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Film reviews

The Naked Gun Review

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A cop movie with some of the most unadulterated humor I have seen in ages, The Naked Gun is full of slapstick fun mixed with heavy tones of seriousness and many disastrous moments that come through in genius writing. Silly to the max, but it works…because it is all from the voices, performances, and attitudes of Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson. Based on the television series Police Squad and written by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Akiva Schaffer. Schaffer is also the director of the film. The writing and characteristics are all combined to make this a cop movie that had me laughing really hard. Neeson has thatcharacteristic voice of his that does not fit the context in serious moments. That is why he is perfect in The Naked Gun.  Neeson has played in many films as a detective and Anderson has her past role as that cool girl with attitude from her many years with Baywatch. It is these two roles in past projects that create a strong duo to keep the slapstick moments rolling vigorously throughout. So funny… I could not get enough of The Naked Gun.

In The Naked Gun, Neeson plays Frank Deblin Jr. A long-time detective bound for retirement and making all kinds of foolish choices and witty mistakes. Some of these include hit and run, causing more damage to do less paperwork, and his very inappropriate cop humor through it all. He has, “A secret set of skills,” as is said in his role in the Taken franchise, but this is one where he lollygags it all to the full-throttle mode. He finds himself up against the world at risk from AI weapons run by a man by the name of Richard Crane (played by Danny Huston). There are a lot of incidents occurring with Tesla vehicles and all other kinds of devices. Regardless, Frank is distracted by making his errors but somehow pulls off the job as a detective. With his lacking capabilities love may be his chance for a strong revival.

Dim-wittedness thrives in the fun of The Naked Gun. Neeson and Anderson are like two characters in an Austin Powers universe, because they are two people in a mixed-up relationship where one has a goal to save the world. The question is can he do so without his nonsense getting in the way? “Nonsense” of champions is what I call The Naked Gun. That is because Neeson can pull it off as a detective that is absent-minded but still goes bananas when in savior mode.

Anderson truly stands out in The Naked Gun. She dazzles the film with her goofiness and wonderful gem of caring personality. She also has a high level of tolerance. Neeson’s performance brings a lot to the table when they go into a relationship mode. Throwing together a couple, the world being at risk, and a detective who keeps making messes and trying to cover them up makes for a joyful ride that I could not get enough of. Neeson still jumps and talks like a master of suspense. Quirky, but well written and clever with many puns, tangents, and a whirlwind of punchlines that will just make audiences heads go crazy. A masterpiece of comedy that may present itself as looking absurd, but I found it to be genius. While some moments over fuel its ridiculousness, the voice and ego of Neeson is the magic touch to it all. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for The Naked Gun.

 

 

Film reviews

Fantastic Four: First Steps Review

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This is one of the best new installments I have seen with The Fantastic Four franchise. It feels nostalgic and historic with that comic book side swerving inside and outside of the premise. It also has some classiness with 60’s and 70’s aspects thrown into it. Especially around settings that include Panam airlines and box TVs. The biggest accomplishment though, is that it iswritten for the film to be set up with its heroes already in place. Directed by Matt Shakman, he puts his best efforts into creating The Fantastic Four: First Steps to have invigorating components and joyfulness to be adapted to what is to come in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If there is anything that is essential, it is the importance for its audience to remember is that the whole film matters. This is a new direction to help the moviegoer dismiss the previous franchises of The Fantastic Four. This one has grasped the idea of writing to fit into what is bound to come ahead and even bounce back. “Bounce back” if audiences need a refresher. Many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are always looped in together—some work to correlate and some do not. The Fantastic Four: First Steps does.

The heroes all have their place. They are Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). They are “The Fantastic Four.” A group of individuals with a strong media following who do good and protect their world. A solid foundation of humor and friendship exists among them being heroes, but also one where their media presence presents a bigger risk. The film is valid with making public performances and superheroes not finding political common ground. That is where the genius side is in the directing of Shakman—he creates more moving parts besides good guys and bad guys to make invigorating suspense that has mental components.

The enemy, Shalla-Ball/Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), is the aspect of the film that brings in the haunting and fueling angles of the film. She is a threat to society and many of the scientific backgrounds that the team has created. Reed and Sue are the couple and captains of the team and they have a child on the way. They ultimate question is…can all be safe? But also, can all be heroes? The uncharted territory of The Fantastic Four: The First Steps blew me out of the water. The writing foundation had me in awe, especially in the matter of its timing. The pitches of when to get political or action-packed are all thrown in at the right times. 

A success that has been bound to happen for ages. A wonderful superhero flick bound to create more new heights to fly to more exciting places. The Fantastic Four: The First Steps is one of the best films I have seen this summer. It is one that has found its way to create meaning on its way to future endeavors. The Marvel Cinematic Universe lives on positively for all of its fans. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Oh, Hi! Review

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Romance and a relationship finding itself to be sabotaged are the themes in this fling of a romcom.  This is Oh, Hi!. Written and directed by Sophie Brooks, she creates turmoil in relationship direction that tries hard to find common ground. Deep below the surface though, there is uncharted territory to be navigated in a friendship that is hard to bear. It follows one relationship assumed to be serious with an odd turn that brings the film into a context of curiousness. Why is there a lie in a relationship? Why does a romantic plan have bad news at the most unexpected time?

Its main characters are Isaac (Logan Lerman) and Iris (Molly Gordon). A couple on a getaway at a cabin. A rendezvous type of adventure. One with some weird moving parts right from the beginning. Especially with the fact that an apple stand is knocked over accidentally in route for the trip. Once Isaac and Iris arrive, they show up and are in their lovie dovie mode. However, all the romance and connection all tend to be flawed. 

Even though they appear to be a strong couple, Isaac tells Iris he does not want anything serious. This leaves her in the mood to keep him locked to bed. Yes, a rather strange setup in navigating the situation. It is like a foreplay comedy trying to get truth be admitted in the form of writing lies in terms of how some may feel when dishonesty is hidden. Iris continually tries to play mind games with Isaac to get his mind and perspective to change—desperation in love is the thriving tone here.

The writing is creative in building a scenario of figuring individuals out. Especially with Iris continuously trying to look appealing while Logan is tied to a bed. She treats him like a slave but in the tone of being polite and all. That is where there is mediocrity. More just because many times audiences will wonder when the cuffs come off. This is where psychotic behaviors begin to get out of hand. It is both funny and haunting. Especially with the fact that it is all displayed in such a quirky light. Romance cannot be true via tying someone up.

If I had to elaborate, I felt a lot of the context was more around young love finding fulfillment. Also, forcing that aspect. Especially with the fact that Iris continually loses her mind while leaving Isaac handcuffed in bed. The longer Isaac is trapped, the more of a psycho Iris pans out to be This is one-of-a-kind silliness, but it is nowhere near a masterpiece. It is mediocre in its attempt to be an experimental form. A silly and comedic direction where boundaries are never established,especially since Iris continues to not untie Isaac. The act of becoming a grown-up is dismissed. A boring film trying to find its fair form in writing with no revelation. Clever premise and personalities but writing that lacks the quality to make this feel joyful or fulfilling.  Two out of four stars.