Movie Review: Vacation

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After Mad Max: Fury Road looks we have another 30 year old franchise making a comeback in the form of a sequel/ reboot to National Lampoon‘s Vacation franchise. I am a big fan of the original Vacation (yet gracefully ignored the three sequels) and 80’s comedy in general. There was something fresh and unique about those comedies and how “raunchy” they were for the time. And I happen to think we saw some of the most brilliant comedians during that decade and whether you all agree or not, Chevy Chase was part of that. He had an indelible comedic timing and his doofus, klutzy and lovable Clark Griswold was a legend. So I was cautiously optimistic about a reboot of this franchise. The concept made sense and the cast sounded good for a new generation and being a fan of the situational comedic timing of Ed Helms, I…

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Ricky Gervais Returns

Unbreakable

By: Connor Lenahan

Just days after the terrific news that Chris Rock would be hosting the 2016 Oscars we got (arguably) better news. Ricky Gervais is coming back to host the Golden Globes for the first time since the 2012 ceremony. This will make the seventh year in a row with strong hosts after Gervais from 2010-12 and Tina Fey & Amy Poehler 2013-15.

In case you forgot, Gervais has a genuine claim to best awards host of all time. Better, he is the unquestioned meanest.

Getting him back in the fold, especially at the awards ceremony with an open bar, is absolutely incredible. And of course given that this means we get to enjoy Ricky Gervais and Chris Rock for the biggest movie nights of the year? Who knew Christmas came before Halloween this year?

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John Wick (2014)

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An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. (IMDb)

The action and aesthetic here are excellent–the fight scenes are bountiful and brutal, backed by an unnerving soundtrack (“In My Mind” is particularly chilling) and a fittingly cold green look–but the story and characters leave things to be desired: The revenge plot feels a bit too basic (although it’s spiced with some morbidly humourous takes on hitman culture) and the only substantial character (Wick) feels all backstory–but the film’s short run time does offer some grace in these areas.

6.7/10

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