The Losers

It’s The A-team lite. (If that’s something that really needs a “lite” version.) Plenty of shooting and ass-kicking, double-crosses and betrayals. A good filler of time, but won’t resonate. It’s just too featherweight; too fleeting.

Kick Ass

Yep. I saw it again.

Kick Ass

SPOILER ALERT!

Surprisingly dramatic, Kick Ass does a good job of motivating the hero; frontloading the movie with visceral, vengeance-triggering clashes so when it comes time for the hero to “kick ass” – she does. That’s the big twist. One of a few really good surprises about this that puts it a cut above: The hero is “Hit Girl.” And “Kick Ass” is more of a sidekick. Yes, he has a small arc. But nothing like the show-stopping and scene-stealing bloodbath dispensed by the violent little hellion played by Chloe Moretz. The filmmakers expertly and methodically set-up her story, as told by her father, Nic Cage’s “Big Daddy.” And being patient pays off. Kick Ass lives up to its title. You’d be surprised how happy you’ll be watching this ten-year-old girl not just kick the asses of but brutally KILL everyone in her path. Sure, it derives a lot from Kill Bill, The Professional, and a slew of fetishy Japanese action flicks. But that’s the point: to give you what you want. And you want to see a ten-year-old in a Catholic school girl outfit dismembering goons. Don’t you?

Clash of the Titans

This has been a tough entry to write because I don’t really have anything to say about this movie. Sam Worthington is becoming the go-to leading man. I can see why. He’s sincere and formidable. But kind of bland here. The 3-D was retrofitted, so sometimes it seems funky and jerky. It’s not terrible, but just totally forgettable.

The Big Lebowski

Great seeing this on the big screen at Lebowski Fest 2010. Like a rock concert with thousands of screaming fans.

Hot Tub Time Machine

The viewing public and the ad campaign would have you believe that Hot Tub Time Machine is all about reliving your youth, righting wrongs, and generally getting a “do-over” in life to fulfill your long-lost dreams. But there was another layer about losing touch with your old friends as you get older. The issue comes up many times in the dialogue. How did the main characters lives stall-out, or take such drastic turns away from their young man dreams? Because they lost touch with their close friends, who egg them on when encouragement is needed and check-up on them once in while, so the burden of loneliness doesn’t take over. None of these issues really get resolved beyond a quick line of dialogue or two, but it’s interesting that they’re there. Maybe they’ll dig more deeply into that in the sequel.

Otherwise, it’s a funny movie with some of the usual sex-comedy shenanigans. Performances are par for the course, except for an especially funny turn from time-travel movie veteran Crispin Glover as an armless bell-hop. I laughed from beginning to end. Not pee-in-my-pants laughter, but the amused chuckling kind of laughter, which is fine with me.