Big Hero 6

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"

With an advance weekend screening, we just had to check out 'Big Hero 6'. The film was released in the US a couple of months ago and since seeing the trailer we have been itching to see it. Its official UK release isn't until 30th January so I'll try not to ruin it with my advance review below. 

'Big Hero 6' is an American animated movie by none other than Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film follows Hiro Hamada, a young inventor living in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo. Hiro spends his time earning money by participating in back-alley robot wars. His brother Tadashi is worried his little brother is wasting his potential so takes Hiro to his lab at the university to show him what he could do with his talent. At the lab Hiro meets Tadashi's fellow lab buddies and his latest invention Baymax, an inflatable personal healthcare assistant. Amazed at the lab, Hiro decides to apply for a place at the university. In a bid to win a place at the school, Hiro showcases his latest invention; Microbots. These tiny robots can link together using telekinesis with the user to create whatever said user can imagine. Shortly after showcasing his invention, a fire breaks out at the event and tragedy strikes. Hiro's invention is ruined minus the tiny Microbot he still has which leads him to a warehouse. It turns out that someone has stolen Hiro's idea and is using it for the forces of evil. With the help of the other university students and Baymax, the team must solve the mystery and put an end to these evil-doings before it is too late. 

Although entirely predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The story itself wasn't boring at any point but it's just that it's all been done before. I feel the superhero genre has been overdone lately to the point where they are so predictable. Due to its predictability, the plot for this film didn't quite reach the greatness of the completely original 'The Incredibles'. Having said that, this film is much funnier. Saving the day, and the film, is the cute and entirely lovable Baymax who is undoubtedly the star of the show. With brilliant one liners, and not relying entirely on slapstick, this film receives top marks in the comedy department. I found myself genuinely laughing throughout almost the entire film. It was very enjoyable as an adult and the children in the packed cinema absolutely loved this movie too. It just falls short on the predictable unoriginal plot and, minus Baymax, boring characters!

8/10 for 'Big Hero 6'. Great fun for the entire family and one I'll be watching again someday I'm sure.

Dumb and Dumber To

"Come on, Lloyd. You gotta get over her. Mary Samsonite was just a girl."

What better way to end a great year of film than with 'Dumb and Dumber To'. I love the original, so much so that it currently sits at number 16 on my Top 20 of all time. What could possibly go wrong!?



'Dumb and Dumber To' is an American comedy and serves as the follow-up to the 20 year-old original 'Dumb and Dumber'. 20 years on, Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) has spent his time withering away in a mental institution. He is distraught due to losing the love of his life Mary Swanson (Samsonite). His best buddy old pal Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) has been visiting every week for 2 decades in the hope that he can help his friend get over his lost love. It turns out that the whole thing was just a prank and Lloyd is just having him on. Once the catheter is removed Lloyd is ready to re-join his buddy back at their old apartment. He learns that Harry is suffering from kidney failure and he doesn't have long to live. They decide to go to see Harry's parents, a sure kidney match, to see about getting a kidney. Harry's parents are clearly not a match (I won't spoil the surprise) but while visiting them, Harry picks up his old mail containing a postcard from Fraida Felcher (Kathleen Turner) revealing that Harry has an estranged daughter; the perfect kidney match for Harry. After a visit with Fraida, it turns out that she gave her daughter Fanny Felcher (Rachel Melvin) up for adoption. With Lloyd's help, and a hearse loaned from Fraida, the pair must find Harry's daughter in a bid to save his life. Fanny however is away for the weekend and her adoptive parents have other plans which may just throw a spanner in the works for the idiotic-yet-lovable duo.

As previously stated, the original is one of my favourite films, so it was a massive task for the sequel to live up to it. In short, 'Dumber To' didn't quite do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I was expecting a car crash due to what I had previously heard but it wasn't that bad. I found it had a very shaky start, mostly due to over watching the trailer so it was hard to find these parts funny. Twenty minutes in and I started to feel the Carrey/Daniels magic again. This helped restore my almost broken faith in the franchise. As with the first film, Carrey completely overshadowed a good performance by Daniels, no shock there. It was funny as it was silly, as per the first film, with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments but never quite as clever as the previous instalment. Other good points for the length of the movie, it didn't drag on at all. I found the acting to be rather impressive as Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels have managed to sustain the personalities of the two main characters impeccably. The main problem was the plot. Although zany and ridiculous like the original, I had no interest whatsoever in what was actually happening. The sometimes funny scenes didn't quite meld together with a big pay-off and some were completely pointless thrown in for not very funny effect.

7/10 for 'Dumb and Dumber To'. It's a shame it didn't live up to the original but I'm so pleased it didn't turn out as bad as it could have or as bad as people are saying.

Horrible Bosses 2

"We're not going to see Mother-Fucker Jones because we're not going to kidnap anyone."

Second movie in our three-movie marathon saw us sitting down to watch 'Horrible Bosses 2'. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first 'Horrible Bosses', I was expecting a hoot and a half!

'Horrible Bosses 2' is an American comedy and the follow-up to 2011's 'Horrible Bosses'. Done with working for other people, Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day), and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) have decided to set up their own company manufacturing their new invention 'The Shower Buddy'. After receiving an investment to produce hundreds of unit, it turns out that their investor is just as horrible as their previous bosses. Nick, Kurt and Dale are left stuck so decide to meet up with Mother-Fucker Jones (Jamie Foxx) once again for advice on how to deal with the latest horrible boss. After yet another bizarre discussion, they decide they need to kidnap the boss's son Rex (Chris Pine) and force a ransom in order to ensure their business doesn't go under.

 

The film start off as mad and unrealistic as its predecessor with a touch of the magic that I found to be rather enjoyable first time round. The problem I found is that they try so hard to replicate and improve on the first film that it just feels like a slightly less funny, much more misogynistic, even more far-fetched plot than the first film. It was a well-paced film as I found myself watching the whole affair without wondering what I wanted for dinner. However the comedy between these guys felt done and dusted, I think they shouldn't have bothered. They are all solid comedy actors but once again Jennifer Aniston stole the show completely. I loved her in 'Horrible Bosses' so much that I would have actually liked this film more if the sequel was mainly based around her character. All in all it was ok but I could have lived without seeing this movie.

 

6/10 for 'Horrible Bosses 2' which is rather generous. Higher score than it deserved mostly due to the fact that they kept the film at a watchable length and of course Jennifer Aniston in her best comedy role since Friends.