Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.
Click on the link to take you to the “Best of 2014” homepage.
Best Comedy
22 Jump Street
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Knights of Badassdom
Neighbors
Sex Tape
WINNER – 22 Jump Street
Let’s be honest. No one goes to see a Jump Street movie because of the plot. But that doesn’t make the franchise any less hilarious. This time, cop duo Schmidt and Jenko are working undercover as college students. While the hijinks were the same, I found this movie funnier than its predecessor because the kids that were doing bad things were actually of age. Ice Cube was hilarious in this movie, particularly when it came to his daughter. There were many laugh-out-loud moments, making it our favorite comedy of the year. Plus Channing Tatum never hurts. – Adrian
Second Place – Neighbors
Although North Korea has made America look like pansies by canceling The Interview with Seth Rogan and James Franco. In 2014, we need to remember we had the next best thing, kinda. We had Neighbors with Seth Rogan, Zac Efron and Dave Franco. This movie was filled with all the classics the world expected out of a Rogan-Franco film; drugs, penises, and the most amazing dildo sword fight scene known to cinematic history. This film was hilarious, and allowed me to see how non-stressful and unserious the world can be sometimes. Without a doubt, 2014 became a little more comical with Neighbors. – Evan
Third Place – Knights of Badassdom
For 90 minutes (ish), Knights of Badassdom made LARPing the coolest thing in the world – and not in that dickish sarcastic way. What really drew me in were the guest appearances by Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones) and Danny Pudi (Abed Nadir in Community), not to mention that Firefly’s Summer Glau is the main love interest. This movie does have a bit of horror mixed in, but it’s much more Tucker & Dave Vs. Evil than Cabin in the Woods. – Sherif
RUNNER UP – A Million Ways to Die in the West
Don’t get me wrong, A Million Ways was not a great movie. It was barely a good movie. However, it was a Seth McFarlane movie, and that much it lived up to. This cast of relatively big names leads a fun adventure with the typical Seth McFarlane-esque humor. There are guest appearances, mustache dances (pictured above) and a lot of innuendo – thank you Jesus for Sarah Silverman. I especially enjoyed the commentary on how primitive a time the Wild West days actually were. People died, a lot. Fun fact: Liam Neeson, who plays the bad guy in the movie, insisted that he keep his Irish accent, only to pay homage to McFarlane’s joke on Family Guy of playing a cowboy with an Irish accent. It’s no coincidence that Seth McFarlane gets to cast a bunch of great actors; these guys love him! – Sherif
RUNNER UP – Sex Tape
One thing is for certain: nobody understands the Cloud. It’s almost like those hackers got their idea from this movie, because damn, how could that timing be any more awkward, right? Aynway, this movie revolves around an aging, but still somehow kind of hot Cameron Diaz and the sex tape she made with Jason Segel. There are tons of penis jokes – I know those are all the rage now – but the funnier part to me are the ones that make fun of how little this generation understands about the technology we use every day; isn’t that right, JLaw? You’re not gonna see anything spectacular here, but Jason Segel fans will still love his comedy. – Sherif
March is here and with it comes a few of the year’s most anticipated action films. There’s a little something for everybody: big money blockbusters, children’s flicks, intriguing independents and guilty pleasure films.
