GROWN UPS

Plot:

As kids, Lenny (Sandler), Eric (James), Kurt (Rock), Marcus (Spade) and Rob (Schneider) were team mates that played and won the little league basketball championship. The years pass and the group are now grown ups and will reunite again to attend the funeral to pay respect for the man that mentored and guided them to their championship, the Coach. Together again and with their families for the duration of the weekend, they are reminded of some of the lessons that were taught them as kids about teamwork and friendship, hoping they can pass it along to their children.

Reel Talk:

I was a little hoodwinked on this movie, because I thought with this all star comedic cast, that this would be one fall out hilariously funny movie. Not saying that this is not a funny movie, but just not as funny as I thought it could have been. It really seemed as if Sandler chose to tame down his antics a bit, which is not usual for him, considering that he is normally over the top with his humor. Still it was a well balanced good movie with a great cast, even down to the cameos. The one thing I will say about Sandler is that he does take care of his friends by continuing to put them in his movies, consistently.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Salma Hayek and Maria Bello
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 and a half corn dogs

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler

SOLITARY MAN

Plot:

When Ben Kalmen (Douglas) a prominent car dealerships owner goes for a routine medical check-up and the doctor informs him that he sees something of possible concern with his heart and suggest he consults a specialist, rather than take that advise, he decides to live life recklessly. He loses his dealerships because he deliberately indulges in bogus car deals and loses his wife Nancy played by Susan Sarandon who he had been in love with since college, because he sleeps with any woman under 30 years of age. Even when he has a chance to redeem himself and start a new business he thinks with the wrong head and botches that deal by sleeping with his financiers’ daughter.

Reel Talk:

Although this movie won’t get the mainstream attention, it was a very interestingly entertaining movie. It gives some insight to how men react regarding their health concerns and how some will risk everything when it comes to sex. Douglas puts in a good performance and has good support from Sarandon and one of his former co-stars from a few of his older movies in Danny Devito. A fun movie worth catching.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon and Danny Devito
Directed by: Brian Koppelman
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler

KNIGHT AND DAY

Plot:

When June Haven (Diaz) an average everyday girl just trying to pick up an auto part for her car has an un-expectant run in with the mysterious Roy Miller (Cruise) at the airport, little did she know that her life would be changed forever. From hijacks, plane crashes, kidnappings and shoot outs, she doesn’t know what is going on until Miller tells her that he is a spy and that she helped transport some type of never draining battery. Soon she encounters his superiors who tell her that he has become a rogue agent and that she should help them take him down. Confused and in the middle she doesn’t know who or what to believe, but realizes that as long as she is with Miller she has a good chance at staying alive.

Reel Talk:

This movie should have been called Mission Impossible IV, because Cruise pretty much emulates his character from the Impossible series, only with a touch more of a humorous side. The chemistry between Cruise and Diaz was fairly good, not great but not bad either. Plenty of action even if most of it was quite unbelievable, but still made for a good entertaining movie. With all of Cruises whacky antics, he needed this jolt to get him back on his acting track.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaar, Viola Davis and Jordi Molla
Directed by: James Mangold
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler

StreetVision.com acquires Shop Talk Magazine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

StreetVision.com acquires Shop Talk Magazine

DETROIT – StreetVision.com, today announces the acquisition of Shop Talk Magazine a new tabloid publication.

StreetVision.com is a new urban lifestyle and experiential marketing company that produces immersive, interactive brand experiences that physically engage, and influence consumers where they live, work and play.
This acquisition allows Shop Talk to immediately provide StreetVision.com existing client base with a competitive advantage as a citywide resource to execute highly sophisticated experiential marketing programs. Reciprocally, Shop Talk will be able to offer their clients access to creative and enhanced program development and the additional resources to grow their business in partnership with their clients.

Shop Talk was founded by Miles Dixon this year, with the aim of filling the void within the urban community by highlighting beauty salons, barbershop shops, nail salons, massage parlors & spas, clothiers and restaurants. The Printed Magazine is produced monthly and available throughout Metro Detroit with distribution of 60,000. The online magazine features articles on a variety of topics, Q&A’s, book reviews, blogs and much more, relying on contributions from the founding editors and experienced writers across the world.

"We're thrilled to be joining the StreetVision.com family," says Shop Talk co-founder and co-editor Miles Dixon. “StreetVision.com is committed to developing marketing opportunities, celebrating the various urban lifestyles and the journey. What's more, they like our editorial vision, and we are pleased that they are dedicated to our approach and direction for Shop Talk moving forward. It's a perfect fit."

###

THE KARATE KID

Plot:

In this remake of the 1984 classic The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith plays Dre Parker who because of his mom’s new job position must relocate from Detroit to China. Immediately while trying to adjust to his new environment Dre is the target of the local bully Cheng (Wang) and his gang who began to pummel him because he befriends the beautiful Mei Ying (Han). After several beatings Dre manages to enlist the aid of the apartment handyman Mr. Han (Chan) who will teach him the art of kung fu so that he can enter a tournament to compete against the bad boy bully Cheng and his crew.

Reel Talk:

Ok like I have said before, remakes can be hairy. Let me just say that this movie has all the makings for a great movie, good plot and awesome fight scenes but it falls short in the dialog department. The acting between Smith and Chan was pretty weak with them both seeming as if they were read off a cue card. But overall this was an entertaining film, but the original still holds the title as being a classic.

Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Wenwen Han and Zhenwei Wang
Directed by: Harald Zwart
Rated: PG

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler

THE A-TEAM

Plot:

Hannibal Smith (Neeson) heads up a Special Forces team consisting of Lt. Peck aka Faceman (Cooper), BA Baracus (Jackson) and the psychologically challenged Murdock (Copley) and while their methods are a bit unorthodox, they have the highest success rate in their division. But when the team is set up and convicted of a crime that they did not commit, Hannibal must put a plan together to free his team and seek out the brains behind the scam so that they can be cleared of the bogus crime. Hot in pursuit of the team is the mysterious CIA Agent Lynch (Wilson) and military policewoman Charisa Sosa (Biel) who is a former jilted lover of Faceman who are determined to recapture the foursome by any means necessary.

Reel Talk:

I have to be honest and admit that going to see remakes is like gambling to me, you just don’t know how it’s going to turn out because some of them are downright horrible. So I was really on the fence about this remake about the early 80’s TV series about The A-Team, but to my surprise this was a good movie. Action packed from beginning to end, lacking any dullness at all. One of my biggest concerns was how were the newer cast going to compare to the charismatic crew from the series and the replacements rose to the occasion with flying colors, with the surprising performances from Jackson and Copley who had the harder roles to portray. This is a great must see movie.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRaney and Brian Bloom.
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Rated: PG-13

I give it 5 corn dogs

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

Plot:


Looking for ways to turn things around from the decline at his record company, music mogul Sergio Roma (Combs) decides to take the advice of one of his young employee Aaron (Hill) and set up a multi-million dollar tour based on British rocker Aldous Snow who is try to get his career back on track after the release of his latest CD bombs. The only thing is that Aaron is assigned to go to London and transport the drugged out, sex addicted rocker to L.A. so he can kick off his tour at the Greek Theatre. But Aaron soon finds out that this is not an easy task like he thought as Aldous takes him on one wild adventure after another, while he is being constantly harassed by Sergio to complete the assignment.


Reel Talk:

So far this is the funniest movie that I have seen this year, from beginning to end just one hilarious movie. Brand who also moonlights as a host for some of the video awards and is pretty terrible at it, should just stick to acting where he has shown he is quite talented in the few movies he has starred in. Add Jonah Hill in as the geeky transporter who gets sucked into the crazy rocker world by his rocker idol continues to show why he is a rising star. At first when you see P. Diddy , you think that he is basically portraying himself as a record mogul but as the film picks up he shows that he a crazy side to him, because he was hilariously funny. A must see movie, especially if you need a good laugh.

Starring: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Rose Byrne, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Colm Meany
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs and a soda on the side

By: Corndog – The Reel Hustler