Be Kind, Please Rewind

He’s a Punch-Drunk Driver. He’s the…

Vidiot

Week of March 8, 2019

Boxing would be more popular if fighters wore capes. First up…

Creed II

Boxing has experienced a renaissance lately thanks to the many other sports that cause concussions.

And the healthy heavyweight in this action movie is spearheading that revival.

Not long after he becomes the world heavyweight champion, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) accepts a challenge to fight the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the man who killed his father. But without Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) in his corner, Donnie barely scrapes by with his title – or life - intact. But with his wife (Tessa Thompson) and newborn battling their own medical issues, Donnie doesn’t have time to wallow before the rematch.

While the original cast excels in their roles again, the nostalgic narrative of this overly inspirational sequel relies too heavily on Rocky clichés. Meanwhile, the loss of the original director is felt throughout, especially in the handful of fights depicted.

Besides, it’s hard for boxers to be fathers because babies are just too smart.  Yellow Light

Instant Family

Nowadays, no matter the type of child you adopt you can surgically altered them to look like you.

However, the couple in this dramedy has decided to allow their kids to keep their appearances.

Spurred on by her family’s doubt in her, Ellie (Rose Byrne) and her husband Pete (Mark Wahlberg) move forward on adoption. With help from a foster parent group headed by quirky social workers (Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro), Ellie and Pete welcome three Mexican-American siblings into their home. But they soon learn that raising kids, especially a teenager, isn’t as easy as they thought.

Although it offers some insight into the arduous adoption process that hopefuls must endure, this modern family folly is also filled with so much potty humour that it’s hard to take the darker moments all that serious.

Incidentally, adopting another nationality is the best way to show the world you’re not a racist.  Red Light

***Rope-a-Doption ***

The Mighty McGurk

After retiring from the ring most boxers take cushy jobs as crash-test dummies.

However, the prizefighter in this drama spends his days bouncing at a dive bar.

Former heavyweight champion Slag McGurk (Wallace Beery) now works the door at Mike’s (Edward Arnold) tavern. When presented with the chance to partner on Mike’s latest venture, Slag jumps at the chance to help his friend ruin the Salvation Army so Mike can expand. But as he rounds up thugs to help Slag meets an orphan (Dean Stockwell) that convinces him to stand-up to Mike.

While the story of a lovable ex-fighter finding their fire in an adoring orphan isn’t all that new, this 1947 take on the dynamic is an amiable attempt that has plenty of barroom brawls to whet the appetite of fight fans.

Furthermore, this film finally proves that boxing gloves are not made out of the skins of orphans.

He’s a Beer Gut Punch. He’s the…

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