“The King of Queens” Television Review: To Binge or Not to Binge

    I was very pleasantly surprised last month to receive an e-mail from one of my favorite home media distributors Mill Creek Entertainment asking if I was interested in receiving a review copy of their “The King of Queens” complete series blu-ray release.  I remembered enjoying that show quite a bit when I was younger so I jumped at the chance to revisit it.

    The show followed the everyday life of everyman delivery man Doug Heffernan and his wife Carrie Heffernan.  The show was relatable with a strong supporting cast of characters who added a great deal to the humor.  While the show was far from ground breaking, it was one of the funnier shows of it’s era and was great escapism for around twenty minutes.

    Let me start this review by saying I am not the biggest Kevin James fan out there mainly due to stories I have heard of the performer and how he has allegedly treated members of the service industry.  As someone who reviews films and shows on the side but makes their primary income as a cashier at a grocery store, I don’t like hearing about celebrities who are rude to people making far less money than them but make an honest living.  Some of us current unknowns are even quite funny and talented, so getting lucky and discovered is no excuse to treat people poorly.  The reason I write this is because I really do enjoy Kevin James as a comedian and some of the stories you hear can really sour your opinions on someone you might have otherwise looked up to.  It’s hard for me to watch this show now even though I find it quite funny.

    Aside from Kevin James, the show boosted a slew of other extremely talented actors and actresses.  I adored Jerry Stiller as Doug’s father-in-law Arthur Spooner.  Doug and Arthur’s relationship was often the backbone of the episodes.  Kevin James and Jerry Stiller also played off each other fantastically.  It’s easy to see why Stiller remains Hollywood royalty after watching this show.  Leah Remini was often hilarious and also less shrill than most sitcom wives and it was fairly refreshing to see a sitcom wife played with more realism (at least in my opinion).

    The character of Doug appeared in several other television shows including “Cosby”, “The Nanny”, “Becker”, and most prominently “Everybody Loves Raymond” (Ray Romano’s character of Ray Barone also appeared on episodes of “The King of Queens”).  In addition to Ray Romano, the show also featured fantastic guest appearances from comedic masterminds like Patton Oswalt and stars of yesteryear like “The Incredible Hulk” himself, Lou Ferrigno.  These guest stars are among the highlights of this show for me.

    So, “The King of Queens” is definitely one of the standout sitcoms of the late 90s and 2000s and is now available as a complete set on both DVD and Blu-ray thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment.  Mill Creek Entertainment was kind enough to send a review copy of the show on Blu-ray and it looks amazing.  I had some of the DVD seasons released by Sony years ago and the Blu-ray set is a giant step up as far as picture quality is concerned in my opinion.  It is definitely worth a buying the set if you need a laugh!

Overall Grade: B+

To Binge or Not to Binge Verdict: BINGE

Buy “The King of Queens” The Complete Series on Blu-ray Here!!!

Merry Christmas 2019

    It’s that time a year again and boy did it seem to come out of nowhere.  One minute it’s Thanksgiving and then bam, it’s already Christmas.  It hasn’t been an easy year for me but I have also been blessed with amazing people in my life who have been there for me in some of my darkest hours.

    Christmas time is difficult for me, having lost my oldest brother and parents.  The only immediate family I have left is my one older brother who needs help taking care of himself.  Still, Christmas is a time to thankful for the things I have.  I have an amazing girlfriend who has helped me through the years even though it’s been more difficult for her.  She is beautiful and sweet and could be with anyone she wanted and yet she loves me.

    I started this blog as a sense of escapism to some degree.  I guess my love for cinema has also been a sense of escapism over the years.  Still, it is something I have enjoyed doing and I feel like I have grown as a writer over the last few years.

    Thank you to the people who support me, the people who read my blogs, people who also enjoy cinema in general, and for distribution companies like Mill Creek Entertainment who provided me review copies.  Thank you everyone and have a very Merry Christmas.

