Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.7
How does Ryan Reynolds do it? He plays virtually the same character in every movie… and it always works!?! Any-who… this Christmas-time tale of wisdom regarding the dreaded “friend zone” will forever live on in infamy. Not only for its cinematic genius within the genre, but for its relatability and wisdom. A definite classic.
0.5
If I could give negative stars, I would. Yikes. There’s almost 2 hours of my life I’ll never get back… not only was the dialogue just a collection of bad hot takes from cable news, but the acting was terrible, and the characters were as one dimensional as they come. The film also had an undeniable crisis of identity that left it constantly contradicting itself and taking all of the power out of its messages. Never a good sign when you’re rooting for the characters to die faster so the movie will be over sooner.
8.1
As far as sequels go… damn. That was a fun 2 hour ride! The cast returns with just the right amount of differentiation from the first, just the right amount of laughs to heart. There’s a needle to thread with follow-up films, and this one nails it! Possibly my favorite performances from The Rock and Jack Black. Really the entire cast takes it up a notch for this one. (Still get a tad bit distracted by Karen Gillian) Really a return to the magic of the first.
8.3
Ready to cry to a football movie? Look no further. This cast of mostly b-list stars and up and coming actors rises to the occasion of telling the tale of one of the most legendary sports franchises and records in history… the De La Salle high school football winning streak, fall from grace, and resurgence. An inspiring story of perseverance, integrity, and character… all set against the backdrop of the gridiron. One of the few movies I’ve watched more than once in the theater when it was released.
8.7
What’s in the box? A great movie. One of the all time great performances by Kevin Spacey in this mind bending crime drama. This side of “Silence of the Lambs,” one of the best. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman team up as a dynamic detective duo to track down the sadistic mastermind, all leading to a culmination that will live on in cinematic infamy. Highly recommend!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 