Spiderman Homecoming offers a fresh twist on a Marvel fan favorite

Movie Title:  Spider-Man: Homecoming

Grade: A-

Rating: PG-13,

In a Nutshell:  Another Spider-Man?  Really?  I rolled my eyes when I saw that yet one more Spider-Man origin movie was being made...6 movies in 15 years with 3 different lead actors.  BUT, this isn’t exactly an origin movie and it offers some fresh new takes on the story that you just might get a kick out of. 

Complete with a dental retainer, Spanish quiz, and best-friend secret handshake, Peter Parker is a goofy teenager who struggles with the “Training Wheel Protocol” as he learns how to become a true superhero and Avenger.  With plenty of action and humor, this is another effective arrow in Marvel’s growing cinematic quiver.

This new version of Spider-Man, directed by Jon Watts, really captures the innocence, naivete, and adolescence of everyday teenage life.  It offers an impressive balance between superhero and high schooler. One of the movie posters does a great job of illustrating that.

Uplifting theme:   

• “Times are changing.  It’s time we change too.” – Adrian Toomes  (This idea also explains the existence of this new Spider-man remake)
•  Take time to figure out who you are.
• Service, love, friendship, family.

Things I liked:

• Tom Holland has the 15 year old personality to offer a unique perspective on this young superhero, as well as the 6-pack abs to make you believe he can be a powerful Avenger.
• I love Michael Keaton in anything he does.  He had to get a kick out of playing this flying role as The Vulture, after winning awards for his quasi superhero character in Birdman.  They did a great job with creating a backstory and motivation for The Vulture.  He’s a scavenger, which is what vultures do.
• I loved all of the different features on Spiderman’s enhanced suit given to him by the tech genius Tony Stark.  “Enhanced Interrogation Protocol.”   Ha ha
• Spider drone.  I hate spiders, but that drone was pretty cool.
• Peter Parker says to his Spanish teacher, “Me gusta hacer la tarea.”  There aren’t any subtitles, so I thought you might like to know what he said.  “I like to do homework.”   Ha ha
• There’s a short clip from Marvel's Captain America: Civil War to remind you where we first saw this new Tom Holland version of Spider-man.
• The 3D really pays off during the Washington, DC scenes, as well as any time Peter Parker is scaling buildings.
• Is the US Academic Decathlon a real thing?  Yes, it is!  www.usad.org
• Check out the dramatic backsplash in Adrian Toomes’ kitchen.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the story; I just thought it was interesting.
• Cool cloaking feature on Tony Stark’s plane.
• I love that Marvel always includes a cameo performance by creator Stan Lee.  I get a kick out of seeing what oddball lines they choose to give him.  In this film, he says, “Don’t make me come down there, you punk!” ha ha   Speaking of Stan Lee, he has always said that people relate so much to Spiderman, because he’s just a normal kid with normal problems.  That’s exactly what makes this new version of Spiderman so likeable.
• Was the National Monument really built by slaves as Michelle suggests?  While there is no definite evidence that proves she's right, there are quite a few other national monuments and famous buildings in Washington, D.C. that were.  The guard at the monument gives a "so-so" hand gesture, which is actually a good answer to the question.
• Keep watching during the rolling credits for a little hint at the next film in the series.  Keep watching until the VERY end of all of the credits for a funny PSA announcement from Captain America.  I love that Marvel includes those funny clips at the end of their movies.  By the way, the entire movie is filled with funny PSA announcements by Captain America.  Love him.
• I love the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off  so I got a kick out of the scene when Peter Parker is running through a bunch of people’s yards and then you actually see that movie clip playing on someone’s TV inside their house. ha ha  I like that there are times when Spider-man doesn’t have any buildings to swing around on to travel.  What's a superhero to do?  Instead, he has to run!  Ha ha
• Tons of Easter Eggs for true comic book fans.
  
• Jacob Batalan makes for a great best friend and provides some great interaction and dialogue for Peter Parker.
• Cameo by Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts.

Things I didn’t like:

• The movie starts with a shaky cam technique which made me immediately worry that this was how the entire movie was going to be.  Thankfully, it only lasts a couple of minutes and exists to show you that Peter Park is just an awkward teenager who keeps a video diary and is eager to learn everything and prove himself.
• A lot of Spider-man’s powers come from Tony Stark’s high tech suit that was gifted to Peter Parker, and not his actual “spidey sense.”  Don't get me wrong, the new suit is awesome.
• What’s up with Aunt May’s high-waisted pants?  Is that back in fashion now?  Are they trying to make the hot actress, Marisa Tomei, look frumpy or something?
• There is a LOT of Audi product placement in this movie.

