Hunt for the Wilderpeople

CHASE ***1/2
I'm not exactly sure why this is, but I absolutely loved "Hunt for the Wilderpeople."  Set in New Zealand, the film tells the story of a manhunt as a foster kid and his foster uncle are in the wilderness running from the police.  This movie is absolutely hilarious.  I can only think of a few comedies that made me laugh as hard and as consistently as this did.  Not only that, I thought the characters were relatable and extremely memorable.  I feel like that I really got to know each one of them.  It's one of those films that really grabbed me from the very beginning to the very end.  However, the only thing that's pulling me back is that while it can be really funny, I thought there were a few moments where it went a little bit over the top, even by its standards.  But overall, I absolutely loved this movie and I think a lot of people should check it out.  It's amazing.

BRYCE ***1/2
LANDON ***
LOGAN ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Fences

BRYCE **1/2
Denzel Washington brings August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play to the big screen in "Fences," his third effort in the director's chair.  The film stars Washington and Viola Davis, two of my favorite actors, who predictably turn in tremendous performances (hopefully netting an Academy Award for Davis in yet another Oscar-worthy role).  Their presence and chemistry on screen really elevate what is otherwise a pretty static experience.  I've seen a few plays adapted into movies over the years and while some are able to expand upon the limitations of the stage, others feel like a taped performance of the play itself.  "Fences" falls in the latter category.  It doesn't feel very cinematic at all.  The fixed camera work and projected dialogue really took me out of the movie in a few instances.  Fortunately, the characters were engaging and well-written enough to keep me interested until the end.  Somewhat of a disappointment for sure, but may be worth seeing for the performances alone.

CHASE **1/2
LOGAN ***

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Passengers

LANDON **1/2
For the first half-hour or so, I was completely floored by "Passengers."  The premise felt very similar to the brilliant "Cast Away."  Chris Pratt wakes 90 years too early from his hibernation pod and is left by himself on a massive expedition to a new planet.  This entire segment is funny, emotional and terrifically acted by Chris Pratt.  The minute Jennifer Lawrence comes on screen however, the narrative turns from engaging and interesting to boring and corny.  It's not Jennifer Lawrence's fault.  In fact, she gives a great performance here as well.  It's the notion of introducing a great concept and then suddenly shifting gears towards a new direction.  Granted, it does this all with breathtaking visuals and a fantastic score by Thomas Newman.  But one can't help but feel that behind all the clichés and dullness, there is a much more fascinating story to be told here.

CHASE **1/2
I actually think, without giving too much away, that how Jennifer Lawrence came into the picture is a great idea of moving the story forward.  I did like a lot of the second act even though it's not as interesting as the opening.  For me, the real problem is when we get to the third act.  I could feel the movie losing momentum.  It just seems like the story got less interesting as the it went along.  It's a shame that happens because I know there is great talent behind it.  But overall, I found "Passengers" a bit disappointing.

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2