"Rio"
Richard's Review: 3 stars
In "Rio" nerd actor du jour Jesse Eisenberg plays, what else, a nerdy birdy -- a domesticated macaw -- small-town Minnesota named Blu. He's never learned to fly, but enjoys a happy and healthy life with his owner and BFF Linda (Leslie Mann). When they discover the last remaining ladybird blue macaw (voice of Anne Hathaway) in the world lives in Rio de Janeiro they make the journey to find her, but their plan lays an egg. Instead, they encounter kidnappers and an evil cockatoo named Nigel (Jemaine Clement). On the upside perhaps Blu will finally learn to fly.
Let's get the 800 pound elephant -- or in this case, the big blue bird -- out of the way right away. Let me say that "Rio" has an OK story and sparkling animation, but it really lacks the depth of a Pixar film. Maybe I'm spoiled, but when I watch animated movies, whether they are from Dreamworks, or this one, from Fox, I can't help but think, "What would the wizards at Pixar have done with this story?"
Don't get me wrong, "Rio" is perfectly serviceable. It's colorful and filled with nice touches like a little bird who warms himself against a traffic light, flitting back-and-forth between the red and green lights, in snowy Minnesota. But for all the nice little touches and exciting flying scenes, the movie isn't particularly memorable. It'll keep the little ones occupied in the theatre -- although very little kids may find some of the action a bit too intense -- and has a good enviro message about wild animals and their treatment. Bit there's no real sticky content here.
The lead voice work is adequate, nothing special from the above the title stars, but will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Tracy Morgan -- as a drooling bulldog in a Carmen Miranda fruit salad hat -- and particularly Jemaine Clement -- who has a show stopping song -- help the movie take flight with fun supporting vocal work.
"Rio" is a good enough Saturday afternoon matinee with the kids, unfortunately for me it lacks the zip I have come to expect from animated entertainment. Sorry "Rio" but I can only imagine Pixar could come up with a more imaginative name for a blue macaw than Blu.
"Daydream Nation"
Richard's Review: 3 ½ stars
Daydream Nation chronicles the year in Carolyn Wexler's (Kat Dennings) life in which "everything happened." A precocious teen, she seduces her handsome English teacher (Josh Lucas) by writing an essay about her favorite historical figure -- Monika Lewinsky. She's a savvy, big-city girl, but hasn‘t quite figured out life or love in her new town.
Complicating matters is an amorous gym teacher, a serial killer, and a sweet but troubled boy named Thurston (Reese Thompson). Textured with equal parts humor and drama this smart school story cleverly details the complicated, confusing aspects of teen life in a fresh, interesting way.
"Scream 4"
Richard's Review: 3 ½ stars
The "Scream" movies, which follow professional survivor Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as she outwits and outlasts a series of masked "Ghostface" killers, have fared better than most other contemporary horror franchises. Probably because the idea of combining a traditional slasher film with self-aware humor and horror film clichés was ahead of its time when Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven took a stab at creating the horror hybrid in 1996.
Just as the "Saw" films have become as appealing as a power tool to the back of the head and the "Final Destination" movies feel like they actually met their final destination two or three films ago, "Scream's" winning formula hasn't outlived it's welcome.
In this shreakquel Campbell returns as Prescott, now a successful author who has returned to Woodsboro, the scene of the Ghostface killer crimes that made her a nationally famous survivor. Her book signing at a local store is, of course, scheduled on the anniversary of the original killings. Soon things get stabby and, as the bodies start to pile up, Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and his investigative reporter wife Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) try to discover who is behind the Ghostface mask.
Like the other movies in the series, "Scream 4" is a meta-thriller that pays tribute to and takes the Mickey out of the horror genre. It uses the conventions of other fright films to cue the action, before twisting familiar clichés to form something new. Of course the idea of referencing other movies isn't as fresh as it was in the original. But screenwriter Williamson has updated the idea, suggesting that the rules from the first few "Screams" don't apply because horror movies have changed in the age of social media.
Not to worry though, the basic "Scream" formula is in place. This movie, like the others, still opens with a funny, bloody scene or two, spoofing horror movies. They are giddy good fun and set the tone of the movie -- gory and giggly.
At the heart of it all is Campbell, "Scream's" only truly indispensible character. She grounds the whole story, bringing a real presence to an unreal situation. She isn't the funny girl, or the self aware, sarcastic showy character. Instead, she's the one the audience cares about. Most importantly, she never plays the victim no matter how many times Ghostface tries to cut her in two.
"Scream 4" is the best in the series since the original. Director Wes Craven brings the suspense, writer Williamson supplies the clever and Campbell supplies the heart.
