Charlie St. Cloud Movie Review
Charlie St. Cloud stars teen heart throb handsome Zac Efron in the title role. A high school senior with a passion for sailing and good grades, he graduates with a full ride sailing scholarship to Stanford. He lives in a sea coast town in Massachusetts. He and his eleven year old brother Sam, played by Charlie Tahan get along well. Charlie promises his brother that he will coach him on baseball every night until he leaves for college but he cautions the brother that he better be there on time. That evening Charlie is driving with his brother when they are struck by a drunken driver. His brother is killed. Charlie’s heart stops but he is saved by an EMT. He realizes he is getting a second chance on life.
Fast forward five years. Charlie did not go to college rather he took a job as the caretaker in the cemetery where Sam is buried. Every evening at sundown, Charlie goes into the woods to play catch and talk with Sam. He is obsessed with his promise to his brother and haunted by the fact that he has been given a second chance.
He meets a girl, Amanda Crew, with whom he went to school. She is a master sailor and is preparing to sail around the world. Charlie falls for the girl causing him to choose her over his brother. Without giving away a couple of good twists the story holds the interest. This story is well presented and heartfelt. Although it takes place in Mass it was filmed in British Columbia. The cinematography is wonderful. I totally enjoyed it and recommend this. While not for little guys, it is okay for children. The one lovemaking scene is not graphic and the language is okay. Zac Efrom will be a big star.
The Other Guys Movie Review
Police detectives Allen Gamble played by Will Ferrell and Terry Hoitz played by Mark Wahlberg are working desk duty in a New York City Precinct. Allen was hired as a police accountant. He is an stereotypical anal naive geek. He apologizes for his wife who he describes as not being so good when in fact she is really hot. Eva Mendes is a sexy emergency room doctor and met Allen in the emergency room. Terry played by Mark Wahlberg has desk duty because he accidentally shot baseball player Derik Jeter. He is nicknamed ‘the Yankee Clipper’. One of his fellow officers ask why he could not have shot A-Ron instead.
In the station there are two superstars played by cameo players Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson. They are start the film with a steroid filled car chase. They do $12 million of property damage to get a couple of bad guys with a small bag of drugs. They are the star cops and everyone else are the Other Guys. Due to their stupidity, they are both killed jumping off a building trying to get a couple of bandits.
Through dumb luck and against the wishes of their captain played by Michael Keaton, Allen and Terry fall upon a case of a Bernie Madoff Ponzi schemer. The set out to get him with hilarious results.
This is a very funny movie with Will Farrell playing a less obnoxious character than in several of his other films. His character is quirky and naive. Terry keeps trying to find out why beautiful women are attracted to Allen. This is a rare comedy role for Mark Wahlberg and he pulls it off well. You have to listen closely because a lot of the aside dialogue is really funny. Remember this is a comedy and don’t take it too seriously.
I recommend the film and aside from a few naughty words it is not bad for older children.
