Movie Reviews

Mr. Mom (1983)

Mr Mom

Mr. Mom (1983)

Director:

Stan Dragoti

Starring:

Michael Keaton

Teri Garr

Fred Koehler

Plot:

After he’s laid off, a husband switches roles with his wife. She returns to the workforce and he becomes a stay-at-home dad – a job he has no clue how to do.

Review:

I’ve never seen this movie previously, but the concept seemed fun. Since it’s from the eighties I had no idea what to expect.

I could really relate to Michael Keaton’s character. I’ve been there, it’s not an easy transition from full-time employed business professional to house parent. You go from being able to at least see a paycheck for your work if not a sign of progress, to being home alone with a child that is completely dependent upon you for everything. The days run into each other and you start to feel helpless. It’s difficult.

Anyway, back to the movie. It was very dated, but still funny. Loved the progression of his beard and his defense of it. Thought his soap habit was funny and not for the first time wished I could get into a show like that.

I didn’t really get the ending, though. There was a lot of confusion with a ton of people being there. It seemed like he was going back to work for the same people that furloughed him and that his wife was quitting her new career. Things were basically going back the way they were. I wished there was a different resolution, though I’m not entirely sure what.

The wife could have sued for sexual harassment and they never would have to work again.

3.5/5

Jurassic World (2015)

Jurassic Park Lost World

Jurassic World (2015)

Director:

Colin Trevorrow

Starring:

Chris Pratt

Bryce Howard

Vincent D’Onofrio

Plot:

A new theme park is built on the original site of Jurassic Park. Everything is going well until the park’s newest attraction–a genetically modified giant stealth killing machine–escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.

Review:

Well I haven’t yet watched all the other Jurassic movies, I’m missing the third, but I don’t always get to see movies in theaters and I jumped at the opportunity to see this one.

First off, Chris Pratt is my new Hollywood crush. Dude is hilarious, smart, and sexy, so pretty much the entire package. Way to go Anna Faris for locking that down.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this film. It’s incredible that I could go from being terrified of the raptors in the first film and crying when they get hurt in this movie. I thought the dinosaur eating people action was great, though, the bad guy could have gone out better and the way they took out the babysitter seemed a bit over the top.

The kids were nowhere near as annoying as the kids from the first two movies. The brooding, girl obsessed teenage boy was annoying, but he was supposed to be. I liked that as soon as shit got real he was the protective older brother.

Bryce Howard’s character was awesome and such a relief after how much I hated Julianne Moore’s character from the second one. She was capable, but not to the point where she was great at everything. She knew her weakness and strengths. The fact that she did that all on heels makes her a bit more amazing than Chris Pratt’s character.

Loved the boy’s reaction to Pratt.

The movie was a lot of fun and I’m glad that it made so much money because that means I’m going to get more. They already set up a sequel so some of the work is already done.

4/5

 

Spy (2015)

Spy-Movie

Spy (2015)

Director:

Paul Feig

Starring:

Melissa McCarthy

Rose Byrne

Jude Law

Peter Serafinowicz

Miranda Hart

Jason Statham

Plot:

A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.

Review:

I laughed a lot with this movie and that’s always a good sign. It wasn’t perfect and I again got tired of the jokes making fun of McCarthy’s weight and unremarkableness, but it was nowhere near as bad as some of her other movies.

Some of the best parts of the film were the supporting characters. I loved the sex obsessed Aldo, Peter Serafinowicz, and Nancy, Miranda Hart, played a great best friend. I liked that they didn’t make Nancy as field capable as McCarthy’s character.

I was surprised at what they did with Ford, Jason Statham’s character. Based on the previews I thought he was going to be a sort of mentor to McCarthy’s character but instead he was a macho idiot. I’m not sure if I liked him or not.

***Spoiler***

I really liked the ending and that she didn’t wind up in bed with Jude Law’s character, I did wish that he had stayed bad and that they hadn’t made him a triple agent.

If they do a sequel I hope it’s with the same characters.

3.5/5

 

The Pregnancy Project (2012)

The Pregnancy Project

The Pregnancy Project (2012)

Director:

Norman Buckley

Starring:

Alexa PenaVega

Walter Perez

Sarah Smyth

Plot:

A 17-year-old, attending a Washington state high-school, made her senior school project the treatment of pregnant teenagers by pretending to be pregnant.

Review:

Incredibly interesting premise, I somehow missed this when it came out or when the book happened.

Her single minded focus is crazy. She’s so focused on that goal and I get it, she’s put a lot into it, but she wasn’t the only one. I can only imagine what her boyfriend went through and she doesn’t seem to care.

I had friends pregnant in high school and I tried not to treat them any different, it’s been so long that I’m not sure if I did though.

Honestly, I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel after this movie. She didn’t like it when people pointed out how hard it was going to be, but, well, it will be. Being a parent when you’re an adult with an income is hard enough, but when you’re a teenager your putting your entire life on hold. She kept talking about stereotypes, that people shouldn’t just assume something, but the same could be said about any stereotype.

It was interesting and the fact that a high school student did this is pretty crazy. The book has been added to my to read pile.

3.5/5

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Starring:

Harrison Ford

Cate Blanchett

Shia LaBeouf

Plot:

Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

Review:

I do not hate this movie like most everyone else does. There are lots of over the top moments, but Indiana Jones has those. Personally there was about one too many, but oh well. I liked that it was about Communists since that works better with the time line, I liked that Indiana Jones had a son, though, I could have done without Marion.

My husband likes to randomly put this movie in, mainly because he doesn’t hate it like everyone else either and he likes to point out all the reasons why it’s not bad.

This didn’t ruin my childhood, it didn’t make me angry, it was just there, and it was nice to be back in the world.

3.5/5