Mr. Right (2015)

Martha (Kendrick) is frustrated with relationships.  But then she meets Mr. Right (Rockwell).  He asks her out moments after meeting and she accepts.  They spend the rest of the day together and seem like a perfect fit.  The next day she learns that he is a killer.  He is a hitman with a twisted code: he kills the people that hire him because killing is wrong.  He is being hunted by Hopper (Roth) and a team of local cops.

Meanwhile, aspiring crime lord Von Cartigan (Ransone) is trying to find a way to get rid of his older brother Richard (Mount).  With the help of his friend Johnny Moon (Eklund), they convince Richard to hire Mr. Right to kill a rival.  With criminals and cops looking for him, can Mr. Right prove that he is the right man for Martha?


I found this film while browsing through films on AmazonPrime.  The trailer was funny so I gave it a chance.  The story, written by Max Landis, and humor are offbeat and unexpected.  The film was directed by Paco Cabezas, who is also a screenwriter.

The appeal of the film is the stars.  Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick have good chemistry and play eccentric well.  Rockwell slips into the role of dancing hitman with ease.  He is charming but a little unsettling.  Kendrick gets the chance to play it big as Martha, running the gamut of emotions while still keeping the audience interested.  They are great together.  Tim Roth is underused, but still entertaining. Rapper RZA is great as Shotgun Steve.

The other characters are fine, but it feels like they are in a different movie.  The roommate, Katie Nehra, is fine but not really interesting.  Her sole purpose is to support Martha and then disappear.  The gangsters are ok, but aren't really fleshed out, other than Shotgun Steve.

The film is billed as an Action-Comedy Romance film.  It isn't overly bloody, but there is still plenty of violence and cursing.  The film moves at a good pace, with lots of action and humor to keep you entertained.  It won't be for everyone, but Rockwell and Kendrick are worth the risk.  Check out the trailer and proceed from there...

Mr. Right (2015) 92 minutes
Rating: R for violence and language throughout
Director: Paco Cabezas
Starring: Sam Rockwell as Mr. Right
Anna Kendrick as Martha
Tim Roth as Hopper
James Ransone as Von Cartigan
Anson Mount as Richard Cartigan
Michael Eklund as Johnny Moon
RZA as Shotgun Steve
Katie Nehra as Sophie

Sisters (2015)

"I've been thinking..."

"Why?"

The Ellis sisters, Kate (Fey) and Maura (Poehler) used to throw epic parties.  Kate was the wild life of the party, while Maura was the "party mom" who kept everyone safe.  Decades later, Kate has a teenage daughter, Haley (Davenport), and can't keep a job, while Maura is still recovering from a divorce and trying to fix everyone.  When their parents (Brolin and Wiest) put their childhood home up for sale, the sisters are livid.  They are even more angry when they learn that the house is already sold to a yuppie couple.

While cleaning out their old bedroom, they decide to throw one last party in the house.  They invite all their old friends from high school and the carpenter who lives down the street, James (Barinholtz), who catches Maura's eye.  Kate's nemesis Brinda (Rudolph) calls the party desperate, but secretly wants an invite.  Can they let loose like they used to?


After the success of Baby Mama in 2008, fans were wondering when Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would star in another film.  This time they play against type and switch roles: Poehler is the responsible Maura who takes care of everyone, while Fey is Kate the wild party girl.  The switch works and is refreshing.  You expect Fey to be neurotic, because that is the type of character she has played before.  And you expect Poehler to be the loose cannon, because she's perfected that... but it is fun to see them play the other side.

The cast is populated with other SNL alum (and current cast members), along with actors they worked with on other projects.  Maya Rudolph is fun as Kate's uptight nemesis Brinda.  Ike Barinholtz, who plays Morgan on The Mindy Project, is great as the romantic lead, while John Cena steals the show as drug dealer Pazuzu.  James Brolin and Dianne Wiest are great as their parents, and Greta Lee is funny as Hae-Won.  The chemistry of the cast is great, especially between Fey and Poehler.

The script is written by Paula Pell, who worked with them on SNL and their TV shows.  Pell plays Dana, who Kate is living with at the beginning of the film.  The story is good, but raunchy and a little uneven at times.  But the cast makes up for any deficiencies in the script.

Funny, but not for everyone.  Looking forward to the next collaboration between these two funny women.

