Quick Movie Updates

Catching up on movies I missed in the theaters.

St Vincent – (2014) – A single mom and her son move in next door to a bitter, old man.  Circumstances throw them together and they will discover new things about themselves and each other.

There is nothing particularly surprising or novel about the story.  It goes exactly where you expect.  Bill Murray stars as the curmudgeon and Melissa McCarthy as the newly single mom.  Murray turns in one of his more understated performances and McCarthy is very effective in a completely straight role.  It won’t change your life but you’ll enjoy the time you invest.

Rating – *** Worth A Look

Ant-Man – (2014) – A convicted cat burglar trying to go straight is given the opportunity to use technology that makes him the world’s smallest superhero.

Sigh.  It’s “Green Lantern” all over again.  A great comic character brought to the big screen that just comes up short.  Like GL the longer I think about the move, the less I like it.  Tries too hard to be cute, too many logic fails and plot holes.  Almost there but doesn’t make it.  Michael Douglas, Paul Ruud and Evangeline Lily deserved better.

Rating ** Not Impressed

Tomorrowland (2015) – A teenaged girl discovers that a mysterious pin transports her to an incredible world.  But she can’t stay.  When she meets a younger girl who says she can help they team up to find the man who can get them there.

I was astounded when I saw that this movie didn’t even break even at the box office.  It’s fun, it’s optimistic and it has a butt kicking pre-teen girl robot!  The movie is about not giving up and believing that things can get better.  Imagine if Frank Capra made a movie for kids.  George Clooney does nicely as the idealistic boy grown to disillusioned adult.  Hugh Laurie does a nice turn as the bad guy and the two young female stars, Britt Robertson and Raffey Cassidy, are just great fun.  A wonderful movie for the whole family.

Rating – *** Worth A Look