JakeRfilmfreak Reviews

The Way Back (I) (2020)

Every loss is another fight

[8/10 · 21 May 2024]

The Way Back is a 2020 sports drama that centers around a construction worker battling personal demons who becomes the head coach of his old high school basketball team.

This is a very good film that tells an emotional story about a man's inability to cope with the death of his young son, making him turn to alcohol for help which ultimately makes things worse in the end. Ben Affleck's performance is fantastic, and his character does a good job making you sympathize with his situation, but not so much you can ignore his flaws. It was well written by Brad Ingelsby, wonderfully directed by Gavin O'Connor, and with a great cast is just an overall terrific movie that any film fan should definitely see.

I thought this was an absolutely great film, and if you haven't seen it before, I would highly recommend checking it out.

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004)

In every love story, there's only room for one leading man

[5/10 · 21 May 2024]

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton is a 2004 romantic comedy that follows a small town girl who wins a date with a celebrity making her best friend jealous and creating a love triangle between the three.

This is a mediocre Rom Com that won't do anything to impress you, but still has its moments of fun. The cast is decent enough with good performances from Kate Bosworth and Josh Duhamel, but I'm not a big fan of Topher Grace so the role of the best friend could have been better. Although not completely creative, the movie tells a nice little story about two friends falling in love and living happily ever after.

It's not that bad, and it's not that great either, but it's definitely entertaining enough to check out at least one time if you're a fan of Rom Coms.

Capone (2020)

We all pay for our crimes in the end

[5/10 · 21 May 2024]

Capone is a 2020 biological drama that centers around notorious gangster Al Capone, and the last year of his life suffering from neurosyphilis and dementia at his mansion in Florida.

I'm a Tom Hardy fan so my hopes were high going into this one, but unfortunately it was rather disappointing. I knew it was about the last year of Capones life so I wasn't expecting there to be a lot of mafia gang shootings, car chases and what not, but I was expecting to at least see some good performances from a pretty decent cast of actors which seemed to fall by the wayside. Hardy's gravelly frog voice gets a bit irritating about 20 minutes in, and once I realized the film was just going to be him hallucinating the whole time while others try to get his hidden treasures, I lost interest pretty quick.

It wasn't as good as I had hoped for, but they can't all be winners I suppose. If you haven't seen this before, check it out and see what you think.

Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves! (1997 TV Movie)

Baseball's just a phase, it'll pass. But science is always cool

[6/10 · 18 May 2024]

Honey We Shrunk Ourselves is a 1997 science fiction comedy that centers around four parents who accidentally shrink themselves and attempt to get their children's attention in order to get back to normal size.

This is a movie that I really enjoyed watching when I was a kid, but now many years later it doesn't hold up as well as the original. Aside from a couple of comical moments, the film is pretty forgettable due to its silly plot line, bad acting, and poor special effects. I'm a fan of Rick Moranis, but I'm sure he would even tell you that this isn't a very good film.

But on the other hand, it's still a perfect movie for kids, so if you haven't seen it before, it's worth watching with the little ones, and if nothing else they will be entertained.

Almost Famous (2000)

telling secrets to the one guy you don't tell secrets to.

[8/10 · 14 May 2024]

Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama that follows a teenage journalist who goes on tour with an up and coming rock band in order to write an article on them for Rolling Stone Magazine.

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe and based on his own experience working for Rolling Stone Magazine, Almost Famous is a delightfully fun film that tells an entertaining story with a lot heart behind it. The characters are genuine and fun loving which Crowe captured beautifully in its carefree rock and roll setting, with a fantastic cast that gives terrific performances. It has a ton of great moments, good dialogue, and a wonderful soundtrack making the overall movie just a pleasure to watch.

I've seen this film more times than I'm sure is necessary, but it's just that good. If you haven't seen it before, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Hall Pass (2011)

One week. No rules.

[6/10 · 14 May 2024]

Hall Pass is a 2011 comedy that centers around two husbands stuck in a rut who are given a one week hall pass to do whatever they want by their wives.

Directed by the Farrelly brothers, Hall Pass is not the best comedy that you'll ever see, but still manages to bring a lot of laughs to the table. The premise is slightly creative and sets up plenty of chances for amusing situations, but some of the comedy at times can be a bit dumb. The cast is good, and although Owen Wilson has top billing it's definitely Jason Sudeikis who steals the show in this one.

It's one of those movies that's really good the first time you watch it, and even though it's still entertaining it loses a lot of steam the more you see it. If you haven't seen this before, it's definitely worth checking out.

Blind Fury (1989)

Master of the sword. Avenger of the truth. Blind as a bat

[6/10 · 13 May 2024]

Blind Fury is a 1989 action comedy that follows a blind war veteran and trained swordsman who helps rescue the son of a fellow soldier.

