Waiting...

Waiting...

Element Films etc.

October 7, 2005

Comedy
DVD
D

I wanted to give this at least a D+ because I sometimes like Justin Long, but no one in this movie is likable and/or funny.  Rob McKittrick wrote and directed.

The Emoji Movie

The Emoji Movie
Columbia/ Sony
July 28, 2017
Children's, Sci-Fi, Comedy
DVD
B-

Well, although most people seem to have hated this (it made history by being the first animated movie to win several Razzy Awards), I was pleasantly surprised watching it today.  It's sweet and funny, and it has the ultimate in spot-on casting, with Steven Wright and Jennifer Coolidge as Mr. and Mrs. Meh.  Tony Leondis directed, co-wrote, and did a few voices.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Columbia
September 18, 2009
Children's, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Romance
DVD
B

I saw this at the time and am very pleased to say it holds up, in visuals (despite advances in the last decade or so), music, humor, intelligence, etc.  And, yes, it counts as a romance, since the nerd-love between Flint (Bill Hader) and Sam (Anna Faris in what I've always thought of as the Drew Barrymore role) is sweet and better done than in a lot of romcoms.  The voice casting is overall solid, and I like how Mr. T is cast so much to type it's basically self-parody.  There are a lot of great throwaway jokes, visual and sound, and the music is just a lot of fun.  (The pacing could be a shade better and I wouldn't say I was riveted, so B is as high as I'll go.)

This is based on the (much shorter) picture book by Judi and Ron Barrett.  Phil Lord and Christopher Miller did the adaptation and co-directed.