Last Action Hero (1993) Film Review: An Underappreciated Gem

There are films out there that people love that was originally shunned. These films were tossed away during their original debut from theatres and critics, but gain a new life in home media and groups of fans that love and defend these films, making them cult classics. "Last Action Hero" is one of those films that has a very unique identity from the rest of the cult films in the category. The story revolves around Danny, a boy who loves action films, most specifically Arnold Schwarzenegger films. When he receives a magic ticket to attend a pre-screening of Jack Slater IV, he gets magically transported into the movie, where he now has to help stop the villains with Arnold while also pointing out movie tropes at the same time. For me, the story extremely works by giving you the fantasy of a kid being in a Schwarzenegger movie, which was a dream for many of his young fans at the time. The tone and comedy is where many get divided over the film's quality and entertainment. The tone is light-hearted, since the film is rated PG-13, which is used cleverly in a few jokes. I kind of like the tone as it is, but I understand that people wish that the tone was more adult for potentially funny scenarios. The jokes can be either extremely well-written or have a strange visual gag such as a cartoon cat around actual people or a dogs piling up on each other. Half of the visual gags seem targeted to children, but the other half, the dialogue-based jokes as well as the jokes comparing to real life and film are actually pretty funny as the screenplay understands the genre and character tropes they are satirizing.

Schwarzenegger plays Jack Slater, a fictional LAPD cop who is the typical action hero that always saves the day. As the film goes on, we later see the vulnerability of Slater as he feels that his life isn't great with his wife leaving him, his daughter being an action figure as well, and his son killed in the third film. Outside of his personal drama, Slater is the trope of a Schwarzenegger performance with cheesy one-liners, always smoking cigars, and having low tolerance towards Danny, who is forced to be his partner. Austin O'Brien plays Danny, the youthful adolescent boy that enjoys being on screen with his idol. The movie tries to show off why Danny is the way he is with a dead father and his desire of escapism into the movies from the real world, but it's not really used much in the film. Charles Dance does a fantastic job plays Benedict, the typecast though intelligent lackey who discovers the properties of the magic ticket and plans to cross to the real world, where he claims that the bad guys can win in reality. Side characters include Nick, Danny's friend who owns a run-down theatre, Dekker, Slater's boss who always screams whenever something goes wrong, Vivaldi, the primary antagonist of Jack Slater IV who is a bumbling Italian mobster, and the Ripper, the antagonist of Jack Slater III, who is responsible for killing Slater's son. There are other characters that I'm missing here like Slater's daughter and Danny's mother, but they don't impact the narrative of the film at all. Overall, the characters and performances are all good across the board. They may not be the most deep or developed characters, but they do show great chemistry and dedication to what are basically generic character tropes.

The film is directed by John McTiernan, who has directed action classics such as "Predator" and "Die Hard". Although some claim that the directing duty should have gone to one who is experienced in comedy instead of action, McTiernan does a good job regardless. The comedic moments, particularly the visual gags, are done well, even if they aren't too funny. The action scenes are a bit on the generic side, seeing that the film is poking fun at the action genre, but there are some creative and even funny moments throughout those small bursts of action. The score by Michael Kamen is pretty good with capturing the musical beats of the genre, stand-outs including Slater's epic theme, Benedict's softer, sinister theme, and the theme during the scene when Slater must stop the Ripper from killing Arnold Schwarzenegger in real life. The film also uses a lot of rock and pop songs that I feel help give the movie help in an audio identity with the original score. While McTiernan did a good job directing with the comedy scenes, I do feel that a different director should have been chosen to help give the action scenes more creativity in both content and camerawork.

"Last Action Hero" is a film that I wished performed stronger than it did back in its initial run. Is it the best action-comedy satire every? No. I can't say that it's one of the best comedies out there, since the characters aren't the most memorable due to the tropes they are playing, few jokes don't land, and perhaps a different director could have made this film stand out as one of the greats. As it is though, it's still a very good film with a lot of laughs that make fun of Schwarzenegger, the action genre, and films in general, the actors doing their best in portraying typical character roles, the nice use of original music and licensed tracks, and the overall sensation of a movie being based on many fan's dreams. I believe that this film deserves a remake with Dwayne Johnson either poking fun at action films or perhaps the superhero genre. If a remake is never made, at least this film will stand out as time goes on with the unique narrative and Schwarzenegger's participation in a one of a kind film!

