Megamind

Megamind
Year: 2010
Director: Tom McGrath
Cast: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill

In My Own Words
Animation seems to be going in a new direction as of late, hasn't it? There seems to be a lack of the cute and cuddley talking animals which we used to see in the animated films in the last few decades. Now it seems to be the bad guys who are the lead characters in these films who become the heroes and they are anything but cute and cuddley. Just look at Megamind, blue with a massive forehead, hardly what would seem a promoters dream. Cute characters are so much easier to make promotional toys for Happy Meals of and have more staying power. Will we remember these characters in 20 years time which we are seeing now in the same way we remember Little Foot, Simba or the Disney princesses? They're doing their job for the film makers at the moment though, so does it really matter whether we remember them in 20 years just as long as we remember them now? Not cute and cuddley, but the movies around the characters are still great fun and good entertainment!

Anybody know what the toys are in the McDonalds Happy Meals now? I suddenly have an urge to start collecting those awesome toys again.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
It is a scenario which we see in numerous films, the underdog falls in love with the beautiful woman, proves himself as the hero but it doesn't matter because she falls in love with who he is underneath. We have seen this a lot, but not so much in animated films. It is not often we see the ugly animated character get the gorgeous girl, but you do in "Megamind"! The film does fit into the animation trend as of late of the bad guy becoming the good guy, but gives it the twist with this unsung hero getting the girl, which will do good things for peoples self esteem. Even if you are blue with a massive forehead and alien looking you can still get the one you love by being yourself! Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell) has never been good at anything besides being bad. The means of his existence is to fight with Metro Man (Brad Pitt), but when he actually defeats Metro Man, he is completely confused by his new found dominance and lost for what to do next. He decides to create a new super hero for the town, Titan (Jonah Hill) so he will have someone to fight. One thing he didn't count on was failing in love with Titan's crush, news reporter Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey) and bringing out more bad in Titan than Megamind ever had.

"Megamind" is a great, fun family film to watch. It is not just a film for children as their are many themes there for adults as well, such as the romance theme which children will of course be unable to relate to. The graphics are amazing in the film and it is one film which is worth seeing in 3D while it is in the cinemas. It is well written and has a lot of great laughs throughout. However, the ending won't be a surprise to anyone and will be something most people will see coming from the very beginning.

"Megamind" has some big names which have contributed their vocal talents to the film. The one thing that is obvious with this is that with each of the cast members, they do not seem to go the extra mile with their characters voices. Each of them, bar perhaps Will Ferrell , plays the type of character they would normally play in a film which they would physically appear in and it is easy to pick who's voice is which. For example, Brad Pitt plays the good looking hero, Tina Fey plays the businesswoman who has too little time for her personal life and Jonah Hill plays the overweight nerd who can't be taken seriouslyh. Will Ferrell does definately do a good job at providing the voice of Megamind and, unlike the others, you can often forget that it is Ferrell's voice you are hearing.

If you are taking your children to see "Megamind", you will probably find that it is more a boys movie than a girls movie. Children aside, it is a film that all ages will enjoy. The graphics are great to watch and the script is witty and funny. Overall, besides the romance, it isn't the most original film to come out in the last few years and it is quite predictable, but definately good for a laugh.
7/10

Date Night

Date Night
Year: 2010
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Taraji P. Henson

In My Own Words
Finally, a comedy this year that is actually funny. It is rare to find a good comedy these days. So many writers write screenplays thinking that something sounds funny on page, when it is actually completely unoriginal and not even worthy to generate a giggle on screen. “Date Night” is completely different. It is funny in a pure way without throwing in crude or over the top jokes. So many comedy films dwell on gutter humour and it just gets old. But not this one. In my opinion, Tina Fey and Steve Carell are two of the best comedy actors around at the moment, both being “Saturday Night Live” graduates. They are both extremely funny and both brilliant in the way they can think quickly on their feet. All you need to do is watch the outtakes during the credits at the end of the film to realise how quick witted and hilarious they both are. I am a big Tina Fey fan and if there is one woman I want to be like, it is her. However, as much as I would love to meet her, I would feel like a total dunce compared to her.

Isn’t it funny with people who were in “Saturday Night Live”, when they are in a movie, there are cameos galore. Keep an eye out on in this film for all the stars who are not listed in the opening credits. When these cameos occur in the film, you will hear all the other audience members exclaim and speak excitedly to their neighbours, as I did. “Saturday Night Live” comedians are known as the most elite comedians in the states and I can understand the star power they have.

These are my own words and here is my review.

Review
“Date Night” is the funniest movie of 2010 thus far. It is clean, classic humour, but do not think that means it’s dull. The film is far from that. There are still some moments which are just silly, but it’s not possible to have a whole movie where every single joke is funny. A good comedy is one which different types of people can enjoy and one which has you laughing at the beginning and at the end. Nobody likes a comedy that gets old after 40 minutes. Phil (Steve Carell) and Claire Foster (Tina Fey) are a self-confessed boring couple from New Jersey. They feel like their life is getting too predictable and that there’s not enough excitement , so rather than go to their normal diner haunt for their date night, they decide to doll up and go to one of New York City’s best restaurant. When they cannot get a table, they pose as the Tripplehorn’s, who have a reservation, but do not show up when summoned. This turns the night into the most unusual and thrilling date night they have ever and will ever experience.

As expected, this is not an emotional journey film, but simply just a lot of fun. The film is not boring or monotonous for a minute. It is predictable in a way as you can easily guess what is going to happen, but you do not know how it is going to happen. There is so many funny one liners that will have people quoting for days after they see the film. It is a very well written and witty script which is well directed by Shawn Levy. The only criticism of the script is that some features of the film are unnecessary, but there isn’t very many of these. The only one that comes to mind is the inclusion of Leighton Meester’s baby-sitter character. The jokes cracked here are very lame and it is clear that the only reason she is there is because she is from “Gossip Girl”. There are also some moments which don’t add up in the grand scheme of things either. Yet, these moments thankfully do not make up the film. The majority of it is just creatively fun and laugh out loud funny.

As for the acting, not Oscar-worthy, but both Steve Carell and Tina Fey are hilarious. “Date Night” is a must see for fans of either of these two. The two have great on screen chemistry and work so well together. They just seem to compliment and work off each other. It is definitely Steve Carell’s funniest big screen role since “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”. Fans of “30 Rock” will love the comedy in the film and will see Liz Lemon in many of Fey’s scenes. Taraji P. Henson is great as the tough Detective Arroyo and Kristen Wigg is hilarious as the Foster’s friend, Haley Sullivan. There is also cameo’s galore throughout the film which only add to the fun.

“Date Night” is a film which people of all ages will enjoy. More an adult comedy than one for the teenagers, but no doubt they will enjoy it too. The film will make married couples realise how just one night out of the ordinary can make the world of difference. A great comedy film that will be one of the comedies 2010 is remembered for.
7/10