“It Follows” (Horror: 1 hour, 40 minutes)

Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Lili Sepe and Daniel Zovatto          

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Rated: R (Violence, profanity, thematic elements, gore, sexuality and graphic nudity)

Movie Review: In countless horror and slasher films, people die during sexual relations. “It Follows” makes sex the reason people die. In a 1970s type of appeal, this horror picture manages to be one of the better movies of its type.

A 19-year-old Jay Height (Monroe) is a young woman who has what appears to be a normal sexual encounter in Detroit. Soon after the event, her new lover, Hugh (Jake Weary), reveals he is merely passing along a curse. A strange being follows Jay, a being only Jay and those who passed the curse to her can see. Three friends and her sister, Kelly (Sepe), try to keep Jay safe, but the malevolent being is always a few steps behind, walking a steady pace.

David Robert Mitchell (“The Myth of the American Sleepover,” 2010) is the director and writer for this well-done piece that works well without the typical, overused antics in most modern-day flicks of this genre. Mitchell allows one’s imagination to work energetically. One’s mind creates the terror. Mitchell’s screenplay merely acts a catalyst. His scheme is brilliant in an Alfred Hitchcock manner.

At its best, “It Follows” uses the anticipation of danger in a different manner. Mitchell lets audiences see what is coming often. Audiences can often see the pending doom whether the cast can or cannot. This creates a nice tension. Mitchell uses such cinematic poetry to create a beautiful anxiety.

Mitchell also creates a sound mystery. Audiences must adapt and learn with characters. This makes this photoplay engaging.

The strongest moment is Mitchell’s ability to makes sex scary.

He uses the act to produce psychological cinema. His style is similar to the manner Hitchcock used a shower in “Psycho” and avian animals in “The Birds” (1963).

The same technique is in Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” (1975). These films take something experienced every day by many and makes them scary. They made getting into a shower or a beach’s water intimidating and the observation of birds different. Mitchell’s screenplay does similarly with human intimacy.          

Grade: B+ (This movie should have a large following.)

 

“Get Hard” (Comedy: 1 hour, 40 minutes)

Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Craig T. Nelson

Director: Etan Cohen

Rated: R (Pervasive crude and sexual content, profanity, violence, nudity, and drug material)

Movie Review: “Get Hard” gets stupid fast.

It features Will Ferrel as James King, a wealthy stock market executive on his way to San Quentin after his conviction on fraud charges. King enlists the help of Darnell Lewis (Hart), the owner of a small carwash business. King wants Lewis to provide lessons for surviving in prison.

Etan Cohen directs this comedy. His only other production is a short film, a 10-minute feature entitled “My Wife Is Retarded” (2007). “Get Hard” is his first full-length screenplay. Cohen’s inexperience shows.

Ferrell and Hart are comedians, but they do have these moments that show they are talented otherwise. Ferrell has proven he can be dramatic when needed. See his performance in “Stranger Than Fiction” (2006). Hart has these movements of brilliance in movies, and he connects with these moments.

The problem is these entertaining men go awry when they start behaving in their usual goofy portrayals. Then, they appear to be playing themselves. At this point, their roles become something similar to previous roles.   

For a split second, “Get Hard” is reminiscent of “Bulworth” (1998). Both films explore facets of modern racism, classism and gender relations. “Get Hard” explores these themes, but it does so in an elementary antics that distract.     

Grade: C (Soft material.)

 

“Home” (Animation/Family: 1 hour, 34 minutes)

Starring: Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Steve Martin

Director: Tim Johnson

Rated: PG (Action violence and some crude humor)

Movie Review: Not quite real for the universe provided, even for an animated family comedy, “Home” is about Oh (“The Big Bang Theory’s” Parsons).

Oh is an extraterrestrial and a loner among his people, the Boov. When other Boov see Oh, they express, “Oh.” Once on Earth, Oh becomes a fugitive among his people.

His only friend becomes Gratuity ‘Tip’ Tucci (Rihanna), a human girl searching for her mother Lucy (Lopez) after the Boov relocates all humans to certain areas. Oh and Tip must avoid Boov enforcement while trying to find Tip’s mother. The alien and the human girl become friends, looking for the meaning of home.

Parsons whines like a professional. He does so on “Big Bang Theory” and here. While his voice is good for the character, his whining is ever-present, despite the fact his character is likable.

Rihanna works as a young, independent adolescent. She makes her animated character real.

Together, Parsons and Rihanna form a great story together. The world in which they exist is iffy. It is not conclusive material as superior family entertainment. Sure, it has some laughs, but it is not memorable material.

The Boov are interesting, as seen in an earlier short “Almost Home.” On Earth with humans, the Boov appear less intriguing. The story appears out of place.

The one standout in the short and this film Captain Smek (Martin), the leader of a race of aliens called the Boov. The “Almost Home” clip was more enjoyable at a runtime of approximately four minutes.

Tim Johnson (“Antz,” 1998; “Over the Hedge,” 2006) directs this feature based on Adam Rex’s book “The True Meaning of Smekday.” The efforts are mighty, and the film entertains adequately. Still, the result is something that does not quite feel like home.  

Grade: C+ (Cute place, it needs a better story base.)