Verdict: 7.5/10 Could have been one of the great comedies if few things were changed, but still remains a very enjoyable film 26 years later!

Tropic Thunder (2008) Film Review: Overly Offensive or Extremely Clever Comedy?

Tropic Thunder is about the production of a film with the same name. A movie based on an event in the Vietnam War that is going down as the most expensive war film that might never be made, due to multiple issues with the director and leading actors. The director, Damien Cockburn, gets the idea to shoot the film guerrilla-style and takes the actors to a secluded part of the country to get them under control. The actors however have stumbled upon the territory of Flaming Dragon, a heroin drug cartel that the leading actor, Tugg Speedman, unknowingly thinks are part of the film. In my opinion, while the story alone works fine, I do feel that it could have more potential. Perhaps more of the actors should have been under the impression that the drug cartel is part of the film or for them to catch on much later that they are in serious trouble. However, changing the story would probably change the characters, which would undermine them and the charasmatic actors. The humour is done in a uniquely, fantastic job. From the fake movie trailers at the start to establish the actors, the characters in general, the line deliveries, the funny situations that happen like dancing producers or real gun fights but with blanks. There is a lot of zany comedy that will ensure laughs from anyone. That's not to say that every joke works though. There is one joke in the middle of a film where the word retard gets used over and over, which is in poor taste and not very funny compared to the rest of the film. It might turn some people off from the rest of the film, but it is just a bad, offensive, joke in a jar of very good jokes.

The characters are no doubt the strongest element in this film. Ben Stiller as Speedman is great as the aging action star that always wanted the chance to be recognized for his acting talent. At times, Speedman can act a bit too silly as if Stiller is turning him into Derek Zoolander, despite Speedman isn't written to be a complete idiot. Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy is well-done as a drug-addict comedian, but feels like a typical Black performance but with the crazy drug withdraws. However, the best performance in the film that even got an Oscar nomination to everyone's surprise is Robert Downey Jr as Kirk Lazarus, an Academy-Award winning method actor, who has transformed into his role as an African-American sergeant and refuses to break character whatsoever. Although this sound completely racist, the movie pokes fun at the idea with characters speaking their mind about his acting and how absorbed he is at the role. It also helps that Downey has some of the best lines in the film. There are a bunch of side characters who are also fun to watch from Jay Baruchel as Sandusky, Brandon T. Jackson as Alpa Chino, a closeted gay rapper,  Matthew McConaughey as Peck, Speedman's agent, and the most memorable side character in the film, Les Grossman, a hot-headed producer played by an unrecognizable Tom Cruise. The entire cast is enjoyable and are very fun to watch work off each other, which is what good comedies should have.

While Ben Stiller isn't recognized as a great director compared to his acting career, a lot of his talent is shown in the film. What is unique in the direction is how the shots can switch from looking professional and commercial, to guerrilla and novice. The professional shots are mostly used during the scenes that are in the fictional films, while the more guerrilla style of shots are used when the actors are in the territory of Flaming Dragon, probably to sell the idea that these shots are in reality and are captured by hidden cameras set up by Cockburn. It's very good filmmaking from Stiller. What is extremely well-done are the action sequences. Stiller made the actions scenes very exciting despite the odd circumstances in the film. Outside of the first action scene which is part of the film being made, the scenes where the actors are fighting Flaming Dragon are done with cool yet hilariously since we know that the actors only have blanks while the drug cartel are actually trying to kill them, but the actors just have amazing luck to survive these attacks. Another funny thing is that no one actually dies in these action scenes, which is similar to the climax of another action-comedy, Hot Fuzz. It fits the tone to the film perfectly, since no one would want to see any of the actors dying and if the actors actually killed any of the bad guys, that would be messed up. The musical score is not often used, but it is supposed to be a generic action/war template, which fits the idea that the movie that is being made is just a generic war film outside of the star power. The songs though are placed in either very fitting or very comedic moments, which is mostly attributed with Grossman dancing to rap or hip-hop songs in two memorable scenes. I believe that this is Stiller's best film he has ever directed.

