An unexpected romance triggers comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her boss, grappling with the complications of love, sex, and identity.
I won’t lie if this had made it to a movie theater it probably would’ve turned a decent profit as it is intriguing enough. Even if it’s a basic Hallmark type of story. It has the element of a younger man, falling for an older woman, and both of them are ridiculously successful and good-looking. So of course, this movie is obviously identifiable for the audience, with its feel-good ending.
Neither the film nor the filmmakers really add anything to set it apart, other than having two big stars in the lead recognizable actors throughout the film.
Joey gives her all and she saves this film overall with her energy and comedic timing.
Everything else throughout this film is predictable and basic, not even in a quirky to present things differently.
Even the supporting characters aren’t really characters they’re just standings for the leads to either talk to or complain to, and then at some point or given a little bit of in her life when it’s time for the characters to realize that other things are more important in the world.
It’s hard to really get into a film that is just out-and-out pure Hollywood where everyone is pretty successful and even the people in their 20s who should be struggling seem not that battle and everyone is picture perfect pretty or attractive and there’s no real heavy drama I understand it’s meant to be a romantic fantasy feel-good comedy and if you are in the audience and want This film will be good for you.
It just seems like the typical Netflix movie where they are more concerned with getting star names in the project and then seem to worry about the script if at all later and when it comes, you’re probably not going to get any good quality, but if you’re comfortable with the Hollywood films of yesteryear you’ll get it here but not with any flex of imagination.
As there are no surprises and even the hint that there will be sex and or nudity in the trailer is quickly flirted with an abandoned. By the end of the film, this is not believable, but a perfect fantasy for some audiences to get lost in.
Now one will admit this is my type of film and the only thing that made me want to watch it. It was again the comedic antics it seemed of Joey King in the trailer.
The biggest shock came when noted Screenwriter Richard LaGravenese directed this film though did not write it. He has written and definitely directed better films than this. Even if romantic comedy and drama do usually fall into his wheelhouse.
Directed By: Lee Daniels Written By: Lee Daniels & Pete Dexter Based On The Book By: Pete Dexter Cinematography By: Roberto Schaefer Editor: Joe Klotz
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray, John Cusack, Scott Glenn, Ned Bellamy
Eldest son Ward Jansen is a star reporter for a Miami newspaper and has returned home with close friend Yardley to investigate a racial murder case. Younger brother Jack Jansen has returned home after a failed stint at university as a star swimmer. To help give his life some direction, Ward gives Jack a job on their investigation as their driver. But into the mix comes the fiancée of the imprisoned convict who stirs up confusing feelings of love and lust for the young Jack. Meanwhile, Ward and Yardley’s investigation stirs up deep-rooted issues of race and acceptance which could cause serious consequences for everyone involved.
This film that deemed to start out as a thriller, Quickly seems to spiral into a no man’s land that resembles more of a misguided Grind-house film more than anything else. The sad part is what seems at first to become earnest filmmaking quickly delves into some kind of camp classic
As the film continues the outline is about proving a man might be innocent. It mostly focuses not only on the politics, but the coming of age tale of Zac Efron’s character. It also concerns itself with building and defining the characters.
Now I am not the biggest fan of Lee Daniels as a Director yet, but watching this film. Just like in PRECIOUS. It feels like he puts in too many surrealistic seeming camera tricks and angles that become distracting and unneeded when the film could have just told the story.
It feels like a person just out of film school. Who feels the need to how off or insert things that aren’t really needed in a way to impress. Like a college student writing a paper with too many big words misused trying to impress. I see it as him trying and learning new things behind the camera thinking the audience will be amazed as much as he is using them. The other problem is it plays like a drama then wants to be a thriller, but only at certain times and wanting to represent race relations of that period.
In fact the film begins with Macy Gray playing a maid who is being questioned about a book dedicated to her. now it feels like an interrogation that is really used to give her character a reason to voice over the film. Other then that the opening scene amounts to nothing later in the film. No real reason to be there. There are a bunch of scenes like that throughout the film. Some are what help to bring out the ridiculousness of the film. This film could have been a sort of hard-boiled thriller and mystery if it didn’t seem to get distracted by becoming a Coming of Age film that has the look of a WONDER YEARS episode while parading Zac Efron around in his underwear. I am sure what might have worked on the page here comes off more silly and misguided. The film often times seems confusing or confused itself.
Pedro Almodóvar was several times approached to helm this project and seriously considered to make it his first English-speaking feature. He finally declined but, allegedly, he participated in early versions of the script. He might have been the one to balabce the camp with the drama and thriller elements without making it laughable.
