"Kung Fu Panda 3" Review
There’s no doubt that you make it to a third film in a franchise by either having great content or creating a film for cheap but getting large profit margins these days. Dream Works Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 3 (KFP3) has certainly made it here by the former. However, is the third time a charm?
Jack Black lends his voice again as Po, the bumbling but lovable panda. The old crew is still with him: Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Seth Rogen as Mantis, Lucy Liu as Viper, Jackie Chan as Monkey and Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu. Yet, in this installment, Po is on his way to becoming the Dragon Warrior. As if the journey for the student becoming the master wasn’t enough for Po, his long lost father Li (Bryan Cranston) comes on the scene to further distract him.
While Po reunites with his family (introducing us to new, memorable pandas), an old enemy from the spirit world, Kai (J.K. Simmons) has found a way to return to the mortal world by stealing other master’s chi. As Kai begins to defeat the Kung Fu Masters in China, he accumulates their chi in the form of jade miniatures of each master that he can wear on his belt. The jade miniature animations sound and look so real. The need for Po to ascend to the Dragon Warrior he’s supposed to be is even more pertinent.
With KFP3 you get the same incredible animated visuals you’ve come to expect, but the story doesn’t feel as fresh this time around. The film plays out in a way that feels more convenient to storytelling rather than exciting and integral. As Po unites with his father, tension arises between his bio dad and step dad, Mr. Ping (James Hong). As if finding his family wasn’t enough, Po also has to deal with pleasing the family he’s always known versus his new found relatives. Unfortunately, it feels almost negligent on Po’s part that he deals with his family issues while his comrades are loosing their “lives”.
By the end of the film we see Po’s growth and ascension into the role of Dragon Warrior with a message of “be yourself” that’s worthwhile for children of all ages. The animation in the film is top notch. While Po has a satisfying character arch and growth in the film, the furious five (Tigress, Mantis, Viper, Monkey, Master Shifu) are virtually silenced. Regardless, my 3 year old loved it, and I’m sure any child under the age of 13 will love the film too!
Rating: B-
"The Night Before" Review
Deck the halls with weed and mushrooms, Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la cocaine.
That’s pretty much the mindset that this film occupies. Combine a Christmas movie with a stoner movie and you’ll get The Night Before, the latest comedy starring Seth Rogen. Those who have seen Rogen’s past efforts (This is the End, Neighbors, The Interview) are well aware of what to expect by this point: vulgar humor, pop culture references, and a laid-back, improvisational approach to storytelling. The Night Before is no exception, and whether that’s a good or bad thing is entirely dependent upon the viewer’s tolerance for that sort of thing.
Me? I laughed when I saw it, in spite of myself. The Night Before is equal parts naughty and nice, relishing its raunchiness while pausing for sobering, heartfelt moments as well. This is a film about friendship, forgiveness, growing up, and the spirit of Christmas… that also features a scene in which Rogen, wearing a sweater bearing the Star of David, vomits in the middle of a church during Christmas Eve service.
The film concerns three childhood friends—Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Chris (Anthony Mackie), and Isaac (Rogen)—who are on the cusp of some big changes in their lives. Before adulthood claims their freedom to party forever, they gather on Christmas Eve for one last night of bacchanalian shenanigans. On a quest to find the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties, they traverse from one outrageous set piece to the next. This is not so much a story as it is a collection of things that happen.
Like with all Rogen comedies, the sheer level of talent assembled is impressive. In addition to the believable chemistry and snappy banter of the three leads, there are also hysterical supporting turns from actresses Jillian Bell (22 Jump Street) and Mindy Kaling (The Office), who often overshadow their male costars with their radiant comedic timing. But the most brilliant—and surprising—comic performance of the film comes from Michael Shannon (yes, General Zod from Man of Steel) as the mysterious marijuana dealer Mr. Green. He runs away with the film.
But too often the humor relies on lazy pop culture references and random celebrity cameos that will date the movie instantly. Miley Cyrus appears in one scene. What’s the joke? I guess it’s meant to be funny because she’s there. Or is there irony in the way the characters lay the praise on thick by saying things like “Miley Cyrus is so amazing! Isn’t her song ‘Wrecking Ball’ timeless?”
It’s unnecessary detours like these that take precious screen time away from our heroes and grind the film’s momentum to a halt. Had the script stayed focused a bit more on its central characters, I would have found myself caring if Ethan gets the girl or if Isaac learns to be a responsible father or if Chris becomes less of an egotistical jerk.
But perhaps I’m being a bit of a Scrooge. People don’t go to a film like The Night Before looking for well-developed characters or a polished script. They go to laugh. And when Christmas brings us such lumps of coal as Jingle All the Way, Deck the Halls, and Christmas with the Kranks, we can be thankful that The Night Before is as funny and warmhearted as it is. After all, isn’t being thankful what the holidays are all about?
Grade: B-
"Steve Jobs" Review
There are two things I was looking forward to in regards to the highly-anticipated premiere of 'Steve Jobs': Aaron Sorkin’s writing and Michael Fassbender in a turtleneck! There are other things people might be looking forward to: a chance to learn more about the infamous man behind some of our favorite pieces of technology, and a new piece of work from Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire). For this film chick, however, it was all about Sorkin’s quick dialogue and a scantily-clad Michael Fassbender — and on those two fronts, the film did not disappoint.
Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc. is the 21st century version of a mythological hero. Passionate, driven and gifted with an unrivaled talent for the art and business of technology, he has both devoted followers and enemies. He goes to battle on the stage of multiple product launches and his fighting skills are a terrifying mix of bravado and finesse. Like any hero though, Steve is plagued by a dark past: he was given up for adoption by his birth parents and this abandonment has gone on to affect his business relationships and his acceptance of his daughter. "Steve Jobs", as a film, follows this hero behind-the-scenes as he creates a technological revolution while conquering his own personal demons.
Taking on a subject matter for a man of Jobs’ stature is a tough call. To create a biography via film, you go up against what people think they already know about him and then you have to carefully select what you’re going to show and what parts of the story you are going to leave out — essentially creating a new reality. For this take on Steve, director Danny Boyle decides to focus on two major areas of Steve’s life: the early days of Apple (the film only covers Steve’s life up until the 1998 reveal of the iMac) and his troubled relationship with his daughter, Lisa. This choice makes sense because it gives you the ability to see both the genius and the man behind it, but ultimately, it’s an unsatisfying choice. The film becomes stuck between the two, leading to repetition and predictability.
The best, and most interesting choice made for this film is that it plays out in practically the same setting for the entirety of the film. Product launches were Steve’s bread and butter and because of this the film’s story follows Steve’s life through three product launches. For each of the launches we meet up with Steve the day of, at the venue, and then we follow him as he prepares for the show. It’s like watching a behind-the-scenes documentary on your favorite theater production. One the most poignant scenes in the film takes place in the orchestra pit of one of the theaters. Steve and his business partner/friend Steve Wozniack (Seth Rogen) are arguing about comments Wozniack has made to the press about Steve. The two friends confront each other among the empty orchestra set-up and the metaphor of Steve Jobs’ becomes so clear, the ultimate performer and the performance. The theatrical nature and the peek behind the curtain aesthetics of the film help turn the story and its characters into an enjoyable performance.
Ultimately, "Steve Jobs" falls short. It’s too quick of a snapshot of a brilliant man’s life and you’ll mostly likely leave the theater wishing they had shown you a little bit more. What the film does offer is a fantastic set of individual performances and a great study on how to use location to a story’s advantage.
Grade: C+