Sisters (2015) 118 minutes
Rating: R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and for drug use
Director: Jason Moore
Starring: Tina Fey as Kate Ellis
Amy Poehler as Maura Ellis
Maya Rudolph as Brinda
Ike Barinholtz as James
Dianne Wiest as Deana Ellis
James Brolin as Bucky Ellis
John Cena as Pazuzu
Madison Davenport as Haley
John Leguizamo as Dave
Bobby Moynihan as Alex

Antboy: Den Røde Furies hævn: Antboy: Revenge of the Red Fury

Antboy (Dietz) is more popular than ever.  He and his friends Wilhelm (Graf) and Ida (Jensen) protect the city, while still finding time to enjoy being kids.  But new threats are on the horizon.  At school, a new boy named Christian (Hectores Brogger Andersen) wants to steal Ida away from Pelle.  And school bullies Allan (Petersen) and Mark (Sorensen) take over the Gaemelkra home.  While investigating, they both get bit by one of Gaemelkra's experiments and start to change, taking the moniker The Terror Twins.

Meanwhile, shy Maria (Juncher-Benzon) is a huge Antboy fan.  After he saves her from bullies, she makes a move but is mocked by the other girls.  Her father's latest experiment gives her the ability to become invisible.  With her newfound ability, she vows revenge on Antboy and Pelle and seeks help from his foe the Flea (Bro).  With the Terror Twins and the Red Fury causing trouble, can Pelle save his friends and the town?


After the success of 2013's Antboy, director Ask Hasselbalch reunited the team to bring a new Antboy story to the screen. The story is based on the comic Antboy by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen.  Both the comics and film are in Danish.

Hasselbalch won the Robert Award for Best Children's Film (Robert Prisen for årets børne- og ungdomsfilm) in 2015 (he also won in 2014 for Antboy).  The Robert Awards are awarded by the Danish Film Academy and are Denmark's equivalent to the Oscars.


Like it's predecessor, I watched this film on Netflix.  The film is in Danish, but the Netflix version is dubbed in English, so the voices do not match the actors mouths do not match.  Despite that, it is a well-made film.  Hasselbalch keeps the story moving.  You are immediately thrust into this world and the action continues from there.  It is not necessary to watch the first film to understand the story, it helps, but the film does a quick refresher to the events of the first film.  Once again it is a fun, mostly clean film that will appeal to a younger audience.

Oscar Dietz is good as Pelle, trying to find the balance between being a superhero and being a regular kid.  Nicolas Bro doesn't have much to do here, just react to the main story and explain the changes of the twins.  This time the main villain is filled by Astrid Juncher-Benzon's Maria.  From the beginning, it is easy to empathize with her character while still understanding that she will become the villain of the piece.  Marcuz Jess Petersen and Johannes Jeffries Sorensen are just the dumb muscle.


In 2016, they released a sequel: Antboy 3.  This film is again directed by Hasselbalch, with a screenplay by Anders Olholm, and the main cast.


Antboy: Revenge of the Red Fury [Antboy: Den Røde Furies hævn] (2014) 83 minutes
Director: Ask Hasselbalch
Starring: Oscar Dietz as Pelle / Antboy
Samuel Ting Graf as Wilhelm
Amalie Kruse Jensen as Ida
Astrid Juncher-Benzon as Maria / Den Rode Furie
Marcuz Jess Petersen as Allan / Terror Tvilling
Johannes Jeffries Sorensen as Mark / Terror Tvilling
Nicolas Bro as Gaemelkra / Loppen

Snoopy Come Home

"If I don't find out what happened to Snoopy, I think I'll go out of my mind!"

"If you'll calm down for a minute, Charlie Brown, I may able to conduct a little private investigation."

"Just what I need, a blanket-carrying Sherlock Holmes!"

Snoopy (Melendez) is an independent dog.  One day he receives a letter from a little girl named Lila (Baer).  Lila is in the hospital and needs him to visit.  He immediately packs a bag and leaves with Woodstock in tow.  Charlie Brown (Webber) and his friends are shocked at Snoopy's departure.

On the way to Lila, Snoopy and Woodstock encounter Clara (Ercoli), an over-enthusiastic little girl.  She is thrilled to find a "sheepdog and a parrot" and decides to forcefully keep them.  Snoopy and Woodstock manage to escape and find Lila in the hospital.  Lila starts to get better and asks Snoopy to move in with her.  When Snoopy decides to return with Lila, what will Charlie Brown and his friends do?


In the 1960s-1970s, Charles Schulz worked with Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson to create new Peanuts films, based on ideas from his comic strip.  In 1969 they created A Boy Named Charlie Brown, and decided to make this film a stand-alone sequel in 1972.  The story for this film is an expansion of a story from the comics.

Regular composer, Vince Guaraldi, did not write music for this film.  This is the only Peanuts film, made during his lifetime, that did not feature songs by Guaraldi.  The songs for this film were composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.  The Sherman Brothers do a decent job capturing the tone of the story, and they clearly have fun with the lyrics.  The songs are good, but the one that sticks with you the longest is the tongue-twisting "Fundamental-Friend-Dependability", which is reminiscent of other Sherman Brothers tunes (it is fast paced and makes you work for it).

This was Woodstock's film debut, and he is as lovable as usual.  This is also the first time the audience can see Snoopy's thoughts, like in the comics.  Peppermint Patty has her first big role in a Peanuts film, and her chemistry with Snoopy is fun.  I love how the casts relationships with Snoopy are explored here, especially his unique interactions with Lucy.

It is an ok Peanuts film.  When it was released, critics liked it but it bombed with audiences.  This film tackles loss and is emotional for the characters.  They have good times as well, but much of the film involves the characters crying over Snoopy and trying to cope with him leaving.  The film handles these emotions well, but feels like it's trying to hard.  I don't remember watching this film as a child, and as an adult I didn't love it.  The story is fine, the songs are fine, but they aren't as happy and memorable as other Peanuts films.  I can see children loving this film and crying along with the characters.

Not my favorite Peanuts film, but still a good and moving film.

Snoopy Come Home (1972) 80 minutes
Director: Bill Melendez
Starring: Chad Webber as Charlie Brown
Robin Kohn as Lucy Van Pelt
Stephen Shea as Linus Van Pelt
David Carey as Schroeder
Johanna Baer as Lila
Hilary Momberger as Sally Brown
Chris De Faria as Peppermint Patty
Linda Ercoli as Clara
Lynda Mendelson as Frieda
Bill Melendez as Snoopy / Woodstock

The Mouse on the Moon

The Duchy of Grand Fenwick is in financial trouble.  Their prime source of income comes from their international wine sales, but their bottles have started exploding when opened and no one wants to buy it.  Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy (Moody) wants indoor plumbing for the castle, but cannot find the money for the project.  He decides to requests financial aid from the United States for a space program, but plans to use the funds for his plumbing plan.

The Americans send the money, pretending they don't know the true purpose, which spurs Russia to send an old rocket to help the cause.  While Mountjoy starts his project, he puts scientist Professor Kokintz (Kossof) in charge of the space project, so it looks like they are using the funds appropriately.  Kokintz is joined by Mountjoy's son Vincent (Cribbins).  Together they plan to defy the odds and actually go to Mars.  Meanwhile, England sends spy Maurice Spender (Thomas) to Grand Fenwick to get the truth.  Can Grand Fenwick beat the superpowers to the moon?



In 1955, author Leonard Wibberley introduced the world to the Duchy of Grand Fenwick with his Mouse series: "The Mouse that Roared", "Beware of the Mouse" (prequel), "The Mouse on the Moon", "The Mouse on Wall Street," and "The Mouse that Saved the West".  In 1959, the first book in the series was adapted to film, The Mouse that Roared.  The film was directed by Jack Arnold and actor Peter Sellers portrayed three of the main characters.  Four years later, they decided to adapt the sequel, "The Mouse on the Moon."

The film follows many of the same characters from The Mouse that Roared, but the only cast member to return is David Kossof.  Veteran actress Margaret Rutherford replaces Sellers as Grand Duchess Gloriana and keeps the spirit of the character: loopy but endearing.  Ron Moody replaces Sellers as Prime Minister Mountjoy.  Moody gives his own spin on the ruthless prime minister, and is the best character in the film.  Terry-Thomas is the inept spy, Bernard Cribbins is the new hero alongside Kossof.

The story is funny and the cast is good.  Unfortunately this film and it's predecessor are rarely shown and are not as popular as other films made by these actors.  This film tends to suffer when compared to it's predecessor, due to the loss of Sellers in the main roles, but it is still a strong film.  It is a smart, political film and makes me want to read Wibberley's novels (and other novels in the series that sadly have never been adapted to film).  A funny gem.

The Mouse on the Moon (1963) 100 minutes
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Ron Moody as Prime Minister Rupert Mountjoy
Bernard Cribbins as Vincent Mountjoy
David Kossof as Professor Kokintz
Terry-Thomas as Maurice Spender
June Ritchie as Cynthia
Margaret Rutherford as Grand Duchess Gloriana XIII
Roddy McMillan as Benter

Chicken Little (2005)

"Tough morning?"
"I had a run-in with my old nemesis."
"Gum on the crosswalk?"
"He won this round."

Chicken Little (Braff) is the laughing stock of Oakey Oaks.  The year before he drove the entire town into a panic when he claimed that the "sky is falling."  But there is no evidence and his father, Buck (Marshall), tells the town that Chicken Little was hit on the head with an acorn.  The town considers him a joke and are planning a movie about the "crazy little chicken."

At school he is a laughing-stock and is friends with the other outcasts: Abby Mallard (Cusack) nicknamed "the Ugly Duckling," the Runt of the Litter (Zahn), and Fish Out of Water (Molina).  Chicken Little decides to change his image.  Just as things start to change, he is hit on the head by a piece of the sky just like before.  Can he and his friends save the town?


The story is based (name and catalyst only) on the folk tale "The Sky is Falling".  The story was first published in 1823 by Just Mathias Thiele in Danish.  After that, the story was translated into English and many other versions were published.  Most of the tales had the same start (the protagonist gets hit on the head and panics) and the same conclusion.  In most English versions, the characters have rhyming names, i.e. Foxy Loxy, Ducky Lucky, Henny Penny, Turkey Lurkey, etc.
In 1943, Disney created a short film based on the folk tale, Chicken Little (pictured below). 

That film was released during WWII and was supposed to warn audiences not to believe the anti-American propaganda.  The story focuses on Foxy Loxy and his manipulation of the dimwitted Chicken Little.

In 2001, Mark Dindal envisioned a new Chicken Little story.  His version would use the premise of the folk tale: the smallest bird causes a panic; and then take the story in a new direction: alien invasion.  They decided to use computer animation for the film, making this the first fully computer animated feature film made by Disney.

The film is ok.  It has a few funny moments, but it isn't up the quality you expect from a Disney film.  It is considered one of the worst Disney animated films.  The technology was impressive at the time, and the film looks good... but the story and jokes just don't hit.  The jokes were better in other movies.  The characters are entertaining, but not memorable enough to remember much about them.  Dindal has made other great animated films, so I'm not sure what went wrong here... there are some good ideas here, but it just didn't pan out.  Young audiences will still enjoy it, but there are better animated films out there.

Disney Toon Studios planned to make a sequel to this film, but those plans were scrapped.

Chicken Little (2005) 81 minutes
Director: Mark Dindal
Starring: Zach Braff as Chicken Little
Garry Marshall as Buck Cluck
Joan Cusack as Abby Mallard
Dan Molina as Fish Out of Water
Steve Zahn as Runt of the Litter
Amy Sedaris as Foxy Loxy
Mark Walton as Goosey Loosey
Don Knotts as Turkey Lurkey

The Mummy Returns (2001)

"No harm ever came from opening a chest."
"Yeah, right, and no harm ever came from reading a book. You remember how that one went?"

Eight years after defeating the mummy, Rick (Fraser) and Evelyn (Weisz) are still exploring temples in Egypt.  They are married with a son, Alex (Boath), who they bring on their adventures.  While exploring a temple in Thebes, they find the gold bracelet of the Scorpion King.  In 3067 BC the Scorpion King (Johnson) trades his soul to Anubis for the power to defeat his army.  With the aid of Anubis' undead army, the Scorpion King is successful, and he and the army are claimed by Anubis.  Prophecies say that whoever defeats the Scorpion King will wield his power and control over the army of Anubis.

The O'Connells' return to their home in England, where they are attacked by a cult, led by Baltus Hafez (Armstrong).  Baltus and his men resurrect Imhotep (Vosloo) and plan to use his power to defeat the Scorpion King.  They are aided by Meela (Velasquez), who is the reincarnated body of his love Anck-Su-Namun.  They kidnap Alex, who is wearing the Scorpion bracelet, and set out to find the Scorpion King's pyramid.  Rick and Evelyn once again join forces with her brother Jonathan (Hannah) and Medjai Ardeth Bay (Fehr) to stop Imhotep.  Can they find Alex and the pyramid in time?


The sequel to the 1999 version of The Mummy (which is a remake of the 1932 film starring Boris Karloff).  The main cast returned for their roles, as did director Stephen Sommers.

After the success of the 1999 film, it was only natural to expect a sequel.  The plot is similar to it's predecessor, with a few new twists and some character changes.  Once again Brendan Fraser's Rick and Rachel Weisz's Evelyn need to stop Imhotep and save the world.  Once again they are joined by John Hannah's Jonathan and Oded Fehr's Ardeth Bay.  This time, more emphasis is placed on ancient Egypt.  Meela and Evelyn are reincarnated Egyptian princesses and have a history with Imhotep and the Scorpion bracelet.  The script isn't great, but the action sequences and comedy are enough to hold your interest.  The effects are ok, with the exception of the end scene with the Scorpion King.

The film also sets up the stand-alone The Scorpion King movie, starring Dwayne Johnson.  Sommers also wrote The Scorpion King.  There are 4 films in the Scorpion King franchise, but none are as successful as the Mummy franchise.

A third film, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, was released in 2008.  Universal is rebooting the franchise in 2017, with The Mummy starring Tom Cruise.

The Mummy Returns (2001) 130 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for adventure action and violence
Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell
Rachel Weisz as Evelyn O'Connell / Princess Nefertiti
John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan
Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep
Oded Fehr as Ardeth Bay
Patricia Velasquez as Meela / Anck-Su-Namun
Freddie Boath as Alex O'Connell
Alun Armstrong as Baltus Hafez
Dwayne Johnson as The Scorpion King
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Lock-Nah

Antboy

Pelle Nohrmann (Dietz) is an average 12-year-old boy.  He doesn't have friends and tends to blend into the background.  One day, while hiding from bullies, he is bitten by an ant.  The ant gives him superpowers and a craving for sugar.  His classmate, Wilhelm (Ting Graf) is a comic book fan, and helps him create an alter-ego: Antboy.

Antboy starts to fight crime in their hometown and attracts media attention.  Meanwhile, a new adult supervillain emerges: the Flea (Bro).  Can Pelle protect his identity and save the town from the Flea?



Based on the comic Antboy by Kenneth Bøgh Andersen.  Andersen started writing Antboy comics in 2007.  This film marks the feature film debut of director Ask Hasselbalch, who previously directed short films.  Both the comics and film are in Danish.

Hasselbalch won the Robert Award for Best Children's Film (Robert Prisen for årets børne- og ungdomsfilm) in 2014.  The Robert Awards are awarded by the Danish Film Academy and are Denmark's equivalent to the Oscars.

I discovered this film through Netflix.  The film is in Danish, but Netflix shows the English dubbed version (which can be confusing when the voices and mouths do not match).  The film is an adolescent superhero story.  It is short and moves quickly without feeling rushed.  The film is rated PG and manages to keep the language to a minimum, making it suitable for a wider (and younger) audience.  It is entertaining, but will probably appeal to a younger crowd.

The film has 2 sequels: Antboy: Revenge of the Red Fury (2014) and Antboy 3 (2016).  The main cast returns for each film and Hasselbalch is remains in the directors chair.  The screenplay for all three films is written by Anders Olholm.

Antboy (2013) 76 minutes
Director: Ask Hasselbalch
Starring: Oscar Dietz as Pelle Nohrmann / Antboy
Amalie Kruse Jensen as Ida
Samuel Ting Graf as Wilhelm
Nicolas Bro as Dr. Gaemelkra / Loppen
Cecilie Alstrup Tarp as Amanda
Caspar Phillipson as Hr. Sommersted

The Peanuts Movie

 "I oughta slug you. Ugh! I've been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get hot water! Get some disinfected! Get some Iodine!"

Charlie Brown (Schapp) and his friends enjoy a snow day.  After he unsuccessfully tries to fly a kit, he decides that this is the year that he will accomplish something wonderful.  His musings are interrupted by the arrival of a new family, who are moving into the house across the street from the Brown's.  Charlie Brown is instantly smitten by The Little Red-Haired Girl (Capaldi) and resolves to impress her.

Lucy van Pelt (Miller) tells him to be confident.  He enlists his dog Snoopy to help him find ways to stand out.  Snoopy finds a typewriter, and with the help of his bird friend Woodstock, starts writing about his exploits with the Red Baron.  Can Charlie Brown prove himself?

The Peanuts comic strip debuted in 1950.  The series was created by Charles Schulz and ran in newspapers for 50 years (reruns still appear in newspapers).  The strip is considered one of the most popular and influential comic strips ever.  In 1959 the characters appeared in TV ads and made their movie debut in 1965 in A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Since then, the characters have appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, and TV specials.  After Schulz's death, a few new specials were released (based on Schulz's strips or his ideas for future specials.

This is the first Peanuts film to be released in 35 years, and their first full-length film.  The script was written by Schulz' son, Craig Schulz, and grandson, Bryan Schulz.  The Schulz family selected Steve Martino to direct, after seeing the way he handled Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who film.

The old familiar gags are there: Snoopy's adventures, his writing career, the kite, etc.  They even pay tribute to the beloved Christmas Special at least twice: a choir sings "Christmastime is Here" and the classic dance moves are back for the school dance.  These and other little moments will remind long-time fans what they loved about Schulz's characters and their TV / movie appearances (which were produced by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson).  Archival recordings of Melendez were used to bring Snoopy and Woodstock to life (and make them sound the way they sounded in past Peanuts films).

I grew up loving the Peanuts.  I still get the comic strip emailed to me every day, and as I write this review, I'm drinking out of a Peanuts glass (from the 1980s).  I grew up watching and loving their specials, and I can still sing many of the songs featured in those programs.  I also love the Broadway musicals that are based on the Peanuts ("You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy!").  So obviously I was excited, but also a little nervous, about this film.  I loved the idea that these characters would be in a new movie... but I also worried that it wouldn't stay true to the characters, or that it would try to modernize them.  I was very happy with their portrayal (and the fact that members of the Schulz family involved).  I loved the nostalgia and the innocence of the characters.  And I even loved the new songs by Megan Trainor.

Overall, a sweet and funny film.  A must-see for all Peanuts fans, that will please kids and adults.

The Peanuts Movie (2015) 88 minutes
Director: Steve Martino
Starring: Noah Schnapp as Charlie Brown
Hadley Belle Miller as Lucy van Pelt
Alex Garfin as Linus van Pelt
Mariel Sheet as Sally Brown
Venus Omega Schultheis as Peppermint Patty
Rebecca Bloom as Marcie
Noah Johnston as Schroeder
Francesca Angelucci Capaldi as Little Red-Haired Girl / Frieda
Bill Melendez as Snoopy / Woodstock
Anastasia Bredikhina as Patty
Madisyn Shipman as Violet
AJ Teece as Pig-Pen
Marelik "Mar Mar" Walker as Franklin
William "Alex" Wunsch as Shermy

Mountain Men (2014)

Topher (Labine) and Cooper (Crawford) are estranged brothers.  Toph lives in their small hometown and sells pot.  Coop moved to New York and got an important job.  They rarely see each other and have little in common.  Coop comes home for their mother, Marion's (Willes) wedding, but only plans to stay in town for a day.  At the wedding, a neighbor tells Toph that someone is living in their cabin in the mountains.

The brothers decide to go to the cabin to get rid of the squatter.  The cabin is deep in the mountains and difficult to get to in the winter.  After arriving, they decide to spend the night to avoid making the journey home in the dark.  What begins as a simple trip, turns into a fight to survive.


I discovered this film while perusing on Netflix.  I am a fan of Tyler Labine and decided to give the film a chance (without knowing anything about it).  It is billed as a comedy, but it is more of a drama with some funny moments.

The film focuses on the brothers, with only a few other characters involved.  Tyler Labine is great, as usual.  The role is very similar to other roles he has played in the past, but it is still enjoyable.  Chance Crawford is good as Cooper and has believable chemistry with Labine.

The story was written and directed by Labine's brother Cameron Labine.  The story digs into the relationship and hidden resentment between the brothers.  The story flows well and moves quickly, without really rushing.  It was filmed in the Canadian Rockies (a tag at the beginning of the credits talks about that).  The scenery is beautiful.  There is significant cursing, but otherwise it is a pretty tame film.  There is no blood shed, which is pretty remarkable for a survival film.

It is an entertaining film that lets Labine play to his strengths.

Mountain Men (2014) 89 minutes
Director: Cameron Labine
Starring: Chance Crawford as Cooper
Tyler Labine as Toph
Ben Cotton as Herschberger
Britt Irvin as Leah
Christine Willes as Marion