The City Wire introduces Trav & SHE

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The Trav & SHE movie of the week: Up
Up is playing in Disney Digital 3D at the Malco Cinema 12 and the Carmike 14 in Fort Smith. Up is also playing at the Malco in Van Buren.

Trav: I’m not your typical movie reviewer, and this isn’t your typical movie review. This review is intended to be a fun look at why I liked the movie or why I disliked the movie. I want to answer one question with my review: Is it worth the $8.50 to peep the movie?  There’s not going to be a thumbs up or thumbs down rating system, but more of a look at did I get what I was expecting for my hard-earned $8.50 out of the movie.


SHE: Not only am I not your typical movie reviewer, I had not been to the movies in a few years. Enter Trav and his cousin who recruited me into their Movie Club. Does this make me an expert? Heck no, I’m just a girl with an opinion! And, being the generous soul that I am, I’ll be watching the movie so that A) you don’t have to; B) you can choose to see a good quality movie; or C) if you choose to see a movie on my advice and don’t like it, you have someone to blame!



Trav: One of my favorite parts about going to the movies is the previews. I’ll share my opinions of them as well in each week’s review.

SHE: I <3 (love) previews! So often the previews are better than the actual film … or maybe that’s due to my attention span.



Trav: This week we were shown what seems to be all the previews to every animated feature that comes out in the next year or so. Maybe its because I don’t have any kids, or because my super-cute niece is too young to enjoy going to the movies with her favorite uncle, but this week’s trailers were a bore, even if they were all in 3-D. We saw the previews for the following:



• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Trav: To be honest, I’ve haven’t seen the first two Ice Age movies. The trailer was cute, but it didn’t make me want to buy a ticket even if it is in 3-D.



SHE: Ditto. I haven’t seen the first two Ice Age movies, either. Sure, the trailer was cute … but how many snacks will I need to sit through Dawn of the Dinosaurs? I nearly ate an entire box of Junior Mints just watching the preview!

• 

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
Trav: It’s an animated movie about an invention that turns water into food. The trailer didn’t do anything to make me want to see this animated feature. Sure, cheeseburgers falling from the sky in 3-D was something out of my dreams but even that wasn’t enough to make me want to see this movie.

SHE: I’m watching this preview thinking … Hot Dog! (see how I did that?) This is a fast food marketers’ dream! Hello, product placement! Halfway through the preview it’s raining cheeseburgers and I’m imagining this film’s release coinciding with lots of commercials for the newest kids’ meal from the fast food giant! Cynical much? Maybe. But I was saved by spaghetti and meatballs. Faith restored in humanity, Hollywood and corporate America? Uh, no.

• G-Force
Trav: This movie is about cartoon guinea pigs that are former spies trying to save the world. This one looks like fun for kids, but it didn’t seem to appeal to adults.  Oh wait, whats that? It’s in 3-D you say? I’m still not interested.

SHE: Okay Trav. Cartoon guinea pigs? This wasn’t animated … it’s Disney. You sure guinea pigs don’t talk? I actually thought this one was kind of cute. Will I see it? Maybe. I’ll have lots of snacks to keep me from getting bored. Or perhaps I’ll just wait for it on cable.

disney.go.com/disneypictures/up
Trav: I’ve actually seen the first two of these. This was more of a teaser for the movie. Nothing was shown regarding the story, just the same characters from the first two movies working on the logo for the upcoming installment. I might go watch this even though I am annoyed with all the 3-D hype.



SHE: Just embrace the 3-D, Trav, it’s this season’s purple.



THE REVIEW

Trav: What we try to do is pick the best movie that opens every week to review. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to this week’s movie, Up. If you look at the past few weeks of movies, we’ve watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels and Demons, and Terminator Salvation. On paper, Up doesn’t really fit in with the past month’s blockbuster movies. 

SHE: Wait … what? We pick the “best” movie that opens every week? Really? Ahem … The “He Said” has picked the last few weeks of movies and I have been a team player and come along with my snacks. That’s right, Mr. “let’s go see Angels and Demons,” I’m throwing you under the bus.

Trav: Something you’ll notice when you purchase a ticket is that the price of admission was $11.50 compared to the usual $8.50. There was a $3 fee to watch Up since it was in 3-D.  I was told the extra cash is for the fancy 3-D glasses they give you as you enter the theater. I would’ve enjoyed the movie without the 3-D experience. Having to wear the glasses was annoying to me.

SHE: The style of the glasses could be worse. They are slightly retro – with that 50’s Ray-Ban feel. Quite honestly, I wasn’t impressed with the 3-D but found out later that it is key to keep your head still. Did I mention ADD?

Trav: Up is from the uber-cool movie studio Pixar, the studio known for bringing some of the best animated features to the big screen. Up has a different feel to it when compared to other Pixar movies. Up tackles some issues that you don’t see in animated features. Not only do you go on the adventure with Up’s characters, you experience the emotional journey as well. There were a couple of scenes that are down right tear-jerkers and I wasn’t expecting that. It was nice to see a "kiddie-movie" that had a storyline that can keep the adults in the crowd entertained.



SHE: I like my movies just like my party dips — with many layers — unless it’s guacamole, which I would argue is not really a dip, but I digress. UP is a love story, an action adventure, and a drama. Does it spread itself too thin though? Trying to be too many things to too many audiences? I don’t think so.



Trav: The story is centered around a crotchety old man named Carl Fredricksen that wants to — more like has to — leave his neighborhood. He figures the only way he can leave is to go up.



SHE: Crotchety? Really? Trav, you are such a boy! He’s heartbroken! Oh wait, I’m the cynical one, right? I liked the characters in that they were all somewhat stereotypical and recognizable yet they were each distinct and likable.



Trav: I can’t believe I’m going to say this about an animated feature, but Up was very entertaining. It wasn’t my favorite movie I’ve seen this year, but it was really good. Up is worth the worth the price of admission. This movie isn’t only for the kids, adults can enjoy it as well. My rating is a 4 out of 5.

SHE: I believe you’re saying it! It’s a good movie and, I agree. I took in 5 snacks and the movie was so entertaining I only ate one. Do the math, kids! That earns Up 4 out of 5.

FEEDBACK
Trav can be reached at [email protected]
SHE can be reached at [email protected]