Tag: Tim Shurstedt

VACATION FRIENDS 2 (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Clay Tarver
Based on characters created by: Clay Tarver, Tom Mullen & Tim Mullen, Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley Cinematography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Tim Roche 

Cast: Lil’ Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji, John Cena, Meredith Hagner, Steve Buscemi, Carlos Santos, Ronny Chieng, Jamie Hector 

A couple who meets up with another couple while on vacation in Mexico sees their friendship take an awkward turn when they get back home.

Let me start off by saying that I surprisingly enjoyed the first film. It was better than I thought it would be. So it’s with a heavy heart that I say. I really didn’t like this one.

As it is a sequel that didn’t need to be made for any reason. The story just feels put together without any real meaning or reason. As it tries to repeat the first film.

Only in the first film, John Cena and Meredith Hagner’s characters were annoying and over the top, but eventually, it was explained why they were. It also showed that underneath they were sweethearts who really cared about their friends.

In this film, they are still annoying and it seems just to be annoying or the script requires them to be without showing any real growth at all. (Especially Hagner) They also seem a bit more cruel at times in their Jokes, particularly in the airport scenes. So that they feel unlikeable because they are truly given so little to do.

Their subplot with Steve Buscemi’s character seems so non-engaging. Even though Buscemi tries, the script lets him down at most turns.

Lil’ Rel Howery and Yvonne Orji also have nothing better to do than tag along for the ride. As they are used to them lil’ Rel seems to be the character who gets into the most trouble trying to juggle rest & relaxation with friends and an important business deal. As well as being the constant naysayer when it comes to any kind of wayward activity. Ending up doing it and being the most punished. 

The hijinks this time also feel a little more take and uninventive than the first films. This film isn’t as shocking or as heartfelt. 

It’s surprising that this failed so badly. as the film is directed by the original director who showed promise with the first film. though then again even though he helped co-write the original. Here he is on his own and it shows as the magic seems to be missing.

  It just seems like everyone here is contractually obligated and had so much fun in the first film. Let’s do it again and do it in a tropical paradise. It feels like THE HANGOVER PART 2 all over again only on a smaller streaming scale and trying not to repress the same jokes 

Grade: D 

THE FAVOR (1994)

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Directed By: Donald Petrie
Written By: Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon
Cinematography: Tim Shurstedt
Editor: Harry Keramidas

Cast: Harley Jane Kozak, Elizabeth McGovern, Bill Pullman, Brad Pitt, Ken Wahl, Larry Miller, Holland Taylor, Kim Walker, O-lan Jones, Mindy Sterling, Heather Morgan,  Claire Stansfield 

With a 15-year reunion coming up, Kathy has sexual fantasies of her high school sweetheart. She’s married, so she sends her BFF to check him out and report back. Things get complicated.

This is a film I remember seeing the commercials and trailers for all the time when it was coming out. It was also heavily featured in the movie magazines I was reading then. Though never enough to get me to watch it.

Even at the time, it seemed like a seat filler. A film the studios put out and find that is kind of disposable but has enough of a concept that if it’s a slow week. It might be number one at the box office that week or at least make its money back and place within the top 5. Hoping for longevity.

The cast was another reason that I was interested. The film was more marketed as a film for women to see. As it offered three hunks to choose from as love interests. Brad Pitt, Bill Pullman, and Ken Wahl. Though more based on the up-and-comer Brad Pitt. As he is also the only male character to have an extended scene with his shirt off.

This is an example of a 90’s female buddy comedy. Where the two leads work well together but one is so insufferable and selfish. Thought is made out to be a frustrated housewife who has fantasies of what could have been. Now these films are a dime a dozen when it comes to men having midlife crises. So I can’t complain too much.

Throughout the film, there are setups of misunderstandings that keep happening that keep the story going and give the characters reasons to keep running into one another. It tries to be slapstick but isn’t that funny or strong.

 Not to mention for a movie that Runs on a sexual premise there isn’t that much. The few times that it is funny is in a birthing class that could ag e been bigger and longer and from Bill Pullman’s character. The scientist and middle-aged father and husband. Whose attempts to romance his wife are cute and a bit sad. 

These are the roles Bill Pullman has a tendency to play in romantic comedies. Usually the boring yet dependable mate or The quirky suitor. This is disappointing considering he began his career in RUTHLESS PEOPLE as a dumb hunk helping with a blackmail scheme or his lovable loser in SIBLING RIVALRY.

Elizabeth McGovern is an actress who is rare to see On The big screen. So one would think she would be pickier with her roles and one can see why she would want to play this type of character at the time. Even though it doesn’t leave her with much to do comedy-wise. Whereas Harley Jane Kozak gets to do all the scheming, running around, and physical comedy. Even if her character becomes unlikeable. 

Which is inductive if the problems of the film. The cast is way better than the material. They all deserve better. The film looks low budget in every manner, especially for a stupid film.

It’s Directed by Donald Petrie. Who can be hit or miss with films? At times he is gifted and makes a film that is memorable (MYSTIC PIZZA, MISS CONGENIALITY) or they come across as bad misfires like this (RICHIE RICH, HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS) though even those films have a gloss to them. This looks like an independent film that decided to get a studio behind it. 

Ken Wahl at least gets to barely be in the movie but is the character who is talked about the most. By the end though it shows that he might be better off as a fantasy. 

It’s amazing that there is no divorce in the end  

Grade: D+

PUMPKIN (2002)

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Directed by: Anthony Abrams & Adam Larson Broder
Written By: Adam Larson Broder 
Cinematography: Tim Shurstedt
Editor: Richard Halsey & Sloane Klevin 

Cast: Christina Ricci, Hank Harris, Brenda Blethyn, Dominique Swain, Marisa Coughlan, Sam Ball, Harry Lennix, Nina Foch, Caroline Aaron, Melissa McCarthy, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Michael Bacall, Erin Bartlett, Amy Adams, Michelle Kruseic, Shaun Weiss 

Perky, perfect Carolyn and her Alpha Omega Pi sisters plan to win Sorority of the Year by impressing the Greek Council with a killer charity: coaching mentally challenged athletes for the regional Challenged Games. When Carolyn’s assigned to coach Pumpkin she’s terrified at first, but soon sees in him something she’s never seen before: gentle humanity and honest clarity that touches her soul. To the horror of her friends and Pumpkin’s overprotective mother, Carolyn falls in love, becoming an outcast in the process. As Carolyn’s “perfect life” falls apart, Pumpkin teaches her that perfect isn’t always perfect after all.

This film tries to be subversive in that it tries to satirize 1950s forbidden romance melodramas. While also trying to be one with a few modern sensibilities. As well as more humor that tends to be cynical at times.

Where it seems like the whole world will be shattered because of this romance between a sorority college girl and a mentally challenged man she meets while trying to do charity work.

That at times can be seen as in bad taste, but ultimately remains sweet. 

Most of the characters here come across as stereotypes at first until the film allows them to show more depth. At first, it seems fairly typical but then becomes more subversive.

Though there is sex it is delivered in a more subdued manner, Except for one scene.

The film plays more like a teenage melodrama. Though too mature for them. So it might appeal to college-aged audiences. It is also a film full of bright colors 

The film seems to try to be naughty and a little controversial to gain more interest. Almost like a stunt, but as it goes along proves itself to be a little more conventional.

Though it does show a nice transition for the characters. From living their lives in a kind of young dreamworld and then being awakened to the harsh truth of reality and the world outside of college.

The soundtrack is very catchy and achieves a life of its own. As I was obsessed with it and one particular song immediately after watching the film. It ended up being the thing I remember most about the film:

The reason I discovered it was the cast. Especially Star Christina Ricci. As this was a time when she seemed to be the independent film girl. After BUFFALO’ 66 and THE OPPOSITE OF SEX. Though this doesn’t rise to the same level as those films. Here she gives an earnest performance. As most of the film is built around her character.

This feels like a film that is missing writer/director John Waters’ touch as he might have made it a little more sharp and grotesque to a degree. Though the filmmakers here seem to win for his territory with a little more modesty and sweetness, that can be bitter, with touches of bad taste. Lacking the camp needed. As a throwback to simple times and exposing the ridiculous class traditions with humor 

GRADE: C

WHATEVER IT TAKES (2000)

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Directed By: David Raynr
Written By: Mark Schwahn
Cinematography: Tim Suhrstedt
Editor: Ronald Roose 

Cast: Shane West, James Franco, Marla Sokoloff, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Aaron Paul, Kip Pardue, Julia Sweeney, Colin Hanks, Richard Schiff, Vanessa Evigan, David Koechner, Nick Cannon, Christine Lakin, Manu Intiraymi, Scott Vickaryous

 

A modern-day remake of the Cyrano DeBergerac tale.

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