Tammy

Tammy

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 7/2/14

Reviewed 7/2/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Anette

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Since I liked Bridesmaids and The Heat so much, both due to the hilarious Melissa McCarthy, I couldn't wait to see this. Tammy is a comical movie throughout and we laughed a lot, but I really didn't embrace the mixing in of the love story with McCarthy's "rough around the edges" usual character type. Both Kathy Bates and Dan Aykroyd have small parts that are a pleasant surprise. McCarthy's  husband Ben Falone (who co-wrote, directed and played a small role in the film), should stick with what works with McCarthy.

Tammy (McCarthy) is having a bad day, beginning with wrecking her car. She then loses her job, and the topper - finds her husband cheating. She wants to get out of town to run from it all, which she has a habit of wanting to do too often. A couple houses down is her sassy, hard-drinking grandmother Pearl (Susan Sarandon).

Grandma bribes Tammy with cash to go on a road trip to get out of the house from her family. It doesn't take Tammy long to think about it and they set off on a combative road trip. Foolish and ill-judged adventures along the way seem to be their theme. The pair connects with a father/son combo that leads to a little romance for both. Doldrums on that part of the story, but thankfully it was not the focus of the movie. Grandma and Tammy eventually circle back to where they started after learning some life lessons the hard way. McCarthy's lines will make you laugh and it may seem like much of the same. Nonetheless that's okay...that is what audiences like from her...and that is what they want to see.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2  Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJJ

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 7/3/14

Reviewed 7/3/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary and Anette

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Mark Wahlberg stars, and is well cast as Cade Yeager, in this latest installment of the Transformers franchise. This is the first of a new trilogy that picks up sometime after the third one ended, with Yeager uncovering one of the autobots by mistake.

Country guy/inventor Cade and his daughter Tessa Yeager (Nicole Peltz) along with her boyfriend Shane (Jack Reyner) were the primary heroes. The biggest mistake of this was making the film 165 minutes - way too long. Other than that, we all thought it was full of all the typical yet very thrilling action.

Cade brings home another piece of junk for his science technology barn lab. His truck turns out to not be the rust bucket he thought, but is actually Optimus Prime - the worshipped leader of the auotobots. The government has turned on the once metal friends and they are hunting them down. Humans and Transformers were once side by side but things have quickly turned, primarily due to being misled by super villain Harold Atinger (Kelsey Grammer). The story gets a little muddled during some of the battles because it is sometimes hard to tell which side everyone is on. Transformers: Age of Distinction is an action packed movie and if you can sit through the lengthy flick you will certainly feel like you got your money's worth.

QUIET Rating system: 3  Js

Quality: JJJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  Jj

The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in our Stars

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 6/13/14

Reviewed 7/1/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Anette

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

I did not read the book prior to seeing this but heard plenty about it, so I started crying practically before it even started. There really wasn't any reason to, but it was that "pre-knowledge" of what's to come. The theatre was filled with all females and that came as no surprise. Guys might disagree with me on this, but I would say this is not just a chick flick.

Hazel Grace (Shalene Woodley) and Gus Waters (Angel Elgort) are teenagers that are sadly afflicted with different forms of cancer. This is miserable for sure, but in spite of this the writers do a good job at making this film charming and even witty. The pair meets up at a support group for teenagers that Hazel's mom (Laura Dern) forces her to attend. It changes her life as Hazel meets her soul mate Gus. They are adorable together and it is hard to believe that they are supposed to be high school age, but their life circumstances make them seem more mature. One criticism is when they go on an international quest to Amsterdam. It is a disturbing visit which the creators make an attempt to later tie in an explanation, but the scenes just seemed to be missing some vital information. Maybe it's in the book? While knowing you need some tissues, don't be scared away at seeing The Fault in Our Stars. It is well worth it.

QUIET Rating system: 3  Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJ

Chef

Chef

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 6/20/14

Reviewed 6/30/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Anette

3 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

If you are hungry this movie will only torture you. A lovely display of food throughout will make you sprint to the nearest restaurant after the popcorn gorge, if that wasn't bad enough. Anette and I both were caught off guard on how much we really loved this feel-good comedy. The cast was perfect with Jon Favreau playing hard-working but mouthy Chef Carl Casper. Robert Downy Jr. as Marvin, another ex-husband of Sofia Vergara (Inez), could have stolen the show if allowed more time with his tiny, but hilarious part.

