When a film is successful, the obvious response from the powers that be is to greenlight a sequel. Whether or not that second film has the same success as its predecessor is not as certain.
The 2003 movie, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle is the follow-up to the 2000 film, Charlie’s Angels. After three years, the Angels- Dylan (Drew Barrymore), Alex (Lucy Liu), and Natalie (Cameron Diaz) have another case on their hands. Led by the ever-faithful Bosley (the late Bernie Mac, replacing Bill Murray), they have to locate and protect two rings that contain information on the Federal Witness Protection Program database.
Standing in their way is the potentially suspect fallen Angel Madison (Demi Moore) and bad guy/Dylan’s ex Seamus (Justin Theroux).
As sequels go, it’s not bad. The problem is that the spark that made its predecessor successful is dimmed. It is entertaining, but not as good as the original narrative.
The buddy comedy genre is one that is both limited in scope, but also, if done in a certain way, can go beyond the traditional boundaries.
The 2001 film, Osmosis Jones combines live action and animation. Frank DeTorre’s (Bill Murray) life has turned upside down since his wife passed. His emotional response to her loss is to overeat and not take care of himself. Inside his body, Osmosis “Ozzy” Jones (Chris Rock) is a white blood cell cop who is just a little too enthusiastic about his job. When Frank contracts a virus named Thrax (Laurence Fishburne), he has to work with new partner Drix (David Hyde Pierce). They try to get along, but like any new partnership, it takes time to find its sweet spot.
This movie is funny, charming, and takes the buddy cop comedy genre to a level in which audiences have not seen before. It is also a lesson in biology that teaches more about our bodies than we ever learned in school.
It’s that time of year again: Christmas. When Christmas comes, the Christmas movies follow. Some are good, some are bad and some well, let’s not venture into the arena of those Christmas movies that are not worth our time.
That being said, this post will examine two different Christmas movies to see if they live up to the standards of the holiday.
In Jingle All The Way (1996), the hottest and must have toy is Turbo Man. Every kid has to have a Turbo Man waiting for them under the tree. The problem is, like every toy that becomes the must have toy for the season, the supply does not equal the demand. Jamie Langston (Jake Lloyd) is one of those kids who is aching for a Turbo Man of his own. His father, Howard Langston, a workaholic who spends more time at the office than with his family, (Arnold Schwarzengger) is doing everything he can to get his son a Turbo Man. With Christmas fast approaching, Howard has to compete with the other parents to find his son the toy he is wishing for. That includes fighting for the last toy in town with Myron Larabee (Sinbad), who is also looking for the same toy.
What I like about this movie is that it is art imitating life. Every year, there is the hottest and must have toy that must be waiting for the children on Christmas day. The problem, that the movie perfectly represents, is that Christmas, instead of being about family, tradition and togetherness, has become a materialistic holiday. The crux of the movie, from my perspective is the importance of family and making memories will last much longer than the hot toy of the season.
Scrooged (1988), is an updated reboot of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a television executive whose station will be broadcasting a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol. With a less than ideal childhood, it’s easy to understand why Frank is unable to enjoy Christmas. Then he is visited by three ghosts who remind him of why Christmas is important.
What I like about this movie is that it is funky late 1980’s version of the book many of us know so well. Bill Murray was perfectly cast as a cynical, slightly bitter man who needs a reminder of not only the love that others can provide, but a reminder that how we treat others comes back to us.
Hyde Park on Hudson is an interesting movie. It tells the story of the weekend in 1939 when the King And Queen Of England visit Franklin Delano Roosevelt and in a way, is an unofficial sequel to The Kings Speech.
Daisy (Laura Linney) is a distant cousin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and is invited to keep him company. They soon embark on an affair.
With the war in Europe become a bigger issue every day, the King and Queen Of England (Samuel West & Olivia Coleman) come to visit and persuade FDR to get invoved in the war.
The movie is a slow burn, but its certainly a different, especially for Bill Murray.
Writergurlny 