MOVIE REVIEW: 22 Jump Street

Disclaimer: I pulled this trick out a few years ago in comparing “The Expendables” with “The Expendables 2” where, because of the incredibly repetitive scenarios between the original and the sequel, I literally wrote on top of the first review for the review of the second movie. After seeing “22 Jump Street,” a movie that intentionally aims to copy its first effort, I knew this was a good chance to have a little editor’s fun again. Follow the strike-throughs below for edits and the bold writing for new language inserts. Other than that, the review for the first film might as well be the review for the second film. It’s that similar.

MOVIE REVIEW: They Came Together

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that we might have a new entry into the pantheon of parody classics with the recent release "They Came Together." The new comedy from director David Wain, best known to audiences for "Wanderlust," "Role Models," and "Wet Hot American Summer," checks all of those above boxes for being a great parody. The film is packed with smart humor, joke complexity, clever approaches, and an elaborate sense of storybuilding and delivery that most parodies lack. Best of all, Wain assembles a near-perfect cast of his old pals, led by Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, that never cease to entertain.

MOVIE REVIEW: Edge of Tomorrow

Go ahead and continue Tom Cruise's solid streak one more movie with the very entertaining "Edge of Tomorrow" opening this week. The funniest thing is Tom is essentially playing the opposite of his usual macho self and it still works. We're used to the take-charge man-of-action characters out of him, not the wimp and coward he plays here. Because of that, there's a certain unexpected humor coming out of "Edge of Tomorrow" that boosts its doom-and-gloom alien invasion setup.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Let's Be Cops

All the buddy cop measurements and prerequisites are plugged into the new film "Let's Be Cops," which opens this coming August. I was lucky enough to catch a very advance screening of the film. The writers here, led by director Luke Greenfield of the forgettable "Something Borrowed," have the potential of a unique idea and a decent pair of leads to work with, but it's the real cop stuff that bogs the film down.

MOVIE REVIEW: Chef

Buyer beware, do not go into this movie hungry. You will chew the arm off of the person next to you and that's never a good date move (unless you're watching a zombie flick, which this is far from). Folks, do the dinner before the movie on this one, ladies and gentlemen, or you will willingly overeat afterwards. I warned you now. You'll see.

MOVIE REVIEW: X-Men: Days of Future Past

The successful revitalization brought by “X-Men: First Class” and the unfaded star power of Hugh Jackman have brought us to “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Original series director Bryan Singer, fresh from “Jack the Giant Slayer,” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” screenwriter Simon Kinberg have returned to correct old mistakes, untangle the knots, and realign this previously failed franchise for a healthy new lease on cinematic life and relevance.

MOVIE REVIEW: Godzilla

Amazingly, I’m happy to report that this “Godzilla,” while actually having a trainwreck in it (two in fact), is not a complete trainwreck itself. This is a legitimate summer blockbuster in scale and in quality. The promised size and scope of monster carnage that the 1998 film failed to compellingly deliver and, honestly, we never thought we would see done right on the big screen is successfully accomplished in a big way. This new film makes “Pacific Rim” look as silly as it really is, “Transformers” look downright weak and tiny, and even makes the controversial city destruction final act of “Man of Steel” look like a knocked-over sand castle or two.

MOVIE REVIEW: Neighbors

That said, the peak occupied by any R-rated comedy isn’t very high and far from snow-capped among the clouds of cinema greatness. Rarely do movies like “Neighbors” create any watershed or bedrock. In terms of peaks and heights, let’s go ahead and just call “Neighbors” your new favorite sledding hill or deluxe tree house. Besides, that’s not the “high” this film is looking for anyway, if you get my drift. The target is decidedly, and rightfully, low-brow.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

As much as this new take still feels rehashed on many levels, this sequel is the real deal as an exciting comic book adventure and spectacle. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is ideally suited to be the blockbuster opening act of the summer of 2014. It indeed does embody a second film that is narrowly better than the first film.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Railway Man

In my opinion, very few actors have established themselves with their performance history to the point that their presence alone is an automatic sign of elevated quality towards an entire film. Call it "street cred" on a casual level or "artistic integrity" on a professional level, but few actors and actresses are near-guarantees for solid and award-worthy performances every time they take on a role. By my account, Academy Award winner Colin Firth has elevated to become one of those rare performers. He's outstanding in everything he takes on, comedy or drama, and the films he chooses become better with him being there.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Snowpiercer

What makes "Snowpiercer" a tough sell is its daring, yet isolating post-apocalyptic premise. It's pretty out there, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. However, thanks to buzz of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," this borderline obscure film receives new life as a small studio's attempt to cash in on the new stock value of its star. Very likely, "Snowpiercer" is going to get the label of the "other Chris Evans movie" this year.

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Speaking of poker, if "Iron Man 3" is a hefty full house and "Thor: The Dark World" is a handsome straight, then "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is a straight flush. I will echo the early reviews coming in and say that this is arguably Marvel's best made film to date. The movie is a kinetically smart clash of political espionage set on a superhero action stage. There's not a wasted moment of non-importance and the twists and turns triple anything attempted by "Iron Man 3" or "Thor: The Dark World."

EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

by Don Shanahan

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