SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 22, 2106 (Gephardt Daily) — Two films are hitting the rental shelves this week.
The first is the comedy “Daddy’s Home,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell. The film opened Dec. 25 and earned $37.5 million its first weekend, but also opened to lackluster reviews, earning a 71 rotten score from Rotten Tomatoes.
The second film available for rental or purchase today is “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” which ends the “Hunger Games” movie series. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, the film opened Nov. 20 with $102.6 million, and earned $281.6 million during its U.S. run. The film was embraced by audiences and critics, who gave the film a 70 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Daddy’s Home”
Starring: Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell
Rated PG-13
Step-dad Brad Whitaker is a radio host trying to get his step-children to love him and call him Dad. But his plans turn upside down when the biological father, Dusty Mayron, returns.
“Daddy’s Home” is a desperate film. Desperate to make you laugh. So desperate it throws just about everything in the comic film bag of tricks on the screen and hopes something will stick.
The film just doesn’t know what it wants to be as it mixes slapstick, banter and pathos together in a hodgepodge of sloppy gags, as the two dads battle it out for the affection and attention of the kids.
“Daddy’s Home” gets a D and is rated PG-13.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2”
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson
Rated PG-13
The film wraps up the story which began in 2012 and has spawned four films in the series.
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland and Julianne Moore, the film continues the story as the war escalates. Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance.
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” delivers a multifaceted story about what it really takes to win a rebellion. It goes deeper than just a bunch of soldiers with guns as it speaks to political philosophies and how a war can be waged with propaganda, which can be just as effective in toppling a government as bombs and bullets.
Then the realization that just maybe the old saying “Absolute power corrupts, absolutely,” is one of mankind’s most truthful proverbs.
Where “Mockingjay Part 2” begins to fall short is in its interpersonal relationships. Katniss’ relationships are the stuff soap operas are made of. The “Do I love Peta or do I love Gale?” question brings the film down to a very pedestrian level. And although I know it’s part of the theme in the book, in the film it becomes boring and trite.
Overall, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” is a good film offering well-paced action and special effects sequences and political maneuvering.
It’s not the great finale I believe people are expecting, but it does deliver on its promise to entertain.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” gets a B and is rated PG-13.
