Showing Tag: " kids" (Show all posts)

REVIEW: With Night Howlers, Pawpsicles & Godfather Mr. Big, Dumb Bunny Cop Jude the Dude & Sly Fox Nick Make Zootopia Better for Savage Predators & Prey Alike

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 5, 2016, In : 0.00% Water 
Zootopia





Directed By: Byron Howard and Rich Moore

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Jenny Slate, and Shakira

"Everyone comes to Zootopia, thinking they could be anything they want.  But you can't.  You can only be what you are.  Sly fox.  Dumb bunny.  And that is not wet cement."
-Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman)

This past Thursday night, fourteen million Americans had the distinct displeasure of watching the umpteenth Republican president...

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REVIEW: The Peanuts Movie – Nostalgia And Great Dancing Cannot Save The Lovable Loser Charlie Brown

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, November 11, 2015, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
The Peanuts Movie
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Steve Martino

Starring: Kristin Chenoweth, Bill Melendez, Hadley Belle Miller, and Noah Schnapp

When I first saw The Peanuts Movie trailer, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.  I grew up watching Charlie Brown specials every holiday season.  The comic strips and cartoons have a warm place in my heart.  At the same time, I wondered whether Charlie Brown would translate on the big screen at a time when we are inundated with animated fare.  The Peanuts ...

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REVIEW: Minions – Hey, Hey It’s The Minions, But Gru Is Missing

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Minions
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, and Geoffrey Rush

The Despicable Me franchise is one of the most successful animated series of all time.  The films are well made with interesting plots and fast-paced, biting dialogue.  As characters, the minions have been an integral part of the Despicable Me movies.  However, the focus of the films has largely been on Steve Carrell’s lead character ...
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REVIEW: Thanks to Baymax & the Big Hero 6 Nerds Looking at Comics From a Different Angle, I Am Satisfied With My Care in San Fransokyo

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, November 9, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Big Hero 6





Directed By: Don Hall and Chris Williams

Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans, Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, T. J. Miller, Daniel Henney, James Cromwell, and Maya Rudolph

Disney has had one hell of a year, particularly when it comes to live action films.  Just look to the critical and commercial successes of films like Captain America: Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and to a lesser extent Maleficent.  The studio has found its groove and is on a roll.  Wi...
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REVIEW: For A White Hat & A Cheese Tasting, Red Hat Snatcher & The Boxtroll Exterminators Take on Eggs the Trubshaw Baby

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, September 28, 2014, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
The Boxtrolls





Directed By: Graham Annable and Anthony Stacchi

Starring: Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, and Tracy Morgan

Compared to last year, 2014 has been a relatively quiet year on the animated film front.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Planes: Fire and Rescue were the only two titles to arrive at the box office this summer from the genre.  As a single guy with no kids, I could personally care less, but...
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REVIEW: Biking Through the Nevada Desert in Earth to Echo, Tuck, Alex & Munch Beep a Bit Too Much

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, July 5, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Earth to Echo





Directed By: Dave Green

Starring: Teo Halm, Brian "Astro" Bradley, Reese C. Hartwig, and Ella Wahlestedt

This Fourth of July has brought us all sorts of movies at the mainstream box office, just not particularly great ones.  While Deliver Us From Evil offers a rather routine possession flick, Melissa McCarthy's Tammy offers a waste of money we all can loathe.  The remaining film I've yet to review is Earth to Echo. Now admittedly, I've held off on writing this review.  The film is ...
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REVIEW: How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Hiccup And Toothless Take On The Alpha In This Action-Packed Sequel

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Monday, June 16, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
How to Train Your Dragon 2
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Dean DeBlois

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Djimon Hounsou, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, and Jonah Hill

This past weekend was more than just Jonah Hill’s one-two punch in theaters with 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2.  In a world flooded with computer animated films, it is rare to see something new and fresh.  How to Train Your Dragon 2 not only exceeds the original film, but it stand...

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REVIEW: Mr. Peabody, Sherman, & Penny Rip Open the Space-Time Continuum With the WABAC Because George Washington Didn't Chop Down a Cherry Tree

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, March 8, 2014, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Mr. Peabody & Sherman





Directed By: Rob Minkoff

Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Leslie Mann, and Stephen Colbert

Children are taking over the box office we all know and love.  Every time I turn around, there's a new movie for them in theaters.  What happened to the good old days when they used to have a handful of flicks during the summer?  What happened to the good old days when Hollywood was fixated on the 18-49 demographic and not their children?  This year already, we've seen...
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REVIEW: Everything Is Awesome in The Lego Movie When the Special Master Builder Emmet Finds the Piece of Resistance to Stop the Kragle Before Taco Tuesday

Posted by James Brown on Saturday, February 8, 2014, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
The Lego Movie





Directed By: Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman

Wonder Woman has finally arrived on the big screen.  No, Gal Gadot hasn't picked up her lasso and gotten an early start before Batman Vs. Superman arrives in 2016.  No, there isn't some new animated Justice League film.  Voiced by How I Met Your Mother's Cobie Smulders, the Amazonian warrior princess arr...
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REVIEW: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – Foodimals, Tacodiles, And Cheesespiders, Oh My!

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, September 28, 2013, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
SoberFilmChick




Directed by: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn

Starring:  Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt, Terry Crews, Will Forte, and Kristen Schaal

Greetings movie lovers!  After a bit of an “end of summer” hiatus, I am back to the movie review business.  Naturally, my reign as animated movie review queen continues, and this week I had an opportunity to view Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.  The original...
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REVIEW: In Planes, Farm Boy and Love Machine Dusty Crophopper Takes His Wings Around the Globe, But Not Quite Around Greatness

Posted by James Brown on Friday, August 9, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Planes





Directed By: Klay Hall

Starring: Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Priyanka Chopra, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Cedric the Entertainer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Roger Craig Smith, Gabriel Iglesias, John Cleese, Carlos Alazraqui, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Colin Cowherd, Sinbad, Oliver Kalkofe, and Brent Musburger

The unprecedented onslaught of children’s movies continues this weekend with Planes.  The spin-off to Cars, which was originally slated for straight-to-VOD release, is hitting theaters now...
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REVIEW: With a Looming Smurf-a-geddon, & One Naughty Smurfette, the Smurfs Clan & the Winslow-Doyles Smurf It Up Too Much in The Smurfs 2

Posted by James Brown on Friday, August 2, 2013, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
The Smurfs 2





Directed By: Raja Gosnell

Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Jayma Mays, Katy Perry, Hank Azaria, Christina Ricci, Jonathan Winters, J.B. Smoove, George Lopez, and Anton Yelchin

Maybe it's just me, but this summer has had one too many movies for kids.  With Epic, Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, and Turbo, there's been a glut of animated movies, and it's about time I voice my disapproval.  The summer movie season is about catering to the young, but Hollywood has go...
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REVIEW: Despicable Me 2 – Gru, Kevin, Stuart And The Other Minions Work With The AVL To Bring Down A Mystery Villain In This Fun Sequel

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Despicable Me 2
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud

Starring:  Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan, and Ken Jeong

As the only mom on the STMR staff, I often get saddled with the animated fare (i.e. Brave, Wreck-It Ralph, The Croods, and Monsters University).  You name the animated flick, and I have seen it.  Although I am slightly bitter about being dumped into the mommy movie review bucket, I certainly bring a differe...


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REVIEW: Monsters University – We Scare Because We Care

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, June 22, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

Monsters University
SoberFilmChick




Directed by:  Dan Scanlon

Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Nathan Fillion, Sean Hayes, and John Krasinski

It has been 12 years since Monsters, Inc. debuted in 2001. It was a solid animated movie, but in my humble opinion, it never quite reached the legendary heights of Toy Story, Shrek or The Incredibles. I am happy to report that Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters, Inc., surpasses its predecessor, and is smart, fun and filled with li...


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REVIEW: The Croods 3D – Cavemen, They’re Just Like Us

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, March 23, 2013, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 

The Croods 3D
SoberFilmChick



Directed by: Chris Sanders, Kirk De Micco

Starring:  Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, and Cloris Leachman

TGIF moviegoers!  We are starting the weekend off with a little family fun.  The Croods is the latest animated movie to present the nuclear family in a unique setting (i.e The Incredibles).  Although The Croods is not as strong as some of its predecessors, it is fun and clever in its own way.

In The Croods, Grug (Nicolas Cage) is the...


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REVIEW: With the Help of China Girl, the Sour Puss Nook, and One Funny Flying Monkey Named Finley, the Con Man Oz is Indeed Great and Powerful

Posted by James Brown on Friday, March 8, 2013, In : 0.03% Wine Coolers 
Oz: The Great and Powerful





Directed By: Sam Raimi

Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, and Joey King

Anything is possible.  If you had asked me a few years ago whether we'd ever go back to Oz on the big screen, I would have laughed in your face.  I would have thought that no filmmaker would have the guts to deal with their work being forever in the shadow of Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz, an untouchable classic.  As this weekend demonst...
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REVIEW: Despite Spidey, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and One Mean Kitty Fun Size Is Just Not Worth Fighting For

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, October 28, 2012, In : 0.09% Cocktails 

Fun Size





Directed By: Josh Schwartz

Starring: Victoria Justice, Jane Levy, Thomas McDonnell, Chelsea Handler, Thomas Mann, Osric Chau, and Jackson Nicoll

More often than not, Halloween means bad horror movies for Hollywood.  Every once in a while though, we get a Halloween comedy, and I do mean every once in a while.  Until this weekend, it had been 17 years since the last comedy themed around the nightmarish holiday.  With this in mind, this weekend's Fun Size may just be the only Halloween...


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REVIEW: Brave — Solid, But Not Courageous Enough

Posted by SoberFilmChick on Saturday, June 23, 2012, In : 0.06% Beer or Wine 
Brave
SoberFilmChick




Directed By: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman

Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, and John Ratzenberger

Brave was not exactly what I expected.  From the movie’s trailer, I thought the film would follow the path of animated films like Mulan where the female protagonist bucks tradition and takes on a role or activities that are usually reserved for men.  While Brave does have some of those elem...
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REVIEW: Moe, Larry, and Curly are Back as The Three Stooges, But Why? Just Let the Damn Eye Poke Stay Retired.

Posted by James Brown on Sunday, April 15, 2012, In : 0.12% Hard Liquor 
The Three Stooges





Directed By: Farrelly Brothers

Starring: Chris Diamantoloulos, Sean Hayes, and Will Sasso

Back in the good old days, The Three Stooges were the kings of comedy.  Their antics brought smiles to the faces of millions for more than 45 years.  For nearly half a century, they helped shape the landscape of television and film with their unique brand of slapstick comedy.  Moe, Larry, and Curly are arguably the most iconic comedy act of the twentieth century.  With that in mind, Peter ...
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REVIEW: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island - Terminal Intensity For Kids

Posted by Mary Dieng on Saturday, February 11, 2012, In : 0.09% Cocktails 
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Mary Dieng




Directed By: Brad Peyton

Starring: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kristin Davis

I encountered the best part of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island days before its release.  In the Twitterverse, actor Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) commented on the Journey 2 movie poster, saying “Every morning on the way to work I see a big poster of The Rock riding a bee with termina...
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