Tropic Thunder is a well-made comedy with great amount of laughs, hilarious performances, talented directing from Stiller, and some funny yet awesome action scenes, although the potential of an even stronger narrative is present. The question at the end of the day is if the film is very offensive. Personally, outside of the overly long joke regarding the word retard, the film is really not that offensive compared to many other black comedy shows or films. People might point to Downey's performance or the fictional film that is used in the film, "Simple Jack", which is a film about a mentally-handicapped man. In my eyes, "Simple Jack" is kind part of a bigger joke relating to Speedman and Hollywood films as a whole. As for Downey's performance as Lazarus, that got an Oscar nomination, which means that the Academy and critics bought in to the joke of the character overall. At the end of the day, if you don't find the "retard" joke funny at all and it personally offends you, I understand. If you however can look past the one rotten joke, the film is a nice, funny bundle that is a one of a kind deal.

Verdict: 8/10. The story potential and offensive elements holds the film back a bit for me, but this is still a very good comedy that you should check out if you want to see a legendary performance from Downey.

Trading Places (1983) Film Review: The Example Of A Great Comedy

Louis Winthorpe, a successful managing director of a brokerage firm, gets his life flipped upside-down after his bosses, the Duke brothers, make a bit that anyone could do his job, no matter their social status or background. In this case, they grab Billy Ray Valentine, a con man from the streets, and offer the title of managing director. Comedy ensues as Valentine rises up the ladder and Winthorpe is left with no home, money, or friends, except for a prostitute that is willing to help him get off of his feet in exchange for money. If the set-up to this film sounds a bit familiar, that's because it is a modern spin on the classic novel, "The Prince and the Pauper". The story works really well not only as a comedy, but as a nice little story about two men placed in different environments and catching on the shady practices of the ones responsible for their latest developments in life. This is not the funniest film in the genre as it doesn't use many one-liners compared to many other films, but the comedy is delivered extremely well from the set-ups of the narrative. We enjoy seeing Valentine living the good life and becoming more sophisticated, while Winthorpe starts to break down and become more savage. It doesn't make you laugh out loud all of the time, but it makes you chuckle throughout the film. The narrative is the biggest strength for this film as it delivers the laughs and an enjoyable story.

What really works in the film are the characters, who are really well-written and are very likeable, which is needed to make a memorable comedic piece.  Dan Aykroyd is perfectly casted as Winthorpe, as he plays both a stuck-up jerk and a sympathetic loser. In the beginning, the audience hates Winthorpe for his condescending attitude and laugh at his just desserts. However, as he does get stripped away of all of his materials, we do feel bad for him as he does face reality and drops his temper and facade. It makes Winthorpe relatable and real as he does evolve as a character. Eddie Murphy as Valentine is very enjoyable onscreen. It's funny to see him go from a dirty-mouth talking conman to an uptight, well-mannered gentleman as the film goes on. While he does have his stand-out moments of comedy like his disguise on the train and the introduction to his character, Murphy is much more subdued in his performance compared to his later works. The side characters are also very enjoyable and likeable with the exceptions of the Duke brothers, since they are basically the antagonists who are just evil capitalists, although their performances are well done in their own right. Coleman, Winthorpe's butler, is a nice character who really does want to help out both protagonists as much as he can, even participating in the third act. Jamie Lee Curtis as Ophelia is also a fun, charismatic character, being supportive to Winthorpe as well as his unlikely love interest. Almost all of the cast manage to elevate this film with their performances, likeable personalities, and character growth.

John Landis does a great job directing as always. Landis is known for his comedic films that have a silly premise or tone present, but does keep the movies grounded at times and sort of makes them as if these stories happened in real life for instance. Same can be said for "Trading Places." With the exception of the train sequence with gorillas and racially insensitive disguises, the film does play itself out in a grounded feel that has an out-of-ordinary story. Landis's directing portrays Philadelphia as a dirty, grey city where the majority of citizens populating the streets are the working class, while the warm, elegant interiors of Duke & Duke, country club, and Winthorpe's mansion are occupied by wealthy executives and businessman, showing the divide between social classes in these scenes. The soundtrack has a variety of music from Christmas carols, Mozart, and pop songs, all used as they should in each scene they are implemented. I also think a comedy that uses the stock market as a centrepiece in the narrative is unique, due to the stock market being a complicated system for those who aren't familiar with it. The climax could be a bit hard to follow, since if you don't know how the stock market works, you won't follow how exactly Winthorpe and Valentine thwart the Dukes or how much money the duos make or lose. I don't see this as an issue though as the film does its best at trying to explain the stock market to audiences for them to follow the eventual payoffs used in the end of the film.

