The Dog Days of Summer -- at the Movies . . .

We usually think of the 'dog days of summer' as referring to the hot, humid weather.  However, I'm thinking of two movie dogs -- 'Jurassic World' and 'Magic Mike XXL' -- this summer.  They both fall somewhere on the quality scale from merely mediocre to perfectly dreadful.

'Jurassic World'
The latest movie in the 'Jurassic' series that started with Steven Spielberg's 'Jurassic Park' based on a Michael Crichton novel.  Spielberg directed the first two movies in the series and moved on to producing the third and fourth (this one) installments.  Crichton wisely left the building after the first two.

Banner for 'Jurassic World'

Despite setting box office records, 'Jurassic World' is mediocre at best.  It's burdened with too many villains, too many species of dinosaurs and a very confusing plot.  Chris Pratt is actually quite good as the velociraptor whisperer, but Bryce Dallas Howard is totally unconvincing as the operations manager of the new theme park, Jurassic World, and the indifferent aunt of two young troublemakers.  The failure to provide a coherent sense of organization for the Jurassic World enterprise leaves the viewer in a complete fog regarding who's working in what capacity for whom.  Ultimately, the dinosaurs seem to be in charge while the humans struggle for power (maybe it's a metaphor for our government in Washington).

In any event, the special effects are all-powerful.  Spring for the IMAX and 3D if you're into that sort of thing.  Otherwise, just stay out of the multiplex or pick a really hot, humid day and go for the air-conditioning.

'Magic Mike XXL'
'Magic Mike XXL' is the sequel to 'Magic Mike', the 2012 movie about a band of male strippers that was saved by Matthew McConaughey's savvy, sleazy performance as the leader of the group of 'male entertainers' in Tampa, FL. 

Banner for 'Magic Mike XXL'.

The sequel has a salacious title, but little more to recommend it.  The script is virtually incoherent, jumping from scene to scene with no apparent logic.  It strains to find situations for its male 'entertainers' to strip and while those bodies are sometimes beautiful they are seldom photographed with adequate or interesting lighting.  Channing Tatum, wasted in the title role, seems to be working out some unexplained and uninteresting grudges with the other strippers.

Jada Pickett Smith, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Banks and Amber Heard play (with varying degrees of success) the women the guys meet on their way to an annual male strippers convention in Myrtle Beach, where they supposedly rock the rafters.  It's loud and flashy and dull and exploitative.  Don't even go to this one for the air conditioning.

Thoughts on the movie 'Foxcatcher'

We went to see the movie 'Foxcatcher' on a recent afternoon.  The movie is directed by Bennett Miller (who won the Palm d'Or at Cannes for best direction) from a script written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman.  It stars Steve Carell as John Eleuthere du Pont, Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz, Mark Ruffalo as David Schultz, and Vanessa Redgrave as Jean Liseter Austin du Pont.

The poster for 'Foxcatcher'

This is a seriously weird movie.  John du Pont, a descendant of the du Pont Chemical family, is portrayed as an arrogant nut job who decides to devote his life and fortune to the U.S.A. wrestling team as it prepares for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.  He befriends Mark Schultz a wrestler who won a gold medal winner at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and convinces him to come to the du Pont family's Foxcatcher Farm to train.  John also tries to persuade Mark's older brother, David, also an Olympic medalist to come to Foxcatcher, but David initially rejects the offer.  David is married and has two children.  He has basically raised Mark after their parents divorced when Mark was just two years old.

John has issues with his mother.  He counters her love of thoroughbred horses with his devotion to wrestling, which she feels is 'low'.  John also has an unhealthy interest in law enforcement and weapons.

The movie is basically a love triangle between John and Mark and David.  The homoerotic undertones run throughout the story mostly in the form of men wrestling.  John tries to supplant David in Mark's life -- offering him money and cocaine as well as friendship and guidance.  When David finally comes to Foxcatcher, John and David vie for Mark's affection while Mark tries to sort out his confused feelings for them.

Steve Carell's bizarre performance, complete with prosthetic facial transformation, will surely net him an Oscar nomination (the Academy has a thing for fake noses).  For me, the more engaging performance is Mark Ruffalo's as David.  Although Vanessa Redgrave has very few scenes, she is vivid as John's mother.  Channing Tatum in the central role of the hapless Mark is a cipher -- probably intentionally malleable and unformed. 

'22 Jump Street'

This past weekend, we erroneously helped '22 Jump Street' secure second place in the weekend box office standings.  It is definitely not that good.  I'd give it about 40% -- based on the first half being really dull and second half being quite hilarious.  When the two undercover cops -- Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum -- get to Spring Break in Florida, the movie really takes off on some funny chase scenes.  But getting there is pretty boring.  Misunderstandings about their sexuality, 'couples' therapy, coed dorms, prying roommates, and other cliches land in an unfunny, unsubtle, uninteresting mess.  Maybe you can go to another movie at the multiplex and then sneak in for the last half -- you'd definitely get a better impression and not miss much of significance.

Poster for '22 Jump Street'