CHICAGO – The funny meter of Netflix went off the scale last week, as the animated series “Chicago Party Aunt” made its debut on September 17th. What began as a Twitter account by comic actor Chris Witaske (who also provides his voice talent) has morphed into the cartoon adventures of Aunt Diane Dumbowski, her nephew Daniel, and an array of familiar Chicago-isms and characters.
Jim Carrey
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ is Fast & Furry But Not Funny
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 14, 2020 - 11:41am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It may be damning with faint praise, but I can assure you that “Sonic the Hedgehog” is no longer the stuff of nightmares. The-Island-of-Dr-Moreau-like creation which seemed half human half hedgehog in the film’s first trailer, has been replaced by something more akin to the Sonic we know from video games and cartoons. He’s cute. He’s fast. But he’s not particularly funny.
Glaring Lack of Originality Handicaps ‘The Bad Batch’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 25, 2017 - 8:00pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Dystopia has been dissed out. Mining the negative vibe future world can’t seem to touch the rich creative vein any more and the reserves seem dry. Writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour may have an element within her interpretation that is hard core, but it’s not enough to understand the overall vision of her tomorrow world, except that we’re all part of “The Bad Batch.”
‘Dumb and Dumber To’ Too Dumb to Be Funny
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 14, 2014 - 6:32am Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Dumb And Dumber To” is an exercise in diminishing returns. Jim Carrey and The Farrelly Brothers expend twice the effort for less than a third of the laughs. It benefits greatly from the enormous well of goodwill created by the original’s inspired idiocy. But one can only suspend disbelief for so long and this sequel has problems that the warm glow of nostalgia can’t solve.
Disappointing ‘Kick-Ass 2’ Replaces Style with Vulgarity
Submitted by BrianTT on August 15, 2013 - 11:46am Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – More vulgar, violent, and generally vile than the first film, “Kick-Ass 2” is one of those incredibly annoying films that actually will mar the legacy of its predecessor by association. Writer/director Jeff Wadlow entirely misplaces the priorities of the first film, thinking that the sequel needs to be more extreme, even if that’s at the expense of style and intelligence.
Nothing Magical About ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’
Submitted by BrianTT on March 15, 2013 - 9:50amRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s this simple – “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” just isn’t funny. Sure, there are a few laughs here and there and some of the supporting cast works but the leads are woefully miscast and most of the jokes hit with all the awkward silence of a Bennigan’s tableside magician who guesses the wrong card.
Obsessive, Intriguing ‘Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2011 - 7:54am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s the movie poster that says it all. The familiar red-headed talk show host, now bearded, resting his head against an ever-present microphone. The show must go on for “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.”
Nature is Abused By Jim Carrey in ‘Mr Popper’s Penguins’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 17, 2011 - 7:49amRating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Pity the poor penguin making pictures. Their wings cannot fly, they have no script approval or agents, just a trainer bribing them with food to hit the mark. Their presence, their cuteness, even their flightlessness are exploited for a dreadful Jim Carrey film called “Mr Popper’s Penguins.” Somebody call PETA.
Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor Make Unique Couple in ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’
Submitted by BrianTT on December 10, 2010 - 2:01pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – John Requa and Glenn Ficarra’s “I Love You Phillip Morris” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival nearly two years ago and was released internationally so long ago that it’s out on DVD in most markets around the world. After financial difficulties plagued the first company intent on stateside distribution, the movie sat on a shelf and most of us assumed it would be making its U.S. debut on a round shiny disc.
Dr. Seuss’ ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ Heard Loudly Into Instant Children’s Classic
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on March 13, 2008 - 9:15pm
CHICAGO – One of Dr. Seuss’ most famous storybooks has finally been granted life with its self-titled animated feature “Horton Hears a Who!,” which involves a morally righteous elephant, philosophical timbre and Dr. Seuss’ ingenious lyrical rhymes.
