The Movie Mind

Movie Mind Says:  Add to Online Rental List

If You Like This You Should Watch:  Spanglish, Couple’s Retreat, Hot Tub Time Machine
Better Than:  Role Models, Click
Worse Than:  Funny People, Big Daddy

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek, Maria Bello

Most guys have a group of friends that gather together on occasion and reminisce about the “good ol’ days” with inside jokes and some good-natured ribbing on one another. Most guys also know that there is nothing funnier than when you tell countless “inside jokes” and your side hurts from laughing so much. So one would think there would be nothing funnier than a movie about those times, right? The difference here is that those jokes are only funny because they are your inside jokes. This entire film I felt like I was sitting at a 15-year college reunion amongst a group of friends that I was not a part of. Let me tell you, as funny as your own inside jokes are, it’s just as annoying and unfunny to be a part of someone else’s running inside jokes. That is Grown Ups in a nut shell.

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Movie Mind Says:  Go To Movie Theater

If You Like This You Should Watch:  SWAT, Starsky & Hutch
Better Than:  Miami Vice, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, The Dukes of Hazard
Worse Than:  The Fugitive

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel

“In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The A-Team.” [Insert theme: dah dah-dah-dah, dah-dah dah].  There is no more memorable opening to a show or more easily-recalled theme than that of the 80’s TV hit, The A-Team. This was in fact one of The Movie Mind’s favorite all-time shows of my youth. Needless to say, I was highly anticipating the release and had some very lofty expectations. My advice to you true fans of the original series is to be patient. I was nitpicking the entire opening 20 minutes about what a butchering they did to the story and characters, but was pleasantly surprised to find out they were merely providing some back-story to the opening dialogue about the “crime they didn’t commit”. While they went a bit longer on that segment than needed, it did provide a backdrop to all the young viewers who probably never even heard of Mr. T.

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Movie Mind Says:  Go To Movie Theater

If You Like This You Should Watch:  Iron Man, Batman Begins
Better Than:  Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, X-Men
Worse Than:  The Dark Knight

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson

Robert Downey Jr. is back for a follow-up of the original Iron Man where his performance in it completely rejuvenated his career. In this much anticipated sequel, Downey manages to put in another strong performance, and along with a stellar cast, Iron Man 2 exceeds the hype building up to it. It’s always hard to compare sequels with the original because there is so much anticipation that the sequel rarely ever fulfills. The Movie Mind isn’t saying this sequel was better than the original, but I sure do think it was in the same league. Downey was even funnier this time around; the supporting cast was even better with strong performances from Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell, and the action was gripping. There were still a few holes in the story, most notably the National Lampoon’s-like swap of Don Cheadle for Terrance Howard (Col. Rhodey), but it did not derail the overall entertainment.

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