I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghost: Review of Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters

Director: Paul Feig

By Alex Watson

Having the most disliked trailer in the history of Youtube is not something to savor. From the get-go, there were a lot of haters dumping on Paul Feig's all-female reboot of Ghostbusters. Well, prepare to have your doubts extinguished because this effort is as funny and quirky as any of the originals. The female foursome gives this franchise a newer and fresher feel. Also with the laughs coming thick and fast the gender of the characters will be the furthest thing from your mind.

Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) is a former college professor who has recently reconnected with old friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and her wacky assistant Jillian Holtzman (Kate McKinnon) after an outbreak of ghost sightings around Manhatten. Along with former MTA worker Patty (Leslie Jones), it is clear that evil spirits are out to claim the city, but what is causing them to appear? With New York Mayor Bradley (Andy Garcia) wanting to silence the whole affair, how will they succeed?

With an effective scary opening, Ghostbusters is able to score points pretty much immediately. When we meet the estranged friendship of Abby and Erin, we like them right away. The pair has as much dorky and goofy charm as Venkman and Stanz before them- previous co-authors of an embarrassing paranormal book, Erin quickly rediscovers her lost passion. Things kick up a notch when Patty enters the fray, this character is one of the smart elements of this movie. Unlike Winston before her who was there to make up the numbers, Patty's knowledge of New York is an invaluable asset and marks her out as one of the key members. A sassy and loyal fireball, she often gets the best lines such as when views a ghost heading on subway towards Queen's "He's gonna be like the third scariest thing on that train!"

Feig is able to find a more different sense of humor, unlike this previous work. His clever gender role reversal of incredibly dumb but intensely hot secretary Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) is a delightful touch. Finding it impossible to perform the simplest of tasks, such as answering the phone or even make coffee, Kevin is a continual source of hilarity. The set pieces are also well executed, such as the four having to capture a demon in the middle of a rock concert, cue Ozzy Osbourne screaming "SHARON! I'M HAVING ANOTHER FLASHBACK!" the cameos in the piece are one thing that slightly lets picture down because they are not given nearly attention. Some known faces make an appearance, but we never feel the needed force.

The laughs do begin to dry up as Ghostbusters reaches its climax. When the CGI takes effect it is spectacular to see the ladies blasting away ghosts, "I shot a pilgrim!" one of them mourns. The finale is decidedly low on tension but by this point, you are already so high on laugh its seems inconsequential. There are setbacks in this picture such as Kate McKinnon's Jillian Holtzman, although she raises a smile or two, her constant zany humor eventually becomes a bit too much. This reboot also lacks a real threatening villain, occultist Rowan (Neil Casey) comes off as just a whiny jerk who needs to grow up. Feig along with his impressive cast is to be commended for shaking off the criticism and giving us something that threatens to give reboots a good name.

Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy are always a dream together and their work here is no exception. Able to produce laughs at any given time, they are able to give a pair of original creations a million miles away from their predecessors. Leslie Jones nearly walks away with the picture with a brilliant turn as subway worker turned Ghostbuster Patty. Jones is always on point and each scene she seems to find a way to win it over with the minimum effort. The fourth member needed an upgraded after Ernie Hudson was wasted over two pictures and she is one of the main reason to want a sequel. Chris Hemsworth however, steals the show with his hilarious against type as the ditzy Kevin. A man coasting through life on looks alone, Hemsworth shows an unexpected comic touch and seems to find ways to make him stupider by the minute.

Who would have thought that among all the criticism that Ghostbusters would be one of the movies of this summer? Well, haters, it appears that you might want to retract those statements.

Woman On Top: Review of The Boss

The Boss

Director: Ben Falcone

By Alex Watson

In the right hands, The Boss could have been an excellent Melissa McCarthy vehicle, sadly due to a poor script and an uninteresting story we are left with what could have been. McCarthy herself gives this film a spark, but she alone cannot elevate the entire movie. Many jokes feel too drawn out and director Ben Falcone (ironically McCarthy's husband) resorts to continuous lewd and potty mouth antics to snag some belly laughs.

Christine Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) is one of the wealthiest women in America, but when she is arrested for insider trading orchestrated by former lover Renault (Peter Dinklage) she loses it all. Out of the slammer, she is forced to throw herself up former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell) and her daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson). When attending a Dandelions meeting, Darnell sees a great chance to regain her fortune through an aggressive brownie sales technique.

The Boss is a movie that fails to make the most of what could have been a great central character. Flying in on a golden phoenix during a glitzy opening sequence, Darnell is a woman who seems to have made her fortune by trash talking and ruthlessly cutting everyone from under her. The problem is she also feels drastically underwritten, we know she was rejected from a bunch of foster homes but how precisely did she make her millions? Falcone seems to rely on pratfalls and any number of overly long and foul-mouthed gags to make the audience overlook the pictures faults. When Michelle loses her fortune she immediately ends up penniless on the streets of Chicago and essentially takes advantage of Claire kind nature to find a home.

Although she bonds with the sweet yet shy Rachel, soon she is forcing the same aggressive sales technique upon the Dandelion guides. Though there is a margin of pleasure by watching Michelle's foul-mouthed pitch to a room of amazed and appalled young girls and mum's, Falcone begins to use this to heavily. McCarthy has proven a revelation at this type of humour and the movie is at its best when she is taking Queen Bitch mother Helen (Annie Mumulo) down a peg. The high point of this picture comes from a slow-mo street fight between the Dandelions and Darnell's Darlings. Although there are points of hilarity, it just feels a little overblown and ridiculous.

Both Falcone and McCarthy fail to truly find a rhythm that works and for most of The Boss, we find ourselves waiting for them to strike gold. Although there are some nice subplots like Claire finding a nice reliable boyfriend (Tyler Labine), these moments of charm are few and far between. Renault as a character really doesn't add anything or make much sense. Where precisely does his love of Samurai come from? As a villain, he is given little substance which makes way for a flat and flavourless finale where both he and Michelle do battle with a Kanata. This is far less funny that it sounds and it the cherry on top of what is otherwise a constant misfire.

Michelle McCarthy proves to be the movies one selling point and thank goodness for her because her comic ability rescues this picture from obscurity. Although adept at nailing a one-liner, McCarthy is given a heroine that is thin on the ground and mostly resorts to humouring show shallow and self-absorbed she is. Kristen Bell as always is watchable and gives Falcone's film a more balanced feel as the single mother Claire. Sadly Peter Dinklage is once again stranded in a poor one note role on the big screen. We all know how capable he is at playing the villain, look at his work in X-Men and Game of Thrones. Sadly here is given a guy who villainy seems to be nothing more than being a weird nerd- Hollywood wake up!

The Boss is a movie that will work fine if you want little more than an easy ride. Those expecting a more sophisticated brand of comedy are likely to come out disappointed.

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold: Review of Spy

Spy

Director: Paul Feig

By Alex Watson

Thanks to the charms of the reliable Melissa McCarthy, Spy is a funny and likeable parody. Director Paul Feig doesn't deliver anything groundbreaking in terms of formula. But in terms of sheer belly laughs and wit, it succeeds admirably. Its leading character Susan though, is one that audiences are drawn to and will certainly be back for more installments.

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a desk bound CIA agent who assists super spy Bradley Fine (Jude Law). But when Fine goes MIA, Susan finds herself pushed into a field agent role. She is tasked with tracking villians Rayna Boyanov (Rose Bryne) and Sergio De Luca (Bobby Cannavale). Together the pair know the location of a devastating nuclear bomb. But is Susan really ready for the challenge ahead?

Rather than just letting Susan being the bumbling overweight and clumsy hero, Paul Feig turns things on their head makes her an butt-kicking action star. At first she is the underwhelming office lady whom everyone assumed to be a crazy cat lady off screen. Alongside her equally downbeat friend Nancy (Miranda Hart), she is kept firmly at her desk and laments her crush on Bradley not being returned. Though she whispers helpful instructions through his ear piece and keeps his life safe, she knows this maybe as good as life gets.

The second act of Spy thankfully turns over a new leaf and allows Susan to run wild with flying groin kicks, punches and any number of sassy insults. In rich villain society, she really is the fish out of water and causes ripples of panic whenever she enters a room. But no matter what she does or any errors thrown, she only succeeds in becoming likeable throughout. Same cannot be said for the villains of the piece. Rayna while cold and glamorous is a rather cookie cutter villain, whose is more like a playground bully than an icy international criminal.

