About Last Night

“About Last Night”, starring Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant, is a romantic comedy about a group of friends who fall in love with one another. Facing commitment issues, a recent breakup and job troubles, Danny Martin (Ealy) finds love while his best friend, Bernie (Hart), advises him not to seek this female companionship.

Headliners Regina Hall and Kevin Hart stole the show, making “About Last Night” the perfect Valentine’s Day movie. Hall undeniably matches the comedic styles of Hart and the pair made almost every scene a laughing riot. Many would think the comedian would overshadow Regina Hall, but there’s an enjoyable balance between the two.

Kevin Hart is only halfway though his 2014 movies and he’s already made a big splash. “Ride Along” was the #1 movie in America for three consecutive weeks, breaking MLK weekend earning records. On February 8th, the movie hit its $100 million mark. Hart’s box office success is only a testament to his hardwork but also, what we all initially fell in love with, his comedy. The anticipated sequel “Think Like A Man Too” will be released June 20, 2014.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Regina Hall has always had a special place in my heart. The actress had me at the opening scene of “Scary Movie” (2000) when she mimicked the stereotypical behavior of Black women in the movie theatre. She is an hidden gem, taking advantage of her exposure in “Think Like A Man”, “The Best Man Holiday”, and now, “About Last Night” to stake her claim. She’s fun, flirty and feisty and is the perfect candidate for this movie.

As for Danny’s ex-girlfriend, Paula Patton is cheesy and over the top. I thought Robin Thicke’s wife would be the new Halle Berry, yet she’s been a complete flop. Her gorgeous looks are just not enough to maintain my admiration. She was barely mediocre in “Baggage Claim” and her brief stint in this movie is almost intolerable.

With an all Black cast, “About Last Night” surpasses several expectations compared to the original movie made in 1986. And that’s a hard thing to do. Normally, remakes diminish the original classic features, like “Guess Who” (2005), “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” (2003), and “The Honeymooners” (2005). But this remake did more than entertain. “About Last Night” is colorful, meaningful, and expounds on the wholeness of love.

3.5 Lovey Dovey Stars

February 16, 2014 0

About Last Night Passes (Round 2)

If you weren’t able to catch the first few screenings of About Last Night, well today is your lucky day!

Here’s the information for the upcoming About Last Night screenings:

SouthSide Works
Thursday, February 6, 2014, 7:30PM
Visit http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter Gofobo Code: MSQLEFZ

AMC Waterfront
Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 7:30PM
Visit http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp and enter Gofobo Code: MSQ105Z

This would be the perfect early Valentine’s Day gift!

February 4, 2014 0

About Last Night Passes

Tomorrow, Thursday, January 30, 2014, the Movie Scene Queen will be hosting a special, advance screening of Kevin Hart and Regina Hall’s new movie, About Last Night.

To redeem your passes, please visit GOFOBO.com using RSVP code: MSQAVPV

Much Love,

Movie Scene Queen

January 29, 2014 0

Ride Along

“Show me that you’re worthy of her!” –James Payton (Ice Cube)

Atlanta detective James Payton (Ice Cube) tests high school security guard, Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) as he bids for Payton’s sister’s hand in marriage. With the help of his cop friends, Santiago (John Leguizamo) and Miggs (Bryan Callen), Payton puts Barber through the ringer to see if he’s a good suit as his sister’s mate and as a police officer.

The movie was a lot funnier than I expected. After Grudge Match, I lost a little bit of hope for comedian Kevin Hart. Less than a month later, he has redeemed himself in Ride Along with his familiar goofy antics and silly repertory. Ben Barber was hyper-active, inappropriate, and hilarious; all the things we expect from Kevin Hart.

However, the only woman in the entire movie, besides soul singer Angie Stone, was a huge flop. Beautiful actress Tika Sumpter was one-dimensional in her role at Barber’s girlfriend and Payton’s sister, Angela. According to IMDb.com, movie director Tim Story (Think Like a Man, Fantastic Four, Barbershop) urged the cast to not follow the script exactly and improvise, but Tika Sumpter sounded scripted and was barely believable. Her sex appeal overshadowed her horrible acting because while it was hard to miss, Sumpter still managed to look fine and fluffy.

Other than “Are We There Yet” (2005), Ice Cube has consistently been paired with a comedian. In 1995, he paired up with Chris Tucker for the original “Friday”. In 2002, he sat beside Cedric the Entertainer in Barbershop. He’s also worked with Katt Williams twice, Tracy Morgan, and DeRay Davis. And Ice Cube clearly has an on-screen chemistry with Mike Epps for they’ve worked together on several projects such as “Next Friday” (2000), “Friday After Next” (2002), “All About The Benjamins” (2002) and “Janky Promoters” (2009).

Initially a rapper, Ice Cube successfully moonlighted as a reputable actor for 23 years now. But, let’s be honest! Ice Cube has convinced us that he can be a cute, cuddly dad or a gangsta from South Central LA, but he’s still at the bottom of the totem pole as a leading funny man. In Ride Along, when he tried to be funny, he came off corny. The West coast rapper was slightly reaching. I love O’Shea Jackson, so please don’t kill the messenger.

Without being a spoiler alert, I wonder if viewers will notice the many cameos. I gave you one already but Ride Along is jammed pack with noticeable actors, internet sensations, and radio hosts. The cameos are refreshing because while they are small parts, it is hard to forget their presence on the big screen.

3 Not Too Shabby Stars

January 18, 2014 0

Ride Along Passes

2014 is the Year of Kevin Hart

Ride Along (1/17) …About Last Night (2/14) …Think Like A Man Too (6/20)

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube lead the lineup in Ride Along. When a fast-talking security guard joins his girlfriend’s brother—a hot-tempered cop—to patrol the streets of Atlanta, he gets entangled in the officer’s latest case. Now, in order to prove that he deserves his future bride, he must survive the most insane 24 hours of his life. For the past two years, high-school rent-a-cop Ben (Hart) has been trying to show decorated APD detective Kurt (Cube) that he’s more than just a video-game junkie who’s unworthy of Kurt’s sister, Angela (Tika Sumpter). Official Ride Along website

For your chance to see Ride Along on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at AMC Waterfront, 7:30PM, please comment below with your favorite Kevin Mart moment!

Much Love,

The Movie Scene Queen

January 6, 2014 48

Grudge Match

Warner Brothers Pictures has been on a consistent roll in 2013 with great movies like Gravity, Prisoners, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, but the movie production company fell short with boxing movie, Grudge Match. Pittsburgh retired boxing rivalries Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (Robert De Niro) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) settle their 30-year grudge with one last fight.

Funny man Kevin Hart also stars in the movie as the modern day Don King, Dante Slate, Jr., who sets up and promotes the long awaited fight. No matter the role, Kevin Hart always seems to plays Kevin Hart. I think we have put Kevin Hart in this funny box and now it is almost impossible for him to get out. In Grudge Match, he was trying really hard to be funny. And while I chuckled at some of his redundancy, I also wonder how great he’d be in a more serious role.

The most disappointing part of the movie is that although it claimed to be based in the Steel City, the movie was actually filmed in New Orleans. A real Pittsburgher, like myself, can not be easily fooled. The movie has a couple of quick still shots of Downtown Pittsburgh and the steel mills. Other than that, it’s clear that Grudge Match was no where near here.

I’m predicting a box office flop. The movie isn’t great and Grudge Match will be up against some other great contenders on Christmas Day. Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a New York stock broker, is a raunchy and high speed story about a wealthy lifestyle that leads to Wall Street corruption, mob association and federal indictment.

Also coming out on December 25th is the Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Director Ben Stiller stars as Walter Mitty, a LIFE magazine employee who’s facing being laid off as the magazine suspends it’s hard copies issues and goes completely digital. Walter Mitty’s spacey imagination causes him to zone out and after an unforeseen circumstance, he must come back to reality. Ben Stiller is serious yet still laughable. The movie is different, cool and can be enjoyed by the entire family.

2 STARS: I expected more from Grudge Match, but nothing was exciting about two old rivalries boxing in their 60s.

December 25, 2013 0

Grudge Match Passes

Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Grudge Match” (PG-13) stars award-winning movie legends Oscar® winner Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and Oscar® nominee Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky” films, “The Expendables”) as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match. Peter Segal (“Get Smart”) directs the comedy.

