MOVIE REVIEW: Love Wedding Repeat

LOVE WEDDING REPEAT-- 3 STARS

I am starting to become convinced that there will never be a movie wedding that goes off without a hitch, as they say. It’s cinematically impossible not to have something, anything, or everything go wrong. But, that’s the fun of all those movies, including the new Netflix film Love Wedding Repeat. There is always comedy to be had when a springboard event of enduring love can survive in every cringe, surprise, fumble, flub, and fail executed by the doting newlyweds on down to the drunk ne'er-do-wells. 

LESSON #1: WEDDINGS NEVER GO AS PLANNED-- Brides and grooms alike may beg, pray, and downright will these festivals of matrimony into the “perfect days” they say they always dreamt of. The wild truth is a zillion things have to align out of any couple’s control. The beauty, if anything, is in the luck born from imperfection that happens before one’s eyes. No one remembers perfection. They remember the unorchestrated happenstance that still turned out great, even out of embarrassment.

That said, we’ll always remember the truly mortifying too, and a dish of that awaits here. Love Wedding Repeat chalks up its minefield of mistakes to cosmic chance. A divinely voiced female oracle hammers that horoscope home, reminding viewers that “all it takes is one moment of ill fortune for our hopes and dreams to go right down the shitter.” Lady, you nailed it. The unique amusement of this movie comes from the “repeat” portion of its title. Just when you think what transpires can’t be recovered, writer-director Dean Craig rewinds to a crucial moment and tries it all over again.

Our narrative keel listing back and forth in the waters of kismet is brother-of-the-bride Jack, played by Me Before You’s heartbreaker Sam Clafin. For him, his sister Hayley’s (Eleanor Tomlinson of Jack the Giant Slayer) wedding is a chance to meet “the one that got away.” Three years earlier, he spent a dreamy night in Italy with Hayley’s American friend Dina, played as a fetching bullseye of attraction by Olivia Munn. A bad moment of that aforementioned chance derailed his momentum of sealing the evening with continuing connection and, more importantly, a kiss. She’s coming to this gorgeous Italian wedding and is stupendously single. Naturally and nevertheless, pitfalls of many forms block that prospect of renewed magic. 

Jack has to avoid his bitchy ex Amanda (Freida Pinto) and her jealous boyfriend Chaz (TV actor Allan Mustafa), dodge the chatty trap of the third-wheeled idiot Rebecca (fellow TV mainstay Aisling Bea), compete with his kilted wannabe lady-killing buddy Sidney (standup comedian Tim Frey), and practically babysit his unreliable best bloke and the “maid of honor” Bryan (Yesterday’s scene stealer Joel Fry). The worst danger of all is the uninvited and coked-up Marc (Poldark’s Jack Farthing) who has been obsessed with pursuing Hayley since they were teens. The catalyst that starts colliding these amorous asteroids is a wrongly-placed roofie at the “English Table” where all of these characters are assigned. 

LESSON #2: MISTAKES NOT MAKE AT A WEDDING-- Oh my, this list could go on for days beyond the sleeping medicine that is already in play. The movie will tally new haircuts, inattention, kilts, “wedding buddies,” lies of infidelity, and over-drinking on that thick list. What always makes it funny to watch is the safety in knowing this is not your wedding from the comfort of your Netflix-receiving couch. 

Much of the deranged dither of these bumbling Brits is a hoot to watch. An array of physical expressions of delight, determination, hate, abbreviation, revulsion, concealment, embarrassment, and more emanate from the cast. Ahead of that body language, lines are pushed through gritted teeth and pensive smiles while the proper classical strings of Rossini, Verde, and Mozart orchestrate the chaos. The actors are given the space and the scenarios to have a ball. Eleanor Tomlinson’s f-word-laden frazzle through the facade of necessary pleasantry might even top the wincing unraveling of rooting for Sam Clafin to win the girl. 

