Book Smart: All Work And No Play

Book Smart is a comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde. The plot sees two straight A students Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein), decide to have one wild night of partying before they graduate high school. This comes as a result of the girls choosing work over partying, only to find out that their choice made no difference and was my all means futile.

I rewatched this last night and I have to say it is an exceptionally smart film, it manages to keep a lot of the sex comedy traditions alive, but also modernism them and add a feminist spin. It is interesting to see the ‘one wild night that will define the rest of their lives’ plot line from a female perspective. Much like its predecessor Blockers, this film adds to growing number of females coming of age films.

Personally, I think this film was so relatable and true, it felt realistic, well to a point, the situations the girls find themselves in aren’t that wacky and over the top as can be the case with a lot of other sex comedies. I also loved the style of the film and the way it is shot; I think Wilde has a clear eye and can do stylish very well, even her slow-motion sequences worked; which is not something I often say.

The characters are well written and deep, which again is not really something you would expect from a teen sex comedy, even the side characters prove to be more than they first appear to be; which is very nice to see. The best supporting character is easily Billie Lourd as Gigi, who is a scene stealer whenever she is on screen. The main duo are likable and relatable, Feldstein especially. Molly as a character easily has a lot of the best moments in the film.

Overall, a very strong, very honest debut for Wilde. A nice breath of fresh air in an ever-decaying sub-genre. This film deserved more love than it got.

Pros.

Smart.

Well written.

Well-rounded characters.

Funny.

It is a breath of fresh air.

Cons.

Kaitlyn Dever is the weak link.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Super-Size Me: Ronald McDonald’s Day In Court.

Super-Size Me is a documentary film directed by and staring Morgan Spurlock. The film explores the role that fast food plays in our modern lives as well as asking what degree of responsibility the fast food/ junk food companies have in the rising tide of obese people in the world today. The answers hit hard and close to home.

Before I get into this review, I just want to say that Morgan Spurlock has admitted to a history of sexual misconduct and that Jared, the peado, from subway also makes a rather unsettling appearance, so be warned. While I was watching it, I managed to separate the art from the artists, so it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the film.

This film is fascinating because it tries to show where the line between personal responsibility ends and corporate responsibility begins. Is it McDonald’s fault there are more and more people becoming obese and suffering from things like heart disease? There is no clear answer as the film shows. However, it also exposes cultural practices that try and trick consumers and create a cycle of addiction; which isn’t the best look for Ronald and Co.

The best thing I think this film does is show you just how important the fast food industry is as well as how baked into society it is. People are conditioned to think a certain way about it and even crave it, even though it is slowly destroying their bodies. I think it is almost impossible to watch this film and not rethink eating fast-food; even if that thought is only fleeting. The film does such a good job convincing you and winning you around to its viewpoint that it is very hard to argue against.

Overall, a reverting documentary that asks a lot of hard questions about our relationship with food, highlighting what it can do to us if we are not careful. A cautionary tale for sure.

Pros.

Fascinating.

Not afraid to ask hard questions.

Or show their answers, even if they’re unpleasant.

Will have an effect on your life.

Cons.

The people involved make it off putting to a degree.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

Stan And Ollie: Going Out On Top

Stan and Ollie is a biographical comedy drama film directed by Jon S. Baird. It follows the last tour of beloved classic comedians Laurel and Hardy and details the later years of their life/ partnership. It gives us the audience a peak behind the curtain into the lives of these two funny men and it is far from singing and dancing happy. This film is as heart-breaking as it is hilarious.

I would say for sure this film is more of a drama than a comedy, there are funny moments scattered throughout, especially if you like their version of comedy, but a lot of it is sad. That is the nature of life though, especially if you’re a performer, a day will come when you have to take the curtain call one last time.

I think both actors do a great job and get you to really care about the characters. Steve Coogan sells Laurel as an almost tragic figure, still haunted by events from the past, but also a person who just wants to recapture his friendship with his best friend. John C. Riley is also incredible as Hardy, we can see the toll carrying on performing has on him, but he continues on anyway. Both men manage to capture the friendship between the two perfectly making it believable. Riley especially is a really good, really strong dramatic actor and things like this prove that he can shine outside of the comedy genre.

There is a real earnest sense of tragedy to this film that pervades it entirely, it hits you hard and it will make you feel something. It is because of this that when you get what is essentially a bittersweet ending it makes you cry and cheer, all because the film has made you care about these men.

Overall, a touching biopic about some of the best comedians of the Golden Age, Coogan and Riley show off their talents as both comedic and dramatic actors, giving damn fine performances. This film will affect you emotionally.

Pros.

Riley and Coogan

A near perfect biopic.

Touching/sweet.

The ending.

Cons.

Quite bleak at times, it might not be what you’re expecting.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

A Long Way Down: An Anti-FeelGood Comedy

A Long Way Down is a comedy drama film directed by Pascal Chaumeil. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The plot follows four people who were all going to kill themselves on New Years Eve, but because of the arrival of the others didn’t. They then all agree to a life pact, an opposite suicide pact and agree to stay alive until Valentines Day. Through their shared pains and new-found friendships they learn to heal and find new reasons to live.

This is the sort of the film you would expect it to be, it is mushy and overly emotional, it ends with all of the characters happy and moved on from their respective issues and two of the character get together; incredibly predictably. That is my issue with this film, everything that you think will happen does. Anyone who has ever seen a similar film before could easily tell you exactly the twists and turns of this film before they even watch this. Formulaic is a word that easily describes this film.

Another thing that bothered me about this film is that considering it is a feel good, mushy film it is not all that happy. A lot of this film is the opposite of inspiring and uplifting, it is depressing. I get that the point is to show them as having nothing left to live for and then turn it around over the course of the film, but rather than do this the film feels bleak until the final 5 minutes and then you get a manic burst of happiness all at once.

Furthermore, Pierce Brosnan’s character is a peado, there is no way around it, the reason he wants to kill himself is because prior to the events of the film his character has an affair with a girl he thought was 25, but it turned out she was 15. We are told this from the off and are then expected to cheer for him and be glad he doesn’t kill himself, but you feel icky the whole time when you think about it. It feels like a needless inclusion for him to be a peado, he could have just had an affair that ruined his life, she didn’t need to be a child.

Overall, this is a feel-good film that isn’t particularly feel good, it wants you to cheer on a sex offender and it is incredibly predictable, so…….

Pros.

The cast is solid.

Cons.

It is depressing.

He is a peado.

It is predictable.

It is painfully average.

1/5

Hunt For The Wilderpeople:Gangsters For Life

Hunt For The Wilderpeople is a comedy drama directed by Taika Waititi. The plot follows Ricky (Julian Dennison), a young troubled boy, who is taken in by an older couple; when his new aunt dies he is left alone with his new uncle Hec (Sam Neil), and the two of them are pursed into the New Zealand bush by the police and by child protective services. Together they go on a journey.

Waititi films are always very special, they’re unique and anyone who has ever seen one will know what I am talking about, they’re quirky and have a distinct voice. This film is proof of that. On it’s surface this film is a coming of age story about a troubled young boy looking for somewhere to belong and a broken-down old man looking for a reason to carry on. However, underneath this there is so much more, it is a story about misfits finding each other about optimism and hope, about the human spirit and never giving up. As such it is easily incredibly uplifting.

The main duo are good, particularly Neil, he plays the bushmaster Hec with a degree of hardened pessimism as well as a misunderstood good heart. The relationship the two share is beautiful, they are so different and yet they come together, and the results are beautiful. The ending of the film when Ricky has a new family, but still wants Hec in his life is so touching and sweet you can’t help but cheer.

The best thing about this film is the cameos, from Waititi himself as well as his regular collaborator Rhys Derby. Waititi plays the priest that carries out Ricky’s adoptive aunt’s funeral and who lays out the philosophy of the film in a simple and funny way and Derby’s incredible performance highlights the film’s central theme, love for the outsider.

Overall, this is a very beautiful, touching film and everyone involved did a great job.

Pros.

The relationship between Hec and Ricky.

The performances of Neil and Dennison.

The humour.

The cameos.

The film’s sensibilities.

Cons.

None at all.

5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Tully: Help When Needed

Tully is a comedy drama film directed by Jason Reitman. It tells the story of a struggling mum of three Marlo (Charlize Theron), who forms a bond with her night nanny Tully (Mackenzie Davis). Tully seems to make everything in Marlo’s life better, while always remaining mysterious and wise beyond her years.

