Comedy
Comedy movie reviews
Tower Heist Review
Who wouldn’t want to live in The Tower? A beautiful Central Park condominium in New York City, with a building manager that will pamper you to your hearts desire. Yes, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) takes care of his residents, especially Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), an investor who lives in the penthouse and keeps a red Ferrari, once owned by Steve McQueen, in his living room. All seems well for the staff and residents at The Tower until the day Josh(building manager) founds out that their investor, and penthouse owner, has stolen their retirement funds. So now Josh, along with some of his staff, and street thug, Slide (Eddie Murphy), plan the ultimate revenge to reclaim their money. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in this comedy adventure about a group of average Joes who plan a hilarious robbery.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: February 21, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Josh (Ben Stiller) is a good guy, who truly feels bad for his employee’s financial loss. Josh is devastated when the doorman tries to commit suicide, due to his financial struggles. Josh responsible for their loss and will do whatever it takes to help his staff.
There’s not a moral lesson or redeeming quality to this film, in fact it’s just the opposite; none of us want our kids planning a robbery. However, Tower Heist is so unrealistic that it’s funny and entertaining. It’s a suspenseful, fun movie.
The film has an all-star cast, to name a few: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Tea Leoni. They’re a unique group in this comedic film.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are many sexual comments and references; for example Slide (Eddie Murphy), leaves the room and says he’s going to have sex with his girlfriend. When looking at a photo of a chesty women, who’s identified as a lesbian, Slide mentions that he prefers women with big busts.
- We see an employee reading Playboy.
- Josh (Ben Stiller), steals panties from Victoria’s Secrets, and shoves them down the front of his pants.
- There’s a lot of talk about male and female sexual parts.
Violent Content: Mild
- In one scene Josh is very upset and smashes a car with a golf club.
- One character is shown hanging from the top of high-rise, over a crowded street.
- The doorman attempts suicide as he walks towards an oncoming train.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear a lot of swear words throughout the film; words such as “d–n,” “a–” “h—,” and “b–ch.” There are jokes about “vaginas,” “balls,” and “farts,” that are said numerous times as well.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Two characters have a lot to drink at a local bar; they get very drunk!
Overall I found Tower Heist to be a funny and entertaining movie. Having said that, it’s a PG13 movie, with an excessive amount of profanity in addition to some sexual references and comments. Parents need to be aware of that before sending their kids. Depending on your child, I recommend this film for kids ages 13 and up.
This Means War Review
One would think that CIA agents would be continuously stressed and on edge from their vigorous jobs; however for partners and best friends, FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy), things are a little different.Though they’ve had their intense moments while fighting enemy countries, they also have their own agenda; spying and using their high-tech equipment on Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), the woman they both love. These two CIA agents end up in an all out war against each other, hoping to win Lauren’s love and affection. This Means War is an action/adventure romantic comedy. Though not appropriate for kids, it is a great, entertaining movie!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: May 22, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content:Excessive
Violent Content:Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Check out my review here, along with “The Secret World of Arrietty.”
Talking Points:
I really enjoyed this movie! Though silly and unrealistic, it was entertaining and fun movie… a great date movie for adults although it’s not appropriate for young teens.
I liked the character’s in the film, from Lauren (Reese Witherspoon) to her two men. Though very different guys, they were likable characters. You rooted for both of them.
The movie was NOT predictable, I really didn’t know who she’d pick, and I won’t give it away.
The movie has some action for the guys, and romance for the girls. Though my husband was disappointed, he thought there was too much romance and not enough action. He was also uncomfortable with the sexual content, since he was sitting next to our boys.
Lauren’s best friend Trish ( Chelsea Handler) was very crass and crude throughout the whole film. She made a lot of unnecessary sexual comments. However, she does speak highly of her husband, and tells Lauren that she goes to him for advice and support.
The movie is rated PG13. With the excessive sexual content, it was a borderline R rated movie!
Sexual Content: Excessive
- Lauren decides to sleep with both men; that’s the conclusion she comes up with when trying to make her decision of which man to pick.
- When having a sexual encounter with FDR (Chris Pine), we see Lauren stripped down to her underwear on the kitchen counter with FDR. This was an intense sexual scene.
- The guys go to a strip club, we see women dancing, with barely a bra and undies on.
- Trish, Lauren’s best friend, has many raunchy lines throughout the film. She gives Lauren a lot of sexual advice, speaking about different body parts and sexual positions. Something you don’t want your kids hearing.
- In one scene Trish was giving Lauren advice, while having sex with her husband.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Since FDR and Tuck are CIA agents, we see a lot of gun shots, bomb explosions, and fistfights.
- Many character’s die from gun shots.
- FDR and Tuck get in a big fight, they crash through a glass wall, we see them injured with bloody faces.
- Tuck shoots FDR with a tranquilizer dart.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “D–n,” “a–,” “b–ch,” “sh-t,” and “b–tard,” are used several times. The f-word is used once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Trish drinks alcohol from a sippy cup, she calls it her, “special milk.”
- Character’s are shown drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages.
