BEFORE: Once again, I've got numerous linking possibilities, but let's go from Ryan Reynolds through the recent animated movie "The Croods" to his co-star, Nicolas Cage (last seen in "Kick-Ass"). I've done two chains of Nic Cage movies now, I think, and every time I think I'm done with the guy, up pops another movie I haven't seen. Sometimes it feels like he's dominating the project, but he's really only been in 21 of these films. Damn, I really have to get back to figuring out which actor or actress has appeared the most times over the course of this project. Shouldn't there be some software that can help me figure that out?
THE PLOT: A former First Lady of the US wants a particular Secret Service agent to head her bodyguard detail, even though he can't stand her.
AFTER: I guess this is sort of a character study, because there's certainly not much of a plot. It's really just a sort of a factoid, that the Secret Service guards ex-Presidents and former First Ladies, so that sort of prompted a storyline where an older widowed First Lady is tough to deal with.
There is some action late in the film, but it's a plot point I won't mention here - other than to say it feels really forced when it does occur. It strains the bounds of credulity, if you will. And it tries to turn an otherwise quiet, almost reflective film about a man serving his country into some sort of an action film, which makes perfect sense, given his job, but at the same time is a plot twist that feels out of place.
So there's not enough action to really be an action film, and not enough comedy to be really funny, what does that leave us with? Just the drama between an employer and employee, which does manage to be somewhat universal, especially if you're in any kind of middle-management position or have a difficult boss of some kind. Maybe you try your best to follow the company rules and get upset when your boss can do whatever he or she wants? Maybe you have to manage others but don't feel you'll ever get the respect you deserve, or any opportunity for advancement? If so, this may have more value as a metaphor than as actual entertainment.
Also starring Shirley Maclaine (last seen in "What a Way to Go!"), Austin Pendleton (last seen in "Game Change"), Edward Albert, James Rebhorn (last seen in "Cold Mountain"), Richard Griffiths.
RATING: 4 out of 10 cans of peas
No comments:
Post a Comment