Movie Review: Brave

In 1995 Pixar changed the world with Toy Story. Since then they have continued to raise the bar for animated film, creating some of the most visually and critically acclaimed movies of the last 17 years. Pixar has taken their first adventure into the realm of ancient myths with Brave.

Disney’s official synopsis for the film:

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carver her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson), massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Meridas actions inadvertently unleash chaos and confusion in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric witch (voice of Julie Waters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources- including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo the beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the true meaning of bravery.

Merida (voice by Kelly Macdonald), being the young independent princess that she is, wants to avoid being married off to one of the sons of the three lords, much to their chagrin. When the spell she buys from the witch doesn’t turn out as planned (and what witch’s spell ever does?) she must repair not only her family, but the kingdom. She will fit right in as Pixar’s first addition to the Disney Princess line.

Being in the vein of classic myths it was hard for Pixar to capture the originality they did with films like Wall-E and it may not have the emotional poignancy of films like Up, but Brave is still a quality film. It has just the right balance of drama, comedy, and action to appeal to everyone in the audience.

Plus, Brave is visually stunning. It took Pixar six years and the creation of several pieces of software to put the film together, and it was worth the wait. It is amazing to see everything from the tiny details on every piece in the witch’s wood shop to the grand aerial shots of ancient Scotland.

The voice acting is well done, providing great touches of comedy and heart. The movie moves at a nice pace, never getting bogged down by its heavier moments. Pixar never fails to entertain and Brave is no exception.

Movie Review: Rock of Ages

There was a small town girl, living in a lonely world, and a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit. Together they drive the story for Rock of Ages, the hit Broadway musical brought to life on-screen by director Adam Shankman and an apparently talented cast (who knew Tom Cruise could sing?).

The film opens with Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) arriving in Hollywood, a fresh-faced Oklahoma girl looking to make her star shine. Soon after arriving she meets Drew Boley (Diego Boneta) another young hopeful in the making who gets her a job working at the Bourbon Room.

Meanwhile Stacee Jaxx (Cruise) is looking to make one final appearance with his band at the Bourbon before launching his solo career and Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is looking to get her husband re-elected as mayor by shutting the whole thing down.

And the fun musical hijinks go from there.

Rock of Ages isn’t going to be remembered for its originality, it has a plot we’re all familiar with and has lots of cheesy 80’s music everyone loves, even if they only love it secretly. What it will be remembered for is the fun it had.

The cast must have enjoyed themselves, all of them put in a great performance. Whether it was adding their comedic touch, i.e. Alec Baldwin as the Bourbon Room’s owner, bringing out their best mustache, (Paul Giamatti as Stacee Jaxx’s not-so-nice manager), or even become a satire of themselves (Cruise).

Cruise especially is on top of his game. Jaxx is the ridiculous definition of an 80’s super star rocker and Cruise plays him somewhere between Axl Rose and Jack Sparrow, which is pretty much perfect. Even Cruise’s voice seems the perfect fit for the role, who knew that not only could the man sing, but he could nail that 80’s rock style?

What keeps the movie moving is the music. There are fun mash-ups of songs all over the place and an unexpected rendition of I Can’t Fight This Feeling is easily one of the films best moments. Shankman does a good job keeping the movie rolling and even though the script won’t be winning any awards his musical numbers are very well executed.

Rock of Ages is a fun movie. It has great music, solid performances, and just the right amount of comedy to balance out its dramatic and sappy-moments. Not to mention some fun cameos, a Broadway star here an 80’s singer there, keep your eye out for them.

If you’ve got a hankering for some cheesy 80’s fun, then this just could be the movie you’ve been looking for.

Movie Review: Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Seven British retirees experience something new when they travel to The Marigold

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotelis a film put together by a wealth of talent and how enjoyable it truly is. From script to screen the cast and crew do an expert job of bringing Deborah Moggach’s novel These Foolish Things to life.

According to the film’s official synopsis, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of British retirees who decide to ‘outsource’ their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past.”

It’s that group of retirees and the actors who play them that make this movie so successful. They are a cast of familiar actors, with the likes of Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, and Maggie Smith, some names we remember, but all are faces we know.

Dench plays Evelyn Greenslade, a recently widowed former housewife off on her life’s big first adventure. Wilkinson’s a high judge after searching for something left behind in his youth. Nighy and Wilton play a recently retired couple looking for something new in their lives. All give an incredible performance of their own, each get their own moments to shine, drawing the audience ever further into their stories.

Stealing the show is one of the casts youngest members and one of its oldest.

Dev Patel plays the Marigold hotel’s young manager, filled with enthusiasm and brimming with optimism. His character gets so much opportunity as he juggles his relationships with his mother and the girlfriend she doesn’t approve of, while trying to see his dream of the Marigold hotel become an unlikely reality.

Smith plays a near polar opposite of Patel, as the films racist curmudgeon whose only taken the trip in hopes of getting a hip replaced cheaply. She’s upset with just about everything India has to offer, from its non-English doctors to the food she can’t pronounce, but watching her find the eventual connection to this new country delivers some of the films biggest payoffs.

Bringing everything together is the film’s director, John Madden. With films like Shakespeare In Love on his resume, it’s no surprise that he can bring everything needed to fill a movie with drama, laughter, and heart. What Madden does best here is quite simply not get in the way. He lets the brilliant cast bring Ol Parker’s skillfully crafted script to life.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a fantastic film. The movie is has its fair share of laughs and heart, and a healthy serving of charm to bring it all together. Up against “big” movies like The Avengers, Men in Black III, and Battleship, it may not seem like much, but there is something extraordinary to be said about the simplicity and warmth of the Marigold.

 

Movie Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

In the world of movies few do things bigger than director Michael Bay, and for most of us… it’s awesome, and each of his “Transformers” film has gotten bigger each time. With the bulk of the cast returning in “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” , Bay dusts off the Auotbots and Decepticons and brings them back to the silver screen to do battle with each other one last time.

This time around its been revealed that NASA’s first mission to the moon was not a simple result of the space race, an Autobot craft, carrying something key to Cybertron’s civil war, crashed on the moon and Buzz Aldrin and co. were actually sent to investigate. This piece of information has been withheld from Optimus Prime and his crew, and after retrieving the ships precious cargo the Autobot fight with the Decepticons is renewed as they enter the final battle.

It’s nice to see some of those familiar faces, Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky, who’s tired of not being recognized for saving the world twice and can’t get a job (although with new girlfriend, Rosie  Huntington-Whiteley I don’t know if he should be allowed to complain). It seems as the films go on they give LaBeouf more chances to be the hero, whether it’s believable or not, he still gets the opportunities. I’ve like LaBeouf since he first took up the Witwicky mantle in “Transformers” but what made him great as an action star was that he wasn’t the hero type, (see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in films like “Faster” and “The Rundown“) he was the everyman caught up in an extraordinary circumstance. Somewhere along the way that got lost.

Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson return to take up arms alongside the Autobots again, but we don’t get to see much of either of them. John Turturro also comes back as the quirky information mongering Simmons, who’s apparently struck it rich with his tell all book on LaBeouf’s classified adventures. However there is too little of the Witwicky parents, they were a fun duo in the first movies but get a very brief appearance in “Dark of the Moon”.

They brought some new talent in to join the familiar faces of “Dark of the Moon,” some of it incredibly talented. John Malkovich joins as LaBeouf’s new boss and plays an enjoyably quirky character. Frances McDormand comes on board as a high ranking government official whose job seems to require her to be edgy and withhold information from both the Autobots and their human allies. Hangover staple Ken Jeong has also joined the  film; although his appearance is brief it gives him a chance to get a few laughs.

One notable addition is Huntington-Whiteley, the former Victoria Secret model has taken over the role of Witwicky girlfriend. Thankfully she hasn’t simply “replaced” Megan Fox’s character from the first two films, who was dropped after a rather public debacle between Bay, Fox, and practical-movie-god Stephen Spielberg. Huntington-Whiteley doesn’t shock as a new found acting talent, but she looks good on camera, and that  ounts for something… right?

Michael Bay has become famous, or rather infamous depending on what movie going crowd you run with, for what he does, which is mega-budget action films. Critically he’s become something of a pariah, people see his movies as having more explosives then substance. The truth of the matter is this, Bay may not be Darren Arronofsky but he’s not trying to be, so to compare their films is silly. Bay isn’t trying to make Oscar-caliber films, he’s just trying to make something awesome and man does he hit his mark. Bay is a master of straight-up-over-the-top-action films, and I for one, have always enjoyed them.

