Cracking Movie, Gromit! // Curse Of The Were-Rabbit Review

Plot Synopsis:

Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage that plagues their village and threatens the annual giant vegetable growing contest.

Official Trailer:

Full Review:

After my disappointment with Aardman’s 1997 short film Stage Fright (see review HERE), I only remembered how great the studio’s other films are. Works such as Creature Comforts and Chicken Run, without a shadow of a doubt, trump Stage Fright any day of the week. However, I think it’s fair to say that the loveable duo portrayed in this film still remain the studio’s Magnus Opus. First introduced in 1989’s A Grand Day Out, Wallace and his adorable chum Gromit have won over the hearts of the British public as well as the rest of the world with their fantastic imagination and inherent charm. So now after three super-successful 30 minute shorts (and later followed on by a fourth short), the pair star in their own feature length film!

Released in 2005, I still remember when this was first coming out. I was so excited to see this since the claymation moguls are responsible for a small part of my childhood. I used to own all the toys and re-watch the shorts over and over again, never growing tired of the zany but light-hearted humour. So to see a 90 minute W&G adventure on the big screen was like heaven on a cheese cracker. Sorry, expect several references throughout!!! So what did I think? When I was a mindless child, I adored it. As a grown up stubborn teenager who thinks his opinion on movies is more important than others which is why he writes these reviews, I still really liked it but a few minor flaws have since been uncovered.

Let’s begin! The first fantastic factor of this film is that Nick Park and Steve Box, who made all the previous W&G films, take on all creative duties for this film (i.e. directing and writing), which is excellent to see! It is very rare in the movie industry that a film adaption of content which originated on a smaller platform (in this case short films) allows the original creators of said content to tackle the adaption head on. It shows that the studio care about the source material and respect what makes it so great in the first place. And that really shows throughout with the film with none of the humour and atmosphere being diluted or compromised.

All of the comedy enlightens the heart and tickles your inner child (not in that way!!!) despite most of the jokes just being a play on words and the use of a bit of slapstick. If used in any other film, I feel as if the comedy wouldn’t work as well as it would when our amiable inventor and dog address the same humour. There’s just something about their delivery that automatically makes it funny. Merely looking at Wallace’s cheesy grin makes me laugh! Albeit, I’ll admit that Wallace and Gromit really excel in dialogue based humour as opposed to physical humour, much like the old Looney Tunes cartoons produced by Warner Brothers. Although Aardman steer towards more physical humour in this clay crusade, Curse Of The Were-Rabbit finds a wonderful balance between these two conflicting styles of comedy which is bound to please both young and old, as well as long time fans and the uninitiated.

Personally, I’m not a fan of slapstick/physical humour due to my distaste of the original Three Stooges show (GASP! Shocker, I know!). But if done right, it can definitely work wonders. Thankfully, COTWR is injected with so much creativity and ambition I just can’t help but smiling! And if think that’s the only way to describe what makes Wallace and Gromit so brilliant: creativity. Only in this ‘franchise’ will you be able to get away with a giant killer rabbit that steals vegetables from a terrified neighbourhood! And when I say the film is ambitious, I mean that some set pieces are so out of this world it’s truly absurd (in a good way). I’m also referring to the film’s underlying messages about animal cruelty and… yes that’s right, eating your vegetables. But hey, the film has silly message for the kiddies to save you from addressing it yourself as well as a general message which everyone can learn from!

I could just rave about this dynamic duo all day if I could, but unfortunately there are a few flaws that need to be discussed. Just like Stage Fright, the film suffers from a weak villain in the form of the Victor played by Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List, The English Patient). He doesn’t have a lot of motivation other than being blinded by jealousy, which I feel is a bit of a cop out since just naturally being an arse doesn’t justify some of this guy’s decisions! I also feel that the film is slightly bloated. By that, I mean the way the film is paced just makes the entire movie feel ironically like a really long short. Maybe that’s because the runtime flew by me so fast, but at the end I kinda felt as empty as Wallace is when there’s no cheese in the fridge.

But at the end of the day, Curse Of The Were-Rabbit manages to do a lot more things perfectly than it does not-so-perfectly. It delights my inner fanboy, inner child, and my overall movie-loving self. If you want to watch an animated film that doesn’t make you want to squelch your eyes and ears into guacamole (cough, Frozen, cough), then this is a high-spirited, lively animation that doesn’t fail to disappoint.

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Charming, incredibly witty, and absurdly enjoyable. A much needed breath of fresh air. CHEEEEESE GROMIT!!!!

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few decades and you’re unaware of who Wallace and Gromit are, then I have two things to say to you. First thing is “SHAME ON YOU!”. Secondly, as preparation for this feature length escapade, you can watch all of the pair’s previous short films starting with A Grand Day Out, followed by my personal favourite The Wrong Trousers, which progresses onto A Close Shave and finally finishing off with 2008’s A Matter Of Loaf And Death. Each short is worthy of your time and attention. You can find them all in full on YouTube. Your welcome.

 

Slurs, Spaceships, And Side-Splitting Stupidity // Star Wars Day Special!

*There isn’t a poster, so I thought this would make a good substitution!

Plot Synopsis:

What happens when a Captain and his crew take the star ship out for a joyride while drunk? Find out in this cinematic experiment involving an entirely drunk cast and crew.

Official Short:

Full Review:

May the 4th be with you! Yes that’s right. It’s officially Star Wars Day today and what better way to celebrate than reviewing a short film about drunk people! The five minute short features elements of the Star Wars universe so I thought this would be incredibly fitting for the occasion. However, I know some of you will complain and rip into me about how there are elements from bitter rivals Star Trek that are being used in the video. To which I say… Star Trek and Star Wars now have the same director! So it shouldn’t matter!! So, let’s shoot this review into warp speed and get started!

I shouldn’t have to point this out, but you definitely should not take this seriously in the slightest. I mean, with the name of Star Drunk, you’d be stupid to treat this with the same seriousness as a film about the tragedies of World War II. The main niche of the film is that all the actors on screen are (allegedly) drunk and that the script was written while the writers were under the influence. With this in mind, it’s easy to assume that this isn’t gonna be like any other short you’ve seen this year. And it definitely isn’t!

The reason for this is because, unlike other shorts, this film has no narrative structure whatsoever! It is so loosely put together and many scenes and small moments are incredibly insignificant and out of place; it can be irritating to the die hard film fan. But that’s why this is comedic genius! It somehow manages to satirise Sci-Fi as a genre and wonderfully succeeds in doing so, despite having little to no set-up for their jokes.

In fact, these aren’t even jokes. These are just moments moulded by atrocious writing and overdone acting which come across as funny. It’s exactly the reason why films like The Room are so funny; it’s so obviously horrendous we respond with laughter instead of hate. And yet, I wouldn’t say this is “So Bad, It’s Good”. It wasn’t trying to be good in the first place, knowing that the actors were intoxicated while filming. Because of this, what we receive at the end of the day is ludicrous cinema and downright absurdity but you’ll always find the funny side no matter how you look at it.

I don’t really have much else to say about this. It is what it is; a stupid YouTube video!. But the fact that this is a ‘stupid YouTube video’ is why it’s so enjoyable. Nothing like this would ever be produced by Hollywood studios for the simple reason that they want success and good quality content. Unfortunately Hollywood doesn’t always get what it wants, but they will strive for it by any means necessary. The beauty of this is that we’re exposing ourselves to a kind of humour that wouldn’t have been touched upon if it wasn’t for the existence of the internet and the abundance of memes and Vine videos. When Hollywood are unable to satisfy our sense of humour, we as a society will turn to the inter-webs to reinvigorate the feeling of laughter that we lost during our viewing of Movie 43!

Out of all the videos you can watch on YouTube and out of all the (short) films you can watch on Star Wars Day, make it this one. It’s painfully hilarious and, although sloppy in narrative, delightful on every level imaginable. But if you want to re-watch the original Star Wars trilogy for the 37th time, then be my guest; it’s probably what I’ll end up doing! Or better yet, take your copies of the prequels and burn them! Six children will be saved for every DVD of The Phantom Menace that is burned around the world. Please make this a tradition for every Star Wars Day!

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Beyond idiotic, but ridiculously funny and full of hilarious absurdity. This is why YouTube exists!

I’m not going to rate the video since I wouldn’t know how to! Like I said, this is it’s own thing! Let us embrace it!! There’s actually another reason why I won’t rate it but I’m gonna save that for another post. But in the meantime, I hope you enjoy your day of cosplaying, and pretending to swish light-sabres while you actually swing a very old broomstick!

Have a good Star Wars Day!!

 

Terrible Title, Terrible Movie, Terrible Everything // The Art Of The Steal Review

Warning: This film is disastrously bad. To fully get my point across, this review contains strong language and mature content. Parent discretion is advised. Now enjoy the review bitches!!

Plot Synopsis:

Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell), a semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get his old gang back together to pull off one last heist. Also starring Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, Kenneth Welsh, and Katherine Winnick.

Official Trailer:

Full Review:

Although this already came out last year in America (as a limited release), The Art Of The Steal is set to be released to the UK on June 20th. And I had the divine opportunity to watch this before anyone else in the UK (Thank you torrent sites!!). Because of this, my responsibility to advise you guys on what films to watch has just increased significantly, therefore I’m just gonna spit it out. This is a cinematic representation of herpes. To call this a bad film would be like calling Hitler a prick; it just isn’t enough! I’m glad and, at the same time, ashamed to know about this film. Ashamed because of how awful it is, but glad because I get to rant about it to you guys!! Let’s get stuck in, shall we?!

You know how it goes; I talk about the good points before the bad points so I shall try to succumb myself to giving this film any credit. I will admit that the cinematography of the film is pretty nice; each scene has a distinctive look and feel and many shots are fluidly choreographed and executed. But remember, don’t judge a book by it’s cover! Another aspect that the film succeeds in is establishing some enjoyable chemistry between the two Interpol officers in the film (played by Jason Jones and Terrence Stamp). They are the exact polar opposites of one another and without a doubt contribute the best moments throughout the entire runtime through their banter and arguing.

But realistically… that’s it! The Art Of The Steal fails dramatically in every other department to the point of cringeworthy. Honest to God, this film has B-Class movie written all over it, and it’s not even that good of a B-Class movie. If anything, it’s an Z-Class!! In fact, this film has riled me up so much this will be my first uncensored review, filled to the brim with ‘F This’ and ‘F That’ amongst other curse words and insults aimed directly to everyone involved in this production. So without further ado, let’s fucking get started already!!!

Let’s go from the ‘I Let It Slide’ issues to the issues that had me screaming ‘Fuck A Duck You Piece Of Shit!!’ at the TV screen. Firstly, the acting is surprisingly sub-par. Hollywood big name Kurt Russell (The Thing, Death Proof) and Oscar nominee Matt Dillon (Crash, Nothing But The Truth) try their very best to give a good performance but unfortunately the material they are given is as poor as Nibbles the rat, and the direction from Jonathan Sobol (who also wrote the film) doesn’t stretch the actors to their full potential.

The second issue is the atrocious pacing. Luckily, the film finds a rhythm of some kind later on in the film but this is still a glaring issue during the first half. Within the first 20 minutes, the film has outlined a 5 1/2 year timeline, bounced back and forth between 5 different countries and very aptly introduced 10 characters. I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of information to take in within 20 minutes!! And frankly, I couldn’t tell what was happening; I couldn’t keep up with any of the details at all and when I thought I’ve got a hang of it, our characters are smuggling themselves into fucking Detroit!! The fact that this issue isn’t the worst problem with the film should be a forewarning to those who are still on the fence about watching this.

Because some of you may think that even if the film is this bad that surely, with a wacky premise such as the one being showcased, the film has the potential to be mindless fun nevertheless. But nope. This is as boring as Victoria Beckham’s pout. Mainly due to the nonsensical narrative, there is nothing in The Art Of The Steal that captivated me and made me care about the characters and their dilemmas. There is a lack of action sequences, which is kind of expected for a film of this kind, and the film heavily relies on conversation and dialogue to keep you interested. And ultimately, the film falls flat on its face because of this.