This is one of those films that even though it has a very creative premise, and a good cast to back it up, had a hard time finding the right audience when it came out. And although it was a box office flop I'd like to think it's gained more appreciation now days in cult status because it's actually a pretty decent movie. Of course like a lot of 80's films it has some cheesiness to it, but Rutger Hauers performance is quite good, and it mixes the humor elements in with its tone nicely.

It'll never be considered an amazing movie by any means, but is definitely entertaining. If you haven't seen Blind Fury before, give it a chance and see what you think.

Just Friends (I) (2005)

It's like the Michael Bolton starter kit

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

Just Friends is a 2005 romantic comedy that follows a formally obese womanizer who attempts to get out of the friend zone after coming home for Christmas and reconnecting with his high school crush.

This is a fantastic movie that brings its comedy A game right out of the gate and stays funny the whole way through.

Ryan Reynolds stars as Chris Brander, a former overweight and unpopular high school kid who never got the girl of his dreams. Now grown up, and the man he always wanted to be, Chris comes back to his hometown and attempts to get the girl that he never stopped loving.

The cast is terrific, with Reynolds performance and self centered sarcastic demeanor shining with hilarity. As with most Rom Coms, the movie can be pretty predictable at times but that doesn't keep it from being very entertaining. If you've never seen this before, I would recommend checking it out.

Knocked Up (2007)

You Want Me to Stop smoking Pot Cuz There's An Earthquake Once Every Ten Years

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

Knocked Up is a 2007 romantic comedy that follows the repercussions two opposites must face after their drunken one night stand ends with a pregnancy.

Written and Directed by Judd Apatow, Knocked UP is a fantastic film that hits a comedy home run, leaving you all smiles by the movies end. It's creative and tells an unconventional yet charming tale about the love that develops between two complete opposites after a drunken night of sex results in them becoming parents. It has the perfect cast of comedic actors that makes the word funny an understatement. Everyone involved gives an A+ performance, with Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl really doing a terrific job feeding off each others energy pulling out the best from both of them.

It's filled with some memorable scenes, very humorous dialogue, and an ending that although slightly predictable suits the story quite well. If you have never seen this movie before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Funny Games (2007)

Shall we begin

[6/10 · 9 May 2024]

Funny Games is a 2007 psychological horror film that centers around a family on vacation who is tormented and forced to play sadistic games by two psychopathic young men.

This is an interesting horror film for the fact that although isn't exactly good, it isn't that bad either. On one hand, there is no story to it what so ever with no character development so as everything unfolds it's hard to invest yourself in anything going on. But on the other hand, the premise is brutally terrifying making the movie border the line between torture porn and effective art house filmmaking. The chaotic musical introduction sets the perfect tone for what you're about to see, but the film slowly loses steam once it gets where it's going. The whole cast is good, and Michael Pitt and Devon Gearhart's unnerving super polite demeanor makes their characters stand out, but also makes them slightly annoying.

It's not a film I can overly praise, but also one I can't completely bash. If you've never seen it before, It's worth checking out at least once.

Screwed (2000)

I Was Scared

[5/10 · 9 May 2024]

Screwed is a 2000 dark comedy about a butler who attempts to kidnap his boss's dog for ransom, but things go from bad to worse when the plan doesn't go accordingly.

This is a very wacky comedy that is actually quite funny if you don't take it seriously and expect to roll your eyes a lot. The premise is silly enough as it is, but the goofy characters and acting amplify the silliness of it all ten fold. Norm Macdonald and Dave Chappelle are great together as two sidekicks that suck at committing crime, with also a very humorous performance from Danny DeVito that keeps things pretty entertaining.

Although I prefer Dirty Work over screwed, it's still a decent Norm Macdonald comedy that's worth checking out at least once. If you haven't seen this before and enjoy dumb comedies, I would recommend checking it out.

Day of the Dead (1985)

Prepare yourself for the darkest day of horror the world has ever known!

[9/10 · 8 May 2024]

Day of the Dead is a 1985 post apocalyptic zombie film about a group of survivors sheltering in an underground bunker in Florida where they are attempting to figure out a solution.

Written and Directed by the master of zombies George A. Romero comes Day of the Dead, his third film in the series and my personal favorite of all of them. It has a good story that follows a group of survivors who are at each others throats trying to figure out the best way to deal with the situation which ultimately ends badly culminating in a very brutal and bloody final moment's of the film that is unforgettable.

Tom Savini as always does a superb job with all the special make-up effects, taking the gruesome nature of the movie that much further as the zombies invade the bunker looking to tear apart everyone inside.

This is a fantastic horror film all the way around, and if you haven't seen it before and don't mind gore, then I would highly recommend checking it out.

The Heavenly Kid (1985)

This cigarette tastes funny

[7/10 · 8 May 2024]

The Heavenly Kid is a 1985 fantasy comedy that follows a guardian angel who is tasked with helping a socially awkward high school boy fit in.

I don't think most people would consider this to be an amazing 80's film, but to me the Heavenly Kid is a classic, and one that I hold in high regard.

Lewis Smith stars as Bobby Fontana, A 1960's greaser who gets killed while playing a game of chicken with a rival who made a pass at his girlfriend. But in the afterlife he finds out that he must complete a specific task in order to earn his wings and a ticket to get into heaven.

The premise of the movie seems kind of silly, but the story being told is actually pretty sweet and endearing on top of being quite funny. The cast is terrific, the plot is creative, and it has a fantastic theme song that screams the 80's. If you've never seen this film before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Savage Dawn (1985)

The reign of terror is about to end

[6/10 · 7 May 2024]

Savage Dawn is a 1985 action film that centers around a war veteran who goes to battle with a ruthless biker gang that invades a small Arizona town.

This is a movie that definitely would not be considered a classic in any way, but definitely is a decent action flick by cheesy 80's standards. I'm a fan of both Lance Henriksen and William Forsythe so I was very interested in checking this movie out, and I have to say, I was not disappointed. The characters are over the top border line ridiculous, and the plot is typical action dribble you've seen more than enough times, but I still loved it. Although it comes off like a corny 80's film and has some pretty subpar dialogue and acting, it still has plenty of action and fun moments that make this movie overall entertaining.

I thought it was a great film, but I also like these cheesy beat em up action flicks. If you haven't seen this before, I'd recommend checking it out.

Over the Top (1987)

The world meets nobody halfway. When you want something, you gotta take it.

[5/10 · 4 May 2024]

Over The Top is a 1987 sports drama that centers around a long haul truck driver who attempts to repair his relationship with his estranged son while also trying to win an arm wrestling tournament.

This is another masterpiece from the infamous Cannon Films Group that must have sounded better on paper before it was made. Although I give them credit for coming up with an original concept that hadn't been done before, the arm wrestling aspect of this film is just kind of laughable. The premise of the movie is actually decent, and was just poorly executed by Cannons leader Menahem Golan. Nevertheless, I still love this corny little film which I consider a classic from my childhood.

If you haven't seen this before and like cheesy 80's flicks, I'd recommend giving it a watch because it's unintentionally funny if nothing else.

Bushwick (2017)

The New Civil War Has Begun

[6/10 · 3 May 2024]

Bushwick is a 2017 action thriller that centers around the unlikely alliance that forms between a war veteran and a young graduate student when their city is invaded by a heavily armed militia.

This is a pretty decent movie that has a similar premise to Red Dawn, only instead of forming a group to fight back, the main characters are just trying to stay alive and escape the situation all together. The Cast is good giving solid performances, and even though Dave Bautista might not be the best of the best when it comes to acting, his abilities shine well in the action genre. It doesn't necessarily throw any creative curveballs at you, but brings plenty of tense moments and action that keep things entertaining in its unstable atmosphere.

It's not the cream of the crop when it comes to films in the genre, but definitely has enough going for it to keep you interested. If you've never seen this before, I'd recommend giving it a watch.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

The bogeyman is real and you found him

[8/10 · 3 May 2024]

House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 dark comedy horror film that follows two young couples who are kidnapped and tormented by a sadistic family of serial killers while traveling across Texas.

Written and Directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, House of 10000 Corpses is a crazy horror flick that doesn't rely as much on imagination as it does brutality and bloodshed. It keeps an eerie tone throughout it while also throwing in some dark humor elements that actually manage to work very well together. Zombie created characters that are creepy and captivating making it hard to look away, while also capturing their ruthless antics in an environment that is unsettling but visually fun.

The music is good, the cast is great, and it's one film that any horror fan should see at least once. If you've never seen this awesome movie before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Kick-Ass (2010)

With no power comes no responsibility

[7/10 · 2 May 2024]

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero dark comedy that centers around a comic book loving high school outcast who decides to become a superhero of his own.

I'm not a big fan of superhero films so it took me a long while before I finally sat down and watch this, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. It didn't have the feel of your typical superhero movie, and had a good story that was creative and interesting, not to mention funny. The whole cast was great, but Nicolas Cage and Chloë Grace Moretz performance really stood out portraying arguably the two best characters in the film. It has plenty of comical moments, good action, and a pretty satisfying ending making the overall film quite entertaining.

It's never going to be an all time favorite, but I really enjoyed this movie. If you haven't seen it before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

We're sorry, Ernest, Bobby didn't know the mace can was loaded

[6/10 · 1 May 2024]

Ernest Goes To Jail is a 1990 comedy that follows Ernest as his dream of becoming a bank teller gets put on hold when he's mistaken for a prisoner that looks just like him.

Once again directed by John Cherry and starring the great Jim Varney in the title role, Ernest goes to jail is a fantastic comedy that doesn't loose steam no matter how many times you've seen it. It tells a fun story about how the goofy but lovable Ernest P Worrell gets himself in a pickle again, this time being sent to prison for looking like a convict set to go to the electric chair while serving jury duty. It's a silly film full of hilarious Ernest antics that will leave the whole family laughing out loud.

If you're a fan of the series or Varney and haven't seen this before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Anaconda (1997)

You can't scream if you can't breathe

[5/10 · 1 May 2024]

Anaconda is a 1997 adventure horror film that follows a documentary crew in the Amazon rainforest who is taken hostage by a hunter looking for the worlds largest snake.

This is one of those movies that although not completely terrible, was definitely more enjoyable when I was a kid. It has an interesting premise and a cast of good actors that did the best they could with Jon Voight's performance really standing out, but the movie still comes off as silly and kind of ridiculous. It has some entertaining moments along with some straight up eye rollers, but it's definitely become a well deserved cult classic in the creature feature subgenre of horror.

It's not the best movie you'll ever see, but can be a good watch on a Friday night with a couple of friends and a few beers. If you've never seen Anaconda before, it's worth checking out at least once.

Role Models (2008)

Bow as your daughter does

[8/10 · 25 April 2024]

Role Models is a 2008 comedy that centers around two energy drink salesmen who get into trouble with the law and are ordered by a judge to participate in a big brother type program as punishment.

From the director of Hot Wet American Summer, David Wain comes Role Models. A great movie that holds nothing back in the comedy aspects, and tells a fun story about being there for someone when they need you. It has a terrific cast that includes Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott and Elizabeth Banks, with solid performances from everyone involved, and a ton of laugh out loud moments that make the overall movie just a pleasure to watch.

It's a little crude at times, and a little silly at others, but always funny. If you've never seen this before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Road House (1989)

I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

Road House is a 1989 action film about a bouncer at a newly refurbished roadside bar that helps protect a small town from a corrupt businessman.

This has never been one of my top favorite action films, but I've always enjoyed it for what it is. The story doesn't throw anything spectacular at you and some of the acting can get a little cheesy at times, but Patrick Swayze's performance is great and what makes this movie the classic that it is. The action is decent, the characters are fun, and it has the perfect atmosphere for everything to unfold in.

It's not the best of the best when it comes to classic 80's action flicks, but it's still pretty good. If you've never seen Road House before, I'd recommend checking it out.

Say Anything (1989)

They knew of you. Now they know you

[7/10 · 23 April 2024]

Say Anything is a 1989 romantic comedy-drama that follows the romance between two teenagers right after their graduation from high school.

Written and Directed by Cameron Crowe, Say Anything is a nice little teen Rom Com that tells a sweet story about how two opposites can fall in love.

John Cusack stars as Lloyd Dobler, an underachiever with a big heart who falls in love with a beautiful valedictorian the summer before she goes off to college, sparking a budding romance that gets put to the test.

This is a classic 80's teen flick, and one of the better movies from the 80's teen craze. It has a great cast, a nice story, and a very memorable scene that will never be forgotten. If you've never seen this before and enjoy Rom Coms, I would recommend checking it out.

Airborne (1993)

Just Chill Brah

[6/10 · 23 April 2024]

Airborne is a 1993 comedy-drama that follows a California surfer who is sent to live with his cousin in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he isn't very popular with the local teens.

This is a rare gem from the early 90's that is not high on the radar, but is a very good movie from my childhood that I still enjoy. It was one of the first films to introduce us to inline skating as a main focal point to the story, and cap it off with a big multi man race (that was captured beautifully on camera) down dangerously steep hilly streets. Like a lot of movies, it has some aspects that could have used a little improvement, but as a whole it's a very fun film that doesn't lose your interest and remains entertaining all the way through.

It has a good cast that features early performances from a young Jack Black and Seth Green, Plentry of amusing moments, and an exciting finish that ends the movie quite well. If you've never seen this before, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Red Dawn (2012)

The Fight Begins At Dawn

[6/10 · 23 April 2024]

Red Dawn is a 2012 action film that centers around a group of young adults who defend their town from a North Korean invasion.

This is a modern day remake of the 1984 film of the same name, and although it is nowhere near as good as the original it still has something to be desired for fans of the genre. The story is pretty much the same aside from a few things they changed a little bit. The remake is a slick action flick that caters to anyone looking for 90 minutes of adrenaline fueled firefights and explosions. If you're looking for good character depth and a story to back it up then this is not for you.

It's not a great movie by any means, but decent enough if taken for what it is. If you've never seen either of these films I'd recommend watching the original first, otherwise give this a watch and see what you think.