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mwgrigs
Reviews
We Bought a Zoo (2011)
What's with the language?
Great feel-good movie! The story was strong and I thought the actors pulled off likable performances. Hollywood always pushes the envelope of their artistic license, blurring the lines between the factual and fictional elements of movies "based on a true story" and this was no exception. Nevertheless, it was very enjoyable and had memorable characters and memorable moments. Definitely one to watch again. Only real down side for me was the amount of "adult language" sprinkled throughout this family film.
Okay, I get it: it's Hollywood and it's the new millennium, but why the need to embellish the script with so many "colorful expletives?" I'm no saint and I let my own four-letter words fly every now and then, but when a movie is billed as a family flick, you gotta at least give parents a fair chance. Here's a clue Hollywood: When your movies are edited and played on T.V.--they're still just as good. In this movie, the language was just unnecessary and added nothing to it. Minus the unnecessary language, this movie gets a solid 8.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
Not worth a plugged nickel!
This is a terribly disappointing movie. With such a well-known cast I was expecting something with a great deal more substance. I'll admit that the overall message of depending on family regardless of differences and personalities is a respectable message, however, the means certainly did not justify the end in this case. The unrestrained (and unnecessary) profanity, explicit sex scenes (with the dogs) and the rude, uncouth and vulgar mouth of Monique (who comes off as just plain ol' trashy) does not do the movie, the actors or the message any justice.
Every one of these actors has portrayed highly memorable characters in other works, yet this was a break from good, wholesome fun, into raunchy, loudmouthed, predictable, almost cartoonish antics. The movie was extremely shallow.
Regrettably, this movie does nothing but reinforce negative associations for the black (African-American) community. After all of the struggles put forth by civil rights activists, why would these actors go to such lengths to erode all the good that was accomplished? Seems self-defeating to me.
From the caliber of these actors I expected so much more. Very disappointing.