Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

I didn’t used to be a fan of Ben Stiller, but he has grown on me over the years, showing a versatility and undeniable skill in his acting that I’ve come to appreciate.  The Night at the Museum movies are some of my favorites and this third installment is an immensely satisfying adventure, an outstanding last hurrah with much loved characters.  It also sorrowfully marks the final on-screen performances of both Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams, who both died before the movie was released.  There is a beautiful dedication during the end credits (which are well worth watching) to the two giants of cinema that I felt was both touching and wistful.  [Perhaps my feelings regarding the passing of Robin Williams have colored my thoughts about this movie, thus giving it a higher rating than I would have otherwise, but even if so, things happening in the real world have always impacted how we feel about movies and therefore I feel the five stars are justified.]

Something has gone wrong with the mysterious Egyptian tablet that magically brings the museum to life when the sun goes down.  Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) gets grudging approval from Museum Director Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) to take the ailing tablet and Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek in a much better role than his deluded hacker on Mr. Robot) to the British Museum in London in order to consult with Ahk’s parents, Pharaoh Merenkahre and Queen Shepseheret (Sir Ben Kingsley and Anjali Jay).  Naturally a few of the others stow away in order to come along, including Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), Dexter the monkey, and miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Roman legionnaire Octavius (Steve Coogan).  At the British museum, they meet Larry’s counterpart, night guard Tilly (Rebel Wilson), and exhibit come to life Sir Lancelot (Dan Stevens), the latter of which insists on joining the “quest”.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed already, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is absolutely bursting at the seams with an incredible array of fine actors, which also includes the great Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Rachael Harris , Hugh Jackman, Alice Eve and Matt Frewer.  Hugh Jackman is hilarious in a cameo as himself, Sir Ben Kingsley is always superb and Rebel Wilson is so good at the type of comedy that has you half-laughing and half-cringing.  The whole movie has beat perfect comedic timing, a rarity in films these days; it had me actually tearing up in places and howling with laughter in others.  Thoroughly enjoyable, lighthearted but also poignant and deceptively philosophical, I felt the whole thing was just perfect.  I’ve been to the British Museum more times than I can count, and it was such a pleasure to see familiar exhibits and galleries come to life.  Ben Stiller has completely won me over and his additional performance as Neanderthal Laaa was just icing on the cake.  A marvelous adventure for the whole family and my first impulse upon finishing the movie was to immediately watch it again, a sure sign it well-deserves its shining five star rating.  – BETHANY

For more on this fabulously fun film, frequent the Internet Movie Database

A prologue in 1930s Egypt, about the expedition that found the mystical tablet.

Something has gone very wrong at the museum.  (Ben Stiller and Robin Williams)

The grand opening of the new planetarium, complete with lots of “special effects”.

Rachael Harris and Dexter.

What is the matter with you guys?!

  Ben Stiller as Laaa.  Is that a hint of Blue Steel I see?

Larry and Ahk infiltrate the British Museum.  (Ben Stiller and Rami Malek)

‘I wonder why all the locals are running away?’  Steve Coogan‘s Octavius and Owen Wilson‘s Jedediah fall into an exhibit of Pompeii … that has come to life.

Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) and his parents (Sir Ben Kingsley and Anjali Jay), who just might hold the key to fixing the tablet.

Dancing statues in the British Museum’s Far East wing.

                               Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot.

Nope, nothing to see here.  Just your standard passengers on London’s public transportation.

Alice Eve and Hugh Jackman in their sensational cameos.

The lion statues from Lord Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square come alive.

A promotional shot giving a nod to a sequence in the movie involving the art of M.C. Escher.  (click to see a much larger version)

Museum Director Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) and night guard Tilly (Rebel Wilson).

It’s tough to say goodbye.

 

I couldn’t decide which of these previews was better, so I solved the problem by simply including them both.

 

Photos courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 21 Laps Entertainment, 1492 Pictures and TSG Entertainment (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

 

Friends with Better Lives

                                                                               

When I first saw the pilot episode for this new CBS show, I thought it was a little campy, a lot cheesy and admittedly very funny. Fortunately, I stuck around for more episodes and I’m so glad I did. This is the millennial version of Friends, but they are all thirty-somethings, actually have professional careers and adult relationships and they live in Los Angeles. James Van Der Beek is sarcastic and a little clueless as a newly divorced doctor who has moved in with his married friends “temporarily”. Why do I have the feeling he will never leave?

Witty, pithy, honest and laugh-out-loud hilarious, this show has totally drawn me in and I’m hooked. But, as we all know, the mark of a good show is that it isn’t all fun and laughter. There are little threads of truly serious stuff woven in that make it interesting, having the characters address real problems that are relatable to the audience. It is fast-paced, wacky and deliciously entertaining and I dare you to try watching an entire episode without laughing at least once. CBS, if you don’t renew this show for a second season, there is something seriously wrong with you.  [Addendum:  CBS evidently has something seriously wrong with them, because they cancelled it.  But rumor has it other networks are interested.  Here’s hoping!  The show is well worth watching, even if there aren’t all that many episodes.]   – BETHANY

For more on this great sitcom that suffered a premature cancellation, go to the Internet Movie Database

Left to right:  Will (James Van Der Beek), Kate (Zoe Lister Jones), Bobby (Kevin Donnolly), Andi (Majandra Delfino), right top: Jules (Brooklyn Decker) right bottom: Lowell (Rick Donald)

Will (James Van Der Beek) has moved in with Bobby and Andi (Majandra Delfino and Kevin Connolly), including moving under their snuggly blanket.

     Jules and Australian boyfriend Lowell (Brooklyn Decker and Rick Donald), a very blonde couple.

Jules gets some unwanted attention at a wedding.  I have two observations about this.  First, wearing that tight of a dress with such minuscule cups designed to show the most of your décolletage.  Second, why is she wearing what looks like a wedding dress at someone else’s wedding?  Major faux pas, Jules.

       As you can see, other things went wrong at these nuptials.   Maybe Jules jinxed it with her faux bridal dress.

     Egad, what is on that phone?  Kate can’t even bring herself to watch!

   Kate believes wine is the solution to everything.  Personally, I think chocolate is the solution to everything.  Or perhaps 42.  (You’re welcome, Douglas Adams fans!)

Jules and Lowell are adorably dim bohemians with a cloying romantic vibe to them.  You should hate them, but they’re just so darn cute!

                                   I could have Lowell saying something like ‘G’day, mate!’,  but I like Australians too much, so I won’t insult them.

                           What expectant mother doesn’t use her belly as a mug rest?

You cancelled us?  After just five episodes?  What’s wrong with you people! Who’s running this Mickey Mouse operation?

                                     Cancelled?  Confound it!  The indignity!  What Kate said, times TEN!

      See?  Chocolate transcends everything.

You slept with Caitlyn Jenner?  Good Lord, she’s old enough to be your father!

Photos courtesy of Liscolade Productions, Kapital Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Television, Hemingson Entertainment and CBS (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

The DUFF

“For generations of high schoolers, you could only be a jock, a geek, a princess, a bully or a basket case.  But times have changed.  Jocks play video games.  Princesses are on antidepressants.  And geeks basically run the country.  I thought we were living in a brave new world, a place without labels.  But every so often, there’s that one moment in high school that changes your perspective on everything.”  Just when you thought high school couldn’t get any more like some sort of vicious social media-fueled gauntlet designed to humiliate and cause untold grief to nearly everyone, a new label pops up.  Introducing ‘The DUFF’, or Designated Ugly Fat Friend.  You might have hoped teenagers couldn’t get any meaner, but now they’re smearing horrible labels not just on their enemies, but their friends.  According to the Principal (Romany Malco), “It’s like a prison yard out there!”  Mae Whitman stars as Bianca, a whip smart, sardonic and saucy member of a trio of friends.  But her whole world is ripped apart when a childhood frenemy, Wesley (Robbie Ammell) offhandedly tells her she’s a Duff.  When the scales fall from her eyes, she realizes he’s right and takes immediate action by committing the ultimate act of severing ties in the digital age – she *gasp* unfriends and blocks Casey and Jess on pretty much every social media platform you can think of.

