This Is Where I Leave You - Review

This Is Where I Leave You.

This Is Where I leave you is another film in a similar slew of “Coming Home” movies. For those unfamiliar with the genre a “Coming Home” film will feature a middle aged protagonist who’s successful in terms of their career but maybe not fully satisfied in their home life. Then due to what is often a death in the family they have to go back to their childhood home at the same time as the rest of their family is there and in this time they come over old family  grievances to film themselves again. (See last years “The Judge”) This Is Where I leave You follows this formula to the point but it’s but no measure a bad film.

It’s gets over its formulaic narrative mainly due to its exceptional cast. Everyone in the film elevates it by bringing out humor and warmth in what could have otherwise gone very wrong. Jason Bateman lead the cast as Judd Altman (As character names go it just sounds bland) Bateman fits the role like a glove.  Playing the family patriarch who holds the family of characters together. The film isn’t nearly as absurd as “Arrested Development” but you can see Michael Bluth creeping through. That’s no bad thing though more Arrested Development is always welcome. Tina Fey plays his sister Wendy Altman who supports him through this family struggle. Fey is responsible for most of the laughs in the film and she runs circles around her male counterparts in terms of humour.  The film is completely littered with several successful people, it’s a bit like a school play with everyone showing up for their little moment. Adam Driver is there as the off the rails brother his character could come off like a bit of a dick but Driver finds some likeable charm underneath and he mines that for what it is. Rose Byrne shows up to play Judd’s small town love who never left. Again her character could be annoyingly ditzy but Byrne too finds some charm in the role.

In the directors chair is Shawn Levy. The films stands out compared to Levy’s previous fare and you get a sense that he is enjoying making something a bit characterful compared to Nigh At The Museum ∞. His direction is very silent not flashy but he has a nice visual eye and the whole thing is impeccably well lit it’s one of the sunniest films I think I’ve ever scene (Honestly I think it only rains about once). Thanks to a great cast and light direction what could be plodding and melodramatic  is still melodramatic but it’s enjoyable and humourous melodrama which neatly fits itself into a 1h39min running time.

3/5 Stars 

Trailer Roundup

There seem to have been a lot of trailers released over the last few days so here I round them up and leave my thoughts on them.  

Tomorrowland:A World Beyond 

I’ve wanted to see Tomorrowland ever since that first trailer came out since then when thinking of the films I want to see it hasn’t been that far up my list but after this trailer its jumped far up the list. I would challenge anyone not to be excited by this sense of adventure and its futuristic vision. Tommorowland:A World Beyond comes out May 29

Inside Out

Inside Out has been a film I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever I remember long ago when it was announced but now it seems so close I’m sure it will be worth the wait. The last trailer was effective in the way it showed the set up for how the film works but this trailer tops that by giving us a sense into the world of Inside Out.  I love the ideas bubbling under the surface of all of the bright colours. Inside Out comes out July 24

San Andreas

I have to admit I haven’t been that pumped for San Andreas and whilst this trailer doesn’t make it look like some modern miracle of mainstream cinema , it makes the film look at least fun. It clearly has a fun tone and isn’t taking itself too seriously. The chaos and carnage looks enjoyably over the top.  San Andreas comes out 29 May.

Daredevil 

I’m sorry to be typing this but this is where the hope and optimism that I was talking about in those previous trailers comes to die. I still remember my excitement when reading about the Netflix Marvel partnership and I still have hope for the other series (A.K.A Jessica Jones sounds great) but this Daredevil trailer fills me with dread. The whole thing seems drenched in the poe faced seriousness of a fan film. Whilst everything else in the Marvel Universe has a comic book feel this seems like a TV show made by someone who talks about “Graphic Novels”. I just don’t like the way it feels so tonally out of place with everything else we’ve seen from Marvel. Daredevil comes out April 10 and even if it doesn’t work Avengers Age Of Ultron comes out two weeks after so it’s not that bad.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt First Thoughts

I have to confess TV isn’t my ideal medium, I often start things and fall behind and then give up. I’ve watched most of the big films of the last few years but if you asked for my thoughts on the big TV shows at best I might be able to talk to you about the first few episodes. It was with great apprehension then that I start “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on Netflix, would this be another TV show I’d start and never finish? or would I not even enjoy it?

I’m glad to report that the show is simply terrific. It centers on the eponymous character (Ellie Kemper) as she comes out of an underground apocalypse cult after about 15 years of hiding.  It sounds like a bizarre and convoluted set up but the show is so good it just works. Mainly this is due to the central performance of Kemper, her character is so wide eyed and innocent you cant help but like her. Too much comedy is about being dry and sarcastic, its about proving how apathetic you are to the world around you. So in this respect Kimmy Schmidt is a breathe of fresh air, it feels like a change to watch a show that’s about optimism and a character who is fascinated by life rather than bored by it. The show has such a youthful vibe and energy to it that watching it make you feel better due to a combination of bright colours, fun characters and great jokes. This framing of someone coming into the modern world after living underground for a long time provides most of the humour for the show by seeing Kimmy’s reaction to our world we get realize some of the absurdities of modern life. 

“The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is looking like it’s going to be a great show all the episodes are available on Netflix now but I think I’m going to savour them because it’s really worth it.

If you've started the show leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. 

Focus Review

 

Focus is a fast, funny and frothy movie that is about as light as the fingers of its protagonists.

The film is about Jess (Margot Robbie) and Nicky (Will Smith) we first see the two working together around a Super Bowl like event. We see them take advantage of large crowds and a rich businessman. The film then skips three years when the two meet again by chance in Buenos Aires. This sudden meeting reawakens their old flame yet nothing is as it seems.

Speaking honestly Focus follows a very similar path to other similar films. There’s always a minor twist around the corner, we have montages showing us how the tricks are done and the characters seem to be keeping secrets upon secrets from one another. What elevates the film from fare we’ve seen before is the crew, both the crew on screen and the work being done behind the screen. Both Robbie and Smith fit comfortably into their roles. Robbie fits the role like a glove she can do the wide-eyed naivety she needs to pull you in and then the sharp comic wit she needs to sting you with afterwards. You always buy the idea that she is in control. She’s the damsel not as in distress as she wants you to believe. Will Smith is on top form reminding you what he became famous for. On the page the character of Nicky would read as a fairly standard trope of a character he always has a good comeback, he always seems to be a few steps ahead of everyone else but Will Smith brings real life to the character with him Nicky is charming and a loveable rogue. Both actors are so on top of their game that even when the film runs a bit slow it’s still enjoyable to watch two good looking people having fun with bouncy dialogue.

In terms of the behind the scenes crew. The film is directed by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra. The direction isn’t the sort that is worthy of pages of critical analysis yet it does also elevate the film. The film is full of little camera tricks that contribute to a general sense of misdirection. Occasionally the camera be looking at something and then it will tilt elsewhere distracting your (pardon the pun) focus. There is a terrific sequence inside a hotel room which I won’t say too much about but the direction is exquisite. The camera treads lightly around the room constantly distracting our attention from one set of events to the other. The direction is just good enough to elevate what could be quite dull material.

Focus is the perfect post awards season pallet cleanser. It isn’t particularly stimulating but its very entertaining, elevated by two great lead performances with smart & small camera moves the direction isn’t as stilted as it could have been. All of this makes the film a great time at the cinema.

(A solid) 3/5 Stars.