Jeanne McCarthy – Behind the Proscenium

21 Jump Street

With Wit, Reviewed By Kimmo Mustonenen

First, a truth.

In a second week – I was having the déjà vu, right in my face.

Something else from my happy child times is under attack.

From Hollywood.

The greatest showing in television that wasn’t “Baywatch” (which is the best if only for the great mammary swings in a slower motion – hot stuff!).

And even I, when high or even not, was not much for the original of “21 Jump Street.” Richard Grieco freaked me out – his skin was unnatural and unholy.

But still – why do the Hollywood persons have to bend over everything that was from our pasts and violate the brown eye?

Sometimes the past memory needs its hole revisited.

This past memory is this movie.

If you were to judge the success of a movie-play simply by how much or how little you made me laugh, “21 Jump Street“ would be one of the best I’ve seen in a while.

The effectiveness of the film is amazing, especially based on the same television series of the 80’s whose greatest legacy to cinema it was Johnny Depp (what in bloody hell have you done to Barnabas Collins, Johnny? – I will hurt you when I see you next).

The directors of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, transfer the same energy and humor that characterized that great this new animated comedy, thankfully, is rated “R”, for full of delicious dirtiness.

The dick jokes were particularly welcome from the mouths of the leads.

Among the best sequences are a feature film that revolves around a trip of hallucinogen (I sure love drugs!) and one in which our “heroes” are involved in a chase on the highway.

Absurd first in nature and the second with his parody of the clichés of the genre of action, show that neither the directors nor the screenwriter Michael Bacall are taken very seriously, which invites the audience to laugh at and with the film.

And then the invitation is make to fire up the bong.

Then the movie is near perfect and good – simultaneously.

Thank you, weed.

Plot? Come on, a plot is needed?!?

O.K. it exists.

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star as Schmidt and Jenko, two incompetent cops are reassigned to an old unit not activated from the 80’s that infiltrates as students in a college to stop the transfer of a deadly narcotic.

Ice Cube scowls as the new superior, Captain Dickson, and then he scowls again. And scowls one more time.

I wanted to smoke him out and bring on the smiling. Next time, Mr. Cube.

Things happen. Roles from High School (heh, high school) are reversed.

A big dick in olden days is no longer respected. Fat kids who were openly slapped for smelling like bacon are now the cool.

Up is down.

Sideways is straight.

And comedy is had by all.

Note to self – when stoned at funny movie DO NOT hold ice cream bon bons in the lap – without knowledge you can freeze your nuttles.

Pain!

So, two thumbs higher than I was when seeing this screening!

Funny, clever and no Richard Grieco leather face to give me nightmares.

Better than the stupid show it was “based” on (really only the title is shared correctly).

And my testicles have thawed sufficiently so that the panic is gone from my voice.

Success!

Kimmo Mustonenen – (Kimmo on Kino) – Behind The Proscenium

Next week – “The Hunger Games.” My Katniss inspired wood is filling with sap.

P.S. To the “sports expert” who helped me with my first NCAA March Insanity pool… you are an asshole. Thank you for saying “Kimmo, take Montana all the way.” No money for me now. I hope your eyeballs fall out and are eaten by your cat. This I mean! Dick.

Larry Crowne

With Wit, Reviewed By Kimmo Mustonenen

Larry Crowne (everyman’s everyman Tom Hanks) is an extremely diligent and good employee in a supermarket. He also completes the unpleasant tasks with full dedication and spread good mood around.

When he is ordered by his superiors in the break room, he thinks, therefore, that he’s already determined ninth award as “Employee of the Month” (not like the one that had Dane Cook or Jessica Simpson thank God) will receive.

Instead, he gets the notice. THAT notice.

The absurd reason: Larry has no college education and can not therefore be promoted.

Only in America, what?

The search for a new job quickly proves to be hopeless. It also looks at certain areas that show extremely naive Larry can be.

So he follows the advice of his neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer) and enrolled at East Valley Community College to a class in rhetoric and to demonstrate in economic science (sweet!).

The first lesson in financial matters Larry receives before the first day of school at a gas station: while his huge vehicle thirsty swallows the expensive gasoline, next door is a gaggle of scooters with a few gallons only to drink. So now goes Larry around on a two-wheeled vehicle.

Instruction, concerning his manner of speaking, he then receives from professor teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts). The lecturer is not particularly motivated, because their students give her as little attention as her husband Dean (Bryan Cranston), who proves to be lazy lecher – and a lazy lecher is no lecher at all.

Right?

The issue of unemployment? “Larry Crowne”, after a while, only mentioned in passing. Such as when Larry (played as Hank’s wife at the bank employee Rita Wilson) deposited the termination of his mortgage, which will lead to eviction.

Otherwise, the story focuses mainly on the transformation of the main character of a staid boring schmuck into an attractive educated manly one.

It is pretty much the complete opposite of the exciting lecturers from “Dead Poets Society”. Instead, we recognize a lively classmate (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who finds in Larry the dormant potential and asks him to put his polo shirt into his pants no longer.

The formation of Larry Crowne is also apparently quite superficial.

While Larry discovers a new life, of course, the professor reawakens gradually on her strengths. Predictable ripples so the action from one scene to the next and most amazed by the innocence of the story (I really was).

But this weakness is somehow also a strength of the film.

It’s almost refreshing, as Hanks and co-writer Nia Vardalos almost completely abandon innuendo and profanity.

As a result, the humor is moving at a level worthy of a sitcom, but carefree conversation ranges from them, too, even if the message of the film ultimately turns out to be as honest as the main character.

Larry is at the end that is visible in a lecture – that life is the best school. But not high school. That sucked.

One and a half thumbs wagging in the air. See it, but not twice.

Kimmo Mustonenen (Kimmo On Kino) – Behind The Proscenium

P.S. Have you watched The Voice? Christina Aguilera has giant boobs! With this information before – I would have sooner than later watched. Tune in!

Tag: Jeanne McCarthy

21 Jump Street [REVIEW]

Larry Crowne [REVIEW]