Movie Reviews: The Legend of Tarzan, The Purge: Election Year, The BFG | Buzz Blog

Friday, July 1, 2016

Movie Reviews: The Legend of Tarzan, The Purge: Election Year, The BFG

Swiss Army Man, Our Kind of Traitor

Posted By on July 1, 2016, 8:47 AM

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Two very different literary characters come to theaters this weekend, along with more on-screen farts than any weekend in recent memory.

The Legend of Tarzan takes a solid premise—setting it at a time when Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgård, pictured) has already become a legend—and allows it to drift into yet another wannabe summer franchise. Swiss Army Man takes the ridiculous notion of a man stranded on a deserted island with a talking, flatulent corpse and turns it into a weird but surprisingly insightful study of the insecurities that keep relationships on a superficial level.

Andrew Wright finds The Purge: Election Year hammering a bit too obviously on its Big Ideas, but working reasonably well when it aims strictly for scuzzy B-movie energy.

MaryAnn Johanson says the great cast of the John le Carré adaptation Our Kind of Traitor almost elevates a story that feels like it belongs on the small screen.

In this week's feature review, The BFG reminds us how much we need to appreciate Steven Spielberg, even when the result isn't one of his instant masterpieces.

About The Author

Scott Renshaw

Scott Renshaw

Bio:
Scott Renshaw has been a City Weekly staff member since 1999, including assuming the role of primary film critic in 2001 and Arts & Entertainment Editor in 2003. Scott has covered the Sundance Film Festival for 25 years, and provided coverage of local arts including theater, pop-culture conventions, comedy,... more

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