Daddy's Home 2 mixes laughter with love

Movie Title:    Daddy's Home 2

Grade:  B

Rating: PG-13,  1 hour, 40 minutes

In a Nutshell: “We’re back with more daddies!” says Will Ferrell’s character, easily the tag-line for this movie.

It's a funny sequel that also has some touching, cheesy moments, which will put you in the Christmas spirit and inspire you to celebrate your own crazy, dysfunctional family.

A lot of movie critics really hated this, but I thought it was really entertaining for a light night at the movies.  It addresses the complicated issue of step-parenting in a lighthearted way.

Uplifting theme: 

• Divorce doesn’t end the relationship.  My parents were divorced when I was a little girl, but they continually have to associate with each other because of their children.  Instead of competing for their kids' love, parents and step-parents should be glad that there are more parents around who can love and support their children.  It's never perfect, but it's better than hating each other, which hurts the kids and puts them in a difficult situation.
• “You’re the only one who can ruin Christmas.” – Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell)
• Family comes in all shapes and sizes.
• Love, patience and forgiveness.

Things I liked:

• The leading men were very entertaining and had great chemistry together.  They are all equally talented at comedy as they are in at drama.  Wait, have we ever seen Will Ferrell in a serious drama?
• The cabin where they stayed was awesome!  I stayed in an AirBnB home in Arizona that had the same awesome shower.
• Mark Wahlberg did a great job. There’s an interesting article that reveals Wahlberg hopes that God will forgive him for his past mistakes and movies.  While Mel Gibson plays Mark Wahlberg's dad, he is only 15 years older.  Surprising, right?
• I thought it was funny when Mel Gibson’s character demands that his grandchildren call him “El Padre.”  My dad decided he wanted his grandchildren to call him “Sir”, so now they call him “GrampSir.”  Ha ha
• The “Be a man” bowling scene was funny and touching at the same time.  I have 4 sons, so my husband gave that speech many times to our boys that Mel Gibson’s character gave to the cute Dylan (Owen Vaccaro).
• The band “Chicago” is mentioned in a funny way and you also hear their music later from Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits.  I went to one of their concerts back in the day.
• There’s a really cool copper mug that several people hold and drink out of.  I looked on Amazon to see if I could find it and I did.  It’s called Moscow Mule Hammered Copper 18 Ounce Drinking Mug, Set of 4.
• I thought the movie “Missile Tow” sounded awesome!  Ha ha  It’s the pretend movie that the families watch at a theater, featuring Liam Neeson.  Linda Cardellin’s characters says of the movie, “It has kids in it.  How dirty can it be?”  That was a big poke at the movie Daddy's Home 2 itself.  The answer?  The presence of kids definitely doesn’t mean the movie is clean or appropriate for kids to watch.
• All of the characters sing!  They don’t all have great voices, but it’s still really fun to see and hear them sing.
• John Cena has a much bigger role in this movie than he did in the first Daddy's Home.   If you’re a fan (who isn’t?), you’ll be happy to know that he voices the main character in the movie FERDINAND that arrives in movie theaters next month.  Rumor has it that the next movie in this franchise will revolve around him.
• The audience I sat with loved the surprise cameo at the end of the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• The trailer showed lines that didn’t actually appear in the movie.
• It definitely helps to have seen the first Daddy's Home movie.  You’ll understand more jokes and the character development better.  There are references to things that happened in the first movie.
• Some of the jokes fall flat.
• Mel Gibson's character is a real jerk.  He's not really funny, but just laughs at his own jokes.  Speaking of Mel's laugh, it sounds really raspy like he has been smoking all of his life.
• It often feels like a goofy sit-com with a laugh track and carefully placed music to tell you how to feel.

Funny lines:

• “I got some gender-neutral flashcards!” –Brad Whitaker
• “The thermostat is a sacred covenant.” – Brad Whitaker   (That’s so true.  When my sisters and I were growing up, we had a constant battle with our dad about the temperature in the house.  We would dial the temperature up to the high 70's and he would knock it back down to the 60’s.
• “It looks as if he’s been chiseled out of Gibralter itself.” – Will Ferrell’s character describing Mel Gibson’s character.

Tips for parents: 

• There is a funny scene when Will Ferrell and John Lithgow play car games during a long ride to a cabin in the snow and drive everyone else nuts with their enthusiasm.  What car games do you play with your family?  Here’s a list you can use with your kids to make the time go faster in the car and be more enjoyable.  
• You see Will Ferrell’s back side in his underwear with an uncovered cheek.
• There is a lot of man-on-man kissing (father/son), as well as talk of French kissing, and a gay moment where a boy wants to kiss another boy.
• Inappropriate sexual innuendos.
• Megan (adorable Scarlett Estevez) lifts up her shirt to look like her sexy step-mom.  Later, she swears several times and shoots a gun.
• Some sexist comments.
• Two of the little girls get drunk.
• Didi Costine’s character was such a bratty little girl.  She was either on her cell phone the entire time or saying snotty things to people.  If you have a daughter, talk to her about some of those behaviors that can make a pretty girl become ugly.
• Andrea Anders has a very short part as a principal who tries to unsuccessfully convince the parents to put down their cell phones and iPads.  I laughed out loud, because it’s so true.
• Mel Gibson's character is a womanizer.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The House is a piece of garbage

Movie Title:  
The House

Grade:  F because it has 3.8 million F-bombs in it (and it's a terrible movie)

Rating: R

In a Nutshell:   Why are so many trashy movies coming out in theaters that glorify extremely bad behavior?  

