I saw the original Scary Movie at the theater back in 2000 and thought it was pretty genius. I grew up on films like Airplane! and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! so I always enjoyed a really good parody. That original Scary Movie was a good parody. Then it spawned a few sequels, some better than others and it kind of faded away like parody films in general. Then Scream came back and Scream was the movie that kicked off Scary Movie so the gang got back together to do a new Scary Movie poking fun at the new Scream movies and Longlegs, Smile, Wednesday, David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy and all the other horror movies that have come out in the past ten years or so. With the return of the Wayans brothers, Regina Hall and Anna Faris, I was hoping this new Scary Movie would be a return to form. Unfortunately it tries to take on too many things and most of the jokes don’t land. Not only is it parodying the new Scream films, it does exactly what those films do, introduces new characters with the OG characters and mocks films that do that very thing. It’s trying to be smart and funny and doesn’t really accomplish either. Faris’ character is more Laurie Strode in DGG’s Halloween trilogy than Cindy Campbell, the Neve Campbell Scream parody. Her one daughter is similar to Campbell’s daughter in Scream 7, but the other is called Tuesday so they aren’t getting whacked with a Wednesday trademark. Hall’s kids are basically 2 of the 4 core four from the new Scream movies. There’s a twist on who the killers are which is a twist like Scream, but also a twist on legacy sequels. If it sounds complicated, you’re kind of right. It’s trying way too much and most of it doesn’t work because of it. The only positive is the actress that plays the non-Tuesday daughter sounds exactly like Anna Faris. That casting is perfect. I missed Scary Movie at the theater and I’m kind of glad I did because it was a pretty big let down.
Second we have I Love Boosters from Boots Riley. If this was a film about shoplifting I might have understood it, but it’s not. Well it is, but it isn’t. There’s a small group of women who shoplift, but then there’s a teleporting machine and Asian people on strike and a fashion designer played by Demi Moore and a demon who sucks the souls out of women by, well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. I don’t get it and honestly, I don’t think I want to get it. It’s probably some quirky take on how capitalism is bad made by and starring millionaires and get over yourselves. Oh yeah there were some weirdly animated characters who have their suits and skin removed. I’m sure it probably has some deeper meaning, but I really don’t care. I’ll never watch it again. I have no need for someone to try to explain it to me because I “just didn’t get it”. Cool, you got it, good for you.
Landman: Season 2 hits Blu-ray this week continuing the drama of the Norris family. Season 1 saw the death of Jon Hamm’s character and Season 2 finds Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris taking over as president of the oil company while also wanting to do the day in/day out tasks of being a landman. Demi Moore’s character gets a boost in the Second Season as she also replaces Hamm’s power at the top. Andy Garcia who was introduced in an episode of Season One gets a full blown push as the cartel leader turned investor. Season Two also introduces us to T.L., Tommy’s father played by Sam Elliott. Cooper (Tommy’s son) goes from worm to running his own company, but gets into trouble that Tommy needs to help him with. His relationship with Ariana continues and Tommy and Angela (Ali Larter) rekindle their marriage. I think Thornton is just brilliant in the role and show makes me laugh every episode in its absurdity. Angela and daughter Ainsley volunteer with old people doing things no old people should be doing. It has all the drama of a Taylor Sheridan show, but I find it a lot funnier. Like his other shows it doesn’t get any of the awards credit it deserves. Thornton should be landing Best Actor Emmy nominations and he isn’t because critics don’t like how male oriented the show is and how pro-oil it is. I dig the show.
Last we have Everyone Calls Me Mike, a film out of France. It is about a man, woman and her young son on a boat. After having some engine troubles, they meet a taxi driver (Mike) who helps them get a part. He asks to join their travels and the man reluctantly agrees. When Somali pirates take over Mike is able to rescue the French people, but soon they clash and Mike isn’t the man they think he is. I have no idea who any of these people are, but I thought the film was decent. The woman goes around topless which I guess might be normal there, but would you still go topless with a complete adult male stranger working the boat? The backdrop is stunning being shot on the Indian Ocean and around that part of the world, but I thought the characters made some decisions that normal people wouldn’t. Yeah he helped you get a part, but you take on a traveler you don’t know around a woman and child? No way. Every actor does their job well and it’s beautiful to look at as well, but I don’t know how believable it would be in the real world.
The Nerds Templar 