Due Date (2010)

A basic road trip movie made by a director (Todd Phillips) who has a lot of experience making road trip movies. But this one was better than most because of the great performances by the two leads.

Peter (Robert Downey Jr.) is an uptight yuppie who arrives at the airport to make it home in time for his wife to give birth. He's casually making his way in when Ethan (Zach Galifianakis) runs into him...literally. Once they both are kicked off the plane for making "terrorist" threats, they have to embark on a car ride from Atlanta to L.A. in order to make it for the childbirth. Along the way, shit goes down. Car accidents, Western Union beatdowns, an appearance from Ray, and a dog. And Ethan just can get on Peter's good side. Every time he tries, it just doesn't work out. It eventually doesn't become a question of when they'll make it to California, but if they can even stay alive.

Zach Galifianakis is almost always funny, and Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor. These two actors together had a great rapport, but it wasn't a complete match. They definitely had their moments though. Ethan's going to L.A. to get on "Two and a Half Men," and his obsession is hilarious. He even has a superfan website that, yes, actually exists. RDJ's best quality in this is his ability to keep such a straight face in the midst of shenanigans. A good movie that's funnier than you think. Grade: B+

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

This was a very deep, spiritual movie that had many cosmic undertones to make it a cinematic masterpiece...I can barely write that without laughing. The title says about all you need to know about this flick.

Adam and Nick (John Cusack and Craig Robinson) come rushing to the side of their friend Lou (Rob Corddry) when the hospital thinks he attempted suicide. In an effort to make him feel better, they decide to head back to the ski resort that was party central in 1986. Tagging along is Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke). When the four of them arrive, the town is a rundown mess that no one visits now. Low and behold, they get drunk and into a hot tub that (TAH DAH) sends them back in time. Now, they need to do everything exactly as they did in '86 in order not to disrupt what happens in the future. That means; one night stands, drugs, fights, drinking, musical performances, arm-detachments, etc. Can this foursome of destruction get everything done correctly and in time to make it back to the future?

Funny performances all around with a plot that you'd suspect from a movie named Hot Tub Time Machine. Craig Robinson was the MVP of the film. He had the best story and did the most with it. Props for the bits with Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover and 80s movie bad guy William Zabka. Not the best comedy of 2010, but solidly humorous and genuinely ridiculous. Go into this with a blank slate. Grade: B

Unstoppable (2010)

This is your basic action movie, but it had enough to keep my interest, and it was better than Tony Scott's last film The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. It captured my interest throughout.

Frank Barnes and Will Colson (Denzel Washington and Chris Pine) have set out to move line of train cars from one end of the track to another. Also, they don't really care for each other. Barnes is a career railman, while Colson took the job as something to do. While they're on the trek, another train carrying cars full of hazardous materials is barreling down the tracks straight toward them. Bigger problem: No one's at the helm of the runaway train. The first step is to make sure they can get out of the way before the cars run straight into them. When the plan becomes a disaster effort, Barnes and Colson decide to take matters into their own hands and track the sucker down. They need to make sure they do it before the train reaches an impossible turn in a densely populated area. Game on.

Again, this was a basic, but very enjoyable action flick. There was enough suspense and intensity to keep me glued to the screen the whole time. Speaking of time, it was also the right length. Any longer or shorter would have detrimentally hurt the film. The biggest problem I have, and it was noticeable, was the amount of moving panoramic shots. I understand they're used to build suspense, but they just made me dizzy. Also, they're unnecessary while people are just talking. That being said, most action fans should enjoy this. Grade: B

Megamind (2010)

A very funny comedy. I probably would've given this an Oscar nomination over How to Train Your Dragon. The quick wit was there for adults, and there's enough pop and flash for the kiddies.

Megamind (Will Ferrell) had a rough childhood after being sent to Earth when his planet explodes. Unfortunately for him, the same thing happens to Metro Man (Brad Pitt). Thus, a lifelong feud was born. Along with Minion (David Cross), Megamind comes up with another plan to try and stop Metro Man. He kidnaps Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey) for the umpteenth time and, what's that, he wins. Metro Man is defeated. Well, now what. His life starts to go on without meaning. He no longer has a battle. So, he needs to create one. But while that's going on, he's starting to fall for Roxanne. Maybe there's more to life than blowing ish up and running a muck. Let's just see if Roxanne has the same feelings toward him as he for her.

I found myself laughing a lot during this movie. The voice acting was very well done, especially between Ferrell and Cross. Honestly, I could have closed my eyes while they had a conversation and just pictured the two of them riffing. The movie probably could have been longer and the plot was relatively basic, but I had fun. One of the shining stars in a surprisingly dull year in animated film. Grade: B+

Nowhere Boy (2010)

Aaron Johnson is a star in the making. Since I watched this in America, this comes fresh off the heels of his great turn in Kick-Ass. Now, he's a teenage John Lennon discovering the world of rock 'n roll.

John Lennon (Johnson) is a troubled youth growing up in the ever-changing times of the mid-1950s. He's grown up in the care of his Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) after his mother decided to walk out of his life when he was a boy. But a recent death in the family makes John want to find Julia Lennon (Anne-Marie Duff). As it turns out, she might be pretty cool. Julia teaches John about rock 'n roll and what exactly it means (sex). Lennon decides to start his first rock band called The Quarrymen. As the band starts to actually get good, his life begins to change dramatically again, and I'm not talking about him meeting George Harrison and Paul McCartney for the first time.

Aaron Johnson was terrific as Lennon. As much as I love movies, and try to find out about them, I had no idea he was British in real life. He hid it so well in Kick-Ass. Duff and Thomas were great as Lennon's influences. I may go so far as to say any of them could have gotten an Oscar nod. The movie didn't delve into the music as much as I would've liked, but the relationships developed made it worthwhile. Grade: B+

Jackass 3 (2010)

Was Jackass 3 the same old stuff just shot in 3D, and therefore better looking on Blu-Ray? Yes. Still funny? You bet. Nothing's ever going to top the first movie, but this was still good.

Based on the TV show, this is a movie about roughly 14 people whose plane crashed on a mysterious island that may or may not have supernatural.....wait, wrong show. This is about 9 idiots who are trying to top the pranks and stunts they did in the first two movies. Some are not for the squeamish, including the Toy Train Eruption, Sweat Suit Cocktail and Lamborghini Tooth Pull. All the favorites are there pulling them off. Johnny Knoxville, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Wee Man, etc. And yes, April and Phil are backed as victims of a hilarious prank at the hands of Bam Margera. Not much else to explain.

Can't explain the plot too well because this isn't a stereotypical movie, but it is a stereotypical Jackass film. It doesn't really add any more or less to the "franchise." Personally, I enjoy the physical stunts as opposed to the gross-out ones because I'd actually consider doing some of the physical ones myself. My favorites were the Roller-skate Buffalo, Midgets in a Barfight and Duck Hunting. I'm not sure how many of these will go down among the best the crew has done, but it's still a fun movie. Grade: B

Blog Awards

My lovely wife has passed two blog awards on to me, as you'll notice on the right. With the "Stylish Blog" one, I need to give five random facts about myself. Here we go:

1. I did shot put and discus in high school
2. I played cello for a year and it bored me to tears
3. My wife thought I ditched her on our first date because I couldn't find an ATM
4. I don't care what anyone says, I'm bored by "The Wire"
5. I was on Wheel of Fortune.
   

That's my facts. Visit my wife's blog at La Georgia Paperie