Ride Along 2 (2016)

Ride Along 2 (2016)

2/10

Starring

Ice Cube

Kevin Hart

Directed by Tim Story

Ride Along 2 isn’t just boring and unfunny—the story is completely off, and the screenplay is unbelievably weak. There’s even a scene where Ben (Kevin Hart) is in a high-speed chase, and the whole thing turns into a video game animation. According to the writers, Ben is visualizing the game and pulling off stunts in real life that he’s mastered while playing. According to me, the viewer, that’s total nonsense.

The writers didn’t bother to improve on what they did in the first movie. This sequel feels more like leftover parts from the first film or deleted scenes that were too ridiculous to include. Somehow, someone decided to stitch all those scenes together and call it Ride Along 2.

The acting in the movie was off too. For me, the main cast struggled to get into character and seemed like they were just faking it. I didn’t even crack a smile while watching this movie—no scene was impactful enough to make me giggle. The movie cruised on the assumption that we were familiar with the actors and their style, failing to add anything new or fresh.

The plot starts with Ben on a radio, watching and listening as James (Ice Cube) and his partner try to infiltrate a drug deal. When things get heated, Ben leaves his assigned spot to help, but ends up getting James’ partner shot.

James is then sent to Atlanta to follow up on the crook who got away after Ben’s interference. After some persuasion from his sister, James allows Ben to come along, with Ben hoping to prove he’s ready to be a detective.

In Atlanta, the meddling duo turns the city into chaos. Their presence leads to harassment, a shootout at a nightclub, and car explosions. But hey, it’s a buddy-cop movie, so of course, it ends with the two understanding each other better and growing closer. And yes, there’s the classic moment where one takes a bullet for the other—because no buddy-cop movie is complete without that.

In the end, the duo saves the day in the most unrealistic display of police work imaginable.

The movie was panned by critics, just like the first one. But unlike the first film, where more than 60% of the audience on Rotten Tomatoes liked it, this one has less than 60% approval.

Despite all this, Kevin Hart has made himself a bankable name, as the movie made over three times its $40 million budget at the box office. I just wonder how long his name will stay bankable if he keeps starring in crappy movies instead of seeking out higher-quality projects.

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia (2016)

10/10

Starring the voice of:

Ginnifer Goodwin

Jason Bateman

Idris Elba

J.K. Simmons

Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore

Zootopia is an animated movie with a story that’s perfect for kids and equally appropriate for adults. With a focus on prejudice and stereotypes, Zootopia shows how these issues can cloud our judgment, all wrapped up in a fast-paced, top-notch animation that’s impossible not to love.

Lately, Disney has dominated the animation scene, especially with its collaboration with sister company Pixar, delivering stories and visuals that leave you eager to come back for more with the kids.

The writers nailed it by weaving a timely message about prejudice and stereotypes, making you reflect on how we view others. They also sprinkled in clever references to adult movies, ensuring that parents get their share of laughs while watching with their children.

Personally, I was totally intrigued by the Godfather reference.

The animation in this movie is fluid, and the depiction of each animal is amazing. I’m sure many have seen the trailer featuring the sloth named Flash assisting Hopps and Nick. That scene is such a classic that I found myself on YouTube after the movie, rewatching it for another laugh.

Packing more humor than your average animation, Zootopia also delivers a powerful message:
Keep believing in yourself, even when nobody else does, and be a doer, not just a viewer. Another message I truly admired was how Hopps refused to see her role as a meter maid as a step down from her dream. She made sure she was the best meter maid there was, and when an opportunity arose to do more, she seized it.

Zootopia is a city in a world of anthropomorphic mammals. Judy Hopps has always dreamed of becoming a police officer, even though rabbits aren’t considered suited for the job. She aced her training and started off in Zootopia as a meter maid, where she met a fox named Nick. When the chance to prove herself came, Hopps got assigned to a missing otter case, Mr. Otterton.

She convinced Nick to help her search for Mr. Otterton, and together, they uncovered a conspiracy that reached the highest levels of Zootopia’s government, all while strengthening their friendship.

Breaking box-office records for animations in countries like China, the movie’s three-day opening was the largest ever for Walt Disney Animation Studios. It currently holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you haven’t seen this movie yet this Easter, I highly recommend watching it with the kids before the break ends.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

4/10

Starring

Ben Affleck

Henry Cavill

Amy Adams

Jesse Eisenberg

Directed by Zack Snyder

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice feels like a movie where the action scenes and explosions were shot first, and then a story was hastily written to tie it all together—except the story didn’t work.

I sat through this movie expecting to like it, regardless of what the critics said, but in the end, I felt like I’d wasted two and a half hours of my life on a disjointed mess. Zack Snyder had too many ideas and tried to cram them all into this film. When things didn’t make sense, explosions and more explosions were used to fill the gaps. Add to that disappointment the over-the-top special effects and Jesse Eisenberg’s cartoony portrayal of Lex Luthor, and you’ve got a recipe for boredom whenever things aren’t blowing up or buildings aren’t being destroyed.

The Lex Luthor we know is a calculated, gentlemanly villain, always one step ahead of everyone. This Lex, however, comes off as a joke—a sociopathic, spoiled rich kid looking for entertainment rather than a formidable foe.

Disney invested heavily to kick off the Marvel Universe, and they’re way ahead of DC in building their league of Earth’s heroes, The Avengers. Warner Bros. and DC, realizing they needed to catch up, threw everything into this movie to introduce the characters that would form the Justice League. In the end, it’s a decent setup for the Justice League but a bad movie overall.

I think we expected too much. Unlike Man of Steel (2013), which, despite its disjointed story, focused mainly on Superman discovering himself and taking down an enemy, this movie tries to juggle too much. The focus is split between Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Lex Luthor, and even Wonder Woman. The result is a story that feels forced and doesn’t work.

The movie kicks off after the events of Man of Steel (2013), where Superman’s battle to save the city left it in ruins. Lawmakers are worried about their newfound hero, and Bruce Wayne isn’t comfortable with an out-of-control alien running loose without a leash. Lex Luthor also feels the need to put the Man of Steel in his place, leading to an all-out macho showdown.

If you’re eager to see the fight between Batman and Superman, you’ll have to endure long political debates and the leads “discovering themselves” before it finally happens.

The best part of this movie isn’t Batman or Superman—it’s the introduction of Wonder Woman. The three of them on screen together was what we looked forward to (thanks to the trailers), and while it wasn’t amazing, it was okay.

Ben Affleck isn’t a bad Batman, and his character fits well into the movie. His portrayal isn’t far-fetched, and Henry Cavill’s Superman feels more comfortable this time around.

Overall, this movie is a total waste of time and a disappointment given its massive budget.