The Expendables Tries to Bring Back ’80s and ’90s By Art Byrd

It was another time-warp moment for me at the movies. First, it was the A-Team, based on the TV series from the ’80s; now it’s The Expendables, with action stars from the ’80s and ’90s.

Writer, director and action icon Sylvester Stallone apparently gathered some ’80s tough guy buddies and said, “Let’s make a movie.” 

I have to admit -- even though I am huge action film fan -- when I saw The Expendables trailer, I thought it was going to be terrible one-liners, tough guy stares and excessive killing and huge explosions. Well, The Expendables was all of that, but I am not sure if it was a great action film ride. Like a roller-coaster, it had its up and downs.

The first 15 minutes is actually pretty cool, as guys known as the Expendables come in contact with Somali pirates who have American hostages. The Expendables actually give the pirates money for the hostages. Of course, the pirates want more money.

Stallone plays Barney Ross, the leader. But stop the presses -- C’mon, in a tough movie like this, Stallone…the writer! gives himself a name like Barney?! Well, Barney tells the pirates to take the money or leave it. The pirates have red lasers from the Expendables’ big guns pointed at their chests. They don’t take the money, so the Expendables take their lives.

The plot is a shaky one. Barney is talking with Mr. Church, played by Bruce Willis, about another job. When Trench, played (uncredited!) by Arnold Schwarzenegger, walks in with the sunlight behind him, his shadow is so big we know it’s him. He is a former friend of Barney’s who is going after the same job. After some verbal jibes, Arnold defers to Barney and walks out. It was a scene designed to put all three action stars in the same room. Cinematic magic went poof.

The supporting cast helps kick the movie into second gear. Jason Statham as Lee Christmas (Transporters movies), Jet Li (Lethal Weapon 4) as Ying Yang , Randy Couture (mixed martial artist) as Toll Road and huge Terry Crews as Hale Caesar (Everybody Hates Chris) give the movie its over the top crazy characters.

Mr. Church wants the Expendables to kill a South American dictator played by David Zayas (Dexter). Barney and Christmas go to South America to check the situation before the team goes. In the country, their contact is a beautiful woman, Sandra, played by Giselle Itie. 

During the recon, the military confront Barney and Christmas -- the only two white men in the country. A shootout and car/truck chase ensues. Barney, Christmas and Sandra barely get to the plane, but Sandra refuses to leave.

Later, Barney feels bad that he left Sandra. He decides to go to get her, but the team tells Barney he is not going alone. In the country, the Expendables wreak havoc on the bad guys, just blowing stuff up and killing soldiers.

The editing of the action scenes was so quick that I couldn’t make out who got shot unless they got stabbed. The movie is big on knives.

At the end, the bad guys are all gone. There is a tender moment between Barney and Sandra when she hugs him. For all the blowing things up, getting beat up and shot up  that Barney did in coming to Sandra’s aid – he gets a hug, not a passionate thank-you kiss? Even a tough guy need a kiss!

The Expendables was okay fun. Lots of killing, explosions, car chases and corny one liners may have made the movie a throwback to the ’80s and ’90s.  I am not sure if I enjoyed the time warp experience.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Is Real-Life Video Game/ Romantic Comedy By Art Byrd

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  takes boy-meets-girl to a different level. When Scott Pilgrim, played by Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno), sees purple-haired Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free or Die Hard, Death Proof), across the room at a party, he falls hard for her. Ramona is interesting with her take on life. Scott’s world literally changes as he tries to woo Ramona and finds that the outside world has plans for him.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  is a visual experience that some will enjoy and other will think childish. The movie is based on a popular graphic novel. Scott, who is in a band, pursues Ramona. After a rocky start, she begins to like him.

This is where the story takes an interesting twist as people start showing up to fight Scott. Soon he learns that they are the seven evil exes of Ramona -- not necessarily boyfriends, but romantic links. The exes represent different times in Ramona’s love life from elementary school to adulthood. There is one ex, a girl Roxy Richter and played Mae Whitman ( TV’s Parenthood), which gives the movie a quick comedic moment. Scott must battle them all to the death to win Ramona’s heart.

Before Ramona, Scott was dating a high school girl named Knives Chau, played by Ellen Wong. She is very good with her over-the-top crush on Scott, which is both scary and funny.

One of the gems of the film is Wallace, Scott’s roommate, played by Kieran Culkin. His character is very comfortable in his sexuality and offers Scott some level-headed advice.

The movie’s dialogue is hip and snappy, thanks to writer and director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz). Scott Pilgrim vs. the World  feels like a real life video game. The fight scenes are very good; when someone gets punched, the words describing the sounds come on the screen -- like “Pow” and “Wham” from the old Batman TV series.

Anna Kendrick (Twilight, Up In The Air) is great as Stacey Pilgrim, Scott’s sister, who alternates from being very straight-faced to very chatty, which gives her a certain charm. Jason Schwartzman is Gideon, the villain, who treated Ramona badly in the past and wants her back. Scott defends her, which of course sets up a huge fight scene between the two.

Scott Pilgrim vs. World  was a good visual movie experience. So fellows, if you meet girl with multi-colored hair who is cool and the world wants to fight you for her, you should put up your dukes like Scott Pilgrim did.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts

‘Dinner For Schmucks’ Serves Feast of Laughs By Art Byrd

I am not a frequent texter, but I know “LOL” is shorthand for “laugh out loud.” And let me tell you, this film is LOL funny!

First of all, I love the title “Dinner For Schmucks” because it tells exactly what the movie is about. Dictionary.com defines “schmuck” as a “noun-slang- an obnoxious and despicable person.” Steve Carell (“The Office”) is both funny and obnoxious as Barry in the film, but not despicable.

Oddly, the word schmuck wasn’t used in the movie itself, but idiot was. The movie has a strange premise -- executives from a financial company invite weird people, or idiots, to dinner to make fun of them.

Rising executive Tim, played Paul Rudd (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), is invited to the exclusive dinner -- but he must find an idiot. He tells his girlfriend, Julie, played Stephanie Szostak (“The Devil Wears Prada”), about the dinner. She makes him feel guilty for even thinking of attending. But the dinner will be good for his career.

As Tim is driving and talking on his cell phone, he hits Barry, who jumps in the street to save a dead mouse. We find out that Barry is a budding taxidermist. His mouse art is very good.

The movie has a lot of characters, with Zach Galifinanakis (“The Hangover”) as Therman, a strange IRS agent with supposed mind power; Darla, played by Lucy Punch (“The Class”), is Tim’s crazy stalker; Jermaine Clement (who, like Carell, did a voice in “Despicable Me”) plays an egomaniacal artist, Kieran.

Director Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “Meet the Fockers”) knows how to do comedy well, and he continues his streak with this movie.

Rudd and Carell are hilarious together. Carell looks crazed as Barry when he is on screen. Rudd’s straight-faced confusion makes you feel sorry for him, but you laugh anyway.

“Dinner For Schmucks” is overboard in reality but right on course for laughs. If you are starving for comedy, you need to attend “Dinner for Schmucks.”

edited by Michele Ristich Gatts