The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

C – 116m / 117m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen
Screenplay By: Susanna Fogel and David Iserson
Dir.: Susanna Fogel
Starring: Justin Theroux, Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, David Iserson, Sam Heughan, Hasan Minhaj, Peter Schueller, Gillian Anderson, Jane Curtin, Paul Reiser, Hugo Bolton, Fred Melamed, James Fleet, Justine Wachsberger, Tom Stourton, Roderick Hill and Nick Wittman (as Nicholas Wittman).

Audrey and Morgan are best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy. Well–done Action – Comedy in the vein of Lethal Weapon (1987) for action and the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby Road To…Series (194 –1962), but for women. Both the humor and the action fly fast and furious. Admittedly the humor is mostly crude but for astute film buffs there are scenes that a remenciant of the Hope and Crosby Road films, particularly when what is going on around them finally dawns on them. Specifically the scene in the bathroom during the dinner at, “a friend’s house,” with the body in the tub… Said scene also has echoes of the “There Is a beautiful woman in my bed and a dead man in my bathtub,” scene from: The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976). There is nothing wrong with this film that this reviewer could spot, everything works in terms of CGI, action, comedy, acting and yes – pacing too is perfect. See it, without reservation!    

Trivia:

Gillian Anderson was a childhood crush of Kate McKinnon’s. Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis previously co–starred in the Family Guy episode Peter’s Sister. Sam Heughan played Sir Roger Moore’s son in A Prince For Christmas (2011). Roger Moore played James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), which this film’s title, like the title of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), spoofs. Although there is an actual light gun arcade game series called Point Blank, the in–game footage and title screen of the game that Audrey is playing during her birthday at the beginning of the movie is from the Nintendo DS version, called: Point Blank DS.

Rated: [R] – Violence, Language Throughout, Some Crude Sexual Material & Graphic Nudity
Available on 4K & Regular Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Ted Series (2012 & 2015)

The largely Boston based Ted series (2012 & 2015) is available in [R] rated theatrical cuts and [UNRATED] extended cuts. The preferred cuts are the [UNRATED] extended cuts.

Ted (2012)

C – 106m (Theatrical Cut) / 112m (Unrated Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Teddy Bear
Story By: Seth MacFarlane
Screenplay By: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild
Pro. – Dir.: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, Patrick Warburton, Matt Walsh, Jessica Barth, Sir Patrick Stewart, Norah Jones, Sam J. Jones, Ralph Garman, Alex Borstein, John Viener, Laura Vandervoort, Johnny Carson, Ted Danson, Richard DeAgazio, Ed McMahon, Ryan Reynolds, Tara Strong and Ray Romano.  

A man who’s childhood wish was to bring his teddy bear to life, must choose between drug and alcohol fueled hangouts with the “grown” bear and his fiancé. An outrageous and hysterically funny farce that is actually a fairytale set a Christmas time. An unexpected hit to be sure. It helps if you appreciate Boston humor though.

Trivia: Ted, voiced by Seth MacFarlane, mentioned 9/11 in the movie. Both Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane were both booked on American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes that took down The World Trade Center. Wahlberg opted to drive to New York City, New York then fly to California later and was not on the plane. MacFarlane had a hangover, overslept and missed his boarding by ten minutes by the time he got to the airport. He watched the plane he was supposed to be on fly into the tower on TV at the airport bar. Ted’s various motions were done using motion capture animation from MacFarlane. This was the first live–action production to be directed by Seth MacFarlane.

Oscar® nominated for: Best Original Song – “Everybody Needs A Best Friend,” Music by Walter Murphy and Lyrics by Seth McFarlane.

Rated: [R] – Crude And Sexual Content, Pervasive Language, & Some Drug Use
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Ted 2 (2015)

C – 115m (Theatrical Cut) / 125m (Unrated Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen
Based On Characters Created By: Seth MacFarlane
Screenplay By: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild
Exec. Pro: Alec Sulkin
Pro. – Dir.: Seth MacFarlane
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth, Giovanni Ribisi, Morgan Freeman, Sam J. Jones, Patrick Warburton, Michael Dorn, Liam Neeson, Sir Patrick Stewart, Tom Brady, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Kate MacKinnon, Alec Sulkin, Ralph Garman, Rachel MacFarlane, Tara Strong.

Newlyweds Ted and Tami–Lynn want to have a baby but must prove Ted is a person in a court of law. A contrived sequel to be sure but still worth a few laughs. Amanda Seyfried replaces Mila Kunis here and does a decent job at it. Not the sequel that one would hope for but it suffices.

Trivia: This is the first time that Mark Wahlberg has appeared in both the original film and the sequel film. Stephen Collins had a major cameo but was replaced after a video confession of sex abuse surfaced. When Ted drives, it is the recreation of the classic John Candy scene from John Hughes’ Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987).

Rated: [R] – Crude And Sexual Content, Pervasive Language, & Some Drug Use
[UNRATED] – More Of The Same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Bad Moms (2016) & A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

Bad Moms (2016)

C. – 100m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith, Clark Duke, Megan Ferguson, Wanda Sykes & Martha Stewart.

Three overworked and underappreciated moms join forces for a long overdue trip of fun, freedom and comedic self-indulgence. Biting satire that is also a raunchy comedy. How could you go wrong with this cast? You can’t. There is surprisingly more of a story here than meets the eye while viewing the trailer. Everyone is in top form. Followed by: A Bad Moms Christmas (2017). 

Trivia: Mila Kunis was pregnant with her child while filming this movie and the wedding ring you see in the film is her real-life wedding ring. Although the film was set in Chicago, Illinois, it was filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.  And finally: This film’s release date, July 29, 2016, has been labeled Bad Mother’s Day.

Rated: [R] – Sexual Material, Full Frontal Nudity, Language Throughout, & Drug And Alcohol Content.

Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.  

A Bad Moms Christmas Movie Poster

A Bad Moms Christmas (2017) Film Review

C. – 104m.
A.K.A.: Bad Moms Christmas and Bad Moms 2

Starring Mila Kunis, Kristin Bell, Justin Hartley, Kathryn Hahn, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Wanda Sykes, and Peter Gallagher.

The same three underappreciated and overworked mothers from Bad Moms (2016) try to give their families the best Christmas possible. To make matters worse: They must entertain their moms in the process. Entertaining sequel to Bad Moms (2016) features a game cast and a ton of sexual humor. It lacks the edge that the first one had, but why quibble about that when everything else works?

Trivia: This is the first time Mila Kunis has made a sequel film.

Rated: [R] – Crude Sexual Content And Language Throughout & Some Drug use.

Available on 4K Blu–ray, Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.