Comedy

Reviews

Villains Inc.

After watching kids have a ball with subversive superhero fodder like Megamind, The Bad Guys, and the Despicable Me franchise, older audiences finally get to have their fun with Villains Inc.  But instead of assuming that adults want another frenetic flick with balls-to-the-wall violence and a four-to-twelve-letter colourful dialect (ala Kick-Ass and its sequel), Villains Inc. works within a more patient element with organic wit while outrageous characters build charismatic rhythms.

Reviews

Wicked Little Letters

The scandal at the centre of Britain’s dark comedy Wicked Little Letters – mail addressed from an anonymous source that uses risqué language – seems petty in comparison to the waves of crime procedurals at-home audiences educate themselves on weekly. But as naïve as the crime may appear to be, the controversy spoke to the times and ignited much needed awareness around inequality.

Reviews

Mean Girls

Nearly 20 years after its initial release, a different rendition of Mean Girls – the cult teen flick penned by and co-starring Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey – tries to make as much of an impact as its predecessor did.

Reviews

Suze

With only two features under their belt, married filmmakers Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart have demonstrated that a story can be singlehandedly developed on a unique and personal dynamic between two characters. While their debut indie I Put A Hit On You may have fizzled after liftoff, their sophomore effort Suze shows growth in all the right areas; resulting in an absolute crowd-pleasing charmer.

Reviews

Hundreds of Beavers

The comic insanity and absurdity of Hundreds of Beavers suggests that Mike Cheslik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, who last collaborated together on Lake Michigan Monster, are brimming with glee when making movies.  With Cheslik directing, Tews starring, and both taking on writing duties, Hundreds of Beavers is a bonafide bonanza of hilarity that perfectly displays the comedic stylings of this trailblazing duo.

Reviews

Mean Girls

A movie based on a Broadway musical that is, in turn, based on a two-decade old cult classic teen comedy doesn’t exactly read like a recipe for cinematic success.  The original Mean Girls, released in 2004, was directed by Mark Waters (2003’s Freaky Friday, Just Like Heaven) and featured performances from some of the biggest teen stars of the early aught’s — including Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried.  It was an instant hit,…

Reviews

The Sweet East

The Sweet East is a coming-of-age tale told by unreliable narrators (screenwriter Nick Pinkerton and director Sean Price Williams, making audacious feature debuts), and centred around a conceited anti-hero with a personality disorder. Your feelings towards that concept alone will reflect how you will react to the film itself. You can try giving it the benefit of the doubt if you’re already feeling irritated, but I’m afraid your efforts will all be for naught.