Whisky Tango Foxtrot (2016), Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Whisky Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Now I am a big fan of Tina Fey but chiefly for 30 Rock and her SNL work, when I see a preview for a new movie she's in I seldom have much desire to go see it. Whisky Tango Foxtrot is an exception to that rule however, when I first saw the preview I knew that I defiantly wanted to see it, not so much that I would pay full price to see it after it just came out, but as a dollar movie definitely. So the other week I went and saw the thing and rather enjoyed it. The movies a dramedy which appealed to me because I have long been interested in seeing Ms. Fey do some more serious work, and this really is the perfect vehicle for her to begin lightly moving in that direction.

Based on the memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by journalist Kim Baker, the story has been somewhat fictionalized, for example the real Ms. Baker is a print journalist, while the Ms. Baker of the film works in television. I suspect this slight adjustment to the leads profession was made because television is a more visually interesting medium for a movie character to work in then print, as well as to play off of Ms. Fey's strong association with TV. In fact the whole movie plays to Tina's strengths and established tropes, her character in the film is a workaholic, unmarried career women in her 40's, not much different then Liz Lemon. Only here she is a deskbound journalist who takes her networks offer to be their on air correspondent in Afghanistan after most of the big name field talent is relocated to Iraq in 2003. In the movie Ms. Baker spends about 3 years reporting from Afghanistan and goes from fish out of water to established veteran. Ms. Fey gets to have some fun interplay off her costars which include the likes of Martin Freeman and Margot Robbie, as well as Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton in fun character parts. There is of course some good comedy here, but Ms. Fey gets a few not overly taxing dramatic
moments as well. A solid movie which largely hits the right notes and I hope to see more films of this caliber in Tina Fey's future. ***

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the fact that you can graft a zombie apocalypse onto the plot of Jane Austin's 1813 novel of manners amongst the landed gentry of Regency Britain, and it can still be surprisingly coherent. Based on the 2009 parody novel of the same name by Seth Grahme-Smith of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter fame, the story takes place in a alternate universe where a zombie plague was introduced to England in the 18th century having been inadvertently carried into the country via trade from the far reaches of the empire. By the early 19th century this plague has been largely contained though periodic outbreaks of the undead remain a problem requiring constant vigilance. It is a world in which the daughters of the privileged landed classes are expected to not only be prim, proper and cultured young women, but also skilled warriors capable with the sword. Into this scenario we plant the Bennet Family, the Reverend Collins, 'Colonel' Darcy and all the reset, complete with their various romantic prides and societal prejudices.

The movie is inherently an odd one, idiocentric fan fiction on the big screen. I was expecting really over the top, very broad farce, so excuse me if I have to say that P&P&Z  was a more subtle movie then I'd anticipated. One thing I couldn't help but notice about this movie is just how good looking everyone in it is, in contrast no doubt to actual Regency England. In the source materiel I think on the whole the Bennet sisters are supposed to be kind of plan, here they are all gorgeous, even bookish Mary is played by a professional model. This cast somehow makes it work though, I especially liked Lily James as Elizabeth Bennet, now I have another reason to watch Downton Abby. One of the strangest films of the year, with a combination of zombies and Jane Austin it is on paper at least the ultimate date compromise movie. **1/2