Movie Review: The Guilt Trip

The Movie:

Guilt Trip starring Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand.

Directed by Anne Fletcher

Release Date: December 19th.

Official Movie Synopsis: 

As inventor Andy Brewster is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime, a quick stop at his mom's house turns into an unexpected cross-country voyage with her along for the ride.

What to expect:

If you’ve seen any comedy movie starring Seth Rogen, or caught Barbra Streisand in Meet the Fockers, then you know that they both deliver big laughs with nonchalant dialogue. This movie is filled with quick one liners, sarcasm, wit. The movie plays out like most road trip movies do, minus the copious amounts of sex, it is a mother/son trip after all, though there is a strip club scene.

Negatives:

The movie gets off to a slow start as they slowly build a bit of background behind the characters and lead up to explain why this road trip is taking place. The first twenty minutes will have you anxiously wondering if the movie is going to get funnier or remain stale.

Positives:

The Guilt Trip delivers a few breaks from the comedy to develop emotional connections with the characters, allowing you to wind down from a stretch of comedy and invest in the characters before jumping back in to the laughs. The movie has it’s “feel good” moments, peppered with serious moments and filled with laughter.

My Thoughts:

If you like the comedy genre (and really, who doesn’t?) and don’t only get your kicks from shock comedy and crudeness, then this movie should keep you entertained. It’s suitable for all ages, and could easily be a good date movie, or something you can bring your parents to and not have to explain every pop culture reference that’s made. It’s worth seeing in theaters, but it wouldn’t make a bad watch at home movie either.

On a mostly unrelated note:

Before the movie my friend and I discussed Barbra Streisand, who one of us (still unsure who it was) mistakenly called Bette Midler. This got us to start trying to differentiate which was which.

“Streisand was in Hocus Pocus”

“No that was Midler”

“Who was Ben Stiller’s mom in the Focker movies?”

“That was Streisand”

“Then what does Bette Midler look like?!”

To some people this may seem ludicrous, but I think it’s a legit mistake...

My first movie review, Jack Reacher.

A couple of years ago I won tickets to an advanced screening of Iron Man 2 through a radio contest. Upon winning I had to register with this website to claim the prize and print the tickets. It was a few weeks later that I started getting e-mails from that site, offering me tickets to advanced screenings of other movies, completely free of charge. Since then I have seen several movies for free, days (sometimes weeks or even months) before they officially release. I’ve decided to start blogging occasionally about these movies offering my reviews on them. Tonight I attended yet another pre-screening and decided to follow it up with my first review. I'd love to hear any suggestions on what sort of information I should add/takeaway from the review or any other suggestions you may have. Also, no worries, my reviews are completely spoiler free.

The Movie:

Jack Reacher, starring Tom Cruise.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

Release Date: December 21^st.

Official Movie Synopsis:

When a gunman takes five lives with six shots, all evidence points to the suspect in custody. On interrogation, the suspect offers up a single note: "Get Jack Reacher!" So begins an extraordinary chase for the truth, pitting Jack Reacher against an unexpected enemy, with a skill for violence and a secret to keep.

What to expect:

This movie produced by, and starring Tom Cruise, was a cut and dry action flick. Do you like car chases? Fight scenes? Lots of gun fire?  If so, this is your kind of movie. It’s reminiscent of the 80’s action movies of old, One “I don’t play by the rules” badass, searching for answers, and beating up half-wit bad guys along the way. If you’re not into that sort of thing, and suspension of disbelief doesn’t come easily for you, maybe you should pass this one by. The dialogue is spoof-worthy at points, and delivered with soap operaesque dramatic flair.

Negatives:

My biggest problem with the movie was character inconsistency. A lot of time is spent building characters and explaining their personalities and histories to make certain scenes more believable, but the second something needs to happen to help the plot, that personality trait or part of their history is no longer relevant. Aside from that, the cheesy dialogue is my biggest gripe.

Positives:

Unlike many action movies that I would compare this one too, the plot is not entirely predictable. Some avid movie goers may figure the movie out moments before it unfolds, but you don’t go into the movie expecting the exact same ending you get. Also to my surprise, the movie had a few laugh out loud funny moments, lightening the mood from the dark and serious tone it sets early on.

My Thoughts:

Unless you’re a die hard Tom Cruise fan, or a sucker for stereotypical action movies, I’d say this movie is best saved for Redbox or Netflix.