Hot Pursuit
Warner Brothers
Rated PG-13 for sexuality, profanity, violence and drug use
Cop And Mob Widow Make Unlikely Bedfellows In Rollicking Road Comedy
Vincente Cortez (Joaquin Cosio) has orchestrated over a hundred hits as the notorious kingpin of a drug cartel terrorizing Texas. However, he’s always beaten the rap, because the prime witnesses invariably disappear mysteriously before they have a chance to testify.
Therefore, the authorities decide to take special precautions with the Rivas, the Cortez confederates set to turn state’s evidence in the latest case against him. But then, when the police escort arrives to place them in the Witness Protection Program, the husband perishes in an ambush, while his widow Daniella (Sofia Vergara) and a policewoman (Reese Witherspoon) barely escape with their lives in a hail of bullets.
As the two drive away in the Rivas’ classic Cadillac convertible, they figure out that they’ve been targeted not only by vicious mobsters but by crooked cops to boot. So, with no one but each other to lean on, the officer and outlaw grudgingly join forces to survive the drive to a safe sanctuary in Dallas.
Of course, sharing space proves easier said than done, given how they’re polar opposites in almost every way. Daniella is a striking, statuesque chatterbox as compared to Cooper’s relatively plain, diminutive and straitlaced presence. Nevertheless, the pair gradually bond over the course of a rollicking road trip where they have a close brush with death every five miles or so.
Directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal), Hot Pursuit is a mindless diversion chock-full of the staples of the unlikely-buddies genre, like car chases, and accidental drug use. Though the action romp fails to break cinematic ground, it certainly provides enough laughs to recommend, most coming courtesy of the over-enunciating, larger-than-life Vergara at the expense of co-star Witherspoon in her capacity as a straight man.
Sofia successfully stakes her claim as the heir apparent of Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda. All she needs now is a fruit-filled sombrero.
Very Good (3 stars)
In English and Spanish with subtitles
Running time: 87 minutes
Welcome To Me
Alchemy
Rated R for sexuality, profanity, graphic nudity and brief drug use
Lottery Winner Hosts TV Talk Show In Droll Character-Driven Dramedy
Let’s say you’re a diehard Oprah fan who has always wanted nothing more than to have your own television series just like your idol’s. What would you do if you hit it big in the lottery and suddenly had the money to turn that dream into a reality?
That’s precisely the quandary confronting Alice Klieg (Kristen Wiig) when she has the good fortune to win $86 million in the California Stacks Sweepstakes. Trouble is she’s also a manic-depressive suffering from bipolar disorder who deludes herself into believing she no longer needs drugs now that she’s rich.
So, she informs her shrink (Tim Robbins) that she’s going off her meds before offering him a bribe to give her a clean bill of health. Next, she approaches the general manager (James Marsden) of a TV station specializing in infomercials about buying air time for the talk show about herself she hopes to host.
Concerned only about his struggling network’s bottom line, Rich gives his okay as soon as Alice comes up with the $15 million needed to underwrite the project. His brother/business partner (Wes Bentley) is less enthusiastic about taking advantage of the reckless mental patient until she unleashes her powers of seduction in his direction.
Alice appropriately names the program “Welcome To Me,” since she’s the topic of every episode. The themes range wildly, featuring titles like “Jordana Spangler – A Liar,” “Matching Colors To Emotions,” “Lucky Foods,” “I Can Still Smell You,” and “Regulating Your Moods With A High-Protein Diet.” All they have in common is that they invariably focus on some aspect of the narcissistic emcee’s life.
The emotional exhibitionist proves compelling enough to improve ratings and is allowed to self-destruct in front of couch potatoes who just can’t get enough Alice whether she’s nattering on about her orgasms or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But with a burn-rate of $150,000 per episode, it’s obvious that she’s in for a devastating crash-landing, eventually.
Directed by Shira Piven (Jeremy’s sister), Welcome To Me is a droll character-driven dramedy tailor-made for the tongue-in-cheek comedy style of Kristen Wiig. Alternately vulnerable and bizarre, but always endearing, the Saturday Night Live alum enjoys her best outing since Bridesmaids, here, as an anguished soul allowed, against her better judgment, to purchase a terribly-embarrassing, 15 minutes of fame.
Kudos to Kristen for baring herself, literally and figuratively, in deliverance of a poignant performance which could very easily have degenerated into the sort of slapstick she did on SNL.
Excellent (4 stars)
Running time: 87 minutes
OPENING THIS WEEK
Kam’s Kapsules:
For movies opening May 8, 2015
5 Flights Up (PG-13 for profanity and naked images) Slice-of-life drama, set in Brooklyn, revolving around the trial and tribulations of a retired couple (Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton) being pressured by their niece (Cynthia Nixon) to sell the rundown home they’ve shared for the past 40 years. With Carrie Preston, Miriam Shor and Alysia Reiner.
1001 Grams (Unrated) Poignant character study about a nerdy Norwegian (Ane Dahl Torp) who is shaken out of her comfort zone after crossing paths with a fellow scientist (Laurent Stocker) while attending a seminar in Paris. Cast includes Stein Winge, Hildegun Riise and Didier Flamand. (In Norwegian, French and English with subtitles)
The D Train (R for nudity, graphic sexuality, profanity and drug use) Unlikely-buddies comedy about a social zero’s (Jack Black) desperate attempt to convince his high school’s boy most likely (James Marsden) to attend their 20th reunion. With Kathryn Hahn, Jeffrey Tambor and Russell Posner.
Hunting Elephants (Unrated) Israeli crime comedy, set in Jerusalem, about a trio of revenge-minded retirees (Sasson Gabai, Patrick Stewart and Moni Moshonov) who hatch a plan to rob a bank with the help of a precocious 12-year-old (Gil blank). Support cast includes Yael Abecassis, Tzvika Hadar and Moshe Ivgy. (In Hebrew and English with subtitles)
I Am Big Bird (Unrated) Reverential retrospective covering the enduring career of Carroll Spinney, the 81-year-old puppeteer who has played Big Bird on Sesame Street since 1969. Featuring commentary by Frank Oz, Sonia Manzano and the late Jim Henson.
Maggie (PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and disturbing images) Abigail Breslin stars as the title character in this post-apocalyptic thriller, set in the Midwest, as an ill-fated teen whose dad (Arnold Schwarzennegger) stands by her side after she’s infected with the deadly virus sweeping the nation that slowly turns its victims into cannibalistic zombies. Cast includes Joely Richardson, Laura Cayouette and Denise Williamson.
Noble (PG-13 for violence, sexuality and mature themes) Deidre O’Kane handles the title role in this biopic about Christina Noble, the Irish spinster who, in 1989, founded an orphanage in Vietnam for hundreds of homeless kids roaming the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. With Sarah Greene, Gloria Cramer Curtis and Brendan Coyle.
Piku (Unrated) Deepika Padukone plays the tile character in this dysfunctional family drama, set in West Bengal, about an unmarried architect burdened by having to juggle her career and the demands of her hypochondriacal father (Irrfan Khan) Featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Moushumi Chatterjee and Raghuvir Yadav. (In Hindi with subtitles)
Playing It Cool (R for profanity and sexuality) Romantic comedy revolving around a perennial loser at love (Chris Evans) who finally meets the woman of his dreams (Michelle Monaghan) only to learn that she’s already engaged to be married. Supporting cast includes Luke Wilson, Aubrey Plaza, Topher Grace and Ioan Gruffudd.
Preggoland (Unrated) Midlife-crisis dramedy about a 35-year-old single woman (Sonja Bennett) who pretends to be pregnant in order to fit in with girlfriends who are already mothers. Co-starring Laura Harris, James Caan, Danny Trejo and Lisa Durupt.
Saint Laurent (R for frontal nudity, graphic sexuality, profanity and pervasive substance abuse) Warts and all biopic chronicling the turbulence in the life of Yves Saint Laurent (Gaspard Ulliel) during the decadent decade (1967-1976) when the French fashion icon was at the peak of his career. With Jeremie Renier, Louis Garrel and Lea Seydoux. (In French and English with subtitles)
The Seven Five (R for pervasive profanity, grisly images and drug use) Cop gone bad documentary about Michael Dowd, the rogue NYPD officer who robbed drug dealers of cocaine and hundreds of thousands of dollars during a 12-year reign of terror that started in the late ’80s.
Skin Trade (R for nudity, profanity, drug use, pervasive violence and disturbing sexuality) Revenge-fueled action thriller about a NYPD detective (Dolph Lundgren) who ventures to Bangkok to track down the mobster (Ron Perlman) who murdered his wife (Tasya Teles) and young daughter (Chloe Babcook). Featuring Michael Jai White, Tony Jaa and Celina Jade.
