Red 2 - Review

Directed by: Dean Parisot
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, Lee Byung-han
Written by: Warren Ellis, Jon Hoeber, Cully Hamner, Eric Hoeber

Rating: 8.5/10

'Retired (and) Extremely Dangerous' returns for round 2.

And boy, is it good.



This film is a treat to behold - having sent critics into a tailspin when comparing it other  films. Some have labelled it a 'popcorn film' - as you might guess, we'll call it a 'Lemonade' film.

Reviewer's warning: As usual - we rate films based on the goals they set out to achieve or how well they entertain us. We do not give other films undue influence on our rating of this film - but it does factor in, obviously.

'Red 2' isn't the world's best outing in the comic genre. It's not the strongest. It's not a genre defining film, in anyway, nor is it a career best for any of the thespians. It's a movie that with an aging cast, wants to have fun. It does - on a spectacular scale.

If you suspend your criticality and focus on one of the most crucial elements of what a movie is supposed to do - to entertain, then this film is an absolute blast. It plays to very base but proven gags, and giants of the screen like Malkovich, Willis and Mirren deliver mirth in bounds at all levels. It's a film that we went into see - fully expecting it just to be a 'good time' - and on that scale, it gave it to us in bucketloads. We're in the first half of this movie's target audience, so we can safely say they hit the money on that.

The plot (which has some pretty holes in it, but we're not watching this film for it's unbounded logic and narrative structure) centres around Frank (Willis) from the previous film. A document surfaces online that claims that he and


The story is somewhat scatter-brained and it's done in typical global jetsetting fashion - but would we settle for anything less? The set design, production design - all the way to the stuntwork - will have you nodding and smiling, even laughing and cheering, throughout. It's a rare film - it feels like a 'Best Of' CD for some of these truly magnificent actors and actresses - and it's a game where everyone is on fine form. That is the entire cast and crew.

You don't go to see the next Bourne legacy or the next Inception -

This film knows the target market well and plays it to it accordingly - fans of the talented bunch won't be disappointed by this outing. Nor will their lives be changed by it - or will they undergo any emotional growth.

- You go to this film for the gags, the one liners, the visuals and the dangerous stunts, performed by veterans of the screen who do it with ease.

And trust us, it doesn't disappoint.

Oh, and there's a crazy WMD, a top-of-the-line Korean assassin and Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as an old Russian femme fatale flame of Frank's -

Need we say more?


What the Mr. Thought:
I left the theatre wondering quietly if it was an amazing film that I had just seen or if I was just perfectly content. It turns out it was a bit of both - it was nice to see a film where you didn't have any niggling CGI poking at you, characters that were brilliant but didn't fit the film, or anything that really stood out of place. It's never better than seeing a true ensemble cast at work - and this is one of the best.

It's a film that knows the talent AND the expertise of the cast - and it plays to it. It doesn't let anyone's egos get bigger than the other - it's also a whole heap of fun.

It's easy going film watching at it's best. I'm giving it my personal 'Lemonade Film Of the Year' award. Or at least a nomination - I doubt I'll see something that's so much fun, entertaining and not serious this year.

What the Misses Thought:

This film was awesome! I really enjoyed the first film and I couldn't wait to see the second instalment, and I was so happy that it didn't disappoint.

I'm just going to put it out there...I LOVE Bruce Willis. And he was perfect in this film. He was not the only one. Helen Mirren, as always was spot on and John Malkovich... he has been one of my favourites since I very first watched Con Air. He is brilliant, nutty and just so funny!

Overall this film was the perfect one to see before the Mr and I go on holiday! It made me laugh, it made me want to cry (because I was laughing so much!) and it just made me love Bruce Willis even more! (If that's possible...)

But remember, you didn't hear any of that from us,
The Mr. and the Misses!

Monsters U - Review

Directed by: Dan Scanlon
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Nathan Fillion
Written by: Dan Glerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon

Rating: 6/10

Is Pixar running out of steam?


Pixar - a brand name long associated with animated greatness - has recently started following up more of their eye-catching and fundamentally brilliant films with sequels. While not unheard of in the studio world, (or even for Pixar!), the sequels are slowly starting to creep out of the woodwork in larger numbers.

While Monsters U isn't specifically a 'sequel' - it is actually a prequel - it doesn't have the same charm and wit that the original carried. That's to be expected of course. However, what's unexpected is that Pixar - a company famed for originality and powerful storytelling would take your average tropes from a typical college comedy (minus the heavy amount of stoners/toned down drinking) and just pop their characters into that situation. It might have worked too, had the characters been so wildly different to their live-action compatriots.

As it turns out, Monsters U, while enjoyable, is nowhere near the 'Pixar Peak'.

It wasn't really meant to be - they have other original films coming out for that. It was meant to be a good addition to the Monsters universe and to flesh out the characters. Oh, and of course, make them a fair bit of change. All credit to Pixar, it seems to have worked.

Monsters U is the story of how Mike (Crystal) and 'Sulley' Sullivan (Goodman) met in university. The plot follows the typical college tropes - one eager, lonely but brilliant student doesn't know how to let loose. He doesn't understand that the best thing, in the most critical/clutch moments of his life, would be to just go with gut instinct and passion. The other is from a famous family but incredibly lazy - and he just coasts along. Most obviously - the two don't get along at first and it takes a team of misfits to bring them together to work for a common goal.

In a sense, it's a nice way to introduce a generation of children to the common tropes - they don't have to watch the terrible '21 and Over' for example to learn the basic characters in this film. For them, this'll be new territory. The underdog overcomes the arrogant-jock types story? Brilliant - welcome to the film world, kids.

But it is rather funny at times.

Endearing, too. You can't help but smile as the misfit Monsters learn to work together.

The real problem is not just a lack of originality that made us fall in love with the monsters in 2001 - it's also down to things such as pacing and direction. The story seems to wonder aimless in some early segments, filled with a frantic energy and then a sudden slow down - then head out in a wilderness only to be brought back by one of the common college film setups.

A lot of the praise for this film is for the score - it carries the film into places where it wants to go, without being overbearing. Which can be hard for some animated films. Credit must also go to Crystal and Goodman - their burgeoning friendship/friendly rivalry comes alive, in large part, thanks to their voicing abilities. Despite following a set script - the voice chemistry between the two make the film for easy listening.

The rest of the cast is brilliant too - but it's to be expected. The great finds, however, are Mirren as the cold and authoritarian dean - and Fillion as the 'braggadocious' leader of the campus' most coveted fraternity.

Trivia: Screenings of the film across the cinemas include Saschka Unfeld's 'Blue Umbrella' - a bittersweet short about love, hope and desperation - told through a wonderful story that's just like Pixar's heyday ethos - powerful, simple and dynamic storytelling.  Enchanting at the core - but a beautiful start to the film.

What the Mr. Thought:
Take your kids to see the film if you have any - they'll love it. If you've seen Monsters Inc, you'll enjoy this one too. Not a must-see recommendation, but a heartfelt and fun joyride none the less.

What the Misses Thought:
M U all the way! Perfect film to see if you have children, maybe not so much if you don't. However I personally love a good Pixar film and while this isn't one of the best (and doesn't quite reach the level of the first instalment) it was still heartwarming, funny and enjoyable. 

On a final note from me: put that thing back where it came from, or so help me, so help me, so help me, la la la (boom boom boom!) 

Nothing will beat that for me!



But remember, you didn't hear that from us!

The Mr. and the Misses