Why? Because the writing is abysmal!! Many moments are absurdly generic and cliché, including a couple ‘Race Against Time’ sequences which you have no doubt seen before in other heist films. This makes the movie incredibly predictable and pain-inducing for the film fanatic. And what’s worse is the dialogue. The dialogue is corny and each line comes across as those discarded from Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. You can tell that the film thinks it is funny and witty but it definitely is not. Far from it.

Speaking of the sense of humour, it is the worst I’ve seen in a while. Where Martin Scorsese’s latest masterpiece The Wolf Of Wall Street (see review HERE) has genius and downright hilarious humour, The Art Of The Steal looks like a drama compared to every other successful comedy. There are so many moments where the atmosphere in the room was tainted by the horrific jokes and quips. Even the jokes that have a big build up are just not worth it and other ‘funny’ moments translate to me as precariously attempting to induce a few chuckles from the audience via sexual references and foul mouthed language.

THEY EVEN RELY ON A GIANT FUCKING VAGINA TO MAKE US LAUGH!!!

If I haven’t made it all that clear, avoid this movie at all costs! It’s atrocious, pitiful, and a disgrace to cinema. The Art Of The Steal is essentially a poor man’s version of a Guy Ritchie film, so with that in mind don’t waste your time with this abomination and instead watch a quality crime/comedy film such as the stupendous Snatch or even the ludicrous Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Don’t even take up space on your computer by illegally downloading this visual piece of fecal matter and instead live your life to the fullest. But hey, at least the cinematography is nice!

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Little to no redeeming factors make this a cinematic tradegy. Not recommended in the slightest.

Rating:

E+

Despite loathing the film, I thoroughly enjoyed writing this review!! Hopefully you thoroughly enjoyed reading this review and if you did, please share it with your friends so there’s no chance any innocent human being will be tortured at the hands of Kurt Russell.

 

April Fools Countdown // Top 5 Comedies

Just like I promised! As you can clearly see, I’m not reviewing anything but instead, telling you guys my favourite comedies that always manage to make me laugh despite having seen each of them multiple times. Keep in mind, I’m judging these movies upon how much they make me laugh, their replay value and their overall substance. And remember, my sense of humour is going to be different to yours so if your favourite comedy is Grown Ups 2, chances are your sense of humour doesn’t match mine! This list as well as every other list is merely opinion and you are not obliged to agree with it. Although it would be nice if you did. Enough rambling! Without further ado, here are my Top 5 Comedies!

5. The Room (2003)

And to kick off the list, we have the pinnacle of So-Bad-They’re-Good movies. Okay okay! You got me!! This isn’t a comedy. But it definitely isn’t a drama, is it?! Seriously, how can this film be taken seriously? It’s so awful and unintentionally hilarious, I have to classify it as a comedy under federal law. I just have to! The Room is so tremendously and at the same time so poorly written; being held responsible for the famous line “YOU’RE TEARING ME APART LISA!! among other comedy gold nuggets. The plot is absurd, the direction is abysmal and it is filled to the brim with atrocious acting; you really can’t help but laugh. Even the poster is laughable! Therefore, it is my fifth favourite comedy. Shut up! It’s my list!!

4. Shaun of The Dead (2004)

The first film in Edgar Wright’s loosely connected Cornetto Trilogy (also consisting of Hot Fuzz and The World’s End), is a modern classic for a reason. The comedy is not only incredibly funny, it feels genuine as well. At no point does a joke seem forced; every line is delivered to a sublime degree which is refreshing to see in the midst of poorly executed comedies that have been released recently. Yes, I’m looking at you Scary Movie V!! And the fact that this is a zombie flick as well is an added bonus, which means that not only are we laughing, but we get to see some glorious scenes featuring blood and gore. What more could you want?!

3. Liar Liar (1997)

This has a special place in my heart since when I was younger, I used to watch this film on repeat all the time for it’s enjoyable wackiness and Jim Carey’s hilarious performance. He wrestles with a pen for crying out loud!! Looking back at it, it’s just as good now as it was when I watched it as a mindless eight year old. Because of it’s superb writing, Liar Liar is not only outstanding in the comedy department, giving us excellent scenes and lines, it is also really heartwarming and touching which makes it much more than just a silly comedy. Despite it’s loony premise, Liar Liar is something everyone can enjoy and manages to be sophisticated in execution and infallible in entertainment.

2. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

Having only watched this recently, it’s pretty impressive for a film to catapult it’s way into any of my Top 5 lists so quickly. But I cannot ignore the cramps I suffered from after crying with laughter during many scenes throughout this three hour riot. So, I had no other choice but to include this film in the list; it’s just THAT good! And to be honest, the only reason why this isn’t number one on my list is because of the lengthy runtime, but that does not dilute the ingenious writing, the gorgeous direction, and the fantastic acting. I won’t speak too much more since I’ve already done a full length review (see it here), but I will say that TWoWS is a comedic masterpiece that will live on in my memory for many years to come. LEMMON QUAALUDES FTW!!!

1. Howard The Duck (1986)

I LOVE this film! Every scene is perfection and the writing is simply amazing. Howard The Duck is true comedy gold that never fails to make me laugh….

HAHAHAHA!!! APRIL FOOLS!! BOY I GOT YOU GOOD!!!! XD

Did you really think I was going to choose Howard The Duck as my favourite comedy?!?! In all honesty, I can’t believe you fell for that! Don’t worry people, we’ll give that film the top spot for my Bottom 5 list in the near future. But let’s get back on track and unveil the real top spot winner.

1. Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)

If you know me personally, you might’ve saw this coming. I quote this uniquely offbeat classic everyday for a good reason. There are SO many hilarious lines! From the knights who say Ni, to the Holy Hand Grenade, and all the way to the terrific Bridge of Death sequence, Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a stupendous collection of scenes and skits that have me burst out laughing every single time I see them, even if I’ve seen the film 227 bloody times already! This is Monty Python at their very best and a perfect example of comedy that’s clever and intelligent even when the sketches are incredibly zany and bizzare. If you’re unfamiliar with Monty Python, The Holy Grail demands your attention and will award you with hundreds of quotes to store in your arsenal of movie lines, always at the ready. And if you don’t like this film, then I fart in your general direction!

And there you go! Five of my favourite comedies put into a list for you all to enjoy. I hope you’ve enjoyed this small compilation and I wish to do more in the future so you better get used to it! Thanks for reading and of course, a proper review will be posted on Sunday as per usual.

“All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a little girl”

– Charlie Chaplin

 

*Insert Bear Pun Here* // Bear Short Film Review

Full Review:

Yes, it’s that time of the year again, where practical jokes and downright abuse, which is cleverly disguised as friendly banter, is all the rage. Of course, I’m talking about April Fools Day. But because we at Fergie Films are civilised people, we will not partake in giving people wedgies when they least expect it. Instead, we will celebrate the occasion by watching our favourite comedies. But just in case you don’t have a film to watch on April 1st, then I’ve got a hilarious short black comedy for you to enjoy!

Directed and starring by Nash Edgerton, brother of Joel Edgerton (Warrior, The Great Gatsby), Bear is a 10 minute comedy that is as black as night and wonderfully complimented my sick twisted sense of humour. Guaranteed to leave some people sitting in their seat wondering whether to burst out laughing or cry awkwardly, this is a humorously weird tale that has a pretty intriguing message despite a comedic narrative. And has a unpredictable and absurdly funny ending!

Unlike many comedies, a good chunk of this short film consists of drama and conflict. In fact, the first five minutes is primarily build-up and character development. If you’re unsure of the type of film this is (like I was when I first watched this), you can be left unsure of what the hell is happening and possibly end up slightly bored because of this. Opening with our characters getting themselves ready for the day that awaits them (i.e. brushing teeth, eating breakfast, etc.), the film feels slightly slow in pace for the first half but really finds it’s way onto its feet in the latter half, providing a hilarious sequence that is simultaneously tragic and hysterical. Trust me, hang in there and you’ll be rewarded by the end of the short.

This isn’t necessarily a laughing riot either, like other films such as The Wolf Of Wall Street (see review here). Instead, it’s more of a giant buildup for an insanely spectacular punch line. As previously mentioned, the first five minutes is purely development but it definitely doesn’t come across as unnecessary or unimportant. In order for the comedy to hit a home run, it is vital that we understand the scenario and the relationship between the characters therefore the opening sequence had to be included, despite it being slow sifting and somewhat dull.

Bear also deals with a fairly sophisticated message for it’s genre, telling an off-the-wall story about luck and misfortune. It goes to show that there are others out there who have it worse off than you do so there’s no need to whine and complain about the small things in life, such as the amount of chores you have to complete or the fact that your brother won’t share his Maryland cookies with you. That b*stard! Instead, keep your head up and enjoy your life for what it’s worth. It’s either that or I’m looking too deep into it and it’s really trying to say that you shouldn’t wear a bear suit in a forrest!

I won’t say anymore in fear of treading on spoiler territory, so go on and check it out NOW! And once you’ve finished, check out Nash’s other short film entitled Spider which deals with a similar premise and is quite possibly much more twisted and dark than this short film. Both are great and highly recommended for those who’s sense of humour has no boundaries!

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Despite clear pacing issues, Bear is a disturbingly funny flick with a wonderfully twisted ending.

Rating:

A-

Here’s the link for you all to enjoy!

On Tuesday (April Fools), I will be doing a countdown of my Top Five Favourite Comedies. I feel like a list of some kind is long overdue since I LOVE countdowns relating to the best and worst of something. With this in mind, tell me what your favourite comedies are in the comments below while I compile my list over the weekend. Who knows? You may get a shoutout on Tuesday’s post!!

 

The Wolf of Wall Street Has One Hell of A Roar!!

Plot Synopsis:

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Also starring Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey.

Official Trailer:

Full Review:

My my! What a film. I mean, this film is seriously one of the funniest, most ludicrous and, without a doubt, best films I’ve seen in a long while. End of review. Just kidding! Of course, we’re going to discuss in detail what makes Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese’s latest film truly spectacular in every way imaginable.

You know what? Enough of the filler; let’s just jump into review mode. Can you tell I’m really excited to talk about this movie?! We’ll start off with acting, since it’s pretty easy to talk about. Phenomenal. With a cast assemble involving recent Oscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Inception, Django Unchained) and Jonah Hill (Moneyball, 21 Jump Street) as well as recent Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (Mud – see review here), you know one hundred percent that you are going to blown away by their acting chops. Along with newcomer and truly brilliant (not just in acting, if you know what I mean!) Margot Robbie, the entire cast had impeccable comedic timing and had me hooked through every single frame. Hell, even the extras were great!

Under direction from Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, The Departed), it was quite obvious the acting was gonna be good. Speaking of whom, Scorsese (as usual) directs his balls off in this raunchy, outlandish comedy with every shot masterfully done and the film as a whole feeling incredibly cohesive despite a three hour runtime. Joining forces with DiCaprio for their fifth film together, the pair are practically married to each other, having formed a remarkable actor-director relationship unlike any other. And thankfully, that really shows on camera too.

But do you wanna know what else is remarkable? Making Joanna Lumely funny. Well, that’s not actually my point but it still holds true. I’m actually talking about the script. Holy Mary Poppins, this has to be the most hysterical and highly quotable script I’ve seen written for a film since Monty Python and The Holy Grail. And that’s saying a lot!! Abundant with side-splitting scenes and lines, Terence Winter’s (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire) script is a cinematic treasure that I will cherish for as long as I live. And I shall whenever I can integrate many quotes into my everyday life; during my movie loving life only a few scripts have made me do such a feat. Mr Winters, you should feel proud of yourself.

I really want to say the film is bonafide perfection, but unfortunately it isn’t. Fortunately, it is nothing major and something that an average audience member wouldn’t be phased by, but I was somewhat bothered by it nevertheless. Scorsese has publicly said that he struggled to narrow the runtime to just under three hours and you can kinda tell, with the editing appearing slightly choppy in certain scenes. But honestly, if that’s your only problem then you’ve got a terrific movie on your hands.

Filled with obscene language and sex scenes, every Class-A drug you can think of, and even Jonah Hill masturbating, The Wolf of Wall Street is, in my eyes, a comedy masterpiece that I sincerely hope lives on throughout the ages as a staple in cinema. And mark my words, as soon as the Blu-Ray is released here in the UK, I’m buying multiple copies to share with all of my friends. I need to see their faces during the Lemmon 747 scene!

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Utterly marvellous, stupendous on every level, and absolutely chock full of boisterous hilarity. A triumph.

Rating:

A+

Guys, if you haven’t already seen The Wolf of Wall Street and are in the mood for some comical absurdity, then stop what you’re doing this very second and indulge yourself in this unbelievable three hour zany and energetic roller-coaster ride. Or at least make it something you need to do before you die!

And in case you didn’t know, I have a Twitter page where you can keep up to date with my reviews, general movie news as well as my daily antics.

Follow me here:

https://www.twitter.com/FergieFilms#

 

The Inbetweeners Movie // You Bumder!

Plot Synopsis:

Four socially troubled 18-year-olds from the south of England go on holiday to Malia. Starring Simon Bird, Blake Harrison, James Buckley and Joe Thomas.

Official Trailer:

Full Review:

By the way, the title is referring to the show! In case you don’t know, the reason why I’m doing this review of a coming of age story that’s laden with sex jokes, is because I received a request to do so. As Paddy McGuinness would say on his abysmal dating TV show, the power is in your hands!. So if you would like me to review a specific film you cannot wait to read my thoughts on, then check out the ‘Make A Request‘ page! But anyway, here is my review of ‘The Inbetweeners Movie‘

As many of you are aware, The Inbetweeners was originally a uber successful British sitcom that aired for three seasons. In fact it was so successful, it was evolved into the 90 minute comedy sex romp that I’m reviewing now in 2011, and then unfortunately got poorly remade by MTV in 2012 for American TV, ending up being cancelled only after the first season. Thank God for that, eh?!

So what did I think of it? Honestly, I thought it was okay, and this is coming from someone who really liked the TV show. Not side splitting hilarity but definitely not dull or tiresome. Most fans of the TV show, including people that I know personally, loved the show’s adaption to the silver screen but in my opinion, it was rather meh.

First off, it was excellent to see that the series director and the show’s writers returning to fill their respective duties, making the feel just like a longer episode of the show. The way handheld camera work was implemented will make any fan feel at home and the comedic style and in-jokes that only fans will understand thankfully haven’t been squashed at all despite being portrayed on a larger scope. So big props to the studio!

Another plus point is one man and one man only. Richard. Although only chewing up a absurdly small amount of screen time (approximately five minutes), I thought he was hilarious! Played by Theo Barklem Biggs, this awkwardly annoying loner is probably the most memorable asset of this film despite only being a minor role. Every line he spoke had me laughing uncontrollably, not because the dialogue itself was incredibly funny but because it was just wonderfully delivered. And also, he scarily looks like a much younger version of Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney from Only Fools and Horses) which I found pretty funny as well!

Despite a hysterical side character and many scenes that were incredibly funny, quite a few of the jokes fall flat on their face and felt kind of forced. And unfortunately, this isn’t the first comedy to suffer from this problem. Also the pacing was really bothersome at times and I found some of the jokes slightly repetitive and drawn out, desperately trying to squeeze out every chuckle. And speaking of which, that’s all I did throughout the majority of the film; chuckle. I didn’t slap my knee or laugh out loud (or LOL as the kids call it!), but I found The Inbetweeners Movie mildly humorous. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you’re a die hard fan of the show, chances are you have already seen and utterly adore this film. But even as a fan of the show, I didn’t think this was as good as it could’ve been. For some reason, it just felt slightly underwhelming from a comedic stand point. If you’re part of the minority that hasn’t watched the TV show, please do so. It is filled to the brim with hysterical scenes and quotes you will be using on your friends for several weeks. But as a stand alone piece, The Inbetweeners Movie is a decent comedy that has it’s moments but ultimately is left with much room for improvement.

Fergie’s Final Fifteen:

Crude, outrageous, and downright entertaining. Despite clear flaws, Richard makes the whole film worth watching!

Rating:

B-

In case the message hasn’t gotten through to you yet, you can ask me to review a film on the ‘Make A Request’ page. Head over there now! Even though I thought the film wasn’t necessarily perfect, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of me reviewing the sequel which comes out in August this year. So stay tuned!!