Overall, "Trading Places" is a perfect example of a comedy that holds strong with repeated viewings. An engaging narrative, likeable characters, well-written comedy, and Landis's directing makes this film stand out as a comedy that is hard to top. Perhaps a few jokes miss and some special ones aren't politically correct, but that's more of the product of the time and shouldn't be looked down upon because of it. Even after 30 years, this film has stood the test of time and remains one of the best comedies in the genre and in Landis's career.

Verdict: 9/10.  It remains not only as a gem of comedy, but a gem that I'm glad that is included on my Blu-Ray collection. Watch it whenever you can, first viewing or not.

Good Boys (2019) Film Review: Good Boys indeed.

Max, Thor, and Lucas are the best of friends entering the 6th grade. When they get invited to a cool kid's party, Max wants to learn how to kiss a girl in preparation of potentially kissing the girl he likes. The gang's shenanigans would lead to them losing Max's drone to two older women, creating a huge misadventure for the tweens. Looking at this description, one can tell that the plot seems a bit loose, which it is. The film is basically silly scenarios with these young boys, which is not a bad thing, but can be a bit messy when it comes to having a narrative. If you have read my "Happytime Murders" review, you would know that I prefer comedies to have the story in the background, since the strength of the genre is humour and memorable set-ups and payoffs. This film is the same. The movie brings in a ton of laughs throughout the film, mostly involving sexual humour or cursing, which works extremely well due to the central characters being tweens and their mindset of thinking swearing is cool, but not fully aware of the world of sexuality. There is some nice physical comedy as well in the mix. A surprising amount of the jokes surprisingly hit with few rarely missing to make me laugh hard.

Jacob Tremblay, Brady Noon, and Keith L. Williams are the highlights in this film as they did a fantastic job acting as what real 10 to 11-year olds act like. Their onscreen chemistry also works as they all act like they knew each other their whole life. Anyone watching the movie can relate to any of the boys with Max being in the transition of a sweet, innocent kid to a pubescent tween, Thor trying to fit with the cool kids by sipping beer and swearing, and Lucas being the responsible kid who chooses to behave like a saint. Personally, Lucas is my favourite of the three, but Max got me to care for him, since Tremblay plays him with such innocence and with a soft, high-pitched voice. As for the side characters, there's really not much to mention since the movie doesn't really focus on side characters that steal the film from the kids, but rather to attempt stealing a scene or two. The only exception would be the two women that took Max's drone, but they are a bit annoying and I felt that they should have been replaced by a child bully, a mean neighbour, or some other character that can have more comedic and narrative potential.

There's nothing to say about Gene Stupnitsky's directing as it's a decent job. It's basic for the comedy genre, which is fine since his directing for the comedy scenarios are very spot-on. The soundtrack used in the film are very good in the scenes they are placed in and don't feel like odd choices at all. The morals used in the film are a bit generic, but it's nice for this type of film. If there is one issue with the directing, it's the choice of the third act to be too dramatic. While there are laughs in the act, they felt much more reduced compared to the rest of the film and tried beating the emotional moments too much, which makes the third act the weakest aspect of the film. The ending isn't bad and it does end on a good note and message, but it doesn't make you leave the theatre feeling very good due to the choice of a more relaxed, dramatic third act.

Overall, "Good Boys" is a good comedy romp. It might not be a great comedy due to the third act, lack of funny side characters, and a strong narrative, but the main characters played by amazing child actors, along with the comedic scenarios they get into, really shine through. The film can relate to the child in heart, the adult comedy fan, or those who remember getting in trouble in their childhood and remembering the stupid things they did like myself. It might not be a contender for my top comedies, but maybe a contender for the funniest film this year at least.

Verdict: 7/10. Watch if you are in a mood for laughs and the feels this month.

The Happytime Murders (2018) Film Review: An Unfortunate Failure Of A Passion Project...

