Oh Baby: A Cult Classic is Born!

Director:  Edgar Wright

Cast:  Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Elza Gonzalez

Release Date:  June 28, 2017

Rare is the movie that’s willing to put the pedal to the metal, dare to be bold, and accelerate past the sequels, prequels, and superhero movies to stand out as a cultural juggernaut at the box office. Crafted by the master hand of visionary Edgar Wright, Baby Driver is a cult classic brought to life with sheer bravado and a killer soundtrack.

Baby (a charismatic Elgort) loves three things most in the world: a good tune, his adoptive father, and getting behind the wheel. We’re not talking driving an ice cream truck or even circling the track for NASCAR. Baby is a bona fide criminal, serving as the getaway driver for a number of crimes. Led by his mentor Doc, Baby does what he’s best at, all the while never losing his ear buds, sunglasses, or enigmatic nature. However, that all changes when he falls for Debora (James), a waitress who wants to get out of town and find a better life. After all, who doesn’t love a bad boy with a heart of gold? Suddenly it’s more important than ever to keep blood off his hands. This proves difficult when he falls in with a trio of ruthless cutthroats with their eyes on the prize (a manic Hamm, sultry Gonzalez, and slightly miscast Foxx). He’s no longer dipping his toe in the life of a criminal but taking the full plunge.

Stylish, funny, and suspenseful, Baby Driver is everything that’s great about going to the movies. It’s a throwback to a bygone era, while at the same time being a contemporary action/romance with endless charm and total staying power. In other words, it’s what Drive was trying to be until the tires spun out. From the direction to the actors, everyone seems genuinely full of joy to be part of making this film. And for good reason. Baby Driver has drive-in magic and blockbuster appeal pulsing with every beat.

Moana: More than a Disney Darling

Director:  Ron Clements, Don Hall, John Musker, Chris Williams

Main:  Auli’l Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House

Visually stunning with an irresistible Disney aesthetic, Moana is another notch on the mouse-eared belt. But it’s memorable, exciting, and a bold leap forward in terms of powerful animation with a cultural impact.

Even though she is forced to an isolated life on an island in Ancient Polynesia, Moana (Cravalho) dreams of a life as a seafarer, braving the unforgiving waves and crossing the reef into the unknown world beyond. Her wise sage of a grandmother, Gramma Tala (House), fully supports Moana’s dreams of travel, but her father isn’t too keen on his daughter leaving the nest. Moana is being primed for a life of leadership of her people. Leaving the island means facing the unknown, an unfathomable thought for her chieftain father. However, when things take the turn for the worst, Moana is forced to go against her father’s wishes and enter the crystal waters beyond the island. The goal—restore the heart of the ocean to its rightful owner in order to reverse the damage of a long ago curse placed upon the Pacific islands at the hands of demigod Maui (Johnson).

You can almost hear the writers consciously weighing every decision about how to bring Moana to life. And thankfully, they spare us the traditional damsel in distress with weak ankles (and a love interest) in favor of a stout, ambitious leader who is willing to take risks. It’s a breath of fresh air, calling upon the favorable characteristics of Pocahontas and Mulan. Between the Lin-Manuel Miranda scribed soundtrack, razor-sharp writing, and the gorgeous scenery, Moana is a Disney heroine worth immortalizing with ice shows, theme park rides, and Halloween costumes.

 

Squad Down: DC Fails Us Again

 

 

-Posted by Alyssa

 

Director:  David Ayer

Cast:  Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Cara Delevingne, Joel Kinnaman

 

Suicide Squad had a monumental anticipation amongst fans. Unfortunately, its punk rock, neon bashing to the head is short-lived. “DC” should stand for “dud cinema.”

The villains become the vigilantes when they are called upon by rigid leader Amanda Waller (Davis) to complete a dangerous mission. Called the Suicide Squad, the crew is the worst of the worse and proves that the loose screws have the fun. There is Harley Quinn (Robbie), the lovesick psychiatrist and the Joker’s (Leto) main squeeze; Deadshot (Smith), a crazily accurate sniper with an 11-year-old daughter; Boomerang (Courtney), the Aussie with a fetish for pink unicorns; Diablo (Hernandez), a pyro with a flaring temper; Killer Croc, the reptilian muscle man who lurks in the sewers; and Katana who has lethal skills and a sword that stores its victims’ souls. At first, the chaos of being sprung from prison is enticing and the wild cards embrace their devilish ways. However after getting to know the plight of their loyal leader, the aptly named Rick Flag (Kinnaman), the bad guys ignore the seduction of freedom. Flag is in love with archeologist June Moore (Delevigne) who moonlights as an evil witch known as the Enchantress. Instead of nails, the baddies in this film eat foods that are rich in moral fiber and help Flag take down the Enchantress and reclaim his girlfriend.

The film is as messy as Harley Quinn’s mascara. Try as it may, Suicide Squad isn’t as edgy, irreverent, and daring as it needs to be. The dialogue lacks bite and the stakes feel ridiculously low. DC is timidly following in Marvel’s shadow with their tail in between their legs. Everything is too safe. The bad guys value friendship and acquire an ethic code worthy of the man of steel? No, thank you.

Bad Moms May Contain: Nuts, Gluten, and Additives

 

-Alyssa

Director:  Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Cast:  Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate

With the added pressure to be perfect all of the time, moms have a difficult time. They are condemned for not working or for working too much and for being too negligent or to present with their children. There is no way to always make the right choices, as evidenced in this easily likeable comedy.

Amy (Kunis) works really hard to make ends meet and ensure that her children have a healthy, productive life. She drives them to every practice and music lesson, makes them a nutritious lunch, and still manages to work extra hours as a manager of a hip coffee retailer. Things would be so much easier if her lazy, immature husband were to be a bit more involved. Unfortunately, that is not the case. In fact, Amy catches him having an affair with a much younger woman online. The extra bit of sugar that makes the cookie crumble is the overbearing PTA mom at her kids’ school, Gwendolyn (Applegate), who runs the school as a judgmental, eye-rolling dictator. You better make sure there isn’t any gluten, nuts, or wheat in the cookies for the bake sale! Fed up with all of the stress of being a good parent, Amy recruits fellow exhausted moms Kiki (Bell) and Carla (Hahn) in a vow to be “bad moms” – void of responsibility and indifferent to the consequences. At first, this breather is wonderful. Amy is able to have breakfast by herself and read the newspaper for the first time in 20 years. She even has the ambition to run against Gwendolyn as the PTA president. However, the novelty wears off when she realizes that she doesn’t do it all because she has to, it’s because she genuinely cares for her children.

Perfection is an unobtainable goal. Every character is relatable and human, making for an honest and authentic comedy that doesn’t go for cheap laughs. Furthermore, it doesn’t judge any of these hardworking mothers. It is a film that appeals to women and takes their roles as professionals and mothers seriously. In this contemporary world, it gives credit where it is unquestionably due.

Millennials Be Like… Mike and Dave is Decent, Bro

-Posted by Alyssa

Cast:  Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Devine

Release Date:  July 8, 2016

A half-baked comedy, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates indulges in its characters’ selfishness and self-glorification. The film safely stays afloat on the surface without fully exploring the complexity of its characters. But it does have a solid cast, Zac Efron shirtless, and tropical beaches. Who needs substance when you have beauty, am I right?

They’re the life of the party, social gathering legends in their own minds. But Mike (Devine) and Dave (Efron) have their antics put to an end by the foot of their father who tells them to buck down and find sensible dates for their sister’s upcoming wedding. Cue the shocked emoticon face. In this digital age of Grinder, Tinder, and the less classy, Craigslist, Mike and Dave post a profile asking women to consider being their dates for an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. Who could refuse? Certainly not white trash bad girls like Alice (Kendrick) and Tatiana (Plaza) who make themselves over into nice girls—the kind who play damsel in distress and wear Peter Pan collars. At first they are able to keep up the persona. They pretend they have respectable jobs and win over the family. However their true nature claws to escape and soon, they are tearing up the land in ATVs, getting frisky with Cousin Terry in the sauna, and popping Ecstasy with the bride-to-be.

The film strives to be more than just a #millennial’s raunchy comedy. It nobly attempts to give its characters depth and a coming-of-age arc. This does not succeed, nor do the characters become as interesting as they think they are. That being said, it’s a movie that can thank its entertaining factor to the very actors behind these characters. They have realistic and compatible chemistry and are clearly having the time of their lives. Many of the jokes fall flat, but there are some moments where you’ll unabashedly laugh out loud. The hip youngsters who see this film won’t regret it, but they also probably won’t make any memes. Overall, it’s not a complete success nor a total failure. Just like Flappy Bird.

Rocky V: Not a Knockout

 

 

-Posted by Alyssa

The franchise that keeps on jabbing delivers a sucker punch to the audience’s heart in the Italian Stallion’s final bow.

Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is officially retired from the ring after his brain-damaging stint against the Soviet’s lethal machine Ivan Drago. However, that doesn’t stop money-hungry managers from trying to get him back into the sport. Meanwhile, a young hopeful named Tommy Gunn (Morrison) begs Balboa to work as his mentor. This opportunity with Gunn is an opportunity to be involved in the profession that he so loves without risking any serious consequences. Not to mention it feels good to be relevant again considering that his brother-in-law Paulie (Young) caused the family to lose all of their money. Balboa is excited about his new protégée. They win match after match and prove to be a really strong team. The problem is Balboa’s mentorship with Gunn causes him to neglect his wife Adrian (Shire) and son Rocky Jr. (Stallone) who is going through a tough transition from riches to rags. This tense dynamic changes when a greedy manager with a fur coat (Gant) sinks his claws into Gunn. Having dollar signs in his bright eyes, Tommy develops the moniker “Machine,” has a beautiful woman on his arm, and buys a new car. With Gunn’s newfound fame and fortune, Balboa is left in the dust.

The steam is clearly running out in this franchise so the victory isn’t as meaningful. This is especially true considering that the opponent isn’t some war machine or smack-talking contender, but rather a person that Balboa genuinely cared about. I think this addition seemed to lose its eye on the prize. It also lost sight of the heart that makes this franchise so noteworthy in the history of cinema.

Rocky IV: A Rockier Road

 

-Posted by Alyssa

Released when budding tensions between the U.S. and Russia were starting to unwind, Rocky IV is a fine successor to the original film, aiming for political resonance.

Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is officially retired from boxing and living a comfortable life with his wife Adrian (Shire), son Rocky Jr., and brother-in-law Paulie (Young). Rocky’s blissful life, however, quickly turns upside down. His former opponent turned confidant Apollo Creed (Weathers) declares that he is going to take on the seemingly unbeatable Ivan Drago who is just as robotic as the robot Paulie received as a gift for his birthday. Creed is feeling inadequate and unmemorable due to his losses. Rocky is going out on top, but Creed is still aiming for some pride. He is hoping that a match with Drago will make him feel deserving of a legacy. The tension building to this match is so thick that you couldn’t cut it with a knife. Everyone is trying to convince Creed to back off from the fight, but he refuses. He is looking for the honor that he lost when Rocky took the title of the top heavyweight fighter. After the fight ends in tragedy, Rocky finds himself in a position where he must weigh the family he loves against the sport that has become part of his being. Always the fighter, Rocky travels to Russia for a vengeance match against Drago.

I wish we could get all of our adversaries on our side with a mediocre speech, and the ability to punch someone in the face. Nevermind that a majority of the film is montage, Rocky IV quickly jabs at your heart with the loss of another iconic character from the franchise. The underdog aiming to succeed continues to be entertaining, even if the films don’t push themselves any further than pairing Rocky against some other opponent. This film is memorable for its timely relevance, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, and intense final bout in the ring.

Rocky III: The Fool Shall be Pitied

 

-Posted by Alyssa

Rocky can’t retire even if he wanted to. The same holds true for this franchise, which is still going strong.

Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is living in the glory of being the top heavyweight fighter in the world. He’s got a nice place, his face is plastered on the cover of magazines, and he has the luxury of doing charity bouts in the ring, just for fun. However, his cloud 9 vacancy gets a heavy dose of rain when the brutal savage Clubber Lang (Mr. T) challenges him to a fight that will determine who is the true heavyweight champion of the world. Lang’s savagery knows no bounds and for the first time, Rocky finds himself unable to get back on his feet. Feeling remorseful and defeated, Rocky has given up until his former adversary Apollo Creed (Weathers) shows an interest in the Italian Stallion. With Creed, Paulie (Young), and his wife Adrian (Shire) at his side, Rocky trains harder and builds endurance for his rematch against the vicious contender.

This film doesn’t stretch further in storyline than the first two films, aside from the loss of an iconic character. Even the workout montage seems like it’s lacking some muscle tone. While the film isn’t completely soft, you could see it losing some definition. The most exciting moment in the film is when Adrian finally grows a backbone. I wish Apollo Creed would have served some higher purpose than just pushing Rocky along. However, this is one part of an iconic franchise. This film won’t knock you out, but as part of cinematic history it is worthy of a viewing.

Rocky II: The Rematch of the Century

 

-Posted by Alyssa

The Italian Stallion is back for another bout in the ring. The pride of the fight is hard to stifle and it’s inevitable that Rocky’s passion will bring him to fulfill his destiny.

Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is feeling a bit lost after the split decision match with Apollo Creed. At first everything seems exciting. So much so that he buys a house, dog, and car all in the same day. However, the giddiness that came with the money from the match ends when reality comes knocking at his door. Rocky needs to get a regular Joe-shmo job if he wants to provide for his new wife Adrian (Shire) and the baby that she’s carrying. He tries his hand at working in the meat packing plant where his good friend Paulie (Young) works, but each slab of meat is a taunting reminder of what used to be. It’s a good thing he gets let go from that job or meat would have eventually ended up in pieces all over the floor. The urge to get back into the ring is driven further by Creed’s constant gloating and prodding. He wants to take on the Southpaw again and prove that their initial match was just a fluke. Soon Rocky discovers that he can’t run from who he is meant to be. With the help of his wily, grizzly trainer Mickey (Meredith), Rocky gets back into fighting shape for his revenge match with Apollo Creed. Cue the workout montage.

I may be an anomaly here, but I find this film to be more enjoyable than the first. This is in large part due to the fact that Stallone seems to have found his footing. His acting is more believable, the stakes are higher, and I can actually understand every word that Rocky says. This isn’t to take away from the first for its originality and machismo. Still Rocky II offers a fully-realized character who feels pain, needs to find self-redemption, and has obvious flaws and insecurities. It’s for this reason that Rocky finds a place in his audience’s hearts.

Rocky: He is Definitely a Contender

 

– Posted by Alyssa

This classic sparked a franchise that has undeniably left a mark on film history. Rocky is the story of an underdog who has to work hard in order to achieve his dreams.

Set in Philadelphia 1975, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) is a club fighter that displays an animalistic fire in the ring. He even shows his primitive nature inside of a pet store when he does a Tarzanian wild call to a caged dog. It is in this very pet store that Rocky meets his love Adrian (Shire). Adrian inspires Rocky to leave his solitary life as a loan collector and truly find greatness. This opportunity presents itself when a high-octane heavyweight fighter named Apollo Creed (Weathers) offers Rocky the rare opportunity to take him on in the ring and prove himself as a contender. The fight seems like a sure win for Creed, but Rocky matches him blow for blow. It is difficult to decipher whether Rocky is driven by money or pride when he steps into the ring, but either way the scenes leading up to the fight are when the film starts gaining traction. The fire in Rocky’s eyes burn brightest.

Nevermind the awkward interactions between Rocky and Adrian, also forgive the mumblings of the Italian Stallion, this is a film worth watching. You can feel the energy in the air that Rocky is destined for greatness and that this is only the beginning of his journey. As a stand alone film, I don’t think it would have held up without the franchise that surrounds it. That being said, it’s where you should start to get a sense of who you are rooting for. Stallone has created a character that is passionate and talks a mile a minute, but is easily likeable and someone you want to see be successful. Rocky offers the one-two punch of determination and skill that proves any underdog can be a contender.