Well, things are going a bit slow as far as movie viewing
goes, so I figured I would take the time to finish a couple reviews that I’ve
been putting off for a while. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, and The Lego Movie.
I first saw both films all the way back in February, but I
held off on giving them actual reviews for other projects. Now that they’re
both about to be released on Blu-Ray, I decided I would finally take the time
to archive my thoughts on them. They’re both really entertaining, and I hope
you’ll check them both out.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit:
Kenneth Branagh is one of our finest theatrical talents, but
to my knowledge, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him take on an espionage thriller
in this vein before. I’d certainly like to see him do it again, as he shows he
has considerable chops for it. The one knock against this movie that I have to
give is the fact that the story is, truth be told, stock. While the characters
are plenty of fun to watch, the actual script feels reminiscent of other,
better spy thrillers; Some Bourne here, some Bond there, and several other
notes taken from superior predecessors.
However, that is easily forgivable, as the film delivers on exactly what
it wants to be, and that’s slick, fast-paced popcorn thrills.
The action, for the most part, is more restrained than many
of its competitors. While not without its fair share of fist fights and car
chases, for a majority of the time, stealth and espionage takes the prime
focus. This is especially useful in generating suspense, none the least of
which is elicited from a nail-biting office infiltration. The cast is very
solid all around, as Chris Pine continues to prove himself a capable and
charismatic action lead, Kevin Costner is reliably wise and stoic, and Keira
Knightley manages to take a stock and cliched character, and give it much
needed gravity, charm, and realism. Kenneth Branagh also plays his usual,
scenery-chewing self, feeling like a villain straight out of a Connery Bond
film, and he relishes every moment on screen. If you can get past its narrative
flaws, I imagine you’ll have a good time with it.
***1/2 / *****
The Lego Movie:
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! At least, everything in this movie
is. After last year’s uncharacteristically dull year in animation, with this
one movie, we are already leaps and bounds ahead of it in quality. You’re
looking at the very first movie of 2014 that I have already seen TWICE in
theaters. While initially, deceptively looking rehashed of so many clichés of
numerous, previous animated features, the script for this movie is actually
very smart in subverting and satirizing these usual tropes and archetypes. I
can’t explain why without giving crucial (and hilarious) reveals away, but the
film’s third act puts all of these tropes into a fascinating perspective and
leads into one of the film’s most touching realizations.
However, even without the touching ending, I still would
have given this film a pass for the simple fact that it is straight. up.
Hysterical! This is among the funniest animated features I have ever seen. The
film has so much irresistible energy, and while this level of hyperactivity
would have failed in lesser hands (just see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
for an example of how NOT to do it), with all the great investment in character
and world building, it’s just a delight. For me, comedy is all about details,
and while the smaller stuff may not even register or matter for most viewers,
those elements are still crucial in helping audiences buy into the illusion of
this world. Everything is here, from one-liners, to sight gags, editing gags,
surprise character appearances, satire, even down to music (which includes the
film’s tongue-in-cheek anthem “Everything is Awesome”, which is already a
thousand times more interesting than most mainstream electronica). There are so
many jokes present in this film, and shockingly, there’s not a single one that
misses the mark. The film’s cast is no less perfect in this regard, including
but not limited to Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Morgan Freeman,
Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie, and Liam Neeson. One standout gag involves an
astronaut voiced by Charlie Day, and without giving it away, the payoff to this
joke’s glorious build up had me in tears from laughing so hard.
If I have to criticize the film in any way, it’s that, on a
repeat viewing, a couple of the surprise jokes don’t feel quite as humorous as
they once were. They’re still very good jokes, but given that we know what’s
coming, their response feels a bit muted. However, that’s a minor complaint to
a GREAT film that not only deserves, but demands your attention. It doesn’t
hurt that the film, from head to toe, is GORGEOUS! If ever an animated feature
justified an Oscar nomination for Best Production Design, this is it.
****1/2 / *****
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