INCREDIBLES 2

INCREDIBLES 2:  The animated family of superheroes makes a return to the big screen and while I didn't see the first one, I thought I'd check this one out.  Well, it was a bit of a disappointment to me because I expected more laughs. (The baby is the best thing in the flick.) However the whole film screams superhero and I ended up wishing it was a live action movie with real people instead of overblown cartoon characters (Was the mother really designed after a Kardashian with that butt?).  With the voices of Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson among others who did their respective assignments well, it still fell short of what I expected.  If you saw the first one, or if you are young enough to accept this cartoon take on superheroes you may enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me.  Hey you can't win them all even if they claim to be incredible.

JURASSIC WORLD - FALLEN KINGDOM

JURASSIC WORLD -FALLEN KINGDOM:  Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme Park, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Dallas Bryce Howard) return to the island to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that is about to erupt.  That's the premise and all you need to know to enjoy this thrill ride. The CGI effects have never been better or more flawless. The supporting cast is a boatload of talent and includes, Jeff Goldblum, James Cameron, Geraldine Chaplin, B. D. Wong, Tobey Jones and Rafe Spall. Needless to say, the eruption takes place and in getting the dinosaurs off the island and returning them to the mainland, a conspiracy begins to unfold.  This is one of those edge of your seat kind of movies that are such fun and almost wear you out.   But I loved it!  Will there be more?   Could be, if the ending is any indication.

TAG

TAG:  With Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner and Joe Hamm on hand to lead this testosterone laden foray into comedy, you would think it would work.  But it doesn't.  Well, maybe a little bit.  Too many others of this ilk have shown far brighter and far funnier ("The Hangover" comes to mind.) And while the premise is based on a true story of a gang of friends who meet every year to play tag, I really didn't care much for them or this script. It does have some gags along the way (a great many involving male genitalia and even some tasteless banter involving a miscarriage ).  The supporting cast (Jake Johnson and Hannibal Buress among others) tries to help as best it can.  But the fault is not in the stars but in the script.  I'd skip this one if I had it all to do over.

OCEAN'S 8

OCEAN'S 8:   Hey we can keep this franchise alive if we reboot the whole thing with women doing the heist.   That must have been the thinking behind this film.  Does it work?  Yes, a resounding yes! Sandra Bullock plays the sister of Danny Ocean (never mentioned in any of the other films) and we first meet her at her parole hearing.   (Don't despair, she ain't going "straight.")  She envisions a heist to take place at the renowned Met Gala and a good part of the film involves her recruitment of her fellow thieves.  They include Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter and Sarah Paulson among others.  Also along for the ride is James Corden as an insurance adjuster assigned to the case and  a passel of notable cameos (I won't spoil it by telling you who).   Far and away the real scene stealer in all this merriment is Anne Hathaway as a spoiled, rich actress.  What a joy!  While the film has wonderful moments of banter between Bullock, Blanchett  their team of thieves, it never quite attains that magic that Clooney and his cohorts achieved (The Sinatra film is another matter.) But, all in all, it was great fun and the last thirty minutes is so loaded with twists and turns you may as well be on a Disneyworld ride.   Perfect Summer fare!horts achieved (The Sinatra film is another matter.)