Film Review: Sex Tape

Jake Kasdan’s Sex Tape has the promise of a raucous comedy. Unfortunately it does not quite deliver in the humour stakes.

Having been married for several years and with two children, Annie and Jay have little time for intimacy. The couple decide to make a sex tape, only to discover the video isn’t as private as they thought…

It is clear what the filmmakers are trying to do with Sex Tape. Rather than an out-and-out raunchy comedy, writers Kate Angelo, Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel try to inject more feeling into the narrative, with the central theme of the trials of marriage apparent from the very beginning of the movie.

However, Sex Tape fails simply for its lack of genuine laughs. Without these, the film flails as a romance; not quite edgy enough to compensate for the overt sentiment. The script lunges between crudeness and this rather twee sentiment. The balance would have been more successful had there been belly laughs.

Director Jake Kasdan reunites with Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz after the success of Bad Teacher. A similar style of humour tries to be replicated in Sex Tape, but it is not as effective this time round. The funniest sequence raises a few laughs, but this comes at a mid point in the film. Elsewhere, the movie feels padded out with additional strands to compensate for a flimsy central plot.

Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel have good chemistry in Sex Tape. Segel is looking gaunt, which can be distracting at first. It is Rob Lowe who is responsible for the film’s most memorable part. The actor is becoming something of a scene-stealer in his recent film roles.

Sex Tape is in the unusual position of being not funny enough for a rambunctious comedy, and being too lewd for a romance. Although the film is rarely dull, it is not memorable either.

Film Review: The Muppets

The Muppets is a wonderfully enjoyable movie that is unlikely to have many detractors. The film is immensely entertaining for those who remember the Muppets the first time round, as well as for younger viewers.

Walter is the world’s biggest Muppets fan. When his brother Gary takes girlfriend Mary on a trip to Los Angeles, Walter is thrilled at the chance to tag along at visit the Muppet Studios. When he hears that the studio is about to be knocked down by an oil tycoon, it is down to Walter to inform his heroes…

The main reason that The Muppets works so successfully is down to its narrative. It would have been easy for Disney to push out a movie based on these much-loved characters, with little concern regarding the story. Thankfully, The Muppets is well written, with a story that should satisfy all ages. While the premise is quite basic, the story develops with wit and charm.

It is humour, after all, that is key to the appeal of the Muppets. The film contains sufficient slapstick to entertain the youngest viewers, while older audience members are likely to be amused by the references and general wit. There are several jokes throughout about the fact that it is a film, even going as far as to reference the plot points.

Along with the comedy, the more serious moments are well executed. Some of the film’s songs are surprisingly emotional, and balance out the humorous musical numbers. As well as the familiar faces, there are several cameos throughout The Muppets. While some of these are very brief (adding little to the overall film), others are fantastically funny. Jason Segel and Amy Adams make great human companions, bringing as much humour as the Muppets themselves.

Although The Muppet Show was first aired in the 1970s, and the characters at the height of their fame in the late 1970s, the film appears to appeal foremostly to an audience who grew up in the 1980s. There are several references to this period, from the fantastic Eighties Robot and the soundtrack to the allusion to 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan. Children of the 1980s should revel in James Bobin’s film.

The Muppets is highly recommended; it is likely to be one of the best feel-good films this year. Viewers should ensure they arrive on time to see the Toy Story short Small Fry beforehand, which is also trememdous fun.

Film Review: Bad Teacher

Cameron Diaz is on top form in entertaining comedy Bad Teacher. It is definitely one of the better recent adverts for females taking on central comedic roles, proving that women can hold their own and should not be confined to cheesy, predictable rom-coms. Unless they are Jennifer Aniston.

Elizabeth Halsey is foul-mouthed, unprofessional teacher, concerned only with finding a rich man to marry. When her fiancé dumps her, Elizabeth is forced to go back to her old job. She sets her sights on rich new teacher Scott Delacorte, but her behaviour attracts the attention of the successful colleague Amy Squirrel…

Given the premise, Bad Teacher could have gone down a similar path to School of Rock. Thankfully, Jake Kasdan’s film eschew this option, choosing to focus on a character that does not want to redeem herself or help others. The aim of Bad Teacher is to generate laughs; other aspects are secondary to this.

What works so well in Bad Teacher is the frequency of the humour. Comedy in the film balances carefully between being accessible and being raucous. Jokes are not too close to the bone as to offend anyone but the most sensitive of souls, yet humour is often garnered from shocking or surprising comments.

As such, Bad Teacher exudes an admirable attitude. It is not offensive for shock value; the humour more often than not is better than this. Rather, the crassness is present simply because it is genuinely funny, immature as this may be. Although there is a romantic angle, this never overshadows the humour. Plenty of comedies feature more serious or poignant scenes, which can become overly sentimental if not executed well. Writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg avoid this trap in Bad Teacher. Any moments of realisation or emotion are handled with the lightest touch; there are no heavy-handed scenes where the protagonist realises the error of her ways. The film is all the better because of this.

Cameron Diaz is great as Elizabeth. The actress clearly seems to be having a lot of fun with the role, and the style of comedy suits Diaz very well. She gets fantastic support from most of the cast. Lucy Punch is fantastic as Amy, while Jason Segel is wisely cast as gym teacher Russell. Segel’s role is fairly minor but provides sufficient humour. Justin Timberlake is a lot of fun as Scott, and is given some great lines.

Bad Teacher is not the greatest comedy ever made. It is, however, great fun and a lot better than many of the other comedies released this year.

Bad Teacher Trailer

Here is the trailer for new comedy Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake. The film is released in the UK on 17th June 2011.

Film Review: Gulliver’s Travels

Gulliver’s Travels is very much a film for the most ardent Jack Black fans, but even these may be disappointed. As a comedy adventure, there simply is not enough humour to elevate the film out of its mediocrity.

Mail room worker Gulliver attempts to get out of his comfortable rut by trying his luck as a travel writer. After being given an assignment in Bermuda, he gets lost at sea. Gulliver ends up on the island of Luliput, where he is a giant compared to the inhabitants…

Based loosely on Jonathan Swift’s novel, Gulliver’s Travels mixes comedy with fantasy adventure. The film is played for laughs, yet it is not actually that funny. It functions as a vehicle for Jack Black, but his familiar routine adds little comedy value. Some humour is derived from the various references to movies and songs, but the film would never be described as hilarious. Without the comedy, the film has little else going for it.

The introductory segment of the film sets Gulliver up as a bit of a loser; too scared to ask Darcy out and wiling his days away in the mail room. The narrative is as much about Gulliver finding confidence and becoming himself as it is about the events that occur on the island of Liliput. Gulliver’s metaphorical journey is nothing but rudimentary, however. There is nothing imaginative or interesting about it. While Gulliver’s Travels aims to attract to a family audience, there is little appeal for either adults or children.

The only commendable aspect of the film is the production design. Liliput is wonderfully crafted; a medieval-style locale that becomes more contemporary as Gulliver’s influence spreads. The effects are good overall, with most interactions between Gulliver and the Liliput citizens appearing quite natural. The product placement is glaring, however, with Coca-Cola and Apple seeming like sponsors rather than innocuous products in the background.

Jack Black plays himself in Gulliver’s Travels, as he seems to do in pretty much all of his movies. Emily Blunt is poor as Princess Mary, a little disappointing from an actress who has impressed in the past. Jason Segel and Chris O’Dowd are the only ones who seem to be having any fun with the material. Catherine Tate is underused as Queen Isabelle, perhaps she and the other comedians could have brought a few more laughs to the fore.

Gulliver’s Travels may keep young children content (depending on how particular they are), but it is unlikely to do the same for older viewers. Director Rob Letterman’s foray into live action suggests he should have stuck to animation.

Film Review: Despicable Me

Despicable Me is a light-hearted animated movie that audiences young and old will enjoy. It does not pack the same emotional punch as a film such as Up, but it is entertaining throughout.

Gru’s schemes to become the greatest villain don’t always pay off. In order to triumph over new villain Vector, Gru enlists the unwitting help of three young orphaned sisters. Gru get more than he bargained for, however, when he adopts the girls…

In an industry dominated by Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks, it is nice to see a newer company competing with the established few. Although this Illumination Entertainment production shares a number of characteristics with other animated films, it still has its own feel.

Much of the enjoyment of Despicable Me is due to its humour. Whilst there is enough slapstick and universal comedy to entertain young viewers, many of the jokes seem geared towards older audience members. Gru’s disapproval of the children’s book he is asked to read, for example, appears to have more resonance with an older audience. Likewise, some of the references in the film will be lost on younger viewers.

Despicable Me features a host of famous names voicing its characters. Steve Carell and Jason Segal bring the humour that they best known for, and Jermaine Clement makes an amusing Jerry the Minion. Teen favourite Miranda Cosgrove is sure to bring in a young audience voicing Margo, the oldest of the girls.

The animation in the film is faultless. The minions, in particular, are well designed; despite looking identical, they seem to have their own personalities. Screened in 3D, Despicable Me is restrained with its use of the third dimension. The result is a subtle use of the form, which is much more aesthetically pleasing than the pronounced way it is utilised in some movies.

The only gripe with the film is that there is nothing remarkable about the narrative. Despicable Me offers a pretty predictable story; there is no real detour or surprise to enliven the narrative. Nevertheless, the characters are likeable and the humour frequent enough to compensate for this shortcoming.

Despicable Me follows the recent trend of animated films that appear to be aimed at adults, though they are suitable for all. Like last year’s Fantastic Mr Fox, the humour isn’t adult, but makes references that will go over the heads of young children. Coupled with this is the soundtrack, which features well-known tunes as well as original music from Pharrell Williams. The music signals an appeal wider than a standard children’s cartoon.

Despicable Me is yet another indication that animated films are not only for the young. In reaching an older audience, however, the film does not neglect younger viewers, making it a perfect family film.