Tag: Ron Funches

JEXI (2019)

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Written & Directed By: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore 
Cinematography: Ben Kutchins 
Editor: James Thomas 

Cast: Adam Devine, Rose Byrne, Alexandra Shipp, Ron Funches, Charlyne Yi, Michael Pena, Wanda Sykes, Justin Hartley, Kid Cudi

Phil has a major dependency issue – he’s addicted to his phone. He has no friends, he has a job writing pop culture “Top 10” lists, and his love life is non-existent. But his Facebook status is about to change. When he is forced to upgrade his phone, the latest model comes with an unexpected feature… Jexi – an A.I. life coach, virtual assistant, and cheerleader. With her help, Phil begins to get a real life. But as he becomes less dependent on his phone, Jexi’s artificial intelligence morphs into a tech nightmare determined to keep Phil all to herself, even if it means ruining his chances of finding success.

Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, known to make comedic free for all films. Some that work and are quite funny and some that don’t, but while this one is scaled back it still has the chaos and anarchy run amuck in Certain scenes 

This is a comedy film that feels a little late to the party. As it seems to want to lampoon technology and the growing need of people to live by it. 

It also provides a movie that has a high concept story and comes off as simplistic as possible, but also trying to have a certain hipness to sell itself to a willing audience.

It feels like a script where it was better to pitch and spitball. Trying to build a Whole film around the concept. That was more fun in thinking about rather than in execution. 

As it still ends up feeling out of place to a degree like a 1990’s comedy. Even as the film is supposed to be more dependent on cutting-edge technology. Where it showcases the danger of technology, limiting it more  and the rewards of living life and experience.

Though the film Also shows what can happen when someone who is the center of your attention loses interest or has no dependence. How vengeful they can be in that loneliness.

It also in its own way shows what an addiction can do to us. Therefore love your life for your own enjoyment. 

The cast all seem to give it they’re all. As every character seems over the top to a degree. Adam Devine is a funny and able leading man, but needs to find better scripts than these subpar romantic comedies of the Netflix variety.

Alexandra Shipp is attractive as the love interest but is given nothing to really do rather than show independence early on day then fall into romance and be the most understanding cool, beautiful girl in the movie.

Though the late romantic square becomes awkward and doesn’t exactly work. Nor is it explained why Jexi is the way she is.

In the end, it was a perfectly ok time waster. As long as you know what you are getting into and don’t expect much.

Grade: D+

GET HARD (2015)

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gethard

 

Directed By: Etan Cohen
Written By: Ian Roberts, Etan Cohen & Jay Martel
Story By: Adam McKay, Jay Martel & Ian Roberts
Cinematography By: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Michael L.Stale 


Cast: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Edwina Findley, Alison Brie, Craig T. Nelson, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, Paul Ben-Victor, Ron Funches, Matt Walsh, Greg Germann

When obscenely rich hedge-fund manager James is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him one month to get his affairs in order. Knowing that he won’t survive more than a few minutes in prison on his own, James desperately turns to Darnell, a black businessman who’s never even had a parking ticket – for help. As Darnell puts James through the wringer, both learn that they were wrong about many things, including each other.

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6 UNDERGROUND (2019)

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6-underground

Directed By: Michael Bay
Written By: Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Editor: Roger Barton, William Goldenberg & Calvin Wimmer 


Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins, Manuel Garcia-Ruflo, Ben Hardy, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco, Lior Raz, Payman Maadi, Ron Funches 



What’s the best part of being dead? It’s the freedom. The freedom to fight the evil which lurks in our world. 6 Underground’s group of unnamed individuals have chosen to change the future. The team’s brought together by enigmatic leader code-named ‘One’, whose sole mission is to ensure that, he and his fellow teammates will have their actions remembered.

This is a film that is so huge and ridiculously over the top and overblown that it feels like a film that would have been an action classic in the 1980’s or 90’s. As you can see all of the $150 million dollar budget on the screen with an international mostly european flavor.

The problem is that the film is much more interested in the action sequences more than anything else. As it is a michael bay film they are photographed beautifully and come off as amazing to look at. Though overwhelmingly violent and gory. Which the director seems to take great joy in and trying to make some of it funny. Which doesn’t exactly work, Especially when your film is so hamfisted making everything feel intense when it doesn’t need to be that at many times you find yourself worn outnumber.

Even the sex scenes which don’t exactly feel necessary one is more romantic and the other whole setting up a romantic side story involves characters who want sexy more than romance so nothing romantic in the scene at all more ogling of bodies.

While this film has a genuine star in Ryan Reynolds who is there for the action but only participated in half of it. Since the film is more about a team they share their moments to shine some more than others and in the case of Adria Ajola barely any action. As the other actors shine.

It is through Mr. Reynolds and the rest of the cast that the movie More shines and you care more then you probably should. As Reynolds plays his usual cocky and sarcastic hero type here more of a leader.

The film seems to take certain joys upping the danger and adventure. As each new action sequence involves an even more dangerous amount of dizzying stunts. So much so that this film feels like XXX where as it is more of a stunt man’s movie that makes the actors look badass. As well as making the gratuitous violence almost pornographic. Though luckily the film doesn’t feel that technical. Though it certainly want to take the audience on a wild ride.

There is so much action no one could ever accuse the film of stopping or even being boring as the 20 minute opening car chase alone involves everything but the kitchen sink. Yet feels like the type of scene that would end most films and is one of the more impressive action sequences of the film even more exciting then the finale.

This film feels like a throwback to the men on a mission film. Where they form A platonic love for one another even if they don’t necessarily like one another. Also with the constantly shifting foreign locale and majorly foreign cast also makes it feel like this film could have been written by Luc Besson for one of his cross cultural action films. Though even those films have a clear lead and are basically star vehicles for whoever that is. Here it is much more of a team effort no matter who is top billed.

So by the end we get more of the same with a plot that seems stitched together just so Director Michael bay can show off his designer action shots and attempts of humor by adding a funny self satisfied leading man. Though after awhile no matter how it is dressed up it becomes monotonous. As if you already started with a spectacular action sequence throughout the film tried to top itself. So that it soon becomes the norm and nothing is as exciting. Especially if we know you can do it as we Just Watched you do it before, Making this film more a dumb, fun guilty pleasure under the guise of a more action oriented espionage caper film.

Grade: C+