Space Station 76

***DISCLAIMER*** The following review is entirely my opinion. If you comment (which I encourage you to do) be respectful. If you don't agree with my opinion, that's fine. To each their own. These reviews are not meant to be statements of facts or endorsements, I am just sharing my opinions and my perspective when watching the film and is not meant to reflect how these films should be viewed. Finally, the reviews are given on a scale of 0-5. 0, of course, being unwatchable. 1, being terrible. 2, being not great. 3, being okay. 4, being great and 5, being epic! And if you enjoy these reviews feel free to share them and follow the blog or follow me on Twitter (@RevRonster) for links to my reviews and the occasional live-Tweet session of the movie I'm watching! Dammit...I didn't see the other 75 Space Station films.

Space Station 76 ? 3 out of 5

Space?the final?um?place we?ll explore. Pretty much since film began, stories have taken place in space (hey, that rhymes!). Nowadays, we are treated with special effects that create a vividly detailed vision of our future and space exploration. However, back in the 70s, theses visions had a very?um?unique look to them that was intended to be the future but looked very, very 70s and disco. Honestly, the biggest appeal to me about Space Station 76 was its throwback look?hell, it was really the only reason I sought the film out in the first place.

The Future is Here!  Well...like forty years ago future.

To see what he's looking at, look at the next photo!

Space Station 76 tells the story of the crew and passengers of a retro-looking space station (possibly numbered 76...but it's not...but it could have been). There?s an ornery Captain (Patrick Wilson) who seems to be depressed, at odds with his sexuality, and feels threatened by the newly arrived officer Jessica (Liv Tyler). Jessica tries to adjust herself to the new setting by befriending the young Sunshine (Kylie Rogers), the daughter to the space-equivalent of a bored housewife (Marisa Coughlan) and her equally unhappy repairman husband with a robotic arm (Matt Boomer). So, while all these isolated and bored personalities are coming to light and colliding, the station itself is on the verge of colliding with an asteroid. Uh oh!

Moments after this scene happened, the internet was instantly flooded with
dirty and horrific fan-fiction about it.

Wow, Space Station 76 summed up all four years
of high school for me in one picture.

For the most part, Space Station 76 is okay. It doesn?t do too much wrong?the throwback look is amusing, the humor in this dark comedy can, at times, be fairly decent, and the acting is good?but, at the same time, the film isn?t doing much right either. For example, the film doesn?t really feel like it has a central story going on. While, in essence, the film is about the new arrival Jessica coming to the station and trying to fit in and getting to know the passengers but it never really feels like that. Nor does the impeding threat that there might be an asteroid that could potentially hit the station (something of which Jessica will, occasionally, warn the Captain about). Instead, the film just feels like a collection of small vignettes of the characters about the station and what they are going through and they never have anything really concrete (beyond Jessica and the fact they are living together) to really connect one to the other. It gives the film an aimless feel and had me wondering the entire time, "Something is going to happen, right?" And, believe it or not, something does happen?eight minutes before the credits hit. At that point, the conflicts with each character are rapidly resolved and the film ends. It made the whole experience feel empty and like a useless gesture.

Jerry O'Connell is in the film...though, with the amount of screen time he has,
you could easily blink and miss him.

I know that last paragraph sounded harsh but the film wasn?t a complete waste?my intention is not to make it sound that way. In reality, the conflicts the characters go through are interesting and enjoyable. Whether it be watching Captain Glenn battle his demons and his feelings for an officer who left the station or the growing turmoil inside Matt Boomer?s character as he is battling thoughts of infidelity with Jessica?s arrival or even the way Jessica tries to bond with Sunshine and the results are grating to Sunshine?s mother are all interesting and make the characters inhabiting this space station interesting. The problem just comes from the fact that none of their issues really feel like they are contributing to a bigger picture in the story and they are all resolved rather lazily.

Sunshine's parents are shocking very un-hippie like.  With a name like Sunshine
you would think...but you'd be wrong.

At this point, you might be considering that I was being fairly generous with my 3 out of 5?a.k.a. Average?score. I won?t argue that because I agree completely. I am being generous because, realistically, this film was leaning more towards my 2 due to its sloppy story and its ending that results in an empty feeling. However, I went against a 2 due to two things. The first of those two things is the retro look of the film. I was raised on Sci-Fi tales looking like Space Station 76 does and the set design and costumes this film is sporting fills me with nostalgia. However, at the same time, given the story the way it is, I can?t help but think that this element was utilized in order to hide the less than developed areas of the film. The movie would have, most likely, been a complete wash if they went with the more modern look of what we call the future in our entertainment.

So...is this R.O.B.'s cousin or something?

The second thing I really enjoyed about the film was the performance from Patrick Wilson. Not only did I enjoy his banter with his costars?whether it be his animosity towards Jessica or his boredom when Sunshine asks him questions about the station?but I also really dug his internal, non-vocal banter as he battled to come to terms with his sexuality and how that often led him towards a desire to commit suicide (this element also led to some very funny moments as the ship?s computer and automated systems such down all attempts). Wilson seems to be channeling a bit of Ron Burgundy (and not just in mustache form) with his ultra-macho persona he puts off and it resulted in a fun performance from the talented actor.

"Stay Classy, Space San Diego."

Space Station 76 has its issues but it never completely bored me, it just didn?t thoroughly entertain me. The story has a very sloppy approach and a lot of the humor falls very, very flat. But it?s gimmick of a retro look and a very strong performance from Wilson made up for many of the shortcomings. However, the sad reality is the film had a lot of potential and probably could have been quite brilliant. It?s too bad that was never realized.

Stretch

***DISCLAIMER*** The following review is entirely my opinion. If you comment (which I encourage you to do) be respectful. If you don't agree with my opinion (or other commenters), that's fine. To each their own. These reviews are not meant to be statements of facts or endorsements, I am just sharing my opinions and my perspective when watching the film and is not meant to reflect how these films should be viewed. Finally, the reviews are given on a scale of 0-5. 0, of course, being unwatchable. 1, being terrible. 2, being not great. 3, being okay. 4, being great and 5, being epic! And if you enjoy these reviews feel free to share them and follow the blog or follow me on Twitter (@RevRonster) for links to my reviews and the occasion live-Tweet session of the movie I'm watching.  Oh, like in stretch limo...now I get the title and the main character's name.

Stretch ? 4 out of 5

Stretch isn?t one of those mainstream movies that gets a lot of press. The film was made in 2013 and, due to production fuckery, wasn?t released until this year and, even then, it wasn?t given a theater release and was sent straight to VOD and instant services. However, with the right marketing, this thing probably could have done well at the theater because it?s a great piece of work. But, let?s be honest, even though people claim that they want originality in a movie release, they never would have spent their money on this one because they would rather complain that there are no original films than actually support the ones that are, in fact, out there.

I have the same defeated posture whenever I read comments on almost any article
on the internet.  There's just so much negativity and angry raging around the interwebs.

Stretch will get his passenger to the airport anyway
he can.

Stretch tells the tale of a failed actor/bitter limo driver nicknamed?you guessed it?Stretch (Patrick Wilson). Stretch recently came off a break up to the girl he thought was "the one" and she has moved on to great things while he wallows away in a dead-end job and gambling debt. Then, if that wasn?t bad enough, he?s haunted by the mirage of the limo business? best driver; Karl with a K (Ed Helms). It seems like things can?t worse until he finds out that he might be losing his job as a mysterious man called The Jovi is stealing clients from the company he works for. Oh, and because life is clearly just taking a shit on Stretch, his gambling debts have been called in and he now has to pay six grand before the night is up. With help from office girl Charlie (Jessica Alba), Stretch sets out to steal The Jovi?s high end clients and ends up with an eccentric man by the name of Roger Karos (played by the uncredited Chris Pine) in the back of his limo. Karos has promised a handsome payment if he serves him without question. Desperate, Stretch agrees but isn?t prepared for what the night holds for him.

When Karl with a K goes to Starbucks, they probably write his name on the cup like
"Ckarl."

It really is a shame that this film wasn?t released in the theaters because, with the right marketing, I believe it could have done well. The film is slick, has an entertaining story filled with wit, style and humor, and the performances are awesome! Director/Co-writer Joe Carnahan takes the formula of a guy at the end of his rope forced to do whatever it takes to get his ass out of the frying pan and crafts it with a hip edge, tight and creative editing and killer visuals.

Another killer visual, Chris Pine with the homeless man hair and beard.

Hoff was quite amusing in his single scene.

The technical aspects of the film like the shots, camera work, lighting and editing all look fantastic but the true highlight of the film, for me, was the absolutely great performances. There are some fun cameos from Ray Liotta, David Hasselhoff and Norman Reedus in the film but Wilson, Pines, Helms and even a bit part by Jason Mantzoukas keeps this film from ever feeling like generic fluff. The story was never in any danger of becoming that but the incredibly entertaining and fun performances from the entire cast really made the film stand out. Heck, even Jessica Alba?an actress I don?t often find to be that captivating in her acting?did a great job.

Something something Norman Reedus something something we riot.

Another element I really enjoyed was the way the film toyed with its central theme of fate. Stretch doesn?t belief that his entire life is planned and mapped out. Who can blame him? He thought he was on a path to greatness after he found the love of his life and suddenly it's shit turn after shit turn. The way the story and plot play with fate and coincidence and has this all tied together in what, on first glance, will look like a Hollywood happy ending (but ends a little more creatively than that) only adds another level to why this movie stands out all by itself and is probably enough argument to state why this film shouldn?t have been fated to be on instant and VOD services and actually got a wide theater release to appease the people who claim they want Hollywood to produce more original content.

The mustache on Karl with a K's face makes him look like a mix between John
Waters and Walt Disney.

The film has a high replay value but does have a few moments where momentum from a fast pace story will slow down in order to be built up again. Was this an entertainment killer? Absolutely not because even when Stretch is at its slowest it?s still fun and entertaining as all hell. During the third act, when fate has all the shit surrounding Stretch come to a head, feels a tad sloppy in its execution but, in the end, all it did was keep this film from getting a perfect score. So, in reality, it?s not bad at all!

Yep, not bad at all.

Stretch is a hell of a lot of a good time and just a fantastic movie. Patrick Wilson is phenomenal alone and, when paired with a stupidly fun performance from Chris Pine, he?s even better. The presentation is top notch and the story is absolutely excellent. The complaints are small and, for all intents and purposes, nearly non-existent. Overall, it?s a very enthralling film that I will, without a doubt, watch quite a bit in the future.