MoviesWithX

I watched the first episode (and the first few minutes of the second) with some of my family. It didn't really pick up for me until a scene where Terri J Vaughn's character goes to get her daughter from a party. That's kind of when things seem to happen, but then the episode is almost over. But before then, it was not all that to me. Putting my feelings aside about Tyler Perry's content, I just didn't think it was all that funny. A couple of lines here and there were amusing, and one in the second episode I thought was legitimately very funny regarding a suit. I love Terri J Vaughn, and she's the only reason I sat through as much as I did, even considering how awesome it is to have Jo Marie Payton here too. But the writing doesn't help. Not only because of the jokes that don't work, but he still writes to serve the profanity, instead of the dialogue. When you say something funny, it's not the cursing that makes it funny, it's what you're saying that makes it funny. But too much of this script is just about him still trying to show people that he's not the same Tyler Perry that he used to be, and it suffers for that. That's all that stands out when it's not written well, no matter your "work ethic". It's not the worst thing I've ever seen, not even from him and it wouldn't be fair for me to say that having just seen one complete episode. I don't think I'm going to be watching much more of it though.

Ok. Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. Glad to see them. Given what Jamie Foxx just experienced, I thank God that he's still with us. I've been a fan of his my whole life, from "The Jamie Foxx Show" to "In Living Color", and much more. I enjoy Cameron Diaz as well. One thing that this movie does remind me of is just how likeable and charming she is. She and Foxx are hands down the best part of this movie. But honestly, this movie is just ok. It did get better after Glenn Close's character enters the picture though. Things do pick up. I was actually kind of dreading it before then. It's inoffensive at best, but was unfunny and boring at the worst. Not to mention that the dialogue is not very good. It sounds like it's written just to guide you with exposition, in a very bland way. The way it's delivered at times does not help that issue. With that said, Diaz's and Foxx's characters are the most likeable (apart from a wonderful supporting character that enters the movie in the second act , along with Glenn Close). That's good when they are your leads. That's bad when their characters have two kids. Two really annoying kids. Their actors are ok, but could be better. I thought the young man was a little better than the young lady though. Having said that, I hated them (the characters, of course). The girl is of course, an annoying teenager. And the son is, of course, super smart and is a nerd. That's fine, but what doesn't help matters is the script. They keep putting off telling the kids that they were spies so long, and it makes them increasingly annoying the longer that they do. So when things start up, they understandably wanna know. But the lies get more and more pathetic, and further show the glaring weaknesses in the script in terms of how unfunny it is. Even apart from that, they (the kids) just aren't likeable from the start. I got sick of the daughter FAST. The son isn't that bad, but all he is is "I know this, I'm techy, etc." but that's it. He's really just a second kid, so that they have a boy and a girl. The villain, I mean... if you've seen any movie before, you'll spot them in seconds flat like I did. And that's no exaggeration. I knew instantly, and I was right. I will say this. The action, while not amazing for any reason, is not the worst. There's a fight scene at a gas station that I think was actually pretty good. In fact, there's a couple of hand-to-hand fight scenes that aren't too bad. They wisely didn't over-direct them, which was a good idea. That is why I'd give it a 6, because it's not that poorly made overall. And also, Glenn Close is in this. Seems like she's been in a lot of streaming stuff lately, but I haven't seen that stuff. She's fine in this, as a "British" woman. I don't know the actor that plays her boyfriend though, but he was honestly delightful. Very amusing and likeable as his character, "Nigel". Not a huge part of the film, but worth every second he has. I liked him a lot. Wish there was way more of him. Now, the movie does sequel-bait at the end. Me, personally... I'm good. Action-wise, it's not memorable but it's far better handled than the comedy (with the main exception being the character of Nigel).

"Margin Call" reminds me of two movies that I've seen, one much more than the other. I think of "Wall Street" and "Glengarry Glen Ross". Sure you may think of one on the surface (the former), but as far as how it plays out in terms of it being an acting exercise, I think of the latter. I think more of "Glengarry Glen Ross" because there are times where not much is happening, but there is plenty of dialogue. Because while the performances from everyone in here are excellent, I kind of wasn't entirely sure about what was going on, and wanted a little more than what you were actually getting from the script in terms of the situation at hand. I guess that wasn't really supposed to be the main focus, rather than how the people in the middle of the crisis were handling it at the time. And that's ok. It can be about the drama of it all. That's entertaining too. It just felt a little too vague sometimes to where when they attempted to discuss it, it got kind of repetitive for me. I'm like "ok so I guess that's bad". So I gave up. The most I really got to understand was that there was a really dire situation at hand because of some equation that the guy worked out, and presented to the firm. Overall, I thought it was fine. The acting, casting and production is what really elevated it for me. Those are the most positive aspects, with the standout performances for me being from Simon Baker (who was just cold in this in his scenes), and Paul Bettany, Demi Moore and Stanley Tucci. I don't take issue with Penn Badgley in the movie, but his character seemed to be the most unnecessary other than perhaps to represent how one can become a casualty of those circumstances simply by working there while that stuff is going on. Sort of a "wrong place at the wrong time" type deal. At least that's what I think based off of something that Paul Bettany's character says to him late in the film. But prior to that, I didn't see why he needed to be included in the story, whereas Zachary Quinto's character was highly important. I also don't really think that the ending works too well. And someone who is billed on the poster doesn't show up until the ending. Great actress too, but she's there for like 2 minutes. And also, this is just me maybe. I won't act as if profanity always bothers me, especially when it's in an R-rated movie where it's most expected. That being said, the writing at times seemed as if it was written just to place emphasis on the profanity itself, rather than what was actually being said. I hate writing like that. Other than that, the movie is ok. I will say that I do like it more than the movie "Wall Street". I saw that a while back, and I don't get why it was a big deal.