If you like being assaulted by an F-bomb every 2.7 seconds, watching people throw up and get high, then this raunchy piece of garbage is for you.

Uplifting theme: 

•  Family
•  Crime pays? 
• College is expensive and makes parents go crazy

Things I liked:

• I liked seeing Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler together again.  Besides their SNL background, they were both in Blades of Glory ten years ago. Honestly, Amy Poehler was better than Will Ferrell in this flick. If you see this in theaters, you'll also see Will Ferrell being featured in the upcoming sequel of Daddy's Home.
• Jason Mantzoukas was really good in this.  He and Amy Poehler were both in the zany  Parks and Recreation: The Complete Series TV show together.
• The premise is somewhat interesting, so I was curious what they were going to do with the idea.  I live in Las Vegas, so I'm definitely familiar with the idea that the "house always wins." The movie could have been really interesting.  It wasn't.
• There is mention of Panera Bread.  Man, I love that place! I thought it about during the rest of the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

•  It's vulgar and stupid.   
• You might chuckle a time or two, but it's not very funny.
• The family is totally into watching The Walking Dead: Season 1.  I was a fan for a few seasons, but I'm over it.  It seems they could have picked a newer TV show to be obsessed about.
•  This is director Andrew Jay Cohen's first film.  Hopefully, he learns from his mistakes and chooses better writers next time.

Funny lines:

• “One of us has to be an adult here.  So, you be it.” – Kate Johansen (Amy Poehler)
• “What about Bob?” – Bob  (Nick Kroll)   The Johansens laugh and refer to the movie Bill Murray was in called What About Bob?.  Bob then says, “Am I the only one who doesn’t get Bill Murray?”  Yes, Bob.  Yes, you are.  By the way, you should see What About Bob? instead of this one.  
• “Did you just say whom?” – Scott Johansen  (Yeah, I’m a Grammar Nazi too.)

Tips for parents: 

• TONS of marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, gambling, blood-gushing violence, and vomit. 
• People flip the bird.
• Full frontal nudity of men and women walking down the stairs quickly.
•  This is NOT a movie you could show your family with a filtering service.  You would see about a 5 minute clip after the service wiped all of the garbage out.  This is a true Rated R movie.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Zoolander 2 has more cameos than humor

Movie Title:      Zoolander No.2

Grade:   C+

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Blue steel is back!  If you loved the first Zoolander movie, like I did, you’ll generally get a kick out of this sequel.  If you didn’t enjoy it, then you’ll want to pass on this one, because it’s more of the same goofy nonsense.

Filled with TONS of celebrity cameos and a very thin plot, this ridiculous satire of the fashion industry and pop culture features Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell, Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen.

Uplifting theme: 

• “How can you expect to love 11 people when you don’t even love yourself?” – Kiefer Sutherland (playing himself)
• What’s inside you is more important than what’s outside.
• Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Things I liked:

• The film includes special appearances of some of the icons in the fashion industry: Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Valentino, Alexander Wang, Anna Wintour, and Mark Jacobs.
• Benedict Cumberbatch!
• You get a little history lesson in the beginning to fill you in on what has happened since the first Zoolander movie came out.  Has it really been 15 years?
• Other celebrity cameos include: Billy Zane, Ariana Grande, Kiefer Sutherland, Willie Nelson, Katie Perry, Sting, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Susan Boyle, Madonna, Usher, Lenny Kravitz, John Malkovich, M.C. Hammer, Olivia Munn, and many more.  Susan Sarandon appears and quotes a line she said in the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show .
• #oops!
• Penelope Cruz works for Interpol in the Fashion Division.  Ha ha
• There isn’t a surprise at the end of the credits, but you can watch Mugatu dance as they roll.
• I liked what they did with Fred Armisen’s character.
• The beginning of the movie with Justin Bieber was pretty funny.
• A lot of the movie is filmed in Rome!  I love Rome!  Here are some pictures I took there during my last visit there a couple of years ago.

Things I didn’t like:

• Kristen Wiig’s character is so repulsive and hard to understand that there is very little humor on the screen when she appears.  I do, however, think it’s funny that she “floats”, rather than walks.
• Some of the fashion gags get a little tired.
• I actually laughed out loud several times, but most of the humor is really, really, ridiculously stupid and you can see them coming a mile away.
• For a movie to have a sequel, it has to have a good reason to exist.  Other than a money grab, there just isn't much there.  Huge Zoolander fans will probably be disappointed by that.

Funny lines:

• “I miss not knowing things with you.” – Derek
•  “Prison changed me.  I’m bad to the core now!” - Mugatu
• “Don’t drink the water or you’ll die.” – VIP
• Farm-to-table Wi-Fi….ha ha
• “All is all just married hermself.  Mono-marriage is legal in Rome now.” – VIP
• “We were a joke out there…a total laughing stick.” – Derek
• “Please accept my apologies, Derek.” – Valentina Valencia

“None taken.” – Derek

• “You’re the most narcissistic person I’ve ever met.” – Derek Junior

“But that’s not how I see myself.” – Derek

• “I’m not fat.” – Derek Junior

“He’s Plus Size!” - Derek

Tips for parents:   

• 1 F-bomb, although you get to hear Justin Bieber say “Oh fudge!”  Penelope Cruz swears in Spanish.
• Like the orgy scene in the first Zoolander movie, there is another one with Hansel.  
• Penelope Cruz is practically falling out of her bathing suit and blouses in every scene.  Zoolander grabs her chest in one scene and has an “aroused” profile in another.
• Mugatu and Todd have another odd sexual facial exchange like in the first film.
• Most of the characters are extremely shallow.  Talk to your kids about self-esteem and the importance of not judging people by their appearance alone.

Daddy's Home is dumb and delightful

Movie Title:    Daddy’s Home

Grade:  B

Rating:  PG-13, 1 hour 36 minutes

In a Nutshell:    

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg definitely have chemistry together.  You can see jokes coming a mile away, but they’re still pretty funny.  Critics are ripping the movie to shreds, but the audience I watched the movie with was rolling on the floor with laughter and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Maybe it was all that Christmas sugar going to their heads that made them not care that the movie was formulaic and lazy. 

Uplifting theme: 

• “A real dad wouldn’t give up on his kids so easy.” – Griff  (Hannibal Buress)
• “You can find the good in just about anything.” – Sarah to Brad   (What a nice compliment.  I hope people can say the same thing about me.)
• “It takes a real man to show his emotions.” – Sarah (Linda Cardellini)
• The movie begins with a question: “What do kids need more – a father or a dad?  What’s the difference?” 

Things I liked:

• Normally, product placement in movies drives me nuts, but it’s actually pretty clever in this film.  Director Sean Anders pokes fun at blatant merchandising and it ends up actually being funny.  You’ll never think of Cinnabon and the Ford Flex in the same way again.
• The movie begins with fairly morbid, but funny kid drawings by Megan.  Scarlett Estevez is absolutely adorable as Megan.
• There’s a super short clip of one of my favorite movies of all time “The Princess Bride.”
• Mark Wahlberg’s character is described as what would happen if Jesse James and Mick Jagger had a baby.  He’s hilarious.
• There were several jokes about the movie Frozen that got the audience howling.
• I’ve liked Thomas Haden Church ever since he was a young guy on Wings.  His character in this film is ridiculous, yet surprisingly likeable.
• The ending was precious.

Things I didn’t like:

•  I never like it when kids swear in movies.  The audience laughed, but I cringed.
• Any movie with Will Ferrill is sure to include crude humor that features poop, animals humping, testicles and tampons.  This one delivers.
• With all the money Will Ferrill makes, why doesn’t he get his teeth fixed?
• There is a reference to the Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda TV shows that no one under 50 will even understand.
• There are some stunts and CGI that look totally fake.
• There is a whole series of racist jokes that are funny and awkward at the same time, including a deserved slam about Paula Deen.

Funny lines:

•  “I’m a hot habanero pepper right now.” – Brad
• “You must be the new and improved husband.” – Mark
• “If this guy were my wife’s ex, I’d put a bullet in my head.” – Leo

Tips for parents:   

• Profanity.
• There are actually some good parenting tips in the movie, such as having “kind, but firm boundaries.”
• While the movie is completely goofy, families might benefit from a discussion about some of the issues that are brought up in the film: parenting, love, respect, boundaries, family. 

Don't waste your time and money on Anchorman 2

Movie Title:  Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Grade: D for dumb

In a Nutshell:  Full of offensive stupidity.  I have a pretty good sense of humor and love to laugh, but this movie falls short of the cast’s talent and is a complete waste of money and time.

Uplifting theme:  Idiots can redeem themselves?

Things I liked: The slow-motion sequence in the rolling van.

Things I didn’t like:  Offensive on so many levels.  I really hated this movie.  Can you tell?

Funny line: I heard the audience laugh at terribly dumb things, so….

Things to look for:  A different movie to watch.

Tips for parents: DO NOT go.  DO NOT take your children.  Offensive jokes about race, sex, infidelity.  Bad language throughout.