 Rating: 2 out of 5 starsGenre: Animation, Adventure, Family
Run Time: 1 hour 28 minutes, Rated PG Starring (voice talent): Hugh Grant, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jeremy Piven, Salma Hayek, Anton Yelchin, Brendan Gleeson Directed by Peter Lord (Chicken Run) and Jeff Newitt (feature film debut) From Aardman Animation - the studio responsible for the Wallace & Gromit series as well as animated films like Arthur Christmas and Flushed Away - comes The Pirates! Band of Misfits, an uninspired misfire that takes every cliche in the book and recycles it one stop-frame-of-animation at a time. The creatively named Pirate Captain (voiced by Hugh Grant) and his band of misfits sail the high seas in search of treasure, but they are largely inept and unsuccessful. That doesn't stop him from wanting to win the upcoming Pirate of the Year Award, even though there are much more able sea captains in the running. When Pirate Captain happens across the soon-to-be-famous Charles Darwin (voiced by David Tennant), Darwin sees an opportunity for both of them to get rich on the wings of Pirate Captain's prized parrot, Polly.
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 Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy, Romance
Run Time: 2 hours 4 minutes, Rated R Starring: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, David Paymer, Jacki Weaver, Jim Piddock Written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller Directed by Nicholas Stoller (Get Him to the Greek, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) The Five-Year Engagement is funny enough to be remembered as one of the best comedies of 2012 even though we aren't even half-way through the year. It is also perhaps one of the best Michigan-based comedies of all-time, having been shot and taking place almost entirely in Ann Arbor. That's not to say that the film is without flaws. It is way too long and a bit over-stuffed. But just like in love, rarely is anything perfect (except for my fiance of course...).  Rating: 5 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy, Drama
Run Time: 1 hour 27 minutes, Not Rated Starring: James Rolleston, Taika Waititi, Te Aho Aho Eketone-Whitu Written & Directed by Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark, HBO's The Flight of the Conchords) Boy is a quirky film that is at times very funny and yet also works as a deeply moving drama. Boy, as he is called, is an 11-year old New Zealander living mostly in a fantasy world all his own. Taika Waititi stars as Boy's dad, and he also wrote and directed the film. Being a writing/directing alum of the massively popular The Flight of the Conchords HBO series, he is no stranger to absurd yet intelligent comedy, and Boy accurately encapsulates the comedic spirit and tone of this cult series.  Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy
Run Time: 1 hour 35 minutes, Rated PG Starring: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson, Larry David Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly (There's Something About Mary, Kingpin, Dumb & Dumber) After seeing this new movie incarnation of The Three Stooges, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that any fan of the original shorts will thoroughly enjoy themselves. It's a testament to the original slapstick appeal of the original team of Moe, Larry and Curly that their brand of comedy endures for a new generation to witness. The verdict though, is still out on how this film will appeal to the newer generations who are (sadly) unfamiliar with the legendary comic trio.  Rating: 5 out of 5 starsGenre: Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Run Time: 1 hour 35 minutes, Rated R Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Amy Acker Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard Directed by Drew Goddard (feature film debut, writer of Cloverfield, writer/producer on Alias, Lost) Stuck somewhere between the tone of Halloween and Scream, The Cabin in the Woods defies all expectations and categorical description. Yes, it is a horror film, but it's also not at all what you think. It's the sort of film that would be ruined by a detailed plot description. To explain what happens in the film as "twists and turns" would be to sell it short. Rarely do I ask for a leap of faith from my readers, but in this case I urge you: If you are a fan or even a casual passer-by of horror or science fiction, run, don't walk - to go see The Cabin in the Woods. I just can't necessarily reveal why without spoiling all the fun.  Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy
Run Time: 1 hour 53 minutes, Rated R Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eddie Kaye Thomas, John Cho, Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Ali Cobrin Written & Directed by Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg (The Harold & Kumar series) The good thing about pie is that you always know exactly what flavor you're going to get. In American Reunion - the 4th film in the American Pie series - the recipe is the same as it always was, but this deliciously fresh update will be sure to satisfy even those who feel like they've had their fill with Stifler and the gang. In case you are new, American Pie was a tremendous success when it opened back in 1999. It followed a group of high school boys determined to lose their virginity by prom night. It captured the horny sexual energy of older movies from the 80s like Porky's, but infused the comedy with the R-rated vulgarity of the next generation. The scene in the kitchen where Jim (Jason Biggs) is caught humping a pie (because he was told it would properly simulate the real thing), is one of the most iconic scenes in the history of modern comedy. |
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tom santilli movie reviews
Tom Santilli is a professional film critic, TV personality, host and
the Executive Producer of Movie Show Plus.
He also is the featured film critic appearing on WXYZ Channel 7 Action News in Detroit,
and appeared weekly on FOX-2 in Detroit from 2016-2020.
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