The Other Guys - Review

The Other Guys....a Comedy? a Thriller? an Action Movie?? Who knows. I certainly couldn't tell you, what I can tell you however is that its one HILARIOUS ride.

The film begins with a really enjoyable action scene staring New York's star cops ("Samuel L Jackson" and "Dwayne Johnson") extravagantly pursuing a group of criminals. They are the "SUPERCOPS" and return to the Police station adorned with medals and gratuitous amounts of respect from their fellow officers. "Will Ferrell" and "Mark Wahlberg" are the office losers, the "Other Guys". After the rather unusual (and superfunny) demise of the supercops, "Ferrell" and "Wahlberg" seize an opportunity to step up like their idols -- only things don't quite go as planned.

Now after some terribly unfunny summer comedies, "The Other Guys" is very refreshing. It is incredibly funny, sharp and surreal. "Mark Wahlberg" is also real surprise as he often surpasses the seasoned "Ferrell" with his comedic skill. Especially in the scenes involving nerdy Will Ferrell's obviously gorgeous wife played by "Eva Mendes". Literally every few minutes there is something to cause belly laughs and infectious giggling. I was sat next to my Fiancé and he was literally screaming down the theater with his laughter. This being said...the style of comedy in "The Other Guys" is so varying that it really can leave you confused. There are relentlessly surreal scenes and characters most notably the painfully funny "Brett Gelman" as Hal...the new husband of "Ferrell's" Ex Wife in a scene in which he runs 20 miles non stop in pursuit of a car. But the film also has some fairly conventional chuckle comedy, slap stick and subtle character based jokes brilliantly executed by "Micheal Keaton".

Confusion is really the downfall of the film....don't get me wrong the film is a laugh a minute, but it becomes very muddled and hard to follow. It simply doesn't know what kind of film it wants to be. It tries to hold down a rather serious storyline of their high-profile investigation of shady capitalist David Ershon ("Steve Coogan"), instead the spikey comedy and the fairly complex storyline end up distracting each other..which results in distracting you (the audience member). The films closing credits even include an animated lesson about Corruption and Capitalism, its almost as if the writer was worried that people wouldn't just enjoy it as a out and out comedy....as though we "NEEDED" something more substantial to accompany the copious amounts of hilarity.

So overall "The Other Guys" is without a doubt an intensely amusing film...it just gets distracted by its rather sober storyline.

JOE ON FILM RATING - 8/10

By Joseph Samuel Carter

Grown Ups - Reviewed

How can such talented and genuinely funny comedians produce such a stale, unfunny movie as this?

"Grown Ups" was billed as being the funniest movie of the summer, boasting a cast PACKED to the brim with comedic greatness. The plot (and I use that term in the loosest way possible) goes as follows...After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend. The five friends are played by Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider. 5 comedian buddies hanging out with each other...not being funny. Seriously thats about it. It's 102 mins of the most embarassing excuse for comedy, plus a few schmaltzy American pre-packaged morals thrown in about how important family is yadayadayada.

What happened? It seems like Adam phoned up some of his comedian pals and said "hey you wanna make a movie? We can hang out by a lake for a few weeks, have some fun and make some money? You know people will buy into this right?". Its pure mediocrity, every scene in this movie is a 3 minute set up for one unfunny gag after another. Whole elaborate scenes set up for what culminates in a nancy bitchslap of a PUNCH line. Not only that, its infuriating that the 5 "Comedians" ARE genuinley funny guys, they have been in some great films and shows that I care about...such as the wonderful "King of Queens", but the star of that show "Kevin James" doesnt so much as cause a titter during the runtime of "Grown Ups".

I feel the blame has to lie with someone and that someone has to be "Adam Sandler", he seems to be almost afraid of the camera throughout the movie, and possibly is on the same tranquilizer as "Chris Rock", who literally sounds like he just woke up as he delivers each of his lines, then retires back into his coma. "Adam Sandler" also co wrote this piece of infantile garbage.....although when you see that his co writer was involved with "Without a Paddle" the lack of laughs kinda makes sense.

Rob Schneider once again tried his hardest at acting, David Spade however actually was kinda funny, out of everyone...he actually caused a laugh or two.

Anyway this is a warning to all JOE ON FILM readers....please, please, PLEASE don't watch this movie, save your money, don't give it to Adam. We need a PSA for this movie....seriously.

2/10- I have never felt so deeply saddened that I have the ability to see and hear.