The House (June 2017)

Official Australian release date: 29/6/17. Viewed: 29/6/17.

Director: Andrew Cohen

Actors: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas, Ryan Simpkins

Genre: Comedy

Rating: MA

From the director who wrote ‘Bad Neighbours’ (which actually wasn’t bad) comes ‘The House’, a film based on a similarly flimsy premise that seems more suited to a 20min sketch, rather than a full 90min film. This time, two parents – Scott (Ferrell) & Kate (Poehler) – can’t afford to send their daughter, Alex (Simpkins) to college, so they decide – with some help from best friend Frank (Mantzoukas) – to start an underground casino.

While there’s definitely a few chuckles throughout, it’s all very predictable and quite blasé, with both Ferell and Poehler being OK, but seeming to just skate through most scenes without appearing to try. There’s no real character development, and no investment (pun!) in anything at all. At least it gets an MA rating here, although it’s for one semi-shocking/out-of-the-blue scene, not all the language.

Like a lot of recent comedies, it’s really the support cast that makes this above-pedestrian – it’s especially great to see Mantzoukas & his manic energy on the big screen, after his great efforts on ‘The League’ & ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Other ‘The League’ alumni include Rob Huebel as the cop & Nick Kroll as the councilor, both with some great moments.Not much else to say really – it’s not a horrible film, but it’s nothing distinct or especially funny.

Overall: Just passable simplistic comedy.

Gav's Rating: 2.5 stars.

Wonder Woman (June 2017)

Official Australian release date: 1/6/17. Viewed: 4/6/17.

Director: Patty Jenkins

Actors: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Danny Huston

Genre: Action / Adventure

Rating: M

‘Wonder Woman’ is the first good DC film of their attempt to create an extended universe to rival Marvel. It certainly has a livelier and less somber tone than ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘Batman Vs Superman’, and works better as an introduction to the character than either of those films. Most of this is down to Gadot, who plays Diana with innocence, as well as integrity and passion. Also, doesn’t hurt that she’s extremely beautiful. The film does a good job of introducing the Amazons and how their island-home, Themyscira, is hidden from the world.

Diana’s mum, Queen Hippolyta (Nielsen) has kept her sheltered for her whole life (not certain if the Amazons are immortal, or not…), but this changes when World War I finds them, via Captain Trevor (Pine). Then, Diana’s off to the real world to help mankind in their battle against Ares, God of War (a substitute for the Central Powers in WWI). There’s plenty of funny moments as Diana is introduced to London in the early 20^th century and especially with Trevor, since she’s never met a male before. We quickly meet Trevor’s rag-tag team and suddenly we’re off to Belgium where the action begins and we get to see Wonder Woman in full flight/fight.

Ludendorff (Huston) is good as the evil German general, but there’s a few similarities with ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’, as he is basically a “Red Skull”-substitute, has an offsider who develops weapons of mass destruction, gets super-strength, and then has to fight someone super-strong wearing red and blue. The main difference is that Wonder Woman’ is set WWI, but both comic book characters were created in 1941 during WWII. Still, it doesn’t really detract for the film, with plenty of great hand-to-hand combat, as well as full-on war scenes. Pretty satisfying conclusion, with Diana’s purpose, humour, powers and morals all being set-up nicely for ‘Justice League’, but works well as a standalone film.

Overall: Great origin story and fun to watch.

Gav's Rating: 4 stars.