Tropic Thunder Review

Where to start with this really rather very good film.  Considering the basic idea of a film of a film being filmed, you still with me, its very well written and fairly easy to stay with, rather than having 20 different things going on that, in a film like this, could easily ruin it.  Packed with hilarity from ridiculous characters to sharp wit and great stories, it delivers on your, and possibly, succeed your expectations.  Tropic Thunder is not just a comedy film, its a parody of Hollywood, a playful slap around the face and credit must go to Ben Stiller for having the balls to make this film.  

Featuring a star studded cast and a brilliantly intricate marketing strategy that included websites for each of the main characters and even an E! True Hollywood Story that aired a week before its release date it really increased the hype and added to the attention to detail that seemed to go into making this movie.  Stiller and Downey Jr pave the way for the rest of the cast with very well portrayed characters that come out with some great one liners.  A fabulous cameo comes from Tom Cruise playing a hardened, pompous studio executive and he really produces a great performance.  

Besides a weakly written role for Black, the rest of the men are given enough to work with for some truly great moments.  Jay Baruchel shines as the only "non"-celebrity involved, the guy who went to boot camp, read the novel and the script, and idolizes the men he is working with. Its also good to see him get a more beefed up role as opposed to the side parts in Apatow films. And the back and forth between Downey Jr. and Brandon T. Jackson's Alpa Chino never get old. The whole dynamic of real black man versus fake was unceasingly funny.

Of course there were a few problems with this film, some annoying product placement that got tiring.  The plot lulled at times but once you push the small problems aside you will really enjoy this very funny, sharp and robust parody.  

Rock 'n' Rolla Review

Guy Ritchie returns with this same old british gangster film that is slightly more grandeur than his other installments of the same mold.  It has to be said that he delivers a good film that has a strong cast as well as some strong performances.  The plot, cockney gangsters pulling off heist after heist, is the same basic formula as in Lock Stock and Snatch but in RocknRolla he adds a bit more glamour and style to it.  Coupled with some sharp dialogue, great editing and cinematography the film pleases without ever shifting the gear stick above 3rd.

Rock 'n' Rolla adds nothing to the genre that Ritchie made his forte with Snatch and Lock Stock, you could make a short list of the simple formulae that is used in these three films.  Even ridiculously hard as nail russian hit men return in this film and are not really believable, but it could be said that this is not a serious film.  The plot is well written but everything is on such a glamorous scale, almost hollywood like, that you watch this film and enjoy it rather than think about it.  

Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Tom Wilkinson and Mark Strong all put in very good performances but its relative new comer Toby Kebbell, playing druggie rock star Johnny Quid, that steals the show and should well of been at the very least up for supporting actor at the Bafta's.  He puts in a brilliant performance that was equal to Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder.  Mixing poetic intelligence and quick wit to entice us into sympathising and supporting him, culminating in a fabulous five minute scene where he steals the whole show.  

Overall RocknRolla is a pleasing, fast paced thriller with a brilliant soundtrack that will have you enjoying yourself but don't expect more from Ritchie in this film as you will be let down. There may well be a sequel to RocknRolla and it should promise to be as action packed and thrilling.

Role Models Review

Never before have i been so brilliantly suprised by a film.  Role Models is a fabulous, silly, belly laughing comedy that you can watch over and over again without it getting old.  Inspired by the likes of Superbad and Drillbit Taylor, it keeps providing laugh after laugh and is easily a match for Step Brothers for comedy film of the year!

David Wain, not a particularly notorious or well known director, has created a great film that has rightly been praised and deserves to do well in the box office.  Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott star in Role Models and although they may seem an unlikely pairing but they play off each other very well, Wheeler (Scott) is the slightly dumb, good looking guy who gets it all where as Danny (Rudd) is sarcastic, miserable and still in love with Beth (Elizabeth Banks).  Each line in the film is well written and delivered very well by three increasingly funnier comedic actors (Scott, Rudd & Banks).  Mintz-Plasse (Augie, also played Fogel in Superbad) plays a lonely young teen who has his heart set on doing one thing, living in a fantasy role playing world called Laire. While J.Thompson plays Ronnie, a 10 year old with bundles of attitude.

Wheeler & Danny are two reps working for an energy drink company (Minotaur), touring schools and telling kids to stay off of drugs and generally not much else, all the trouble starts after Wheeler throws Danny a surprise party celebrating 10 years at Minotaur and as he is not one for surprises he gets annoyed, ends up breaking up with Beth, crashes the Minotaur car into a statue.  They both then get threatened with prison or 150 hours of community service, wanting the community service they get banded with two kids and after getting off to a shaky start, both parties start to enjoy themselves until it all go's wrong.  

At this point the films starts to give a strong message, Do whatever makes you happy! The final scene is epic to say the least and it creates an atmosphere, thanks to people aged 10 to 35 or so playing with foam swords and fighting each other.  It all works out in the end, Augie's parents accept him, Ronnie learns to respect others, Wheeler carries on as normal and Danny & Beth get back together thanks to his willingness to sort it all out.

Overall Role Models is a fascinating comedy that really does deliver laughs in bundles and has a message wrapped up in it.  For a comedy that you can enjoy and take a message from this is a great film and definitely worth a trip or two to the cinema.