Film Review Throwback - "Noelle"

Noelle

Directed by Marc Lawrence

Starring Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, and Shirley MacLaine

I suppose in a way, Christmas films are a dime-a-dozen. Quantity over quality, at least in the case of the Hallmark Channel. Netflix seems to be following suit nowadays, but I’ve heard good things about The Christmas Chronicles duology, and as I’ve said before Klaus is brilliant. 

Major theatrically-released Christmas films seem to be a thing of the past nowadays. And I’m not just saying that because movie theaters are on life-support right now. No, the last Christmas film that I can recall that was heading for theaters was Noelle, before Disney decided to make it an exclusive on their fancy new streaming service last year. Noelle received mixed reviews from critics, and sort of got lost in the shuffle in the first days of Disney Plus, overshadowed by Mandalorians, Goldblums, and High School Musicals. A year later, I was finally able to watch Noelle and I found it to be a simple and enjoyable holiday offering, that doesn’t completely live up to its potential.

Noelle (Kendrick) is the Christmas-loving daughter of Santa Claus (Jay Brazeau) who wants to be just like her father. Alas tradition dictates her older brother Nick (Hader) follow in his father’s footsteps. Flash forward to present-ish day and with their father passed away (Yeah Santa passes away in this film. Bold move, Cotton) Noelle helps her brother prepare for his first Christmas as Santa. Nick’s anxious and his training isn’t going super well, so Noelle suggests he take a weekend to breathe and relax. Instead, Nick vanishes a week before Christmas, and all of the North Pole blames Noelle (Because conflict?).

Disgraced, Noelle ventures outside the North Pole with her childhood nanny Polly (McLaine) to find her brother and bring him home. Along the way she befriends a private-investigator (Jake Hapman) and his son (Maceo Smedley), and learns a bit more about the true meaning of Christmas, and her own special gifts. Meanwhile, with Nick gone, their cousin Gabe (Billy Eichner) is nominated as the next Santa, but threatens to doom the holiday with modern technology and tighter “naughty and nice” guidelines.

Although I’m sure there’s some Hallmark or Lifetime film out there that’s tackled this idea to a lesser quality, I think the idea of a female, Santa’s daughter, taking over his job to be a rather unique concept we haven’t seen much of. I imagine if this film was released theatrically it would’ve been a modest hit. But release-methods aside, the film doesn’t seem very concerned with exploring that concept. 

Instead the film spends more time on searching for Nick, and going through the “fish-out-of water” routine with its protagonist as she explores the regular world, something that we’ve seen in film many times before. This makes Noelle a sort of Santa Clause/gender-swapped Elf hybrid. There are some genuine funny moments that come from this routine though. Additionally, there are some really nice scenes where Noelle is discovering her “Santa powers” for lack of a better phrase. A highlight in the film is where she meets a little girl who cannot speak and starts to sign with her, despite never knowing how to sign before (Santa can speak all languages and communicate in many ways with children apparently. It’s sweet.)

The character arc is so clear here. Noelle wants to get her brother home to restore the natural order of Christmas, but she needs to embrace who she is and take on the role as Santa. If the film was more concerned with following that path then silly side-quests, or focused more on the concept of a female Santa, Noelle could have gone from “good” to “great”.

What really sells the film is Kendrick in the titular role. She’s giving it her all. She’s funny, she’s charming, she’s full of heart. This is kind of a perfect character for her. Bill Hader has some enjoyable moments as Nick. I miss seeing him on a weekly basis. He plays the reluctant Santa with a nice balance of awkward and goofy. Shirley McLaine has a lot of nice moments as Polly. Billy Eichner is surprisingly subtle as Gabe Kringle, and a bit underutilized when you know what he’s capable of.

The visuals I would say are as nice as any you would see in any other live-action Christmas film. The North Pole sets are quaint, but you’ve seen better in say, The Santa Clause films. As a human with an affinity for elf culture, I must say the costume work in Noelle was very tasteful and festive.

Something that I wondered while watching was, is Noelle supposed to be a princess/Disney princess? Polly and other characters refer to her as “Princess”, but The Kringle’s aren’t royalty, but they get “family discounts” and there’s some old charter that says the oldest sibling must take over the role of Santa. She has a cute CGI reindeer sidekick named Snowcone, who probably was supposed to be plushy and covering shelves at the local Disney Store (The CGI on him was decent by the way). Anyway, just something the film left unclear.

 

Noelle is a sweet Christmas film that satisfies but leaves you wanting more than what it offers. But what we have is a reasonably entertaining film with a compelling premise and a wonderful lead performance. There are a lot worse films you can waste your holiday season watching, so I say give this one a chance before watching your 17th Hallmark film of the month...but also it’s good to support those films because they provide a lot of work for people in the industry. *The More You Know*

Film Review Throwback - "Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas In July"

Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas In July

Directed by Arthur Rankin Jr. & Jules Bass

Starring Billie Mae Richards, Jackie Vernon, and Paul Frees

Y’all know me. I love this time of year. The holiday season. Every year I have a catalog of Christmas films and specials I watch, and a lot of them are from the Rankin-Bass Studio. 

