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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: Great performances, interesting story but we’ve kinda sorta seen it before. Good but too “by-the-numbers” to be great.

Bryan Cranston is a supreme talent. For the most part, it’s his portrayal of Walter White in Breaking Bad that we remember him for. Although his other TV role — as Malcolm’s dad in Malcolm in the Middle — was also an impressive role. In movies, Cranston has taken on bit roles more than anything. Up until last year’s Trumbo — a role which garnered Cranston an Academy Award nomination — Cranston didn’t land too many starring film roles. In The Infiltrator, Cranston is back in the starring role as Robert Mazur and again, Cranston turns in a marvelous performance.Read More →

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If you need to knock off a surprising animated juggernaut, who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters? It’s 2016 and we’re about to find out how far the movie watching public has come with a female twist on a popcorn classic. While it’ll be will they or won’t they take the top spot for Ghostbusters vs. The Secret Life of Pets, Bryan Cranston stars in The Infiltrator which actually released on Wednesday but might struggle to make the top 10 and three platform releases — two with controversy (think Woody Allen and Hillary Clinton) — round out the releases. Here’s MHT’s recommendations on what to see and not see in theaters for the week of July 8th:Read More →

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One of the best movies of 2016 so far — Everybody Wants Some!! — leads the 9-pack of movies headed to DVD this week. Four wide releases are joined by five releases that saw little to no play at the box office. Here are the DVD releases for the week of July 12th:Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: I can see the pitch now. “What if we took Pixar’s Toy Story but replaced toys with pets?” Uninspired, safe and very little for anyone over the age of 14 especially if you don’t own a pet.

If The Secret Life of Pets were a term paper, it would be one of those mid-semester ones written haphazardly with the focus on getting by with at least a C because you want to go out instead of putting in the extra effort to score an A. It almost might get you expelled for plagiarism. The movie will be a hit with kids as there’s plenty to enjoy for younger audiences. They won’t care that it’s a complete rip-off of Toy Story. For adults with pets, it’ll probably have enough to remind you of dear ol’ Tippy that they’ll forgive the lack of a substantial plot or any real emotional tugs. For everyone else, The Secret Life of Pets is likely to leave you feeling like something was missing.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: If you manage to not pay too much attention to the plot, there are laughs to be had. Don’t expect anything special or unique from the story and instead try to enjoy the sketch-like segments that interrupt the simple plot.

Sometimes you have to work with a movie to find enjoyment. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is one of those movies. It has a lot going against it. Some of the funniest parts of the movie are featured in the trailer. The comedy also feels rather derivative as it skims the pond scum from some funnier films. It doesn’t rip them off directly but you’ll feel like you’ve been there before. Despite those strikes, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates finds a way to be entertaining even with some noticeable blemishes.Read More →

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Despite a surprising showing by The Legend of Tarzan, Finding Dory held on to the top spot at the box office for the third consecutive week. While Finding Dory will just keep swimming past Captain America: Civil War for the top spot at the box office in 2016, the tide will turn at the top of the charts as The Secret Life of Pets is all but guaranteed to début at #1. Also, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and two platform releases round out this week’s releases. Here’s MHT’s recommendations on what to see and not see in theaters for the week of July 8th:Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: Most are saying this is the best of the trilogy. Thank goodness I didn’t have to suffer through the first two!

Call me a sucker. I did everything I could to avoid the first two installments of The Purge as neither looked to be more than something to satisfy the average horror fan’s bloodlust hidden in a commentary on America’s future. With all of the talk of how much of an improvement The Purge: Election Year was on its predecessors, I decided to throw caution to the wind (and better judgment) and see a movie that has little appeal to my sensibilities.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: So The Legend of Tarzan wasn’t that bad BUT did we really need another Tarzan story???

Here’s a challenge: Watch The Legend of Tarzan, wait 3 months and try to recall the movie. My guess is you won’t remember anything about it. Here it is about 14 hours since viewing the umpteenth reboot of the Tarzan tale and I can’t remember anything more than a few parts featuring Samuel L. Jackson who plays George Washington Williams.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: We always knew they were coming back with a sequel but after two decades we were kind of hoping they decided against it. What a bore!

As much as I hated the first Independence Day, there was a general campiness and enthusiasm present that elevate the film from bad to shoulder shruggingly okay. It’s actually the reason that super serious speech by Bill Pullman makes my eyes roll while some have the gumption to call it the greatest speech in movie history. (You’re all delusional. Every one of you!) That speech would have worked better in Independence Day: Resurgence.Read More →

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There’s good news and bad news this week regarding DVD releases. First, the good news! There are 15 movies to choose from this week. FIFTEEN! Now, the bad news… this week is about quantity not quality. Don’t believe me? There’s a release starring Steven Seagal and another starring Quentin “Rampage” Jackson. No, they aren’t in the same movie. They have their own! Okay, let’s pull off the Band-Aid! Here are the DVD releases for the week of July 5th:Read More →