'22 Jump Street' (2014)

The best thing about '22 Jump Street' is that it knows exactly what it is and isn't afraid to make fun of itself. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are back again to solve a drug case very similar to their time in '21 Jump Street'. Only this time the two buddies are going to college. '22' doesn't have the quirky charm '21' did, but that's expected from a sequel. Like I mentioned earlier, this movie knows what it's meant to do and does a pretty good job sticking to the script.
This time, the budget, jokes, explosions are all bigger. Hill and Tatum share great comedic chemistry. The cast from the first film are all back in some form with bigger roles. However, I was very disappointed that Korean Jesus didn't make a cameo. If you enjoyed the first movie, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as well. If you are looking to just have a good time laughing for a few hours then you should go check out '22 Jump Street'. And don't forget to stick around for the credits!

IMDB-8.1/10
Metascore- 71/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critic- 83% Audience- 90%
Yong's Rating- 3/5 stars

This is the End (2013)

Ever wonder what would happen if a bunch of friends who happen to be actors and comedians got really high together and got an idea for a movie? I'm pretty sure 'This is the End' is as close as you will get to that fantasy. When the world is faced with the apocalypse, a group of lost clueless celebrities can't find a better place to hide out than James Franco's new pad.
Friends James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson are forced to stick together to survive the apocalypse. There's really no point in going over the plot, since things get ridiculous pretty fast. This movie isn't going to open your eyes to some grand meaning of life (unless I missed something). But, it will make you laugh. There's a lot of little funny moments and it was fun to watch. If you are not into a lot of guy humor then you might want to stay away from this one. Otherwise, enjoy.



IMDB- 7.9/10
Metascore- 67/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-84% Audience- 81%
Yong's Rating- 3/5

Bridesmaids (2011)

'Bridesmaids' is an all women cast comedy that shows girls can be just as raunchy as the guys. And every bit as funny. When Lillian (Maya Rudolph) gets engaged, she asks her childhood friend, Annie (Kristen Wiig) to be her maid of honor. This does not go well with Lillian's new friend, Helen (Rose Byrne) who is determined to steal the position of best friend. Wiig and Byrne's lives are the complete opposite. Wiig's life is in a mess. She has a failed business, financial problems and relationship troubles.  On the other hand, Bryne seems to have everything in her life in order. And she always looks pretty. When Bryne uses her power to manipulate her friends to get what she wants a fun, hilarious adventure ensues.
'Bridesmaids' isn't just a raunchy rated-R comedy, it also has a heart warming story that's very enjoyable. The cast is very funny and work very well with each other. Melissa McCarthy definitely steals the show with her portrayal of Megan. She made me laugh in every one of her scenes. 'Bridesmaids' is a good balance of comedy and drama that I highly recommend. Most importantly, it teaches us that girls do poop. A lot.

IMDB-7/10
Metascore- 75/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 90%, Audience- 76%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Horrible Bosses (2011)

Do you hate your job? Do you hate your boss so much that you spend the majority of your day daydreaming about different ways of killing him/her? Well, in 'Horrible Bosses', three close friends are driven to the end of their limits by their bosses. They conclude that the only way for them to solve their problems at work is to have their bosses killed. Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis play the three friends determined to get rid of their horrible bosses (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell), but have no idea how to get the job done. The movie goes on to show the silliness that ensues as the three clueless buddies attempt to commit the perfect murder or murders. 'Horrible Bosses' does exactly what intends to do. It will keep you entertained and provide some laughs. However, it's kind of like eating out at a greasy fast food restaurant. It tastes so good at the time, but you just know it's not good for you. But who cares, sometimes you just have to give in to your cravings.


IMDB- 7.1/10
Metascore- 57/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 69%, Audience- 72%
Yong's Rating- 2.5/5 Stars

50/50 (2011)

I didn't think you could make a comedy about cancer without being too insensitive or offensive. Which is probably why there aren't too many cancer comedy movies out there. However, '50/50' takes the subject of cancer and manages to tell a genuinely funny and compelling story. The movie is loosely based on Seth Rogen's friend Will Reiser who wrote the script.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Adam, a 27 year old who is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He learns that patients with his form of cancer has a 50% survival rate. It was moving to watch the progression of Adam through the different phases of treatment. It must be daunting to be face to face with death at such a young age. To be fully aware that death isn't something that you need to worry about years down the line. That it can come at any instant, sometimes without any reason or warning. Coping with something as serious as cancer isn't something one can be expected to deal with alone, and it's important to find a close support group that you can count on. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen are two likable charismatic guys that are enjoyable to watch on screen and they didn't disappoint. Anna Kendrick is also very cute in her role as the young therapist. '50/50' tackles a tough subject with laughs and human drama. I really enjoyed this movie and I recommend it to anyone who is curious about it.



IMDB- 8.1/10
Metascore- 72/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 92%, Audience- 91%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

You Again (2010)

'You Again' may have been an engaging and funny movie if I was still four years old and only understood Korean. Kristin Bell plays Marni, who goes through hell during high school. She is the social outcast of the school and is constantly bullied. The grown up Marni is a confident, sexy, and successful business woman. When she comes back home for her brother's (James Wolk) wedding, she learns that the girl (Odette Annable) her brother is marrying is the same girl who was responsible for her nightmare known as high school. When her high school nemesis refuses to apology and goes as far as to say she doesn't even remember her, Marni is determined to show her brother who he's really marrying.

Bad screenplay and over the top acting makes 'You Again' very hard to enjoy. The movie is very predictable and wastes talents of some very good actresses like Sigourney Weaver. Also Kristin Bell really needs to look for better roles if she ever wants to be taken seriously as a real actress because she has the charm and charisma to be a very good leading actress. But then again, maybe her goal is to dominate the really bad romantic comedy movie genre. She's doing a damn good job at it. Don't watch this please. I made the mistake of browsing through netflix and being really bored and thinking hey that Kristin Bell is pretty cute. That's how she gets you every time.

IMDB-5.4/10

Metascore- 28/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 18%, Audience- 45%

Yong's Rating- 1/5 Stars

30 Minutes or Less (2011)

'30 Minutes or Less' delivers exactly what it promises and it does a pretty darn good job. This is in spite of Aziz Ansari's terrible acting performance. Dude's a funny guy, but he just can't act. Even though Jesse Eisenberg and Danny McBride basically play the same character in every role at least they are good at it.

The movie tells the story of two hopeful criminals who kidnap a pizza delivery guy and strap a bomb to his chest and force him to rob a bank or get blown up. Boom! Danny McBride and Nick Swardson play the two losers who need to get their hands on $100,000. They come up with the perfect plan to kidnap someone to rob a bank for them. They play well off of each other and deliver several funny one liners. Jesse Eisenberg is the pizza delivery guy. He was living like a bum without any ambitions, but when he is faced with death he realizes just how much he really wants to live. Aziz Ansari plays Eisneberg's best friend who chooses to help his friend in his time of need. The two buddies must put their difference aside and pull off a perfect bank robbery or risk the very likely possibility of getting blown up into pieces.

'30 Minutes or Less' is a fun buddy comedy with a lot laughs and action. If you are looking for a light movie with a lot laughs this movie well worth a look.

IMDB-6.8/10

Metascore- 48/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 42%, Audience- 68%

Yong's Rating- 3.5/5 stars

The Change Up (2011)

'The Change Up' is a body switch comedy starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds. This may be the raunchiest of all the body switch movies out there. Bateman and Reynolds are two close friends who have grown apart over the years. Mostly because Bateman has a career and a family while Reynolds character simply just never grew up. When the two go out for a guys night out and end up peeing in a magical fountain, they wake up the next morning in each other's bodies. The unfortunate switch presents a chance for the Reynolds character to prove to himself that he can be a grown up and a chance for the Bateman character to live life without any stress that comes with a job and a family.

The plot is pretty simple as with most other body switch movies, except this one throws in a lot more adult jokes and language. There's a lot of laughs in this movie, but if dirty jokes aren't your type of thing than you'd better stay away from this one. On the other hand, if fart and poop jokes still make you giggle than you may find this very enjoyable. Seeing Olivia Wilde doesn't hurt either.

IMDB-6.1/10

Metascore- 41/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 20% Audience- 62%

Yong's Rating- 2.5/5 Stars

The Hangover Part 2 (2011)

"It happened again...", these are the opening lines of 'The Hangover Part 2' spoken by Phil. And there's just about the perfect way to describe the sequel to the massively successful 'Hangover'. The Wolfpack is reunited for Stu the dentist's (Ed Helms) wedding. Stu, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha), and even Alan (Zach Galifianakis) are all back for some more raunchy fun. This time, the gang is far away from Vegas. They are in Thailand and due to Stu's wishes skipped a bachelor party. However, when the gang find themselves awake in a cheap Bangkok hotel room without any memory of the previous night, they quickly realize that it has happened again. If you loved the first Hangover, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as well. Here's just a quick summary. Switch Las Vegas with Bangkok, the baby with a monkey, Doug (Bartha) with Stu's brother in law.