Thankfully this movie has enough gas in the tank to see it through the whole run. No matter where the action takes us, Rome, Bulgaria or even the US, the laughs keep on coming. Also the action sequences are equal to even some more established action franchises. One scene she Susan in a kitchen battle with both a knife and frying pan. Full marks for creativity there, but seeing her hang from a helicopter is a finale that works on all levels. If only for the hilarious 50 Cent cameo that comes alongside it.

Melissa McCarthy is one making a great career out of these type of films. As Susan she brings us a character that has a superbly sharp tongue along with a set of skills that would rival Jason Bourne. Expect a return for this character very soon! The supporting cast is also top notch, with Jude Law leading the way as self-serving agent Bradley. Very much a satire of the Bond franchise, Law demonstrates his comedic ability to poke fun at himself. But it is Jason Statham who steals the show with an hilarious turn as Luke Ford. With the subtly of a brick and loudly bragging about his exploits, Statham has a ball and I can only hope he earns a spin-off from this.

Spy is a movie that is impossible to dislike and there will most likely be any number of sequels in future. Melissa McCarthy is proving to be one actress that can stay fun no matter the material and I look forward to the exploits of Susan in years to come.

This Charming Man: Review of St Vincent

St Vincent

Director: Theodore Melfi

By Alex Watson

Bill Murray is undoubtedly a favourite of many movie lovers and it is always easy to see why! His easy going charm and natural comedic talents succeed in raising potentially unlike-able characters to a level that is hilarious. After winning over audiences at TIFF (where it gained runner up in the People's Choice Award), his latest film, St Vincent could well see him turn on his finest performances in years gone by. Prepare for immense cursing, drinking and visits from a 'Lady of the Night'.

Vincent MacKenna (Bill Murray) is a broke, foul mouthed, gambling, heavy drinking old man who hates everything and everyone around him (a compliment that is swiftly repaid). But when his new neighbour Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) moves in, he is forced to bond with her shy young son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Together the pair begin to change to each other in different ways, but not all them good ones.

St Vincent is certain to delight lovers of Bill Murray cinema, because first time writer- director Theodore Melfi's film is a wonderfully unorthodox and shocking laugh fest which is impossible to dislike. The most impressive quality to this film, is just how lovable Vincent is even in spite of his numerous flaws. From the moment we meet him, he  drunkenly runs over his own fence, then moments later he falls over and passes out. The next day he then hilariously accuses his newly arrived neighbour of doing the deed!

There is no doubt over what a bad influence Vincent is on all who meet him. Maggie reluctantly leaves her son Oliver in his care despite her major concerns. His idea of bonding constitutes going to horse races and him meeting Russian hooker Daka (Naomi Watts). But in the fact of what could have been a scaring encounter, Vincent begins teaching Oliver life lessons that broaden his character and make him a tougher person. When asked to do a school project about Saints- he begins learn that Saints do live among us in the world, just sometimes you have to look beyond the layers of rubble!

But unusually for a first time film maker, Theodore Melfi brings a highly accomplished feel to St Vincent. Alongside the laughs is a dominant emotional core as Vincent's true life intentions are revealed. Throughout, this man is at other end of the financial spectrum and is always hustling to make bucks wherever he can! However, witnessing him care for his sick wife strikes a cord hard and suddenly his money making schemes become less dubious. At heart Vincent is a good man with honest intentions, he is just to lost inside himself to notice.

Only Bill Murray could have played Vincent and he effortlessly brings this cantankerous old man to life! Melfi has written the character that Murray fans have been waiting for and thanks to his physical comedy, he reminds just how funny he can be. He may notoriously selective and is known for not being the easiest star to reach- but when Bill believes in your project then he will give things his all and it shows in his performance here.

Jaeden Lieberher makes for a great new star and alongside Murray, the pair share a great chemistry that makes the film tick. His character throughout is one that is drawn to the risk that Vincent poses and Lieberher raises his game in the films latter stages to give a performance that rivals Murray's. Melissa McCarthy is given an almost straight role by her standards but impressives nonetheless in the less wacky role. Her worried face throughout is rightly justified and you can't help but share her fears over what will come next?

St Vincent is one the most original yet heart tugging comedies of this year and Bill Murray fans will no doubt go away feeling delighted. The man may not always grace our screens, but we are always delighted when he does!