Big Screen Blurb: The Dilemma

It's a tough spot. You catch your best friend's wife lockin' lips with some hot stud that is not your best friend. Do you tell him? Do you ignore it while muttering an indifferent 'si le ves'? Do you confront the guilty party and hope for the best? Yeah, it's quite a dilemma, indeed. Maybe you should fall face first in some poisonous plants...try to catch her in the act and watch all hell break loose around you. That was Vince Vaughn's solution when confronted with this tense situation in The Dilemma.

Ronnie (Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) are best friends and have been since their college days at Ball State. Twenty years later, they're trying to impress the brass at Chrysler with Nick's engineering genius. He's working on an engine that would revolutionize the hybrid car. Meanwhile, Ronnie is the quick-talking salesman trying to keep both the deal and Nick from falling apart. It's the deal of their lives and Nick is stressed as hell. Ronnie soon finds stress levels reaching new heights when he catches Nick's wife (Winona Ryder) cheating with some tattooed stud muffin. Ronnie's sticky dilemma sets off a domino effect of sorts and yadayadayada everyone ends up ready for an intervention.

It's okay. I'll go with 3.0 Stars--the sunny side of okay. We're dealing with a pretty serious problem here. I just assumed that with Vaughn and James headlining the show, the whole thing would be dealt with using a combination slapstick humor (I mean, we're dealing with the guy who brought Paul Blart to life, right? Yeah--let's hope someone has since pulled the ole plug) and Vaughn's dry wit. Yes, I suppose that we do, indeed, see that combo. However, you've also got a film that goes in a very heavily serious direction that, at times, makes you wonder if someone spliced together Taxi Driver with Terms of Endearment. Then again, we've got Ron Howard directing this project. I suppose it wouldn't be like Howard to keep it light for 111 minutes, but I really wasn't ready for that kind of weight with this flick. As soon as the credits rolled, I started a Google search for a shrink who might be looking for challenge--this was intense stuff far beyond my expectations.

Yes, there are laughs here and the acting is what's it's supposed to be. James, hit a dramatic note or two, which was actually an interesting departure from the host of bumbling characters he's played in his career. As for Vince Vaughn, if you've been exposed to any of his movies in the last 12 years, you've seen that same dry, witty charisma that continues to bring dollars to the box office. Although, according to The Movie Times, he's hovering outside of the Top 50 box office grossers. Actually, I love the guy, but I'm beginning to wonder if he's really acting at all. Maybe it's not acting as much as it's just his personality. He's been repeating essentially the same role for quite awhile.  Wedding Crashers. Couples Retreat. Four Christmases. Fred Claus. The Break Up. Dodgeball. I could go on, but alas, different movies...different characters...same persona. I would love to see him show a little range at some point.

The Dilemma is nothing you have to see big, but rent it when you're ready for a Jekyl and Hyde experience that will create a few smiles and spike your own stress levels a bit. Although, should you ever catch your best friend's wife cheating on him--skip this one altogether. You won't want to pick up any ideas! This is not a "How To" manual on dealing with such a dilemma.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: The Green Hornet

He's one of the highest grossing male actors in the biz. He's Seth Rogan. That's right, Seth Rogan. Sure, you expect to see mammoths like Harrison Ford and Will Smith among the Cha-Ching of the Box Office, but Seth Rogan? Absolutely. When you check out his filmography you see why. It's a list that includes voice work for flicks like Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs. Aliens, Horton Hears a Who, among others; and co-starring roles in The 40-Year Old Virgin, Superbad, and Pineapple Express.

I've been following Seth since his Freaks and Geeks days. While I'm a big fan of this 29 year old to be (in April of 2011), I've never really been sold on him as a lead actor. Knocked Up didn't exactly get me cracked up. Observe and Report was horrible and Funny People was, well, flat. With that said, I didn't really know what to expect out of The Green Hornet.

Four words: I was not disappointed.

For me, the Green Hornet was always one of those under-the-radar super heroes. Sure, I knew he had that green mask and a car with plenty of gadgets and guns, but I figured who could really distinguish him from any number of similarly clad Los Angeleans!?! The updated version is good, bearing the balance of plot, humor and action--an act which is often quite difficult to pull off.

Meet Britt Reid (Rogan). He's the spoiled, but neglected son of media giant, James Reid. When James dies of a bee sting, Britt is charged with running the print voice of LA. This is something he knows all too little about. However, when he gets a taste of the super hero bug while helping to save a hapless couple under siege, Britt is, well, stung by a strong desire to help and well, kick some bad guy ass. He becomes the Green Hornet with the help of the martial arts master, Kato. The two take on LA's criminal under belly with reckless abandon as Britt's paper giving a heralded play-by-play. Then, the pair take things a bit too far, pissing off the drug lords who happen to be in bed with the D.A. Yadayadayada the Green Hornet and Kato fight off corrupted politicians, haphazard meth dealers and each other on their way to grabbing the ultimate headline.

It's good...4.0 Stars in my book. Yeah, it's corny at times, but never quite over-the-top. Yeah, there's enough violence to get a good testosterone fix and enough destruction to make an insurance adjuster want to enter the priesthood. Plus, there's plenty of funny moments and don't forget Cameron Diaz, who plays the wholesome but not naive Lenore. Sure, sometimes Britt/Green Hornet is soooo not a hero type that you kind of wish you had a more exemplary champ, but I suppose that's why we have Kato. He's generally there to save the day until Britt comes into his own as the Hornet. That is, unless they're battling each other for Lenore's attention.

It's a definite see and go ahead and shell out the extra cash...see this one BIG!

True...OUT!

P. S. Go Vols! Maybe this team has turned the corner and we can get a big win at UConn!

Big Screen Blurb: Tron/3D

I never saw the first Tron. I was a wee, little fella when the first flick came out in 1982. So, when I went to see this year's version, Tron Legacy, well...it was like picking up a great Martian novel and starting in the middle. You know that you very well might be witnessing something great, but you really don't understand much of it. So for me, the concept of the grid, programs, glowing bikes and suits, blah, blah, blah was an interesting, yet completely foreign concept. With that said, I picked up on the jest of the story and got locked into the grid fairly quickly. Although, what I presumed to be a great classic ended up belonging more in the 60-80 percent off bargain bin. 

Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) lost his pappa when he was seven. His dad, Kevin (Jeff Bridges) just disappeared, leaving him the majority stakeholder of corporate giant EMCO. The latter tidbit is of little concern to Sam. Actually, he works harder to sabotage the plans of the tech giant rather than to contribute. He's still bummed about his long, gone daddy. A glimmer of hope emerges when his EMCO colleague gets a page from ole Kevin...yes, a mere 20 years after his disappearance. Sam investigates and finds himself in another dimension (a.k.a the grid) with a direct line to his dad. But alas, there's been trouble brewing on and within the grid for a while. Actually, Kevin's cohort, Clu initiated a coup with his own ideas of what the perfect grid would hold. With that, father and son unite to defeat the evil Clu and yadayadayada get Sam back his own dimension.

Hmm...I'll go with 2.5 Stars here--it was okay. The story flowed with a fluent pace. The effects were south of riveting, but okay. The world created on this "grid" was certainly interesting--both conceptually and visually. Overall, there is a lot to draw on. You've got the father-son dynamic. You've got some real Zen-like moments to ponder along with the whole good versus evil dynamic. There are a lot of positives to find. Although I'm a little curious as to why the fundamentalists don't jump up and down about this one, since there are so many Gnostic elements in play, but I digress. Bottom line: I had fairly low expectations and it was all that and less.

I thought this one would be worth seeing big, and in 3D no less, for the great effects. Not so much. The best two words to describe Tron Legacy in the grand ole multi-dimensional format: missed opportunity. Admittedly, I haven't seen a lot of flicks in 3D, but this movie could have had great 3D effects out the wazoo. Did it? Nope! There were no flying discs headed right at your noggin. No glowing airplane barely missing the ole kisser. Nothing spectacular at all when there were obvious and glaring opportunities.

Tron Legacy has enough going for it to rent, if you catch a sci-fi or f/x virus one weekend, but no need to go big here.

True...OUT!

Big Screen Blurb: Black Swan

I admit it. I know about as much about ballet as I do about soccer, which is nothing. This is primarily because both of those allegedly entertaining genres tip the top of my "BORING" scale with equally gargantuan proportions. Black Swan, however, is literally, figuratively and well, literally again, Swan Lake brought to the big screen; and done so in a manner that is anything but boring. Actually, despite a slow start, it's quite good.

Nina (Natalie Portman) is a young ballerina, hoping to capture the lead role in a production of the renowned ballet, Swan Lake. Mission accomplished. Nina bests many, including the ballet veteran, Beth (Winona Ryder). Out with the old and in with the new, much to the chagrin of Beth. In the meantime, practice begins for the perfectionist, Nina. She captures the puristic, elegance of the white swan, but struggles to nail the passionate, inner darkness of the black swan. Enter Lily (Mila Kunis). She's a free spirit who has a whole lot of naughty girl in her. Lily befriends the meek and quiet Nina, despite the latter's unwillingness. This briefly opens up a new world for little Miss Goody-Two-Two's on the way toward the production's opening night. Lily is quickly cast as Nina's understudy. This sparks some intense paranoia, among Nina, a trait that is quickly usurping that trademarked meek nature. Yadayadayada two-twos and slippers are donned...the show must go on and we get a front row look at a paranoid delusional.

This one makes you think and it keeps you thinking long after the flick. I was initially at a 2.5 Star rating on this one, before bumping to a 3.0 and now settling on a 3.5 rating. Why? Simple. It has stayed with me for a few days now. It has kept me thinking and kept me wondering what was really going on with this girl. What was real? What was simply gripped in her in paranoia? It has kept me engaged to the extent of truly appreciating the director's (Darren Aronofsky) vision.

Yes, it does start rather slowly. This is undoubtedly because of the need to establish a foundation for the characters, primarily the quiet and mild, perfectionist Nina. However, there are a slew of other players that create this story. There is Nina's Mom (Barbara Hershey) and the Director, Thomas (Vincent Cassel) as well as Lily and Beth.

Bottom line: It's intriguing for certain. Figuring out what is real and what isn't is all part of the fun. If you like interesting characters and a plot that adds plenty of intensity and suspense to the mix, well, Black Swan emerges as quite and interesting movie. As previously mentioned, it is essentially the Swan Lake story brought to the big screen. You'll even catch the dramatic harmonies, which would ordinarily accompany a ballet, as the plot unfolds--a far different approach than the standard fare eerie music you get from the more mainstream psychological thrillers.

See this one and see it BIG.  After all, days later, I'm still wondering: What was going on with this girl? That way you'll get to talk about it with your amigos long before its March 2011 rental release.

True...OUT!

P.S. Where's the snow!?!

Big Screen Blurb: Little Fockers

Meet the Parents: a classic. Meet the Fockers: a classic times two. Little Fockers: ehh.  Two worlds colliding with different mindsets, but seemingly the same agendas. Then all hell breaks lose on the way to realizing what was in front of everyone the whole time. Yeah--that's a synopsis of any one of the three flicks listed above. Same dilemmas. Different day.

Greg (Ben Stiller) has survived Jack's (Robert DeNiro) intense CIA scrutiny and stayed within sniffing distance of the coveted Circle of Trust. Greg and Pam (Teri Polo) are now officially married with a couple of little Fockers of their own running around. Enter Jack. He's got a few problems. Not only is Jack suffering from some heart woes, he's been let down by daughter Debbie's hubby. That son-in-law slipped out of the ole Circle of Trust when he cheated on darling Debbie. Now, Jack turns to Greg to emerge as the family's patriarch. Apparently, Denny, Jack's son from part one, has gone permanently AWOL. Still confused on that one, but I digress. Meanwhile,Greg's doing quite well for himself. Unfortunately, Jack's expectations far exceed 'doing well'. Greg's got to get the kids in a top-notch school, which is just one of a whole host of lofty items on a long and demanding checklist. Yadayadayada the humor unfolds all climaxing with the two squaring off in a no-holds barred battle royale.

Sequels are tough, especially with comedies. You head to the theatre with a pretty good idea of what you're going to see. You know what made you laugh before so you're certainly willing to experience it again. The same, but different, right? That's what you get here. The story has not really evolved. The characters have evolved somewhat, but the premise surrounding them is the same. The difference with Meet the Parents, and where they really seem to try to expand on the franchise, is in the introduction of new characters. That worked brilliantly when transitioning from Meet the Parents to Meet the Fockers. Roz (Barbara Streisand) and Bernie (Dustin Hoffman) were brilliant. Playing the off-the-cuff liberals to Jack's uptight conservative with plenty of humor in tow. With Little Fockers, the same effort is made. Laura Dern is introduced as school administrator. Greg wants to enroll his kids in her school...he's trying to impress her while subsequently impress Jack...yadayadayada. Good thought with plenty of potential funny. However, Dern's role is so limited and goes so undeveloped, it's almost a wasted effort. Yes, Owen Wilson returns in a more prominent way, which was great. All things considered, however, those new/old characters did not factor into elevating Little Fockers in the same manner that the new additions did for Meet the Fockers.

There's plenty out there to see Big and this one is performing well at the Box Office. I'll give it 2.5 Stars. It's okay and certainly worth a rental. If you like the ole "same but different" approach in a movie, you might want to go Big on this one; otherwise, set your sights on a March 2011 release for the Blu-Ray.

True...OUT!