The Way Way Back

Good, solid comedies are becoming less and less common in today's Hollywood.  Most of the minutia that floods the genre today are either extremely vulgar or extremely stupid (oftentimes both).  Which is what makes "The Way Way Back" so refreshing. This is a feel-good coming-of-age story packed with legitimate laughs and its fair share of heart.  Sam Rockwell stands out in a hilarious supporting role that completely steals the show.  The entire film hinged on the success and believability of his character and he nailed it.  The film as a whole is a bit raunchy at times but most of the laughs are well-earned.  While not spectacular by any means, "The Way Way Back" is a great watch if you're in the mood for a good laugh.

Bryce ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Saving Mr. Banks

In a somewhat paradoxical and self-important move, Disney has managed to make a movie about the making of a Disney movie.  "Saving Mr. Banks" is the story of the adaptation of P.L. Travers' "Mary Poppins" from book to film and it just so happens to be really good.  Emma Thompson is great as the cranky author who is so reluctant to give up her story and characters to mega-mogul Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) for fear of the spirit of her books being lost on film.  It can be a bit sappy and heavy-handed at times, but overall, "Saving Mr. Banks" is a compelling study of how the life experiences and personal demons of an artist can heavily influence their art.  This is one of the best films of the year.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***
Landon ***1/2
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Just one year after the release of the first "Hunger Games" film, Jennifer Lawrence and company are back in "Catching Fire."  This second installment is a much more polished and sure-handed film than the original, with improved story-telling, cinematography and special effects.  Lawrence is terrific again in the lead role and continues to cement her place among the elite actresses in the industry.  The movie ends with a maddening cliff-hanger but keeps you enthralled until the final frame.  Despite falling just short of greatness, this second "Hunger Games" film manages to live up to the hype just the same.

Bryce ***
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The second installment of Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy has hit theaters and it's something of a mixed bag.  It has become apparent just how Jackson intends to extend the story from a relatively short adventure tale to a three film epic.  The second movie introduces even more offshoot plot threads than the first entry which sometime add to the overall story but are often just a distraction.  It's still very well made and moves at a much more brisk pace than its predecessor.  Smaug himself is brought to life with tremendous visual effects and voice work and his one-on-one scene with Bilbo is the highlight of the film.  Unlike the previous film, "The Desolation of Smaug" has a very unsatisfying cliff-hanger conclusion to go along with its typical case of middle-chapteritis.  There's a lot to like here, but one can't help but wonder if the originally planned two-part story would have been better.

Bryce **1/2

Chase ***

Landon ***

Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Iron Man 3

Marvel has officially moved into "Phase 2" of their multi-film "Avengers" saga with "Iron Man 3".  This is the fourth time Robert Downy Jr. has portrayed billionaire philanthropist turned superhero Tony Stark and he's as good here as he's ever been.  The humor and charm of the character hasn't worn off but it's really starting to feel like he's spinning his wheels in terms of story arc.  There's only so many of these stories that can be told about this character before he becomes stale and it's starting to get to that point.  These movies are feeling more and more like the comic books that inspire them - a never-ending series of meandering installments with no over-arching story structure.  That being said, this is a decent action movie with enough entertainment value to justify a rental.  However, Marvel needs to find a way to keep these stories fresh or audiences may check out sooner than expected.

Bryce **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

Monsters University

One of Pixar's most beloved films gets a prequel in "Monsters University", a follow-up to the hit 2001 film "Monsters, Inc."  While not quite as fresh as its predecessor, Mike and Sully's new adventure is still wildly creative despite its pretty cliche and formulaic story structure.  The Pixar charm is here in spades and there are plenty of laughs to be had by all.  The new supporting cast of misfits in Mike and Sully's oddball fraternity really steal the show and provide most of the humor.  The film's message about hard work and not taking short cuts in life is as refreshing as it is profound.  It may not break a whole lot of new ground, but "Monsters University" is definitely worthy of the Pixar brand.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Ender's Game

One of the most beloved sci-fi novels of all time finally gets a big screen adaptation in "Ender's Game". Director Gavin Hood nails the look of the film and basically hits all the major story points, but unfortunately fails to capture the spirit of Orson Scott Card's groundbreaking novel. Asa Butterfield ("Hugo") is good as Ender but is limited by a shallow screenplay that only scratches the surface of the story's brutal themes. Those unfamiliar with the source material won't know the difference, but this is not a great film any way you slice it. Overall, a decent effort, but fans of the novel will inevitably pine for what might've been.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2