LESSON #3: GET YOUR MOMENT-- For as much as each of the ensemble has their twirl in the spotlight, their characters got there either stumbling to the front or seizing it for themselves. Either way, they rolled with it because, as the movie professes, “chance is success or failure in love.” It’s always quick to note “chance can be real bastard,” so be careful. The best route remains the latter one with confident initiative. Tell people in the way of your moment to f--k off and keep you from missing it.

Standing as a remake to the 2012 French film Plan de table, the unpredictability is what keeps Love Wedding Repeat quite lively. For the movie to freeze, turn on a dime, and take us back to the front of the roller coaster is a deft little dalliance. Bravo to Dean Craig, the double Death at a Funeral screenwriter of both the Franz Oz British original and the Neil LaBute American remake, making his debut as a feature director. He took the French’s concept and the ironic tropes of movie weddings and bent enough kinks to make something devilishly delightful.

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#869)

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2wq5SNc

Share:

Read More

COLUMN: Amazon Prime UK: The Best Upcoming Movies & Shows To Watch

Amazon Prime UK: The Best Upcoming Movies & Shows To Watch

There’s no better time for you to binge movies than the summer of 2020. With many people stuck at home due to the recent lockdowns and self-quarantine methods because of the COVID-19 pandemic, movies are what will save us from being bored out of our minds, which is probably why there’s been an increased interest in streaming as of late. Because of this, I find now the perfect time to go over the best upcoming movies this summer coming to Amazon Prime.

As a quick side note, some of these movies may not be releasing in other countries—only the United States and the United Kingdom. Yeah, geo-restrictions aren’t the best way to start this otherwise upbeat article, but it’s true.

However, if you’re interested in watching these movies, are located outside the U.S. and the UK, and don’t care for the rules (like me), consider using an Amazon Prime UK VPN. This way, you’ll be able to bypass the geo-restrictions Amazon set on their app.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse proves once and for all that black-and-white movies still work (and that William Dafoe can still act)!

Directed by Robert Eggers, the mastermind behind The Witch, The Lighthouse tells the story of two lighthouse keepers and their life on a remote island in the 1890s.

Personally, I loved the movie, and it coming to Amazon Prime this year means I get to watch it again, which I’m pretty happy. While I hesitate to call it horror, I would at least call it a psychological thriller, making it a good pick for the one night you’re bored and have nothing to do. 

Pet Sematary

Pet Sematary earned the reputation of being one of Stephen King’s best books, and for good reason. The book uses everyone’s love of pets as a way to induce horror in the reader. Fortunately, the movie does a decent job of doing the same thing, though maybe not as good as the book.

While not as good as other Stephen King movie adaptations, Pet Sematary offers a decent horror experience. If you’re a horror fan, I recommend catching this movie when it comes to Amazon Prime later this year.

Kung Fu Panda

I may be cheating by including this movie since it came out earlier this month, but Kung Fu Panda is considered an animated classic by many, so there’s no reason not to catch this movie on Amazon Prime.

Originally released in 2008, the animated movie is just now coming to the streaming service. If you enjoy animated movies or need to entertain the whole family, there’s no better movie this summer than Kung Fu Panda.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Considered a classic (at least the first few seasons), The Walking Dead is responsible for the zombie craze the world of entertainment experienced back in the early 2010s. AMC knows this, which is why they’ve been churning out seasons like crazy, going so far as to release spinoff TV shows.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond is one of those spinoffs, focusing on people who grew up in the apocalypse. 

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you won’t want to miss this spinoff, as I’m sure it will satiate a zombie lover’s need for, well, zombies.

Star Trek: Picard

Star Trek is a series of spinoffs, with the series being home to many shows and movies. Amazon Prime’s latest Star Trek spinoff, Star Trek: Picard, focuses on Picard coming back to the cockpit.

Set 18 years after Star Trek: Nemesis, the show promises a thrilling story about Picard, a fan favorite and Patrick Stewart’s most popular character. This is a title you don’t want to miss, especially if you’re a Star Trek fan.

Conclusion

Not everything about this pandemic has to be grim and depressing. With the shows I’ve listed, you can distract yourself from the bad news of the world and watch some quality content.

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2xhDrS7

Share:

Read More

MEDIA APPEARANCE: Guest on the "Kicking the Seat" YouTube channel talking "Coffee & Kareem"

When Netflix is the one studio with an open and busy storefront, movies like Coffee & Kareem are what we get. Stuff like that is going to have to suffice, both for general audience as us film critics who haven’t seen a new theatrical film in a month. Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat invited me to the streaming sidelines to ride along with the buddy copy comedy from the director of Stuber and Take Me Home Tonight and starring the dolt of Ed Helms and the potty-mouth of Terrence Little Gardenhigh. I chose to crush a beer over enjoying this cinematic coffee. Enjoy this new video podcast episode on his YouTube channel!

MY FULL REVIEW OF "COFFEE & KAREEM"

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#24)

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2UOV5FM

Share:

Read More

COLUMN: How to Throw the Ultimate Backyard Movie Night

Image: Unsplash

How to Throw the Ultimate Backyard Movie Night

If you asked around a bit, you’d be surprised how many people don’t have a backyard although they want one. If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious backyard, you should use it for leisure activities. We’re not only referring o lounging in a hammock or playing sports but throwing an outdoor movie night. There is no need to watch movies in summer alone and slouched in from of your laptop, as you have all preconditions for the ultimate backyard movie night. And did we tell you that there is a list of movies to watch at the end of the text?

A homemade concession stand

There are numerous examples of movie theaters that charge customers more for a bag of popcorn and a fizzy drink than for the movie ticket itself. That’s why you can be sure that your friends, neighbors, and family will be thankful you organized a concession stand free of charge during the movie night.

Providing everyone with snacks and drinks is easier than you think. Head to the local supermarket to stock on ready-made snacks or prepare a huge batch of fresh popcorn you’ll serve during the screening. A word of advice: make sure there are enough bowls and glasses for everyone, as it would be inconvenient to wash them during the movie night itself.

Canceling out the noise

There are so many advantages of an outdoor movie night that you might forget about its downsides. First and foremost, you have to listen to the weather forecast attentively so there is no rain that evening and secondly, you need to take care of the noise. Everything from the sound of traffic to a rowdy neighbor threatens to ruin the night you have been planning for weeks in advance.

The best way to cancel out any outside noises is by erecting a tall fence and planting trees or scrubs along its edges. Not only will you enjoy a higher level of privacy but the greenery will actually prevent the dust from the street outside from getting inside your spruced up yard.

Seating arrangements

Once you make sure there are enough food and drinks to go around, as well as no interruption from the outside, it is time to sit your guests down. In a commercial movie theater, the most expensive seats are the most comfortable ones so don’t let anyone sit on the ground. This might look cool but not for people with back problems.

Bring out a myriad of seating options from inside the house, ranging from lazy bags to kitchen chairs. The latter can be adorned with comfortable outdoor seating cushions that ought to be water-resistant and shouldn’t fade over time. Heck, you can even bring out the old sofa for the ultimate comfort!

Try everything before everyone arrives

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is leaving technical details last. You probably think that you’ll hook up the project with ease but once you start dabbling with extension cords, you realize that the movie night might not go as smoothly as you planned.

That’s why you should try out the equipment at least 24 hours before the big night. This will help get rid of issues such as no audio or a malfunctioning projector from the very start so guests are not denied the ultimate backyard movie night experience.

Bonus: A list of movies to watch

Once everything is rigged, the popcorn is warm, and the chairs “cushioned,” it’s time to press play. Selecting the ideal set of movies for the movie night isn’t easy so here’s a list of the most popular movies for outdoor screenings: “Big Trouble in Little China” (1986), “Wedding Crashers” (2005), “Superbad” (2007), “Dirty Dancing” (1987), “Love Actually” (2003), “Selma” (2014), “Ocean's Eleven” (2001), “Clueless” (1995), “Taken” (2008), etc.

Now that you know how to throw the ultimate backyard movie night, it’s time to start inviting people, all the while preparing all the necessities listed above. If you own a spruced-up backyard, it would be a shame to let it sit idle so converting it into an open-air cinema is the best way to use this outdoor space. 

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2JFp4to

Share:

Read More

COLUMN: 3 Movies That Used Instagram Marketing and the Way They Did It

3 Movies That Used Instagram Marketing and the Way They Did It

by Sujain Thomas

As far as marketers are concerned, they are trying to diversify and build useful strategies to pique audience interest in innovative ways. In this article, we are going to walk you through some of the film industry examples that leveraged Instagram to take their messaging and information delivery to the next level. 

The photo-sharing social app could be perceived as an initial and final level of interaction with cinema. It could be a customer viewing a post in pre-production, follow the channel, and offering a community for the movie fans after release. 

You will find numerous case studies to support Instagram use. For instance, TV Land wished to promote their show ‘Teachers’ to a younger audience. Once they ran a successful campaign, TV Land cited that they witnessed a 21 percent jump in their brand awareness. 

According to an article published on Huffpost.com, you can create stunning Instagram content to make top celebs share your content. Why celebs alone! Even your fans can share your Instagram posts for boosting reach and brand awareness. Therefore, let us see how these movies used Instagram marketing to succeed. 

1. Hunt for the Wilderpeople

First let us begin with small-scale movies that made their mark with Instagram content. If you look at the media exposure and size of this film, it has done extremely well. In simple words, it nailed their Instagram content. It is an independent movie from New Zealand, had 8,830 followers, and shared some of the best quality Instagram content. The follower figures were expected to increase more as the movie gained more popularity. 

When you compare Hunt for the Wilderpeople with other small-scale movies like The Witch and Sing Street, they managed to garner 7,665 and 6,140 followers respectively. The makers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople managed to garner huge followers because they shared numerous types of social media content, both the actors and director featured regularly, and sourced photos and paintings from fans. 

2. Zoolander 2

As far as Zoolander 2 is concerned, it used its voice and character to a significant level on social media. Then, this strategy might not suit all filmmakers but this movie took its Instagram promotion for Zoolander 2 to another level. The film marketer playing on the persona of the actual characters did something out-of-the-box. Their Instagram account was full of funny quotes, celeb friends, and modeling shoots. However, the one million followers that the film’s IG profile reached were due to its big marketing budget, and the normal access to celebs. 

This film cashed on the film industry and paid more attention to making the most out of partnerships. The marketers of Zoolander 2 knew their basic very well, as they used all things such as news headlines and election hashtags to stay newsworthy. If your Instagram basics are strong, you will have reasons to buy Instagram followers and likes. 

Whether it is celebrities, news agencies, or magazines, this movie made the best use of the collective potency of the fashion industry. 

3. The Hunger Games 

When you have a film with loyal millennial and teen fan following, its Instagram marketing had to be a success. Whether it is sharing designs from the film show, customizing scenes, interviews, the social media promotion matched national and global days. The Hunger Games has a whopping 1.4 million fan following. 

The things the marketers did well are using promotional interviews, use of behind-the-scenes shots, and leveraging of sketches, designs, as well as additional materials. 

How the film marketers did the Instagram promotion 

Share content before the film release:

These film marketers used behind-the-scenes shots and images to capture the fun involved in the set. You can do this during the promotion and production phase, thus proving users with the inside content they are looking for. It would help in developing the fun and excitement surrounding the film. You can also share the film director’s experience to pique user interest. 

Respond to user comments and keep the conversation going:

If you already have loyal fans, ensure you reply to their comments. You must appear as the voice of your new film than just a transmitting means. Respond fast to the comments. If you take days to reply, the conversation will be lost. If these film marketers can do it, you too can do the same and take your film branding to the next level. 

Use different types of content:

Use different kinds of photos, videos, sketches of costume design, storyboards, and cartoons that would pique audience interest. Just introduce the film as much and not to give out the whole story. Let your fans keep guessing. Make sure you use interactive content. Use the Instagram Stories feature for generating longer user views. 

