REVIEW - Ted ★ ★ ★ ★

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane

Written by Seth MacFarlane

Certification UK 15 US R

Runtime 106 minutes

Directed by Seth MacFarlane


WARNING - Trailer contains material unsuitable for those under 15

From the mind of the creator of Family Guy comes the story of an unbreakable friendship between a boy and his teddy bear.  Wait, what?!

That's right, our good friend Seth MacFarlane's first foray into feature film has a premise that does require a slight suspension of disbelief.  As a boy John Bennett (Wahlberg) didn't have any friends, even the kids that got beaten up didn't want him around as they got beaten up.  So one magical Christmas he wished his bear would come to life to be his BFF.  And as we have learned through movies over the years, there is nothing more powerful than a child's wish except, as Patrick Stewart's narration informs us, Apache helicopters.

As a living, breathing teddy bear, Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) gains a level of fame over the years but as time passes he, like all celebrities who have no discernible talent, gets forgotten about.  John and Ted while away their adult years smoking dope, watching Flash Gordon and just generally bumming around.  At least that's how John's long time girlfriend, Lori (Kunis) sees it and as she wants their relationship to finally start moving forward and grow, she sees no other option than to ask John to get Ted to move out.

Can John break the bond he created one Christmas night and choose the love of his life over his Thunderbuddy (watch the trailer for that one)?  Or will he always be at Ted's beck and call even if it means jeopardising his relationship with Lori?

The first thing you'll notice is that the humour is very much along the same lines as Family Guy, MacFarlane hasn't strayed from his comfort zone and sensibly so.  If it aint broke and all that.  In remain the pop culture references, the odd cut away (including a spoof of a spoof - think that's the first time I've seen that done), the borderline racist jokes, the crudeness and a voice that is a mix of Peter Griffin and Brian.  He's even surrounded himself with familiar faces and voices including Kunis and Stewart, Patrick Warburton and Alex Borstein alongside genius cameos from Ryan Reynolds and Tom Skerritt.  There is one more that tops the lot but I'm leaving that one as a surprise and it possibly contains one of the funniest moments of the year, behind the Hulk smash Loki scene from The Avengers.

MacFarlane does a fine job of mixing the drama, sentiment and humour, keeping the first two only in use when the story needs it.  He knows that this is all about the funny stuff and uses the conventional movie making parts only to move the story along, recognising that the Family Guy style narratives wouldn't make for a hour and a half movie.  And what Ted really does deliver on is the funny stuff.  This had me letting out full on belly laughs and even when the film finds the odd lull here and there it has enough to be this year's funniest film.  And one of the funniest I've seen in quite some time. 

Yes it's silly, yes it's crude but I didn't care - it did what it meant to do, make me laugh.  The performances are spot on, with Wahlberg proving that perhaps his comedy chops are better than his dramatic ones.  His relationship with Kunis is handled very well, never being over sentimental and just as it threatens to do so someone gets knocked out with a mic stand.  As you do.

The criticisms I would lay at the door of this are potentially the same as the reasons I thought it was great.  It is a bit too Family Guy, even to the point of you actually wonder why the hot chick has spent so much time with the lifeless arse (although the big difference here is Wahlberg isn't exactly lacking in the looks department - and this exact fact is mentioned as MacFarlane obviously recognised this issue).  It also does slow towards the middle whilst we get through the story parts and you just want more gags. 

But overall this is a brilliant debut from MacFarlane, delivering exactly what it intended and by the bucket load.  An hilarious romp through the magical friendship of a boy and his bear, a fairy tale for adults. Us guys probably all wouldn't mind a friend like Ted.

4/5

REVIEW - Brave * * *

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson

Written by Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews

Certification UK PG US PG

Runtime 100 minutes

Directed by Brenda Chapman & Mark Andrews



Set in the highlands of Scotland and many years ago, Pixar tells us the tail of Princess Merida, a girl who is determined to break free from the shackles of tradition and find her own way in the world.  Beset on all sides by family and other clans, she is forced into a life she doesn't believe in.  One which entails speaking in a certain way, eating in a certain way, walking in a certain way.  Merida is more interested in galloping through the woods on her trusty steed with her beloved bow and arrows, dreaming of adventure and heroism, not spending her time pandering to the whims of a man she hasn't chosen for herself.

When it comes to the day her suitors must compete for her hand, Merida sneaks out of the castle and finds herself led deep into the woods by Will-o'-the-wisps where she comes across a cabin, inhabited by an old lady woodcarver who holds the power to change Merida's fate.  But at what cost?

Once again the Pixar arm of Disney brings us a charming tale of breaking free against the odds and being the person (fish, car, toy) that you're destined to be, not what the world expects of you.  This is a theme that has permeated the Pixar brand through all their films.  Be it Buzz Lightyear realising he is more than just a toy, Lightening McQueen finding more to him than just a race car, Wall-E breaking away from his life as a trash compactor and discovering his dream of companionship, they constantly remind us that we can be all we want to be.  From all the delights Pixar has given us, the closest film in personality to this would be Finding Nemo.  Both are set against a struggle within the family with the child wanting more than the parent would allow. 

Brave starts with all the charm of its predecessors and some genuine laugh out loud moments, combined with a voice cast that is enthralling to listen to.  The build up of the characters and the set up for the story is a joy to watch with absolutely sumptuous animation.  The scenery is stunning, bright and beautiful and doing for Scotland what Lord of the Rings did for New Zealand.  The detail put into this film is beyond anything Pixar have done before and that really is saying something.  The hair on our protagonist is incredibly lifelike as is the fur on animals they have.  This exceptional animation aids to the initial enjoyment of the film.

However it is when the story really kicks in that the film begins to lose the brilliance of it's early promise.  One of the things Pixar have always done well is keep the tone of their films the same throughout and the pacing consistent.  However with John Lassiter moving away from overseeing all the Pixar output, the overall quality seems to have been affected.  The film moves into a typical Disney narrative and loses some of the fun that held its head high through the first half of the film.  Whilst it still retains some of the humour, there is a distinct tonal shift as the story telling brings in the good vs evil moral compass.  A darker voice seems to take over which, even though not overbearing, doesn't quite fit into what was, at some points, practically a slapstick comedy.  It is here that the film just sort of lulls along to the climax rather than building to a crescendo.

Overall it is an entertaining watch and never boring but I just felt it could have been much better and stood up as one of Pixar's best entries. As it is, whilst still better than most current animated films, it sits neatly nestled in with Cars 2 and A Bugs Life on the average Pixar scale.

3/5

REVIEW - The Pact * *

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Caity Lotz, Casper Van Dien

Written by Nicholas McCarthy

Certification UK 15 US R

Runtime 89 minutes

Directed by Nicholas McCarthy



Nicole and Annie (Lotz) haven't seen their mother for years but following her death Nicole returns to the house they grew up in to sort out her affairs.  Having suffered at her hands as they grew up, Annie refuses to have anything to do with it until Nicole goes missing.

Believing Nicole has done what she always does and run off, Annie doesn't think there is anything strange about her sister's disappearance.  But when things start going bump in the night, Annie soon realises that something more sinister is also living in her mother's house.

What started off as a somewhat promising ghost story soon descended into a by the numbers, highly cliched horror film, aimed at the masses.  Other than a lead actress in Caity Lotz that was very photogenic making her easy to watch this had nothing going for it.  Unless of course you were dying for a return to the screen of Casper Van Dien who hasn't figured out yet that the only reason he fit in to Starship Troopers is that its tone supported bad acting.  And no, he hasn't improved.

The script was poor with character exposition being thrown at us in lines such as "so how long since you shot up", "I've been clean four years".  So I guess that character is a reformed heroin addict.  This was also in the first conversation in the film,  You also have Nicholas McCarthy not believing his audience has a brain cell between them that he felt it necessary every time Annie sees a picture of her mother to have to say out loud to herself "Mum".  Just in case we couldn't figure it out.

The film was riddled with flaws, which if you do see it and make it to the end you'll soon spot the holes from earlier on and also left story strands completely sidelined.  Such as Annie's niece who she had to start looking after following her sister's vanishing act.  The niece was all but forgotten for the middle third of the film.  There were highly fortuitous school friends still living in town that just happened to be genuine mediums.  Although maybe most people went to school with someone that communicates with the dead and then later in life happened to be part of a haunting.  I must have missed out.

The characters were barely fleshed out (other than bad things happening to Annie when she grew up we know nothing about her), the acting was poor and the dialogue scarcely believable.  

But most unforgiving was that the film was just, well, boring.
 

REVIEW - Red Tails * * *

Red Tails ★ ★ ★

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr, Terence Howard

Written by John Ridley & Aaron McGruder

Certification UK TBC US PG13

Runtime 125 minutes

Directed by Anthony Hemingway

Before and after the war, the African American’s suffered constant abuse at the hands of racist white Americans.  But even when men were supposed to unite against a common enemy there was no respite from this.  Given second string duties and treated as second string humans, the black soldier was seen to be a soldier of little or no worth.  One to be kept out of the way so that the real Americans can do the fighting.

This is the story of a group of young black pilots, led by “Easy” (Nate Parker) put through the Tuskagee training program that was essentially a socio experiment to try and enable them to prove their worth.  We find them based in Italy flying missions across empty fields and areas where no German’s have been sighted for some time.  They are waiting for that one chance to go into battle and show that they are as good as any pilot that fought for a country they love and is yet to love them back.

