Larry Crowne: A Reel Rhino Review

I caught a little grief for my Transformers review...but I stand strong as a uber-TF-fan and I ask for no forgiveness. I say there is nothing wrong with a film that plays to the teenager-tweenager in us, and while Transformers has some aspects that is geared towards mature, adult viewers, it was mainly is a fan-fricken-tastic nostalgic trip into the days of my youth. There is nothing wrong with that. Nothing. I will never ask for forgiveness for my indulgences and I stand by that my maturity as a filmgoer is beyond reproach.

So there. Nah nah nah nah nah neeeee nah.

Speaking of maturity as a filmgoer, how about that Larry Crowne. Tom Hanks...Julia Roberts...nothing screams adult audience, like Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts!!!

Larry Crowne is the second feature directorial effort from Tom Hanks. I think this movie very much falls into the category of a vanity project...Tom Hanks made this funny, all-around enjoyable film, just because he could. He co-wrote the flick with Nia Vardalos, who he formerly paired with in producing Vardalos's breakout hit, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I find Tom Hanks to be one of the all-time most watchable actors and this effort is no different, you see, as Hanks is both director and star of Larry Crowne.

And what is wrong with all of this? Absolutely nothing! I'll take all the Tom Hanks I can get.

Membership has its privileges as along for the ride here is Julia Roberts, who plays Mercy, ne Mercedes Tainot, the troubled Professor who leads the speech class that Larry enrolls in as he embarks on his new role as college freshman.

The message at the outset of the film is bleak: Larry, a Navy man, is laid off for not having a college degree preventing him from advancing through the ranks at the retail outlet where he is quite clearly the most proud and most knowledgeable employee in their ranks. Twenty years in the Navy...around the world in the school of hard knocks should count for something, but not so as otherwise we wouldn't have a flick.

Early on we have cameos from Dale Dye and Rob Riggles. Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson have supporting roles as do Wilder Valderrama, Pam Grier, Bryan Cranston, a great part for George Takai, and a breakout performance by Larry's new college buddy, Talia, as played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Heck, even Vardalas has a cameo (in voice only), her hubby Ian Gomez, and Hanks' wife Rita Wilson show up. I bet this film was a blast to shoot!

Once Larry loses his job, we learn quickly that he is a divorcee, and with no job and no job prospects, he is in loads of trouble with his mortgage. Fortunately, he doesn't rally up some old Navy buddies and start robbing banks...that's an entirely different film altogether...maybe for Larry Crowne 2: The Revenge.

Larry doesn't fold...he enrolls in school and takes positive steps towards improving his future. The tone of the film is lighthearted and the message is positive. There is but one carefully placed F-bomb kept this flick well within the confines of a PG-13 rating, which is good because it is wholly enjoyable for just about any moviegoer.

At 99 minutes, this movies exists for just long enough to be a great time, then...cue credits.

The movie would be much more mundane with a lesser cast, but fortunately Hanks has plenty of friends in high places and fortunately also, we end up with the film that was delivered.

Crowne's adventure through a semester of college is steeped in many more ups than downs. The romance angle is subtle and the various bits through the movie play out as a well-written sequence of events that present a complete and enjoyable film.

With another cast, I may have given Larry Crowne a 3.5, but it was just such an enjoyable time in the theater, I couldn't help but bump up to a 4 of 5 Horn rating.

Check this flick out...you won't be upset is you do. I promise, this is the anti-blockbuster summer flick loaded with a blockbuster cast. And it is further proof that I can refine my palate to more adult content, even if it is a load of fun.

Happy 4th of July to all those celebrating...to those in other parts of the world...Happy Monday.

Until later...take care!

Reel Rhino

Transformers 3: The Greatest Movie EVER!

Did that title grab your attention?  I bet it did!

Transformers is not the only thing happening this weekend...I do hope to catch Tom Hanks directing himself in the titular role in Larry Crowne this weekend. I am not crazy about Julia Roberts, but I always seem to enjoy when she and Hanks get together...SEE ALSO: Charlie Wilson's War.

I did have the pleasure of seeing Transformers: Dark of the Moon at the Tuesday night, 9:00pm showing. Thank you Paramount for helping me from staying up till 3:00am...TF 3 was the flick I had allocated myself for a midnight showing, so I am just as happy waiting on that midnight show for HP7, Pt. 2.

Dark of the Moon is getting middling to poor reviews, but Jimmy Crack Corn, and I DON'T CARE!! I greatly enjoyed this flick and I borderline loved it.

No, I didn't love it in the way I love The Godfather, Part II, Apollo 13, 12 Angry Men, The Lady Vanishes, etc...

I loved Transformers: Dark of the Moon with that continued state of wide-eyed wonder with my childhood brought to life in vivid living color and live action.  In fact all of the Transformers movies played out in this way for me and this trilogy will always be a special set of movies in my pantheon of films, even if many others consider these in my guilty pleasures category.

I am a Michael Bay apologist and I am proud of it.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was kind of a cluster, but I enjoyed it for its visual spectacle. The story in Dark of the Moon was dialed way down to a much simpler sequence of events and it helped. The combo of the simpler story and pure triumph in the visual effects makes this the most exciting of the series so far.

Bay is a visual genius. Hands down. Shockwave = Excellent; Retro-moon scenes: Excellent; The End of the World as seen in Chicago = HOLY S***!  Unreal...

Keep in mind that all of this is playing out under the somewhat watchful eye of Steven Spielberg. That's not a bad eye to have in your creative corner...SEE ALSO: Super 8.  Spielberg is becoming kind of a guru to younger filmmakers.  The world can use as much Steven Spielberg as he is willing to give.

So rather than getting into the story and breaking down how this film is better than anyone has given it credit for, let me just say again that I loved it.

PS: Megan Fox OUT, Rosie Huntington-Wheatley IN - A non-factor.

PPS: Leonard Nimoy = Great Cameo (Star Trek fans will appreciate a spin on a classic bit of Spock dialogue).

Check out Transformers: Dark of the Moon...check it out in IMAX or in one of AMC's ETX theaters. Bay sent a letter out to projectionists imploring them to check their settings when showing this flick...he utilized some light accentuation technology to improve the brightness of the 3-D showings, when viewing the movie through the polarized glasses.

Happy 4th of July to all! Nothing screams the weekend of the 4th like BIG BLOCKBUSTER!

Sound off if you disagree with me on TF 3! My position as a Michael Bay apologist probably skews me to some extents. Wargs, I fully expect to hear it from you too...BUT I LOVE IT!

The cast for this is an even wider range of big names and the focus of TF3 is very much on the humans...Ehren Kruger is an effective storyteller...Bay is an effective Director...this flick just worked for me!!

TRANFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - 4 of 5 Horns from REEL RHINO

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Another word on TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON from guest reviewer: DANI CALIFORNIA

So last night I got to watch the awesomeness that is Transformers: Dark of the Moon. I enjoyed this one just as much as I enjoyed the first one and yes even the second one. I watched it at AMC in the ETX 3D. I'm not a big fan of 3D I think it’s a waste of money, but Transformers is awesome in 3D and I plan on watching it again in IMAX 3D.

The movie has everything a girl could ask for: laughs, action, comedy, romance and let's not forget the eye candy: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel and Patrick Dempsey. And of course I can't leave out the guy's new eye candy: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She's pretty, has an accent, and a rocking body that most men will like. (Reel Rhino Note: I concur.) So even though Megan Fox is no longer here for the men to ogle and drool over, you have a new object for your affection. Not to mention her acting isn't terrible. I mean come on, I'm a fan of Megan Fox but she was just a pretty face to look at in the last two movies.

You have new Autobots and new Decepticons that show up just like the last movie. I'm all about the Autobots, but there are some pretty bad ass Decepticons in this one. (Even Tyrese Gibson's character mentions in the movie about how the Decepticons always get the good stuff.)

My favorite of course is still BumbleBee, he has a special place in my heart. But I do enjoy the one liners from Wheelie and his new sidekick Brains. (I love his robotic hair!)

I'm not an expert on all things Transformers; I've watched the movies and even some of the original TV show. I was not disappointed by this final (?) installment of this franchise.

Given a few tiny editing mistakes I noticed and the fact the movie was almost 3 hours, I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The movie may not be what everyone wants it to be or hopes it to be, but for me it didn't leave me hanging and it sure didn't disappoint.

Until next time, Dani California

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Thanks Dani!  Until later, Reel Rhino OUT!

(Happy 4th of July to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT)