A Simple Favor is a delicious, twisty turning fun film full of deception, beautiful people , a vlog, surprises, and friends? Anna Kendrick is Stephanie, super single mom who hosts her video blog, makes the best school food treats, and is conservatively eager to please. When son Miles and his friend Nicky beg for a play date, she agrees when Emily, the cold as ice beautiful Blake Lively, invites Stephanie over for a martini. “Momma needs a reset button.”  Oh my! 

Stephanie has never met anyone like Emily, who drinks, curses, wears power clothes, works in the city, has the hot author husband, and dares Stephanie to be bad. Then the phone call, “Can you pick up Nicky and take him after school for a bit? I’m swamped at work.”   One simple favor turns into days…where is Emily?  Stephanie posts her concern on her vlog. Shaun (the luscious Henry Golding) involves the police. What’s going on?  Then a body in a Michigan lake turns out to be Emily – DNA and tattoo match.  End of movie grieving?

Oh no. That was only the beginning. I won’t give more away. Grab the popcorn tub and hang on for a wild ride in suburbia. Good acting. Lots of twists. And several, “Say what?” moments.

Just A Simple Favor…that’s all. 

Movie Review Madness - Pitch Perfect 3

Pitch Perfect 3 is silly, campy fun and a great way to spend a winter two hours. Hang out with a tub of popcorn, listen to tunes, laugh, and come out smiling. The Pitches are back in fine form. 

Well, the Bellas are out of college and in the real world, and that’s a bummer. Anna Kendrick’s a music producer but feeling discouraged with the kids and crap she has to deal with. She quits. Now what?

Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson – so fabulous. Her throwaway lines are gems) is bumbling along. At a Bellas reunion, the ladies all agree they’ll do anything to sing together again. How about a USO show? They have a connection and suddenly are landing at a base in Spain. Hilarity ensues. Of course there’s a riff-off with the other bands (and they have instruments…shocking!)

Are there love connections? Yes. These ladies are on a military base for goodness sake.

Are there some daddy issues? John Lithgow appears from a long ago past to connect with Amy. But his nefarious past proves troublesome. Just go with the plot line. Rebel is vulnerable and strong.

Pitch Perfect 3 has awesome mash-ups and plenty of girl power. Don’t judge. I got my five dollars of matinee entertainment.  And hey, can’t go wrong with a George Michael finale tune – Freedom 90. Seriously, so uplifting. The Bellas are fine and ready for their own freedom in the world. Sing it loud!

Movie Review Madness - The Accountant

The Accountant is not a sequel to anything. This is awesome news. It’s a fresh independent movie starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, John Lithgow, and J.K. Simmons. All of these actors are spot on in their roles.

Affleck plays Christian Wolff, a math savant who’s a small town accountant. But behind the scenes, he’s fully armed and dangerous. Video shows him meeting with “bad guys” – he’s the accountant to terrorist stars and J.K. Simmons, a Treasury Department agent about to retire is ready for his last big hurrah. He’s going to catch this guy, get his list, and take them all down. Meanwhile Christian is called into a robotics company run by John Lithgow (always good at being earnest sleazy) . Anna Kendrick was the little whistle blower – saying something wasn’t quite right with the books.  (and she’s very relatable as a “real” employee who’s a bit of a nerd herself)

Lots of math is discussed. Christian, in record time, locates a problem. Anna wonders “Who is this guy?” when she discovers all of his guns and his art work (he has a Jackson Pollock on a ceiling). The cat and mouse game is amusing to watch – Affleck, Simmons, and Lithgow. 

You have to suspend some belief and just go with the flow in this film. I’m not going to explain more, and indeed the film can be a tad talkie. But the premise is intriguing and Affleck pulls off a unique character. He’s managed to learn to work in the real world, and yet he has to keep his own boundaries to make that work.

The Accountant has action, intrigue, and math.  Somehow they all add up to a worthy flick for adults.

Movie Review Madness: Pitch Perfect 2

Pitch Perfect was a small summer movie that snuck into big buck success after word of mouth. Now Pitch Perfect 2 is bigger, but still has that “small” movie appeal. Music mashups, competition, graduation, and Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy. What more do you need in a movie? First there’s Muffgate – a shocking screwup when the Barden Bellas perform in front of the President and First Lady. The award winning acapella group are banned from further competition, cannot recruit new members, and are in shame at the college. But, a new girl does get in as a legacy (her mother belonged). Then the ladies figure out a loop hole to get into world’s. Oh the hijinks ensue.  

But can they find their sound again, their soul? Anna Kendrick keeps being psyched out by Das Sound Machine, the scary German group. In their first performance back the Bellas have too much going on to mask their insecurities. A country retreat has the girls at bare bones working together as  a team and they keep building their sound. Meanwhile Anna’s interning for a music producer. She’s demonstrating that there’s more to life than the Bellas – time to grow and move into the world. 

Onward to Copenhagen and the world championships. What will they sing? Did they find that creative spark? Maybe a new tune altogether? Pitch Perfect 2 is sheer joy and fun and good music. You’ll laugh out loud, your feet will want to dance, and you’ll enjoy the mash-up production numbers. I’m shaking my head now at the thought of Rebel Wilson – she is fearless in her comedic delivery and so perfect in pitch. Go support the ladies in this summer time testosterone fueled field (Avengers, Mad Max,etc). The music battlefield is tough.

 

Movie Review Madness: Into the Woods

It had been a long time since I saw the stage musical “Into the Woods”, but I have fond memories of its magic. Now the movie directed by Rob Marshall is on screen and it’s a lush production. Into the Woods has  a great cast and is faithful to the story as  a childless couple seek to end a witch’s curse.  However, it seemed really long despite just two hour running time. And Stephen Sondheim music is tricky – it’s not hummable, but it does tell the tale. If sing-talk annoys you, then stop reading now.  

Emily Blunt (baker’s wife) has a lovely voice. I liked her best. James Corden (baker) is pleasant. Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf is amusing. The young lady playing Red Riding Hood has a nice set of pipes, and the boy Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk) took his part well.  Anna Kendrick (Cinderella) is decent but a tad shrieky on high notes. Chris Pine (the Prince) is dashing and he says, “I was raised to be charming, not sincere.” He appeared to have fun in his role and could sing just fine. The star is the witch and Meryl Streep can certainly act -  but to me, she is only an adequate singer. Critics are suggesting Oscar nomination – I say no.  

All of these characters converge in the woods and all seek different things. The Bakers want a child and must gather four items – a red hood, a white cow, golden hair, and a gold slipper – by the blue moon so the witch can create her potion and lift a curse upon them. Thus encounters with Red Riding Hood, Cinderella escaping the ball, Jack taking his family cow to market, and Rapunzel stuck in a tower are crucial to the success of the Bakers. All must conquer fears, and learn about risks. There are lessons in the songs and the famous song “Children Will Listen” is important.  

All in all, I liked the film okayish (C+, B-) for my $4.50. It kept me warm on a cold day for two hours. However, unlike some musicals (like Rob Marshall’s Chicago) this did not generate audience energy. You did not want to burst into song or tap dance or do jazz hands. However, it makes you think as you go “into the woods”  (i.e. enter your own life challenges) and come out on the other side.