Ant-Man

Dustin: 4 of 5 stars Nick: 3.5 of 5 stars Average: 3.75 of 5 stars (Live canary)

Dustin: Ant-Man is the latest of many Marvel superhero movies. This time a plucky Paul Rudd, fresh out of prison for burglary and trying to go straight, is unwittingly recruited to don the iconic Ant-Man suit and save the world.

Nick: Ant-Man is the silliest of all the Marvel Universe films. I don’t mean in its ridiculous nature, but more in that every scene ends with a joke. The movie is very funny and seamlessly puts itself into the Marvel Universe. It doesn’t try too hard like some previous installments, which is a relief, but there are also less stakes and very dull exposition leading to a story that would land somewhere in the middle of my favorite Marvel film.

Dustin: I enjoyed the lighter tone of this movie. A lot of it was played for jokes, and it was effective both as a superhero movie and as a comedy. I liked the stakes were smaller (ant-sized!), which was also something of a running joke, when we’d get a distant shot of the action, and we see how small it is. The stakes were only large when you considered the large-scale implications of the villain’s scheme, which was to steal the Ant-Man technology (this seems lifted from Iron Man). But there was also some very wonderful scenes in the movie, such as when Ant-Man shrinks to sub-atomic size, and we see a more abstract world. Hometown boy Paul Rudd was perfectly cast, as he has both the comedic chops and the physicality to pull off the character. I’m glad to see him finally make it!

Nick: I considered Rudd to have made it in 1995’s Clueless! I enjoyed the tone, but each scene being played for a joke hurt it in the end. The little girl being kidnapped and other people being “in danger” never felt truly in danger, and that is what I mean by stakes. When even one person’s life doesn’t seem like a stake what’s the point? I might be the only one to have felt this way and I say it with even having enjoyed the film quite a bit, but the movie had quite a few parts that made me roll my eyes. Why did Michael Douglas finally feel like now was the time to inform his daughter how her mother died? It seemed so forced at the moment so it could have some emotion and even though it was some pointless drivel it was then interrupted by Rudd ending the scene with a joke. There was nothing forcing Douglas to finally tell Hope, but I guess they needed some emotion. I don’t understand what would have been wrong with telling her the truth earlier, but I guess he didn’t think his 40-year-old daughter was stable enough till now?

Dustin: I also didn’t care that every scene needed to end on a comedic note. That scene in particular definitely missed the mark, but I’d say 95 percent of the jokes landed.

I liked the angle of him doing this all so he could be with his daughter. There was also a strained father/daughter relationship between Michael Douglas and his daughter. I thought it added a realistic dimension to the characters and made them more relatable in a movie about a man who shrinks to ant-size to fight crime.

Nick: I like the idea of a strained father/daughter relationship, but the thing that made it strained and the way it was played off was the bothersome part.

I love the supporting players in the film. While it’s nice to have Michael Douglas back, it’s great that Michael Pena plays Ant-Man’s best friend. His pointlessly long stories and the way they were shot were pieces of brilliance. Made me think of Edgar Wright who was set to direct the movie but dropped out and was only given a writer’s credit.

Dustin: Michael Pena definitely delivered the laughs. I thought they did a good job too with Michael Douglas’s CGI age-reversal at the beginning. I suspected what they had done, but I wouldn’t have thought anything of it if I weren’t looking closely. I only got a little bit of the uncanny valley around the mouth when he was talking. Very convincing effect, though.

I also liked the villain, who kind of looked like Kojak. He has a ray gun that when pointed at someone who is not wearing the protective shrinking suit, turns them into a tiny glob of pulsating goop. It was definitely a creepy and evil idea.

Nick: Corey Stoll definitely has the intense face of a villain with his bulging eyes and all around physique that reminds me of Lex Luthor.

While the film may have one too many jokes, its overall purpose is to entertain and in the Marvel Universe that is what’s most important, and that Ant-Man does splendidly. Whether a fan looking for action or comedy, you’ll get a healthy dose of both here!

Minions

Dustin: 3 of 5 stars Nick: 3 of 5 stars Average: 3 of 5 stars (Woozy canary)

Dustin: Minions is the much-anticipated prequel to Despicable Me. Forty-two years before the bizarre yellow creatures began working for Gru (evil Michael Scott), three of their kind--Kevin, Stuart and Bob--embarked on a mission to find the most evil villain on earth to offer their species’s services.

Nick: Minions is a difficult film to not like and one that at some times is hard to enjoy. The film is like a hit pop song; cute and catchy with the vaguest possible lyrics so anyone can feel something. Kids will be its biggest fans, unless of course you are like my brother and find the Minions irresistibly cute.

