STACK NZ Sep #66

CINEMA

REVIEWS

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A WALK IN THE WOODS

PIXELS

RELEASED: Sept 3 DIRECTOR: Ken Kwapis CAST: Robert Redford, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Nolte RATING: M

Two buddies who conquered the video arcades of the ‘80s are now unlikely heroes against an alien invasion where all the characters from the famous 8-bit world are sent to Earth to destroy it. Yes, Pacman, Galaga, et al. But is Pixels as bad as you've heard? Not really. Mall Cop Kevin James plays the President of the United States (yes, think about that) and Adam Sandler, is, as always, a weirdly violent sap trying to rekindle his manhood however he can. That it’s directed by Chris Columbus ( Mrs Doubtfire , Home Alone ) is just a maddening prospect!? When a time-capsule of ‘80s pop culture is jettisoned into space only to be misinterpreted as a war declaration, and aliens decide to fight with larger-than-life 8-bit technology, you kinda get the idea nothing here is remotely serious at all – and you know what, there’s a lot to like about this idea. However, there’s not a lot to like about anyone’s performance, or the lacklustre use of the '80s motifs on offer (save the idea aliens communicate with us through manipulating ‘80s TV footage, that IS funny). If you’re about 6 or 7, you’ll love it, but sadly, most kids couldn’t give a rat’s as they're all too busy online playing Minecraft. As for Gen-X, who understand all the references, it’s not going to rekindle much love of the lost; perhaps only more anger towards Sandler. Again, maybe that’s not a bad thing? Chris Murray RELEASED: Sept 24 DIRECTOR: Chris Columbus CAST: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Peter Dinklage RATING: PG

Bill Bryson (yep, that author guy) embarks on a midlife madness mission to trek the Appalachian Trail. When no one is crazy enough to join him, it seems the only companion will have to be an estranged, out-of-shape ‘ol pal’ in the shape of Nick Nolte. Cue hijinks and emotional revelations (but of course!). The über successful Bryson’s tales of observationalist woe and love are a joy to behold; this being his first semi-autobiographical tale, with Redford playing the soft-spoken man of letters, A Walk in the Woods promises much, and delivers safety in spades. Sure, it’s a joy to see Nolte as the frazzled Stephen Katz, the only pal crazy enough to accept the challenge of a gazillion-mile trek well past middle-age. And Redford, solid as a rock, believable as hell, and endearing with his facial expressions alone, does wonders for the profile and scope of a simple tale for a global audience. That it seems somewhat by-the-numbers after a hysterical start (we witness Bryson being interviewed by a mindless brekky TV host) is a shame to the depth of Bryson’s actual prose. Still, it looks a treat and the trail itself is awe-inspiring on the big screen. You won’t learn more about life, or love for that matter, but you’ll be slightly titillated at the prospect that Nolte is still a coherent actor with much more to offer the screen. Chris Murray

RICKI AND THE FLASH

VACATION

RATING KEY: Wow! Good Not bad Meh Woof!

One could describe Jonathan Demme ( Silence of the Lambs , Neil Young: Heart of Gold , Stop Making Sense , Philadelphia ) as a unique director. Clearly torn between his aural and visual artistic needs, this seems like the perfect vehicle to show off what he’s learnt with stage-shooting the likes of Talking Heads and Neil Young, and thus translate this skill to drama via Streep as his sonic muse. It kinda works... just. While Streep’s somewhat scattered rock-chick-chic is believable to a fault, and the presence of Rick Springfield (seriously, the best thing in this film) elevates plausibility even further, it’s the ‘oh, everything seems to work out so damn easy’ nature of the narrative itself that drags Ricki into midday TV territory. Its girrrl scribe, Diablo Cody ( Juno , Jennifer’s Body ), has delivered a mediocre tale to be told by extraordinary storytellers, it would seem. Thus another reason that Demme decides to show complete performances of Ricki and band in a typical US pro-troops watering hole, rather than develop any plot – cos there really isn’t anything deeper here than an episode of Oprah. No matter. What does happen, owing to the extraordinary talent (Kline is also refreshing as the torn-between-two-mums dad) involved, one walks away feeling better. Not deeper, just a little happier. Chris Murray RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Jonathan Demme CAST: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Rick Springfield RATING: PG

When budget airline pilot Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) announces he’s upholding the family holiday tradition begun by dad Clark in the ‘80s, his young son replies, “I’ve never heard of the original vacation” (echoing the target audience). To which Rusty responds, “Doesn’t matter, the new vacation will stand on its own.” And this fitfully funny sequel-cum-reboot to the comedy franchise almost does, but still relies heavily on familiarity with the Chevy Chase original. Lowbrow humour has evolved (or devolved?) in the decades since the Griswolds first hit the road, so the new Vacation takes its cues from the gross-out likes of The Hangover , Horrible Bosses , et al. Strapping dead grandma to the roof-rack is so 1983 now, and on this holiday road the misadventures include bathing in raw sewage, a vomitous stop at a sorority house, an exploding cow, and more dick jokes than a guy named Richard. Curiously, it’s the less vulgar moments that are the most amusing – a running gag involving the Griswolds’ dodgy Albanian rental car, and a clever scene in which four different state troopers argue over who’ll arrest Rusty and wife for attempting to have sex on the Four Corners Monument. But once you realise you’ve already seen the best bits in the trailer, Vacation becomes a road-trip to nowhere. Scott Hocking RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein CAST: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Chris Hemsworth RATING: R13

SEPTEMBER 2015

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