I attended two fun events last weekend. Here are my reviews:
Bryan Adams concert at The Mann- Saturday, June 10
**1.2 ( out of 4 stars)
Iconic Canadian rocker Bryan Adams played The Mann in Fairmount Park Saturday night. It had to be the strangest concert crowd I was ever part of.
It was a balmy late spring evening, I was up for an outdoor concert after a long winter and a rainy, cool spring. Fans of all ages were there, mostly Bryan Adams fans, mostly middle-age, 50s and 60s. Adams is currently on tour to promote his latest album, "Get Up." You knew that the rocker would play many of his hits. So, it seemed like the perfect storm for a fun evening.
As it turned out the crowd was surprisingly dead.There were moments went people dancing in the seats, hugged, capped sing along and did all the usual concert stuff. There were times it was loud. But mostly during the 2-hour show the audience seemed not into it .
Maybe because the attendance was way less than full. Not a soul was sitting on the great lawn area. And there were large chunks of seats under the roof that were empty. Sad to see because Adams has been around for a longtime and has a repetition for giving an energetic live show.
So, maybe people aren't as hyped about Bryan Adams anymore? But then, why were they there? I get it that he hasn't had a hit in a while. Is it true, as Stevie Van Zant said in Rolling Stone recently, that rock and roll is dead?
Believe it not, I think another reason for the lackluster response was Bryan Adams' and his bands' attire. They wore suits with open-neck shirts. Classy, they looked nice, but they seemed uncomfortable which made me feel uncomfortable on a warm night.Most of the crowd was decked out in t-shirt, shorts and jeans, yet the guys we were watching looked like they were ready for a business meeting.
Bryan can still rock, and he kicked ass on songs like "Kids Wanna Rock" and 'Summer of 69". There were the love songs such as "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" and "Heaven." Couples kissed and swooned as darkness clouded the Mann.
Most of the hits were played, like "Run To You," "Somebody," and "Cuts Like A Knife." Adams' tunes are so familiar, fans sang along. I was there with my girlfriend who isn't a big Bryan Adams fan but "knows his songs from the radio."
He played a few new songs form "Get Up," including the rockabilly "You Belong To Me." But basically he stuck with reliable chestnuts, which the fans ate up.
A highlight in the middle of the set was when Bryan invited a female member of the crowd to stand on a small platform in front of the stage and sensually dance to the bluesy "You Gotta Be Bad To Be Bad.' That was a welcome relief of humor during an evening without much light-heartedness. The dancer, someone named Jackie, was cute and sexy. She took it in good stride when Adams mistakenly thought her husband was her father at the end.
Adams tried to build rapport with the crowd but failed, His attempts at humor fell flat, and he tried a bit where he took selfies with the front row which was long and boring.
Bryan claimed he "picked up a cough the last few days which is pissing me off," so his voice sounded even raspier than usual. He noted that he sounded like Joe Cocker, and he did the Cocker song "You Are So beautiful To Me" during the encore on guitar.
Kudos to Bryan for taking part in a program to benefit Shriner's Hospital for Children. Buy a cd for $20 from one of the volunteers going into the show and also get a chance for a meet and greet afterwards. 100% of the proceeds were going to charity, a noble gesture more artists should so.
loose on covers "C'mon Everybody" and "All Shook Up.' His longtime band, featuring guitarist Keith Scoot, was excellent and tight. But it was at the very end, when Adams came back on stage, armed only with acoustic guitar and harmonica, where he did the heartfelt ballad "Straight From The Heart" that he really connected with fans.
Bryan did a "Bare Bones" tour several years ago, which was basically a stripped-down version of his show. That seemed more effective and personal. The current concert is fun but seems too slick and formal, like the suit he was wearing all night. Loosen up, Bryan, and maybe your crowd will loosen up too.
Movie Review- Megan Leavey. Sunday, June 11 at King of Prussia.
*** 1/2 ( out of 4 stars)
I loved the film Megan Leavey. It probably won't do well at the box office. Summer means action movies and mindless teen junk ("popcorn movies"). Seeing the movie at the beautiful King of Prussia, the theater was even halfway full. That's too bad, because if you want to see a heartfelt, honest, thoughtful yet enjoyable summer movie, Megan Leavey is your flick.
The movie got a 80% rating form the website Rotten Tomatoes and a 31/2 star rating from Roger Ebert.com, two res[respectable movie critic sites.
I didn't like the title because the movie is about way more than the main character, Megan Leavey. it is also about her dog Rex, the bomb-sniffing German Shepard she trained and bonded with in the Marines during their tour in Iraq.
The movie is realistic in it's depiction of war, yet not overly graphic or bloody. The battle scenes are intense and thrilling. It made me feel what our fighting forces really have gone through in the Middle east.
The movie follows Megan through her boot camp days to training the testy Rex to their eventual bonding and partnership saving lives in Iraq.
The later part of the film is about Megan's attempts to adopt Rex one his Marine service was over.
There wasn't much humor in Megan Leavey, but that's ok. Humor would've seemed forced and stupid. There is good-natured ribbing between marines but no out-and -out laughter.
The dialogue was real and relatable. The characters were warm and developed. The story flowed and only dragged a little in the middle when Megan and Rex first arrived in Iraq ( the movie's running time is 2 hours).
Actress Kate Mara did an especially good job as the lead role, showing a determined, gritty nature. I like Common as a Drill Sargent. The most recognizable name in the cast is Edie Falco who portrays Megan's mom .
Warning: if you don't shed a tear near the end, you don't have a heart. Still, Megan Leavey isn't overly sentimental. It's real and that's what I liked about it. The story can happen to you, your family or your next door neighbor. Plus if you love dogs as I do, you gotta see it.
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