George Carlin: Life Is Worth Losing (2006)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rocco Urbisci

Cast: George Carlin

Time: 75 minutes

As he started this 13th HBO special of his, recorded live from the Beacon Theatre, George Carlin was 341 days sober and celebrating his 50th year in show-business. In spite of the fact that he was getting older and that he was sober, the famous comic had lost none of his edge. As a matter of fact, he started this show with his Modern Man bit, that is a marvel of a piece. To memorize that thing and to deliver it with that kind of panache and rhythm is a wonderful thing. Then Carlin discusses such topics as suicide, the Dumb Americans, hopeless people, autoerotic asphyxiation and yeast infections. It’s plain to see that the man loved difficult topics and he dealt with them without holding back. This show is great, though it is certainly not for the faints of heart.

Rating: «««««

Father of the year (2018)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Tyler Spindel

Cast: David Spade, Nat Faxon, Joey Bragg

Time: 94 minutes

A drunken debate between two best friends about whom between their fathers would win a fight turns bad when one of the two fathers, an unemployed alcoholic living in a trailer park takes the friendly discussion as a challenge.

I went in with very low expectations, and this film still managed to disappoint me. There were a few chuckles here and there, but, overall, this was a very unfunny comedy. David Spade has come a long way to fall this low.

Rating: ««

The Upside (2019)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Neil Burger

Cast: Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman

Time: 126 minutes

Phillip Lacasse is a wealthy author suffering from quadriplegia after a parasailing accident. Now a widower also, he is living a sheltered life. Phillip decides to hire Dell Scott, a man with a criminal record, as his live-in aide. A very unlikely friendship will blossom between the two very different men.

This is an adaptation of the French film called “Les Intouchables”, which is based on a true story. While it is not quite equal to the original, this film is well done. They did a good job Americanizing the story without diluting it. The acting is solid, and the two main actors a great chemistry together on screen. I laughed, I smiled and held back a few tears. That’s all you can hope for with a movie like this one: To be entertained and to get emotionally invested while it lasts.

Rating: ««««

Un homme pressé (2018)

Genre: Franco / Comedy / Drama

Réalisateur: Hervé Mimran

Distribution: Fabrice Luchini, Leïla Bekhti, Rebecca Marder

Durée: 100 minutes

Inspiré du livre J'étais un homme pressé : AVC, un grand patron témoigne de Christian Streiff, ce film raconte l’histoire d’Alain, un homme d’affaires dont le travail prend depuis toujours toute la place dans sa vie. Lorsque terrassé par un AVC, il doit faire sa rééducation pour retrouver la parole et la mémoire, avec l’aide de Jeanne.

J’ai vu ce film dans une toute petite salle de cinéma, avec ma femme, durant le congé des Fêtes, et je l’ai trouvé franchement charmant. Quoique le fil de l’histoire soit un tantinet prévisible, le film est merveilleusement porté par Fabrice Luchini et Leïla Bekhti. Les deux campent si brillamment leur personnage respectif qu’on y croit et on embarque.

Rating: ««««

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Genre: Comedy / Christmas

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Cast: Macaulay Caulkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

Time: 120 minutes

The McCallister family is planning another group vacation for Christmas, this time to Miami. They have to rush again in the morning because they overslept, but, unlike the previous year, they don’t forget little Kevin at home. Unfortunately, Kevin gets confused at the airport and ends up travelling to New York on his own. In The Big Apple, Kevin will again encounter the crooks from the first movie, Harry and Marv, after they escape from prison during a riot.

This sequel feels like a rehash of the first, with barely enough changes to make it not a total repeat. There is some funny business and some touching moments. Culkin was really good for a kid his age. But, this sequel sure is not as good as the original.

Rating: «««