March 7 – 300: Rise of an Empire
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson
Now that all those crappy Valentine’s Day movies are out of the way, it’s time for the manliest of manly movies. A prequel? A sequel? The answer is C, all of the above. Following the tale of the man-God named Xerxes from his “transformation” to the defeat of the Spartans and quest for domination against Greece. Meanwhile, Themistokles gathers the entire Grecian fleet to take down the Persians. Like 300 before it, Rise of an Empire will be directed by Zack Synder and based off of Frank Miller’s writing. Oddly enough, this film is based off Xerxes, which hasn’t even been published yet. I’m not sure how the story will play out, but all I really expect is big budget action and effects – anything more than that is just syrup on the pancake. – S
March 7 – Grand Piano
Starring: Elijah Wood, John Cusack
Stage fright? No worries, because Grand Piano has the solution. In this independent film, which debuted last September, a famous pianist (Wood) returns to the stage after infamously choking at his last performance. This time, though, the pianist has the added motivation in the form of a sniper, who threatens to shoot him if his fingers mess up a single note. It’s a bit of a crazy idea, but I think that’s what will really make this work. Everything seems dramatized in the trailer, insinuating that this will be a real thriller – not the cheap horror angle that is so easy to play off. I’m interested to see where this goes, but I’m not vested enough to see this in theaters – S
March 7 – Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert, Allison Janney
Grab onto your butts and get ready to go on an adventure with everybody’s favorite dog genius. Originally a short in the Rocky & Bullwinkle show called “Peabody’s Improbable History” in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Mr. Peabody has been renewed in epic proportions. The original segment was purely educational, so it will be bittersweet to have the movie become such a spectacle. There are a lot of laughs in the trailer alone, but I really enjoyed learning about historical times and figures, and it feels like Dreamworks is cheapening the experience a little. Visiting Egypt, Italy and Greece will be fun for the whole family, I’m sure, so If nothing else, I look forward to the witty banter of Peabody and Sherman – just like old times. – S
It’s a funny cycle, this racing genre thing. When I was in high school, the Need for Speed games were really taking off – and it seems as though the Fast and the Furious films only only amplified it’s success. Heck, the downhill drifting scenes in Toyko Drift looked like they came straight out of Need for Speed: Carbon. Ten years later and the Fast and the Furious has solidified itself as a stable movie franchise, while Need for Speed‘s popularity has dwindled considerably, even after the addition of a story mode. Now Need for Speed has entered the realm of movies. There’s really only one selling point for me here, and its name is Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad). It might be too early to suggest replacing the late Paul Walker with Aaron Paul, but I’m seeing no reason for another street racing genre movie. – S
March 14 – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman
Wes Anderson is a movie making genius. So thank goodness that his latest project is coming out this month – The Grand Budapest Hotel. The story follows Misuser Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), the illustrious concierge of The Grand Budapest Hotel, and his various and most interesting adventures with his disciple lobby boy. While the main plot appears to revolve around the theft of a famous painting, the real allure are all the minute – and more often than not – hilarious details that can only be seen in a Wes Anderson movie. GBH (yes, I’m giving it an acronym cause it’ll be that cool) promises to be one of Anderson’s best. You can tell by the star studded lineup: Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, and it wouldn’t be a Wes Anderson without Bill Fu**ing Murray. Not bad for an independent filmmaker. Anderson’s approach and style to filming is so creatively unique, it’s practically hypnotic. I’d dare to say that nobody out there makes a better “feel-good” movie than this guy. If you’ve never heard of Wes Anderson or seen one of his movies, Hush Comics highly recommends you find your nearest Indie-Cinema and add The Grand Budapest Hotel to your must see list for March. – T
March 14 – Veronica Mars
Starring: Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Krysten Ritter
I won’t lie, I have never seen Veronica Mars the TV show. Why would a girl my age not have seen it? Well, it came out around the time Buffy was ending and I was bitter that any other pretty blonde chick was trying to be a badass. Ten years later, I realize my mistake. Not only do I wanna veg on my couch and watch every ep of the show, I really want to see this movie. The trailer makes it obvious that in order to totally enjoy it, you would have had to have watched the television show. What is Veronica Mars you may be asking? Well its about a woman who is really good at investigating crimes in her hometown. The movie shows her ten years later as a successful lawyer who gets dragged back into the PI biz. Plus, who doesn’t love Kristen Bell? – A
