Game Over, Man (2018), Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson
Game Over, Man is a new action / comedy about three friends on the verge of getting their video game financed, but then their benefactor has been taken hostage by terrorists. As you probably guessed, they have to help.
Directed by Kyle Newacheck, Game Over, Man stars Adam DeVine, Anders Holm (also the writer), Blake Anderson and Shaggy…
I’m curious about this one because who wouldn’t want something fun like the first The Hangovermovie? I’m still very hopeful even though that ‘breaking news’ bit that ends with the three guys singing Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me‘ felt quite awkward and long.
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), Zac Efron, Adam DeVine
During Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates, it didn’t take long before I found myself thinking ‘Oh great, this is one of those types of comedies.’ This unfortunate thought entered my mind within the first ten minutes during the intervention scene. A scene where the immature, co-dependent brothers played by Zac Efron and Adam DeVine respond to their family’s accusation that they ‘rile each other up’. The joke here contained gratuitous use of expletives and was unfortunately over-stretched to the point where I wanted to shout ‘CUT!
I promise that I generally do enjoy the effective and creative use of colourful language – just not when it’s over-used to the point where it removes rather than adds to the desired effect, comic or otherwise. There were additional disappointing moments where I thought, ‘Really? That’s how that would happen?’ But I persevered nonetheless.
In terms of the good things about director Jake Szymanski’s movie, one of the funniest and most refreshing moments is the dialogue between DeVine and Aubrey Plaza in the scene where they whisper to each other outside their Hawaii hotel rooms. There’s also the rather well-executed massage sequence thanks to an impressive performance by Sugar Lyn Beard and Kumail Nanjiani.
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza
Overall, instead of Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates being the ‘comedy of the summer’ it could have been, what we seem to have is a series of comedy sketches in what ought to have been an improvisation class setting because a lot the jokes / story still needed sharpening and editing down.
Last words from me: Seek out the great scenes highlighted above. Otherwise just do whatever makes you happy. For me, Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates is one more reminder that a truly good comedy is so very hard to make. Why not try Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). It’s very special indeed.
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Adam DeVine
Here’s the brand new trailer starring Zac Efron, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick and Adam DeVine. A trailer to get us all in the mood for summer 2016…
Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates looks like the kind of non-serious summer viewing fun I’m going to be in the mood for come July and August. Zac Efron is lovely and all, but it’s really Anna Kendrick playing an outrageous character that I’m most looking forward to in this movie. For some reason I still think of her as the prim and proper young professional, Natalie Keener – George Clooney’s side-kick in Up In The Air (2009).
Writer/ Director Nancy Meyers’ new movie The Intern stars Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway…
I didn’t write about the first trailer because it didn’t have me excited. But the latest one is definitely preferable. It’s the young female entrepreneur element that appeals to me most. That and the generally trustworthy cast that includes Rene Russo.