Now all alone, she seeks help from Wesley.  They grew up together and although their relationship is slightly antagonistic, underneath it all they really are friends with close bonds built up over many years.  Bianca asks Wesley for help to ‘un-duff’ her and coach her how to get her dream guy, Toby (Nick Eversman).  In exchange, she’ll help him pass a science class so he won’t lose his scholarship.  Thus begins a My Fair Lady-esque adventure that is extremely well written and thoughtful.  The writing is exquisite, witticisms racing past and exquisite badinage done with such easy nonchalance that it was a very great pleasure to watch.  This is not your ordinary teen drivel – like Bianca herself, it is shrewd, masterfully adroit, shrouding rather profound things under the guise of bright and effortless banter that shows an extraordinary command of the English language.  The eloquence, fluency in idiom and lingo, and exquisite phrasing was like catnip to my English Major soul.  Superlative performances from some very talented actors and even if the language occasionally sinks into profanity, it all seemed organic and necessary.  It’s wonderful to see Bianca take charge of the situation and be proactive in doing something about it, influenced by her mother (Allison Janney) who has built an empire helping women get through difficult situations, inspired by her own ugly divorce.  Despite the horrific digital barrages and bombardment by Wesley’s pseudo girlfriend Madison (Bella Thorne), Bianca presses on, essentially making the movie a master class in self esteem, true friendship and how to survive high school.

This is no ordinary hokey teen drama about the perils and pitfalls of high school.  It has a positive message and is chock full of fabulous dialogue to boot.  It makes important observations about having confidence in yourself, cyber bullying and what it means to come of age in the digital age.  It weaves crushing despair, horrifying meanness and effervescent joy into a spellbinding tale with an important message for today’s youth.  I see myself in many of these characters, making the whole story resonate with my own experiences.  It also makes it clear that while you can improve yourself, it’s important to still be you.  You needn’t be a clone of what you think is the ideal, you just need to be the best version of yourself and never abandon the wonderful quirks, idiosyncrasies and even flaws that make you special.  Really a marvelous and very satisfying movie and I think I’m going to need to watch it again before I sent it back.  Teen fluff this is not and stay turned during the credits for some very funny outtakes.  There’s some deep philosophy at play as well as some enlightening observations about life.  “In the end, it isn’t about popularity or even getting the guy.  It’s about understanding that no matter what label is thrown your way, only you can define yourself.” – BETHANY

For more information on this surprisingly sophisticated movie, visit the Internet Movie Database

Left to right:  Madison (Bella Thorne) Bianca (Mae Whitman) Wesley (Robbie Ammell), Jess (Skyler Samuels) and Casey (Bianca A. Santos).

The happy trio of Jess (Skylar Samuels), Casey (Bianca A. Santos) and Bianca (Mae Whitman).  Must have been odd having two Biancas on set.

                                        Madison (Bella Thorne), plotting another salvo with that dratted phone of hers.  This character is a far cry from her gentle performance in Blended.

                             Ken Jeong delivers a hilarious performance as a slightly bonkers Mr. Arthur, a neurotic teacher who unerringly skewers the entire proceedings with his over-the-top antics.

“I’m tired of being the approachable one. I want to be the dateable one.”

Let the makeover begin,  a fun experience fueled by a long term easy friendship.

All so Bianca can get this guy (Nick Eversman).  Toby plays the guitar and everything!  ” Look, I have a crush on this boy. His name is Toby Tucker. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Well, I can’t seem to talk to him without making a total ass of myself, okay? And you never seem to have this problem.”

Are you kidding?  You want me to wear this?  Not happening.

Trying on different looks.  I don’t think this one is a winner.

After scoring a date with Toby, accompanied by the Hallelujah Chorus.

Owning your Duffness and and holding on to true friendships.

 

 

Photos courtesy of CBS Films, Vast Entertainment, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Lionsgate (unless otherwise credited in clickable form)

Big Hero 6

Disney goes anime with this charming film about the relationship between a gifted young boy and a medical companion robot, Baymax.  Since the setting is already a fusion of San Francisco and Tokyo (San Fransokyo), it won’t be surprising that the story is a bit of a mash-up of Real Steel, The Matrix, TRON, Iron Man, WALL-E, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, plus a soupçon of Stargate.  But whatever, we’re in a comic book-inspired future, so pretty much anything goes.  Hiro Hamada, a tech prodigy, is wasting his talents on robot fighting (despite the fact that he wins a lot of money doing so).  At least, according to Hiro’s older brother, Tadashi.  So in a slightly sneaky move, Tadashi takes Hiro to ‘nerd school’, where he meets Tadashi’s friends and fellow nerds.  After basking in Nerdvana for a while, Hiro decides he absolutely must enroll as a student and thus begins the adventure.

It’s an imaginative and fun story, spiked with tragedy and loss that keeps the characters real and and accentuates the journey Baymax makes as he learns to understand humans.  Full of car chases, flying, a freaky villain, some very cool tech, the birth of super heroes and more, it also subtly underscores the process of handling grief and moving on with your life.  Tadashi built Baymax to be as non-threatening as possible, a robot that looks like an overinflated marshmallow.  He’s utterly adorable, waddling around trying to be helpful, a giant squeak toy.  So in order to right a wrong, naturally Hiro decides to transform him into a battle bot, complete with an Iron Man suit.  Why do movies have to take soft loveable robots and turn them into warriors?  I would have liked the story better if Baymax had learned to use his own skills to help instead of getting armor and learning martial arts à la The Matrix by simply downloading it from a chip.  But I do have to admit all the sweet gadgetry he gets is pretty awesome.

This isn’t anywhere near as good as Wreck-It Ralph or any given Dreamworks/Pixar movie, but it is entertaining and not overly saccharine.  I liked the comic book vibe with the sci-fi spin and the visuals, particularly of the city, are breathtaking.  The soundtrack was excellent and I really appreciated the way the script elegantly explored ethics, morals, emotions and what it really means to be a hero.  Parts of this movie will make you reach for a box of tissues and others will induce a smile so big it hurts your face.  One tiny nitpick is the title of the movie won’t make sense until the very end, but be sure to watch through the credits, as they’re riddled with epilogue type stuff and a few extra scenes.  I’ve never seen an animated children’s movie handle such difficult issues like grief, loss, anger, revenge and empathy with such finesse.  With an ending perfectly set up for sequels, perhaps there will be more of them.  Big Hero 6 is funny, engaging and thoughtful with a great message about being yourself, chasing your dreams and caring for the people around you and thus earns a solid three stars.             – BETHANY

For more on Big Hero Six, visit the Internet Movie Database

Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), Hiro (Ryan Potter), Baymax (Scott Adsit), Gogo Tomago (Jamie Chung) and Fred (T.J. Miller).

Hiro’s older brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney)

Robert Callahan (James Cromwell) and Alistair Krei (Alan Tudyk): friends, colleagues, rivals, or enemies?

Hiro and Baymax getting ready to search for answers.

Answers in regards to this guy, who is obviously a super villain.

                            Aunt Cass, voiced by Maya Rudolph.

The Big Hero Six.

I dare you not to fall in love with this lovable huggable robot.

Does this suit make my butt look big?

You can always trust a robot who is kind to animals.

Tadashi’s lab, colloquially known as ‘Nerd School’.

Set in a Japanese fusion version of San Francisco, which is now San Fransokyo.  Not sure which Catholic saint had that name, but hey, it’s anime.

The Japanification of the Golden Gate bridge was my favorite.  Subtle, but cool!

 

 

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures

The Hangover

It’s a good idea to know what you’re getting into prior to watching this movie. It’s raunchy inane immature humor, but they’ve made no secret of that, complete with an R rating that is richly deserved. I can’t count the number of times I slapped my forehead in disbelief or tried unsuccessfully to cringe out of my own skin while watching.  Four friends go to Las Vegas as a bachelor party for Doug (Justin Bartha), unbeknownst to their wives and girlfriends, and choosing Doug’s future father-in-law’s vintage Mercedes-Benz for their transportation.  What could possibly go wrong?  Everything, as it turns out.  This is a mélange of all the classic Las Vegas benders ever to grace the silver screen, complete with a trashed hotel suite, a mysterious chicken and a tiger in the bathroom, as well as a baby that obviously doesn’t belong to any of them.  They awake with no memories of the previous night and eventually discover Doug and his mattress (?!) are missing.  Thus begins their quest to find Doug as well as find answers as to what went down last night.  And my goodness, was it was a doozy!  I sincerely doubt it is possible in real life to get in so much trouble in such a short period of time.

But for all the juvenile laughs, atrocious profanity and crude humor, I still give it three stars because in spite of all that, it really was fun, although I haven’t a clue how they managed to eke two sequels out of it.   The scenes with boxer Mike Tyson were downright hilarious and there’s a plethora of truly bizarre characters.  (Watch out when one of the guys opens the trunk of a car!)  This isn’t meant to be believable in any way. It’s escapist entertainment, pure and simple. The vast majority of the stuff in this movie is there for shock value, so hold onto your hats and prepare for a hilarious thrill ride of epic proportions as Phil, Stu and Alan try to sort out what in tarnation happened last night. Be sure to stay for the credits, which features pictures taken during the missing night, but beware, this section of the movie is most definitely rated R, including full male nudity among other things. To wrap this up, I’m going to ask a question that is going to offend people who think every baby is adorable.  Anybody else see the shocking resemblance between the baby and any one of Shrek’s ogre progeny? – BETHANY

For more information on this movie, including cast, trivia, quotes and goofs, visit: The Internet Movie Database

                            “Don’t you think it’s strange that you’ve been in a relationship for three years and you still have to lie [to Melissa] about going to Vegas?”  Stu’s girlfriend Melissa (Rachel Harris), who’s under the mistaken impression the boys have gone for a quiet weekend in Napa Valley.

          Arriving in Vegas  “Don’t let Alan drive, because there’s something wrong with him. .. Oh, and Phil either. I don’t like him.”  Sid Garner, owner of The Car.

“To a night the four of us will never forget.”  Alan (Zach Galifianakis), Stu (Ed Helms), Doug (Justin Bartha) and Phil (Bradley Cooper).

 

The 10 stages of a Las Vegas Bender:

#1  Impaired Judgement  (Heather Grahame as Jade)

         #2  Confusion

         #3  Shock

#4 Attempted Bravado

#5 Bargaining

        #6  Worried Resignation

         #7  False Hope

#8  Dejection

#9  Abject Terror  (Who knew Mike Tyson liked French Bulldogs?)

#10 Rock Bottom

       Mr. Chow and his #2s  (Ian Anthony Dale, Ken Jeong and Michael Li) at a nefarious rendezvous in the Las Vegas desert.

  Seriously, there’s a resemblance!  (Shrek picture found at http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com)

       Sid, Tracy and Linda Garner deal with the fallout from the guys’ Vegas weekend (Jeffrey Tambor, Sasha Barrese and Sondra Currie).

Checking out the camera pictures which tell the whole sordid tale of the missing night.

I disavow any responsibility for the content of this blooper reel:

 

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Green Hat Films and IFP Westcoast Erste

The Croods

A cute and surprisingly intelligent animated family movie!  Very funny and thoughtful, it is entertaining from start to finish with snappy dialogue and extremely creative visuals. I got a real kick out of all the completely made-up creatures that inhabit this neolithic world, especially the large cats and little lemur-mice type things connected by a single tail (which upon further research turns out are called ‘Trip Gerbils’). Heartwarming and sweet, it is largely about the relationship between young daughter Eep (voiced by Emma Stone) and her over-protective cave man father Grug (Nicolas Cage) who is cautious to a fault. The family dynamic is thrown for a loop when their world undergoes cataclysmic changes, destroying their cave home and forcing them to seek safety elsewhere. It is further complicated by the appearance of Guy, a slightly more creative thinker than the average cave man to whom Eep takes an instant shine, much to Grug’s consternation. There’s quite a lot of substance to the plot which makes it much more interesting than the usual animated fluff. I’m 35 and enjoyed it tremendously. Yes, of course there are some silly one-liners and similar, but they are kept to a minimum. I always love stories about relationships between fathers and daughters, a special bond that inevitably undergoes particular strain as the young girl grows into a woman. Grug is just so sincere and cares deeply about his family while Eep is a dreamer and constantly yearns for the unknown and adventure. Adorable and sweet but with enough spice to keep it from cloying, this film is wonderful and earns a solid four stars. Deeply satisfying and hopeful, I absolutely loved the way it ends and would like to see a sequel. Also be sure to watch to the end of the credits for a bonus scene. – BETHANY

For more on this fabulous family adventure, visit:  The Croods on IMDB

                     Clockwise from bottom left:  Thunk (Clark Duke), Grug (Nicolas Cage), baby Sandy (Randy Thom), Ugga (Catherine Keener), Guy (Ryan Reynolds), Eep (Emma Stone) and Gran (Cloris Leachman).

      Eep always reaches for the light and longs to explore uncharted territory.