Funny lines:

• “Wow, their lair is in a gas station.  That’s so lame.” – Spider-man
• “Can’t bear to lose a student on a school field trip…not again.” – teacher
• “But we have a Spanish quiz.” – Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon)
• “Deactivating Instant Kill.” – “Suit Lady” (voiced by the lovely Jennifer Connelly)
• “That’s awesome!” –Peter Parker/Spider-man says this about a million times.  It’s endearing because it reminds you that he’s just a teenager and has that same awe of superheroes that we do.
• “I’m just going to be myself.” – Peter Parker

“Nobody wants that.” – Ned

“Can’t you just be a friendly, neighborhood Spiderman?” – Tony Stark/Iron Man  (the always entertaining Robert Downey Jr.)

Interesting lines:

• “I’m just trying to be like you.” – Spider-Man

“I want you to be better.” – Tony Stark/Iron Man

• “The only way to really be cool is to obey the rules.” – Captain America

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity.
• Lots of violence and destruction.
• Ned tells a teacher he’s looking at porn.  It’s supposed to be funny.  It’s not.  The writers couldn’t think of anything clever for him to say?
• The movie takes its time to develop characters, so little kids might actually get bored. 

@trinaboice 

The Founder reveals a story you might not know about McDonalds

Movie Title:   The Founder

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 115 minutes

In a Nutshell:  The Golden Arches! You may actually want to swing by McDonald’s after you leave the theater to celebrate the American Dream…either that or ban it because of what Ray Kroc did to the real McDonald brothers in order to build his fast food empire.

It’s a fascinating look at business, persistence, and the history of America’s original fast food chain.  According to the movie, every day, McDonald’s feeds 1% of the world’s population!

Uplifting theme: 

• Hard work, persistence, the American Dream
• “They all lack the one thing that makes McDonald’s special…” – Ray

“Which is?” – Dick McDonald

“Even YOU don’t know what it is!” – Ray

“Enlighten me.” – Dick

“It’s not just the system, Dick. It’s the name, that glorious name.  It can be anything you want it to be.  It’s limitless.  It sounds like America….” – Ray

• If you’re an older entrepreneur, you’ll be inspired by these older men who made it big later in life.

Things I liked:

• I love what director John Lee Hancock did with the movies Saving Mr. Banks and The Blind Side.  He has become quite the storyteller when it comes to biopic dramas.
• Michael Keaton gives a great performance, especially shines when Ray Kroc’s behavior gets worse and worse.  His piano duet Linda Cardellini was charming.
• The tennis court scene was fascinating to watch.  Brilliant planning, eh?
• Parks and Recreation: The Complete Series fan favorite Nick Offerman plays Dick McDonald.
• You get to see video of the real Ray Kroc at the end of the film.  You also get to see pictures of the real people who played secondary roles in this true story, as well as read what happened to them.  Interesting stuff.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some people will be a bit bored. 
• So, the moral of the story seems to be that you can step on people, be unscrupulous and win in the end...?  You'll leave the theater in a bit of a downer.  It's not a "feel good" story with a happy ending that leaves you morally inspired.
• So, Ray Kroc was basically a thief…he stole a business and he stole someone’s wife.  He’s a scoundrel, but because Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, you somehow cheer for him during the movie.
• I kind of felt bad for Laura Dern.  Both she and Ethel Kroc, whom she played, probably both wished they could have been given a bigger part in the McDonald's story.

Interesting lines:

• “McDonald’s can become America’s new church: feeding bodies and feeding souls, and it ain’t just open on Sundays, boys.” – Ray Kroc
• “There are many things we could do to make a quick buck, but that doesn’t mean we should.” – Dick McDonald
• “There’s a wolf in the hen house.  We let him in!” – Dick McDonald
• Good things come to those who wait.” – Joan Smith (Linda Cardellini)
• “You think big Joan, don’t you?” – Ray

“Is there any other way to?” – Joan

• “Contracts are like hearts.  They’re made to be broken.” – Ray
• “Business is war.” – Ray
• “We will never beat him.  We will never be rid of him.” – Mac McDonald (John Carroll Lynch)
• “So, if you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em?” - Dick
• “You’re not in the food business…you’re in the real estate business.” -  Harry Sonneborn (played by the all grown up B.J. Novak)

Funny lines:

• “When is enough going to be enough for you?” – Ethel Kroc (Laura Dern)

“Honestly, probably never.” – Ray Kroc

• “Would you eat at a place named Kroc’s?” - Ray

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, including 1 F-bomb.
• Those of us who grew up when McDonald's was truly popular (60's & 70's) will enjoy learning more about this American icon.  None of my kids ever liked McDonalds, so the younger generations of viewers will probably only be mildly entertained by this movie. 

@trinaboice 

Gamers get real world ride in Need for Speed

Movie Title:Need for Speed   

Grade:   B-

In a Nutshell:  The very first car I ever bought with my own money was a cute 1965 Mustang I named Scooter.  Need for Speed features a modified Mustang that has all the bells and whistles, as well as a lot of other extremely cool cars.  Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever, this gear-head flick is full of high-speed racing, violent crashes, and adrenaline that will make it hard for you to keep the speed limit when you leave the theater. Of course, there is a warning at the end of the film that tells you NOT to reenact any of the dangerous driving thrills you just spent two hours watching.

Directed by former stuntman Scott Waugh, the plot of revenge runs a little on empty, but it’s still a fun ride, albeit predictable.  Gamers will feel their fingers twitching a time or two.

Uplifting theme:   Tobey Marshall announces “They took everything from me.  I do not fear, for you are with me.  All those who defied me shall be ashamed and disgraced.  Those who wage war against me shall perish.  I will find strength, find guidance, and I will triumph!”   

Things I liked:

• As you can imagine, there were quite a few car stunts that made me wonder if their feasibility will show up on a future episode of the Mythbusters TV show.  One example is when someone on a truck drives next to a car and fills its gas tank while both are driving fast down a road.  To make the whole sequence even more unbelievable, the lid to the gas tank won’t open, even though the Mustang is worth millions of dollars and has incredible high-tech gadgets everywhere.
• Breaking Bad: Season 1 Aaron Paul does a great job as Tobey Marshall who drives “the chariot of the gods” in the race before the race, which indeed, includes a Need for Speed .  I wanted to see even more of Michael Keaton’s quirky, uber-hyper, and eccentric character, Monarch.
• I was actually startled a couple of times and jumped in my seat.
• Some of the beautiful scenery makes you itch for a road trip.
• Although ridiculous and improbable, I got a kick out of Maverick’s talent for stealing and flying things.
• I loved seeing the teen-filled drive-in theater at the beginning of the movie.  It brought back great memories of fun times.  
• Cool aerial scenes and interesting camera angles.  I saw the movie in 3D which made the shattering glass even more dynamic.  3D has become quite good in movies nowadays, enhancing the viewer’s experience, instead of the gimmicky pranks it used to feature.

Things I didn’t like:

• Yeah, they’re all bad boys, but it bothered me how many innocent people were put in harm’s way due to their disregard for anyone not in the underground circuit of street racing.
• Julia Bonet (Imogen Poots) is a tough, calloused negotiator until she gets a crush on a boy.  Oh brother.
• Some of the dizzy editing of race scenes and scary cliff driving made me have to look away.
• Some of the lines were pretty lame, such as “We’ll settle this behind the wheel.”  (Tobey)
• The story isn’t fresh and runs out of gas.
• I really hope that young viewers won’t get any dangerous ideas like trying to outrace a train.

Funny lines:

• “I believe you, you crazy little tart.”  - Monarch
• “This is the best DeLeon I’ve ever put together.  This is my David.  This is my Pieta.  This is my soup can.”  - Monarch
• “There is $7 million dollars worth of cars.  Winner takes all.  Losers, ya’all can walk home.” – Monarch
• “Racers should race.  Cops should eat donuts.”  - Monarch
• Julia asks “Is there anything else right-seaters are supposed to do?”  Tobey quips “Be quiet.”
• “Looks like a scene out of Speed down there.”  - Maverick as he flies over a street where Tobey is driving like crazy
• Rami Malek’s character tells a lady in an elevator “My friend’s driving the fastest Mustang in the country in the DeLeon race.”  Looking confused, she mumbles “I’m in accounting.”  He pries “Don’t you feel like you’re dying?”  “Yes” she says, looking dejected and then noticing he’s completely naked.  He finishes the conversation “It’s cold in here.”
• “Never judge a girl by her Gucci boots.” – Julia
• “That’s my boy.  Give me some space. I’m about to Twerk it out!” - Maverick

Things to look for:   

• Funny photo of Benny/Maverick on the Mustang’s speaker phone video panel.
• Nice tile floor medallion in Monarch’s office.
• Tobey’s tattoo on his left wrist (shown symbolically when the security guard cuts off his ID bracelet in prison.)
• Keep watching during the rolling credits at the end…

Tips for parents:   Some profanity, although definitely not what you’re used to hearing from Aaron Paul on Breaking Bad: Season 1 !  There is a funny scene when Rami Malek’s character quits his desk job and strips naked so he won’t ever be able to return, revealing his backside several times.  Disrespect for policemen and laws.