Let’s start off with the most important bit, the twist. In the final moments of the film it is revealed that Tully never existed and that everything that she has done was actually Marlo, having some sort of mental break. The twist isn’t hugely surprising, as right from the beginning there is clearly something off about Tully, however due to the good writing it is never obvious quite what is going on and there are multiple red herrings throughout that throw you off what is actually going on.

This film I believe is classified under the wrong genre, rather than being a comedy film, or even a dark comedy, it is by all means a horror film. It shows motherhood and parenthood as hellish, a never-ending cycle of sleepless nights and screaming kids, this film is enough to put anyone off wanting to have kids.

Mark Duplass plays Marlo’s brother Craig and even though he is only onscreen a very little bit he is terrific every second he is on screen. The two share a scene together and it is electric, and they have a great on-screen connection together.

On top of this the relationship between Tully and Marlo is also fantastic, the two women have a great bond, that sometimes verges on the extreme; which is highlighted in one really uncomfortable scene. Mackenzie Davis is amazing as always; she has a great quirky energy to her that reminded me in a lot of ways of Ellen Page in Juno.

Overall, the performances in this film are terrific and its depiction of motherhood is grounded and realistic; which makes this film a horror in every sense of the word. This film is an acquired taste, but if you give it a go you will see that it has something powerful to say.

Pros.

The performances.

The writing.

The realistic depiction of motherhood.

Cons.

The twist.

Some of the scenes are quite uncomfortable to watch and they don’t add much.

3/5

Reviewed by Luke

500 Days Of Summer: You Never Know What Is Around The Corner

500 Days Of Summer is a romantic comedy drama directed by Marc Webb. The plot see hopeless romantic Tom (Joseph Gordon Levitt), fall for Summer (Zoey Deschanel) a girl who believes true love doesn’t exist.

The film details the events the lead up to their relationship, their relationship and then what happens after they break up.

In many ways, this is an anti rom com, the two leads don’t end up together at the end of the film, the both end up in relationships with other people. However, that is the whole point of this film, it knows what a rom com is, and it goes against genre stereotypes in near every way to try and make something that is entirely different.

This is an incredibly nuanced film. It portrays love as it really is with all the highs and lows making the cut rather than portraying it in the idolised over the top ways a lot of romantic comedies do, which simply isn’t how real life is like; Bridget Jones wouldn’t exist in the real life.

Both Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zoey Deschanel are fantastic, they have great onscreen chemistry and are both easily charming and charismatic. They both add a lot to this film’s quirky sensibilities which really set it apart from other parts and makes it feel unique and special.

What’s more as a hopeless romantic myself I love the ending, just when it seems like all hope has been lost and that maybe fate and true love don’t exist the revelation comes that Summer was all part of fate’s plan for Tom and then the love of his life is just round the corner. This film borrows a lot from the logic of How I Met Your Mother.

Overall, this is a romantic comedy unlike anything else, both of the leads are great, and the ending is uplifting. Defiantly something to get you through the hard times.

Pros.

The ending.

The quirkiness.

The two leads.

The non-linear time structure.

Cons.

Misleading for people wanting to see a rom com as this isn’t that.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Kidding: The Perils Of Kids TV

Kidding is a comedy drama series created by Dave Holstein. The series revolves around a kid’s TV presenter Jeff Pickles (Jim Carrey), who loses his son in a road traffic accident before the events of the series. He carries on working, but his mental health deteriorates, and we the audience watch his breakdown.

I love Jim Carrey, I think he is one of the best actors working today, over the years he has proven he can do both drama and comedy really well and this show is proof of that. Carrey excels himself here, he is the perfect actor to play a Mr Rogers type gone bad. He plays the character with a degree of wholesomeness, but a wholesomeness that feels like it has been taught more than existing naturally. Furthermore, he also conveys the characters breakdown really well, becoming almost frightening at times, he manages to be both loveable and menacing; which is something only Jim Carrey could do.

Moreover, all of the characters on the show are imperfect, they have done bad things of varying degrees, but they are still loveable, and you still root for them to succeed. Later in the series we learn that Jeff’s pen pal is a death row inmate who has killed several people, however, when Jeff meets up with the man’s son and hears the story from his point of view it is shown to be far more nuanced. That is the perfect description for this show, nuanced.

Kidding isn’t always the easiest show to watch, as there are a lot of deeply uncomfortable moments scattered throughout, but despite this you can’t tear your eyes away and you want to watch it all at once. There are as many happy moments as there are sad ones and they balance each other out very nicely, making the show feel very well balanced.

Overall, this is a damn near perfect show, it is easily one of the best shows I have seen in recent years and proves that Jim Carrey is a fantastic actor. Season 2 comes out here in the UK next week and I can’t wait. If you haven’t seen it yet, you defiantly should make it your next binge!

Pros.

Jim Carrey.

Maintaining the balance between happy and sad.

The songs and the imagination.

The emotional moments.

The ending, that I won’t ruin here.

5/5.

Reviewed by Luke

Broad City: The Best Show YOU Haven’t Seen

Broad City is a sitcom created by and starring Abbi Jacobsen and Ilana Glazer. The plot follows the two as they live and love in New York city. The series is supposed to be somewhat autobiographical, based on the two’s real-life friendship and their years trying to make it in the big city. It ran for 5 series from 2014-2019.

The reason why I like this series so much is because it is the closest thing to real life, I have seen on television possibly ever. The way the two go about life, is very close to how I go about my own life. The series deals with some really quite heavy themes, such as depression and self esteem issues, which I applaud it for; much like something like Atlanta, this show also manages to handle these darker themes in comedic way, whilst also treating them with respect.

I think another reason why this show is so important is because it features two strong self-motivated female leads, who are both in charge of their own destiny and live they way they want to live. I think this show is great as there are few other shows like it on TV and when you watch it you will see what I mean.

Both of the leads are hilarious, Glazer and Jacobsen both make me laugh at least a few times every episode, another reason this show is so good and so special is because there is very few bad episodes; most of the episodes are good and some of them are great.

The wider supporting cast which has changed over the series is also fantastic. Hannibal Buress as IIana’s on again off again boyfriend Lincoln is a very welcome presence on-screen, he has some of the best jokes on the show and his relationship with IIana is sweet and wholesome; it is one that you root for over the course of the show as you want the two of them to end up together.

Overall, this was one of the best shows on TV and one that will sorely be missed. You should definitely check it out if you haven’t already seen it.

Pros.

Both of the leads are hilarious.

It is empowering.

Hannibal Burgess is hilarious.

There are no bad episodes.

Cons.

Okay there are one or two bad episodes, but more slow than bad.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

Housebound: The Boy Before Brahms

Housebound is a New Zealand horror comedy film directed by Gerard Johnstone. The plot follows criminal Kylie (Morgana O’ Riley), who is sentenced to house arrest in her childhood home, once she arrives back home, she realises that something is wrong, there are supernatural goings on, or at least that is how it first appears.

This film is a horror comedy, that I don’t think works hugely well as either, the horror isn’t very scary; though there are a few good moments that will make you jump. The comedy is defiantly the central focus of this film and that didn’t work for me either, I didn’t find myself laughing and as I watched it, I wished they had focused on one for the other.

What’s more the film is oddly paced, there is a twist, that I will talk about in a minute, but rather than have the twist near the end of the film, it happens midway through. The reason this is an issue is it makes the film feel like two separate features and both seem to drag on.

The twist of the film is that their house use to be a halfway house that was the site of a horrific murder, however there is no ghost, rather all of the strange goings on are a result of a man from the halfway house who still lives in the walls; yes it is The Boy, about two years before it.

For me I liked the twist, I think it fitted perfectly into the manic absurd nature of the film, I didn’t see it coming.

Furthermore, I think O’ Riley makes this film, she is fantastic throughout and you get to watch her character develop throughout the course of the film. She starts off the film as a troubled youth who doesn’t really care about anyone but herself, but by the end of the film she rises to the occasion as the hero and proves she does care about those around her.

Overall, I think that this film has moments of greatness and O’ Riley is superb, however, for me the comedy and the horror don’t work together and instead clash horribly, which heighten the already bad pacing issues.

Pros.

Morgana O’ Riley is great.

The twist is good.

There are some good scares scattered throughout.

Cons.

The two styles don’t mash.

The pacing issues ruin it.

3/5.

Reviewed by Luke