THE MEDDLER - film review

THE MEDDLER
Director: Lorene Scafaria
Cast: Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, J.K. Simmons, Jerrod Charmichael, Cecily Strong, Lucy Punch

Synopsis: An aging widow from New York follows her daughter to Los Angeles in the hopes of starting a new life after her husband passes away

I didn't get to see any films at all last week as I had to dash off to Hobart to be with the family for a few days, so my regular movie-going days off work were taken up with flying and cuddling babies and then more flying.

Baby cuddling time!!

Then when I did get back it was my favourite time of the year - EUROVISION!!! I look forward to Eurovision the way most people look forward to Christmas, I countdown through the year and then I spend three days in media lockdown until I get to watch the replayed telecast. Down under we get the live telecasts at 4am, and sadly I had to go to my regular job, so had to wait until 7:30pm for the replay. I spend the weekend with my bestie The Red Haired Amazona and this year we spent the Saturday semi-final celebrating our friend Elise's birthday with dumplings and Eurovision drinking games, then Sunday we watched the grand final with Swedish meatballs and lingonberry jam. Glorious.

Glorious, glorious Eurovision

Anyway, I digress...I got to go to the cinema yesterday and see a film, I had wanted to see the new X-MEN, but the timing didn't work out so I caught the new Susan Sarandon film - THE MEDDLER. Quite a naff title for a film that actually had a little bit of substance. It doesn't entice you to go and see it, the only reason I did was it worked out timing wise and I like Susan Sarandon. Otherwise I probably would have given it a miss, particularly with some of the films it's opening against this week. With only 4 other people in the cinema, it seems like I wasn't the only one thinking it sounded a bit naff.

Marnie Minervini (Sarandon) moves from New York to LA to be closer to her daughter after her husband passes away. Now I don't know about you, but my mother is actually not that intrusive, but I've seen an intrusive mother and I can totally appreciate how unnerving it would be. Marine is the mother of all intrusive mothers. Calling her daughter Lori (Rose Byrne) about 30 times a day, leaving voicemails just updating her on the day. When Lori decides they need to have "boundaries" Marnie finds other people to smother, like Lori's friends, the guy at the Apple Store, offering them reproductive advice, driving them to night classes, paying for their weddings. Marnie's level of intrusive varies from completely harmless like calling to tell her daughter about the new Beyoncé song, to downright out of control like making an appointment with Lori's shrink to ask questions about Lori.

Nothing like a Valentine's Day date with one's mother

Image via Sony Pictures

Writer-director Lorene Scafaria (SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD) based THE MEDDLER on experiences with her own mother, and although the script was not as sharp or witty as I might have liked, it will incite laughs, awkward winces and perhaps even a few tears from the general movie goers. I'm not sure it will fare as well with the critics, it's a little on the predictable side, and teeters on the verge of sitcomy humour. It is essentially a vehicle to showcase Sarandon, who is a little too glamourous and cool to pull off the Brooklyn-accented nosy britches mother, but nonetheless I think it will fare well as a lovely mother-daughter date film. Shame it didn't release over Mother's Day weekend - rookie error Sony.

There was some serious potential in this script for big side-splitting belly laughs, but Scafaria barely touches the surface of those moments which is a real shame. The bit where Marnie is seeing Lori's shrink could have played off into something huge, as could the moment where Lori starts pestering Marnie about her new "friend" Zipper, played by the gloriously moustached J.K Simmons.

Hello moustache

Image via Sony Pictures

Seriously, look at that stache!! Glorious! 

Image via Sony Pictures

THE MEDDLER had some lovely moments, but it wasn't as rich or filled out as it could have been, almost as though Scafaria was holding back a little. Unfortunate really as it had big potential. Nevertheless I enjoyed the film, it was short and snappy, at only 1 hour 40. It was refreshing to be out of the cinema before I was dying for a loo break. Overall, I think doting mothers and their daughters everywhere will get a good giggle out of it and if you're looking for something to take your Ma to go and see then I'd recommend a trip to go and see this film. I'm not raving about it and telling you to immediately go and hand over your 20-something dollars, but I don't think you'll be sad if you do part with that money.

