The Interview (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

Dave Skylark and producer Aaron Rapoport run the celebrity tabloid show "Skylark Tonight." When they land an interview with a surprise fan, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, they are recruited by the CIA to turn their trip to Pyongyang into an assassination mission.

Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Writers: Dan Sterling (screenplay), Seth Rogen (story)

Stars: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Par

Perhaps the most controversial movie of the past 5 years was in the end a great comic feast. The movie that caused Sony Entertainment to get hacked and threatened was basically a below the belt hit at the current supreme leader of North Korea. To portray a living man in such manner is bordering on defamation and if that man is revered as a god by millions, then there must be some criticism against the appropriateness of the subject. Nonetheless, all aside the movie was hilarious!

The Interview (2014) - Official HD Trailer by TrailerWorld

The interview is a well complied action comedy describing the struggle of two friends in their pursuit of interviewing a greatly popular but highly detested personality, a dictator, Kim Jong-un. Aaron Rapaport, the producer of “Skylark Tonight”, along with his host Dave Skylark are known for broadcasting a popular television show, where they aim to make bizarre discoveries and headlines about celebrities. After a 1000-episodes bash, Aaron realizes that what he does is plain pathetic and that he should be doing stuff that benefits his viewers in some way. Tempt the fate and he soon gets a chance of interviewing the news sensation, Kim Jong-un. Plot twist? CIA. And from here begins a series of events leading to Kim’s interview and then his downfall as a dictator, followed by a revolution.

The duo, James Franco and Seth Rogen as we know them, have delivered a spectacular performance. The plot is new. There’s comedy. There’s action. A bit draggy, the story has good humor and keeps you glued to the screen until the end. Rogen is more or less the conventional Rogen that we are accustomed to seeing. Although Franco takes the lead with his impeccable comic-timing, both the actors have done justice to their roles. Lizzy Caplan, also appears sparingly, adding prettiness to the screen and has done a good job with her character.

For those of you who like comedy, this movie is not to be missed. It’s likely to give you a fairly good round of laughs. And if nothing else, watch it for Franco or Rogen. Enough said.

Mom's Night Out 2014 Movie Review and Trailer

Moms' Night Out (2014)

Directors: Andrew Erwin (as The Erwin Brothers) , Jon Erwin (as The Erwin Brothers)

Writers: Jon Erwin, Andrea Gyertson Nasfell

Stars: Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton

All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and fun - a long-needed moms' night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation, and food not served in a bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for a few hours ... what could go wrong?

Mom's Night out is a situation comedy aimed at highlighting the perils of motherhood and parenting. It tells the story of a mother called Allyson who plans an evening out with her friends to break out of the routine that all of them have been following tirelessly. In order to avail the luxury of a carefree night with friends, these women must trust their husbands to take care of the kids and be responsible for this one night. What unfolds is a hilarious story of how dependable men have become on women and how important a mother is to the entire family.

Mom's Night Out Official Trailer (2014) - Trace Adkins, Patricia Heaton Movie HD by UltraCinema

Sarah Drew and Patricia Heaton have acted effortlessly and bring forward the misery of motherhood without making it seem as unwanted. They portray women who love their kids and love being mothers but find it hard to cope up with the tiring routine and responsibility of  parenting.

The story is simple and hence talking too much about it will give too much away. It is sufficient to say that your time spent on this movie is certainly worth it. It has some giggles and some emotional moments that keep a grip on the audience. I recommend it for a nice family time.

Rating: 3/5  

Dumb and Dumber To (2014) Preview and Trailer

Dumb and Dumber To Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels Movie HD by Trailer-Addict

Movie: Dumb and Dumber To (2014)

Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels

Genre: Comedy

Twenty years after the first installment Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are back to give audiences around the world a hell load of belly aches and tears of laughter. The trailer looks funny as hell and Jim Carrey's presence would most likely assure a riot of craziness. The title itself makes one nostalgic as one remembers the first edition of the epic comedy. 

One things is for sure, expectations are high and if the movie lacks the ability to rise up to them it would suffer greatly. I expect good things from it.

Review: Morning Glory ~ Watch Morning Glory Online Free Streaming

Article first published as Movie Review: Morning Glory on Blogcritics.

Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams make up the formidable star cast of the comic drama Morning Glory. The film is based on the challenges associated with running a successful morning show and also looks into the common bias that "serious" journalists hold against the supposedly meaningless content of the morning shows.

Morning Glory follows the efforts of a passionate morning TV-show producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) as she tries her level best to prove to the world that she is good at her job. After getting fired from her job as a producer she ends up getting a job at half her previous salary as the producer of a morning show called "Daybreak" that had no following and seemingly no future. Before pulling the plug on the show the channel gives Becky a chance to raise the ratings and hence buy some more time for the show.

Becky is happy to be at the helms of a morning show again but she soon realizes that her job is a very tough one. The show is hosted by Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) who is extremely disappointed by the show's performance and has given up all hopes of getting back in the lime light. Becky decides to make some changes and that leads her to firing the male host of the show. She accidentally comes across her role model, the legendary news reporter Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) and tries to get him to host the show. Pomeroy turns out to be the most egotistical creature she has come across, perhaps second only to his co-host Colleen Peck.

The story ahead sees Becky working her backside off to make
Pomeroy and Peck co-exist on the show. Her personal life also becomes a little complicated when love knocks on her door in form of the handsome Adam Bennet (Patrick Wilson).

Harrison Ford has shown his class as an A grade actor and Diane Keaton has worked her charm without letting get the better of her. She really looks sexy even with wrinkles on her. The star however is Rachel McAdams and she has acted exceptionally well. She has taken the film to a whole new level with her sparkling charisma and panache. She makes you cry and she makes you laugh but never in the whole duration of the film does she let you take your eyes off her!

I rate Morning Glory a whooping 4/5 simply because a young lady has outshone stars like Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton making the film a treat to watch.

Movie Review: Love And Other Drugs(2010)

Article first published as Movie Review: Love And Other Drugs on Blogcritics.

Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is leading a mediocre life. He is a real hard worker but is always on a look out for shortcuts in life. He is a charming gentleman and believes in living it up. He works in an electronics store, but after awhile is fired. 

His best friend Bruce helps him find a job at a pharmaceutical company. His interpersonal skills helps him excel as a pharamceutical company representative. On a routine visit to a nearby clinic he meets Maggie (Hathaway) for the first time. After a few more accidental encounters, Jamie sees a chance for himself with Maggie. She is an alluring free-spirited girl who does not believe in relationships. On the other hand Jamie also is a carefree person whose ultimate goal always is to satisfy his sexual desires. They embrace each other like lock and key.

With the passage of time Jamie and Maggie who were leading a happy unconcerned life with each other, find themselves in a relationship. Things eventually go their way but then suddenly life takes a huge turn, and they find their love life in lots of trouble.

Love and other Drugs lies somewhere between comedy, romance and drama, but it is mainly a romance. In my view it is a good movie but the story is very patchy and lacks cohesiveness. It seems that somewhere in the middle of the movie, the writer lost the plot.

Hathaway and Cyllenhaal are the real attraction to this movie. There are some very explicit sex scenes with Anne Hathaway; she looks good, and looks prepared for her upcoming Cat-Woman role in Batman. Jake Gyllenhaal is cute as ever and his dorky, nerdy looks are amusing and great to watch. He has also acted reasonably well. 

Although the movie has one foot in the comedy genre and the other in the "soft-porn-of-the-year" genre, I still recommend Love and Other Drugs. It is will not only keep you hooked for two hours but will provide you ultimate entertainment. I rate it 3/5 and you should give it a try!

Due Date (2010) Review

Article first published as Review: Due Date (2010) on Technorati.

Movie: Due Date (2010)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis and Michelle Monaghan

Rating: 4/5

It is very seldom that a comedy is as gripping as Due Date without a female lead featuring in it. Most comedies take the help of a woman's sexuality, bordering on the edge of obscenity in order to create a surprise for the audience. Due date is nothing like that. It is an amazing film and one that should not be classified under a single genre. It is not only a comedy but a drama as well.

Due date is about two men from distinctly different setups and backgrounds who hook up in bizarre circumstances and end up travelling together. Peter Highman is a successful businessman who is having the worst day of his life. He has to reach Los Angeles to see the birth of his child but fate has other things in mind. He meets Ethan Tremblay a loser by every definition but his own and in extraordinary circumstances both of them end up on a no fly list when Ethan's drugs are caught from Peter's luggage. What follows is a worth seeing story of this couple's journey to Los Angeles.

Robert Downey Jr. as Peter has outdone himself and proved that his comic timing is amazing. Zach Galifianakis has played a very difficult role with utter ease and makes you both love and hate him in every scene he performs in. The rest of the cast is negligible but adequate.

Please do watch the film because it is a wonderfully told story and deserves all the audience it gets.

Easy A - A Review

Article first published as Review: Easy A (2010) on Technorati.

Movie: Easy A

Cast: Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley
Rating: 3.5/5

What promised to be only another teen comedy, turned out to be a soulful, thought provoking film in case of Easy A.

The film is a well written account of a high school girl who is a nobody in school until she speaks a lie about losing her virginity. Emma Stone has acted amazingly in the role of Olive and takes the film to a greater level single-handedly.The rest of the cast does its job well to support Emma in her enchantment.

The film addresses issues like peer pressure, judgement and double standards along with a pun at the hypocritically religious community. It is an account of a good natured teen who is taken advantage of by everyone from a bulky fat loser to an unfaithful student counselor.

Easy A is not your everyday teenage comedy with mindless humor. It is a satire aimed at showing us what we have stooped down to as a society. It has something to learn for people of all ages and genders.

Apart from all the serious stuff the girls in the film are hot. Emma's raunchy avatar is sizzling and Amanda Bynes also looks good.

Easy A is a film that everyone should watch and learn from. A strong recommendation from my side to all the movie lovers!

No Problem (2010) - Bollywood

Movie: No Problem

Genre: Comedy
Director: Anees Bazmi

Cast: Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Khanna, Paresh Rawal, Sushmita Sen, Shakti Kapoor, Sunil Shetty

Rating: 4/5

If one thought that Golmaal 3 was the epitome of laughter and could not be surpassed then No Problem has proven him wrong. The film is a laughter bomb. The roars in the cinema are deafening and the tears that run down one's cheeks as a result of uncontrollable giggles are a testament to the movie's comic greatness.

Given the cast of the film the expectations were sky high. Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Paresh Rawal, Akshay Khanna, Sunil Shetty and Sushmita Sen provide a heavy star cast. When one steps into the theater he is already expecting an entertainment bonanza, but No Problem takes the fun factor to a all new level. To be released so close to a Golmaal 3 and yet be so funny is an achievement in its own right.

The story is tried and tested in films like Aik aur Aik Gyaara where a couple of crooks get into a bigger mess than they can handle. The punches however are amazingly crafted and make the audience cramp in the tummy. The situational comedy is extremely well put and the use of words is exceptional. The dialogs are spontaneous and generic and give the film a repeat value in that you can watch it over and over again and still laugh each time - much like the Govinda starrers of the past.

As for the cast, my favorites were Sushmita Sen, Paresh Rawal and Anil Kapoor. Sushmita's character is very well conceived and even better portrayed. Paresh as usual amazes with his comic timing and body language. I agree with Salman Khan though that Sanjay's role is perhaps the best after Munna Bhai and he has done great justice to it. Then there is Anil Kapoor who lightens up the screen in every shot with extreme energy and fervor. No one can believe that this same guy has a daughter in her mid twenties. Akshay Khanna has again given an honest performance and complements the stalwarts. Kangana Ranaut looked cheap and out of place but perhaps that was what the role demanded and Nitu Chandra was hot and sexy! All in all a job well done. I would not say much about the cast because I don't intend to be a spoiler - so go get a ticket!

The music however, was ordinary to say the least and so apart from "Shakira to wi zyada" no song has any potential. Even "shakira" has just one catchy punchline and nothing more. So I wont say much about the music because I really wanna give no problem a 10/10!

No Problem has the quality of being a legendary film. The movie has the potential to be remembered as one of the funniest indian movies of all time!