Vacation (2015)

Vacation (2015) Review~ 

Almost 3 decades since the first release of "National Lampoons  Vacation" comes a stand alone film comedy. Original Stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo return. The film is very funny, guaranteed to make you pee yourself. 

Starring: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, with Leslie Mann and Chris Hemsworth. 

Directed By: Jonathan M. Goldstein 

MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout, crude and  sexual content, and brief graphic nudity) 

Runtime: 1 Hr. 40 Min. 

Synopsis: 

1. Remembering fond, childhood memories of his trip to Walley World, Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) surprises his wife (Christina Applegate) and two sons with a cross-country excursion to America's favorite fun park. Following in his father's (Chevy Chase) footsteps, Rusty and the gang pack up the car and hit the road for some much-needed family bonding. Soon, the promise of fun turns into one misadventure after another for the next generation of Griswolds and anyone who encounters them.

   
   

   
   

   Rate: A

Hot Pursuit (2015)

Hot Pursuit Review~ 

In this action/comedy Reese Witherspoon and Sophia Vergara team up a funny comedy.  It's a good movie, but Reese's southern twang is quite annoying. 

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Sophia Vergara, John Carrol Lynch,  with Michael Mosley, and Rob Kazinsky 

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for Sexual Content, Violence, Language, and Some Drug Material) 

Directed By: Anne Fletcher

Runtime: 1 Hr. 27 Min. 

Synopsis: 

1. Straight-arrow policewoman Cooper (Reese Witherspoon) is excited and thrilled about her next assignment. Her task is to escort Daniella Riva (Sofía Vergara), a wisecracking Colombian beauty, from San Antonio to Dallas so both she and her husband can testify against a drug lord. Plans go awry when Mr. Riva gets ambushed, leaving Daniella a widow. Cooper and her witness must now use their wits to escape from crooked cops and murderous gunmen, while not killing each other in the process.

   
   

   Rate: B- 

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation~ 

Tom Cruise is back as the unstoppable Ethan Hunt in the thrilling and action-packed sequel. Great action and special effects. 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Ferguson, with Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames

Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie 

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for Sequences of Action and Violence, and Brief Partial Nudity 

Runtime: 2 Hr. 11 Min

Synopsis: The IMF agency comes under threat from the Syndicate, a near-mythical organization of assassins and rogue operatives who kill to order. Faced with the IMF's disbandment, Ethan Hunt assembles his team for their most difficult mission yet —to prove the Syndicate's existence and bring the organization down by any means necessary.

Rate: A

Pixels (2015)

Pixels (2015) Review~
Retro video games like Pac-man and Donkey Kong visit modern day Earth for a pixelated attack. Special effects were well executed. However, again, it's another blunder for Adam Sandler.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, with Peter Dinklage and Josh Had

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (For some language and suggestive comments)

Directed By: Chris Columbus

Runtime: 1 Hr. 46 Min. 

Synopsis: When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack in the form of video games.

Grade: F (50%)

Minions (2015)

Minions (2015) Review-

The prequel to the laugh - out -loud blockbuster "Despicable Me", follows in its path of  similar ways to crack jokes at audience boldly through the whole film. Terrific job for Sandra Bullock as she makes her animated film debut.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney,Jennifer Saunders , with Steve Coogan and Steve Carrell

Directed By: Kyle Balda & Pierre Coffin

MPAA Rating: PG (for action and rude humor)

Runtime: 1 Hr. 44 Min.

Synopsis:

1. Evolving from single-celled yellow organisms at the dawn of time, Minions live to serve, but find themselves working for a continual series of unsuccessful masters, from T. Rex to Napoleon. Without a master to grovel for, the Minions fall into a deep depression. But one minion, Kevin, has a plan; accompanied by his pals Stuart and Bob, Kevin sets forth to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. Their search leads them to Scarlet Overkill, the world's first-ever super-villainess.

Rate: A

Max (2015)

Max Review-
Max is a great family film, touching and special. But, its acting is pretty obscure.

Starring: Robbie Amell, Lauren Graham, Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins

Directed By: Boaz Yakin

MPAA Rating: PG (for action violence, peril, brief language, and some thematic elements)

Synopsis: A military dog from Afghanistan is adopted by his late handler's grieving family in the U.S., where his close bond with the soldier's brother leads to a life-altering revelation.

Rate: B+

San Andreas (2015)

San Andreas Review-
Has great action and special effects. And a great ensemble. But its screenplay lacks in making the story more gripping and thrilling.

Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Ioan Gruffudd, with Paul Giamatti and Hugo Johnstone-Burt

Directed By: Brad Peyton

MPAA Rating: PG-13(for intense disaster action and mayhem throughout, and brief strong language)

Runtime: 1 Hr. 54 Min.

Synopsis: 
  In this high-octane thriller, the infamous San Andreas Fault gives way, producing a devastating earthquake across California. A highly skilled helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) races to save his ex-wife (Carla Gugino) in Los Angeles before the complete destruction of the city. After one daring rescue, the pilot flies north toward San Francisco in search of his estranged daughter (Alexandra Daddario), racing against time and the inevitable aftershocks that promise to devastate the coastline.
 Rate: B-