TOP FIVE (2014) – My rating: 8/10

Has anyone noticed when Chris Rock makes a movie, he always seems to narrate as though it’s a documentary.  While I don’t see a problem with this, I just wonder why he does it that way.  I guess he can make more jokes and probably give the film a more humorous aura.  Having said that, I thought Top Five was pretty funny.  The story has a nice ring to it as well as an enormous cast of  comedians.  Expect to see Tracey Morgan, Sherri Shepherd, Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, J.B. Smoove,  Jerry Sienfeld and Whoopi Goldberg, to name a few.    However, the story centers around Chris Rock, who plays Andre Allen and Rosario Dawson, who plays Chelsea Brown, a reporter for the NY Times.  Despite Andre and Chelsea’s endless conversations, they manage to withhold secrets from each other that make Top Five a little suspenseful and interesting.  Gabrielle Union plays the ultimate reality diva in the throws of an up and coming wedding to Andre, who is simply trying to become a serious actor, but failing miserably.   There’s lots of sex and profanity in Top Five but it’s still funny enough to take you to the end without putting too much emphasis on the “x” rated scenes.  There are a couple of twist and surprises that make this movie worth seeing.  You can’t go wrong if it causes you a laugh or two.

A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST (2014) – My rating: 9/10

A Million Ways to Die in the West is one of the funniest movie to hit the theaters since “The Wedding Crashers”.  I genuinely laughed my head off.  I grant you, the entire movie wasn’t rip roaring funny but the many scenes that were funny, were really funny.  A dorky sheep farmer/cowboy (Albert played by Seth MacFarlane) who is cowardly and afraid to defend himself in any gunfight, is in love with a society seeker who eventually breaks up with him.  She (Louise played by Amanda Seyfried) moves on immediately to a semi-quasi wealthy owner of a local store (Foy played by Neil Patrick Harris).  In the meanwhile, Albert meets the wife (Anna played by Charlez Theron) of the fastest gun in the west (Clinch played by Liam Neeson) and they fall in love.  Of course I can’t reveal what happens but you’re in for some good entertainment.  Since this is a comedy, anything I say will give away what makes this movie so great so I will just say “check this one out”  it’s worth the time and money.

THE OTHER WOMAN (2014) – My rating: 8/10

I expected a summer fill-in that wasn’t going to be anything but a girly, cute flick.  The Other Woman was just that but it was really good.  Not too girly and well written.  I had a good laugh because this movie was actually funny.  I’m impressed because it didn’t lose focus on the end result, which I can’t speak on because that would spoil the movie.  Ladies, if you don’t like you mate looking at extremely sexy women, don’t see this flick.  If you don’t mind, you’re in for some sexy scenes.  Cameron Diaz is as sexy now as she ever was.  I was glad to see a sensible plot on how to deal with a cheating spouse.  Mark King, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau  is your average type of a lying, cheating husband.  Leslie Mann  played his unsuspecting wife, Kate King. Cameron Diaz played Carly Whitten, one of many unsuspecting mistresses and Kate Upton played Amber, another unsuspecting mistress.  These 3 women get together and plot a sweet revenge that has the audience cheering them on.  Don Johnson, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Kinney round out the supporting cast that contributed to the success of this movie.  I highly recommend The Other Woman, it’s very funny and very entertaining.

HER (2013) – My rating 8.5/10

What a concept, brilliantly acted by Joaquin Phoenix.  I absolutely loved this movie.  There’s no real action or crazy drama.  It’s just pure and simple, touchy feely and soft and quite.  Scarlett Johansson as the voice of the OS (operating system)  made life seem so effortless and calm that I wanted an OS to love for myself.  Her was funny yet serious.  I wondered all through the movie if man would ever evolve to this technology.   I’ve always heard, “if you can think it, it can be invented”.  I don’t think that’s really true and there are some ideas I wouldn’t want to see invented.    Overall, I recommend HER because it’s different and well acted.  If you’re into the Oscars and are trying to see all the nominated movies, see this one to see why it got the nod.

A MADEA CHRISTMAS (2013) – My rating: 6.5/10

Okay, I reckon most of you think this movie is a bad choice.  There are so many other films I could have reviewed but hey, give a brother (Tyler Perry) a break!  I didn’t elect to be depressed or weepy so I picked a movie that was upbeat and funny.  And FUNNY it was!  The acting was so so — some of the actors were familiar to me and a welcome site.  The story is about Lacey (Tika Sumpter), a Black teacher and Conner (Eric Lively), a White semi, quasi chemist,  married and living together on a farm.  His parents (played by Larry the Cable Guy and Kathy Najimy) were made aware of their son’s union but Lacey’s mom (Anna Maria Horsford) and aunt (Madea) were not.  So, a surprise visit by Lacey’s family at the same time as Conner’s parents made for a hilarious situation.  This movie sends a profound message about prejudice and love.  Tyler Perry always has a spiritual moral to his films — and that’s what I love most about him!  If you just want to sit back and laugh, relax and escape from it all, see A Madea Christmas, otherwise wait for the DVD.

THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (2013) – My rating: 9/10

One of the best comedies of 2013.  Actually this film goes beyond just a comedy — it has drama and can also be described as melancholy, so get out the old hanky.  These fabulous hunks of men (Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Eddie Cibrian, Terrence Howard and Harold Perrineau) are eye popping icons and a shear delight to watch.  The women (Monica Calhoune, Melissa De Sousa, Regina Hall, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan) are ‘bootielicous’ and smart.  It was a thrill to see a black comedy that is not full of buffoonery or drugs or crime related.  The characters were educated and successful at their respective positions.  They lived a middle and upper class life style and spoke the real  Queens English quite well.  The story more than held my interest and brought out many emotions plus it was funny.

I was thoroughly entertained and highly recommend that you see ” The Best Man Holiday”.

MACHETE KILLS (2013) – My rating: 8.5/10

Machete Kills is getting a lot of buzz.  This is a movie you have to go in knowing it’s just for entertainment.  It’s extremely violent and full of sexy innuendos.  This movie has so much blood shed that it’s hard to keep up with the countless bodies left all over the place.  Imagine Charlie Sheen as president of the US and Cuba Gooding, Jr. as a sort of Change Shifter to the likes of Walton Goggins, Lady Gaga and Antonio Banderas.  I couldn’t believe the amount of stars that graced this dark, comical, crazy, twisted kill ride.  Danny Trejo plays a legendary killer who seems invincible.  Michelle Rodriguez plays Machete’s  sort of side kick.  Jessica Alba opens up this movie along side Machete doing what they do best, killing people.  Sofía Vergara plays the host of a house of ill repute.  You will see everything from gun shooting boobs to gun shooting vaginas.  Amber Heard plays Miss San Antonio among other things.  Finally, Mel Gibson plays the ultimate villain in this very funny, violent, crazy movie.  I loved it.  I was thoroughly entertained.  Just imagine what you know of these stars and the roles they played.  That’s funny in itself.   There are many more stars and many more to come as the sequel is in the works.  We get a little sneak preview into “Machete  in Space” which is the next in line to dazzle us into laughter and stupidness.  Enjoy!

RED 2 (2013) — My rating: 8/10

Movies like this should always be viewed as fantasy.  If you do that, you’ll be able to appreciate it for the pure entertainment value.  Red 2 has everything from Marshall Arts to gun slinging, car chasing agents from the USA to China to the USSR.  May I dare say, it’s a love/hate relationship between all.  It seems a lot of today’s movies incorporate massive destruction i.e., Iron Man 3, Pacific Rim, Transformers along with the killing of not 1, not 2, but 100’s of agents and/or personnel.  Since Red 2 starred an older group of actors (Hollywood’s finest) you might expect the action would lean toward the slow side.  Not Red 2.  It was fast moving and basically fun, as well as funny and destruction was kept to a minimum.

I encountered an elderly couple walking to their car after the movie who told me Red 2 was in fact a bit too fast for them to fully process.  I could understand because of their age.  It got me to thinking, what will I be saying about movies in 20 years from now.  I’m used to fast and furious but will I be able to process it.  Will the mode change again or will I have to sit it out, due to old age?  What movies should I recommend to the elderly now?  Well for today, I really enjoyed Red 2.  Catherine Zeta-Jones is absolutely gorgeous and Helen Mirren’s body puts all to shame, old and young.  I recommend Red 2 for the under 80 crowd.  If you love Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and the legendary Anthony Hopkins,  take a chance and see it at any age.  Excellent sequel — I definitely missed Morgan Freeman.

IDENITY THIEF (2013) — My rating: 7.5/10

***SOME SPOILERS***

This is a very funny movie.  I’m so glad Hollywood didn’t minimize stealing one’s ID.  Real life Identity Thief is serious business.  The sentencing here almost fits the crime. As usual, Melissa McCarthy did an outstanding job along with Jason Bateman   I can’t give Identity Thief a high rating because I had issues with the details.  I.e., if the credit card was maxed out, how was he able to rent a car or fly to California from Colorado.  Additionally, why wasn’t he a partner at his new firm sense he started the new firm with his friend and I wasn’t clear on the “revenge on his former boss” thing.  It seems that he would have been rearrested when it all came to light.  In the scheme of things, my issues are not that important but alas, they do exist which knocks off rating points for me.  I did really like this movie and recommend it — it’s definitely not a waste of your time.  You will LOL!

PEEPLES (2013) – My rating: 5/10

Made for TV as oppose to the big screen!                                                          A cute story but it’s been done better many times before.  There were a few funny scenes however, I found Peeples to be too unrealistic.  David Alan Grier, who I always find over the top, funny did an awesome job of portraying the annal father living in the Hamptons with his annal family.   There were more skeletons in their closet than in a science lab.  They were not your typical family and they didn’t have typical family issues.  Over all, it was a stress free movie with some laughs — you can’t go wrong with that!  I wonder who’s idea it was to couple Kerry Washington with Craig Robinson.  That was funny in itself.  I didn’t sense any real chemistry between them.  I would recommend waiting for the DVD on this one — Movies are much too pricy to invest on Peeples.