Weekend Reviews Episode #8

By Adam Ray Palmer

This feature does exactly what it says in the title. Some reviews of films, from over the weekend – basically.
 
No matter the genre, nor the year… I basically watch a streaming service, or a DVD, and do a little bite-sized reviews for you to agree or disagree to.

Out of the three, let me know which film you prefer!

I GIVE IT A YEAR
Writer and director Dan Mazer (one of the minds behind Bruno and Borat with Sacha Baron Cohen) brought to the world back in 2013 his feature film debut, I Give It A Year. The film follows newlywed couple Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) who are deliriously happy despite their differences, though friends and family aren't convinced that they can last. With their first anniversary approaching and attractive alternatives in the mix, things begin to unravel.
 
As a comedy flick goes, it’s decent. It’s a straight-forward, down the middle, amusing movie. It gets very cliched and very farfetched at times, but some standalone sequences save it. Danny’s (Stephen Merchant) best man speech alone has many belly laughs throughout, but these scenes are too few and far between. This film is a good Sunday afternoon watch.
 
Cineroom’s rating: 3 stars

SUBURBICON
Suburbicon has the make up of a classic. Starring the illustrious Matt Damon, Julianne More and Oscar Isaac with a production team of the Cohen Brothers (writers) and George Clooney (director); the movie is geared towards critical acclaim. But for me, similarly to I Give It A Year although in very different lanes, Suburbicon is very much an average movie, with great scenes but a laboured script at times.
 
The plot revolves around a 1950s suburban community that self-destructs when a home invasion has sinister consequences for one seemingly normal family. There’s a backdrop of racial tension with a foreground of insane violence. But there’s one thing that is impressive for the movie… we know everything that is going to happen as it is predictable, but it still comes across entertaining as the narrative untangles. I think without the trio helming this project, it would have easily been a missable movie.
 
Cineroom’s rating: 3 stars

POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING
Adam Samberg is just simply funny. And so, when he writes a mockumentary with his mates and has cameos from Hollywood’s elite, you know you’re in for an amusing ride. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping follows once music sensation Conner, whose second solo album becomes a failure, critically and with fans alike. So the former boy band member decides to do everything in his power to maintain his celebrity status.
 
I have always been a fan of mockumentaries since growing up with The Office as a blueprint, and Samberg enters a decent offering into that category with Popstar. Thanks to his SNL days, he knows exactly what works and how to put together a string of skits to make an entire movie out of them. In addition to his comedic work out of song, his music videos and performing scenes are hilarious in equal measure too. The film knows exactly what it wants to achieve, and it just about does.
 
Cineroom’s rating: 4 stars