Movie review: The Heartbreak Kid

After being burned in his last relationship, Eddie jumps into his next with both feet. On his honeymoon he begins to think he made a mistake which is only made worse when he meets his perfect match.

Ben Stiller (Eddie), Malin Akerman (Lila), Michelle Monaghan (Miranda), Jerry Stiller (Doc), Rob Corddry (Mac), Carlos Mencia (Tito), Scott Wilson (Boo), Polly Holliday (Beryl), Danny McBride (Martin).

The Heartbreak Kid begins with some backstory and character introductions before Eddie and Lila meet and the humor jumps up a notch. On their honeymoon, Eddie begins to realize Lila is a bit different than most women. When he meets Miranda though, he knows he has finally found his perfect match. But it seems life may have other plans for Eddie. The rest of the film is one laugh after another through the Happy Ever After ending.

Acting was good with Ben Stiller doing a nice job with his usual delivery. Akerman was hysterical and kudos to her for the variety of situations in which she did so well. Monaghan was enjoyable and seemed to fit with Stiller well. It was nice seeing Jerry stiller in this one, along with Mencia, both of which did well. The remainder of the cast was solid and did nicely.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were well done with a nice, quality feel. Action scenes were fun and funny at the same time. Dialogue had some great laughs and moved things along at a good pace. Sound and soundtrack were well done.

Fans of Stiller, the Farrely brothers, or late night comedies should enjoy this one. While there is a romantic aspect to the film it really takes back-seat to the humor.

With strong sexual content, nudity, foul language, and more fairly graphic sexuality, save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2007
Reviewed: 11.4.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Late Night Comedy, Romantic Comedies

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Dazed and Confused

High School Seniors and incoming Freshmen collide on the last day of school in 1976. Parties, pot, girls and the requisite Freshman hazing are on tap along with the beer.

Jason London (Pink), Joey Adams (Simone), Milla Jovovich (Michelle), Shawn Andrews (Pickford), Rory Cochrane (Slater), Adam Goldberg (Mike), Anthony Rapp (Tony), Marissa Ribisi (Cynthia), Ben Affleck (O'Bannion), Parker Posey (Darla), Matthew McConaughey (Wooderson).

Dazed and Confused is a fun, campy story following High School Seniors and incoming Freshman on the last day of school, May 1976. As the Freshman hazing swings into full tilt and the last day of school celebrations commence, the humor really gets moving. From there the film is a silly, fun journey through teen sexuality, drugs, alcohol, and troublemaking with a few moral and ethical situations thrown in to keep things real.

Acting was amazingly good and fun in this one. London was solid throughout as was Adams. Cochrane was absolutely hysterical while Goldberg showed his acting skills haven't changed in many years. Affleck and McConaughey were both easy to spot with their trademark presentations. The remainder of the well known cast was enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nice with a realistic feel throughout. Action scenes and the numerous muscle cars were great to see. Dialogue was campy but fun and kept the film entertaining to the end. Sound was good, and the soundtrack was a delight with some great, appropriate classic rock.

Dazed and Confused is quite simply a lot of fun. Those who came of age in the late 70's or early 80's should enjoy this one quite a bit.

With some mild sexuality and references, violence, hazing, foul language and plenty of drug use, this should be fine for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 1993
Reviewed: 11.4.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Late Night Comedy, Cult Comedy

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Glitch

Called to the local Yoorana cemetery in the dark of night, Sr. Constable James Hayes discovers six people that have risen from the dead in seemingly perfect health. Knowing this will shock the small Australian town of Yoorana, James decides to keep things under wraps, but a second discovery may change his mind.

Patrick Brammall (James), Genevieve O'Reilly (Elishia), Emma Booth (Kate), Emily Barclay (Sarah), Ned Dennehy (Paddy), Sean Keenan (Charlie), Andrew McFarlane (Vic), Daniela Farinacci (Maria), Hanna Monson (Kirstie), Aaron McGrath (Beau), Rodger Corser (John).

Glitch launches right into the story with local cop James responding to a call at the local cemetery. Finding six people have risen from the dead in perfect health he enlists Elishia, the local doctor, to help him keep the six hidden, fearing for their safety. The rest of this original series, six episodes in all, does a great job of delivering small revelations in each episode building good depth. The only problem is that the series is short and ends as a complete cliffhanger with no answers.

Acting was good with Brammall delivering well and working exceptionally well with Booth and Barclay, who both also did very well. O'Reilly was enjoyable with good delivery, as was Dennehy. Monson was appropriately annoying, and Corser delivered perfectly. The remainder of the cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work was solid throughout. Sets and backgrounds were simple and plain with an apparent use of natural scenery and fit the film nicely. Action scenes were good with help from costuming and makeup. Dialogue was enjoyable even with a few difficult accents. Sound and soundtrack were reasonably good.

Glitch is so good and so short with a cliffhanger ending that the series almost feels like a cruel tease. The storyline, acting, and technical work are all good and we would love to see more, including answers to some of the questions left open. Those who want a complete story should avoid this one.

With blood, gore, violence, nudity, and mildly disturbing adult situations, this should be fine for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 11.2.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: TV Horror, TV Mystery, TV Drama, TV Series

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Pyramid

A team of archaeologists using satellite imaging has found a buried Egyptian pyramid which may be the oldest ever found. Entering the pyramid in a rush, the team quickly realizes it is unlike any pyramid they have seen before.

Ashley Grace (Nora), Denis O'Hare (Holden), James Buckley (Fitzie), Christa Nicola (Sunni), Amir K (Zahir), Faycal Attougui (Corporal Shadid).

The Pyramid begins nicely as a camera crew joins the archaeologists at the pyramid site with plans to join them inside. Racing into the pyramid due to an Egyptian government shake-up, the explorers quickly find it designed to trap something, unlike other pyramids. Searching for a way out, the group realizes there are other creatures inside, and they are hungry. The remainder of the film is a journey of horror, tension, and discovery through to the end, which was quite fitting.

Acting was decent with Grace putting forth a nice lead role performance. O'Hare did okay for the most part but missed the mark on a few scenes. Buckley was enjoyable, as was Nicola, both of which fit the film well. Amir K was enjoyable in a smallish role, as was Attougui. The remainder of the cast was solid.

Camera work, a challenge when trying to present a dark space like a pyramid, was pretty well done. The first-person footage was rough and slightly overused, but fit the theme. Sets and backgrounds were decent and it felt like a pyramid. Or a cave, which it was as well. Action scenes were decent but CGI creature effects were somewhat lacking and obvious, for which we dropped a star. Dialogue was good and moved along well. Sound and soundtrack were reasonably well done.

While The Pyramid is an enjoyable entry-level horror flick, that is all it is. The depth here is shaky, acting decent, and technical work a bit rough at times. Those looking for a mild horror flick should enjoy this one, while those wanting consistency or depth may be disappointed.

Violence and gore are the only things to limit audience age in this one, which should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2014
Reviewed: 11.2.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Action, Adventure

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Night of the Living Deb

After a girl's night out Deb awakens to find herself in the bed of the most attractive man in Portland, Maine. But when Ryan finally gets Deb out of his apartment regret takes a backseat as they find themselves in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.

Maria Thayer (Deb), Syd Wilder (Stacy), Ray Wise (Frank), Michael Cassidy (Ryan), Chris Marquette (Chaz), Shawn Phillips (Zombie Authentication), Brian Sacca (Col. Newton), Julie Brister (Ruby).

Night of the Living Deb begins with some fun character introductions and plot setup before the zombie apocalypse launches us in a new direction. With the zombies now in full attack mode, Deb and Ryan try to stay alive and make it to Frank's house hoping it will be a safe haven. Instead the humor ratchets up a notch and things get even crazier.

Acting was enjoyable with Thayer delivering a silly performance pretty well. Cassidy was decent as the straight-man in the film and worked well with others. Wise was surprisingly more funny than expected while Wilder, enjoyable to watch, wasn't quite so funny. Marquette however was hysterical, and the remainder of the cast was good.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are simple and somewhat plain but fitting and enjoyable. Action and zombie scenes were good with nice gore and a fun approach. Dialogue was appropriately campy and delivered some nice laughs. Sound and soundtrack were mild but good.

If you are looking for a light-hearted zombie flick with some laughs, Night of the Living Deb is a decent choice. Though not groundbreaking, the film has a decent plot, good technical work, and enjoyable acting. Fans of zombie comedies or zombie satire should enjoy this one.

With some comedy gore, mild foul language, and light sexuality, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 10.31.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Comedy Horror, Romance, Comedy Romance, Horror

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Kingpin

When a handless bowler, an Amish bowling prodigy, and a seasoned con artist collide the result is a bowling tournament.

Woody Harrelson (Roy Munson), Randy Quaid (Ishmael), Banessa Angel (Claudia), Bill Murray (Ernie), Chris Elliott (The Gambler), Lin Shaye (Landlady), William Jordan (Mr. Boorg), Zen Gesner (Thomas).

Kingpin begins with some backstory, character introductions, and a few laughs. As things begin to careen crazily the plot starts to develop as more laughs are delivered. The story finally comes together in the end with a slew of laughs and plot finish that most will see coming well ahead of time. Though as with comedies like this, the ending means a lot less than the journey.

Acting was surprisingly good with Harrelson once again doing a great job in a comedic role. Quaid showed he still has the chops and is willing to go the distance. Nicely done. Murray was another great choice and delivered well as always. Shaye… absolutely hysterical. The remainder of the cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were mild but enjoyable and fitting. Action scenes, such as they were, used good physical humor with dialogue. Dialogue was good with some nice laughs and only a light sprinkle of drama. Sound and soundtrack were enjoyable.

Kingpin is a surprisingly light and fun comedy that doesn't take itself, or the audience, too seriously. The laughs are decent, the plot almost realistic, and technical work good. Those who enjoyed the campy comedies of the 80's should enjoy this one.

With some adult humor and sexual references, mild violence, and foul language this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 1996
Reviewed: 10.31.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Sports Satire, Satire

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Containment

When a mutated super-virus with a 100% mortality rate is accidentally released in Atlanta, authorities scramble to find a cure. In the meantime, the city is quarantined behind a cordon to contain the outbreak.

David Gyasi (Lex), Christina Moses (Jana), Chris Wood (Jake), Claudia Black (Sabine Lommers), George Young (Cannerts), Hanna Lawrence (Teresa), Trevor St. John (Leo), Kristen Gutoskie (Katie), Zachary Unger (Quentin).

Containment begins well with nice character introductions and plot setup before smoothly moving to the main plot. As the virus is realized, the city is quickly cordoned off and the intensity moves up a notch. As the quarantine lingers, the film shows us how those inside the walls survive, cope, try to escape, and even profit. Focus then expands to include the emotional drama of key characters, and begins to explore the origins of the virus with a new subplot.

Acting was good with Gyasi delivering a nice performance reminiscent of Denzel Washington. Moses did nicely in a variety of conditions and seemed to work well with others. Wood was very good with solid delivery and emotion. Black, Young, and the remainder of the cast were solid and delivered well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were solid with a realistic feel and nice variety of locations. Action scenes were well done with nice detail. Gore and blood were plentiful and again, the series had a solid feel. Dialogue had good depth and moved the story along nicely. Sound and soundtrack were nothing exciting but fitting.

Containment takes a nice view and approach to a virus outbreak with a look at how a potential quarantine might work, and how those on both sides of the fence might react. The drama and emotion are nice touches that keep the audience engaged. Those who enjoy a solid drama should enjoy this one.

With plenty of blood, gore, some graphic violence, disturbing adult situations, and mild sexuality, this surprisingly should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 10.31.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Drama, TV Drama, TV series

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel