5.12.2016

The Family Fang - Review

R | 1h 45min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Review - Matt Mungle

*In select theaters including the Angelika Dallas on May 13th*

SynopsisA brother and sister return to their family home in search of their world famous parents who have disappeared.

Review: THE FAMILY FANG is a quirky comedy that aspires, even from the look of the poster, to be a Wes Anderson-esque piece. Those are lofty goals for sure and in no way would I compare the two. That said this one has elements of grandness which is birthed from a solid, adapted screenplay. If you like odd ball characters this one has them for sure. 

Annie (Nicole Kidman) and Baxter (Jason Bateman) Fang are adult siblings trying to escape the shadow of their adventurous and avant-garde, film making parents (Christopher Walken/Maryann Plunkett). They were raised in a world of experimental art and the legacy is hard to escape. Annie is an actress in her own right and Baxter is just trying to find his path in life. When the parents disappear Annie and Baxter have to wonder if this is just another of their elaborate plots to create art or if they are truly in trouble. This mystery is where the fun begins. 

Some of the best moments in the film are in the flashback segments when we get a glimpse into the eclectic world in which Annie and Baxter grew up. They were literally thrown into situations and filmed for the benefit of art. Their parents loved to capture the real human emotion of those around them who are not in on the bit. Again these scenes are the most fun to watch. It makes you wonder if having parents like that would be the greatest thing in the world or the worst. 

The cast is fabulous and perfectly chosen. Bateman is always great at playing the abused victim trying to navigate a world set against him. Kidman is smart and can turn from flirtatious to spastic on a dime. Together they create believable fictional siblings and ones that mimic their younger counterparts.

THE FAMILY FANG is rated R for some language. It is an adult comedy but nothing about is is crude or overtly offensive. Art house fil lovers and fans of the offbeat will love this one. I give it 3.5 out of 5 potato guns. Memorable story and cast.

5.10.2016

The Divergent Series: Allegiant Arrives On Digital HD 6/21 and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD 7/12

Go Beyond the Wall with Shailene Woodley and Theo James
in the Hit Film Based on the Worldwide Best-selling Franchise

Launches on Digital HD on June 21
and 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack & DVD on July 12

Directed by Robert Schwentke (The Divergent Series: Insurgent), written for the screen by Noah Oppenheim (The Maze Runner) and Adam Cooper (Exodus: Gods and Kings) & Bill Collage (Exodus: Gods and Kings), and based on the novel by Veronica Roth, The Divergent Series: Allegiant stars Golden Globe® nominee Shailene Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars) and Theo James (Underworld: Awakening) as Tris and Four, alongside Jeff Daniels (The Martian), Miles Teller (Whiplash), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars), Zoë Kravitz (Mad Max: Fury Road), Maggie Q (TV’s “Nikita”), Ray Stevenson (The Book of Eli), Bill Skarsgård (TV’s “Hemlock Grove”) with Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress, The Help, 2011) and two-time Best Actress Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts (21 Grams, 2003; The Impossible, 2012).
In this third exciting film in The Divergent Series, Tris and Four lead a team of rebels in a daring escape over the city wall—into a strange new world where they face a threat more dangerous than they ever imagined. Together, Tris and Four wage a furious battle for survival, fighting not only for their factions and loved ones, but for the future of an entire city in this dynamic, action-packed adventure.

BLU-RAY/ DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES*
§  Audio Commentary with Producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher
§  Six Featurettes:
o   Allegiant: Book to Film 
o   Battle in the Bullfrog: The Stunts and Choreography Behind This Thrilling Sequence 
o   Finding the Future: Effects & Technology 
o   Characters in Conflict: The Motivations Behind the Film’s Antagonists 
o   The Next Chapter: Cast & Characters 
o   Building the Bureau

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*
§  Audio Commentary with producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher
§  Two Featurettes:
o   Allegiant: Book to Film 
o   Battle in the Bullfrog: The Stunts and Choreography Behind This Thrilling Sequence 
*Subject to change