Daddy's Home

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, crude and suggestive material and for language
Run Time: 96 Minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
So last night my wife, friends, and I saw Paramount Pictures' Daddy's Home starring Will Ferrell (Anchorman), Mark Wahlberg (Lone Survivor), Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Age of Ultron), and Thomas Haden Church (Max).  It tells the story of Brad, a stepdad who is trying to get his stepchildren to love him.  However, his goal becomes even more difficult when their father comes to town.
So I thought this movie was hilarious and definitely worth the price of admission.  This is Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's second collaboration and in my opinion, they are a comedy dream team.  They are so funny together and this film is no different.  They have such great chemistry together and their different comedic styles combined make for the perfect combination.  Also, the supporting cast is excellent and truly bring this film full-circle.  Another great thing about it is the story.  Though this film extremely exaggerates the scenario, I can only imagine that this exactly how fathers and stepfathers feel when they first meet each other.  This is definitely one that many people can relate to, which makes this film even better.
Though I thought the film was great, its biggest flaw is its pacing.  There were many hilarious moments throughout the entire film, but it still seemed like it dragged on just a little bit.  It wasn't too bad, but it was just noticeable to me.  For most, they won't even notice it so it won't be that big of a deal to them.  Also, the film was very predictable, but that is what most people expect for a comedy.
Overall, I thought the movie was hilarious and excellent.  I would definitely see this film again.  Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are a perfect match and should be seen on the big screen by all.  This is a great comedy and one that many people will enjoy.  It may have a few jokes not suitable for all ages, but adults will find it funny and a good time at the movie theater.

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Point Break

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, thematic material involving perilous activity, some sexuality, language and drug material
Run Time: 113 Minutes
My Rating: 1/5
So yesterday I saw Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment's Point Break starring Edgar Ramirez (Deliver Us From Evil), Luke Bracey (The Best of Me), Ray Winstone (Noah), and Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies).  It tells the story of a young-FBI agent who is tasked to infiltrate a team of extreme sports athletes who are suspected to be connected with a series of crimes across the world.  Now with his life in danger, this young agent must prove that this team is connected before its too late.
So this film was good, but it was not great.  So this film is a remake and after watching this one, I have no idea why it was even filmed.  It does nothing to enhance the original and really just seems like a very unsuccessful cash-grab.  In fact, this film has the exact same story and character personalities of a recent franchise favorite, Fast and the Furious.  There is a team of extreme athletes who are connected to crimes; the team see each other as family; there is the young-FBI agent that infiltrates the team and becomes too close within the family circle; the young-FBI agent has a history of the extreme nature of the team's sport; and the young-FBI agent looks eerily similar to the late Paul Walker.  To be completely honest, it felt like I was watching a lesser-version of 2001's The Fast and the Furious.  This film lacks originality and really the intensity of the original Point Break as well as the Fast and Furious franchise.
With all that being said, the film's only saving grace is the fact that the extreme sports look so much fun.  I am definitely an adrenaline-junkie, so seeing these extreme sports happen on the big screen makes me want to get out there and try them myself.  For me this was the only thing that made the film bearable.
Overall, this film was just pointless and really did not need to be made.  If you are an adrenaline-junkie like me than you may find something that interests you, but if not than you might as well watch The Fast and the Furious instead.  I am definitely disappointed in this film.  In my opinion, don't waste your time seeing this film because there are definitely better films out right now.

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Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence
Run Time: 135 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
So today my family and I saw Walt Disney Studios and LucasFilm's Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens starring Harrison Ford (The Age of Adaline), Mark Hamill (CW's The Flash), Carrie Fisher (Fox's Family Guy), Adam Driver (This is Where I Leave You), and newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.  It takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, with the Galaxy being threatened by a new force called the First Order.  However, with the Resistance last hope, Luke Skywalker, in hiding, the Resistance must rely on Han Solo, Chewbacca and new recruits Finn and Rey in order to take down the First Order and its army of stormtroopers.
So I loved this film.  This was such a great film and I can honestly say that this is the Star Wars movie that everyone has been waiting for.  From the biggest Star Wars fanatic to the general moviegoer, this film has something for everyone.  That is actually one of the film's greatest qualities is that it is marketable to a wide audience.  Though that may be a great quality, the best aspect of the film is that it truly reflects the original trilogy.  From bringing back the original cast to many of the aspects that fans have come to love, this Star Wars film truly resembles what makes this franchise amazing.  With that said, it also brings in some excellent new characters and ideas that breathe fresh air into the franchise. The new actors to the franchise do an amazing job and in my opinion are so much better than the actors and characters that were added into the prequel trilogy.  In fact, there isn't one new addition to this film that I hated.
Though I loved the film and think that there truly is nothing wrong with it, may one caveat that I have to put in there is that it is way too similar to A New Hope.  I am not saying that this is a bad thing, but I only wish that they could have been a little bit more original, but with that said, I do really like where they are taking the franchise in the subsequent films.  It looks quite original.
Overall, I loved this film and it was worth the wait.  This is a great movie for everyone to watch and I hope that it can bring many more people to the franchise.  For those that think that they won't understand it, I promise you that you most likely know enough to get you through it and actually enjoy it.  This is one of the best films of the year and I can't wait to see it again!!

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor
Run Time: 86 Minutes
My Rating: 2.5/5
So today my daughter and I saw Twentieth Century Fox's Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, the fourth installment in the franchise.  The film stars Jason Lee (The Incredibles), Justin Long (He's Just Not That Into You), Matthew Gray Gubler (CBS' Criminal Minds), Jesse McCartney (ABC Family's Young & Hungry), Kimberly Williams-Paisley (ABC's Nashville), and Bella Thorne (The Duff). It once again follows the adventures of Alvin, Simon and Theodore as they try to make it to Miami in order to stop their guardian Dave from proposing to his girlfriend in hopes of saving themselves from losing him and being stuck with a horrible stepbrother.  Through many mishaps along the way, they come to realize what it means to be a true family.
So though this may not be the absolute best animated film of the year or even the best Chipmunk movie, it was still quite enjoyable and quite entertaining.  Once again the the film is greatly helped out by a fantastic soundtrack.  However, probably the thing that I loved the most about this film was how much the cast seemed to enjoy their work.  It honestly looks like they are having so much fun that you wish you could be there with them as well.  In fact, there were many kids dancing during my screening.  They wanted to enjoy themselves just as much as the characters. This film is definitely one that the kids will enjoy and it even has moments for the adults as well.
Though i thought the film was really good, I just didn't think it was amazing.  Probably the biggest flaw in this film is its lack of an original idea.  Not to say I didn't like this film, but all of the movies are the exact same just in different places.  They all have the same message of family and they all have the exact same magnified problems.  This isn't saying that these movies aren't entertaining, but they just don't have any originality to them.
However with that being said, I still quite enjoyed the film.  It is definitely one that the kids will enjoy and adults as well.  The music is spectacular and the message is great as always.  This is definitely a film for the whole family and a great one to see over the holidays.  It may not be the greatest film out there right now, but it is definitely an entertaining one to watch.

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Christmas Eve

MPAA Rating: PG for some peril, thematic elements and language
Run Time: 95 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today my wife and I saw Unstuck's Christmas Eve starring Patrick Stewart (X-Men Days of Future Past), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), James Roday (USA's Psych), Gary Cole (USA's Suits), and David Bamber (Valkyrie).  It tells the story of six different groups of New Yorkers who are stuck together inside elevators on Christmas Eve after a city-wide power outage traps them.
So personally, I really liked this movie.  I have to admit that the only reason I even heard about this film was that one of my wife's friends uncle directed it, but I am glad that I watched it.  It may not become an instant holiday classic, but it certainly brings the spirit of Christmas into the audience's life.  There are really two things that makes this movie great: the characters and the message it shares. Though the characters are strange, you can't help but love them.  They all have their unique characteristics and each audience member can definitely relate to at least one of them. This allows the audiences members to put themselves in the shoes of the characters which helps them learn a little bit more about themselves and allows the lessons shared in this film to become more internalized.  Speaking of the lessons shared, this film teaches us that there is a higher being that helps shape all of our lives.  I love how this film is not afraid to bring God into the holiday and not focus on the commercial side of the holiday.  Finally, musician Jenny Oaks Baker provides a spectacular violin solo of Silent Night!!
Though the film has some great aspects to it, probably its biggest flaw is its use of all of its stars. The film has so many great actors and actresses and they all give great performances, but I felt like they all could have been utilized better.  I especially thought this for Patrick Stewart.  For being at the forefront of most of the advertising, he definitely takes a back seat for most of the film and really doesn't have as many memorable moments as the other actors.
Overall, I thought this film was great and definitely one that I would add to my list of films to watch during the holidays.  This is a great family film that will help bring the spirit of Christmas into your holiday season.  With that said, if you have time during your holiday season, definitely make time to watch this film.

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In the Heart of the Sea

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material
Run Time: 121 Minutes
My Rating: 3/5
So yesterday my daughter and I saw Warner Brothers' In the Heart of the Sea starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter), and Cillian Murphy (The Dark Knight Rises).  It tells the fascinating true story that inspired Herman Melville's epic novel Moby Dick.  In 1820, a New England whaling ship called the Essex embarked on a journey to collect whale oil. However, the crew gets more than they bargained for when their ship is destroyed by a mammoth sized whale.  Now with little hope left in them, the crew of the Essex must come together in order to survive at sea and make it home to their families that love them.
So this film has an incredible story, great acting, and incredible visuals and special effects.  I had no idea that Moby Dick was based on true events, so I thought that was very interesting.  This is a breathtaking story that show the resiliency of mankind and man's strife to survive at all costs.  I cannot imagine what these sailors had to go through, because its almost impossible to believe. However, it was incredible to watch and the acting made it all the better.  Chris Hemsworth I believe gives his best performance (that I have seen) and in any other year, would be a shoo-in for an Oscar. I want to see Hemsworth in more films like this because it really shows off his acting ability.  Finally, the visuals in the film were spectacular.  Seeing that giant whale on screen was amazing and it is because of the visuals that this film needs to be seen in theaters.  I do not recommend waiting until this film is released on home video because it just would not be the same.
Though the film has so many great aspects, it is flawed by its pacing.  The story is incredible, but it felt like I was in the movie for a long time.  With that said, I really don't know where they could have changed the pace, so they did do the best with what they had.  Unfortunately for me it felt a little too long.
Overall, I thought the film was good, but it could have been better.  The story is incredible and Chris Hemsworth gives his greatest performance.  This is definitely a film that you need to see on the big screen, but if I were you I would wait until it goes to the cheap theaters.  Save your money for other films, but don't disregard this film completely.  If you are literature or history buffs, then you will love this film.  In the Heart of the Sea had great potential and in the right mindset, it could have been a classic.

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Creed

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality
Run Time: 133 Minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
Hey everyone, sorry for the double post, but today I saw Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema's Rocky spin-off Creed starring Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station), Tessa Thompson (Dear White People), and Sylvester Stallone (The Expendables).  It tells the story of Adonis Johnson the son of the famous Apollo Creed. Though he never met his father, Adonis wants to follow in his footsteps.  So, he seeks a mentor in his father's friend Rocky Balboa.  Now with Rocky by his side, Adonis must prove to the world that he can fight and he isn't just using the name Creed to get his time in the spotlight.
So I personally really liked this film.  I was a little weary about this film when I first heard about it, but I was pleasantly surprised by it.  I am a huge fan of the Rocky franchise and I believe that this is a great addition to that franchise.  It has an incredible story that truly reminds you why America fell in love with Rocky in the first place.  The true underdog story that can really pull on the heartstrings. This one is no different.  Michael B. Jordan does an incredible job playing the great Apollo Creed's son.  I have been a fan of his since day one and this performance just solidifies his greatness as an actor.  Also, Sylvester Stallone gives another breathtaking performance as the incredible Rocky Balboa.  He has been getting a lot of Oscar buzz for his performance and he deserves every bit of it.  I hope that he does get an award because I believe that his greatest performances have been Rocky Balboa and he should be credited for this amazing character.
Though I loved the film, it was a bit too formulaic for me.  There just isn't any surprise to the film and everything goes down exactly as you would expect.  There is nothing new that this film brings except for a continuation of a story many thought was over.
With that said, I still thought that the film was great.  It has incredible acting and actors and a fantastic story.  This is a great film that will appeal to all moviegoers.  The Rocky franchise is still alive and after seeing the results of this film, the franchise will continue to live on at least for the immediate future.

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Krampus

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of horror violence/terror, language and some drug material
Run Time: 98 Minutes
My Rating: 3/5
So last night I saw Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures' Christmas/Horror film Krampus starring Adam Scott (NBC's Parks and Recreation), Toni Collette (The Way Way Back), David Koechner (ABC's The Goldbergs), Allison Tolman (The Gift), and Conchata Ferrell (CBS' Two and a Half Men).  It tells the story of a dysfunctional family whose lives are put into danger when an ancient evil visits them during their holiday festivities.  Now, they are faced with the challenge to fight for their lives and find the hope in each other in order to survive.
So, I personally liked this film.  It had just enough horror aspects as well as comedy aspects to make it a perfect holiday film for horror lovers.  Now, for horror enthusiasts, this may not be the scariest film, but it is really fun and completely entertaining.  So if you are looking for something scary, this film in not for you, but if you want something fun with a little scare, then this is for you.  The film's comedic roots come from its incredibly talented cast.  All of the amazing actors come from hilarious films and television shows and they prove here that they can do more than comedy.  I was very nervous when I saw who the cast would be, but I was surprisingly mistaken.  It was a breath of fresh air to see a full-on comedic cast do a horror movie.  After seeing this, I would not be opposed to more horror movie casts like this.  Also, I appreciate the film knowing what it is and completely accepting it.  Krampus could have been a completely joke, but it wasn't.  It was carefully crafted and perfectly done.
Overall, I thought this movie was good, but it still had its flaws.  In my opinion, I wish that it would have been scarier, but I can appreciate this film for what it is.  This is definitely not a film for everyone, but for those into this kind of film, will love it.  With that said, I think this film will go down as one of horror fans' favorite holiday films.

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