"Monster House (2006)"

PG           91min           2006

“Monster House” is the tale of the haunted house on the street. When D.J. kills his neighbor Mr. Nebbercracker he comes back to get revenge by inhabiting his house. Now D.J., his best friend Chowder, and a girl scout Jenny must prove the house is really haunted and exorcize Mr. Nebbercracker.

Everyone has known about the haunted house in their neighborhood. “Monster House” takes this tale and turns it on its head. This movie is fun and entertaining and keeps you laughing using funny situations. When Jenny enters the headquarters for the first time, her observations will have you laughing. Although the story goes out there you still take the trip. The big name talent didn’t over shadow this movie.

“Monster House” is about-facing your fears of the unknown based around a haunted house. The three main characters are in that awkward phase just before puberty, Facing growing up and losing that innocence.

These characters keep you watching because you want to know what there going to do next. The situations that they get into are funny and keep the plot moving; even when the story goes into left field you want to go along for the ride. Everyone has known something scary. These kids face their fear in the form of haunted house and decide to face it, destroy it and along the way forming a tripod of friendship.

Monster House had the voicing talents of Kevin James, Nick Cannon, Jason Lee, Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s the Voicing talents of the three unknown children stars that shine in this film. They imbue the character with the emotions and flare that you see on the screen. Some of this be name talent was wasted on the character and they didn’t out shine the three stars. When you figure out the voice behind the character its like finding a great prize in the “Cracker Jacks” box.

Overall Monster House is a great film because it’s funny and entertaining. The has a nice story about friendship, growing up and facing your fears. The “Hollywood” talent in this film doesn’t out shine the unknown actors and is a treat when you figure them out. It has something for everyone, young or old.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Cars (2006)"

G           116min           2006

“Cars” is an animated movie where the cars talk and have distinct personalities. When a up an coming arrogant racecar gets lost in Midwest American, he finds something that has been missing in his life.

Voiced by some of Hollywood’s top talent, a new marketing ploy from film companies, it an interesting story that I didn’t find interesting. The best draw for me was Mader voiced by Larry ”The Cable Guy”, and he was under used. The subject matter was a little to head for them and was done better by several live action films. This movie was totally geared to children with its bright and colorful cars.

Half the funny of these animation movies is not looking at any publicity, so that when I watching it I can figure out the voice behind the characters. Even with the voicing talents of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, and Larry “The Cable Guy” could keep me interested. I felt that the performances were hollow, that they weren’t the cars by just voicing them. I didn’t feel the emotion in the voice that should have accompanied the action on the screen. But Larry ”The Cable Guy” did shine as the dim-witted “Mader”

This movie’s subject matter was a little thin for adults and the cars distracted the children from a boring movie. “Days of Thunder” is a much better live action version of “Cars. It just didn’t work for me and it can’t be blamed on me not being the demographic because I absolutely loved “Monster House” and “Over the Hedge”.

“Cars” was geared to kids using bright and colorful cars; as the title implies they were the movie. Made specifically to market something to children. This was made to make children want everything “Cars, toy cars, birthday cakes, and merchandise galore. This was made to be a money making machine.

Cars should have been a live action film. It has a thin plot gear to children not for the purpose of entertainment but for the “envy” of all. It had a weak plot and the voice acting was hollow. Other animation this year out shined this film.

I give it a 2/5 Gs.

"John Tucker Must Die"

Jesse Metclafe
Brittany Snow
Ashanti
Sophia Bush
Arielle Kebbel
Penn Badgley

PG13          89min           2006

When a High School serial cheater’s three girlfriends find out they aren’t the only one… they get even. Enlisting the help of innocent new student Kate Spencer. They plot the downfall of John Tucker in “John Tucker Must Die”.

John Tucker is a funny teen comedy, Formulaic in plot. It’s like other teen comedies and it plays that way. Great school location. Where it shines in that it boasts some of Hollywood’s young talent.

Everyone knows that high school “player” the guy with the stable of women, Jesse Metcalfe, of Desperate Housewives fame, plays him to a tee. Anything that his scorned beauties, played by Sophie Bush (One Tree Hill), Arielle Kebbel (The Grudge 2) and R&B singer, Ashanti, throw at him, he rolls with the punches. These ladies enlist Kate, a shy new student to the school, played by Brittany Snow (American Dream).

The things that they put him through are funny and hilarious. It keeps you laughing. Then you wonder as beautiful as these women are…”Why are they jealous of John Tucker when the quartet could have the rest of the males at their feet”. Queens dethrone John’s kingdom.

Penn Badgley as Scott ”The Other Tucker” was severely under used. A surprise cameo by Jenny McCarthy is one the peaks of this film. The highlight of the film that you will debate with your friends is the thong scene.

I gave it a 2/5 Gs.