The Change-Up (No Spoilers)

The Change-Up (No Spoilers)

            My new favorite body switch movie. The plot is easily overdone but the sell and pitch to this movie is that it is rated R. It did it for me and the results were hilarious. Critics have been harsh to this film but this has been a summer of raunchy R movies and at the end of summer; I am sure some of the critics are tired of it but don’t let them faze you because The Change-Up is really funny.

            Growing up together, Mitch (Ryan Reynolds) and Dave (Jason Bateman) were inseparable best friends, but as the years have passed they've slowly drifted apart. While Dave is an overworked lawyer, husband and father of three, Mitch has remained a single, quasi-employed man-child who has never met a responsibility he liked. To Mitch, Dave has it all: beautiful wife Jamie (Leslie Mann), kids who adore him and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. To Dave, living Mitch's stress-free life without obligation or consequence would be a dream come true. Following a drunken night out together, Mitch and Dave's worlds are turned upside down when they wake up in each other's bodies and proceed to freak the &*#@ out.
Despite the freedom from their normal routines and habits, the guys soon discover that each other's lives are nowhere near as rosy as they once seemed. Further complicating matters are Dave's sexy legal associate, Sabrina (Olivia Wilde) and Mitch's estranged father (Alan Arkin). With time not on their side, Mitch and Dave comically struggle to avoid completely destroying each other's lives before they can find a way to get their old ones back.

            I am a big fan of Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman so I was 100 percent on board with casting these two to switch bodies and it worked out great. Since Van Wilder I’ve been waiting for Reynolds to do something this funny again with exception of waiting; he hasn’t. But with this he is back to his comedic form. There are some scenarios in this that will keep you laughing at the edge of your seat that you don’t see coming. Of course Leslie Mann like has been doing for the last few years steals almost every scene she is in as the foul mouthed wife Jamie. But what really makes this movie is the interaction between Bateman and the twin babies…hysterical. This does have its downfalls biting into familiar territory with the whole body switch thing but will keep you entertained the whole time. Definitely a good date movie; but make sure they are into the Apatow type of comedy that is raunchy and witty.

3 out of 4 stars.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (No-Spoilers)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (No-Spoilers)

            This is a monkey to go bananas over! Once again when I first heard of this film getting made I kind of rolled my eyes but the sooner this movie was to getting released with all the trailers and the good buzz; my interest tipped and began to get excited. I am pleased to say that this film was one of the best movies of the year! Definitely a good popcorn movie that you can easily get lost into from start to finish. The best part was that America agreed with me; raking in over 50 million through opening weekend finishing well over 20 million ahead of what industry experts predicted. In today’s standards; that number is astonishing achievement and well deserved.

            The Planet of the Apes franchise gets the origin treatment in this 20th Century Fox production from director Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist). Man‘s arrogance sets off a chain of events that leads to intelligence in apes and a challenge to our place as the dominant species on the planet. Caesar, the first intelligent ape, is betrayed by humans and rises up to lead his species‘ spectacular race to freedom and the ultimate showdown with Man. In Caesar, WETA – the Oscar–winning visual effects team behind Avatar – have created a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence. James Franco stars, with Freida Pinto and John Lithgow heading up the rest of the cast.

            Andy Serkis is the real star in this film; as the main monkey Caesar. But because we rarely get to see his face on film; his fame and talent come off un-noticed to some. Serkis is a motion- capture icon; he played Gollum from the lord of the rings films and he also played King Kong in the recent remake. I read one critic calling him a modern day Boris Karloff or Bella Lugosi from the days when they played all kinds of monsters in the Universal picture heydays. I could not agree more; he transforms his body into whatever is asked out of him using facial acting as well as realistic movements that mimic whatever he is trying to copy. But what comes off the best about this film is the flow and pace of this movie. Everything from the opening to the end comes off very planned out and intricate to the whole storyline. The movie is billed as a planet of the apes movie but easily stands out as its own film that easily could have been titled something different. When we first see Caesar; he is a baby that comes off cute and cuddly like curious George but in time you can see things coming together for a grander plan. The best use of telling the audience this is how the score is done and using sounds and music to give us a vibe that this is no normal monkey without screaming it out to the audience. Rise of the planet of the apes excels on keeping you interested not only by visuals but almost all other element you can think of but smell with ease and preciseness. This is not James Franco’s best performance but is what was needed from him because the apes are the stars of the film. The cast was great and I thought it was interesting that Tom Helton; the actor who played Malfoy in the Harry Potter films was even more unlikable in this movie alone in contrast to an 8 film span of being the bad boy. I really don’t want to spoil anything but I strongly recommend this movie to anyone. I cannot believe this film got made in the first place but will easily be a part of my top ten films of 2011. Grab a friend, spouse, family member or anyone and go see this movie now!

4 out of 4 stars.

30 Minutes or Less (No-Spoilers)

30 Minutes or Less (No-Spoilers)

            30 minutes is an enjoyable ride. Fresh off of an academy award nomination; Jesse Eisenberg dabbles back into comedy and is almost the opposite kind of a character that he played in the social network. In this one; Eisenberg plays a loser pizza boy that drives like he’s auditioning for the next fast and furious movie. With that being said; the movie has its moments that are hilarious and at times came off a bit rushed. But what really sells this movie is by far the cast!

            In the action-comedy '30 Minutes or Less,' Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) is a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collides with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson). The volatile duo kidnaps Nick and forces him to rob a bank. With mere hours to pull off the impossible task, Nick enlists the help of his ex-best friend, Chet (Aziz Ansari). As the clock ticks, the two must deal with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship.

            By far; Aziz Ansari steals this movie as Chet! It seems like he is a star on the rise and definitely showcases his comedic talents in this film. The movie clocks in less than an hour and a half but seemed like it was longer because of all the stuff going on. I mean that in a good way too because the pace of the movie went along very smoothly and kept you in it the whole time. Eisenberg has come a long way and watching him pick projects like Zombieland, The Social Network and now 30 minutes or less; it seems like he is definitely on his way to big things. This definitely a crowd pleaser but nothing too special; if it seems like something you would like than you probably will. This is not the type of movie to rush out to; I’d give this a matinee or an easy rental.

3 out of 4 stars.

Captain America: The First Avenger( No-Spoilers)

  Possibly the best super-hero movie of the year! It's definately a toss up between this and x-men: first class; but both are two different films. After watching the Green Lantern; it was a sweet surprise to see a origin tale done very well! The movie had me in from start to finish and always kept me entertained. I don't know how it looked in 3D but I gave up on that extra dimension shortly after Avatar was released. Let's just say I was pleased to see that it did very well at the box office over the weekend and that Marvel has alot of steam heading into the big Avengers movie next May!
  Marvel Studios brings their prodigious patriot to the big screen with this WWII-set adventure about a once-meek U.S. soldier-turned-hero (Chris Evans) who gains strength and agility far beyond that of a normal human being after taking an experimental super-serum. The Wolfman's Joe Johnston directs from a script by Chronicles of Narnia screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Hugo Weaving co-stars as the dreaded Red Skull, with Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, Sebastian Stan, and Hayley Atwell rounding out the cast.
  Chris Evans character of Steve Rogers(Captain America) was defiantely someone you could defiantely root for. Unlike most Evans characters; he played it straight and without the side humor were use to seeing him play. It was pretty cool seeing him transform from scrawnny weakling into broad super tough man. One of the best plot points was that this was taking place during world war 2; so there was alot of Hitler references and nazi talk going on throughout the film. Another big plus for this film was the villain; Hugo Weaving as the villain red skull. They definately did a good job keeping some suspense of what he looked like until a little after the middle of the movie. Overall the supporting cast was great and the action was fun and entertaining. It was really a treat to see director Joe Johnston get back to his Rocketeer roots for this one because he tells a good action movie that can please the whole family! Even the Avengers tie-in was fun to watch( wait through the credits and watch The Avengers Trailer!....going to be awesome!). Although you have to wait through a good majority of the movie; you forget that this is a superhero movie until he sports the suit. But it is defiantely worth the wait and it all pays off. I recommend seeing this movie to everyone; exspecially the ones who enjoy Americans kicking Nazi ass! Go team America!

3.5 out of 4 stars.

Paranormal Activity 3 Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1DVVPyQmA

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2( No-Spoilers)

   Harry Potter ends in a wimper! I know how well this movie has been doing at the box office but numbers don't help a finale that dosen't give the kind of climax a 8 movie finale should end with. I have seen all eight and can definately say that this is an improvement from the last film but still felt cheated. Mainly I guess the blame falls on J.K. Rowling but still someone should of stepped in and said something. Please don't think that i'm ripping completly on the movie because there are certain good parts that were fun to watch; but in general the epic conclusion lacked.
  The final chapter begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue their quest of finding and destroying the Dark Lord's three remaining Horcruxes, the magical items responsible for his immortality. But as the mystical Deathly Hallows are uncovered, and Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.

  Here is where my main criteria comes from: The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King has by far set the bar in ending an epic journey between good and bad; now with that being said: this film does not even come close to ending such a long cinematic journey. The final battle is very unfelt and dull between Harry and Voldemort; it even seemed like most of it was in the trailers. Atleast in Revenge of the Sith; Anakin and Obi Wan gave us a show! Mainly the best parts of the film were the returning younger cast to whom we have had the joy of watching grow up on the big screen. The action prior to the finale was exciting at times and it was definately nice to see a Potter film closer to 2 hours long so that it can get to the climax sooner and move along the pace better. For huge Harry Potter fans this movie may hit the right spot for them but for a casual movie buff like myself that set the bar high for this film; may be a little bit under whelmed. I definately would wait to rent this movie but if you must see it right now; wait for the matinee!

2 out of 4 stars.

Horrible Bosses (No Spoilers)

Horrible Bosses (No Spoilers)

            Wouldn’t it be nice if Jennifer Aniston’s character got a spin-off? Basically horrible bosses is average. Not a lot of big laughs but just enough to keep you interested.  A great cast from top to bottom filled with Oscar winners, old sitcom stars, SNL rising stars and Charlie Day. With all the bad movies out there right now; it is nice to see something with genre actors trying comedy and actually pulling it off.

            For Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day), the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston) into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con (Jamie Foxx), the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers...permanently. There's only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.

            There are a couple of highlights for this movie and the one that stands out the most is definitely Charlie Day; he has this raspy voice and persona that help make his character come-off even more fidgety and comical than any of the three main characters. Day definitely steals the show but his antagonist (Jennifer Aniston) gives him a run for his money as the sexual harassing boss that he must put up with (poor guy). It is a turn from what we’re use to seeing Aniston in; but she shows no sign of aging anytime soon. Colin Farrell also takes a different turn as a dick coke-head boss into unfamiliar territory: comedy. Farrell doesn’t do to bad in comedy either and I hope he continues to make similar movies. There were a few good lines; which it seemed like a lot of them were in the trailer. But if you’re trying to pass the time by on a weekend afternoon then I definitely recommend checking out horrible bosses.

3 out of 4 stars.

Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon (No Spoilers)

Transformers 3: Dark Side of the Moon (No Spoilers)

            The third movie in the series is pretty much just eye candy. Before seeing this movie I already heard about the negative buzz and I really, really was hoping they were wrong. With that being said I had not read one review before watching it and can definitely say that this is the worst of the three. It seemed like they tried so hard to make this epic (2 and a half hours long) conclusion to the film trilogy but instead filled it with good looking people, a lot of computer effects and an uneventful storyline.

            The interstellar war between the Autobots and Decepticons shifts into overdrive following the discovery of Sentinel Prime (voice of Leonard Nimoy) in this sequel from director Michael Bay. Only a precious handful of officials in the government and military realize that the 1969 moon mission was the result of an event that threatened profound repercussions for the entire human race. When the Apollo 11 astronauts discover the wrecked remains of Sentinel Prime on the surface of our natural satellite, they bring him back to planet Earth. But Sentinel Prime wasn't the only alien object on the moon, and when a malevolent new enemy makes its presence known, only the Autobots can save humankind from certain destruction.

            I was very excited to see this movie, especially after how good the preview was but a lot of things at the end of the film didn’t click with my taste. The second movie in the series got a lot of flack but when I first saw it I actually really enjoyed it. Repeat viewings were a different story but overall I think Michael Bay does a good job mixing comedy into his action movies and I know that’s where a lot of critic’s complaints come from. They had so much going for this film too that really made this movie fun: the whole Apollo 11 tie-in, Sentinel Prime, and the highlight for me was definitely Shock-Wave one of the films villains. Now this brings me to the Megan Fox/ Rosie Huntington-Whiteley switcheroo: Fox’s presence is definitely missed while Whiteley does not come off as tough as Fox’s character was in the first two; which actually is needed in a film like this. As the film goes on, her absence becomes even more glaringly absent when the action comes in bundles and Whiteley comes off extremely out of her league. The destruction of Chicago wound up lasting almost an hour long bringing tons of special effects and little story build up. If they would have just concentrated on making the dramatic parts more heartfelt and less effects driven the ending may have come off better. But there was so much going on that it got confusing at times and less climactic. The highlight was the skyscraper-escape sequence that involved Shock-Wave! Now if you enjoyed the first two; you’ll go see this movie regardless what people say, but may I suggest that if you do: Go see it with a big crowd of people! It really makes the laughs more enjoyable than watching it in an empty auditorium. It may seem like I am really nitpicking this movie but I came in with high expectations after the first two installments; and i left very disappointed.

1.5 out of 4 stars.

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 7

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 7

DVD Rental of the Week: Just Go With It- If you’re an Adam Sandler or Jennifer Aniston fan than I am sure you’ll enjoy this on a date night.

Netflix Stream of the Week: Iron Man 2- Hard to go wrong watching Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.

Trailer of the week: Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star- Nick Swardson’s first starring role. This looks hilarious so check it out on youtube.

Movie News:

The Rock is confirmed for G.I. Joe 2.

The Fast and the Furious 6 will roar into theaters Memorial weekend 2013!

Tom Hanks says Toy Story 4 is happening.

Jamie Foxx is Django Unchained.

Ron Howard is doing Spy Vs. Spy.

Cars 2 (No spoilers)

Cars 2 (No spoilers)

            Cars 2 is basically a glorified longer episode of a Saturday morning cartoon! This shouldn’t have been a feature length movie by a long shot and Pixar finally brought us a dud. It is sad that the same studio that brought us to tears last year with Toy Story 3 could follow up that with something so emotionally flat and tired.

            Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in 'Cars 2' when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater's action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.
            This is definitely Mater’s movie and Lightning McQueen is a side character which may have been their first mistake. Usually you want the star of the first film to continue throughout its sequel. You could definitely tell that making Mater the star was appealing to the kids and not the adults but it still was visually entertaining with all the beautiful colors and computer animation design. For some reason they thought taking Cars 2 to a spy movie that mirrored something numb as the newest cats and dogs movie. The best part of this movie was the Toy Story short before the film even started. Some of the comedy was funny and Mater is a likable character but after a while; the film needs more to relate to. Pixar has had a critical perfect streak until Cars 2 came along; I hope they learn their mistakes and get back to making movies all audiences can adore. Trust me when I tell you parents: rent this for the kids and do something else. Good news is that Rio will be at your nearest Target by the end of the summer!
1 out of 4 stars.

