Grown ups: Keeping up with the past

Brought back together by the death of their favourite college basketball coach, ex-buddies Lenny (Sandler), Eric (James), Kurt (Rock), Marcus (Spade), and Rob (Schneider) try to rekindle their childhood bonds. However, their wives and children soon find out new things about of their big daddies’ romps and fantasies which put them in an awkward position. Will the guys be able to take grown up decisions to keep up with their love ones this time?

If you go by the trailer ‘Grown Ups’ will be a big disappointment considering a big cast of who’s who in comedy. The script is also fomulaic where you have nothing new to laugh about. With too many scenes already seen in some films only reminds you how you miss of the good old comedies.

Even as the cast share a good onscreen rapport they lacked that spark to make the film shine. ‘Grown Ups’ is sexily flavoured extravaganza where women are stereotyped with a dose of chauvinistic jokes.

Despite these there are some good moments about childhood and young adolescent jokes. Overall, ‘Grown Ups’ needs to grow a bit more mature.

Review by Robert L. Sungte, Deccan Herald

English(A)

Cast: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Dabid Spade, Kevin James, Rob Scheinder

Director: Dennis Dugan

The Expendables Review: Little room for too many cooks

There are times when too many and too much are simply not good. “The Expendables” is one film that has too many stars and too much action that they kill the thrill out of this mega-budget star-studded action film.

Barney Ross (Stallone) and his team of mercenaries called “The Expendables” attempt to overthrow the ruler of a small island who is supported by a rogue CIA agent initially looks promising.

However, the firepower and extreme action sequences are the only things that one can remember after the climax. Directed and written by Sylvester Stallone, the film has Stallone himself, Jet Li, Jason Statham with action stars Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke.  Guest appearances come notably from musclemen Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.
The gigantic proportion of the film becomes a major problem in itself as there are just not enough room for the characters develop a bond with themselves and with the audience. We have characters with girlfriend problems, inferiority complex, drug abuse, self opinionated individual and so forth.

If the film had some pinch of that extra whoa effects in the form of friendship and bonding we could have a truly epic action film.

Technically, the film’s action sequences are good yet the camera tends to be too shaky for proper viewing. It disturbs the eyes as it becomes difficult to make out whose hand or leg was hit.

There are also few surprising turns toward the end as this film is about mercenaries. The final ruling on “The Expendables” is: An outlandish and damp action movie where too many cooks spoil the broth.

Review by Robert L. Sungte,

English(A)

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke

Director: Sylvester Stallone