"REAL STEEL" Review by Tim

No surprises here. In “Real Steel,” Charlie (Hugh Jackman) is a washed up ex-pugilist in a world that is fascinated by robot boxing. Charlie has failed as a fighter as well as a father, and is getting a second chance to be both — but you already know where “Real Steel” is going.

Most surprising? It takes over two hours to get there, even when the whole audience can tell it’s a robotic replica of “Rocky.” In fact, you don’t even need to watch the movie to see that. When I first saw the trailer for “Real Steel,” I jokingly suggested, “It’s ‘Rocky’ with a robots!”

Joking?

Yes I was.

Wrong?

I was not.

It could have been much shorter, but in spite of its predictability, “Real Steel” is still a very satisfying underdog story in the vein of “Rocky.” The visual effects are the bee’s knees, and I was disappointed that it was so well acted. Why? Because I was really looking forward to acting so poor I could say, “It’s hard to tell the robots apart from the people!” But no, with few exceptions, the robots serve their purpose (as fancy-shmancy props) and hardly distract from the human drama. And just like “Rocky” before it, it’s human drama that makes “Real Steel” so satisfying.

But it’s not just similar in terms of the drama — in fact, the last fight sequence of “Real Steel” is paced almost exactly the same way as the fight between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. After the fight, I half-expected Hugh Jackman to say, “Yo kid, where’s your hat?” (Wait… You don’t get that joke? Come on, it’s a classic.) Anyway, the “Rocky” homage worked for me. If you’re going to borrow from inspirational movies, why not borrow from the best?

3.5  SPARE PARTS out of 5!

Written by Tim

Edited by Aaron

"50/50" review and comic by Chris

When any director takes on a comedy about a serious topic, such as cancer, they have to walk a fine line between jokes and the realities of the topic. One small slip up and you risk offending and alienating a wide audience. Can director Jonathan Levine walk this line or does he fall flat on his face?

"50/50" is loosely based on the life of Will Reiser, the writer of the movie. It tells the story of Adam who discovers he has a rare and unpronounceable form of deadly spine cancer, and is forced to face his own mortality with the help of an eccentric group of friends, family and love interests.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives the film a firm platform to stand on with his portrayal of Adam. In the beginning, Adam seems to remain emotionally distant from his sickness, but as the story progresses he charges through the entire reactionary spectrum. Gordon-Levitt keeps each emotion light enough for the comedy, but packs unexpected power during emotional scenes.

Elevating Gordon-Levitt's performance further is an equally powerful supporting cast. Seth Rogen, who plays Kyle, Adams childhood friend, drives the comedy constantly forward as he tries to take advantage of Adam's situation and use it to get laid. Katie, played by Anna Kendrick, is Adam’s inexperienced therapist who is adorably awkward throughout the film. Bryce Dallas Howard, who plays Adam's girlfriend, Rachael, seems to be the closest thing there is to an antagonist in this film, as she tries to decide whether she can handle having a terminally ill boyfriend and makes bad decisions over and over again.

Don't let my focus on the seriousness of the topic fool you, this is still a comedy at heart, with a script that doesn’t quit, and moments that turn from heart wrenching to hilarious in the blink of an eye. Everything isn't perfect though. Early in the film, Gordon-Levitt over emphasizes Adam’s detachment from the situation to such an extent that Adam doesn't seem bothered by having cancer. This helps the comedy and gives room for growth, but makes it unrealistic. The music selection is fitting, but is nothing to write home about. But by the time you reach the finale, all of these minor gripes will have been long forgotten.

Jonathan Levine dances on a fine line between comedy and drama but never looks down, and a smattering of minor issues don’t keep this piece from being a hilarious but dramatically heartwarming look at a serious disease.

"50/50" gets 4.5 reassuring gestures out of 5

Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron