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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 01 April 2014

Sequels are tough. Very rarely do they live up to the original. It’s a fact that director James Bobin and Oscar winning songwriter Bret McKenzie are clearly familiar with. The opening musical number sees the Muppets mock their movie from the outset. They proclaim that “we’re doing a sequel… the studio wants more… while they wait for Tom Hanks to make Toy Story 4.”

Realising that they need a “half-decent plot”, the Muppets have come up with the idea of a European adventure. They’re going to take their show on the road and try to dazzle audiences in Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London under the guidance of their new manager, Dominic Badguy (Gervais), who is quick to clarify the pronunciation of his French surname – it’s “bad-gee” and not “bad-guy”.

We all know he’s bad though. Dominic has partnered with the world’s most wanted criminal, an “evilen froggen” named Constantine, in an elaborate plan to steal valuable artefacts from Europe’s renowned museums. Constantine secretly takes Kermit’s place within the Muppets (as they look almost identical) and ships the real Kermit off to a freezing Siberian gulag (affectionately known as “Russia’s state-funded hotel”).

With everything now in place, the “greatest burglary of all time” can begin. Dominic and Constantine have ensured that all the Muppets performances are booked in theatres adjacent to their targeted museums. That way, they can steal with ease (only light tunnelling will be needed) and they pin the whole crime on the Muppets themselves.

Perhaps I should steal more lyrics from the “We’re Doing A Sequel” song as part of my critique. Muppets Most Wanted is easy to follow but it feels slightly below the 2011 reboot. The story lacks “meat”, the musical numbers aren’t as catchy, and it’s missing the charm of Amy Adams and Jason Segel. I’d also argue that they’ve gone overboard on the number of cameos. A few get a laugh (Usher a highlight) but others feel like they’ve used to plug gaps in an incomplete screenplay.

I still had fun though. I’m a fan of the Muppets and always will be. Tina Fey is a nice inclusion as a crafty Russian guard who has seen every prison escape movie. I couldn’t help but smile as she interacted with Kermit and his fellow gulag inmates. There’s also some great banter between Ricky Gervais and Constantine (loved his villainous accent) as they try to outsmart each other. They provide the film’s most memorable song – “I’m Number One”.

Laced with family-friendly messages, Muppets Most Wanted isn’t the pinnacle for these beloved characters… but it should keep children entertained for two hours over the Easter school holidays. Good, not great.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 26 March 2014

I can vaguely remember the story of Noah’s ark from my schooling days. He builds a huge boat, he puts two of every animal on board, and then a big flood wipes everything else out. It’s a yarn that most would be familiar with – even if they’re not considered “religious”.

It wasn’t until I saw this adaptation from writer-director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan) that I realised just how little sense the story actually made. Noah learns about the flood after being given a “vision” in a dream. He then confirms this with his long lost grandfather (who has magic powers but only when it’s convenient – kind of like Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings).

Noah didn’t build the giant ark on his own. That would have been impossible. He built it with the help of some giant talking rock monsters known as “watchers”. They’re been around since the days of Adam and Eve (a story that pops up repeatedly throughout the film). But how did he keep the animals asleep? The answer to that question was with the help of a super-dooper sleeping powder. It kept them unconscious for close to a year. They didn’t even need food and water!

It’s also important to remember that Noah had a wife, three sons and an adopted daughter. Given that they were going to be the only 6 human beings on the planet post-flood, you might wonder how the human race managed to survive. One of the sons could have slept with the adopted daughter (since that wouldn’t constitute incest) but then what happens to their siblings? How do they procreate?  It's a question that's deliberately, and too obviously, avoided.

I admire Aronofsky as a bold, original filmmaker… but this movie does not work (despite its impressive visuals). Ray Winstone plays the film’s keynote villain – a sinful, self-appointed king who eats animals and does as he pleases. Ok, so he’s not a nice guy, I get that, but what about the rest of the population? Why were they all tarred with the same brush?

Failing to create a credible story with credible characters, Noah is a film that is very hard to take seriously. Some scenes are laughable. Perhaps this won’t bother the world’s large Christian population who will be keen to see this iconic tale adapted for the screen. They proved me wrong ten years ago when Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ became one of 2004’s highest grossing movies (which I never would have predicted).

What am I supposed learn from this film? Should I become a vegetarian? Should I be more careful with my use of the planet’s resources? Should I be nicer to my fellow humans and not attack them using spears and makeshift guns? Should I be fearful of a vengeful God? Sorry Mr Aronofsky. Sorry Mr Crowe. You have not convinced me.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 30 March 2014

If you think living in North Korea would be tough, wait until you see what the residents in Lego World have to deal with. They are ruled by the controlling Lord Business (not democratically elected), they are segregated based on the appearance, and they have to continually follow a set of rigid instructions.

The biggest problem is that the residents don’t know any better. The film opens with a catchy musical number that sees pretty much every character declare that “everything is awesome” and that “everything is cool when you’re part of a team”. They all believe they live in utopia and so they’re happy to work and sing and dance all day long.

Well, not everyone believes that. There’s a small rebel faction that are looking to overthrow Lord Business before he unleashes the Kragle – a dangerous weapon with the power to freeze anything in its path. Knowing they don’t have the numbers to win a battle, this group have put their faith in a higher power. In accordance with an ancient prophecy, they believe a “chosen one” will discover a mysterious object that can stop the Kragle and defeat Lord Business.

Cue the hero. Emmet is an ordinary construction worker with no family, no hobbies, and no interests. In fact, he couldn’t be any more “ordinary”. No one thinks he’s the right person (including Emmet himself) but fate has dealt him an interesting hand. He clumsy fell down a hole on a construction site and at the bottom was the all-important “Piece of Resistance”. Now he just needs to figure out what to do with it.

There’s a lot to like about The Lego Movie. Let’s start with the animation. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs), assisted by animation director Chris McKay (Robot Chicken), have created a computer-generated film that has a stop-motion type look. It’s a perfect fit for these characters. They’ve been brought to life but still move in a rigid, robotic-manner. It’s like a high-class version of the short films that Lego fans create and post on YouTube.

The story also deserves a huge wrap. When it comes to using Lego, you can (1) follow the instructions and build exactly what appears on the front of the box, or (2) start with a whole bunch of pieces, get creative, and build something original. The film takes this concept and uses it as a metaphor for life. Sometimes it’s important to think outside the square and do something completely different.

The characters aren’t quite as loveable / endearing as the Toy Story series (the pinnacle in this genre) but they’ll provide plenty of laughs for kids and adults alike. As an example, Liam Neeson voices a police officer who can play both a smiling “good cop” and a frowning “bad cop”. All you have to do is turn his head around. The film also uses characters from other series which include Batman, Harry Potter, The Simpsons, The Lord Of The Rings and Star Wars. Even Abraham Lincoln makes an appearance!

I was sceptical about the concept of a Lego film but those doubts have been well and truly put to rest. This is one of the most creative animated features in recent years. I never imagined that so much could be made from the concept. Made for just $60 million (that’s low compared to Dreamworks and Pixar), it’s already pulled in more than $240 million in the United States alone. A sequel, scheduled for release in 2017, has already been given the rubber stamp. Hopefully, it’s just as good.

You can read by chat with animation director Chris McKay by clicking here.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 23 March 2014

“And now here’s something we hope you’ll really like.” These were the memorable words uttered by a squirrel named Rocky in the 1960s animated television series The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show (noting that the show actually had several names). The 22 minute episodes contained a number of short stories – some revolved around Rocky and Bullwinkle (the talking moose) but others featured on a completely different set of characters.

Across the 5 seasons of the show, there were 91 stories that centred on a super-intelligent dog named Mr Peabody and his adopted human son, Sherman. They’d jump in their WABAC (pronounced “way-back”) machine to travel back in time and meet some of history’s most important individuals. The list included Napoleon Bonaparte, Calamity Jane, George Washington, William Shakespeare and Pocahontas.

Taking advantage of 3D computer-animated technology, the world of Mr Peabody and Sherman has been reinvigorated for the big screen by director Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Stuart Little) and screenwriter Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost). They use their time machine to visit to go on an assortment of misadventures to places stretching from Ancient Egypt in 1332 B.C. through to the French Revolution in 1793. It’s a creative way of giving kids a fun story while also providing a knowledge-building history lesson.

