MOVIE REVIEW: 30 Minutes or Less

2011 has given us comedies from a sequel to a huge box office hit two years ago (The Hangover 2), to a pair of unexpected box office hits (Bridesmaids and Horrible Bosses),one that should have been a hit (The Change-Up) and a bomb (Your Highness). Add another one to the list with 30 Minutes or Less, the second feature film directed by Ruben Fleischer, who helmed Zombieland, one of 2009's best made comedy films.
He teamed up again with one of the actors of Zombieland: Jesse Eisenberg, now an Oscar nominee, for this short 83 minute film about a pizza boy (Eisenberg), who was strapped with a bomb on his chest by two dimwits played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson, in order for him to rob a bank to get money to pay to kills McBride's character father played by Fred Ward and get his inheritance.
This is a funny film about two best friends (Eisenberg and Park and Recreation's Aziz Ansari), trying to outwit the other two best friends (McBride and Swardson). Nothing of the film's short running time was wasted and you'll laugh all the way from start to finish.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Change-Up

Body switching has mostly been a staple of Hollywood movies, from Freaky Friday, both the original and the 1997 remake starring Lindsay Lohan, Like Father, Like Son (1987) starring Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron and Vice Versa with Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. All of them are family films, good for all ages but those who saw those films, including me have aged and now comes The Change-Up starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds. It is the only R-rated body switching that I know of.
Bateman and Reynolds play best friends who both have lives at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Jason Bateman plays Dave Lockwood, a successful lawyer living the married life with his wife played by Leslie Mann and their three children: a daughter and twins. Ryan Reynolds is Mitch Planko, a struggling actor, who is single and lives the life of an eternal, carefree bachelor. The two had been best friends since childhood.
After a night out wherein they both wished that they had each other lives over a magical fountain, they exchanged bodies. It is a sight to see that both Bateman and Reynolds, both good comedic actors in my book, have an excellent chemistry together and just play the complete opposite of their characters instantly and hardly without any effort. Leslie Mann is always a good comedic actress and this movie also proved to me that she is a MILF. And Olivia Wilde is given ample time to show that she can be funny too.
The gags are so raunchy but it goes well with the story and the wonderful performances. I saw this film two times at separate advance screenings and both times made me laugh. Jason Bateman already has Horrible Bosses and now this, he is arguably the top comedic actor of the summer movie season 2011 and for Ryan Reynolds, this is his better summer film compared to Green Lantern.

MOVIE REVIEW: Friends with Benefits

I was fortunate enough to watch a screening of the new film Friends with Benefits starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis exactly a month before it's actual release date here in the US (July 22). My verdict: One funny and highly entertaining and notches above the earlier film released this year about the same premise: No Strings Attached.

Kunis plays a headhunter, who just broke up with her boyfriend, who hooks up with Timberlake's character, a graphic artist who moved to New York City, who also just broke up with his girlfriend.

Traumatized by their failed relationships, the two became friends without commitment. Just sex.

The ending is predictable but the movie's best assets are the cast. Justin Timberlake, after all those famous guestings in SNL is really born to be a comedian. Mila Kunis, who proven herself to make people laugh in That 70's Show and Forgetting Sarah Marshall has perfect comic timing. The two have great chemistry.

They are ably supported by excellent actors: Woody Harrelson, who plays Timberlake's co-worker, Richard Jenkins as his father and Patricia Clarkson as Kunis' promiscuous mom. There is a combined four Oscar nominations between these 3 actors.

Cameo appearances also abound in this film. I won't spoil it for you guys. Good, highly entertaining funny film.

MOVIE REVIEW: Larry Crowne

This film was for me, a big big disappointment!! How in the world can two of Hollywood's biggest actors, with three Oscars between them, star in an underdeveloped, self-absorbed mess that is Larry Crowne??
Tom Hanks, who also wrote and directed this film, plays the titular character, who after expecting to be named employee of the month at a big box store similar to Target, was instead laid-off due to his educational attainment: he only finished high school.
After the prodding of his neighbors played by Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson, Larry Crowne enrolled at a community college so that he can get credits and maybe even finish college.
In one of his class, his teacher is a miserable drinking Mercedes Tainot, played by Julia Roberts. Her character is so unlikable that you wonder why did she accept this role in the first place?? This is one of the Oscar winner's worst film roles.
Larry Crowne has some nice intentions. Rising above in times in recession and economic uncertainty. It could have been better.

Here We Go Again....

I was already happy with my royceatthemovies blog but ever since Google+ was introduced, I thought that it would better that my blog would be in sync with my Google+ account for easy integration into other Google sites, Facebook and Twitter.
This past week, I was fortunate enough to watch six films in movie theaters for free and four of them are advanced screenings. It would best if I should write and review on what I think about the films so that in a way I can be of help the next time you guys go to the movies. I hope you enjoy my critique. So here we go....