Red Tails is George Lucas back with Rick McCallum (Star Wars prequels) producing together to bring us visual style but lacking depth and heart.  They have taken a screenplay that, in the right hands, could have been crafted into one of the year’s best films.  Unfortunately what we are left with is something written with a great idea but struggled to really flesh it out.

We were presented with a number of ideas that could have been delved into more deeply such as the potential alcoholism of Easy, the love story between a young black pilot and a white Italian girl and, the central piece to the film, the first hand struggles of the pilots.  Each was given fleeting moments to show they were there but nothing was really followed through.

The love interest in particular turned out to be forced and ultimately unnecessary.  Had they given us something more believable then this may have been a worthwhile sub-plot.   As it was, it remained almost an afterthought.

The racial attitudes of the white soldiers were glossed over with short scenes that were never followed through.  And the redemption of turning some soldiers around was explored in barely mentioned relationships where a simple sentence was used to demonstrate their change in attitudes.

That’s the bad stuff out of the way, now onto the positives that the film had to offer.  After an opening sequence where the acting and dialogue was so bad I was worried about what I was in for.  And then when the credit “and Cuba Gooding Jr” flashed up, my heart sank.  Thankfully, a few annoying characters aside, the performances were all decent and in turn crafted likeable characters whom you found yourself rooting for.  The dialogue was often shaky but the interplay between the soldiers was entertaining, if lightweight and somewhat clichéd. 

The battle sequences were very well handled but lacked something that created any real tension.  Part of this was down to the pure predictability of the film where they used every trick in the book to bring in an emotional punch (someone might as well have said “I just got married the day before I enrolled”).  But true to Lucasfilm style, emotion was not a strong point in this film.  Which is a shame as this was a story that should have been served by the battle against the odds, the hardships overcome and the inner demons that some of these pilots obviously faced.  

As it is Red Tails was an entertaining but ultimately hollow film which will be watched and likely quickly forgotten.  There’s not enough good about it to say it’s anything more than average but there’s also not enough bad about it to have particularly disliked it.  It just sits on the proverbial fence thinking it’s something that it isn’t.

REVIEW - The Cabin In The Woods * * * *

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Bradley Whitford

Written by Joss Whedon & Drew Goddard

Certification UK 15 US R

Runtime 101 minutes

Directed by Drew Goddard


I will start by saying sorry that I have not put a trailer up for you guys on this one.  But there is good reason.  I avoided seeing it just in case they put something in there that might spoil the fun factor of this movie.  Going in blind is definitely the way to do it.  Well blind on the plot front anyway.


But the point of a review is to let you know if you should go and see the film.  I've seen a lot of reviews where people say don't read reviews.  I would say if you do, be careful if you want to maximise the  entertainment factor with this.  It's a ride of a film and you need to go with it but it makes it better if you don't know where it's taking you.


Written by TV stalwart Joss Whedon this has his sensibilities all over it.  The style of character and dialogue is most definitely his as is the revamping of a genre to make something of his own.  Take the likes of Firefly (not exactly your conventional sci fi) and Buffy (whilst the original film lacked in quality the idea was strong enough for a hugely successful TV show), which certainly gave a new spin on the vampire tales of yesteryear.  Well he's done it again with the horror genre (I don't count Buffy in that as it is as much horror as Twilight is in my humble opinion - just much better).


This film is so full of horror references, the buffs (nay geeks) will practically explode trying to spot them all.  The idea here is to take something so generic and uninspiring about horror and the stick two fingers up at it and say "here's what you can do with this setting!!".  It would appear that Whedon has plumped for the atypical cabin in the atypical woods and filled it with the atypical young, good looking people that are just awaiting all the horrible things to happen.  There's even a cellar.


Cabin goes to places even Sam Raimi didn't manage to take his poor folk in the Evil Dead series when they visited their Cabin of doom.  Some of you will hate what this film has to offer whereas others will simply love it for its freshness and daring approach to a genre that is always in danger of becoming stale (remakes, sequels, Michael Bay just some of those reasons).  


Whilst not flawless it is a very entertaining ride.  The characters are all well placed with specific traits to give them their meaning in the film (it's almost like they stuck The Breakfast Club in there!), the dialogue snappy and funny and the pacing is almost perfect.  Slow build, picks up with the action after we get to know our gang and then the end set piece just ramps it up to the Spinal Tap proverbial 11.


You get your gore, your scares, your laughs.  And the laughs aren't your Roland Emmerich, Michael Bay (someone might think I don't like him) forced gags just for the sake of it, no, they're well placed and seem natural coming from the characters we have gotten to know.  None of it seems "jokey".


Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Cabin and would recommend this to anyone that loves a good horror and especially to those that just love horror.  It's a love letter and reinvention of the genre all in one Cabin In The Woods.


4/5

REVIEW - The Raid * * * * *

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Iko Uwais, Donny Alamsya, Joe Taslim, Ray Sahetapy

Written by Gareth Evans

Certification UK 18 US R

Runtime 101 minutes

Directed by Gareth Evans

In the heart of Jakata lies an apartment block, 30 stories high and inhabited by some of the most violent and ruthless underworld criminals. Ruled with an iron fist by a notorious drug lord, the building has remained untouchable with even the best of the police's resources unwilling to darken its doors.  Until now.....

The film follows Rama (Iko Uwais) and the group of elite cops as they attempt what was previously thought unthinkable, a raid on this haven for those on the wrong side of the law.  Thinking they have the upper hand by launching an unsuspected dawn attack, the 20 strong group of enforcers slip into the building, efficiently and quietly.  That is until a spotter pulls the alarm.  Their objective is no longer taking the building down but getting out alive.

Gareth Evans has delivered a heart pounding, rip roaring, no holds barred action film which is unlike anything else I have seen.  There have been martial arts action movies that are a fantastic spectacle and break conventional barriers (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and even Ong Bak) but the inventiveness of the way this one is delivered provided me with a viewing experience that left me breathless.

The choreography and ability of artists in the fight scenes is exceptional, coupled with an inspired use of the camera and cinematography to make it look as beautiful as it is frenetic.  This is a non stop juggernaut of an action film that doesn't let up.  The dramatic scenes, whilst well acted and providing us with the necessity of a plot, serve to whet your appetite for what is coming next.

For me personally I couldn't find a fault in this film, which if you wanted to look past its shallow exterior, I'm sure it has.  After all the story telling really is secondary to the action.  However if you know that you are getting a film that does exactly what it says on the tin then I don't see this as an issue.  I was entertained and excited all the way through, walking away wishing for more.  That, my dear reader, is the sign of a great film.

I'm not saying everyone will enjoy it to the extent that I did as no matter how fantastic you and a million others believe a film to be, there will always be those that don't agree.  However in this case, they would be wrong!

I am aware I haven't talked about the acting and the characters (Iko creates an eminently likeable hero in Rama) but that's not what this film is about.  Although even these bits are handled better than most dramatic films that center on character and dialogue through a great script.

Overall I cannot recommend this movie enough.

5/5

REVIEW - Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel

Review by Damon Rickard

Stars Roger Corman, Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson

Written by Alex Stapleton & Gregory Locklear

Certification UK 15 US R

Runtime 101 minutes

Directed by Alex Stapleton

Like me, Roger Corman is a name you will probably be familiar with but may not know the full extent of the effect he had on modern cinema making and possibly the film industry as a whole.  I knew he was behind films I grew up with such as Piranha, The Masque of the Red Death, Watchers, Death Race 2000 and the all time classic Munchies (no I didn’t think you’d heard of it) but I did not know he was behind the camera on 56 titles and produced or executive produced 399.  To say the man was prolific is an understatement.

However the films were not of a high quality, even to the point of one being made (The Terror) just because he had a set spare until another film went into production.  The result was a mess to the point even its star, Jack Nicholson, had no idea what was going on.  Corman revels in low budget, exploitation flicks that always seemed to find an audience.  Only one of Corman’s films failed to make its money back, 1962’s The Intruder.  Sadly this was his one attempt at making a meaningful film which touted an anti racism message.  It was a brave film for its time and as such failed to connect with a wider audience, sending Corman back to his schlock.  Who knows what might have happened had this film been box office gold.

The documentary brilliantly takes us through Corman’s body of work with interviews from some of today’s biggest players in Hollywood that got their start thanks to Corman.  Faces such as Nicholson, Scorsese, Ron Howard, William Shatner (star of The Intruder), Joe Dante and, inexplicably, Paul W.S. Anderson (an unwelcome and entirely unrequired addition).  It recounts his stories of the hows and whys he did the pictures he did.  It details how his influence on the 70’s New Wave brought about the likes of Easy Rider, Jaws and Star Wars and also how these films changed the way Corman felt about the industry.  The list of faces you’ll recognise who owe their start to Corman is too long to mention here but it is impressive.

The letdown of this was that it felt a bit too much like a Biography Channel biopic, just much better.  Sadly a few of the talking heads such as Irvin Kershner, Polly Platt and David Carrodine have died since filming their parts and will never get to see this love letter to someone they obviously feel indebted to either directly or indirectly and, as with everyone on show, harbor a vast respect for. 

If you’re interested in the life and times of those that influenced the movies you watch today then this a must see. For anyone else I don’t think this will give too much satisfaction, which is a shame as people should know the name Roger Corman.

4/5