Skyscraper

Skyscraper

Universal etc.

July 13, 2018

Action
DVD
D+

Rawson Marshall Thurber wrote and directed this predictable movie, a couple years after Central Intelligence and fourteen years after Dodgeball, which were marginally worse.

Moana

Moana

Disney

November 23, 2016

Animation, Children's, Fantasy, Historical Drama, Historical Comedy, Musical, Action

DVD
B

This is one of those movies where I wonder why I don't give them a B+ or higher.  It might be a little of the comedown from seeing the dazzling visuals on my TV instead of in the movie theater.  It might be that I think that there are two great songs ("You're Welcome" and "Shiny"), while the others are solid but less memorable.  It might be that, having seen the movie at least twice before today, the plotting feels not quite right, from the introduction of not one but two sidekick animals (with the pig disappearing for about an hour while the chicken affects the plot) to the formulaic departure and then return of Moana's demigod frenemy, Maui.  That said, the visuals remain lovely, the mix of emotional tones works, and the incorporation of Polynesian heritage is both respectful and playful.

The four directors are (in alphabetical order) Ron Clements, Don Hall, John Musker, and Chris Williams.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

New Line etc.

February 10, 2012

Sci-Fi

DVD
C

It's four years later and there's no Brendan Fraser, just the Rock as stepdad.  And the replacement mom can't act.  Brad Peyton directed.

[Fast & Furious Presents:] Hobbs & Shaw

[Fast & Furious Presents:] Hobbs & Shaw

Universal

July 13, 2019

Action

DVD
C-

Not my genre but I can appreciate the style and humor a bit.  David Leitch directed.

Get Smart

Get Smart

Warner Bros.

June 20, 2008

Action, Comedy
DVD
D

I walked out of this in the theater, maybe at a point slightly beyond the quarter hour I gave this today.  It badly misunderstands the original TV series (which was itself admittedly hit or miss), most significantly in that Max is not supposed to be clued in to his own ineptitude, and so casting Carell in the lead is a bad idea.  Also, I can see why they might not want to have 99 hero-worship Max, but they haven't found a good "modern" take on her character (played by also miscast Hathaway).  Furthermore, every joke fell flat, when it wasn't mildly offensive.  At least this time it didn't cost me any money to watch the movie. 

Peter Segal directed.

The Game Plan

The Game Plan

Disney

September 28, 2007

Sports Comedy
DVD
D+

The Rock is a self-absorbed football player who finds out he has an eight-year-old daughter.  Andy Fickman directed.

Doom (2005)

Doom (2005)
Universal
October 21, 2005
Sci-Fi, Action
DVD
D

Based on a video game (which may someday be a tag, but not yet), I did actually like a couple of the design elements of this, but definitely not my genre.  Andrzej Bartkowiak directed.

Central Intelligence

Central Intelligence
New Line/ Warner Bros./ etc.
June 10, 2016
Comedy
DVD
D

Tasteless comedy about two men (Hart and Johnson), who meet again twenty years after high school.  Rawson Marshall Thurber directed and co-wrote.

Baywatch

Baywatch
Paramount
May 25, 2017
Comedy
DVD
C-

Well, this was better than I expected and I was leaning towards a C, but then a guy got his erection stuck in a deck chair.  Thomas Lennon was one of the co-writers.  Seth Gordon directed.