DreamWorks The Boss Baby – Review

DreamWorks The Boss Baby – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 37 minutes

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Tim Templeton is a happy only child to 2 loving parents named Ted and Janice.  He believes this family of three is all he needs and the family is complete, but he has a baby brother on the way. While in heaven, there are 2 types of babies: ticklish and not ticklish.  The ticklish babies go to a loving family one earth while the other babies go to Baby Corp.  Baby Corp makes sure baby production stays up but they have a problem: Puppies.  Puppies are talking all the love that humans had for babies.  And with the threat of Puppy Co’s new puppy, The Boss (as he likes to be called) will infiltrate the home of Puppy Co’s marketing executives: Ted and Janice Templeton.  Tim immediately hates the new baby because The Boss is taking all of his parents time. attention, and love.  But when Tim discovers The Boss’s secret, they strike a deal.  If Tim helps The Boss, The Boss will leave and go back to Baby Corp and receive his promotion and corner office (with a private potty).  But if they fail, The Boss will be stuck with the family forever.  Tim knows that in order to complete their plan they have to get along and go to “Bring Your Kid To Work Day”.  It’s there they can find the secret plans about the new puppy.  But once they get the plans, the will find out the truth about the man behind the puppies.

Based on The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee, this movie won’t continuously make you laugh, it is a great film about family and coming together (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  Now parents don’t be worried there are plenty of jokes for you.  With blurred out private parts, Blackbird song, and references to Raiders of the Lost Ark, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Mouse Trap, you will laugh at the screen and your children’s confusion (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  Also, this movie gives great business tips.  For Example:

• If you aim for failure, you will succeed
• The path to success is not a straight line
• Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right
• Cookies are for closers

Two of the biggest saving graces in this movie are the montages and the seamless change from Tim’s fantasy to his reality.  It will make you want to see these scenes over and over again.  While it is not the funniest movie around, it is wonderfully crafted.  Stay past both end crawls for a cute ending, but not a part two introduction.  Do not see this in 3D, there is no need.  Matinee is well worth the price.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

No that’s ok. I’m enough – Tim

One day you are going to get to know this guy and you will love him with all your heart – Ted

I’m surrounded by a muscle head, a bunch of yes men, and a doodler – The Boss

Now you see them, now you don’t – Francis Francis

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Ghost in the Shell – Review

Ghost in the Shell – Budget of $110 million – 1 hour and 56 minutes

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Mira wakes up on an exam table, in Hanka Robotics, unable to move her body. Dr. Ouelet asks her what is the last thing she remembers, and Mira states “drowning”. Dr. Ouelet tells her that she and her family were attacked by terrorist while on a boat. Her family was killed. They attempted to save her, but only her mind could be saved. So they put her mind in a shell (cybernetic body). While most humans have some cyber robotics inside of them, Mira is the first of her kind and she will fight against cyber terrorist threats for Sector 9. After a year, she is a Major and has to take medicine so her mind won’t reject her shell. During a mission, a Hanka executive is attacked by a robot, hacked, and killed, but the robot says something that unnerves Mira. Mira wants to deep dive into the robot memory with the hope of finding the person behind the hack. However, during the deep dive, Mira starts to get hacked but she escapes before falling apart. She pinpoints the hacker’s location, but what she really finds is the truth behind Hanka Robotics, her origin, and the ghost in her memory glitches.

Based on Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow, the premise of the movie is great (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). However, when the story isn’t relying on digital effects, it becomes extremely boring. While the visual effects are amazing, they are not new. They are just done with better technology. Scarlett does her best to bring her character to life by having a deadpan face and robotic movements, but (to be honest) it feels like a stiff Black Widow. The rest of the cast do as much as they can to make this story work, but it’s just not enough to keep your interest. There is no wow factor nor a plot twist that leaves you wanting more. Just skip this movie and go to Red Box.

I give it 2 out of 5 stars

I don’t see her as a machine, but a weapon and the future of my company – Mr. Cutter

Hey, it’s just a robot – Batou

This is Major and you have my consent – Major Mira

We cling to memories as if they determines us, but they don’t. what we do that determine us – Dr. Ouelet

I’m human and happy to be – Han

Do I have your consent – Aramaki

Do you think you were the first – Kuze

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The Last Word – Review

The Last Word – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 58 minutes

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After a failed suicide attempt, Harrietta (an obsessive control freak) starts to think about her obituary. After reading a few, she stumbles upon a writer she likes, Anna. Harrietta marches to Anna’s job and demands Anna write her obituary. She gives Anna an alphabetized list of family, friends, and colleagues along with their favorite restaurants so Anna can interview them. Also, she gives Anna until Monday to deliver. Anna wants to say no but her boss tells her that Harrietta’s advertisements keep their newspaper afloat. Anna must make Harrietta happy to keep the newspaper open. Anna interviews are horribly disastrous. No one has anything nice to say about Harrietta. Anna does the best that she can to create the obituary and turn it in. Harrietta is extremely disappointed in Anna’s work and lets her know it. It’s then that Anna tells Harrietta that the writing isn’t the problem, it’s the subject. After some research and hurt feelings, Harrietta comes to Anna’s home unannounced with writing tips for Anna. Every obituary Harrietta has read has 4 parts:

1. Family who loves them
2. Co-workers who admire them
3. Help the life of a minority or physically disabled
4. A wild card

With a family that hates her, co-workers who fear her, no charity work, and no wild card, Harrietta sees where Anna has issues. So, Harrietta asks Anna to help her fix her life to improve her obituary.

This film is sharp and has great comedic timing, even though it covers the rough topic of death. Although Harrietta does work hard to change her life, her core self (strong, bold, brash) remains the same. While others think she is tough, she just wants people to live up to their potential and take a risk. But in the course of this story, both Anna and Brenda (the minority Harrietta helps) grow and become stronger. They even take the all-important road trip to see an estranged family member together. While a bonding movie isn’t unique, this movie was written in a refreshing way. The strong female leads aren’t apologetic for being strong, but hold firm in their resilience.  This is definitely one to watch in theaters.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

Thank you for your approval – Harrietta

You should be so lucky – Ronald

I’m happy. I have a good life and you should be a part of it – Elizabeth

Well, I’m not sorry – Anna

You gotta be something. God put you in this world to be something – Brenda

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