TROLLS (2016) – My rating: 8.5/10

Trolls is a fantastic story told with beautiful vivid dazzling colors and out of this world graphics. The music was especially good because it took me back to the days when I grew up listening to the kind of music I loved but don’t get to hear much any more. It was great hearing those old songs mixed with some great new ones.

Trolls are small doll like creatures (also popular in my youth) who live in an almost perpetual state of happiness, singing, dancing, and hugging all day long. That’s all they do. Life was good until they were discovered by the Bergens, who are the opposite of the Trolls. They are not very attractive, large creatures who never feel happy, but discover they can feel momentary happiness if they devour a Troll. The Bergen’s capture the Trolls and place them in a cage, then hold an annual festival in which, each Bergen gets their feeling of happiness, by eating a Troll. On the day that Prince Gristle Jr. (Christopher Mintz-Plasse)  was supposed to eat his first Troll, they had all escaped through underground tunnels, led by the troll King Peppy (Jeffrey Tambor). Furious Bergen King Gristle Sr. (John Cleese) banishes his Chef (Christine Baranski) who was in charge of the Troll preparation. After 20 years, the Trolls were never seen or heard from again by the Bergens.

King Peppy’s daughter, an extremely happy and optimistic troll Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick), decides to throw a huge party to celebrate the Trolls’ 20th year anniversary of freedom and the escape from the Bergens. Poppy ignored the fears and warnings of the grey, grumpy, glum troll who wouldn’t sing, called Branch (Justin Timberlake), that loud parties could attract the Bergens. Branch’s fears become true when the banished Bergen Chef,  sees the fireworks and captures a number of Trolls. Poppy is among the Trolls who manage to hide, but discovers that none of the other Trolls dare to venture to Bergen Town to rescue their friends. She goes by herself, but gets trapped by several spider-like creatures. She is saved by the reluctant Branch, and together they go to Bergen Town.

Poppy and Branch discover that their friends are being guarded by the Scullery Maid Bridget (Zooey Deschanel), and strike a deal with her: If she frees their friends, they will help her get a date with the now King Gristle Jr. Poppy and Branch learn that Creek (Russell Brand), a Zen-like Troll  is being held apart from the rest in a jewel that decorates the king’s mantle.

Of course, I won’t tell any more of the story, as not to spoil it for you–so check it out to see what happens.  Trolls is a happy film that will make you feel good.  I recommend it to all.

[TROLLS is nominated for Original Song]

 

THE Hundred-FOOT JOURNEY (2014) – My rating: 8/10

This is a feel good movie.  Helen Mirren is amazing as a French restaurant owner (Madame Mallory) in France.  After years of enjoying no immediate surrounding competition, an East Indian family headed by Papa (Om Puri) with an extraordinary gifted chef, Hassan (Manish Dayal), takes ownership of an old defunct restaurant 100 feet across from her.  Sparks start flying as soon as she discovers that the new restaurant was going to be real competition.  Anyone who follows Helen Mirren’s career knows she is an outstanding actress and can and does get the very best of her acting abilities from every movie she’s a part of.  She comes across exactly as she should in The Hundred- Foot Journey; stubborn, heart felt and classy.

100′ across the walkway is the new family that had to flee their home in India because of dangerous uprisings that wiped out their entire livelihood, including Mama (Juhi Chawla) wife and mother and teacher of the fine culinary art of Indian cooking.  The gifted chef is their son, Hassan who becomes smitten with Madame Mallory’s Su-Chef, Marguerite (Charlotte LeBon).  It is magic watching these 2 families struggle to make their circumstances work in a world where competition is fierce and winning is everything.  I really enjoyed this movie and think is sends life lessons that everyone can benefit from, especially at a time when WW3 seems to be lurking around the corner.  It’s definitely worth taking the time out to see.

CHEF (2014) – My rating: 8/10

Chef is a feel good comedy with lots of stars contributing.  I especially liked all the displays of delicious food.   Jon Favreau, who also wrote and directed this movie, plays Carl Casper a divorced chef working for a controlling restaurant owner named Riva, played by Dustin Huffman.  Martin (John Leguizamo) and Tony (Bobby Cannavale)  play Carl’s sous-chefs.  When Carl and Riva can’t agree on an appropriate menu for Ramsey Michel, the food critic played by Oliver Platt, he quits and goes in search of his destiny.  Carl has a technically savvy young son named Percy played by Emjay Anthony who was instrumental in helping Carl get recognition and get on his feet.  Carl also has an x wife named Inez played by Sofia Vagara.  Inez solicits her other X husband Marvin, played by Robert Downing Jr. to help out by giving Carl an old food truck.  The dynamics are very interesting and the movie was well done (no pun intended).  Scarlett Johansson plays molly the restaurant hostess who always has Carl’s back.  While Chef is very good, I would wait for the DVD since there’s nothing happening that rates the cost of a movie ticket or the big screen.