Moms' Night Out (2014)

Mom’s Night Out (2014)

5/10

Starring

Sarah Drew

Sean Astin

Patricia Heaton

Andrea Logan White

Robert Amaya

Directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin

There was a time in my life where I watched a lot of faith-based movies, and I saw this and this was not it at all. Mom’s Night Out is a faith-based Christian family movie that takes too long to get started, and when it finally does, the anti-climactic ending is the nail in the coffin for a not-so-great film.

The movie isn’t half bad if you’re in for a faith-based tale alone. Everything else that happens in the movie—meant to make you laugh—did, to be honest, but the whole plot falls apart the longer the movie goes on.

My major issue with the movie wasn’t the acting (which is typically the problem many have with Christian movies), but the fact that I was supposed to feel some kind of religious connection to it. Instead, it felt more like a B-movie turned Christian than a Christian movie meant for the big screen. That said, the acting wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I have to give credit to Christian movie makers for stepping up their game with the acting we see in today’s faith-based films. Maybe it’s because more mainstream actors are now involved, professing their faith, or the budgets for these movies have increased significantly.

The movie won’t leave you gasping for breath from laughter if that’s what you’re looking for, but it’s guaranteed to give you a few chuckles. It follows three moms who decide to put the stay-at-home mom life on hold for a night out.

Their night out is led by Allyson, a mother of three, who, along with her friends Izzy and Sondra, expects a relaxing evening while Allyson’s husband takes care of the kids. Things quickly go sideways when Allyson messes up their dinner reservation, and then her sister-in-law’s infant son, Phoenix, goes missing. The moms team up to search for the boy, while back at home, the husbands struggle to handle the kids without any major disasters.

Other than the fact that the movie grossed twice its budget at the box office, I can see it having strong DVD sales. Many will be curious to see a wholesome family film they can watch with their kids without worrying about inappropriate content. If you’re looking for a decent movie for a Sunday family get-together, this one might be for you—just be patient for about 40 minutes while they introduce all the characters.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

7/10

Starring

Chris Pratt

Zoe Saldana

Dave Bautista

Vin Diesel

Bradley Cooper

Directed by James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy had a boring intro that you’ll soon forget the moment the movie kicks off. I was looking forward to meeting Rocket (a genetically modified raccoon who’s a bounty hunter and mercenary, a weapon expert able to make weapons out of anything around him, and a masterful battle tactician). The moment Rocket was introduced, I couldn’t help but wish he stayed on screen for the entire movie.

I loved how Rocket never missed a chance to make an inappropriate joke. Then there were the other characters, all memorable in their own way, making it a sure thing that I’ll definitely be looking forward to a part two of this film—and I’ll definitely be rewatching this one.

For someone like me, who’s being introduced to The Guardians of the Galaxy for the first time, I have to say the director and screenwriters (James Gunn directed and wrote the screenplay with Nicole Perlman) absolutely delivered.

The Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional space superhero team that first appeared in the Marvel universe in 2008. They’re a bunch of misfits brought together by different circumstances but who happened to end up in the same place (based on this movie).

Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) steals a mystical orb that the villain Ronan the Accuser wants. The orb has infinite energy, which Ronan plans to use to destroy a planet named Xandar. Ronan sends Gamora (Zoe Saldana) after Quill to retrieve the orb, but Gamora has her own motives for wanting it. After Quill steals the orb, a bounty is placed on his head—a bounty that bounty hunters Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel) are after, so they go after Quill too.

All four of them end up arrested and thrown in jail, where they meet Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), who’s ready to do whatever it takes to get revenge on Ronan for killing his family.

With all this coming together, the movie delivers humor, action, and memorable lines all the way through. One of those memorable lines is, “I am Groot.”

The movie’s lineup differs from the original comic book version, with the exclusion of Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock.

The movie was a huge commercial success, making more than four times its $170 million budget, which pretty much guarantees that Disney will push for a sequel.

Have you seen this wonderful movie called Guardians of the Galaxy?

Maleficent (2014)

Maleficent (2014)

7/10

Starring

Angelina Jolie

Sharlto Copley

Elle Fanning

Sam Riley

Imelda Staunton

Directed by Robert Stromberg

Disney decided to rewrite the Sleeping Beauty story and show us how Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) became a villain. The film is a live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, but this time, the story is told from the perspective of the antagonist, Maleficent.

