RICKY STANICKY (2024)

March 7, 2024

Greetings again from the darkness. Honesty is the best policy. At least that’s the lesson we were taught growing up. What we learn as we get older is that very few adhere consistently to that policy, and in fact, many pride themselves on an ability to mislead. On “Seinfeld”, George Costanza stated quite succinctly, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.” Sadly, far too many are able to believe the web of lies they spread. But then, this film is from writer/director/producer Peter Farrelly, a double Oscar winner for GREEN BOOK (2020), and best known for the zany comedies he co-directed with his brother Bobby, including DUMB AND DUMBER (1994) and THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998). If any filmmaker can make lying funny, it should be a Farrelly brother.

The film starts where it should … by showing us the childhood prank that led to the recurring lie. It’s Halloween night and three buddies decide to prank the house that never gives out candy. The prank goes terribly wrong, and the imaginary Ricky Stanicky gets blamed, allowing our three young heroes to escape their first mess and setting the stage for 20 years of alibis. As adults, Dean (Zac Efron, fresh off his superb turn in THE IRON CLAW), JT (Andrew Santino), and Wes (Jermaine Fowler) continue to use their make-believe friend as a reason to take yet another boys’ trip away from wives and partners and jobs and responsibilities. To ensure their stories stay straight, the men update “the bible”, which is a chronology of the Stanicky  lies they crafted over the years.

The latest Stanicky tall tale involves cancer and a trip to Atlantic City for a concert … a trip that allows JT to skip the baby shower his wife has planned. Circumstances being what they are, the trip is cut short, but before they leave, their paths cross with a hard-raunch celebrity impersonator with the stage name Rock Hard Rod (John Cena).  Soon, the boys are calling Rod to play the role of Ricky Stanicky so that friends and family can meet the legend in the flesh. The rest of the movie involves the sometimes hilarious, sometimes not, shenanigans of Rod becoming Ricky Stanicky. As with most lies, things get more complicated and convoluted with each passing moment.

“The best friend we never had” becomes a complex challenge that threatens to ruin all relationships and careers. William H Macy plays Summerhayes, an old school businessman and boss to Dean and JT. Macy plays it straight here, but his ‘air guitar’ with an unfortunate Farrelly twist makes for a comical segment – as does Summerhayes’ evolving thoughts on Stanicky, who by this time, has charmed (and tricked) all whom he’s met and even cleverly overstepped at the Bris for JT’s baby. Dean’s wife Erin (Lex Scott Davis) is a reporter and sees Stanicky as her ticket to a better gig. It’s a bit sad that Ms. Davis has the only female role with any substance here.

Sir Walter Scott wisely commented, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave.” Director Farrelly, working with a throwback comedy script from too many writers to name here, manages to find the humor in serial dishonesty, while also pointing out that the above-mentioned web is almost certain to nab the perpetrator(s) in the end. Farrelly also manages to check most of the PC boxes, while also showering us with his trademark inappropriateness. However, it’s John Cena’s energetic performance that shines here and keeps the film clicking along after a somewhat slow start. Cena proves he can carry a comedy.

Available on Prime Video beginning March 7, 2024

WATCH THE TRAILER

3 Comments | Comedy | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE IRON CLAW (2023)

December 20, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Tragedy. Destiny. Curse. Those last two may be a matter of perspective or opinion, but without a doubt, that first one fits, and is actually mandatory when discussing the infamous wrestling family known as the Von Erichs. I was fortunate to attend the world premiere of writer-director Sean Durkin’s movie at the historic Texas Theater in the Oak Cliff community of Dallas, Texas. While it’s a movie worth celebrating, it had to be an emotional evening for Kevin Von Erich, who attended with members of his family, as did most of the main cast, the director, and some crew members.

Jack Adkisson took on the professional wrestling name of Fritz Von Erich, and became well known as a German villain within the squared circle. Tragically (there’s that word), five of his six sons preceded him in death (three by suicide). The film’s opening scene shows Fritz (played well by Holt McCallany, “Mindhunters”) using his titular iron claw to win a match. Afterwards, he meets his wife (Maura Tierney) and a couple of their young sons in the car and promises that life will get better once he’s the World Champion. Of course, that day never comes, and having felt he was cheated out of his chance, Fritz uses that chip to raise and train his boys that being the toughest and fastest means nothing can hurt you. How untrue that becomes.

A bulked up and ripped Zac Efron plays Kevin, Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”, “Shameless”) is Kerry, Harris Dickinson (TRIANGLE OF SADNESS, 2022) is David, and Stanley Simons plays Mike. One brother died at age six from an accident, and filmmaker Durkin chooses to ignore brother Chris in order to keep the focus on the known wrestlers. Kerry was a competitive discus thrower denied a shot at a gold medal when President Carter announced the 1980 Moscow Olympic boycott, and soon after, joined the family business. Mike was the sensitive brother much better suited to pursuing his music than joining his spandex clad brawny brothers in the ring, which he did under duress from dear old dad.

This may appear to be just another sports movie, but I’d argue that it has more in common with FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) as a peek into male sentiment and emotions … this one centered on brotherly love and a desire to please dad. Fritz may now be viewed as a throwback father on a mission of manic masculinity and machismo, but he’s played as a man who believes he is doing right by his family … even though he readily admitted which son was his favorite, and prefacing it with the pecking order can change based on success.

Durkin does show us the progression of wrestling careers, including the ongoing rivalry with wrestling icon Ric Flair, but it’s the personal relationships that matter most here. Lily James (YESTERDAY, 2019) provides a spark of charm and likability as Pam, who ultimately marries Kevin (they have been together since 1980). Classic rock songs fill the soundtrack as the brothers wrestle and wrangle through the 1980’s. All of the actors deliver nice work, though it’s Zak Efron who carries much of the film’s weight, and does so exceedingly well. With MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (2011) and THE NEST (2020), Sean Durkin seems to have an affinity for haunting stories, and proves more than willing here to take head-on the Von Erich curse and corresponding tragedies.

Opens in theaters nationally beginning December 22, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

2 Comments | Drama | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER (2022)

September 25, 2022

Greetings again from the darkness. “Can I buy you a drink?” A simple phrase that can have a variety of meanings. In 1967, John “Chickie” Donohue did more than buy his buddies a drink. He hand-delivered beer after tracking them down at their military posts during the Vietnam War. Writer-director Peter Farrelly (an Oscar winner for GREEN BOOK, 2018) and co-writers Brian Hayes Currie (also an Oscar winner GREEN BOOK) and Pete Jones (HALL PASS, 2011) tell the story of Chickie’s dubious trip to the front lines. His mission was to show the neighborhood boys that folks back home care, and the results proved eye-opening.

Zac Efron plays Chickie Donohue, a Merchant Marine from the Inwood neighborhood of New York City. Chickie is a hard-drinking slacker and kind of a joke to his family and friends. He doesn’t really take life seriously and has no perceivable ambition. He is, however, a staunch defender of his country and the military personnel fighting a war that no one seems to be able to define. Especially ‘the boys’ from the neighborhood … too many who have died for the cause. One typically “full of hot air” evening at the local tavern where “The Colonel” (Bill Murray) tends bars, hones patriotism, and honors those who (like him) have served in war, Chickie blurts out his intention to head to Vietnam and hand-deliver a beer to each of his buddies stationed there. His drinking cohorts support his idea, yet fully believe this is simply the next thing that Chickie will never follow through on.

To everyone’s surprise, and despite pleas from his anti-war sister (played by Andy Serkis’ daughter Ruby Ashbourne Serkis), Chickie loads up a duffel bag with dozens of cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and heads out. That seems to be the extent of his plan because he basically has to charm and ‘luck’ his way through each progressive stop once he has secured a spot on a container ship headed that way. In the film, he secures a 72-hour leave, but in real life, as documented in the memoir written by John “Chick” Donohue and JT Molloy, his journey took almost 8 weeks.

