Tag Archives: Comedy

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Indie Films, Like It, Quickie Reviews (<400 Words)

Mistress America (2015) Movie Review

November 14, 2015 Alex Brannan

Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America follows alienated college freshman Tracy (Lola Kirke). Tracy is a writer wanting to be part of the Mobius Literary Society, but, when she is rejected, ends up on her own.

Enter Brooke (Greta Gerwig, who also co-wrote the film). Brooke is Tracy’s sister to be, as their parents are scheduled to marry in the near future. Brooke takes Tracy under her wing, taking her around New York City and making her feel welcome.

Brooke is undergoing a major business venture: trying to open a niche restaurant. Tracy initially idolizes Brooke, but soon comes to realize that Continue reading Mistress America (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Halloween Horror, Horror, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Gravy (2015) Movie Review

October 29, 2015 Alex Brannan

The horror comedy Gravy opens with Anson (Michael Weston) buying sorbet in a gas station on Halloween, where he has the most unrealistic, awkward conversation with Bethany (Sarah Silverman). It is charming in the characters’ simplicity, but it avoids realism entirely.

After this, we leave these characters in lieu of those working in a bar at closing time. The ensemble all work off of each other like Continue reading Gravy (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Halloween Horror, Horror, Indie Films, Leave it, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015) Movie Review

October 22, 2015 Alex Brannan

Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse opens on Blake Anderson from Workaholics (here simply Ron the Janitor) dancing to an Iggy Azalea trap beat. Marvelous. Ron then single-handedly starts the zombie apocalypse. Double marvelous. The dramatic irony and use of space in this opening is great. It might be the best scene in the entire movie comedy-wise.

We then see a dated-looking boy scout recruitment tape led by the comedic styling of David Koechner. Scout Leader Rogers’ (Koechner) Boy Scout Troop 264 is comprised of three archetypal scouts: the brown-nosing overachiever Augie (Joey Morgan), the apathetic burnout Carter (Logan Miller), and the reluctant leader Ben (Tye Sheridan).

When Ben and Carter decide to ditch Augie for a rave that appears to take place in a warehouse (although it is labeled as a rec center, but this is all besides the point), the two boys stumble upon Continue reading Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Halloween Horror, Horror, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

The Final Girls (2015) Movie Review

October 20, 2015 Alex Brannan

The Final Girls opens on a fake movie trailer for a B-movie horror movie called Camp Bloodbath. It is a solid comic send up to 80’s slasher franchises such as Friday the 13th.

Then we see the star of the film, Amanda Cartwright (Malin Akerman) and her daughter Max (Taissa Farmiga). She’s washed up but is just glad that she has her daughter in her life. Then, you know, she dies. Continue reading The Final Girls (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Halloween Horror, Horror, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Love It

The Host (2006) Movie Review

October 13, 2015 Alex Brannan

In a U.S. Army Base, a germophobic scientist (Scott Wilson) instructs his assistant (Brian Rhee) to dump loads of chemicals down the drain and into the nearby Han River, because the bottles are covered in dust. The result is exactly what you would expect. That is, if you expect a giant fish monster.

The Host has a beautifully shot opening after this U.S. diversion. A man, leaning hopelessly over a bridge, staring into the murky depths below, notices something large and Continue reading The Host (2006) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Halloween Horror, Horror, Lists

Top 10 Horror Movies You Haven’t Seen

October 12, 2015 Alex Brannan

October is upon us, and the tidings of the season are centered on one glorious, oh-so-beautiful word: Horror.

To pay homage to the genre that dominates the Halloween season, here are 10 horror films that you may have never heard of. In my opinion, these movies are under the radar and deserve a higher viewership.

Trick ‘r Treat

There are plenty of anthology horror films out there, and some are better than others. What hinders most of them is the jerky narrative structure in which the segments do not have a cohesion to a larger arc. Trick ‘r Treat is different. Taking place in a small residential town, each segment of the film involves characters in the town on the night of Halloween. The characters’ stories overlap with each other, and the viewer is able to see Continue reading Top 10 Horror Movies You Haven’t Seen →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Casino Royale (1967) Movie Review

October 8, 2015 Alex Brannan

Casino Royale is the first of two films to adapt Ian Fleming’s character James Bond under a production company other than EON Productions. The film is a spoof of the genre that its lead character helped to popularize. In it, Bond (David Niven) is long retired, and is approached by an international array of spy organization leaders–including John Huston as Fleming’s MI6 head M–who attempt to goad him out of retirement.

All the while, global terrorist organization SMERSH vie to ruin Bond. The shadowy leader of the organization states boldly that “Sir James Bond is back with his morals, his vows, and his celibate image. We must destroy that image.” This, a direct attack at Continue reading Casino Royale (1967) Movie Review →

Comedy, Halloween Horror, Horror, Movie News

Krampus (2015) New Trailer Reaction & Review

September 10, 2015 Alex Brannan

Trick ‘r Treat director and frequent Bryan Singer collaborator Michael Dougherty’s new film is about the German folklore character Krampus: a horned and hoofed figure that somewhat resembles a goat-demon. The new trailer for the film is quite revealing as to Continue reading Krampus (2015) New Trailer Reaction & Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Indie Films, Like It, Quickie Reviews (<400 Words), Romance

[Quickie]: Slow Learners (2015) Movie Review

September 3, 2015 Alex Brannan

“I want to be sex-in-the-bathroom people,” could be the working thesis of Slow Learners, the comedy from Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce. Platonic friends Anne (Sarah Burns) and Jeff (Adam Pally) aren’t successful in their personal lives. After many failed attempts at relationships, they decide to wholly change their image.

Sound conventional? Don’t worry, it is.

Continue reading [Quickie]: Slow Learners (2015) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Teacher of the Year (2014) Movie Review

August 2, 2015 Alex Brannan

In Teacher of the Year, Matt Letscher plays the eponymous character, Mitch Carter. Mitch is humble and dedicated to his craft, yet also clearly tired and showing the desire to be somewhere else with his career. After winning California’s Teacher of the Year award, a documentary crew begins following him and the small charter school that he works for. He also gets offered a high paying position at the National Independent School Association, a job that he is hesitant to take.

The movie is filmed in mockumentary style, a genre that has become somewhat tired through its prevalence in television. In this case, nothing new is brought into the mockumentary genre. However, the talking head interviews that are employed are easily Continue reading Teacher of the Year (2014) Movie Review →

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