For today I chose a film from Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore) because the first film in the Hotel Transylvania series was very good despite what people may be saying about his career. When I saw that Netflix had Hotel Transylvania 2 available to watch, I took the shot and it’s todays’ film. The film starts off with Mavis (Selena Gomez) and Jonathan (Andy Samberg) getting married and that follows with them having their first child Dennis (Asher Blinkoff). Dracula (Sandler) is having a hard time with the idea that his new grandson could be a human and not a monster. It’s gotten to the point that Mavis and Johnny are thinking about moving away to give Dennis a normal upbringing. Not liking the idea of that, Dracula has Johnny take Mavis on vacation in an attempt to see if he can bring the monster out of Johnny. The film also stars Kevin James (King Of Queens) as Frank, Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs) as Wayne, David Spade (Tommy Boy) as Griffin, Keegan-Michael Key (Let’s Be Cops) as Murray, Fran Drescher (The Nanny) as Eunice, Molly Shannon (Superstar) as Wanda, Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation) as Grandpa Mike, Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) as Grandma Linda, Mel Brooks (Spaceballs) as Vlad, and the film was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.
While I loved the first film, I have to say that I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the first. This film had it’s funny moments, but not as much as the first film did. The funniest character in this film was definitely Blobby who provided enough laughs even though he doesn’t really say much. I honesty believe that is why they had him in the film as much as he was. The first film dealt with Mavis wanting to date a human and this film had them struggling with the idea that their son could be human. That is the one thing I have to give the film credit for is that it was well written film and it may show that Sander has something left in the tank. I loved the edition of Mel Brooks as Vlad and certainly the nod to Interview With The Vampire with the costume Johnny wears at a party. The only thing I had a problem with is that he switches his stance very quickly on how he feels about humans even though this is a guy who has hated humans for a very long time. I just feel that this is something that should have been developed over a film, but nonetheless it was a good film. I am excited to hear that there is going to be a third film in the series because it’ll be cool to see where they take it now. Alright so it’s time to give the film a final grade and with careful thought, I am going to give the film an B+ for a final grade.
For today’s film, I wanted to watch something that was a little different than what I was used to and it was kind of a film that I had no idea about. Me And Earl And The Dying Girl was the name of today’s film and it follows high schooler Greg (Thomas Mann), who is a little different than most kids because all he wants to do is make parodies of films with his friend Earl (RJ Cyler) and coast by high school in hopes that no one notices him. All of that is about to be turned upside down on him when his mother forces him to hang out with a girl named Rachel (Olivia Cooke) who just found out she has cancer. While he has his preconceptions about hanging out with her, Greg’s life begins to change for the better as she opens his eyes to the world around him. The film also stars Jon Bernthal (Daredevil) as Mr. McCarthy, Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as Greg’s Dad, Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) as Greg’s Mom, Molly Shannon (Superstar) as Denise, Matt Bennett (Victorious) as Scott Mayhew, Katherine Hughes (Men, Women, And Children) as Madison, Masem Holden (Elizabethtown) as Ill Will, and the film was directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (The Town That Dreaded Sundown).
The film was definitely different than most high school teen flicks than I am used to seeing because it strikes a nerve. It will definitely strike a nerve with anyone who has lost someone to cancer and the struggle that we all see them go through. Besides that, it’s also a touching story because here is a kid that knows he has to tip toe on the line when he first goes to hang out after his mom told him to. It’s also touching due to the fact that he begins to grow up before our very eyes because of how much he cares for her. He’s not willing to share anything with anyone, but she is essentially the first person that he shares his movies with. It was cool to see Jon Bernthal in the film as a very unorthodox history teacher who also helps guide Gregg and Earl along the way. Nick Offerman who is a brilliant and funny man may have a very minor role in the film, but it’s so different than what we are used to seeing him play and that is awesome. Issues like these were held back from us back in the day, but I am glad that kids are seeing it because it’s real life. The film was very artsy at times and I loved the long continuous shot in the beginning of the film that had no cuts. I thought that was a cool touch to the film and the writing was amazing as well. Check it out for yourself, it airs on HBO and it’s available everywhere online. I am going to give the film an A for a final grade because I felt it deserved it.
Another simple case of nothing else on television and not enough time to view anything. Believe it or not, I actually avoided this movie for about this long, but I decided to check out Superstar. The film was a huge skit on Saturday Night Live and it starred Molly Shannon (Never Been Kissed) as Mary Katherine Gallagher, a high school girl with lots of issues. All Mary wants to do in life is get her first kiss from the high school hunk in Sky Corrigan (Will Farrell). She figures that is she wins the talent show at her catholic school which guarantees you a role as an extra in film that she will get her first kiss, but she’ll have some pretty hefty obstacles in her way from her bully. The film also stars Elaine Hendrix (The Parent Trap) as Evian, Harland Williams (Half Baked) as Slater, Mark McKinney (Kids In The Hall) as Father Ritley, Glynis Johns (Mary Poppins) as Grandma, Jason Blicker (The Day After Tomorrow) as Howard, Gerry Bamman (Home Alone) as Father John, Emmy Laybourne (Mystery Men) as Helen, Jennifer Irwin (The Gate) as Maria, Tom Green (Freddy Got Fingered) as Dylan, and the film was directed by Bruce McCulloch (Stealing Harvard).
Looking back on this film, I believe the skits on Saturday Night Live were a lot better than the film. In my opinion, this was one of those cases where the film wasn’t as great as the skits. Don’t get me wrong, the film had some memorable quotes and some funny scenes, but it just wasn’t laugh out loud funny. I like the fact though that it seemed like a fusion between SNL and Kids In The Hall (which was a great TV skit show in its own right) with an actor and director from the series combined with actors and a skit from SNL. Molly Shannon of course emboddied the role of Mary Katherine Gallagher as it was her role entirely from the get go, but I have to say that I loved seeing Will Farrell more as Jesus than Sky Corrigan. Anytime he showed up as Jesus, I thought it was hilarious and I couldn’t get enough of it. Tom Green is his typical self in the movie where he goes a little over the top in what he does, but I miss Tom Green. I don’t really have much else to say about the movie so I’ll cut to the chase and give the film it’s grade. I am going to give this movie a B- for a final grade.
365moviesin365dayschallenge 