The film plays a bit like a road trip, where Chickie interacts with multiple characters along the way. Some in the military mistake him for undercover CIA, which he uses to his advantage. At a Saigon bar, Chickie debates with war correspondents, including a photojournalist played by Oscar winner Russell Crowe. Chickie questions why they report “only the bad stuff”, which is tough on morale back home, while the reporters counter with the defense of only telling the truth. A later part of Chickie’s journey finds him in the middle of the Tet Offensive, running for his life with Crowe’s character.

Director Farrelly, long celebrated as an iconic comedic filmmaker with his brother Peter, doesn’t break any new ground here, but the remarkable true story keeps us watching. In fact, it feels a bit like a war movie from the 1950s … mostly light, with a well-meaning, charming lead actor with limited range. Songs from the era are included, and the message seems to be that politicians don’t always tell the truth (an obvious fact that we live with every day). Chickie’s personal post-trip pledge of ‘less drinking, more thinking’ would be a good direction for many, and Farrelly includes a modern-day photo of Chickie and the boys from the neighborhood over the closing credits. A nice touch.

Opening in limited theaters on September 23, 2022 and on AppleTV+ beginning September 30, 2022

WATCH THE TRAILER

3 Comments | Comedy, Drama, War | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (2014)

February 1, 2014

awkward Greetings again from the darkness. Writing about lousy movies is no fun, but if I can save even one person from wasting $10 and two hours on this garbage, it’s worth it. The only way this got the green light is because of the success of The Hangover movies, Sex and the City, and HBO’s “Girls“. The difference is that all of those projects had a sense of humor and style, while writer/director Tom Gormican somehow finds it creative to end numerous scenes with someone calling someone else either ‘a f***ing idiot’ or ‘an A-hole’.

Mr.Gormican’s only other listed credit is as Producer for the gross out Movie 43. Let’s just say he is now 0-for-2, and here’s hoping he never gets a shot at number 3. This is such a waste of a talented group of up and coming actors. Zac Efron loses whatever credibility he has built up since High School Musical by playing Jason the Jerk. OK, I added the Jerk part, but it’s true. Jason is best friends and co-worker with Daniel, played by Miles Teller, who was so good in The Spectacular Now. Daniel is a simple-minded misogynist with a razor sharp tongue. They are both friends with Mikey, a young doctor whose wife dumps him. Mikey is played by Michael B Jordan, a standout in last year’s Fruitvale Station. These twenty-somethings make a drunken pact to stay single and build their roster of casual sex partners, thereby avoiding the awkward moment of “So … where is this relationship headed?”

The guys live like frat boys, guzzling booze while spouting “jokes” on such thought-provoking topics as poop, penis, masturbation, homosexuality, and Viagra. To add even more insult to humanity, there are four female roles that could set back women’s advancement by 100 years … should anyone actually see this pile of junk. Imogene Poots, Jessica Lucas, Addison Timlin and MacKenzie Davis each play smart, beautiful women who somehow associate with these dunces. For the record, Jordan’s character is not as classless as the others, but guilt by association cannot be ignored.

Miles Teller still has the potential to be the next John Cusack, and Michael B. Jordan clearly has a future if he avoids projects like this, and Zac Efron will probably take his perfect face and go back to sweet romantic comedies. The four key actresses should all bounce back soon with far superior projects … movies that don’t denigrate men, women and movie soundtracks (it may be the worst since the 1980’s).

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you are related to director Tom Gormican and he has promised you a role if somehow someone asks him to make another movie

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you have an ounce of decency or even a minor reason to spend your days doing something worthwhile

watch the trailer … and then forget about this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE_bE_kswEw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE_bE_kswEw

 

Leave a Comment » | Rom-Com | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

PARKLAND (2013)

October 15, 2013

parkland1 Greetings again from the darkness. Fifty years of investigation and research have spawned an endless number of theories about what happened, how it happened, and why it happened, that tragic day in 1963. President John F Kennedy and his lovely wife Jacqueline had captured the hearts of many Americans, and on a trip to Ft Worth and then Dallas, the streets were lined with eager citizens who just wanted to catch a glimpse … hoping some of that Camelot magic would rub off. Instead, a city and a country, went spinning off into feelings of anger and devastation. Rather than show us what we already know, this is a peek at a few individuals impacted in ways you might not have previously thought about.

Vincent Bugliosi made a name for himself as the prosecutor in the Charles Manson Family murder case, and then penning the corresponding book “Helter Skelter” (subsequently made into a movie). Parkland (the name of the Dallas hospital where Kennedy was taken after the shooting) is based on Bugliosi’s book “Four Days in November: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy”.

parkland4 The main stories we follow are that of Abraham Zapruder (Paul Giamatti), Lee Harvey Oswald’s brother Robert (James Badge Dale), their mother Margueritte (Jacki Weaver), Secret Service Agent Forrest Sorrels (Billy Bob Thornton), local FBI Agent James Hosty (Ron Livingston), and the emergency room doctors and nurses who treated JFK and Oswald (Zac Efron, Colin Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden). You might think that’s too many stories for a single movie, and you are probably correct. However, it’s fascinating to see the frenetic pace and immediate fallout of just how these people were impacted. Sure, we would like more details and backstory, but that’s not the approach this film takes. It just provides a taste of the gut-wrenching decisions Mr. Zapruder has to make while grieving for his beloved President; and the shock of Oswald’s brother as reality hits; the jaw-dropping delusions of Oswald’s mother; the absolute frustration of the CIA and FBI agents knowing their historic failures will be their legacy; and the disparate emotions that enter the operating room with Kennedy and Oswald.

parkland5 The film doesn’t take any stance on the grassy knoll, CIA involvement, LBJ involvement, or number of shooters. This is not a crime solving story or research into conspiracy theories. No, this is a look at real people in extraordinary situations that no amount of preparation can pacify. There are so many little details revealed … one of the most powerful occurring at the Lee Harvey Oswald funeral, and another as the JFK casket is loaded onto Air Force One just prior to LBJ taking the oath. So many little things you have probably never before considered.

parkland6 If you were alive at the time of the assassination, you understand the impact. If you have read any of the stacks of books written about that day, you understand what happened and the messy investigation that followed. Bugliosi and director Peter Landesman effectively mix news reels from the day with dramatizations of the fallout, and the actors do a tremendous job of showing just how personally this affected those at the time. A different perspective brings with it interesting discussion … and a big thanks if your mother is nothing like Oswald’s!

**NOTE: Since I am a Dallas resident, I was relieved to see the film didn’t dwell on the hatred directed at the city following the shooting

SEE THIS MOVIE IF: you are interested in the stress and emotion experienced by so many after JFK was assassinated.

SKIP THIS MOVIE IF: you are looking for another conspiracy theory in the mold of Oliver Stone’s JFK.

watch the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPjt_BRLvY

Leave a Comment » | Drama | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

filming PARKLAND in Austin, TX

January 16, 2013

This was posted January 2013.  In August 2013, the trailer was released and I posted an update:

https://moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/update-parkland-trailer/

Filming has begun on Parkland, a movie that will capture the chaos of November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was shot.  Based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book “Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy”, the adapted screenplay was written by journalist Peter Landesman, who also directs.   The movie should be released later this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination.

Parkland Hospital in Dallas is where President Kennedy was taken after the shooting, and for the movie, Austin State Hospital will “stand in” for the hospital.  The film stars Paul Giamatti, Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver. It’s being produced by Tom Hanks’ production company.

My niece Hannah lives at Scottish Rite Dormitory and took some time to watch the filming at the nearby church.  Below are a couple of photos: one of Hannah on the set with some of the classic cars from the era, and another of Paul Giamatti in action.

parkland3

parkland2

7 Comments | Articles, TMI Dailies | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson