Change Your Image
gkaps007
Reviews
Avenging Angel (1985)
Much less serious and dark than the original Angel, but more fun!
Completely tone than the first movie. Where the first Angel has a serious, somewhat sad, and grim take on the story of a young, smart woman working the seedy streets of Hollywood to pay for her private schooling and apartment, this movie is made with a much lighter tone.
Betsy Russell takes over the role from Donna Wilkes. She does fine, but lacks the vulnerability and hurt that Wilkes brought to the role. Rory Calhoun is back and any restraint he used in the first movie is gone here. He plays WAY over the top, along with Susan Tyrell as the wacky, psychopathic apartment landlord. It is great! He is very likable and brings heart to the movie. Something, as much I as love her, Russell can not manage too well.
The plot is more of the same. This time, Angel's cop buddy/mentor (played by a completely different looking actor from the first) is murdered and since the cops aren't doing much, it is up to Angel and her gang of misfits to avenge his death. The tone, as mentioned before, is quite silly this time around. It now feels more comic book adventure and less gritty drama.
Everyone in this movie is out of their minds. Calhoun is convinced (and it never proven he is wrong) he is Kit Carson, legendary cowboy. Tyrell is a rodeo clown without a rodeo. Every time she shows up, the movie cranks up to an eleven! There is Micheal J Pollard look-alike,Steven M. Porter as "Yo-Yo Charlie". He is fun, but underused in this critics opinion. And finally, they add a new character, Johnny Glitter, played with zero restraint by Barry Pearl. I love how every time he enters the scene he is accompanied with a cloud of glitter. He is a very silly, unreal character. Somewhere is in all of this mess, Ossie Davis shows up a police captain who doesn't follow the rules, and a baby that is very well behaved, even while being hung over a high drop.
Avenging Angel can be a fun movie if you go in with little expectations and just want to have some fun. Sit back, riff with your friends, and forget about the movie soon after.
Reality Show (2012)
No Holds Barred, Dark Comedy
Mickey Wagner (Adam Rifkin)is a reality show producer who's last show (I wouldn't dare spoil it) ended up with a contestant dead. After a few years he is back with a pitch about a reality show where the people aren't aware they are being filmed. The show is green lit. The twist is the family get along and secure in life so much that they are beyond boring. Mickey is forced to manipulate their lives.
It sounds like The Truman Show, doesn't it? You will forget that thought once you've seen the first episode ends. What comes is dark humor mixed with gratuitous nudity (the best kind, am I right?!)and only the slightest of winks at the audience. Rifkin nails it as the sleazy producer who is only partly self aware. The supporting cast, especially the family, are solid. The show moves along fast, nary a dull moment. The reality show parodies spliced in are all great! "Autopsy Turvey" being so funny I had to re watch it immediately after.
Showtime is doing some great stuff lately. Homeland and Dave's Old Porn are two other examples. If you like your comedies sardonic and unnerving, don't miss Reality Show.