Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

A group of friends past their prime and down on their luck attempt to rekindle memories of their youth at a ski resort they once frequented. One has to suspend disbelief when they discover their hot tub is a time machine. It's a blatant no-brains, have-a-blast type of comedy with plenty of raunchy humor and over-the-top performances. And despite a slow start, the film does a nice job of fitting in stories for each of the ensemble cast. Now in the 80s they act to change their pathetic destinies and find a way back to their own timeline. The only real eye sore is the absolutely terrible green screen effects.

3 one-armed Crispin Glovers out of 5

Sex Tape (2014)

Director Jake Kasdan reunites with cast from Bad Teacher in this wacky lowbrow comedy written by Jason Segel. In an attempt to spice up their sex life, a reluctantly ordinary couple film a homegrown porn but end up accidentally sending it to all their friends, family and co-workers via the cloud. The all-too-modern subject matter is fitting in this age of apps and iPads but it still comes off somewhat dated. I would hate to watch this film two years from now. Supporting performances from Rob Corddry, Rob Lowe and Jack Black add some memorable, offbeat scenes but most of the comedy delivered between the principal actors falls flat.

1½ Schlomits out of 5

IN A WORLD... [2013]

Writer/director/star Lake Bell asks what would a world be like if a woman did the voiceover work for movie trailers in In A World....
It's a comedic satire of the Hollywood-ized industry but never thinks it's smarter than it really is, like many of these films try to do and in doing so remains realistically grounded with a sense of charm and reserved wit.   Movie buffs will find a lot of humorous lines scattered throughout the film but nothing particularly laugh out loud which is all right if you don't go in expecting much.  Each actor inhabits their character with passion and charm which makes each and every one of them quite watchable.
Easily digestible without a bitter after-taste makes for a pleasant but forgettable watch.

3 sandwich bars out of 5

THE WAY WAY BACK [2013]

The Descendants' Nat Faxon & Jim Rash write, direct and co-star in the coming of age dramedy The Way Way Back.
The Killing's Liam James carries the film as a outcast 14 year old kid and with the help of some scene-stealing performances from Sam Rockwell and Allison Janney, the overly familiar plotline is heightened by it's warmth, humor and finely tuned dialogue.  Nothing will leave you blown out of your mind or your jaw on the floor from a crazy twist or new idea but this quiet little film isn't about that and instead leaves you with a smile on your face for a nice change.

3½ wonky eyes out of 5

RAPTURE-PALOOZA [2013]

The third of the four apocalyptic comedies 0f 2013 comes wrapped in a wad of shitty toilet paper courtesy of Bill & Ted's creator Chris Matheson and director Paul Middleditch.

Rapture-Palooza is a really stupid concept but has some funny ideas that are so poorly executed you can't help but feel bad for anyone involved.  Anna Kendrick and John Francis Daley look so embarrassed to be in this film, you'd think they signed on having only read the amusing treatment and not the actual script.  

What a pile of crap.  

1 gay musician out of 5

PAIN & GAIN [2013]

The violent biographical crime comedy Pain & Gain is director Michael Bay's attempt at a thoughtful character study.
Oddly enough it is Bay's most pensive film to date but that's not saying much considering it's buried in hokey TV ad type framing, badly timed childish humour and pathetically over-played patriotism.  Bay never seems to understand his own subject material and his stupidity & ignorance become more transparent with each film he makes.  This one is no exception.  It's a shame he was given the chance to make this film because underneath all the tasteless shit is quite an interesting and outrageous true story.

2 human bbq's out of 5

WARM BODIES [2013]

50/50 director Jonathan Levine's adaptation of Isaac Marion's zombie romance novel Warm Bodies is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Branded as "Twilight with zombies" gained it an unfortunate rep but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was more Edward Scissorhands than sparkly vampires.  It's well acted, occasionally funny and breathes some new ideas into the tired zombie genre.  However, it has a difficult time balancing comedy and horror which makes for a very bumpy ride.  Had it leaned closer towards the comedy and inserted a bit more wit into the dialogue it might have worked, instead of taking the silly premise just a tad too seriously at times.

2½ zombies with a wicked vinyl collection out of 5

SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD [2012]

Writer/director Lorene Scafaria continues her fascination with developing an unexpected relationship with a stranger on a road trip in the mildly depressing and thoughtful comedic drama Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World.

The film starts off pretty bumpy, as it struggles to find an even tone but becomes incredibly engaging in the second act and then stumbles off a bit near the end.  With the help from some subtle yet emotional performances from Steve Carell and Keira Knightley and a huge cast of cameos, the film becomes much better than what was originally written. 

It's not a perfect film but it's one I'd like to revisit just to welcome the characters back into my home. 

3½ loneliest instruments in the world out of 5

OPERATION: ENDGAME [2010]

A fantastic ensemble cast makes up the comically and ridiculously violent thriller Operation: Endgame.

Sadly that's about all this film has going for it, as each and every single character is despicable and once the plot starts it never really develops into much.

One thing I found fun, despite what the poster art depicts, there's only one gun in the entire film and it's not loaded.  Each character is hilariously killed by something you'd find at an Office Depot.  

2½ footprints of blood out of 5