Turn Turn TURN

Article originally published as TURN Review on Seat42F.

I think most will agree that AMC makes more hits than misses. While there have been some shows that didn’t take off, like Low Winter Sun and Rubicon, the network has also given us Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead. The latest original series, TURN, which premieres this weekend, is somewhere in the middle. It’s sort of like Hell on Wheels, a series that AMC keeps running without the high profile of the others, but in a different time period.

The protagonist of TURN is Abraham Woodhull (Jamie Bell, Billy Elliot, The Adventures of Tintin), a principled farmer who is trying to stay out of the Revolutionary War, circa 1778. Unfortunately, deeply in debt to his ex-fiancee, Anna’s (Heather Lind, Boardwalk Empire), current husband, Abe decides to smuggle some cabbages up to Connecticut. His contact, Caleb (Daniel Henshall, Out of the Blue), is a rebel solider, and it isn’t long before Abe’s misdeeds are used to force him into spying against the British.

It’s odd that the main character is supposed to be this wholly good man, and yet he breaks the law almost as soon as we meet him. He is also deeply against borrowing money, or so he insists, and yet he takes it from someone he doesn’t like or trust. These inconsistencies in the lead make the whole structure of the show feel shaky, and it’s hard to figure out how this person is supposed to be, nor really feel motivated to solve the puzzle.

That might be OK if there were other interesting characters to make up for, and distract from, Abe, but there really aren’t. Or, if there are, they have not been firmly established in the first episode. Like Hell on Wheels, I find TURN hard to get into because I’m not finding that person or persons to identify with or fall under the spell of. Without this window or hook, it makes getting into the new show quite difficult.

The most interesting pair on TURN, who come the closest to meeting this criteria, are Richard Woodhull (Kevin McNally, Pirates of the Caribbean), Abe’s father, the local magistrate, and Major Hewlett (Burn Gorman, Torchwood, The Hour), the commander of the British garrison in town. One is a loyal subject of the crown and the other kind of is, but is colonial-based. Both are cultured and toe the line as proper gentlemen do, but they also are willing to find the loopholes when it suits them and to keep the peace. They make an interesting pair, pragmatic if stodgy, but because they are at odds with Abe’s new activities, they are doomed to be cast as villains, which they should not be.

Richard Woodhull is the portrait of a man who likely didn’t come out of the revolution too well. He is American, but he doesn’t see himself that way. The ties with his younger relations will hurt, not help, his position. He’s technically right in his stances, at least from his justifiable perspective, but against the tide of history. It’s a shame he is highly unlikely to be developed the way he should be going forward, as a sympathetic individual in a tough position. What Richard says near the end of the first hour all but guarantees him taking on a different role.

The rest of the ensemble are all pretty forgettable, at least in the pilot. Meegan Warner (Portend) plays Mary, Abe’s wife and mother of his one-year old son, who isn’t nearly as in sync with Abe as Anna is, and so stuck on the outside of the plot. Seth Numrich (Gravity), Samuel Roukin (Bright Star), JJ Feild (Captain America), and Angus Macfadyen (Braveheart, Chuck) are Ben Tallmadge, John Graves Simcoe, John Andre, and Robert Rogers, respectively, all soldiers for the two sides, the pieces of the game that will play out, all looking pretty expendable at this point, though Roger is the least easily replaced, so probably the safest.

In all, TURN could be really good, it’s certainly not bad, but it doesn’t quite hit the sweet spot. It’s a middling effort for AMC, one that could get a few seasons, but not one likely to garner the awards and praise others on the network have earned. I wouldn’t say it comes highly recommended, but it’s not a waste of time, either.

TURN airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

We Bought a Zoo on Blu-ray

From FOX Studios comes Cameron Crowe's (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) latest film, We Bought a Zoo. Based on a true story, the movie finds widower Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon, The Bourne Identity, 30 Rock) needing to make a change. While house hunting, he finds his dream dwelling comes with a closed-down, but still populated, zoo attached, and decides that this might be just the adventure he needs. Together with his two children and the zoo's colorful staff, Benjamin sets out to make the zoo, and his life, mean something again.

We Bought a Zoo is not Crowe's best work, but then, who expects it to be, considering some of the masterpieces the director has made? However, We Bought a Zoo is still damn good. It proves that Crowe still knows how to coax incredible, authentic performances out of his actors. He can still tug a heart string. He develops wonderful visuals, but never forgets that the story is about the characters.

Damon is brilliant in the lead role. He captures the struggle of a father, raising two kids on his own, one of whom he has trouble connecting with because they are too much alike. He also breathes Mee's mission to life with such zeal, that one is left hanging on his every move, rooting for him to succeed, hoping he can find hope and joy in his life again.

We Bought a Zoo is buoyed by an excellent ensemble cast, and that's not just referencing the beautiful animals. Maggie Elizabeth Jones (Footloose) is adorable as Mee's daughter. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Wings) brings a realism to Benjamin's brother, who wants to be supportive, but thinks his sibling is off of his rocker. And then there's J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Carla Gallo (Bones, Californication), John Michael Higgins (Bad Teacher, Happily Divorced), Angus Macfadyen (Chuck, Braveheart), Elle Fanning (Super 8), Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), and Colin Ford (Push, Supernatural), all of whom bring something special to the table. The chemistry between them, and the unique make up of each player, really makes this movie sing in an exciting, interesting way.

Oddly, it's Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation, The Avengers) that is wasted here. Stuck in a boring, predictable, romantic interest role, she gets lost among the others. This isn't because the actress is inferior in any way, but rather, more than anyone else, her presence seems to be there only to serve Benjamin's character. She doesn't have enough personality of her own to really stand out. In fact, Benjamin's relationship with a tiger actually serves the same purpose she does, with slightly more impact, so her part is extraneous. It's a shame, and the movie's only real weak point.

There are plenty of bonus features on the three disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy set. There's an audio commentary with Crowe, editor Mark Livolsi, and, weirdly, considering his small role in We Bought a Zoo, the hilarious J.B. Smoove. There are a ton of deleted and extended scenes. A half hour is devoted to the making of the picture, and there is a featurette about the real Benjamin Mee. There's also a gag reel, and more! One can literally spend more time watching the extras than the movie, and that's a nice claim to make. It helps, too, that what is present enriches the movie experience, and is really everything one might want in this release.

In short, We Bought a Zoo is a fantastic film that any movie lover should own. It's an inspiring story, a memorable tale, and just plain fun. Pick up a copy, on sale now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Chuck mostly wins "Versus the Goodbye"

     NBC's Chuck comes to an end forever with "Chuck Versus the Goodbye." The second hour of a two hour finale, "Chuck Versus the Goodbye," finds Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) reluctantly allowing Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Morgan (Joshua Gomez) to help her hunt down Quinn (Angus Macfadyen, Californication, Braveheart), now that she knows he is a bad guy. Chuck still hopes to spark Sarah's memories of their time together, but those hopes are dashed when Chuck must use the last Intersect upload to save many innocent lives, rather than to restore some of those memories. In the end, Quinn is killed, and Sarah does listen to Chuck tell their story, though whether or not she feels anything romantically for Chuck remains a mystery.

     Talking of using the Intersect to restore Sarah's memories, well, photos and such that pertain to memories, is a little creepy. It's a plan that will reprogram someone's brain. Of course, Chuck has always explored such themes with a light hand, given that the Intersect computer, which is implanted into one's brain, is an important element throughout all five seasons of the series. And the fact of the matter is, when it comes right down to it, the Intersect ends up being used as a weapon that harms Morgan and nearly destroys Sarah. So Chuck does anything but promote such invasive technology. No matter how cool it appears to be.

