Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) - James returns with welcome low-brow shenanigans

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Star Kevin James seemingly runs atop the roof of a major Las Vegas hotel on this chuckle-worthy poster for Andy Fickman's Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

Blart is regaining his footing after a very quick divorce, when he gets invited to a mall cop conference in Las Vegas, - and of course he elects to bring his daughter along.

 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is written by co-writer/co-producer/star Kevin James (Zookeeper (2011)) and Nick Bakay (Mom (2013-21)) and directed by Andy Fickman (She's the Man (2006)). It is the sequel to Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) by Steve Carr.

- Turns out there are some mean types in Vegas, who are after some art in the major hotel Wynn Las Vegas, - and it is all naturally enormously silly. At times the connections between events here are almost completely lost, but at the same time Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is an irresistible low-brow comedy, and James' physical brand of comedy is particularly fun here. Gary Valentine (Jack and Jill (2011)) also amuses as a veteran mall cop, and Neal McDonough (Apex (2021)) deserves praise for an altogether ludicrous villain's performance here that's hysterical. Raini Rodriguez (Rekindling Christmas (2020)) as Blart's daughter is also cute. 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is intellectually low-ceilinged to be sure but damned charming and funnier than you think!

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: Reportedly 38 mil. $ (different accounts)

Box office: 107.5 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 2.82 times its cost)

[Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 was released 9 April (Germany) and runs 94 minutes. Shooting took place from April - June 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Florida. The film was the first to attain Nevada's film tax rebate, reportedly netting it 4.3 mil. $ returned. James reportedly accepted a pay cut to reduce the budget size. The film opened #2, behind holdover hit Furious 7, to a 23.7 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 3 weekends (#2-#4-#5), grossing 71 mil. $ (66 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Germany with 6.1 mil. $ (5.7 %) and Mexico with 5.6 mil. $ (5.2 %). The film additionally made an estimated 12.4 mil. $ on the North-American home video market alone. Talks of another sequel haven't yet come to fruition. Fickman returned with 7 TV credits prior to his theatrical return Playing with Fire (2019). James returned in Liv and Maddie (2015, TV-series) and theatrically in Pixels (2015). Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 is rotten at 6 % with a 3/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2?

Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) - Stars flare up in breezy romcom

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The three stars stand in a fix on top of a cardcastle in a stylized Las Vegas landscape on this poster for Andrew Bergman's Honeymoon in Vegas

Our hero is a private investigator in New York with a mother complex, who wants to keep his marriage-lusting girlfriend; so he invites her with him to Las Vegas, but he soon winds up in a real jam!

 

Honeymoon in Vegas is written and directed by Andrew Bergman (So Fine (1981)).

Sarah Jessica Parker (Failure to Launch (2006)), Nicolas Cage (Valley Girl (1983)) and James Caan (The Godfather (1972)) give charismatic performances that make this light-legged matter an if not exactly bubbly then at least entertaining and occasionally funny and sweet film. With Peter Boyle (Steelyard Blues (1973)) and Pat Morita (The Stoneman (2002)) in laughable satirical Hawaiian parts plus plot unlikelihood and Elvis impersonators galore, - all helping to save Honeymoon in Vegas from ever taking itself seriously.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 25 mil. $

Box office: 35.2 mil. $ - North America only

= Uncertain but likely a flop (projected return of 2.16 times its cost)

[Honeymoon in Vegas was released 28 August (USA) and runs 96 minutes. Shooting took place from August - November 1991 in New York, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and in Hawaii. The film opened #1 to a 7.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend at #1 and then one more in the top 5 (#2), grossing 35.2 mil. $. The international gross numbers are regrettably not public. With a projected international gross of 19 mil. $, the total gross of 54.2 mil. $ gives the film flop status. It was nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Bergman returned with It Could Happen to You (1994). Caan returned in The Program (1993); Cage in Amos & Andrew (1993); and Parker in Hocus Pocus (1993). Honeymoon in Vegas is fresh at 66 % with a 6.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Honeymoon in Vegas? 

Ocean's Thirteen (2007) - Soderbergh lays the deck with pizazz

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The 12 male stars (the one female is missing...) stand around a crap game table on this poster for Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Thirteen

Reuben Tishkoff gets pushed out of service by the town's new unsympathetic major casino owner, and so Danny Ocean calls his team of experts together to serve revenge.

 

Ocean's Thirteen is written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Rounders (1998), both) and directed and photographed by Georgian master filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)), whose 17th feature it is. It is also the final film in Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy.

After the dubious plotting and convoluted elements of Ocean's Twelve (2004), it is a great pleasure to see and feel the slick machine of the first film return to form here in a film that's as strong as Ocean's Eleven (2001).