The movie starts by showing Maleficent as good, then turning evil because of betrayal. I was hoping it would stay that way and that there would be plenty of battles, but I was surprised by how the movie ended up. Turns out, Maleficent wasn’t bad at all—she was just misunderstood.

Regardless, the big question is, “How good was this movie?”

The answer is, it was very good. It wasn’t boring, and it was a fresh take on the story I’m used to. But—and here’s the “but”—it wasn’t glamorous or memorable enough to be a classic. Still, it can be classified as wonderful. I sat through it, blown away by the CGI and the plot. It ended up being one of those movies that, if you missed it, your 2014 movie portfolio would feel incomplete.

Angelina Jolie was in a class of her own in this flick. I loved her grace and poise. She made being Maleficent enviable. The rest of the cast was also on point, and the special effects are a must-see.

The movie starts with young Maleficent thriving in the forest, making everything around her flourish. She meets and falls in love with a human named Stefan, who’s power-hungry. When the time comes for him to choose between his love for Maleficent and his desire for power and glory, he chooses the latter and betrays her by stripping her of her wings.

Revenge drives Maleficent to curse Aurora, a curse she later regrets as she grows fond of the child. This bond begins when Aurora is taken to the woods to hide from Maleficent’s curse. The three fairies are tasked with protecting Aurora and keeping her away from spindles—and Maleficent. But in the woods, Maleficent ends up caring for the child better than the fairies who were supposed to be her guardians.

It’s this hidden care that brings them together and forms a bond between them.

If you ever catch Maleficent on TV, give it a watch. It’s a good enough movie for you and the family. Plus, it was a huge commercial success, raking in over $757 million from its $180 million budget.

Again, the movie’s special effects are the crown jewel of this Disney rewrite. And finally, the joke’s on you if you think you’ve figured out the “true love’s first kiss” secret.

Splash (1984)

Splash (1984)

8/10

Tom Hanks

Daryl Hannah

John Candy

Eugene Levy

Dody Goodman

Directed by Ron Howard

I can’t count the number of times I watched Splash as a kid. My aunt had a VHS tape of it, and we watched it until the tape curled.

Back in the ‘80s, before green screens became common or motion capture technology was a thing, actors and actresses had to wear suits to portray the characters and effects they wanted to bring to life. Daryl Hannah did just that—and did it magnificently—as she played Madison, the mermaid, in this ‘80s classic.

At its core, Splash isn’t too different from other romantic comedies: boy meets girl and falls in love. But the story throws a curveball that sets it apart from typical love stories, making it feel more like The Little Mermaid (Disney’s 1989 animated film).

Splash is also a Disney movie, but it was released under their Touchstone studio, which was created for more mature content. Splash was their first film under this label.

The story begins when young Allen jumps into the sea and is saved by a little girl—who happens to be a mermaid. Years later, a grown-up Allen (Tom Hanks) is struggling to find love. After his colleague’s wedding, he goes for a boat ride and falls into the sea, only to be saved again by the same girl, now grown up (Daryl Hannah). Later, she comes to the city to find Allen, and they meet and fall in love. But she’s keeping a secret from him, and Allen is desperate to figure it out. Of course, there’s more: a scientist (Eugene Levy) is determined to expose her for the mermaid she truly is.

The acting in this movie is mouthwatering. Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, and John Candy delivered such a mind-blowing adaptation of the script that you won’t forget the movie anytime soon. The screenplay was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

Directed by Ron Howard (How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and A Beautiful Mind (2001)), who did a masterful job bringing the script to life, Splash is one of those films that stood out in the ‘80s. I bet if you were born around then, you’re itching to see it again.

Splash was a major financial success for Disney. Made on an $8 million budget, it went on to gross over $69 million at the box office.

There was a TV-movie sequel in 1988 called Splash, Too. I can only recall a few scenes from it, but the movie didn’t feature the original stars. Instead, Todd Waring played Allen Bauer (replacing Tom Hanks), and Amy Yasbeck played Madison Bauer (replacing Daryl Hannah). It was directed by Greg Antonacci.

Enough said about Splash. If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing it yet, go watch it now.

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

Muppets Most Wanted (2014)

7/10

Starring

Ricky Gervais

Ty Burrell

Tina Fey

Directed by James Bobin

Have you seen Muppets Most Wanted?
That was the question I had to face when the movie came out.

I didn’t just jump on the “let’s go see a Muppet sequel” ride. I thought deeply about the first movie I saw and wondered if I had the stomach for another Muppet film.

Finally, after dragging my feet, I sat down and watched it—and I was glad I did. The movie was excitingly good, and the comedy was always on point. The songs weren’t dull like in the first one, where I wished I could skip ahead to see what was next. This time, I sat through them, even moving my head side to side as Constantine and Dominic Badguy sang about who’s number one and who’s number two.

Then there were the live-action actors: Ricky Gervais (Dominic Badguy), Ty Burrell (Jean Pierre Napoleon), and Tina Fey (a high-ranking prison guard). The three of them were more than enough to make this movie a must-own for the kids. They all delivered.

There’s an opening song in the movie that tells us this sequel wasn’t going to be as good as the first. Well, they were wrong—it was better. The only thing the first Muppets movie had over this one was that it made more money, which put a damper on the mood of anyone hoping for a part three.

The movie’s plot kicks off where the previous Muppets movie ended. The Muppets have just finished their show when they’re approached by a Mr. Dominic Badguy, who wants to take them on a tour of Europe.

Before they meet Dominic Badguy, a criminal mastermind named Constantine escapes from a Siberian gulag. Constantine looks almost exactly like Kermit the Frog and joins his subordinate, Badguy, on the Muppet tour. Together, they plan to get rid of Kermit so Constantine can take his place. This is all part of their scheme to steal the Crown Jewels of England.

Getting rid of Kermit wasn’t hard, but acting like Kermit was—and Constantine struggled with it. However, the other Muppets didn’t seem to care that Kermit sounded different. All they cared about was making sure they performed that day.

I liked this movie and strongly recommend you go see it with the family. Enjoy the songs and the fun that the Muppets deliver!

Although, I think the characters in the Muppets are more familiar to older generation.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

5/10

Starring

Megan Fox

Alan Ritchson

Jeremy Howard

Pete Ploszek

Noel Fisher

Will Arnett

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

I wasn’t expecting to like anything about this reboot, mostly because of the costume changes (actually, the CGI look of the costumes). Based on my experience with reboots, I thought, “Here goes another crapper.” But that wasn’t entirely the case. The story was changed, though some familiar elements were kept, and the movie ended up being fun to watch and captivating. That said, they could have done better with a story about giant talking reptiles.

The story changes didn’t really bother me, as I’ve come to realize that none of the movies or cartoon series stayed true to the original storyline. What do you expect from a movie about overgrown talking turtles who happen to be heroes? There will be bad guys, and they’ll get their butts kicked—which is exactly what happened. Another thing I enjoyed was Will Arnett’s role in the movie. Honestly, I had more fun watching him than Megan Fox, who plays the new April O’Neil.

The best part for me was the return of “COWABUNGA.” Nickelodeon killed the word in their cartoon reboot, but they brought it back here.

TMNT 2014 lacked the genius of the 1990 version. It might have been funnier, but it felt more like everyone just wanted to make a TMNT movie rather than actually putting in the effort to make a good one.

The movie is about a city being turned upside down by a clan known as the Foot. April O’Neil witnesses the clan in action, but to her surprise, an unknown vigilante takes them down. She starts investigating this vigilante and ends up running into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As you’d expect, the introduction ends with her fainting and waking up in their lair in the sewers.

There, she discovers that the turtles were genetic mutations her father had been working on. She shares this story with her father’s colleague, Sacks, who, as it turns out, is the adopted son of The Shredder.

Sacks and his adopted father need the mutagen from the turtles for their grand plan—take a guess!

World domination.

In the end, the movie is forgettable, which is the sad part for me. The first two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)—were remarkably memorable. If you watched them when they were released, you’ll either recall the epic fights in the first one or the Vanilla Ice rap in the second. Here, all I can remember is that “COWABUNGA” is back.

The movie did make three times its production budget, but will that be enough to warrant a part two or three? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.