Entourage

Entourage is based off the HBO show and is following the end of the show. It stars all the characters from the show and takes place right after the show. The story is Vincent has been given the chance to be a first time director and take on this new huge project. This is the story of the normal crew and their misadventures as they get this film made. The film stars all the cast from the showing returning to their roles and adding a few stars. Such as Billy Bob Thornton.

Now, the problem with films that based off the show and are continuing the story from the show. Is that it effectively splits your audience in half. I watch a lot of shows, but was I never able to see an episode of Entourage. I also, love it when a show gets to continue its story if the ending isn't the best or didn't really have one or just wants to continue telling stories of these characters. I am looking at you Serenity/Firefly, Star Trek, and the latest Veronica Mars feature, but when it's the first film like this one is you have to explain a lot of back story. So the people who haven't seen the show well know what is going on. Entourage does a nearly perfect job of this. The first 30 minutes of the film tells you the back story of the characters and fleshes them out so you get to know who each one of these guys are. They also made a great comedy plot. Which all takes place in the "real" world of LA. This film was very funny for someone who has never seen the show and I can only assume that is better for people that have seen the show all the way to its end. All the jokes land if you are in to the over top comedy style of the show.

My biggest problems of the film is that a lot of plot is very slowly shown thought out the film. It feels like a longer version of the TV show. Which is sadly probably what it is. The main plot doesn't really move. Its there and contest, but doesn't go anywhere till the last bit, which wraps up everything very fast. Also if you don't like the comedy of the show, you should avoid the film as well. They don't change that in the slightest. At least that is what I have been told from friends who have seen the show. Now, I would recommend this to fans of the show. They have easter eggs and story ends to all the characters. I would also recommend this to people who wanted to watch the show and just ever got around to seeing it. It has that Tropic Thunder like metahumor that I personally really enjoy and if you like that film. I think you will enjoy this one as well.

RATING
3 out of 4 Ticket Stubs

Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road is the sequel to Beyond Thunderdome and is the reboot to the Mad Max franchise. So if you don't know much about the franchise it is an post apocalyptic world where gas and water is the most valuable things you can have. It stars Tom Hardy as Max (replacing the Mel Gibson) Charlize Theronm who shares the opening credit title card with Tom Hardy (more on that later) and Nicholas Hoult. The story is your basic we need to get this group of people to to this area. Basically becoming the one of the worlds longest chase scenes.

I am gonna start with the negatives before I get into the positives about this film.  One of them being that this film is a genre film. It is an action film start to finish. It is a insane action film start to finish. Heavy on the insane or Mad... I couldn't help myself. So if this isn't your genre, you may want to skip this one. Also the writing is the weakest part of the film. Not bad, just the weakest part. That's it for the negatives. Time to gush.

This film is the best action film of the year. The only other one that is a contender is Kingsmen. This film is a masterpiece. Everything this film tries to do works. It does to a masterpiece quality. The acting in this film is perfect. Hardy is great as Max. A very good replacement for Gibson. The star of the film thought really is Theron. Her character has a great arc and the best moments in the film. Really stealing the show from Hardy. I was glued to the screen every time she did something. Furiosa (Theron's character name) is gonna go down as one of the great women of cinema. Up there with Ripley and Sarah Connor. I am telling you now. The action of the film is perfect. This is the my type of car film. The stunts they do can only be described as beautiful chaos. Everything they do, you are gonna want to see again and again. Plus it is mostly all practical effects. Those cars are really there flipping. I have been quoted as one of those guys that says that "they don't films like they used to". This film made me shut the hell up. George Miller is the man by the end of this film. Your gonna say watching  this film and saying just how did they do that,  more times then you can count. All the characters are strong. Including all the smaller characters. The film also looks amazing. I knew that from the trailer, but there are shots that just took my breath away. This maybe the best of summer. Done Gushing I swear.

I am not a fan of this series. I have only seen one of them. Two counting this one. I understood the film all the way thought so you don't need to see the others to get this one. So for the love of God gives this film money. So that we can get more films made this way. My rating for the is film is of course is

RATING
4 out of 4 Ticket Stubs

Spy

Spy, is the next Melissa McCarthy comedy action film. It is directed and written by Paul Feig. The film stars actually a lot people Jason Statham, Rose Byrne and Jude Law. The film is about a women who you think couldn't be a spy being a spy.

You can tell right off the opening credits scene and opening sequence what this film is satirizing. He is totally going for a James Bond film. They do your standard get your mission from M and then goes to get gadgets from Q. In this the film really nails. They did a good job at looking like James Bond film. The story works on all levels its not overly done, but still written well so that you can enjoy the film. Now, I am not the biggest fan of Melissa McCarthy. I personally believe she can't be the lead in a film. She has one thing and sticks to it. Never doing anything different and changing up her style of comedy. Which is funny, but for me only stays funny for so long. This happened with the film Tammy. She gets in a mode and doesn't turn it off. So I wasn't expecting much on the comedy side of this film. To my pleasant surprise is really pulls back form her normal style. Of making really long winded jokes. She plays more of he straight man in this film. Don't get me wrong she does have her moments and when they come up its great to see, but the film isn't solely that which made me very happy and laughing for most of the film.

The biggest problem of the film is the fact that Jason Statham does do much in the film. He is funny but he never adds to the film beyond that. It also does drag a bit in the middle. So the pace is a bit off in the film. Overall this film is a very well made comedy film that has a very Austin Powers feel. If Austin Powers was a bit more serious. We have seen the postmodern version of James Bond with the Kingsmen this year and now we have the satire with this film. Still to come a real James Bond film. If you like Melissa McCarthy and her style you will enjoy this film. If you like just you basic raunchy comedy you will enjoy this film. But that is all that is really here. Nothing more nothing less.

RATING
2.75 out of 4 Ticket Stubs