IF (2024)

Bea is a 12-year-old girl going through a rough time in life who begins to see the imaginary friends (IFs) of the kids who have outgrown them and left them behind. I thought this movie was adorable. Made me sad for many reasons, but it was very sweet and had its heart in the right place. Reminded me a bit of Spirited (also with Ryan Reynolds), mixed with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and of course, Harvey. I feel like Cailey Fleming is going to be a huge fucking star one day. She's been great in everything I've seen her in.

There's a bit of a credit cookie at the very end for Louis Gossett Jr. (RIP), who plays Lewis, the old bear. I kept wondering the whole movie, whose IF was he?

3 invisible IFs (played by Brad Pitt) out of 5

OVER THE HEDGE [2006]

DreamWorks Animation's big-screen adaptation of the nationally syndicated comic strip Over the Hedge is a safe, pleasant surprise that makes it too easy for itself to get lost in the sea of other films of it's kind.
It's about a pack of wild animals that discover their woodland home is now a park in the middle of the suburbs, forcing them to find new means of survival.
It's a breezy, light-hearted affair that offers nothing new to the table but is enough fun for the whole family to enjoy, unless you're the type constantly seeking out deep character arcs and quick-witted dialogue in your cartoons.
It's as easy to enjoy as it is to forget.

3 crazy, rabid squirrels that wants cookies out of 5

THE BIG SHORT [2015]

Regular Will Ferrel film director Adam McKay takes a slight step out of his comfort zone with the funny biographical drama The Big Short.
It tells the story of th 2007-2008 U.S. mortgage housing crisis and follows four unrelated high-finance figures who foresee the financial collapse and try to milk it for everything they can.
It's not a particularly interesting tale nor is it easy to follow and fortunately McKay & a slew of high profile names make it easier for the average viewer to digest.  Thankfully the dryness of the subject matter is sprinkled with a wicked sense of humor and despicable, yet entertaining, oddball characters giving it an enticing push into an easy-to-follow pace.
McKay's usual brand of silly humor is replaced with a brainy cynicism that might still be funny but never forgets the seriousness of the topics at hand here.  In short, it's like a dull accounting class being effectively taught by an angry clown that's determined to make even the thickest of fools understand.

3½ Margo Robbie's in a bubble-bath out of 5

FOXCATCHER [2014]

Director Bennett Miller really lays down the grim and dreary something fierce in his latest biographical drama, Foxcatcher.
Following the story of multimillionaire whackjob John E. du Pont who obsessively finances an Olympic wrestling team to give him a feeling of some sort of significance, the film leads us down some dark passageways.  Funnyman Steve Carell is shockingly very, very creepy as du Pont, so much that it'll be hard to look at him the same again, but one should take note of some very solid performances from Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo as well.  It's a quiet, and often distantly slow-paced but rewards with afterthoughts and emotions that haunt, bewilder and disturb for days afterwards.  A chilling character study, so exquisitely shot and unravelled, that you don't realize has dug it's nails deep under your skin until the end credits have long past rolling.

4 heavy duty weight loss programs out of 5

DESPICABLE ME 2 [2013]

Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud return to direct the sequel to their 2010 animated hit Depsicable Me.
While this time it does lose a lot of it's humour in the conflict of the whole super villain story, it does manage to dazzle with it's inventive visuals and more than enough laughs for child and adult alike.  Steve Carell is hilarious as always and Kristen Wiig surprises with a wonderfully enthusiastic and inspired voice performance.
It's harmless, hilarious fun that doesn't offer a whole lot more.  However by the end of the film I can help but feel like I've received a Minions overdose, so it comes as no surprise as their's a Minions Movie coming in 2015.

3 angry chickens 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

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE [2013]

30 Rock director Don Scardino makes a bumpy transition from TV to the big screen with the oddball comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
With a completely harebrained concept the film is disappointingly predictable and hardly takes any risks to stand above the run-of-the-mill inane comedy.  Still, it manages to pack in enough laughs and heart, even when it does take a distracting turn into the disgusting.  The uneven tone of the film makes the simple plot seem messier than it really is and that's where it hurts this potentially great idea the most.

2½ brain rapists out of 5

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE [2011]

Glenn Ficarra & John Requa (the writers behind Bad Santa) direct this surprisingly good romantic comedy-drama Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I was expecting cliche after cliche and a number of generic songs played over "dramatic" scenes, which it occasionally resorts to but it mostly focuses on developing the conflicts and faults of the ensemble cast of well-written characters. It's a wonderfully harmless character study balanced with the right amount of comedy, romance and drama to make it bearable, if you're prepared for the unlikely "happily ever after" ending.  

3½ "A"'s for assholes 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

DAN IN REAL LIFE [2007]

Writer/director Peter Hedges does such a good job at writing family turmoil I'm not quite sure I'm always comfortable with it, even when it's a harmless comedy-drama like Dan In Real Life.

Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche do an exceptional job as the realistically written pair unwillingly falling for each other.  It's simple and not particularly original but the cast and the characters keep it from getting too stale or tiresome.  Just a pleasant view and nothing more or less.

3 murderers of love out of 5

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY [2004]

If not for Will Ferrell, I'm sure director Adam McKay wouldn't have much of a career. Their first outing together, apart from Saturday Night Live, the tongue in cheek comedy Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy was a successful one at the box office.
Apart from a few good chuckles and some great performances from Fred Willard, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Dave Koechner, Anchorman is nothing more than a few boner jokes, "witty" new ways to degrade women, jabs at the mentally disabled and douchebags being douchebags only to praised for it by both the film's characters and audiences alike.

1 flaming jazz flute out of 5