Maybe “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” isn’t for everyone, but, for those of us who grew up watching Optimus Prime battle Megatron, it’s a blast. Roger Ebert, trust him as I do, may not care for Optimus, but I sure do. The film looks awesome, and the Transformers are bad ass. If you liked the first two, there’s zero reason to think you won’t like this one, if you didn’t then surprise! This one won’t be for you either. Personally I enjoyed “Dark of the Moon” and I will be suggesting it to my friends.\

Movie Review: The Hangover II

The Hangover II brings the old faces to Thailand in the new comedy, photo from collider.com

Two years ago Phil called Tracy, and tried to explain that they weren’t going to make it, this year, he’s done it again. “The Hangover II” opens much like its smash hit predecessor; Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis wake up hung over from what can only be described as an epic night of partying. Only this time it’s not in a swanky hotel room in Las Vegas, it’s in terrible little room in Bangkok.

This time it’s Stu (Helms) who is getting married, to a beautiful Thai woman whose father hates him. The gang gets back together in Thailand, to please Stu’s new in-laws, and after convincing the groom to be to share just one drink with his friends and his bride’s younger brother out on the beach they wake up with no recollection of the night before. Just like last time, missing one member, this time it’s that prized younger brother that’s disappeared.

It’s understandable that “The Hangover Part II” decided to use the same formula as the original, but it doesn’t make for the most original of films. Since we already know the basic outline of the film director Todd Phillips and co. simply tried to top what happened in the last film. Stu’s exploits with a stripper are certainly kicked up a notch from “The Hangover,” and Alan (Galifianakis) doesn’t just steal scenes with his awkwardness, he gets in touch with his inner Buddhist.

Galifianakis is one of the films best pieces. His last outing as Alan didn’t just bring him to everyone’s attention but made him a star and his performance continues brilliantly. He doesn’t miss a beat, and his first scene in “The Hangover II” is one of the films best. Critic extraordinaire  Roger Ebert said the character “could inspire a movie of its own that [he] would pay good money to see.” Truth be told, I agree with him. I
wonder if Philips film “Due Date” was an attempt at something like that.

Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms take up their same characters. Cooper’s Phil plays a sort of straight man to Stu and Alan, and is reliable in the role. However, Helms took his character to a whole new level. From the Mike Tyson tattoo, to that already mentioned stripper escapade. Problem is, what I believe was supposed to be a chance to let Helms’ comedic star shine it just comes across as trying too hard.

I think trying too hard is a problem the whole film had. Todd Philips had to out-do the original somehow and shock-value seemed to be his tactic. From the pig that explodes on Stu’s face to the introduction to Ken Jeong’s character, the quest to be bigger than the original took something away from the film.

“The Hangover II” certainly has its share of laughs, and I wonder if what it lacked was simply the fact that it came second. If the films had been reversed would the original seem to be lacking? We can never truly know. Although I’d prefer the clever writing and totally unexpected surprises of the first one (Jeong jumping out of the trunk was pretty memorable) I’d be lying if I said I didn’t laugh and enjoy this one.

Movie Review: Thor

Chris Helmsworth as The God of Thunder, photo from collider.com

The movie “Thor” has held my interest since putting Shakespearian superstar Kenneth Branagh at its helm. This is a film that combines gods and comic books as Branagh and company brought the title character from Marvel to life.

The film’s official site describes “Thor” as this:

The Epic adventure “Thor” spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the cosmic realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.

Thor could easily be one of Marvel’s trickiest characters to bring to the big screen. Much of what can be taken seriously in a comic can come across as… well… comic in a movie. Between Thor’s archaic language and things like the Rainbow Bridge, “Thor” could have easily gotten out of hand. Luckily director Kenneth Branagh did a fabulous job of finding the proper balance of comedy and dramatics to make the film work.

Thor himself is played by the fresh-faced Australian Chris Helmsworth, who impressively fills out the Thunder Gods gear. He looks the part, large and muscled with all the blonde-bearded greatness of his mythological counterpart. Originally catching people’s attention in J.J. Abrams “Star Trek” for his small role, Helmsworth continues to impress. In “Thor” we see him play mainly big and mean, but Branagh and his company of screenwriters give him a few moments to show his growing talent.

Other roles in “Thor” are occupied by some great actors, notably Anthony Hopkins as Odin, the king of Asgard. Natalie Portman, fresh of her Oscar win for “Black Swan” plays the astrophysicist that Thor falls for on his brief stay on earth, Stellan Skarsgard plays her mentor, and Kat Dennings plays their college intern. Considering their director it’s not hard to believe the quality of the film’s actors.

“Thor” doesn’t carry with it the cinematic grandeur of other comic book films like Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” or the total package of “Iron Man,” but I’m not sure it’s a story that could be brought to those levels. The God of Thunder doesn’t have the Batman’s tortured past or Ironman’s inner struggles, so we shouldn’t expect “Thor” to hit those marks, much to Roger Ebert’s lament.

You can either sit there and poke the plot of “Thor” full of holes or you can sit back and enjoy the ride. This movie is, after all, for entertainment. Just like the comic books it’s easy to sit back enjoy it in the moment and not something you’ll think about for too long afterwards. “Thor” isn’t the best thing to come out of the Marvel Universe, but it’s still good fun to see on the big screen.

Movie Review: Arthur

Russell Brand plays an eccentric billionaire in "Arthur" photo from collider.com

“Arthur” is the story of a rich playboy whose hard partying lifestyle is funded by his parent’s enormous fortune. However his sex and alcohol fueled life style is being forced to a close when his mother makes him choose between giving up the family fortune or entering into an arranged marriage with a woman who wants his name to gain access to the elite upper crust of society. Adding to his list of sudden life complications Arthur may have also found the love of his life.

Russell Brand plays the title character of “Arthur,” and we get to see some new sides of the rising star. Since his scene stealing role in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, Brand has become known for overcoming his addictions and a style of humor unafraid of pushing buttons, to see him in the role of hard partying playboy is certainly not stretching the imagination. What’s great is seeing Brand show he’s much more than a simple stand-up comic, Brand shows a subtlety in his performance that is fun to catch, even his body language becomes a vehicle for humor.

Brand’s isn’t the only performance that makes the movie great, the actors around him in “Arthur” were all well-chosen. Luis Guzman is a proven comedic talent and as the simplistic Bitterman, Arthur’s driver, he continues to deliver laughs, not even a small role stops him. However Helen Mirren, as Arthur’s Nanny, Hobson, that helps create some of the films warmth. Mirren’s character has taken care of Arthur his entire life and as the movie develops that we see beneath or cold English exterior lies a warm heart that cares deeply for the man she’s cared for his whole life.

The women of “Arthur” are all talented; Mirren is joined by Jennifer Garner the woman Arthur is supposed to marry and Greta Gerwig, the woman he falls for. Garner plays a business woman making calculated moves to advance herself to elite status through a marriage that benefits herself and gives Arthur’s family an heir capable of running their business, not much of the sweet Jennifer Garner we’re used to seeing here. Gerwig on the other hand is incredibly likeable, something about her is warm and familiar and she proves a great balance to the crazed life of Arthur.

All these performances started as the text by Peter Baynham. His script is well written, it’s not a riotous comedy, no one will be rolling in the aisles with laughter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not clever. The script also does a fine job of giving us some character development, too many comedies now-a-days have characters created as a simple vehicle to deliver a joke, fortunately “Arthur” actually provides some fleshed out characters.

This is director Jason Winer’s first non-television project, and he’s proven he’s ready to stick to the big screen. “Arthur” is a well-executed movie. He’s crafted a film that looks good and gotten a lot out of his performers, he’s made a film that’s tough not to like.

Looking at the cast and crew, as well as the film’s ad campaign, I did not expect “Arthur” to find its way almost into the vein of romantic comedy. I know that will turn some people away, but personally I enjoyed how much heart the movie proved to have. I can’t give you too many reasons not to see “Arthur” and I must say, I don’t mind remakes when Hollywood makes them this good.

Russell Brand and Helen Mirren in "Arthur" photo from collider.com

Movie Review: Your Highness

“Your Highness” is a different take on the fantasy genre from Danny McBride, photo from collider.com

“Your Highness” is a movie that teeters on the brink of the ridiculous, you’re either going to look at this movie as immature, with its crude/drug humor, and be disgusted by it, or you’ll sit there and laugh, because you know no one else took it seriously and neither should you. The movie stars Danny McBride and James Franco, and surrounds them with some talented actors like recent Oscar winner Natalie Portman, but just because there’s an Oscar winner and an Oscar nominee, don’t expect much to be award worthy in this film.