“I Spy” Movie Review

    Once upon a time, I used to go out to the movies at least once a week with my parents (before they sadly passed away) and one movie I remember my dad really wanting to see was “I Spy” because he was a fan of the original show.  I never actually did see the original television show but the film looked funny and I have always been a big Eddie Murphy fan.  This movie has a special place in my heart partly because it reminds me of my dad and I am glad it is finally getting a wide Blu-ray release.

    The film tells the story of a spy named Alex Scott as he is paired with hotshot boxer Kelly Robinson on a mission to recover a stealth fighter named the Switchblade.  The fighter was taken by an arms dealer named Arnold Gundars but Scott and Robinson have to learn how to get along before taking down Gundars and recovering the Switchblade.

    “I Spy” was met with mediocre reviews and was quickly forgotten.  While I don’t think the film was a masterpiece at all, I did find the film to be fun.  The biggest fault I can say about the film is that it played everything a little too safe and was a bit by the numbers.  “I Spy” actually had a few well executed action set pieces but they often got overshadowed by the constant banter of Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson.

    The original television show starred Robert Culp as Kelly Robinson and Bill Cosby as Alex Scott (the film swapped the character’s races around).  Unlike this remake, the television show also featured both men as spies and equals from the very beginning.  The original show had more in common with James Bond than “Beverly Hills Cop”, which is part of the reason many critics considered this film to be a ‘in name only’ remake.

    The original television show also pioneered new grounds by featuring the first black lead actor in a drama series.  Both Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy do a decent job with the material they are given, but they also don’t have much chemistry together either.  Malcolm McDowell as Arnold Gundars is the real scene stealer in my book.

    I actually got a chance to meet Robert Culp before he passed away at the Motor City Comic Con and he ironically autographed an “I Spy” script for me.  I wonder if including Culp and Cosby might have made this remake a little better.  Side note: I did not know that Robert Culp had a grandson who raps (stage name Bones) who was raised in my town of Howell, Michigan.  You learn something interesting everyday and it really is a small world.

    Thank you Mill Creek Entertainment for providing me a review copy and letting me relive a fond memory I have of seeing this movie with my dad.  I also had a fun time rewatching this movie as well.  “I Spy” is definitely an overlooked action/comedy that deserves more attention.

Grade: B-

Buy “I Spy” on Blu-ray Here!!!

“Roxanne” Movie Review

    One of my favorite films as a kid was the Steve Martin romantic comedy “Roxanne”.  I am not sure if it was because of the subject matter or because of Steve Martin’s large clownish nose.  Steve Martin, in his prime, was easily one of the funniest people alive.  Thanks to the good folks at Mill Creek Entertainment, I was able to revisit one of my childhood favorites with a wonderful new blu-ray release.

    The film is a retelling of the classic “Cyrano de Bergerac” in which Martin plays an updated version of Cyrano de Bergerac named C.D. in this film.  When newcomer Roxanne arrives into C.D.’s town, he is immediately drawn to her not only for her beauty but because they get along so well.  C.D.’s feelings are unrequited however as Roxanne doesn’t find him attractive (due to his comically large nose) and is instead attracted to C.D.’s fellow firefighter Chris.  C.D. agrees to help Chris in his quest to court Roxanne and tell her the things she would like to hear from him.  C.D. channels his own feelings for Roxanne and has Chris repeat what he says.  Roxanne falls in love with Chris due largely to the things he tells her.  Unfortunately, things don’t go too well with Chris and Roxanne.  Later on, Roxanne ends up finding out that it was actually C.D. saying all those beautiful and romantic things to her.  What will she do knowing how C.D. really feels about her?

    Steve Martin led a good cast with a knockout performance.  Martin had good chemistry with Daryl Hannah in one of her best performances to date.  While the film is a great romantic comedy, it also doesn’t take itself too seriously.  It’s rare for a romantic comedy to allow itself to be silly.  One aspect of the film I find ironic is that Steve Martin’s character isn’t considered good looking because of his huge news right around the time French actor Gerard Depardieu was being hailed as a sex symbol here in the United States.  Depardieu has a nose that rivals Martin’s prosthetic nose in this film.

    The film was a critical and box office success and after rewatching it, it’s easy to see why.  The film still holds up fairly well as well.  I am just thankful to Mill Creek Entertainment for allowing me to relive a childhood favorite (complete with an incredibly cool retro VHS slip cover).  “Roxanne” is a must see classic worth a watch now!

Grade: B+

Buy “Roxanne” on Blu-ray with a Retro VHS Slip Cover Here!!! Also Available on DVD Here!!!

Editorial: Why Mill Creek Entertainment Is the Film Buffs Best Friend

    I can’t tell you how many films I know have yet to be released on blu-ray (or even DVD for that matter).  It can be very frustrating for a movie buff to not have access to certain films except on VHS.  Thankfully, there are certain film distributors who cater to movie collectors with a wide array of rare releases but the company I feel is leading the pack is Mill Creek Entertainment.

    With films like “The Abyss” without a blu-ray release, smaller films such as “High School High” seemed unlikely to see anything better than it’s original standard definition full screen release.  It was a funny film and a movie I remembered fondly but it was hardly a film on the level of “The Abyss”.  Imagine my delight when I found out that Mill Creek Entertainment was releasing “High School High” on blu-ray.  Now, Mill Creek Entertainment isn’t the only company producing obscure titles, but they do produce more catalog titles than some of their peers.  I love Arrow, Kino Lorber, MVD, and other boutique labels like them as well as Mill Creek Entertainment but they simply do not release films on the level of Mill Creek.  One could argue which company has the ‘best’ films, but that boils down to personal opinion so there are no right answers.  In the end, regardless of which companies titles are ‘better’, we as movie buffs are grateful for all of these labels for providing rare catalog titles to us.

    Mill Creek Entertainment has a large selection of cult hits available on blu-ray and DVD and seem to unearth many forgotten classics.  From the films of Andy Sidaris to cultural phenomenons like “Ultraman”, Mill Creek Entertainment continues to provide some of the best underground hits available to film buffs.  Speaking of “Ultraman”, Mill Creek Entertainment just announced several blu-ray season sets starting with “Ultra Q” and “Ultraman” in October.  I am eagerly looking forward to both releases (especially the steelbook editions).

    As a television fan, Mill Creek Entertainment has become the top distributor of classic television sets on DVD and Blu-ray.  As a blu-ray fanatic, I love their sets of classic shows like “Quantum Leap” and “Miami Vice”.  They have also released an incredible set for the last great American sitcom, “That 70s Show”.  How can you not love a company who provides physical media releases of some of the greatest shows ever?  The company is even releasing a full series set of “Charlie’s Angels” to coincide with the release of the upcoming movie.

    Unlike other film distributors, Mill Creek Entertainment has also managed to stay ahead of the curve with their release of a new streaming service called ‘Movie Spree’.  Movie Spree is offering a ton of their catalog titles instantly through their streaming service right now.  Movie Spree offers those obscure titles that Netflix and Hulu would never bother to stream.

    While I do love other film distributors like Arrow and Kino Lorber, they often want quite a lot for their releases.  As an individual not swimming in cash (cashiers don’t tend to make a fortune), I very much appreciate the fact that Mill Creek Entertainment has always provided their titles at super reasonable prices.  How many studios have tons of titles available for $15 or less?  I don’t know of many off the top of my head.

    Lastly, I do admit that Mill Creek Entertainment has been generous enough to provide me review copies but that is part of what makes the company so great.  They are extremely costumer focused and hugely supportive of the film community.  My blog, for instance, may not be much for now but they understand the importance word of mouth among us film buffs is.  I can’t tell you how many film buffs I work with and how often we talk about new video releases, yet alone how many film buffs I connect with online.

    Mill Creek Entertainment has come along way in the last few years from when they primarily released public domain titles.  I am just so happy to have a company how understands the importance of physical media and the power of the film loving community as a whole.  Thank you for bringing a smile to my face countless times Mill Creek Entertainment, you guys are the best!

