(2015) ** 1/2
Max and Evelyn are a cute young couple living together in
LA. Max works at a Halloween prop shop,
but dreams of a future where someday he works in and owns a Halloween prop
shop. Evelyn works at a green blog
company writing blogs about how to be more green. Yep, that’s as much development as these
characters get. Max and Evelyn have lots
of great sex, but otherwise, they are ill-suited for each other. A random prop at Max’s shop casts a spell on
Evelyn so that when she tragically dies, she comes back from the grave and thus
interrupts Max’s rebound romance with Olivia, who runs a Monster-themed
ice-cream store.
Burying the Ex is directed by Joe Dante. Did you guys know he’s still alive? Yeah, he directed Gremlins, and then did very
little else for the past 30 years. Imdb says
he’s been directing lots of tv shows, most of which I’ve never heard of. Anyway, he’s trying to bring back his
comic-horror charm in this movie with lots of meta-jokes about old horror
movies. I enjoyed these a lot, and I
suspect fellow ‘thoners would as well, but most would probably be lost on 98% of
audiences. There’s a fun cameo from a
Gremlins star who I also hadn’t seen in 30 years. I saw this movie an hour or two after reading
Cat’s review of Devil Bat, and then BAM!
Devil Bat is playing in the background of one of these scenes. That was fun.
The attempt to treat real-life girlfriend becoming a zombie
stuff, Life After Beth and Warm Bodies did it better in previous years.
Otherwise, despite trying really hard, this movie is never
really that funny. There are parts that
will make you smile, but not actually laugh.
I find Anton Yelchin a really good, charismatic actor too, but he ends
up in so many bad movies. I feel like
his career is going to be buried in this decade. He’s only 26, but his receding hairline may
as well receive co-billing in this film.
To sum it up…. Well-intentioned, but misses the mark.
4 comments:
I had no idea that Dante was still around so you prompted me to look at his imdb and I see he directed an episode of Salem and two episodes of the cancelled Witches of East End so I guess he has been lurking around the horror genre. Funny about Devil Bat.
Since Anton Yelchin is in the new Star Trek movies he can always fall back on autographing pictures at conventions. He'll be fine!
Who was the Gremlins star? Oh wait I peeked. It's Dick Miller from Bucket of Blood. God, I'm surprised he's still alive too.
Wish this were better. I do love a good horror-comedy and haven't been able to find anything promising lately.
I love Gremlins because it's intertwined with my childhood but overall I'm just not a fan of Joe Dante's style when it comes to horror. I have a feeling this movie would irritate me.
Post a Comment