Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - 3 stars out of 10

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - 3 stars out of 10

“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is one of those films that just isn’t very memorable.  It has several great actors but none of them leave much of an impression.  I think that one of the problems was Ewan McGregor’s character, who was written as socially awkward but just comes off as unlikeable.  There was little to no chemistry between him and Emily Blunt, even though they are both favorites of mine.  Kristin Scott Thomas is also typically amazing but was just average in this film.  I actually found the story to be very interesting as they search for a way to bring salmon fishing to the Yemen, but the salmon story became secondary to the love story and I just couldn’t get into it.  This film would have done better as a strict drama, especially once the terrorists arrive and the love story seems out of place.  “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is interesting but not on my list of films to see again.

Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 - 1 star out of 10

Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 - 1 star out of 10

I swore that I would never watch another one of these films but curiosity got the best of me.  Big mistake.  Even though I hated the first film in the franchise, "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" cheapens the sadistic nature of its predecessor.  The disturbing malicious tone of the first film is lost because of a poor script, an incoherent plot, and the weirdest make-out scene ever - who makes out with a skinless human?!?!?!?  The creators of this film seemed to be looking for a medium to present more hellish creatures but these creatures aren't scary without an effective story to tie them together.  After the first film, I was scared of puzzle boxes and had difficulty sleeping but this film didn't even make me flinch.  The first third of the movie basically just retells the first film through flashbacks, serving as a “greatest hits” compilation of the bloodiest scenes.  Later in the film, none of the scenes related to the sequel's story can even begin to compare to the recently recapped scenes and the only sadistic torture is the fact that you have to watch this terrible film.  There was some decent potential as we are given the opportunity to see the sadomasochism that actually takes place in the Cenobite realm... but the torture is uncreative and boring (for which I was thankful, but is a discredit to the franchise after the first film set the highest expectation for the horrific torture in this realm).  There is way too much skin peeling, but it actually made for a decent surprise.  In spite of the good twist, the special effects are awful and made me wonder when the silhouettes of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys were going to appear on the screen.  On a positive note, Imogen Boorman is adorable, though I wish my first impression of her didn't have to be this film.  I decided to watch "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" because that sick sense of curiosity made me wonder how anything could be more horrific that some of the imagery from the first film, but in the end it is the same sequence over and over again, only less effective.

Paperman (2012) - 10 stars out of 10

Paperman (2012) - 10 stars out of 10

“Paperman” is Disney magic at its finest.  Without a single word, Disney Animation Studio tells a romantic love story that reminds us that you will find love where you least expect it and that if it is meant to be, it will work out no matter how difficult the circumstances.  The storyline is simple and develops an impressive depth of character as well as a strong emotional connection to the characters in a mere 7 minutes.  The comedy is great throughout the short, like the hovering boss and the little boy with the balloon on the subway, but the best part is the animation.  This unique blend of a 3D world in a classic pencil-drawn style adds to the nostalgia of the film.  The black and white animation gives a classic feel and emphasizes the only color in the film, the red of the girl’s lipstick.  While much of the film has a minimalist feel, the lead characters are very visually appealing (and you’re crazy if you think that the main guy doesn’t look like Jim Halpert from “The Office.”)  Outside of the story, there are some very memorable images during this short, particularly the flock of paper airplanes as they lead George to Meg.  Everything is tied together with the picture montage during the closing credits.  “Paperman” may have been the introduction to “Wreck-It Ralph,” but it stands on its own as one of the best animated shorts out there.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx5d4c_paperman_shortfilms?search_algo=2#.UUP4gzcsuSo

Paper Man (2009) - 4 stars out of 10

Paper Man (2009) - 4 stars out of 10

"Paper Man" is another of those films that could have been great but suffers from poor execution.  I thought that the concept of having a childhood imaginary friend following him around was pretty cool, but it just became gimmicky after awhile.  That character could have had a meaningful impact on the movie but in the end, he was a small piece of symbolism instead of the conscience that the writers hinted that he could be.  I didn't really like the movie but I loved the performance by Emma Stone.  Her emotional monologue about her sister as the camera slowly moves toward her from across the room over the course of several minutes gives the entire thing a personal feel and is absolutely consuming.  The rest of the acting below average.  I feel like Jeff Daniels could have really proved that he's still "got it" as a dramatic actor, but you have to go all the way back to "Gettysburg" to be impressed by this actor.  Lisa Kudrow should stick to comedies and Ryan Reynolds probably could have been amazing in the role of Captain Excellent if the character had been written better.  I hope that someone else will grasp the "childhood imaginary friend in the form of a superhero" concept and do it the right way because, without any sort of rhythm, "Paper Man" drags on with poor dialogue and bad acting.

Craigslist Joe - 6 stars out of 10

Craigslist Joe - 6 stars out of 10

“Craigslist Joe” is a moving tribute to the intrinsic goodness contained within individuals who want to help others.  In this bold documentary, a 29-year-old man walks out into the world without a car, phone, or a single penny to his name.  He embarks on a journey to spend 31 days living solely off of the kindness of others via Craigslist.  Throughout the film, he travels across the country and back with his cameraman (also located on Craigslist), relying on others for transportation, food, and shelter.  He even experiences a night of homelessness when two of his Craigslist contacts fall through.  My only complaint is that they did not spend enough time on each episodic encounter for us to get to know the people as well as he did.  It is very cool to see the bonds that he forms with complete strangers and the unique experiences that he never would have had without stepping out of his comfort zone - this film renews my faith in humanity..

The Nutty Professor (1996) - 7 stars out of 10

The Nutty Professor (1996) - 7 stars out of 10

With the talented ensemble of Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy, and Eddie Murphy, "The Nutty Professor" is non-stop laughter.  I had a low expectation as I prepared for Murphy's crude humor mixed with a long string of fat jokes, but the scenes with the Klump family (all played by Murphy) are so hysterical that a strong plot isn't necessary.  Although the make-up received a lot of credit for the success of Murphy's many characters by netting an Oscar for Best Make-Up, it is truly Murphy's pure acting skill that makes the Klump sequences so amazing.  He portrays a grandmother, a mother, a father, a brother, and his own obese persona in a single scene, giving each character a definitive personality while interacting with his other family members around a dinner table.  The script finds a good balance between fat jokes, fart jokes, storyline, and sentimentality.  There isn't much character development but it isn't really necessary when so many strong personalities are portrayed.  Outside of Murphy, Jada Pinkett Smith is looking very good and Larry Miller is as over-the-top as he is in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries.  Dave Chappelle was annoying but I was glad to see him get what he deserved.  "The Nutty Professor" certainly isn't a life-changing film but is sure to keep you laughing from start to finish thanks to the impressive acting of Eddie Murphy.
P.S. Don't miss the outtakes during the credits - they may be the best part!

UHF - 4 stars out of 10

UHF - 4 stars out of 10

“UHF” is precisely what you would expect from Weird Al Yankovich, filled with screwball comedy that is manifested in off-the-wall dialogue and parodies.  The plot of the film is the perfect setup to parody different tv shows (like Wheel of Fish) and commercials (for things like Spatula City and Conan the Librarian).  The first half of the film is mildly entertaining but it really picks up once the tv station finds success.  The highlight is Michael Richards as the buffoon custodian who ends up with his own children’s tv show, “Stanley Spadowski’s Clubhouse.”  The character is like Kramer with a 9-year-old’s mentality – needless to say, he is the best part of the film.  I expected Weird Al to be a lot funnier than he was and found this movie to be a lot like an episode of Family Guy – the characters themselves aren’t really that funny and the plot is pretty dumb, but the cutaway scenes redeem the film by bringing out the ADD in all of us.  I don’t know if I would ever sit down and devote my attention to “UHF,” but I will gladly put it on in the background to enjoy the occasional cut scene or funny outburst from Michael Richards.