The Croods on the hunt for breakfast, riding a Girelephant.

“Release the Baby!”

“I was in love once. He was a hunter, I was a gatherer. It was quite the scandal. We fed each other berries, we danced. Then father bashed him on the head and traded me to your grandfather.”

Guy and the Croods.  Spectacular scenery, no?

Pirahnakeets engulfing a Ground Whale.

The oh-so-adorable Mousephant.

                              The Bear Owl, Ursa Nocturna-Ocularis.

For more on these great creatures, usually a mash-up of ones familiar to us, visit: The Croods Wiki  Just be aware there may be spoilers in the descriptions.

Check out the facial expressions.  Eep kinda stands out.

“Tomorrow … A place with more suns in the sky than you can count … A place not like today, or yesterday. A place where things are better.”  – Guy

 

 

Photos courtesy of Dreamworks Animation and 20th Century Fox

 

Suburgatory

This hilarious show embraces every cliché imaginable about life in the suburbs. George Altman, a single father, moves his daughter Tessa from their home in New York City to the heart of suburbia, an upscale town in Westchester County called Chatswin. After life in the big city, Tessa feels like she has entered a Twilight Zone populated by Stepford Wives and clueless upper-middle class socialites. Written in the amusingly broad strokes of lampoonery, the residents of Chatswin seem more like doodled simulacra than people. Rich dentists, country clubs, trophy wives and picture perfect families make up a rich tapestry of neuroses, peculiarities and the straight up absurd. Both Tessa and George slowly make friends with the natives and try to adjust to their new lives. The contrast between their basic common sense and the ridiculous soap bubble cheerfulness of Chatswin is tartly perceptive, making this sitcom truly funny while also being a bit of a social commentary. The beautiful thing about it is it’s not meant to be believable, so the writers allow their creativity free reign, much to the delight of the audience. It’s silly, bizarre and full of a vast array of human foibles, but also manages to be subtly thought provoking and more than a bit sly. If you’re a fan of tongue-in-cheek humor and think living in the suburbs is like living in purgatory, I highly recommend you give this fun light-hearted show a try. There have been three seasons thus far but even though it was cancelled by ABC there are rumors it may pop up again on another network. – BETHANY

There’s a lot of Saturday Night Live alumni in this show.  To put names to the faces, consult: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1741256/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Meet Tessa (Jane Levy), the narrator and voice of reason.

   George tries unsuccessfully to convince Tessa that life in Chatswin will be great.

I don’t think we’re in New York anymore …

Dallas and Dahlia Royce, who never miss an opportunity to go all out in their fashion choices.

Smarmy Chatswin dentist, Noah Werner (Alan Tudyk)

                            The Shays, next door neighbors to Tessa and George and typical Chatswin residents.

             Dahlia does a makeover for very gay guidance counselor, Mr. Wolfe.  This is Dahlia’s default facial expression.

Thanksgiving in Chatswin – there are no words for this.

Photos courtesy of Piece of Pie Productions, Warner Bros. Television and ABC

Sullivan & Son

For a show awash with more stereotypes and clichés than beer, this one based in a Pittsburgh bar is surprisingly entertaining. Steve Sullivan is the titular son of Sullivan & Son, with an American father of Irish descent and a Korean mother. I should warn you that this show isn’t shy about employing racial slurs and cultural epithets, so if you are the type to take offense easily you might want to steer clear. Even though Sullivan & Son is live action, the script and characters feel more like effigies than believable people, which makes the whole thing pure escapist pleasure. All the characters are exaggerated sketches, although in all fairness they do seem to represent a wide cross-section of people. You do kind of wonder if the people who seem to spend all their time in a bar actually have any sort of lives, but if they did there wouldn’t be much of a show. The plots are alternately sweet or pure acid, with the latter usually spewing from the mouth of Korean matriarch Ok Cha Sullivan. The writers have drawn her as pure Asian stereotype, a rather cold maternal figure obsessed with money and success who seems entirely incapable of expressing affection for anything but a healthy bank balance. I’ll admit it is often very funny, but it does get a bit gratuitous and unnecessarily mean-spirited. Characters are skewered based on race, gender, orientation, social class, religion, level of intelligence, profession, lack of morals, or just the idiosyncrasies of the individual: Black, white, Asian, Arabic, Jewish, Yuppie, it’s all fair game here. This entire show is straight-up fluff entertainment, something you can watch while never having to engage your brain. But it is also worth nothing stereotypes become stereotypes for the simple reason that they’re accurate more often than not. So it might be a fluff comedy but on occasion it might surprise you by illustrating some great truth seemingly by accident. The next round is on me, folks. – BETHANY

