Sausage Party
At some point during the movie, I was watching the animated characters (here they are food items) trying to get into/escape from the animated pizza driver human schlub and his car and realized "This is exactly like Toy Story 2". At that moment I noted the bumper sticker on the car "DIXAR".
That is a good summation of Sausage Party. It doesn't stray too far from the tried and true animated story of cartoons v. humans but it does throw a few curves in. If you don't like Seth Rogen/James Franco humor (Pineapple Express, This is the End, The Interview), then you'll call this "potty humor" and be offended by the "F word".
But if you're a real adult, you might enjoy a few parts of this. Good voicing by the usual cast of comedy characters: Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera. And a few easter eggs to discover along the way. Nice and light. Can't have enough R rated comedies these days.
* * * 1/2 of 5
That is a good summation of Sausage Party. It doesn't stray too far from the tried and true animated story of cartoons v. humans but it does throw a few curves in. If you don't like Seth Rogen/James Franco humor (Pineapple Express, This is the End, The Interview), then you'll call this "potty humor" and be offended by the "F word".
But if you're a real adult, you might enjoy a few parts of this. Good voicing by the usual cast of comedy characters: Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera. And a few easter eggs to discover along the way. Nice and light. Can't have enough R rated comedies these days.
* * * 1/2 of 5
Defending Your Life (1991)
Albert Brooks, probably best known now as the voice of Nemo, wrote and directed this story about the afterlife in Judgment City, where humans go in a sort of way station to determine if they will go on, or be sent back to Earth to live another life. Meryl Streep is a fellow traveller he meets. He is envious that her "trial" is set to be shorter than his. He thinks his "attorney" Rip Torn is not good enough. He thinks that he did not use enough of his brain while on Earth. He thinks his prosecutor (Lee Grant) is too good. He even thinks he should have a better hotel.
It's an interesting look at an alternative, imaginative view of the afterlife, or at least part of it. The goal is to go on, wherever that is, rather than to be sent back, which is viewed as a type of failure. Even in death, there's a sense of "I could've done more". Of course since the main characters died young deaths, that is pervasive in their thinking.
Made in 1991 it is a lot like When Harry Met Sally, the nice Jewish boy meets the WASP princess and wants to be "good enough." See also The Heartbreak Kid, The Graduate, Meet the Parents.
* * * * of 5
Here's a nice recap of the movie on its 25th anniversary.
It's an interesting look at an alternative, imaginative view of the afterlife, or at least part of it. The goal is to go on, wherever that is, rather than to be sent back, which is viewed as a type of failure. Even in death, there's a sense of "I could've done more". Of course since the main characters died young deaths, that is pervasive in their thinking.
Made in 1991 it is a lot like When Harry Met Sally, the nice Jewish boy meets the WASP princess and wants to be "good enough." See also The Heartbreak Kid, The Graduate, Meet the Parents.
* * * * of 5
Here's a nice recap of the movie on its 25th anniversary.
Suicide Squad
DC Comics enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe by dusting off a collection of Batman's foes over the years. Ben Affleck as Batman makes a nice appearance to kick things off. We've got the Joker (Jared Leto), his girlfriend Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith), Boomerang (somebody), The Flame (somebody else) and the gratuitous Croc Man. This motley crew is deputized and Col. Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) is tasked with leading them, at peril of death.
Will Smith notes the suicide mission and the Suicide Squad is born. They go off to save New York City - again. Actually it's Gotham City now. The kick is that these super villians are like WMD's and must be contained for national security reasons, less they fall into the wrong hands.
Forgive me if I can't remember much of the plot. It's the basic save the world from destruction which I have seen several times this summer, Captain American, Ghostbusters, Batman v. Superman.
But good new characters and a nice set up for more going forward.
* * * * of 5
Will Smith notes the suicide mission and the Suicide Squad is born. They go off to save New York City - again. Actually it's Gotham City now. The kick is that these super villians are like WMD's and must be contained for national security reasons, less they fall into the wrong hands.
Forgive me if I can't remember much of the plot. It's the basic save the world from destruction which I have seen several times this summer, Captain American, Ghostbusters, Batman v. Superman.
But good new characters and a nice set up for more going forward.
* * * * of 5
Hillary's America
Two can play the political documentary game - it's not just Michael Moore territory anymore. The Republican Response to the upcoming Presidential election, its an interesting movie by Dinesh D'Souza, who describes his occupation as "Scholar."
Dinesh wrote a number of books in the 90s and was a leading conservative for years. He claims that after his book Obama's America in 2012 that he was targeted by the government (maybe?) and he was convicted of campaign finance crimes - who knew?
So after 8 months in prison and continuing on probation he set about to do a movie doubling as a history lesson. It is kind of like something you would see in school. His thesis is that the Democratic Party is the party of slavery, Indian removal, KKK, and only takes in minority, immigrants and women just to use them. The Republican Party of Lincoln is the true friend.
There's not a lot of Hillary here - only toward the end when he turns his sights on the Clinton Global Initiative, and perhaps rightly so. It definitely asks some hard questions.
In general there was a lot more recreation acting that actual footage. Perhaps because of its historical sweep. Overall, better than expected. Particularly if you like the documentary format.
* * * * of 5
Bad Moms
Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristin Bell star as a group of outsider moms in the school PTA who band together to be Bad Moms. They party, they sleep in, they make the kids prepare their own breakfast. Their nemisis (Newman!) is the Supermom PTA President, played by Christina Applegate.
Because its about about moms, there are no redeming males here. There's a F___boy and that's about it. There are a few loser dads for comparison. The dads of course lie around, do nothing, and look pathetic. The writers (of the Hangover fame) must have had some fun with the comparisons.
It actually comes together at the end, with the lead in to how the mom's life must improve.
Best part is the end credits - where we have real life Moms and Daughters from the movie.
* * * of 5
Because its about about moms, there are no redeming males here. There's a F___boy and that's about it. There are a few loser dads for comparison. The dads of course lie around, do nothing, and look pathetic. The writers (of the Hangover fame) must have had some fun with the comparisons.
It actually comes together at the end, with the lead in to how the mom's life must improve.
Best part is the end credits - where we have real life Moms and Daughters from the movie.
* * * of 5
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