On Cable: Starz on Demand -Couples Retreat (2009)-Written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn and Dana Fox and directed by Peter Billingsley. Starring Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell, and Jason Bateman. Much like many of Vaughn's newer movies this movie dealt with poor reviews. But unlike the more deserving Fred Claus and Four Christmases, Couples Retreat I felt held some good entertainment value. A little more wholesome than we are accustom to from the Favreau/Vaughn duo, why is it they are bashed for tapping into the 'romantic comedy' genre when people like Matthew McConaughey and Julia Roberts have made entire careers by doing so? Not to mention the latter are even praised for being great actors! To me, a movie like 'Couples Retreat' shows a tiny bit of range for two guys who have been criticized for being typed cast in the past as playing the same characters a lot. Im not gonna try and sell you that movies like this are GREAT cinema, but speaking strictly entertainment value, there are far worse movies one can watch nightly on Cable. So if you have a date, and would like to sit down with her or him to something not too serious, I would highly recommend this movie.
*Action rating; 0/5, is virtually no action in this flick
*Sex appeal; 4/5, plenty of scantily clad starlets on paradise island
*Comedic appeal; 4/5, classic and typical Favreau and Vaughn, kind of a Mikey and Trent 15 years later after marriage and kids. (Swingers reference)
*Deep thought rating; 2/5, only thought is really the underlying messages about marriage and dealing with struggling relationships, but not too deep at the end of the day.
-RottenTomatoes.com rating=15%
-IMDB rating=5.5/10
-CVB rating=5/10
-Final comments- definitely worth watching on cable if you havent seen it yet, if it was a rental situation I would say stay away if you are not a fan of Favreau and Vaughn.
On Video: Rented through Netflix- MacGruber (2010)- Written and Directed by Jorma Taccone; Starring Will Forte, Ryan Phillipe, Val Kilmer, Kristen Wig... Part of me wants to be able to tell you that if you do not take yourself too seriously, then you ll be able to enjoy this movie. Unfortunately, I cant tell you that, because this movie is not that great. The good news is there is actually some very funny parts of this movie despite all of its other short comings. I did in fact laugh out loud once or twice. Whereas some of the dialog is actually more funny than the that of the actual skit on Saturday Night Live, it was hardly strong enough to be the basis of a full featured movie.
*Action rating; 3/5, 3 because there is a lot of action, but only 3 because it is not very good action sequences.
*Sex appeal; 0/5, unless you like male nudity.
*Comedic appeal; 4/5, definitely the strongest aspect of the movie, good for some laughs if you are drunk or high. (btw, I do not recommend the use of any illicit drugs)
*Deep thought rating; 0/5, YEAH RIGHT!
RottenTomatoes.com rating=48%
IMDB rating=5.6/10
CVB rating=4/10
Final comments-rent if you are desperate for any kind of laugh, but otherwise this is definitely a movie that you can wait for on cable, even if it will be butchered by editting on regular TV, not much content to butcher.
On the Big Screen: Let Me In (2010)- Written and Directed by Matt Reeves, Starring Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit McPhee and Richard Jenkins. This clever and thoughtful remake of the Swedish film "Let the right one in" (2008), is beautiful enough in its own merit, that even if you saw the original, this will be equally as wonderful. Enchanting and thrilling, this movie captures an awesome mix of fantasy, Sci fi, and Horror. Yet just another A++++ performance from the always impressive Richard Jenkins, this movie was truely stolen by the young debut of Chloe Moretz. This script which Hitchcock himself would marvel at, always includes some of the best cinematography of any movie that I have seen this year! If you can find a theatre that is still running this movie as it has been out for a few weeks now, jump on it and see it immediately. Otherwise it looks like you may have to be relegated to waiting to see it on DVD.
*Action rating; 4/5, should keep you on the edge of your seat in suspense
*Sex appeal; 4/5, strangely erotic in a lolita meets true blood kind of way
*Comedic appeal; 0/5, nothing really of a comedic value in this movie
*Deep thought rating; 5/5, a movie Shyamalan wishes he had remade, the ending is a bit of surprise.
RottenTomatoes.com rating=89%
IMDB rating=7.5/10
CVB rating=9.5/10
Final comments- this movie is everything Twilight wishes it was,... and isnt.
UPDATED CVB BEST MOVIES OF 2010
1. Let Me In
2. Catfish
3. Social Network
4. Kick-Ass
5. Despicable Me
6. Predators
7. Devil
8. Shutter Island
9. Date Night
10. How to Train Your Dragon
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