Red Balloons (It, 1990)

Stephen Kings has had many stories brought to the screen with varying success. In 1990 he had a good year. We saw the release of Misery and the birth of the “Stephen King Mini-Series Event” on ABC.

The film begins with a young girl being attacked and killed. We the audience, of course, know it is Pennywise…but while the police are doing their work, Mike Hanlon, Local Librarian, shows up. He finds a picture from his past, and he knows it is time to bring all his friends back home to make good on a promise.

As Mike calls each friend, they seem almost confused as to who Mike is, but we get treated to extended flashbacks to their childhoods thirty years prior.

The kids discovered an evil that feed in the town every thirty years. They believed they were able to defeat the creature, but promised to return home if the creature ever came back. And now that it has, the now grown group of friends return to Derry to try and destroy it forever. Of course, Pennywise tries to prey on their fears and use as many tricks to stop them as he can. but they refuse to back down and run away.

The cast is pretty solid. John Ritter is Ben, former fat kid Ben who is now a hard drinking and partying architect. Annette O’Toole is grown up Bev who married a man as abusive as her father. Harry Anderson is a little over the top hamming it up as comedian Richie Tozier (young Ritchie is played by Seth Green). Really, the whole cast is pretty good.

Of course, what really make the mini-series memorable is the performance of Tim Curry as Pennywise. It is a highly memorable turn and a highlight of Curry’s career.

Veteran horror director Tommy Lee Wallace does pretty good with his budget. He makes sure to focus on the skills of his stars to sell the intensity of moments. And that is a good thing. Why?

Probably the biggest sore spot for It is it’s visual effects. Some are good low budget effects. And you do not forget look of Pennywise. But the creature design for the final battle of the film is…uh,.. disappointing.

It is a bit more successful than many of the film adaptions of King’s horror work because it has room to breathe. It is carried more by it’s performances than anything else. And while some of it can feel almost hokey today, it still is a fun watch.

September 10, 2017 0

You’ll Float Too (It, 2017)

When I heard they were making an “It” movie…I thought this would be a bad idea. It is a decent sized novel. Steven King horror novels have a pretty painful track record on film. and tended to find more success in the genre of the TV Mini-series. And we already had an It mini-series back in 1990. Tim Curry pretty much defined the look of Pennywise in that series.

So, to say I went in with low expectations is an understatement.

It is the tale of a group of friends in the town of Derry who learn of an evil force in their town. Derry has a sordid history, and grownups and children alike just disappear. After Bill’s younger brother Georgie disappears while playing in the rain, he becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to Georgie. As he and his friends have frightening encounters with a demonic clown, they band together to try and stop it.

Is it a scary movie? Yeah, it delivers some solid scares along with a real creepy vibe. The new design of Pennywise is brilliantly unnerving. Add to that a bone chilling performance by actor Bill Skarsgård. It is a visually rich fright-fest.

But what really makes It highly effective? It’s kids. These kids are a solid set of actors who can create sympathy, frustration and inspiration. When Bill delivers a speech about why they need to enter the creepy house? You kind of want to enter the house with him. Richie provides a whole lot of comic relief (played by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard) who constantly makes bad sex jokes and raises his hand for high fives that never arrive. Sophia Lillis imbues Bev with a kindness that makes it clear why the boys start to have a crush on her. These kids have some rotten lots in lives. Overbearing parents, abusive parents…and bullies. Vicious bullies.

It is not really about stopping a monster clown. It is about overcoming childhood fears, finding strength and help in your friends. And simply growing up.

It manages to be one of those rare things… a really good Stephen King horror movie.

September 9, 2017 0

Back to the Beach (Baywatch, 2017)

Honestly, of all the “Drama TV Show Made as a Comedy Movie” options? Baywatch seemed like the best option. Even at its most earnest (and Baywatch saw itself as a serious adventure drama), it was pretty hilarious.

So, opting to go the route of comedy, made sense. I would have not given Baywatch a chance, were it not for some of its casting choices. Most specifically Dwayne Johnson and Alexandra Daddario.

One of the weirdest things to me about the original show was it apparently had a 65% female viewership. A show known for slow motion shots of Pam Anderson (and a series of Playboy Playmates that followed her) had a large female audience. Maybe it was David Hasselhoff? So, just how well does the Baywatch movie translate?

The short answer would be “Okay”. The whole cast is pretty good and clearly get their roles. The film opens with beautiful beach shots leading up to a big rescue by Mitch Buchanon (Johnson), leaping into the ocean to save an unconscious swimmer. The guy asks Mitch if he is Batman, and Mitch replies, “Sure am…just browner.” We see Mitch is rather beloved, one guy making daily sand sculptures of Mitch because he saved the life of the guy’s sister.