Now if this isn’t the most adorable movie since Wall-e, I’m not sure what is. Ernest and Celestine follows the unlikely friendship formed between a bear and a mouse, both of whom are outcasted for their bond. E & C was originally a 2012 Belgian film that is being released as an American film; this version has some top-notch actors voicing it. I’m also in love with the animation style. I’m usually crazy about any earnest story about two unlikely friends that come together despite outside circumstances, and I will continue to be inspired until it becomes a non-issue in our world culture. – S
March 21 – Muppets Most Wanted
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, Ray Liotta, Kermit the Frog
Kermie!!!!! The Muppets franchise is always a must see for the whole family. In Muppets Most Wanted, Kermit is framed by Constatine, his evil twin. And Kermit’s friends must save him. What more do you need to know? A simple plot, but the laughs are sure to be constant. Not to mention that Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais are in it, so it is sure to be silly and amazing. – A
March 21 – Divergent
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Ansel Elgort
Divergent is yet another book-to-movie adaptation. And in the time of dystopias and apocalypses, it just seems like we have all seen this before. Yet, there is something about the premise that makes me want to read the book (nope, I haven’t read it, yet) in time for the movie. Honestly, I don’t think the movie looks that great, but the concept of people being broken up into factions is a fascinating metaphor for government control. Kate Winslet may be the only actor who is worth going to the theater for. But I will probably wait for the DVD. – A
March 28 – Bad Words
Starring: Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand
Is it bad the movie I want to see the most this March is about a 40 year old who joins a kids spelling bee, uses the worst kinds of cuss words and really self-centered? Well, I don’t think so. Mostly because Jason Bateman has usually played the guy with a head on his shoulders, ya know, like Michael Bluth. But in Bad Words, he is anything but, and I kinda like it. Bateman (who also directed and produced this film) plays Guy Trilby who is a high school dropout. He befriends a boy named Sriram at the spelling bee and learn about life from each other (or at least that’s my guess). It looks downright hilarious, but check for it in your local indie theater, it won’t be mainstream. – A
March 28 – Noah
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson
Since The Passion of the Christ, Hollywood has been trying to make epic Bible flicks. Without going into religion, I don’t really like those types of movies. But Noah? It looks pretty darn good. Maybe its because the director of The Black Swan also is directing this. Maybe its because the actors are some of the best ever. Maybe its because the music makes it sound frickin’ epic. Or maybe, for me, its because my love of A Beautiful Mind proves that Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly should be 2gether 4ever, and were even in Biblical times. Oh, and voices talked to Crowe even then. Plus, isn’t Anthony Hopkins a modern day Methuselah? All jokes aside, I am looking forward to Noah. It seems less to be promoting religion and more so telling a story that is recognized around the world. – A
March 28 – Sabotage
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Josh Holloway
Raise your hand if you think Arnold Schwarzenegger should just call it quits already and step away from the camera? If you were to ask me that a few months ago, my hand would have been up high and waving. Ask me that now, and you’ll find me sitting on my hands. Actually, you’ll probably find my hands frantically working my smart phone to find a preview of Sabotage to lay aid to my newfound change of heart. While I agree with the notion that Arny needs to stay as far away from the Terminator franchise as California is long, I think The Governator is catching his second wind. He’s not the young action hero he used to be, but roles like the one he has been cast in for Sabotage are perfect for him today. The film follows a highly trained and effective DEA task force lead by John ‘Breacher’ Wharton (Schwarzenegger) that ends up on the wrong side of a cartel affair. Wharton and his fellow operatives along with their families are threatened by the drug lords and it’s up to Wharton to GET EVERYBODY TO DA CHOPPA… err… I mean save the day. Whereas Arnold’s most recent films have been overwhelmingly-cliché action flicks, Sabotage has a real gritty and realistic vibe. Though I’m sure the action will come in full force, I’m more anxious to see how well Arnold can carry a more serious role. I’ve got fairly high expectations for what I’m going to coin as the film where “Arnold Got His Groove Back.” – T
Welcome to the New Year! 2014 kicks off with a menagerie more Oscar hopefuls and contenders along with a few sure flops, the kid movie and the annual Mark E Mark, er Wahlberg movie we all know we are gonna watch. Here are our January 2014 previews!:
January 10 – August: Osage County
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Benedict Cumberbatch
August: Osage County is based on the Tony Award winning play of the same name by Tracy Letts. Now a film adaptation and sure to be a strong contender for several acting categories, the story follows the Weston family after the suicide of their father. Filled with all sorts of sins including but not limited to, drug use, incest, infidelity and molestation August may be a tough watch, especially since it is touted as a dark comedy. It is hard to believe that the combination of those things can be funny. It does have a stellar cast, and I for one am excited to see Julia Roberts back in the type of role that suits her best. -A
Written by Spike Jonze, Her follows Theodore, played by Joaquin Phoenix, a man in the midst of divorce and falling in love with an operating system named Samantha. A seemingly odd plot, Her will more than likely be a little eye-opening about how we all feel about love. Joaquin Phoenix is said to give a sensational performance and the film as a whole has already received numerous accolades. I expect this is a film that will define my generations take on love. -A
January 10 – Lone Survivor
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch, Eric Bana
Lone Survivor is a film about four Navy SEALs sent on a mission to take out a Taliban leader in Afghanistan. When the mission becomes compromised, the four SEALs mission becomes one of survival as they try to escape across the hills of Afghanistan. The most compelling reason to see this film is that the story is based on true events. The story was originally told via book authored by Marcus Luttrell – the actual “Lone Survivor” of the SEAL team sent to Afghanistan. Luttrell was also very involved in the filming process to ensure event accuracy and keep film makers focused the important details. This film stars Mark Wahlberg as Luttrell and is directed by Peter Berg (Hancock, Battleship). Wahlberg plays the military role so well (can I get a hey-hey for Shooter?!) and it’ll be good to see him playing the role of true American hero. Expect this film to be action packed, suspenseful and heart wrenching, but also well worth the trip to the theater. – T
January 17 – Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Starring: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Peter Andersson, Kevin Costner
Chris Pine as Jack Ryan? Why not!? He is the most popular current action-hero. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit continues the Jack Ryan film series and is based off the character created by late author Tom Clancy. Shadow Recruit is a little different than the other movies because it is an original screenplay rather than based off a book by Clancy. Jack Ryan finds clues that a terrorist attack is going to happen and he must stop it. Meanwhile, his lover finds out his true identity as a CIA junior analyst. It’s pretty cut and dry, but who doesn’t love an action-thriller? I’m looking forward to the newest installment in the series. -A
January 17 – The Nut Job
Starring: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Gabriel Iglesias, Liam Neeson, and Katherine Heigl
This month’s kid flick The Nut Job seems to be aimed toward older kids and adults alike. Aside from the obvious sexual jokes that can be made out of the title alone, the story is about squirrel named Surly who decides to pull off a heist on a nut store after being forced out of the park and into the city. The previews look pretty funny and the animation will be a draw for younger kids. And for the fans out there, lets hope that Will Arnett will show us all a little Gob from Arrested Development in this grand heist. -A
January 17 – Ride Along
Starring: Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Tika Sumpter
If you haven’t been wedged in a box screaming, “my stomach in my ass,” then you don’t know love. Tim Story, who has directed other films such as the Fantastic 4 films, Think Like a Man, and Barbershop, is out to make sure your stomach is in your ass by the end of this movie. Ben (Kevin Hart) is out to prove to James (Ice Cube), a no-nonsense cop, that he is the right man to marry James’ sister. He does this by agreeing to go on a ride along in the mean streets of Los Angeles. Needless to say, things may or may not get a little out of hands…okay, they definitely will get out of hands; bullets will fly, explosions will erupt and I plan on laughing the whole time. In recent years, Kevin Hart has been everywhere in world of comedy, which should balance well against Ice Cube’s seriousness. So if you want to see Kevin Hart argue and fight with kids and see Ice Cube smash people’s faces in, then this is one you will definitely want to check out in the new year. – E
January 17 – Reasonable Doubt
Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Dominic Cooper
I know you all are just like me – ever since Snakes on a Plane, you haven’t been able to get enough Samuel L. Jackson in your life. Worry not, faithful fans, Jackson returns in the new year alongside Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark from Captain America) in Reasonable Doubt. Mitch Brockden (Cooper), District Attorney, finds himself between a rock and a hard place when he runs over a man taking a late night city stroll, killing him. Mitch flees the scene of the crime, seemingly with no witnesses. The plot thickens when Mitch becomes the assigned DA for Clinton Davis (Jackson), the man accused (wrongly so, but only know by Mitch) of committing the fatal hit-and-run. Dun-dun-dunnnn!! Previews indicate that the story may be even more twisted as Davis begins to reveal he may know more about Cooper and the man he ran over than an innocent man should. The film is directed by newbie shot-caller Peter P. Croudins. It’ll be interesting to see if Croudins can carry a complex plot on his first go-around. With Sam-Jack and Cooper in the spotlight, this one should be entertaining at the least. – T
January 21 – Knights of Badassdom
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau, Daniel Pudi, Steve Zahn
Can we just take a moment and applaud whoever had enough clout to cast all of these BAMFs in one movie? Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones), River Tam (Firefly) and Abed (Community) are going to be sharing the screen in just a few weeks. This movie hasn’t been heavily promoted – nor should it be. In what has become the niche genre of Horror-Comedy, with movies like Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil and This is the End, Knights of Badassdom looks to be by fanboys for fanboys (and fangirls!). Don’t believe me? Check out director Joe Lynch’s short film inspired by Eddie Brock (Venom) called “Life in Journalism.”Badassdom centers around a group of LARP-ers (Live Action Role-Play) friends who accidentally summon a succubus (female sex demon). If I haven’t sold you yet, I probably am not going to at all. Seeing Daniel Pudi on the big screen is exciting to me, and this will be a must-watch for any self-proclaimed geek. – S
January 24 – I, Frankenstein
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy
Set in present day, Adam Frankenstein (Aaron Eckhart), still sees himself as the monster that was created 200 years ago, but in fact he may be the key to ending a war between two eternal clans within an ancient city. The movie is based on the graphic novel, with the hopes to be an action packed, dark tale of good versus evil, as well as redemption. However I am skeptical of it all. Yes, there are indeed some things about this movie that could be really cool; gargoyle transformations, weapons and fighting, fire and explosions, but I’m not so sure that stuff alone can carry the story Stuart Beattie is trying to convey to the audience. I do have faith because Beattie has brought this world the Pirates of the Caribbean films as well as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Either way, the legend lives, and his name is Adam. Personally I just think it’s weird that this monster of a man that people fear is named Adam. He ought to just stick with Frankenstein – E
January 24 – Gimme Shelter
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Rosario Dawson, Brendan Fraser, James Earl Jones
Another January movie with great acting, Gimme Shelter (not like the song by the Rolling Stones) is about a young girl named Apple (Vanessa Hudgens) who is sick of the street life her junkie mother has provided her. She leaves to find her father, who quickly kicks her out due to her pregnancy. She then is taken into a shelter for expectant teen mothers. Hudgens is definitely shedding her Disney image in this independent film. But really, she is the only selling point for me other than the Lana del Rey music in the ad. It seems like a more privileged Precious and in an era still recovering from 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, it may be refreshing to see teen girls be normal again. -A
January 31 – That Awkward Moment
Starring: Zac Efron, Michael B Jordan, Miles Teller
What do you call a chick-flick made for men? A manly-chick-flick? Maybe a chickman-flick?… Well whatever you call it, That Awkward Moment is sure to exemplify it. Total mega-hotties Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Mile Teller play three best friends in the prime of their sexy-young adult lives. Each of them will explore love and relationships in their own way all the while adapting to the ever changing dynamics of their own friendships. The lovely female roles are played by Imogen Poots, Addison Timlin and a lot of other hot Hollywood ladies – check the IMDB list and proceed to drool, gentlemen. That Awkward Moment looks like it’ll be a lot of fun to watch. I certainly appreciate these types of films where romance and love are put in a more relatable context. Something that you can watch and think, “I know what that’s like!” or, “that’s definitely happened to me.” None of that Notebook nonsense. Now if only I could figure out how Zac Efron got his hair to do that… – T
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