Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – Film Review

No other musical artist has changed the game of the industry quite like Weird Al Yankovic. Known for his ridiculous parodies of popular songs, Weird Al has been around since the 70s and is showing no sign of slowing down. Musical biopics have been in demand as of late, with successes like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. Now it’s Weird Al’s turn to get the biopic treatment. Yet Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is more in line with Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story than it is with all the rest of the music biopics. It seeks to make fun of all the inaccuracies and hard-partying lifestyles prevalent in those films by being an inaccurate exaggeration of a real musician in only the way Weird Al Yankovic himself could tell it. The story of Weird is not new, as it started off as a Funny or Die sketch starring Aaron Paul as Weird Al, only a decade ago. Now comes a perfect time for Weird to be an actual movie, but with Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al.

‘Man Vs. Bee’ Series Review

Rowan Atkinson has returned to his slapstick roots in Man Vs. Bee, a nine-episode comedy series on Netflix that premiered on June 24, yet I finally just watched. In Man Vs. Bee, Atkinson plays a house sitter for a couple (Jing Lusi and Julian Rhind-Tutt) as they go on vacation. Yet what seems like a quiet week of house-sitting immediately turns into a battle against an unwanted guest: That being a bee. As the battle of man vs. bee ensues over the course of nine episodes, we are treated to a mixture of funny slapstick and uncomfortable gags that you would expect from the guy who gave us Mr. Bean.

‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’ Film Review

The best way to describe The Bob’s Burgers Movie is that it is a delight! From the moment we get our first musical number, it is clear that we are in for something special. Either that, or it sure is nice to see a 2D-animated feature on our big screen. Whatever the case, The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a perfect way to ring in the summer, and then some. I am not someone who has heavily watched the Fox series from which this film spun itself from, so I cannot call myself a fan, yet after watching Bob’s, I find myself wanting to immerse myself into its quirky world. For those who are not aware, Bob’s Burgers takes place in a fast-food burger joint run by the Belcher family, led by patriarch Bob (Voice of H. Jon Benjamin), with the help of his overly-positive wife, Linda (Voice of John Roberts), and his three children, the fun-loving Gene (Voice of Eugene Mirman), mischievous Louise (Voice of Kristen Schaal), and deep-voiced, socially-awkward Tina (Voice of Dan Mintz) as they deal with all sorts of mishaps. While the show was aimed for adults, one thing that separates the Belchers from the likes of Family Guy‘s Griffin family, or the titular Simpsons is how much the Belcher family loves each other, and manages to stand by each other, even when the chips are down. You could even say that, despite its crude humor, you could probably watch this show around your kids, as it is not raunchy enough to require putting them to bed.

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Film Review

Two years after Sonic the Hedgehog surprised and impressed audiences with its blend of character-accurate CG (which couldn’t have been possible without the cry of outraged fans who were unlucky enough to catch the first trailer back in 2019) and witty humor, we get a sequel that seems to promise more Sonic adventure with the addition of two classic characters, yet upon further viewing becomes much of the same in terms of comedy and hi-jinks. I was one of those people who was not as impressed with the first Sonic, as it felt more like a mid-2000’s kids movie based on a cartoon a la Alvin and the Chipmunks or Smurfs (The latter in 2011, but still). Not even the presence of Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik was enough to save the experience. Cut to 2022, things seemed to have changed. Carrey sported a look more in line with the Dr. Robotnik we know and love, while the introduction of Miles “Tails” Prower and Knuckles the Echidna, and a plot involving chaos emeralds seemed to ensure a Sonic film worth seeing. While Sonic 2 improves on the adventure aspect, it seems held back by an attempt at being a family-comedy.

‘Jackass Forever’ Film Review

A decade after their last theatrical outing, the guys of Jackass have returned to show the world that they still have it. In a world dealing with political turmoil and a never-ending pandemic, we need a movie like Jackass Forever to brighten our spirits with some good old schadenfreude. There is no guarantee that anyone will make it unscathed, yet the end result is a fun, if not sickening, time. For the past twenty years, Johnny Knoxville and his buddies have seen and done it all, from the wild and outrageous, to the gross and disgusting. But through it all, they know how to have a good time, even if that type of fun is dangerous.

A Look Back On ‘Beavis and Butt-Head Do America’ – Still Funny After 25 Years?

When I was a kid, I had no idea who Beavis and Butt-Head were. I never really watched MTV, nor did it seem that I was really allowed to. What I do remember was seeing a VHS copy of their first motion picture, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America at age nine, but I had never really watched it, nor did I ever watch the show that it was based on. My first experience watching Beavis and Butt-Head was in high school when I noticed that a neighbor of my dad at the time, happened to have a couple of VHS’ of the show and the movie. I decided to borrow them both. While I cannot remember what my initial reaction was, all I can say is that watching Do America opened the door for my appreciation of the characters and it eventually became one of my favorite comedies, which I like to watch whenever I am in the mood.

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Film Review

Nearly 40 years after the first Ghostbusters premiered in theaters, a third movie in the franchise has finally arrived! It has been a long, rocky road to get to where we are now, with the project being in development hell for nearly two decades, matched with the casts’ hesitancy to return, along with the passing of Harold Ramis (who played Egon Spengler), it seemed that a third Ghostbusters would never get off the ground. The closest we have come was 2016’s female-led reboot which seemed to distance fans and divide critics. Now, a true sequel has come in the form of Ghostbusters: Afterlife! Afterlife is directed by Jason Reitman, who you may know as the director of films such as Juno, Up in the Air, and Jennifer’s Body. Yet what makes this special is that he is the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, which makes it feel like a passing of the torch. Ivan seems to appreciate his father’s work enough to continue the legacy as he visited the set of the original 1984 film as a kid. The touch is noticeable, but what it comes down to is more of the same story, yet for a new generation of Ghostbusters fans.

A Look Back at ‘Jingle All the Way’ – 25 Years of Corny Arnie Goodness

Now that Jingle All the Way is on Disney+, I figured that I would give it a rewatch for its 25th anniversary. I remember it as the movie that introduced me to the corniness that is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though he was mostly known for being an 80’s action star with films like The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian, Predator, and Commando, there was a time when he decided to take on family comedies. Kindergarten Cop and Junior were movies that showcased his comedic chops, but none seem to match the ridiculous, over-the-top, exaggeration that is Jingle All the Way. Jingle All the Way is Arnold at his corniest as he plays a father desperate to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas, only to cross paths with a police officer, a manic mailman, and a crowd of last-minute shoppers who all seek to get the ever in-demand Turbo Man doll. In reality, Jingle All the Way is a testament of a father trying to prove his worthiness to his son as he sets out on an all-day journey to make things right.

A Look Back On ‘Team America: World Police’ – The Most Offensive (and American) Puppet Movie Ever Made

Back in 2004, a film called Team America: World Police was released from the creators of the popular (and still running) animated show, South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Much like the show, Team America made it a goal to attack everyone and everything, from celebrities to politics, and how we, as Americans, handle the issues going on in the world. Instead of crappy cut-out style animation, Parker and Stone did the entire movie with marionette puppets. How it even got made and backed by any studio is beyond me, but I am glad it even exists in the first place.

‘Coming 2 America’ Film Review

After thirty years, Eddie Murphy has returned as one of his most iconic characters in comedy history, Prince Akeem Joffer in Coming 2 America, the long awaited sequel to one of the funniest comedies of the eighties. In Coming 2 America, Akeem has been crowned King of Zamunda by his dying father, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), and is ruling with his Queen, Lisa (Shari Headley), who Akeem has met and fell in love with while on his trip to Queens in the first film. Blessed with three daughters (KiKi Layne, Bella Murphy, and Akiley Love), Akeem eventually learns that he also has a son and must set out with his best friend and royal aide, Semmi (Arsenio Hall) back to America and seek him out.