Not going to deny it, but I went into this movie to see how over the top Nicolas Cage is this time around. I wasn't disappointed. Wow does that guy swing for the fences as an actor. I'm not passing judgement on how bad or good he is acting, because he is just too entertaining to watch on screen, so why would I bother criticizing his work? Ham it up Cage! Go nutsoid! We love you for it. That's the reason we watch the movies you are in. Don't know if that's a backhanded compliment, but let's just say it's not.
Not to be outdone, but Selma Blair is excellent here too. If anything else, her character is the most developed, and the one the audience will probably have any kind of attachment to. The kids are more or less just there to serve the plot, but the parents are what's really interesting here. They could have gone deeper with Cage's character, but what they presented isn't too bad.
Some if not most people will find issues with the premise and gimmick of this movie. It is somewhat like a different take to the zombie movie genre; except without zombies, which I actually liked. It's definitely a movie you will find on the schedule of a late-night film festival filled with outrageous and over the top gonzo B-movies, which in itself is a description on what to expect here. Suspend your disbelief and just go with it.
The editing is deliciously manic and constantly in your face, with moments designed to throw off the tone of the movie, but at the same helps give proper context to what you are watching. The soundtrack is bonkers in how it compliments what's happening on screen, and it starts off the bat with a James Bond-esque opening theme song to give us the notice that this film is classy thrash.
I could nitpick "Mom and Dad" about it's lack of logic, plot conveniences, or it's obvious unnecessary indulgences. Why would I do though? I like it for what it's trying to be. Not a great movie, but one that's entertaining enough to make me laugh at the horrible things that are happening on screen.
loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
