If you need to catch up on some sleep, I would highly recommend this movie. For me, I love adventure movies and was anticipating lots of action, especially when you have a film with three middle-aged men. Unfortunately, the action-packed, shoot ‘em up adventure I anticipated turned out to be nothing more than a scenic tour across India with some predictable humor.
When you’re checking your watch during a movie, that’ s a tell-tale sign that it’s more than likely not going to be one your favorites. I’m often told that I have a different sense of humor, so perhaps some of the humor was lost because I was focused on looking for some action parts which were few and far between. After the death of their father, the three pill popping brothers arrange to have some bonding time with their mother in India. Francis, the oldest, plans a trip to the foothills of the Himalayas where their mother is now residing. The personalities of the three brothers are relatable, yet once again, predictable for the genre. Francis is the older, controlling brother of the two who takes on the bossy role. The other brother Francis brings along his assistant, Brandon, who has planned every waking hour of the trip. Then you have Jack, who is depicted as the typical womanizer, embarking on this journey after a recent breakup with his latest fling. It doesn't get more stereotypical than that. Next, you have Peter, the remaining brother, who is married with a child on the way. In an adventure, I expect more interesting conflicts from three middle aged brothers rather than stereotypical behaviors of the characters in this film. Travels in the exotic land of Jodhpur were nothing like I anticipated for an "action" movie.
At the first stop the train makes the three men visit a temple and end up getting blessed. Along the way, there are a few memorable scenes that aligned with the characteristics of an adventure movie. For example, I was somewhat engaged when Francis had a three thousand dollar shoe stolen by the shoe shining boy and also when the brother’s poisonous snake escapes and gets loose on the train creating a frantic search for the reptile. This put me more to the edge of my seat. This is what adventure should do. When the brothers are given a warning and are limited to their rooms, once again, the genre fell flat because the action sequence was non-existent. After the next stop the brothers end up getting blessed again. A physical altercation ensues between the two brothers, which eventually gets them kicked off the train and deserted in the middle of nowhere. This particular sequence meets the criteria for adventure and climaxed a bit more when Francis and Brandon part ways. The three brothers come across some young rafters attempting to cross a raging river, which leads to another cliché moment, but fits the genre. Peter, Francis, and Jack have to rescue the boys whose raft ended up flipping in the raging current. The cliché presses on: one boy drowns, while the other three survive providing the ultimate formula for a family bonding moment for the three brothers.
The saga continues as they are unwelcome to attend the funeral of the deceased boy, but of course, an expected change of heart takes place and allows the brothers to attend, pushing them even closer together. Finally, the brothers reach the Himalayas where they find their mother. The meeting between the three brothers and their mother was brief but served as a springboard for the circular ending where they find the key to their life through these experiences and a culminating mountain hike. Will Francis learn a lesson in humility? Will Jack come to terms with his wild ways and realize he cares about the girl he left behind? Does Peter come to grips with the reality of having a child?
Don’t get me wrong, the movie wasn’t horrific, but several of the scenes just didn’t match up to the expectations in my head for an action movie, nor the high dollar blockbusters you see roaring across the screen in the theater these days. If you’re expecting computer generated images that you see in many action packed adventures, like Avatar, spoiler alert, you’re going to be disappointed. Too many of the scenes played out in my mind before they happened, but I found moments of humor that kept me somewhat interested and half awake. Compared to other adventure movies I’ve seen¸ I’d give this movie two and half star rating out of five.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Eight Things I Find Annoying
WARNING: Only read this post if you have a sense of humor.
In my opinion, the following things are all equally irritating, so I placed them in random order.
1. Loud talkers on their cell phones in public. I’m in the store trying to get a few groceries. What do I hear? A lady with a booming voice talking about little Joey’s soccer game and how he it wasn’t fair he didn’t get to play. Does everyone in a 10 mile radius need to know? I know I don’t. All I can think is, quit yapping and move your cart!
2. People who think they know everything. I don’t know where to start but, if I was someone who knew everything, I would.
3 Finding tortoises on the highway, not of the reptilian type. It never fails, I find myself stuck behind a four door Buick LeSabre that is traveling at the whopping speed of 40 mph down the one lane highway. 30 miles later, the car turns into the Bingo Hall. Imagine that.
4. Christmas decorations in July? Does it really require that much energy and effort to take Rudolph off the roof and take the deflated frosty off the lawn before summer? When you have to mow around your Christmas decorations, that’s a pretty good sign you need to put them away.
5. A certain furniture store is having a big sale. Okay, you’re probably thinking this is a good thing, but what’s really annoying is that the “biggest, blow out” of the year takes place every other week.
6. A blanket as outerwear?#! You know exactly what product I’m talking about. The ridiculous commercial looks like a skit for Saturday Night Live. Who wants to wear a blanket with arms? Are you kidding me? You might as well be walking around in a hospital gown.
7. Spandex in public and I’d argue private, should be outlawed. No one and I mean no one, looks good in spandex. The 80’s are over and unless you’re competing in the Tour de France or late night wrestling, you have no business wearing sausage casing. Enough said.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Count Down to Turkey Day
The strong aroma of a delicious turkey is pulling me in to a dream-like state. It has been cooking for hours. Pots and pans continue to rattle and the smells intensify. I offer to give a helping hand, now that the meal is almost prepared. Chopped sweet Vidalia onions make my nose and eyes run like a faucet. Grandma tells me to put a silver spoon in my mouth to minimize the tears pressing against my eyes from the onions. Surprisingly, it works. The noise in the room elevates as more family members arrive. My eyes and stomach are drawn to the delectable goodies being carried in. I can’t resist. My nose is drawn to…What, Gordon Food Service Apple Pie?!# No assigned seating here, first come, first served. It’s Thanksgiving Day. I opt for an end seat, more elbow room. My plate is loaded and the party in my mouth is ready to begin. I shovel in some turkey. My stomach confirms that the turkey is delicious. My plate is heaped with food. Cranberries explode with flavor like Pop-Rocks. Potatoes, gravy, and rolls, oh my! My stomach is signaling to me to stop, but I loosen my sweat pants and press on. Sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, rutabaga find a new home in my stomach. A hungry dog has nothing on me. The second helping of turkey lights off fireworks in my head, but the grand finale is on its way as Grandma carries in the Gordon Food Service Apple Pie to the table. Do I wait? No!
I dive in fork first. Houston, we have lift off as the pie prepares for its journey into the unknown. If taste buds could talk, let me tell you, they would be singing from the roof tops or putting on a theatrical production about the food they’ve been eating. The warm apple pie and the cold vanilla ice cream mixing in my pie hole are indescribable. My facial expression says it all. It doesn’t get much better than this. The smells that teased me in the morning matched up to the afternoon taste. My festive wear has done its job well. Just when I think my waistband can’t take any more, I settle in on the couch with a mug of hot apple cider. Gulp, gulp, gulp. Uh oh, Houston, we have a problem!
For your Turkey viewing and listening pleasure.
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