‘Jay & Silent Bob Reboot’ Movie Review

‘Jay & Silent Bob Reboot’ (2019)
View Askew Productions & Miramax Films

Directed by: Kevin Smith
Written by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Harley Quinn Smith, Shannon Elizabeth, Aparna Brielle, Treshelle Edmond, Alice Wen, Jason Lee, Rosario Dawson & Craig Robinson

What is the difference between a reboot, a remake, a re-imagining, etc? Have no fear – ‘Jay & Silent Bob Reboot‘ will explain it all to you while also adding in equal parts heart, humor & nostalgia. After Jay & Silent Bob are duped into relinquishing the use of their names by Saban Films, the duo must once again make their way to Hollywood in order to stop a reboot of ‘Bluntman & Chronic’ from being made. If the plot sounds familiar, that’s because it is almost exactly the same plot as ‘Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back’ (hence the whole “Reboot” joke). Jason Mewes & Kevin Smith once again reprise the roles of the titular characters and the rest of the cast is filled out by a bevy of faces that will be familiar to anyone who is a fan of the View Askewniverse movies along with actors from other pop culture favorite shows & films from Fred Armisen and Melissa Benoist to Val Kilmer and Chris Hemsworth. It’s evident that Smith left nothing out when it comes to fan service in this remake, I mean… reboot.

The first third of the movie was a little slow and had a few cringe-worthy moments as well. After this, the film seems to course correct and take a massive upswing delivering not only a great deal of heart and comedy, but a solid self-awareness as it pokes fun of itself and at writer / director Kevin Smith as well. Many of the funny moments are inside jokes for those familiar with other Kevin Smith films, so I would advise the casual movie goer to at least see ‘Clerks‘, ‘Dogma‘ & ‘Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back‘ in order to not be completely lost when seeing this latest installment. (I’d recommend that anyone and everyone should see ‘Dogma‘ anyway, but that’s a topic for another post.) As the credits began and we got to see B-roll and outtakes, I looked around and saw many people smiling and laughing about the film experience in which they had just engaged and it did seem that a good time was had by all. I personally enjoyed the film as well aside from the one or two problems I mentioned earlier. However, I didn’t go away feeling that this was Smith’s magnum opus. It felt very solid and certainly delivered on its promises of what was offered. Arguably this is the very best at which we’ve ever seen Jason Mewes acting wise in these films. For me, his performance stole the show and if we never got another Jay & Silent Bob film again then I do feel that they went out on a high note. That being said, I worry that the slow beginning and the vast array of inside jokes may make this a film that will not be highly regarded by the average cinephile. On a scale of 1 – 10, I’d have to say that ‘Jay & Silent Bob Reboot’ only serves up a light buzz of a 7 for me. Tickets are on sale now at a theater near you. Snoochie Boochies!!

‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil’ Movie Review

‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil’ (2019)
Walt Disney Pictures

Directed by: Matt Joachim Ronning
Written by: Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster & Micah Fitzerman-Blue
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Ed Skrein, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Leslie Manville & Michelle Pfeifferr

Another Disney movie in theaters this weekend is ‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil‘ which is a sequel to the 2014 box office hit centered on the titular character best known as the villain from ‘Sleeping Beauty‘. The premise is simple: after years of raising Aurora as her own daughter in The Moors, Maleficent is invited to a dinner at the royal palace to celebrate Aurora’s engagement to Prince Phillip. Unbeknownst to all, Phillip’s mother, Queen Ingrith, is determined to use the dinner as a way to paint Maleficent as a truly wicked creature in her bid to expand the kingdom, destroy all the mystical creatures in The Moors and claim its resources for her own. Angelina Jolie stylishly reprises her role as Maleficent while Elle Fanning returns to the role of Aurora with wonderful doe-eyed innocence. Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple are also back as the 3 colorful fairies while Sam Riley returns with his wry humor and perfect comedic timing in the role of Diaval. The role of Prince Phillip has been recast in the form of Harris Dickinson who plays a serviceable role, but for me, lacks Brandon Thwaites‘ (who played Phillip in the original film) stormy presence.

New characters Conall (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Queen Ingrith (portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer) were the standout performances for me along with Angelina Jolie who I would have liked to see more of in her own film. Visually, the film is wonderful – colorful when it needs to be and appropriately dark when necessary. The concept of xenophobia looms large in this one and it showcases the harm that can come from fear and intolerance. Overall though, I feel like this would have been just as good as an animated feature instead of a live action opus. A sequel was inevitable with as much money as its predecessor brought in at the box office, but “inevitable” doesn’t always nor should it equate to “required”. There isn’t quite as much fun in the second go around and, while it presents a beautiful spectacle, it’s just a little on the underwhelming side overall. Die-hard Disney fans will no doubt turn out to see it and, to it’s credit, it is an original story and not another one of the live-action remakes of an original cartoon classic so it does have that going for it. Overall, I’d rate this film as a worthy effort that falls somewhat short making it a 6 out of 10 for me and I’m adding a point due to the performances delivered by Jolie, Pfeiffer & Ejiofor. This may be one you want to save for Redbox or On Demand.

‘The Addams Family’ Movie Review

‘The Addams Family’ (2019)
MGM Pictures

Directed by: Greg Tiernan & Conrad Vernon 
Written by: Matt Lieberman, Pamela Pettler & Erica Rivinoja
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg & Allison Janney

Halloween is just around the corner. And while most people’s minds turn to horror films, a charming new animated addition to the box office this coming weekend will be a revisiting of one of the creepiest and kookiest families in America – The Addams Family! Originally springing from the mind of cartoonist Charles Addams and first appearing in “The New Yorker”, the characters have been around for nearly a century but this is their very first animated feature-film. Having been driven out of “the old country” on the day of their wedding, Gomez & Morticia decide to begin their life together somewhere new. Upon arriving in New Jersey, they find an old, abandoned & haunted lunatic asylum and find it to be just horrible enough to make it their home. Trouble begins when TV home makeover queen Margaux Needler realizes that the Addams’ hilltop macabre mansion and their bizarre visiting relatives could upset her plans to sell homes in the town of Assimilation and sets out to rally the townspeople against the family.

Directed by Greg Tiernan & Conrad Vernon, this movie boasts some seriously heavy hitters when it comes to voice talent. From Oscar Isaac & Charlize Theron as Gomez & Morticia to Finn Wolfhard & Chloe Grace Moretz as Pugsley & Wednesday, we even get powerhouses Bette Midler & Snoop Dogg as Grandma & Cousin It. The film does a great job of being original while also incorporating several nods and homages to the original TV series as well as to the 1991 film of the same name. It’s well-done on the animation front with a solid story line that gives all of the characters plenty to do and Conrad Vernon deftly handles the incredible voice cast making the most of everyone’s talents.  What this means is that we get a fun and clever movie that the adults will enjoy every bit as much as the children. Clocking in at just 1 hour & 27 minutes, this film will be easy to slip into your weekend plans. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d say that ‘The Addams Family‘ manages to conjure up a solid 8 for me. Don’t be scared to get out and see it at a theater near you for part of your Halloween plans.