Battle of the flicks: Epic vs. The Hangover Part III

Epic

In 3D, this visual delight will inspire your little ones to look closer at the flora and fauna around them and let their imaginations run wild.

Amanda Seyfried voices the lead character, 17-year-old MK, a brave teen who is dealing with the loss of her mother and discovers a secret world.

Comic actors Aziz Ansari and hottie Chris O’Dowd play Mub and Grub, a slug and a snail that will have you giggling though the whole movie.

Take a look at what some other gals thought:

Amber Wilkinson of Eye For Film said, “Still, the action sequences — including some impressive hummingbird flights through the forest and an assault course escape from MK’s three-legged dog Ozzie — are lushly and immersively shot.”

Sarah Dobbs of SFX said, “The ensuing adventure is pretty straightforward, but it’s funny and often charming. It’s just that whenever it tries to introduce strong emotions of any kind, Epic falls short. MK’s reunion with her dad is sweet, but too easy; her romance with leaf man Nod is logistically troubling; and her grief over her mother’s death is quickly brushed aside.”

Catherine Bray of Film 4.com said, “Dazzling visual effects and some lively voice work from the comic relief characters just about paper over a disappointingly conventional narrative.”

You can read my full review here: 

Epic movie review: Little people, big forest >>

Hangover 3

Only “Wolf Pack” die-hards need apply for this third installment in what was the funniest R-rated comedic franchise ever.

The filmmakers decide to break their established story structure of wacky, raunchy, drug-fueled memory loss, and send Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, and Bradley Cooper on a crime adventure. Is it funny? Yes, but much darker than the first two. The brightest light in the movie is the brief appearance of Melissa McCarthy. Overall, we were disappointed.

Here’s what some other ladies thought:

Louise Keller of Urban Cinefile said, “To its detriment and in a fizzer of a finale, Hangover Part III is unfortunately more like the second film of the franchise than the first; a mishmash of over-the-top skits that are never based on any kind of reality except that of the misconceived scriptwriters.”

Christy Lemire of the Associated Press said, ‘‘It dares to alienate the very audience that made ‘The Hangover’ the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time because, well, it isn’t exactly a comedy.‘‘

Victoria Alexander of the Las Vegas Informer said, “Our favorite R-rated, shockingly vulgar “Wolf Pack” is now domesticated. No more drugs, black-outs, sex with Hunts Point hookers, or Thai ladyboys.”

But you can always read my full review:

The Hangover Part 3 movie review: Mr. Chow goes full frontal! >>