BROTHER BEAR 2 (DVD Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì Brother Bear 2—old theme—relies on the Shrek idea of changing one's natural being to experience romance. Not a new concept...think of Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid...the list goes on and on, this time it's a girl and a bear. One wonders what is a child's 'take home' message? Many of the transition scenes are jarring. The music is probably the best part of the film. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Kenai (voice of Patrick Dempsey), who now lives as a cave bear, remembers when he was human.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ben Gluck for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jim Ballantine and Carolyn Bates for making the film possible. Cast include: Mandy Moore, Jeremy Suarez, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara,  Wanda Sykes, Wendie Malick, and Kathy Najimy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. This sequel movie has a weak story. It does not reach basic standards of quality.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT (Released to Theaters USA 1993)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì  Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit takes a little of this and a little of that to make a 'kind of' creative movie that ends on a high note of positivity. Watch through the concluding credit roll for a nicely done song and dance routine. Whoopi Goldberg performs at her usual level of professionalism. It's interesting to see James Coburn cast in this movie. This is one of his later performances. The script is really well written and allows very good presentation and portrayal. There are suggestive scenes in the introductory scenes of the film. But the movie works as an easy-on-the-mind entertainment piece. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  A Vegas headliner gets a request to help her friends at a Catholic school to re-establish opportunity for young people via teaching music class.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Bill Duke for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producers Mario Iscovich, Laurence Mark, and Co-Executive Producer Christopher Meledandri for making the film possible. Cast includes Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy, Bernard Hughes, Mary Wickes, James Coburn, Michael Jeter, Wendy Makkena, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Maggie Smith.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. The movie shows Whoopi Goldberg as a Las Vegas headliner and then as a teacher in a school classroom of failing students. Video Review Available Here: Ben Meyers

 

CATS DON’T DANCE (Theatrical Release USA 1997)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.4|5.0 Starsìì

Cats Don’t Dance serves at the poor to fair entertainment level with some comedic elements. The introduction plays well until Danny, the cat, arrives in Hollywood; then, the story seems to fall apart little by little with only a few scenes that seem ‘cool’ or interesting. It’s like the writers borrowed from other movies and mixed scenes and dialogue to make a ‘cookie-cutter’ movie. With the exceptions of the Noah’s Ark scene, Darla Dimple and her butler scene, and Max scenes, there is little in this movie to pique interest. The movie lacks charisma and charm. The single film highlight is the comedic coupling of a sweet Shirley-Temple-look-a-like with a very mean, un-Shirley-Temple-like personality. This unique rendition is well-executed by character Darla Dimple.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Danny the cat (voice of Scott Bakula), new to Hollywood, is lucky enough to land a movie part but angers Darla Dimple (voice of Ashley Peldon), the star of the film.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Mark Dindal for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Sawyer (voice of Jasmine Guy), Sawyer (singing voice of Natalie Cole), Darla Dimple (singing voice of Lindsay Ridgeway), Tillie Hippo (voice of Kathy Najimy), Woolie Mammoth (voice of John Rhys-Davies), L.B. Mammoth (voice of George Kennedy), and Flanigan (voice of Rene Auberjonois).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. There seems to be no focal point or real reason for this movie.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers