21: There’s nothing quite like a book written about a true story turned into a movie with characters and important parts of the story completely changed. Why keep the exciting original story when you can make it a movie full of predictable plot turns and boring characters?

Follow the journey of the unlikable main character (and the actor’s annoying American accent) as he plays Blackjack a few times, gets his mentor Kevin Spacey mad at him, and then does some other stupid shit that you don’t really care about because he’s such a little runt. The movie does have it’s moments and can be quite entertaining, but most of the time it never exceeds being anything but the average Hollywood film aimed at teens who thought the Fast & the Furious was breathtaking. If George Clooney’s Danny Ocean character was dead, he’d be rolling in his grave right now. I would have much rather had the story based on the classic Family Ties episode where the Keatons go to Atlantic City and Alex makes the 98 step process on winning at Blackjack.
Grade: C-

Run Fat Boy Run: Simon Pegg (of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame) plus Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) directing plus Michael Ian Black writing the script should equal…well I’m not really sure. But, I do know the movie was still enjoyable enough to be worthwhile. While the script was re-written by Pegg, there’s still too much American-romantic comedy schlock thrown in to really get the feel of the Brit’s previous movies. But, that’s fine. It wasn’t a part of the Shaun/Hot Fuzz series. It’s instead it’s own movie.

Not being a part of that series and with sidekick Nick Frost nowhere to be found, the movie relies not enough on Pegg’s perfect comedic delivery but instead on an ensemble cast with the Simpson’s Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran (who also has an appearance in Shaun of the Dead), and some others who overall are quite good. But, the film still feels like it’s always missing something to make it a great comedy. It, however, still does exactly what any comedy sets out to do, and that’s make me, for the most part, laugh. It’s not perfect, but it’s a worthwhile comedy with some good moments.
Grade: B-