LARRY THE CABLE GUY: HEALTH INSPECTOR (Theatricial Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector—perfect for Larry the Cable Guy fans—has a solid plot that works on the border of ‘edgy’. Styled for the teen/adult audience, there are enough laughs and typical Larry the Cable Guy dialogue and visuals to tickle the funny bone.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Free-wheeling City Health Inspector Larry (Larry the Cable Guy) is assigned disciplined partner Amy Butlin (Iris Bahr). This highly mismatched team become involved in the inspection of a restaurant food poisoning scheme.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Trent Cooper for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Emily Wolfe for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Larry (Larry the Cable Guy), Donnie (David Koechner), Diner Manager (Michael Papajohn), Old Woman in Diner (Phyllis Alexion), Jack Dabbs (Tony Hale), Bart Tatlock (Thomas F. Wilson), Amy Butlin (Iris Bahr), Sushi Chef Sakamoto (Eric Esteban), and Brenda (Brooke Dillman).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film serves Larry the Cable Guy fans well.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

GONE IN 60 SECONDS (Theatrical Release USA 1974)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì

Gone in 60 Seconds bases entertainment value on two elements: the need to steal a Freightliner along with 47 vehicles ranging in class from Cadillacs to Maseratis, Ferraris, and Rolls Royces in 5 days and a final car chase scene between a 1971 yellow Ford Mustang and the police. The final chase takes 40 of the 105 minutes of film time and wrecks over 93 cars. This low-budget film, written, produced, and directed by a California junkyard dealer, H.B. Halicki, needs a substantial overhaul and does get that in the 2000 movie Gone in Sixty Seconds starring Nicolas Cage. The movie suffers, during its first scenes, from poor audio due to background noise degrading the quality of actors’ voices; however, the subtitles are well done and serve to fill in the dialogue gaps.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A drug lord gives a list of 48 vehicles and $400,000 cash to insurance investigator, junkyard owner, and professional car thief Maindrian Pace (H.B. Halicki) with an order that the specified vehicles be delivered in 5 days.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director and Producer H.B. Halicki for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Vicinski (H.B. Halicki), Pumpkin Chase (Marion Busia), Eugene Chase (Jerry Daugirda), Stanley Chase (James McIntyre), Atlee Jackson (George Cole), Corlis Pace (Ronald Halicki), Uncle Joe Chase (Markos Kotsikos), 1-Baker-11 detective driver (Butch Stockton), and 1-Baker-11 detective passenger (Phil Woods).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. As a study for how a low budget film ($150,000) can deliver an entertaining story and make a whole lotta money ($40,000,000+), it serves a high purpose. But the 2000 remake Gone in Sixty Seconds with Nicholas Cage performs at a much higher entertainment level.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

KILLING GUNTHER (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Killing Gunther—interesting concept, a little out-of-character for Arnold Schwarzenegger—has an off-beat script that somehow works overall. Taran Killam performs quite well in this movie for the teen/adult audience.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Hitman Blake (Taran Killam) decides to move up to world-class hitman status by eliminating the best hitman in the world, Gunther (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Blake hires a film crew to document his self-assigned hit.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Taran Killam for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Charles Auty, Shanan Becker, Maxime Cottray, Liz Destro, Steven Pottash, Arnold Schwarzenegger, D. Todd Shepherd, Joe Simpson, Andrew Xavier Yakub, and Sean Andrew Maurer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lisa McCalla (Cobie Smulders), Sanaa (Hannah Simone), Mia (Allison Tolman), Max (Steve Bacic), Yong (Aaron Yoo), Cheyenne (Scott McNeil), Donnie (Bobby Moynihan), Rahmat (Peter Kelamis), Trish (Rebecca Olson), Izzat (Amir Talai), and Jewel (Alex Duncan).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Comical, with a flare toward unusual presentation, the film is worth at least one viewing.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ALL CREATURES BIG AND SMALL * (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.8|5.0 Starsìì

All Creatures Big and Small—an animated disaster—seems related to the duckbill platypus who cannot get wings under itself in order to fly. Its inadequacies flow from a predominantly poor script.

Film Poster courtesy of IMDb

Storyline

Animals who were not on the invite list from Noah’s Ark find their place.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Toby Genkel for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Mark Mertens, Jean-Marie Musique, and Christine Parisse for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Dave/Mr. Griffin/Prairie Dog (voice of Dermot Magennis), Finny (voice of Callum Maloney), Hazel (voice of Tara Flynn), Leah (voice of Ava Connolly), Obesey/Stayput/Chimpanzee (voice of Paul Tylak), Lion (voice of Alan Stanford), Mrs. Griffin/Flamingo/Mrs. Guard/Margaret (voice of Aileen Mythen), Tanglefoot/Mr. Guard/Siberian Tiger (voice of Patrick FitzSymons), Rhinoceros (voice of Carla Becker), Baby Hippopotamus #1/Songbird #1 (voice of Franciska Friede), and Baby Hippopotamus #2 (voice of Lotta Doll).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. If the audience does not abandon the film during the first thirty minutes due to thinking it can only get better…well…it doesn’t.

*Also Known as Ooops! Noah is Gone

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

LARGER THAN LIFE (Theatrical Release USA 1996)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Larger than Life could have been top-of-the-line comedy due to its basically good concept; but the script dialogue does not support the Bill Murray comedy style and the film, without intention, takes on a certain darkness that is almost depressing as the main character attempts to find a circus elephant a good home. The film does not wind down well to its final scenes and seems unbelievable as an elephant loads on an outbound plane without proper health release papers in place. The conclusion seems bluntly cut short as if needing to meet a time or budget restriction or as if rewritten to suit a certain desired aim never originally intended for the story.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Motivational speaker Jack Corcoran (Bill Murray) inherits a circus elephant.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Howard Franklin for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Sue Baden Powell, Guy East, and Wolfgang Glattes for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Vernon the Human Blockhead (Pat Hingle), Vernon’s Wife, Lulana (Lois Smith), Event Coordinator (Jerry Adler), Richie (Richard Alan Baker), Man in Audience (Richie Allan), Pyramid Woman (Kimberly Thornton), Mom (Anita Gillette), Celeste (Maureen Mueller), Walter (Jeremy Piven), Matthew (Alex Neiwerth), Party Guest (Alfa Betty Olsen), and Receptionist (Carrie Houk).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. A better choice for overall entertainment within the ‘animal interacting with human storyline’ is Paulie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MONSTER TRUCKS (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Monster Trucks will remind audiences of one of those 'first choice’ movies one watches when young. While this film may not be a first choice for an adult audience, it serves as ‘cool’ for the younger audience. Barry Pepper seems perfectly cast for his part. Lucas Till gives a strong performance while Danny Glover is always on top of his game.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Tripp (Lucas Till) spends most of his time in a junkyard building his own monster truck from the scraps of other vehicles. When Tripp discovers a creature hiding in the junkyard, a bond develops that leads to an oil company working in North Dakota.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Chris Wedge for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Cale Boyter for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Meredith (Jane Levy), Jim Dowd (Thomas Lennon), Sheriff Rick (Barry Pepper), Reece Tenneson (Rob Lowe), Mr. Weathers (Danny Glover), Cindy (Amy Ryan), Burke (Holt McCallany), Wade Coley (Frank Whaley), Junior Scientist (Aliyah O’Brien), Technician (Daniel Bacon), and Roughneck (Faustino Di Bauda).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a fun movie for the 10-year old and up.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

NEXT (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Next—great concept—needs a tad more story development, character development, and buffing of actor performance. Julianne Moore needs to be replaced with Sigourney Weaver, someone with a little stronger screen persona, or the script needs to give her more realistic dialogue applicable to her scenes. Her portrayal seems reminiscent of Sarah Jessica Parker’s in Did You Hear About the Morgans? It didn’t work and that is the same case here. Watch for Peter Falk’s appearance.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) attracts FBI attention when the agency finds Cris routinely can see 2-minutes into the future.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Lee Tamahori for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Gary Goldman, Jason Koornick, and Ben Waisbren for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore), Liz Cooper (Jessica Biel), Mr. Smith (Thomas Kretschmann), Cavanaugh (Tory Kittles), Security Chief Roybal (José Zúñiga), NSA Director Wisdom (Jim Beaver), Jeff Baines (Jason Butler Harner), Kendall (Michael Trucco), Mr. Jones (Enzo Cilenti), Miss Brown (Laetitia Danielle), and Mr. Green (Nicolas Pajon).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. The film needs improvement, but interesting to watch because of its prophetic theme. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

