The Rych McCain Review Wagon (All Can GET On -- Few Can STAY On!

International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist Rych McCain reviews TV, Film, Music, Theater, Comedy, Books and any other form of entertainment. He rates where you ride on his wagon or if you get kicked off. RATINGS: **** Excellent (Ride in the front 1st class). *** Good (Ride in the middle). ** OK, I Almost Like it.(Ride in the back). * Such A Waste of my time. (You are SO kicked off)!

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Movie Review - What To Expect When You're Expecting

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

What To Expect When You’re Expecting. Lionsgate Films and Alcon Entertainment. Starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Joe Manganiello, Rob Huebel, Tom Lennon and Amir Talai. Directed by Kirk Jones. Written by Shauna Cross and Heather Hach. Inspired by the book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff. Produced by Mike Medavoy. Arnold W. Messer and David Thwaites.

Fans of the true life book and especially women who have gone through pregnancy and childbirth will whole heartedly relate to the individual scenarios in this movie which has a clever mix of seriousness and comedy. Needless to say this is a so-called chick flick but lessons are to be had by the men as well.

***GOOD! (Ride In The Middle!)

Jennifer Lopez & Rodrigo Santoro (Lionsgate Photo)

Anna Kendrick & Chace Crawford (Lionsgate Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Friday, July 6, 2012

Movie Review - Dark Shadows

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Johnny Depp (Warner Bros. Photo)

Dark Shadows. Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, an Infinitum Nihil/GK Films/Zanuck Company Production. Starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Grace Moretz and Gully McGrath. Directed by Tim Burton. Screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith. Story by John August and Seth Grahame-Smith. Produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski and David Kennedy.

Many of the critics and fans of the original Dark Shadows daytime soap opera from the 1960’s are bad mouthing this film but it is not a remake of that TV show even though most of the main characters and the central theme are based on it. This movie is a project of its own and a pretty good one at that. However, as a Black reviewer, I couldn’t help but visualize as Joshua Collins and his family set sail from England in 1750 to the new world in America to seek their fortune, at the exact same time millions of Black Afrikans would be brutally captured against their will, shackled and packed like sardines on slave ships and also cross the Atlantic Ocean but under inhumane conditions and reasons that would make an evil witch and vampire look like innocent school yard children.


Chloe Grace Moretz, Gully McGrath, Johnny Depp (Warner Bros. Photo)

Eva Green (Warner Bros. Photo)

Depp as the master vampire/businessman Barnabas Collins is his usually brilliant performing self as we have come to expect. The plot and supporting cast are excellent and the Tim Burton signature look, feel and stamp on this one is right on the money! I say it’s another touchdown for the Burton-to-Depp collaboration.

****EXCELLENT! (Ride In Front 1st Class!)

Michelle Pfeiffer (Warner Bros. Photo)

Alice Cooper (Warner Bros. Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Movie Review - A Beautiful Soul

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

All Photos (Tyscott Manhadoon Films)

A Beautiful Soul. Tyscott Manhadoon Films, Relive Entertainment, Mission Pictures Int’l and A Feathers Films Production. Starring Deitrick Haddon, Harry Lennix, Lesley-Ann Bandt, Robert Ri’Chard, Berry Floyd, John Salley, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Golden Brooks, Bishop Noel Jones and Trevor Jackson. Directed by Jeff Byrd. Written by Allison Elizabeth Brown and Detrick Hadden. Produced by Holly Carter, Kinberly L. Olgetree and Dominique Telson.

Real life Gospel Superstar Deitrick Haddon created this project where he plays the lead role of R&B superstar Andre Stephens who has it all i.e., the hits, fame, money and women. He is heartless and cares for no one but himself.

After being shot in a brutal robbery, Stephens re-evaluates a few things about life. The film is in limited release at AMC theaters and is an uplifting movie for the entire family to see.

***GOOD! (Ride In The Middle!)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net

TV Review - Make It or Break It

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Team Shot (ABC Family Photo)

Make It or Break It. ABC Family Network. Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer, Holly Sorenson. Various Directors and Producers. Starring Ayla Kell, Cassie Scerbo, Josie Luren, Candace Cameron Bore, Peri Gilpin, Chelsea Tavares, Susan Ward, Neil Jackson, Chelsea Hobbs and Anthony Starke.

In its 4^th and final season, this gymnastics team drama has all of the ingredients it takes to make you a regular watching fan of the show. The writing is superb and the acting is as real as it gets. The show airs on Monday’s 9/8 C.

