KANSAS CITY, Mo —
1) 22 JUMP STREET (R)
Sony Pictures
The satiric movie adaptation of the old Johnny Depp TV series “21 Jump Street” became a surprise hit in 2012, taking in over $130 million at the box office. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum played cops who go undercover as HIGH SCHOOL students to investigate a drug ring.
In the inevitable 2014 sequel, “22 Jump Street,” the inept duo went undercover as COLLEGE students to investigate a drug ring… and the follow-up did even better, with a $190 million box office haul.
These raunchy and irreverent comedies apparently touched a nerve, and the sequel delivers more of the absurd and goofy humor audiences responded to the first time around. It’s utterly shameless and the anthesis of subtle, but if flippant, bawdy bromance is your thing, the “22 Jump Street” delivers. Plus, the DVD features 100 minutes of bonus content, including 22 deleted scenes, four alternate ‘Line-O-Ramas,’ six featurettes and three extra videos.
Shawn says,”In many ways it’s funnier than the original. Clever jokes, great story twist and the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum is an A-plus.”
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 4 Popcorn Bags
2) IF I STAY (PG-13)
Warner Brothers
If your life hung in the balance and you had to decide whether to go to the great beyond or stay in your life on Earth, what would you do? That’s the existential question in the soapy drama, “If I Stay.”
It’s a brazen four-hankie weeper, but the capable cast makes us care about the characters even while we’re being shamelessly manipulated. “If I Stay” is only for those who really enjoy a good cry. “If I Stay” will make the rest want to leave.
Shawn says, “This is yet another movie based on a popular Y/A book. And the mush factor has been ramped up. But I liked the premise of “If I Stay” and the unabashed rock tone. Surprisingly elevated by a fantastic Chloe Grace Moretz. That girl good.”
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags
3) AND SO IT GOES (PG-13)
Clarius Entertainment
When Oscar winners Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton join forces with acclaimed director Rob Reiner and the screenwriter of “As Good As It Gets,” expectation levels are high. Sadly, the geriatric rom-com “And So It Goes” doesn’t live up to them.
Douglas plays an obnoxious real estate agent whose grumpy demeanor begins to melt away when the granddaughter he never knew existed comes to stay with him. There’s not a single believable moment in this labored effort that tries desperately to tug at our heartstrings. The underserved demographic for “And So It Goes” deserves a lot better.
Shawn says, “Calling this movie a train wreck would be a compliment. The only thing worse than being bad is being generically bad. And ‘And So It Goes’ breaks the record for being generically bad. It’s awful.”
RUSS: 2 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 0 Popcorn Bags
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