User reviews

Going into Ashby, I was hoping for a well directed,smaller, coming-of-age film. What I got was more like a bowl of trail mix. This film contains a hand full of positives; decent performances, heartfelt moments, and what I enjoyed most of all was the humor.

It was really light hearted and I really connected with Nat Wolff's character Ed. However, he is the only one I really connected with. Ashby (Mickey Rourke) was a fun character, that was not fully developed, and had more to offer. Then we had Eloise (Emma Roberts) the love interest, and June Wallis (Sarah Silverman), Ed's mom. These two characters for me felt bland and except for a couple of funny moments with Sarah Silverman, didn't do much for me.

Then we get into the main plot of the story, and although I was never lost, there was way too many sub plots and holes that were never really addressed. The pace of the film also felt stop and go, where in some instances it flowed well, then all of a sudden it braked to a stop and slowed down, then sped back up. The tone also changed from scene to scene and I couldn't figure out what the director was going for exactly.

Although I did not love this film, I didn't hate it either. I especially loved Nat Wolff's performance in the first and second acts, but then he lost me towards the end, when the movie shifted completely. Overall, I look at this film as a light-hearted, comedy, coming-of-age movie, that tries to be a lot of other things as well. I would recommend checking it out if you have spare time or if you want to hear Mickey Rourke's amazing voice.

This one was interesting. It felt like a movie about a shy kid. But he isn't shy. He has no problems talking to people, just seem to not feel a need to, or something. Story wise he's gets an assignment in class to write about some old guy. Which is practically placed next door. Since the trailer shows a fair bit, I allow myself to reveal that the old guy, is a former assassin for CIA.

Back to the kid. He loves football. Has a rig in the backyard. Watches matches at school. Where he meets a girl that has a big part in the game.

I really like the relationship between the kid, and the assassin. Old guy tells what he thinks, and doesn't sugarcoat it. The movie is to a big degree about not lying to yourself, even if you don't like the truth.

His relationship with the girl Emma Roberts is playing is slightly weird, but works well.

The movie doesn't really leave you thinking for the next week, but it's a good movie. Not great, but good.

It's a wonderful cast and not a bad production either, so I enjoyed the watch, but did not like the film much. The reason is I had seen a few similar flicks which are much better than this in every way. A school kid and his single parents' struggling relationship and their strange neighbour, so it is the concept I'm familiar with, but the story was a bit different. There are a few good scenes in it, but the most of the parts were dominated by the only the nice events like happily ever after kind of stuffs right from the beginning.

The title role was played by Mickey Rourke, but it was Nat Wolff's film. The narration should have been much better, I mean it should have had more complicated segments. I even don't know how it got the R rating. The writing and the direction, both should have been a bit bolder. There are some people who liked it a lot and defending it, but I'm neutral. To me it was 50-50, I neither liked nor disliked. But all I wanted was a bit better than this, so I can't judge it for other. I hope you make a right decision on this if you plan to watch it.

5/10

I liked it, I consider it a good movie. It's different than other movies and at the end of the movie I felt I had received a good message. I think the story is good without clichés and everybody performance was focused. It was good to see beautiful Emma Roberts and also Mickey Rourke.

I like since the beginning it made me laugh with a the bj scene, and also I think it was really good it didn't take the way of typical movies, there were like 5 different scenarios in which the movies could take direction but it didn't, that helped to make this movie a good and different movie without the typical options, I consider that it has more realism than other movies.

Thanks

One of those second-string Hollywood efforts of the "artiste' vein where the writer and director are one and the same.

Sometime these things take wings and fly (look at THE BIG SHORT where McKay also does double duty) and sometimes they end up in the dustbin of history as merely an interesting effort Not for want of trying. The supporting cast practically picks this film up and carries it on their backs. Rourke is as far from THE WRESTLER as the earth is from the moon, he looks and acts like his own grandfather. Roberts is given very little dialog but presents her character well. Silverman steals every scene she is in, with perfect timing and a twinkle.

But you have to choose, get a copy of St. Vincent.

A bit of a lame and over sentimental story with no memorable moments. Definitely for the younger viewer. Rourke puts in reasonable performance given the poor script and good to see him again.

Uneven Blend of "Coming of Age", and Crime Drama that in part is Quite Good, in others Not So Much. The whole Football Thing is a Complete, Clichéd Bore with Clunky and Unfunny Attempts at Humor and Machismo vs Intellect.

Mickey Rourke is OK if Not on His A-Game, and Emma Roberts is Fine and maybe the most Interesting Character that is Not a Retread. Matt Wolff is Irritating Most of the Time and this is Basically seen from His Point of View.

Worth a Watch but Be Prepared for some Cringe-Inducing Scenes that are just Embarrassing. When Rourke is on the Screen it is Better than Average, but Overall the Movie is Let-Down by some Unfunny Stuff, is All Over the Map in Terms of Story, and the Limitations of a Lead Teen Actor and a Director that can't Seem to Find a Tone that works Consistently.

Ashby is a departure for Mickey Rourke, as he's been kind of slumming it in B movie junk for a few years. That changes here. Rourke's cowboy machismo and brooding vibe of danger is genius and takes on a whole new light when contrasted with the bright, idiosyncratic realm of the low key indie dramedy. It's a perfect concoction of ingredients, a melding of today's millennial teen angst with the battle scarred remnants of 1990's gritty pulp fare. Here Mickey plays Ashby Holt, an ex CIA assassin quietly residing in present day suburbia. He becomes aimlessly lost when he finds out he has terminal cancer, and is given three months to live. Next door, a high school kid (Nat Wolff) who's new in town tries to fit in with his peers, and make new friends while his incredibly insecure mother (Sarah Silverman♡) also tries to.. make new friends, I guess you could say. When he gets a class project to interview an 'old person', he spots Ashby, and reaches out. Ashby needs a driver, and the two strike an amiable enough relationship that's both tragically funny and a sly statement on the addled nature of youths today. Gradually Ashby becomes sort of a father figure to him, and the bond deepens. Nat also strikes up a romance with a peculiar girl played by Emma Roberts. She's one who usually plays the bitchy bimbo, but here wonderfully surprised me by giving the quirky outsider girl just the right amount of depth and empathy. You might just not recognize her, taking on the kind of oddball role her father Eric is famous for. There's scene stealing work from Kevin Dunn as well, playing a cantankerous football coach. The film briefly falls victim to 'quirky for the sake of quirky' indie tropes, and initially I was detached and wished it would bring it in more and smarten up. No one likes too much of that hipster bullshit lol. But it does, pulling back the curtains of glib comic inaccessibility to slow itself down and distill emotional, realistic work from its actors, the wonderful script a playground for them to explore. Rourke brings the best work he's done since The Wrestler, and is nothing short of sensational. When he's given the right material, he soars higher than most actors ever dream of reaching, and he finds the regret, sympathy, coldness and wounded spirit mentality of Ashby. He NEEDS more roles like this. Nat Wolff is a bit of a 'natterer' at first and got on my nerves a touch, but he grows on you, his naive sweetness a fascinating opposite to Rourke's weary burnout sadness. Fans of Rourke (he's my second favourite actor of all time) will find a gold mine in this one, and casual viewers should enjoy it's unassuming first half, and be moved by the down to earth second act that gives the characters the full circle arc they deserve. Well done.

Mickey Rourke is the type of actor that brings his all when he comes to perform. He don't phone it in, which is why it's always a good choice to see a movie he's starting in.

Nat Wolff, Emma Roberts, and Sarah Silverman also gave fantastic performances in the film as well, adding to a humorous heart filing story, but Ashby was a lot for a filmmaker to chew on, as Rourke plays a retired CIA agent with one foot in the grave who seeks redemption after meeting and befriending the boy next store.

It's not the action packed thrill ride I make it seem like. Not even the action comedy I thought it would be when I brought the ticket. The story focus more on the Nat Wolff's character coming-of-age.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing for the movie to turn out to be, but the movie just had too many stories within stories and I don't think it was handled right.

It's not as good as the excellent performance Mickey Rourke and his ensemble gives to it.

Let's discuss the scene with the MRI in the basement. First of all let's get educated on what MRI stands for. It stands for magnetic resonance imaging. Although an MRI does not emit the ionizing radiation that is found in x-ray and CT imaging, it does employ a strong magnetic field. The magnetic field extends beyond the machine and exerts very powerful forces on objects of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable objects; it is strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room. So let's take a look at where this MRI machine is placed in the room. Look to the right and to the left and when they pan around. Oh, don't forget what she is holding in her hands and what he is wearing....metal. Turn that machine on and they would be impaled on bludgeoned by all the metal objects in the room (have you seen the movie Twister?). Good grief. Oh, and not even a neurologist would have an MRI in his basement. SMH.

I started watching this movie not expecting much, and got something unique for my efforts. While the story seems a little dated, the acting is actually quite good. Emma Roberts and Sara Silverman do excellent jobs in their supporting roles, while Mickey Rourke steals pretty much every scene he is in. It all makes for a pretty good watch.

What this is not is a movie about a spy. This is a movie about a kid (Nat Wolff) who needs a little old-school guidance to grow up, and gets it in spades when he makes himself a part of Ashby's (Rourke) life. This will not be one of those movies that people talk about in 20 years, but it does its job for today, so if you can't figure out what to watch tonight, giver it a shot. You might be surprised.

8/10 - Because the movie has heart, with a hint of attitude, yet doesn't trip over itself with the spy angle like most of these kinds of films would.

High school misfit (Nat Wolff) befriends next-door neighbor who just happens to be terminally ill former CIA assassin (Mickey Rourke).

This movie features some solid performances by most of the actors, although the script can't tie all of the overlapping story-lines together in a way director intended. Also, film has occasional heartwarming moments but isn't well-rounded enough. It's not a great film, but for me film was as filled with light humorous tone that did make flick a pleasant experience.

7-/10

Ashby is an unoriginal coming of age dramedy. Misfit Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) has moved into a new town after his parents have split up.

Ed is a smart alec who wants to try out with the high school football despite not having the build and is a bit of a nerd. He fancies classmate Eloise (Emma Roberts.) Ed also has to put up with his mother (Sarah Silverman) who likes casual sex.

Ed gets friendly with his crusty neighbour Ashby (Mickey Rourke) who he initially approached to find out more about old people.

Ashby gets Ed to drive him around to places and they find out more about each other. Ashby is not a former napkin salesman as he claimed but a retired CIA hitman. He is also very ill and has a short period to live.

While Ashby makes amends that he might have been used to kill people that were never a risk to national security. He also teaches Ed a little about life and how to defend himself. In short Ashby becomes a father figure to Ed.

It is all very hard believe. Ashby and Ed bond very quickly. Ed turns out to be a very good fast receiver on the football field. Ed easily strikes up a relationship with Emma when all through the movie I found Ed to be a mouthy irritant.

Ashby is watchable enough but is a half baked hybrid of various high school themes themes with an uneven tone.

Well, I start saying Ashby is a cute movie. Short and sweet, well integrated and handsomely created. This is somewhat highlighted the so prevailing government terrorism, covering to the shadow of national security and putting bullets in heads in the people you may don't like.

Me watching this movie is all about being busy with enjoying the movie, other than chasing after a hidden theme . But I somewhat felt the character of Ed is the devil's advocate for questioning the bureaucratic system of society, what it further need to be optimized. The coach takes the example of pilot who drop the ' little boy' to Hiroshima as an inspirational character to the team motivation build, but later in the scene Ed came up with some new balls and question the ever replicating motivation orders and make the game their own. Small message it is. isn't it?

Along with this all I seriously fall in love with 'June' - the outspoken, bit of desperate but really charming lady and the cute little A-cup brain scanner Emma Roberts :). To me these simply beautiful pair gave a nice stick to behold to the movie. Finally the movie adorable, good to go Sunday movie with little sunshine.

Well conceived,well acted,tongue-in-cheek comedy. Mickey Rourke and Nat Wolff deserve credit.

As coming of age stories go, Ashby is a nice change from what we're used to because it parallels - or at least try - Ed's journey into adulthood and Ashby's coming to terms with his impending death. The film has nice moments. The story has heart, humor, and decent performances, but it lacks characters development. I mean the title character, Ashby, was not fully develop. It really felt like there was more to be said about him. The female characters were cruelly undeserved, they had their moments but it mostly felt like they were optional or added in at the last minute.

To sum it up Ashby was a bit stop and go, probably showcasing McNamara's shortcomings as a director, but the cast sort of makes up for it, which makes a pleasant movie to watch. It's fun, light hearted, quirky, and brutally honest at times.

By wornoutspines

For those out there who seek out to destroy every piece of art. This is a movie about friendship, respect and love. This is a story about facing yourself in the mirror. A movie which will leave you thinking. Watch it, and enjoy it. The older Mikey gets the better his performances become. Although the depth of the characters is left shallow, the storyline is well done. If you are going to watch a movie anyway, then watch this one. Because this movie will teach you a thing or two; about life and everything that comes with it.

We liked it personally because of the message is tries to convey while courage, love, friendship and family are at the front of this epic movie.

Surprising & entertaining, there's a weird time displacement in the movie as the scenery & the feel suggests the early 80's but then you see a laptop and a tablet. There's a point in the movie where the story/plot switches gears somewhat abruptly and it becomes a different movie than what you started out with. Emma Roberts is cute & adorable in her role. Mickey Rourke has seen better days. Sarah Silverman's looks are never her problem & she has some cringe worthy lines that are outstanding (not in a good way) & her actions as a mother are embarrassing to watch but you do get some empathy for her son. Enjoyable movie, I wasn't disappointed.

This movie is bad. Really bad. The story is such a nonsense and absurdous at times. Cliché after cliché. The high school football drama and "love" story are nauseating. The acting is really bad, except Mickey Rourke.

I mean, every single actor in this movie put out a dismal performance including Nat Wolff. Ed's character is so unlikable and annoying that I wanted to stop watching several times. I have not seen Nat Wolff before, but in this movie he was unbelievably bad.

Absolutely no chemistry between Ed and Ashby. The priest' and mother' characters are either a joke or insults to one's intelligence. The funeral scene in the end of the movie completed its awfulness. Mickey Rourke was the only reason I finished watching this movie. His acting was great. But he did not save this peace of crap.

Geetings from Lithuania.

"Ashby" (2015) is a bit predictable yet enjoyable little flick. The story is not fresh, but there are some welcome surprises, although there aren't much of them (and don't want spoil them), they still are welcome.

Mickey Rourke III (i started to call him III because this movie features the 3rd Mickey Rourke's face (and hopefully the last) in his life). Although face is new, acting doesn't changed (just don't compare anything he is ever done with "The Wrestler", because there is a performance in "The Wrestler" and in "everything else"). I did like his acting in "Ashby", but he is more of a screen presence in here, although there are some good dramatic moments near the end. Other were pretty OK. Isn't Emma Roberts a bit to old to play school student?

Overall, "Ashby" is enjoyable coming of age story with some predictable and sweet romance and with some unlikely hero figure. Pacing is good in here, movie doesn't drag and while it adds nothing new to the table, i kinda was waiting for a bit straightforward criminal comedy, but what i saw was bit more serious and mature - and i liked that.

I consider this film something of a hidden gem; It has an endearing charm, one which i find slightly criminal given its poor reception and box office success. The real draw to 'Ashby' for me personally is Mickey Rourke's performance, and its place within his filmography. To me, it proves his ability to act has endured, past 'The Wrestler' - a film in which many naysayers would believe to be his last good role. This in itself gives the film an added value that cannot be tarnished (not even by Rourke's behaviour in his personal life). Furthermore, Emma Roberts and Nat Wolff are not without their charm; solidifying the strength of the cast. However, the film is not without their flaws. Stylistically, the film is slightly underwhelming - a majority of the shots being bland and straightforward. The humour is also somewhat strange and executed in a peculiar manner, but this is perhaps to be expected, given the generally quirky nature of Wolff's characters. In the end, these are all flaws to be tolerated, and the value that lies within this film is a greater in comparison. Again, If nothing else it is truly a sight to behold for all devoted fans of Rourke's.

This might have been a mediocre movie. I knew someone who was a military sniper. His guilt over what he had done overcame him, and he committed suicide. There isis a meaningful story here that could have meant something.

But how stupid can a producer, writer, or director be to put an MRI in the basement of a family home? It boggles the mind how stupid that is. A magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI) will attract any metal to it while it is operating. That includes wrenches, bicycles, zippers on jeans, metal snaps on varsity jackets, etc.

I have a friend who has metal fragments in his neck. He can't have an MRI because the machine would literally put the fragments out of his neck and possibly kill him. That's how powerful an MRI is.

This whole MRI thing is just stupid, stupid, stupid.