Carrie (2013)

***
UK Release Date: November 29th 2013

A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

Director: Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don't Cry, Stop Loss)

Starring: Chloe Grace-Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer

I've never seen the 70's original. Most horror fans will have either seen it or know of its gory ending. This remake is not bad as remakes go, but it's not groundbreaking material because it doesn't add anything new, or different, to the story of Carrie (unless you are a fan of the book).

Carrie is more like a teen-drama than a horror. It's not even remotely scary. Carrie (Grace-Moretz) is bullied by all the girls at her school. Having her first period in the school showers is bad timing indeed, and the other girls think it's funny to throw tampons at her. A video of the ordeal is posted online. She can hardly escape the torment at home, as she's constantly oppressed by her religious nut-job mother (Julianne Moore). You can almost feel her pain when she finally wreaks vengeance.

It's all a build up for the epic finale at the prom, whom Carrie has been invited to (much to her surprise). There's a sense that the beginning and the middle is 'filler', trying to entertain us by building on audience/character relationships before Carrie suddenly unleashes her inner rage. It's clear to see why they've done it, but I'd have rather seen Carrie become a vigilante overtime, and use her telekinetic abilities to great effect, rather than make her bed levitate or a flag flap around.

The Way, Way Back

****
UK Release Date: August 28th 2013

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

Directors: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James

The Way, Way Back is a real heartfelt film about a young teenager who's confidence develops over time. Duncan (Liam James) has to find his own way in life. Either ignore the problems at hand, or do something about them.

Duncan's mum is a pushover, and never sticks up for him when her arsehole boyfriend (played by the ever convincing Steve Carell) is nasty to him. Bullying shouldn't even happen at school, let alone in your own family. At the very beginning Trent (Carell) asks Duncan to rate himself out of 10. When Duncan answers, Trent tells him he's a 3 and that he's 'not putting himself out there'. The poor kid's tenacity is dashed before the title credits!

Believe me when I say that this is very funny. Every character is so detailed, like they've been fashioned by someone in the outside world. I never thought that the comic genius Steve Carell could portray such a horrible person. Both him and Sam Rockwell, who plays a sort of mentor to Duncan, are outstanding, but that doesn't mean the other characters are appalling as everyone has a history and a story to tell. 

Everyone and anyone was an awkward teen at some point, so this film pretty much relates to all. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash have hit the spot with this one.

Don Jon

****
UK Release Date: November 15th 2013

A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore

Don Jon is JGL's debut as a director, and it's a fine piece of work.

Jon (Gordon-Levitt) is a very simple character. 'There's only a few things I really care about in life. My body. My pad. My ride. My family. My church. My boys. My girls. My porn.' He's addicted to porn, and not even the real thing gets him going like porn does. Jon can be a bit of a jerk, but everyone can relate to his and Barbara's (Johansson) lifestyles. Both have succumbed to the idealistic ways of the medium. Jon believes sex should be like porn, and his new 'true love' Barbara thinks real love should be like it is in the movies.

So Jon, branded by his meathead friends as Don, atones for his sins with Hail Marys and Lords Prayers, but finds himself repeating the same behaviours. The flow of the film is shaped by Jon's daily routine (helped by the direction of Gordon-Levitt himself); at the club with his boys, rating the women around them, having dinner with the family, going to night school, working out at the gym and masturbating to porn. The only redemption Jon finds is through classmate Esther (Moore).

Don Jon isn't your average kind of rom-com, it tackles a subject that might be frowned upon (depending on the person) but it's funny and one of a kind. JGL is incredibly talented, and this showcase has captured him in his prime, as both a director and an actor.

Grown Ups 2

*
UK Release Date: August 9th 2013

After moving his family back to his hometown to be with his friends and their kids, Lenny finds out that between old bullies, new bullies, schizo bus drivers, drunk cops on skis, and 400 costumed party crashers sometimes crazy follows you.

Director: Dennis Dugan (Jack and Jill, Just Go with It, Grown Ups)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Selma Hayek, Maria Bello, Steve Buscemi

Well this is the most abysmal piece of work I have seen in a long time. Where Grown Ups was mildly funny, Grown Ups 2 is a senseless bore. It's unbelievable to say that Jack & Jill and That's My Boy look great in comparison.

Grown Ups 2 doesn't hold a viable storyline. It's just a bunch of childish guys pratting around. Bad jokes ensue. Enter a whole new low when a deer pisses over Sandler, and that's just the beginning! It also ends on a fart joke, so what's to be expected of the middle?

The so called adults (Sandler, Rock, James and Spade.... notice a lack of Schneider anyone?) are tormented by a frat group led by Taylor Lautner and buddy Milo Ventimiglia. If they stuck to an all-out war against the youngsters, then there would at least be a plot to take interest in.

The Bling Ring

**
UK Release Date: July 5th 2013

Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

Director: Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, The Virgin Suicides)

Starring: Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Emma Watson, Leslie Mann

Believe it or not Emma Watson is not the centre of attention here. Out of the three main youngsters who starred in Harry Potter, she gets in the limelight the most. With The Bling Ring, her presence has probably attracted many film goers.

This focuses on a group of teenagers and their ability to get away with robbing celebrity homes. It's a documentary of sorts, but told in the form of a story. I felt little sympathy for the teens, as we know and they surely know that they're jumped up little asses looking for attention. It comes off the back of last year's Spring Breakers. Both films contain youths biting off more than they can chew.

The only sympathy they should get involves controlling and obsessive foster mother Leslie Mann. After the kid's eventual capture, Laurie (Mann) tries to take over Watson's press interview, and just won't shut up.

One thing The Bling Ring goes to show is the greed of certain celebrities; Paris Hilton's walk-in wardrobe, Megan Fox and Rachel Bilson's massive collection of clothes are but a few of the places they raid. Fame is definitely appealing to those obsessed with materialistic products.

Identity Thief

**
UK Release Date: March 22nd 2013

Mild-mannered businessman Sandy Patterson travels from Denver to Florida to confront the deceptively harmless-looking woman who has been living it up after stealing Sandy's identity.

Director: Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses, Four Christmases)

Starring: Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Favreau, John Cho, Robert Patrick

Identity Thief is one of those comedies that has plenty of promise, but struggles to deliver. There are very few laughs and they mostly come from identity snatcher McCarthy. The dialogue isn't the problem, it's the way the scenes are laid out. Bateman is as blase as his character would seem, with very little personality to thrive. Even McCarthy plays the same character that she always does. She's very loud and very obnoxious. The difference between them is, she pulls it off.

You'd think it'd get better once the real Sandy (Bateman) meets the fake Sandy (McCarthy) but Bateman is overshadowed by McCarthy's beaming, over-the-top persona.  

Essentially Identity Thief is oddly overdone; the Thief has pissed off the wrong people and Sandy ends up helping her out to some degree. To solve the problem he should have gotten the bank to take care of the problem in the first place.