Category Archives: comedy

“The Lovers” Themes of Marriage and Fidelity

comedy, drama, ,

Directed by Azazel Jacobs, The Lovers looks like a fun movie to watch as long as the funny moments are actually funny.

Performances by Debra Winger and Tracy Letts

The movie follows Michael, played by Tracy Letts, and Mary, played by Debra Winger, who are long past passion, never mind patience, after decades of turmoil and tedium in their marriage.

Each is now contentedly distracted by a lover on the side. And each fully intends to call it quits on the other after one last family get-together with their collegiate son, played by Tyler Ross.

So, we meet Michael’s fiery ballet teacher, played by Melora Walters, while Mary is holding her guy, a playful novelist played by Aidan Gillen.

A Marriage Rekindled

But when the dried-up spark between Michael and Mary unexpectedly, indeed feverishly, reignites, it sends their plans into chaos, forcing them to navigate the hilarious new complications of having to “cheat” on their respective lovers. It all sets the stage for a collision of betrayals and agendas that crescendos to a truly unforgettable ending.

Charlize Theron in “Atomic Blonde”

action, based on a book, comedy, , , , , , ,

Directed by David Leitch and starring Oscar-winning Charlize Theron, Atomic Blonde appears to be a breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution and double-crossing hives of traitors. But it is actually a hilarious movie. The trailer is such a wonkier.

Atomic Blonde Action Scenes

The crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton, played by Theron, is equal parts spycraft, sensuality, and savagery, willing to deploy any skill to stay alive on her impossible mission.

Sent alone to Berlin to deliver a priceless dossier out of the destabilized city, she partners with embedded station chief David Percival, played by James McAvoy, to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies. Does this make any sense? It’s hilarious.

Why Atomic Blonde Stands Out

The rest of the cast is just awesome. The movie also stars John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella and Toby Jones. The film is based on the graphic novel series The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and illustrator Sam Hart.

Atomic Blonde Cast and Characters

I saw two interviews with Charlize and Sofia. Both offered some insight into their lives. Charlize mentions Apartheid and Berlin during the Cold War. Sofia talks about how stunt work is quite different than dancing.

Johansson in “Rough Night”

comedy, drama, , , , ,

Directed by Lucia Aniello, Rough Night is an edgy R-rated comedy starring Scarlett Johansson.

The film follows five college friends (Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz) who reunite ten years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami.

Bachelorette Party Chaos

They get wild and dark while their hard partying takes a hilarious turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most.

Tone and Humor

The movie is hilarious to watch, thanks to these talented actresses. The story is awkward, yet you might enjoy this wild, rough night.

Wedding Comedy “Table 19”

comedy, drama, romance, ,

Five Strangers, One Wedding

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz, Table 19 follows Eloise, played by Anna Kendrick, an ex-maid of honor.

She’s been relieved of her duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text, and decides to hold her head high and attend her oldest friend’s wedding.

Feel-Good Wedding Rom-Com

She sits at a random table in the back of the ballroom with a disparate group of strangers, most of whom should have known to send regrets (but not before sending something nice off from the registry).

As the story reveals everyone’s secrets, Eloise learns a thing or two from the occupants of Table 19.  Friendships—and even a little romance—can happen under the most unlikely circumstances.

Enjoy the simple story about misfits who know they are better and deserve a better table.

Bill Nighy Delightful in “Their Finest”

comedy, drama, war, , ,

I love movies like this because it is a story and a story well told without the big box office blitz or big stars and super special effects.

Directed by Lone Scherfig,  Their Finest follows Catrin Cole, played by Gemma Arterton, who fills a man’s job because London has emptied of men now fighting at the Front. The British Ministry of Information hires her as a “slop” scriptwriter charged with bringing “a woman’s touch” to morale-boosting propaganda films. If you didn’t know, a slop writer adds the sentimental touch to a story.

Cole’s natural flair quickly gets her noticed by the dashing movie producer Buckley, played by Sam Claflin, whose path would never have crossed hers in peacetime. As bombs are dropping all around them, Catrin, Buckley, and a colorful crew work furiously to make a film that will warm the nation’s hearts.

Although Catrin’s artist husband looks down on her job, she quickly discovers there is as much camaraderie, laughter, and passion behind the camera as there is on screen.

Bill Nighy is charming in this film. It’s so good to see him in so many films of late.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” Adventure

based on a book, children movies, comedy, family movies, kid movies, sequels, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just about a whole new cast in the latest installment of the Wimpy Kid franchise. It looks like fun, but a road trip? It could be fun. Hang on tight because I see some familiar faces.

Greg narrates throughout the film as summer starts with a surprise family road trip. Heffley’s plans go awry immediately. Along the wild way, they deal with a hotel showdown, a county fair pig triumph, a stolen pig situation, and a string of travel calamities that keep getting worse.

The movie adaptation, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, differs from the book by focusing on Meemaw’s 90th birthday party.

“Girls Trip”

comedy, , , , , ,

When four lifelong friends travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods become rekindled, wild sides rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling, and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.

I have not heard so much filth in a long time. It looks like they are having fun, but not all women talk like that, right?

If you can find it, the Girls Trip trailer is hilarious.

“Wilson” Trailer

based on a book, comedy, drama, , , , , , , ,

Directed by Craig Johnson, and after watching the trailer, I had a pleasant laugh. Wilson may prove to be hilarious. The poster is not all that engaging because it shows two men at a urinal—big deal.

The trailer is hopeful. Lauren Dern has proved quite the actress of late. In The Fault in Our Stars and Wild, she played a mother, while in Wilson, she plays and wife and an uncaring mom.

Woody Harrelson stars as Wilson, a lonely, neurotic, and hilariously honest middle-aged cynic who reunites with his estranged wife, played by Laura Dern and gets a shot at happiness when he learns he has a teenage daughter, played by Isabella Amara. He has never met.  In his uniquely outrageous and slightly twisted way, he sets out to connect with her.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the movie expands on the book’s events beyond its single-page vignette style. The characters develop further as they fill in the blanks, and they are flawed. With that, the movie might be worth a watch if you like funny movies that make fun of people’s tragic lives.

“How to Be a Latin Lover”

comedy, romance, , , , ,

Directed by Ken Marino, How to Be a Latin Lover stars Eugenio Derbez in a cross-cultural movie with more of a Latin flair than a true American comedy.

Eugenio plays a very handsome and very young Maximo, who dreams of being rich without ever having to work a day in his life.

Having made a career of seducing rich older women, he marries a wealthy woman more than twice his age. 25 years later, spoiled and bored from waking up next to his now 80-year-old wife. He gets the surprise of his life when she ends up dumping him for a younger car salesman.

Forced out of his mansion and desperate for a place to stay, he must move in with his estranged sister, Sara, played by Salma Hayek, and her nerdy but adorable son, Hugo, in their small apartment. Eager to return to the lap of luxury, Maximo uses his nephew’s crush on a classmate to get to his new target-her grandmother, Celeste, a widowed billionaire.

As Maximo tries to rekindle his powers as a Latin lover, he bonds with his nephew Hugo, and he learns that being a Latin lover means that loving money isn’t as important as the love of your family.

“Everybody Loves Somebody” Mexican Romantic Comedy

comedy, foreign movie, romance, , , , , ,

Written and directed by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, Everybody Love Somebody follows the young and beautiful Clara Barron, played by Karla Souza.

The film has English subtitles, but it is in Spanish. Clara seems to have everything, such as a great job as an OB-GYN. She even has a magnificent house in LA and a big, fun-loving Mexican family.

But the one thing Clara hasn’t figured out is her love life. Pressured by a family wedding in Mexico, Clara asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities. The only surprise is when her ex-boyfriend (and family favorite) suddenly shows up after disappearing from her life completely.

Torn, Clara must decide between going back to the past or opening her heart to new and unexpected possibilities.

In an adventure full of laughter, she learns that sometimes it takes the whole crazy family to help you find crazy love.