Film Review: MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED (2012)

Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath & Conrad Vernon
Writers: Eric Darnell & Noah Baumbach (screenplay)
Running time: 93 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy
UK Release date: 19^th October 2012

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 16^th June 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Those of you that read my stuff regularly will know I have a liking for all animated films, and not just those Disney ones. I have, over the years, enjoyed the adventures of Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo as they try to find their way back to their home at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. As usual we have a mix of comedy and morality as this unlikely band have to find their way across Europe this time. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

At the end of part 2 we left the gang in Africa as the penguin’s, led by Skipper (Tom McGrath), take off for Monte Carlo with the monkeys to make a fortune at the casino. Fearing they will never come back, Alex (Ben Stiller) persuades Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) to come with him to Monte Carlo. Also along for the ride are King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his servants Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer) and Mort (Andy Richter). Things don’t go according to plan and they find themselves in the run with Animal Control Officer, Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand), hot on their trail. They hook up with a travelling circus with a leopard, Gia (Jessica Chastain), a grumpy tiger, Vitaly (Bryan Cranston) and a crazy Italian sea lion Stefano (Martin Short), amongst others, and head to Rome. There is a chance the circus could be making a tour of the United States but they have to impress an agent in London. The trouble is, there is not much time, they’re quite terrible and DuBois is closing in!

I seldom laugh out loud whilst watching a film, but this one easily passed the ‘6 laugh test’. There are some delightfully funny sight gags and some really subtle dialogue that, I’m guessing, was deliberately put in for the adults. All of the performances were great, as far as voice-only performances can be. The stand-out for me was Francis McDormand; she really got into the part! It’s a film that was never going to win any awards, but, you know, it did exactly what it was meant to do, and that’s entertain. Aside from a couple of annoying musical numbers (which are probably featured in the trailer) I found it quite a surprising delight. Definitely recommended for both young and old alike.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.9/10.

IMDb Score: 6.9/10 (based on 61,322 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1277953/

MetaScore: 60/100: (Based on 26 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 79/100 (based on 129 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 74/100 (based on 223,655 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/madagascar_3_europes_most_wanted_2012/

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LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadagascarUK?brand_redir=1
Official Site: http://www.madagascarmovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: TOWER HEIST (2011)

Director: Brett Ratner
Writers (screenplay): Ted Griffin, Jeff Nathanson
Writers (story): Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Ted Griffin
Running time: 101 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12

Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime
UK Release date: 4^th November 2011

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 3^rd November 2012.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This will be a shorter review than usual; I don’t feel it’s worth putting a lot of effort into it as the filmmakers seemed to feel the same. Here’s a quick summary: Bad guy investor, Arthur Shaw gets busted for fraud and a group of employees in the building where he lives find their pension fund gone. With little chance of getting it back, a group of them led by building manager, Josh Kovaks, decide to steal it back from Mr Shaw’s penthouse apartment. They have no experience of robbery and so Kovaks brings in a thief, Slide… and that’s about all you need to know.

This is one of those films that has a great cast but fails to deliver on so many levels. Yes, things do pick up when Eddie Murphy is on screen as Slide, but other than that it’s a pretty much by-the-book heist comedy. Ben Stiller plays, well, Ben Stiller, as Josh Kovaks and Alan Alda does a fairly decent job as Arthur Shaw. Other than that you could have put almost anyone in the other parts and nobody would have noticed. However, I’ll name and shame them; Casey Affleck plays Charlie, could do much better; Matthew Broderick plays Mr. Fitzhugh, needs to speak to his agent; Stephen Henderson plays Lester; Judd Hirsch plays Mr. Simon, he’s much better than this; Téa Leoni plays Special Agent Claire Denham, she was good but deserves better parts than this; Michael Peña plays Enrique Dev’Reaux, again, could do better, and finally; Gabourey Sidibe plays Odessa, and I can only hope she’s not started a trend of playing the fat black woman in comedies… she is SO much better than this!

Over all a film that had one or two moments but one which I didn’t particularly enjoy. I found it far too predictable, although I did like most of the scenes featuring Eddie Murphy; he’s still got some of that old magic. I found it shocking that so many talented actors were persuaded to participate in this formulaic dross. I just hope that someone out there in Hollywoodland is making some decent films in which, at least some of these actors, can get a chance to show what they can do! They certainly didn’t get a chance here! All I learned was that Téa Leoni plays drunk pretty well.

SteelMonster’s verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED

My score: 4.9/10

IMDb Score: 6.2/10 (based on 55,506 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0471042/

MetaScore: 59/100: (Based on 39 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 69/100 (based on 181 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 51/100 ‘Liked it’ (based on 48,123 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tower_heist/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Josh Kovacs: The average apartment in the Tower costs 5.6 million dollars. We have the best views, the most advanced security systems, but you know what these people are really buying?
Rick Malloy: White neighbors?

Josh Kovacs: Several years ago, he was asked to manage all your pensions. Right now, they're saying that anyone who invested with Mr Shaw has been frauded.
Odessa Montero: Did he get your money too?
Josh Kovacs: ...Yeah. He did.

Cole Howard: We're not criminals. We don't know how to steal...
Josh Kovacs: Don't worry. I know someone who does.

Slide: How come you bailed me out? Man, I don't even know your name!
Josh Kovacs: You don't remember Mrs Schaltzberg? We used to get dropped at her house every day for daycare! Heavy-set German woman, short goatee.
Slide: You the little seizure boy that's having seizures all the time!
Josh Kovacs: Asthma doesn't cause seizures!

Cole Howard: [to Devro] Devro, will you please remind Mr. Shaw?
Rick Malloy: [to Shaw] I'm very sorry, Mr. Shaw, but we don't accept tips at the tower.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/tower-heist/
Trailer:

Film Review: MEGAMIND (2010)

Director: Tom McGrath
Writers: Alan J. Schoolcraft & Brent Simons
Running time: 92 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Animation/Action/Comedy
UK Release date: 3^rd December 2010

Watched at the cinema Tuesday 27^th December 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is another of those blockbuster animated films that uses the voices of famous stars to sell it. Well that’s what I was led to believe from the hype anyway. At the end of the day I decided it wasn’t all that bad. As far as I’m concerned, anyone could be supplying the voices in this one; it’s the writing that makes it (for me). I’m sure contributions were made by those involved, but the basic storyline would have remained the same and it’s the story that holds the thing together. Of course I was also immune to the 3D because I watched it in exactly the same number of dimensions the screen has. But I digress, here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

With their planets doomed, two babies are sent towards Earth. One lands at a mansion and is brought up in a privileged home. He has superpowers and grows up to be the good guy: Metro Man. The other, well he lands in a prison, has no superpowers, but a genius mind and he becomes the bad guy: Megamind. The pair have many battles over the years with Metro Man always finishing with the upper hand. But this time it would be different; this time Megamind has a particularly evil plan. He kidnaps Metro Man’s girlfriend, reporter Roxanne Ritchie, and lures Metro Man to his doom. But will the destruction of Metro Man give Megamind everything he wants? Well, I’m afraid the Spoiler Police would really not like me telling you that… and anyway, they’ve threatened me with the ‘forget-me stick’ if I tell.

The animation is up to DreamWorks’ usual standard, nothing particularly extraordinary about it really. I love the soundtrack, but then again, put AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne and Guns ‘n’ Roses in there and I’m yours! (I saw at least two of them in the same bill once). Performance wise, well everyone did a decent job, so I’ll give honourable mentions to the voice talents of; Will Ferrell as Megamind, Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchie, Brad Pitt as Metro Man, Jonah Hill as Hal Stewart/ Titan, David Cross as Minion and Ben Stiller as Bernard.

The whole story is told from the point of view of Megamind which makes for an interesting dynamic. You end up sympathising with the bad guy and that, I guess, is what makes the whole thing work. I liked the storyline, but I suspect it may have been a little too complicated for younger members of the audience. They also fall into the trap of putting little nods to older films so the parents don’t get bored, I suppose, and this is all getting a little cliché Hollywood. Still, it’s pretty entertaining over all and one that’s worth a look… ‘Recommended’.

My score: 7.3/10.

IMDb Score: 7.3/10 (based on 50,452 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1001526/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 72/100 (based on 170 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 73/100 (based on 93,545 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/megamind/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
[first lines]
Megamind: Here's my day so far: went to jail, lost the girl of my dreams and got my butt kicked pretty good. Still, things could be a lot worse. Oh, that's right... I'm falling to my death. Guess they can't. How did it all come to this? Well, my end starts at the beginning... The very beginning!

Megamind: This will be the last you ever hear of... Roxanne Ritchie! Huh?
Metro Man: [gasps] Roxanne! Don't panic, Roxy... I'm on my way!
Roxanne Ritchie: I'm not panicking.
Megamind: [smirking] In order to stop me, you'll have to find us first!
Roxanne Ritchie: We're at the abandoned observatory!
Megamind: [lunges for the control and turns off the camera on Roxanne] Nooo! We're NOT! Don't listen to her, she's crazy!

[a solar-powered laser starts to activate]
Minion: [at a monitor] Death ray readying!
Megamind: Let's see if Metro Man can withstand the full concentrated power of the sun! FIRE!
[nothing happens]
Megamind: [to Minion] Fire!
Minion: [at monitor] Still warming up, sir.
Megamind: Come again?
Minion: Warming up.
Megamind: Warming up? The sun is WARMING UP?
Minion: Just a little more and...

LINKS:
Official Site: http://www.megamind.com/
Trailer: