A lazy piece of junk from start to finish. We’re supposed to give this movie a free pass because it “has heart” and the characters are “likable.” So what? I’m really getting tired of critics rubber-stamping ambition-deprived-mediocrity just because its characters are warm and fuzzy. Nowhere is this more problematic than comedy. A good comedy…
Category: Mindless Mondays
Movie Review: “The Purge” a Wild Premise Meets a Stale Setting
Much like Now You See Me, this film had a waaaay bigger than expected opening weekend, thus making it an overnight “hit” that will make at least 20 times its initial 3 million budget back. Unlike Now You See Me, the film collapsed on its second weekend now that most people know it sucks. It…
Movie Review: Now You See Me
A day of brand new reviews (don’t worry we’ll even get to some released–gasp–less than a week ago) kicks off with this stupid-smart hybrid heist thriller and magician movie. What Works: This feels like a March movie, so the fact that it was released in late May (a calendar period where it should have gotten…
TV Review: The Series Finale of “The Borgias,” Just Right for Father’s Day
I’d say 90 percent of people I meet have never even heard of Showtime’s The Borgias (a.k.a. The Tudors with a Pope instead of King Henry). Those people probably won’t be interested to hear about it now that Showtime has cancelled the series and refused to give it the two-hour TV movie they had been…
The Most (and Least) Promising New Fall Shows
The networks have all unveiled their new fall shows, and some definitely look more promising than others… Most Promising: Although I wasn’t knocked out by any one show, these have the most potential in just their set-ups and their casts… 5. Sleepy Hollow…Fox’s new drama takes a tired central premise (some type of fantasy/sci-fi element…
5 Shows to Look Forward to in the Summer
Cable has made the old days of summer being a TV wasteland irrelevant. In some ways, I might even prefer it because there are fewer “in-between” shows to watch (Grimm, Person of Interest, etc.) and just a handful of great ones to watch. Not Done Yet: Even though Game of Thrones ended their season…
5 Cancelled Shows I’ll Miss, and 5 I Won’t
It sucks when your favorite shows get cancelled. It also sucks when some not so promising shows get renewed over them. Still, I’d say the broadcast networks got it mostly right with their decisions this year (while HBO and TNT dropped the ball big time). 5 Cancelled Shows I’ll Miss… 5. Honorable Mention: Fringe and…
Pop Cultural Battle: “Inside Amy Schumer” Vs. “Maron”
Two new cable series (IFC’s “Maron,” Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer”) showcasing two reasonably well-known standup talents (Marc Maron and, you guessed it, Amy Schumer). Two shows enter, only one can be named victorious… Maron What’s Going For It: This contest really comes down to your personal taste in the tone of a series. Maron…
TV Reviews: “The Killing,” “Longmire,” and the Shocking “Game of Thrones” Episode
Two frustrating dramas that perhaps only I watch returned recently while Game of Thrones came off one of their most shocking episodes to date. The Killing…I was as frustrated as it gets with this show’s terrible second season. I was so down on it that I was seriously happy when AMC cancelled the show…only to…
Movie Review: Fast and Furious 6
I have no idea how this franchise is so successful. I have no idea how it grossed a hundred million dollars this weekend and will be one of the biggest movies of the summer. I have no idea how people can honestly plunk down 10 to 15 dollars to watch the same movie they’ve now…
Movie Review: The Hangover 3
The surprise box office dud of the summer. Fast and Furious 6 (or is it 60?) mopped the floor with it last weekend, but the jury’s still out on whether or not it should have. What Works: It’s better than the 2nd film, but worse than the first one, which should surprise no one. It…
Movie Review: Star Trek 2, Into the Darkness
Better than the first Star Trek film but if you’ve seen some of the wildly positive reviews for this film (Entertainment Weekly gave it an A) then lower your expectations. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or even do much more than serve as a solid B+ summer tentpole picture. That being said, after watching The…
Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
Not a bad time, but a mixed adaptation. Arguably the best adaptation that’s ever been done of this classic (largely thought to be unadaptable) book, but that doesn’t mean it really captures the essence. What Works: Jay Gatsby is one of my favorite literary characters, and there’s no question that Leonardo DiCaprio is the right…