8 Stars
“Everybody’s a critic,” Bugs Bunny once said.
In this case (as in most), the hare’s correct.
Perhaps folks are disenchanted by franchised laughter.
The average rating amongst Top Critics (according to Rotten Tom) is a 4.5 out of 10.
Though the more accurate portrayal’s provided by the ‘user’ average: 7 stars.
It’s not due to a lack of proofreading that my score remains unaltered.
This author’s got a little something called integrity.
Therefore the rating stays at 8; implying it’s ‘great’, but perhaps not ‘tremendous.’
After all, 2014 is the year of the comedic sequel.
Anchorman 2 was released last December and largely satisfied.
The best comedic sequel of all time, 22 Jump Street came out in June.
The long awaited Dumb and Dumber To…wasn’t great.
Trepidatiously we await the follow-up to Hot Tub Time Machine on late February’s horizon.
Well, I say, “To hell with top critics!”
Horrible Bosses 2 more than satisfies.
Earning a coveted spot on Top Comedies of 2014 –
1. 22 Jump Street
2. Neighbors
3. The Interview
4. Let’s Be Cops
5. Horrible Bosses 2
It keeps you guessing while offering a persistent snicker.
The out-and-out laughs are numerous and frequent.
The plot is timely, clever and not too outrageous. A considerable amount of social commentary is interwoven.
Dare I say it’s thought-provoking?
Since viewing, I’ve ruminated on the panoramic time lapse and off-type car chase; so, there you have it. Thoughts provoked.
The cinematography, shooting and editing are really impressive.
As far as casting goes, this flick’s top-notch. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are all fantastic.
Each lead is hilarious in his own individual way.
I’ll never understand why Bateman gets docked for his mastery as the ‘straight’ man. Plus, his Arrested Development version is more foolish softy.
Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Jamie Foxx return without disappointing.
Christoph Waltz delivers in a minor role.
Chris Pine, however, is terrific. He’s great in Into the Woods as well, so hopefully we’ll see more out of him in the future.
There’s a delightful blooper reel accompanying the rolling credits.
As well as a fun character montage directly preceding. Such cinematic sequences are becoming more prevalent. They’re enjoyable, informative and a welcome addition to any theatrical release.
Let’s call these bits ‘character reels.’ Best when featuring the character’s image paired with both names (role and actor).
Don’t be disappointed if you missed HB Deuce while in theaters.
For fans of the first, keep an eye on your streaming devices.
It’s available for pre-order through iTunes, but who’s really going to shell $19.99 for digital ownership on release date?
Wait for the rental.
It’ll be much cheaper and infinitely more satisfying.