"All About the Benjamins" is a fast and loose action/comedy caper about a bounty hunter (Ice Cube, who also co-wrote the script with Ron Lang and co-produced) who's on the trail of his latest bail jumper (Mike Epps) and their chase ends up at a drop-off for a diamond heist where a dead bodies pop up in the process. This movie is in the tradition of movies like "Bad Boys", "Rush Hour", and "48 Hrs.", but it also maintains a pace of its own. Ice Cube does a better comedic performance than he has done in the last two "Fridays" and is becoming a better leading man. Mike Epps is very hilarious. The villians are little dark and underdeveloped but they still have their moments. The violence is a bit graphic and extreme but this all fits the world: fast cars, loose action, fine women, humor, and lots of chases. There's also some nice shots (especially shots of Miami's South Beach). "All About the Benjamins" in a very offbeat but good action/comedy and is one of the most must-see movies of the spring.
Reviews
16 Reviews
All About the Benjamins
(2002)
CUBEVISION'S ARE GETTING BETTER.
8 March 2002
After sitting through "All About the Benjamins" it's a real enjoyable action/comedy. This is the story of a bounty hunter (Ice Cube, who also co-wrote with first-time screenwriter Ron Lang and co-produced) who's on the pursuit of a bail jumper ("Next Friday" co-star Mike Epps) and their footchase ends up at drop-off for a major diamond where the killers left a few dead bodies in the process. I'll admit Cube is really showing his talents as an actor, screenwriter, and producer. And, Epps, is real hilarious in this movie. Cubevision projects have been getting better. And, Ice Cube shows a lot more comedic talents than he did in the last two "Fridays". I also like the bad guys, especially the ring leader of the heist. I feel that this is one of the most plot-driven movies Ice Cube has done since "Players Club". And, if you look hard at "All About the Benjamins" it's not just an Ice Cube movie. It's an actor/screenwriter hard at work. But, only one thing this sounds more like a movie that would be released in the summer, not early spring.
Rush Hour 2
(2001)
GET READY FOR A 2ND RUSH!
8 February 2002
For everyone who had been anticipating on the sequel to "Rush Hour". Get ready for a second rush because Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are at it again in "Rush Hour 2". This one picks up where the end of the first one left off. Chris Tucker is now a fish-out-of-water in friend Jackie Chan's home of Hong Kong. Then it goes from a relaxing vacation to a cross-country chase as they try to catch a powerful gang leader, who was once Chan's late father's partner, his gang, and a ruthless businessman. I really liked this one. It had the same chemistry, action, and comedy as the original. But just bigger and better. And, the outtakes at during the ending credits were more hilarious than the first one. I am a very big fan of the "Rush Hour" series. And I can't wait until "Rush Hour 3" comes out. Everyone who hasn't seen "Rush Hour 2" needs to see because it's really a second rush.
Note: People with DVD players get it on DVD. There's some great bonus material.
Note: People with DVD players get it on DVD. There's some great bonus material.
Nothing But Trouble
(1991)
WORTH SOME TROUBLE!
27 October 2001
When I first saw "Nothing But Trouble" I thought this was darkingly funny. I wonder why people said that this was one of the worst movies? The stuff was for laughs not for thrills. This is one of the best movies that has put comedy and horror together. They took familar territory and breathed new laughs into it. Dan Aykroyd (the guy that played Elwood in "The Blues Brothers" movies) did a good job writing and directing this movie. The funniest character in the movie was the judge. And for those who saw, yes, he nose is actually a penis. I also liked the house, booby traps, etc. That reminds you of things you might see at a haunted house attraction. I also liked that Digital Underground sence. Them and Dan Aykroyd tore up the house. It may not be the best from him. But that was his best since "The Blues Brothers" and "Ghostbusters" movies. So, I give "Nothing But Trouble" ***1/2 in my book.
Nothing But Trouble
(1991)
WORTH SOME TROUBLE!
26 October 2001
When I read the reviews for "Nothing But Trouble" everyone said that it was the worst movie. Well, not really. This fared pretty well to me. Most of the stuff in the movie is for laughs, not for screaming and howling. I like Dan Aykroyd as the judge. That was the funniest characters in the movie. I also liked the late John Candy as the judge's granddaughter. I liked all the gadets that were in the back. That's like things you might see at a haunted house. This was a cool directoral debut from Dan Aykroyd. This was his best since "Ghostbusters" and "Blues Brothers".
Point Break
(1991)
SURF'S UP,PAL!
10 July 2001
To me "Point Break" was one of the best action/thrillers I've seen in a long time. I liked every moment Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze were on screen together. It seemed like they already knew each other. And I also liked the storyline. It's about an FBI Agent who goes undercover to find out if a group of surfers are bank robbers that do crimes dressed like four ex-presidents. Also, there was good surfing and skydiving scenes. The people who made this movie really knew what they were doing. So, on a star scale of 1 to 4. I give this movie **** stars.
Scary Movie 2
(2001)
ONCE AGAIN IT'S ON!
6 July 2001
I started waiting for "Scary Movie 2"'s release ever since I heard about it last year. And now it's finally here. And I'll tell you that it was funnier and raunchier than the first one. It had more laughs, better gags, better acting (not trying to say the acting was bad in the first one), and better plot. This time Cindy, Shorty, Brenda, and others are now in college and go for a weekend field trip at a possed haunted house set up by a crooked professor and his assitant and the laughs take off from there. Actually, the laughs take off from the very beginning. And there's some known gag territory from the first one but it's all worth your five or seven dollars. I'm telling you this one of the most funniest movies of the summer.
Scary Movie
(2000)
A SCARE FEAST OF LAUGHS!
6 July 2001
I have to admit that The Wayans Brothers and everybody else did their thing on "Scary Movie". This is the spoof I have seen ever since "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Naked Gun" movies. It is funny from beginning to the end. And I liked it was funny but raunchy at the same time. I really liked when they were making fun of the "Scream" movies, "The Matrix", "Blair Witch Project", and others. And the killer was very hilarious in every part he was in whether he was killing people or not. Like I said before this movie has a scare feast of laughs.
The Fast and the Furious
(2001)
ONE FURIOUS THRILL RIDE!
5 July 2001
I haven't been able to get to the movies this summer to see stuff like "Tomb Raider" and "Swordfish", but I'm glad that caught "Fast and The Furious". This was one of the best action movies that I've seen in a long time. This movie had tight cars, good acting, great plot, and continuous action from beginning to end. This tells the story of an undercover cop who has to infiltrate a group of illegal street racers who also may be involved in a highjacking ring. But things get complicated when he develops a close friendship with the leader and falls in love with his sister. I loved every minute of this movie, even Ja Rule's cameo. I also liked the all the racing scenes. This movie is one of the best thrill rides of the summer...and it's a furious thrill ride.
High Fidelity
(2000)
NOT PART OF MY TOP FIVE...A PART OF MY TOP 40!
14 June 2001
At first when I saw the previews for "High Fidelity" and found out that it was adapted from a book my first thought was "Oh here comes another movie from a book." Doggone, I'm glad I was wrong because it's not that it's a really hilarious romantic/comedy. This tells the story of a vinyl record store owner (John Cusack) who's going through a mid-life crisis and has just broken up with his girlfriend that makes No. 5 on his Top 5 Most Breakups. So he starts to question why he has so many breakups and decides to visit all the girls on the list while he's trying to win his ex-girlfriend back. This has a lot of very observing and funny moments, good writing from "Grosse Pointe Blank" writers Steve Pink, Cusack, D.V. DeVincents, "Gone In 60 Seconds" writer Scott Rosenberg, and good performances (especially from Jack Black). Like I said before this not on my top 5, top 10, or top 20...this is on my top 40!
Midnight Run
(1988)
A MIDNIGHT RUN FULL OF LAUGHS!
7 June 2001
"Midnight Run" was one of the best action/comedies that I saw from the '80s next to "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Lethal Weapon". It has a lot of good comedy, cool action, and one of the best performances from Robert DeNiro. It also has a slick storyline: A bounty hunter is offered $100,000 to return a guy who, embazzled $15 million from the Mob, gave it to charity, and jumped bail from New York to L.A. in five days. But things get harder when the FBI get on their trail for the bail jumper to testify and the Mob wants to kill both of them. But I can't just give credit to the people in front of the camera, I also have to give the credit for those behind the camera like the writer, George Gallo and director Martin Brest for this clever movie.
Hudson Hawk
(1991)
THE HUDSON HAWK'S WITH YOU
21 May 2001
I asked myself when I first saw "Hudson Hawk", "Why did critics and audiences stay AWAY from this movie?". This movie is hilariously goofy. And it has an original story line (created by Willis and Robert Kraft). It's a story about a cat burglar who just got out of jail and ends up being blackmailed into stealing Leonardo Da Vinci pieces from museums all over the world. Everyone didn't take this movie too seriously, either. It also had some clever action and special effects (I liked the bazooka that shot out the bombs with timers on them). And it had some original, funny lines such as "Slurp my butt", "I'll torture you so slowly you'll think it's a career", and "I guess we know who wears the penis in this family". On star scale from 1 star to 4 stars, I give it 3 1/2 stars.
Driven
(2001)
SLY HIMSELF IS RACIN' BACK
18 May 2001
"Driven" is one the best movies from Sly Stallone I've seen since "Cliffhanger". Instead playing a hitman or a cop he plays a race car driver called out of retirement by his old friend. And is also there to school a new young up-and-coming fellow star driver on the sweet sides and sour sides of racing and how to handle fame. This the best race car movie up-to-date ever since "Days of Thunder". Sly is racing back by popular demand. And this movie is worth speeding into the theaters for.
The Brothers
(2001)
TO THE BROTHERS
17 May 2001
Watching "The Brothers" was very slick, relaxing, and entertaining for me. This movie showed why men are scared of such things as commitment, relationships, and marriage. And the things that can drive men to misogamy and cheating. Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore, D.L. Hughley, and Bill Bellamy all did their thing and the females did theirs too. I also like the way Gary Hardwick (the movie's writer and director) shows how they all interact with their families and the first woman they ever loved--their mothers. This movie does sort of puts you in the mind frame of such wedding movies like "The Wood" and "Best Man". But this movie shows how life can change a person who's about to walk down the aisle and the people around him in the process. "The Brothers" is a very funny, honest, and observational romantic comedy/drama.
Next Friday
(2000)
A WHOLE NEW "FRIDAY". A WHOLE NEW SET OF LAUGHS!
3 May 2001
When I heard when they were coming out with "Next Friday" and got the news that Chris Tucker wasn't coming back, I thought it was going to be jake. But when I finally went to the movies to see it, it turned out to be better than the first. The only differences are that Craig (Ice Cube) has gone from South Central L.A. to the suburbs. Deebo went to prison and is out for revenge with his dingy little brother. And he's staying with his funny uncle, his whining cousin, and his uncle's "friendly" girlfriend. I laughed harder on "Next Friday" than I did the first one and you will too. So, Cube and Pooh hurry up and get back together on that new "Friday". PLEASE!
The Original Kings of Comedy
(2000)
A ROYAL CARPET FULL OF LAUGHS!
1 May 2001
If no else is willing to say it I will. "Original Kings of Comedy" is one of the most funniest concert films since "Richard Pryor:Live On the Sunset Strip". Steve Harvey kicks it off with riffs about Rae Carruth, the hit movie "Titanic",old school music vs. hip-hop music,and many more. In between he lets D.L. Hughley, Cedric "The Entertainer", and Bernie Mac have the stage. D.L. has his moments as he riffs about bill collectors,Viagra,and Jesus being black,and snapping on any audience member in his sight. Then Ced gets on stage talking about reggage singers,space movies,golf,differences between hoping and wishing,nicknames,and a whole lot more. But, the most funniest jokes come from Bernie Mac as he riffs on his sister's kids,different types of sex,a mentally retarded relative,and more. Spike Lee did a good job with this movie. Once you see your going to feel like your sitting in the front row of the arena,instead of your couch at home. This movie is a royal treat!
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