Blu-ray Review: You Again & Secretariat

You Again
Written by: Moe Jelline
Directed by: Andy Fickman
Starring: Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Kristin Chenowith, Victor Garber and Betty White
Special Features: Deleted Scenes, featurettes, Funny or Die interview spoof and a DVD copy of the film. Blu-ray exclusive features include more deleted scenes and bloopers.

The horrors of high school come back to haunt Kristen Bell as her brother is set to marry her nemesis in the funny rom-com You Again.  Also it has Betty White in it.

High Art it is not but I actually really enjoyed this movie.  Sure, it's pretty standard romantic comedy snark but the cast brings it to another level.  This is an extremely talented group of women who turn what could have been a barely passable cookie cutter movie into a really funny and enjoyable one.

I've said it before but Kristen Bell elevates any movie for me and this one is no exception.  A bonus though is that this cast has great chemistry.  They all feed off each other well and it gets pretty funny as each generation of women comes face to face with their enemies.  I do wish there was more with Cloris Leachman and Betty White though.  The two of them together would make for some hilarious scenes.

The Blu-ray looks great.  Sharp colors, great sound.  For this type of movie its really an indulgence though to be honest.  The special features are pretty standard.  Deleted Scenes are okay.  The Funny or Die stuff is pretty funny.

If you aren't a romantic comedy fan or a fan of one of the wonderful actresses that make this movie worthwhile, you probably won't enjoy it all that much.  It has some great laughs and some great moments with Kristen Chenowith who appears in a role that barely passes cameo.  Great charm and great chemistry make this worthy of a watch.  It's nothing to original and certainly changes no games but it will make for a great date night movie with your significant other or a fun movie to watch with the family.

Personally, I really got a kick out of it.

You Again

Pop Culture Beast Rating

7/10

Secretariat
Written by: Mike Rich based on the book by William Nack
Directed by: Randall Wallace
Starring: Diane Lane, Margo Martindale, Dylan Walsh, Nelsan Ellis and John Malkovich
Special Features: Deleted Scenes, AJ Michalka music video, featurettes, Exclusive Blu-ray features include additional deleted scenes and featurettes, commentary, a multi angle simulation of Secretariat's 1973 Peakness Run and a DVD version of the film.

If you don't know what the movie is about from the cover up there then you probably will never watch this movie anyway but to quickly summarize:  it's a horse racing movie.

Unfortunately, it's just an okay one at that. 

First off, it looks great on Blu-ray but that's to be expected right?   The crisp picture doesn't do much to make up for the rest of what's going on.

Secretariat is overly slow, only adequately acted, and is so predictable you could sit down and write the script before you finish watching the movie.

Still, I'm a sucker for animal movies and I'll admit to getting slightly caught up near the end I just wish everything up to it was better.

Not even one of the best parts of True Blood, Nelsan Ellis, could elevate this one past a snooze fest.

It's not terrible and I can imagine that a lot of people will absolutely love this movie.  Alternately, a lot of other people won't.  I fall a bit closer to the latter.  I didn't hate the movie, I just doubt I will ever watch it again.

The special features are just as underwhelming.  The interview with the director and Penny Chenery is interesting, more so than the movie turns out to be, but that turns out to be the cream of the crop really.

Secretariat would make for a good family movie night, if your pickins' are slim.  It's that safe kind of inoffensive movie that mom and dad can be comfortable watching with the kids.  I'd bet the kids want something a little edgier though.  Like You Again.

Secretariat

Pop Culture Beast Rating:

4/10

You Again and Secretariat are available no on DVD and Blu-ray!

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