RBR: Kick-Ass 2

While it became a cult favorite for many, I had had my issues with the first Kick Ass film about a teen who decides he wants to become a real life superhero despite no actual superpowers. Based on a graphic novel, the first film was flawed for reveling in its debauchery rather than making an effort to try to say anything on the topic of vigilante justice and our fascination of superheroes. Despite those issues, I was curious to see if this follow-up would be more of the same or make an effort to improve upon its previous attempt. Sadly neither of those turned out to be the case as this sequel is a sloppy, uninteresting mess of a sequel. It pulls its punches (somewhat) in terms of the gritty violence that was on display first film for a more mass marketed approach to gore and violence. It's also bogged down with a revenge storyline that holds no weight. The fact that they have to saddle the film with a weak subplot involving Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moritz) struggling to deal with mean girls in high school is evidence of that. The only silver lining in the film is Jim Carrey playing Sgt. Stars and Stripes, a new vigilante who is trying to band together with other like-minded do-gooders. Sadly, he's killed off far too early in the film leaving us with a lot of time to fill and nothing much to offer. This film does a disservice to fans of the first film and fans of film in general. This was one of my worst films of the year thus far. Rating: * 1/2

2014 Movie Preview: #28 - Dumb and Dumber To

Release date: November 14

Plot summary: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reprise their signature roles as Lloyd and Harry in the sequel to the smash hit that took the physical comedy and kicked it in the nuts: "Dumb and Dumber To." The original film’s directors, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, take Lloyd and Harry on a road trip to find a child Harry never knew he had and the responsibility neither should ever, ever be given.

My take: We have seen a lot of comedies come back after long layoffs and the results have been mixed. I have no idea what to make of the 20 year layoff between the original film and this sequel. This has been a project that has started and stalled a few times but now is finally a go. I do not see everyone coming back for this simply for a cash grab or else they would have done it much sooner, so they must have a decent story in mind to tell. These guys struck a chord with my generation in knowing exactly what kind of 'dumb' humor would work. I will be very interested to see if they can do it again with a whole new generation.

RBR: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

As I've mentioned on here before, I'm a sucker when it comes to movies about magic. When you couple that subject matter with a talented cast that features the likes of Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Alan Arkin, and Jim Carrey, it should equal great success. It's too bad that the people behind The Incredible Burt Wonderstone seem to have no clue what to do with the interesting subject matter or its great actors. This comedy attempts to tell a story about a modern day magician. There are several ways you could take the story - you could do a riff on Sigfried and Roy and the odd nature of their working relationship, you could address how those "Magicians' Secrets Revealed" show have spoiled the fun of magic for a lot of people, you could deal with the rivalry between renegade street magic and more traditional magic. This film touches upon each of those storylines but never delves into any of them deeply enough or in any compelling fashion. Storyline issues aside, the root of the film's problem is their decision to make Carell's character such an insufferable boor. As Wonderstone he's initially portrayed in flashbacks as a sympathetic nerd who uses magic to escape the pains in his life. Once the film moves into present day, we're given no indication as to why he's become so obnoxious to everyone around him. This makes it difficult for us to have any interest in seeing him succeed when his career begins to suffer. The final blow comes during the film's final climatic scenes which reveal Wonderstone's grand illusion. It's not only disappointing to learn how the trick is done, its disturbing to see how unmagical it truly is. Frankly, the only magic trick I want to see now is for someone to make my memory of this movie disappear. Rating: **

Magic is in the air

You'll be hearing more thoughts from me on The Incredible Burt Wonderstone later this week in my 2013 Movie Preview, but for now, you'll just have to settle for the trailer.