MAJOR LEAGUE 2 (1994)

najorleague2

 

Directed By: David S. Ward
Written By: R. J. Stewart
Based on Characters originally created by: David S. Ward
Story By: R.J. Stewart, Tom S. Parker & Tom Jenniwein
Cinematography: Victor Hammer
Editor: Donn Cambern, Kimberly Ray, Paul Seydor & Frederick Wardell 

Cast: Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Omar Epps, Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, David Keith, Randy Quaid, Bob Eucker, Michelle Burke, Eric Bruskotter, Allison Doddy, Takaaki Ishibashi, Margaret Whitton, Jesse Ventura, Steve Yeager, Kevin Crowley, Jason Kravits, Richard Schiff, Jay Leno 


Those Cleveland Indians are at it again! After losing in the ALCS the year before, the Indians are determined to make it into the World Series this time! First, though, they have to contend with Rachel Phelps again when she buys back the team. Also, has Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn lost his edge? Are Jake’s knees strong enough to make it as a catcher another year? These and other questions are answered.

Continue reading “MAJOR LEAGUE 2 (1994)”

CADDYSHACK 2 (1988)

Directed By: Allan Arkush 

Written By: Harold Ramis & Peter Torkovei 

Based On Characters Originally Created By: Brian Doyle Murray, Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenny 

Cinematography: Harry Stradling 

Editor: Bernard Gribble 

Cast: Jackie Mason, Dyan Cannon, Chevy Chase, Robert Stack, Dan Aykroyd, Randy Quaid, Jonathan Silverman, Jessica Lundy, Paul Bartel, Marsha Warfield, Dina Merrill, Brian McNamera, Chynna Phillips, Pepe Serna Jack Hartounian


A self made man is trying to get into Bushwood County Club because his daughter’s being asked by her snooty friends. Jack applies but a few things ruins his application, one that he’s extremely boorish and because he is building low cost housing in an affluent neighborhood. Jack then turns to Ty Webb who owns the majority share of the club, Jack buys Ty’s shares and then takes over the club and makes some changes which the members don’t like. That’s when the club members attack Jack by stopping his housing project. Eventually they decide to settle it on the golf course but the club president decides to take contingencies.


It’s Already hard to follow up as a sequel to a comedy classic.

The film tries to throw everything against the wall to work and it still ends up a mostly unfunny mess. one usually tries to see the good in most films and while at times it tries to be amusing this is obviously more of an obvious cash grab with little to no heart. If not a cash grab (as most films are either way) This seems more of a situation where the film began one way and this is what the powers that be consider salvaging it.

The movie still has the same basic theme of Snobs Vs. Slobs. Though it doesn’t include the rivalry so much amongst the staff as much. Taking out the wacky side characters and also making it more mature. As there are teenagers but they are college students and other then a kind of romance. They aren’t used that much. So it basically eliminates the teenage element and seems to be more centered around anti-semitism though it proves to be the only subtle thing in the movie.

The film manages to get original cast member Chevy chase to cameo as the film tries to retain the flavor of the original. In the absence of the rest of the cast of the original they have Dan Aykroyd in a small role similar to Bill Murray’s but you end up not caring even with a very inspired off the wall comedic performance from Randy Quaid. That was originally intended for late comedian Sam Kinison. Still it feels like when anyone famous shows up in the movie it feels more like they are guest starring more than acting or playing a character.

Randy Quaid appearing in this film is kind of prophetic considering he ended up starring in DEAD SOLID PERFECT an acclaimed cable original movie where he played a golfer and was nominated for an Emmy for the role.

The film was originally written to star Rodney Dangerfield. Basing the movie around his character from the first film. He was willing to until he read the script then dropped out. You can see the signs during this film for it to be more built around his character. Just as the film tries to copy the character types from the first film but not be as rebelious or daring in it’s comedy.

Jackie Mason as the lead can’t really act and is hard to be likeable. Though with Mason’s casting the movie has a kind of Wasp against Jewish and all outsiders making it more a film that is not only anti-semitism but also against prejudice. Though it doesn’t help that his character is vert hard to like, but the film tries to convince us is charming to others. Even as most of his friends seem to be only people who work for him.

The film tries to skew as much to the original as far as familiar roles. Though here they lose the teenage coming of age angle. It’s here in the form of college students who get a lot less screen time. As the film prefers to stay on the adults and even when staying on the more adult characters the film is so family friendly that all the raunch that was a staple of the first film is washed out and stays pretty bland. Like this film is more aimed at kids.

It also takes away from the more working class elements of the original to be more of a generational wealth versus a newly rich theme.

There is a romance thrown in for the younger characters and even Mason’s but it’s useless as they all come off as types instead of characters. As the daughter of Jackie Mason’s character played by Jessica Lundy dates the WASP son of the golf course owner and discovers she has more chemistry with the caddy Played By Jonathan Silverman who we actually learn little about.

What is also missing is that the original was hard core rude and anti-establishment. This film is More corporate safe almost family friendly.

When I watched this as a kid I remember Robert Stack from UNSOLVED MYSTERIES in an acting role was big for me. Not knowing he was already an accomplished actor. Him playing the villain here to perfection.

One aspect that has stayed with me over the years when it comes to the film is the main theme song played at the beginning. Though listening to it now is more a cheesy nostalgic pleasure.

Grade: F

BURYING THE EX (2015)

burying-the-ex

 

Directed By: Joe Dante
Written By: Alan Trezza
Cinematography By: Jonathan Hall
Editor: Marshall Harvey 


Cast: Anton Yelchin, Alexandra Daddario, Ashley Greene, Oliver Cooper, Dick Miller

When Max learns that his new live-in girlfriend, Evelyn (Greene) is controlling and manipulative, he is afraid to end the relationship. However, fate occurs and Evelyn is killed in a freak accident. A couple months have passed and Max meets his dream girl, Olivia. The new romance gets tricky when Evelyn comes back from the grave and insists on continuing their once relationship by all means.

Continue reading “BURYING THE EX (2015)”

CATFIGHT (2016)

catfight

Written, Edited & Directed By: Onur Turkel
Cinematography: Zoe White 

Cast: Anne Heche, Sandra Oh, Alicia Silverstone, Amy Hill, Ariel Kavoussi, Damian Young, Tituss Burgess, Jay O. Sanders, Peter Jacobson, Jordan Carlos, Ivana Milicevic, Dylan Baker, Craig Bierko, Myra Lucretia Marcel 

The rivalry between two former college friends comes to a head when they both attend the same glamorous event.

Continue reading “CATFIGHT (2016)”

SO UNDERCOVER (2012)

soundercover

Directed By: Tom Vaughan
Written By: Daniel Pearl & Allan Loeb
Cinematography: Denis Lenoir
Editor: Michael Berenbaum & Wendy Greene Bricmont 


Cast: Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne, Jeremy Piven, Alexis Knapp, Mike O’Malley, Megan Park, Matthew Settle, Autumn Reeser, Eloise Mumford, Josh Bowman 


Molly is a teen who works with her father, an ex-cop turned P.I. One day an FBI agent approaches and wants her to work for them. They want her to keep an eye on the daughter of a man who is going to testify against a criminal. So they send her to the college where the daughter is attending. And she tries to fit in while keeping an eye on her and trying to see if there’s someone there who doesn’t appear who they are
Continue reading “SO UNDERCOVER (2012)”

SEX DRIVE (2008)

sexdrive

Directed By Sean Anders
Written By Sean Anders & John Morris
Based On The Book “All The Way” By: Andy Behrens
Cinematography By: Tim Orr
Editor: George Folsey Jr

Cast: Josh Zuckeman, Clark Duke, Charlie McDermott, Katrina Bowden, Dave Sheridan, James Marsden, Seth Green, Brian Posehn, David Koechner, Amanda Crew, Alice Greczyn

A high school senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with a babe he met online.

Continue reading “SEX DRIVE (2008)”

THE LAUNDROMAT (2019)

the-laundromat-1567092545

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Written By: Scott Z. Burns
Based on the Book “Secrecy World: Inside The Panama Papers Investigation Of Illicit Money Networks and The Global Elite”  By: Jake Bernstein
Cinematography: Peter Andrews
Editor: Mary Ann Bernard

Cast: Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas, Gary Oldman, Jeffrey Wright, David Schwimmer, James Cromwell, Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Larry Wilmore, Rosalind Chao, Matthias Schoenaerts, Nonso Anozie, Miracle Washington, Jessica Allain,  Jay Paulson, Melissa Rauch, Will Forte, Chris Parnell

A widow investigates an insurance fraud, chasing leads to a pair of Panama City law partners exploiting the world’s financial system.

Continue reading “THE LAUNDROMAT (2019)”

THE REF (1994)

theref

 

Directed By: Ted Demme
Story By: Marie Weiss
Written By: Richard LaGravenese & Marie Weiss
Cinematography By: Adam Kimmel
Editor: Jeffery Wolf

Cast: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Christine Baranski, Glynis Johns, B.D. Wong, Raymond J. Barry, J.K. Simmons, Vincent Pastore

an unfortunate cat burglar, who is abandonded by his partner in the middle of a heist, and is forced to take an irritating Connecticut couple hostage. He soon finds that he took more than he bargained for when the couple’s blackmailing son and despicable in-laws step into the picture. Before long they’re driving him nuts with their petty bickering and family problems. The only way for him to survive is to be their referee and resolve their differences, before he can be nabbed by the police.

Continue reading “THE REF (1994)”

SHAZAM! (2019)

shazam-slice-600x200

Directed By: Daryl F. Sandberg
Written By: Henry Gayden
Story By: Darren Lemke & Henry Gayden
Based On Characters Created By: Bill Parker & C.C. Beck
Cinematography: Maxime Alexandre
Editor: Michel Aller 


Cast: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, John Glover, Djimon Hounsou, Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Michelle Borth, Megan Good, Adam Brody, D.J. Cotrona, Ross Butler, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans 


In Philadelphia, Billy Batson is an abandoned child who is proving a nuisance to Child Services and the authorities with his stubborn search for his lost mother. However, in his latest foster home, Billy makes a new friend, Freddy, and finds himself selected by the Wizard Shazam to be his new champion. Now endowed with the ability to instantly become an adult superhero by speaking the wizard’s name, Billy gleefully explores his new powers with Freddy. However, Billy soon learns that he has a deadly enemy, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, who was previously rejected by the wizard and has accepted the power of the Seven Deadly Sins instead. Now pursued by this mad scientist for his own power as well, Billy must face up to the responsibilities of his calling while learning the power of a special magic with his true family that Sivana can never understand.

Continue reading “SHAZAM! (2019)”