“The New Kids” Movie Review

    So it’s been a little while since I have been able to catch up on my review copies from the wonderful Mill Creek Entertainment.  Well, I finally have a little  time off and it has given me some time to catch up on watching some films I have been dying to see.  Working full time plus operating an online business doesn’t always allow much free time, sadly.  That being said, I finally had time to see a movie I really wanted to watch, “The New Kids”.

    The film tells the story of two siblings who become tragically orphaned and go to live with their uncle and aunt on their farm and amusement park.  The two siblings quickly find themselves in trouble when a group of troublemakers take unwanted attention of Abby.  Now, her brother Loren tries to protect her and the rest of his family from this group of sadistic teens.

    The film was directed by Sean S. Cunningham, best known for his work on the original “Friday the 13th”, helms this film with the same flair he showed in that classic film.  He manages to showcase his young cast in a way few directors of the era could with the exception of perhaps John Hughes or Chris Columbus.  I found it interesting that Stephen Gyllenhaal, father of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, wrote the script for this film.

    The cast for the film was very impressive with Shannon Presby and Lori Loughlin playing the main siblings and protagonists of the film.  While they both do a good job, James Spader is the most memorable member of the cast as the evil teen Dutra.  Eric Stoltz was also surprisingly good in the small role he had.  Lastly, it was a treat seeing the late Eddie Jones of “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” fame in the movie.  As a big Superman fan, it was a nice treat.

    “The New Kids” was sadly a box office flop and was met with harsh criticism upon it’s release.  The film is an underrated film that feels perhaps more relative now than it did upon it’s release.  Thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment, the movie has an incredible retro VHS slip cover which I love.  If you like 80s horror or suspense, this movie is worth a watch thanks mainly to James Spader and it’s 80s feel.

Grade: B

Buy “The New Kids” on Blu-ray with a Retro VHS Slipcover Here!!!

“Jury Duty” Movie Review

    It is hard to explain the phenomenon that was Pauly Shore.  Well, a lot of things that were popular in the 90s are hard to explain now.  Remember how hot Pogs were?  Trying explaining Pogs to a kid now, you will be lucky to only get a blank stare.  In that respect Pauly Shore sort of equates to Pogs, a lot of people seemed to love him in the 90s but we didn’t exactly know why and we still can’t explain the appeal.  Pauly Shore enjoyed a string of modest hits despite critics hating his films and then he disappeared as mysteriously as he arrived.

    Of course, not all of Pauly Shore’s films were a success, the film “Jury Duty” for instance was a box office bomb.  Still, box office figures are just numbers and critics such as myself can only tell you their opinions so I had to see this film for myself.  Thankfully, the generous folks at Mill Creek Entertainment were kind enough to provide me a copy of the film so I could tell you my take on it.

    The film follows a young man named Tommy who lives a carefree life but must find a place to stay while his mom gets married.  After being let go as a male stripper, Tommy decides that his best option for room and board is to be put on jury duty.  Though the case seems pretty straight forward, Tommy prolongs the jury deliberation in an effort to keep his hotel room and to get closer to Monica, a fellow juror who Tommy has a crush on.

    I personally think much of the appeal of Pauly Shore can be traced to his key demographic at the time, teenagers.  Pauly Shore had a very over the top and cartoonish style of comedy and that is very prominent in this film.  Critics tend to enjoy slightly more mature fair and it’s part of the reason Pauly Shore was so hated by them.

    “Jury Duty” was a loose reimagining of the teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” and it doesn’t exactly carry the same weight the 1957 Henry Fonda film did.  I would be curious to see what the YouTube channel LegalEagle would make of this film.

    This is exactly the kind of movie I would expect critics to tear apart but I have to admit, I kind of liked it.  Yes, it’s dumb and it certainly won’t stay with you but it isn’t made to be profound or change someone’s life.  It is just made to get a cheap giggle or two and it succeeds in that way.  Plus it is fun to see some great comedic character actors in some of their early roles.  Heck, even Stanley Tucci turned up in this film...and he even had hair!  It should be noted that Andrew Dice Clay also appears in an uncredited cameo at the beginning of this film.

    I saw Pauly Shore at the 2019 Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan and while I didn’t get a chance to meet him personally, from what I saw, he seemed legitimately nice.  He greeted and interacted with all his fans and he seemed to have a good time.  It made me appreciate Pauly Shore a little more, I have to admit.

Grade: B

Buy “Jury Duty” on Blu-ray with a Retro VHS Slipcover Here!!!

“NASA: A Journey Through Space” Television Review: To Binge or Not to Binge

    A few days ago marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission so I wanted to wait and post my review for “NASA: A Journey Through Space” on the actual anniversary of the mission in honor of mankind’s accomplishment.  Of course, the anniversary of mankind’s accomplishment also happened to fall on days I worked so this post is a little late.  Thankfully, the good folks at Mill Creek Entertainment provided me with this review copy for which I am very grateful for.

    This series tells the story of the events that led to formation of NASA and everything that follows.  From exploring writers and filmmakers fascination with landing on the moon to actually doing so, this series provides information into the minds that helped push towards space exploration.  Each episode focuses primarily on specific milestones in the history of NASA.  For instance, there is an episode about the events focusing on the Apollo 11 moon mission which is sandwiched between episodes detailing the events which led to the historic mission and what happened following it.

    Now, I know this description of the show isn’t super specific but in all honesty, it’s not easy to sum up this show because it covers so much time and detail that unless I wrote a summery of each episode specifically, I would be doing this series a disservice.  You might be asking why, and the answer is rather simple, the show is a documentary which packs a lot of history and information into each episode and there is very little fluff to be found.

    I have been known to watch my fair share of shows on the History Channel (okay, okay, mainly the show “Ancient Aliens” but that show is still technically on the History Channel) and to me, this series felt a lot like a show which would air on the History Channel.  The series is narrated by Coby Batty (who does a fairly good job changing accents when necessary).  Batty is known for his work narrating documentaries and he does a good job with this series as well.

    So, as you might already know, when it comes to my tv shows, I normally try to do my reviews based on the series as a whole (which admittedly is a lot easier when dealing with a mini-series).  While I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this series as much when I was in school, I have grown and enjoy educational shows and movies far more now.  I also think that this is the type of show that is important for someone to watch even if they don’t find it as fun as something else.

    So, in honor of the giant step mankind made fifty years ago, I am proud to recommend binge watching this series.  Somehow, we managed the impossible and it’s fascinating seeing how we managed to do so.

Overall Grade: B

To Binge or not to Binge Verdict: BINGE

Buy “NASA: A Journey Through Space” on Blu-ray Here!!!

“Space Station” Movie Review

    When I requested a review copy of “Space Station”, I didn’t realize what a treat Mill Creek Entertainment would provide me until I started rewatching it.  Mill Creek Entertainment has just released a fantastic 4K transfer of this IMAX film.  This movie was actually previously released by Warner Bros. in a 3D version as well so film collectors like myself may have to get both versions depending on the experience they want.  I would like to thank Mill Creek Entertainment for providing me this review copy because it means a great deal to me (I will get into that in a little bit).

    The film (which clocks in at 47 minutes long) is a documentary which shows the lives of astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center as they prepare to leave the Earth to embark on their mission to space.  Once in space, they are tasked with completing work on the International Space Station with the help of the cosmonauts already there.  The film shows the majestic beauty of space and the hardships the astronauts have to go through.

    The film is an enlightening piece of media for any fan of NASA or space exploration.  I have to admit that the film feels more important now that interest in space exploration has sadly weaned over the years.  The crisp visuals showcased in 4K help make you feel like you are in outer space with the astronauts.  It can be truly breathtaking to watch and it only makes me want to compare the 4K and 3D versions now to see which feels most immersive to view.

    The film is famous for being the first production of an IMAX 3D film to shoot in space.  It was narrated by Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise but his narration honestly adds little to the viewing experience.  In a documentary like this, star power adds little to the overall experience.

    Now I mentioned that this movie had a special meaning to me earlier and that is because I had actually seen this film in an IMAX 3D theater years ago with my parents (they have both passed away since).  I didn’t realize it was the same movie until I started watching it.

    Ultimately this is a movie for fans of NASA and documentaries but anyone can still appreciate the beauty of space with this film.  If you are looking to get lost, you could do far worse than taking a trip to the International Space Station. Plus with a short runtime, it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome.

Grade: B

Buy “Space Station” on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Here!!!!

“Opportunity Knocks” Movie Review

    The late 80s and early 90s were a golden era for “Saturday Night Live” and one of the standout performers was Dana Carvey.  Carvey was always a gifted comedian and has managed to shine in everything he has starred in no matter the material he is given.  To date, Carvey is best known for co-starring in “Wayne’s World” and it’s sequel, a film based on a “Saturday Night Live” sketch which also featured Mike Myers.  I was extremely curious to watch “Opportunity Knocks” because I am a big Dana Carvey fan so when I found out that Mill Creek Entertainment was releasing this film on blu-ray, I had to check it out.

    The movie follows con men Eddie and Lou as they attempt to rip people off to pay back a gangster.  After destroying the gangster’s car, Eddie and Lou split up to get away from his thugs.  While attempting to break into a house earlier, the pair had discovered a beautiful home in which the owner was away from for a period of time.  Via an answering machine, the pair had discovered the house sitter wasn’t going to show up so Eddie decides to hide out at the house.  After spending a night there, Eddie is surprised to meet Milt and Mona, the home owner’s parents.  The couple mistake Eddie for Jonathan, the friend who was supposed to house sit.  When Eddie realizes how much money Milt has, he starts a romantic con with Milt and Mona’s daughter.  Everything goes well until Eddie actually begins to fall in love with her.

    Dana Carvey has always been a favorite comedian of mine ever since his days on “Saturday Night Live”.  Carvey has always been able to surround himself with some of the best talent of all time (if you need any proof, watch the Hulu documentary “Too Funny To Fail: The Life & Death of the Dana Carvey Show”) and he shines best playing off of other comedians.  When Dana Carvey is given starring roles, he tends to go a little over board and hams it up a little too much.  While “Opportunity Knocks” isn’t the hamfest “Master of Disguise” turned out to be, Carvey has a habit of going over the top even in this film.  That isn’t to say I disliked the film, but a slightly more reserved performance might have enhanced the film some.

    Aside from Carvey, the supporting cast is surprisingly strong.  Todd Graff plays Lou in the film and has a good chemistry with Carvey.  When Graff shares scenes with Carvey, he enhances the veteran comedian.  The great Robert Loggia shines in this comedy.  Julia Campbell is also very good and it is a bit surprising she didn’t end up doing more after this performance.

    One thing that bothered me a little about the movie was how easily Milt and his family all forgave Eddie after he conned them.  For me, this unrealistic action removed any heart the film was going for.  That being said, the movie does score some bonus points in it’s favor for Carvey’s President George H.W. Bush imitation.

    The movie isn’t terrible but isn’t the comedic showcase Carvey deserves either.  Some comedians just deserve greatness and just plain average is a bit sad to see.  Still, it’s a trip back to the 90s where things felt simpler and there are definitely a lot worse comedies out there.

Grade: C+

Buy “Opportunity Knocks” with a Retro VHS Cover on Blu-ray Here!!!

“Brainscan” Movie Review

    I am not the biggest horror expert in the world so there are quite a few horror movies I am still discovering.  From time to time, I watch ‘new to me’ cult classics provided to me through review copies.  Unlike some other horror movies I get however, I had actually heard of the movie “Brainscan” and requested it directly from Mill Creek Entertainment.  Mill Creek was kind enough to provide me the film and I very much looked forward to seeing it.

    The film follows a young man named Michael as he agrees to play a game called Brianscan after his friend Kyle encourages him to.  Michael plays the first game and kills someone in the game.  Upon doing so, he is greeted by a character in the game called the Trickster and finds out that the murder he committed in the game turned out to be real.  Now, Michael isn’t sure if he is losing his mind or if he is actually a killer.  Michael finds himself in over his head as the Trickster manipulates Michael into killing his friend Kyle and covering up his murder.

