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....