With "Good Boys" coming out this week, it's time to look at a particular R-rated raunchy comedy that also came out in August. I was thinking of reviewing "Sausage Party", since Seth Rogan is attached to both films, but I felt that I should give some light to this box office bomb. Phil Phillips is a hard-boiled, puppet detective who has to investigate the ongoing murders of the cast members of a beloved television series, being forced to work with his old partner from the LAPD, Connie Edwards. That's the gist of the narrative which while the mystery is predictable, you wouldn't be able to catch on until the half-way point in your first viewing, which is much better compared to other murder mystery stories. Now, why does this plot matter anyway? Narratives aren't the strong suit in comedies, since the humour takes centre stage in these films. Well, the issue is that the writing thinks otherwise. The story for some reason takes a bit more attention than the comedy in this film, which is not good seeing how the narrative is pretty generic. As for the comedy itself, it is a definition of a mixed-bag. There are jokes and funny moments in the film, but it really depends on if raunchy adult comedy is your thing, let alone seeing puppets swear or do mature things. It's like watching Family Guy. The jokes can either work or it won't. It also doesn't help that the writing doesn't have anything clever to say. "Sausage Party" was hilarious, because the movie has allegories on religion and belief, making the comedy both funny and thought-provoking. Outside of a few jokes relating to prejudice and racism regarding the puppets, there's not much the writing has anything to say.

While all of the acting and voice-acting is good across the board, the characters are just too generic. Phil is your typical grouchy cop that is the way he is due to a traumatic past. Been there, done that. Other side characters that populate the cliched narrative include the bossy police captain, the FBI assholes, the seductive femme fatale who turns out to be the villain, etc. Whether human or puppet, the role is the same. Melissa McCarthy does a great job acting as Connie, but the problem is that it's the standard arrogant yet clumsy McCarthy role that you see in "Tammy" or "The Boss". Originally, Jamie Foxx was supposed to be the partner for Phil, which I feel would have been more interesting of a duo. I like McCarthy as an actress, but the role she's given in this film doesn't work too great. I think her being more bubbly and silly contrasted to Phil's grumpy nature could have been more dynamic than just two angry, bossy characters.

The director of this film is Brian Henson, who is in fact Jim Henson's son. Brian has even worked on some Muppet films prior to "Happytime Murders", which means that he's very experienced in puppetry and is not some random guy who thinks that seeing puppets swear on the big screen is the funniest thing in the world. Brian had worked on this film for 10 years prior to its release and struggled to get it off the ground during that time. You can tell that Brian made this film as a passion project and one that he just really wanted to do as an experiment and something for fun. His directing is bursting with colour and heavy lighting, just like a Muppet film for instance. The puppetry is also fantastic, using all the tricks in the business to pull off the life-like movement of the puppet characters. During the credits, you can see bloopers as well as the making of specific scenes and not only can you tell that they put effort during filming, but they were enjoying themselves as well. This show of passion is why I don't rip this film to shreds like many others did. That however doesn't mean that the final product is good though.

Overall, "The Happytime Murders" is a meh comedy at the end of the day. While there are some laughs with good directing and effects, the characters, story, and writing of narrative and humour are just too middle-of-the-road for me and doesn't make the film pop out much as a comedy of any sort, outside of the puppet aesthetic. It's a shame, since you can tell that this film could have been so much better if the director noticed that the screenplay needed more work. I can only recommend this film for those that are in a mood for adult humour or fans of shows like "Family Guy", since they can get laughs and enjoyment out of it. If you wanted a more clever comedy that needs more than R-rated puppet scenarios though, this is not for you at all.

Verdict: 5/10. I can't dislike or hate this film based on the passion and mild enjoyment I received from the film, but I can say that it's not a good film at all though.

The Kitchen (2019) Film Review: Needs More Time In The Oven?

When three Irish mobsters are put behind bars for three years, their wives are left in a financial trouble when the new head of the gang refuses to give them money to support themselves. The three woman, Kathy, Ruby, and Claire, decide to form their own organization where local businesses of Hell's Kitchen respect them for their commitments to the community and the protection that they receive from them. Eventually, they take over the Irish mob and start an empire that may or may not fall apart like others have done before. The film does have some neat elements in the story. Certain characters and story elements go in different directions that could either be predictable or out of the blue. To be honest, I was somewhat engaged in the film, unlike the many critics that have panned the film. I won't say that the story is perfect though. Certain motifs in mobster flicks show in the film and some things could have been more elaborated. The narrative is also at a slow pace, which would be fine if the film allows it breath, but the runtime forces the narrative to fasten the pace despite the story itself is designed to be slow in the first place. Imagine "Goodfellas" for example, but instead of a two and a half hour runtime, try an hour and a half to deliver the story. I feel that if the film was more than 2 hours, the script could have been a bit more fleshed out and wouldn't have been a tad messy in areas.

