Weekend Movie Discussion: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Ride Along, The Nut Job, Devil's Due

How 'bout them Oscar nominations? They're... Pretty much what you'd expect. Though a world where Jonah Hill has been nominated for another academy award is a funny old place.

There's four movies out this week, let's take a look:

4. Devil's Due - I'm pro life but in the instance of Rosemary, and other devil babies, I think abortion should probably be considered a valid plan of action. Though one might say that about all found footage movies. The publicity stunt with the puking devil baby really did nothing more than annoy me with it being posted everywhere. Possibly the only good thing coming out of this movie is more people asking when the found footage genre will die. Mind you, many of them have to be closet fans because these types of films, made cheap, continue to be profitable. In short, I know I'm not watching them, so I blame all of you.

3. The Nut Job - I love animated films, but nothing has looked palatable about this squirrelly movie. However, kids have done Frozen and will be looking for their next cartoon score. If any of you with kids end up watching it, let me know if it has anything worthwhile in it.

2. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit - Lousy title, but I suppose it's still better than the original which was simply Jack Ryan. Chris Pine is what I like to think of as a serviceable actor. You know, nothing spectacular, but he'll safely get the job done. And I do find that it's been long enough since the last Ryan film that I'm ready for another. 

1. Ride Along - I enjoy Kevin Hart's comedy, but I've never really been interested in seeing any of his movies till this one. Something about the trailers reminds me of the early Days of Chris Tucker, when he did some funny movies, and before his shrill voice became a siren for crap. Hmm... Kind of like Friday, which also starred Ice Cube. Maybe that's the secret to Ice Cube's longevity in the business, he finds someone funny and sucks them dry. Beware Kevin Hart, there might be career vampires about.

Anyone else try Helix, the new show on SyFy? I thought it was pretty decent for a SyFy show. Just creepy enough and interesting enough to keep watching. Though I don't like the angle of people becoming super strong. For me that does take away from the creepy factor of people dying in a remote location from an unknown virus. If you haven't caught it yet, the new episode is on tonight and undoubtedly they'll play the last couple before.

Three classic TV actors and a munchkin all died yesterday. I know it comes it in threes, but usually not so fast. As I've always been a huge fan of Roger Lloyd Pack, I present a clip of one of my favorite moments of his:

So what's your plan for the weekend? Hanging out with a future fictional president? Making a drinking game out of a certain kids movie, based on the number of nut jokes? Rescinding the policy on never shaking a baby for devil babies?