Posted by Jared Mobarak on November 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment
“You said I was trenching!” I knew things weren’t going to go as hoped when the lack of a short film before Ralph Breaks the Internet brought a filmed introduction by three of its middle-aged, male creators instead. They pretend as though they’re personally beaming themselves into our theater to share their gratitude with fake […]
Category action/adventure, animation, comedy, family, film reviews · Tags Alfred Molina, Bill Hader, Ed O'Neill, Gal Gadot, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, John C. Reilly, Pamela Ribon, Phil Johnston, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Rich Moore, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P. Henson, Wreck-It Ralph
Posted by Jared Mobarak on August 11, 2016 · Leave a Comment
“Just follow the shells” Even though Pixar’s first sequel Toy Story 2 equaled one of its best movies (many say both sequels did, although I’d argue Toy Story 3 pales in comparison to its predecessors), not even they could keep up appearances with Cars 2 and Monsters University. It’s impossible to hit as many homeruns […]
Category action/adventure, animation, comedy, film reviews · Tags Albert Brooks, Andrew Stanton, Bill Hader, Diane Keaton, Dominic West, Ed O'Neill, Ellen DeGeneres, Eugene Levy, Finding Dory, Finding Nemo, Hayden Rolence, Idris Elba, Kaitlin Olson, Kate McKinnon, Sigourney Weaver, Ty Burrell, Victoria Strouse
Posted by Jared Mobarak on June 16, 2016 · Leave a Comment
“‘Like’ is a language condom. Trust me.” The character of John (Ethan Hawke) within Rebecca Miller‘s Maggie’s Plan is writing his first fiction novel not-so-loosely based upon his life—a loveless marriage with a bigger narcissist (Julianne Moore‘s Georgette) than he that’s up-ended by a hopeful affair with a control freak (Greta Gerwig‘s titular Maggie) just […]
Category comedy, drama, film reviews, romance · Tags Bill Hader, Ethan Hawke, Greta Gerwig, Julianne Moore, Maggie's Plan, Maya Rudolph, Mina Sundwall, Rebecca Miller, Travis Fimmel
Posted by Jared Mobarak on February 20, 2016 · Leave a Comment
“I admire your spirit” It’s one thing to satirize the romantic comedy genre and a whole other to literally break it down into its myriad tropes to build a story around them without transforming their generic designations into fully formed characters. But that’s exactly what David Wain (co-writer/director) and Michael Showalter (co-writer) did with They […]
Category comedy, film reviews, romance · Tags Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Christopher Meloni, Cobie Smulders, David Wain, Ellie Kemper, Family Guy, Jack McBrayer, Jason Mantzoukas, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Ken Marino, Kenan Thompson, Lynn Cohen, Max Greenfield, Michael Shannon, Michael Showalter, Norah Jones, Paul Rudd, Teyonah Parris, They Came Together, Zak Orth
Posted by Jared Mobarak on July 14, 2015 · Leave a Comment
“Monogamy isn’t realistic” Here I thought I could blame the editor for why Judd Apatow‘s films have been lackluster and overlong since The 40-Year-Old Virgin only to discover his latest Trainwreck is the first of his theatrical quintet not in part handled by Brent White. Instead we have William Kerr, Peck Prior, and Paul Zucker: […]
Category comedy, film reviews · Tags Amar'e Stoudemire, Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brent White, Brie Larson, Colin Quinn, Daniel Radcliffe, Dave Attell, Evan Brinkman, Ezra Miller, John Cena, Jon Glaser, Judd Apatow, Lebron James, Marisa Tomei, Mike Birbiglia, Paul Zucker, Peck Prior, Randall Park, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Tilda Swinton, Trainwreck, Vanessa Bayer, William Kerr
Posted by Jared Mobarak on June 15, 2015 · 1 Comment
“I call it the Happy Core Memory Development Program” The simplest ideas really are the greatest and Pixar’s made a legacy built on just such an ideal. They brought toys to life as living companions caring for our children. They humanized the monsters in our closets, conjured a spark of love in the circuitry of […]
Category animation, comedy, family, film reviews, z.slideshow · Tags Alice in Wonderland, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Diane Lane, Inside Out, John Lasseter, Josh Cooley, Kaitlyn Dias, Kyle Maclachlan, Lewis Black, Meg LeFauve, Mindy Kaling, Monsters Inc., Pete Docter, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Toy Story, Up, WALL•E
Posted by Jared Mobarak on December 19, 2014 · Leave a Comment
“Like a Golden Fleece” While Night at the Museum is by no means a great film above family friendly theatrics, it did have heart. There was a story at its back—one steeped in magic that dealt with redemption and self-worth against insurmountable odds. A cool premise too wherein the exhibits at the Natural Museum of […]
Category action/adventure, comedy, family, fantasy, film reviews · Tags Amy Adams, Ben Stiller, Bill Hader, Crystal the Monkey, Hank Azaria, Jon Bernthal, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Owen Wilson, Rami Malek, Robert Ben Garant, Shawn Levy, Thomas Lennon
Posted by Jared Mobarak on May 22, 2012 · Leave a Comment
“He didn’t say please” While strange for a Men in Black film to open with something other than a crashing spaceship, I’ll admit to being ecstatic for the alternative. Having the sexy Nicole Scherzinger lead us into the maximum-security prison housing one of the universe’s most notorious criminals definitely didn’t hurt either. What I really […]
Category action/adventure, comedy, film reviews, science fiction · Tags Alice Eve, Barry Sonnenfeld, Bill Hader, David Koepp, Emma Thompson, Etan Cohen, Jeff Nathanson, Jemaine Clement, Josh Brolin, Men in Black, Men in Black 3, Men in Black II, Michael Chernus, Michael Soccio, Michael Stuhlbarg, Nicole Scherzinger, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent D'Onofrio, Will Smith
Posted by Jared Mobarak on March 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment
“And that’s Jenga!” If I hadn’t already realized this fact last year after loving Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, I knew it following my screening of Paul—Edgar Wright is the lynchpin of success for the quartet of he, Nira Park, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. It began on British television with the hilarious homage-driven “Spaced” […]
Category comedy, film reviews, science fiction · Tags Adventureland, Bill Hader, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, David Koechner, Duel, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Edgar Wright, Greg Mottola, Hot Fuzz, Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, Kristen Wiig, Mac and Me, Nick Frost, Nira Park, Paul, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Seth Rogen, Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg, Spaced, Steven Spielberg, Superbad
Posted by Jared Mobarak on December 30, 2009 · 2 Comments
“A film by a lot of people” I knew right after the above review title quote flashed across the screen that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was going to be a fun time. Sony Pictures Animation did not let me down, keeping me enthralled and smiling for the entire duration. Based on a children’s […]
Category animation, comedy, family, film reviews · Tags Andy Samberg, Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell, Christopher Miller, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Family Guy, James Caan, Mr. T, Neil Patrick Harris, Phil Lord, Up, William Shatner
Posted by Jared Mobarak on April 8, 2009 · Leave a Comment
“James—am I pronouncing that right? James?” Let’s just say that The Daytrippers has just gone to the top of my must-see list of films. After the fun that was Superbad and now the heartfelt homage to summer jobs during college with Adventureland, Greg Mottola is a force to be reckoned with. His handle on ensemble […]
Category comedy, drama, film reviews · Tags Adventureland, Bill Hader, Evan Goldberg, Greg Mottola, Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, Martin Starr, Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Superbad, The Daytrippers
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