Reign Over Me (2007)

Cast - Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle


Genre -  Drama


Rating - 7.5/10


This film first interested me when looking online under a list of movie entitled 'Movies You Have to Watch Before You Die'. I then came to realise that one of the films protagonists was 'Adam Sandler' and I had become a big fan of this actor after seeing his amazing performance in 'Funny People' (2009). 


Plot


Alan Johnson, played by Don Cheadle, reignites with his old college room mate, Charlie Fineman , played by Adam Sandler. As their friendship develops Alan soon finds out the full extent of Charlie's suffering after his family were killed by a plane crash. 


The plot develops as Charlie faces more mental challenges and overcomes them with the help of his old friend. 

Verdict


Overall a charming, down-to-earth drama with a true insight in how people deal with loss and grief and how, with the help of their friends, they can overcome this and the challenges it brings. 


The film is remarkably moving but at times it lacks direction. This is because it is not made up of vast amounts of dramatic events occurring throughout which makes the audience wonder if anything is actually going to happen,  which is doesn't. On the other hand this is made up for through the high amounts of character development used through the clever use of camera angles and dialogue between the two protagonists. 


Also by the film focusing on only two characters it allows the audience to connect with them and almost feel as if they are involved in their lives. This also represents a clear message of friendship and how friends can help each other to deal with everyday issues and challenges that occur on a day-to-day basis. 


A truly inspiring drama which, at times, can become a bit boring, but leaves the audience thinking about the issues people must face and how friends can help to overcome these issues. 

Animals United (2010)

Cast - James Corden, Dawn French, Stephen Fry

Genre – Animation, Family

Rating – 3/10

Only watch this if you have children who are entertained by vast amounts of badly animated animals including a vegetarian lion and a polar bear and a rooster living in Africa. 

Plot

The film is set in Africa and is about a group of animals whose lives are threatened when a water shortage occurs. A lone meerkat firstly finds out that the water shortage is down to a hotel which has been developed close to their habitat. He soon informs the rest of the animals who go on a quest to resolve this issue and on the way they face a hunter, a murderous puma and a money obsessed businessman.

Verdict

A very disappointing film. The film lacks any realism throughout because of the hunter trying to kill animals with a missile, a monkey flying a plane and a rooster and an elephant flirting with each other. The film has far too many characters which results in no character development occurring. The humour during the film is very childish which involves bees eating people’s clothes and an unknown animal with really bad wind.  The film also has far too many unnecessary storylines which makes the film far too long for its general plotline. The ending of the film is very unrealistic and unnecessary and does not really contribute to the message that the film is trying to put across. A film with very poor animation which tries too hard to be funny and interesting and does not match up to other children's classics such as Shrek or Ice Age.   

No Strings Attached (2011)

Cast - Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman

Genre – Comedy, Romance

Rating – 7/10

When I first came across this film I was encouraged to watch it because Natalie Portman was one of the protagonists who I had come to admire since watching ‘Black Swan’ where she really showed the true extent of her acting skills.

Plot Outline

The film revolves around Adam, played by Ashton Kutcher, and Emma, played by Natalie Portman. Adam and Emma meet and have a relationship entirely based on sex. They come to this arrangement because Emma works in a hospital which therefore means she works long hours and does not have time for a relationship. Also Emma has commitment issues which were developed from the death of her father and strongly believes that she will not get hurt if she is not in a relationship. Adam is in this relationship because he really likes Emma and at the end of the day sex is sex.

Their relationship is going well until Adam starts to fall in love with Emma which results in her getting scared and ending their so called relationship. They both try and move on resulting in Emma not being able to cope without Adam. But will she her commitment issues get in the way of her happiness?

Verdict

Overall a very entertaining film with some funny moments. The acting of both of the protagonists contributes vastly to the style and the comedy aspect of the film which also results in the audience being drawn in and encouraged to watch on. The acting skills also allows for character development to occur throughout the film which allows most audiences to relate to the characters. A down-to-earth comedy which focuses on relationship issues that many people face depending on their careers and experiences. Generally entertaining and a great watch for a night in.