Phil sees SISTERS from Universal Pictures - May 1, 2016

The term "Chick Flick" carries a certain stigma to it. Whenever a man hears this term, they automatically think about dramatic, tear jerking, overblown, estrogen hyped love stories that test bonds of sisterhood and finding and losing that one true love. Granted, some if that is true, however there has been several films that's broken that stereotype recently. Films like BRIDESMAIDS and TRAINWRECK took this standard cliched formula and turned it on its head. Because of this, there has been a shift in opinion on what a "Chick Flick" now represents. Case in point, the new film SISTERS starring Saturday Night Live alumnus Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Theatrical Movie Poster

The film's official synopsis: Sisters Kate (Fey) and Maura Ellis (Poehler) are summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family house, much to their dismay. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw one final high-school-style party for their classmates, which turns into the cathartic rager that a bunch a ground-down adults really need.

Also appearing in the film are Ike Barinholtz, James Brolin, Dianne Wiest, John Leguizamo, Madison Davenport, WWE superstar John Cena, as well as SNL alumnus Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and Bobby Moynihan.

Both Fey and Poehler have fantastic comedic timing and chemistry that makes them a formidable tag team of laughs. Now usually Fey plays the straight character while Poehler is known for the essentric ones but here it's reversed. Fey's Kate is the loud, foul mouthed, party hard, balls to the wall forty-something adult who's going on seventeen. Her life is a complete mess, has a daughter who doesn't want to live with her and will take advantage of any situation as all as it benefits her in someway. Poehler's Maura, on the other hand, is the responsible one. She has a good paying job, is responsible, always checks up on her parents and is, quite honestly, pretty boring. She's never been able to cut loose and have fun because she was always the responsible one and take care of her older sister, who was the party animal. So it was hilarious to see these two comedic actresses play against type and the results were side splitting hilarity.

The film was written by the talented Paula Pell, who just also happens to be one of the writers for Saturday Night Live and has been writing for them since 1999. Pell brings a woman's voice as well as a woman's point of view to the comedy genre. Who says women can't be rude, crude and raunchy as their male counterparts? Pell gives our leading ladies plenty of screen time to be funny but also have character development and growth. But one of my favorite scenes is when Kate and Maura do a drug buy with Cena's Pazuzu. Holy crap that was one funny scene!

The film's director Jason Moore made a big splash when he made PITCH PERFECT back in 2012. But did you know the man has directed several episodes of popular televisions shows such as Dawson's Creek, Everwood, Brothers & Sisters and Trophy Wife? Now, I have to admit I do feel bad for the guy because of this reason: his film opened up the same weekend as STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. Crazy, huh? While the film didn't do too poorly at the box office, it didn't that well. But Moore did a marvelous job of directing and doing what he was supposed to do. It's a damn funny movie!

SISTERS is another great cinematic example that breaks the mold of the typical chick flick and shows us yet again that women can be funny or funnier than men! I enjoyed the hell out of this film! So for all you ladies out their, if you guy wants to watch a hysterical comedy, then pick this film to watch together! 4 out of 5 stars!! Recommended viewing!!

SISTERS is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. The movie is also available at your local Redbox as well as on Netflix and Video On Demand.   

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees TED 2 from Universal Pictures - March 1, 2016

When I first saw and reviewed director Seth McFarlane's TED back in 2012, I said that it was, "this year's laugh-out-loud comedy hit, and one that will be part of drinking games at colleges for generations to come!" I think I came pretty close to being accurate. Three years later, McFarlane and Universal Pictures unleashed the sequel that was TED 2 upon audiences worldwide. And I don't think audiences knew what hit them.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: Ted (voice of Seth MacFarlane) ties the knot with Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth), and recruits his best friend John (Mark Wahlberg) as a sperm donor in order to start a family in this sequel to the comedy hit about a teddy bear come to life. Later, when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts demands that Ted appear before a judge to prove he's a real person, the frisky bear and his pal vow to fight for their civil rights. Morgan Freeman and Amanda Seyfried co-star.

