CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on January 27th, reviewing the new TV series “Shrinking,” featuring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford. Currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Neil Patrick Harris
High-Level Acting, Broad Themes in ‘Gone Girl’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 2, 2014 - 11:28pm Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – How can a sudsy, Lifetime TV Movie-type plot capture the resonance of our current information age? By twisting it by the ears and having gutsy, high-level performances. “Gone Girl” is a marvelous invention of media satire, celebrity culture and the perfect casting of Ben Affleck.
‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ Suffers Because Seth MacFarlane Casts Himself
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on May 31, 2014 - 11:58am Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A feature-length comedy is a daunting undertaking. But being consistently funny for 2 straight hours is like climbing Mount Everest blindfolded with no arms while taking selfies using your feet.
‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ Goes in All Directions
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 29, 2014 - 4:51pm Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Two observations regarding Seth MacFarlane: one, he is a hilarious writer and voiceover talent. Two, he isn’t as good as a comic leading man, on screen and in live action. Those two elements clash brightly in the overlong but funny “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”
‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2’ Wins with Foodimals, Overemphasizes Humans
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 27, 2013 - 12:01am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I was paying attention to the movie. Correction: I was mostly paying attention to the movie. It was challenging to ignore my angry, empty stomach and fully enjoy the food coma that is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”. Just don’t make the same mistake I did and eat before you do.
‘A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas’ Delivers Holiday Laughs
Submitted by BrianTT on November 4, 2011 - 12:33pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas” delivers exactly what fans should expect from it and even a bit more, as the actors who play the stoner icons have gotten noticeably better at their craft and the production team behind the film has gone all out in a quest to throw as many jokes as possible at the viewer in a barrage of attempts at hilarity.
Star-Studded Cast Makes For Good ‘Company’
Submitted by mattmovieman on June 15, 2011 - 7:26amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Though I’ve often entertained the notion of attending an opera or sporting event at a local theater, I just can’t seem to bring myself to pay the admission. No filmed footage, however intimate and detailed, can truly capture the visceral energy of a live performance. No matter how close a camera can zoom in on the action, it still provides the worst seat in the house.
Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer Wallow in Aptly Titled ‘Beastly’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 4, 2011 - 1:44pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The main problem with “Beastly,” a modern high schooler retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” is that the outcome is known (Beast will learn lessons, become handsome again). That leaves only the way it gets to that end for creating story. This film cannot find its way.
‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Tastes Right For All Generations
Submitted by BrianTT on September 18, 2009 - 11:30amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Proving that you should never judge an animated film by its cover or its typically predictable brethren, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a very funny comedy with one of the best voice casts in years, an enjoyable visual aesthetic, and even a heartwarming message that doesn’t come off over-cooked.
