THE WORST FILMS OF 2014


It’s that time of year again when we look back at the best and worst films of 2014. I saw a little better than 60 films this year. Out of fairness, I could only judge what I’ve seen. Here is my Bottom 10 for 2014 starting with:

10. Transformers 4
Let me first say, that I am not a Michael Bay hater and I am a fan of the Transformers franchise. With that said, this latest installment with arguably the best overall cast led by Mark Wahlberg, was too long, too loud, too silly. Fans have waited so long for the Dinobots to appear that even after this film, they’re still waiting. In the end, it was box office gold so rest assure, number five is on the horizon.

9. A Million Ways to Die in the West
Yes I laughed and I might have even chuckled but that was during the trailer. If you saw the 2+ minute trailer, that pretty much wraps it up for you. Much like Transformers 4, I enjoyed the cast led by Seth MacFarlane, Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron. There may be a million ways to die in the west but there is only one way to kill a comedy and that’s to be unfunny for the better part of the film.
8. Dumb and Dumber Too
Much like Anchorman 2 of the previous year, this long awaited sequel took too long to become a reality. There were some really funny moments but they were too few and far between. The chemistry between Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels was still very apparent which was nice to see. But that’s where it begins and ends. The subplot of Lloyd (Carrey) crushing on Harry’s (Daniels) daughter was a bit creepy for my taste thus helping to make this film a bottom feeder for 2014. 
7. Let’s Be Cops
No, I rather not. Nuff said. Next please.
6. Exodus: Gods and Kings
In so many ways this should be the worst film of the year but the ones that follow are really bad for a variety of other reasons. There has been a resurgence of biblical and religious related films over the last year or so. This is without a doubt the most disappointing. While this film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Christian Bale as Moses, has a more authentic feel only in terms of set designs, it’s a far cry from the Charlton Heston classic The Ten Commandments. Biblical films by its very nature should be inspiring. Exodus fails to inspire and signature scenes and passages from the bible are either, overlooked, underplayed or completely altered. Stick with the 1956 version. So it was written, so it shall be done.
5. That Awkward Moment
The awkward moment occurs as soon as the house lights dim. This is yet another film in a long line of unfunny comedies to appear on the big screen in 2014. Other than the Michael B. Jordan character, there wasn’t one sympathetic person I liked. TAM only builds upon the stereotype that men are pigs.
4. Sex Tape
A sex tape starring Cameron Diaz might have been a good thing, say 15 years ago but not so much now. Co-starring with Jason Segel, Sex Tape might have worked when celebrity tapes were all the rage several years ago but today, meh! In order to spice up their sex life, Diaz and Segel make their own tape but instead of deleting it, Segel’s character uploads it to cloud and according to him no one understands the cloud. Well, it’s not the cloud but this film that no one will understand. This is the 5th comedy on the list with one more to go. The one thing these failures have in common is that they’re just not funny. Comedies have one job and that’s to make us laugh with witty dialogue and a straightforward plot. This film fails on all counts.
3. Transcendence
This Johnny Depp film disaster makes you wish for more Captain Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean. Some films try to be too smart for their own good. This is one of them. Its ambitious and convoluted plot was all over the place. After a failed assassination attempt on Dr. Will Caster’s (Depp) life leaves him with a month to live, his wife (Rebecca Hall) decides to transfer her husband’s consciousness into an AI program. What could go wrong? The entire film would be the answer. I say Ctrl-Alt-Delete from your memory.
2. Tammy
What’s a bottom 10 without Melissa McCarthy? In 2013 she owned the bottom three this year only one entry. A story about an unemployed, down on her luck individual who robs a fast food restaurant she once worked for was neither original nor funny. On an up side, Melissa McCarthy did star in one of the 2014’s better films, St. Vincent. There is hope for her yet.
1. Tusk
I am a Kevin Smith fan and I applaud any director who ventures onto new territory. But Tusk isn’t that new territory. It’s a disturbing and painfully gross film to digest about a radio host looking for obscure people to interview only to come across a sick and demented man with a walrus obsession. No thank you. It makes me hope for Clerks 3 to come out sooner than later to help cleanse my palate. 
May the Dork be with you,
JPB

The Dork Knight
About The Dork Knight 520 Articles
James aka “The Dork Knight” is a blogger and writer based out of Upstate New York. For James, it all started with a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… when he dragged his mom to see The Empire Strikes Back 10 weeks in a row. He lives and breathes nerd culture. James is proof that a Star Wars fanatic can be a passionate Trekkie as well. So much so James dressed up as Captain Kirk to the premiere of Star Trek VI in 1991 and still has the uniform. When it comes to Comic Books, Sci-Fi or Fantasy whether in print or digital, in the theatre or on my TV screen, I’m all about it and I love it. So bring your Phaser (set to stun), Lightsaber, Sonic Screwdriver, a Wand, Mjolnir or the Ring to rule them all, because this site is for the dork in all of us.