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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM – Review

All right, perhaps this unifying theme for the 2023 Summer movie season is nostalgia. Sure, the multiplex is usually filled with sequels and reboots this time of year, but at this moment the studios appear to be trying to exploit the treasured properties of our youth, over several different generations. Last weekend it was a beloved ride/attraction which has been a staple at the happiest place(s) on Earth for over fifty years. However the box office (and WB record-breaker) for the last couple of weeks stretches back another ten years to engulf theatre lobbies in a title wave of pink (“This BARBIE’s gonna’ bust a billion bucks at the box office”). Now, this Wednesday’s (gettin’ a jump on the weekend) new release also has a toy connection, but that merch arrived well after the characters’ comic book debut in 1984 (which spawned a TV cartoon a couple of years later). Oh, and it’s their seventh theatrical feature film (quite a few straight-to-home video and streaming flicks), and like the 2007 entry, it’s fully animated (no “mo-cap CGI” or big rubber suits). Time to return to those NYC sewers with TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM. Cowabunga!

For this retelling, the film is indeed back in the Big Apple for a flashback in the secret lab of scientist Baxter Stockman (voice of Giancarlo Esposito) who is testing his weird glowing ooze on several animals. Well, until his grungy “crib” is invaded by the forces of TCRI, under orders from Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph). Ah, surprisingly some of the enhanced creatures fight back. Flash forward to now as the TMNT quartet, Donatello (Micah Abbey), Raphael (Brady Noon), Michaelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and the leader, Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu) go on a nighttime grocery run for their “papa”/mentor Splinter (Jackie Chan). Of course, things go awry when Leonardo is outvoted and the guys try to join the crowd at an outdoor movie screening in the park. Naturally, Splinter is furious at their late return and retells the story of how he found them as infants, raised them, trained them in martial arts, and how the humans above nearly destroyed them. Promising to be more careful, they go for another supply run and are spotted by the high school student and aspiring reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). She is looking into a series of daring high-tech robberies that have spawned a curfew that may cancel the school prom. A smitten Leonardo decides that they should help out by thwarting the next big heist. Oh, but this puts the quartet in conflict with a nastier group of mutated critters, led by the powerful Superfly (Ice Cube). Can the teen turtles stop them and keep “under the radar”? More importantly, can they spring into action without angering Master Splinter?

Well, this witty retelling is certainly one of this year’s pleasant surprises. That may be due in large part to the new producers/handlers of this feature franchise, none other than the SUPERBAD duo of Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogan, along with James Weaver. And Evan and Seth were also part of the writing team adapting the creations of Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman (who get a couple of nice background visual “nods”). It’s obvious that the team has a great deal of affection for the source material, though they indulge in a few playful “tweaks” at the “mythology”. A big part of the “re-energizing” is the decision to have the teen turtles actually voiced by teenage actors (a couple of them have since aged past 18), giving the film a distinct sound as if we’re listening in on kids at a party “cracking wise” and “goofing” on each other. But Rogan also joins in on the fun as the voice of one of the “meanie mutants” along with screen vets Rose Byrne, Paul Rudd, and Hannibal Buress. The biggest “standouts” and scene stealers may be the two opposing “leaders”. We can imagine Ice Cube’s sneer (and see a bit in the rendering) as the swaggering Superfly. And could anyone be more “spot on” than Chan as the worrying, stern but sweet Master Splinter? Of course, all of that talent at the “mike” would be a really swell audiobook without the superb look and movement of the animation. Director Jeff Rowe (fresh off THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES, which isn’t as polished as this) with co-director Kyler Spears have taken a bit of inspiration from the first SPIDER-VERSE movie, to give the computer animation a real loose “sketchy” look. The outlines are constantly moving, often ‘sliding off” the mass of the figures as though they were scribbled by a pre-teen in the margins of his spiral notebook with colored markers or ballpoint pens. And inside those wriggling lines, the characters, mainly the turtles, have the look of clay models, especially when the light saturates them. It’s not as gorgeous as Miles and his pals, but it feels right for this urban adventure. As for that character design, the turtles don’t have the same standard body proportions even though they retain the identifying mask and belt colors. The same unique design works for O’Neil, though I wish they had eased up on the scenes of her panic “hurling” (c’mon we’re not back in BABYLON). I was tickled by the “free-standing” silver eyebrows of Splinter, while the Superfly crew looked equally fearsome and funny (loved SF’s torso claws). The pace is smooth, even as it gives in to the popular trend of having too many “endings” in the third act. It’s a minor quibble as this 2023 edition is a splendid revisit/restart that reminds us of the wacky exploits from nearly 40 years ago. Hopefully, the concession stand will be well stocked with pizza when the fans return to revel in TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM. Welcome back you “heroes on a half-shell”.

3 Out of 4

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM begins playing in theatres everywhere on Wednesday, August 2, 2023

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM Trailer Drops And It’s Cowabunga!

L-r, APRIL O’NEIL, DONATELLO, RAPHAEL, MICHELANGELO and LEONARDO in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and NICKELODEON MOVIES Present A POINT GREY Production “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM”

Check out the brand new trailer for TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM.

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

This looks like so much fun! Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, this latest eye-popping movie about how:

Splinter taught them to be ninja teens
[ he’s a radical rat ] Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines
[ that’s a fact, Jack ] Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Raphael is K00L but rude
Michaelangelo is a party dude
Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Heroes in a half shell, turtle power

looks AMAZING!!

The cast includes Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Maya Rudolph.

The film is directed by Jeff Rowe, co-directed by Kyler Spears, with a screenplay by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit.

See TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM in theaters on August 2.

TCM Big Screen Classics Series Continues With the 30th Anniversary of BOYZ N THE HOOD on February 28th and March 3rd

The seventh annual TCM Big Screen Classics continues on Sun., Feb. 28 and Wed., Mar. 3 when Turner Classic Movies and Fathom Events bring Boyz n the Hood 30th Anniversary to select cinemas nationwide.

In honor of Black History Month, this classic film returns to cinemas and includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies.

Written and directed by John Singleton, Boyz n the Hood is the critically acclaimed coming-of-age story of growing up in a South Central Los Angeles neighborhood. It is a place where harmony co-exists with adversity, especially for three young men growing up there: Doughboy (Ice Cube), an unambitious drug dealer; his brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a college-bound teenage father; and Ricky’s best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who aspires to a brighter future beyond “The Hood.” In a world where a trip to the store can end in death, the friends have diverse reactions to their bleak surroundings. Tre’s resolve is strengthened by a strong father (Larry Fishburne) who keeps him on the right track. But the lessons Tre learns are put to the ultimate test when tragedy strikes close to home, and retaliation seems the only recourse.

Tickets are available now at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of events in the series, visit the Fathom Events website.

The lineup for the 2021 TCM Big Screen Classics series is:

The Maltese Falcon 80^th Anniversary
Boyz n the Hood 30^th Anniversary
The Ten Commandments 65^th Anniversary
La Bamba
Fried Green Tomatoes 30^th Anniversary
The Birdcage 25^th Anniversary
The African Queen 70^th Anniversary
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 50^th Anniversary
Citizen Kane 80^th Anniversary
The Silence of the Lambs 30^th Anniversary
West Side Story 60^th Anniversary
On Golden Pond 40^th Anniversary

Since its start in 2015, the TCM Big Screen Classics series has proved to be an annual fan favorite. Many events in the series achieved rave reviews and were top performers at the box office.

THE HIGH NOTE – Review

So this weekend brings another new film that’s set in the world of “things we could do three months ago”. Last week it was world travel with Steve and Rob in THE TRIP TO GREECE along with Kristin and Sharon singing in a choral group in MILITARY WIVES. This week the “now verboten” activity in concert-going. Well, that’s really just a part of the flick’s story, but it’s a big part. There are several scenes with one of the characters filling big stadiums and amphitheaters, usually for “one-night-only” shows, and often not knowing the locale (“Good evening…um..where are we?”). Now the story’s main focus is not the chart-bustin’, seat-fillin’ superstar, but their lowly assistant, the “errand-runner” actually. We saw a bit of that in the recent A STAR IS BORN remake, to a lesser degree in the indie drama THE ASSISTANT, and as fodder for TV comedies like “Entourage” and “30 Rock”. And there was LATE NIGHT from last year, which, oddly enough, was from the same director as this flick. So, in this current effort, does she hit THE HIGH NOTE?

Much like the central character, this movie hits the ground running as we observe “star aide” Maggie (Dakota Johnson) embarking on several “morning missions” for her boss, pop diva Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross). “Pick up this” “Grab that” until her now packed to the roof “seen better days” car arrives at the Davis mansion somewhere in Hollywood. In addition to the “pop diva”, Maggie must also deal with long-time, usually surly (oh, can he give the “stink-eye”) talent manager Jack (Ice Cube) and the “dim bulb” housekeeping supervisor Gail (June Diane Raphael), who seems to think that she’s a font of wisdom. Grace is at somewhat of a career “crossroad”. Should she keep playing big arenas around the globe, doing “one-nighters” and belting out the old familiar hits, or should she go with Jack’s idea to hook up with a Vegas casino to be an “artist in residence” and croon the same tunes in the same showroom for several months (maybe a year or two). But Maggie hopes to offer another alternate. In her precious “downtime” she’s been using new software and apps to give her standards a bold “new” sound without “drowning out” her still sharp vocals. Soon she’s got another “side gig” when she “meets cute” the owner of a produce chain, David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who is also quite the pop balladeer. Maybe Maggie can produce some songs with him, if she can keep things “professional” (a big challenge with the charming Cliff). But will this interfere with her work with Grace? Could she make “beautiful music” with both of them?

In a big break from the FIFTY SHADES trilogy, Johnson brings a low-key charm to her “everywoman” role as the often unappreciated Maggie. Her aide role is close to the classic “plate-spinner” act as she tries to keep track of Grace’s itinerary while trying to predict her abrupt mood changes while brushing aside those who would curry favor or exploit her. Johnson gives us the “vibe” that Maggie is forming a “hard shell”, putting on armor, while fretting over losing her own sense of empathy for others. Unfortunately her character is not as compelling or complex as Grace, played with a dramatic flourish by the commanding Ellis-Ross. Sure the comparisons to her famous mother Diana are evident, but Ellis-Ross resists the notion of turning her into a petulant, campy primadonna. The film only comes alive when she switches personas on a dime, from demanding dictator (at a party Maggie spits out a drink when caught in Grace’s icy stare), to gossipy gal pal, to the uncertain artiste, showing her vulnerability as she regrets past choices and faces an uncertain future, being a minority singer of a “certain age”. She’s paired with a great sparring partner, as Cube struts and growls as he presents his talent, but makes sure to get in every photo or video. At times they behave like an endearing but often bickering old married couple. Though he grumbles we know that Jack would do anything for his Grace. Like Johnson, Harrison tackles another real “change of pace” role, coming off his superb dramatic 2019 “one-two-punch” of LUCE and WAVES. His Davis is pure silky-smooth laid-back charm as he flits into Maggie’s orbit. And when he gets to the mike stand, she (and many others) will almost swoon at his charisma wrapped in some powerful “pipes”. As for the rest of the comic support team, Raphael is underutilized as the daft Gail, while Zoe Chao is a very funny encouraging roomie to Maggie. On the male side, veteran Bill Pullman strides in for the final act, while real-life tech music guru Diplo appears to be having a great time skewering his hipster image.

The aforementioned director, Nisha Ganatra, ably conveys the twirling hectic life of a professional “go-fer” in the opening scenes giving us a sparkling “city of dreams” in the often familiar California backdrops (plus Catalina Island looks idyllic in the final moments). And when we’re following in the bedazzling footsteps of Grace, the glow of superstardom is mesmerizing. Unfortunately, the script, from newcomer Flora Greeson, cuts away to the rather limp romantic subplot, along with lots of “sound mix” collages. The Maggie and David courtship fizzles (some chemistry clashes), as we wait…and wait… to get back to Grace and (gone for most of the middle hour) Jack. In the last half, much of the comedy lands with a clunk (and there are some very funny people on screen). And then, in the last few minutes, a twist/curve is sprung on the audience that’s both ludicrous (not in a comic sense) and frustrating, with characters making “off-kilter’ decisions just in order to provide some dramatic conflict. And despite tossing off bits of pop music trivia, and kissing pics of superstars that adorn the hallways of Capitol Records, Maggie never seems plausible as a musical mastermind. Ellis-Ross, on the other hand, feels like the “real deal” although we’re cheated on any full vocals until the near fade-out. Oh, her wardrobe from Jenny Eagan is worthy of a pop queen. Ultimately though, THE HIGH NOTE is one off-key backstage tune. And here comes the hook…

2 Out of 4

THE HIGH NOTE opens in select theatres and drive-ins. It is also available as a Video On Demand on most cable and satellite systems and is streaming on demand via most apps and platforms

FIST FIGHT – Review

A showdown’s a’ comin’! Not on the main street of Dodge City, but at the multiplex once again. The final throw down between the hero and villain has been a staple of cinema since its earliest days, mainly in action films and primarily the western. There have been countless screen versions of that infamous incident , the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (the most famous being the Kirk Douglas/Burt Lancaster 1950’s classic) . This most likely inspired many other “oaters”, the most celebrated being the iconic 1952 HIGH NOON (which garnered an Oscar for star Gary Cooper). It’s set in real-time as the clock ticks to 12, while Will Kane readies himself for the arrival of the Miller gang. We’ve seen this plot used in many other genres, providing extra excitement to the final acts of every movie hero’s exploits from Rocky to Bond to Batman. But it’s also been seen in comedies, with this new film taking place in a high school. Could this be a remake/reboot of the thirty year cult classic from Phil Joanou, THREE O’CLOCK HIGH? Not exactly, since that flick concerned two students in a violent conflict. This time it’s two very different teachers from the same school preparing to square off in a FIST FIGHT.

It’s the last day of school before Summer vacation at run-down Roosevelt High, but English teacher Andy Campbell (Charlie Day) isn’t celebrating his three-month break. He’s under pressure at the start of this day, and things go downhill fast. He’s got to rush out at 2:30 to be part of his pre-teen daughter’s song and dance routine at her grade school talent show. His wife Maggie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) could give birth any second. He fears that he may lose his job due to massive budget cuts (big meeting with the principal and the superintendent). And to top it off the graduating seniors are in full prank mode (they even stole a horse that’s dashing through the hallways). But the big problem comes out of nowhere when the surly intimidating history teacher Mr. Strickland (Ice Cube) asks Andy to help him with some faulty AV equipment. At that class, Andy sees Strickland lose his temper (a desk becomes kindling). The two men are called into Principal Tyler’s (Dean Norris) office, but Strickland isn’t worried since he told Andy that teachers stick together. Then Tyler threatens their jobs and Andy tells the truth about the melt- down. Strickland is fired and as he boxes up his stuff he tells Andy to be in the parking lot at 3 PM where they will settled things with a fist fight. Andy believes it’s a joke, but Strickland is dead, dead serious. As the hours fly by, a very nervous Andy implores his faculty friends, Coach Crawford (Tracy Morgan), who’s just finished another losing season, and guidance counselor in great need of guidance Holly (Jillian Bell), for any advice. Soon, he’s in panic mode doing everything he can, legally or not, to avoid that confrontation. As “high mid-afternoon” approaches, it looks like the mismatched pair will square off in an epic battle royale’.

After honing his comic skills on TV (the cult hit “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and supporting roles (HORRIBLE BOSSES, THE HOLLARS, PACIFIC RIM, VACATION) Day makes the most of this, his first true lead role. Based on his energetic work here, I’m sure it will be the first of many. He’s got a real “everyman” vibe, which adds strength to his scenes of slapstick panic. There’s the twitching, the awkward body language, and best of all that voice. When he’s truly agitated or trying to lie his way out, his high-pitched voice jumps several octaves until it’s almost a strained squeak, His exasperated hero is a worthy successor to the energetic mania of the much-missed Gene Wilder (with maybe a dash of Don Knotts). Even as he concocts some devious scheme, the guy’s still so darned lovable that we can’t help but root for him. Ice Cube is an inspired antagonist for him as the human embodiment of an about-to-erupt volcano. His glowering grimacing Strickland intimidates students and faculty alike, as they try to get out of his way before he explodes. Scary as he is, Cube makes this guy really funny. After family friendly work in his BARBERSHOP and ARE WE THERE YET roles, he seems to relish this return to the “bad dude” persona.

Happily the combatants don’t get all the fun (or score all the laughs). That scene stealing Ms. Bell (22 JUMP STREET, THE NIGHT BEFORE) dashes away with several inspired sequences, whether trying to downplay her enthusiasm for illegal substances or justify a crush on a student (all of which horrify Day). Like Day she’ll soon be breaking out into leading roles (playing the Hanks roles in a rumored remake of SPLASH), giving Melissa McCarthy some competition as the queen of movie comedies. Another source of great supporting gags is the always surprising Morgan who’s endearing goofy as the clueless coach. His baffling bits of “wisdom'” confuse Day, until the coach lays down a heavy bit of truth, refusing to sugarcoat what will happen if the battle happens. And somehow Morgan brings a mischievous joy to the role. Norris is an excellent “short fuse” straight man as the beleaguered principal doing a “slow burn” that would make the immortal Edgar Kennedy proud (Google him, folks). Unfortunately the other ladies in the cast are not as well served by the script as Bell. The movies just don’t seem to know what to do with the talented Christina Hendricks (so wonderful on TV’s “Mad Men”). After a dismal role in BAD SANTA 2, she’s wasted here once more as the bombshell French teacher who’s really a sadist (she gleefully offers her blade to gut Andy like a fish). Swisher is yet another “wife on the phone” who looks concerned while we wait for the big birthing scene. And Kumail Nanjinai. so funny as the randy masseuse in last year’s MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES, has little to do as the ineffectual school security officer.
Making his feature film directing debut, after toiling in the TV trenches, Richie Keen proves to be an adept comedy conductor. Like a film veteran he knows how to steer our eyes toward the funny during sequences of mass comedy chaos. Beside eliciting some terrific performances, he knows how to control the flow, whether slowing things down a bit to revel in some inspired wordplay (Holly:” Meth’s more of a gateway drug.” Andy: “No, it’s really the finish line!”) or to accelerate as the senior pranks “amp up” (the mariachi band is a great running gag). Unfortunately he’s tripped up (as are many comedy film makers) by the dreaded lull around the midway mark. Perhaps the script (based on a story by “new Girl” star Max Greenfield and others) needed a bit more polish and another “once over”. This would’ve helped define some characters and trimmed some of the numbing barrage of “f-bombs” and genitalia jokes (to ensure that R-rating, I suppose). As with the recent dud, THE COMEDIAN, they resort to the cheap shock of us hearing a foul-mouthed pre-teen. Much worse than the earlier film and just as lazy. But the first and third acts are so strong, it’s inevitable that the second act would drag. Fortunately the big battle lives up to the long build-up with inspired bits of slapstick, although it never goes “human cartoon” like the 60’s gem THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN ( a Saturday matinée delight). The talented cast and the laugh-stuffed opening and finale more than make up for its flaws (it could’ve been another MASTERMINDS…yeesh!). It never scores a TKO, but FIST FIGHT delivers some solid strikes to the funny bone.

3.5 Out of 5

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of FIST FIGHT In St. Louis

Ice Cube and Charlie Day star as high school teachers prepared to solve their differences the hard way in the comedy FIST FIGHT, directed by Richie Keen (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) – in theaters February 17!

On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy Campbell (Day) is trying his best to keep it together amidst senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration and budget cuts that put jobs on the line. But things go from bad to worse when he accidentally crosses his much tougher and deeply feared colleague, Ron Strickland (Cube), who challenges Campbell to an old-fashioned throw down after school. News of the fight spreads like wildfire and ends up becoming the very thing this school, and Campbell, needed.

FIST FIGHT also stars Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street”), Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Dennis Haysbert (“The Unit”), and JoAnna Garcia Swisher (“The Astronaut Wives Club”).

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of FIST FIGHT on FEBRUARY 13 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following:

Charlie Day is best known for playing Charlie Kelly in what TV series?

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

It is rated R for language throughout, sexual content/nudity and drug material.

Ice Cube, Charlie Day And Tracy Morgan Star In New FIST FIGHT Trailer

Ice Cube and Charlie Day star as high school teachers prepared to solve their differences the hard way in the comedy FIST FIGHT directed by Richie Keen (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”).

On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy Campbell (Day) is trying his best to keep it together amidst senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration and budget cuts that put jobs on the line. But things go from bad to worse when he accidentally crosses his much tougher and deeply feared colleague, Ron Strickland (Ice Cube), who challenges Campbell to an old-fashioned throw down after school. News of the fight spreads like wildfire and ends up becoming the very thing this school, and Campbell, needed.

FIST FIGHT also stars Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street”), Dean Norris (“Breaking Bad”), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Dennis Haysbert (“The Unit”), JoAnna Garcia Swisher (“The Astronaut Wives Club”).

Coming to theaters February 17, check out the new trailer.

Keen directs from a screenplay by Van Robichaux & Evan Susser (Funny or Die’s “What’s Going On? With Mike Mitchell”), story by Van Robichaux & Evan Susser and Max Greenfield. “Fist Fight” is produced by Shawn Levy, Max Greenfield, John Rickard, and Dan Cohen. Serving as executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Richard Brener, Samuel J. Brown, Dave Neustadter, Charlie Day, Ice Cube, Marty P. Ewing, Billy Rosenberg, and Bruce Berman.

Keen’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Eric Edwards (“Knocked Up”), production designer Chris Cornwell (“Ride Along,” “The Wedding Ringer”), editor Matthew Freund (Comedy Central’s “The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail”) and costume designer Denise Wingate (“Wedding Crashers”).

The music is by Dominic Lewis (Amazon’s “The Man in the High Castle”).

Visit the official site: http://fistfightmovie.com/

Win A Copy Of RIDE ALONG 2

Fasten your seatbelts and brace yourselves for another wild ride when Kevin Hart (Get Hard, The Wedding Ringer) and Ice Cube (22 Jump Street, Barbershop) return in the hilarious, action-packed comedy, Ride Along 2, coming to Digital HD on April 12, 2016, and Blu-ray^™, DVD and On Demand on April 26, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital HD feature even more of the duo’s hysterical banter and explosive fun with deleted scenes, gag reel, never-before-seen bonus material, including a hilarious new recruitment video “Ride Along With Us” and “The Ride Diaries” with Kevin Hartand Ice Cube!

Ride Along 2 reunites the partners and brothers-in-law-to-be as they take on new crime in Miami. The absurdity quickly unfolds while tough cop and all-around cool guy James (Ice Cube) works to solve a major case with the mouthy wannabe Ben (Kevin Hart). In the riotous sequel to the action-comedy hit that first brought together the hilarious mismatched cops, “Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are the comedy duo of the year!” according to Dave Morales, KRIV-TV (Fox).

Directed by Tim Story (Ride Along, Think Like a Man), Ride Along 2 also stars Ken Jeong (The Hangover, “Dr. Ken”),Olivia Munn (“The Newsroom,” X-Men: Apocalypse), Benjamin Bratt (Despicable Me 2, “Law & Order”), Sherri Shepherd (“The View,” “30 Rock”) and Tyrese Gibson (Furious 7, Transformers).

BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY™ and DVD

Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Ride Along With Us – Ben & James host a police department’s recruitment video.
Behind the Scenes of Ride Along With Us – Go behind the scenes as Ben and James go in front of the camera to film their police department recruitment video.
Kevin & Cube: Brothers-In-Law – One of the secrets behind this franchise’s success is the chemistry between Kevin and Cube… Filled with plenty of jokes, lots of banter, and lots of loving insults, this piece won’t talk about how much they loved each other… it will show it.
Inside Black Hammer Vision – Bringing Ben Black Hammer’s love for gaming to life with the exciting Miamicar chase scenes.
Feature Commentary with Director Tim Story

BLU-RAY™ Exclusives

The Ride Along Roundtable
The Ride Diaries – Go on the set with Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Will Packer, Tim Story and the whole cast & crew and experience the fun, excitement and action involved in creating some of the film’s most dynamic scenes.
The New Recruits – For this sequel, Tim Story and Will Packer knew that they had to up the ante and push the characters even further. One of their key tactics was to introduce some new players to the cast – Olivia Munnand Ken Jeong.
Ride Along With Kevin Hart – Kevin Hart is as wild and fast-talking behind the scenes as he is on camera. In this up-close-and-personal piece, we go on the set and inside the trailer with Kevin as he sets up scenes, plays to camera and jokes with other cast members.
Cori’s Wedding Commercial – As part of the wedding package, Cori was in charge of filming and editing Ben and Angela’s wedding video. Unfortunately, Cori accidentally recorded over the last half of the wedding with a commercial for her business.

The film will be available on Blu-ray^™ with Digital HD and UltraViolet^™ and DVD

Blu-ray^™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
Digital HD with UltraViolet^™ lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

Website: http://uni.pictures/RideAlong2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridealongthemovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RideAlong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridealong/
Hashtag: #RideAlong2

WAMG is giving away copies of the film to celebrate the Blu-ray/DVD release.

ENTER YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW. WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE A WINNER.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

No purchase necessary.

Order here: http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Along-Blu-ray-Tim-Story/dp/B01AH3QQCK/ref=sr_1_2_twi_blu_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1461810516&sr=1-2&keywords=ride+along+2

SYNOPSIS:
The brothers-in-law are back! Ben (Kevin Hart; Get Hard, The Wedding Ringer), a recently graduated police rookie, now aspires to be a detective like his soon-to-be brother-in-law, but James (Ice Cube; 22 Jump Street, Barbershop) still doesn’t think that he has what it takes for the job. He reluctantly takes Ben with him to follow up on a lead inMiami. Plans for a quick trip go awry when their unorthodox policing gets them into a compromising situation that threatens to derail a major case… and Ben’s upcoming wedding day. Also starring Ken Jeong, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn and Sherri Shepherd. The dynamic duo of Cube and Hart renew their comedic connection in this bigger, better, and funnier sequel!

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Ken Jeong, Benjamin Bratt, Olivia Munn, Sherri Shepherd and Tyrese Gibson
Directed By: Tim Story
Screenplay By: Greg Coolidge and Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi
Produced By: Will Packer, Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez, Larry Brezner, Luc Etienne
Executive Producers: Scott Bernstein, Nicholas Stern, Ron G. Muhammad, JC Spink
Production Designer: Chris Cornwell
Edited By: Peter S. Elliot
Costume Designer: Olivia Miles
Music By: Christopher Lennertz

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: April 26, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61165803 (US)/ 61166772 (CDN)
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content, language and some drug material
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Run Time: 1 hour 42 Minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: April 26, 2016
Copyright: 2016 Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61165797 (US)/ 61166770 (CDN)
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content, language and some drug material
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 1 hour 42 Minutes

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT – Review

This film franchise zeros in on something that many small towns and big cities (really the neighborhoods in said cities) share: mainly a place where everyone seems to gather. Some place aside from the obvious schools, city halls, and churches (or synagogues). It’s actually a business. There’s a popular corner diner, maybe a bar or pub, perhaps a locally owned clothing store. Well, for this neighborhood in the south side of Chicago it’s the hair salon known to moviegoers thanks to 2002’s BARBERSHOP. That modest little “slice of life” flick was popular that it inspired a sequel two years later (BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS). The following year saw a spin-off (BEAUTY SHOP) and a TV series on premium cable channel Showtime. The scissors and shavers have been silenced for almost a dozen years, but now movie goers have another appointment with Calvin and his crew for BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT.

There have been lots of changes at Calvin’s (Ice Cube) Barbershop over the last twelve years. Sure, many of the hair stylists are still there. Jerrod (Lamorne Morris) and Raja (Utkarsh Ambudkar) are snipping at each other while old-timer Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) offers unsolicited advice to all. One new addition is Rashad (Common) the eloquent hubby of the enterprising Terri (Eve), a much in demand hair artiste’. She’s part of the other big change at Calvin’s. The shop is now co-ed with a beauty parlor run by Angie (Regina Hall) splitting the floor right in half. One of their most popular beauticians is the bombshell Draya (Nicki Minaj) whose provocative wardrobe attracts the attention of all the fellows and rises the ire of her lady co-workers, particularly Terri who believes that she has set her sights on Rashad. The biggest change has occurred outside the shop, as brutal gang violence has turned the streets of the South Chicago neighborhood into a war zone. Calvin fears that he and his wife Jennifer (Jazsmin Lewis) will lose their teenage son, hoops prodigy Jalen (Michael Rainey, Jr.) to those very mean streets. His concerns are so great, that Calvin secretly makes plans to move his business to a new location on the north side. But before this happens, the employees attempt to stop the bloodshed over the weekend by establishing the shop as a safe zone, a peaceful haven, by offering free cuts over 48 hours.

Just how many film franchises can Ice Cube keep juggling? He’s returned to this one after the action comedy tent poles RIDE ALONG and 21 JUMP STREET, along with the family friendly ARE WE THERE YET?. Here he’s a great anchor/straight man, setting up punch lines and diffusing altercations, along with being a strong, strict but fair father figure. In the workplace, Common makes for an equally impressive, co-anchor especially in the more serious debates over social injustice. It’s a shame that he’s saddled with the silly, sitcom-style infidelity subplot. We never believe that Minaj’s Draya is a serious threat to the fierce Eve as Terri. All her form-fitting outfits don’t distract as from Minaj’s tepid line readings. She’s a talented singer, but she’s not a polished actress quite yet. Cedric is still an entertaining blustery old buffoon although I had some trouble understanding his low guttural growls. TV stars Anthony Anderson (“ABC’s “Black-ish”) scores laughs as food hustler J.D., while new addition J.B. Smoove (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is funny as all-around hustler (real estate, pharmaceuticals, you name it) and barber “One-Stop”.

Full disclosure: I have not seen the previous entries in the film series, so I can only consider this current effort (with franchises most film goers will debate the merits ala’ “Two is better than the first.”). Director Malcolm D. Lee tries to keep “all the plates spinning”, but eventually the disparate themes of the screenplay by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver crash and crumble on the multiplex floor. Every twenty minutes or so a character must deliver a proclamation or observation which halts any momentum of the story (“speech-i-fyin” is the slang phrase that comes to mind). The goofy caricatures and comedy stereotypes never gel with the very somber real-life tragedy that the script attempts to address. One minute Rashad is going down the list of those killed in the headlines and in the next he’s hiding out with Draja, and avoiding his wife Terri. It really trivializes the true situations, especially with the simple-minded ploy to stop the shootings. Free haircuts? Getting celebs to go viral? Shooting endless cell phone video of Draya furiously “twerking” (ugly exploitation)? The well-intentioned hi-jinks comes off as a slap in the face to those truly working at lasting solutions. The hilarious and heavy-handed never mesh, particularly when a regular perishes (he may as well have had a target on his back) and becomes a martyr. Though the film has a very talented cast, BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT just doesn’t really cut it as comedy or “message’ flick.

2 Out of 5

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT In St. Louis

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT opens nationwide on April 15, 2016 and WAMG has your passes to the advance screening as well as your next appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop!

Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer are reunited in the film, directed by Malcolm D. Lee (“The Best Man” films, “Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins”).

Calvin (Ice Cube) and his longtime crew, including Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), are still there, but the shop has undergone some major changes. Most noticeably, our once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed. The ladies bring their own flavor, drama and gossip to the shop challenging the fellas at every turn. Despite the good times and camaraderie within the shop, the surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, forcing Calvin and our crew to come together to not only save the shop, but their neighborhood.

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT also stars Regina Hall (“Think Like a Man”), Oscar winner Common (“Selma”), Sean Patrick Thomas (“Barbershop”), Eve (“Whip It”), Anthony Anderson (TV’s “Black-ish”), Jaszmine Lewis (“Barbershop”), JB Smoove (TV’s “The Millers”), and recording artist Nicki Minaj (“The Other Woman”).

WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win a pass (Good for 2) to the advance screening of BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT on Monday, April 11 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

We will contact the winners by email.

Answer the following:

Who is your favorite actor/character in the original 2002 movie?

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWER AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.

3. No purchase necessary.

This film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for “sexual material and language.”

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