Movie Review: "The Big Wedding"

A multifaceted film sprinkled with an all-star cast should expect to thrill any audience with Academy Award winners across the board. However and sadly, Writer and Director Justin Zackham’s seemingly obvious and at most optimistic attempt of pulling off such virtuosity fails miserably and allows itself to be tossed in the Pacific waters as shark food. The clichéd plotline could be mistaken to be stolen straight out of a Judd Apatow romantic comedy (see: disappointment; #majorfail) as it centers a too often and overly portrayed heterosexual couple’s relationship just days before their over-the-top and perfect wedding day. Alejandro (Ben Barnes, The Chronicles of Narnia) and Missy (Amanda Seyfried, Mamma Mia!) are about to be wed meanwhile surrounded by their chaotic to a fault relatives and all their mishaps and dark skies that follow them—for which steers the film in many directions far away from the wedding itself. Alejandro, adopted at a young age to the then married lovers Ellie (Diane Keaton, Something’s Gotta Give) and Don (Robert De Niro, Meet the Parents) has to convince his [Alejandro's] biological mother and sister visiting from his home country that everything in his adopted family is hunky dory, all the while Ellie and Don having to pretend they’re still married under one roof while Don’s mistress Bebe (Susan Sarandon, Thelma & Louise) touts her role as solely the wedding caterer.

(c) 2013 | Two Ton Films and Millennium Films

Siblings are reunited from different career avenues featuring the sister Lyla, (Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy) a newly pregnant attorney facing the possibility of a failed marriage and brother Jared, (Topher Grace,That 70’s Show) a twenty-nine year old doctor who happens to still be a virgin. The cast also egregiously features Father Moinighan (Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire), the Catholic priest who consecrates the young couple’s marriage.

(c) 2013 | Two Ton Films and Millennium Films

While fairly humorous, the film only mildly stands on its own two feet with a cast more than able to carry out the story in an entertaining fashion. I couldn’t help but to raise my eyebrow a handful of times while the screenwriting takes a very liberal stab at organized religion, often scoffing at Catholic moralities and indelicate gestures towards common world issues. I suggest waiting for this movie to come out to rent or be purchased just for shits and giggles— since it will probably just gather dust among the rest of your collection either digitally or on DVD, as it is a great one-timer movie that could be enjoyed once, maybe twice and that’s about it.

Efficacious acting and a few knee slappers allow this film a rating of 2 out of 5 stars—and because I love Chinese Pugs. Keep this film out of reach from children and the easily offended.

Movie Review: "Oz: The Great and Powerful"

Director Sam Raimi brings this fanatical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard Of Oz to screens everywhere in an eager attempt to win over movie lovers. Oscar Diggs (James Franco, Pineapple Express, 127 Hours) is just an ordinary traveling magician who aims to shock and amaze his audience with a sleeve full of plain and mediocre magic tricks. When he is whisked off in a hot-air balloon to The Land of Oz, Oscar’s worldviews change and he finds himself in a slew of predicaments, one being that the people of Oz foresaw his falling from the meek skies and believe that he is the great wizard they’ve long awaited. But there are three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis, Black Swan), Evanora (Rachel Weisz, Constantine) and Glinda (Michelle Williams, Dawson’s Creek) who all seem less persuaded that he is indeed the great and powerful icon they’ve been expecting. Troubling as this might be for Oscar who is never displeased with being the center of attention, he finds himself surrounded by gold and fortune—which is all but his until he completes one heavy task. Before he can claim his throne, he must seek which of the witches are good and which one is as truly wicked as he’s so heard about. Set out on a journey to find and destroy the Wicked Witch, Oscar is accompanied by his newfound pals the comical flying bell-hop monkey Finley (Voiced by Zach Braff, Scrubs) and the scanty china girl (Voiced by Joey King, Crazy Stupid Love) who both come to his aide along the way. It is for then that Oscar must utilize his craft for it is all he has to convince the people of Oz that he is right for the task and that he’s in fact the great and powerful wizard they see him as.

(c) 2013 | Walt Disney Pictures and Roth Films

It was a clever idea to provide such an in depth backstory of Oz himself, which is helpful to anyone willing to view the first original classic one more time. The film also admirably follows the same platform in which its predecessor had by starting the first portion in black and white then transitioning into the stunning color—all the while drawing in the wonder and excitement that the land of Oz brings with vibrant displays of pixel perfect clarity. With a variety of fresh elements, Oz: The Great and Powerful combines fantasy with steampunk, a basis in which the movie seems hopeful to provide will appeal to every audience. This film is intended for all ages, however some of the humor might go unnoticed by younger viewers. It has a steady plot and directs its audience right through to the very enthusiastic end.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars for its incredible visual effects and auspicious screenwriting.