Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Instructions Not Included - Review

Instructions Not Included
(No se Aceptan Devoluciones) 
(2013 - September 6 [USA])
Comedy | Drama

1 hr. 55 min.
(Spanish and English with English subtitles)


Rated: PG-13 Language, Thematic Elements and Sexual Content. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. More on child suitability
Grade: A-


Director: Eugenio Derbez
Writers: Guillermo Ríos, Leticia López MargalliEugenio Derbez (contributing writer)
Stars: Eugenio Derbez, Karla Souza, Jessica Lindsey | See full cast and crew


Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is Acapulco's resident playboy-until a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and takes off without a trace. Valentin leaves Mexico for Los Angeles to find the baby's mother, but only ends up finding a new home for himself and his newfound daughter, Maggie (Loreto Peralta). An unlikely father figure, Valentin raises Maggie for six years, while also establishing himself as one of Hollywood's top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his on-set coach. As Valentin raises Maggie, she forces him to grow up too. But their unique and offbeat family is threatened when Maggie's birth mom shows up out of the blue, and Valentin realizes he's in danger of losing his daughter- and his best friend. (c) Official Facebook




One of the most enjoyable if not on of best films of the year, in my opinion. The critics have been mixed but slightly favorable with a 54% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes, so far, but the audiences have given it a 96% approval rating. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a bit racy at the start but this is the story of a man's journey, about growing up, becoming responsible, learning what real love is. The racy start helps illustrate the contrasting life styles of that journey.
Early on in Valentin's life his father, Johnny Bravo, tries to teach his son to overcome his fears by throwing him off of the famed Alcapulco cliffs where the fabled cliff divers show off their machismo.



The lesson didn't quite take since Valentin as an adult is still terrorized by his fears and he continues to avoid confrontation and responsibility. One day one of his playboy flings, an American tourist named Julie, returns and presents him with his unplanned daughter. She asks him for $10 to pay for the taxi, she hands him the baby, Maggie, and she goes downstairs gets in the taxi and leaves for the airport. Valentin chases after her with Maggie in tow but Julie gets on her flight and leaves to Valentin's horror. His first thought is to find a way out. He decides to hitchhike with the baby to the USA, find the mother and return the baby. The Spanish title No Se Aceptan Devoluciones translates as No Returns Acepted, which is by the way a more suitable title than No Instructions Included, definitely more accurate description of the story.
He literally falls into a great paying job as a Hollywood stuntman and begins his transition into a responsible adult. Maggie grows on him and he on her. A very deep and devotional love develops until the fateful day when Julie breezes back into their lives. I don't want to spoil the story and its twists so I'll leave it at that.















Valentin has never talked badly about Maggie's mother, in fact he has built her up in Maggie's mind as some one quite incredible, he has written letters to Maggie from her mother faithfully every week. When Julie returns six years later, she is not quite the picture that Valentin has painted. She wants Maggie back and will do whatever it takes to get full custody.


Valentin learns the true meaning of love and just when you think you have figured out how things are going to end, trust me...you haven't.








Ladies, be prepared, bring your handkerchiefs, this movie is an unabashed a tearjerker.
Director/star Eugenio Derbez on the set with one of his young costars.
Cast
    Eugenio Derbez       Loreto Peralta     
Valentin                            Maggie
    Jessica Lindsey        Daniel Raymont  
       Julie                            Frank Ryan

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Insidious Chapter 2 - Review

Insidious Chapter 2
(2013 - September 13)
Horror | Thriller
1 hr. 46 min.

Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements.
Grade: B-

Director: James Wan
Writers: Leigh Whannell (screenplay, story and characters), James Wan (story)
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey | See full cast and crew

The famed horror team of director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell reunite with the original cast of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey and Ty Simpkins in INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2, a terrifying sequel to the acclaimed horror film, which follows the haunted Lambert family as they seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.


Two years ago Insidious (2011) racked up a slew of positive reviews to the surprise of most everyone and on its way to a $13.3 million box office for its opening weekend. The film then showed staying power when it lasted an impressive five months in the theaters earning a total box office of $97 million world wide, pretty remarkable for a film produced on a skant $1.5 million budget! 2011’s Insidious absolutely earned its sequel and Insidious Chapter 2 jumps right in where the first film left off.





If you havent seen Insidious, I think you will find Insidious Chapter 2 a bit confusing or at best, somewhat hard to follow. It's been a couple of years and even though I liked Insidious I didn't remember the story all that well and consequently it took some work to remember what was going on with the family. Especially since we just recently saw Patrick Wilson in another James Wan film,  The Conjering, (which is still in its first run at the theaters) and it can be easy to fuse the elements of the two films.) Perhaps it would be a good idea to rent Insidious and refresh your memory before you go to see Insidious Chapter 2.
As a primer I've included the trailers for both Insidious and Insidious Chapter 2

and a bonus scene from Insidious











Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) has just returned from 'The Further', the spirit world, with his astral projecting son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), and the family believe that they no longer run the risk of losing another Lambert to the spirit world. The family has now temporarily relocated to grandma’s (Barbara Hershey) house, Josh’s mother, but almost immediately after they arrive the bumps in the night, the eerie baby monitor noises and shadowy figures start returning and it has become very apparent that Josh didn’t return from 'The Further' alone.


Insidious Chapter 2 opened very appropriately on Friday the 13th. All the stars from the first film are back for the sequel.
I don't think that this sequel is as quite as good as the original installment, part of that is due to the surprising twists of the first film that are no longer so much of a surprise in the sequel. Yes, it still has some goosebump raising moments, some very creepy scenes and some gotcha scares but the novel surprise elements from the first film have lost a little of their edge. Incidentally, Insidious 3 in on the way.

Director James Wan on the job at the haunted house.
Cast
  Patrick Wilson          Rose Byrne    
  Josh Lambert                Renai Lambert  
    Ty Simpkins           Barbara Hershey 
 Dalton Lambert            Lorraine Lambert
     Lin Shaye              Steve Coulter  
  Elise Rainier                            Carl         
    Leigh Whannell                Tom Fitzpatrick     
              Specs                 Bride in Black/Old Parker