     Chuck ends up being a love story, first and foremost. There is a villain that must be defeated in the finale, sure, and there is spy work that must be done. But heart has always been a central element, and never does that take more prominence than in the series finale. Much of the final hour is devoted to Chuck's feelings for Sarah, and his efforts to re-spark that romance within her. He wooed her once, over the course of several years. Even without her memories, she does return to him, even if she has excuses for doing so. So maybe Chuck can eventually get her to fall for him again.

     The ending of "Chuck Versus the Goodbye" is left open to interpretation, which is actually quite nice. There are some plot holes and things that don't flow well in the finale, which will be covered shortly, and trying to resolve Sarah's missing memories likely would lend itself to more negatives. To tie up that story so neatly at the end of two hours, when the damage appears so permanent, would be unrealistic and hokey. But to allow Chuck and Sarah to kiss, both hoping against hope that this magical expression of their love will restore what they lost, then fading to black without revealing whether it works or not, is perfect. Because, the fact is, whether Sarah ever remembers or not, she is already seeing the love in Chuck's eyes, and it will not take her long to make some new memories with him. They both appear ready for the challenge of starting over, so it is truly a happy ending.

     "Chuck Versus the Goodbye," as well as the hour preceding it, are full of nostalgia for Sarah and Chuck. Seeing Sarah back in her hot dog serving outfit, or the pair dancing heatedly, or diffusing a bomb with Casey (Adam Baldwin), is a wonderful treat, paying homage to the early days of Chuck, sometimes very obviously. With everything dark going on, this lightens the mood. It also helps viewers overlook the numerous flaws, as they are so moved by what is playing out on screen, that they forget about logic. A smart move here.

     Sarah and Chuck aren't the only ones who get the happy ending, either. Casey, after a brief slip back to the detached military officer he once was, chooses heart instead, and goes after Gertrude (Carrie-Anne Moss). Morgan and Alex (Mekenna Melvin) decide to move in together. Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) and Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) take promising jobs in Chicago, which will allow them to afford a big house, something they cannot do in L.A., even with their doctor salaries. Even Mary (Linda Hamilton) stops in for a visit, and General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy) gets to play a small role in the final mission (the final final final mission, long after the characters' stated final mission). So all the major characters are served.

     Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence) is thrilled to see Subway purchase the Buy More, or rather, excited by the prospect of the delicious food that will go with it. Subway has done much to keep Chuck on the air for all of these years, so despite some blatant product placement, which actually goes well with the hip charm of Chuck, and the confusion as to why a restaurant chain would want to purchase an electronic store, it can be overlooked. Subway deserves a reward for its staunch support of the show, and saluting it in the end is well justified.

     Jeffster makes a final appearance in "Chuck Versus the Goodbye" as the duo (Scott Krinsky and Vik Sahay) performs "Take On Me," with orchestral backup, to stop a bomb from going off and killing Beckman and the audience. Their musical numbers have been an integral part of Chuck, and present for many important moments. Thus, it's fitting to see them one last time. Even better, the two are offered a recording deal in Germany, and complete their maturation that's been building in this fifth season. finally leaving the Buy More and heading on to bigger things.

     Now, for the drawbacks. The two hour finale is full of plot holes. Why does Quinn need to remind Sarah of Ellie's name after Sarah studies files on Chuck and his loved ones? How does Morgan gets Jeffster dressed and ready to perform so quickly? How does Casey know that Sarah has taken up residence in her old apartment? The list goes on and on. Chuck has never been the best written series on television, but the final two hours are some of the worst, logic wise. This is disappointing, after five great years. The fact that the wonderful depth of heart distracts fans enough to enjoy the episodes does not take away from the wish that a little more time had been taken to make the story make more sense. Ah, well. Nothing can be done about it now.

     In the end, Chuck deserves thanks and praise for the five years it touched, tickled, and entertained us. It will be sorely missed.

     Oh, and did anyone else catch that Chuck ends with Chuck possessing a newly updated version of the Intersect in his head? Awesome!


     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Click here to read every Chuck review I've ever written.

     To buy Chuck DVDs and streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Chuck - "Chuck Versus the Goodbye" on Blogcritics.