FLUSHED AWAY (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.7|5.0 Starsììì 

Flushed Away—while other films like An American Tail or Teenage Mutant Turtles can get away with settings resting in the sewer, somehow this movie cannot manage that setting. The animation is good, but the setting of the entire movie keeps getting in the way of the story itself. The characters cannot establish lovability or likeableness and that lack hampers the story’s appeal. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

A pet rat gets a taste of living on the rougher side of town that includes not only rats but a toad with plans of its own. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Directors Sam Fell and David Bowers for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Cecil Kramer, David Sproxton, and Peter Lord for making the film possible. Cast includes:   Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Jean Reno, Bill Nighy, Andy Serkis, Shane Richie, and Ian McKellen. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. The film lacks charm and basic appeal. 

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

ARMORED (Theatrical Release USA 2009)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 1.5|5.0 Starsì

Armored starts like any good movie should and plays well like any high three-star entertainment piece. Then Mike Cochrane (Matt Dillon) and Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) go to a hot dog stand and the viewer begins to realize there is not going to be much story to this movie. It almost seems like it wants to be a documentary. Then, to make things even worse, after the characters start discussing a bank robbery, the movie moves to a laughable warehouse scene where money is moved from two armored trucks into a hole in the wall with a homeless man secretly watching the monetary transfer. After the homeless man is injured, Ty Hackett gets a conscience and tries to make a getaway with the homeless man. The homeless man is dispatched and Ty Hackett tries to make a getaway in one of the armored trucks. The rest of the movie then proceeds to meander toward its final resting place in a process that includes approximately twenty minutes viewing Ty Hackett’s perils in a crashed armored truck beleaguered by his former outlaw buddies—Mike Cochrane, Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Quinn (Jean Reno), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco), and Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich). While Duncan Ashcroft (Fred Ward) and Eckehart (Milo Ventimiglia) play strong performances, Armored is a total waste of viewer’s time and a waste of good actors like Fishburne, Reno, Dillon, and Short. This is not the expected thriller, but more of an action drama with a script that couldn’t find itself. Director Nimród Antal couldn’t improve it. Hopefully, Antal will perform better with Predators.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) faces eviction from the family home and possible loss of his kid brother, Jimmy (Andre Kinney) to child services. He decides the solution to his financial challenges is to help friends rob the Federal Reserve.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Nimród Antal for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Russell Hollander and Debra James for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Mike Cochrane (Matt Dillon), Quinn (Jean Reno), Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco), Duncan Ashcroft (Fred Ward), Eckehart (Milo Ventimiglia), and Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. This production does not present well on screen.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers