Review: How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

Just a couple of weeks ago, me and the other half were talking about The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy and it reminded me of how much I actually love Simon Pegg as an actor. I sort of forget about him and then when I see him in something, I'm reminded of how great he is. It's now turned into a bit of a game to try and watch all of his films. So, we sat down last weekend and watched How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People is based on a memoir written by Toby Young. The film tells the story of Sidney Young (Simon Pegg), who runs an alternative magazine in Britain called Post Modern Review. It pokes fun at celebrities who are media obsessed, and strays away from trends. One morning Sidney gets a call from the editor of Sharps magazine (Jeff Bridges), possibly Post Modern Review's biggest threat. Sidney is offered a job there and he leaps at the opportunity, leaving his old life behind and starting fresh in New York. When he arrives he meets Alison (Kirsten Dunst) and the rest, well, you'll have to watch it to find out.

I was a little apprehensive about this film at first, I mean, Simon Pegg as the lead role in a romantic comedy?  It didn't really make much sense. However, that crazy opening scene with him, James Corden and Chris O'Dowd just dissolved those thoughts instantly. It just gave me that warm, British comedy fuzzy feeling!

However, once it all moved to New York, I really felt that the film lost its charm a bit. I wish I could elaborate further on this, but honestly it was just a weird vibe I got. It might have had something to do with Megan Fox's character, who irritated me immensely. I could never call myself a fan of Megan Fox anyway, but honestly I wanted to scream at the TV whenever Sidney showed any kind of interest towards her.

Again, I'm not a massive Kirsten Dunst fan either, but I liked her in this and I rooted for her to the bitter end. Jeff Bridges was brilliant, as always. I actually refused to believe that it was him when I saw his character, because I don't think I've ever seen him without a beard! Another acting highlight for me was Gillian Anderson, who admittedly I have only ever seen in the BBC show The Fall. She really stole the limelight in her scenes and was a truly interesting character to watch.

Simon Pegg was the ultimate highlight though, who completely proved me wrong and absolutely nailed his part. His character really developed throughout the film, and although he made some terrible choices that you wanted to shout at him for, he learnt his lesson and got everything that he deserved, both good and bad.

So in conclusion, this was an interesting but totally obvious story. It would have been a really forgettable film if it weren't for the cast, who were excellent minus Megan Fox. In fact, without her, it may have even been a great film. Sorry Megan.

Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

As you probably noticed, this was my 'looking forward to' film for October.  I didn't think I was going to get to see it at the cinema because my Dad didn't want to see but luckily I went to visit some friends in Sheffield and they wanted to see it.  Win!  This was my favourite cartoon as a kid (just behind The Flintstones) so I was uber-excited and a little pensive that they could ruin one of my childhood favourites.

This version of the original cartoon mostly follows April O'Neil (Megan Fox) and her desperation to be a real reporter by taking foolish risks that no one else will.  In doing so, she got a glimpse of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle but being so desperate to get a story she tells her boss and gets laughed out of the office.  That is when she meets all four of the turtles and enlists their help to save New York from an evil scientist trying to make money.

Sound familiar, well it should because the story is a combination of every superhero movie so far.  There is nothing original about this story or the lead character.  She is the typical female lead (less maybe the Avengers) of a superhero movie, it's just that in this case the heroes or Turtles so it doesn't become the 'love story' we are so used to (although Michelangelo does appear to have a thing for her).  However, in feeling like they need a love interest they brought in the completely redundant Will Arnett, whose character attempts at humour and being the love interest fail epically.

Speaking of the Turtles themselves, could they be anymore boring.  Michelangelo was by far the highlight of the whole film because he brought some much needed humour to the proceedings, the rest were tired, boring and predictable.  There was no excitement like there used to be in the cartoon and even in the 90's movies.  The CGI may have been better but I'd much rather sit through the 1990 version, at least that kept with the trend of the cartoon and made the turtles fun.  Plus, is it just me or did the new CGI turtles (and Splinter for that matter) look a lot more gross that I remembered, I always knew they lived in a sewer but it never looked like they did until now. yak!

I'm really disappointed to say that although it kept my interest throughout it wasn't great, the story was dull and predictable as were the turtles.

Looking Forward to Seeing at the Cinema this Month...October 2014

Wow, where has September actually gone? One second it was my Birthday and we were having a barbecue, and the next I'm writing up my Christmas shopping list. Someone tell me when it's acceptable to start watching Christmas films?

I thought September was a fairly quiet month actually after the all the summer blockbusters, but it's been a great time to catch up on some other films I've been meaning to see. Here's what I'm really looking forward to this month though:

I've heard the name Gone Girl floating around Twitter for quite a while now, but funnily enough I saw the trailer for the first time about two weeks ago. It hooked me instantly, it's just my kind of film. I was so excited I rambled on to my Mum about it who shockingly told me it's based on a book, which she's read. My Mum will read a book once every 2 years so this is why I was so surprised! She almost blurted out how it ends too before I could shut her up.

Just a couple of honourable mentions if I may for Nightcrawler and Horns, because they look great too. Finally, if like me you're entirely oblivious to highly anticipated films due out soon, here's the trailer for Gone Girl:

Gone Girl is released in UK cinemas on 2nd October, 2014

So here's the thing, I was desperate to see this film and I get back off holiday and Allie informs me that its been on and finished...heart broken!  Then a few weeks ago we rocked up at the cinema and the place was swarming with TMNT posters, with the date 17th October in GIANT LETTERS!!!!  I hadn't missed it at all!

 

 

I used to LOVE this cartoon when I was a kid so the prospect of a film (back in 2007) was so exciting and then it turned out to be less exciting and more...well...crap!  So, here I am all excited again for another Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie but this time live action...what could possibly go wrong?!

 

I am also quite excited because Paramount Studios gave me a huge version of the poster above as part of my tour around the studios (there's one wall I don't need to wallpaper now!!) :-)

I also have an honourable mention this month, they hadn't yet released the date for Dracula Untold when I wrote this and now I know it's in October it's pretty much a front runner with this!!

 



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is released in UK cinemas on 17th October, 2014