#118. Barry Munday - Review

I am pretty sure I could watch Patrick Wilson read the dollar menu at McDonald’s and I would be in rapture. Barry Munday is one of the few comedies on the actor’s resume, and although not a great film, after watching it I really hope Wilson takes on less dramatic roles in the future. When the womanizing Barry Munday loses his testicles due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, things are only made worse when he finds out that before the accident he may have impregnated a woman he doesn’t even remember having sex with. There is some originality hiding behind 30-years worth of comedic tropes and lazy set-ups, but all in all I really enjoyed this movie. Wilson is committed, and the story takes some unexpected turns that are both funny and sweet. There is a great supporting cast (Malcolm McDowell, Judy Greer, Chloe Sevigny, Christopher McDonald, Cybill Shepherd…) that is given very little to do on screen, and most of the B-plot with Wilson and Sevigny is fumbled and confusing. Check it out though, its on Watch Instantly so there is no reason not to. Let me know what you thought, and please click the “share” button below.

#117. The Maiden Heist - Review

They may be old, but they can still commit felonies with the best of them! Actually a pretty cute story, The Maiden Heist is about three aging security guards at an art museum who must devise a plan to steal their favorite pieces of art before they are transferred to a different museum overseas.  It’s sweet, totally forgettable, and worth a look if you find grumpy old men humor as enjoyable as I do.  William H. Macy, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the only guy who seems dedicated to the film, which is a shame if you consider what Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau could have done with the material. I should also give credit to Marcia Gay Harden, who really invests herself in a thankless roll and is rewarded by easily stealing every scene she shares with the drooping Christopher Walken. This is a harmless, if not completely innocuous film that at best is good background noise. 

How can so much talent make such innocuous drivel? Let me know in the comments section! Oh yeah, and please click the "share" button below and link the site so ControllerUnplugged can get famous buy spinners!

#116. Paul - Review

Paul will go down on my list of films that were almost great. Distracted by its own inspirations, this sci-fi drenched buddy road-trip comedy stars my favorite duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, as they drive around America in an old RV visiting famous UFO hotspots. Along the way they pick up a smartass hitchhiking alien voiced by Seth Rogen, and race to get their new friend to the location where his mothership (or whatever) can grab him and take him home. Along the way they are accompanied by a holly-rolling Christian played by Kristen Wiig, chased by the FBI, and of course, learn something about themselves. With a brilliant premise, Paul quickly trips over its own feet. Cramming as many film references as humanly possible into every frame, eventually the callbacks to E.T., Star Wars, Close Encounters, etc., were just distracting and took me out of the experience. Oh, and it wasn’t that funny. Regular Pegg/Frost director Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) could have probably made a better film with the material offered; sadly Greg Mottola proves once again his strength is with characters. 

Agree? Or am I just an angry sci-fi troll? Let me know...

#115. Winter's Bone - Review

Winters Bone is a really clever murder mystery, but that is not what makes it so special. Following Ree (Jennifer Lawrence), the teenage daughter and caretaker of her handicapped mother and two siblings, as she races across the Ozark Mountains to try and find her father. There is a sense of urgency throughout the film that is very palpable. Ree’s father, a local thug and drug-dealer/user, put the family’s house up as collateral for bail and then skips town. Ree has to find him to ensure he shows up to his trial, which is in a week’s time, or they lose the house. While the story is compelling, it is the film’s aesthetic that truly succeeds. Infusing subtle noir touches, director Debra Granik creates a chilling ambience set in a rural Missouri that is beyond frightening. The acting here is spectacular, particularly the transformative Lawrence and the character actor John Hawkes, who gives the performance of his career. More suspenseful than most horror/thrillers that get a theatrical release, Winter’s Bone is soaked in realism; even going so far as to hire non-actors for major roles and filming on location. Hauntingly honest, this film deserves its recognition and should be seen.

#114. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever - Review

Oh man I did not expect Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever to be this awesome! A die-hard fan (and what seems to be apologist. Why no love?) of the Eli Roth original Cabin Fever, the sequel forges on its own and creates a film that is both wholly different, and completely true to its namesake. Staying away from secluded cabins and forests in general, Cabin Fever 2 instead takes place in small town suburbia. Directed by Ti West, who gave us the tonally perfect film The House of the Devil in 2009, he creates a film that succeeds on its own merits. Funny, gory, raunchy, and brutal, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is not only a great sequel, but also a wonderful addition to a lacking low-budget horror genre all on its own. Loved it!

Why do I feel like I am the only guy that really liked the first Cabin Fever flick? Let me know in the comments what you thought of the original film, and if you would be interested in watching the sequel. As always, please share the site on your facebook/twitter pages so CU can get some love!

#113. Afraid of the Dark - Review

Wow. I’m not sure what this film is, or even what it wants to be. I am confident I don’t like it, although I was pretty entertained throughout most of the film. Afraid of the Dark is a horror (?) film centered on hallucinations and daydreams, but came dangerously close to putting me to sleep so I could create my own more sensible nightmares. While starting off with a bang, the film quickly lost my interest after the fourth or fifth time it pulled the floor out from under me. I don’t even want to try and discern a plot from the flick, but its on Netflix Watch Instantly right now if you are interested. If you watch it or have already seen it, please let me know what it was about and if I should like it or not in the comment section.

#112. Grown-Ups - Review

Grown-Ups banner posterThey added last year’s annual Adam Sandler comedy Grown-Ups to Instant Watch recently, so I took the opportunity to re-watch it with my wife. The last time I saw the film I was on hour 7 of a 13-hour plane ride to South Korea, so I decided to give it another chance. Still stupid, but never the less I laughed more this time around. My wife laughed more than I did, but she also loves the film Hot Chick so take that for what its worth. Check out my original review of the film if you are interested.

Let me know what you thought of this flick, compared to Sandler's other comedies. Comments and facebook/twitter links below! Help me out and get ControllerUnplugged out there!