My top 10 under-appreciated movies and why I choose to ignore reviews.
10. Couple's Retreat
I'm a big fan of Vince Vaughan but a lot of his later movies have failed to live up to the hype for me. Couple's retreat though really caught me by surprise. Everyone I talked to told me I would hate it and for this movie I actually did read the reviews and didn't get around to watching it for a few years after it was released because of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and definitely recommend it.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/couples_retreat
9. Suicide Kings
This one has benefited over the years from word of mouth. I remember when I saw it I love it immediately but the reviews were horrible. Now when I pull up rotten tomatoes the reviews are still bad from the critics but the user reviews have caught on.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/suicide_kings
8. DEAD MAN ON CAMPUS
We could chalk this one up to nostalgia but I have always been a big fan of this movie. I was in high school when this movie was released and it had the power of MTV and Zack Morris to get me into the theatre. I mean who doesn't love Mark-Paul Gosselaar?
The reviews on this movie are terrible and if I were to go by it's rotten tomatoes reviews I would've never given it a chance.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_man_on_campus
7. Going the Distance
I'm a sucker for romantic comedies that are actually funny. I don't care for the weepy, sappy, gushy stuff but when I can enjoy a movie with my wife and laugh a long the way at a good story then I'm all in.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10012042_going_the_distance
6. John Carter
This was a big budget flop upon release but I thoroughly enjoyed it as an entertaining action movie that I could lose myself in.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/john_carter
5. Payback
This is a movie that epitomizes Mel Gibson's snarky action character with his goofy acting charm before all the craziness set in. If you can, find the original release. They changed almost everything in the director's cut and it's almost a different movie altogether.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1087648_payback
4. Vanilla Sky
This is another movie that has benefited with audiences over time. This movie requires your attention but is thoroughly engrossing.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vanilla_sky
3. The Interview
I don't know if it was the controversy surrounding the release of this movie with the threats from North Korea, the Sony hack or what ruined this movie's reputation but I found it to be one of my favorite Seth Rogen movies. Almost up there with 50/50 and This is the End.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_interview_2014
2. Macgruber
This almost made my number 1 but was edged out slightly. I had tears running down my cheeks in the theatre watching this movie. I wasn't a fan of the SNL skits and had no expectations. This movie is so cleverly written as a take on the action genre and needs to be seen.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/macGruber
1. She's Out of My League
This is the movie that I least expected to love. I heard nothing about it. Saw a preview. Looked up the review and even though the reviews were lackluster I decided to forge ahead. I loved this movie. It gets better with each viewing and is a movie that my wife and I put on almost any time we can't decide what to watch. I must've seen it 25 times and recommend it to all my friends. It also gave me a huge appreciation for TJ Miller.