Director Peter Segal tells the story of Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (De Niro) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Stallone), two local Pittsburgh fighters whose fierce rivalry put them in the national spotlight. Each had scored a victory against the other during their heyday, but in 1983, on the eve of their decisive third match, Razor suddenly announced his retirement, refusing to explain why but effectively delivering a knock-out punch to both their careers. Thirty years later, boxing promoter Dante Slate Jr., seeing big dollar signs, makes them an offer they can’t refuse: to re-enter the ring and settle the score once and for all. The film opens December 25, 2013.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company 2013

But if you want tickets to an advance screening, please comment with your email address, preferred screening date AND favorite Pittsburgh pastime. In order to be considered for the passes, your comment must contain all three items mentioned above. The Grudge Match screenings will take place at the following times:

Tuesday, December 3, 2013 @ 7:30PM AMC Waterfront 22

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 @ 7:30PM AMC Waterfront 22

Monday, December 16, 2013 @ 7:30PM AMC Waterfront 22

GOOD LUCK!!!

Much Love,

The Movie Scene Queen

November 22, 2013 36

This is the End (6.10.13)

A lot of recent movies (and when I say recent I mean since the new millennium) have been giving different interpretations of what THE END looks like The Day After Tomorrow (2004), I Am Legend (2007), and 2012 (2009). Even a movie coming out later this month, World War Z starring Brad Pitt, showcases the rapid depreciation of human life.

This is the End is not quite like all the other apocalyptic movies. It’s Pineapple Express, the Exorcist, and Scary Movie all wrapped up into one gut-busting film. (I know it’s hard to imagine!) Laughter is inevitable in the directorial debut of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. This is the End is based on Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse, a short film created by Rogen in 2007.

The best part of this movie review is that all the actors played themselves so I can save the 247 seconds of my life by not looking up that character’s real names. Any who, This Is the End is about six actor friends who barricade themselves inside a Hollywood mansion as the world slowly disintegrates around them. What started off as a packed house warming party at James Franco’s house, quickly escalated to a deserted evening. James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson question one another’s alliance and motives once food, water, and life necessities are bare.

Playing with God
I couldn’t really tell whether This Is the End crossed the line with biblical context in the story line. Halfway through the movie, Jay mentioned the Book of Revelations and how it referred to the end of the world suggesting that they were experiencing the apocalypse. I don’t want to spoil the movie but its consistent references to heaven and hell, the favor of God, and the goodness of humanity was delightful. I’m just not sure whether the movie mocked God and the bible or if it glorified His omnipotent power and grace.

Guest Appearances
Besides the dry satire, the movie had guest stars like Rihanna, Kevin Hart, Michael Cera, and Emma Stone. Most of them die because it’s the end of the world but it makes for a funnier movie. Rihanna solidified her adorable demeanor as she sang and flirted with the cast. Kevin Hart, who normally headlines his own movies, took a backseat and made a couple quick comedic appearances. And Michael Cera showed his behind (literally) before he quickly perished.

The Backstreet Boys
I loved the music in this movie! One moment I was rocking out to the Backstreet Boy’s Everybody and moments later I was reminiscing on Whitney Houston’s remake of I’ll Will Always Love You. Similar to the movie, the music selection was all over the place but surprisingly enjoyable. Some other notable musical mentions: Tipsy by J-Kwon, Paper Planes by M.I.A., and The Next Episode by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg

2.5 STARS: It’s funny…YES! But periodically it goes way LEFT just when you thought the movie was RIGHT! The cameos are the reason why I pumped it up by .5

This Is the End is in theatres 6.12.13. Check it out for yourself!

If you don’t believe me, this is what other Pittsburgh Movie Scene Queen viewers thought of This is the End:

“It was hilarious and also had too much going on at some points. Alot of stuff was coming out of left field. Every time you thought the plot was over with more twisting things occurred!” –Angel Otuwa

“Hilarious! Although, I thought it was a corny flick, like Scary Movie, I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the biblical message in the movie. There was some truth to the underlying message about selfishness that stood out to me. Overall, good movie. “ – Tonia Charles

June 10, 2013 1

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