Well, Robert De Niro is certainly keeping his dance card full! In 2013 alone, he has played prime characters in six films - at least that's what his IMDB page is telling me. Anyway, in my spare time last night, I watched The Big Wedding. Despite appearing on my Netflix feed for months and consistently scrolling past it uninterested, I decided to give it a go.
De Niro plays the unlikely head of a household. Within the first ten minutes we learn of his affair, his subsequent divorce from first wife Ellie and his 10 year relationship with his mistress Bebe. With three children, grown and out the house, the family prepares to reunite for, adoptive son, Alejandro's pending nuptials. But, drama unfolds as Alejandro's strictly catholic birth mother arrives from Columbia expecting her son's parents to still be happily married. In an attempt to save face, Ellie and Don (De Niro) pretend to be together which leaves Bebe feeling left out and pretty pissed off! The rest of the film deals primarily with the family's dysfunctional relationships and the modern, religiously diverse, sexually active and inactive family.
The film was a star studded event. Susan Sarandon, Amanda Seyfried, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton and even Robin Williams appear as key characters along with, of course, Robert De Niro. The actors seemed to work well together on screen and made a cohesive, and more importantly, realistic family. It was nice seeing Sarandon and Keaton in the same film for the first time. They are both actresses that I admire and was frankly shocked when I discovered this was the first time the two are appearing together. Hopefully I'm wrong and some kind person will tell me of another Keaton/Sarandon film! I'm also surprised that Robin Williams made an appearance in a rather pivotal role considering he has become rather selective with the films he stars in. But when he does appear in roles like this, the world is reminded of his brilliance and his wonderful style of acting. Hollywood loves a film with several blockbuster names, so I'm surprised I hadn't heard much buzz about it. Even on Netflix, I never saw a banner or a suggestion for the movie.
Now, I'm trying to be less critical of films like this. Films specifically designed to make people laugh and not much else, shouldn't be ripped apart by critics and bloggers... but I can't help myself. Everything was great apart from the ending...
**SPOILERS**
Another film, completely ruined by it's ending. Why did the writer suddenly feel the need to create this web of lies and adulatory which was then almost immediately overlooked! It's practically a law that comedy films like this one are supposed to finish on a happy ending. But by glossing over the drama that is included is only complicating the film. The affair reveal at the end was also entirely unwarranted, and could have been left on the cutting room floor. I almost feel like the reveal should have come much earlier in the film to allow the characters time to react realistically instead of shrugging their shoulders and accepting that their loved ones cheated on them.
If you're looking for something to watch on Netflix, then go ahead and watch this. But just remember... everything ends, pretty much the exact same way that it started (with the addition of a wedding ring and one little Katherine Heigl surprise).
The second film on my De Niro list was Last Vegas. A film that follows four men on a trip to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Of course this sounds very familiar, but these men are all 60+ years old and are not exactly the 'hangover' types. Again, the aspect of the film that garnered my attention was the stellar cast. Michael Douglas, De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kiline and Mary Steenburgen are the core cast with amazing support from Romany Malco, Joanna Gleason and Roger Bart! There was also a short but hilarious cameo from Curtis Jackson a.k.a 50 Cent.
The jokes were heavily centred around age and the differences in attitudes. With the closing moral of the story surrounding the importance of friendship and living life to it's fullest at any age. Morgan Freeman's character donned a fanny pack throughout and provided many of the out-loud-chuckles as he experienced gambling and young women. I enjoyed Romany Malco's character and the way his interaction with the men changed over the course of the movie. He's obviously a very talented comedy actor having starred in several box office hits, and I hope to see him shine again in Think Like a Man Too which premières this Autumn.
Last Vegas showed a different side of Vegas than the one we so often see on screen. Instead of focusing on the neon colours and messy, party lifestyle, we saw several beautiful scenes of the characters walking through pool areas and casinos. The image was less overwhelming than those seen in The Hangover (which is simply the first Vegas based film that came to mind). It was bright and beautiful.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, its themes and its cast. It would be a great watch for anyone who enjoys a few good laughs from some very talented actors.
I've never thought of myself as the princess loving type. But with a little bit of reflection and a marathon of my old favourite films, it has become clear that I am.