    The movie received negative reviews upon it’s release but has since become something of a cult classic since.  I found the movie to be interesting and thought the character of the Trickster to be really unique.  I can understand critics not being blown away by aspects of the film, but I find it odd that so few of them saw the good in the film.

    The film was directed by John Flynn and starred Edward Furlong a few years after co-starring in the smash hit “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”.  Flynn did not have a good experience working with Furlong on the film.  Frank Langella plays a detective in the film but isn’t given much to do.  T. Ryder Smith is given the most creative freedom as the Trickster and does a stellar job.  Smith’s performance was inspired by rock stars such as Alice Cooper and he doesn’t disappoint.

    This movie is interesting because it takes a stand on the video game violence debate by basically equating simulated violence to actual violence.  Not only is it a talking point brought up a few times in the film, but the basic concept of the film seemingly makes the argument that there is little difference between video game violence and real life violence.  I wonder if this stance might have been why the movie wasn’t more popular.  It’s hard to sell a movie to an audience when your audience as a whole tends to disagree with your stance (also a bit hypocritical to target a teenage audience with a violent movie while stating that simulated violence can turn them violent in real life.  Just my opinion however).  Maybe I am just overthinking this movie.

    After watching the movie and putting aside the vague morals the movie is trying to advocate, I thought it was pretty entertaining.  It was a classic but it reminds me of the type of movies I would watch as a kid.  Plus, the movie is worth watching for the Trickster alone.

Grade: C+

Buy the “Mindwarp” and “Brainscan” Double Feature Blu-ray Here!!!

“Mo’ Money” Movie Review

    Growing up in the early 90s, one of the biggest and funniest programs airing on network television was a little show called “In Living Color”.  What made the show so unique is that along with talented comedians like Jim Carrey, the cast was also comprised of most of the the Wayans family.  While Keenan Ivory Wayans hosted the show, the breakout Wayans brother was Damon Wayans.  From characters like ‘Homey the Clown’ and one half of ‘The Homeboy Shopping Network’ as well as ‘Men on Films’, Damon Wayans quickly proved to be one of the shows most valuable players.

    The film follows conman Johnny Stewart as he meets a young woman named Amber one day and wants to impress her.  Unfortunately, the only way to impress her seems to be to go legitimate and get a real job.  Johnny gets a job in the mailroom where Amber works.  Johnny becomes convinced that he needs to have money to keep Amber in his life so he steals credit cards that were returned from people who passed away he received in the mailroom so he can afford fancy things.  After a shopping spree, his boss Keith finds out and makes him steal credit cards for him or he will turn him into the police (as it turns out, he planted those cards in hopes Johnny would use them so he could have leverage on him).  After Johnny helps Keith out a few time, he decides to quit while he is ahead.  Meanwhile, Johnny’s conman brother Seymour decides to use a stolen credit card and gets caught by the police.  Seymour agrees to wear a wire and catch Keith but is instead held hostage by him.  Johnny must now rescue his brother from his sinister boss.

    Before I watched this movie to review it, I had never seen this film before butI had always been curious about it being a big “In Living Color” fan.  I know the film wasn’t well received upon it’s release but a lot of comedies don’t fair well with critics.  So what did I think of the film?  I didn’t hate the movie nor did I think it was hilarious.  The movie didn’t wow me but it kept my attention and there were a few moments that made me chuckle.  I definitely see why critics ripped this movie apart.  Damon Wayans was fresh off “In Living Color” and was hilarious in the show, you very much expect a lot from a comedic performer in their prime and this movie felt a bit lazy.  The film was filled with cliches and humor that fell a bit flat.  That being said, looking at it through a nostalgic lens, seeing all the 90s fashions and trends definitely made me reminisce about the time period depicted on film.

    With the inclusion of characters like Anton Jackson and Blair Edwards, the film feels like an attempt to make an “In Living Color” movie in the same vain Lorne Michaels managed to turn “Saturday Night Live” skits like “Coneheads” into motion pictures.  I mean, the title even came from a phrase used often on ‘The Homeboy Shopping Network’.  To some degree, I feel like not making this film a direct “In Living Color” tie-in was a bit of a missed opportunity.  If the film focused on one of Damon’s hilarious characters, I think the movie would have faired better.

    The film is notable for being the first film to address the subject of identity theft (this film was made before the term ‘identity theft’ was even coined).  It was also the film debut of one of the original kings of comedy, Bernie Mac.  Marlon Wayans, Damon’s real life little brother, plays his little brother in this film.  Marlon had only appeared in one film before this movie.  It was also fun to see a young Harry Lennix play a nerd.  Typically now, Lennix plays commanding military figures.

    “Mo’ Money” isn’t a terrible movie and as at times good for a laugh or two but it isn’t the comedy classic Damon Wayans was capable of making.  The film is interesting to watch as a crash course into 90s fashions however.  One thing about the ending of this film that I noticed though, why did so many 90s films feature main characters outrunning pursuing cars.

Grade: C

Buy the “Mo’ Money” and “High School High” Double Feature Blu-ray Here!!!

“Excess Baggage” Movie Review

    While going through the movies I wanted to watch to review, I came across the movie “Excess Baggage” which was generously supplied to me by the good folks at Mill Creek Entertainment.  I know I give them a shout out a lot, but they deserve it for all the support they show writers and content creators.  What caught my attention with the “Excess Baggage” release was honestly the incredibly cool VHS style slipcover.  So, when I finally had some free time, I popped this movie into my Blu-ray player and watched it for the first time ever.

    The film follows a young woman named Emily who has faked her own kidnapping to get the attention of her rich father.  Everything goes to plan and she even places herself in the trunk of her car in order to fool the police.  Things go off the rails when a young man named Vincent decides to steal Emily’s car, with Emily still locked in the trunk.  Vincent wants nothing to do with Emily or her plans and sets her free in the hopes everything blows over.  Things get even more complicated however when Vincent’s place burns down, with Emily’s stolen car inside.  This makes it seem as if Vincent kidnapped Emily and Emily is unwilling to clear him unless he helps her.  Now Vincent and Emily are in over their heads together.  What makes matters worse is that the pair might be falling for each other.

    I had no idea what to expect for this film aside from the fact that it was labeled a comedy.  Let me start by saying that the film isn’t a laugh out loud style comedy, instead it was more of a 90s style romantic comedy (which I guess counts as a comedy but it is a little different than a traditional comedy in my opinion).  Watching it, I found the film to be decent but it also wasn’t exactly filled with memorable moments.  It also had a slightly silly premise in my opinion.  There was a sense of nostalgia watching this movie however because it felt very much like a film I would have rented at the video store as a kid.

    After doing a little research on the film, I found out that the script for the film was the winner of the first annual Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition.  I thought that was kind of a cool bit or trivia.  I also found out that the amazing Aaron Sorkin did a rewrite of the script before it went into production (although it still tested poorly with audiences and had to undergo reshoots).

    The film starred Alicia Silverstone and she actually was fairly good in the film.  I have not seen much of her work outside of “Batman & Robin”, but I know she was never a critics darling.  Still, she actually surprised me a bit in this movie as a result.  Benicio del Toro is also sweet and charming in one of his first roles as Vincent.  Harry Connick, Jr. has a small role as one of Vincent’s associates.  The highlight of the film however is Christopher Walken as Emily’s uncle.  Every role Walken takes on, he absolutely owns.  I was surprised to see that Marco Brambilla directed this.  Brambilla was fresh off of his debut film “Demolition Man” when he filmed this.  As a big fan of “Demolition Man”, seeing his name on the credits definitely perked my interest.

    “Excess Baggage” is the type of movie that takes you back to a different time when movies didn’t have to feel so overly complicated.  While this movie might be easily forgotten, that is also the worst thing you can really say about the movie.  The movie is your average romantic comedy and is worth checking out simply to see Benicio del Toro as a charming young actor.

Grade: C+

Buy “Excess Baggage” on Blu-ray with a Retro VHS Cover Here!!!