This weekend, there are two very different movies being released. One is the latest family-friendly animated feature from animation giant DreamWorks and the other is a crude comedy featuring the first time pairing of funnymen Will Farrell and Kevin Hart. The only thing they have in common is they are going to do almost equal business at the box office this weekend.
Based on the children’s book The True Meaning of Smekday, Home is the latest from DreamWorks Animation (Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon). It is directed by veteran Tim Johnson, who was responsible for the hits Antz and Over the Hedge.
Home features the voices of Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), singers Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez plus Steve Martin as the leader of an optimistic yet inept race called the Boov which invades Earth to make it their new home. As the Boov begin to relocate all Earthlings, a resourceful teenage girl named Tip (Rihanna) manages to avoid capture and begins the road trip of a lifetime looking for the location of her mother (Lopez).
Along the way, she befriends a banished Boov named Oh (Parsons) who has accidentally notified his people of her whereabouts.
Both Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez contribute to the soundtrack of the movie, with the former performing the song Towards the Sun and the latter contributing Feel the Light.
Lopez’s participation may have also contributed to the name change of the Boov who calls himself Oh. In the book, he is called J. Lo which, of course, is her nickname. With Parson’s manic and distinctive voice as well as colourful action scenes accompanied by pop tunes, expect a rollicking adventure punctuated by slapstick humour.
Get Hard features Will Farrell as James King, a millionaire businessman who is convicted for fraud and the judge wants to make an example of him by sentencing him to 10 years in San Quentin. King is given 30 days to get his affairs in order so he enlists Darnell (Kevin Hart), who the millionaire assumes has been to prison, to get him ready for life behind bars. However, Darnell is actually a hardworking small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone spent time in the joint.
If you are looking for something that is going to equally offend you as it makes you laugh, Get Hard is the movie for you. It is produced by Farrell and partner Adam McKay, who together are responsible for Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and the comedy website Funny or Die.