If there is one thing that even the critics have to agree on, it's that the leading stars are acting their hearts out. Melissa McCarthy as Kathy is the central protagonist and is the most relatable, since she has a family to take care of, and tries to be on good terms with her father and husband. McCarthy is putting on a much more subdued performance compared to her type-casted roles. She's not a goofball, but she isn't a bossy hardass. She plays Kathy like a real person. Tiffany Haddish plays Ruby, who isn't popular in the community, since she is a black woman that is looked down upon from the crime family, particularly her mother-in-law. Haddish sells off this underdog that has a bitterness and sort of becomes this aggressive negotiator due to her status as the only non-Irish, black woman in the gang. Elizabeth Moss plays Claire, who is a women who has always been weak and unable to defend herself from her abusers, eventually growing to become an enforcer and a hard-earned criminal with her new lover. Outside of the main cast, there is really not much to talk about for side characters. I will say that outside of Kathy's husband, most of the characters are unlikeable, which to be fair is not a huge issue, since they are criminals to begin with. A problem that many critics are having with the film is whether or not the main characters are likeable and worth following through their journey. I would say that for the case of Kathy, yes. Claire as well since you do want her to evolve into more than a victim and find someone that loves her truly, despite her violent and bitter evolution. Ruby on the other hand can be seen as the most unlikeable central character in the film, since she does some questionable things in the film in order to achieve her power and finances. True, she did earn it to an extent, but she does become more unlikeable as the film goes on. So as far as characters go, Kathy is the most likeable and more fleshed out, which is helped by McCarthy's performance.

The film was the directorial debut of Andrea Berloff, an acclaimed screenwriter, who I have to say that there are some things that I feel that she did well and did terribly in the director's chair. The lighting, cinematography, and production design really sells you into being transported in 1970's New York. It's not the most visually pleasing film as there's not a lot of colour being shown, but that's just the visual style for the setting. The film is a gritty tale in New York, hence the washed-out dirty visual eye. So, Berloff did a great job nailing the atmosphere and visual feel. I also like the songs that were included in the film, which were appropriate in the time period. However, the editing is very poor. Scenes end out of nowhere and feel that there were a cut a bit too soon, which conflicts with the slow pace of the film. The editing can work in some sequences, but most of the time when the film is focused on the characters, the editing has no direction at all. Another thing that I feel hurt the film was the ending. I won't spoil it, but it basically comes out of nowhere. Mostly because the scene that the movie ends on feels nothing like the ending at all. It felt like the climax rather than an ending, as if the movie just wanted to be over as soon as it could have once the actions were in place. I will just say that showing the scene out of context and removing the end credits would convince you that the scene is not the ending of the film at all, but it strangely is. I can't tell you the specifics of the ending, since the film just came out and you could still be interested in watching the film, but I will say that it caught me off guard in the theatre.

Overall, "The Kitchen" isn't a terrible film or nearly as bad as critics make it out to be. Does that make it a great movie? Not really. It's decent at best in my opinion. The film has an extremely strong cast of actors and an engaging story, but most of the characters are not really likeable (though it is by design), the editing, the pacing of the narrative, and the ending are pretty big issues. I should also point out if this is a good woman-empowerment film, which many disagree with, since the females are doing criminal acts. I would still say yes to a certain degree, since you understand the dilemmas and choices the characters make in the film. Now, does that mean Claire and Ruby are good role models? Of course not. But, you still see the injustice the women go through that you do want them to become in charge of things, which makes the film work as a female empowerment film in my opinion. At the end of the day, I'm not pushing you out to see the movie, but if you are interested in it at least, I would still say it's worth at least a viewing to appreciate the qualities it has.

Verdict: 6/10. Not the worst film you can watch this summer, but only watch for the actors, visual flair, and the few unique story elements if you don't have plans to watch anything else.

Spy (2015) Film Review: The Perfect Melissa McCarthy Flick

Since I will be reviewing "The Kitchen" this week which Melissa McCarthy is top-billed in, I should review a film starring one of the most polarizing actresses in recent memory. It was tricky picking out just one film to review, but I settled on what I believe is one of the most funniest films I have seen in recent years. "Spy" centres around Susan Cooper, a desk-bound CIA assistant, who is the only one in the agency to capture a stolen nuclear device after all field agents are exposed, leaving Susan to use her wit and training to save the day. It's your typical spy thriller plot, but with an extreme dose of comedy ranging from slapstick, vulgar, to situational humour. Most of the jokes surprisingly hit the mark due to the clever and witty writing, as well as the film not taking the concept seriously. Of course Susan is going to be given lame gadgets and identities, of course she will hurt or humiliate herself during chase scenes, that's the charm of the film. If you can't stand it, then you are taking the film way too seriously and really think that you are watching a serious James Bond-like film.

Melissa McCarthy plays Susan like no one else could. I know people who both adore or hate McCarthy and I can think that it's due to her filmography. Many people are not a fan of the slapstick/vulgar comedy as well as the typecast role of being either a clumsy fool, an arrogant annoyance, or both. Sure, some films that star her aren't great, but others aren't bad ether. It really depends on the writing that can use these cliched or typical roles enjoyable. In this case, Susan isn't really generic. The movie shows that she had trained to be a spy and is capable of doing great as a field agent, her flaws are just her insecurities and her figure. She had an arrogant side to her, but she always kept it hidden since she was too shy to speak out to her superiors. Now that she is on the field, she can express herself. McCarthy overall does a fantastic job. Jason Statham portrays what is supposed to be this badass agent who is really a fool and not great at his job in an over-the-top and hilarious matter. Rose Byrne is well-casted as the villain who is very bratty and brings out some good laughs thanks to the work-off of McCarthy. Lastly, Jude Law plays the top field in the agency, a typical Bond-archetype that isn't really used much in the film and only brings out a few chuckles. I also love Susan's best friend Nancy, the very horny Aldo, and 50 Cent's cameo. The cast does a great job overall with McCarthy stealing the show as usual.

Paul Feig did an awesome job directing and writing the film. I know people give him slack for the "Ghostbusters" reboot, but outside of that film, most of his other works prove that he's a talented, comedic director. Not only does the cinematography capture the streets of Paris, Rome, and Budapest in Susan's perspective, but the action sequences were well-made and edited for a comedy film. Feig's script blends the spy and comedy genre perfectly as it's not a complete spoof or parody like "Austin Powers".  People could watch this movie if they are looking for pure comedy or even a spy-action flick. So, I consider this Feig's best film to date. Some might say "Bridesmaids" or "The Heat" is his best film, but I feel that Feig perfected his comedic filmmaking in this movie with good cinematography, action, lighting, and editing.

Overall, "Spy" is in my opinion the best film that starts Melissa McCarthy as the leading role to date. With great comedy, fun action scenes, hilarious cast of characters, and the perfected use of Feig's handiwork, this is the film I bring up if people say that movies with McCarthy are never good or if they don't know which film in her career to start watching. If you are planning to watch it, I recommend getting the Unrated Cut, which is on Blu-Ray or on digital stores, since there are a few more jokes left out of the theatrical cut that I really wished they left in.

Verdict: 9/10. It seems too high for some, but this is how much I really found the film both charming and entertaining to me as a comedy in recent years.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019) Film Review: Tarantino's Best Film Yet?

The 9th film from Quentin Tarantino is an unusual film to talk about when it comes to a narrative. Mostly because it doesn't really have a huge set-up or journey, which is similar to his previous film, "Pulp Fiction". The audience is mostly following the characters of Rick Dalton, Cliff Booth, and Sharon Tate. Dalton is an aging actor who thinks that he has become a has-been, Cliff stumbles onto the Manson family, and Tate just lives her life. The film does plenty of misdirection throughout, as it is making you think twice of what the narrative and scenarios will follow. I won't be spoiling them, since it should be watched to experience, but most of the film is set up like a slice of life story, where you just see these characters go throughout their day.

Dalton is played perfectly by Leonardo DiCaprio, who gives out both comedy and his character faults in a very likeable way. You want Rick Dalton to rise up in stardom, just like he did in his hit show that the film opens up with. Booth, played by Brad Pitt, is most likely going to be everyone's favourite character in the film, as he gets the most laugh-out and badass moments in the film. As for Margot Robbie playing the real-life actress Sharon Tate, she does a good job although some might see no point for her inclusion in the film, since like I mentioned, Tarantino subverts your expectations of the film. There are so many side characters and cameos that I can't mention at all though, but they are nice to have in the film.

