This movie was a real struggle. I'm not exaggerating by saying I could barely finish watching it.

The movie both annoyed and bored me with its comedy and story. It's the type of deliberate and very exaggerated comedy, so that means that basically every line that gets delivered is meant to be funny and every scene is supposed to be a set up for something comical to happen. It all feels far too forced really and besides, the movie is lacking true creativity to ever work out as anything truly funny.

it basically is too much of a one note movie, in which a women is pregnant with a demon child. There is of course plenty they could have done with this concept but the movie feels like it's going absolutely nowhere, with any of its ideas. Its story isn't ever progressing and it doesn't ever feel like it's building up toward anything. it besides just isn't a very consistent movie. The one moment the
woman is possessed and the other she isn't. The one moment other horror elements seem to play an important role in the movie, the other it isn't. story lines and characters get dropped, all fairly easily, before the movie gets the opportunity to let anything develop properly into something remotely funny or interesting.

It also really causes the movie to become a repetitive- and therefore also annoying one. This also causes the movie to drag and bore, especially once the movie starts to feature a bunch of sequences in it, that just go on and on, without really serving much of a purpose to either the movie its story or comedy. About half way through I was really fed up with the movie. It annoyed me, it bored me and I just wanted it to end!

Don't know how but I actually managed to finish watching this movie. It isn't exactly getting any better as it's going on. Even while it in no way is the worst comedy that I have ever seen, it just isn't one I ever exactly had a good time with watching.

4/10

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An expectant couple who moves into the most haunted house in New Orleans call upon the services of the Vatican's elite exorcism team to save them from a demonic baby. From: IMDb.com

Directed by:  Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon

Starring: Leslie Bibb, Thomas Lennon, Riki Lindhome and others

Current release date: July 25, 2013

14-year-old Duncan's summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and his daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park. From: IMDb.com

Directed by:Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Starring: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney and others

Current release date: July 5, 2013

An expectant couple who moves into the most haunted house in New Orleans call upon the services of the Vatican's elite exorcism team to save them from a demonic baby. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon

Starring: Leslie Bibb, Rob Corddry, Thomas Lennon and others

Current release date: 2013

Over the course of his summer break, a teenager comes into his own thanks in part to the friendship he strikes up with one of the park's managers. From: IMDb.com

This was a surprisingly good and fun little movie to watch! definitely much better than expected but more importantly, it was funnier than I ever expected it to be.

Despite a pretty impressive cast-list, this movie still went below the radar. It's most likely due to it that it didn't had a big budget behind it, since quality-wise, it's actually being much better than just the average genre attempt.

Making a good and funny comedy is a real hard thing to do. That's also why we don't see too many independent movies, going for a full blown comedy approach. When you can't afford an experienced genre director, decent writers and good comedy actors, with a great natural delivery and sense of comic timing, you're comedy is already pretty much doomed to fail. This movie managed to get most of the ingredients right though!

The story is even a pretty original and fun one. It deals with the rapture, which doesn't sound like a very likely or fun concept for a comedy but it handles it in a perfectly entertaining and comedic way. Thing that works well about it is that it doesn't handle the rapture like it's a big thing at all. It handles it like more of a nuisance and the character's lives pretty much goes on normally, despite the fact that burning rocks are falling from the sky. locusts are literally bugging people, it rains blood every now and then, people start to come back from the dead and crows start cursing people out. Oh and the anti-Christ is walking the Earth as well, in the form of Craig Robinson. Pretty fun all, especially when considering all those serious Christian movies dealing with the rapture that I have seen, in which actually often absolutely nothing is happening.

No, this is not a religious movie at all. It does not only mock the rapture but God himself as well, without ever becoming an anti-religious movie by the way. The movie isn't trying to make a statement or anything. It simply just trying to give you a good time and make you laugh. It succeeded for me.

It's a fast paced and witty comedy, with some great characters, situations and dialog in it. It makes this a very entertaining watch, that besides does not fails at bringing, more than a few, laughs.

Perhaps still the most surprising thing about this movie is its cast. No idea how they managed to- but the movie has a pretty impressive cast in it. Anna Kendrick is actually an Oscar nominated actress, who has starred in plenty of big productions already. She's also truly the highlight of this movie, acting-wise. Craig Robinson was also perfectly entertaining as the Anti-Christ, AKA Earl. The movie further more stars well known comedic actors Ken Jeong and Rob Corddry. Pretty solid and impressive cast-list!

It honestly is nothing too brilliant or spectacular but the fact that this movie still is such a great, pleasant, effective, little surprise makes this movie a perfectly watchable on within its genre!