Man-eating Mom, Carol Walsh (Christine Ebersole)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2073664/?ref_=nv_sr_1

                             Steve, Ok Cha and Susan Sullivan

Jack and Ok Cha Sullivan

              Roy, Steve, Ahmed and Owen

Photos courtesy of Wild West Picture Show Productions, Warner Horizon Television and TBS

Masters of Sex

Titillating, scandalous, and provocative very accurately describe this fantastic show about the original pioneers Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson who dared to defy societal taboos and conventions to delve into the science of human sexuality. At the time, their work was so radical their shocked peers called them perverts, their scientific inquiries obscene and their findings nothing but smut. The simple fact is that sex sells and has always sold, so it’s difficult to imagine that nobody in the thousands of years of advancements in medicine ever stopped to ask some very basic questions about so fundamental an act. The 1950s wasn’t that long ago, but compared to today’s culture of freely available information, it might as well be the moon. Unbelievably good production values in wardrobe, makeup and sets, plus a saucy title sequence sure to elicit a knowing giggle or two. The research itself is fascinating and in no way tawdry or gratuitous, but what’s really compelling are the plethoras of complex personalities and relationships orbiting around this St. Louis hospital. Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen give stupendously nuanced performances, and Caitlin FitzGerald is all that is gracious and lovely as the mild-mannered Mrs. Masters. But the most magnificent pair of characters, in my opinion, are Barton Scully (Beau Bridges in a hauntingly intense role) and Margaret Scully, beautifully portrayed as dignified and soulful by Allison Janney. Repression, shame, naïveté, passion, love and biology all play integral parts in this early exploration of the cornerstone of life. Riveting, deeply moving and utterly, er, stimulating, this show gives new appreciation for how society has evolved, hopefully for the better. – BETHANY

Mrs. Libby Masters

Virginia Johnson and Jane Martin

          Dr. Teddy Sears and Vivian Scully

Barton Scully and an illuminating piece of lab equipment

Margaret Scully

Virginia and Dr. DePaul

Johnson and Masters

Photos courtesy of Round Two Productions, Timberman/Beverly Productions, Sony Pictures Television and Showtime Networks

Wreck-It Ralph

Disney knocks it out of the park with this richly entertaining animated feature that brings all the magic of the arcade to life. I never really got into video games as a kid, preferring to read a good book instead, but that didn’t stop me from hugely enjoying this movie and promptly purchasing the DVD. The story is creative, imaginative and exciting while also being a rather astute look at human nature. True, these are all video game characters but they’ve been imbued with such heart and realism that you’ll never look at an arcade the same way ever again. Filled with so many hysterically funny puns, visual gags and snappy dialogue, I found this movie to be absolutely enchanting and one of my favorites to re-watch whenever I feel like it. There’s an incredible attention to detail, such as pixelating the splatter pattern of a ruined cake as well as the Steamboat Willy Disney logo at the beginning of the feature. Ralph (John C. Reilly) is a beautifully drawn sympathetic character and his feelings resonate with the audience as all of us have felt shut out and unappreciated at some point in our lives.  Stellar vocal performances from the entire cast but Alan Tudyk and Jane Lynch were truly spectacular. Enlightening without being preachy, the film subtly underscores the lesson that how you treat others says a lot about who you are as a person, which is equally applicable to children and adults alike. Full of high stakes, real drama and complicated relationships while still being uproariously funny and entertaining, I absolutely adore this movie and would love to see a sequel. – BETHANY

To see all the fine people involved in this film, visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772341/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Ralph might be the bad guy in his game, but don’t judge him by his character’s role.

Left out again.

Game Central at the arcade, which enables characters to move between games.

Alan Tudyk as King Candy

Jane Lynch as Calhoun

Welcome to Sugar Rush, every dentist’s nightmare

    Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), Sugar Rush’s determined and mouthy outcast “glitch”.

The entrance (and exit) to Sugar Rush

 

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios