Film: Tag

GENRE: Comedy

RATING: 14A for language and sexual content
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 40 minutes

STARRING: Ed Helms (The Hangover trilogy, The Office, Vacation)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men, Baby Driver), Jeremy Renner (Avengers)

DIRECTOR: Jeff Tomsic (newcomer)

WRITERS: Rob McKittrick (Waiting…) & Mark Steilen (newcomer)

PLOT: A group of friends, now adults, get together once a year for a month for an all-out game of tag.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Looked silly but fun. Liked the casting.

STORY STUFF: The concept of this film is really fun to watch unfold, even more so when you realize it’s based on a true story (and even funnier when you see actual footage of the real people playing). The vibe of this film reminded me of Games Night. My only issues with the story revolve around a love interest that is completely unnecessary and the ‘no tag back’ rule that seems to get forgotten at times. Other than that, very funny and full of inappropriate humour.

ACTING STUFF: It’s the sweet casting that makes this film work. Helms knows how to play for laughs, Hamm can play equal maturity and goofiness, Jake Johnson (New Girl) has great stoner non-sequiturs, Hannibal Buress (Neighbors) has clever commentary and Renner knows how to have fun while using his stellar action chops. Also, Isla Fisher hasn’t been this crazy since Wedding Crashers. All in all, you are rooting for everyone in this film.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Great use of slow motion action shots. Also very funny music choices with gangsta rap and Crash Test Dummies’ “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” which gets an encore by the cast during the credits.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You liked Game Night or can get behind the concept.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Ant-Man & the Wasp

Film: Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom

GENRE: Action Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for lots of violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 8 minutes

STARRING: Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Passengers)

Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help, The Village), Rafe Spall (Roadies)

DIRECTOR: J.A. Bayona (The Impossible, A Monster Calss)

WRITERS: Derek Connolly (Kong: Skull Island, Jurassic World),

Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World, Star Wars IX)

PLOT: Gotta get the dinosaurs off the island, then out of a house. You know, the usual.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Not my favourite franchise, but usually have fun.

STORY STUFF: It’s kind of two films in one. The one on the island and then the more horror-style dinos in the house. There are numerous references and homages to the first Jurassic Park in this one. If you loved the T-Rex/lawyer scene and the suspense of the raptor in the kitchen, you will get to experience that fun again. I found it surprisingly graphic for PG-13; I guess it’s because being eaten whole doesn’t give off much blood. Anyway, I found it pretty entertaining throughout, although it could have been a tad shorter. The end credit sequence is not worth the wait.

ACTING STUFF: Lots of screaming and running around. Pratt is fantastic as usual. Howard also brings it. Liked her a bit better this time. Spall is the right kind of smarmy. Justice Smith (The Get Down) is fun as the scaredy-cat. Although I miss Jake Johnson. Good dino acting too.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The CG work is incredible and the action sequences are intense. I did not like the choral music during the last hour of the film; stick with the orchestra.  Also, how many times do we need to see Claire’s feet? We get it, she’s wearing more sensible shoes this time around. You learned your lesson.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You like Jurassic Park or Chris Pratt or dinosaurs.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Tag; Ant-Man & the Wasp

Film: Ocean's 8

GENRE: Comedy Crime

RATING: PG-13 for language and suggestive content
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 50 minutes

STARRING: Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, Speed)

Cate Blanchett (Thor 3, Carol), Anne Hathaway (Les Mis, Bride Wars)

DIRECTOR: Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Hunger Games, Seabiscuit)

WRITERS: Gary Ross (Big, Dave), Olivia Milch (newcomer)

PLOT: Debbie Ocean gets an all-female crew to steal some jewels at the Met Gala   

FULL DISCLOSURE: Loved Ocean’s 11 & 13. 12 was meh.

STORY STUFF: Not bad but a tad predictable. It’s probably because of seeing the other Ocean films, but the formula is pretty set. There are some fun moments throughout but it gets dull in the last quarter of the film. Too much time post-heist. Liked the couple of members from the original trilogy making cameos to give the film some more credibility.

ACTING STUFF: While all the cons do a fine job, two of the actresses took it up a notch. You could tell that Hathaway was having a blast playing completely self-involved actress; it was fun to watch. I also enjoyed Rihanna, who played it cool. Actually, now that I think about it, I also enjoyed Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) as Constance. The main guy was very blah. And while the late night host playing the insurance agent was fun and all, it seemed like a bizarre casting choice.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Ross manages to evoke a similar slickness as the other Ocean films, but Sodherbergh was better. Some nice music choices. Not much else to say.

VERDICT: Two and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You forget the plot of the other Ocean films.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Film: Incredibles 2

GENRE: Animated Adventure

RATING: PG for action violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 58 minutes

STARRING: Craig T Nelson (Coach, Parenthood, Blades of Glory)

Holly Hunter (The Big Sick), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)

DIRECTOR: Brad Bird (Iron Giant, Mission:Impossible-Ghost Protocol)

WRITER: Brad Bird (Incredibles, Ratatouille, Tomorrowland)

PLOT: Bob has to take care of the kids while Helen is out saving the world and trying to get superheroes reinstated.   

FULL DISCLOSURE: Loved the first film. Little worried about the sequel.

STORY STUFF: Brad Bird is very gifted storyteller. The plot is full of action, humour and family drama. I didn’t find the Elastigirl antics as enthralling as the home stuff. On the home front, watching Bob try to handle his kids was entertaining. Violet had some great teen angst but Dash’s math issues seemed a little tame. The best part of the film, however, is Jack-Jack. He is fantastic. The giggles, the powers, the adorableness, so awesome. There is a fight with a raccoon that will bring the biggest smile to your face.

ACTING STUFF: All the voice acting is well done. The Parr family is strong as usual. Odenkirk has always been quite the salesman. I didn’t recognize Catherine Keener’s (Being John Malkovich) voice as Evelyn, but I didn’t really like her character much anyway. Love Eli Fucile’s as Jack-Jack; did I mention the giggles?

ARTISTIC STUFF: Same outstanding animation you expect from Pixar. I also love how Bird goes for the retro-style wherever he can; it’s so sharp. I will say that two elements seemed to come from strange sources: Speed 2 and Justin Timberlake’s ‘Rock Your Body’ video.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You enjoy Pixar or the work of Brad Bird or cute babies.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Ocean’s 8, Tag, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom