Shrek 2

I saw the first "Shrek" a couple of months ago but didn't write it up at the time due to a massive migraine. I had liked it, found it rather clever, and rated it a solid 4 stars. I was hoping the sequel would live up to its predecessor, and it almost did.... almost. I thought it was a clever story, and the animation was gorgeous of course, but it lacked the heart the first had. The characters became much more stereotypical than in the first film, and Fiona's agency was severely reduced. I get what the script was going for, I do, but I never felt it hit the mark. I hope the third regains more of the magic of the first. 3/5

Shrek 2 on Netflix

Trolls

This and "Moana" arrived together, and I have the worst food poisoning of my life and needed something funny. All I knew about "Trolls" going in is that most said it was damn funny and I liked the theme song. I didn't know it was a musical, so that caught me off guard, as I'm kind of meh on many musicals. This was really really funny though - the script was both snappy and witty. I'm absolutely awful as placing voices, so I was really surprised to see everyone who voiced this in the credits - they were all great, with special nods to Zooey Deshenel and Russell Brand, and obviously the two leads were awesome.. It really did make me laugh out loud quite a bit, so I'm happy I went with this tonight, I will watch Moana in a day or so. 4/5

Trolls on Netflix

Damsels in Distress

I'm sorry, but this really didn't work for me at all. The whole thing felt like a badly adapted Jane Austen novel, which is strange because the director recently released a very good Austen adaptation in "Love and Friendship". Everything felt wooden and dead, and while I know that deadpan style was the point, it didn't connect for me. I didn't get the point of the story - what was this a commentary on? Satire needs a point, and I didn't get one in this film. Not for me. 2/5

Damsels in Distress on Netflix

The Brothers Grimsby

Oh dear gods I hated this so much. It is honestly one of the stupidest and most unfunny comedies I've ever seen in my life. Just vulgarity for no real point and utterly absurd. I realize this might be right up some people's alley, but it definitely wasn't up mine. I can't believe I finished it honestly. Awful. 1/5

The Brothers Grimsby on Netflix

Zoolander 2

I absolutely adored the first "Zoolander" film and I had high hopes for this sequel, but it received such a clubbing by fans and critics I waited until now to see it. The critics were right - this was pretty painful to watch. The whole spirit of the first film was lost, and the plot was needlessly complicated and muddy. When I saw how many writers worked on this I was kind of stunned. This really didn't work for me. 2/5

Zoolander 2 on Netflix

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Straight up, this is laugh-out-loud for real material. I really loved this - the acting was spot on and the script was tight and really witty. I am usually very hit or miss with this type of film, but this was all hit for me. Loved it. 5/5

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Netflix

Sausage Party

This movie had its moments. There were some really funny things, and a lot of the voice acting was really quite good. However, in an effort to be like "South Park: The Movie" this film tried to push the envelope as far as it could. Unlike "South Park", they largely failed. This is just crudeness for crudeness' sake, and the thin plot didn't really support it all. I wanted to like this more, but I ended up rolling my eyes as much as I laughed, so it was just okay for me. 3/5

Sausage Party on Netflix

Slow Learners

This was a genuinely sweet, laughably funny, and very endearing comedy. Yes, it was predictable, but it really didn't matter. The two leads were excellent and I really enjoyed it. 4/5

Slow Learners on Netflix

Ted

Alright, I'm going long here, so bear with me. Faithful readers of this blog will know that I have no time for raunchy, absurdist humor that has no grounding to it. Don't get me wrong, I love adult humor, but, if it isn't balanced or grounded in some way it feels like a monkey desperately hurling shit at a wall just to see what kind of pattern it makes. It feels cloying and desperate to me, like someone trying to buy humor with mere shock value. I've taken films to task for this in the past, and I levied the same criticisms at "Deadpool", which I saw earlier today. "Ted" is not such a film. Yes, it has a very absurdist and very raunchy humor to it, but it worked so very well because MacFarlane spent so much time crafting his world. "Ted" takes it's absurd premise and makes it seem so real and delivers it's humor is such a beautifully deadpan way that it succeeds where so many before it have failed. The comic structure of the film is sheer perfection, as is the delivery of the material. The acting was amazing, which I never thought I'd say for Wahlberg. THIS IS HOW YOU DO THIS KIND OF HUMOR PEOPLE. Live it, learn it, love it. A perfect comedy, the best I've seen in a long time. 5/5

Ted on Netflix

Pitch Perfect 2

This has none of the wit & charm of the first film, terribly cliched. The singing is good, but nothing else is. 2/5

Pitch Perfect 2 on Netflix

Let's Be Cops

This is a funny idea that was well-acted throughout and made me laugh, even if the script was a bit shallow. 3/5

Let's Be Cops on Netflix

Killing Bono

This film based on true events is quirky & interesting with solid acting from the leads. I enjoyed this. 3.5/5

Killing Bono on Netflix

Night at the Museum

This family comedy was quite a bit funnier than I expected with some really good performances. Well done. 3/5

Night at the Museum on Netflix

Horrible Bosses 2

Like the first film, surprisingly LOL funny with great chemistry between the actors. I really love these. 4/5

Horrible Bosses 2 on Netflix

Freddy Got Fingered

I read an article not long ago urging people who had seen Tom Green's big screen debut when it was first released and didn't like it to give it another shot, that it really was a work of genius. And as I was a huge Tom Green fan, I decided to do just that. It's just as bad as I remembered. Save yourself the 90 minutes, it's exactly how you have it in your mind. 2/5

Freddy Got Fingered on Netflix

Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special

Not one of his best, but still very funny. Peanut kills me every time. 3/5

Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special on Netflix

The Secret Lives of Dorks

Teen angst has certainly been done much better than this shallow & shabbily done rom-com. Not good. 2/5

The Secret Lives of Dorks on Netflix

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

I hated this with a fiery passion. It was awful & trite & had none of the original's magic. 1.5/5

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues on Netflix

Welcome to the Jungle

I thought this would be silly but still good fun, but no, just really ridiculous & badly acted. Bleh. 2/5

Welcome to the Jungle on Netflix

Dinner for Schmucks

Surprisingly faithful to the French original, this remake is more absurdist with a blah end but still good. 3/5

Dinner for Schmucks on Netflix