Quick Movie Review: A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

While sequels to movies like Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey take 25 years to get greenlit, 2016's Bad Moms begins principal photography on its followup just 10 months after its release.

In a sequel more rushed than Porky's 2, Bad Moms Christmas must've had some sort of high demand. I know I was very surprised with the first film, but in no way did I need a sequel a year later. Especially if I knew it was going to look like this. 

The premise revolves around the three main characters from last time--played by Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn--having issues with their own mothers as they visit during Christmastime. 

Of course, it wouldn't be hilarious unless their moms had putrid flaws. And the writers know this as well, which is why we get cookie cutter maternal stereotypes: the over-bearing mother who never gives her daughter any space (Cheryl Hines), the mother who neglects her daughter and only comes around to ask for money (Susan Sarandon), and the high expectations mother whose daughter can never do anything right (Christine Baranski)--all three played way over the top in the most annoying and unrealistic way possible.

But that's pretty much the whole movie. Everything the characters do or say to each other is unrealistic. The hijinks always ensues because of this. In fact, it NEEDS character responses to be impractical in order for it to exist. It merely serves to further the plot and allow the story to keep going.

Which it barely even does. Up until the last 10 minutes, nothing develops between the beginning and end of this movie. There's just scenario after scenario of the mothers doing things to upset or annoy their daughters. It's the final straw about eleven different times, yet there are no changes in the outcome or how the characters deal with it either way, because no one possesses any real self-awareness. The characters just keep getting angry, and so do we.

And it's not just the lack of development that keeps it running at snail's pace. The humor is juvenile and unfunny. So many scenes are halted by verbose dialogue that's supposed to make us laugh. We don't. When a film draws out comedic scenes for too long--which is a trend these days--it suspends any momentum that the narrative has built. But when it happens over and over again, there becomes almost no momentum to be suspended in the first place.

On paper, this movie should be good. But this proves that a film is so much more than its actors. A Bad Moms Christmas is a complete waste of its talents.

There are countless comedies that are forgettable, yet still give us one or two memorable moments. They won't ever be considered classics, but they were never trying to be. You have to take them at face value. However, even at face value, this one is way below par. 

Twizard Rating: 41

Quick Movie Review: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)

They're all older, yet they're all pretty much the same. Maybe that's another Greek stereotype I'm unaware of. But in this sitcomy world that Nia Vardalos has created for us, it makes sense anyway.

From the very first moments, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 comes off as more of a cast reunion or a "Where Are They Now?" special than anything else.

By nature, the title already limits what this film can be about. And it shows. Obvious with every forced plot point, it tries to cover too much ground, but then still finds a way to sneak a wedding into it all.

Amidst trying to be the mediator for her whole family, Toula (Vardalos) must deal with her daughter possibly leaving home for college. She also must try to handle her own suffering relationship with her neglected husband (John Corbett), while trying to plan a wedding for her parents who recently find out that their 50-year marriage was never official.

At one point there are about 3 major story lines competing for the title of "main". Plus several others intermixed. As a result, we get scenes that serve no purpose and film with no direction.

The dialogue is just as sloppy--going for that quirky awkwardness that worked so well in the 2002 original. But here, it plays as unnatural and stiff.

Maybe the cast has lost its chemistry with one another. Or maybe it's missing a little of what made the first one work. That first film was completely organic. The sequel is the exact opposite.

Everything is forced. From the dialogue to the character depth. Trying to squeeze every last bit of emotion out of its audience every chance it gets.

Not to say it doesn't have its moments. I didn't hate it. It just isn't all that good. Certain performances outdo others. Michael Constantine is just as good as Toula's father. But director Kirk Jones just can't extract the same results out of most of the rest of the cast.

It's all just really discombobulated. Directionless. It tries to prove points, but then counters them with opposing points--ultimately saying nothing. Or worse: not knowing what it's saying.

Many jokes fall flat. Luckily the head count is so high that eventually there are a few you end up laughing at.

But as a whole, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is a mess. It means well. Really, it does. It'll even make you smile a few times. But after 14 years, you'd at least hope for a better story.

Twizard Rating: 59

Quick Movie Review: Jurassic World (2015)

Nothing can recreate the impact and significance that 1993's Jurassic Park had on the movie industry and popular culture in general. So when watching the sequel/reboot film Jurassic World, we must first realize what it's trying to do. It's not attempting to be ridiculously groundbreaking or make improvements upon the original. Instead, it's giving us more story and expanding the world which it's taking on.

In fact, the special effects in Jurassic Park were so ahead of its time that the ones used in this current film seem pretty evenly compared.

But effects aside, let's talk about story. Jurassic World doesn't try to fool us into thinking that this is the "new beginning" of the franchise. It pays homage to the original and remains self-aware of where our culture stands on seeing something new and groundbreaking. We've seen dinosaurs come to life on the big screen and it was amazing. However, after three movies we're almost jaded. Which is why the filmmakers are dead set on making sure we see a lot of new animals. They introduce manmade hybrid species which are scary in the sense that we've never read about them when we were kids and we don't know what they look like or how they act. It somehow manages to capture the '90s suspense of the original. The mystery is brought back to this film universe and Spielberg & Company have created another dinosaur movie that is really very scary.

Also, for the first time, we get the privilege to see the fully functioning theme park that we've been waiting for since the first film. It's breathtaking and immersive, and for a moment we wish that it were an actual place. But then, of course, we're reminded why this is all such a terrible idea.

In an age where films are boosting our confidence and telling us how smart we are, Jurassic World reminds us that we're kinda stupid a lot of the time too.

If you're a fan of the original, you should enjoy Jurassic World--fully equipped with not trying to outdo a classic. It may not be as innovative, but it's quite possibly just as entertaining.

Twizard Rating: 97

Quick Movie Review: The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Back before the 2000s, most sequels were pretty bad. But then here comes The Lost World--which may not be on par with it's legendary predecessor, but can still hold its own as an entertaining action-thriller. A successful sequel considering the time period.

However, it's not even close to perfect. It has a much slower setup, and the premise doesn't have that life-altering importance that comes along with it. Many of the sequences feel disjunct from one another. Also, there's not much character depth or true growth from any of the characters.

And why is everyone so much stupider in this one? I mean, it's already bad enough that no one is briefed on strategies about surviving a T-Rex, but then you have characters doing things like getting freaked out by a snake which allows man-eating dinosaurs to spot them. In the first film, one of the things I applaud is that there aren't a lot of stupid character decisions, but here they're all over the place.

The Lost World still has the mystery of the first one--even though it's missing the grandiose tone. But we can't deny that this sequel is just as thrilling and visually impressive as its predecessor.

Twizard Rating: 90

Quick Movie Review: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

I, like most fans of 2012's Pitch Perfect, have seen the movie a good handful of times. With that said, it's hard to compare a movie that you've seen once to another which you know so well. But overlooking that fact, Pitch Perfect 2 surpasses the standards set by its predecessor in many ways.

In both films, the Barton Bellas (protagonists) must save their a cappella group from extinction. But while in the first film they have to prove themselves to the world by beating their larger-vocal-ranged male rivals, this one they just have to win a competition in order to fix a problem that they, themselves, created in the first place.

The premise is a little self-constructed and the events feel contrived and less fresh, but it really makes me laugh.

The humor is much of the same self-parody irreverence that makes the first film so appealing. And honestly, I think the jokes in this sequel are better than in the previous film. Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins get more exposure as the snarky a cappella commentators. And we're also introduced to a new character with Keegan-Michael Key playing Beca's (Anna Kendrick) douchey boss at the record label she's working for.

In this film the Bellas actually perform the best final set, whereas in the first film they win the big competition when they probably shouldn't.

Also along the same path as the original movie, there are not a lot of realistic scenarios happening. Obviously, a cappella competitions are nothing like this, and there is a lot more focus on practicing harmonies and actual singing--as opposed to dancing and props. As a music major I could go on for an hour, but let's face it--we're not watching this movie for a realistic experience.

But I do find it weird that the entire Barton Bellas group is comprised of seniors who are about to graduate. I mean, don't they recruit underclassmen to keep their legacy alive?

This movie takes elements from the first film and attempts to repeat them here. And in my opinion, they are all improved versions.

Pitch Perfect 2 is predictable, but mostly shies away from the sappy drama that weighs down its predecessor (with the exception of the retreat camp scenes). If you're a fan of the first film and can see past the fact that this ISN'T the first film, this one won't disappoint. Also, if you're like me and played out the old jokes and one-liners, you'll find this one refreshing.

Twizard Rating: 88

Quick Movie Review: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

As a whole this film fails at reaching the very low mark of its predecessor in almost every way possible. This Die Hard-inspired comedy "franchise" has now just added a very pointless sequel.

Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 stars Kevin James as Paul--a bumbling mall cop who takes his job way too seriously. Now he's in Vegas for a security convention where he must stop a heist of the casino.

The entire film takes place within the confines of the Wynn Resort and Casino. There is no galavanting around the strip or hopping from casino to casino--so the should-be glamorous Vegas element is very glamourless.

As flippant as the first film is, this one adds insensitivity to the equation. The movie starts out by picking up where we left Blart last in his life--when he gets married. But we find out that his wife leaves him after 6 days. This is a character we really grow to like in the previous film and love the fact that she seems to adore Paul regardless of his clumsy ways. And then Paul's mom--whom he lives with--dies by getting run over by a milk truck. This is all supposed to be funny, but instead it's a jarring beginning for the few fans of the first film.

Overall, it's much of the same criticisms from the its predecessor, except more. There are maybe 3 solid laughs in the whole movie--but the rest of the jokes fall flat and are yawn-worthy. However, those 3 laughs may be bigger than the biggest laughs from the first film. Although in the first film there were way more of them. In this one, the highlight may be the bird-attack scene--which is played off to its brightest potential and gets the biggest laugh. One of Paul's cohorts is a security guard named Khan (Shelly Desai) who had most of the other laughs, but was grossly underutilized in this movie.

At least, in the end, there is a redeeming value to all of this. But then again, we could've just watched the first film twice.

Twizard Rating: 59

Quick Movie Review: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

During a time where sequels were, more often than not, much worse than the original, we get a rare helping that improves on its predecessor. It fixes itself in all the necessary areas. We're given the background that was missing from the first film, the struggle for oil is more obvious, and the premise is more clear.

In Mad Max 2, Max (Mel Gibson) wanders along the empty highway when he hears of a small community that is an oasis of oil. He infiltrates their gates and helps them ward off the heathenish biker gang that is attempting to take everything they own.

Many times in a sequel the characters have hit a wall as far as development. They learn all they have to learn in the first film, and the second film just shows them facing a new adventure with nothing new to be taken from it. But here, Max continues to develop as he realizes that he's not the only one with a loss and that there may actually be a purpose for him other than serving himself. Even though he still leaves his friends despite this realization, this forced predicament is needed in order for him to learn a valuable life lesson.

While the first film feels really anticlimactic, this one knows where it's going and we are more invested because of it. In the broad spectrum of things these movies don't have much reliability to our own lives, but watching a respectable hero can be motivating alone.

The action is even better-choreographed and the effects are more impressive, but there is still that same issue that the first film had of trying to stretch its script too thin. The dragged out fight scenes, where the characters cumulatively fire an average of one shot per minute, not only lower each party's chance of winning, but increase our anxiety.

Although I wished that the filmmakers had connected the events in this film to the first, I have to say that it's significantly more entertaining and much less disorganized.

Twizard Rating: 83

Quick Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

As funny as 2011's Horrible Bosses is, Horrible Bosses 2 is even funnier. The jokes are more consistent and the comedy shows no restraint. It continues its skit based comedic style, and instead of having a story that they squeeze jokes into, the jokes and story go hand in hand. In a comedy, this is what you want.

As for the rest of the film, the story is not as easily paced as its predecessor. In the first movie the events all fit together to feel like one big event--similar to Reservoir Dogs. In the sequel, there are a few more plot points, so the story becomes a little more intricate, thus the narrative more unorganized. But because the tone is so consistent, its slightly uneven pacing is forgiven.

If you're a fan of the first, you won't have to worry about typical sequel problems with this one. The plot is very creative and doesn't feel forced. And it's the same exact type of comedy here, but more of it. 

Twizard Rating: 83

Quick Movie Review: Evil Dead II

While an improvement on its predecessor with a better backstory, I still found myself shaking my head quite often. Why is every character in these movies so annoying? They're always acting dumb and irrational. And although some of you may argue it, I don't think it's as intentional as you think it is. I know this "sequel" is supposed to partially be a comedy but it evokes more eye rolling than laughter. Although I do appreciate a good slapstick, the gore is constantly taking away from whatever humor is being presented.

I'm still not on board with this series, however, the art and effects are still very impressive and I enjoyed the creative call-back ending.

Twizard Rating: 59

Quick Movie Review: 22 Jump Street

While this wasn't as great as the first one, it wasn't too far off. The jokes weren't as consistently hard-hitting the second time around, but the ones that hit were really funny. As the first one kept the ball rolling the whole time, this one seemed to slow down in the middle of the 2nd act a little bit. Hill and Tatum's chemistry was still at an all-time high and the two have proved to be this generation's strongest comedy duo. 

I personally think that the high school atmosphere created a little bit more of a small world feeling where everyone around the two leads were noticing what they were doing and it made everything that much funnier. But just like making the leap from high school to college in real life, you begin to realize that you can do virtually whatever you want and can still maintain anonymity. Basically, the juxtaposition of the "innocence" of high school to what the bad guys were doing was greater than the wild stereotype of college was.

There weren't as big of "a-ha" moments when figuring out who the suppliers were, and I wished that the villains were given a little bit more depth--much like they did with Dave Franco's character from 21 Jump Street. The self-awareness was still there and the jokes were in the same spirit, but it seemed like everything was just a tad step lower than the first film. However, I do like how Ice Cube's character was used a little bit more in this one.

Overall this film is a fun ride, albeit not AS rewatchable as the 21 Jump Street. I hope they continue this franchise. 

Twizard Rating: 89

Quick Movie Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This is definitely a tipping point film in the Marvel Universe. Everything is kindof happening and culminating in one film. There are a lot more plot twists than usual (besides maybe Iron Man 3), which makes for a really fun ride. While having a really cool concept of the whole big brother thing and even dating it back to the '40s, this new installment is probably the most relatable of the bunch. And as a much darker, more character driven piece, we finally begin to tap into the secret life of Nick Fury himself--although still only slightly. Operating more as a thriller that the typical Marvel film, Captain America The Winter Soldier definitely stands out among the rest. An awesome blockbuster that doesn't really do a whole lot wrong.

Twizard Rating: 98