How to Be Single Movie Review

There are two ways to being single, the right way and the wrong way. After meeting Alice (Dakota Johnson), Robin (Rebel Wilson), Meg (Leslie Mann), and David (Damon Wayans Jr.); you will see single in a new light.

Johnson is best known for her performance in “Fifty Shade of Grey”; where she played a submissive sexual partner, but wants a relationship. Contrary to this film where she wants to be single and fool around. It was distracting to say the least. Johnson’s character is too contradictory.

Wilson is the loud and outrageous single twenty something female who is living it up in New York City. She quickly befriends Johnson and shows her how to be single.

The single life shows it’s true colors when Wilson takes Johnson to her favorite watering hole. The bar scene shows how sexist and stereotypical the male and female bar scene really is. It goes as far as buying drinks for them with their “sausage wallet.” This scene shows how the real world is.

Mann portrays a single gynecologist and obstetrician. Her life is just too busy for love, and all work and no play makes Meg dull. She’s too busy for children, so she opts out for that too.

Children don’t fit into her work schedule and she doesn’t have much patience with them either. Let’s just say she argues with a patient’s little girl and doesn’t win.

Any film that Mann acts in she is brilliant, hilarious, and witty. The last film, “This is 40,” was about their mid-life crisis of sorts and it was awesomely funny. Each character she portrays is similar to the previous, which I think makes her a unique actress and continually shows her abilities.

A big downfall to “How to Be Single” was the predictability. A lot of films are that way, but this one was textbook: open close. There were a couple curve balls thrown in, but nothing too significant to knock me out of my socks.

Also the way they portrayed being single as a bad thing. Not everyone thinks being single is terrible.

Looking for a romantic comedy, go to the nearest cinema and check out “How to Be Single” for some good laughs and real world love life issues; no couples required.

STARRING: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, and Leslie Mann

DIRECTOR: Christian Ditter

PRODUCTION: Flower Films (II), New Line Cinema, and Wrigley Pictures

GENRE: Comedy, Romance

RATED: R

OVERALL RATING:  3 out of 5

The Forest Movie Review

Identical twins have a connection stronger than average siblings; so when Sara Price’s (Natalie Dormer) twin sister Jess Price (also played by Dormer) goes missing she knows something isn’t right.

The scene is set; Japan, a secluded forest, a missing person, and a potential suicide.

Despite its lackluster performance on screen, “The Forest” brought in over $13 million opening weekend.

This movie had a few good scares. The scariest was the scene with the elderly woman in the hallway. There is a long dark hallway where Sara is walking. The lights are barely flickering on and then BAM! there is an elderly asian woman who looks blind and she is right in Sara’s face. It makes you jump out of your seat.

Throughout the movie the forest plays tricks on Sara’s sadness, which makes her turn against Aiden (Taylor Kinney).

Once Sara feels betrayed by Aiden, she begins to run frantically through the Aokigahara forest without knowing which direction to go, or if Aiden is close behind.

In the movie Aokigahara forest is said to play on your fears. Earlier in the movie Sara had seen a suicide victim, which was very traumatic for her. After running away from Aiden she starts hearing voices and then the “victim” appears and scares Sara into another sporadic run.

A scene that caused a lot of screams in the theater was in a cave. Sara falls into the cave while running away. A girl appears and tells her that miss Jess wants to see her. It seemed like Sara was going to be reunited with her missing sister at last, but it was too good to be true. Dead creatures start appearing and yelling at Sara. They chase her through the cave to the opening. And there at the opening Aiden is waiting to rescue her.

The maggot scene by the river was also a real stomach turner. Nothing screams disgusting like a bunch of maggots crawling in human flesh.

One aspect of the movie that didn’t work was the scene where Sara was by herself, the scare to come was obvious. Of course something scary was about to happen.

The final downfall was the ending. It was a major letdown. Just when all seemed to be going in one direction it went the opposite. It wasn’t the ending I expected, and it definitely didn’t work.

If a semi-jump out of your seat horror flick is your thing, then head over to the nearest cinema and check out “The Forest.” It’ll do the job.

STARRING: Natalie Dormer and Taylor Kinney

DIRECTOR: Jason Zada

PRODUCTION: AI-Film and Lava Bear Films

GENRE: Horror

RATED: PG-13

OVERALL RATING:  2.5 out of 5

Sisters Movie Review

When sisters Maura Ellis (Amy Poehler) and Kate Ellis (Tina Fey) are hell bent on wrecking their parents plans for selling their childhood home; nothing will stop them, or so they thought.

This film had several well known actors and actresses including Maya Rudolph (Brinda), James Brolin (Bucky Ellis), Dianne Wiest (Deana Ellis), John Cena (Pazuzu), and John Leguizamo (Dave).

“Sisters” is definitely a movie for friends to check out or sisters who want to relive those days together growing up.

Opening weekend “Sisters” brought in $13.9 million.

“Sisters” isn’t the first time Poehler and Fey worked together cohesively and hilariously. They starred together in “Baby Mama” in 2008. Also in 2004 they appeared in “Mean Girls”.

Compared to “Baby Mama” “Sisters” is amusing in its own sense. It has its own humor. Poehler and Fey play two different characters in each movie and bring to life two individual personalities.

The movie was full of laughs. Especially the scene where Maura (Poehler) is completely wasted and basically tells off an officer and gets away with it. I’m not condoning her behavior by any means, but it was just too damn hilarious not to mention. She spells out S-H-I-T, flips the bird and makes a reference about a particular pastry. Let’s just say it was hilarious and I couldn’t hold back the laughter.

I really liked that the movie showed the real side of being sisters, and what it is like when siblings are dead set on destroying their parents plans no matter the circumstances.

After a seriously awesome house party and a few lessons learned, Maura and Kate realized that the house was just a building and that a home is a feeling.

If you like sisterly love and a walk down memory lane, then this movie is the one for you.

STARRING: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, John Leguizamo, Maya Rudolph

DIRECTOR: Jason Moore

PRODUCTION: Little Stranger

GENRE: Comedy

RATED: R

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5

Hotel Transylvania 2 Movie Review

Three years after the first frightful thrills, Sony Pictures Animation brought the “Hotel Transylvania” crew to the big screen for more laughs.

Mavis (Selena Gomez) and Jonathan (Andy Samberg) zinged in the first “Hotel Transylvania.” It is only natural for Sony Pictures Animation to create a wedding scene in the beginning of the second film. Soon after the marriage scene between Mavis and Jonathan comes baby Dennis (Asher Blinkoff). The film has a decision to be made: is he going to be a monster or a human? Mavis has to make a decision, and it will affect her son Dennis’ life drastically.

This sequel had plenty of relatability to today’s parental issues in society. With so many decisions to be made, it is no wonder this film was created as it was.

The film featured a mother’s wariness about leaving her child with a grandparent or anyone else for that matter. Being able to leave a child with someone isn’t easy, regardless of the trust factor. Parents experience all kinds of emotions from the moment of finding a sitter to the moment they leave the child with the sitter. It can stir up feelings some didn’t even know existed. “Hotel Transylvania 2” did a good job depicting this between the anxious mother Mavis and the relaxed “vampa” Dracula (Adam Sandler).

“Hotel Transylvania 2” also had some seriously funny moments throughout. Those who have seen the first film will remember Dracula repeatedly saying that he doesn’t say blah, blah, blah. In a scene in “Hotel Transylvania 2,” Mavis calls to Dracula and Jonathan to come quickly to find out that Dennis has said his first words: blah, blah, blah. Dracula isn’t pleased by this one bit. Mavis and Jonathan deny teaching Dennis this word.

Another memorable scene is Dennis’ delivery. Dracula wasn’t allowed in the delivery room, but of course he wouldn’t allow that to stop him. He dressed up as nurse Francine and in the room he went. Mavis knew his true identity the whole time. The funniest part of that scene was when a male zombie nurse came up, sprayed mint breath spray in the mouth, and tapped “Francine” on the butt. Dracula turned so quickly toward the zombie and that poor zombie nurse didn’t stand a chance. He said, “My bad.”

Another scene that can’t go without mention was when Mavis insisted that her father Dracula have the hotel baby-proofed. There were witches with corks on their noses, knights with corks on the tips of their swords, and a baby gate at the bottom of a staircase that leads to an abyss of darkness. Then the construction guy who just put in the baby gate stood there in shock. It was some seriously twisted humor.

The film really brought family life into perspective. Dracula was consumed by keeping his daughter Mavis and grandson Dennis at Hotel Transylvania. While Mavis and Jonathan went to California to find a potential location to live, Dracula took Dennis on a journey to find his inner monster. Along the way they have adventures, and in the end, Dennis finds his monster.  

For a ghoulish delight checkout “Hotel Transylvania 2.” It will definitely bring out the laughs in a family night out.

DIRECTOR: Genndy Tartakovsky

STARRING: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, and David Spade.

PRODUCTION: Sony Pictures Animation

GENRE: Fantasy/Action

RATED: PG

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5  

Magic Mike XXL Movie Review

Channing Tatum takes the stage for another striptease session

In 2012, Channing Tatum starred in the first Magic Mike film. Three years later the sequel: Magic Mike XXL. Most of the original cast appears in this film. Tatum (Magic Mike), Joe Manganiello (Big Dick Richie), Matt Bomer (Ken), Kevin Nash (Tarzan), and Adam Rodriguez (Tito). There is a surprise appearance from Michael Strahan, Jada Pinkett Smith and Elizabeth Banks. However, in Magic Mike XXL there is no Matthew McConaughey (Dallas) or Alex Pettyfer (The Kid).

The sequel had several let downs throughout the film. To start off Mike finally had the business he wanted from first film and he was doing alright for himself, but then the “guys” call him up and persuade him to come on a road trip instead. But that isn’t the problem; it’s the way the business just seems to disappear from the film completely. Big Dick Richie threw Mike’s phone out of the vehicle and then poof Mike’s future business was no longer in the movie or even mentioned.

The next let down was the lack of dancing throughout the film. There was a lot of down time, and would have been nice to see more dancing from the cast. It felt like the first Magic Mike had more dance scenes.

One last downer would have to be the scene with the older woman with the wine. It was completely pointless. I am not against older women finding their sexuality by any means, however it just didn’t seem to fit in the film. It felt out of place, like a last minute throw in because they needed some cougar action.

Magic Mike XXL wasn’t all bad though. The best scene by far would have to be the end dance scene. Each cast member had a performance tailored to their character’s personality. They performed their character’s personality exactly and it was perfection. I couldn’t have enjoyed the ending anymore unless I was there at the stripper convention myself.

Another excellent scene that needs to be highlighted was the pit stop. Poor Big Dick Richie and his fear of fire. Nobody would have expected to see a man of his height and stature perform the striptease with Cheetos and water as he did for a lucky convenient store cashier. It was hilarious watching the cast outside rooting him on every step of the way.

The film was basically a male-bonding road trip to a stripper convention with several pit stops along the way. With that being said, I think the next dance film Tatum should perform in he should leave his clothes on because he’s an amazing dancer and has no need to strip.

STARRING: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer
DIRECTOR: Gregory Jacobs
WRITER: Reid Carolin
PRODUCTION: Iron Horse Entertainment

GENRE: Comedy

RATED: R
OVERALL RATING: 4 stars out of 5 stars