Dustin: This movie is strictly for kids. While I enjoyed the oldies rock soundtrack, there wasn’t much holding my attention, other than some of the gags (the best of which are front-loaded). I took my 2-year-old to see this. She has never seen the Despicable Me films, pretty much only watches PBS, but she somehow knows the names of these fucking things. Definitely a statement about how well this was marketed to children.

My favorite part of the film was the first act, involving the history of the Minions (narrated by Geoffrey Rush). We follow them through the ages, from primordial goop, to the Jurassic period, to Ancient Egypt, Napoleonic France to modern-day America. Napoleon banished the Minions to Antarctica, where they could thankfully sit out serving the Nazis.

The rest of the story gradually grows tiring. The Minions fall in with Michael Keaton’s family as they road trip to a villain convention in Orlando. The Minions’ goal is to team up with Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock), the most evil villain on earth. Given this was set during the same period Stalin and Pol Pot were active, Overkill was a rather bland villain, and didn’t do much more than talk in a raised voice.

Nick: I rather enjoyed the small amount of time with Keaton’s family, but you’re right with the opening montage of the Minions’ history being the best part of the film. Once Overkill is introduced, the film takes a turn for the worse. Her evil plan is steal the English Queen’s crown! Which once put on you become the Queen, I guess… Which is funny because she is a celebratorial monarch who holds very little power, so the most desirable evil person in the film wants little power and gets easily bested by Minions at the end… sigh.

Dustin: Did you think this movie may have been too violent for younger children?

Nick: I never thought there was much violence, but I also don’t have a kid, so I don’t think of these kinds of things! But we did grow up with Looney Tunes, and that is considered to be the most violent kid’s cartoon ever produced

Dustin: I was a little uncomfortable when Overkill was going to blow up one of the Minions with dynamite, and when they were being tortured (including by hanging) by her husband, Herb. I was worried what my daughter might be thinking. But then, like you mentioned, I remembered the Looney Tunes cartoons from my childhood, and thought, This is pretty tame by comparison. Then I actually liked applauded Minions for including some Looney Tunes-level violence, because kids’ shows today are so bland and boring.

My daughter watches the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which is crappy CGI and no personality. Donald Duck never gets mad, Pete is no longer a bad guy--he just has a gruff voice. Goofy is only somewhat clumsy. They can’t take a chance to scare or offend any children (or, more likely, their parents). Also on Curious George, if George so much as mildly misbehaves (which getting into trouble was the point of the character), they take pains at the end of each episode to stress, “George is a monkey, so sometimes he does things we CAN’T do.” In light of that, Minions was like a breath of fresh air.

Nick: Curious George < Minions < Inside Out… at least in the mind of a mature adult, I hope.

The funniest parts in the movie were ALL in the trailer! The opening montage and when Overkill has her husband torture the Minions. I watch many movies (plus TV, Hulu) and the Minions trailer played in front of most of these films, and it irks me the two parts that would have given me the most joy were taken away from me by seeing them more than 100 times on all platforms!

Dustin: As we write this, my daughter just came home with her mom from the grocery store with a Minions toy from a cereal box.

Nick: Animated films rely on merchandising as much as box office. I wonder how many Minions toys have been purchased in the past week and how many landfills they will occupy in the future!

Dustin: Minions was a somewhat enjoyable, but overall rather insipid animated film. Actually, that’s pretty much how I felt about every film in this series.

Terminator Genisys

Dustin: 3 of 5 stars Nick: 3 of 5 stars Average: 3 of 5 stars (Woozy canary)

Dustin: Terminator Genisys is the fifth Terminator film, the fourth to feature the real Arnold Schwarzenegger, and further alters the timeline established in the first two films. This time Kyle Reese goes back to 1984, when the first film takes place, but encounters a Sarah Connor who has been raised by a Terminator. He, Sarah and Arnold must now go to 2017 to prevent Google from starting the robot apocalypse.

Nick: There is too much going on in this movie for just one viewing with all the homages that feel rather forced and the time jumps that try to rework the story concocted by the previous installments. If this was the first movie of the series a teenager viewed, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were quite confused. It seems there should have been a disclaimer stating Prerequisite:  Have to see the first two installments to enroll.

Dustin: I agree. This doesn’t work as a stand-alone movie. The producers take for granted the audience has seen at least the first two movies (which is probably a safe bet, in their defense). The third and fourth film aren’t really necessary for the understanding. The only thing that mattered to the timeline in the third movie is the idea Judgement Day can be delayed, but not prevented. The fourth one had some backstory, but not enough to matter, and introduced CGI Arnold. The callbacks to the first two were enjoyable, they kept me waiting to see how they would subvert expectations. The main problem with making more and more of these movies, well after Judgement Day should have already happened, is the time travel logistics get more and more convoluted, from being pretty simple in the first, to be downright confusing this time.

Nick: All the sequels have lacked the intensity of the first two films. They made their characters run around a lot more, but to what end? The first and second had so much horror it really felt like any character could die and it would be heartbreaking! There is no more heart in the series. When John Connor ends up a Terminator it should be jaw dropping, and yet I didn’t even flinch.

Dustin: I think part of that could be because this is a PG-13 film in a series that should be rated R. Granted, fewer teens would be able to get into an R-rated film, which will hurt the bottom line. But, like you said, the lack of intensity this film had compared to the first two definitely hurt.

Another reason could be some of the homages to the first films feel more like parody, or meta-jokes. Ex-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R, California) attempts to come off as human and his companions’ reactions produce as many groans as laughs.

Nick: Genisys does look exceptional though, and the fight between Arnie and his younger self was one of the highlights.

Dustin: There were a number of things I liked, mostly in the first half when we’re still discovering this modified, once-familiar story. I was expecting to hate the idea Sarah Connor was raised by Arnold, but I actually found their relationship somewhat touching. You get the idea the Terminator may have some fatherly feelings toward her, dare I say love?, that isn’t part of his programming.

I also found the sci-fi message somewhat relevant. Judgement Day is when a cloud-like technology (a thinly veiled Google), uses the death-grip it has over humanity to bring about its destruction. I don’t think Google would really do that, but as I use my Google Fiber Internet service, write this with you on Google Docs, then post on Blogger (a Google service), linking to a YouTube video (ditto, Google) for the trailer, I can’t help but think humanity relies on them a little too much.

Nick: I have also singled in on your location using Google Maps! You look very good.

Dustin: Huh?! Can Google’s satellites see through my roof?

Nick: And through YOUR SOUL! (With an algorithm recreating your soul based on your Internet searches, which are really quite disturbing, Dustin.)

Dustin: Do you see me waving?

Nick: No, but I see you giving me the bird.

Dustin: Where were we?

Nick: The most enjoyable parts for me were between Pops (Old Arnie) and Sarah Connor. I would rather have a prequel of Sarah growing up with Pops as a father than another sequel where there are four time jumps and 37 homages.  

Dustin: I’d like a prequel where they explain the reason the machines programmed the Terminator to have a thick Austrian accent when the idea was for him to blend in.

Emilia Clarke looks enough like Linda Hamilton for the role, and she has plenty of screen presence, but she doesn’t really carry it as well. I believed Hamilton in the first one when she was a down-to-earth waitress, and I believed her in the second one when she was a tough-as-nails survivalist. Clarke might be a little too soft around the edges to be believable. She looks more childlike than Hamilton (even though she’s 28, just slightly younger than Hamilton was in the first movie).

I didn’t realize this was the same chick from Game of Thrones until my wife informed me. I think she looks better as a blonde (figure 1, below), as did Emily Browning in Sucker Punch (figure 2). I guess I just have a thing for blondes with wavy hair, which is why I married an Asian woman.

figure 1: Emilia Clarke as a blonde, Game of Thrones (right), as a brunette, Terminator Genisys

figure 2: Emily Browning as a blonde, Sucker Punch (right), as a brunette, Pompeii

Nick: I kept thinking those same things about her character, but her whole life has been different so she would be much different. Instead of meeting the Terminator at 19 and trying to kill her, she met one at 9 who raised her into a very different Sarah Connor. So it’s difficult to say she didn’t play Sarah Connor as well, but more like the character of Sarah Connor was more interesting in the first two installments.

Dustin: While it didn’t have the weighty sci-fi ideas of the first two movies, nor the emotional pay offs or intense action, Terminator Genisys is a decent bookend to the series. I honestly don’t think we need another of these movies.

Nick: I wish Cameron would drop his future Avatar movies and just make a proper ending to the Terminator franchise.

Dustin: The proper ending was at the end of Terminator 2. We didn’t need the following three films.

Inside Out

Dustin: 4.5 of 5 stars Nick: 4 of 5 stars Average: 4.25 of 5 stars (Live canary)

“America needs the wisdom of Herman’s Head now more than ever.” - Comic Book Guy, The Simpsons

Dustin: Disney/Pixar’s latest animated film takes place almost entirely in the head of its protagonist, Riley, an elementary schoolgirl dealing with her family’s move from Minnesota to San Francisco. The characters in Riley’s head each represent a different emotion, voiced by different comedic talents: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith, The Office), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Bill Hader) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling).

Nick: I haven’t said this since The Matrix (regretfully) but I can’t wait to see the sequel! If they actually show Riley at 13 the movie might need to be PG-13 because not only will things dramatically change, but she will more than likely be a total bitch as are all 13-year-olds.

Dustin: She seemed a little more mature than most girls her age, but maybe she just had to grow up fast because of her circumstances.

I appreciated almost everything about this movie from beginning to end. The set-up, while familiar, was still handled with a lot of inventiveness, the ideas dealing with psychology were fun, while not really condescending to children, and I definitely applaud Lewis Black for being funny even when he’s toned down to a PG rating.

Nick: It’s quite an achievement to constantly put out material people of all ages and from all over find just as entertaining, but for reasons that are quite different. Inside Out is a film I think I need to see again because it’s normally me telling people how I cried or almost cried in an animated film, but I was never even close here, while most of the people I know are talking like that. Was it emotional for you? I rarely felt anything that would bring out a solitary tear.

Dustin: I got a little misty eyed when it was clear Riley was suffering from depression, something that was masterfully shown rather than told. Also Bing Bong’s final scene. But compared to Toy Story 3, which had me bawling like Nancy Kerrigan throughout, this felt relatively light.

Nick: Toy Story 3, Up, Wall-E and Ratatouille all almost did the job, but not this film. While the sadness is there, I feel showing Sadness as a comical character inside her head might ease that a little. It was obvious to me from the first 20 minutes how the movie would end. Where Joy learns happiness is not the only emotion that can make one happy. It’s cathartic to cry and let off steam, and from doing those things one can be even happier.

Dustin: Joy’s character arc was definitely more satisfying than Riley’s. But I guess the characters in her head are what make up her character. I thought that was a powerful lesson for Joy to learn, that a person needs an emotional range, and someone shouldn’t be cheery every moment of their life.

Nick: The most enjoyable parts were when we were thrown inside other people’s heads and shown their emotions. I wonder if your emotions become more ONE the older you get, which is why they all look similar. It seemed as if they were all of the same gender in the parents’ minds while Riley had three girls and two boys as her emotions. This movie had me thinking a lot. Another of my favorite parts was whenever their was a nod towards film in general. Like the area of abstract thought where the characters get thrown into abstract shapes which is a nod to all the animation styles of the past.

Dustin: I also liked the nod toward the TV show Herman’s Head. When I saw the trailer, I thought, What a shameless ripoff. But at one point, Bill Hader’s character, Fear, was hyperventilating into a paper sack, just like the Wimp character on Herman’s Head. That little homage was enough for me to forgive any plagiarism.

Nick: I have no idea what that is, but I would like to know! I’m assuming its a kids cartoon show, which means we have both referenced a kid’s show in the past two reviews!  

Dustin: It was a live-action sitcom on Fox from the early ‘90s. It was fairly PG-13. One of the emotions was lust, and the character was always horny. It featured the talents of Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson) and Hank Azaria (many characters on The Simpsons, including Comic Book Guy). You should try to find the pilot on YouTube or somewhere to get a sense of what it was. It was actually a pretty good show.

Nick: I just looked it up, sounds interesting, though I highly doubt it was the first story with this premise. And I’m curious if it was just a fluke that anxiety would need a paper bag, because I used a paper bag when I had an anxiety attack and it was not an homage to anything.

Dustin: I don’t think it was coincidence. A good writer is aware of similar works when they are working on a project. That’s why I never bought Suzanne Collins’s story about being unaware of Battle Royale when she wrote The Hunger Games. My wife also informed me there was a Japanese manga with the same premise as Inside Out/Herman’s Head.

Nick: Yes, but when you think of a caricature of anxiety, I would picture someone hyperventilating into a paper bag. Not saying you’re wrong, but that’s a thing, so unless there was a comment with it I ain’t buyin’! Archer reference! And Suzanne Collin’s is full of shit! The Hunger Games was a full story ripped off from Battle Royale, which was brushed aside by Collins.

Inside Out had great side characters and gags throughout, from the imaginary friend Bing Bong to Riley’s dream boyfriend, who is a popstar and is obsessed with her and would do anything for her.  

Dustin: Even though this movie wasn’t a tear-jerker like some of Pixar’s other recent films, it was an imaginative, fun adventure with enough visual and emotional variety to carry it. The stakes were refreshingly small-scale for a big-budget film, but felt very real.