Al Pacino (Insomnia (2002)) is delightful as the dirty villain, who simply lacks George Clooney's (One Fine Day (1996)) gentlemanly skills as Danny Ocean. The story is simple yet again, and it is the serving rather than the plot that makes this firebrand entertainment: It is intelligent, funny and delicious to look at and listen to. The great drums of show business roll loud here; Hollywood is in its ace.

Ocean's Thirteen is packing fun supporting roles and cameos, gadgets and a tight story. - And Oprah!

 

Related posts:

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2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
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2013 in films - according to Film Excess
Side Effects (2013) - Modern people screw up in excellent thriller 
Behind the Candelabra (2013) - Restraint and extravagance 
Magic Mike (2012) - Soderbergh and Tatum score big with cheeky male strip romp 
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 
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Contagion (2011) - Soderbergh's global pandemic creep-out  
Haywire (2011) - Soderbergh's taut, stylish ensemble actioner is a masterpiece

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]  
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  
The Informant! (2009) - Soderbergh and Damon's terrific true-crime dramedy  
Che Part One - The Argentine (2008) - Soderbergh's sober depiction of the Cuban revolution 

Ocean's Twelve (2004) - Soderbergh returns with jumbled, glossy heist comedy sequel 
Solaris (2002) - A suffering space question mark  

Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Soderbergh brings down the house 

2000 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Top 10: Best crime movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
Erin Brockovich (2000) - Roberts, Soderbergh and Grant's triumphant biopic    

1998 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  

Out of Sight (1998) - Clooney and Lopez burn up the screen in Soderbergh's crime comedy

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 85 mil. $

Box office: 311.3 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 3.66 times its cost)

[Ocean's Thirteen premiered 24 May (Cannes Film Festival, out of competition) and runs 122 minutes. Clooney was paid 15 mil. $ for his performance in the film; the over-all budget was lowered from the preceding film's 110 mil. $ to 85 mil. $, the same budget as for the first film in the trilogy in 2001. Shooting took place from July - December 2006 in London, England, Las Vegas, Nevada and in California. The film opened #1 to a 36.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#4), grossing 117.1 mil. $ (37.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 27.3 mil. $ (8.8 %) and the UK with 26.4 mil. $ (8.5 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 2.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Soderbergh returned with Che: Part One (2008). Clooney returned in Michael Clayton (2007); Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007); Damon in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and Pacino in Righteous Kill (2008). Ocean's Thirteen is fresh at 70 % with a 6.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ocean's Thirteen?

Ocean's Eleven (2001) - Soderbergh brings down the house

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When you've got a cast like this, you should flaunt it. So does this poster for Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven

Released from prison, grand larcenist Danny Ocean pulls together a 10-man team for an ambitious new heist, aiming at three major Las Vegas casinos in the same operation.

 

Ocean's Eleven is written by Ted Griffin (Ravenous (1999)) and directed and photographed by Georgian master filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)), whose 11th feature it is. It is a remake of Ocean's Eleven (1960) by Lewis Milestone, which featured the Rat Pack, Angie Dickinson and more.

Soderbergh has spun a piece of top entertainment here and resurrected a genre (the heist movie) in a way that couldn't possibly be any more stylish. The attractive cast all deliver, and especially Elliott Gould (E/R (1984-85)) and Carl Reiner (The Art of Love (1965)) are hilarious. 

Ocean's Eleven reeks of Vegas and show business in the best possible way. There's small twists and neat features in the long built-up to the big score. Ocean's Eleven is a highly successful operation.

 

Related posts:

Steven Soderbergh:  Logan Lucky (2017) - Soderbergh returns with amusing, slow hillbilly heist comedy
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Magic Mike XXL (2015) - Lots of fun and skin but still no gay as Mike goes to the convention (cinematographer, editor) 
2013 in films - according to Film Excess
Side Effects (2013) - Modern people screw up in excellent thriller 
Behind the Candelabra (2013) - Restraint and extravagance 
Magic Mike (2012) - Soderbergh and Tatum score big with cheeky male strip romp 
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2011 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 
2011 in films - according to Film Excess 
Contagion (2011) - Soderbergh's global pandemic creep-out  
Haywire (2011) - Soderbergh's taut, stylish ensemble actioner is a masterpiece

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]  
2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  
The Informant! (2009) - Soderbergh and Damon's terrific true-crime dramedy  
Che Part One - The Argentine (2008) - Soderbergh's sober depiction of the Cuban revolution 

Ocean's Twelve (2004) - Soderbergh returns with jumbled, glossy heist comedy sequel 
Solaris (2002) - A suffering space question mark  

2000 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Top 10: Best crime movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
Erin Brockovich (2000) - Roberts, Soderbergh and Grant's triumphant biopic    

1998 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  

Out of Sight (1998) - Clooney and Lopez burn up the screen in Soderbergh's crime comedy 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 85 mil. $

Box office: 450.7 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 5.30 times its cost)

[Ocean's Eleven premiered 5 December (California) and runs 116 minutes. A remake by David Permut was close to happening in 1987. George Clooney (Three Kings (1999)) was paid 20 mil. $ for his performance; Brad Pitt (Sleepers (1996)) 10 mil. $ - against a back-end deal that ended up netting him 30 mil. $ total; Julia Roberts (Mary Reilly (1996)) got 10 mil. $ and Matt Damon (Rounders (1998)) 5 mil. $ - that's 45 mil. $ total up front for the film's 4 main stars, more than half the film's budget. Shooting took place from February - June 2001 in Chicago, Illinois, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Nevada, Florida and in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #1 to a 38.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 5 weekends (#2-#2-#2-#3-#4), grossing 183.4 mil. $ (40.7 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 51.9 mil. $ (11.5 %) and the UK with 35.7 mil. $ (7.9 %). The film was nominated for a César award and won a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. The success was followed by two sequels with returning stars and director Soderbergh; Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007), - as well as a female-lead reboot by Gary Ross; Ocean's 8 (2018). Soderbergh returned first with Full Frontal (2002). Clooney first returned in Welcome to Collinwood (2002); Pitt in Jackass (2002, TV-series) and theatrically in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002); Roberts in Grand Champion (2002); and Damon with a voice performance in The Majestic (2001) and physically in Gerry (2002). Ocean's Eleven is certified fresh at 83 % with a 7/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Ocean's Eleven?

Showgirls (1995) - Verhoeven's outrageous, ridiculous, hilarious Hollywood anomaly

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A nubile, long-legged blond figure adorns this dark poster for Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls

Nomi arrives in Las Vegas without her suitcase but with her head full of dreams. And luckily she soon befriends Molly, a seamstress who introduces her to the town's adult dance scene.

 

Showgirls is written by Joe Eszterhas (Flashdance (1983)) and directed by Dutch master filmmaker Paul Verhoeven (Wat Zien Ik (1971)), whose 11th feature it is. 

It is an anomaly in Hollywood history: The first and only wide release NC-17 rated movie, Showgirls is likely the big studio pic with most bare breasts, a giant budget and no major stars. It is a lustful, young-boyishly-enthused, strange work that could only come from Verhoeven.

Elizabeth Berkley (Meet Market (2004)) is wild and electric as Nomi, (and writhes almost convulsively in her sex scenes), but in the context of the fever dream-like film her ridiculed performance actually could hardly have been better. Gina Gershon (P.S. I Love You (2007)) camps it up as the show's star Cristal. Robert Davi (The Hot Chick (2002)) is ideal as a creep, and Kyle MacLachlan (Free Jimmy (2006)) is funny (and shows off his great ass) as a rich playboy.

The melodrama gets another gear here. The photography (by Jost Vacano (Supermarket (1974))) and execution is highly competent and vivid, and the result is an outrageous, ridiculous, hilarious bucket of juicy, rich entertainment, a good/bad reflection on the American performance culture. The dance acts are phenomenal, and once the news sensation of the nudity evaporates, Showgirls still has more and more laughable developments to offer. It may be exploitation, (as Quentin Tarantino has called it), but in any case Showgirls is delivered with a major twinkle in the eye. 

Related posts:

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The Fourth Man/De Vierde Man (1983) - Verhoeven's amazing Dutch sex thriller nightmare

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 45 mil. $

Box office: 37.7 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.83 times its cost)

[Showgirls premiered 21 September (California) and runs 131 minutes. Eszterhas became the highest-paid screenwriter in movie history for Showgirls: He was reportedly given a 2 mil. $ advance based on an idea scribbled on a napkin at a meeting with Verhoeven, and then another 1.7 mil. $ once the film began production. Verhoeven was paid 2 mil. $ for directing; and Berkley was paid 100k $ for her performance in the film. Shooting took place from August - December 1994 in Los Angeles, California and in Nevada, including in Las Vegas. Distributor United Artists reportedly dispatched hundreds of employees to cinemas in the US to make sure no patrons snuck into showings and that the 17 age requirement was upheld. The film opened #2, behind fellow new release Seven, to an 8.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend in the top 5 (#5) and grossed 20.3 mil. $ (53.8 % of the total gross). The film was banned in Ireland for blasphemy. Berkley was dropped by her agent following the film's release and was ignored by other agents. Although theatrically a huge flop, the film since became a cult favorite, accruing a reported 100 mil. $ through its video release. Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Verhoeven returned with Starship Troopers (1997). Berkley returned in White Wolves II: Legend of the Wild (1996). Showgirls is rotten at 23 % with a 3.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Showgirls?

Leaving Las Vegas (1995) - Excellent performances in stirring alcoholism-themed classic

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A hype-filled poster with one great still from the film, Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas

A down-on-his-luck, recently divorced and fired alcoholic man decides to burn everything and drive to Las Vegas to drink himself to death, but on his way there he meets a caring prostitute, who takes care of him.

 

Leaving Las Vegas is written and directed by great English filmmaker Mike Figgis (Stormy Monday (1988)), who also co-composed the score. The film is an adaptation of the same-titled 1990 novel by John O'Brien (Stripper Lessons (1997, posthumous).) 

It is an unexpectedly realistic and serious depiction of the problems that arise when loving an alcoholic. Figgis' musical choices may at times feel too chipper for the awful images. But the performances from especially Nicolas Cage (Adaptation. (2002)), who is impressive in this career high-point, and Elisabeth Shue (Link (1986)), who is also terrific, buoy this classic drama.

Excellent editing and cinematography (by Declan Quinn (Admission (2013))) also do their part in making this substance abuse film highly recommendable.

Shue talks about her career and role in the movie on The Late Show with David Letterman here

 

Cost: 3.5-4 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 49.8 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned between 12.45-14.22 times its cost)

[Leaving Las Vegas premiered 15 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 111 minutes. O'Brien committed suicide (gunshot to the head) two weeks after learning that the film was in production. Cage was paid 240k $ for his performance. Shooting took place from September - October 1994 in California, including in Los Angeles, and in Nevada, including in Las Vegas. The film opened #20 to a 70k $ first weekend in 7 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #5 and in 1,510 theaters, grossing 32 mil. $ (64.3 % of the total gross). It was nominated for 4 Oscars, winning one, for Best Actor (Cage's only win to date). It lost Best Actress (Shue) to Susan Sarandon for Dead Man Walking, Director to Mel Gibson for Braveheart and Adapted Screenplay to Emma Thompson for Sense and Sensibility. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, won 4/6 Independent Spirit award nominations, 1/4 Golden Globe nominations and 2 National Board of Review awards, among many other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Figgis returned with One Night Stand (1997). Cage returned in The Rock (1996); Shue in The Trigger Effect (1996). Leaving Las Vegas is certified fresh at 89 % with a 7.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Leaving Las Vegas?

Grand Theft Auto (1977) or, Crash Bam Boom!

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Eye-popping auto destruction and speed-loving youths are promised on this dramatic poster for Ron Howard's Grand Theft Auto

A young couple wants to get hitched in Las Vegas, but her rich parents are furiously set against it, so they run off in her father's Rolls Royce. The father however sends his agents out after them, and through the radio bounties get put on their heads.

 

Grand Theft Auto is written by Rance Howard (The Flintstones (1964-65)) and his son, co-writer/director/star Ron Howard (The Missing (2003)), whose debut it is. 

The film starts really well with lots of youthful charm and fun bits, and Grand Theft Auto is made with a child-like, rascally sense of humor. But not far into the flick, it runs out of material, and after the somewhat formulaic 'crisis' for the couple, one begins to be bored. Because Grand Theft Auto mostly consists of windows breaking in extreme slow motion and cars that drive ahead very fast due to being manipulated with fast forward editing, an effect that's used over-zealously throughout this minor vehicle.

 

Related posts:

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2008 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 
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2008 in films - according to Film Excess
Frost/Nixon (2008) - Howard's political drama is gripping, superiorly acted 
The Da Vinci Code (2006) - Howard's first Brown adaptation is a popcorn thriller hoot  

2001 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Top 10: The best biopic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date 
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EDtv (1999) - Phenomenal cast shine in Howard's witty mega-flop

Far and Away (1992) - Howard, Hollywood's sweethearts visit the old West with dull result (co-writer/director) 
Backdraft (1991) - Howard's giant, stupid Chicago-set firefighter movie 
American Graffiti (1973) or, Cruisin' Modesto '62 (actor)   

 

Watch a TV-spot for the film here

 

Cost: 602k $

Box office: 15 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 24.91 times its cost)

[Grand Theft Auto was released 16 June (USA) and runs 84 minutes. The film was devised as an unofficial follow-up to the similar major hit with Howard starring, Eat My Dust (1976). Shooting took place in California and Las Vegas, Nevada around March 1977. The film grossed impressive 15 mil. $ worldwide. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, in line with this one. Howard returned with 3 TV movies prior to his theatrical return with Night Shift (1982). As an actor he returned in More American Graffiti (1979). Grand Theft Auto is rotten at 23 % with a 4.84/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Grand Theft Auto?