*****EXCELLENT! (Ride In The Front 1st Class!)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net

Movie Review - Girl In Progress

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Eva Mendes & Cierra Ramirez (Lionsgate Films Photo)

Girl In Progress: Lionsgate Pictures, Pantelion Films and Televisa Films, A Latitude Entertainment, Panamax Films, Oriole Leaf Films, Dilettante Production and Triangle Financial Services. Starring Eva Mendes, Cierra Ramirez, Patricia Arquette, Raini Rodriguez, Eugenio Derbez, Matthew Modine, Russell Peters, Llandon Libroiron and Espinoza Paz. Directed by Patricia Riggen. Written by Hiram Martinez. Produced by Benjamin Odell.

Here we have a coming of age story between a mother Grace (Mendes) who is basically all jacked up as a single parent and her daughter Ansiedad (Ramirez) who feels neglected by her mom and will stop at nothing to get her attention. She becomes involved in a class project involving life experiences and tries all kinds of things while stepping on anybody in her way. The emotion is high and the life lessons are plentiful. Director Patricia Riggen is slowly but surely establishing herself as not only one of the premiere Latina film directors but one of the best directors – period in Hollywood! This is a good film for teens to see.

***GOOD (Ride In The Middle!)

Cierra Ramirez & Raini Rodriguez (Lionsgate Films Photo)

Eugenio Derbez (Lionsgate Films Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Movie Review - The Raven

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

John Cusack (Relativity Photo)

The Raven. Relativity Media Films. Starring John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin R. McNally, Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jimmy Yuill. Directed by James McTeigue. Written by Hannah Shakespeare and Ben Livingston. Produced by Marc D. Evans, Trevor Macy and Aaron Ryder

Everybody and his momma has read Edgar Allan Poe at one time or another but the true Poe aficionados will sink their appreciative teeth into this one. Cusack as Poe brings the man to life with a brilliant Oscar® worthy portrayal and performance. Some of the murder scenes are way too bloody and gory. The look of the film is very dark and dreary but that is what gives it the authenticity it needs to embrace 19^th century Baltimore. It will be a box office smash.

****EXCELLENT (Ride In The Front, 1st Class!)

Emily Hamilton & John Cusack (Relativity Photo)

John Cusack & Luke Evans (Relativity Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Movie Review - Friends With Kids

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

All Photos, Roadside Attractions Films

Jennifer Westfeldt & Adam Scott

Friends With Kids. Roadside Attractions, Red Granite Pictures presents a Points West Pictures and Locomotive Production. Starring Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Megan Fox and Edward Burns. Written and Directed by Jennifer Westfeldt. Produced by Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Joshua Astrachan, Jake Kasdan, Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland.

The title of this film is self explanatory. There really wasn’t much to explore here and the scenarios with the children were so common place every day stuff to the point it was like watching grandma’s boring home videos of her little poopsy-woopsy grand kids. Two best friends ending up as parents was predictable and blasé at best!

*SUCH A WASTE OF MY TIME! (You Are SO Kicked Off!)

Maya Rudolph & Chris O'Dowd

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Movie Review - 96 Minutes

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

. 96 Minuets. ARC Entertainment. Starring Evan Ross, Brittany Snow, Christian Serratos, J. Michael Trautmann and David Oyelowo. Written and directed by Almee Lagos. Produced by Charlie Mason, Justin Moore-Lewy and Lee Clay.

Evan Ross ( An Arc Entertainment Photo)

It started off as a normal day in the lives of four young people but by nightfall it became a hellish nightmare for two young ladies who unfortunately crossed paths with a young wannabe gangbanger and his older buddy who was trying to protect him by keeping him out of the gang life.

They highjack the girl’s car but in the process, one of the girls is shot. Out of panic, the boys took off with the injured girl and her buddy still in the car in the back seat and the night ride from hell begins. Even Ross as Dre gives a particularly eerie and chilling performance. There is a powerful lesson for youth in this film.

** OK, I ALMOST LIKE IT! (Ride In The Back!)

Brittany Snow & Christian Serratos (An Arc Entmt Photo)

Thugs on the porch (An ARC Entmt Photo)

Evan Ross (An ARC Entmt Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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Movie Review - Cabin In The Woods

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Kristen Connoly (Lionsgate Films Photo)

Cabin In the Woods. Lionsgate Pictures. Starring Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Brian White and Amy Acker. Directed by DrewGoddard. Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard. Produced by Joss Whedon.

Fran Kranz (Lionsgate Films Photo)

At first, this one starts off as just another group of young people going to the woods for a weekend to end up getting pick off one by one by a madman freak, but it has a way different twist and takes a very unpredictable direction as the plot thickens. The blood and gore is way too obsessive and over the top. Horror fans will get into it anyway.

*** GOOD (Ride In The Middle!)

Jesse Williams & Kristen Connolly (Lionsgate Films Photo)


Ricahrd Jenkins, Amy Acker, Bradley Whiford (Lions Gate Films Photo)

(You DID Hear It From Me!)

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