Baggage Claim - Catch the next flight

Ever wondered what a poorly written Jennifer Aniston type movie would be like with a cast of colorful yummy black men and a marginally cute chick as the lead?  Yeah well, me either, but that's basically what you get in Baggage Claim.

Baggage Claim starring Paula Patton, aka Robin Thicke's high wifey, is about a flight attendant named Montana who's mother puts so much pressure on her to get married.  With the help of her friends, they come up with this ridiculous plan to get a proposal before her younger sister's wedding by circumventing all flights that her former boyfriends are on to try and spark something new with each one. Montana eventually discovers what she really wants for herself and realizes her Mr. Right is closer than she thought.  I know.  I said it was ridiculous.  I mean, are we really supposed to believe that an ex is going to propose after one brief meeting?  Are we really supposed to believe that Paula Patton can carry a whole movie by herself?

With all the sexiness on the screen, this movie had potential.  The first to grace our eyes is our favorite black german, Boris Kodjoe.  We all know he's not the best actor, but who cares.  That man is foine!  He has limited lines and has a short stint on screen, but that's ok with me.  At least we get to see him in his skivvies.  Next we get the chocolaty Derek Luke, as William Wright, the next door neighbor and childhood friend dating Christina Milian's character, Taylor.  Trey Songz is up next, and although his true sexuality is constantly questioned, he's sexiness is not.  I was proud of his acting although his role wasn't a far stretch from his real life, but his scene made me laugh, and I loved seeing him all soaped up in the hot tube.  Then there was that perfect smile from Taye Diggs.  I didn't feel his character was much of a stretch from who he truly is.  He played a republican running for Congress who loves being in control and loves his dog, Juicy, more than being a good human being.  Diggs is nice to gaze upon, but I would never want to date him.  Lastly, Djimon Hounsou is the seemingly perfect african suitor.  He's handsome, wealthy, and wants to show Montana the world.  He can show me whatever he likes.  Ok!

Paula Patton is the huge problem with this movie.  I don't see the appeal that the men see.  She's kinda funny looking to me.  I think her neck looks like she's a linebacker for the 49ers (Forever Faithful), and her weird facial expressions took away from some of her beauty.  It didn't help that everyone in the movie had horrible make-up jobs.  She also seemed to over act, and wasn't ever convincing.  I found it sad that EVERYONE else acted better than she did, even the singers (Jill Scott, Trey, and Christina).  This might explain why we haven't seen much of her over the years.  She's just really not that good.

Jennifer Lewis is Montana's mom.  I really wish she would play a different character for once.  Lauren London is the little sister and Terrence J is her fiance.  He has such a baby face that his character is only a sophomore in college.  Nephew Tommy and LaLa Anthony round out this cast of color; both have very limited rolls and very few lines, like a total of 5.  And, although the cast is semi-star studded and there were a few laugh-out-loud moments, Baggage Claim should be lost with all the luggage at the airport.  It's too predictable and feels like something you've seen before and done better, so just catch the next flight.

Prisoners - Now that's how you make a thriller!!

I don't rave about most movies.  I either think they are bad, ok, or good enough.  It's rare that I think something is great or amazing.  Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Terrence Howard is great and amazing!!!  I was on the edge of my seat, literally.

Prisoners is a crime-thriller about two families searching for their missing daughters.  They believe that the girls have been kidnapped by a young man with the IQ of a 10 year old because the girls were seen playing on his RV.  When the police have to let him go, the father of one of the girls (Jackman) decides to get answers on his own.  Meanwhile, the detective on the case (Gyllenhaal), discovers multiple clues that eventually leads to the truth.  That truth is as twisty and winding as the mazes that are ever present throughout the movie.

The answer is right in front of your face, but because there are so many emotions displayed by all of these fantastics actors, you can often over-look it.  We all know that Viola Davis is a fantastic actress which is evident here, but Hugh Jackman is the clear scene stealer.  His emotions are so raw and real that you feel his anger, his sadness, his fear, his need to protect, and his desire to find his daughter.  Terrence Howard is the other father, but he is the saddened, weary father who really doesn't know what to do or how to help.  He's kind of a punk.  I wanted to shake him and tell him to sack up.  Maria Bello plays Jackman's wife.  She's so distraught that she spends the majority of the movie drugged up and asleep.  Understandable.  Jake Gyllenhaal's character as the detective on this case struggles with finding the girls, keeping the parents from wilding out, and getting answers to the many clues that really make no sense until you see them all together.

Suspense and unexpected twist really take this thriller to the next level.  I truly enjoyed the raw emotions, the perfect plot, the incredible actors, and the movie as a whole.  They don't make great movies like this anymore.  There weren't any huge explosions, or sci-fi creatures, big car chase scenes, or tons of gun play.  It was a simple movie about how two families react to the kidnapping of their daughters, and how the detective on the case handles it.  But, it wasn't a simple situation by any means. It was a thriller like no other.

Riddick - I Am Riddick

It's hard to carry a movie all by yourself.  Will Smith did it in I Am Legend, but can Vin Diesel do it?   What do you think?  Ok, so Vin Diesel (I can't just call him Vin.  It's weird to me for some reason.) reprises his best role as Riddick.  I love the character of Riddick.  Yes he's vicious, murderous, solitary, and mostly uncaring, but there's something about his strength and athleticism that is mesmerizing.  Does that mean I want to see him solely on the big screen for about 45 minutes?  What do you think?

Riddick is the third major motion picture for this character.  In Pitch Black, he had to get off a planet while fighting killer beings, containing a merc (bounty hunter) from trying to kill him, and take some people along with him.  In The Chronicles of Riddick (my fav), Riddick has to not only take down the Necromongers, he also has to get off a super hot planet to do it before he's turned into ashes.  In Riddick, he has to once again, get off a planet, fight off mercs, and do so while fighting off murderous creatures.  Way to be original David Towhy.

Vin Diesel isn't a great actor which is why his dialogue is always limited.  I guess they thought he's so terrible now and out of shape that we won't give him anyone to talk to except an evolutionized dog for the first third of the movie.  Look, I did like watching Riddick prove how strong and resilient he is and make friends with a dog which was very I Am Legend like too, but the truth is, we came to watch him slice and dice folks.  You need people to do that.  Right?  I didn't appreciate having to wait so long for that to happen, almost two-thirds of the movie.  I, also, didn't appreciate the repetitiveness of the story.  I will say that when Riddick does get down to it, he does it like no other.  Those action scenes were great and gory, but again it wasn't anything we haven't already seen him do.

The Chronicles of Riddick had such a complex storyline, and think they were trying to go for that again, but it didn't work.  This movie wasn't a fail, it just wasn't a pass. SPOILER ALERT BUT NOT REALLY: In over two hours, Riddick only kills about 6 people, and it ends pretty much the way the others do.  I'm just hoping this was the last we'll see of Riddick.  I hope he finally makes it to Furya, and has several seats while he's there.