Arts & Entertainment
Patch Weekend Movie Guide: 'La La Land,' 'Office Christmas Party' and More
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are together again, and this time there's dancing. Get the verdict on "La La Land," plus a new holiday flick.
It's the calm before the holiday box office storm, but there are still some new flicks to know about. Get the verdict on Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in "La La Land," Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in "Office Christmas Party," and Sundance favorite "Frank & Lola."
Find out what to see and what to skip, plus check out the trailers.
Opening This Weekend
"La La Land" (Limited - Wide Release 12/16) — Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons, Finn Wittrock, directed by Damien Chazelle
Equal parts love letter to Los Angeles and throwback musical, consider "La La Land" an early Christmas gift. Gosling and Stone play heads-in-the-clouds creatives with dreams of making it big in the City of Angels. Their everyday love story unfolds as they fight to snag the spotlight and comes to life with captivating music and set pieces. Director Damien Chazelle has definitely avoided the sophomore slump and follows up last year's incredible "Whiplash" with an equally sharp effort.
The verdict: See it. This is the front-runner for Oscar gold, and not in the stuffy sense.
"Office Christmas Party" — Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, TJ Miller, directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman teaming up again after "The Switch" and "Horrible Bosses" seems like a decent idea, but "Party" comes off as a crass cash grab shoehorned into the holiday season. Aniston plays a CEO trying to put an end to her brother's blowout holiday party despite his true efforts of trying to protect everyone's jobs by impressing a client.
The verdict: Skip it. "Party" is just a string of slapstick and gross-out moments.
"Frank & Lola" (Limited) — Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, Justin Long, directed by Mathew M. Ross
This Sundance breakout rolls out in limited release this week and, with any success, to a wider-platform release in weeks to come. Don't let its "indie film" accreditation cool your interest — "Frank & Lola" takes its cues from the best of Hitchcock and Polanski with a story about intoxicating love tainted by infidelity and an obsessive partner's mysterious tale of revenge.
The verdict: See it. Michael Shannon continues to grow as the definitive character actor of his generation.
Quick Cuts
"The Secret Life of Pets" (Home Video) — Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, directed by Chris Renaud
See it: Yes, this story of what animals do at home when their owners are gone is a bit of a "Toy Story" riff, but "Pets" has lots going for it on its own thanks to tons of original jokes and a voice cast perfectly tailored to each animal.
"Jason Bourne" (Home Video) —Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, directed by Paul Greengrass
See it: Matt Damon reprises his "Bourne" namesake as if he'd never been away and proves there is still life to draw out of the franchise as long as Damon's ex-CIA operative is involved.
"The Hollars" (Home Video) — John Krasinski, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, directed by John Krasinski
Skip it: Actor John Krasinski ("The Office" and "13 Hours") directs this dramatic comedy about a family coming together after the matriarch's hospitalization. He's compiled an excellent cast, but this one falls flat.
Until next week folks, save me a seat!
Watch the trailer for "La La Land"
Watch the trailer for "Office Christmas Party"
Image credit: Moviefone via YouTube
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