Boss Baby

Seven year old Tim Templeton is living the dream. He's got great parents who are always attentive, and enable his tendency to have an overactive imagination, sometimes even playing along and being apart of his games and roleplaying. Life is the best it's ever been for Tim..until one day when his parents bring home a surprise - a new baby brother. Over time Tim feels like he's being left in the dust with the baby getting all the attention instead of him. It'll take one last adventure with his new baby brother in order to help him realize growing up is something that needs to happen and having a baby brother isn't always a bad thing.

Boss Baby is something that I never thought I would enjoy. In all honesty, the only reason I watched it was A) It was on Netflix and I was bored (didn't see it in theaters), and B) I saw it had been nominated for Best Animated film and I've been trying to see all the nominated films for this year. After watching it, I can say that it wasn't a bad movie, but I'm not quite sure I would have considered it Oscar worthy. I'm sure part of it was how it's not really a movie geared towards an adult guy like me. Some of the humor was hit or miss for me - though, again, I'm sure young kids would enjoy it. The story itself I did find refreshingly original. The voice acting was great as well, especially Miles Bakshi and Alec Baldwin as Tim and Boss Baby, respectively. It's no classic on the level of something like Toy Story, Up or The Lion King, but it is an enjoyable movie.

John Wick: Chapter 2

All former assassin John Wick wants is to be left alone. Yet after previously having his car stolen and his dog murdered, he got pulled back into the game. However, even after taking care of the people responsible for his dog and car in hopes of finally fully retiring, John gets pulled even further back in to the assassin world when his former boss calls for payment due on an old favor. Years ago, John had a contract to kill someone of importance. He never made good on that contract before he initially retired, so his old boss Santino D'Antonio comes to him to make sure that he fulfills the contract. Unfortunately, the contract is for Santino's sister, and in a bit of double-crossing Santino puts out a hit on John Wick after Wick does the deed. Now Wick must go on the run to clear his name.

There isn't much to say about John Wick: Chapter 2. If you've seen the first John Wick, or if you're a fan of the hard-R action flicks of the '80's & '90's, well, then you know what you're getting into - and will most likely enjoy it. Chapter 2 ups the ante in regards to the body count and the ways in which said bodies are dispatched. Case in point, Chapter 2 has what I'd consider the most, uh, creative way a pencil or pen is used to attack and kill someone since either The Dark Knight or even The Bourne Identity. These days it seems like it's difficult for movies to have a good balance of action/violence and humor, but much like the first John Wick, Chapter 2 handles that balance well with quite a few great one liners and great thrilling action sequences. I enjoyed the original John Wick more, but its sequel was worth seeing in a theater, especially more than once. As long as you don't go into it expecting something "smart", can look past a simple storyline and just sit back and have fun, John Wick: Chapter 2 is, along with its predecessor, one of the better action movies of the last few years.