Bad Teacher (No Spoilers)

Bad Teacher (No Spoilers)

            Bad teacher was mild and not so bad. It is nice to see Cameron Diaz trying new things; but this film hits notes but falls along the way. When I say this film is mild; I compare it’s comedy to something like the Vince Vaughn comedy Dodgeball in how it’s trying so hard but can’t get the job done.

Some teachers just don't give an F. For example, there's Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz). She's foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiance, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) -- competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch). When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other.

Cameron Diaz doesn’t do to bad of a job overall in this film just at times it didn’t seem like she was bad enough. It seemed like this was a film she was really trying to have some fun with. Her co-star Justin Timberlake didn’t seem on the same page and it kind of was a low note for me in the movie. He does a lot better job in friends with benefits. This movie was rated R and at times they had all the opportunity in the world to really push the envelope but settled for the easier way out. When I see a the title “Bad Teacher”, I think of “Bad Santa” and for some reason I thought this movie would go as far as that film did. The whole movie is basically Cameron Diaz doing random things to save up money for fake boobs; kind of ridiculous if you think about it. But in general this can be watchable; but I suggest checking it out for a dollar at the redbox.

2 out of 4 stars.

The Green Lantern (No Spoilers)

The Green Lantern (No Spoilers)

                Green Lantern has its high and lows but overall okay. The visual effects light up the screen and will make kids say wow. But even with a 200 million dollar production budget can help make this film near in the same league as films like The Dark Knight, Spiderman or Iron Man.  If you are looking for an escape for two hours and want to get lost in some of Hollywood’s newest line-up of attractive people in tight suits making big budget movies than this is for you.

            Here is the plot: In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan. Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris, if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax... he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

            Basically my biggest complaints with the film were that it came off kind of dry at times and that Reynolds was in over his head on this film. Reynolds is a far better actor for comedies than big action movies like this one. His character Hal Jordan wasn’t all that interesting either compared to Tony Stark with his cockiness and snarky humor. It really felt like they hired a model to play a fighter pilot/ superhero instead of trying to make the character his own. I am a Ryan Reynolds fan but in this film not so much. Because this is the first film: it is a origin story and it really got hard to get into. It seemed like the effects and the cast were supposed to be the main sticking point but really the storyline suffered as a result. The flow of the film lacked throughout and at times (mainly the ending) came off a bit rushed. At the same time some of the things I didn’t like about the movie were also some of the things that kept me entertained (the cast, effects) for some reason. Martin Campbell who directed Casino Royale who you would think would use the same kind of grit and sophistication in this film but instead plays up to the kids and teenagers instead. Overall the Green Lantern had a lot on its plate to absorb but in the end comes up short but hey I guess it did well enough to already have a sequel possibly optioned. I’d wait to rent this one guys.

1.5 out of 4 stars.

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 6

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 6

DVD Rental of the Week: The Adjustment Bureau- Cannot believe how good Matt Damon is at picking movie roles. This looks kinda boring by watching the trailer but is really good. Trust me; well worth the rental.

Netflix Stream of the Week: Step up 3- Yeah I know it’s a sequel but is definitely fun to watch. Sometimes the acting is garbage but watching the choreography is at times spectacular.

Trailer of the week: Moneyball- this is the new Brad Pitt movie coming this fall about baseball gambling and really looks good. It even has Jonah Hill in it- kinda different being in a Brad Pitt movie for him. Check out this trailer on yahoo movies.

Movie News:

Steven Spielberg has been meeting with a writer about a possible Jurassic Park 4.

Russel Crowe to Play Jor-El in the Man Of Steel.

Best Picture Oscar will have anywhere from 5 to 10 nominations.

 Movie of the Week: Super 8- By far one of the best movies of the summer. Read my review http://spicersmoviereviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/super-8-no-spoilers.html

Mr. Poppers Penguins (No-Spoilers)

Mr. Poppers Penguins (No-Spoilers)

                Popper’s penguins is a little bit flat. Jim Carrey is back to comedy but the laughs in this film are trumped by the flightless birds. Don’t get me wrong; it is nice to see Carrey back to comedy but the storyline should have just stuck to the children’s books. There was a time when Jim Carrey was Ace Ventura and maybe were all use to that kind of comedy instead of this family friendly type of movie he’s now been placed in.

                Here’s the plot: Adventure-loving house painter Mr. Popper (Jim Carrey) contends with the problem of having too many penguins in director Mark S. Waters' adaptation of author Richard Atwater's beloved children's book. Shortly after penning a letter to a team of Arctic explorers, Mr. Popper is surprised to receive a penguin in the mail. Later, after making his mischievous new pal a cozy new home in the freezer, the hapless Mr. Popper comes into possession of a playful female penguin as well. Before long Mr. Popper finds himself surrounded by a growing family of the flightless birds, and begins training them to perform in a traveling show dubbed Popper's Performing Penguins. With each new town the show travels to, pandemonium is quick to follow.

                If anything, the penguins steal the show at moments. But really this movie is suppose to appeal to kids but when we took three 5 year old boys and a 9 year old girl; they all for the  majority seemed bored at times. The only time they seemed entertained was when the penguins were getting into trouble; which at times didn’t seem much at all. But in all honesty; it’s not like Jim Carrey mailed his performance in because it actually seemed like he tried hard on this film. Sometimes the story and rhythm of a film kind of trump anything else a movie has going for it. This is not the first time Jim Carrey has played a dad trying to be a better dad (Liar, Liar) but at times it seemed like the movie tried too hard to  appeal to the new generation with all the BFF comments and other winks to teenage girl cell phone users that came off forced. I’ve honestly seen a lot worse but for a summer comedy from Jim Carrey; this one came up short. I would wait to see this on DVD with the family if there’s nothing else to do.

1.5 out of 4 stars.

Friends with Benefits (No Spoilers)

Friends with Benefits (No Spoilers)

            Friends with benefits is the perfect younger adult comedy! For my generation this is definitely a movie you and your girlfriend or wife can both enjoy watching on a date night.  Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher did a similar movie titled: No strings attached and this film is by far a better story about two people having meaningless sex.

            Here is the plot: a young female headhunter (Mila Kunis) in New York convinces a potential recruit (Justin Timberlake) to leave his job in San Francisco behind and accept a job in the big apple. Despite an attraction to each other, both realize they're everything they've been running from in a relationship and decide to become friends...with benefits. It's the perfect arrangement--until they realize there's no such thing as no strings attached.
            Would I really liked about this movie was how both Timberlake and Kunis carried their own weight throughout the movie. They both have played many side characters in other projects but in this they share their own spotlight. Not only do the title actors do very well but as do the supporting cast. Woody Harrelson plays a gay sports columnist that is Timberlake’s guy friend for advice and he is hilarious as usual. Patricia Clarkson plays Kunis’s floozy mom, Jenna Elfman plays Timberlake’s sister and Richard Jenkins plays Timberlake’s mentally unstable father. Jenkins has played characters like this before (most notably lately in Dear John); but in this film he really nails the vulnerability of his character and helps take this story to another level. This film does have its moments of raunchiness that you may not have thought someone like Justin Timberlake would go, and it makes watching this more enjoyable because it seems like everyone that was a part of this had fun. The setting of this is mainly New York and it is an enjoyable landscape for a film like this that comes off like a character in the film itself. Overall this a very sweet date movie that will leave a refreshing taste in your mouth from start to finish. Get a popcorn, cold drink and enjoy yourself some romantic comedy!
3.5 out of 4 stars.

Spicer,s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 5

Spicer,s Weekly Movie Roundup of the  Week: Episode 5

DVD Rental of the Week: True Grit- It is hard not to think of a better western in the last few years than this one. It easily blends the old classic with the Coen Brothers style and dialogue that can be widely considered the most noticeable while watching a movie. True Grit is easily your best bet at the video store.

Netflix Stream of the Week:  Reindeer Games- One of Ben Affleck’s suspense action movies that he made after the success of Good Will Hunting. This movie has its ups and downs but it definitely is very suspenseful and keeps you at the edge of your seat. It also stars Charlize Theron and Gary Sinise.

Trailer of the week: The Vow- This is a little sappy but this movie star’s Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams that has a hook that looks like it will defiantly be a good date movie targeting Valentine’s day as its release date. Trailer is on yahoo movies.

Movie News:

The Rock is in talks to be in G.I. Joe 2

Leonardo Dicaprio is in talks to be the villain in Django Unchained

Salt Sequel moving forward

Jim Carrey is interested in returning to both his Dumb and Dumber and Bruce Almighty franchises.

 Movie of the Week: Take Me Home Tonight- This is a comedy set in the 80’s starring Topher Grace. It has its patches that are a little stale but overall it’s entertaining for those that love the 80’s. It also touches on post high school and how some are stuck in between being grown-ups and getting over the fact that high school is actually over.             

Super 8 (No Spoilers)

Super 8 (No Spoilers)

                Super 8 is easily a highlight of summer 2011! This movie has been compared to E.T. and The Goonies but really stands out in its own right. This summer has merely begun although it was nice to see something different that was not a sequel or an adaptation of a comic book. Don’t get me wrong; I am a fan of both but to see something original that does not star a tent-pole actor or actress is really refreshing. Super 8 indulges into cinema of that would make Steven Spielberg a household name back in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and I hope J.J. Abrams gets the same kind of accolades.

Here is a brief summary of the plot: Writer/director J.J. Abrams teams with producer Steven Spielberg for this period sci-fi thriller set in the late '70s, and centering on a mysterious train crash in a small Ohio town. Summer, 1979: a group of young friends are filming a Super-8 movie when a pickup truck derails a speeding train. When the locals start to disappear and even the inquisitive deputy can't come up with answers, suspicions emerge that the incident was anything but an accident. As the truth finally begins emerge, no one is prepared to learn what now stalks the unsuspecting citizens of this once quiet community. Kyle Chandler and Elle Fanning star.

                I normally don’t dive into the director when reviewing a film but J.J. Abrams is cinematically putting his heart out into each and every one of his projects and he delivers. This is his third directing motion picture film; right behind the reboot of Star Trek just a couple of years ago. His imagination and technical genius echo’s that of some of the greatest filmmakers in the last few decades. Why it is easily understandable why him and Spielberg would collaborate for a picture like this. Super 8 can at caution be a movie you could watch with your family. There are a couple of jump scares that even got me out of my seat. What really gets me is how good they did on casting the child actors that are the stars of the movie. Joel Courtney who played Joe nailed every emotion that needed to be conveyed in every scene he was in. Elle Fanning gives her best work in Super 8 as Alice, the girl Joe is interested in throughout the movie.  Super 8’s pace keeps you interested the whole time and you really can’t wait to see what the monster looks like. With that being said; Abrams delivers your 21^st century monster of the decade! I am really trying not to spoil anything but if you are looking for a fantastic and fresh escape to fill a couple of hours than please go see Super 8! This film will absolutely be a part of my top ten list for 2011 and I cannot wait to discuss this film with anyone.  Enjoy!

4 out of 4 stars.

X-Men: First Class (No-Spoilers)

X-Men: First Class (No-Spoilers)

  First Class maybe the best X-men movie made? Last year when I heard this movie was actually going to get made within such a short time frame of mere months; I kinda expected this film to be a stinker but I am pleased to say that this movie may be the best one. Watching this I realized that I really like origin stories that bring on new layers to characters that were all used to and this one is no different.

  Set in the era before Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr became mortal enemies as Professor X and Magneto respectively, director Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class follows the two former allies as they lead a powerful team of mutants on a mission to save the planet from nuclear annihilation. Charles (James McAvoy) and Erik (Michael Fassbinder) were just young men when it began to appear as if the world was careening toward destruction. And as the Doomsday Clock ticks faster toward midnight, the time comes to take action. In the process of saving humanity, however, Charles and Erik clash. In the years that followed, Professor X would lead the X-Men in the fight for good, as Magneto and the Brotherhood spread chaos and destruction through land.

  First Class had a few highlights but the biggest one for me was how good it was to see Kevin Bacon back and in a villainous role. He is the antagonist to Michael Fassbinder’s Erik character that stems down to his childhood. What really made this film so good was that the villains were really bad and seemed to always be a threat to the movie’s heroes. First class does have a big cameo that definitely got our crowd cheering and had one of the best uses of the f-word I have seen in a PG-13 movie ever (Note: Motion Pictures Association allows the F-word to be used once in a PG-13 movie). The pacing of this movie is well done and keeps the audience interested the whole time with good action and clever writing. Director Matthew Vaughn shouldn’t be a stranger to superhero movies because he did direct last year’s Kick-Ass and he really shows through both stories that he knows how to make a good origin movie that is fun and creative at the same time. I would really be curious to see how he would tackle a sequel to either movies and where he could make those characters build off what he has already set in place. Overall this a hip and new take on a X-men characters movie that does not star wolverine that actually may be smarter and better than any of its processor’s (exempting X2). If you’re a fan of the x-men or comic books in general than I suggest checking this one out with a friend or two!

3.5 out of 4 Stars.

Kung Fu Panda 2 (No Spoilers)

Kung Fu Panda 2 (No Spoilers)

  Not quite the original but not bad. If anyone that loved the original like I did will definitely be saddened to hear that a panda with no kung fu is better than a panda with kung fu. Don’t get me wrong this film had its charming moments that captured the sweetness of the first but this was not even close to hitting the same notes to its predecessor.

  In 'Kung Fu Panda 2,' Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.

  I won’t try to keep comparing this to the original but even on its own movie this seemed more like a Saturday morning episode of Po and the furious five instead of an actual movie. The bird villain didn’t seem intimidating at all and the supporting characters didn’t really do anything to entertain or standout. The better moments of the film were of Po when he was baby just meeting his father that really stood out as what made this movie cute and cuddly. I would recommend renting this and watching with your family rather than spending buckoo money at the Cineplex on a movie that fails to deliver anything close to the original.

1.5 out of 4 stars.

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 4

Spicer’s Weekly Movie Roundup of the  Week: Episode 4

DVD Rental of the Week: I Am Number Four- Now I know this movie got mixed reviews but if you enjoy action/ science fiction movies that have a youthful cast then you’ll like this movie. It also appeals to women because of the high school love story that takes place in the background.

Netflix Stream of the Week: Fear- One of Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon’s earlier movies but it definitely is a good time watching these two play teenagers in a tense thriller that still holds up.

Trailer of the week: 50/50-  New Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen comedy about cancer. Rogen co-wrote this with the frame of mind that he was going to take something tragic and make it laughable in a way that is heartwarming.  The early buzz on this film is very positive for a movie that doesn’t come out tell September. Check it out on youtube- trailer looks really good.

Movie News:

New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM have announced the titles and release dates for filmmaker Peter Jackson's two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's enduringly popular masterpiece "The Hobbit ." The first film, titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be released on December 14, 2012. The second film, titled The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is slated for release the following year, on December 13, 2013.

Deadline has just announced that Shannon Elizabeth will be returning for Universal's American Reunion, which just started filming down in Atlanta, which means that the entire original cast of the Weitz Brothers' hit R-rated comedy American Pie is complete, as she joins Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott , Alyson Hannigan, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Chris Klein, Eugene Levy, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Jennifer Coolidge and Mena Suvari.

Orlando Bloom confirmed for The Hobbit films.

New Total Recall movie is set to star: Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, Bill Nighy, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, and John Cho.

 Movie of the Week: Water For Elephants- Reese Witherspoon makes this weeks picks again but this is a good movie to watch on a date night. I really don’t like the Twilight movies but this is by far Robert Pattinson’s best movie I have seen him in. Christopher Waltz steals the movie as the bad guy; you really hate his character by the end of the movie. Overall a really solid movie and a fresh tale that keeps you in the story from start to finish.

The Hangover Two (No-Spoilers)

     Hangover two is a one trick pony. For starters letme just say; I am torn about this movie because it is funny but the storyline is so simular to the first one that the writing comes off lazy. No matter how the audience feels about this movie after watching it; this film is guranteed to make alot of bank over the weekend! Riding on how popular the original was; Part two basically does everything it can to deliver exactly what people liked about the first one with some minor tweeks here and there.

    The plot for this one is: In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy “The Hangover,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

   Now with that plot being said months ago; it really does sound like a revamped version of the original and when the trailer came out: it honestly looked just like a updated movie of the original. I then saw the movie and was in disbelief to how much a sequel was so similar to the original. With all that being said the movie still made me laugh and I had a good time watching it. But then after I wondered how they could,ve made a sequel that would be different than the first and here are some of my ideas : get a whole new cast of characters waking up to a hangover, have the original cast,s women waking up with a hangover or actually do something really different and show the guys getting so messed up that they wake up with a hangover instead of showing us the pictures at the ending credits of each movie(the pictures at the end of two are way better than the original). With two trying to show the wolf-pack mature from their last adventure: Stu refusing to have a bachelor party but then one beer turns in to a crazy night in Bangkok! This reminded me of in Jurassic park 3 and how Dr. Allen Grant vowed not to go back to the island of dinosaurs but the producers of the movie decided his plane was going to crash there anywhere; yeah basically thats showbusiness. Once again Zack Galifianakis highlights the movie with his silly one liners and his natural stupidity that has you laughing your ass off. I really dont want to give away anything so I am just going to say overall this movie is beat for beat almost the same as the original but will leave you laughing in your chair, obviously if your a fan of the first one. They could have done some other things like have Bradley Cooper,s character waking up with a tatoo on his face, or have his head shaved but for some reason the writers like keeping everything in tact on his character the morning after. After seeing Bridesmaids and this film; I strongly prefer Bridesmaids of the two hands down but sadly people think that film is made for only women(not true). If your going to see the hangover two I would wait to rent it or see a matinee of it on opening weekend or with alot friends.

2 out of 4 stars.

Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides( No-Spoilers)

Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides( No-Spoilers)

   Johnny Depp loves to dress up like a pirate and seriously thats all this film is about! You can tell Depp loves him some money; he repotedly made somewhere north of 55 million to come back for this film. That being said the creators did do much to woo the audience for a 4th time other than take their money and laugh at them. Though there are things that do make this film fun but it mainly comes from Jack Sparrow and not from the storyline.

  Here is the plot: Flamboyant seafarer Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) lands himself in a bit of a bind after being lured onto Blackbeard's (Ian McShane) ship by enigmatic siren Angelica (Penélope Cruz), and forced to seek out the Fountain of Youth. Trapped on the Queen Anne's Revenge with the most nefarious pirate in history, Captain Jack reflects on his past with the elusive Angelica while embarking on his wildest adventure to date. With shambling zombies on deck and gorgeous mermaids beckoning sailors into the icy waters below, this time Jack Sparrow has his work cut out for him.

  First some of the things i did like were of course the always entertaining Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow and the mermaids. The mermaids were a really nice touch that really stood out as the highlight of the film for me. They had fangs and seemed really scary at times. But other than those two things this film really fell flat. The whole quest for the fountain of youth seemed too plain and worn out by now and I really felt there were other ways that they could make this movie more original and fun. It seemed like a storyline disney would use in a national treasure movie. One of my biggest problems with this film was the villain; Ian McShane as blackbeard came across as dry and boring. If your making a fourth film in any series; you really got to up the stakes and give the hero a bigger antogonist that gets viewers the feeling that the hero may actually die and you never feel that in this. The previous films villains were way better and missed throughout this film. Another big setback with this sequel was that it did not have Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in it. Their characters were a big part of giving the other films more layers that gave audiences more invested into the story.Even alot of the side characters that were in the originals were absent in this movie; some newer characters stepped in but did not fill their shoes well at all. The action in this film was underwhelming at times too; I have no clue how they spent 250 million dollars on producing this film. Rob Marshall who directed Chicago and Nine should stick to musicals because action adventure are not his speal. Overall this movie underwhelmed me and hopefully if they make another they take the right steps to get this ship back on sail.

1 out of 4 stars.

Spicer,s Weekly Movie Roundup of the Week: Episode 3

Spicer,s Weekly Movie Roundup of the  Week: Episode 3

DVD Rental of the Week: Gnomeo and Juliet- Sure it’s a cartoon but this really is a movie the whole family can watch and really have a good time. It has music by Elton John and is really refreshing to here a soundtrack by classics from the same artist throughout a film. This has most of the elements from the original story but some twists that make it kid friendly and refreshing take on a classic.

Netflix Stream of the Week: Harsh Times- Before Christian Bale was winning academy awards; he made movies that equally showed off his acting talents and how convincing he can be in each one of his roles. Basically he goes crazy and is really raw. It is written by the same guy who wrote training day and you can feel the same beat and grit in this one that sometimes mirror training day.

Trailer of the week: Real Steel- After seeing this trailer I got really excited to see Hugh Jackman in a good movie again. After wolverine and Australia I did have my doubts but this film looks really really good. Its about an ex-boxer training a robot how to box other robots in the future; need I say more. Check it out on yahoo movies.

Movie News:

Vin Diesel is joining a movie called The Machine in which he plays the machine.

James Cameron is going to be re-releasing the Titantic on April 6^th 2012 in 3D to commemorate the 100^th year anniversary of the actual sinking.

Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg are going to reunite for Turkey Bowl.

Harvey Weinstein says Scream 5 is still possible and is sure Wes Craven will be back.

 Movie of the Week: Limitless- Bradley Cooper stars as a down on his luck writer who stumbles upon a drug that lets you utilize your whole brain instead of 20 percent. I have a couple problems with this film: Bradley Cooper always just looks like a dick and they don’t utilize Robert De Niro,s character enough. But other than that the story is really interesting and a fun concept to play around with. Other than the way Cooper looks he actually does a really good job in this movie. His best acting display throughout his whole career by far.

Bridesmaids{No-Spoilers)

   Best female driven movie ever no lie! Kristen Wiig definately shines in this role that really only she could pull off. Letme put into perspective to how confident the studio was about this movie; normally film get a two week press screenings to get the word out on a good film and spread positive buzz. In this particular case they released press screening six weeks advance just so people were talking about it and they should because it is that good.

   Basically here is the premise; Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love.

  Alot of people are saying this is the female version of the Hangover but i really dont see it that way; i think it's more relatable to the 40 year old virgin. It has alot of  the same raunchy humor but it also has alot of heart going for it and alot of common themes that people can relate to. Friendship is the core of this film and will pull at your laughter emotional cords and your sensitive cords to get to the true meaning. Judd Apatow the director of the 40 year old virgin and knocked up is the producer of this film and you can really feel his footprint on the film which basically cements the fact that he is really good at his job. Scene stealing the whole movie was Mellisa McCarthy as the lovable Megan; every scene she is in you cant help but wonder what the hell she is going to do next. It is hard to write a review of this film and not mention Chris O' Dowd as the charming officer Rhodes; he really helps carry the likability of a normal joe with mixing in some laughs and also stealing all his scenes in the movie. Overall this film was very enjoyable and am looking forward to seeing this again. This film will probably be the beginning of the female rom-com movies that were once ruled by men. Bravo women: a movie you and your boyfriend will defianately enjoy watching together!

4 out of 4 stars.

Thor (No-Spoilers)

    A star is born! Chris Hemsworth as Thor lit up the screen and really blossomed into a full grown movie star. Without much for leading acting shots; Hemsworth nailed the look and presence of a super-hero character that many know as the god of thunder.
   The plot for this movie is real simple: The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.
  Basically this movie set-ups the realm of where and what Thor is and comes from to set-up his co-starring role in next year,s The Avengers! For me this is where the story makes me wonder what would a Thor movie look like if Avengers wasn't in the backburner? I mean dont get me wrong the makers of these movies have drawn a very intricate plot to rope all these movies together to showcase the one. But I kind of feel the audience gets a little cheated in the one character piece as a whole. But this is the first time this has ever been done on the big screen so the pay-off may just make all this worth it. Aside Hemsworth; the acting in this film is done very well especially Tom Hiddleston who plays Loki; Thor's brother and the primary intagonizer. Kenneth "Shakespeare everthing actor" Brannagh does a great job at story telling of this kind of feature and keeping his actors on tact with the direction of the film. In fact the hiring of Brannagh as director is why Natalie Portman primarily signed on to do this film. Speaking of Portman: it really seems like her casting was wasted and seemed like just another big name thrown into a big movie but thats all part of show business. Overall I thought this movie was enjoyable on a matinee or rental level because like I said before it seemed like they held up because of the Avengers movie. So if your Thor or comic book movie fan i recommend seeing it with alot of people or if your not just wait for next year. I really hope Thor gets a more epic scale film on his own in the future because he really was a fun character to watch and am very glad they cast Chris Hemsworth for the role!

2.5 out of 4 stars.