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dannielleblumenthal
Reviews
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
Laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end
Based on the poor reviews the movie had on Xfinity, I had pretty low expectations going in - figured it would be crude, unfunny, but sort of a light way to pass an hour and a half. Boy was I wrong. It was hysterical! From beginning to end, I laughed hysterically. I loved the writing, the jokes and the overall intelligence behind the plot.
The basic premise is that these two brothers are screwups, and their father is making them calm down and get dates so they don't mess up their sister's wedding. But unfortunately...that plan goes way wrong when the girls they bring are even wilder, and crazier, than them.
So funny, really lightened up the weekend. Highly recommended.
The Accountant (2016)
A Stellar Performance By Ben Affleck Makes This Film A Must-See Despite Some Flaws
This movie taps into every parent's deepest fear, that they will die and leave their children unable to care for themselves. The fear is magnified when a child is perceived to be more vulnerable than the ordinary child, as in The Accountant. Here, Affleck plays Christian Wolff, a man with autism.
The movie gives us two diametrically opposing views about how a parent can handle such a situation. In the case of autism, neither are offered as "right." Rather, there is only a divergence of paths -- one which ultimately reveals we haven't "gotten there" yet.
I noticed that the audience for the movie was comprised of adult parents bringing their adult children to watch it, mostly young men. There were a lot of uncomfortable silences in the theater. Even though it got better and better, and was even funny in some spots, we walked out very solemn at the end.
They seemed to have gotten a lot of good actors to participate in this movie. You'll recognize the legendary John Lithgow and many others. Ultimately Affleck's portrayal of a gifted and deeply moral criminal overshadowed all of them. Exponentially.
To me the ultimate measure of a movie is whether you would see it again. I would see it again. I will note that my companions were not as enthusiastic.