Wednesday 28 August 2013

Film: 'WE'RE THE MILLERS'

I probably wouldn't have bothered with this had I not noticed on the IMDb site that it had accumulated quite a high average vote. To be fair, I did get quite a few chuckles from this rather over-stretched film, just about all of them coming in the first two-thirds - as well as exclusively arising from some rather sharp one-liners rather than the situation in hand.

I only knew the one name from the cast though Jason Sudeikis did look slightly familiar. Referring to his filmography I see that I last saw him in the rather more entertaining 'Horrible Bosses' of 2011.

He plays a drug dealer, said 'recreational drug' being, arguably, the least controversial one, marijuana. He's fallen into debt with his spivvy supplier to the tune of thousands of dollars, and in order to have the debt expunged he's given the 'choice' of collecting just a "smidgeon and a half" of grass from Mexico and smuggling it over the border, and be paid for his 'trouble' - or be killed. He gets the idea, to give the appearance of credibility, of creating a 'family' by coercing his squabbling neighbour as his wife (Jennifer Aniston stretching all belief as a professional stripper) a nearby nerdy kid and a female juvenile thief as his children. So they all go off together, expecting to get a share of the fee on successful return. When they reach their destination the quantity of grass turns out to be enough to load a lorry - so it's just as well that he'd had the idea of taking his 'family' in a virtual home-on-wheels. On the way they fall in with an odd couple and their daughter whose attitudes swing between 'free-love' and law-abiding censoriousness.

The film did have its moments and I did laugh out loud at a couple of points. But when one sees at the start a couple arguing like hell, one already knows how they are going to end up - and that is precisely what happens in a bit of a treacly finish, though I have seen worse.
There's a few blooper out-takes at the end, actually this time placed before the final credits, so you're less likely to walk out and miss them, though they are hardly anything special. When I say that the final one is a prank involving the car radio and refers to one of the cast's TV past you can guess where it goes.

I thought the film was fair enough. As I say, I got a few laughs and that made it worthwhile, but only just. I give it.................5.5/10

9 comments:

  1. Will give this a miss but loved your review of " Maisie"

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  2. When I was at the cinema a couple of weeks ago, I saw this trailed a couple of times and couldn't, for the life of me, work out where I recognised the "son" from.

    Further research established that he had featured in Channel 4's excellent "School of Comedy" which featured sketches performed by kids from a real-life comedy talent group.

    Worth a You Tube, but here he is as a White Van Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZT-1h-SC4M

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  3. J.G. - while 'Millers' is a film to wile away a couple of hours pleasantly enough and then to forget, 'Maisie' is a quality film that should stay with you much longer.

    Andrew - because of his 'unusual' looks there was something about this chap that made me think, like you, that I must have seen him before, and you've now revealed that it was on Channel 4 trailers. (I've not seen the actual programme.) Thanks for the White Van man link.

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  4. I love comedy movies. I approve your review, there are some point you will laugh but its not all the way. although I would also give it a 6/10.
    The nerdy kid is from(what ive seen) Narnia

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  5. Many thanks for your visit, Azmi. Your taking the trouble to comment is much appreciated.
    Yes, I wouldn't quarrel TOO much with your score of '6'. My reviews are done within a few hours of seeing any film, often within minutes of returning home, so they are very much gut reactions. Maybe on reflection I do feel a little kindlier towards it now, but only a little.
    The 'son', I think, might go far, if only because he has quite unusual looks, which might be an asset in the film business, though that can also carry the danger of type-casting.
    Thanks again.

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  6. While I enjoyed your review of the Millers, I have to say I did not enjoy actually watching it :-(

    May I recommend "Any day now" starring Alan Cumming

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  7. 'Millers' is not a film I can imagine anyone strongly recommending, E.D., but I thought it was pleasant enough - though only just. Sounds like you wouldn't even have given it even that muted 'praise', which is fair enough.

    'Any Day Now' has had some good reviews and I would like to see it, but I'll only get the chance if it comes to one of the local 'Art House' cinemas, which it could well do. I don't watch films on TV nor rent them to watch, one reason being that my ancient computer can't cope with such a knotty thing as vision/sound synchronisation, which drives me up the wall. But if I get the chance, see it I shall, even moreso now because of your recommendation. Thanks.

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  8. Come on ray..... There must be something to review?

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  9. I know, J.G. I've been feeling a mite guilty at not having seen anything for over two weeks now. Was going to see 'Ain't These Bodies Saints' yesterday but spent most of it in bed with (likely) food poisoning. My last chance to see it is tomorrow, but it's a late screening which makes it difficult for me and, more importantly, my pussies. I'll have to ask them if they'll mind.
    Otherwise I've not yet seen 'The Way Way Back' and 'About Time', neither of which I really fancy, especially since the latter is supposed to be awash with sentiment. Also missed a chance at seeing 'Lovelace' though I don't think that was such a big loss.
    I've got 'Upstream Colours' pencilled in for early Oct. whicb is supposed to be pretty good.
    So that's all what I have NOT seen. Hope it won't be more than a day or two before a review of something which I have.
    (But I'm mighty chuffed that you've noticed my absence).

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