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Movie Reviews by Todd Wofford— Funny, informative movie reviews

Todd Wofford

756 articles published

Laughable

Cannonball Run II (1984)::rating::0::rating::0::rating::0

The most disturbing thing about this movie resides in the fact that somebody somewhere thought it was a good idea to make it. I picture a mulleted movie executive in a seersucker suit, doing lines of Colombian Pure and puffing down Marlboro Reds. In that haze of 80s euphoria, a cleansing moment of clarity forms: …

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 20, 20180Comments

Laughable

From Justin to Kelly (2003)::rating::0.5

I’m a firm believer that few things in life can be all bad. Most movies have at least a little something to redeem them. My notes for From Justin to Kelly feature exactly one compliment: The font used for the opening credits is “interesting.” If I’m limited to saying something nice, my review would stop right…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 17, 20180Comments

Greatest

Unforgiven (1992)::rating::4.5

T he Western genre is replete with hard-asses who prefer to mow down their enemies and ask questions later. Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven dwells on the men who’ve lived long enough to ask the questions and arrive at some unsettling answers. For them, killing isn’t the only way, just the only way they’re any good at. If the…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 14, 20180Comments

The Archive

Iron Man 2 (2010)::rating::2.5

Aggressively middling sequel goes through the motions to such a degree that even Downey Jr. can’t save it. Miscast Mickey Rourke shoplifts Malkovich’s moose-and-squirrel accent from Rounders. And somebody somewhere should be cleaning up litter on the 105 with a pokey stick for wasting Sam Rockwell like this. Only real bright spot: Scarlett Johansson makes…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 14, 20180Comments

Exclusive

Iron Man 2 (2010)::rating::2.5

Weak sauce sequel tries and fails to replicate the recipe of the original: Tony Stark (RDJ) is a known quantity as Iron Man, which turns out to be more blessing than curse. Crazy Russian scientist (Mickey Rourke, deploying John Malkovich's accent from Rounders) turns up for revenge. The Feds turn up for Tony's suit. Meanwhile,…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 14, 20180Comments

The Archive

Iron Man (2008)::rating::3.5

For all the world-building and king-making done here, Marvel’s Mayflower voyage into cinematic domination is really just a pretty good movie. And much of that is due to the strength of Downey Jr., who makes the deadlifting of a movie star look easy. Everything else about it is engaging and well-done enough, um—serviceable, that’s the…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 14, 20180Comments

Exclusive

Iron Man (2008)::rating::3.5

Smartass billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) gets taken hostage by ISIS-type group, becomes titular superhero in order to escape. Rollicking action saga boots up the MCU, but also does just dandy on its lonesome. RDJ remakes the lead character in his own image, and keeps it that way for about twenty more movies. Director…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 14, 20180Comments

Greatest

Pulp Fiction (1994)::rating::5

Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece bears the off-kilter zeal of a crazed saucier–the kind of Creole kitchen-dweller who uses two teaspoons of Marsala for the recipe, then drinks the rest straight from the bottle. From Akira Kurosawa to Arthur Penn, from Buddy Holly’s rock nerdery to James Dean’s leather-jacket cool—just about any pertinent pop culture reference gets…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 13, 20180Comments

The Archive

Good Ol’ Freda (2013)::rating::3.5

Rock history is replete with well-intentioned superstars who chose to people their inner circle with blood-sucking sycophants. Elvis had his Memphis Mafia, a nasty little cadre of shitkickers who strip-mined Presley’s well-known generosity and contributed heavily to his emotional and physical disintegration. And though possessed of a greater sense of savvy, the Beatles were no less vulnerable…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 13, 20181Comment

Latest The Archive

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)::rating::4

Avengers: Infinity War functions as a kind of cinematic clothesline, with characters and subplots from the previous eighteen Marvel movies draped across it. The fact that everything hangs together so well without sagging makes for an enormous achievement and a testament to the meticulous attention of the writers and directors. This film strikes a perfect balance…

ByTodd WoffordSeptember 13, 20183Comments