Last night I saw Snatched, starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn.
Emily (Schumer) endures a break up with her latest flame right before they're due to take a non-refundable vacation to Honduras. Since none of her friends are readily available to go in his place, she decides to invite her mother, Linda (Hawn), who reluctantly accepts.
Though the dynamic of the trip has changed, Emily is still intent on having a good time, so while her mother rests in their resort room, she hits the bar, striking up a conversation with a local hottie. After a night of fun, it's decided the two will re-convene in the morning and bring mom along for a day trip. All goes well until the host decides to go off the beaten path and the women are abducted by (presumably) a drug lord.
The remainder of the film is the adventure of the two attempting to escape and make it to Bogota, Colombia where the U.S. State department can send for help. Aiding in their retrieval are a nerdy brother/son, a random American they meet at a jungle bar and a pair of eccentric fellow travelers (these two were my favorite, as they're portrayed by Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack).
There is swearing and exposed body parts and murder and drinking and dancing. There is chemistry between the two leads, excellent comedic timing and way too much screen time allotted to the "angry" state department worker.
I both laughed out loud and shook my head lamenting just how much better it could have been.
If you're looking for a stereotypical, predictable comedy, you could do worse. But lacking in heart, it shouldn't be at the top of anyone's list.
~~~
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Friday, July 07, 2017
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Sully
This morning I saw Sully, starring Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart.
Anyone who was around in January of 2009 will remember the "miracle on the Hudson." The day that a US Airways pilot safely landed a plane on the Hudson River after both engines failed following a bird strike. The pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger (Hanks), quickly became a national hero, as there was no loss of life in the incident.
What the public never knew was the extensive investigation after the landing, which came close to implying Sullenberger put lives at risk with his quick reaction to the emergency.
The film examines what it was like for both Sully and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Eckhart), to navigate the post traumatic stress disorder from the accident as they were fighting to convince the NTSB they did the best thing possible for everyone on board.
Tom Hanks channels Sully in his portrayal; from the way he furrows his brows to the walk we all got used to seeing as the press fell in love with the real-life captain. He is thoughtful, soft-spoken, concerned and–yes, heroic. As usual, it's hard not to marvel at just how much Hanks can disappear into his characters, being one of the most familiar actors in the world. But he does, and although we know how the flight ends, the scenes where we see what it was like both for the flight crew and the passengers are harrowing.
This suspense is a credit to Director Clint Eastwood, who has a knack for building great tension (see: American Sniper, Play Misty for Me, etc.). Though much of the flight of which the film is focused is shown to us in flashbacks, it's no less frightening.
For over 90 minutes of watching something so forensic in exploration, it's a satisfying, thrilling ride, which will surely serve as a reminder of one of New York's best days for years to come.
~~~
Anyone who was around in January of 2009 will remember the "miracle on the Hudson." The day that a US Airways pilot safely landed a plane on the Hudson River after both engines failed following a bird strike. The pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger (Hanks), quickly became a national hero, as there was no loss of life in the incident.
What the public never knew was the extensive investigation after the landing, which came close to implying Sullenberger put lives at risk with his quick reaction to the emergency.
The film examines what it was like for both Sully and his co-pilot, Jeff Skiles (Eckhart), to navigate the post traumatic stress disorder from the accident as they were fighting to convince the NTSB they did the best thing possible for everyone on board.
Tom Hanks channels Sully in his portrayal; from the way he furrows his brows to the walk we all got used to seeing as the press fell in love with the real-life captain. He is thoughtful, soft-spoken, concerned and–yes, heroic. As usual, it's hard not to marvel at just how much Hanks can disappear into his characters, being one of the most familiar actors in the world. But he does, and although we know how the flight ends, the scenes where we see what it was like both for the flight crew and the passengers are harrowing.
This suspense is a credit to Director Clint Eastwood, who has a knack for building great tension (see: American Sniper, Play Misty for Me, etc.). Though much of the flight of which the film is focused is shown to us in flashbacks, it's no less frightening.
For over 90 minutes of watching something so forensic in exploration, it's a satisfying, thrilling ride, which will surely serve as a reminder of one of New York's best days for years to come.
~~~
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