3 out of 5

Xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR - review

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
Director: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo
Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Daniel Brühl, Martin Freeman, Emily VanCamp

Synopsis: With many people fearing the actions of super heroes, the government decides to push for the Anit-Hero Registration Act, a law that limits a heroes actions. This results in a division in the Avengers. Iron Man stands with this Act, claiming that their actions must be kept in check otherwise cities will continue to be destroyed, but Captain America feels that saving the world is daring enough and that they cannot rely on the government to protect the world. This escalates into an all-out war between Team Iron Man (Iron Man, Black Panther, Vision, Black Widow, War Machine and Spider-Man) and Team Captain America (Captain America, Bucky Barnes, Falcon, Sharon Carter, Scarlett Witch, Hawkeye and Ant Man) while a new villain emerges.

In line with tradition, the Red Haired Amazona, The Bear, the Sons of a Gun and I toddled off on opening weekend to see the latest instalment in the Marvel Universe, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. Normally on a Saturday night you can find us curled up on the couch with the boys tucked into bed, with a classic film, a cup of tea and our crochet, but this Saturday night we bundled up into the car and toddled off to the Sun Theatre for a night of cinema viewing (crochet in hand of course). Packed into a sold out session, we sat with our popcorn, choc tops and sodas settled in for a night of sheer viewing pleasure. We are superhero fans and general fantasy geeks, and this has been instilled into the minds of the little 'uns who love a superhero film as much as we do. Needless to say, we loved the film, and not just because we're all biased. It was actually bloody good. So good in fact that the Amazona did not even manage to get her crochet out of her bag *gasp*.

Anthony and Joe Russo have gathered together almost the same cast from THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, for this latest instalment of Marvel goodness, with some wonderful additions - Ant Man, Black Panther and Spider-Man. Yet again the Avengers must bad together to defeat evil, however this time their not-so-petty disagreement about accountability and who should be in charge of what they do with their powers tears them apart, leaving them not fighting their enemy, but each other. It's taken some time, but finally the idea of accountability for the destruction these heroes cause is coming to light. The countless lives lost, the buildings and cities destroyed all in the name of the greater good. Governments world wide have had enough and band together with the United Nations to put in place an agreement that no super heroes should act without the sanction of the UN. Of course this tears the Avengers apart - those who think it's a bloody great idea and those who think it's the worst idea they've ever heard. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) leads camp great idea, and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads camp worst idea ever. To make things even more interesting, they're all on the hunt for Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Steve's best friend and world-wide suspected terrorist.

Are you team Captain America or Team Iron Man?

Image via Marvel

I know what you're thinking - who needs lecturing on the evils of vigilantism? Blah blah blah, pessimism, pessimism, pessimism, who cares, just blow stuff up already!! But never fear, the dialogue surrounding this is actually really well written, and it's nice to see these guys do a bit of solid acting. To me it serves to make the characters a bit more well-rounded and whole. They didn't go to the BATMAN V SUPERMAN extremes where the whole concept was just so damn depressing, but they touched on it enough to carry the underlying story of Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and the division on team Avengers through. It also gave us some really beautiful moments like the one between Vision (Paul Bettany) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), where he tries to cook her a dish from her homeland. Seriously sweet you guys, and did I mention I love Paul Bettany? *sigh*  Such a dream....anyway, I digress. The script has got some serious meat for the actors to sink their teeth into, along with the witty one liners and general comic relief we are so accustomed to in a Marvel film, although Stark did turn it down a notch in this film.

And action, well, let me tell you there is action a plenty in CIVIL WAR. I mean as the name suggests, it is a war after all. Both sides make some good points, but the Avengers choose sides, and then the really good bit happens - they recruit some new members!! Boo yah!! Black Panther and Spider-Man make their entrance into the universe joining Team Iron Man and Hawkeye comes out of retirement to join Team Captain America, and they recruit possible my favourite Avenger - Ant Man (Paul Rudd) - who has a serious fanboy moment when he meets the Cap. It's about time that Marvel had control of Spider-Man, and in my humble opinion, they've really nailed it with this version of Spidey!!

Hello Spidey - you're my favourite Spidey ever

Welcome to the Avengers Black Panther

Images via Marvel

To be fair, everything I know about the Marvel Universe is what I've learnt from the films, plus a few bits here and there from Sonofagun #1 who chimes in with some observations every one and then when he pops out of his own teenage universe. What that means, is I actually don't have a clue whether they've done a good job according to the comics. Some die hard, purist fans might have something different to say about it, but I loved it as did the Amazona, Bear and the kidlets. In fact, I think I enjoyed this more than AGE OF ULTRON *gasp*. It wasn't completely bogged down in action, there was a solid story line and some pretty decent acting.

If you're a fan of the Marvel Universe and you've been keeping up to date with the films, then I don't think you'll be disappointed. I certainly wasn't and it's definitely worth the 20-something dollars to go see this on the big screen. In fact I'm going to go back and see it a second time round with the SO, who couldn't make it last weekend and was a little disappointed I went without him! But you know, tradition is tradition and we go to the new Marvel film on opening weekend. Anyway, do it, it's totally worth it, both for the film itself and (at the risk of sounding objectifying) for the hunky spunks that feature in the film!

4 out of 5
Xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS - review

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
Director: Stephen Frears
Cast: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer despite having a terrible singing voice. 

Well, wasn't this a delightful little piece of cinema? If you like Meryl, and you don't mind your ears bleeding for a while then you'll seriously enjoy this film. Based on the true story of one Madame Florence Foster Jenkins, patron of the arts, music lover and all round inspiration. Jenkins (Meryl Streep) has spent her life bringing music and theatre to life, funding clubs and performances all throughout New York. With a personality made for the stage Jenkins unfortunately doesn't have the voice to go with it and her truly dedicated (yet adulterous) husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) has spent 25 years orchestrating performances and shows full of people who will not mock or scoff her. He has created a truly magical world in which Florence resides.

McMoon, Bayfield, Jenkins and Edwards rehearsing for her first concert

image via Paramount Pictures

The story of Jenkins has been played out before in the theatre, but I this version screenwriter Nicholas Martin focuses on the events in her life in 1944. After seeing a magical operatic performance, Jenkins decides she'd like to put on a concert for herself. With the help of her husband, she gets lessons from a renowned vocal coach and conductor Carlo Edwards (David Haig), hires a pianist named Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg) and begins to prepare for the concert of a life time. After a sell out show with stellar reviews, Bayfield takes a weekend off chaperoning his darling wife to spend some quality time with his girlfriend (unconventional though their marriage may have been, Jenkins and Bayfield loved each other dearly), Jenkins arranges her own performance at Carneigie Hall playing for the first time to a public audience.

Jenkins convincing Bayfield to support her dream of singing on stage at Carneigie Hall

Image via Paramount Pictures

Jenkins gives away 1000 tickets to returned service men, and the audience burst out laughing within about 12 seconds of her opening number. Put smartly back in their place by an obnoxious show girl type, the audience sits through her horrendous performance (and yes, it is horrendous, and yes your ears will bleed), and gives her raucous applause and a standing ovation. Sadly there are some reviews that are not that nice to put it politely, or pretty bloody savage to put it truthfully, and as hard as Cosme and Bayfield try they are unable to shield Jenkins from them. In her fragile health, it sends her into an horrific downward spiral. I would have liked to have seen more if of this, Jenkins suffered from syhpilis for nearly 50 years, and it is touched on just lightly, but I can't help but wonder if the diseased messed with her sanity slightly and could explain her eccentricities. It would have been good to delve into that a little more.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that Streep does an incredible job in this film, we may laugh at her as the incredibly off-key Jenkins, but it takes some serious talent to suck that badly. She has clearly done her research on Jenkins and gets her ear-piercing, glass shattering shrieks down to a tee. There's no Oscar winning hutzpah here, more of a farcical fun times performance, but the ever talented Streep pulls it off without a hitch. Hugh Grant has his moments in this film, he really is devoted and darling when it comes to his wife, but he's a bit, well he's a bit Hugh Grant. A little stiff or stuffy or something at times. The real winner here for me was Simon Helberg as the magical Cosme McMoon. Relying mostly on facial expressions, his face transports you through a serious range of emotions, disbelief, confusion, anxiety, delight, sadness, love, with barely a word spoken. I was really pleased to see Helberg shine in this role.

Jenkins and McMoon recording their first album

Image via Paramount

The script is a little clunky at times, and the jokes rely on farcical timing and facial expressions top work. This musical tragicomedy falls a little flat at times, there's not a lot of pizzaz in the staging or direction, but that being said, it really is a sweet piece of cinema. I think once word of mouth gets out there, people will start heading off to see it (my session only had about 4 people in it this morning and I was sure it was going to be packed), it is a genuine crowd pleaser. If you're a Meryl or indeed a Hugh fan, then I would definitely recommend paying the 20-something dollars to go see it. Take the ladies, take your mum, take your gran or great aunt, you'll have a ball. If it's your choice for date night, take your boyfriend, pretty sure it's not one he'd pick, but he might be surprised by it.

3 out of 5
Xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

THE JUNGLE BOOK - review

THE JUNGLE BOOK
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Neel Sethi, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken, Gary Shandling

Synopsis: A young boy abandoned in the forest is taken to a wolf pack by a sympathetic panther, who adopt him and raise him as his own. The appearance of a villainous tiger named Shere Khan forces Mowgli's guardian, the panther Bagheera to shepherd the child to safety in the "man village". Along the way, the boy meets an affable, lazy bear named Baloo, as well as a snake with hypnotic powers and an orangutan who wants to harness the power of fire. Mowgli learns some valuable life lessons along the way with his guardian Bagheera, his friend Baloo and his animal family. 

Hark, it is I, the Blonde Bombshell, queen of all things Disney, including my tattoos, and I'm here to tell you to forget about your worries and your strife, Jon Favreau has created a magical live action world that does justice to this much loved animated Disney classic. I'm not going to wait until the end to tell you this, THE JUNGLE BOOK deserves to be seen at the cinema on the big screen and you should bloody well fork out that 20-something dollars and see it. I've heard it's pretty good in 3D if you're into that sort of thing. I'm not, it gives me a rotten headache and makes me nauseated, but if you're into it, then hand over the extra 5-er for 3D.

This magical world created almost entirely with computers is so lush and realistic that it sucks you in and makes you believe you're really in the jungle. Fascinating work by Favreau, truly fascinating. I had some major concerns as I do with any re-telling of a classic Disney feature, and this is the third one that's come to our screens following MALEFICENT and CINDERELLA, and Disney aren't stopping there with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, DUMBO and MULAN coming just to name a few. But most of my concerns were allayed pretty quickly. Favreau does a great job with the story and even throws in a bit of LION KING-esque drama for good measure.

Raksha and Mowgli saying good bye

Image via Disney 

If you've seen the animated version, or read Kipling's book, you know the tale of the young man-cub Mowgli abandoned in the jungle, rescued by Bagheera the panther (Sir Ben Kingsley), adopted by wolves (Lupita Nyong'o and Giancarlo Esposito), chased by vengeful tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba), flees to the man village before realising with the help of Baloo the bear (Bill Murray) the jungle is his home and he must protect both it and his family. The jungle is fraught with dangers of course like a hypnotising snake Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) and an orangutan named King Louie (Christopher Walken) who wants the power of fire. So on and so forth until they all lived happily ever after.

The CGI in this film is pretty bloody breathtaking. It was a big ask to create a whole series of animals that we are all pretty familiar with and make them look realistic and make us believe that we really are in the jungle with the animals. I think Favreau and his team have done a pretty marvellous job with it. I've seen some great clips on how the green screening and CGI-ing and everything else was done, and it's a pretty cool process. The only thing I took issue with was Baloo, who wasn't as well crafted as some of the other animals, and King Louie, who was an unrealistic size for an orangutan. I work in a zoo with animals, and I've seen orangutan close up, and it was kinda out scale. In fact, even a week after seeing the film it still really annoys me, but no matter, he still looked bloody cool and Chrispher Walken as his voice was fantastic!

This is the closest we have come to getting a live action Disney musical, and I think that's partly because there would have been riots in the streets had "The Bear Necessities" not been included. Unfortuantely, they didn't quite make it work, That scene was really organic and the music came quite naturally, but "I Wana Be Like You" by King Louie was really awkward. There just wasn't the sense that the characters would just burst into song at any moment and that particular set of scenes was quite dark and the music made it really weird. Walken and Murray both did spectacular jobs with their songs, and I'm glad they happened, but I think Favreau could have done a better job at making them fit in the film, and in fact making the whole film a bit more musical.

Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo and Raksha prepare to battle it out with Shere Khan

Image via Disney

Overall, I think the biggest let down of this film for the general movie-goer is that they've seen it all before. Favreau's THE JUNGLE BOOK, does have a few extra plot points that the original animated film, however it's very much same-same and I think that could be problematic for some viewers. Not for me becuase I'm a purist, and I love Disney and I don't care that I've seen it 78 million times before, I still love it. I truly believe that you should see this on the big screen because they have really done something incredible with CGI here and I think it sets a benchmark for this kind of CGI work. Also, I really liked it and I don't think it will look quite so incredible on your TV screen or iPad or whatever technological device you use to view things at home. The film is shot beautifully and I think it takes you away into the world of Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo and Shere Khan and I don't think it matters that you know what's coming next, because you're so absorbed you don't even realise.

3.7  out of 5
Xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell