Finding Dory (2016) - movie review

Rated: PG

Run Time: 97 minutes

If you haven't already watched this movie or if you haven't already heard reviews about it, I shall forewarn you now: GET YOUR TISSUES READY, IT'S A TEAR-JERKER.

There. The one and only, OK...rare spoiler alert you'll get from me. 

In its Father's Day opening weekend in June, Disney-Pixar's Finding Dory, directed by Andrew Stanton (Mighty Mouse, The New Adventures, 1987) and Angus MacLane (Toy Story 3, 2010), raked in $135Min the box office second behind the number one movie last year, Jurassic World (2015), according to Deadline|Hollywood (2016).

(Tank Gang)

OK, I lied. Here's another spoiler alert: If you're expecting to see the original Tank Gang as first seen in Finding Nemo (2003), Disney-Pixar's first installment of what appears to be a "series" of some sort, they don't actually make an appearance until much later in the film (USAToday, 2016). I won't reveal when, but you do, at some point, and that's all I'm going to say about that topic. Moving on. 

Storyline

The loveable Dory, voiced by Emmy Award-winning talkshow host Ellen Degeneres, a wide-eyed blue tang fish who suffers from short-term memory loss, sets out on a journey to find her long-lost parents from whom she somehow separates when she was just a child. Dory, who flashes back to key memory details that would prove to help her in the long run, enlists her friends, the father-and-son duo Marlin, played by Albert Brooks (Drive, 2011) and Nemo, voiced by Hayden Rolence (Beta Persei, 2015) oh and the slippery, slimy and always-on-the-go Hank, the octopus-turned-septopus voiced by Ed O'Neill (Married with Children, 1987) -- who lost a tentacle some time ago before meeting Dory and the rest, and a near-sighted whale shark named Destiny, played by Kaitlin Olson (The Simpsons, 2016) who uses her underwater sonar power -- to help find her parents, Jenny, voiced by Diane Keaton (Love the Coopers, 2015) and Charlie, played by Eugene Levy (Over the Hedge, 2006).

The colorful sea bunch end up at the Marine Life Institute where they find themselves aboard a truck bound for Cleveland, known for where sea animal go but never ever return. 

Happy Ending

Although Dory's short-term memory fails her often, her long-term memory is much stronger than she believes that ultimate leads her back to the place she once called home. 

Spoiler alert #3: here's where you'll need your tissues. As she returns to her familiar abode, she finds seashells carefully, strategically and thoughtfully placed in a "star" formation by Dory's loving parents in hopes she will find her way back home -- and she does -- and it turns out to be the most tender moment in the entire film. 

Review

Dory as a young fish is super cute as can be with even wider adorable eyes and a high-pitched pre-teen voice, somewhat resembling that of Boo in Monsters, Inc. (2001). At first you believe Hank will just ruin all chances of Dory reuniting with her parents because of his swift and fast-action shifty-ness. Hank has his own agenda and dreams up ways of breaking out of the conservatory, but he pulls through in the end teaming up with Dory, Destiny, Nemo and Marlin as they swim to and fro, recklessly jumping, sometimes flying through the air or darting like a submarine underwater, back and forth from open ocean back to the conservatory back to the open ocean again (are you keeping up?) all to help Dory ultimately find her family. 

This made-for-the-entire-family, feel-good, warm and fuzzy film will surely tug on your heartstrings. Get prepared for a hits-home-hard-moment and don't forget your hankies and tissues! You may want to call your loved ones after watching this movie, just saying.

Rating: A

The Secret Life of Pets (2016) - movie review

Rated: PG

Run Time: 87 minutes

The Secret Life of Pets topped the box office charts at $103.2 million since its opening on Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10, "a record debut total for an original animated film," according to ABCNews. This record opening is said to have outperformed last year's $90.4 million blockbuster hit Inside Out (2015) made by Disney-Pixar (ABCNews).

Oh that just pained me to say that (sorry Inside Out, the numbers don't lie).

Being a pet-owner myself of a black Chihuahua named Panther (8) and a blond Jack-Russell Mix-Chihuahua, Max (7), whom I strongly believe have their own secret language, secret identity, secret high sign, and secret life, I was very anxious to watch this film and see just how closely the on-screen dogs' lives resembled that of my own real-life dogs. It was pretty darn close, minus the inner-city excursion, the ferry ride, the truck hijacking, and oh, the talking dogs (and cats, and pig, and rabbit, Oh My!)

The Storyline

Once upon a time, a terrier named Max, voiced by Louis C.K. (Louis C.K. Oh My God, 2013) lived a happy life with his human, Katie, played by Ellie Kemper (Bridesmaids, 2011) with whom he went everywhere and did everything in the heart of New York City. As loyal fur-buddies do, Max waited patiently for Katie to return, but to his dismay she brings home Duke, voiced by Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family, 2009) a messy and clumsy rescued stray. Feeling betrayed by Katie and that Duke is trying to take over his territory, Max tells his neighborhood animal-friends, "he won't be staying long," thus ensues the battle over Katie.

Chaos befuddles the pair on their afternoon walk when they find themselves onboard a truck bound for the pound. After numerous attempts to escape, they end up lost in the city and must find their way back home. They happen upon a cute, little white bunny rabbit named Snowball, played by Kevin Hart (Central Intelligence, 2016), who offers to help them in exchange for joining his allegiance of misfit, ragtag pets who are plotting revenge against all human owners who abandoned them.

Talking animals of any kind, real or animated, are just plain CUTE with a capital "C" and this movie did not disappoint. The opening reveals what the animals in a Manhattan apartment building do when their owners leave for the day. This reviewer's favorites included a head-banging poodle rocking out to heavy metal music; a very plump cat whose only mission is to seek food and devour it; and a white, fluffy Pomeranian named Gidget, voiced by Jenny Slate (Zootopia, 2016) who is Max's self-proclaimed girlfriend.

Happy Ending

The movie concludes when the pair band together along with an army of neighbor pets led by Gidget, turn against Snowball and bring peace and order back to the city.

Review

Overall this family-friendly, kid-appropriate movie was paced quite nicely from start to finish allowing the audience time to identify with some of the onscreen pets. One boy nearby was delighted every time the food-loving cat appeared, yelling "Aww, Fat Cat!" 

Kevin Hart brought life to his role as Snowball and as expected, the theater filled with so much knee-slapping laughter and tiny giggles. What began as a love-hate relationship between Max and Duke, this reviewer slowly acquired a change of heart and found herself cheering for the underdog (pun intended there) who happened to be Duke, not Max. Yes, just watch the movie and see why that is (no spoiler alert).

Stay for the end credits and see extra footage.

Rating: A-

Central Intelligence (2016) - movie review

Rated: PG-13

Run Time: 1hr 54mins

Ranked #5 this week according to www.BoxOfficeMojo.com, Central Intelligence surprised this finicky reviewer with a few laugh-out-loud moments with its overall cheesy, tongue-in-cheek humor that begins with an all-too-familiar coming of age, high school scene that has audiences cheering for the underdog coupled with a few twists and turns that dead-ends into a predictable ending.

Central Intelligence, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (We're the Millers, 2013), with writing credits to Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project, 2012) and David Stassen (Rome is Burning, 2003), stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (San Andreas, 2015; Fast & Furious 6, 2013)as Bob Stone and Kevin Hart (The Wedding Ringer, 2015; Ride Along, 2014); Calvin Joyner, Amy Ryan (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, 2014) as Agent Pamela Harris; and Danielle Nicolet (Born Again Virgin – TV Series, 2015-2016) as Maggie, Calvin's high school sweetheart-turned-wife. 

Bullied as a kid, the overweight Bob Stone reconnects through Facebook with his “only friend” from high school, Calvin Joyner, who rescued him from humiliation during an awkward moment at an end-of-the year rally. The once-popular and athletic, voted “Most Likely to Succeed” Joyner, a good-natured, fast-talking accountant finds himself in the middle of an international spy state of affairs. The irony reveals itself when Bob (a former chubby, music-loving, braces-wearing teen turned muscular and charming secret agent trying to clear his name with the hot-on-his-trail Agent Harris), who spent six hours a day working out in the gym for the past 20 years sporting an old school-style fanny pack, recruits the mild-mannered Calvin, whom Bob calls “a snack-size Denzel,” for his numbers-crunching math skills to break a code needed to prevent a U.S. satellite system from falling into the hands of thieves.

Kevin Hart's diminutive stature adds to this action-comedy especially when standing next to or interacting with the 6-foot-5-inch Dwayne Johnson. While Hart's humor is belly-busting and fresh not to mention with perfect comedic-delivery, Johnson was depicted as an “air head” and an almost stereo-typical “dumb jock.” This reviewer wishes his role was stronger, more believable, more intelligent (hence the title) and less herky-jerky.

This film is action-packed with high speed, car-chasing and car-flipping scenes with plenty of friendly bantering among the dynamic duo. The story line revolves around the twisted, secret agent plot, all while Calvin and his wife, Maggie work on salvaging their fairytale marriage and storybook life. Bob gains a ride-or-die partner and best friend as they drive away into the sunset living happily ever after.

Added feature: cameo appearances by Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, 2003-2013 and Horrible Bosses, 2011) as the high school bully, Trevor and Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars, 2004) who plays Steve, the office schmoozer.

Central Intelligence makes great reference to today's social media platforms and trendy technology. The is a fun and entertaining movie sure to have audiences bellowing with laughter.

Not quite a summer must-see movie (but close), Central Intelligence is filled with comedy, action, twist-and-turn suspense, very little special effects complete with a mix of fun '90s and today's music, and is highly recommended by this film critic.

Stay to the end of the credits and watch hilarious outtakes.

Rating: B-