Movie review: Dolemite Is My Name

 

 In 1970's LA, Rudy Moore is a comedy and rap pioneer who finally finds success with his alter ego, Dolemite. Not satisfied, he sets his sights next on the big screen.

Eddie Murphy (Rudy), Keegan Michael Key (Jerry), Mike Epps (Jimmy), Craig Robinson (Ben), Tituss Burgess (Toney), Da'Vine Randolph (Lady Reed), Snoop Dogg (Roj), Wesley Snipes (D'Urville), Chris Rock (Bobby).

Dolemite Is My Name begins well enough with some background as Rudy attempts to break into show business and repeatedly fails. But when he creates a new alter ego named Dolemite, his local community begins to take notice. With some success finally under his belt, Rudy next aims for the big-screen where he finds success during the 1970's Blaxploitation period. The result is an interesting story that is fairly entertaining.

Acting was solid with Murphy delivering wonderfully in a role that fit him well and seeming to work well with others. Randolph also did well with good emotion and an experienced feel. Key did nicely and added a bit of contrast while Dogg, Snipes, and Rock added some experience and names to the cast but little else. The remainder of the supporting cast was enjoyable.

Sets, backgrounds, and camera work are nicely done and the film does a decent job of bringing us back to the 1970's. Mild action scenes were fun and technically good. Sound and soundtrack are nicely done throughout.

Overall Dolemite Is My Name is fun, but didn't quite deliver the comedy we had hoped. The film moves along pretty well and engages the audience but in the end, didn't deliver much else unless you are interested in 70's Blaxploitation films or Rudy Moore.

With some nudity, sexuality, violence, fake gore, and more curse words than we could count, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 1.2.20
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Biography, Movies Based on Real Life

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Hounds of Love

 

 Australian couple John and Evelyn White are actually a pair of serial killers targeting young girls when they kidnap Vicki who quickly realizes her only means of escape may be pitting the couple against one another.

Emma Booth (Evelyn), Ashleigh Cummings (Vicki), Stephen Curry (John), Susie Porter (Maggie), Damian de Montemas (Trevor), Harrison Gilbertson (Jason), Fletcher Humphrys (Gary), Steve Turner (Troy).

Hounds of Love launches nicely giving us an idea of what John and Evelyn are about, as well as a hint at their problems. Vicki is quickly kidnapped by the couple with the obvious intent to torture and murder her, and of course she quickly starts looking for a way to escape. It is also about this point the film can't decide if it should be horror or a character study and slows almost to a crawl.


Acting was reasonably good with Booth delivering a nicely disturbing performance. Cummings was solid and did well with her role. Curry was pretty good though he felt like a physical mismatch in a few scenes. Porter, de Montamas, Gilbertson and the remainder of the supporting cast were decent.

Camera work was good throughout. Sets and backgrounds appeared realistic and fitting for the film. Dialogue was okay but could have added a bit more depth. Action scenes were almost disturbingly realistic at times. Sound and soundtrack are bland.

This one is most definitely not for children. Nudity, torture, forced restraint, kidnapping, violence and adult situations mean this one should be saved for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 1.2.20
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Thrillers, Crime Thriller, Drama

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Spy Who Dumped Me

 

 Best friends Audrey and Morgan find themselves running for their lives after Audrey learns the boyfriend who dumped her was a spy.

Justin Theroux (Drew), Mila Kunis (Audrey), Kate McKinnon (Morgan), Sam Heughan (Sebastian), Mirjam Novak (Verne), Lolly Adefope (Tess), Dustin Demri-Burns (Viktor), Hasan Minhaj (Duffer).

The Spy Who Dumped Me joins Audrey just after being dumped, via text, by her boyfriend Drew. Of course, her best friend Morgan offers comfort and the two decide to burn Drew's left behind belongings. This is when international spies looking for something Drew left behind come into the picture. The rest of the film is an action and comedy adventure as the two bumble through an international conspiracy.

Acting was pretty good. Kunis delivered well and continues to be enjoyable, particularly in comedies. McKinnon delivers with plenty of energy and only infrequently feels out of place, but seemed to work well with Kunis and others. Theroux was pretty good in his role, as was Heughan. The remainder of the supporting cast was enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are solid and nicely done as we would expect from big screen action comedy. Physical stunts and effects were fitting and technically well done. Dialogue was good with a nice mix of drama, intensity, and comedy. Sound and soundtrack are managed well.

While enjoyable to watch, The Spy Who Dumped Me really does feel like a remake of a worn out spy story. It may not add much to the genre, but there are still some good laughs, acting, and technical work. Those who enjoy a solid action comedy should enjoy this one.

With some graphic nudity, violence, gore, and foul language, save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2018
Reviewed: 1.1.20
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action, Comedy, Adventure, Action Comedy, Spy Movies

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Shelby American

 

 Documentary biography of Carrol Shelby's life and achievements from chicken farmer, racer and automobile designer, to entrepreneur with vintage footage and interviews.

Charlie Agapiou, Chris Amon, Mario Andretti, Richard Attwood, A.J. Baime, Bob Bondurant, Peter Brock, Gordon Chance, Piero Ferrari, Edsel B. Ford II.

Carrol Shelby is a name probably known to anyone with more than a mild interest in cars. And in reality, he likely touched the lives of most anyone who has ever driven a car. With dreams of cars and racing from an early age, Carrol's life revolved around racing. Breaking into the industry, he made a name for himself early on but that wasn't enough to interest Enzo Ferrari, one of his heroes, driving Carrol to dedicate himself to beating Ferrari's on the track. The evolution of that desire, and the consequences for the automotive world are an amazing piece of history.

There were a lot of interviews here but little actual acting. The interviews however were very good and added nice depth to the film. There are plenty of scenes of different Shelby cars in both racing and street dress. Dialogue was good and provided a nice journey through the life of Carrol Shelby. Sound and soundtrack are handled well.

Overall this was a nicely done biography. If you know the name Shelby, or are at all interesting in racing history, check this one out.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 12.30.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, Biography

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America!

 

In this stand-up special Ronny Chieng pokes fun at American's, the U.S. Government, and excesses considered absurd by the rest of the world.

Ronny takes aim at American's and their fondness for excess from the perspective of an outsider. Subways, children, work ethics, nothing is off-limits. Changing direction, he then tells us about arranging his 3 weddings.

Ronny's delivery is pretty good with nice use of his accent to add to the jokes. He explores a wide variety of topics and doesn't seem afraid to make fun of himself. While there are some good laughs, they are only good not great. It might have helped if Ronny looked at all happy or smiled at all during his monologue.

Camera work, stage setting and background, are good. Sound and soundtrack are okay.

Overall Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America! almost feels like the low-calorie comedy version with some chuckles but very few belly laughs. Delivery is good, as is technical work. Those who enjoy mild comedy with less controversial topics should enjoy this one.

With only some mild foul language, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 12.30.19
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Stand-up Comedy, Comedy

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel