TAG: You're 'It'

Most people have played the game at one time or the other with their friends. Now can you imagine playing Tag with those same friends...over the span of 30 years?

TAG arrived August 28 on Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD. The Digital format already appeared on August 17.

TAG

Tag made over $77 million worldwide. The Rotten Tomatoes score settled at 55%. Many critic reviews were mixed.

The story is grounded in truth too.

Yes, truth.

Tag is based on The Wall Street Journal article titled, ‘It Takes Planning, Caution to Avoid Being It,” by Russell Adams.

Rob McKittrick and Mark Steilen wrote the screenplay. Jeff Tomsic was behind the camera. It was a Warner Bros Pictures, New Line Cinema and Broken Road production.

The ensemble cast is tough to knock. Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Annabelle Wallis, Hannibal Buress and Isla Fisher, Rashida Jones, Leslie Bibb, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner.  

TAKE

Would I buy this film?

At most…a rainy day selection. I wouldn’t rush to watch it.

As mentioned before, comedy is a very subjective genre.

Did I laugh? Not really. (Some people will.)

I’m learning quite a few R-rated comedies are not my cup of sense of humour. It’s crude in different ways and has plenty of language. A few jokes go for the gross-out route and probably a little dark.

In the filmography of Ed Helms though, I would slot it above Father Figures.

The story is nothing too complicated. It’s silly at times too. It’s the ‘true’ aspect of what kept my interest for the 100-minute timeframe.

Ed Helms is Hoagie and he gathers up his friends (Johnson, Buress, and Hamm), to play one last round of Tag. They have a mission. Jeremy Renner is Jerry, who is getting married and wants to retire from the game. The catch is Jerry, in all the years of playing has never been ‘it.’

There's even a Wall Street Journal reporter along for the ride.

There are rules. The game is only played in the month of May. There are no tag backs. The person who is ‘it’ must be truthful, when asked.  

Of course, being a movie, the story gets the Hollywood spin.

Overall, the movie could have been better. While I didn’t find it to be a ‘comedy,’ it earns a few redemption points for a kind-of-a-sweet-but-silly-ending.

“Someone once said we don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has the ‘Meet the Real Tag Brothers’ featurette.

Meet the Real Tag Brothers (5 minutes, 23 seconds)

This is most interesting of the slim Blu-ray special features.

- The real Tag crew played in February. They are also a group of 10. They have traveled across country, used disguises, used golf carts, and even played the game at a funeral. Which all factor into the movie, in some form.

Deleted Scenes (6 minutes, 20 seconds.)

- None of the scenes grabbed my attention. Most don’t seem to last longer than a minute.

Gag Reel (8 minutes, 5 seconds)

- Nothing to write extensively about. Silliness, mix-ups and cursing.

The most intriguing outtakes go to Hannibal Buress. Of all things, he discusses PCP and the Air Bud franchise. He also shows his disinterest in someone else’s conversation.

Warner Brothers Homes Entertainment. 

Life of the Party: McCarthy Spotlight

Melissa McCarthy is the Life of the Party.

McCarthy re-teams with her husband, Ben Falcone for the third time. He directed and she starred in The Boss and Tammy.  

Life of the Party shakes things up on August 7. It's on Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD. The Digital format already appeared on July 24.

PARTY

Life of the Party made over $65 million worldwide. Rotten Tomatoes scored at an unimpressive 37%.

(This is a much lower result compared to movies like Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, and The Heat. Which all featured McCarthy.)

McCarthy co-wrote the screenplay with her husband. The couple produced through their production company, On the Day.

The cast includes Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh, Molly Gordon, Stephen Root, Jacki Weaver, Jessie Ennis, Adria Arjona, Debby Ryan and Jimmy O. Yang.  

TAKE

Would I buy this film?

More of a rainy day selection, a rental, streaming or discounted price.

As mentioned in the past, comedy is a very subjective genre. What some people find funny, others won't.

Is it a great movie? Not really.

The cast appears to have improvised many of their scenes. (The special features highlight this fact too.) Found it a little hard to get into the rhythm at the beginning.

Are there laughs? Yes.

Father Figures and Game Night didn't make me laugh. Life of the Party has a few scenes with big laugh-out-loud moments. This is combined with a handful of chuckles sprinkled throughout the 105 minutes.    

The points drop when the jokes don't hit the mark. And it happens.

The story is simple. McCarthy’s Deanna drops off her daughter, Maddie, for the last year of college. As they drive away, Deanna’s husband, Dan, says he wants a divorce. Deanna starts thinking about the college life she never finished. She decides to join her daughter at college.

I guess the story highlights what boils down to a mid-life crisis. There's also mother and daughter talks, classes, parties, weird roommates, late-night relationships, friendships and more. It’s kept very PG-13.

There are sprinkles of drama too, but it doesn’t get too complicated.  

If you are not a fan of Melissa McCarthy, it's probably best to avoid this.   

If you like McCarthy, well, there is hardly a scene in which she is not included.  She does seem to give it her best effort and appears to be having fun with the role. 

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has 80’s Party.

80’s Party (4 minutes, 51 seconds)

- There is an 80’s Party sequence in the movie. This discusses the costumes, dancing, and some 80’s references.   

Mom Sandwich (2 minutes, 45 seconds)

- McCarthy and her husband, discuss that Deanna’s parents are loosely based on Melissa’s real parents. Something to do with sandwiches. 

Deleted Scenes (46 minutes, 36 seconds)

- The time length here is quite surprising. Only a few scenes are not featured in the final cut. Most are actual scenes straight out of the film. The story beats are the same, but play out differently as the actors try out other lines. Some scenes stretch out way too long.

Line-O-Rama (3 minutes, 2 seconds)

- Other scenes as improvisation mode continue.

Bill Hate-O-Rama (2 minutes, 44 seconds)

- Creative insults are found here…a couple gets reused from the deleted scenes.  

Gag Reel (5 minutes, 25 seconds)

- What you would find in most Gag Reels. I have seen better and funnier ones.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

Ready Player One: Spielberg Fun

Ready Player One.

The movie lifts its story from the pages of the novel. Written by Ernest Cline, it hit bookshelves in 2011. It has spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers List.

The Steven Spielberg movie treatment of Ready Player One debuted July 24. It's on everything from Blu-Ray combo pack, DVD, Blu-Ray 3D and 4K Ultra HD Combo pack. The Digital format appeared early on July 3.

OASIS

Ready Player One made over $582 million worldwide. It squeaks in a ‘Certified Fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes with a 73% rating.

This is Spielberg’s biggest box-office draw in a 10-year span. You have to stretch back to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) for a higher grossing movie of his.

Cline co-wrote the screenplay with Zak Penn. Spielberg did decide to direct for the Warner Bros., Amblin Entertainment and Village Roadshow Pictures production.

The ensemble cast includes Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, and Ben Mendelsohn. There’s Lena Waithe, T.J Miller, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, Hannah John-Kamen, Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? Yes.

This is one movie I actually went to see in theaters. I hardly knew anything about the book. 

(I have read the novel since, but that is a whole different discussion. There are major differences from page to screen.)

And yes, the film features a future so harsh, people rather spend their time in the OASIS virtual world.

But somehow, I find the film to be quite a fun adventure. While Spielberg’s recent Oscar-worthy films are nothing to brush away, obviously. Ready Player One runs on a different level.

It’s thrilling, exciting, fast-paced (the racing sequence!) and sometimes funny. The visual effects are quite amazing. All the actors do the motion-capture performance for their virtual characters. I think it makes a difference.

The story morphs into a treasure hunt - which I feel is what makes it fun. James Halliday, played by Mark Rylance, has died. The eccentric man created the OASIS. He left behind three keys to uncover. The winner who gets the Easter Egg at the end is awarded from Halliday and total control of the OASIS.

Wade Watts - Tye Sheridan - is determined to win the game. He does gain some help from friends, of course. Like any treasure hunt tale, it’s never meant to be easy. There’s Innovative Online Industries on the hunt and they will do whatever it takes to win, even kill.

What I didn’t expect, was how much time was spent in the OASIS, over the course of the movie. I would have liked to see a bit more of the real world. Sheridan, Cooke, Pegg, Rylance, and Mendelsohn are dependable actors in reality, too. That’s a minor point though.

It may not be at the top of the Steven Spielberg list, but I believe it was one of his most fun-to-watch movies in years. (This is my second viewing after all.)

Can’t forget all the Easter Eggs! DeLorean! Iron Giant! Bee Gees music! 

Which may warrant a rewatch for those. There are so many that pop up it’s hard to keep track of one viewing - even two.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW 

The standard DVD only has The 80’s: You’re The Inspiration feature. Blu-ray is over 90 minutes of stuff.

Game Changer: Cracking the Code (57 minutes, 22 seconds)

- This is for the true behind-the-scenes junkie. There’s no earth-shattering information. It runs through many angles of the movie from first shot to last. It goes from the book and to Spielberg’s involvement. There's also casting, costumes, design, the motion-capture work to reality and stunt work.

The 80’s: You’re The Inspiration (5 minutes, 38 seconds) 

- Pretty much a discussion about people’s thoughts on the 80’s. It’s quick and not too in-depth. The least interesting bit of the bunch.

Level Up: Sound for the Future (8 minutes, 43 seconds) 

- This is an overview of the sound design of the film. Not an aspect of the film, I think much about. A lot of thought goes into it. Mentions include the weapons used from references like Aliens and Battlestar Galactica. To a structural collapse that uses sounds from Titanic.

High Score: Endgame (10 minutes, 4 seconds) 

- This is only the fourth movie of Spielberg’s career which doesn’t have John Williams as the composer. Spielberg talks how he settled on Alan Silvestri. They discuss their collaboration.

Ernie & Tye’s Excellent Adventure (12 minutes) 

- Ernest discusses the process of the book and his love of pop culture and how he and Tye first met. Tye tells about being in the movie and his first time meeting Steven Spielberg. The book Ready Player Two seems to be in the works.

Effects for the Brave New World (24 minutes, 8 seconds) 

- The movie is very heavy on the visual effects. For example, the avatars need be completely different - but remain true to the actors as much as possible.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

Rampage: Video Game to Big Screen

Ready for a Rampage?

Rampage takes inspiration from the video game world. It first appeared in 1986. There were no humans in a starring role. You played the monsters.

The cinematic-adventure of Rampage debuts on Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD on July 17. The Digital format appeared early on June 26. 

MONSTER

Rampage - on the worldwide scale - is the biggest video game adaptation ever. It grossed over $425 million. The debatable Tomatometer gives it the highest rating of any video game movie with 52%.

Which is still calling it rotten.

Dwayne Johnson reteams with director Brad Peyton. They worked together on 2015’s San Andreas and 2012’s Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Ryan Engle hatched the story. The script was rounded out by Carleton Cuse, Ryan J. Condal, and Adam Sztykiel.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? A rainy day selection.

The video game trend continues after Tomb Raider.

Dwayne Johnson - a.k.a The Rock - his catalog of movies are not by any means Oscar-worthy.

But.

They never seem to be boring either.

Is Dwayne Johnson at his best in Rampage? I don’t think so. I believe this where I will take off a few points.

(I have not seen him in any of the Fast & Furious franchise. My two cents goes to The Rundown and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as the top contenders for his best movies.)

The story of Rampage was to have leeway. The video game featured no real plot, which in turn, would not even come close to properly fill 107 minutes.

Dwayne Johnson is not only a primatologist but also has a Special Forces background. If you go with that, then you are pretty much in for the ride.

Rampage does have Jurassic Park vibes. It’s basically a genetic experiment gone wrong, which causes the chaos of the movie. Johnson has a bond with a gorilla named George, who turns into a raging creature of enormous size. The motion-capture of George is done by Jason Liles.

Naomie Harris comes into the picture as discredited geneticist Kate Caldwell. We discover the characters of Mailin Akerman and Jake Lacy know a lot more about what is going on. Joe Manganiello helps behind-the-scenes. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is on the hunt as the mysterious government agent.

It unfolds into a monster movie. With a big gorilla like George, it’s hard not to think of King Kong too. The visual effects are done by Academy Award-winning company Weta Digital. 

I wouldn’t be in a rush to watch Rampage again. Yet, there is enough action and moves at a quick pace, that it could be passable entertainment for most.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has Not A Game Anymore feature.

Not A Game Anymore (6 minutes, 15 seconds) - I had no knowledge of the Midway video game. This was the most interesting as the game was discussed - how there were plenty of fans involved in the film. There are also about three Easter eggs in the movie for those well- versed in Rampage.

Gag Reel (2 minutes, 43 seconds)  - This depends on your sense of humour. A lot of silly montages and most of the messed-up lines involve how much everyone curses.

Deleted Scenes (10 minutes, 12 seconds) - There are about seven scenes altogether. The first one is the most intriguing as it shows how ruthless Joe Manganiello’s character can be. Two scenes are actually shown twice and are virtually the same. This seemed pointless as the only difference I noticed is the level of visual effects.

Actors in Action (10 minutes, 45 seconds) - This is the behind-the-scenes reel. There were military advisors to deal with training. How the actors worked with the stunts and working side-by-side.

Trio of Destruction (10 minutes, 8 seconds) - This is a focus on Weta Digital and the monsters. There is a lot of thought gone into the research and creations of the evolution of the animal.

Attack of Chicago (10 minutes, 23 seconds) - The production sets out to destroy Chicago. They need a cost-effective way to do it. They blend real Chicago with the visual effects needed to pull it off.

Bringing George to Life (11 minutes, 53 seconds) - Andy Serkis may be one of the more well-known actors behind motion-capture performances. There are other people still needed for the work. Jason Liles is George the gorilla as he discusses how the training of how to move and behave. He had help from Terry Notary.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

Tomb Raider (2018)

Laura Croft started in the video game world in 1996. She also made the jump into three movies.

The newest adventure of Tomb Raider debuted on June 12. There is the Blu-ray combo pack and DVD and Digital selections.

REBOOT

Remember when?

Angelina Jolie was Laura Croft in 2001.

Laura Croft: Tomb Raider received plenty of negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes calls the movie - well, rotten. It went to 20% on the Tomatometer.

Still, audiences wanted to have a look. The movie managed a cool $274 million worldwide. This called for a sequel.

Laura Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life hit theaters in 2003. Angelina Jolie returned to the role. People were not as curious and it only made about $156 million.

Laura Croft took a break from the big screen.

Tomb Raider continued on in video games and other avenues, like comic books. The games received a reboot in 2013. The movie world would follow suit.

Alicia Vikander (a 2016 Oscar-winner) took over as the new Tomb Raider.

The 2018 version was received better by critics - a 49% on that Tomatometer. It would come out with about $273 million worldwide. It almost matched Angelia Jolie’s first adventure.

Director Roar Uthang took the helm behind the camera. Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu and Kirsten Scott Thomas, rounded out the main cast.

Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Alastair Siddons worked the script. The story credit goes to Evan Daugherty and Robertson-Dworet.

VERDICT 

Would I buy this film? Yes.

I remember playing Tomb Raider on the original PlayStation. I have not watched the Angelina Jolie movies in quite a few years. Actually, I kind of forgot about them during this film.

This Tomb Raider is what would be known as an origin story. Laura’s father disappeared when she was a teenager. He is gone long enough, the only choice is to declare him dead. Now, in her twenties, working as a bike courier, Laura decides to set out and find the truth about what happened.

The movie is said to take many cues from the 2013 video game. ( I can’t compare.) The story seems to have the flavours of Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and the Uncharted games.

There’s mystery, globe-trotting, puzzles to solve and plenty of action. The movie doesn’t skimp on the action. Which kept things watchable for me. And sure, some of the special effects are quite obvious, but it didn’t quite detract from the story.

There is definitely a lot of luck for Laura too. She is sometimes one wrong move from death. But Vikander seems to make it work.

Tomb Raider is pretty decent. I was never bored. There is kind of a cool twist to set-up future movies. 

I would watch another one.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has the Tomb Raider: Uncovered feature.

Tomb Raider: Uncovered (7 minutes, 6 seconds) 

- The behind-the-scenes reel of bringing Tomb Raider back to the screen. The challenges and goals, the production had hoped to do.

Croft Training (6 minutes, 6 seconds) 

- Interested in how actor trains for the role? This shows the training regime of Alicia Vikander. She put in the work. Breaking

Down the Rapids (5 minutes, 34 seconds)

 - One of the biggest action set pieces involves water and a plane. The crew sets out to make it as real as possible. There is definitely a mix of special effects.

Laura Croft: Evolution of an Icon (9 minutes, 53 seconds) 

- This was the most interesting feature for me. Tomb Raider beginnings are discussed. There are highlights from some of the games - Laura Croft battles a T-rex for one. This goes up to the reboot, which inspired the movie.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

Game Night

What if you planned a game night and it goes nothing like you expected?

Game Night had an early Digital release on May 4. The Blu-ray combo pack and DVD debuts on May 22.

GAMES 

Game Night gets promoted as ‘Certified Fresh.’ It received a Tomatometer mark at 82%. (The explanation of the Rotten Tomatoes ratings are with Paddington 2.)

The box office stats for Game Night were reasonable for a February release. It cemented about $68 million for domestic and a worldwide total over $116 million. This includes the fact - this R-rated film - was up against the blockbuster known as Black Panther.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are the directors. Mark Penz wrote the script. This is only the second film at the helm for the directors. The Vacation reboot of the Griswald family disappeared quick.

Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams) host a weekly game night with their friends. Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury play the friends. Jesse Plemons pops up as an unusual neighbour of Max and Annie’s.

When Max’s brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), comes to town, he decides he wants to host his own game night. The idea is for a murder-mystery style event. This is complete with pretend thugs, federal agents and a kidnapping.

When the game is actually afoot though, how much of it is actually fake?

VERDICT

Would I buy this film? Not a full price. It’s more of a rainy day selection.

I enjoyed Game Night more than Father Figures. For a comedy, I didn’t find it funny. (I’m aware there will be viewers who will say the film is hilarious.) The points balance out for the ensemble cast and for the darker side of the story.

It is R-rated for a reason. It’s crude at times, has bursts of violence and coarse language throughout. It’s not a big spoiler to say the ‘pretend’ Game Night turns real for the players. (It’s revealed in all commercials and trailers.)

But.

I never figured out how the 100-minute film was going to end. Sure, the events get a little over-the-top, but there were also a couple twists which caught me by surprise. Being surprised by a movie is always a good thing in my books.

It takes some time - maybe an unusually long time - for the cast to figure out there is more going on to their game night. The ensemble do seem to be enjoying working together, even with the more thriller aspects of the film.

Jason Bateman appears to be a pro at these kinds of movies. I haven’t seen many Rachel McAdams films, but what I have, always leans towards the dramatic. It's not the case here. She does a pretty good job too. Even Lamorne Morris, has a cool Denzel Washington impression.

There is an elaborate game of ‘Hot potato’ which is completed in one shot. (Meaning the take is done with one camera and no cuts.)

Game Night is not a movie I would rush out to watch. It surprised me though. It makes an impression that way. (Some may even find it funny.)

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

An Unforgettable Evening: Making Game Night (3 minutes, 48 seconds) 

- A pretty basic behind-the-scenes feature. The cast explains the movie and what it was like working with each other and on the film.

Gag Reel (6 minutes, 48 seconds) 

- It depends on your sense of humour. There are better gag reels. 

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment

The 15:17 to Paris

Clint Eastwood is still making movies.

Director Eastwood’s last four films have revolved around real people. The 15:17 to Paris makes five-in-a-row. The movie had an early Digital release on May 1. The Blu-ray combo pack and DVD debuts on May 22.

Eastwood’s film career spans over 60 years.

TRUE

All it takes is one moment.

The 15:17 to Paris is the story of three young Americans, how they grew up and became friends. They travel through Europe. They board a train to Paris. A terrorist is on board. There is no doubt what he had in mind.

Those three Americans are U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone. Oregon National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler. They will have August 21, 2015, seared into their memories. They turned their experience into a book too. The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes. (Jeffery E. Stern gave some writing help.)

The book offered extra inspiration for the film. The 15:17 to Paris made $56 million worldwide. It didn’t grab the attention of many.

When you compare the last two Clint Eastwood movies, there's a difference. There’s American Sniper with over $547 million worldwide. It also the biggest film of Mr. Eastwood’s entire career. Sully grossed over $240 million.

The 15:17 to Paris did offer a spark with Eastwood’s bold casting choices. There were no big-names to board the train to Paris. Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler, portrayed themselves.

Jenna Fisher, Judy Greer, Ray Corasani, PJ Byrne, Tony Hale and Thomas Lennon, all pop up in small roles. Paul-Mikel Williams, Bruce Gheisar and William Jennings are the kid versions of the heroes.

VERDICT

Would I buy this film? Not at full price. It's kind of like a rainy day selection.

There's always been something to a Clint Eastwood movie. I think no matter what, I would have found a way to see The 15:17 to Paris.

It is an amazing true story. But the delivery isn’t solid. It is not Clint Eastwood at his best. The film still gets a passing mark.

The PG-13 movie has a very laid-back quality. It almost feels like a documentary. Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler are not actors, which is obvious at times, but fine. Points to them for even doing it.

The fact they are not actors though…could also be the whole point.

They were regular guys and they were swept up in an incredible moment.

Parts of the lead-up to the train ride are not exciting to watch. The trip in Europe has conversations centered on pictures, and selfie sticks. And food and travel plans.

The train sequence only fills a handful of minutes in a 94-minute time frame. It is tense though and instantly grabs the attention. (Mark Moogalian, and his wife, Isabelle Risacher Moogalian play themselves on film. Mark was shot during the real event.)

The story has a curiosity factor to watch. The people on the train who helped out, deserve a lot of credit - not only the three Americans.

I wouldn’t put it high on the list of Clint Eastwood movies.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW
Making Every Second Count (8 minutes, 11 seconds)
- Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos and Anthony Sadler give their own spin on what happened on the train. The intriguing part was the input from Mark Moogalian and his wife, Isabelle Risacher Moogalian. They were on the train.

Portrait of Courage (12 minutes)
- Director Eastwood and some of his crew discuss the filming process. They had actually auditioned real actors for the roles. Mr. Eastwood surprised everybody - including the three heroes - by putting them in their own movie. Nobody called the train sequence as acting. It was ‘reliving’ the experience to being cathartic to some.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment