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GRITZ Movie Reviews: Sarah Marshall, 88 Minutes, Prom Night and Forbidden Kingdom

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
From the same wacky folks that brought us the hilarious Superbad and Knocked Up, comes the story of a musician and his popular TV actress girlfriend and their breakup. It doesn’t take us long at all to see that the blonde “CSI” style actress was no big loss at all, but  it’s not so easy for Jason Segel, who is crying his eyes out, even after a friend suggests he take a vacation in Hawaii. A great idea in theory. Only problem is, his ex-girlfriend and her rock star boyfriend have chosen the same week and the same hotel, to vacation in.

Enter Mila Kunis (That 70’s Show) who helps to divert Segal’s attention, but only after a hilarious series of embarrassing and awkward moments.

SOUTHERN ROCK WATCH: When the guy working with Jason adding the music to the TV show soundtrack is  trying to get Jason to hurry up and finish, he says "Dude, I have to get out of here. I've got Allman Brothers tickets!"

This one made me laugh out loud. I love to laugh out loud.

FOUR AND ONE HALF STARS

BABE WATCH: Mila Kunis, the 70's Show babe looking good.




PROM NIGHT
Brittany Snow (American Dreams, TV) stars as Donna, a girl who saw her whole family slaughtered by a deranged high school teacher obsessed with the young girl. Now, three years later, she is almost normal again, living with her Uncle and Aunt, and getting set to attend her senior prom. Happiness reigns supreme with Donna, her boyfriend, and two other couples, all best friends. That is until the police detective who investigated the murders hears that the killer has broken out of prison, and may be on his way to the fancy ball.

Wellsir, all hell breaks loose, and blood starts to flyin,’ and I won’t spoil the fun. Just know that this remake of the 1980’s film of the same title (What’s up with all these remakes? Are there no new ideas in Hollywood? Geesh.) is kind of  fun, and while it’s not a “zero star” rated flick like The Ruins is, it’s nothing to write home about either. Unless of course, you are writing in blood.

THREE STARS




88 MINUTES

Al Pacino, one of my all time favorite actors, stars in this yarn about a college professor who testifies against the bad guy in court and ends up being stalked and told that he only has - get this- 88 minutes to live. Okay. I am sorry, but every situation and “trick” in this movie has been done many times, creating a film that is highly predictable and somewhat boring. I had the whole thing figured out 30 minutes in. Still, Pacino is so damned good, I have to give it three stars just for Al. Hoo-rah.

THREE STARS

 

 



THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
Kung Fu heroes Jet Li and Jackie Chan co-star in this fantasy that finds a misfit Boston teenager transported to another realm to return the long missing fighting staff of the Monkey King. I have never been a big fan of marshall arts movies, although I did love Kill Bill, maybe because of it’s dark humor... maybe because of super baddass babe Uma Thurman.

There are some pretty funny scenes and dialog with Jackie Chan, and for the king fu fans, plenty of well choreographed action and martial arts scenes. Think Chronicles of Narnia meet Enter the Dragon. Beautiful scenery and costumes.

THREE AND ONE HALF STARS



All Reviews by Michael Buffalo Smith

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