What to Watch This Weekend: August 30, 2013

We recommended Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby while it was in theaters and the well-acted The Reluctant Fundamentalist is spoiled by an odd romance, so we suggest another DVD.

In Theaters: Short Term 12

Short Term 12 is one of our favorite 2013 movies (and it very well might be David's favorite). There's much joy and pain in getting to know a group home's troubled kids and their equally troubled lead staffer. Watching them naturally interact with one another and confront their issues is a treat. Seriously, it's one of the best movies of the year and an indie gem that is equal parts heart wrenching and heartwarming. 

On DVD: Pain & Gain

This is one of Michael Bay's more ambitious efforts. He took a brief break from action blockbusters to make this true crime dark comedy that pokes fun at the bumbling criminal escapades of three dimwitted bodybuilders. The humor is sometimes inspired but often juvenile, an inappropriate fit for such a grim true story. The leads (Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Mackie, and especially Dwayne Johnson) play their roles well.

Streaming (Netflix): Dredd

The makers of Dredd put their modest $45 million budget to good use, making a cult classic action film with surprisingly effective special effects and style. It also didn't offend comic fans like the neutered 1995 adaptation. The simple plot follows Dredd and a new recruit fighting to escape a criminal-packed high-rise after getting sealed in by a powerful drug lord. Its premise is eerily similar to that of The Raid: Redemption (differentiated by its language and a reliance on guns and explosives rather than martial arts), but Dredd began filming months earlier so that may just be a coincidence.

Streaming (HBO GO): Life of Pi

2012's biggest Oscar winner received much of its acclaim for its technical artistry, which some may feel is best experienced on the big screen. It's an unusual story focused on a teenage shipwreck survivor struggling to keep himself and a few unexpected animal castaways alive. He may have a hard time convincing the Bengal tiger to cooperate with the other survivors. It's based on a novel that some believed was "unfilmable", likely referring to a few clunky moments during the third act. The highlights are the characters' lost at sea struggle and the visuals.

Review: Pain & Gain

Release date: April 26, 2013

Running Time: 130 minutes

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris

Who to see it with: Gym buddies into dark comedies and stranger than fiction crime stories

Lee:

Pain & Gain is a dark comedy of errors revolving around personal trainer Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) who, after listening to motivational speaker Johnny Wu (The Hangover’s Ken Jeong), decides that he can realize his dreams by extorting a wealthy client with the help of two fellow bodybuilders (Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie). It quickly becomes clear that these three are not cut out for this type of work, as their numerous mistakes attract unwanted attention.

The story is very dark and interesting, especially for a Michael Bay film. It seems so absurd that it’s hard to believe that it’s based on a true story. Though funny and fairly clever, it suffers due to inconsistent writing and tonal shifts. The satire feels inspired, mocking the guys’ dimwitted personalities and humorously showing how more money really does come along with more problems. However, much of the humor reminds me of the goofy humans of Transformers, with silly, random jokes that come out of nowhere. Occasionally, these jokes provide some of the movies' best laughs and cleverly toy with the actors' personas, but sometimes they just feel

clunky and out of place. At times, the tone seems to abruptly alternate between mocking and celebrating the protagonists, which feels weird considering the terrible nature of the true events.

This strange story has all the elements of a great true crime tale, but what could have been a sharp, dark comedy (or, perhaps more appropriately, dramedy) too often feels like an R-rated showcase for Transformers-like characters and humor. Despite the story’s faults, the characters are always entertaining, my favorite being Dwayne Johnson’s eccentric, religious ex-convict who is slowly corrupted by his partners and sudden wealth. Rebel Wilson briefly appears and exchanges a few funny one-liners with Anthony Mackie, but her role is minor. The characters and twisted plot make this one of Bay's more memorable films, but the unfocused story and tone hold it back from greatness.

Rent it.

PS - They're pretty long, but you may want to check out the Miami New Times articles that detailed the strange and complicated true story: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3