By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Aug. 7, unless otherwise noted: Life of the Party (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, sexual situations, drug use, partying The lowdown: Over the past few decades, a fair share of movies has followed the trajectory of an older woman who, in her younger years, was either a success or on-track to a prominent career, only to be sidetracked by falling in love, marriage and children. What many of these stories also have in common is a woman betrayed — typically through a cheating, unfaithful husband. After hitting bottom, the woman rises, regaining her self-worth and becoming a success in her chosen field or profession. Joining that list of movies is “Life of the Party,” written by Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, starring McCarthy and directed by Falcone. In this comedy, McCarthy’s Deanna is dumped by her husband of 20-plus years the day they drop their daughter, Maddie (Molly Gordon), off at Decatur University for her senior year. Deanna, of course, is shattered, but after a short period of mourning, she decides to go back to Decatur for her own senior year to finally earn a degree in archaeology, which was her plan before getting married and giving birth. As you’d expect, Maddie is not thrilled to see her mom on campus, dropping in at her sorority house and visiting with her friends. “Life of the Party” is an entertaining, though formulaic, effort that, despite all the clichés it throws at you, continues to draw you in. A majority of critics did not appreciate the movie as much as I did, giving it a 37 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
New to View: Aug. 7
New to View: Aug. 7
New to View: Aug. 7
By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Aug. 7, unless otherwise noted: Life of the Party (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, sexual situations, drug use, partying The lowdown: Over the past few decades, a fair share of movies has followed the trajectory of an older woman who, in her younger years, was either a success or on-track to a prominent career, only to be sidetracked by falling in love, marriage and children. What many of these stories also have in common is a woman betrayed — typically through a cheating, unfaithful husband. After hitting bottom, the woman rises, regaining her self-worth and becoming a success in her chosen field or profession. Joining that list of movies is “Life of the Party,” written by Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, starring McCarthy and directed by Falcone. In this comedy, McCarthy’s Deanna is dumped by her husband of 20-plus years the day they drop their daughter, Maddie (Molly Gordon), off at Decatur University for her senior year. Deanna, of course, is shattered, but after a short period of mourning, she decides to go back to Decatur for her own senior year to finally earn a degree in archaeology, which was her plan before getting married and giving birth. As you’d expect, Maddie is not thrilled to see her mom on campus, dropping in at her sorority house and visiting with her friends. “Life of the Party” is an entertaining, though formulaic, effort that, despite all the clichés it throws at you, continues to draw you in. A majority of critics did not appreciate the movie as much as I did, giving it a 37 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.