7/10

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Over the course of his summer break, a teenager comes into his own thanks in part to the friendship he strikes up with one of the park's managers. From: IMDb.com

Not just every animated movie is fun, as this one clearly shows.

No, I can't even see how young kids could possibly be entertained by this movie. The comedy is bad...just bad. And not necessarily just because it's mostly being some very formulaic and predicable stuff but also because of its poor execution. It's as if the movie made no real effort to be a good, creative and original one and everyone involved did it for just the paycheck.

The movie never really has a pleasant flow to it and it's hard to get into it. The movie simply expects you to get behind its characters and go along with its story but without giving you any good reasons why. There isn't a very good buildup to either its story or characters, which causes you to also loose interest in this movie, pretty early on already. I therefore also believe that this just isn't a very good or effective movie for kids, since they'll most likely eventually end up getting bored with it, despite the fact that there is always something happening on the screen and the movie is filled with lots of bright colors.

And despite that there's always something happening, it still feels like there just isn't enough going on in this movie. It's possibly because it's a movie by the numbers, so you already know how things are going to play out but it's also really because the movie its story is lacking any sort of depth or true emotions. The wife and kid of the movie its main character are for instance underused and potentially could have provided the movie with some more depth and emotions. But also the villain feels weak and surely they could have come up with someone more original and effective. Having just an army general as your main villain isn't going to be enough, whether he's being voiced by William Shatner or not. Especially not when you have a movie that's already filled with all sorts of crazy, big and far more dangerous and powerful looking aliens in it.


The movie actually has a very surprising and big voice cast. Lots of well known names were involved and it seems that this movie spend more money on getting big name actors, rather than on the actual movie. It really shows. Not that the movie is a terrible looking one but it isn't an incredibly detailed looking movie. Just like it writing, it comes across as somewhat lazy film-making at times and especially all of the character designs and the way they appear and interact in the eventual movie is something that feels specifically lacking and disappointing. Lets just say I don't expect kids to bug their parents about getting them a Gary Supernova toy or a Scorch Supernova lunch box.

And speaking of Scorch Supernova, that Brendan Fraser is really doing a poor Patrick Warburton impression! No idea what he was trying to do there but it was very distracting and annoying. Luckily he isn't being the main character though, though I still have to admit that his character in potential still could have been a far better and more interesting one than the movie its actual main character Gary Supernova, voiced by Rob Corddry.

I also don't really see what people are supposed to take out of this movie. There are no real good morals or messages in this movie, as these type of kid movies often tend to feature. I don't think it's because they weren't trying but I do think it was simply because their attempts at it all were very poor and ineffective ones. It only works if you actually feel remotely engaged with the movie, its story and character, which just never is the case with this movie.

No matter if you are a 4, 6, 12, 16, 22, 40, or 97-year old, or any other age in between, below or above, you're simply better off not watching this movie.

4/10

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Guess this is what happens when you let a non-comedy director do a comical movie.

I'm actually one of the few persons in the world who still likes big, dumb, overblown Michael Bay movies but the comedy in all of his movies always felt kind of awkward to me but luckily it never was the center of attention in most of his previous movies. It's therefore also surprising to see this movie taking on a comedy approach, rather than a, more typical for Bay, action approach.

And yes, I'm aware of it that Michael Bay also directed the movie "Bad Boys" and the sequel to it in the past, which is actually still more of a comedy than this movie but the big different between that movie and this one is that "Bad Boys" had some great comedy actors in it, who handled most of the comedy well and managed to still turn it into something fun, no matter how badly written or poorly directed it was. Problem with this movie is that it clearly doesn't have the right actors in it to handle its comedy. The Rock, or Dwayne Johnson as you should call him now, is arguably the only somewhat remotely experienced comedy actor in this and it's therefore also no surprise that he's the highlight of the movie and plays the best character but that's not saying much though.

The movie is a still pretty shallow one, also with its characters. But the bigger problem with them is that they aren't all that likable. I mean, they are basically some criminals, who also all do some very despicable things throughout the movie, without showing much remorse. Why should I care for any of them? And why should I root for them? And why should I laugh when they do some stupid things, that often bring others in serious danger or even pain and worse than that?

This is a pretty odd and ineffective mixture of action and comedy elements to be frank. It's not serious enough to care about it and it's just too silly to enjoy it for what it is, even though apparently it's based on a true story. You feel that if the movie would have gone for either an all out comedy or action approach, the movie still could have worked out as a pretty good and enjoyable one. At times you just don't know whether you are supposed to laugh or feel sorry, during a certain scene or for a specific character.

Guess this movie ultimately wants to be about living the American dream. The idea behind this movie really isn't all that bad, to see a bunch of not too clever bodybuilders, trying to make something of their lives and live it to the fullest, by getting rich fast, by committing, what is in their eyes, a simple and safe to execute crime.

The story isn't ever handled all that great or interestingly though. While watching this movie you often actually start to wonder what the story is supposed to be heading at, especially when it keeps on introducing new characters, played by some big name actors. It never feels like it's following a good or clear enough main plot line and the storytelling is definitely lacking focus and a point to it all.

A smaller type of Bay movie, that's also one of his lesser ones!

5/10

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Two teens battle their way through a religious apocalypse on a mission to defeat the Antichrist. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Paul Middleditch

Starring: Anna Kendrick, John Francis Daley, Rob Corddry and others

Current release date: May 10, 2013

It's probably still true lots of people are somewhat reluctant to go and see this movie. A horror-comedy-romance with a bunch of teenage characters (OK, OK, they are maybe in the twenties but you know what I mean) in it? This should set off a couple of alarm-bells, at least with certain demographics. But the movie in fact is a surprisingly good and watchable one, for basically everybody out there! There is something to enjoy for everyone in this.

I believe the key to why this movie works out is because it's not necessarily focusing on being a horror-comedy or a romantic one, purely aimed toward young teenagers but it's way more focuses on simply being a good movie instead. It's not like the horror, comedy or romance ever takes the upper-hand and it's more focused on bringing the different genre elements together and to let it all work out effectively as a whole.

It's also why this movie is perfectly watchable, for just about everybody. There is some cute romance to enjoy for those looking for it, which mostly likable will be teenage girls, or persons looking to go on a date. But really everything else, such as its horror and comedy, is something that could be enjoyed by just about everybody and also makes this movie a worthwhile experience, even while you beforehand still might think this movie won't be for you.

It's also true the movie works out due to its originality. OK, the movie itself might be kind of simple and straightforward with its story but it of course still features an original main concept, in which a living girl and a zombie boy start to fall in love and start to look at each other's worlds differently. It's kind of like a modern Romeo & Juliet (sometimes not even subtle), with a special twist to it.

But yes, at the same time its simplicity is also what's still keeping the movie somewhat down. Even though the movie is an original one, it still progresses in a very predictable way and its cute and effective all but it's also still lacking any true surprises in it.

It still felt like it was missing something. Perhaps it was a villain that was more present throughout the entire movie and was a more evil one, perhaps some more zombie action, or perhaps just a better conflict and resolution of it. But whatever it was, it felt like the movie could had done more with its concept at times. Of course it's not like the movie is a bad one but it still had far more potential in it, in my opinion.

But really, this remains one fine and surprisingly watchable movie, that basically everyone should be able to enjoy and appreciate, on different levels.

7/10

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A pair of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Michael Bay

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Rebel Wilson and others

Current release date: April 26, 2013

After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Jonathan Levine

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and others

Current release date: February 1, 2013

This is not a movie that shall win any big awards and its a movie that most people most likely will never get to watch but that doesn't mean it's being a terrible movie though. It just happens to be one that is lacking in certain departments and never makes a big or lasting impact with anything but is still being good enough one to watch.

The foremost problem with the movie is that it's being one that solely relies on its concept and not necessarily its comedy writing. It thinks that having a funny and absurd concept equals a funny comedy but it of course really doesn't work like that. It means that the movie is somewhat lacking in its writing and most definitely with its comedy as well. The characters for instance never come quite across, as fun, quirky or likable enough ones, while this was obviously the approach the film-makers were aiming for.

It tried to be like a fun, cute, heartfelt, warm, independent comedy, with a young kid in it, playing an important role but the movie really is lacking the right required warmth and depth to ever work out as a cute and involving one. Again, you should blame the writing, that besides focuses on far too many different characters.

You also feel that the movie really could had used a good and well known comedy actor in it, playing one of the lead roles. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great and well known actors in this movie but what it is missing is a charismatic comedy actor who can handle its comedy and timing better and turn some average comedy scenes into something truly hilarious.

There are plenty of well known actors in this (Jennifer Garner, Alicia Silverstone, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Ty Burrell, etcetera) but none of them truly makes a lasting impression. Besides, some of them only appear in small roles, such as Hugh Jackman. And while Olivia Wilde is fine, in more than one way, her character sort of goes to waste in this movie. I could see the movie its intentions with her but as it turned out, her character is actually being one the movie could had easily done without. It's also partly due to it that the movie lets her do some very random stuff at times, that have nothing to do with the movie its main story.

The movie also shows some hints of a social satire in it but it just isn't being quite witty enough to let it all truly work out. Again, it's a sign of the movie its aspirations and intentions but due to it writing, it just never takes off.

It's still an harmless and fun enough little movie to watch but at the same time it also is really being a movie you could real easily do without.

6/10

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