Splitsville
A screwball comedy about the messiness of relationships? Sign me up! Splitsville is one of the funniest films of the year that had me laughing so hard that I was crying from laughter. Its sharp, witty and unapologetically raunchy comedy that dives head first into the world of open relationships. Asking questions such as “can open relationships lead to a healthy marriage”” or “can open relationships doom a couple in jealousy and envy?” through the lens of fist fights, slap stick gags, and the classic semantics of screwball comedy. Brought to life through a tightly knit ensemble featuring Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino (Marvin and Covino co-wrote, and Covino directed), Splitsville is a hysterical ride. Even my parents, whom I took to go see this, thought it was hysterical.
My Rating: A-
The Toxic Avenger
If you are going into The Toxic Avenger, do not expect some cinematic masterpiece. This is Troma we are talking about, a brand known for being bad taste cinema. Which include graphic nudity, a spectacle of over-the-top gore, and enough mean spirited profanity that you will have a bar of soap in your mouth for over a year. Its unapologetically silly, freaky, and absurd. So if you are a fan of the original Toxic Avenger, or are just a freak, like me, I have your new favorite cult midnight movie.
Writer and director Marcon Blair, keeps true to the thematic core of The Toxic Avenger, while also updating it to modern sensibilities, a much larger budget, and an A-List cast featuring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon. Filled to splatter-horror kills, absurdly corny comedy, and a capital “Fuck You” to greedy corporations, especially to pharmaceuticals and insurance companies, The Toxic Avenger is exactly the kind of crowd pleasing midnight movie you expect. It’s gory, it’s disgusting, and it’s fun. While not all of it lands and there was a bit too much CGI gore (even though the make-up is amazing), you kind of don’t care. This is a Troma movie where our protagonist is a green mutant freak who kills bad guys with his radioactive mop. This is the silly splatter horror superhero movie the world needs.
My Rating: B
The Roses
While The Roses may not be as mean spirited as the original film, nor is it as deep as A Marriage Story, it is still a fun, entertaining ride that makes you question your relationship choices. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are a match made in Hell (complimentary), as their chemistry is fiery, hot, and the right amount of self-destructiveness that will make you feel good about your relationship choices. And with actors of their caliber, they take the writing to a whole new level. The writing witty, smart and the perfection of dry British Humor, that will have you wheezing from laughing so hard. While, The Roses maybe a tad bit forgettable, it is still a fun time to be had by all.
My Rating: B
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