Ghostbusters (2016)

The 1984 semi-classic has been rebooted by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids fame, reuniting Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy.  I call the 1984 a semi-classic because it is memorable if otherwise forgettable.  I think the allure is that is done at the comedy heights of its 2 Saturday Night Live stars, Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd.  At the time all they had to do was look at the camera and it was funny.d  Now we have a new generation of SNL star in Kristin Wiig as the lead.

The reboot follows the familiar script of a (somewhat) friendly ghost haunting with the first turn toward academia, but that "science" is debunked, and our professor is fired, therefore having nothing better to do that to start a new business for Ghost Busting.  Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones add some good new life here.

The first half takes a few interesting turns before the movie settles back into the 1984 script culminating in the attack of the Stay-Puft marshmallow man.  Was that every funny?  Never the less, all the familiar faces from 1984 make a cameo again, except for Harold Ramis who is unfortunately deceased.  Too bad his ghost couldn't add a little more "life" here.

* * * * of 5  - a light summer movie, again

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Inspired by a true story when 2 brothers put out a Craigslist ad for dates to a wedding, this is the Hollywood take.  The brothers are true Bros (Adam Levine and Zac Efron) and they strut around and pound their chests.  Zac Efron seems to be cast this way a lot:  Dirty Grandpa, Neighbors.

They meet their match in 2 friends who seek to out-bro the Bros, Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza.  Like I said it is the Hollywood take to have 2 beautiful ladies along for the ride.

Ultimately its a retread of Meet the Parents and a better movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.  See it for the same reason I did - a brainless summer escape.

* * * of 5.  Dude!

The BFG

Steven Speilberg does it again, this time adapting a children's book by Roald Dahl.  Screenplay by Melissa Mathison who also did E.T., it is similar story of a child in need of a friend, who happens to be from another world.

Sophie is an orphan (of course) who is up late at night when she sees a giant walking through the darkened streets.  When the giant sees that he is discovered, he snatches the girl so she can't tell others about him and takes her back to his Bat Cave, Giant Land.  Mark Rylance plays the giant well.  There, they become friends and he is renamed BFG.  BFG's job is to catch and release dreams and so he has to go back to the real world to do that.

I won't say more because the plot is very interesting and unusual.  Great cinematography as usual from Janusz Kaminski.

* * * * *  (highest)