Once again, Tarantino delivers a perfect job directing in this film. The cinematography and editing is great no matter the context of the scene or the actions of the characters. The 1969 L.A setting is captured brilliantly by the music tracks, production design, and how the scenes just let you breath in the surroundings. The film has a lot of meandering scenes like when Booth prepares dinner for him and his dog, Dalton and Booth watching an episode of "FBI" with their commentary, or Tate just watching "The Wrecking Crew" with the audience laughing or cheering when she's onscreen. There are a lot of small moments that's used up in the 2-hour, 40-minute runtime, but the few big moments in the film's narrative like Dalton acting on a set or the Manson Family involvement help get others engaged with the film. I personally love the slow moments in this film, mostly thanks to the 1969 aesthetic and how you enjoy the characters as a whole.

Before this film, my favourite Tarantino film was "Django Unchained". However, this film might take its place as my favourite. Sure, Django is the more engaging film as it does have a stronger narrative and has extremely satisfying scenes, but "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" is a satisfying film in general, thanks to its slow pace, wonderful directing and misdirection, entertaining characters, and a blast of nostalgia of 60's culture. Before my verdict, I should address the ending without spoiling it of course. Some might not be a fan of the ending, most likely due to the extreme violence against woman in the climax. I will say that the violence is justified in the context of the scenario and what characters are involved, but I will say that it took me by surprise, despite me and the entire audience laughing out of enjoyment.

Verdict: 10/10. Seeing how that is now my favourite Tarantino film, I heavily recommend for you all to check it out and witness this masterpiece in theatres!

Hobbs & Shaw (2019) Film Review: A Blast Of Fun And Testosterone

When a genetically-enhanced assassin named Brixton is in pursuit of Deckard Shaw's sister after she has taken a deadly virus, it is up to Shaw and Luke Hobbs to keep the virus and Shaw's sister away from a seemingly unstoppable force. This is the summary of the film, which will not include spoilers whatsoever. The plot manages to work well enough as a stand-alone film without having to see the "Fast & The Furious" films as a whole. The only thing that you need context of is the bitter rivalry between Hobbs and Shaw as the film doesn't elaborate on the events of "Fast 7", which is where the duo first meet. The story is your typical buddy-cop action formula, which many moviegoers can follow easily just like I did, since I had only watched "Fate of the Furious" in the entire franchise.

All of the actors do their job in delivering the performance of the characters. Of course, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham steal the show, thanks to their personalities and chemistry onscreen. Personally, Statham was my favourite actor in the film as Shaw is an enjoyable character due to his nature of a hardass that does have a good heart underneath his exterior. Vanessa Kirby also does a good job playing Hattie Shaw, as she manages to deliver a likeable character in her first debut in the franchise. If there was one performance that I feel disappointed with, it has to be Idris Elba as the villain. While Brixton is an intimidating villain due to his enhanced abilities, Elba seems to not have a direction with the character's personality. Perhaps if Elba played it with more charismatic energy or seriousness, Brixton wouldn't be one of the weaker elements of the film.

David Leitch did a great job directing the film. Not only were the action sequences great to watch and well-made, but other scenes such as the introductions to Hobbs and Shaw's morning routine were creatively done. The film had a style and feeling that feels unique to the franchise that rivals James Wan's directing in Fast 7. There's not much that I can say that was poorly done on Leitch's behalf. The writing can be very clever at times when it comes to the humour. My theatre was mostly empty, so I can't tell if the jokes will be extremely funny to an entire audience. For me though, a lot of the jokes land as well as the excitement from seeing certain action pieces. The score from Tyler Bates however did need more work as it was mostly generic background music during action sequences.

Overall, Hobbs & Shaw is really a film made to be the summer blockbuster in the month of August. It was made for fun, excitement, and laughs. It did its job well and it met my expectations. It might not be a smart film or the most creative in recent years, but it's good for what it is. You can't beat a good old buddy-cop formula for a time at the theatres.

Verdict: 7.5/10. Watch if you love action comedies or if you enjoy seeing Statham or Johnson onscreen