Red State

Red State (2011)

Genre: Thriller

Cast:
John Goodman
Melissa Leo
Michael Parks
Stephen Roots

Director: Kevin Smith









Quick Synopsis:
Set in Middle America, a group of teens receive an online invitation for sex, though they soon encounter fundamentalists with a much more sinister agenda.

Review:
Well I am not sure where to begin, this was MESSED up. As a few people that know me, know that I am a huge Kevin Smith fan. Hell I even liked Jersey Girl. But this was...well...it was not your traditional Kevin Smith movie. The plot was easy to follow, and the movie had a good flow to it. But it is your traditional thriller style movie with the exception of one thing. Kevin Smith's fantastic dialogue is just great as usual. You don't usually get smart dialogue in this genre of movie. If you are a Kevin Smith fan, I recommend seeing it for the hardcore types. Also if your a thriller genre fan, but as just a casual movie watcher, you probably won't like it.

I give it 2.5 stars out of 5

Friends With Benefits

Friends With Benefits (2011)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Cast:
Justin Timberlake
Mila Kunis
Richard Jenkins
Woody Harrelson

Director: Will Gluck







Quick Synopsis:
Jamie (Kunis) recruits Dylan (Timberlake) to be the new Head of Graphic at GQ magazine in New York. Since Dylan is from LA, Jamie becomes his only friend in the city. Both have recently become single. Tired of the dating scene they wish for a way to still get sex, but without the complicated details of a relationship, and become Friends With Benefits.

Review:
I am not much of a Rom-Com guy, but lately be it on Jimmy Fallon or his songs with Lonely Island, Timberlake has been a must watch. So I gave it a try.

It has a very solid plot line, which never diverts off course just for some silly gag. Once they become FWB they go through the motions of just sex, you can see where emotions are starting to come in and how it affects their individual lives in and out of the FWB arrangement. Parents and friends get involved and everything gets confused, as booth claim the other is "Just a friend" but all the friends and family can see that each other has real feelings.

There is a running gag throughout the movie, without losing story, about how silly Rom-Com's are and how they always go using scenes from Jason Segel movies.

As usual with Rom-Com's the movie comes to a happy ending, and all is perfect.

I recommend this movie to all, as it was fun. Timberlake continues his funniness and surprisingly Kunis isn't extremely annoying.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.