McBride stars as Thadeous, the lazy, vulgar, womanizing, “wizard’s weed” enjoying younger brother to Fabious, the classic hero prince played by James Franco. When the bride of Fabious is kidnapped by the evil wizard he must go to rescue her and, against his will, Thadeous must go as well. Following advice from the “Great Wize Wizard” the venture off to find a sword made from the horn of unicorns, kill the evil wizard, prevent an evil prophecy from being fulfilled, and save Fabious’s beloved.

“Your Highness” was co-written by McBride (he collaborated with Ben Best who’s worked with him before) and as Thadeous we see him play… well basically the roles we’ve seen him get famous playing. Not particularly smart, not particularly useful, but vulgar and opinionated regardless of what he actually knows. It’s basically the character he created in HBO’s “Eastbound and Down” but rather than a fallen baseball star, he’s the borderline pathetic second in line to the throne. If you’ve enjoyed the character before you’ll enjoy it again, but don’t expect much else out of McBride.

We also see the perplexing casting of Franco and Portman. Franco’s not as surprising; after all, he clearly enjoyed “Pineapple Express” as much as critics did, and here gets to work with the same director, David Gordon Green, and make another comedy. Portman on the other hand is a surprise, she’s risen to critical success in dramas, but maybe the chance to do comedy and action in this movie and the Xena-esque role she’s been cast in are what drew her to the project. It’s just too bad neither actor was fully utilized; neither of them really got a chance to shine in their role. Neither actor got the opportunity to shine in this new light like Franco had in “Pineapple Express,” and I think the movie is worse off for it.

Still from “Your Highness”

Franco and Portman aren’t the only talents whose abilities are not taken advantage of in the film. Toby Jones and Damian Lewis are names you may not know, but they are faces you should recognize. Both actors are given bit parts with little to do but be weird (Jones) or mean (Lewis). And Zooey Deschanel? As the film’s damsel in distress she’s there to be pretty, get kidnapped, and then be rescued with only a small bit of screen time and few lines to make use of her considerable abilities. Why bother casting real actors if you don’t use them?

There are areas where “Your Highness” perfectly hits the nail on the head. The film’s costumes, sets, and effects are all near perfect. The movie makers put lots of effort into making sure the film looked right as a sword and sorcery film, it looks as good as you would expect any fantasy film to look, and that’s part of what makes it fun. The best spoof movies put just as much effort into their look as the movies they make fun of, and “Your Highness” at the very least got that right.

Now I realize I just spent three paragraphs bashing this movie, but I did enjoy it. I sat back and laughed where I was supposed to and got a kick out of the action sequences. Could this movie have been better? Sure, Mel Brooks has proven that there is an art to making a good spoof, and although this film is no “Spaceballs” that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. If you like Danny McBride and his style of humor, then “Your Highness” is a good film for you, if not, you can skip it.

Movie Review: Hanna

Hanna is an near perfect thriller from director Joe Wright, photo from collider.com

 

“Hanna” is a prime example of what action movies should strive to be. It is not about fire-fights and explosions, it’s not about choreography, director Joe Wright understands all those are just tools to be used, not depended on. With help of his actors, Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett to name a few, Wright has created a fantastic thriller that unfolds brilliantly before our eyes.

What we learn from the film’s opening is that Hanna has been trained for a purpose by her father, she’s become an expert of hand to hand combat, fire-arms, languages, all the tools of a master spy, we know she’s been trained with the mantra of “adapt of die.” She’s being trained for not only her own protection but to take down those people who want her and her father. The two reveal their position to their hunters, and Hanna allows herself to be captured, this is how she’ll get close enough to kill Marissa, the CIA agent who desperately wants to bring Hanna and her father in.

It’s from this point that “Hanna” starts to take leaps and bounds, Hanna’s holding cell looks extraordinary and her escape from the place she’s being held is incredible. She must carry out the plan her father’s laid out, kill Marissa and find her way to Berlin to reunite with her father. After her escape we start to see the strangeness of Hanna’s life, she meets a girl her own age, and it’s clear she hasn’t had the socialization we take for granted, and as much as she knows, Hanna doesn’t know the secrets about her own past and we learn them as she does.

As the title character of “Hanna,” Ronan is brilliant. If Jason Bourne was a 16-year-old girl he’d be Hanna, she has all his fighting abilities while her origins remain a mystery to not only the audience but herself. Ronan plays her brilliantly, the range she shows in the role is incredible, Hanna is not only capable of being a ruthless killing machine, seemingly unstoppable in pursuit of her goal, but she is also the teenage girl that makes her first friend, gets her first kiss and is decidedly human. There’s a brilliant subtlety to Ronan’s performance.

As the villain in “Hanna” Blanchett gives an eerie performance, as the film develops we see Hanna’s humanity and Marissa’s lack of it. Everything from her cold ruthlessness to her creepy teeth cleaning makes it feel like there is something of a monster in Marissa. Her opposite, Hanna’s father Erik, proves a deadly opponent to Marissa and her operatives in his quest to protect his daughter. The relationship between these two characters is just one more interesting layer in the movie’s story.

“Hanna” is an expertly made film, Wright has become known for turning literature into film, including directing Keira Knightley in an Oscar nominated performance in “Pride & Prejudice,” but he proves equally skilled at the helm of an action film. Wright does a great job of having action for a reason, not just for the sake of action, there’s not fight that doesn’t make sense, no chase without purpose, no frame in this film is wasted. That can’t often be said for today’s action films.

This is a fantastic film. Wright’s resume may still be short but he’s proving adept at both picking projects and turning them into great movies. The actor’s give performances that fuel the film and Wright frames it just the right way to make it easy to get sucked into the story. All in all, “Hanna” gets the Kenneth J. Sheehan seal of approval, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Movie Review: Sucker Punch

Zack Snyder's new film Sucker Punch features great visuals and action, photo from flicksandbits.com

It’s interesting to see the differing opinions on Zack Snyder’s newest film Sucker Punch, it seems critics are either buying in its over-the-topness or, and this is apparently where a good many of them stand, think it’s a waste of a film. I think they’re looking at it through the wrong lens. What Sucker Punch gives us is exactly what it promises, amazing visuals, very fun action, and a story that can carry everything we see, much of which is carried out through heavy use of CGI and five attractive young women.

The story is this, after a young girl’s mother dies, leaving her with the families fortune, her abusive step-father kills her sister and has her institutionalized to bring the money his way. The creepy and greedy stepfather pays one of the facilities attendants to keep her quiet, meaning a lobotomy. There she escapes to a fantasy world and must hatch a plan to escape or meet her fate in just five days.

The plot is basic, simplistic even, but how it is carried out is what makes this a fun film to watch. The girl, must collect five things in order to escape, and rather than watch her and her companions run around a mental hospital trying to collect the simple items, we seem them do it on a battlefield of fantasy, against undead steam powered Germans, a dragon, and some slick looking robots. It’s not a thinking movie, it sits in the same vein as many action movies, it is all about the ride.

Emily Browning plays the films lead, Babydoll, and has the interesting task of setting up the film without a line in the first 20 minutes of the films, and she does it well. She gets some nice moments in the film, but no real chance to shine, acting wise anyways, she does show how well she can carry her own in action sequences. Although she should be considered the film’s lead, she is the lynchpin the story turns on after all, the movie goes for a more ensemble route, all five girls get their turn in front of the camera. However not all the girls are equally impressive (looking at you Vanessa Hudgens…).

Abbie Cornish stuck out among the other girls if only because she seemed the most believable executing the action role. As Sweet Pea, Cornish may not have had the best fight scenes, those go to Browning who certainly holds her own, but she is the only one to come off like Xena Warrior Princess… with guns. Cornish also has the advantage of having one of the more developed characters, Sweet Pea followed her sister Rocket to the institution, and has spent their time there protecting her sister. Cornish has the right air to be a female action star, I wouldn’t mind seeing her get another chance.

As much as Cornish stuck out among the girls, the films best actors were in its smaller roles. Scott Glenn has the apt title of “Wise Man” in the film, with his gravitas he plays it well. Glenn proves to be more, carrying off a performance that includes both pearls of wisdom and a nice comedic touch. As much as I liked Scott Glenn I was disappointed in the films use of Carla Gugino, she’s a more talented actress then the role she was given, and giving her a musical number during the credits (that’s right, a musical number) doesn’t make up for it

That being said, Zack Snyder set out to give us a visual feast, that should be obvious if only from the films five main girls, and he did it well. He has a great touch for creating images and his ability to show us action is incredible, something he’s been proving since he made 300 in 2006. It’s too bad his script doesn’t match his skills, critics will harp on the films lack of character building and Snyder doesn’t suck his audience in, but I have to disagree with them. This movie’s not going for Oscars people, it’s going for entertainment, and as far as this critic is concerned, it hit its mark beautifully.

Poster for Sucker Punch, from impawards.com