6 DAYS (Theatrical Release Indonesia 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì

6 Days—based on true events—features Actors Ben Turner, Jamie Bell, and Mark Strong to tell its 1980s hostage story. This should have been a straight forward, easy story to put on the screen because there is no lack of tension in the real-life version of events. It’s worth a watch, but at times the tension flags and there are bits of slowness that flicker in and out of many of the scenes.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Salim (Ben Turner) takes hostages in London’s Iran Embassy and negotiates terms for release of 91 people held in an Iranian prison in exchange for his hostages’ lives.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Toa Fraser for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Nate Bolotin, Andrew Boswell, Ian Dawson, Peter Hampden, Glenn Standring, Aram Tertzakian, Andrea Scarso, Norman Humphrey, Norman Merry, Gavin Poolman, Andrea Scarso for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Rusty Firmin (Jamie Bell), Max Vernon (Mark Strong), Kate Adie (Abbie Cornish), Dellow (Martin Shaw), Roy (Emun Elliott), Faisal (Aymen Hamdouchi), Ray (Andrew Grainger), John Mac (Colin Garlick), Tak (Te Kohe Tuhaka), and MI5 Spokesman (William Chubb).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a good watch for its historical significance; but, a better choice is Ben Affleck’s Argo.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

CLOVERFIELD PARADOX (Video Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.2|5.0 Starsììì

The Cloverfield Paradox needs more backstory to get off the ground and portray its very good concept. Despite good casting choices, like David Oyelowo, the story is difficult to follow and does not seem to transition well between its various events so that the audience can understand the ‘why’ for the events.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ava Hamilton (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) works to establish a steady power source for earth from the space station, but events go horridly awry during an unexpected power surge.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Julius Onah for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Bryan Burk, Jon Cohen, Bob Dohrmann, Drew Goddard, Tommy Harper, and Matt Reeves for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Kiel (David Oyelowo), Schmidt (Daniel Brühl), Monk (John Ortiz), Mundy (Chris O’Dowd), Volkov (Aksel Hennie), Tam (Ziyi Zhang), Jensen (Elizabeth Debicki), Michael (Roger Davies), Molly (Clover Nee), and Ayana Age 7 (Jordan Rivera).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Better choices for science fiction fans are: Knowing, Midnight Special, and, for the younger adult generation, Earth to Echo.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE EMOJI MOVIE (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Starsììì

The Emoji Movie—good concept, great voicing—becomes quickly unrelatable. The main difficulty appears to be the use of the Meh Emoji for filling character cast. While Despicable Me works on every level, the same approach to this story falls flat. There needs to be more thought put into the character development to push this film into the watchable class.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Gene (voice of T.J. Miller), an emoji who does not behave in the ‘normal’ manner, becomes targeted by bots determined to eliminate and destroy based upon his unpredictable facial responses.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Tony Leondis for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Ben Waisbren for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Hi-5 (voice of James Corden), Jailbreak (voice of Anna Faris), Smiler (voice of Maya Rudolph), Mel Meh (voice of Steven Wright), Mary Meh (voice of Jennifer Coolidge), Poop (voice of Patrick Stewart), Akiko Glitter (voice of Christina Aguilera), Flamenca (voice of Sofía Vergara), Spam (voice of Rachael Ray), ‘Devil’ Steven (voice of Sean Hayes), Alex (voice of Jake T. Austin), and Addie (voice of Tati Gabielle).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The concept promises a GREAT movie, but the story falls flat.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WOODY WOODPECKER (Theatrical Release Brazil 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

Woody Woodpecker—not as good as the original televised cartoon series—fails due to poor script with a trite, overdone environmental theme. Timothy Omundson does not seem well cast for his part. The movie needs a complete makeover to re-capture the original persona of Woody Woodpecker. The film barely makes expenses at box office. It fails to capture the wider age range that the original series captured.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Woody Woodpecker (voice of Eric Bauza) becomes involved with poachers, park rangers, a family, and the police.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Alex Zamm for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Mike Elliott for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lance Walters (Timothy Omundson), Brittany (Thaila Ayala), Tommy Walters (Graham Verchere), Samantha Bartlett (Jordana Largy), Nate Grimes (Scott McNeil), Ottis Grimes (Adrian Glynn McMorran), Jill Ferguson (Chelsea Miller), Lyle (Jakob Davies), George (Sean Tyson), Chris (Patrick Lubczyk), John (Ty Consiglio), and Linda Walters (Emily Holmes).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It can work for a 10-year-old and up audience.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ERASED (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Erased—nothing new here—fills its 95 minutes with bits and pieces of everything we’ve already seen in a hundred other action flicks. Aaron Eckhart seems a bit weak at times while in dialogue, but does well in most of action scenes. Young Lianna Liberato and Olga Kurylenko distinguish themselves in their roles.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ben Logan (Aaron Eckhart) and his daughter (Lianna Liberato) become the target of the Belgium police, CIA agents, and assassins.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Philipp Stölzl for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Peter Bevan, Eric Brenner, Jeremy Burdek, Judy Cairo, James Gibb, David Harfield, Leo Joseph, Nadia Khamlichi, Mark Kress, Howard Meltzer, Jason Rimokh, Michael A. Simpson, Gilles Waterkeyn, and Harry Winer for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Anna Brandt (Olga Kurylenko), James Halgate (Garrick Hagon), Maitland (Eric Godon), Nabil (Yassine Fadel), Derek Kohler (Neil Napier), Marty Braymer (David Bark-Jones), Floyd (Alexander Fehling), Walter (Nick Alachiotis), Karl Van Doorn (Ronnie Commissaris), and Karim (Fabrice Boutique).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. For a fill-in-some-spare-time afternoon action flick, it works; but, if you’re looking for a fresh, good, action flick revolving around a father and daughter theme choose Taken instead.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

WEDDING CRASHERS (Theatrical Release USA 2005)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.0|5.0 Starsììì

Wedding Crashers—lots of brief nudity with a heavily adult theme—uses the talents of Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Christopher Walken to tell its story. Is the film well done? Yes. As an educational watch, it can serve as a terrific visual exploration into the world of exceptionally skilled predators looking for that ‘free ride’—free food, free entertainment, free sex without responsibility for the cost of the ‘party’. It’s a coming of age movie when two men are a little too old to still be coming of age. The story is slightly reminiscent of the Adam Driver and Ben Stiller movie, While We’re Young, when two adults ‘missed the boat’ as all their friends got on board and moved to the next stage in their lives.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

John Beckwith (Owen Wilson) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) crash weddings to bed women.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director David Dobkin for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Cale Boyter, Richard Brener, Toby Emmerich, and Guy Riedel for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Secretary Cleary (Christopher Walken), Claire Cleary (Rachel McAdams), Gloria Cleary (Isla Fisher), Kathleen Cleary (Jane Seymour), Grandma Mary Cleary (Ellen Albertini Dow), Todd Cleary (Keir O’Donnell), Sack Lodge (Bradley Cooper), Randolph (Ron Canada), Father O’Neil (Henry Gibson), Mr. Kroeger (Dwight Yoakam), and Mrs. Kroeger (Rebecca De Mornay).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film serves a sophisticated, mature audience. Its most redeeming factor becomes a type of education concerning the uninvited guest, why that guest may be escorted out when discovered, and how sophisticated a con becomes when someone wants something for free without responsibility toward the cost and maintenance of the free item. There is a certain theme running through the film that reminds one of the 1956 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production of High Society with Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BATTLE FOR INCHEON: OPERATION CHROMITE (Theatrical Release South Korea 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Battle For Incheon: Operation Chromite is historically significant and worth watching for that benefit. Korean Actors Jung-jae Lee and Beom-su Lee play stronger, more believable roles than their American counterparts. This war film suffers from lack of intense realism throughout its scenes which detracts from the importance and significance of this important invasion.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

