Change Your Image
Design73
Reviews
Man on a Ledge (2012)
Almost Unwatchable!
I knew when I sat down to watch this movie, I wasn't going to see something like Dog Day Afternoon or The Bank Job, but I at least hoped for something that would entertain me rather than insult my intelligence. Unfortunately it was not to be.
The movie is about a cop, Nick (Sam Worthington) who is wrongly convicted of stealing a diamond and framed by crooked cops and an evil multimillionaire played by Ed Harris. To set the record straight, he breaks out of prison, gets new clothes from a safe house, goes to Manhattan and checks into a hotel and then goes out onto the ledge of the hotel so that everyone below will think he's trying to kill himself. This of course is just a diversion so that his brother and his brother's girlfriend, can quietly slip into the building across the street to find the diamond he was accused of stealing. Simple right?
Now, here are just a couple of plot holes that I noticed. First are we to believe that a cop just happens to have a younger brother who has a girlfriend who are both seasoned cat burglars who know how to cut the right wire to deactivate the high tech alarm, shimmy through elevator shafts and foil a high tech heat sensor? Wow that is awfully convenient. Second, at the end when he jumps off the building (without looking below mind you) onto an inflatable mattress he walks away without a scratch? Really? Third, when he finally confronts Ed Harris at the end, after surviving his fall, he simply knocks Ed Harris down and takes out the diamond and waves it in the air. And this is supposed to bring the cops that have been chasing him all day to a halt? And then because of this, they swarm on Ed Harris. What does that prove. He waves a diamond in the air so he must be innocent? That can't be another diamond. Of course not. All the cops on the ground know is that he's broken out of prison and has attempted suicide and now has attacked a big shot millionaire. What does waving a diamond in the air prove? By the way Ed Harris' character is a Trump-like figure, wouldn't he have more security around him? Also why would they take the time to frame Sam Worthington's character by cooking up the whole stolen diamond thing? Wouldn't it be easier to just kill his character rather than frame him?
Of course these are only a few plot holes that I have shared here. I'm sure I'm leaving out a ton more, for example the dad popping up at the end. What was that? And whose funeral were they at? And how was that planned? So do yourself a favor and avoid this one at all costs.
Take Me Home Tonight (2011)
Very Disappointing
I was really expecting a lot more from this comedy about a couple of aimless high school friends who are now in their early 20's trying to reclaim some of their cool by attending a blow out party set in the late 80's San Fernando Valley with all of their high school chums. I was reminded by the previews of a much funnier movie, Superbad. And boy, I couldn't have been more disappointed. First, why is this set in the 80's? There is absolutely nothing about this film that reminded me of that time period, except, of course, for the soundtrack. It seemed like an unnecessary gimmick. They could of had a lot of fun with the late 80's back drop but they did nothing with it. Seems like a missed opportunity. Second, the two protagonists, Topher Grace and Dan Folger, had no chemistry whatsoever. There is really no reason for these two guys to be friends. Topher Grace was going for the awkward John Cusack good guy role that only John Cusack can pull off. And Dan Folger, apparently the poor man's Jonah Hill, keeps resurfacing in these lack luster comedies as the go to fat guy, best friend, who seems to have a lot of anger management issues. Someone should tell Folger to stop screaming his dialogue. It doesn't make him any funnier or lovable, it just makes him creepy and annoying. Almost as if he is trying to channel the spirit of Sam Kinison. Third, this comedy would have worked a lot better had it been set in high school. There seems to be a shelf life of coming of age adolescent clueless behavior and the two main characters are a little too old. Basically there were no characters that I cared about or rooted for. I seldom cracked a smile except for the Demetri Martin character. And why didn't Anna Faris have more to do? She deserves better material. The movie was in serious need of a rewrite and editing. There were absurd plot points that meandered and either fell flat or went nowhere. If you want to see funny coming of age films, rent any Cameron Crowe or John Hughes film or re-watch Superbad.
Grown Ups (2010)
Terrible! Waste of Time!
What can I say that hasn't already been said in the previous reviews of this film. First I have to say that I would have loved to been a fly on the wall during the pitch for this movie. I'm sure the words "Big Chill" came up at least once. In fact I'm willing to bet all the beer in all the frat houses across America that it did. Basically Adam Sandler has given us a frat house Big Chill. If you want to see a much better film please rent the Big Chill. It's about a friend's suicide that brings a group of college buddies back together after several years. Sound familiar? And guess what? They spend a weekend at a lake house talking about the good old days. Of course you don't get as many fart jokes or lactation jokes. But what you do get is a much better use of your time and a much better film.