So I took a long-overdue trip to the local theater this evening, and pulled off the double feature for the first time in a while, and it was a good time, as it usually is. Here are a few thoughts on what I saw:
1. Gamer
This was a good action movie. I really like Gerard Butler in movies when he's not a total pansy, and this role fits that description to a T. Because I feel like it, let's break it down thusly:
The Good: Action, action and more action. If you like things getting blown up, blood splattering around, guns and bombs going off, and lots of people yelling, then this movie will rock your world. For the actual nerds...er...gamers out there, you'll appreciate a few things, including a convict tea-bagging a guy he just blew away, the layout specs of the game system in the gamer's room, and the specific details of showing that the guns only become active within the game zone. It's put together really well, the visuals are pretty spectacular (I especially like when they show the gamer's view trailing the convict through the battle...very gamelike and cool). There is also an interesting subplot featuring a Sims-esque game called "Society" that...well, it's basically the Sims, only gamers control actual people. The sad truth is that they show pretty much exactly what that would look like, right down to the extremely fat guy (in a power chair!) playing as a hot chick and trying to get laid all the time. It was pretty disturbing...and somehow probably really accurate. Eesh.
The Bad: The plot wasn't all that great; I mean, we've seen enough "random smart rich guy finds a way to enslave humanity through something popular that everybody should object to on moral reasons but doesn't because of our faults as a species" movies to...well...there are a few of them out there, anyway. The acting wasn't the best either; Butler is a freaking beast, which is cool, but his accent kind of comes and goes. The main bad guy isn't all that scary; he has a weird southern-ish accent and is vaguely creepy, but not as much as I would have liked in order to hate him appropriately. They really didn't explore the "Humanz" group as much as they could have, either...we don't really know where they came from or why the exist so much, but we do see them playing old-school games like Metroid and air hockey. Which may be why they exist.
The Ugly: Kyra Sedgewick. Do not want.
You Should: Go see it if you like action movies and video games, and video game tea-bagging, but probably pass if you're looking for something that won't leave you kind of grossed out and a little bit sad afterward.
2. Extract
I may or may not have seen this movie just to have an excuse to post a picture of Mila Kunis here. But knowing that it's a Mike Judge (creator of Beavis & Butthead, as well as Office Space) movie, I expected pretty great things. I was not disappointed.
The Good: EVERYTHING! OK, I'm exaggerating...but only a little. This was a really, really funny movie, especially if you like movies with those little awkward moments and understated humor. Jason Bateman is fantastic, and the old formula for comedy (take a nice, genuine, regular guy and just eff with him for two hours) works so, so well. Apparently Mila Kunis is not just unbelieveably gorgeous, but actually a really good actress as well (after her work on That 70s Show...who would have known?). Of course, she is a girl, so it's not hard to believe that she's naturally good at being a) deceptive, b) conniving, c) a thief, and d) really good at crying/flirting to get out of/into whatever she wants. Ben Affleck is genuinely funny, the supporting cast does a great job of recreating that factory-type work environment, and I really, really enjoy Kristen Wiig. She tends to play the same character in everything she's in, but it works for her. She's kind of smart, sarcastic, a little bit standoffish, and still kind of cute, but in the kind of way that you hate her for it. She does a great job playing the wife that just turns the screws (not literally...which is kind of the root of the problem for Bateman's character) with her poor husband. There is a gigolo named Brad -- a pretty fun addition to the adventure -- and you have to love a good Hal Sparks/Nick Thune cameo right off the bat. If you don't know who Nick Thune is...well then...enjoy this clip, called Phone Tag.
The Bad: It's a little dirty; they talk about balls and drugs and things, so it's not really for the kids out there. It kind of unravels a little bit toward the end; the comedy isn't as sharp and the characters start to be less funny and more...sad, kind of. It's still funny, but they probably could have cut a couple scenes just to move things along and keep it light. And there really weren't enough scenes with Kunis.
You Should: Go see it immediately. Take a date (unless he/she is really easily offended by shoplifting, testicle talk, drug references, or veiled racism) and have fun laughing at how the main character's life comes crumbling down around him. If you liked Office Space (and I haven't met someone who has seen it and didn't), you should enjoy this movie.
Something else happened at the theater that I think you should all know about. I saw the trailer for the movie Legion, and I think my soul melted. There is not enough money in the world to get me to go see this movie, or watch the trailer ever again. Three words: creepy demon grandma. SOOOOOOOO not cool. Ugh. I'm going to go watch seven hours of baby kittens falling asleep videos to calm down.
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