Tag Archives: Randall Park

EENIE MEANIE – Review

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Now, before the Summer of 2025 officially comes to a close, how about one last ride in a suped-up classic car with the law in hot pursuit as you cause thousands of dollars in property damage (other cars included). Hold up, they’re not sneaking that final FAST & THE FURIOUS flick into the multiplex unannounced. Oh, we have that to look forward to (or perhaps dread is more accurate). It seems that SUPERMAN wasn’t the only film zipping through the streets of Cleveland last year (both needed a year’s lead time). However, you’ll not be able to hear the screeching tires through Dolby Theatre’s speakers since this is a premiere streaming movie. And its title harkens back to the classic nursery rhyme, making us wonder if catching “by the toe” is possible when the driver’s nickname is EENIE MEANIE.

The story starts with a flashback when 14-year-old Edie defied the law (not the first time) by meeting her folks at a neighborhood “watering hole” and driving the sloshed pair home in the family car. Flash forward 17 years, as adult Edie (Samara Weaving) is partying a bit hard herself at the bachelorette party of her BBF “Babygirl” (Kyanna Simone). Edie’s got a full day ahead of her and starts it by waking up late, earning the ire of her boss at the bank. Naturally, a gang of crooks barges in, with one thug conking her on the head with his gun (which Edie tried to grab away from him). She wakes up in the doctor’s office, who tells her that she and her unborn child will be fine. WTF, pregnant?! Could it have happened during a brief “visit” with her now ex, bungling petty criminal John (Karl Glusman)? Now, Edie’s got to get to her junior college classes, but she goes past her bus stop in order to confront John at his sketchy apartment complex. When she arrives, he’s getting worked over by some “legbreakers”. Ignoring her first impulse to “dash”, she rescues him with the pair escaping in a stolen car. John brings her in on his latest scheme (she doesn’t give him her big news), which “goes South”. In order to cool things down, the duo begs forgiveness of the local crime boss (who has a soft spot for Edie, dubbing her “Eenie Meanie”), Nico (Andy Garcia). Seems that John has cost Nico a big “earner,” and the replacement fee is three million bucks! But Nico has a plan for them. The local casino’s having a big poker tournament with a three-million-dollar cash prize. No, John’s no good with cards, but Edie’s great with cars. Huh? Turns out that the cash prize will be put inside a classic Dodge Charger, which Edie will have to drive out of the crowded casino. The backup crew is all set, but can they possibly pull off this big “broad daylight” score, especially if John “gums up the works”? And when will Edie drop the big “baby bomb” on that doofus?

In the title role, Weaving does an engaging job of making many action film clichés feel fresh. Aside from putting her own “spin” on the “wheel man” role, she conveys the inner struggle of a young woman at a true crossroads. She’s got to leave her fun and footloose twenties and really plunge into adulthood as a prelude to motherhood. And though life has thrown a lot, a whole lot, at her, Weaving never makes Edie a victim, even as she talks about being put “in the system” and later, in the “joint”. I look forward to her future films (especially a sequel to READY OR NOT). She dominates the screen so confidently that it’s tough for co-star Glusman to shine. And though he thoroughly dives into his role, John’s more than a bit shallow. He’s a dimbulb for the first hour or so, getting naked or beaten up (or both) in order to liven up the pace and provide some cheap laughs. I’m sure Glusman could make him more sweet and endearing, like a destructive puppy, but the script doesn’t provide that. Which causes us to actively root against him and Edie getting back together. Garcia is very compelling and quite funny as the aging but still tough-as-nails “mini-kingpin”, whose gravelly voice goes up an octave when talking to his surrogate daughter Edie. Her real papa is played by the always entertaining Steve Zahn in the opening sequence, frantically warning Edie about a police stop, and later as we see him with his “start over” family facing a very different future. There are also several gifted comic actors in smaller roles. First there’s Randall Park, whose fate sets the big caper in motion, then Mike O’Malley as Nico’s sardonic best bud/caregiver, and Marshawn Lynch as the flashy getaway driver rival to Edie.

This film comes from writer/director Shawn Simmons, who’s truly going “all out” for his feature film directing debut as he mixes comedy, wild car stunts, and a touch of character drama. And some of it works very well, especially in creating the unique character of a woman “wheel man” in the same league as BABY DRIVER and DRIVE. He also makes excellent use of the grimy, mean-looking streets of Cleveland. Yet, much of the material feels worn and listless. What doesn’t really help is the story’s radical change in tone during the flawed final moments when a major character almost becomes an evil clone of the person we’d seen in the previous 80 minutes (I thought of that classic Trek tale “Mirror, Mirror”). A “tacked-on” rose-colored epilogue just doesn’t fit with that big reveal. The racing fans will enjoy seeing some of their favorite “muscle cars” careening past the squad cars, but aside from Ms. Weaving, there’s little that really puts the “pedal to the metal” in the uneven exploits of EENIE MEANIE.

2 Out of 4

EENIE MEANIE streams exclusively on Hulu beginning on August 22, 2025

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of Blumhouse’s TOTALLY KILLER

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Totally Killer will premiere globally on October 6, exclusively on Prime Video and We Are Movie Geeks has your free passes to the special advance screening the must-see slasher-comedy film of spooky season.

From director Nahnatchka Khan’s (Always Be My Maybe, Fresh Off the Boat) first genre film, the cast includes Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Charlie Gillespie, Lochlyn Munro, Troy L. Johnson, Liana Liberato, Kelcey Mawema, Stephi Chin-Salvo, Anna Diaz, Ella Choi, Jeremy Monn-Djasgnar, Nathaniel Appiah and Jonathan Potts with Randall Park and Julie Bowen.

Thirty-five years after the shocking murder of three teens, the infamous “Sweet Sixteen Killer“ returns on Halloween night to claim a fourth victim. Seventeen-year-old Jamie (Shipka) ignores her overprotective mom’s (Bowen) warning and comes face-to-face with the masked maniac and, on the run for her life, accidentally time-travels to 1987, the year of the original killings. Forced to navigate the unfamiliar and outrageous culture of the 1980s, Jamie teams up with her teen mom (Holt) to take down the killer once and for all, before she’s stuck in the past forever.

The Advance Screening is Wednesday, October 4, 7pm at Ronnies. Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed. Rated R.

ENTER AT THE LINK: https://amazonscreenings.com/OEqxy21484

Time-travel to the 1980s and experience the outrageous culture shock through Jamie’s (Shipka) eyes on October 6!

Kiernan Shipka as Jamie Hughes, Olivia Holt as Teen Pam in Totally Killer

Credit: Courtesy of Prime

Copyright: ©Amazon Content Services LLC

STRAYS (2023) – Review

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This Summer the multiplex has been filled with superheroes, supercars, giant robots, dolls, atom bombs, and secret agents. So, where’s “man’s best friend”? How about a sweet family-friendly flick about those angelic “fur babies”? This weekend that request is addressed…sorta’. Yes, it’s full of cute, cuddly (mostly) live-action canines, but it is far from family-friendly as you can tell by the poster with one of the pups tearing into an “R” rating insert. Yes, there are a few sweet moments, but these mutts are behaving like, well, real mutts, engaging in all manner of crude activities (hence that rating). and this cursing pack of pooches would growl at being called “fur babies” as they prefer flaunting their “street cred” as STRAYS.


The first of them we meet, actually the story’s narrator, is a fuzzy naive border terrier named Reggie (voice of Will Ferrell). Oh, but his human owner calls him by a variety of nasty nicknames. That’s the slacker stoner Doug (Will Forte). who had acquired Reg for a long-departed girlfriend (smart lady). And now Doug wants to be rid of him, although Reggie thinks it’s a new fun version of “fetch”. Doug drives him to a desolate field or forest and tosses Reggie’s beloved ratty tennis ball. And the dog brings it back to their dingy shack every time. Then Doug decides to really “go for it”. The two drive two hours away from rural Oakwood to a scary big city. Poor Reggie is now truly lost. Just as it looks like he’ll be a “chew toy” for some bigger brutal dogs, he’s befriended by the self-proclaimed “street king”, a Boston terrier named Bug (VO: Jamie Foxx). While showing Reg the “ropes” he introduces him to a couple of pals. Maggie (VO: Isla Fisher) is a lovely Australian Shephard with a keen sense of smell, whose master ignores her in favor of a cute new puppy. And there’s the timid, lumbering Hunter (VO: Randall Park) a service Great Dane who won’t take off his “healing cone”.The quartet bonds and hatches a plan. Going by Reggie’s memory of “landmarks” (“a giant mouse-wheel, a huge cone, and the devil in the sky”). they’ll travel back to Doug for some very painful “payback”. But can they survive the long journey or will they end up in that fabled “farm up north”?

Careful, this is NSFW!!

Well since the title named ‘strays” are the main focus of the film, we should discuss the vocal performances of several movie comedy vets. Ferrell makes Reggie a furry canine cousin to Buddy the ELF with his sunny outlook and bouncy energetic innocence. But Ferrell is also able to convey his frightened panic and Reggie’s near-boundless joy. Foxx gives Bug a very different energy, one of (sorry) alpha-dog swagger and aggressive determination. His wall of macho is finally chipped away by Reggie when he reveals his own past heartbreak with a human. Fisher exudes pluck and spunk as the lone lady who’s usually several steps ahead of the boys when the stakes are high. The biggest laughs (his “howling” got me every time) might be those garnered by the endearing Park who makes the looming giant Hunter into a sympathetic and emotionally vulnerable hero, though full of self-esteem issues (he can’t tap into his “BDM” energy). Along the trail, the quartet encounters a surly intimidating German Shephard police dog voiced by the gregarious Rob Riggle. As for the “people”, Forte somehow upstages those adorable pups as the cruel but somehow entertaining lowlife Doug, making him more than a nasty one-note villain. There’s also a scene showcasing the terrific comic actor Bret Gelman, but his skills are squandered in a sequence that makes little sense and seems to be a way to indulge in some scatological gags (honestly).

So despite the marketing campaign that makes the R-rated content clear, even taking a cue from the “red backdrop” poster from 2019’s GOOD BOYS, some folks still think this is a fun-filled all-ages furry romp. Which it certainly is not. So, does it deliver what it promises? Yes, there are indeed more laughs than in the funny “red band” trailers from the last couple of months. And somehow the script from Dan Perrault does include some heart-tugging moments as the strays try to deal with their need to be free and the yearning for a “people parent”.Director Josh Greenbaum, in his follow-feature to the underrated gem BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR, keeps the pace fairly taut at a brisk 93-minutes though the dreaded lull rears its head before the final showdown. Oh, the effects are splendid harkening back to the “Dogville” comedy shorts 90 years ago. They used classic 2D animation to make the mutts’ mouths move, while slick CGI keeps the pups chattering away, and enables them to perform all manner of dangerous slapstick (the highlight may be a sight gag about the “invisible fence”). Sure it’s crude with the doggies indulging their “animal impulses”, but if you’re in the mood for some “low-bred” laughs then you may want to join this pack of STRAYS. So “sit”, “stay” and put away that phone (“bad viewer!”).

2.5 Out of 4

STRAYS is now playing in theatres everywhere

SHORTCOMINGS – Review

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Justin Min as Ben, Timothy Simons as Leon and Ally Maki as Miko, in SHORTCOMINGS. Photo credit: Jon Pack. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

We all have shortcomings but in SHORTCOMINGS, all the characters have them in abundance. This funny, smart, modern comedy follows the lives and misadventures of Ben Tanaka (Justin H. Min, who played Ben Hargreaves in the TV series “The Umbrella Academy” and Jimmy Woo in ANTMAN AND THE WASP), his best friend Alice Kim (comedian Sherry Cola) and his girlfriend Miko Hayashi (actress/fashion maven Ally Maki) as the San Francisco Bay area twenty-somethings navigate relationships and just real life. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Adrian Tomine, SHORTCOMINGS is filled with laugh-out-loud humor and sharp, witty dialog in a real-life tale that also shows the variety of Asian American experience.

Based on a graphic novel of the same name by Adrian Tomine, SHORTCOMINGS is actor-turned director Randall Park’s first feature. Tomine also wrote the screen adaptation of his graphic novel for this hilarious, pointed comedy, which premiered at Sundance.

The story opens at the movies, where a feel-good wish-fulfillment Hollywood ending to an Asian American romance is on screen. The empowering happy ending sends the audience out of the theater in a glow, to the delight of the people putting on this Berkeley Asian film festival. Ben’s live-in girlfriend Miko is the assistant director of the film festival and very pleased with the film’s reaction. But wannabee film director Ben is rolling his eyes at the crowd-pleaser, complaining that there is not a single realistic character in the movie. Miko defensively pushes back, saying the film’s slick Hollywood style and positive representation of Asian Americans actually will open doors for more varied Asian American films, like Ben might make. Still, Ben continues to argue, even carrying over his negative attitude into the next days, creating a rift in their relationship.

In what may be a breakout role, Justin Min does an impressive job making Ben likable despite the character’s tendency to be argumentative, whiny and self-sabotaging while having no insight on his shortcomings in dealing with people. Further, Ben also doesn’t like change even though he is drifting through life. He calls himself a filmmaker, but really he works as the manager of an art-house movie theater, where he shows minimal interest in the theater’s success.

The couple continues to drift apart, arguing over Ben’s secret habit of searching for photos of white women, an obsession he denies. Shortly after, Miko announces she is going to accept an internship in New York. Ben immediately bad-mouths New York but doesn’t try to talk her out of it. Actually, he is worried about losing Miko, but keeps his worries to himself. When Miko leaves, she tells tells him they should take a break in their relationship. Again, Ben says nothing. But he immediately hits on Autumn (Tavi Gevinson), a pretty white woman he just hired at the theater. Then he quickly drops her to go out with another woman, again white, Sasha (Debbie Ryan) even though his friend Alice tries to warn him off her.

Ben certainly seems like a jerk at this point, and a lot of the characters tell him, again and again, that he is the problem – one time even using a reverse of that classic breakup line “it’s not you, it’s me,” letting him know that it is not the culture, it’s not prejudice, it’s him. But clueless Ben resists taking any of that to heart. With Miko in New York, the film follows Ben and Alice and their romantic misadventures. Sparkling, smart and funny dialog is one of the treats in this comedy but so are the relationship exchanges, which are so real world that you could imagine them in any relationship. The characters and situations, while played for comedy, all have a refreshing realism, with messy real-life situations and characters who are likable, complicated, contradictory and flawed all at the same time. The warts and all characters are refreshing rather than irritating because we are given insights on why they do what they do, even when their behavior is not nice and the characters themselves don’t have those insights.

While Ben is bad at revealing his feelings to his girlfriend Miko, he is more forthcoming with his best friend Alice especially while Miko is gone. Alice, a gay graduate student with a history of serial relationships, can be as insensitive as Ben, which might be part of why they get along so well. While Ben wants to hold on to the relationship he has been sabotaging, Alice’s response to relationship troubles is to run away.

Despite his missteps, Justin Min keeps Ben likable enough that we still care about him, while director Randall Park makes clear that Ben is as much the target of bad behavior as he is often the source. They are all behaving badly, and as the story develops, we see lots of shortcomings of other characters, often with Ben bearing the brunt of that, despite the verbal drumbeat of it being all Ben’s fault. In a way, it is, because his lack of insight on himself and his self-sabotage is at the heart of his troubles.

This is a very funny film but director Randall Park also aims to use humor spotlight some things about Asian Americans rarely seen on scene, like the diversity in the Asian American experience. In one particularly good sequence, Alice, afraid to reveal that she is gay to her conservative parents, persuades Ben to pose has her boyfriend to meet her parents, one Korean and the other Chinese. But she doesn’t want him reveal his Japanese heritage to her Korean grandfather, even though Ben points out that his family has been in the U.S. for several generations, because she worries about lingering prejudices from WWII. It sets up a hilarious, farcical exchange but highlights something non-Asians might not think about.

Eventually, Ben and Alice do end up in New York, partly fleeing their own messes back home, but also giving Ben a chance to find out what is going on with Miko, who has been dodging his calls. We meet Leon (Timothy Simons) and Meredith (Sonoya Mizuno), and more craziness, hilarious moments and telling insights ensue, as the film cleverly wraps things up, although not with the predictably neat Hollywood bow.

With humor that catches you off-guard until the end, delightfully smart dialog, and unexpected insights, SHORTCOMINGS has few shortcomings as a clever, insightful, real-world comedy.

SHORTCOMINGS opens Friday, August 4, in theaters.

RATING: 4 out of 5 stars

PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE Giveaway: Win 2 Free Months Of Paramount+ – In Theaters And Streaming August 20

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Get 2 free months of Paramount+ courtesy of PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE!

The PAW Patrol is on a roll! When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on. While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty. Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City! Joining the PAW Patrol in their thrilling first big screen adventure are members from the original series’ cast along with Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian West, Randall Park, Dax Shepard, with Tyler Perry and Jimmy Kimmel and introducing Will Brisbin.

PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE is in theaters and streaming on Paramount+ beginning August 20.

Click here to purchase tickets!

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Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies and Spin Master Entertainment Present

A Spin Master Entertainment Production

L-R: Skye (voiced by Lilly Bartlam), Zuma (voiced by Shayle Simons), Marshall (voiced by Kingsley Marshall), Ryder (voiced by Will Brisbin), Rubble (voiced by Keegan Hedley), Liberty (voiced by Marsai Martin), Rocky (voiced by Callum Shoniker), and Chase (voiced by Iain Armitage) in PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE from Paramount Pictures. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Spin Master.

PAW PATROL The Movie Unleashes A New Trailer – The Pups Adventure Wags Into Theaters and On Paramount+ August 20

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The PAW Patrol is on a roll! When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on. While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty. Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City!

Check out the brand new trailer now.

Joining the PAW Patrol in their thrilling first big screen adventure are members from the original series’ cast along with Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian West, Randall Park, Dax Shepard, with Tyler Perry and Jimmy Kimmel and introducing Will Brisbin.

PAW Patrol The Movie is directed by Cal Brunker with a screenplay by Billy Frolick and Cal Brunker & Bob Barlen, story by Billy Frolick.

Based on the television series created by Keith Chapman, PAW PATROL: The Movie unleashes in theaters and on PARAMOUNT+ ON AUGUST 20, 2021.

L-R: Chase (voiced by Iain Armitage), Rocky (voiced by Callum Shoniker), Skye (voiced by Lilly Bartlam), Zuma (voiced by Shayle Simons), Rubble (voiced by Keegan Hedley), and Marshall (voiced by Kingsley Marshall) in PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE from Paramount Pictures. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Spin Master.

L-R: Zuma (voiced by Shayle Simons), Rocky (voiced by Callum Shoniker), Skye (voiced by Lilly Bartlam), Chase (voiced by Iain Armitage), Marshall (voiced by Kingsley Marshall), and Rubble (voiced by Keegan Hedley) in PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE from Paramount Pictures. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Spin Master.
Foreground: Chase (voiced by Iain Armitage) and Ryder (voiced by Will Brisbin). Background L-R: Skye (voiced by Lilly Bartlam), Rocky (voiced by Callum Shoniker), Rubble (voiced by Keegan Hedley), Zuma (voiced by Shayle Simons), and Marshall (voiced by Kingsley Marshall) in PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE from Paramount Pictures. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Spin Master.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP – Review

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What better way is there to celebrate the big Fourth of July holiday weekend than taking a trip? Instead of schlepping your luggage to the airport or train station, just head on over to your favorite multiplex and grab your ticket for one last trip to the “Marvel Movie-verse”. Well the last one for 2018. The year’s barely halfway spent, and the third film’s release will have to tide fans over for eight months when CAPTAIN MARVEL makes her (that’s right) feature debut. Now in February we witnessed the wonders of Wakanda in BLACK PANTHER and in late April we were dazzled by the epic galactic fight to stop Thanos in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (really part one). After that massive movie event, perhaps it might be the time to go smaller. A whole lot smaller, in fact. Three years ago many film buffs (including myself, to be honest) were poised for Marvel Studios’ first box office dud. This flick showcased one of the earliest Marvel comic book heroes (a founding member of the Avengers), but over the years he had become a punchline (particularly in a famous SNL superhero party sketch from 1979). Plus there was turmoil behind the camera as the director who developed the film was ousted and replaced. And the lead was best known for “rom-coms” and as a lovable goofball in several “indie” flicks. Yet somehow ANT-MAN was a embraced by critics and film goers. He even returned a year later for the big airport battle in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. Now finally he’s back, and as teased in the first film’s mid-credits scene, he’s got a petite partner, as part of the titanic tiny team of ANT-MAN AND THE WASP.

First thing to know is that this adventure takes place before the evens of the big Infinity War. Now, as mentioned in that film, Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man and Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye both took plea deals for breaking the Sokovia Accords by helping Captain America (the guys are both fathers and didn’t want to be fugitives from the law and their families). So Scott (Paul Rudd) is back in San Francisco and under house arrest at the place he shares with old prison pal Luis (Michael Pena). There just a couple days left in his sentence, but nerdy FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) continues to hover, even as Scott is visited by his adorable daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) and his supportive ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and her even more supportive new hubby (he loves Scott) Paxton (Bobby Cannavale). Scott keeps busy, mainly by being a consultant to the private security business he started with Luis and partners Dave (T.I.) and Kurt (David Dastmalchian). Still, he’s haunted by dreams and memories from his first outing as Ant-Man, especially his descent into the sub-atomic micro-universe known as the “Quantum Realm”. After one nightmare, in which he seems to be looking through the eyes of a mystery woman, Scott makes a risky call via “burner phone” to Henry “Hank” Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who are on the run for providing Scott with the tech and suit. Shortly after leaving a message, Scott blacks out after an insect bite and wakes up in the secret lab of Henry and Hope (they figured out a way to trick the FBI). Hank believes that Scott has a connection to his wife (and Hope’s mom) Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), who was lost in the Realm decades ago. He’s convinced that she’s still alive and that they can track her down and bring her back . But the rescue window will soon close, so they must finish his new invention. They need equipment that can only be purchased from shady underground tech merchant Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins). But things go bad when Burch insists that he partner with the Pyms before he hands over the gizmo. Luckily Hope brought her tricked out Wasp suit complete with wings and blaster ‘stings”. Ah, but then things go from bad to much, much worse when Ava, AKA the mysterious Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) materializes (literally) to snatch that tech. Thus begins a wild three-way battle and chase between the Ghost, Burch, and “Team Pym” to acquire the device before time runs out on Janet, and the FBI pounces on Scott as his “home/prison” sentence expires.

Of course, the film’s worth rests on whether audiences will root for Scott to triumph. With Rudd’s seemingly effortless charm, that’s not a concern. Once again, he’s the ultimate ‘every-guy”, a conman/clown with a heart of gold, dealing with science concepts “way above his pay grade”. Not cool like Tony Stark or stern and stoic like the “dark knight”, just a fella wanting to make up for lost time with his kid. His partner Hope (the Wasp) as played by Lilly is closer to the standard no-nonsense action hero. She puts up a sturdy emotional wall between herself and Scott (their budding romance from the first flick has long since “played out”), but she softens a touch as Lilly then shows us Hope’s “inner tot” as she nears the “mother and child reunion” she’s desired for decades. As for her papa, Douglas is still the gruff curmudgeon, but now he’s more of the hero (donning his own tech suit), a man on mission trying to save the love of his life. But Scott still gets under his skin, thinking that his union with Captain America to be a betrayal (“Ask me first, before running off with my stuff”). Their main adversary is more complex that most super-villains. John-Kamen is deadly and determined, but also tragic as her powers leave her in agony as they shorten her life, reminding us of Spider-Man’s sometimes sympathetic baddies like Dr. Octopus and the Sandman. And surprisingly she’s a bit sultry and seductive particularly in a scene in which she questions a captured Scott. Oh, and she’s got a past association with Pym, as does another new addition to the franchise, Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Bill Foster. He’s an academic who worked with (more like butted heads with) Pym in his old S.H.I.E.L.D. days. The two screen vets are terrific sparring partners as Fishburne exudes a smooth, icy, smart demeanor. Then there’s the third wheel of the “tech triangle” with Goggins as a pompous high-class fence who’s not nearly as suave as he believes he is (he aspires to be a Bond foe, but wouldn’t even stand a chance against Maxwell Smart).

It’s a G-G-Ghost!! The comic book version is on the right of the film’s villain

As for the returning supporting players and comic co-stars, Pena is still a scene-stealer as Scott’s motor-mouthed BFF. Pena wrings countless laughs by mangling old adages and, reprising a crowd-pleaser, as he recounts past events in his own distinctive vocal pattern. And T.I. is “too cool for the room” once more as the enigmatic hustler Dave. But Dastmalchian, with his Lugosi-like accent, has one of the funniest gags when he encounters the Ghost. After Scott describes her abilities, Kurt tells him that she is the living embodiment of the “boogyman” stories his Eastern European “grandmater” spooked him with as a boy. The moment when he sees Ava, his eyes widen as he says in a quiet gasp, “Baba-Jaga”, well it just had me rolling. Also hysterical is the talented Park as the socially awkward, “by the book” Woo, who thinks Scott is cool and struggles to hide it. He clashes with team Scott several times, as when Greer’s Maggie insists, “This is harrassment, you can’t do this”, as her police detective hubby Paxton, played with energy by Cannavale, meekly shakes his head, as if to say, “Yes honey, he can”. Fortson is endearing and cute, without being cloying or precious. The best addition to the growing franchise is the luminous, dynamic Ms. Pfeiffer as the nurturing Earth (or “micro-Earth”) mother. In recent years her screen appearances have been sporatic, so it’s great news that she’s now a part of the Marvel movies as Wasp 1.0.

Returning director Peyton Reed proves that his action storytelling skills in the first film were not a fluke. He’s had a knack for comedy, but he truly keeps “all the plates spinning” as the guide to this script penned by Rudd himself along with an expert quartet of writers. While the original outing balanced the basic superhero origin story with a sprightly OCEANS 11-style heist, they set their sights a bit higher aiming for a comic caper chase farce mixing elements of the first PINK PANTHER, HEAT, BULLITT (yes, they careen down that twisty SF street while constantly changing size), and (dare I say it) IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD with its scrambling comic cast.. Plus Douglas’s Hank is inching more toward those wacky scientists from the classic 60’s Disney comedies (could Flubber be part of the formula for those perplexing Pym Particles) with his whimsical creations. And it’s refreshing that the planet, or the whole universe, isn’t hanging in the balance though the emotional stakes (we’re comin’ fer’ ya’, ma) are still pretty high (Pym’s gizmos could wreck havoc in the wrong hands). This flick’s often lighthearted tone may be the perfect antidote to what some media folks are calling “superhero fatigue”. Though often tiny in stature, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP tower above most of the big, noisy blockbusters crowding the multiplex. I guess charming entertainment can come in the  smallest of packages.

4.5 Out of 5

 

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY In St. Louis

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OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY is in theaters December 9, 2016!

In OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY, when the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, he (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.

Jennifer Aniston as Carol Vanstone and T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

Jennifer Aniston as Carol Vanstone and T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

The latest comedy from directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck (BLADES OF GLORY) co-stars Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Jillian Bell, Rob Corddry, Vanessa Bayer, Randall Park, Sam Richardson, Jamie Chung, and Courtney B. Vance in the funniest movie of the holiday season.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following:

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY marks Aniston’s fifth collaboration with Bateman. Name the other FOUR films these two have appeared in together.

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.

Rated R

#OfficeXmasParty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficeChristmasParty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/officexmasparty 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officexmasparty
Official Website: http://www.officechristmasparty.com

L-R: Kate McKinnon as Mary Winetoss, Jason Bateman as Josh Parker, T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone, Olivia Munn as Tracey Hughes in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

L-R: Kate McKinnon as Mary Winetoss, Jason Bateman as Josh Parker, T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone, Olivia Munn as Tracey Hughes in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

L-R: T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone, Jason Bateman as Josh Parker in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

L-R: T.J. Miller as Clay Vanstone, Jason Bateman as Josh Parker in OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Reliance Entertainment

Check Out The First Trailer For John Krasinski’s THE HOLLARS

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Sony Pictures Classics has unveiled the trailer and poster for THE HOLLARS, directed by John Krasinski. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles August 26th.

THE HOLLARS stars John Krasinski, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, Anna Kendrick, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Groban and Randall Park.

John Hollar, a struggling NYC artist is forced to navigate the small middle-American town he left behind when news of his mother’s illness brings him home. Back in the house he grew up in, John is immediately swept up in the problems of his dysfunctional family, high school rival, and an over-eager ex-girlfriend as he faces impending fatherhood with his girlfriend in New York.

From a script by Jim Strouse that is at turns hilarious and heartbreaking, John Krasinski’s second feature is a poignant look at the bonds of family and friendship.

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Win Tickets To The Advance Screening of THE INTERVIEW in St. Louis

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Opening on Christmas Day, WAMG has your free passes to see THE INTERVIEW!

In the action-comedy THE INTERVIEW, Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight.” When they discover that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists.

As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

Directed by Evan Goldberg & Seth Rogen, the film stars James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, and Randall Park.

WAMG invites you to enter for a chance to win passes (Good for 2) to the advance screening of THE INTERVIEW. We will contact the winners by email.

If you are a winner, you will need to head over to SONYSCREENINGS.COM and register to receive your two passes.

THE SCREENING IS ON DECEMBER 18th AT 8PM

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

Answer the following: Name all the movies James Franco and Seth Rogen have starred together in.

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 has been rated R by the MPAA for pervasive language, crude and sexual humor, nudity, some drug use and bloody violence.

THE INTERVIEW opens in theaters December 25th

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https://twitter.com/TheInterview

https://www.facebook.com/TheInterview

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the interview