With the end of the festival, I can sometimes find myself unwilling to leave my bed. And sometimes I'm just glad I can use the Fringe as an excuse for doing so! Anyway, during September, I enjoy TV binging and movie marathons. This year, I decided to dive into my past a little and watch some of the films I idolised as a child. There were three main films on my list to watch: Anastasia, The Little Mermaid and The Princess Diaries. Straight away you can tell that my favourite movies growing up all had the same particular theme - royalty! Although it was never something I noticed at the time, princesses dominated my upbringing through films, television and Barbie dolls. Here is what I have learnt from re-watching these films just before I turn 20 and leave my teenage years behind.
Anastasia
This film has always been one of my favourites that I have consistently come back to. And for anyone else who studies film, you know how difficult it is to identify a favourite film! Anastasia was a story that captivated me from a young age. Everything, from the cute puppy, Pooka, to the beautiful dresses of the 1920s, kept me entertained and engaged as a girl. I would try to imitate scenes in my bedroom, dress like Anya as she danced in her yellow gown and sing the songs as loud as my voice would let me. Watching the film as an adult is no different. I regress to my younger self when Once Upon a December begins to play, and it's a state I don't snap out of until the credits roll. However, the film almost seems scarier now. Maybe it's due to my better understanding of the world, relationships and my knowledge of what actually happened to the Romanov family, but for some reason, the film hit deeper than it's ever done before. I felt real pain for Anya and her Grandmother when they were separated and sorrow as the nearly weren't reunited. I felt despair when Anya danced in the Grand Hall with only her faint memories to guide her. I felt anxious when Dimitri swings on the rope to save Anya from drowning. I felt anger when Rasputin wouldn't leave them alone. Every emotion was much stronger than it used to be and it felt like I was unable to help the characters, whom for so long as a child I had considered my friends.
The love story in Anastasia was always different to the ones you would see in Disney movies. Anya and Dimitri are equals who fall in love over time (not a long period of time, but longer than most Disney romances). They started as strangers, grew to become friends and eventually Dimitri suddenly fell in love with his stubborn accomplice. I've never been one to wish for a relationship that emulates one I've seen on screen, but there was something about the match that just felt perfect. Although, having said that, I do enjoy a little more romance than a single dance on the deck of a boat. But I suppose beggars can't be choosers! Finally, as I grow older, I continue to be fascinated by the way that Anya conducts herself. She is a strong, wilful and hopeful character who values family above all else. Certainly traits to admire as I move into the next stage of my life. I could write for days about the many aspects of this film that I adore and how fascinated I am with the history behind the story and the version too grisly for film. But sometimes, when a film is thoroughly dissected and analysed it can ruin the many years of love. I suppose it's easier to touch only the surface and enjoy the film for what it is.
The Little Mermaid
This must be on every girls list of favourite films from their childhood. The Little Mermaid came out before I was born so I'm not entirely sure what age I was when I first saw it but it's stuck since then, that's for sure! Ariel was my spirit animal. She was everything I wanted to be, young, beautiful, talented, kind and wonderful. Just wonderful! Ariel finds a prince who loves her, even when slightly derailed by Ursula. And the way she loves Eric was always something I had dreamed for myself. I grew up searching for that 'prince' who I would sacrifice everything to be with! Now, a little older, I realise that relationships are about compromise not sacrifice and that my role model, Ariel, didn't exactly prepare me for a healthy love life!
The movie was always an overwhelming show of determination. To me, Ariel was the shining light amongst the other Disney princesses because she was fiery and passionate about living the life she wanted to live. I never realised the impact re-watching this film would have on me. I'm in my last year of university and I'll graduate next summer. This is petrifying. I have ideas of how I would like to live my life but I suppose I'm still too scared to make the positive moves towards it. Ariel didn't care. She went for what she wanted and even though it was hard and she had to sacrifice some of the things she loved, she got there in the end. This was strangely inspirational to me. Yes, I sometimes get inspiration from animated mermaids, deal with it.
This film was always one I related to on a bizarre level. Although I've never felt restricted by my parents to any extremes, I think it's a feeling that every child has. Realising that your life is your own and that you don't need to do everything your parents want you to do can be liberating. Parents obviously want the best for their children but sometimes the lines are blurred and it can feel like they are trying to live through you. Pushing you towards the decisions that they would make rather than helping you towards your own decision. I love my parents and have a great relationship with them now, but every now and again, I do feel a little lost and like my parents only see one direction for me. The Little Mermaid will probably always make me nostalgic for the days when big decisions were only made in movies but it's helped me see that moving towards what you want is important for your own personal well being.
Ariel would have driven herself insane if she had stayed underwater for her entire life.
The Princess Diaries
This film came out a little later in my life. Already seven, going on eight, I was able to understand more of the themes presented. This film, growing up, was a symbol of change. A pillar of hope that my life could change just as easily as Mia's life did. This obviously led to many years of me believing I was a princess and unpopular because my time simply hadn't come yet. I moulded many of my attributes around Mia's. I tried to be kind and humble, I tried to work hard and be honest. I learnt to appreciate myself a little more and grew up ambitious and courageous (at times). Many of these things, I believe I've upheld to the best of my ability but re-watching the film has instilled in me, yet again, the importance of being true and comfortable with yourself. It's interesting to look back and see how important being popular is in high school. Whether you admit it or not, it was important. But it's not. In the long term scale of things, who you know and who knows you in high school doesn't matter. It's so easy to get caught up in the social swing of things but why do so many consider it to be important. Having friends is vital in school and very important in helping develop into an adult, but having the most friends is total bullshit. If I could go back and tell myself anything, I would say 'find yourself a few good friends and hold on tight, they are all you need'.
I think I loved this film so much growing up because it was about an average girl who's entire world changed overnight. That was exciting to me. And even at the young age I was when this film was released, I was already fully immersed in imaginary games with my toys. So there is no surprise that the idea of living a different life was exciting. Now I watch The Princess Diaries and cringe a little. It's all far too reminiscent of first kisses and first betrayals. It makes me think back on my embarrassing high school memories and how many things I would change if I could. But I can't and that's what's funny about it all now. Everything that was the cause of pain, stress and upset, is in the distant past and seems like a joke to me now. Maybe The Princess Diaries taught me more about reflection than I thought. Maybe the film reminds older viewers to look back at their adolescent years with a smile, because they were really funny.
So there we go, three films that I once loved, still love and will continue to love. Even if they are all about princesses.
Back with a bang! 20th Century Fox's second instalment of the ape reboot was stunning in every possible way.
I've always been a huge fan of the story, meaning that I've watched all of the remakes and the original. I've even seen the TV series that aired in the 70s on CBS. I find the concept interesting and imaginative whilst still relative in today's society. There is still a real social anxiety surrounding animal testing and the lengths we go to for science. And with a film like this, that shows a fictional outcome for extreme testing, this particular anxiety isn't going anywhere fast. But, forget everything that has come before because the new reboot, which launched in 2011 with Rise of The Planet of The Apes, is spectacular.
Opening on warning announcements and a small montage of television reports, the audience quickly learns that most of civilisation has been wiped out by the ALZ-112 virus which was first encountered in the first film. Obviously, followed by the obligatory pan shot of a large, normally populated, city shrouded in trees and overgrown plant life. The first real action we see is a hunting scene as the apes find themselves some dinner. A wonderful opener, as we see the apes are humanised and have feelings, emotions and fears like their human counterparts. I'm always a bigger fan of films that make a real effort to open the film with a bang. Straight away, I sympathised with the apes and was almost more attached to them than I was to the humans after they were first introduced. The apes were as scared of the humans as they were of them, they just hid it slightly better. That particular saying is true of so many animals that we disregard and cower from in fear of being attacked.
The film continued to impress throughout with epic battles, tense scenes between Malcolm (the human's leader) and Caesar (the ape's leader) and some touching moments of real humanity from both sides. One particular interaction that stood out was on the lake. The humans were recovering from an accident inside the Dam when Caesar's young son started to play and interact with them. The scene goes from tender and rather reminiscent of the relationship between Caesar and Will Rodman from the first film, to aggressive and upsetting as one of the humans angers the apes by hitting the young monkey. This, of course, causes further strain on the partnership between man and animal.
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It would be stupid not to mention the special effects in a movie such as this. The biggest aspect of the film, the apes, were obviously not real - but you'd never be able to tell. Caesar and his followers were created using motion capture technology and this resulted in a real human element to their movements. I've always been a fan of Andy Serkis' work and was very happy when it was announced he would play Caesar in the reboot. He has such a talent for bringing animals and creatures to life. I'm just waiting for the day that he receives an OBE as recognition for his two decades of amazing work in the film industry.
Finally, the ending. Wow. I'm so excited for the next film in the trilogy!
I've tried very hard to write this without any spoilers when all I really want to do is sit down with people who have watched it and dissect it properly for hours! And as a result of this, my review is a little bare. But you shouldn't let me form your opinion, go see the film (and the one before it, obviously) and see for yourself. Definitely one to watch this summer.
Always a fan of brilliant animation, I was very excited to see the second instalment of How To Train Your Dragon. This film, set 5 years after the first, allows us the chance to revisit some hilarious and well conceived characters. And of course, the return of Toothless and his puppy-like charm!
The film opened and closed with a voice over. Always an interesting decision to make but ultimately it neither hindered nor improved the story telling of the film. Hiccup recaps the last five years of life in Berk and how things have drastically changed to the conditions seen in the first film. Now, dragons and Vikings live in peace and have adopted each other as pets and owners. I do enjoy when a film revisits previous episodes as it helps the audience re-engage with the story and the characters. But the voice over at the end felt a little too 'brave heart' for me. For someone who normally loves a happy ending and a real conclusion, it was just an obvious reminder that the film was for children. It felt immature and very Disney (even though it was Dreamworks Animation who created the film. An animation studio that has, so often in the past, made fun of Disney).
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My main gripe about this film, and its predecessor, was the accents. Vikings are typically Scandinavian but were portrayed in this film as being Celtic, either Scottish or Irish. And then their is Hiccup, our protagonist and hero! His accent is obviously that of Jay Baruchel, a Canadian actor who clearly was either told not to change his voice or simply didn't bother. His character supposedly from a Scottish father and a Scottish/Irish mixed Mother has an accent better suited in the 21st Century. I haven't delved much into the creation of either film, so I don't know if there was thought behind this decision. I, as a Scot, found it distracting and annoying. If you're not going to make your Viking's Scandinavian, then at least make the accents consistent!
The animation was superb in this film. With hundreds of new species of dragons on screen in all shapes, sizes and colours, there were moments of real artistic beauty. My only regret was seeing the film in 2D instead of 3D. I think 3D could have enhanced the experience but it was still wonderful in 2D. I watched the first film at home on my computer months ago, so I missed many of the subtle markings on the dragons and on the faces of characters. It was nice to see the sequel on a big screen and to see all of the things I had missed before. If anything, this proves that watching a movie at home is nowhere near as good as watching one in a cinema.
Without spoiling the film, there was one particular moment that hit me hard. It involves Hiccup's father and for some reason I couldn't stop a small tear and squeeze of my dates hand. Whenever films explore the relationship between father and child, I become a blubbering mess. I suppose it's a sign of my love for my Dad and how much I value him in my life. Blah blah blah emotions. The film was good - go see it in 3D!
This week I took some well deserved time out to join my flatmate for a screening of #ChicagoGirl - The Social Network Takes on a Dictator at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Nathan works as a volunteer for the festival and was able to secure us two free tickets. The film was being shown in the Filmhouse cinema on Lothian Road, which is one of the main venues hosting this years festival. The rooms were packed and quickly heating up but none of this hindered my experience.
The documentary takes place primarily in two cities - Chicago, USA and Damascus, Syria. Nineteen-year-old, Ala'a Basatneh is the focus of the film along with her friends Omar, Bassel and Aous. From the comfort of her home in Chicago, Ala'a communicates with the boys and with several other revolutionaries on the ground in Syria over social networks. Having moved from Syria to the states in an attempt to avoid Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship, Ala'a works close to 24/7 to help those still trapped in the harshly governed country. The film highlights the development of the revolution and how it was heavily influenced by similar protests in Egypt and Tunisia. Both of these protests successfully de-reigned their dictators in less than 30 days, however, the Syrian conflict continues to this day with the death toll rising.
Normally, documentaries like this do not appeal to me but I'm so grateful I saw it. To see the influence that a young girl can have and the impact of our actions online. It's an incredibly eye-opening experience to watch a girl, my age, change lives on Facebook when all I do is post photographs of drunken adventures and comparatively minimal achievements. Ala'a is a positive influence on everyone she talks to, helping to save lives from both Chicago and from the ground in Syria. As the film closed, the audience learnt that Ala'a had a successful first trip to Syria and was set to return a second time to provide medical supplies.
One aspect I found interesting was when Ala'a described what the police would ask the protesters when they got arrested. For their Facebook username and password. The government, obviously learning as they go, caught on to protesters using Facebook as their main form of communication and their way of organising events. Ala'a takes her friends account information before they attend a protest and once she hears that they have been captured she logs in and deactivates their account.The police use the information online to find other protesters and at one point they even found Ala'a. A few weeks after this, she was sent a death threat that explained that she would be made an example of. Clearly stressing the importance of deactivating the accounts once someone has been arrested.
A huge part of the documentary was the citizen journalists that documented the revolution with hidden cameras for the world to see. One of the Syrian government's ploys was to hide their actions from the rest of the world with the intentions of dealing with this problem 'in house'. Al-Assad has even appeared on American television blatantly lying about the state of the country and the horrific amounts of police brutality. So to counteract this, young, educated, men are filming the protests, and in some cases first hand accounts of government ordered killings, and uploading the content online. Basically a cry for help that the world wasn't hearing. The featured citizen journalist in this documentary was Bassel, obviously a representation of thousands of others just like him. He was educated in the USA before deciding to return to Syria to help in the fight against dictatorship.
Unfortunately, documentaries about such a conflict don't often end on a high. Both Omar and Bassel die during the course of this film with both funerals briefly shown. Their stories memorialised and used in an attempt to further highlight the problems within the country and the importance of support for the people on the ground who are only fighting for the freedom they deserve. The film contains graphic images of many injured men, women and children and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Something I never thought would capture my attention has fascinated me in a way I couldn't imagine. It makes me wonder about the way our world and our government bodies work and whether or not we are making the right steps forward towards a more peaceful world.
Another week of movie madness! Starting this time, with X-Men: Days of Future Past and ending with The Fault in our Stars.
Well, X-Men was certainly something new for me. I enjoy action films and I like science fiction but the X-Men franchise was never something that excited me. I've seen all of the originals but never rushed to the cinema and stood in line to watch them. And I haven't seen any of the films past the trilogy that ended in 2006. It's very rare that I go see a film, like the new X-men one, without first watching all of the films leading up to it. I love knowing everything there is to know about a character before watching their next steps. But with this film, I didn't bother. It was just something to do on a Wednesday night that was enjoyable and didn't require much thinking after a long day at work. The cinema was packed, which was shocking considering this wasn't the first week of the film being in cinemas. But I suppose, it was a Wednesday night so tickets were cheap and the film works well for date nights! I didn't go with a date, instead I went with one of my best friends and sometimes that's much better. We can have a proper giggle before the film and a proper analytical discussion after it.
For someone who knew relatively little about the film going in, I enjoyed it. The premise was good, the acting was solid and the special effects varied from believable to... 'Come on, as if that would ever happen!' One of my favourite aspects of science fiction films that explore mutations or special powers, is finding out what everyone has. It always provided me with new answers to the age old question - 'What superhero power would you choose?' In this film, I really loved Blink! The mutant who could create portals. I could see that coming in handy if I suddenly needed to be elsewhere! There was also the appearance of fire, ice and speed which could be considered basic powers in that universe but are still highlighted within the main group of characters. Jennifer Laurence seems to be hit or miss for me. Sometimes, like in American Hustle, I find her captivating and frankly genius but then other times she falls short. Although her body and her fighting skills were on point, she was rather unbelievable as young Mystique. She lacked reason (something she supposedly still had before her 'first kill') and her movements were forced. When she's shot in the leg she limps away no better than a first year pupil in drama class - overworked and over thought is my opinion.
**SPOILERS**
Now... What the hell was with that ending? I have to ask what the writers were thinking when they ended it the way the did! Does this mean all of the films prior to this one are now redundant? The last five films, six if you include Wolverine's origin story, now no longer matter because the writers decided that the characters didn't have to be tortured and that a happy ending was best for everyone. I understand that sometimes these endings work. Sometimes an audience really needs a conclusion they are happy with. But honestly, in my eyes, X-Men didn't need that. The characters had more depth because of their troubled past and now so much of that is gone. In the final scene, when Logan is walking through the school and seeing all of his old friends again, I felt that none of the characters had purpose being there any more. Now that only the audience, Logan and technically Dr Xavier know of the real past and how it came about, I can't help but feel like the movie was a waste of time. We don't really witness any real progress with the characters. Yes, it's entertaining and at it's core that is what film is supposed to be but I can't help but feel annoyed and disappointed. It's like when a film transpires to be a huge dream sequence. The audience feels cheated.
With both of us in the movie watching spirit we decided to go to the unlimited screening of The Fault in our Stars. Unlimited screenings are for anyone at cineworld with an unlimited movie card and allows you to see films in advance of it's national release. Obviously the buzz surrounding this film has been crazy and with the American release only last week, the internet had all sorts of things to say about John Green's book in comparison to Josh Boone's film.
Firstly, I want to say that Ansel Elgort grew on me much like his character did in the book. At first I found him annoying and entirely wrong for the role. Gus was a powerful character who grew and then quickly shrunk as he became a shadow of himself by the end of the book. But by the time the young couple were in Amsterdam, I appreciated everything about Elgort's creative choices with the role. He ultimately was perfect for the final scenes because he was able to make the transition that the character demanded. Not forgetting of course that what made him really shine came straight from the book and John Green's captivating writing. I feel like Ansel will enjoy all of the perks that come with being the male lead in a romantic comedy aimed at teenage girls. No doubt we'll be hearing of romps and scandals within the year.
Secondly, I hate Shailene Woodley. I'm pretty sure I've written before about how I feel about her and her acting. I will say however, I did enjoy her performance in Divergent. Sadly, the same can not be said for this film. It seems like Hollywood producers have seen the success that (average actress) Jennifer Laurence has received and have decided to produce another in the shape of Woodley. For some reason she is dominating the movie theatres this year with White Bird in a Blizzard, Divergent and TFIOS. There will always be some who are unhappy with casting and that just so happens to be me this time! But back to the film in question... Clearly, she read the book and made notes as many of her movements and reactions were subtle but similar enough to the way they were described in the book. I was a little disappointed that they chose not to explore her slight health improvement after Amsterdam. I think it was a lost opportunity to explore the characters positive yet realist approach to life.
My third and final point - having already read the book didn't make me cry any less. Somehow, even knowing the ending, I still shed more than one tear. But that's why I love seeing book adaptations. You get the opportunity to see a great book realised on screen and appreciate someone else's interpretation of the story. Obviously this film was incredibly faithful to the book, which in the end will likely prove to be the best decision. Still, I love when a director changes things up and emphasises different aspects of the story or the relationships within it. Even with the comments I've made about this film sounding more negative than positive, I actually really enjoyed the film. Sometimes when we judge a film, a book or a play too critically we forget to acknowledge our pleasure. So, to clarify, I liked the film and I would recommend it.
The 21 Jump Street sequel is just like it's predecessor: forced. The film is hyper aware of itself, which makes for an extended joke regarding the film's popularity, stupidity and the possibility of a 23 Jump Street. The film's jokes are basic and, at times, too cringeworthy to even laugh at. The actors themselves are better than this production so why do they do it? Easy answer, cash. The film will easily pull in large audiences of young teenager and adult chaperones whether or not the content deserves it. Ultimately, 22 Jump Street is a prime example of a bad sequel.
Let's focus first on the two main characters themselves, because honestly I see potential. Imagine a Dumb and Dumber inspired film featuring two incompetent cops. The characters have the believability and back story needed to make a movie like that work but combining this with a Never Been Kissed theme takes all of that away. No one cares about older people going back to college anymore, and they really don't care about undercover cops who get caught up in college life themselves. Also, the audience watches as, within the first few lectures, the pair are clearly recognised as cops by other students. Surely that news would move fast around a drug infested campus? Tatum and Hill are moderate actors, still trying to prove themselves in Hollywood, but this film does them no favours. Especially for Jonah Hill, who, with his work in recent Oscar nominated films, is stooping to an unnecessary level. The portrayals of their roles are adequate but wont be winning any awards.
The representation of college and university is an interesting one. The film focused mainly on old stereotypes of students. Painting them all as either jocks or creative alternatives who enjoy slam poetry evenings. Not to say I don't enjoy spoken word poetry but this is hardly the be all and end all of a creative student's life at college. However, I will concede that I know very little about American schools and college systems so I could be incredibly wrong about the way things are run over there. At the end of the day, this film is following the same format as the first one. One of the characters take an intellectual route and the other takes the 'cool kids' route, or in the case of this film the jock route. As if the only way to survive the college experience is to chose one or the other.
The story line was entirely predictable. From the identity of the dealer to the outcome of the kidnap scene and the troubles in Schmidt and Jenko's relationship. A movie, even a Hollywood fluff film, should not be this predictable. The inclusion of homoerotic undertones in the relationship between the two men was also expected. It's a play on the traditional bromance that many films have been exploring to some degree. It's popular in Hollywood cinema and as a result it was pretty obvious that it would feature somewhere within 22 Jump Street. And the final, most obvious element of the film was the ending. With the two men reuniting and working together, it could have easily been any other film with two leads with differing opinions. This is what really ruined the film for me. I can forgive a predictable film and predictable characters for a wonderful ending, but sadly that's not what was given.
I wouldn't waste your time or money by seeing this film.
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