If you don’t know who I'm taking about, they’re the people behind Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and so on. Their stop-motion ‘animagic’ specials have been ingrained into the DNA of the holiday season forever. Their popularity has never faded. So, it amazes me no one in Hollywood has tried to cash in on them and reboot a cinematic universe out of them (But please, Hollywood. Don’t...unless you can let me do it.)

You think I’m wacky but Rankin & Bass really did have this sort of cinematic universe with their holiday specials. Many of them existed in the same continuity. Events from one special were referenced in the next, several characters would appear across specials, often voiced by the same actor (Mickey Rooney was Santa for Comin’ To Town, Year Without, and the subject of today’s proceedings).

What I’m getting at is, Rankin & Bass did try to tie all these specials together in a major crossover event film, Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas In July, starring their two most popular characters as the title suggests. It was released theatrically (briefly, and not very successfully) before making its way to television, where it would re-air annually along with the rest of the Rankin-Bass Holiday Catalog. This would be the final time they would animate either Rudolph or Frosty, before other studios adapted their work.

But is this special one of Rankin & Bass’s greatest? One of their weirdest? One of their worst? I say, “Why not all three?”

The story opens with a prologue narrated by Santa (Rooney), who tells the audience once the North Pole was ruled by a wicked sorcerer by the name of Winterbolt (Voiced by Rankin-Bass veteran Paul Frees, and not to be confused with the other five characters with “Winter” in their name). Tired of watching his cruelty, the Aurora Borealis (Nellie Bellflower) takes human form to put a stop to Winterbolt’s rule by putting him in a deep sleep.

However, taking human form sadly puts an expiration date on Lady Borealis’s time and magic in the North. Winterbolt eventually awakens many years later, after Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves have set up shop. Seeing Santa as a threat to his rule, Winterbolt decides to get rid of him.

Now stay with me because I promise this is going to pay off in a second. Winterbolt’s plan is to create a horrible storm on the upcoming Christmas Eve, so Santa will become hopelessly lost in the fog, and Winterbolt can take his place as the Patriarch of the North and in the hearts of children everywhere (How this creepy bastard plans to achieve that second part is beyond any of us). So...with her time drawing to a close, Lady Borealis decides to leave behind some of her magic to protect Santa. She bestows it to a newborn reindeer, whose nose will glow a bright, blinding red whenever he thinks good thoughts.

Yes, dear reader. Rudolph’s shiny red-nosed glows with the light of the Aurora Borealis, and was a supernatural, preventative measure to protect Santa Claus “one foggy Christmas Eve” from a wicked warlock.

Winterbolt learns of Rudolph and turns his sights on getting rid of the red-nosed reindeer’s power. It’s kind of hard to explain how Frosty (Vernon), his wife and kids, and a struggling circus by-the-sea gets all intertwined into this story without flat-out summarizing the whole film. Perhaps there lies its greatest flaw. It’s needlessly complicated for a film about Christmas characters. Don’t get me wrong it’s very creative and I appreciate the idea of trying to give a mythology to Rudolph’s nose. But Winterbolt’s plan is way too convoluted, and relies far too much on coincidence. Think Luthor’s plan in Batman VS Superman or Zemo’s in Captain America: Civil War, but even less concrete. He’s almost making it up as he goes...no wait he actually is. There are scenes where he in fact is making it up as he goes.

I know Rankin & Bass probably weren’t setting out to make a cinematic universe when they made the original Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer or even when they made Rudolph & Frosty, but they inadvertently did and just for chuckles let’s comment on it a little bit on it. The continuity is good but it's weak. Like Rudolph grew up his first special, but every appearance afterward he’s a kid/young adult again. Also (Spoiler? It came out in 1979 deal with it) Frosty loses his magic hat and everyone acts like he’s lost forever but previous specials have shown that the hat is not the only method of reviving him. Such as a kiss from his wife. Who’s standing right there. Who did it the first night they met. Heck, even in this special itself there are plot holes, where they don’t follow their own rules. I don’t know. Maybe I just expect more from my Christmas specials…

Kids will enjoy these characters together on screen and working against some bad guys. Older viewers will understand it well enough to know what’s going on. Honestly the concept of this film has always fascinated me. I had a VHS of it when I was younger and I understood it, and watched it every season, despite it being darker than other Rankin-Bass fare. Now that I’m older as I watch it I perform like a mental creative-writing exercise on how to make this a better script (No I still haven’t figured it out but hey now I have the downtime).

The animation is great as we’d expect from this studio, some of the set-pieces are really impressive. You can see how far they’ve come from the original Rudolph. It is cool to see Frosty and his side of the universe translate well into stop-motion (Frosty is always in traditional animation). The voice acting is top-notch as always. Richards and Vernon are the definitive voices of the titular characters. Mickey Rooney is still a top-tier Santa. Paul Frees is great as Winterbolt and few other supporting players. Ethel Merman is fun as Lily Lorainne, owner of the circus. Shelley Winters returns as Frosty’s wife Crystal and she has this nice, sweet-but-firm maternal quality for the character.  Finally, Alan Sues (Whom I know nothing about but he sounds like Andy Dick) is positively grating as...Scratcher the Reindeer.

As one would expect with any Rankin-Bass production this is a musical. The reprisals of the titular character’s anthems are nice. The rest of the songs are just...pretty forgettable? None of them really do anything to move the plot forward but some of them are pretty nice. I mean if you have Ethel Merman I guess you should have her sing. There’s “I See Roses”, a nice love song that Santa sings to Mrs Claus which I always liked, and “No Bed of Roses” which is a touching (?) little lament when Rudolph (Spoilers. Again, 1979.) hits his low point in the film.

Those that are close to me have heard me hype Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas-In-July up in the past. But I really can’t say it’s good...or bad, really. It’s interesting to watch unfold. Like quality fan-fiction. There’s definitely a nostalgia factor to it. The animation is great. The performances are enjoyable. A lot of what you probably read here gave off a “You need to see it to believe it” vibe, and I’d say that’s accurate. If you like all the other holiday specials from Rankin & Bass, and are looking for something new to watch during the holidays, this might be worth a watch. Who knows? Maybe it’ll become part of your annual holiday watchlist...or not. Yeah, this film’s pretty iffy. Anyway, Merry December 27th everyone!!!

Top 10 Films of 2012

As 2019 comes to a close, this is the last leg of the crusade to do "Top 10 Films" lists for years in this decade I missed, so when I do my Top 10 Films of 2018 (which at this point, I guess I also missed), it won't seem as late by comparison to these lists. If you haven't checked out my lists for 2010 and 2011, check them out, maybe?

These are my Top 10 Films of 2012! This was a tough year to decide on. A lot of heavy hitters came out in 2012. Maybe because everyone thought the world was ending so they thought they better get their best work out now? Who knows…

Also while we're on the subject of films from 2012, I'd just like to say my opinions on Les Miserables and The Dark Knight Rises have significantly changed...but yeah Anne Hathaway probably did deserve that Oscar.

9 & 10. The First Time and Celeste & Jessie Forever
First Time-
Directed by Jon Kasdan
Starring Dylan O'Brien, Britt Robertson, and Victoria Justice

Celeste & Jessie-
Directed by Lee Toland Krieger
Starring Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg and Emma Roberts

So I'm kinda cheating here, and I'm about to sound like a film snob, but I saw both these films when I went to the Sundance Film Festival on a school trip in 2012, and while I've only seen them both one or two times since that trip, those first viewings resonate with me to this day. I could pretty much interchange them as 9 or 10, but I enjoy them both for different reasons, and honestly who knows if anyone reading this has seen either.

I won't go too in-depth about either, but hopefully I can get someone out there interested in checking them out. The First Time is both a conventional and non-conventional romantic teen comedy. It has the cliche story-mapping but it handles the relationship of the main characters (O'Brien & Robertson) in a real and mature way. It's not like an American Pie wannabe where the goal is for them to have sex and they live happily-ever-after. I mean, sex plays a part but it's not the end result. It's more about intimacy, openness, communication and commitment to a relationship. That's what elevates it beyond a typical teen rom-com. That and the cast is so wonderful, particularly the two leads, a young Dylan O'Brien & Britt Robertson. There's also plenty of laughs. The First Time is kind of an underrated gem.

Celeste & Jessie Forever deals with a divorced couple (Jones & Samberg) trying to stay close friends while also trying to move on with their lives (This might sound a bit similar to this year's Marriage Story but stick with me). Love just doesn't stop happening after divorce, and Celeste & Jessie doesn't sugarcoat that fact. The film deals with how we grow as a person through the people around us, with the love we give and the love we take. Rashida Jones (Man I've been talking about her A. LOT. lately) is at the center here and she's amazing as always (She also wrote the film with her regular writing partner Will McCormack). Her and Andy Samberg make a delightful pair and work together so well.

So that's two unconventional films about different types of romance that both hit differently but I enjoy about the same. Ok we can leave the "Ohhh Chris went to Sundance. What a film snob." atmosphere behind now. Especially because the next film is a typical superhero offering...


8. The Amazing Spider-Man
Directed by Marc Webb
Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Rhys Ifans

Obviously we all love Tom Holland's Spider-Man and having the webslinger in the MCU is a blessing. But still, you can't help but wonder what could have been with Marc Webb's iteration of the character, before Sony screwed everything up with their corporate greed. The Amazing Spider-Man was a enjoyable, promising start to a new take on Spidey. It's a very personal, dramatic story that was void of the dated cheesiness of Sam Raimi's trilogy. Andrew Garfield made a great Peter Parker, and Emma Stone was wonderful as Gwen Stacy. Did it repeat a lot of the same story-beats of the iconic origin story? Yes? Did it do anything new? Yeah a little. Was it all botched two years later because Sony was trying to jumpstart a Spider-Man Cinematic Universe? You know it was. Anyway, saying anything else feels like I'm soapboxing for a cause that's already been squashed. I'm very happy with the Spider-Man we have now in film, but The Amazing Spider-Man was a good film, and it's just a shame it went down the way it did.


7. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Directed by Peter Lord
Starring Hugh Grant, David Tennant, and Martin Freeman

An animated-gem you probably forgot about or never saw, The Pirates was produced by Aardman Animation, the creators of Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run. It's a very fun adventure, with the usual amazing claymation you would expect from this studio. There's plenty of British humor abound from our friends across the Atlantic, and few laugh-out-loud moments. The voice-cast is also stacked. You have a Time Lord (Tennant), a John Watson (Freeman), and Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) all in one film!!…okay that last one's not so impressive seven years later. It's not a film I revisit often, but when I do I always enjoy myself. If you're a fan of Aardman Animation's other works, I suggest you give it a watch.


6. Brave
Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Starring Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, and Billy Connolly

Brave is not a groundbreaking Pixar entry like Up or Wall-E, but there's no law that said it had to be, and it certainly isn't one of their worst. It harkens back to classic Disney of the nineties with a simple fairy-tale-like premise, which subjectively I really enjoy. Tonally it does sort of switch gears halfway through, but the story still flows.
The animation is great, crafting a mystical Scottish environment. Merida is a fine protagonist and the relationship with her mother is very well-written. It's a charming story about family, with some truly suspenseful moments, and I think adults can enjoy sharing it with their kids. It's not my favorite Pixar film, but I like it, and you know if Merida's making appearances all over Disney Parks, you know the film did something right.


5. 21 Jump Street
Directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller
Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Dave Franco

I was far too young to watch the original series when it was on, but I don't think anyone saw it as property worth rebooting for the big-screen. But you know leave it to Lord & Miller, the guys who made The Lego Movie, Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs, and a Han Solo origin-oh right…leave it to the guys who made a name for themselves by taking bad ideas and making them into great films. Hilarious films.
The laughs are non-stop the entire film, with a lot of memorable lines that worked their way into my daily vernacular for years (For better or worse). Channing Tatum's performance practically defined his career, and while I'm not a big Jonah Hill fan, the guy's got talent and the Jump Street films are some of his best work. The supporting cast of Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, and Ellie Kemper also have a lot of great moments too. The story itself isn't super gripping but you're here for laughs not story. 21 Jump Street was a bad idea turned into one of the best comedies in recent years.



4.  Wreck-It Ralph
Directed by Rich Moore
Starring John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch

Wreck-It Ralph takes the normal conventions of a Disney film and throws them into a video-game world. (So long as video games still exist) I think it's become as timeless as some of the studio's hits from the nineties. The animation is superb, and the filmmakers build a creative and captivating universe within a simple arcade. Some scenes feel like actual video games.
But what really makes Wreck-It Ralph so great is its story of self-worth, that reminds audiences to love themselves for who they are. Ralph is wonderful protagonist, and John C. Reilly's performance is fantastic. In fact the whole voice cast is fantastic. Sarah Silverman as the sweet but edgy Vanellope, Jack McBrayer as the uber-wholesome Fix-It Felix Jr, and Jane Lynch as the no-nonsense Sergeant Callhoun, they are practically tailor-made for their characters.
There's also plenty of references for gamers to smile about. As far as video game films, it's a big win, and as far as Disney films it's a modern classic…but I'm not so sure about the sequel…something for another day.


3. The Avengers
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, etc.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe really started to bloom the first time Earth's Mightiest Heroes came together on the big-screen. What would prove to be the first big step in a decade-long gamble ended paying off big time, and to me, it's still one of the franchise's best films. All of the cast is as superb as they were or have ever been. This being the second film in the MCU for many of them, I think Avengers sort of reinforced the idea of how amazing the likes of Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddelston as Loki, or Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow were. Of course we can't forget the unmatched Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man or Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America. But this is the first time we would see them all in a film together, and the group's chemistry was off the charts. There's so many great character moments as one would expect.

You've heard me praise the MCU so much before but I'll just quickly say that Whedon's script and dialogue is remarkably unforgettable, Alan Silversti's music is iconic, and the final battle in New York is visual poetry. The Avengers was a landmark in superhero filmmaking, and filmmaking in general. I still think it's one of Marvel's best (Even though it does start kind of slow), and was easily one of the best films of 2012.


2. Ted
Directed by Seth MacFarlane
Starring Mark Whalberg, Seth MacFarlane, and Mila Kunis

I love this film. I firmly believe Ted is Seth MacFarlane's best work to date. Here he has a perfect blend of his crude and clever humor, while also showing his work can have real heart. Ted, as brash as it can get, is a story with a lot of heart. It's about the importance of a best friend, and lifelong friendships. Friendships that stand the test of time when people have to change and evolve, but the love between them doesn't. It's cleverly illustrated through the relationship of a man (Whalberg) and his old teddy bear. It's like Toy Story but with adult humor! Seth MacFarlane is pretty much playing another version of Peter Griffin as Ted, but he's hilarious regardless and easily wins the audience over. Mark Whalberg also has some great comical moments while also showing off his true acting chops, and Mila Kunis plays off them both nicely.

Ted knows when it needs to be funny and when it needs to be serious. Much like 21 Jump Street, I consider it one of the best comedies in recent years and a lot of its more memorable lines have worked into my daily vernacular. It's not just a great comedy but a great film. If you've never seen it or haven't seen it in awhile, call up your best friend and give it a watch.


And my Top Film of 2012 is…

1. Django Unchained
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio

I love a good western (Though I admit I need to see more). I love a good Tarantino film. Django Unchained is a GREAT western AND Tarantino film!! As a matter of fact I think it's his best film, and I'm ready to die on that hill. The cast is amazing. Christoph Waltz is genius as always. Samuel L. Jackson gives one of his best performances in my opinion. That goes double for Leonardo DiCaprio, who as the villain went completely against his typical casting (This is the role he should have got the Oscar for.) The story is something really special and unique, filled with wonderful Tarantino dialogue. It's also got some good comedic moments?…The music is top-notch, and the cinematography is beautiful. The exterior shots are just so striking. Tarantino can really paint a picture with a camera. Truthfully he was firing on all cylinders in Django Unchained. It's my favorite film of his, it's my favorite film of 2012, and it's just one of my favorite films.

There were a lot of great films that came out in 2012. Some that I saw that didn't make this list, and some that I have still yet to see. Oh well. Now it is time to FINALLY get started on my Top Films of 2018, and then I'll learn from my mistakes and do my Top 10 Films of 2019 sooner rather than later.

Also…a little film called Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker just came out...

Top 10 Films of 2010

Whoa, man. It's been awhile since I've written any sort of film review or commentary. My Top 10 Films of 2018 is late…I mean normally my "Top 10 Films of the Year" lists come out around the Oscars so technically they're always late. But for me, this really, really late.

But I have an idea, gang. I've been writing/posting film reviews and commentaries since, like, 2011. The better part of this decade. But I didn't do a "Top 10 Films of the Year" list until 2013. So if I do Top 10 lists for those missing years first ('cause they're really, really, really late), and then I'll post my Top 10 Films of 2018, it won't look as late compared to those others lists!!

Cool? Cool…here's my Top 10 Films of 2010.

10. Black Swan
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassell

I recently rewatched this, and I almost took it out of the Top 10 but...GOD, what a chilling, suspenseful mindf**k of a film. It's not the type of film I normally go for but this left a hell of an impression on me. Not only does it keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly asking "What the hell is going on??" it's actually a very intelligent film. The journey of protagonist Nina (Played amazingly by Portman) speaks a lot to the fickle nature of the arts, what one must sacrifice to achieve perfection in the arts, and the duality of man. I'm surprised this didn't win Best Picture at the Oscars this year, but the Academy have never been big horror fans, and this is very horror in nature. If you can get squeamish like me, there are a lot of uncomfortable, taboo…one might even see gross, moments. Somehow that doesn't stop me from watching though. Black Swan leaves its mark on the viewer.


9. The Fighter
Directed by David O. Russell
Starring Mark Whalberg, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo

I might hold this film (and another one on the list) in higher regard just because they're Massachusetts set…The Fighter doesn't turn a spotlight on the best section of Massachusetts, or said section's troubled past but…anyway. The Fighter is a wonderful story, not so much about boxing, but about family and the conflicts and dynamics within family, specifically the Ward-Eklund family. What I love about David O. Russell films, is he always seems to bring out the very best in his cast. This is probably one of Mark Whalberg's best roles. Christian Bale, again, completely transforming mind and body for his character. Melissa Leo, hilarious, tough but heartwarming. Seriously it's always gold when Hollywood attempts some Boston/Massachusetts accents. The Fighter's a really enjoyable film.


8. Despicable Me
Directed by Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud
Starring Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, and Miranda Cosgrove

So like Shrek, Despicable Me probably hasn't aged too well in the eyes of the public, due to the savage nature of pop culture, and the studio's (Illumination Entertainment's) own greed to franchise the hell out of it. I mean, the Minions are just annoying nowadays. But the original Despicable Me is still a very good film. It does have a lot of funny moments (not all of them coming from Minons) and it's a creative, heartwarming story. It's just a shame they franchise'd the hell out of it. Steve Carrell is wonderful as Gru, really all the voice cast is, from Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario, to Julie Andrews as Gru's mother. Despicable Me is a sweet, charming film that has stood the test the time, wether you want it to or not.

Also I find it weird that two animated films about super villains turning good for personal reasons came out in 2010 but only one of them got any real traction…any MegaMind fans out there? Did the right one win the hearts of Hollywood? A question for another day perhaps...


7. Kick Ass
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

I guess you could say I've grown to enjoy Kick-Ass more since I first publicized my opinions on it years ago. Is Kick-Ass himself still not the greatest protagonist? Yeah, kinda. Is Nic Cage still freaking amazing? Yes of course. Does Vaughn know how to do action scenes? You bet he does. There's cliche' bits but there's plenty to enjoy here. When it comes to shock value, Matthew Vaughn has more restraint here than he does in say, the sequel* or the second Kingsman, and I appreciate that. Kick-Ass takes everyone's fantasy of wanting to become a superhero, and slaps it in the face with a cold-towel of reality. I've still yet to read the graphic novel but it's an interesting concept to watch on screen. I've become a much bigger superhero fan since 2010, so that could partially be why I've come to enjoy Kick-Ass more these days.

*I was really nice to the sequel back in the day…but wasn't it crap? Do I have to rewatch Kick-Ass 2? I don't want to.

6. Inception
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Inception is one of the most original heist/action films to come out in recent years. Its blend with science-fiction (can we consider this science fiction?) makes it so. The concept is truly inspired, which should come as no surprise when Christopher Nolan's writing and directing. The set-pieces are awesome, the world-building is top-notch, and there's a lot of heart in the heist. Cobb (DiCaprio, this is probably one of his best roles) has a lot at stake personally in making sure this job goes well, and many other characters do as well, but not as much as Cobb. This is his story. Also, this is a great cast, particularly Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, and Marion Cotillard. Hey, remember that this film is also where we got the typical, iconic Han Zimmer-type score (You know what I mean)? Inception is a prime example of Christopher Nolan at his very best, as far as filmmaking and storytelling.


Alright it's going to start to get hard, here…there's like two really great dramas and three awesome animated films in the top 5. Let's forge ahead...

5. The Social Network
Directed by David Fincher
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake

I'm not sure there's a more important drama to today's generation than The Social Network. Does that make sense? Is it even an agreeable statement? Oh well. It is super-compelling to learn the story behind literally the biggest social media platform in existence, which has become so ingrained in our day-to-day culture. What could just be a simple "rise/fall of a company" tale is elevated by themes of friendship, partnership, and betrayal. Facebook itself isn't taking center stage, it's the people who made it and their relationships, which makes for a more interesting watch. There's a lot at play here. The film turns a lens on how we value social media as a society, how people work with or hide behind it, and the inner-workings of college community or "youth culture". Jesse Eisenberg gave a career-defining performance in this film, removing himself from the "Diet Michael Cera" shackles society had placed upon him. Andrew Garfield is a real standout, and who knew Justin Timberlake could act so well?
Heh, a film about social media destroying friendships, wonder if there's more meaning to that…


4. The Town
Directed by Ben Affleck
Starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Rebecca Hall

Once again, Boston-set film, Hollywood attempting Boston accents, and I can't get enough of it. I'm going to say it. I miss the old days of Ben Affleck. Before being Batman in the DCEU broke him (I'll always mourn the loss of an Affleck-led Batman film). The Town is some of Affleck's best work, because he's working in his turf. A heist film set in the geography of Boston is really fun to watch, even if you're not from here. A car chase through the North End and a robbery at Fenway are some of the film's highlights. Affleck's joined by some of the most talented character actors in the business (Is it fair to call them that?) like Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Cooper, and watching them all do a Boston accent is pure perfection. The film is also like a modern-day, Boston-set Robin Hood, which just sounds fun, right? There's real emotional stakes for Doug (Affleck), so audiences can invest beyond "Will they pull the job off?" The Town is a cornerstone of Ben Affleck's career, and it's shame it went through the awards season mostly unnoticed.

Alright…I'm going to start pissing people off now...

3. Toy Story 3
Directed by Lee Unkrich
Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack

Toy Story 3 is a really great film and a perfect conclusion to the trilogy (I know what's coming in June! Leave me alone, I'm focusing on what we got right now!) There's a lot of heart, and it's a great story about growing up, the changes we face as a result, and how it affects us and those around us. At the center of it are a cast of characters audiences have loved and grown up with for years, which makes it a much more emotional watch. Pixar has always known to tackle mature themes in their films, and Toy Story 3 is like, the gold standard.
Nine years later, I find myself not enjoying the sections of the film where the toys are at Sunnyside as much. The escape sequence is top-notch, and Lotso is superb, but everything else is just ok to me. I don't want to say it's filler, because it does hold narrative value, but it just doesn't land as well as the rest of the film. Overall the film still packs a punch, because it aims for the nostalgia factor. I myself had just finished my first year in college when this came out so this did hit a little close to home. Toy Story 3 caps off the original Toy Story trilogy in a masterful way that will resonate with kids and adults for years to come.


2. Tangled
Directed by Byron Howard & Nathon Greno
Starring Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy

What makes Tangled so great is it's classic Disney updated for modern times…and it did that before Frozen. Maybe we give Frozen too much credit, and forget to remember Tangled paved the way for Frozen-but I digress. All the elements of a great Disney film are here: superb animation, wonderful music and lyrics from Alan Menken, and wonderful characters. There's also plenty of action and slapstick humor. Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi have wonderful chemistry as Rapunzel and Flynn (also Zachary Levi is my hero and because he's in Tangled that makes it one of Disney's best films), Donna Murphy is another great Disney villain, and Pascal and Maximus are some of the best Disney sidekicks in years. At a time where many people thought the classic Disney formula wouldn't work anymore, Tangled dared to prove them wrong, and prove them wrong it did. If not for Tangled, films like Frozen and Moana, films that stay true to Disney but also tweak their classic formula, probably wouldn't have been made…and you know what? Tangled deserves more than a fancied up restroom area in DisneyWorld, dammit…also why was it nominated for Best Animated Feature???


1. How To Train Your Dragon
Directed by Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and Craig Ferguson 

I've grown to love the How To Train Your Dragon films more and more as time goes on. The animation has always been breathtaking. The voice cast is low-key one of the best ever assembled. The music...do I even need to say it? But I love the story and messages this entire trilogy tells. It's a coming-of-age story that deals with growing up, sacrifice, loss, and staying true to yourself. Most importantly though the friendships, the relationships that define us. All of this is on display right in the first film, where Hiccup (Baruchel) and Toothless' journey begins. It's well-told from beginning to end, and really what's so great is much of their bonding is told without dialogue. The filmmakers just let them interact and let the animation and the music do the storytelling. Its' not just a bunch of Hiccup talking to someone who won't talk back. It's actually brilliant. And the father/son dynamic between Hiccup and Stoick (Butler) is also very touching, and both Baruchel and Butler are giving it their all. Anyway, have I convinced you enough why this is my Top Film of 2010? Because I could keep going…

Revisiting all these films from 2010 made me realize what a strong year for animated films it was, and probably one of the strongest we've had in recent years. It's why I confidently put three of them as my top 3. I enjoyed revisiting a lot of these films. It made me realize a lot of patterns in my taste of films, and how much my tastes have and haven't changed. Next up is The Top 10 Films of 2011.

Also I really need to do a review of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World...

Film Review - "Justice League"

Justice League
Directed by Zach Snyder
Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Henry Cavill

…Yeah I never did this when I saw it in theaters. Did I feel compelled to see it again before I wrote a review? Yes. Was I in a rush to see it again? No. Did the never-ending DC vs Marvel "war" get on my nerves and in some way make me shy away from this review? Little bit. Anyway here we are, and after finally watching Justice League a second time…it's fine. It's fine. I might even be more fine with it than in my initial viewing. Let's go.

Bruce Wayne (Affleck) is on the trail of a massive threat making its way to Earth. That threat being the extra-terrestrial conqueror Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and his army of Parademons. They seek the Mother Boxes, which will give Steppenwolf the power to conquer and re-shape the planet in his image.   Bruce, alongside Diana Prince (Gadot) must form a team of heroes to take down Steppenwolf and save the world from destruction. Those heroes include Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher). Oh and yes Superman (Cavill) is still dead and both Bruce and the rest of the world are still dealing with that.

Justice League feels a lot like a response to the negative criticism surronding Batman VS Superman. It's lighter, it's more fun, and characters are making jokes more. But as a result of that, the two films do not match-up, and I'm not referring to their contrasting tones. I mean I personally probably wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between Snyder and Whedon's direction if I hadn't known beforehand the latter came in to take over for the former during reshoots…some reshoots are pretty clear though...

Character decisions and motivations in this film do not equal up to their actions from the previous one. Yes Wonder Woman is a thoughtful and compassionate character, but to think she is personally invested in the resurrection of Superman is a bit of a stretch. To think that Bruce Wayne feels so much guilt over his death, and to say that he really knew who Clark Kent was, is a bit of a stretch. They spent like ten minutes actually talking to each other in the last one.

The build-up from the previous films does not equate to what Justice League is. All the plotting and planning of Batman VS Superman seems to be thrown out the window (Remember how Flash went back in time to warn Bruce about something? Or where did Lex Luthor's "notes" come from? The world is in disarray because Superman is gone? So I guess we're all just over all those protests and making him appear on Capitol Hill..). Where BVS probably had too much going on as far as plot, Justice League felt like it didn't have any plot other than "The heroes have to stop the villain from getting these magic boxes".

Out of context Justice League is fine on its own, but it's not on its own. It's supposed to be this climax of what's come before in this cinematic universe, and it just feels like the next chapter in this clunky saga. Now the big-team up film doesn't have to be "the end of the beginning" like The Avengers. It can be the next step, and an origin story. Guardians of The Galaxy showed us that you can do a team-up film that is also an origin story.

Here's what Guardians does that Justice League doesn't though. It allows time for little character moments and actual character development. Batman, Wonder Woman, we know who they are at this point. Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg though? Who didn't have previous appearances in a DC film? They're all just sad loners. The one who probably shines best among the three is Aquaman, and if this film does one thing perfectly it makes me hyped for his standalone film (Hey sort of how BVS got us pumped for Wonder Woman!) We get a nice scene with Barry Allen and his father in jail, which probably feels more compelling to some than others because they watch The Flash tv series. Cyborg is just kind of there brooding and ashamed of what he is, and only gets to do anything when the plot needs him to. Would this film have worked better if they had their own films first? Probably, but it could have worked if they didn't either. But studio executives mandated the film to be two hours, so it's all rushed and it feels hollow.

Speaking of undeveloped characters, let's talk about Steppenwolf. He is not a good villain. His motivations are thin, and his character development is limited to a five-minute flashback narrated by Diana. The "Mother Boxes" of it all is lackluster. He's just a big, grey, generic, CGI bad guy for the heroes to fight. Speaking of fighting (segway to segway) the action is pretty bland. There's an underwater fight scene in Atlantis and honestly it made me nauseous. The big orange filter on everything in the final battle makes everything blend together horribly. None of the action really stands out, and it's all very choppy. Speaking of choppy-no I'll stop I'll talk about editing later.

So what's good about Justice League? Well the cast is pretty great and they have wonderful chemistry. Gal Gadot continues to remain the highlight of this franchise, being the perfect Wonder Woman. Ben Affleck's performance isn't as strong as it was in BVS but it's fine. He just seems…tired at times. Please just give us a good Affleck-led Batman film before it's too late. Holy crap finally, FINALLY, Henry Cavill actually gets to be Superman. I mean it's limited but he actually feels like the character for the first time with the material he's given. Jason Momoa is the coolest of cool as Aquaman. Ezra Miller is fun but sometimes annoying as The Flash. Ray Fisher's performance as Cyborg is nothing special but it's good.

The cast seems to be having some fun with this film, so in turn that can be transmitted to the audience. Justice League isn't unwatchable. It's nowhere near as terrible as Suicide Squad. Parts of it are enjoyable, and you might find yourself enjoying it a little bit. Atlantis and orange filters aside, some set pieces look pretty nice. When the film actually slows down and characters are allowed to be characters it's nice. But overall it's just a so-so film, and a film starring some of the most iconic comic book characters should be more than that.

Since the film's release, it's been revealed a lot had been cut out of the film. The edits are clear on the screen. So like all DCEU films, Justice League appears to be the victim of studio meddling. From my perspective, it seemed to come out a lot better than Suicide Squad, and arguably BVS. Justice League is harmless and hollow…but a little fun. It leaves no real impact, but you probably won't regret seeing it. Fingers crossed for Aquaman, Shazam, Wonder Woman 2…and whatever comes next…

So I've probably irked some Marvel fans for not trashing this film enough, and annoyed some DC films for not liking it more. But you know what?? You're all going to be pissed when you find out what I thought of Deadpool 2!!! *runs*

Film Review Throwback - "Cars 2"

Long ago there was a time when Pixar had a perfect track record and the only sequels they made were of Toy Story. Then someone decided a sequel to Cars might be a good idea...

So apparently the Film Gods heard our prayers and Cars 3 is actually pretty decent. I haven't seen it yet so let's look back at the first sequel to Cars. The first and so far only one of their films to have a Rotten Score on Rotten Tomatoes...

Cars 2
Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis
Starring Owen Wilson, Larry The Cable Guy, and Michael Caine

First off, look at this poster:

You see how Lightning McQueen (Wilson), the main character from the first film is front and center, and his friend and supporting player Mater (..The Cable Guy? What even is his last name..) is in the background. What you're seeing here are lies. Filthy marketing lies. McQueen is not the star of this film. Mater is, and that was their first and biggest mistake.

Mater isn't Dory. He can't carry his own film. Mater is more annoying than lovable. That's just the truth and you know it. Anyway, McQueen is offered a chance to race in the World Grand Prix: Three races across Tokyo, Italy, and London. McQueen brings his Radiator Springs crew along, including Mater, now his crew chief, replacing Doc Hudson (Voiced by the late Paul Newman and written out of the film in respect).

Mater in all his Larry The Cable Guy-ness, embarrasses himself and McQueen in front of the competition. He goes off on his own and is mistaken for a secret agent by Miles Axelrod (Caine) and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimier)...it gets pretty off the rails there but Mater and his spy friends soon uncover a dangerous plot at the heart of the World Grand Prix, it's eventually up to Mater to save the day and his friend McQueen, proving himself more than just a country bumpkin and who cares...

Someone clearly watched too many of those "Mater's Tall Tales" shorts and thought that could work as a feature film. The whole "numb skull character, mistaken identity, chaos ensues" plot has been done many times before, and this version doesn't do enough to justify its existence. Frankly Caine and Mortimer's characters are pretty dumb themselves, to believe Mater is a spy for like, two-thirds of the film.

Furthermore why is the sequel not about McQueen and his racing career? The whole heart of the film is lost when the spotlight is turned on Mater. Also why is this a spy film? If Pixar wanted to make a spy film why did it have to double as a sequel to Cars (Probably the same reason a college film doubled as a Monsters Inc. prequel)? Maybe that's okay though because McQueen kind of has some regression as a character here, and is just a dick to Mater in the film, probably as a way of plot to get him to go off a be a spy…

Also there's some environmental message sneaking through the cracks of this film and I-just, why? Why, when Wall-E already did it? Forget it I'm wrapping this up quick. The voice work is still good despite the lackluster writing. I haven't watched it in a while but if I'm remembering correctly the late George Carlin's replacement as Filmore wasn't too distracting (Why did Doc Hudson get written out but not Filmore?). Michael Caine…I don't know man. Frankly I don't think this is his proudest of paychecks, and it almost sounds it in his voice work. The animation is still Pixar at its finest, but it's wasted here.

So Cars 3 sounds pretty good, but not "Grade-A Pixar" more like "Grade-B Pixar", which is always what the Cars franchise has symbolized. The plot makes it sound like we don't even need to watch Cars 2 to get anything. We can just hop over it from the first film. Hell maybe Cars 2 was just in Mater's head like all those shorts.

Anyway Cars 2 is definitely the weak link in both the franchise and the Pixar catalog. For years to come, no matter what the anticipation or outcome of future Pixar films will be, people will still say "Can't be as bad as Cars 2." Stay tuned for my review of Cars 3 and….I hope to God there's minimal Mater…


Huh. Turns out Larry The Cable Guy's real name is Daniel Whitney...