We are introduced quickly to the rest of the cast. Ronnie is an aspiring lifeguard with a massive crush on gorgeous C.J. A running gag is how flustered he gets around her and uh…an enthusiastic response in his pants. Summer (Daddario) is another aspiring lifeguard who catches the attention of Matt Brody, an infamous gold medalist swimmer who joins the crew for community service. Stephanie is Mitch’s second in command.

The central plot is the discovery of drugs on the beach, leading to the team’s efforts to expose a drug ring. The plot is very simple but overly easy to sustain as the story hits the typical beats as many stumbling blocks impede their investigation. Primarily, they are not cops.

The humor and language are more ‘R’ rated than the original show, though only one sequence goes overboard. There is a sequence in the morgue that goes for gross out humor that oddly enough feels a bit out of place. A lot of the humor is based in poking fun at the source material. At one point, everyone is throwing crime scenarios at Brody. He is arguing that they should be going to the police, rather than solve the case themselves. He points out that the scenarios all sound like some unrealistic TV show. I am pretty sure these scenarios all were from the original series.

There is a moment when Summer and Ronnie are discussing how C.J. seems to move in slow motion. And here is where it gets to be a fine line. Because if you are poking fun at the show’s “jiggle” factor? You really run the risk of perpetuating it. This cast is all attractive, and especially the women. We are treated to all the women in sexy swimsuits, sexy gowns, sexy…well, you get the point.Of the central cast? The only average looking characters are guys. I am a bit torn on the Ronnie and C.J. plot line. It is a pretty tired “Average Guy and Hot Girl” scenario. On the other hand, both characters are likable and the relationship develops somewhat organically.

The jokes tend to be hit or miss, though there are a fair number of good laugh moments. The action sequences are actually quite nicely done and look great. There are some awesome underwater shots.

In the end, though, what works best in the film is its ensemble cast. They all have a certain charm that carries the film in a way the plot and humor do not. Like I said, Baywatch is okay and even enjoyable. But it never gets above its source material enough to feel fresh.

September 8, 2017 0

…And Dip (Chips, 2017)

Chips was an action/drama from 1977 about motorcycle cops Ponch and Jon. I know I watched it as a kid, but beyond Erik Estrada and the other guy? Don’t remember much. But when it was announced that they were making a comedy movie based on the show, it seemed like an odd choice.

Written and directed by Dax Shepard, the update begins with Ponch as an FBI Agent who is sent undercover to bust a drug ring suspected to involve crooked motorcycle cops. He is teamed up with the highly inept Jon, who is trying to save a marriage he does not get is over. Ponch and Jon are constantly at odds to an annoying degree. In what I suspect was intended as a “positive” message, Jon criticizes Ponch of being homophobic which leads to, unsurprisingly, a whole lot of “Eeeew! NOT GAY” type of jokes.

The jokes don’t land and the characters lack chemistry. By the time Ponch and Jon are a team, it feels entirely unearned. The jokes are forced as well. This is a shame, as the cast is the one high point of the film. Michael Peña has great comic timing. And Vincent D’Onofrio is the villain. And yet, neither get to bring their skills to the rather uninspired script. Dax’s Jon is particularly flat. His real life wife, Kristen Bell just has a sweet persona and it is hard to buy she is this terrible marriage destroying wife.

Chips obviously aimed to fall into the same company of 21 Jump Street…but it misses that mark by a great distance.

September 7, 2017 0

Go Ahead and Jump (22 Jump Street, 2014)

After the success of the first film, a second was pretty much inevitable. And so Jenko and Schmidt are on a new mission that goes hilariously awry. This leads into the running gag of the film.

Sequels are soulless cash grabs, which admittedly, they often are. Here, they are told they screwed up the mission and it was just to different. They are sent to the new Jumpstreet. 22 Jump Street to be exact. It has a bigger budget, is in a new location and so on. Same boss, Captain Dickson (Ice Cube) with the same attitude.

They send the boys on a new undercover job at a college to bust a drug ring…you know…like the first movie.

The end result is a movie that manages to live up to it’s successor. What really works, yet again, is the chemistry of Tatum and Hill’s characters. As college relationships seem to pull them apart, they start to fail at their mission. It is only their realization that it is their differences that make them a great team that they can solve the mysteries of the drug ring.

Schmidt meets a girl, Jenko meets a boy and friendships drift apart. There is a gay subtext to the relationship of Schmidt and Jenko, but surprisingly, it is not of the “Eeee!” kind of attitude so frequent in “bro-comedies”. There is even a brief scene were Jenko expresses remorse upon realizing how many gay slurs he used to use in high school.

I was skeptical when they announced the first film…by the end of the second one, I was more than willing for another round.

The end credits are must watch. I was in tears with the running gag of the endless sequels and merchandising. Though, the fact that there is a 21 Jump Street/Men in Black crossover makes the gag a bit ironic.

September 6, 2017 0

Might As Well Jump (21 Jump Street, 2012)

A trend began in the early 2000’s of making movies based on dramatic action shows from the 70’s and 80’s, but treating them as a joke. This has had…decidedly mixed results.

21 Jump Street was part of the line-up of a upstart new network called Fox. It was the story of a division of young cops who would go into schools undercover, posing as students, to bust drug dealers and the like. The show’s biggest claim to fame was that it introduced Johnny Depp to the world.

In the film, we meet loser Schmidt (Jonah Hill) who has a humiliating day at school. He is rejected by a girl and pushed around by his bully Jenko (Channing Tatum) . Except, Jenko is having his own trouble…his grades are so bad, he is not going to be allowed to go to prom. A few years later they are both at the police academy. At first, Jenko resumes his role as bully, but they quickly realize both can help each other get through. As Jenko helps Schmidt with the physical tests, Schmidt helps Jenko pass the mental ones.

They are disappointed to discover their first gig is as bike cops in a park. But an ill fated drug bust leads them to Jump Street, an old program that is being revived. They are sent into a high school to determine who is selling a new and dangerous drug.

The story is not entirely fresh, and yet, this is kind of the point. The filmmakers are seeking to have some fun with both cop and action film tropes. This leads to a lot of entertaining visual gags. The drug ring is run by hip and socially conscious kids. When Jenko tries mocking kids for being concerned about the environment, he is informed that this is just so uncool. In fact, the two friends find their social heirchy inverted. On top of that, they confuse who is which undercover character, forcing both into roles outside their comfort zone.

21 Jump Street is not an outright parody of it’s namesake. It is set in the same universe as the show (with original actors reprising roles from the TV Show), but it sees some of the absurdity in the concept. And it plays with the conventions pretty well (including the very problematic area of the “Inappropriate Love Interest”).

What really holds the film together though is Hill and Tatum. They are a genuinely enjoyable combo with a friendship that is a bit endearing. The action scenes are well choreographed. And, important to any action comedy film? The action and jokes do not step on each other, so to speak. 21 Jump Street is a pleasant surprise, with it’s combination of humor and enjoyable characters.

September 5, 2017 0

How to Be a Dad (Little Evil, 2017)

Gary’s life seems to be going pretty good. He just married his dream girl Samantha and he is working to get to know his new stepson Lucas. Lucas is a special child. As in, he is the spawn of Satan.

Gary does not, of course, accept this right away. But mysterious events and death seem to give signs that Lucas is not all right. Little Evil is a comedy brought to us by the same guy who made Tucker & Dale vs Evil. That film was a funny send-up of slasher films ranging from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre to the Wrong Turn franchise.

One might question where the humor is in the religious horror of satanic kids…but writer and director Eli Craig finds the spot where they can intersect. Ans as with his previous film, does so with some sweetness and heart.

After an Omen-like incident at school, Lucas and Gary are sent to counseling. For Gary, this means a support group for fathers (which is attended by his friend Al…a lesbian struggling with her stepson’s lack of athletic ability). There, he is initially assured that these types of things are normal. But as deeper research finds, there is a lot of tragedy that seems to follow Lucas. And so Gary struggles to find a way to stop the son of Satan.

The cast is a strong comedic group. Led by Adam Scott (Parks and Rec) the character of Gary remains largely sympathetic throughout the film, which is important for those moments when he “veers off the path of good parenting”. Bridget Everett’s Al could have stayed in it’s “Butch Lesbian” stereotype lane…but she brings such an exuberance to the character that Al stands out and of course, brings plenty of humor. Evangeline Lilly (Ant Man and Lost) has a role that could get overshadowed, but she brings the appropriate heart to the role.

Little Evil is a lot of fun, though it does not quite reach the levels of insanity of Tucker & Dale Vs Evil. This is partly due to the narrow nature. They are really parodying the Omen here. Unlike Tucker and Dale, where there was an homage a minute to some slasher film, Little Evil is more restrained.

If you liked Tucker and Dale, you will more than likely enjoy Little Evil. And I would dare say that as long as the subject matter does not make one too uncomfortable? Non-horror fans may enjoy it as well. The film has not gory, and the visuals are not terribly frightening. Afterall, the goal here is not scares. It is laughs and maybe a bit of sentimentality.

September 3, 2017 0

Taking Notes (Death Note, 2017)

Meet Light Turner. He is in high school and frustrated by bullies. He is also angry that the drunk driver who killed his mother walked. One day, a notebook falls from the sky. It is full of rules, and comes with great power. Oh…and a demon or a death god or some such thing. This tall creature with a love for apples is named Ryuk.

Ryuk explains that all Light must do is write the name of a person (while picturing their face) and a method of death…and it will happen. Light initially believes himself to be dreaming, but when he realizes that a local bully indeed died as he wrote in the book, he starts to get an idea. With his girlfriend Mia, he begins a campaign against crime causing the death of hundreds of terrorists, murderers and other terrible people. He attributes it to “Kira”. But Kira attracts the attention of the authorities, including his own father, Detective James Turner. Joining Light’s father is Watari and the mysterious L.

The film follows Lights attempts to not get caught, while trying to figure out how to avoid killing good people. L knows Light is behind Kira…but is not sure how he is doing it.

Death Note is a pretty interesting concept. However, it is based on an anime series as well as a manga series. And here they have forced the entire series into under two hours. Which results in a major rush to tell the story. So interesting concepts (Light cannot simply write L’s name in the book, because they do not know his real name and almost nobody knows what he looks like. But everything has to play out so fast that there is no opportunity to fully explore these things.

And it is to bad. Director Adam Wingard has a good cast at his disposal. Shea Wigham is quite good as Light’s father. And Get Out’s Lakeith Stanfield is good in the role of the mysterious L. Willem Defoe obviously had some fun as the voice of Ryuk. Had Netflix maybe planned this as a start of a series, the film might have worked better. While I am sure the goal includes further films, trying to force Lights tale into such a short space simply results in it being hard to connect with the characters.

September 2, 2017 0

Space Suckin’ (Lifeforce, 1985)

When I planned this post, Tobe was still with us. In October, I will be exploring some other Hooper films. But my thoughts go out to Hooper’s friends and family.

Set in 1985, the international space shuttle the Churchill is observing Halley’s Comet. They discover an object hidden in the tail of the comet, only to discover it is a giant spaceship. The craft is full of corpses of strange humanoid bat creatures…and then there is the weird part. Three beautiful humans encased in crystal coffins. The Churchill goes silent, and is only discovered after it appears to be adrift. It is found with only one remaining crew member (Col Tom Carlsen) and the beautiful young woman.

Col. Colin Caine is trying to determine what has happened, but a new threat arises when the beautiful girl awakes and we discover she is a life draining energy vampire. Seducing a young guard, she dramatically draws his life energy out, leaving a desiccated corpse. It all created a domino effect as it turns out those she drains are not dead, but now lesser vampires. They can return to life briefly, but without regular energy infusions, they die permanently. Caine and Carlsen start trying to track down the Space Girl (this is actually how the character is credited) who is moving through London psychically, while her body is hidden away.

The visual effects in Lifeforce are very strong. The corpse monsters (and there transformations) are especially cool sequences. There is a sequence where the Space Girl reaches out to the leads building a blood body that is effective (though the two bodies are clearly dummies).

The cast is good, with Railsback’s Carlsen being a seemingly dubious character who seems more obsessed with the Space Girl rather than stop her. The film aims to be pretty epic, but can veer into some real campy territory. Most notably, although the beautiful young actress Mathilda May only appears as the Space Girl for about ten minute or less? She is naked for about twelve of those minutes. Sure, by Game of Thrones standards, that seems quaint…but it was a pretty big deal at the time.

There is a goofy charm to the film, and most of the strengths are the presence of British Thespians such as Frank Finlay and Patrick Stewart (who shares an on screen kiss with Railsback). Hooper has certainly made weirder films (*cough* the Mangler*cough*)

September 1, 2017 2

Home Alone (Night of the Comet, 1984)

The world is abuzz over the arrival of a comet that will come unusually close to the earth. High schoolers Regina and Samantha are not into it and miss the show. They awake the next morning to discover that the world has changed.

Apparently, the comet came a little to close…people outside were reduced to dust, while most people indoors are simply disintegrating a bit more slowly, resulting in scary mutants. Only people, Such as Regina and Samantha, who were protected by certain environments were unaffected. After meeting up with a guy named Hector, the girls make contact with people who claim they can be of help…hint, they are not decent people.

Night of the Comet is a very teenage take on the whole “Last Person on Earth” concept. At first, there is little drama, as the girls were miserable putting up with their stepmother. So they celebrate, raiding a shopping mall. Of course, this does not last long and soon Regina, Samantha and Hector find themselves trying to escape a dark cabal of scientists. And it works pretty well. Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney are engaging leads and the film has several great b-movie favorites.

If you start to heavily scrutinize “how stuff breaks down” if there is nobody around to run it, the films tidy ending probably falls apart…but it is a fantasy and it is a fun one.

August 31, 2017 0