TAG (2018) & GAME NIGHT (2018) movies reviewed

TAG (2018) and GAME NIGHT (2018) occupy the same shelf in my mind. Both are foul-mouthed comedic romps of mischief between grown ups acting like kids who take their kid games a little far. Ed Helms and Jason Bateman, the interchangeable well-meaning married men who hesitate then act with whimsy edging on insanity. Rachel McAdams & Isla Fisher play the competitive trophy wives with violent tendencies but good hearts. Increase the casts to ensembles including the likes of SNL’s favorite Mad Man John Hamm, New Girl‘s Nick  Jake Johnson, Avenger’s Hawkeye Jeremy Renner and more. Roll those dice, and it’s game on.Car chases, crazy fight sequences, violence, drug use and constant language, as well as some blatant discussions about sex make both of these pretty edgy almost raunchy comedies.If we’re talking straight filmmaking, the major flaws lie in negligent storytelling, not poorly made movies. In fact, some decent editing and stunt work exist in both films.  Game Night is a quick giveaway in which the characters know too much too soon and are able to escape and outwit the bad guys every time.Tag entrusts some all-stars with too many boring scenarios hoping famous faces will mask the lack of plot. Otherwise, they could never get a gorgeous journalist to tag along for such a spiraling schlep.I suppose some would say I’m being too harsh to mindless dirty comedies. Perhaps some would prefer the bliss of ignorance. I suppose in this time-is-money world, I would just prefer to protect viewers from wasting both.

BABY DRIVER (2017) movie review

Sync sounds with sight saturation. This film is like none other. It earns its “R” with language and violence, but it’s a high octane musical feast as choreographed bystanders fit into each pop up stop center. All scenes fire as Baby, the boy driver for the bad King of hammered heists, Kevin Spacey, rolls in with new jobs, new teams, new tunes. But Baby has a heart, unlike the mad Bats, Jamie Foxx, and baddie Buddies like John Hamm. Non-stop but easy to palate, tracking scenes with songs is becoming the new need for film lovers, and I hope the love stays strong. Go, Baby, go.



MILLION DOLLAR ARM (2014) movie review

MillionDollarArm_thumbLGJon Hamm’s Scrooge heart learns to value family over money as he stresses his way over to India and back in this made-by-Disney, family friendly sports film.
MILLION DOLLAR ARM

52410bf41ee1b020e8fb6b308c9d245212ce5bd7 The hero basically adopts three quirky, sweet, moral, courageous visitors from India who seek better lives through the promise of pro baseball.
Despite odd pacing, the film remained sweet. Rent it. Watch it as a fam. Hamm’s furrowed brow creased ever deeper for most of the movie then cured overnight with a little curry and good company. That felt rushed. So did the physical relationship with well cast Lake Bell, who proved a strong counterbalance to Hamm. girl It’s a true story turned simple film with no surprises but sweetness in the blending of cultures.Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel of the Pittsburgh Pirates