Sing (2016)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Music

Director

Garth Jennings

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, Nick Offerman, Garth Jenning, Peter Serafinowicz, Beck Bennett, Jennifer Saunder, Jennifer Hudson, Leslie Jones, Jay Pharoah, Rhea Perlman

Storyline

As an attempt to save his theater, koala Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) launches a singing competition that becomes grander than he anticipates. 

Opinion

After the disappointing "The Secret Life of Pets" I wasn't expecting anything from Illumination Entertainment. Actually I was expecting something, another meh film. Instead "Sing" was a very entertaining, joyful and beautifully animated film.

Something weird about this film is the plot. It is predictable and it features all the imaginable clichés, but I actually found myself not only caring about what was happening, but I was also very engaged. I knew what would happen, but I still wanted to keep watching to see it. Does it make any sense to you? I'm still trying to understand how that's possible.

Also I wasn't expecting the characters to be that good. Although they do remind a lot of the animals from "Zootopia", I still cannot believe how developed each character was, and that was made possible by the film's lack of a single main character. We really get to see a little from the life of each.

The familiar songs fit the film and will probably have you singing and dancing along with the characters and the family-friendly humour is enough to make the audience laugh throughout the film. Maybe there's a scene where some bunnies are shaking their bums to Nicki Minaj's song that isn't very kid-friendly, but after all it's just some animals shaking their tales.

However, the message delivered - you always have to pursuit your dreams - may be a little too hard for kids to understand, and I feel like teens are those able to capture the meaning of it. But that's not really a flaw.

At last but not least the voice cast. From Matthew McConaughey to Seth MacFarlane, all the actors do a good job in their roles. I had a soft spot for Reese Witherspoon and her Rosita (the pig), her amazing voice just conquered me.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

Chris Renaud | Yarrow Cheney

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Coogan, Albert Brooks, Tara Strong, Chris Renaud, Michael Beattie, Sandra Echeverria, Jaime Camil

Storyline

The peaceful life of Max (Louis C.K.) is turned upside down when his owner (Ellie Kemper) brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.

Opinion

I've been waiting for this film since april when I saw the trailer for the first time. It seemed fun and considering it came from Illumination Entertainment, the studio that created "Despicable Me", I decided to watch it. And I wasn't fully happy with it.

The main reason is because "The Secret Life of Pets" is a slapstick comedy, and while I love some good slapstick, it just doesn't have a good outcome here because it target kids at a very young age. Let's say those who are not able to follow good dialogue.

Another reason is the trailer. I know this thing happens a lot, but if you have seen it, you have seen the funniest parts of the film already. It basically gives away all the fun. Perhaps that's why I was disappointed, maybe I was expecting animals being wild when their owners weren't at home.

Which brings me to the plot. Still delivering several messages about friendship and adaptation, and somehow managing to be entertaining and engaging, it doesn't bring anything new to the table. If you have seen "Garfield: The Movie" it's like you have already seen this film. Owner brings home a new pet, the main pet is jealous and does everything to get rid of the new guy, they get on an adventure together and become besties.

There are a few positive notes though. First, the animation is amazing. Not Pixar amazing, but still amazing. The city is very detailed, and the animals are very beautiful. The music is also nice as well as some of the characters - I really liked Snowball, a white rabbit voiced by Kevin Hart whose expressions and attitudes made the character a lot more interesting.

The Lorax (2012)

Genre

Animation | Comedy

Director

Chris Renaud

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate, Nasim Pedrad, Stephen Tobolowsky, Elmarie Wendel, Danny Cooksey

Storyline

In the town of Thneedville, where everything is artificial even the trees and air is a commodity, a young boy named Ted (Zac Efron) goes searching for a real tree to win the heart of his dream girl, Audrey (Taylor Swift). To find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), a creature who fights to protect his world.

Opinion

When it comes to adapting Dr. Seuss' books, Hollywood screws up every single time. Why make an exception this time then? "The Lorax" is a colourful adaptation kids might like, but will bore adults to death.

The first thing I'd like to point out is that Hollywood modernized the original story. Modernizing something doesn't always mean making it worse, but in this case that's exactly what happened. We are so stuck with two stories, one of which completely ruined the film for me.

The Once-ler's tale is the story carried over from the book and it quite well done, even though the tones are soften a bit. But how could a film possibly be successful without a romantic side-plot? So the boy without a name, an origin, or a reason for coming to see the Once-ler, becomes a boy named Ted, living in the artificial town of Thneedville, whose only reason for seeking out the Once-ler is to impress the girl of his dreams. Not to mention the over the top, one-dimensional eco-villain. And that is how you kill the potential.

The film deals with themes such as love for nature, environmental protection and capitalism that suffocates society - metaphorically and non since in the town where the film takes place air is for a price. These issues have been exploited a lot recently, and the film does not manage to propose them effectively and in a funny way, and the message gets lost because Thneedville is absolutely perfect, every need is satisfied, and all Ted cares about is not the environment but winning the heart of his dream girl. Also the film makes you believe dancing and singing can solve all the problems. 

Kids will enjoy the wonderful and colourful animation, and the cute characters, especially the little bear and the singing fishes. 

The actual character of the Lorax is done brilliantly and credit has to go to Danny DeVito who did a great job and the parts of the story focusing on the Lorax were the most enjoyable because of him. Ed Helms is a bit charming as the Once-ler, and Betty White is quite enjoyable as Grammy Norma. Zac Efron and Taylor Swift are in here only because they are famous. 

Mention-Worthy Quotes

Once-ler: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not. 

Minions (2015)

Genre

Animation | Comedy

Directors

Kyle Balda | Pierre Coffin

Country

USA

Cast

Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Geoffrey Rush, Katy Mixon, Steve Carell, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Beattie

Storyline

Ever since the dawn of time, the Minions have lived to serve the most despicable of masters. From T. rex to Napoleon, the easily distracted tribe has helped the biggest and the baddest of villains. Now, join protective leader Kevin, teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob on a global road trip where they'll earn a shot to work for a new boss and try to save all of Minionkind...from annihilation.

Opinion

What every fan of Despicable Me has been waiting for the past years - me included - has finally become a reality this year with Minions, a quite good animation flick that unfortunately seems to be missing something.

The plot is really simplistic, yet quite interesting and not really messy for a prequel, and the main characters, Kevin, Stuart and Bob, were adorable. But the first 10 minutes or so of the film are filled with too many unnecessary and plain villains, the Minions depression, and a narrator that I've found quite annoying, and it all seems like a spin-off of the spin-off. There's too many things, and not properly done. Pointless to say is that the film also lacks of character development, practically impossible when the main characters speak Gibberish and the others are villains.

Even though the Minions are hilarious and get themselves into situations that will have you laughing, the film does not provide the same entertainment to adults of the previous installments, but your kids will definitely have a good time.

If there's something that deserve to be mentioned is undoubtedly the stunning and colourful visuals, the several film's references, and the amazing soundtrack that ranges from The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix, The Wood to The Rolling Stones.

The voice work was pretty good. Sandra Bullock gave great energy to her character, supervillain Scarlet Overkill, Michael Keaton and Jon Hamm did a good job, and so did Jennifer Saunders and, surprisingly, Allison Janney. But the spotlight obviously goes to Pierre Coffin and his marvelous gibberish Minions talk.

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Genre

Animation | Comedy

Directors

Pierre Coffin | Chris Renaud

Country

USA

Cast

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Russell Grand, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Moisés Arias, Nasim Pedrad, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Vanessa Bayer

Storyline

While the ex-supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) is adjusting to family life raising his three daughters and researching a legitimate jelly and jam business with Dr. Nefario (Russell Brand) and the Minions, a secret Arctic laboratory is stolen, The Anti-Villain League recruits Gru in the investigation, and together with eccentric AVL agent Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig), Gru must find the new villain.

Opinion

Inevitably less original than its predecessor, Despicable Me 2 still is a funny animation flick that will amuse and entertain fans of the original.

Like in the first movie, the story is quite simple and predictable, and may lack slightly in freshness, but it feels like an updated animated version of a James Bond film from the 70's - The Spy Who Loved Me - and the result is quite good.

In the film there are enough topics to please everyone, from the spy story, to the love story; from the little girl who desperately wants a mother, to the father who does not want his daughter to grow up. But this is both a strength and a weakness. In fact, although the film deals with several themes in a pretty good way, it seems that the creators gave more importance to quantity rather than quality, and it's not that a good thing.

Also the film lacks of a surly, mean character like Gru's mother (who unfortunately appears only at the end of the film), a real supervillain like Vector - the new villain, El Macho, is too predictable - and the inner conflict that tore Gru apart in 2010, when the three girls arrived in his life, and put into question his own principles.

However, despite those shortcomings, there is a good amount of hilarious situations, good gags, the visuals are still impressive and very colourful, and the film works as a stand-alone film as well. Worth of a mention is the musical number performed by the Minions.

Steve Carell still does a great job in the lead role of Gru, and this time he is supported by a sweet and funny Kristen Wiig, a Latino Benjamin Bratt and a still unrecognizable Russell Brand.

Despicable Me (2010)

Genres

Animation | Comedy

Directors

Pierre Coffin | Chris Renaud

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling, Ken Jeong

Storyline

When super-villain Gru (Steve Carell) learns that young criminal mastermind Vector (Jason Segel) has stolen the Great Pyramid of Giza, he plans an even greater heist: to steal the moon.

Opinion

The year 2010 has been a great year for animated films. Dreamworks rose from the ashes of numerous mediocre films with How to Train Your Dragon, Pixar struck again with Toy Story 3, and then Universal released this, that may be the weakest of the three, but it's still entertaining.

Visually beautiful, Despicable Me is a funny and touching, yet not too cheesy animation film.

The filmmakers were able to make a simple, quite predictable and not very original story become captivating and entertaining with the great idea of having a villain as a main character, and with never over the top, yet hilarious humour. 

The character of Gru is incredibly funny with his dark sense of humour, and although it was utterly predictable, it was enjoyable to see his growth from an evil, cold-hearted villain, to a warm and loving father. The three little orphan girls are probably the cutest I've ever seen, Agnes being the youngest and cutest. Then there are young villain Vector, who is silly and nearly wholly uninteresting, and crazy scientist Dr. Nefario. 

The several references are packed and delivered in a way that they can make laugh even children, who obviously won't understand it - like the Taxi Driver mirror scene.

Definetly worth of a mention - and of their own movie, as we have seen this year - are the Minions, those little yellow creatures working for Gru. They are delightful and kinda steals the show. 

Steve Carell does an admirable job in the lead role of Gru, and his Eastern Europe accent - Russian maybe - is quite good. Jason Segel does a wonderful job as villain Vector. However, the guy that really stands out is Russell Brand. Even though I like him, I find his voice quite annoying. The incredible thing is that he doesn't sound like himself at all as Dr. Nefario, and also plays a different character than usual. Very well done Russell! 

Quotes

Gru: Hello, Fred. FYI. Your dog has been leaving little bombs in my yard, and I do not appreciate it.

Fred: Oh you know dogs... they go where they want to go.

Gru: Unless they're dead. [laughs] I'm joking! Although it is true. Anyway, have a good one.