together every week and they have each other listed as “husband” and “wife” in their phones.

Then we meet Adam Brody’s character, Tim, and he pretty well ruins everything.  As Paige falls in love with Tim, she gradually starts drifting away from Sasha until all of a sudden they are barely speaking to each other anymore. 

What this film does best is capture the gradual build of poignant moments which signal that the relationship is changing.  Their friendship doesn't suffer due to one problem but rather due to little annoyances that combine into a greater issue that becomes too big to ignore. The scene that sticks with me is one where Sasha tries to engage Paige in a strategy session involving a new girlfriend and text etiquette.  Paige's newfound stableness removes any ability for her to relate to Sasha's frustration as her problems now seem trivial and irrelevant. The short scene perfectly encapsulates the disconnect between the two women but also upholds a balance of camaraderie that helps us fully understand why they remain friends despite their disdain for each other.

Although there’s nothing especially groundbreaking about Life Partners, its enjoyable performances coupled with themes that are bound to resonate with a wide range of audiences make it worth a watch.

PS. I'm on board with anyone that references Tyra Banks' "smize" which is a pretty big factor into why I liked this movie.

Portrayal of Women: Female characters greatly outnumber male characters in this movie which interestingly helps set the overall tone of the movie. Just as we barely see a man onscreen, Sasha has rarely had to deal with a man monopolizing Paige's time. It's a romcom about women whose lives have always been about women but are now being disrupted by a guy.

Paige's main problem is an overbearing need for control while Sasha struggles to gain any kind of management over her own life. Each woman must work through these issues and this in turn adds another layer of relatability to the film. Paige struggles to accept that sometimes life isn't perfect while Sasha comes to grips with the realization that dreams can sometimes change.  Paige is straight and Sasha is a lesbian which also brings different perspectives of sexuality into play. Creating these complex characters with defined problems is what solidifies this movie as one that any woman can watch and connect to.

Sisterhood Moment: Within the first few minutes, the girls say to each other, "I hate everyone except for you." I would say that's pretty well the perfect definition of besties.

Rating: 3 pairs of overalls out of 5

IMDb - Life Partners (6.1)
Wikipedia - Life Partners 
Rotten Tomatoes - Rotten Tomatoes (56%)

Review #39 Sex Tape

Release Date: July 18th, 2014
Writer: Kate Angelo, Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Director: Jake Kasdan

Logline: A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts. (Source IMDb)

Comedy, 94min. 

Bechdel Test: Weak weak weak pass. (Annie asks her Mom to watch their kids)

Review

America loves a dirty R-rated comedy! And A-list celebrities! And wacky jokes... and... awkward situations.... and this movie kind of sucks. It's not funny, or memorable, or even very entertaining. This is one tired movie.

I hate complaining about a comedy with a bad premise, because I often argue that no one goes to a comedy for the story, they go to laugh. Sex Tape is just such a predictable drag. There are long scenes of serious exposition butted up against cartoonish scenes of slapstick jokes. It doesn't come together. There's no pacing and no focus.

It's as if you combined Zach and Miri Make a Porno with Home Alone. Both good movies individually. Combined they don't work. It's the seriousness of an adult comedy where trying to balance a home life and social life goes awry, with the silly antics of a someone breaking into a mansion and discovering elaborate booby-traps. It sets up the audience and misfires completely. There's no sincerity or emotion in Sex Tape. No social commentary, no twists or unexpected surprises. It's a film that rests entirely on embarrassing adults who are trying to avoid being embarrassed.

Underneath the bad taste that Sex Tape leaves behind, there are some elements that could have become a great film. I may not be a big Cameron Diaz fan but she does a good job, and has good chemistry with Jason Segel. Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper seemed tremendously underused. They were often the "straight guy" couple to the wacky couple, which is crazy considering they are two of the funniest comedians working in movies.

Overall, this is a big MISS. A major disappointment for Segel, and another predictable turn for Diaz who has made unusual romcoms her bread and butter.

Portrayal of Women: I was quite surprised when I asked myself this question because the film is about a couple, and the supporting cast is of their friends and coworkers. It seemed rather balanced, but when I thought about the Bechdel Test I realized I was wrong. In the film, Jay's is his own boss, with a female assistant, and when he is off the clock he talks about anything with his friend Robbie. Annie, on the hand, writes a blog where she talks about her relationship and family, tries to sell it to a male boss and only talks to her friend Tess about her relationship and family. Not exactly balanced.

Sisterhood Moment: I think this goes to the supporting cast. I really thought it was hilarious when Jay and Annie stormed into Robbie and Tess's home only to discover it was their anniversary that they weren't even celebrating, they were watching TV. Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper were wonderfully nonchalant about their own lives, and then super excited to go on an adventure with their friends to rescue the iPads. Who isn't excited to get out of the house?

Rating: 1 tablet out of the whole Apple Store.

IMDb - Sex Tape (5.1)
Wikipedia - Sex Tape
Rotten Tomatoes - Sex Tape (18%)

Review #38: Tammy

Release Date: July 2, 2014
Writer: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy

Director: Ben Falcone

Logline: After losing her job and learning that her husband has been unfaithful, a woman hits the road with her profane, hard-drinking grandmother. (Source: IMDb)

Comedy, 97 min. 

Bechdel Test: Passed all three test.

Review

In the spring of 2014 quiet rumors of a comedy sensation swept the nation. Ok, that might be a little melodramatic. But before the release of Tammy, Melissa McCarthy was earning her rank as comedy legend with only a few leading roles under her belt. The idea of McCarthy bringing her own vision to the big screen, with her and her husband writing and directing seemed like a sure bet. The film opened huge. Women could lead the way in comedy. 

But with all that hype Tammy feels like a major misstep. The multitude of characters, the adventurous storyline, nothing amounts to anything in the film. The concept and plot are wishy washy, and the comedy suffers. The sweet moments are not funny and the funny moments are often lackluster or crude. 

What's ultimately frustrating about Tammy is that the skeleton for a memorable and hilarious comedy is there. Although its hard to define any real plot, its a white trash girl, down on her luck, who finds herself on an adventure with her alcoholic grandmother. Along the way a huge number of minor characters filter in and out with no real significant jokes or impact. Nat Faxon, for example, plays Tammy's cheating husband. His entire role consists of mumbling apologies under his breath instead of delivering a strong memorable character with powerful lines. In the long line of supporing roles, Alison Janny, Sandra Oh, Toni Collette, Mark Duplass, Kathy Bates, Dan Aykroyd, none create engaging characters. 

Even the story itself doesn't add up. McCarthy's character Tammy is full of contradictions in an attempt to be funny in whatever scene she's in. Tammy isn't dumb or incapable, she's a "Bad Luck Brian" who is both a functional regular person that's down on their luck, and a total sociopath who is oblivious to other people. She willingly accepts the consequences of breaking a dock while jet-skiing, but holds up a fast food restaurant as if no one will ever notice her when she immediately heads straight into a police station. When at a bar with Bobby, she flirts with him mercilessly as if she's oblivious to his disinterest, but when he becomes genuinely interested, she pumps the breaks and acts as if someone flirting with her is unheard of. All while she's married, by the way. I'm not sure if she has really changed by the end of the film because her character was so undefined. 

The only memorable gems in Tammy is Susan Sarandon's character Pearl. She doesn't pull any punches and is really the emotional core of the film. Pearl is everyone's embarrassing family member, who provides sage wisdom, then gets drunk at a party and tries to sing karaoke. 

Do I recommend Tammy? No. Not even the charm of Melissa McCarthy can save a scene of deer-murder. It's a valiant effort but it's a movie with the training wheels still on. The one scene of McCarthy holding up a fast food store is the center point of the films marketing, and to a certain extent the movie. But one scene of goofy acting isn't enough to hold up the whole film. I look forward to seeing what Melissa and Ben do in the future, because anything will be better than this.

Portrayal of Women: There's a lot of great female characters. A lot of women supporting women. Friends and family look out for each other. The only bad thing is they are all pretty weak characters. Still, it's nice to see women represented in minor characters who aren't love interests. 

Sisterhood Moment: Kathy Bates as Pearl's lesbian cousin who helps smuggle them out of state to hide from the law. I'm so glad to see Bates doing some quality comedy roles. She's outstanding. Her and Sarandon have great chemistry and she's a total badass. 

Rating: 1 lonely pie. 

IMDb - Tammy (4.8)

Wikipedia - Tammy

Rotten Tomatoes - Tammy (24%)

Review #37: Maleficent

Release Date: May 30th, 2014
Writer: Linda Woolverton
Director: Robert Stromberg

Logline: A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land. (Source: IMDb) Action-Adventure, 97 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all 3 tests

Review
Maleficent is another chapter in the recent Disney franchise of classic film remakes with spectacular special effects and awful stories. Along with Alice in Wonderland, and Oz the Great and Powerful, Maleficent rips the story of a classic tale out of it's slumber and spins it to prominently feature Angelina Jolie's cheekbones. Not that that's a bad thing, of course.

In this film, the original Disney classic of Sleeping Beauty is retold through the eyes of the villain, Maleficent herself. As with all the recent Disney live action films, the visual effects are raised to new heights. Unlike the two previous endeavors, Maleficent never feels like it's showing off. It weaves a tapestry of fantastical beings, and seamless effects to entrance the audience. The magic of the pixie's is whimsical, while the power of Maleficent is dark and sinister.

I have to say, I'm a little over the one-note acting performances as seen in this film. As great as Angelina Jolie is at stomping around and looking amazing, she hardly breaks from that mold. Elle Fanning becomes quite grating despite only having a handful of dialogue due to her perky bubblegum persona. As for King Stefan, his charm wears off immediately and I was disenchanted with this overwrought performance. None of these characters conveyed any depth beyond the exterior, which is frustrating for a film built as a character study.

What kills this movie is the plot, combined with the weak character motivations. The entire purpose of this film is justifying the curse Maleficent places on Princess Aurora, and redeeming her character thereafter. I'm not sure it even comes close.

As the film opens, Maleficent is a carefree winged-elf being who as a adult is essentially all powerful. Even her biggest weakness cannot stop her powers or harm her physically. Her young love Stefan becomes power hungry and betrays her to become King.  From then on, it's all out war between the two factions: The kingdom of men fighting against the woodland realm of magical creatures. The theme of revenge is so overblown that it loses all meaning by the end because no one is even aware of what they are feuding about, a point often brought up by those second in command for both sides.

Without question I would rank this film above Alice and Oz. It's far more coherent and a more satisfying ride. There are silly, enjoyable moments, and Angelina Jolie is able to carry this film on a few lines of dialogue. It's far darker than any previous endeavor by Disney and shows that there is a potential for more in-depth, dark story telling.

Portrayal of Women: I have a hard time rectifying this film as being a feminist action movie as many are calling it. Perhaps it earns that title simply for having two female leads.

It does not represent women in any kind of equal way, it actually pits men against women. There's a very clear theme that arises about the powers of "man" against the magic of "woman." wherein all the armies of men are literally men, and all the magical creatures that could be gendered are women. The great betrayal that Stefan commits against Maleficent is when he drugs her and mutilates her body, leaving her for dead, and returning home a king. If you want to interpret that as a rape metaphor I wouldn't blame you because that's where my mind went.

It's almost incredible that this ended up in a Disney action film, when Alice in Wonderland concluded with the Mad Hatter doing a cringe inducing dance sequence. I honestly am at a loss for what any good feminst should interpret from this. At the end of the day, Maleficent was an all powerful being, so of course she would get the upper hand in battle. So what then should thematically be interpreted? That the ambition of men is dangerous? To fear the wrath of woman?

I honestly can't help but feel it's nothing but lazy writing with an unexplanable gender divided motif. There is nothing magical about relationship that was built between Stefan and Maleficent, and there was nothing magical about the way he choose to end it. It's an uncomfortable topic (date rape?) to place in a family movie, no doubt, but further then that something with no storylike enchantment has no place in this fairy tale. It's an inappropriate and incomplete social commentary that has no sufficient resolution.

Sisterhood Moment: Any movie that features 2 hours of Angelina Jolie is going to feature more than a few "Every girl wants to be me" moments, that I love. From the scene showing her wrath and rage as she stomps through the forest and bricks from the footpath go flying behind her, to showing up in the castle at the end and rising up in some sick leather pants, Angelina can't do much wrong. I'm pretty sure that's how every girl feels when they go out wearing leather pants. It's the "Bitch, you can't handle this" look, and she nails it.

Plus, the scene where Angelina acts with her young daughter, Vivienne, is adorable. They share a special connection that radiates through the screen. It's a great moment, especially if you've been tipped off to their relationship.

Rating: 2.5 Evil Curses

IMDb - Maleficent (7.2)
Wikipedia - Maleficent
Rotten Tomatoes - Maleficent (48%)

Review #36: Tracks

Release Date; March 6th, 2014
Writer: Marion Nelson

Director: John Curran

Logline: A young woman goes on a 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of West Australia with her four camles and faithful dog. (Source IMDb) Drama 112 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all 3 tests.

Review

Tracks is captivating, intriguing and visually stunning. Based on a true story, it follows the journey of Robyn Davidson as she treks across the Australian Desert – a trip that is never fully justified or explained.  Going into the theatre with minimal knowledge of the story, I was expecting a grand tale of adventure with daunting circumstances and perilous encounters.  Although the film’s understated narrative proved my expectations wrong, it certainly gained a sense of adventure from this lack of justification.  Robyn sets out on her expedition just because. When asked why, she simply answers “why not.”  She explores for the sake of exploring and that in itself is what makes her solitary quest compelling.

The film’s quietness is also necessary in creating a perception of what travelling alone is like.  Mia Wasikowska plays this experience of isolation beautifully and brings a real depth to the character. While we get a little back story to help us to understand Robyn’s motivation, Wasikowska’s performance is what truly allows us to get her.

I will say that I felt like the film was about 20 minutes too long, but the gorgeous Australian scenery makes any unnecessary scenes completely worthwhile. Adam Driver was great, the camels were cool and Diggity the dog was adorable. Besides the length, I can't think of anything else to complain about.


Portayal of Women: Robyn is stubborn, independent, smart, brave, abrasive, determined.
And she isn't just given these qualities for no reason, there are logical justifications for each attribute. A role this fleshed out is rare for a female character and I was enthralled watching Wasikowska bring it to life.

I also really liked how being a woman was never really an obstacle for Robyn. She was definitely seen as unconventional but her unwavering conviction made people see past that. Aboriginal traditions prevented her from doing some things on account of her being a woman, but she ultimately overcame those challenges as well.

I loved how beautiful Robyn was throughout her journey. Her clothes were in tatters, her hair was in a constant state of unruliness and her face was dirty 80% of the time. Another film may have tried to make her look conventionally appealing, but the honesty of what you would actually look like after 7 months in the wilderness was so much more effective . Sometimes the old cliche of "beauty comes from within" seems eye-roll worthy, but in this case it was true - her courage and perseverance were really breathtaking.

Sisterhood Moment: An older couple lets Robyn stay with them for a night. The woman washes her hair, brushes it out and gives her a clean nightgown to wear. Such a mom thing to do and I love it.

Rating: 4 camels and an old compass

IMDb - Tracks (7.2)

Wikipedia - Tracks

Rotten Tomatoes - Tracks (81%)

Review #35: Mrs. Doubtfire

Sorry for the delay in recent updates! We've had a busy summer but are back at it. -SS/AW

Release Date; November 24th, 1993
Writer: Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon

Director: Chris Columbus

Logline: After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife. (Source IMDb) Family comedy. 125 min.
Bechdel Test: Passed all 3 tests.

Review

Given the tragic news of Robin William's passing, Alyssa and I felt it we had to honor his outstanding legacy with a review of one of his most revered films.

Mrs. Doubtfire encapsulates what we loved about Robin. He was comically silly, with hysterical one liners, and pop culture jokes. He was also vunerable and sincere. That's what we remember about this Oscar winning actor. His choices across many of his films show the world how to use comedy to make the lives of others better, even in seemingly impossible situations. To those who grew up with his films, he offered up a piece of his heart and we are so grateful to have the films of such an inspirational person.

There's something very heartfelt in the DNA of Mrs. Doubtfire. Kids films often have a morality lesson that gets hammered home. Instead, Mrs. Doubtfire relays the experiences that modern families have. It doesn't shy away from the pain of a childhood divorce, but it doesn't dwell in misery either. The kids and parents are both characters who can make mistakes and are not perfect.

I often find myself enamored with films that refuse to condescend to children, even if that's their target audience. The same movie that features a goat at Chris's birthday party, and a "drive by fruiting", also features Daniel sharing the story of hooking up in a bathroom stall with a waitress. I have a lot of appreciation for a movie that isn't afraid of bordering on offensive for the sake of entertainment.

If you haven't watched Mrs. Doubtfire in the 20 years since it's release, it's worth revisiting. It's a film that holds up. You might remember the scene where Daniel sets her rack on fire, trying to cook. Or when Daniel drops the Doubtfire mask out the window, and makes due by slamming his face into a cake. You probably don't remember the makeover montage featuring many Robin imitations, or the dinosaur rap. You might not even remember that this whole film is about a custody battle. This is definitely one worthy of at least a second view. o

Portayal of Women: Rewatching Mrs. Doubtfire 20 years later is an interesting experience. I found myself questioning the portrayal of the "gay uncles" and a cross dressing main character. I know someone is going to say "Hey Sarah, that's not the question!" but really it's the same concept of underrepresented people. In one respect, it's nice to actually see gay characters on screen, and to see that cross dressing characters can be shown in a positive light. But Daniel is still called a freak and considered to be crazy. Take from that what you will. Considering it's 20 years old, perhaps we should call it progressive and leave it at that.

Sisterhood Moment: Everyone remembers that scene where Daniel panics needing to look like Mrs. Doubtfire but without the mask, and he covers his face with icing. My favorite part of that exchange is that he spends the scene with cake on his face serving the social worker tea. And she rubs icing onto her face to see if this facial mask works. Kills me. I'd using an icing beauty regime. o

Rating: Always a staple in the Robin Williams top 5. Always a staple in best family movies. 5/5

IMDb - Mrs. Doubtfire (6.8)

Wikipedia - Mrs. Doubtfire

Rotten Tomatoes - Mrs. Doubtfire (71%)

Review #34: Nanny McPhee & Nanny McPhee Returns

Release Date: January 27th, 2006 & August 20th, 2011
Writer: Emma Thompson
Director: Kirk Jones & Susanna White

Logline: Emma Thompson stars as a governess who uses magic to rein in the behavior of seven ne'er-do-well children in her charge. (Source IMDb) Family, comedy, fantasy. 97 min. & 109 min.
Bechdel Test: Both films passed all 3 tests.

Review
One part Matilda, one part Mary Poppins, and one part Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and you have a recipe for Nanny McPhee. No wonder this Emma Thompson vehicle has been such a success world wide. Not being part of the generation that grew on Nanny McPhee I cannot say whether the franchise has the same staying power as those inspirational films, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were many more McPhee's to come.

The story of both films is essentially the same, but focused on different families. In both, a single parent (Colin Firth in the first, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the second) are overrun by their out of control children. Their families and livelyhood is threatened and they are in desperate need of help. Nanny McPhee arrives in a puff of smoke announcing that

"When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go." 

Obviously children attempt to sabotage their new nanny, but Nanny McPhee uses her magic to give them a taste of their own medicine. As the kids lie in bed faking sick to avoid their chores for the day, she makes sure they are unable to leave their beds and take the foul tasting remedy. Silly kids, tricks are for... Nanny McPhee.

Kids are going to love any movie that doesn't speak down to children, despite the morality lessons contained. The universe is bright and textured with the wacky off-kilter look of a cartoon. There's plenty silly British wit, sight and sound gags, and a kids movie staple: slapstick comedy. It's a classic kind of kids movie.

For the parents however, these films are less than desirable. Nanny McPhee is a film that will be exhausting on repeat. The linear, step-by-step story is rigidly mechanical, and there's only so many times you can laugh at barnyard animals. If you're going to put it on for the kids, leave the room and maybe have a drink or two. Adults watching this recipe for success will weep from boredom.

Portrayal of Women: Both films feature strong supporting female characters, but in different ways.

The first film features Cedric (Firth) after the unexpected death of his wife. He is distant from his kids, and has to go on a journey to connect with them. There are two maids who are women, and there is an evil future stepmother who is attempting to get Cedric's money. Cedric's Great Aunt also insists on taking one of Cedric's girls for some sort of housewife etiquette schooling. Ultimately the good woman in Cedric's life turns out to be the young maid who had been caring for the children all along.

As great as it is to see a diverse representation of women, this collection of storybook stereotypes pin women as either the virgin or the villain. I suspect Thompson followed the original book quite closely as source material.

The second film branches away from the classic roles. Instead of a single father, it's a single mother Isabel (Gyllenhaal) who's husband has gone missing in the war. She has to stand up for her family and her rights as a property owner against her less than desirable brother. The two mobsters collecting debts are women. The owner of the shop where Isabel works is played by the great Maggie Smith. I love any film that puts a twist on traditional gender roles, even if it's relatively minor. The importance of placing women in a variety of positions, like a position of power, in any children's fiction cannot be understated.

Sisterhood Moment: Maggie Gyllenhaal's scene with Ewan McGregor. Now THAT'S a fantasy for adults. Just turn that into the opening of 50 Shades of Grey. Too much?

Rating: Two annoying kids in the movie theater with a baby.

IMDb - Nanny McPhee (6.6)
IMDb - Nanny McPhee Returns (6.0)

Wikipedia - Nanny McPhee
Wikipedia - Nanny McPhee Returns

Rotten Tomatoes - Nanny McPhee (73%)

Rotten Tomatoes - Nanny McPhee Returns (76%)