Category: Family
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The Secret Life of Pets (***1/2) and Sing (*1/2) shows Illumination is just pumping them out there regardless of quality
It’s plain that Illumination is banking on a distinct visual flair while sacrificing originality of story (and, in Sing’s case, distinct vocal talent). There are worse films out there, but it all makes me happy that my youngest one is 10 and I will likely be skipping more of the automatic animation viewing destinations in…
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Zootopia (****1/2) preaches effectively (mostly)
The best thing is that the bad actors in the end are bad because they use differences to scare the larger voting base into being afraid of the smaller one. Fear, as we know, is the way to get votes these days. Saying someone who scares you is worthy of being scared of is a…
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Finding Dory (***1/2) is about new beginnings and never ending
If anything, this film shows us who the real star of the series is. There would have to be some major work done to incorporate Marlin as essential at this point. I am not sure Nemo ever mattered less.
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Disney slightly improves The Jungle Book (***1/2)
To be sure, I am probably never going to own this film. I may watch it again, but I know there will be more sequels, more remakes and more attempts to improve on the profits of this property. I appreciate it for what it is, and I did like the way the characters look like…
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The Good Dinosaur (***) is very average
How can Pixar release a film that is so average in the same year they release one of their best films? We don’t know either…
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Dolphin Tale 2 (***1/2) Accomplishes what it sets out to do
Dolphin Tale 2 – 2014 Writer and Director Charles Martin Smith Starring Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Morgan Freeman, Bethany Hamilton Dolphin Tale 2 is a continuation of a story that is a sweet if derivative of real events. This time around, Winter, a dolphin – who lost her tail fins and was nursed back to health…
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The Hundred-Foot Journey (**) feels like a trip to McDonald’s
The Hundred-Foot Journey – 2014 Director Lasse Hallström Starring Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon Screenplay Steven Knight based on the book by Richard C. Morais Part of the problem with the wave of Oprah Winfrey endorsed artistic product is that every story feels so antiseptic to actual living. The story that would otherwise be compelling feels…
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Big Hero 6 is better than its individual parts
Big Hero 6 – 2014 Director Don Hall, Chris Williams Starring Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney, T. J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans, Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, James Cromwell Screenplay by Robert L. Baird, Dan Gerson and Jordan Roberts A Marvel property produced entirely by Disney, Big Hero 6 is a treasure in the cinematic universe for both companies. Using a completely original concept…
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Mr. Peabody & Sherman (***1/2) isn’t going to hurt anybody
Mr. Peabody & Sherman – 2014 Director Rob Minkoff Starring Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Leslie Mann, Stephen Colbert, Allison Janney Screenplay Craig Wright based on the show Peabody’s Improbable History by Ted Key Based on a series of cartoon shorts that were part of The Bullwinkle Show, the idea for Mr. Peabody & Sherman resonated for several years in the…
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Maleficent (***1/2) True love falls from trees
Maleficent – 2014 Director Robert Stromberg Starring Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville Screenplay by Linda Woolverton based on Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault While watching Angelia Jolie’s re-imagining of Maleficent, part of me is amazed at the myriad ways one is allowed to see beyond what is really Disney’s most incomplete Princess story..…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 