It is all about comedies this weekend, as we have two buddy-action-comedies, a family animation, one coming-to-America slapstick comedy, and a Bollywood rom-com. So let’s check them out.
War Dogs
Directed by: Todd Phillips
With: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, and Steve Lantz
What is it about? Based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America’s allies in Afghanistan.
Heads Up: Todd Philips had a great acclaim directing The Hangover and Old School, but he also had his share of letdowns with Due Date, The Hangover II, and The Hangover III. Here he is trying to repeat his formula of pairing flawed unlikeable characters, setting them loose on the world, and hilarity supposedly shall ensue. Early reviews suggest this is one of his better films, but I am still not very enthusiastic about it. I would wait and see whether the buzz is good around it before buying a ticket.
The Secret Life of Pets
Directed by: Yarrow Cheney, Chris Renaud
With: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, and Kevin Hart
What is it about? The quiet life of a terrier named Max is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.
Heads Up: From Illumination Entertainment the same studio that gave us Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, and The Lorax comes this adorable looking animation. This is one of the biggest successes in a rather dreary summer. I would say of course you should go for it.
Skiptrace
Directed by: Renny Harlin
With: Jackie Chan, Johnny Knoxville, and Bingbing Fan
What is it about? A detective from Hong Kong teams up with an American gambler to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal.
Heads Up: Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, The Long Kiss Goodnight) directing Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville? On paper this seems really good, given that the two leads are very funny and charismatic, and Jackie Chan has struck gold before in this genre (Rush Hour, and Shanghai Noon). That said, the trailer is not very funny and Renny Harlin hasn’t made a successful film since the 90s. I am curious but not completely on-board.
Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero
Directed by: Jonathan Kesselman
With: Maz Jobrani, John Heard, and Deanna Russo
What is it about? A wannabe private investigator wins the Green Card lottery and moves to America to pursue his dream only to find himself embroiled in a conspiracy to start the next world war
Heads Up: Maz Jobrani is a very funny Iranian American comedian who was a part of the Axis of Evil comedy tour. In this satire he is poking fun of all the stereotypes about Muslims and Middle-Eastern immigrants to the US. All these shenanigans (as shown in the trailer) are funny because they are mostly true, or at least an exaggerated version of the truth. Reviews are very good, so I would recommend checking it out.
Happy Bhag Jayegi
Directed by: Mudassar Aziz
With: Diana Penty, Abhay Deol, and Jimmy Shergill
What is it about? A Pakistani guy named Bilal lives an uncomplicated life until one day when three gift baskets are delivered to his house in Amritsar, and in one of the these baskets Happy, an Indian runaway bride, was hiding . Now unfolds a comic tale of errors between the two neighboring Nations.
Heads Up: This century’s favorite Deol is back in this Indo-Pakistan comedy. The trailer is very funny, so I would definitely wanna see this one.