General Douglas MacArthur devises a plan to help South Korea as North Korea pushes its forces throughout South Korea.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director John H. Lee for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Taewon Chung for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Douglas MacArthur (Liam Neeson), Jean (Josie Bissett), Jang/Hak-soo (Jung-jae Lee), Lieutenant Colonel Edward L. Rowny (Sean Dulake), Soldier-Typist (Mathew Darcy), Han Jae-Sun (Se-Yeon Jin), Lim/Gye-jin (Beom-su Lee), Seo Jin-Chul (Jun-ho Jeong), Alexander Haig (Justin Rupple), Foster (Damien Furtado), U.S. Army Soldier (Istvan Medvigy), Joseph Lawton Collins (Andrew William Brand), and F. Charkhorn (Troy Zitzelsberger).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s good to increase knowledge on behind-the-scenes United States military aid to save South Korea from North Korean military forces. But, as entertainment value, better war movie choices are Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

THE VAULT (Theatrical Release USA 2017)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

The Vault—interesting with a bit of intrigue, a little creepy with its own ‘cool’—does not have the best of acting, but keeps the audience wondering how the story will play out. It needs a sequel as the ending leaves unanswered questions; but due to an extremely low box office take, that sequel seems unlikely. The movie seems slightly reminiscent of the 2002 film 28 Days Later (2002). This movie suits Ben Meyers’ choices for fair to middling afternoon watches.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

A bank robbery turns up a meager $70,000 until an assistant manager reveals there is $6,000,000 stored under the bank in an old vault.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Dan Bush for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Scott Adler, Michael Becker, Lee Broda, Jamie Carmichael, Joseph Dang, Jon Graham, Dana Guerin, Michael Guerin, Jeff Gum, Gary Matthew, Alexander Motlagh, Dmitry Paniotto, Darby Parker, Scott Read, Jeff Rice, Shaun Sanghani, Greg Scott, and John R. Sherman for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Ed Maas (James Franco), Michael Dillon (Scott Haze), Vee Dillon (Taryn Manning), Leah Dillon (Francesca Eastwood), Susan Cromwell (Q’orianka Kilcher), Officer James Aiken (Jeff Gum), Detective Tom Iger (Clifton Collins Jr.), Cyrus (Keith Loneker), Mary (Jill Jane Clements), Kramer (Michael Milford), Lauren (Debbie Sherman), Kirkham (Conal Byrne), and Nancy (Lee Broda).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It works as a good fill-in-some-time flick.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

STARDUST (Theatrical Release USA 2007)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.8|5.0 Starsììì

Stardust—high potential—fails to deliver due to poor character development, lack of backstory, average acting, complicated storyline, and weak foundation. The movie begins with highly imaginative scenes that support themselves on high budget stage sets, but the excellent stage sets cannot establish the storyline and the meaning of each scene becomes quickly lost. The film deserves its 3.8 stars because of the highly imaginative scenes, but fails in its meaningful delivery.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Magical kingdoms, falling stars, kings, princes, witches, princesses, jewels, Babylon candles, and voodoo dolls work together to establish rightful rulers to thrones.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Matthew Vaughn for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Stephen Marks, Peter Morton, Kris Thykier, and David Womark for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Yvaine (Claire Danes), Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer), Prince Septimus (Mark Strong), Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro), Prince Primus (Jason Flemyng), Princess Una/Slave Girl (Kate Magowan), Ditchwater Sal (Melanie Hill), and Narrator (voice of Ian McKellen).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. The film needs backstory to explain and fill in the gaps of its complicated story. Read a plotline before you go.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

MUNE: THE GUARDIAN OF THE MOON (Theatrical Release USA 2014)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.4|5.0 Starsìì

Mune: Guardian of the Moon—cool concept with unusual and unique animated characters—suffers from poor character development and inability to appeal to an international audience due to lack of  clear and sufficient backstory. The backstory that was provided was 'dropped into your lap' without enough time to absorb it before the movie took off. Audience may feel itself slipping and sliding on ice trying to make sense of the storyline unless a little research precedes viewing. Some voicing appears to lack flow as if the cast has not been fully prepared for dialogue delivery. This French film, distributed by USA GKids in America, complicates itself beyond a young child’s comprehension of storyline.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

An imaginary world’s harmony becomes upset and heroes set out to re-establish peace and order.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Directors Alexandre Heboyan and Benoît Philippon for directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Dimitri Rassam, Aton Soumache, and Alexis Vonarb for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Sohone (voice of Omar Sy), Glim (voice of Izïa Higelin), and Mune (voice of Michaël Grégorio).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. Read a plotline before you go.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers