Movie #407 - Let's Go to Prison

Let's Go to Prison

2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Bob Odenkirk
Starring: Dax Shepard, Will Arnett, Chi McBride, David Koechner, Dylan Baker, Michael Shannon, Jay Whittaker

Yeah, this movie's pretty dumb. I also think it's pretty funny, so sue me. Okay?
I think Will Arnett's hillarious, so I'm in.

If you're not familiar with this comedy, Shepard plays a con who wants to get back at the judge who put him away.  Instead, he has to settle for ruining the life of the judge's son (Arnett) and gets him locked up through a too-easy scheme.  McBride plays the tough inmate who falls hard for Arnett, leading to a strange kind of partnership that is itself pretty entertaining. Koechner plays the corrupt prison guard only too eager to take bets on the next inmate fight.  Great actors and characters make this more fun than the lame premise suggests.

It had been a while since I'd last seen this one and it's a nice, light-hearted way to break up some of the heavier stuff and action-heavy stuff I've been watching lately.  It's always nice to laugh.

Movie #380 - The Frighteners

The Frighteners
1996 - Rated R - 1 hr 50 min
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Michael J Fox, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, Chi McBride, John Astin , Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace, Jake Busey

This one got deleted too. UGH!

So, I think I said something about liking the funny take on ghost-busting. Michael J Fox sees ghosts and has some ghost-friends who haunt homes until the owners call him to "exorcise" them.  Good stuff, and it's going well, until a bad-ass ghost of a former serial killer shows up and starts ticking off people around Michael J Fox, one by one.  He sees a number appear on their forehead and then... they die.  Of course, he always seems to be around somehow, leading police to suspect him.

Aaaaaaand there's a creepy old lady with a sketchy past who's helping him out.  Creepy. 

This one's not really a horror movie, it's more a blend of genres and probably closer to a light paranormal comedy than anything else.  Not bad, but not particularly riveting either.

Movie #293 - I, Robot

I, Robot
2004 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 55 min
Director: Alex Proyas
Starring: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, Alan Tudyk, Chi McBride

Another book adapted into a movie staring Will Smith. And in the letter I.  I've never read the Isaac Asimov book this is based on, so I can't speak to that angle of the movie.  As a stand-alone futuristic action movie, I really do like this one.

Will Smith falls easily into the shoes of his hero character and the analysis of a society largely reliant on robots is not new territory, but explored with a fresh perspective.  They "can't" hurt humans and there are all these other rules that restrict them.  But a loophole, and a new model, start causing serious problems.  The central robot character, who actually feels emotions and dreams while he sleeps, voiced expertly by Alan Tudyk, is a really compelling figure - although that may be surprising.  Overall, the plot keeps you invested in this movie, rooting for our main robot.  And the end is a nice cap on a solid plotline.

Movie #235 - Gone in 60 Seconds

Gone in 60 Seconds
2000 - Rated PG-13 - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Scott Caan, James Duval,  Will Patton, Delroy Lindo, Timothy Olyphant, Chi McBride, Robert Duvall, Christopher Eccleston, Vinnie Jones

I guess car theft is a little lighter content-wise than kidnapping.  Although, all these crime movies in a row are overwhelming.

So Nicolas Cage is an ex-car thief and his brother, Giovanni Ribisi, is an idiot who tries to become a car thief and gets in over his head.  Cage pulls together his old thieving buddies from back in the day -- including Angeline Jolie, who looks like a crack whore in this movie, no joke -- and attempts to complete the job for him, so Christopher Eccleston won't kill him.  (Yes, Christopher Eccleston is in EVERYTHING lately.) 

But Delroy Lindo and Timothy Olyphant (also in EVERYTHING. G is his letter, man) are the cops who used to try to catch Cage and they're onto him.  Also, a car named Eleanor is Cage's nemesis. It's a long story but basically, he can't steal this one particular model without something bad happening. Of course, it's on the list and he saves it for last.  Will he make it in time?

Car chases ensue, but this ain't Fast and Furious.  It's a very markedly late 90's thrillfest and, as such, it's not so bad.  Absolutely do not watch this movie if you're looking for content.  Just watch it for the pretty cars.

Movie #4 - Mercury Rising

Mercury Rising
Universal Pictures
1998 - Rated R - 1 hr 52 min
Director: Harold Becker
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Chi McBride, Kim Dickens

My Bruce Willis triple feature continues with this movie I've never seen. Hooray, a new movie! I should have been more suspicious about it, though, when Mike refused to watch this Bruce Willis action movie with me. Pass on that? Really? As I recall, he said, "Watching that once was enough."

Uh oh.

I purposely did not read the back of the DVD case so I wouldn't know what to expect. Right away, we're at a bank robbery and Bruce Willis is a bad guy. Ooh, a movie where Bruce Willis isn't the hero - I like it! The wall explodes, the FBI comes in, and nope... he's undercover. Oh well. Now we're in a classroom with an autistic kid named Simon, who likes road maps and puzzles.... Rad.

Simon is apparently a Rain-Man genius and can crack hidden code in his World of Puzzles book, cuz he finds a phone number in some weird, primordial Sudoku puzzle thing and calls it. It's The Puzzle Center (are you freaking kidding me?) and because he's cracked some code, they are now freaking out. Enter Alec Baldwin, who is displeased to learn that "Mercury is failing" cuz some autistic kid likes numbers.

Right.

Then some unimportant side characters are quoting "The Simpsons," because it was cool to do that back then. Skip to underlings explaining to Baldwin that they put a code in a puzzle magazine just for funsies, and he is pissssssssssssssed. Cuz the kid that cracked it, "Not only is he nine years old, he is handicapped. He is autistic." But you know, autistic people are often "savants," say the other guys. I'm pretty sure this whole scene is no longer PC, but thanks 1998.

I'm getting the feeling that Bruce Willis is going to have to protect the handicapped savant. And oh! Some FBI poser just killed Simon's mom and dad. But Simon gets away! Tricky little kid. He's in the closet, Bruce Willis! Look in the closet!

Uh oh, the guy who shot Simon's parents wasn't sent by Alec Baldwin! They must protect the Mercury code or else people who are undercover in Saddam's Republic Guard will be revealed!! And now someone else knows.... oh no! (They're losing me here.)

After some chase scenes and a couple close calls with a train, they're going to stay at Chi McBride's! He still had a full head of hair in 1998, by the way. (Bruce Willis did not.)

Lots of crazy things happen, Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin have a show down... then it's all over. Simon can go back to school, get some foster parents, etc. Bruce Willis feels good about himself now. Warm fuzzies for everyone.

I did not like this movie at all. And I can now see what Mike is talking about. I'm pretty sure he only owns this movie because it came sandwiched between 12 Monkeys and The Jackal. As he says, "It's like buying the 12-pack of Gatorade and getting stuck with 3 orange ones. No one likes the orange."

Well, I like orange Gatorade but I did not like Mercury Rising.