Conclusion 

Now that you know how these movie marketers used Instagram content for promotion, you can use these tips to promote your new film. 

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/2V3X0oZ

Share:

Read More

MOVIE REVIEW: Coffee & Kareem

(Image by Justina Mintz for Netflix)

COFFEE & KAREEM-- 1 STAR

The posters for Netflix’s latest action comedy Coffee & Kareem (which is silly already because it would never see a theater, with or without a pandemic shutdown) have been trying to splash its stars Ed Helms and youngster Terrence Little Gardenhigh in classic poses, fashions, and fonts from Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hours, and Die Hard. The crack marketing department is really trying to get your nostalgic attention for the violent and raunchy R-rated cop movie of old with this PhotoShop power play. Catch a whiff right here:

Those posters clearly catch the eye, but once Coffee & Kareem attempts to evoke the promotional notion that it is worthy of standing next to classic giants like those three films as a homage or even as an lesser riff, it’s asking to bomb. 

LESSON #1: DON’T PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING YOU’RE NOT-- When you fail, even intentionally, you become one more shitty cop movie from a generation ago. Does someone get an award somewhere from some lofty agency of aficionados when you make a shitty cop movie precisely as shitty as the old shitty cop movies this shitty cop movie emulates and remembers? Is that a Razzie or something else?

James Coffee is a mustachioed and divorced peace officer in the city of Detroit who naively loves Hall & Oates, upholding the law, helping people, and, yeah, yeah, yeah, the straight do-gooder wussy stuff you would expect. He is a complete dolt, played by the actor with the most locked-in doltish gear in the business in Helms. With a salt-grained hint of spice, James is bedding Taraji P. Henson’s hot, black, and widowed nurse named Vanessa. She is the mother of Kareem, her pudgy and fast-talking teenage son, played by the feature-debuting TV actor Gardenhigh. 

In more than the usual “so many words,” Kareem doesn’t like where Coffee’s nightstick has been. He plots to pay off a popular juvenile convict named Orlando (RonReaco Lee) to rough the dorky cop up to scare him away from his mom on a day when Coffee is picking the teen up from school. Orlando is, coincidentally, a collar Coffee embarrassingly lost which resulted in office chiding from his superior (Betty Glipin, recently of The Hunt) and a traffic duty demotion from his captain (a gray-bearded David Alan Grier). 

In propositioning the former hood, Kareem (and a tailing Coffee) are caught at the scene of a cop execution, one that Kareem records on social media. In the cross hairs of their own at-odds foolishness, the titular duo find themselves mixed up in dirty cops, tasers, drug deals, media-spun kidnapping confusions, gun play, constant racial and homophobic faux pas, and a heap of danger that will get them both in boiling hot water with Vanessa, let alone iced-down toe-tagging coroners and other higher authorities.

Coffee & Kareem surges for maximum sarcastic sacrilege out of all involved. Lovers of good roasts laced with compound obscenities will have much to love. Especially with Terrence Little Gardenhigh, this is way past Kids Say the Darndest Things. The savage vitriolic humor he spews, whether it's scripted or ad-libbed, is snappy for sure and also vile beyond comprehension at some points. The second best stinger in the hive is Betty Gilpin busting balls like they were loaded in a Whac-A-Mole machine. 

LESSON #2: MEN OF ALL AGES ARE HORRENDOUSLY INSECURE-- Thanks to the profanity, the loudest and bluntest message this movie has is trying to present all of the possible the insecure posturing males attempt when trying to think and be tough. They exaggerate. They lie. Their mouths get them in trouble. They get called out on it, and they furiously flail and fail. That’s not exciting. That’s sophomoric.  

Returning to the opening rant, where Coffee & Kareem treads on greatness and fails miserably in trying to be tacky tribute to comedy gold is in the stakes department. As irreverent as Eddie Murphy or Bruce Willis ever got in their iconic wiseacre roles, their movies had actual peril and imposing boundaries. There was either an authority figure peer or an indomitable villain (often both) that always grounded the kite-flying humor back to the grit that was a tried and true cop movie. With that edge, the humor was wiser and the body counts mattered because one of them could, at any point, become the protagonist or someone they or you cared about.

Zero of that level of sharpness or heft exists in Coffee & Kareem, directed by Stuber helmer Michael Dowse, who knows his way around the 80s with his career peak Take Me Home Tonight. The closest you get is Taraji P. Henson staring holes through ignorance, shouting more F-words, slapping tastes out of mouths, and whipping ass in her fleeting Pam Grier-esque moments to dominate. That was never going to Gilpin’s rival or any of the gun-toting henchmen. Instead, the best you get is some partial heart from the range-less Ed Helms connecting with the kid and the attempt of sacrificing his well-being to save who he comes cares about. That’s weak sauce here.

At around the one-hour mark with just about 30 minutes remaining in this economical one-nighter, Coffee reaches a point where he bemoans Kareem “Just pull over and stop. Let them kill me. I’m done.” Boy, after the hour that was already had, filled with dumbfounded narrative and creative choices, fake trauma, and forgotten consequences, he ain’t kidding. Pass the bullet and the remote. 

LOGO DESIGNED BY MEENTS ILLUSTRATED (#868)

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/39xWdBS

Share:

Read More

COLUMN: 3 Tips for Making Custom Movie Posters

(Image: reddit.com)

3 Tips for Making Custom Movie Posters

Are you a fanatic of movies or series? Do you feel like you want to get closer to your favorite actors and actresses? There is a way for you to do that. It will not matter if you are creative or not.  We are all independently unique hence ensure that you bring your brains to the table. 

You can come up with amazing posters that you can hang in your room alongside many other places of choice. The incredible thing about making them is that you can show off all your creativity. The points that follow show the tips for showing off your favorite movie posters.

Use Captions That Will Intrigue The Audience

If you use boring captions, no one will be interested in reading what is on your poster. Work on your wording and ensure that you make it exciting. You should also ensure that the name of the movie will be written in bold. Picture writing it in italic, for instance. Will people even notice it? Not at all! 

Customize Fantastic Icon Stories

These icons can speak for your poster without you necessarily having to incorporate words or a caption. Icons are there to give you a hand in case you get stuck. Be picky because everyone will be attracted to it if it is versatile. Stealing someone else’s idea will be a bad idea. Remember that originality sells! So stick to your work and believe in yourself because at the end of the day, if you do not believe in yourself, then who will?

Look For An Attractive Background Image

Here you should go for very conspicuous colors. They will always catch the eye of people. If you go for dark colors, they are most likely going to remain unnoticed. You do not want that. The image that you will also put should be out of this world-should turn heads. Remember that it is going to be the first thing that the reader will see. 

You should put a lot of energy and invest a lot in this part. Although you want it to look amazing, you should ensure that it does not seem overly done or instead too complicated. You can, however, use a color overlay if you are a maximalist. Minimalists, however, should ensure that they use a simple image because it dominates the whole poster.

Framing Your Movie Poster

Although some people to display their favorite movie posters flat on the wall with thumbtacks, one of the best ways to preserve your DIY art is inside a quality poster frame. Even for framing it, there are multiple options. Depending on the dimensions, you can try a ready made poster frame or if the piece is too large you can order a custom frame. 

If you’re a collector of movie posters or vintage posters then you SHOULD always consider framing them or putting them in a protective environment!

The above points show ways you can show off your movie posters. If you want them to catch the eyes of many, you should ensure that you stick to these tips. Balance all the activities in the poster-otherwise it will look like it is too busy. People may end up overlooking it because they will not be able to decipher what it is all about.  

Remember to choose a versatile background image. You may also seek people’s advice after you make it. From there, you will know whether it is ready to be posted or not. Look for ways that will make you creative before you start making them.

Permalink

from REVIEW BLOG - Every Movie Has a Lesson https://ift.tt/3bGq38I

Share:

Read More