Summer's Funniest Movie-- 2013 Edition

This Is The End:
            From the people that brought you every movie you've laughed at in the past decade are at it again...and they're not finished. The apocalypse is happening during the shindig of the year and you're surrounded by Hollywood's young and brightest stars, what do you do? Keep Calm and Party On is what you do! You may remember a couple guys named Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, a comedy power duo that came up with the script of Superbad when they were 13 years old (that's right, I said it) and now they aren't 13 anymore, they're done with puberty and they are the directors and writers of 2013's funniest summer movie/celebration of acting and living it up with the ones you love.

            Go on IMDb.com (International Movie Database), search This Is The End and take a look at the cast list. If you don't know around 57 of the names credited in this movie then I think this may not be the motion picture for you. You may have seen the commercials on TV or read an article in your favorite magazine that shows how chock full this movie is with every actor in the current spotlight and the love interest of every girl (i.e. James Franco), boy (i.e. Emma Watson), and pot head (i.e. the rest of the cast) you can think of. For the purpose of this review we will just focus on the important names. Jay Baruchel (She's Out of My League) and Seth Rogen head over to James Franco's house [exactly as you would picture a house James Franco would live in] for a bash and so that Jay can be introduced to some James' friends. One thing leads to another, earthquakes strange lights from the sky--the usual--- and Franco (Pineapple Express), Baruchel, Rogen (Superbad), Craig Robinson (Pineapple Express), Jonah Hill (Superbad), and Danny McBride (Pineapple Express) try to find every which way to survive the eminent demise of the human race by staying inside of James Franco's outlandishly awesome crib.

            The ridiculousness of this movie is off the charts there's absolutely no denying that. But the cool thing about each huge star playing his or herself is that the audience can almost be a part of the inside jokes that are shared and laugh out loud along with this weed-smoking individuals basking in their friendship. Before going into the theater (assuming that you'll be smart enough to buy a ticket), you can't be expecting the next Academy Award winning picture. You see this movie to laugh with your friends as the actors are laughing with their friends. Each personality is a caricatured version of the person the general public thinks they know all too well and that is where Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen hit one out of the park and were likely as high as the heavens while writing this script. Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) stops by for some fun outside of Hogwarts and Michael Cera (Superbad) blows cocaine into the face of Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin). It's good stuff.

            Sure the plot may not be the most complex or the most captivating and the graphics have "greenscreen" written all over them but that is not the point of a movie like this. Do you want to be yelling with laughter at the insane antics that get crazier minute after minute? Are you ready for some adult humor in an adult setting? This is the reason people love coming to the movies in the first place--to become more in touch with the people in them. Grade: See For Yourself

...And Now You Don't.

Now You See Me
            Slight of hand and illusions are the reason everybody loves a good magician. At every birthday party, street corner and television special we've spotted a magician showing off death-defying stunts and pick-pocket routines that befuddle audiences and anger the volunteer's whose watch they've slipped off their hand. Now You See Me has every trick in the book, special effect and more, but also has added some that even the audience in the theater can predict the outcome of.
            There is a lot to cover with a movie like this one (i.e. many ups and downs). Starting with the story itself, we have four magicians/illusionists with four different magical talents. By some force of nature and with a little bit of pixie dust, they are all united to form The Four Horsemen. The show that this quartet headlines involves paying back a crowd that all have a financial dilemma in common. To get to the gist of their show: bursts of money is involved over the audience and said money is not usually obtained by the magicians in a morally sound way. Sounds like your kind of show, right? Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) said the same thing as dollar signs appeared in his eyes as the show's producer. The film takes many twists and turns and does (I will admit) have an ending that is worth the almost two hour wait, if you find you're getting bored or lost.
            One trick I did not see coming was the star-studded cast that almost entirely did not belong in this movie to begin with. Let me explain. Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), the leader of the Four Horsemen, dons a thin goatee that probably took 3 weeks to grow and is supposedly the master magician that every up and comer looks at for inspiration. How old is Eisenberg, again? His fast-speaking, condescending antics that can also be seen in every other movie he has been in don't seem to fit the seasoned entertainer that director Louis Leterrier (Clash of the Titans, The Incredible Hulk) yearned to illustrate. Who am I to critique, though? Next up is the truly seasoned magic performer and only mentalist of the group, Woody Harrelson (White Men Can't Jump). In the opinion of this critic, he stole the show, I would pay just to see his character do what he does on a stage with mind games. Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) seems to be having a big year after making a small appearance as Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby and now as the escape artist with an annoying voice. The fourth but not least, Dave Franco (21 Jump Street) is making more of a Hollywood image for himself in this film despite the large shadow cast by his older brother whose first name escapes me. Franco is the next big name in magic and is pretty good with the slight-of-hands street magic that's easy to hustle a few bucks off a stranger.
            There are more people in this movie than just four magicians and their producer. Morgan Freeman, and his Morgan Freeman-like voice, does a decent job as the guy every magician hates who looks to debunk every light show trick and distraction the audience sees on stage or TV. He is tag-teaming the tactics and intelligence of this unlawful magic show with FBI agent Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers) and takes many [unnecessary (if you ask me)] steps to getting to the bottom of every trick thrown at them. One refreshing face that makes an appearance is Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds). She is charming and captivating as Ruffalo's tagalong partner that is new to the public force. Now You See Me has everything Criss Angel or David Copperfield would love as a part of their shows and is a fast-paced crime thriller, but the young blood that is mixed in with the veteran actors is where it is easy to lose the enchantment one would hope for in attendance at a magic show. Grade: 7/10