Holding the film together is an easy-to-follow narrative. Sherman and a new friend from school use the WABAC machine without Mr Peabody’s permission and their actions threaten to disrupt the “space-time continuum”. Further complicating the situation is Ms Grunion – a villainous child welfare officer looking for any excuse to take Sherman away from Mr Peabody. She doesn’t think it’s appropriate for a child to be raised by a dog.

I like the idea of this film and there are a few nice moments. There’s a sweet introductory sequence that makes effective use of the John Lennon song “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)”. There are also some cute perspectives on history – such as how Leonardo da Vicini got his model to smile before painting the Mona Lisa.

That said, I’m not fully sold on the film’s execution. Much of the time travel stuff is rushed with too much being squeezed into its 90 minute duration. I was also disappointed by the two leading characters – voiced by Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and 10-year-old Max Charles. When I think about some of my favourite animated features over the past year (Frozen, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2, Despicable Me 2), I realise that Sherman and Mr Peabody don’t generate enough laughs – for both kids and adults. They’re not all that engaging either.

If you hang onto your money for an extra week, you’ll find a better animated feature on offer – The Lego Movie.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 28 March 2014

The Captain America franchise was launched back in 2011 with Chris Evans in the leading role (successfully distancing himself from the underwhelming Fantastic Four series). Titled The First Avenger, the movie provided the background to this unlikely hero and saw him defeat Adolf Hitler’s weaponry chief (played by Hugo Weaving) during the later stages of World II. The film ended with Captain America being frozen in a block of ice and then subsequently awoken in the current day. This led perfectly into The Avengers – the ridiculously successful 2012 release that saw him team up with Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk so as to save the world… again.

Are you up to speed? Oh wait, you knew that already didn’t you? Sorry. I just thought I should include a brief introduction for the 1% of the population that hasn’t been contributing to the box-office phenomenon created by Marvel Studios. Past film-going generations have flocked to see musicals, Roman epics, gangster flicks and cop thrillers. Today’s crowds obsess over comic book superheroes and based on the number of productions in the pipeline, it’s a fad that’ll be with us for a few more years yet.

While there are plenty of laughs to be had watching the Thor and Iron Man movies, Captain America: The Winter Soldier indicates that this particular franchise wants to head in a darker, more political direction (in the same vein as Christopher Nolan’s recent Batman trilogy). I really like the approach. It asks questions about the role of superheroes and governments. It highlights the importance of trust and the heavy burden of power. It illustrates the blurry line between good and evil.

You may not get that impression at the start. The film opens with Captain America trying to find his place in the world… and taking girlfriend suggestions from his partner in crime, the Black Widow (Johansson). A lot has changed since he was frozen back in 1944 and so he’s put together a quick “to do” list based on the recommendations of friends. It was a nice touch to see eating Tim-Tams on the list!

Unfortunately, there won’t be time for hot dates and chocolate biscuits. This isn’t a romantic comedy. After helping rescue a group of hostages from a hijacked boat, Captain America gets a sense that something is rotten in the state of S.H.I.E.L.D. He asks questions of those at the top of the organisation, Nick Fury (Jackson) and Alexander Pierce (Redford), but clear answers are not forthcoming. The arrival of a mysterious masked assailant, known as the Winter Soldier, only adds to the confusion.

It’s hard for me to say too much more without giving away key plot specifics. The screenplay has been carefully assembled by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (who both wrote the first film) to deliver maximum intrigue. With no clear villain or motive established during the opening hour, you might be wondering where the story is heading. Don’t worry though. When the film’s true nature is revealed, it’s compelling, thought-provoking stuff. I’ll add as asterisk though. I’d have preferred a few elements of the “nasty” plan to have been fleshed out in more detail.

While I often tire of the action blockbusters that crowd every America summer, you can almost always count on Marvel Studios to produce an entertaining product. That’s certainly the case here. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson make for a strong, likeable crime-fighting duo (there’s great banter between them). Some action scenes stray too far into fantasy-land but it’s a fault that’s easy to forgive given the interesting plot.

With Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all bestowed an individual film over the past 12 months, it’s time to bring them back together again for Avengers: Age Of Ultron, due for release in May 2015. You’ll get a brief glimpse if you stick around through the closing credits. I’m already looking forward to it.