The Above Average Awards: Comedy 2014

Each year, I give the same rant about the lack of recognition that is given to comedic films, and you are about to hear a condensed version of that rant YET AGAIN!

Of course, most critics harp on crummy comedies like Blended, Tammy, and Sex Tape, and they forget that many moviegoers go to the movies with intentions to laugh. Sure, there are times when I want to be blown away with drama or suspense, but, there are many times that I just want to laugh. The actors, actresses, and films below are being recognized by me because of their ability to make me roll with laughter.

Categorizing films and performances can be extremely tricky, as many comedies have dramatic undertones and most dramas have at least some comedic presence. So, my job is not an easy one! However, in order to draw some sort of dramatic/comedic line, here is what I use to categorize films:

1) Did the film "feel" like a comedy?

If yes, then I consider that film a comedy.

And that is all...

Best Actress

Each year, I have trouble filling the comedic actress category, but it would be sexist to exclude them. So, here we are... I have two...

 

#2 - Melissa McCarthy
(St. Vincent)

Although the quality of Melissa McCarthy's recent films can certainly be argued against, she remains one of the funniest performers alive, in my opinion. Sure, you might get sick of her, but she ALWAYS gives it her all. In St. Vincent, McCarthy did a great job of connecting on an emotional level. In fact, I almost included her performance in the dramatic category, but her performance was so different from the others that made the dramatic list, moving her back to comedy. Surprisingly, McCarthy has managed to make my best actress list 3 out of my 4 years of blogging. Only one other person has ever made my list three times (and he will make it four, in just a few scrolls down). So, kudos to her, even if you hate her!

#1 - Jane Fonda
(This is Where I Leave You)

Jane Fonda's boobs may have been at the forefront of her comedy, in This is Where I Leave You, but she truly gave a hilariously appropriate performance. Honestly, most of this film's performances were spot on! But, Fonda, as the kooky new widow, really stole the female side of the show from two hilarious women, Kathryn Hahn and Tina Fey. Although the comedic actress field is often weak, in my mind, there is always someone like Jane Fonda there to save the day!

 

 

 

Best Actor

So many actors never have their comedic work fully realized. I mean, if you aren't Bill Murray or Jonah Hill, you are pretty much screwed, as far as being recognized by the big-wigs. I'm stoked to have the chance to share some of my favorite comedic performances with you, many of which went undetected by Oscar, in 2014...

 



Honorable Mention: Zach Braff (Wish I Was Here), Rohan Chand (Bad Words), James Corden (Begin Again), Bill Hader (The Skelton Twins), Channing Tatum (22 Jump Street)

 



#6 - Dave Franco
(Neighbors)

It has taken a little while for Dave Franco to impress me, as I didn't really care for him in his first couple of films. But, Neighbors brought out the best in him and truly gave him a chance to shine in a hilarious role. Hopefully, Franco will continue to pick them well, and, as long as he continues to hang around with his brother's counterparts, he should be alright!

#5 - Ralph Fiennes
(The Grand Budapest Hotel)



You have to respect Ralph Fiennes and what he was able to accomplish with his performance in The Grand Budapest Hotel. If you haven't seen The Grand Budapest, I hope that you will take the time to bask in the performance of Fiennes and the entire ensemble. Whether or not you enjoy Wes Anderson, there is no doubt that his actors give him their all!

 

 

#4 - Bill Murray/Jaeden Lieberher
(St. Vincent)

The Above Average Awards have been a great testament to my love for great child actors, and Jaeden Lieberher was the kid who really brought it in 2014. However, his humor and storyline would have been insignificant without the great performance of  St. Vincent himself, Mr. Bill Murray. These two were absolutely great for each other, and, if you watch St. Vincent, you are sure to agree!

#3 - Ice Cube
(22 Jump Street)

In 22 Jump Street, Ice Cube's character was really allowed to shine, much thanks to the hilarity of Jonah Hill. There is no doubt that the "situation" involving Mr. Cube's daughter and Hill's character created a few of the most memorable scenes of 2014, and, while much of this success is attributable to great writing, Ice Cube did a great job of doing his thing. It certainly kept me laughing!

#2 - Jonah Hill
(22 Jump Street)

In 2012, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum shared my top honor for a comedic actor for their work in 21 Jump Street. Regardless of how high, I expected the two of them to end up on this list, again, for 22 Jump Street. Unfortunately, Tatum's role and performance in 22 Jump just didn't quite impress me as much, and he did not make the cut. However, Hill remains at the top of the game and continues to be one of my favorite actors. This year marks the fourth straight appearance in the Above Average Awards, after making the list in drama, in 2011, for Moneyball, and in comedy, in 2012 and 2013, for 21 Jump and This Is the End, respectively. Kudos to Jonah Hill for continuing to wow me. Hopefully, we will see him on the 2015 list, as well!

#1 - Adam Driver
(This is Where I Leave You)

Adam Driver has quickly become one of my favorite actors, and that goes for both his loud comedy and his sporadically dramatic moments. Throughout This is Where I Leave You, Driver was hilarious, as he is in every film that he touches. However, in a moment shared with Jason Bateman's main character, Driver showed a quick flash of emotion that was so real that I almost burst into tears during its 10 second span! It was insane! Of course, that drama belongs in the dramatic category, but his comedy is what I believe makes his emotion so impactful. This is Where I Leave You may not be the best comedy of 2015, but it is one worth checking out, if only for the great performances. Kudos to Driver for making me like him, as I hope continues to be the case. And, kudos to This is Where I Leave You for creating real, funny characters for us to fall in love with!



Best Film

There is no doubt in my mind that 2014 was one of the strongest comedic years, in recent memory. In fact, comedy beat the crap out of drama, in 2014 (or at least that's what I think). So, here are a few of my favorites. Be sure to note the honorable mentions and check each of them out, as well!



 

Honorable Mention: Neighbors, This is Where I Leave You, Wish I Was Here
 

#4 - St. Vincent

I've yet to truly understand why St. Vincent made me so emotional, but, if there was one 2014 film that came close to winning Tanner Jones's "Toy Story 3 Award for Tear Jerking," it was St. Vincent. And, because of the emotion that the film brought on, I came very close to placing this film in the dramatic category. Nevertheless, here it is in the comedic category, due to the large amount of laughter that accented that drama so very well. With great performances throughout, St. Vincent is sure to impress almost anybody (particularly if you love child actors... like me!).

 

#3 - The Grand Budapest Hotel



While I can't boast a great knowledge of Wes Anderson's work, I will say that I have never been a fan of anything of his that I have had the chance to view. I've never hated his films, but they just didn't click with me... until The Grand Budapest Hotel! This film may be one of the most artsy, weirdo flicks of 2014, but something about it just works. If you are looking for a hilariously quirky film, The Grand Budapest is just for you. Kudos to Wes Anderson for making a film that I like! Maybe I should take the time to check out the remainder of his work...

 

#2 - 22 Jump Street

Some sequels do an adequate job of living up to their predecessors, but some, like 22 Jump Street, grab the sequel bull by the horns and show it who is boss! While there have been a number of successful sequels, I don't know that any other has truly embraced sequeldom as well as 22 Jump Street. Kudos to the cast and the creators for giving me something to laugh at and be proud of, as a fan of R-rated, comedic humor. In a normal year, 22 Jump Street would take the crown with ease, but 2014 is far from normal...
 

 

#1 - The LEGO Movie

The LEGO Movie is the most amazing film of 2014 (comedy or drama), without a doubt! If I had a dollar for every adult to whom I have attempted to sell this film, I would be going to Paris or something! Although the film was a commercial success, there are so many folks who have yet to see this hilarious, clever, touching animated film. It is ridiculous! I will not stop until ALL have seen The LEGO Movie! The clever nature of the film just blew my mind as I watched and continues to impress me with every viewing. Kudos to the creative minds behind The LEGO for creating the BEST FILM OF 2014. PERIOD! (Screw you, Academy!)


So... That is all from the comedic world in 2014! Be sure to check out The Above Average Awards: Drama 2014, which I will publish in the next week or two. And, don't forget...

 

Closure: February 2014

 

 

Often times, I have people come up to me and ask me about the quality of certain films or if I have seen a film. Sometimes, I actually have an answer for them, and that answer may not be accessible through one of my reviews (because I can't write about EVERY movie that I watch). So, this month, for the first time, I have decided to share with you every single film that I have watched over the past month. Hopefully, this type of write up will become a monthly thing, but, for now, it is in beta-mode. My plan for this segment is to give people a look at some of the films that I have watched and, potentially, peak their interest in some films that may only be found on Netflix or at the Redbox or wherever. I try to write a review of most every film that I watch in the theater, but, sometimes, even those don't get their own write-up. This new segment, which I have deemed "Closure," will give you a list of every film that I have watched over the previous month, how I watched each film, and whether I would suggest it for the average moviegoer. Hopefully, I will have people come up to me and say, "Hey! I saw where you watched x! How was it? What was it really about?" Anyway, let me know what you think about the segment and how I could change it to better please my readers! Enjoy...

February has been a fairly busy month, with school kicking into high gear, so I haven't had time to watch too many films. However, I managed to avoid any duds, which means you should check out each of the films below:

Movie	Year	Format	Did I Enjoy?	Would I Watch Again?
Super 8	2011	Blu-Ray > Own	Yes	Yes
The LEGO Movie	2014	Theater > Matinee	Yes	Yes
All is Lost	2013	Blu-Ray > Redbox	Yes	No
Ain't Them Bodies Saints	2013	DVD > Redbox	Yes	Yes
Despicable Me 2	2013	Blu-Ray > Borrowed	Yes	Yes
Dazed and Confused	1993	TV > Starz	Yes	Yes

 

Movie of the Month

 

The LEGO Movie

The LEGO Movie

Expectations:
To be perfectly transparent, I don't believe I have been this excited about an animated film since the age of 6, and I am perfectly fine with that! As a person who is fascinated by clever things, The LEGO Movie appeared to be the mecca of clever, which drew me right on in. I don't know if it was the use of superheroes and historical figures or the fact that EVERY SINGLE moment in the trailer contained nothing that wasn't a LEGO, but I just couldn't wait. I probably watch more animated films than the average 22 year old. So, you may think that my excitement for this film is no biggy. However, The LEGO Movie is one of my most anticipated films of 2014, and it has been ever since I saw the first trailer. The only thing that could possibly peak my interest more would be yet another Toy Story movie (which is inevitable). For those of you that enjoy animated films, this review is dedicated to you, because I have regained an understanding of your excitement.

Plot:
The word around the film-watching universe was that The LEGO Movie did a great job of providing laughs and telling a gripping story, that connected on an emotional level. My excitement for the film was grounded in the laughs, but I was quite curious about the film's ability to tell a great story. I didn't really expect it to be that great (at least in comparison to other emotional animated films). Boy, was I wrong! In fact, I heard a ton of people talking about how the film was bringing on the waterworks! I didn't get THAT invested in the LEGOs, but the meaning behind the story was actually really, really clever. The only thing I didn't like about the story was the fact that the end of the film felt like a 90s kids' movie, like Honey I Shrunk the Kids or Mighty Ducks. I won't offer up any details on that analysis, in an effort to avoid spoilers, but, if you do watch, keep it in mind. On top of the great story, there were many, many laughs that were mostly a result of the clever use of LEGOs. It was just hilarious to watch the LEGOs do LEGO stuff... but in a movie.

Characters:
While there were so many hilarious cameos made by LEGO versions of human people, there were some times when I thought they made the wrong decision when determining which characters to focus on. As far as the story went, most of the characters were important and well-used, but there were some that I just wanted a lot more of and did not get. However, overall, the film did a great job of creating good characters...

Negatives:
My least favorite character, by far, had to be Metal Beard, voiced by Nick Offerman. While I tend to like Offerman, there were just very few jokes for the character, and his storyline was the only one that was forced, in my opinion. Another character that I did not care for was the god-like Vitruvius, voiced by Morgan Freeman, who just didn't provide in the god-like-joke department. I wanted to like him, but it just wasn't happening.

Positives:
If you've pretty much EVER read my blog, you probably have a preconceived idea of my love for Jonah Hill, which may or may not be a healthy aspect of my life. In The LEGO Movie, Hill voiced The Green Lantern, who was the most hilarious character, and I had no clue, at all, that Hill was in the movie, until I heard his voice! It was quite a pleasant surprise, and I really wish his role would have been larger. However, it's probably a good thing that it wasn't, because, each time he appeared on screen, I got a little giddy. The most hilarious moment of the entire film was provided by Benny the Spaceman, who was voiced by the always funny Charlie Day. Hill and Day have topped my Above Average comedic actor list each of the last three years, which made for a pleasant surprise when I heard their voices and loved their characters.

Conclusion:
Kudos to whoever had the idea to create a movie made entirely of LEGOs! I can't wait to watch again, so I can see some of the cool, quirky, LEGO-induced moments that I might have missed while being distracted by the storyline. As far as animated films go, The LEGO Movie is sure to entertain anyone who has any sort of relationship with the classic toys and anyone who just likes a good laugh. With a great story, combined with a clever concept, The LEGO Movie is a great start to 2014 movie year, and I can only hope that this film is a sign of a great movie year to come. I give The LEGO Movie 3.48 out of 5 stars.

Great Expectations: February 2014

It's time for the first Great Expectations of 2014! Now that I've seen almost every 2013 Oscar nominated film, I can finally move on to brand new movies, and February has a couple of films that I just can't wait to see...

In February, the theater is sure to be filled with hundreds of men who were forced to watch a ridiculous chick flick and hundreds of children, longing to see their LEGOs come to life. Luckily, I will be one of the hundreds of children, because my amazing fiancé doesn't force me to watch dumb movies, which is all the more reason to love her. Seriously, though, I can't wait for The LEGO Movie! Check out the trailer, below, along with the trailer for the only other February film that I'm actually interested in, The Monuments Men...

 

The LEGO Movie

(February 7)

 

 

The Monuments Men

(February 7)



A Look Ahead to 2014

The 2013 movie year has yet to be forgotten, but it is never too soon to look ahead to what we will have the opportunity to enjoy in the 2014 movie year! This post will take the place of January's Great Expectations post, because no good films ever come out in January, and it is as simple as that. Below, I've put together a few different categories of movies that I am looking forward to in 2014. So, take a look, and, if you have any questions about upcoming movies or JUST CAN'T WAIT to see a film that I excluded from this list, leave me a note in the comment section or tweet me @TheTan_Man Also, as I'm sure you noticed, I have given the blog a bit of a face lift (the biggest one since I started writing it). If you just hate the new stuff, let me know, and I can change it straight back. I'm sure that most of you could care less, but you are always welcome to an opinion on here!... Enjoy 2014!!!

Top 10 Movies I Just Can't Wait to See in 2014

The Lego Movie (February)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (May)

22 Jump Street (June)

The Fault in Our Stars (June)

Wish I Was Here (September)

The Interview (October)

Gone Girl (October)

Interstellar (November)

Noah (March) / Exodus (December)


Other Exciting 2014 Sequels/Remakes 

Muppets Most Wanted (March)

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (November)

Horrible Bosses 2 (November)


(Potentially) Big Movies I Will Avoid in 2014

Resident Evil 356 (September)

300: Rise of an Empire (March)

Maleficent (May)

Blended (May)

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (August)

The Expendables 3 (August)

The Hobbit: There and Back Again (December)


Other Notable Films Out in 2014

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (January)

The Monuments Men (February)

Need for Speed (March)

Divergent (March)

Godzilla (May)

The Amazing Spiderman 2 (May)

Jersey Boys (June)

Transformers: Age of Extinction (June)

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (June)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (July)

Guardians of the Galaxy (August)

Dumb and Dumber To (November)

Annie (December)