Due Date

Not as funny as it should be

Lover: Taken from IMDB
“There had been in my humble opinion a major lack of entertaining and good comedies in the film market, but then out of the blue I stumbled upon The Hangover. A film I didn't know anything about before I went to see it in the cinema. Just a few seconds into the film I started smiling and laughing, and they kept on pushing it, and I think there wasn't one single dull nor boring sequence throughout the whole movie. The reason why I'm telling you this is because watching Due Date gave me the exact same amazing comedy experience as The Hangover, and that speaks for it self! Another thing, the acting by especially Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifanakis were both top notch, and I thoroughly swallowed every word they said. If you're in for a treat and hunger for laughs go watch Due Date as soon as you can! I honestly feel like I don't have words to describe it as well as it deserves, but I gave it my best shot and I hope you've got the message!”

The acting is good and it is a funny film, however it is not as good as The Hangover.

Hater: Taken from IMDB
“After R.D.J.'s excellent performance in Sherlock Holmes, I thought it would be a pretty safe bet that he wouldn't be into making turkeys.Unfortunately ,I was wrong. This film is everything a movie shouldn't be.It is gross, offensive and totally without merit.One can only ask Why????? Robert Downey Jr chose this dross to perform.The comparison to Planes,Trains and Automobiles is all too clear- but that was an excellent piece of film making and Due Date just isn't.The 2 characters don't mesh, there is no growing bond which you see in Planes etc it's too unbelievable that R.D.J's character who has some intelligence would ever stoop to find worth in anything his overbearing unstable road partner would do.Suddenly in one leap- he confesses he "loves" the guy.And wants to stay in touch. The charm and poignant detail of Planes is sadly lacking.There is no character development,we don't have emapathy for the nerd character,and by the end of it,I had none for R.D.J's character either.An embarrassment to R.D.J's great track record, a bitter blow to your pocket and expectations of an entertaining night out.This film sucks.”

Some good points but a little over the top I personally feel, the chemistry is questionable and as far as gross and offensive goes; there are some far grosser and offensive movies out there.

What I thought:
Due date is a big example of too much hype for not enough quality. Before it came out we were told things like “from the director of The Hangover” to “It’s like Planes, Trains and Automobiles” , both of which whilst being true were abused when marketing this movie. You hear it’s done by the guy who directed and has a star from the highest grossing R rated comedy, you naturally think; this has got to be a hit surely? You hear that it’s a bit like that 80’s comedy that had John Candy and Steve Martin trading blows in a touching and hilarious film.

The film itself does not live up to these claims, its funny sure and even funnier if wanking dogs and highly unlikely escapes from Mexican border police are your thing. So there is definitely a need to suspend your disbelief and accept some characters and moments that don’t seem at all real. There’s no problem with doing that if the film is side splitting or if the characters are hugely likeable.

Even Robert Downey Jnr who hardly ever misses the mark comes across as a completely unlikeable douchebag, who despite being a straight talking smart man doesn’t see fault with any of things that happen to him with the weirdo he’s tagging along with. Zach Galifianakis turns up his usual weird guy role complete with camp walk to make it funny but not appealing. In a film that asks that you watch two guys on a road trip it’s important that you like those guys, I’m afraid Due Date misses the mark on that one.

So as disappointing it is because of the hype it does have some funny moments my favourite of which involves someone’s ashes beings used and abused. So it’s not as good as The Hangover but is a decent enough stop gap before The Hangover 2.

The Buzz: 20/01/11

Johnny Depp replaces Robert Downey Jnr in "Oz, the Great and Powerful"

The big news yesterday, Anne Hathaway as Catwoman and Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises!

Some more fantastic photos of the new X-Men

Australian Cinemas help to raise money for Flood relief

Sherlock Holmes

It’s jolly good fun!

Lover: Taken from IMDB
“What a ride. "Sherlock Holmes" left me giddy. I absolutely loved it. It was thrilling, funny, stylish, fast-paced and brilliantly acted. Downey Jr. is a delight to look at. He eats up the screen. He gives the character all sorts of mannerisms and nuances which really bring Holmes to life like never before. The chemistry and interplay between him and Jude Law is hilarious. I wasn't a big fan of Rachel McAdams's performance, but it didn't detract from the experience. I felt she just didn't bring as much to the table as the others. (Kinda like Katie Holmes in Batman Begins.) Guy Ritchie really outdoes himself here. The way he uses the camera, the motion, the fluidity, the snappy pacing - I loved every minute of it. A really fantastic movie. Well done.”

Some good points, Robert Downey Jnr once again is scene stealing but clearly had fun sharing the screen with Jude Laws Dr Watson. Guy Ritchie did indeed direct this with some panache, adding just enough of his usual stylings with some great set pieces (harbour explosion was fantastic!). The criticism aimed at Rachel McAdam’s is a little unfair as her performance was good but the character was under used, but then this is a buddy movie make no mistake!

Hater: Taken from IMDB

“I actually had high hopes for this movie. I went with a big crowd of people and while they planned to see Avatar I was going to see Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately for them, Avatar was sold out so they all joined me in this train wreck of a movie. To be fair, there are about 10 minutes total that are kind of interesting. But the movie is 2 hours and 15 minutes long so there's the problem. There are so many plot holes that a mack truck could drive through and even with suspension of disbelief, it is truly a hodge podge of dreck with loud noises interspersed amongst the dreck to keep you awake. We are supposed to believe that Irene Adler is so strong as to heave a drugged and out-of-it Holmes from off the floor by the fireplace and onto a bed and then strip and handcuff him to the bed posts. They don't show you any of this because it would be laughably unbelievable. She must be super human to accomplish such a feat. There are other ridiculous stupidities that I thought perhaps were aimed at teens but the teens that were with me actually fell asleep because it was so boring. Every once in a while one of the sleeping teens would nod awake at a loud explosion. One such explosion completely engulfed the major characters yet in the next scene, not a burn mark is to be found. Apparently people in Holmes' day were made of asbestos. Don't waste your money. I like R.D.J. but this was a waste of time and money.”

Hmm interesting, not many valid points made just making a point of telling you some people fell asleep. The plot holes in question really aren’t that bad, the film goes at just enough pace you shouldn’t notice and even if you do the movie can rest all on Downey Jnr’s shoulders as he carries the film through its worse bits. I can see where he’s coming from with the explosion, however the scene he’s talking about is done in some stunning slo-mo!

What I thought:
What is tough to understand about Sherlock Holmes is that before the film came out, it was being talked up as a more serious and true to the book take on the Great Detective. In the end it was a great blend of that with great blockbuster Film making, Guy Ritchies trademark camera work with excellent production design is perfection. However it misses some of the more risky elements of the books, like Holmes taking Opium!

Downey Jnr and Jude Law make a great on screen couple; you can see they enjoyed their time together and Law plays a more leaner and up for it Watson. This “Blockbuster” take on Sherlock Holmes was a risk but it still plays to the brilliant deducing so important to other adaptations by using clever voiceovers. Once again though a film that can really lay its real pleasure at the feet of one man, Robert Downey Jnr you’ve don’t it again, Elementary really.

Out this week: Cinema

Jackass 3D
So the fun continues in what really 3D has been waiting for, or you could argue what Jackass was waiting for. I'd expect more of the same gross out and extreme stunts that bring more vomit than they do laughs and a multitude of bodily fluids sprayed at you every which way! Worth a look if you have the right sense of humour if your not sure, avoid like the plague.

Let Me in
I'm not one to judge as i haven't even seen the original of this interesting Vampire flick. It wouldn't have been easy to follow such a well loved horror movie especially seem as it only came out last year! Seems a bit excessive but this version has been received quite well so far. The Children playing the leads are some of the best working in the business, Chloe Mortez was fantastic as Hit Girl with or without the c word! Kodi Smit-McPhee was outstanding with an incredibly moving performance in The Road, i say give it a go but see the first one, well first.

Due Date
The man who brought you The Hangover, has now brought you what is basically an updated version of planes trains and automobiles. With Zach Galifianakis in the John Candy role which should work well with his zany approach and Robert Downey Jnr playing the slightly unhinged everyman, which is pretty much what he is in everything!No complaints from me though as the Hangover was brilliant and the trailer looks great, I say catch this one while you can.