[Review] Pain & Gain (2013)

Title: Pain & Gain

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie 

Director: Michael Bay

Genre: Comedy, Action

Summary: A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. (IMDb)

Under the arms of director Michael Bay there wasn't many marketing strategies to promote this bad boy, not as much as Transformers and I don't know what it was but it looks to me like it worked. The fact that this wasn't a highly expected and huge movie franchise helped me not to get my hopes up when watching it therefore enjoying it a lot more too.

First let's start with synopsis, a guy, whose name gives the ultimate clue of his narcissism, Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) wants to excel in life and more than muscles he wants to have a lifestyle he can be proud of (or how he would put it "a big green lawn"). So he decides to create the ultimate strike, kidnap  some drug dealer and diner owner and extort every single one of his goods. Lugo starts with assembling a team, Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and ex-con and addict who recently turned to religion and Adrian Doorbal  (Anthony Mackie) who needs money to fix his sterility problem. But, as it would be predictable everything goes wrong,  the perfect plan turns into perfect stupidity and it would be another boring movie about a failed success if it wasn't for the fact that it is a true story. That means it happened the way it was shown and I tell you: do not look for the story before watching the movie it will kill the excitement, for this is truly a point where real life meets fiction.

As for filmmaking the eccentric Michael Bay did it right, he extracted the funny and silliness in the story transforming what isn't suppose to be that funny into a satire of bodybuilders. You will see graphics throughout the movie and colors everywhere, it is indeed a colorful film. Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson both deliver, the first one plays the ideal conceited, "think-I-am-very-smart" man with a head full of ideas but failed figure,  the second one shows the weak link of the group in a way you've never seen before using the muscles to distract you from the character's compassion and vulnerability but yet ridiculous all the way. 

I illustrated this review with the Soundtrack cover because the motion picture does have some good background to go with it. The true story aspect to it is what makes the movie worthy to be honest, it makes you think 'how could human beings do this?' and then you laugh, I give most of the credits to the screenplay, really strong and not cliché.

As a final evaluation I'd say this movie is worth watching, don't pass it on because you didn't like Transformers or because you just haven't heard enough good things, the reviews are mixed and there's no "just liking" this movie, there's either "hate it" or "loved it" and to me the second one fits.

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Action, Comedy

21 Jump Street

Summary:

A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.

Bu's review:

The actors tended to stay true to original characters, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have a great chemistry, both performances were ok and watchable. This movie, as many like to say, relates a lot with The Hangover but a bit less "heavy".
The screenplay is a typical comedy writing and the jokes keep coming up leaving the public expecting greater things that end up not to happen.
It's a pleasant movie for comedy fans and one of the funniest hollywood has ever produced. The use of unexpected scenes and jokes and the cast brings the theater a cool vibe that I haven't seen in a long time.
It's messy but at the same time good!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★

Categories: Comedy

The Dictator

Summary: 

The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Bu's review:

This movie presented itself with very (surprisingly) good jokes and appropriate moments to laugh. Sasha Baron Cohen's dictator gave us a funny perspective of a tabu matter as a dictatorship. The main flaw was Anna Faris, her weakness in the Scary Movie saga should have not been applied in this movie. Some moments were quite unreasonable like the use of famous stars for several purposes others showed to be mature. This movie can be seen has the growth of a man who had it all and at the end only need a hug. The funniest moment was definitely the helicopter scene! The Dictator was a mix between Borat and Bruno BUT WAY BETTER!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★

Categories: Comedy

What to expect when you're Expecting

Summary: 

A look at love through the eyes of five interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn't always deliver what's expected.

Bu's review:

So I haven't had a good laugh with a comedy ever since "there's something about Mary". Surprisingly they didnt use any comedy legends like adam sander or Ben stiler to make it work, everything relied on the excellent interpretation of Elizabeth banks and the dads Gang. I think what really worked in this movie was the screenplay It was genuinely funny and didn't show any complications in the plot what usually is a problem. The concept of

Parenthood is shown in every angle, adoption, bad pregnancy, good pregnancy but twin problems, boys girls, unknown children or even abortions. This movie is interesting for a good afternoon but it is not something you will remember to talk with your friends it's not suitable for such. Strong jokes and nice vibe but a predictable ending and a masses movie, for sure.

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★

Categories: Comedy

Special Johnny Depp: Dark Shadows + Fan Fiction Pirates of Caribbean

Summary: 

An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.

Bu's review:

Dark Shadows, as I read in IMDB's reviews list, it's a "bipolar movie". Why?? You both have comedy and then horror. there is supposedly a witch and a vampire and then ghosts and a werewolf seem to invade the story. It's by far some of Tim Burton's worst pictures because it has everything to be a great story but it doesn't follow a specific plot. The soundtrack, though, is quite mesmerizing and the sceneries are extremely well done except that the rest it's a bit disappointing. It all happens really fast and almost at the same time. The actors were quite good in fact but there was a bit of extra exposing. When you have an original movie you have to come up with something brilliant for a remake and this was not the case. It was intertwining but it was not a Tim Burton at all!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★

Read the special Fan Fiction on
 "The Pirates of Caribbean"

Categories: Adventure, Comedy, Thriller

Mirror Mirror

Summary: 
An evil queen steals control of a kingdom and an exiled princess enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.

Bu's review:

Mirror Mirror is an adaptation of a children's story to a children's book using the mean of comedy. I think the first problem is related to the actors themselves. Not good at all, apart from the dwarfs almost every single actor in this cast seemed forced.

At some point in the movie I was almost begging for the story to just develop because I wanted to see the classic and they just gave me what the screenwriter thought it would be a great twist. Although the part where Snow white ends up giving the apple back was beautiful and at the same time creepy (different and awesome), the rest of the movie was a big disappointment specially the "last song", but I'm not even going to mention it because that is a big problem in today's children's movies just because Shrek's donkey sang an amazing version of I'm a Believer, it does not mean Snow White can sing something about believing as well... BTW, sceneries and wardrobe were really great though!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★

Categories: Comedy

American Reunion

Summary: 

Jim, Michelle, Stifler, and their friends reunite in East Great Falls, Michigan for their high school reunion.

Bu's review:

American Reunion is, unlike the rest of this movie series, quite civilized. The laughter is guaranteed and if you're thinking it will be too unrated, well I can say you are wrong. It is a great finale for such an epic series it has story and it's full of adventures you sure do not want to miss. The typical guy who comes to his high school reunion saying everything but the truth about his life. The one that "accidentally" cheats on his wife, the one that fall in love with his high school sweetheart again, the gay couple you didn't know about and of course, the one that got stuck in time and still wants to be just a kid. I think the movie captured really well the essence of the matter and for a funny afternoon I totally advice it!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Comedy

The Kids Are Alright

Summary:

Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life.

Bu's review:

the Kids are Alright talks about very realistic issues in a teenagers life. The film is not one of those stupid underrated super common comedies, besides from having an amazing cast it also has a great screenplay behind it. The conflict is excellent and interesting. The relationship between Moore and Bening is real, the movie shows their fights and their love which breaks the stereotype of the lesbian couple as not ideal. This picture is truly genuine and smart, if you haven't seen it then run to the nearest store and buy it!

Year: 2010

Stars: ★★★ ★

Categories: Comedy, Drama

Jack and Jill

Summary:

Family guy Jack Sadelstein prepares for the annual event he dreads: the Thanksgiving visit of his twin sister, the needy and passive-aggressive Jill, who then refuses to leave.

Bu's review:

Jack and Jill is disappointing and "laughless". Adam Sandler tried to be the new Eddie Murphy by playing a girl but that was not his problem. His interpretation of Jill was in fact quite interesting, but the character Jack was really not his type. I think Sandler is just incredible and he really can make you laugh! But in Jack and Jill the jokes are bizarre and hardly funny. Al Pacino's performance was a total disaster and didn't fit in the context (liked Johnny Depp though :D). The movie is a flop and it disappoints most of the audience...

Year: 2011

Stars: ★★

Categories: Comedy

Tower Heist

Tower Heist it's a perfect comedy for every age. I think it's cleaver and a perfectly balanced movie. Ben Stiller showed his revenge side and personally the funniest part was the one where he destroyed the car. Really Cool.
It's an action-comedy poised with tons of laugh :)


STARS: ★★★

Categories: Comedy