While the first film was more grounded in the real world (minus the walking, talking, pot smoking teddy bear), the sequel looks and feels like it came straight out of a Family Guy episode. The absurdity is off the charts in this movie and it's freaking hilarious! I couldn't believe what I was watching! It definitely pushes the envelope and then it shoves it up your ass. I'm surprised that the filmmakers got away with some of the crazy shit they said and did. Obviously, when making a sequel, it has to go to the next level and really shock and surprise the audience. Films like STAR WARS: EPISODE V-THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, THE DARK KNIGHT and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY accomplished this feat with tremendous results and are considered superior than their originals. And to be honest, I feel like this film did that as well.

Once again Mark Walberg reprises his role as John, but things have turned south for him. His marriage to his love of his life Lori (Mila Kunis from the first film) ended and is in a very sad state of depression. Making matters worse for him is being Ted's best man at his wedding. Seeing his best friend with his new blushing bride Tami-Lynn is like having your still beating heart ripped out of your ass. But life has a funny way of giving you more options to choose from. In John's case, it's meeting and falling in love with Ted's super smart, funny and hot lawyer Samamtha. Both Walberg and Seyfried have fantastic on-screen chemistry and they look and sound like a real couple. I've always been a big fan of Miss Seyfried and she is just wonderful in the film. She is breathe of fresh air and her character is one that really anchors the film while being extremely funny as well. 

Seth McFarlane takes the franchise into a whole other world with this installment. As I said earlier, it's way more raunchier, way more vulgar, way more random and the sheer lunacy is straight outta Family Guy. But the man makes it work to his advantage because he is a smart bastard. He had to make this film better than the first one and he does it in spades but it still has heart. There's that theme of friendship, love and the idea of fighting for what you believe in. Kudos to you Mr. McFarlane!

For some reason, upon its initial release, the film literally bombed at the boxoffice. It was released theatrically on June 26, 2015 and it was panned by the critics, but I never paid too much attention to what they say. They're all just a bunch of overpaid pompous jack asses who think they know what films should be because they went to school to study films and criticism. Well guess what? So did I and I really liked the film! I think another factor was that I guess audiences got tired of the R-rated raunchy comedies. Whatever the reason, the film didn't perform to the expectations of the studio. 

TED 2 is this year's laugh-out-loud comedy hit, and one that will part of drinking games at colleges for generations to come! It's....wait. I said that about the first film. Sorry let me fix that...TED 2 is this year's laugh-out-loud sequel comedy hit, and one that will part of drinking games at colleges for generations to come! There, that's better! So switch off your brain for an hour and a half and just chill and watch this movie! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

TED 2 is now available on both Blu-Ray and DVD at your local retailer. The movie is also available at your local Redbox as well as on Netflix and Video On Demand. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees WRECK-IT RALPH in 2D at the Cinelux Theater Campbell-November 4, 2012

Hello again! So my good friend Amanda's son Brian celebrated his 12th birthday back on October 30th. So for his B-Day present, I took him and Amanda to see the new Disney computer animated family film WRECK-IT RALPH over at the Cinelux Theater in Campbell.

Meet Ralph (John C. Reilly) who is the main villain of the arcade game Fix-It Felix Jr., a popular game in Litwak's Arcade. The hero Felix (Jack McBrayer) is loved by the citizens in the game, and Ralph is treated like dirt (poor buy sleeps on a pile of bricks in the dump). Tired of being the bad guy, he jumps from game to game in hopes to win a medal and gain respect among the people of Fix-It Felix. However, his actions causes major ramifications that could spell the end for not only his game, but for all the games in the arcade as well!

The film is a love letter to the video games and arcades of the past. Those you are old enough to remember going to the arcades (like myself) and spending your entire allowance on video games and hanging out with your friends, those were the best of times of your life. The film manages to captures that nostalgic feeling and present up on the big screen for all of us to enjoy!

A tip of the hat goes to the folks at Disney, for they have done their homework for this movie. Like the TOY STORY series, there are several trademark characters that you video game fanatics will recognize; such as arcade icon Q-Bert, Clyde the orange ghost from Pac-Man, Doctor Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog, and Bowser from Super Mario Bros.

Reilly does a great job with Ralph, bringing depth, humor, and pathos to the character. You feel sorry for Ralph and we go along with him on his journey of self-respect and dignity. Of course this leads him to some far out video games, like Hero's Duty, where he is told that when you win the game you get a medal. Here we meets tough, no nonsense Sergeant Calhoun, whose voice is provided by none other than Jane Lynch, star of the Fox TV show Glee. Lynch owns this character, and I can't think of any other actress who could've pulled off better than her! But let me take a moment and point out another great actress lending her voice to the film. Sarah Silverman does a magnificent job of bringing her character Vanellope von Schweetz to life. Combining a spunky attitude and determination, with a touch of sadness for good measure, we can relate to her because, like Ralph, she's an outcast among her peers in her own video game. The two form a powerful friendship that radiates and mirrors our own lives. At one point, some of us were outcasts; those who didn't quite fit in with the rest of the crowd. Try not to see a little bit of yourself in these 8-bit characters!

Overall WRECK-IT RALPH is my vote for Best Family Film of 2012! This is what the movie BRAVE should have been! Full of action, adventure, romance, and comedy, this is one film that has it all! 5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended!!

WRECK-IT RALPH is currently playing in both 2-D and 3-D in theaters nationwide, including at the Cinelux Theaters here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cineluxtheatres.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil sees THE VOW at the Camera 12 Downtown San Jose-February 10, 2012

The second film I saw Friday night after CHRONICLE was the new chick flick THE VOW, starring the beautiful Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. Now just in case you never heard of the term "chick flick," it's slang meaning "a film mainly dealing with love and romance designed to appeal to a female target audience." For most men who are dating or married to a woman, chances are she will want you to take her to see one of these films. Now some are very good and entertaining while others will make you wish you were getting a route canal. However this film was actually decent, so men be not afraid.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2012)

The film's about a happily married couple named Paige and Leo (McAdams and Tatum), who have been together for the past five years. However one night they are in a terrible car accident, landing them both in the hospital. Leo heals but Paige lies in a coma. Once she wakens, she doesn't recognize her husband. The doctors soon realize that Paige has lost her memory of the past five years. Leo becomes determined to help his wife to regain her memory, but her parents Bill and Rita Thorton (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange respectively) are planning to take her away from him and have their perfect family again. Also trying to claim Paige's heart is her ex-fiance Jeremy (Scott Speedman from the UNDERWORLD series). Leo does what he can to help Paige, but in the end will love be enough to save their marriage or will it all just end?

Now the film's premise may sound far fetched, but believe it or not the story is actually based on a real life couple, Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. On November 1993, the Carpenters were in an automobile accident on I-40 west of Gallup in New Mexico. Krickitt, never regained her memory but the couple are still married and have two children. They originally sold the movie rights to their story back in 1996 but objected to movie scripts that strayed too far from the truth, so they wrote a book about their story called "The Vow: The Kim and Krickitt Carpenter Story" which was published in 2000. Soon Spyglass Entertainment came along with a script that the Carpenters approved of. 

Now the film and book are different in many ways. The film takes place in Chicago instead of New Mexico. The film has Paige and Leo being married for four years while the Carpenters were married for only 10 weeks before the accident. Leo is a music producer and has his own studio while Kim was a baseball coach at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. So like I said, subtle differences.

Now as for the film itself, there are the usual standard Hollywood cliches. You have the stereotypical evil parents, the jerk ex and the predictable "will love conquer all" finale. I know, what a big surprise there, huh? But McAdams is a very capable actress and she gets into character. The post-accident Paige is a complete 180 from the pre-accident Paige, which itself is commendable. From her stance to her language and behaviour, McAdams performance is really, really good.

As for Tatum, he's just there. However women will get to see Tatum's bum on the big screen, so this will be another reason for you ladies to see the film. His acting, however, is just not up to par with his costar McAdams. The pair did have some decent chemistry on screen, but I felt they weren't quiet right. But then again that's my opinion. But the story was decent, it had McAdams doing what she does best and there were some funny dialogue so the film wasn't a total loss. It was entertaining enough to hold my attention.

THE VOW is far from being a modern day romance classic like THE NOTEBOOK and TITANIC, but it does give women a reason to go out the cinemas, Plus it's sappy enough for them to like it and to enjoy watching with their special someone. So men, if you're looking for something fun to do with your wife/girlfriend this Valentine's Day, take her to see this film. You might not like it, but she will, and her happiness is the most important thing for you to give her. Three out of five stars.

THE VOW is currently playing in theaters nationwide, including at the Camera Cinemas here in the Bay Area. To view showtimes, visit their website at www.cameracinemas.com. 

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil goes Bollywood: Phil watches VEER-ZAARA (2004)-December 7, 2011

Once again I took a trip to India via the amazing Bollywood films I found at my local library. One of the film I picked up looked very interesting. A film about the various stages of love: love at first sight, unconditional love, lost love, forbidden love, and reunited love. A story about one true love, and about fighting to keep that love with you through the good times and the bad times. What would you do for your one true love? Tonight's film was one of the best love stories to come out of India. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to director's Yash Chopra's masterpiece VEER-ZAARA.

Original India Movie Poster (2004)

Veer Pratap Singh (Shah Rukh Khan from RA.ONE and the narrator of KISMAT KONNECTION) is an Indian Air Force Squadron Leader who on a mission rescues and befriends a beautiful Pakistani heiress, Zaara Hayaat Khan (Preity Zinta), as she travels to a small Indian village to scatter the ashes of one of her family's loyal servants.Veer helps her with her travel and to repay him, she travel with him to meet his family and his village. During the trip the two fall madly in love with one another. However, Veer learns that Zaara is engaged to a evil and cruel man named Raza (Manoj Bajpai). Zaara's close friend Shabbo (Divya Dutta) contacts Veer and tells him that she wants out of her engagement and is in love with him. But when he comes to rescue her, Raza arranges Veer to be set up as a Indian spy and is sent to jail. Twenty-two years later, a young and idealistic lawyer Saamiya Siddiqui (Rani Mukherjee) discovers Veer's case and takes swift actions to set her client free, but the question still remains: whatever became of Zaara?

This was such a powerful and emotional film that I caught my tearing up throughout the film. Both Khan and Zinta have great chemistry on screen; their performances are so captivating and convincing that you'd swear you're watching them actually falling in love with one another. Within the first 30 minutes of the film you'll fall in love with them as well. Singh is proud, dashing, and strong but falls hard for Zaara, the carefree spirited soul who had no plans of ever falling in love, suddenly unable to live her life without Singh in it.

Each of these talented actors brings with them vulnerability to their characters; they are flawed, they are human, which makes them relatable to us the audience. We have had that one love that got away. I myself just recently went through this a couple of years ago. The pain I went through is the very same thing that both Veer and Zaara must suffer as well. Also Mukherjee is just as incredible and breathtaking as Zinta. A very talented up and coming actress in Bollywood.

Like other Bollywood films, there are several great musical numbers that really heighten the film's romantic love affair. Right in the beginning of the film we are introduced to Singh's musical sequence looks and it feels like it came from THE SOUND OF MUSIC: sweeping hills of green grass, saturated color, the wind blowing Singh's hair in the wind while he sings about finding love, only for the scene to end with a sound of a gunshot. Then cut to seeing Singh, looking haggard and unkempt as he rots away in a cold, dark prison cell. Credit to director Chopra for creating simply a magnificent film! The movie was released in India to theaters on November 14, 2004.

VEER-ZAARA is one of the greatest romance films ever made; touching, emotional and honest. The film will make you feel like you are watching art. It doesn't matter what country your from or what language you speak, we all understand the language of love. Five out of five stars!

VEER-ZAARA is currently available on DVD and can be purchased on the Amazon website by visiting www.amazon.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!