2014 Movie Preview: #19 - Welcome to Yesterday

Release date: February 28

Plot summary: A group of teens discover secret plans of a time machine, and construct one. However, things start to get out of control.

My take: It seems like "found footage" films can be real hit and miss. While some use the device as a means of capitalizing on a fad, others have found a way to make it an effective storytelling device. Let's hope that Welcome to Yesterday fits into that latter category. It certainly has a decent, albeit done before, plot. Can this be a Back to the Future for a new generation or simply another showcase for how annoying teenagers can be? Only time will tell. See what I did there?

Yesterday's news

I've become somewhat cynical to the "found footage" genre of filmmaking, but I must admit that this trailer for Welcome to Yesterday about a group of teenagers who discover the ability to time travel has caught my eye. If it is as fresh and innovative as Chronicle then this may have a chance of being a mainstream hit.

RBR: American Reunion

I have a special affinity for Jim, Stifler, and the rest of the East Great Falls gang given that like them I too am a Class of '99. So I was really happy to see everyone (and I do mean everyone, unlike some of the sequels) back for this latest adventure. Each of the main players has a storyline and I appreciated how true they stayed to character. Despite a new director and writer, there is a clear appreciation for the original film and making sure that this sequel does it justice. And while there are plenty of sex jokes and gross-out gags, there is a realization on both the characters and the filmmaker's end that they cannot be doing the same things that they did in high school. The characters have (mostly) matured and in real life there have been other films which have taken the R-rated comedy crown. While some may criticize this film for not being able to sufficiently up the ante, I was perfectly all right with that. What this film does is give us a new glimpse into the lives of these characters that we've come to love, while still providing a hearty dose of laughs. In terms of the American Pie films, this is a significant upgrade over the disappointing Wedding film, but probably doesn't rank as high as either of the first two films. Those is truly a film specifically for those who love this franchise. If, like me, you're one of those people, then you'll really enjoy revisiting these characters one more time. Rating ****

RBR: Project X

Like Chronicle this comes from the growing 'found footage' genre. While this film, about a trio of high school boys who throw a party that grows out of control, doesn't use as many cheats in order to have the narrative device work it still doesn't use it in a way to convince me it was the best approach to tell this story. Said story is pretty straightforward and familiar, but I do appreciate the amped up level of chaos that develops as result of this birthday celebration that was initially meant for a 'small group of people'. I did find though that there was far too many montages of kids partying to the latest radio hits for my liking. I can't complain about it too much though since you should expect style to win out over substance in a film like this. Ultimately I would have dismissed this as harmless entertainment were it not for one character. The best friend of the party host is so vile, unappealing, and lacking any redeeming characteristics that it became cringeworthy whenever he appeared on screen. It's as if he took all of the worst characteristics of Jonah Hill's character from Superbad and amped them up to the max. I wished for sufficient comeuppance for his character and it never suitably comes which was wholly disappointing. Young viewers will no doubt have a good time with this fantasy bash, but older viewers will likely struggle to find anything worthwhile here. Rating: ** 1/2

RBR: 21 Jump Street

The last thing we needed was yet another movie made based off of a TV show, but at least 21 Jump Street has the courtesy of acknowledging this fact and having some fun with it. There is plenty to like here as Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have fun playing cops who go undercover as high school students in order to bust a drug ring. A lot of that comes from them going against their original roles in high school (Tatum hangs with the nerds, while Hill buddies up with the cool kids). Even though the film yields some decent laughs, I also grew frustrated with the fact that the film felt that it was more clever than it really was. Several jokes are included that try to mock cop movie cliches, but most of them have either been done before or just didn't work in their execution. There's a running gag about expected explosions that never really pays off. I did appreciate the fact that they rounded out the cast with several funny people who helped give the film a bit more credibility. Nick Offerman, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube and Ellie Kemper all briefly show up and do their best to milk the most out of their screentime. I'm sure those in high school particularly found this film funny, but as I get further away from that period of my life, I find it more difficult to relate to what they appreciate. This is far from a perfect film, but I do give them an A for effort. Given the poor execution though, it's actual rating is much lower. Rating: *** 1/2

RBR: Chronicle

Whenever you read a biography of a superhero, two of the common dossier categories listed are the character's strengths and weaknesses. Watching Chronicle, it became apparent that this film about high school kids who develop super powers has its own well-defined strengths and weaknesses. The biggest detraction is its use of the 'found footage' storytelling device. Instead of enhancing the story like it does when used in the Paranormal Activity franchise, Chronicle feels stifled by this form of narrative. Scenes necessary for the story suffer from the lack of plausibility behind why they would be filmed by the characters in the first place. I also had problems at times empathizing with the drama of high school students, but that's more my issue than the film's. As for the film's strengths, it's premise is the primary draw. Though we've seen plenty of movies featuring superheroes and comic book characters, this still feels fresh. There is an authenticity to the way they portray what would happen if teenagers were able to obtain super powers. I also really loved the film's climatic scenes between two characters with these powers. They pull no punches going at each other and the end result is one of the most satisfying superhuman battles ever filmed. If a show like Heroes had been able to pull off scenes like the one in this low-budget film, it may have still been on the air. Going back to the film's premise, though, that is really the key to whether or not you'll seek this out. If you find it intriguing, then I definitely would recommend you give this watch. If there's no interest in seeing these kids fly and move object with a flick of their wrist, then you can skip this and not miss much. Rating: *** 3/4