MOVIE OF THE WEEK #1 (8/7-8/9/13): WE'RE THE MILLERS
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, Molly C. Quinn, Tomer Sisley, Matthew Willig, Mark L. Young and Ken Marino
WRITER(S): Bob Fisher, Steve Faber, Sean Anders and John Morris (screenplay); Bob Fisher and Steve Faber (story)
DIRECTOR(S): Rawson Marshall Thurber
60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS: David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) is a pretty happy-go-lucky drug dealer who works for his old college friend Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms), a.k.a. "Pablo Chacon." His life is pretty decent as his customers (who come from all walks of life) never threaten him and pay on time with no qualms.
Also living in David's building is Kenny (Will Poulter), a nice enough 18 year-old kid is as aloof as to the opposite sex as he is to the whereabouts of his mother who he hasn't seen in days. Then again, things could be worse – he could be Rose (Jennifer Aniston), a stripper who has a bad boss (Ken Marino), a bad boyfriend and eviction pending.
David's happy little world, though, gets shattered when he reluctantly tries to help Kenny rescue Casey (Emma Roberts) from a street gang ... Which in turn causes him to lose not only his personal savings, but $43,000 owed to Brad. But instead of killing him, Brad offers David a chance to make it up to him by driving into Mexico, picking up a "smidge" of marijuana and bringing it back to Denver. But how is David planning to get into Mexico and back without looking suspicious?
If you don't know, you obviously haven't met the Millers ... Yet ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who enjoy today's more risqué comedies like this summer's This is the End, Jason Sudeikis fans, Jennifer Aniston fans, Nick Offerman fans ...
Also living in David's building is Kenny (Will Poulter), a nice enough 18 year-old kid is as aloof as to the opposite sex as he is to the whereabouts of his mother who he hasn't seen in days. Then again, things could be worse – he could be Rose (Jennifer Aniston), a stripper who has a bad boss (Ken Marino), a bad boyfriend and eviction pending.
David's happy little world, though, gets shattered when he reluctantly tries to help Kenny rescue Casey (Emma Roberts) from a street gang ... Which in turn causes him to lose not only his personal savings, but $43,000 owed to Brad. But instead of killing him, Brad offers David a chance to make it up to him by driving into Mexico, picking up a "smidge" of marijuana and bringing it back to Denver. But how is David planning to get into Mexico and back without looking suspicious?
If you don't know, you obviously haven't met the Millers ... Yet ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who enjoy today's more risqué comedies like this summer's This is the End, Jason Sudeikis fans, Jennifer Aniston fans, Nick Offerman fans ...
WHO WON'T LIKE THIS FILM?: People who are grossed out by male nudity and/or are uncomfortable with sexual scenarios on-screen, people who find recent R-rated comedies too raunchy, people who are offended by movies suggesting casual drug use is commonplace
BOTTOM LINE – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Great – and hilariously, surprisingly and dare I say, well-constructed-ly so.
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT?: On paper, We're the Millers has all the elements that could spell out comedic disaster. You've got two big name stars in a comedic role posing as a family, which means the studio might be tempted to stick in over-the-top (read: corny) ridiculous scenes before forcing a heart-warming moment down your throat where all the characters come together.
Fortunately, Millers is 100 percent free of that. Instead, what you get is arguably the funniest movie of 2013.
Sudeikis shows a full range of comedic talents in Millers, slipping in and out of family man mode to single, selfish jerk mode with great aplomb and ease, just like Aniston does in showing real parental skill while at the same time portraying a totally believable stripper when the scene calls for it. Roberts likewise displays a great sense of timing as the most hardened member of the group ... Leaving all the straight man incidents to be played perfectly by Poulter with his understated breakout comedic performance.
Not to be outdone, the secondary characters shine just as bright in their moments. Axe Cop himself Nick Offerman and the always reliable, versatile Kathryn Hahn are fantastic as a Wisconsin-based vacationing couple whose adventures with their daughter Melissa (Molly C. Quinn) make for the best moments in the movie. Former NFL lineman/Super Bowl champion Matthew Willig and Tomer Sisley as a rival pair of drug dealers shine in their limited screen time, keeping his entire house of cards on track by having them portray everything in a straightforward fashion, letting the comedy come out of the situation naturally. Ed Helms likewise plays against all of his Hangover nice guy-stigma with solid standing ... and Mark L. Young's work as Scottie P. is so funny you'll be laughing long after he's off the screen.
It all adds up to a package where you get outrageous moments that are allowed to happen as organically as possible, which is what makes all the difference in a movie of this nature. The laughs come fast and furiously throughout Millers, with each moment building upon the last one while still maintaing a coherent and dare I say, believable story in a rather outlandish situation.
Director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) deserves a lot of credit for putting this ensemble comedy together as well as he has, balancing each character's screen time out efficiently and making sure the jokes hit when they are supposed to and with impact. That's not to suggest the chemistry, talent and timing exhibited the cast isn't a major factor in the film's success, but without someone to lead, it all could easily have gone astray.
Fortunately however, in a summer filled with mediocre or disappointing offerings, We're the Millers is a standout release – and for that Thurber, Sudeikis, Aniston and company must be commended.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT?: On paper, We're the Millers has all the elements that could spell out comedic disaster. You've got two big name stars in a comedic role posing as a family, which means the studio might be tempted to stick in over-the-top (read: corny) ridiculous scenes before forcing a heart-warming moment down your throat where all the characters come together.
Fortunately, Millers is 100 percent free of that. Instead, what you get is arguably the funniest movie of 2013.
Sudeikis shows a full range of comedic talents in Millers, slipping in and out of family man mode to single, selfish jerk mode with great aplomb and ease, just like Aniston does in showing real parental skill while at the same time portraying a totally believable stripper when the scene calls for it. Roberts likewise displays a great sense of timing as the most hardened member of the group ... Leaving all the straight man incidents to be played perfectly by Poulter with his understated breakout comedic performance.
Not to be outdone, the secondary characters shine just as bright in their moments. Axe Cop himself Nick Offerman and the always reliable, versatile Kathryn Hahn are fantastic as a Wisconsin-based vacationing couple whose adventures with their daughter Melissa (Molly C. Quinn) make for the best moments in the movie. Former NFL lineman/Super Bowl champion Matthew Willig and Tomer Sisley as a rival pair of drug dealers shine in their limited screen time, keeping his entire house of cards on track by having them portray everything in a straightforward fashion, letting the comedy come out of the situation naturally. Ed Helms likewise plays against all of his Hangover nice guy-stigma with solid standing ... and Mark L. Young's work as Scottie P. is so funny you'll be laughing long after he's off the screen.
It all adds up to a package where you get outrageous moments that are allowed to happen as organically as possible, which is what makes all the difference in a movie of this nature. The laughs come fast and furiously throughout Millers, with each moment building upon the last one while still maintaing a coherent and dare I say, believable story in a rather outlandish situation.
Director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story) deserves a lot of credit for putting this ensemble comedy together as well as he has, balancing each character's screen time out efficiently and making sure the jokes hit when they are supposed to and with impact. That's not to suggest the chemistry, talent and timing exhibited the cast isn't a major factor in the film's success, but without someone to lead, it all could easily have gone astray.
Fortunately however, in a summer filled with mediocre or disappointing offerings, We're the Millers is a standout release – and for that Thurber, Sudeikis, Aniston and company must be commended.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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