Bad Teacher, 2011

Bad Teacher, 2011
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake





Stage: Home theatre

Bad Teacher in short: When her wealthy fiancé breaks it off, gold digger Elizabeth Halsey returns to middle school: she's an awful teacher but wants to save for breast-implant surgery. She brightens when Scott, a new teacher, turns out to be rich, and she stops showing films and sleeping in class when told there's a bonus for the teacher whose class scores highest on the state exam. Her competition for Scott and the bonus is cheery and tightly wound Amy. Amy digs for dirt on Elizabeth who cheats her way toward Scott's bed and the money. Honesty with students seems to be her only skill. She ignores Russell, a droll gym teacher, who looks on. Will she succeed with Scott and get those new breasts?



Preps: hot thing in our movies. Am not really anxious to see it as I don't believe that Diaz and Timberlake could do something amazing, but am curious, so here we go.



Reality: This isn't the hottest thing you could see in this period in this genre. Cameron Diaz plays a teacher that acts as if she was taken from outer space. Which virtually means she hasn't a clue what to do with children while she's teaching (or supposed to teach them) something. At first, it's amusing, however, later on in the procedure, it becomes annoying and so imaginative, that I start hating the piece as a whole.
Unmistakeably, Justin Timberlake is better than I expect. However, he's still a singer and every time he opens his mouth, I wait for him to start hopping and singing like in one of his videos. My bad, i know, however I cannot help it. The role he has is so .. cheesy. Cheesy beyond belief. A teacher in male role that would read, talk, think like this one does? I don't think so. Some of the obstacles I personally see in this piece on its way to make it work, are definitely hidden http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifin expectations that this "bad teacher" has from life; perspectives about making your tits bigger and then the guy will fall (do you really want a guy that is so stupid that all he sees are bigger tits?!?); do you want a guy that will read you books you cannot bear to hear, or poems you don't want to be read to you?
The rivalry between teachers is a classic, however, in this case it goes beyond any serious perspective. I just don't buy it. The principle would never go that far in order to indulge some teacher. To have a teacher cooperating at a school fund raise in a sexy way? Maybe it fills the seats, but it's really unreal! Or would a teacher go this far to make the class win a state championship (here hidden in forms of formal tests). Too many weak moments of this movie make it extremely bad. Yes, Diaz can be sexy as hell and Timberlake cute as an angel, however, to make a good piece, this is by far not enough.


My personal rate: 3,0 (not really worth your time. Or mine :)


Bad Teacher on IMDB

Despicable me, 2010

Despicable me, 2010
Director: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Cast (voices): Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Russel Brand



Stage: Home Theatre


Despicable me in short: In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.


Preps: wanted to see this for a long time, so now it's about time to dig into this cartoon. Quite famous by slovenian youngsters, anyway. Let me see if I am up to the challenge :)


Reality: Well, sometimes villains do grow into great personalities. Or something deep down inside them sleeps and needs the right button to be pushed in order for good to start spreading around them. As I told you in my review of the Toy Story 3, it's not usual in real world, but in the animated world, it usually is the case. And so it happens here also. To steal the moon seems a good idea and something to play with, however, the three girls are something you cannot expect in advance. Using them as a tool to go to the theft or to perform it correctly, seems merciless, however in the process, the main villain (Gru) grows fond of the girls. In the villain world, that is considered a big mistake, because one power that is really given to the villains is usually emotionless heart, because they don't care about noone but themselves. In this case this changes, as Gru grows love for the three girls and becomes vulnerable in the area.
The side story (a truly sad one) is about orphanes, being put into an institution and waiting for the right potential parent to come by, having afterwards the chance to give the child back (that happens in real world also quite often).. however, we don't see the evolvement in this story up to the level, where it would reach out for your soul.
Gru grows fond of the girls and afterwards, decides to keep them forever. This is somehow expected end in this animated movie and will knock all the soft souls out. And another thing that will drive you nuts - Gru has an army of intelligent small creatures that cannot be more funny than they are shown in this piece. They programm and operate everything, so the only thing you want after this piece, is at least one of those small beings, being there to operate smaller stuff in your life and make up new intelligent ideas :) Although they don't say a word, you can really understand what they are mummbling about. And you need to love them, they bring a softer (not so bright) side of Gru out, just being there to make everything he comes up, in reality. And this is just the case behind every villain - they normally come equipped with a tactic and capable background. Like every president has his wife behind him to back him up or give him the backbone, these small cuties are Gru's backbone, invisible to the public, inevitable to make the grand ideas reality.




My personal rate: 8,5 (loveable and funny. It will make you grow fond for the wannabe fathers. Also, will make you want one of those small intelligent creatures)


Despicable me on IMDB