When the gang find themselves awake without Stu's brother in law Teddy, the guys must search for clues to find Teddy and get back to the wedding on time. As they retrace their steps, you get to find out about the crazy night shared by the gang. And trust me, it's much crazier than the night they had in Vegas. I found the plot a bit predictable, but there are definitely funny parts and it will sure make you laugh and even gasp at times. Just remember that it is rated R for a reason and if you aren't comfortable with this type of movie just stay away.

IMDB-7/10

Metascore-44/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-35% Audience-95%

Yong's Rating- 3/5 stars

Grown Ups (2010)

What can go wrong with a buddy comedy featuring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider? These guys are all funny, and can each carry a movie all by themselves. What can go wrong? Well, how about lack of effort. It almost seemed like these guys just met up for a weekend and put in just enough effort to come up with a decent buddy comedy. With the amount of talent in this movie, maybe I expected a little too much.

Death of a mentor and childhood basketball coach reunites a group of buddies for the first time in many years. The funeral provides a chance for the friends to reminisce about their childhood and rekindle their friendship. It also gives them a chance to form a stronger bond with their family. Grown Ups does have a lot of laughs and can be quite enjoyable. If you are looking for some light comedy and physical humor, this movie has plenty of it. I felt there was just a lot more potential for this movie with such a talented cast.Well, if you are fan of any of the comedians in this movie, it may very well be worth your time. Just lower your expectations a tiny bit.

IMDB-5.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-10%, Audience-61%

Yong's Rating- 6.5/10 (worth a look)

Get Him to the Greek (2010)

Get Him the the Greek is a comedy featuring Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. Brand plays a narcissistic rock star, Aldous Snow. If you are familiar with Forgetting Sarah Marshall, it's the same character he played in that movie. Coming off of a bad record and a break-up with his wife, Aldous stops making music and retreats to alcohol and drugs. His best years are well behind him. A record company worker played by Jonah Hill comes up with an idea to revive Aldous' career and make some money for his ailing music company. With the blessing from his boss, the plan is in motion for a 10 year anniversary show at the Greek theater in L.A.. The only problem is getting the rock star from London to L.A. on time for the show.

Jonah Hill and Russell Brand share good chemistry and provide several enjoyable scenes. There are definitely enough jokes and funny songs to make you laugh. I also thought that Diddy was funny with his portrayal as the boss of the music label. Majority of the comedy tends to be over the top, physical humor. One problem I had with this movie was that it made the mistake of trying to take itself too seriously along with its type of humor. I just felt that there was just too many awkward moments that really didn't make much sense. If you are looking to just have some laughs, and you are a fan of over the top, physical comedy, then this movie is definitely worth your look.

IMDB- 6.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 73% audience- 65%

Yong's rating- 6.9/10 (worth a look)

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

What do you get if you mix in a broken down hot tub, a group of middle aged losers, and an exotic energy drink? A time machine, of course. Hot tub time machine is a better movie than its title suggests, but it doesn't really bring too much to the table. It stars John Cusack, Criag Robinson, and Rob Corddry as three buddies facing a huge mid-life crises. And a magical hot tub time machine is exactly what these guys needed to re-examine and restart their lives. Overall, this movie does have its funny moments, but just don't expect too much. John Cusack seems really out of place in this movie, and you can tell from his performance that he may just be thinking the same thing. If you are in mood to just sit back and watch a silly movie and not have to think too much, then this might be what you are looking for.

IMDB-6.7/10

Rotten Tomatoes- critics-64% community- 58%

Yong's Rating- 6.5/10 (skip it)

The Other Guys (2010)

I saw this movie during summer break, and i meant to review it earlier. Well, here it is. The Other Guys is a buddy cop comedy starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. The two unlikely partners stumble upon a lead to a series of crimes and it is up to them to find the bad guy. These two guys definitely share a good comedic chemistry and know how to carry a movie like this one. Will Ferrell is his usual funny self and his fans are sure to enjoy his performance. Wahlberg plays a more serious role to the funny Ferrell and provides a good balance. This movie delivers what it is meant to deliver; a light, fun getaway for a few hours. So if are in a mood for some silly laughs, you should check this out.

IMDB-7/10
Rotten Tomatoes- critics-78%, community-63%
Yong's rating-7/10 (worth a look)