Chef Carl Casper was not the perfect husband to Inez or the best father to cutie son Percy. A change in direction on his career allows Carl to hit the road with Percy and assistant chef Martin (John Leguizamo). They acquire an old beat up truck from Marvin to start their own mobile food truck featuring Cuban sandwiches. Little Percy gives us all some humorous lessons on the importance of how to use social media for promotion which dad Carl missed the boat on earlier. The trio's cross country road trip is adorable and makes this down to earth movie well worth it. My only advice before seeing Chef...eat a sandwich!

QUIET Rating system: 3 1/2  Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJJj

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJJ

Maleficent

Maleficent

Rated PG and Released in Grand Rapids 5/30/14

Reviewed 6/15/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary and Leigh

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Angelina Jolie is perfectly cast as the title character. This film is the story of what is behind the wicked fairy that curses Aurora, aka Sleeping Beauty, to fall into the fateful slumber. Although it's a little dark for a PG rating, it kept our interest and we thought overall it was worth the trip.

Maleficent lives in a forest full of peaceful winged creatures and some unusual animals. They are protected from outsiders by a forest barrier. The cheery fairy encounters a male human named Stefan that crosses accidentally into the forest. They strike up a friendship that seems to be everlasting. Nevertheless Stefan is faced with a choice and he chooses greed that causes him to betray Maleficent. The result is he inherits the kingdom and becomes king. When Princess Aurora is born to the happy king and queen, no one can protect the baby from the revenge of Maleficent. The monarchs send Aurora away to protect her from the curse.

Jolie's daughter is darling while briefly playing young Aurora and if she was on screen longer she could have easily stolen the show. Elle Fanning is remarkable as the older Aurora who has most of the interaction with Maleficent in the forest as they grow very fond of each other. Their curious relationship hits a major bump when the truth trickles out and then circles back when all the facts come to light. Maleficent's sidekick Diaval (Sam Riley) is a hoot toggling between a bird and human, adding some needed humor now and then. While I would say young children beware, for the most part anyone can see this anything-but-boring family movie.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2  Js

Quality: JJj

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ

Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 6/13/14

Reviewed 6/18/14 at Celebration! Cinema at Rivertown Crossings in Grandville, MI

with Gary

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt are both big stars and they make this clever action thriller bigger than it would have been. Gary and I thought it was entertaining, but you can lose interest now and then with the Groundhog Day repetitiveness. However, it's part of the storyline and intentional so you just have to be patient.

Lt. Bill Cage (Cruise) keeps waking up to the same day and it is up to heroine Rita Vrataski (Blunt) to enlighten him. Futuristic with aliens predictably sucking up Earth's resources and killing what's in their path does make for some excitement, despite the same ole same ole. Cage and Rita must figure out a way to beat the creatures by using their fortuitous knowledge. Cruise delivers and Blunt adds the wit to balance this blockbuster into more than expected. Go see it, but just plan on a little déjà vu.

QUIET Rating system: 3 Js

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJj

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJJj

Time:  JJj

22 Jump Street

22 Jump Street

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 6/13/14

Reviewed 6/17/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Gary

1 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

This is #2 with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill following up to the 2012 film 21 Jump Street. Although the first one had ridiculous humor, it was worth catching. I cannot say the same about 22. With too much forced silliness and clichés, it was hard to sit through to the end. Hill has really grown as an actor and audiences really appreciate him, and who doesn't like Tatum!? However, maybe I am wrong but the demographic of this film limits to the 16- to 25-year-old males and they probably love it!

This time around Jenko (Tatum) and Schmidt (Hill) are sent deep undercover to a local college to catch some major drug ring. Ice Cube as Captain Dickson actually has a few scenes that cracked me up, scoring a few points. Other than that, it is the predictable clamoring around campus, drinking and wreaking havoc wherever they go. Maybe if this was free at home, I would be more forgiving and give 22 Jump Street a break. But I doubt it!

QUIET Rating system: 1 1/2  Js

Quality: Jj

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: J

Entertainment:  Jj

Time:  Jj