Kyle Bornheimer – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Andy Flickman
Written By: Moe Jelline
Cinematography: David Hennings
Editor: David Rennie And Keith Brachman

Cast: Kristen Bell, Odette Annable, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, Victor Garber, Betty White, James Wolk, Kristin Chenowith, Kyle Bornheimer, Christine Lakin, Patrick Duffy

When a young woman realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her in high school, she sets out to expose the fiancée’s true colors.

There was once upon a time when studios were still making romantic comedies and they kept casting Kristen bell in these movies even though I knew them not to be my particular cup of tea. I kept watching them as I am a fan of hers. At least this film has a stacked cast of names

This is what I would call disposable cinema. As it is good in the moment and easily forgettable. Never leave too much of a lasting Impression. It’s good at the moment when you need to see something new.

Now if anything one would hope that this film inspires not to make such simple films. Unless the mediocre is what inspired some. The film shows the talent of the actors. Who tries to make the thin material work.

The film seems like a holdover from the 1980s when there were a lot of these types of disposable entertainment hyped up. Films that had simple premises. Though somehow some of them were able to carry some kind of identity for themselves. By either the talent in front of or behind the camera.

Director Andy Flickman knows how to make things look excellent and appealing.

The cast list has some surprisingly big male talent for a film that seems more like a paycheck only for most.

It’s nice to see a film like this as it has a good spirit and good intentions. It does what it sets out to do, not subtlety. Yet it’s elementary but I think you know that going in. So you can’t hold it totally against the film.

The acting in the flashback sections of the film is bad. As it comes off as too over the top but also just bad.

Most of the cast know better and have done better films and work but both of the female leads Kristen Bell and Odette Annabale need better roles offered to them. As these roles might look good and maybe even easy on paper. It might even be a surprise hit and up their star power, but most likely it will leave them open to making this same kind of similar film. It would be ok if they had little to no talent but they have proven that they do.

GRADE: D+

Directed By: Michael Showalter
Written by: Brendan Gall & Aaron Abrams
Story By: Brendan Gall, Aaron Abrams & Martin Geri
Cinematography: Brian Burgoyne
Editor: Vince Filippone & Robert Nassau

Cast: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer, Catherine Cohen, Andrene Ward-Hammond, Barry Rothbart

A couple experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

This movie works as a screwball romantic comedy. Where we see the couple get together in the beginning. Then even though still together recognize they are having problems and slowly throughout the film fall in love again.

As they realize how much they care for one another and not judge their relationship by other’s standards or against others.

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani make a good on-screen pair. They have chemistry even if not romantic chemistry.

It’s fun and funny watching them Go through more and more challenges while on the run to figure out a mystery and clear their names. As they both have manic energy and the film gets more ridiculous as it goes along. Not to mention predictable.

As with everything and issue they talk about in the beginning they end up having to face or deal With, Including how much of this is like the amazing race.

By the end the story is silly but works as a movie. As this is the first film star kumail Nanjiani and director Michael showalter have worked on together since their previous film THE BIG SICK which was oscar nominated. Maybe it was thought they would work on something stronger besides a more out and out mainstream comedy. That more compliments them As they both come from more Comedic backgrounds. Plus neither one wrote this script.

So this comes across as a nice quaint comedy. That reminds one of the old classics where Two comedy stars as a couple must face a madcap humorous adventure together. With each other as the only people they can trust.

It’s also nice to see an interracial romance where race isn’t brought up and still having two minorities in a starring role. Which gives the film certain freedom but also hinders it by not allowing race to come. Into the picture kind of turns a blind eye and makes the characters bland and doesn’t seem to acknowledge them fully.

Though you never take anything in the film seriously. Their chemistry is strong and you believe them as a couple.

The film never gets too complicated. it just stays simple throughout.

Grade: C+

Tag: Kyle Bornheimer

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