BluRay/DVD/Streaming New Releases This Week!!!!!!

There are two new releases of note this week:


THE DUFF
Directed by Ari Sandel
Screenplay by Josh A Cagan
Based on the book by Kody Keplinger
Starring:Mae Whitman and Robbie Arnell



A high school senior (Whitman) finds out that she has been labeled the DUFF - Designated Ugly Fat Friend - by her prettier, more popular counterparts.

This was released in late January/early February, and it was my first real nice surprise of the year. I was not expecting such a fun and nice movie with a lesson built in. It will remind you of the film Easy A a little bit. Where Bianca Pepper is told by a goof ball guy that she is a Duff, this makes her a bit paranoid. With that paranoid behavior she starts pushing away friends that care about her so she will not be the duff. You can watch the beginning and know how this is going to end up. The actors are clearly too old for high school. So how come it works?
1- Mae Whitman is awesome!!! You have probably seen her moping around Parenthood, but here she comes to life. She has great comic timing. She is a ball of emotions and you feel it coming off the screen.The odd thing is she is not fat (DUFF). She just is a little different, beating to her own drum.
2-Chemistry between Mae Whitman and Robbie Arnell is fantastic.
3-Screenplay by Josh A Cagan is spot on. I did not read the book by Keplinger but I imagine Cagan kept the important lines and feeling that made the book work.
4- The lesson to high school girls ...to be okay who you are...and do not compare yourself with others..it is a waste of energy.


I really liked this fun movie!! 3 1/2 of 5 stars.


KINGSMAN THE SECRET SERVICE
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Screenplay by Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn
Based on the comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons
Starring: Colin Firth; Taron Eggerton; Sameul L Jackson



Based upon the acclaimed comic book, the film tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits a promising street kid into the agency's competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

It is an interesting film that just cant find its tone.
Let me start with the good.  Taron Eggert is really good as the recruit or our hero in the film. He is at first unlikable but slowly grows on you. The humor helps the film along and it has a nice ending. To make the film work you also need a really good bad guy and Jackson fills that bill wonderfully, he is over the top (Maybe a little too much) almost like The Joker, having a blast  with the part.
The Bad? The film seems to go on forever!! Over two hours, it seems exhausting. I did not believe Firth in this part at all, he is very good actor but maybe a little to old for the part and I really do not see him beating people up in a pub.

For home viewing it  is well worth a look, the film did much better overseas then in the States maybe because of Firth. 3 out of 5 stars for The Kingsman.


From the shadows as always thanks for your time!!