Movie review: After.Life (2009)

Without spoiling the movie, here is a brief summary.  Paul (Justin Long) and Anna (Christina Ricci) are dating; one of them dies and wakes up on a funeral home prep table.  The funeral director/mortician Eliot (Liam Neeson) proceeds to interact with the 'deceased' to help them transition into their afterlife.  Several suspense movie clichés ensue as the plot progresses. What's that?  Every suspense thriller needs a socially inept kid who seems to relate to the plot?  Don't worry, this movie has one... his name is Jack.

The carefully constructed  plot draws you in and keeps you guessing throughout the duration.  Even when the credits rolled, I am not entirely convinced of what really happened.  Was Neeson really the bad guy or was it a play on some sort of dreamscape of the afterlife?  I know what conclusions I've drawn, but I'm curious what others got from it.

The suspense generated on screen was convincing; you are always on the edge of your seat.  The acting was decent and there was plenty of gratuitous Christina Ricci nudity - not a bad thing.  Justin Long in a dramatic role?  Not sure about that one - but he was adequate enough.  If you're looking for a decent suspense thriller, check this one out.

Rating C+

Movie Review: Grown Ups

 We checked out 'Grown Ups' last night at the theatre and I was quite skeptical, especially after the last couple of Sandler movies... Click and the Zohan were pretty painful in my mind's eye.  Quite surprisingly, this movie is actually really funny.  It goes back to the days of classic Sandler (including the Steve Buscemi cameo), back to the days of Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy.  The movie also has a great cast (littered with SNL alumni) who strongly contribute to making this movie work.  They even dug up David Spade!

The storyline is relatively predictable and at times altogether missing, but there is enough comedy in there to carry it through.  I am hoping that Sandler continues in this gear as his movies were really starting to grate on me... 'Punch Drunk Love' has to be in my top ten worst movies ever.  Stop that.  Bad Adam.

Rating: B

Movie Review: Hot Tub Time Machine

Here is the gist... Mr. 80's himself, John Cusack tries to recapture his youthful, 'Better Off Dead' persona in this little thing they aptly named 'Hot Tub time Machine'.  This title does not leave much to the imagination - it's about a bunch of friends who get shipped back to the 80's when their hot tub becomes a time machine after someone spills an energy drink on the controls.  I would love to see the Mythbusters tackle that one!

I am not going to lambaste this movie because it is what it is.  There are a couple of chuckles, but I did not find myself laughing aloud.  There is plenty of vulgarity and awkward humour, but as you might imagine the story line is a little thin. I didn't hate this movie (now there's a glowing recommendation), so if you're in the mood for a mindless comedy, or have an uncontrollable urge to see some leg warmers and headbands - have at it!

Rating C