- Trish tells Lauren that she needs a joint.
Overall I really enjoyed this movie. It was fun and entertaining, but not for kids. Depending on your child’s maturity level I would say it’s okay for kids ages 14 and up. Parents need to be aware of the excessive sexual content throughout the film.
The Three Stooges Review
Moe, Larry and Curly are back, and still up to their old shenanigans. However, this time the three Stooges are on a mission to save their childhood orphanage. The orphanage needs $830,000, or it will have to shut down and send the children to a foster home. The Stooges come across many adventures as they try to fulfill their mission, and save the orphanage. However, because there’s an immoral relationship involving a key character woven throughout the film as well as constant slapstick violence, I do not recommend this for kids.
Rating: 1 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 13, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with Lockout!
Talking Points:
I felt the Stooges goal of saving the orphanage was admirable. I also admired their friendship and dedication to each other. A nice lesson for kids.
There were a lot of silly, goofy scenes. In one scene the Stooges were in a room full of babies, and proceeded to spray each other with the babies urine. This was disgusting, though I’m sure kids will find it humorous.
Moe ended up on the reality show, Jersey Shore. Once again he had fun poking, boinking and torturing them as well.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Women wear revealing low cut outfits.
- There were immoral sexual relationships and suggestive references however, there were no inappropriate visual scenes.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Where do I begin….There was continuous hitting, poking, slapping and silly violence throughout the whole film.
- We saw a character putting hot irons on another character’s chest.
- A women, who was having an affair, convinced the Stooges to kill her husband. This created a lot more silly violence and mayhem.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “What the…?” was said.
- “Knuckleheads” and “nitwits,” were also said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s were shown drinking alcohol.
As the film concluded the directors appeared on screen explaining that the tools used in the film were made out of rubber. They told the kids in the audience to “please play safe at home.” With the violence and immoral themes, I don’t recommend this for kids. Instead of The Three Stooges, take your youngsters to see Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.
The Hobbit: An Expected Journey Review
He missed his armchair, he missed his books, and he missed his home. That’s how Bilbo Baggins (the hobbit) felt when he expectantly left his home to help thirteen dwarves reclaim their Dwarf Kingdom; which had been attacked by the dragon Smaug. Continue reading
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Review
Marissa (Jessica Alba), a retired spy, is now a full time homemaker. She’s married to Wilbur (Joel McHale) a spy hunting TV reporter, she has a baby and twin 10 year old step children, (Rebecca, played by Rowen Blanchard and Cecil played by Mason Cook); who want nothing to do with her. However, things dramatically change when the twins find out their stepmom is a former spy agent. Marissa (the stepmom) is called back to duty to save the planet from an evil villain (Time Keeper). He wants to take over the world, and ultimately freeze it. He feels that people waste their time, and they don’t realize how precious it is. Now it’s up to Marissa, her step-kids, along with the familiar Spy Kids from the previous films, Cameron (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), to save the world from this evil threat.
Rating: Three out of five buckets.
Release Date: August 19, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5 to 10
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
This is the fourth movie in the popular Spy Kids series. My kids were fans of the first three movies, however they are not the target audience for this film; I’m sad to say that they’ve outgrown the Spy Kids series.
I didn’t particularly love this movie, however I did like the constant theme throughout the film. The movie focuses on the importance of family, and to make the most of our time, to love and enjoy our families. Some great quotes from the movie about time: “It’s not about the time you have, it’s what you choose to do with it.” When referring to spending quality time with your kids, a character says, “Spend time with them now, because the only thing you’ll find time for later is regret.” Another message is that you can’t change the past, “Live life moving forward not back.” This could spark a conversation with your kids.
There’s some rude potty humor; with kids vomiting and dogs burping. The twins play many practical jokes on their stepmom such as; dropping a bag of blue cheese dressing on her head, and putting baby powder in her blow dryer. Initially the twins didn’t like their stepmom, I thought they were mean and disrespectful.
The movie was in 4D, which could be a fun added feature for kids. When buying the tickets, we received a card with 8 numbers on it.When a number appeared on the screen, you rub that number on the card and sniff it. I think the kids in the theater liked it, I thought it was a little annoying.
The acting was not the greatest!
Sexual Content: Mild
- A married couple kiss.
Violent Content: Mild
- There’s an evil villain, but he’s not that scary, if anything he’s a little goofy.
- Men chase the kids, and shoot them with laser beams….silly violence, not threatening or scary.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “butt-head,” “stupid,” and “puke” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall Spy Kids: All the Time in the World is an adventurous action packed movie. Parents need to know that there is some rude potty humor, and slapstick violence. As I previously mentioned, kids familiar with the first three films have most likely outgrown this one. With all the messages about embracing time, my 13 year old son said, “The time in the movie was too long.” Hmmm…maybe not for teens, but great for it’s target audience; kids ages 5 to 10.
Some quotes from the audience:
“It was totally appropriate,” said a mom of a 6 and 9 year old.
“I loved it,” said a 9 year old boy.
“I loved it that Cameron and Juni (characters from the previous films) were in it.” said a 7 year old girl.