Just as it could have been more believable if John Cusack’s character wasn’t as physically repulsive as he morally.
Alex Pettyfer was first choice for the role of Jack.
Tobey Maguire was cast as Ward but dropped out because of scheduling conflicts. Luckily for him.
Nicole Kidman replaced Sofía Vergara. Which might have pushed it into a more straight to DVD title though the lust factor would have been more understandable. Though explaining her characters origin and why a so called racist would correspond with her would take more then a bit of explaining.
It plays like camp, but tries to be taken seriously which makes it even worse. Though Nicole Kidman seems to be the only one who realizes or is comfortable with having fun and sending it all up, While trying to create a realistic character.
scenes like
Nicole Kidman peeing on Zac Efron to combat his jellyfish stings.
Nicole Kidman masturbating in a jailhouse visit to John Cusack who also masturbates and we see the aftermath of
The film just feels dirty and unnecessary as it’s based on a hard-boiled mystery novel that seems to forget it’s premise. The film feels all over the place, for all of this ridiculousness and shocking scenes that come once on awhile between it is really dull, though gives Zac Efron no real reason to run around constantly only in underwear.
The film gives John Cusack a chance to embarass himself by looking really bad and dirty. Inhabiting a bad caricature of a character.
Matthew McConaughey’s character has an interesting arc that is shockingly Introduced then slightly dropped or pushed out of favor.
The key defining point of this tawdry tale is Nicole Kidman and her character. She gives the role her all and is impressive as a trashy femme-fatale. Overly made up with make up that looks like it was applied by herself an it is messy. She is a scary, but also a scene stealer. She deserves a oscar nomination for her determination and grounding as she stays true to the character throughout and somehow finds a way to fit in.While actually creating a character to care about
The film you think would be ripe for camp, bit it is so underplayed and then serious there isn’t room to enjoy it on a camp level.
In the third act the film revs up to be a thinker then just runs out of steam and ends with no great drama. Leaving us with a whimper.
While I can’t really recommend the film. I will say it is a film to see. To see something hopefully one of a kind. Some might find entertainment from it. Which is why I can’t completely fail it. I believe it shows lee Daniels a former film producer is still leading as a director At least he is trying unlike some directors
Directed By: Joe Berlinger Written By: Michael Werwie Based on the book “The Phantom Prince: My Life With Ted Bundy” By: Liz Kendell Cinematography: Brandon Trost Editor: John Schaeffer
Cast: Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Angela Sarafyn, James Hetfield, Jeffrey Donovan, Terry Kinney, Haley Joel Osment, Kaya Scodelario, Dylan Baker, John Malkovich, Brian Geraghty, Jim Parsons, Grace Victoria Cox
A courtroom frenzy ensues and sweeps 1970s America when a young single mother meets Ted Bundy.
Directed By: Nicholas Stoller
Written By: Andrew J. Cohen, Brendan O’Brien, Nicholas Stoller, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
Based On Characters Created By: Andrew J. Cohen & Brendan O’Brein
Cinematography By: Brandon Trost
Editor: Zene Baker, Peck Prior & Michael A. Webber
Cast: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kiersey Clemons, Abbi Jacobson, Ike Barinholtz, Clara Mamet, Selena Gomez, Hannibal Buress, Carla Gallo, Kyle Mooney, Billy Eichner, Lisa Kudrow, Kelsey Grammer, Jacob Wysocki, Awkwafina
When their new next-door neighbors turn out to be a sorority even more debaucherous than the fraternity previously living there, Mac and Kelly team with their former enemy, Teddy, to bring the girls down.
Directed By: Seth Gordon Written By: Damian Shannon & Mark Swift Story By: Jay Scherick, David Ronn, Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant
Based On the series & Characters Created By: Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz & Gregory J. Bonann
Cinematography By: Eric Steelberg
Editor: Peter S. Elliot
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jon Bass, Hannibal Buress, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Rob Huebel, Oscar Nunez, Charlotte McKinney, David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson
In sun-kissed Emerald Bay, the vigorous Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon and Baywatch, his elite team of hand-picked and perfectly tanned lifeguards, protect the bay, keeping both sunbathers and beach lovers safe. However, this summer, two new eager trainees will join the demanding life-saving program, as well as an insubordinate former Olympic swimmer, who are all called to prove their worth on the lifeguard towers just on time when a new synthetic street drug begins to infest the Emerald Bay: the flakka. Without a doubt, this calls for some serious undercover teamwork action, as the badgeless heroes in spandex comb the beach for shady newcomers and nefarious entrepreneurs with hidden agendas of their own. Can Mitch’s band save the bay?
Directed By: Nicholas Stoller
Cut To The Chase 