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LIKES: The Acting The Concept The Messages The Comedy The Musical Score The Pacing Summary: The track record for originality still proves to be high for A24. Eternity takes the concept of love to new levels with the presentation about just what love is and how long it lasts. Joan has a hard decision to make between the two loves of her life, each with their own nuances and details that make for an appropriate case to choose them for all eternity. To have only a week to do so (mostly) only further complicates the decision, allowing A24 to mirror so many facets of modern life in regards to big decisions in short amounts of time. Such an original take may feel awkward at times, but Freyne's work manages to encompass so many facets of life in one blow, far exceeding the usual romantic comedy Hollywood has hammered us with for years to come. The messages and stories they tell are magical, symbolism and direct speeches working in tandem to sow seeds that will hopefully flower into life-changing concepts with such incredible class, authenticity, and emotional fortitude. Add a touch of this well-utilized musical score, and the art of movie-making editing becomes prevalent without overtaking the moment at hand. A little preachy, but for the most part, the movie accomplishes delivering a lesson that I found very heartfelt and important, with layers beyond the usual "true love" I've been subjected to for years.

However, it's not all about the mushy life lessons. Eternity has a dark comedy side befitting of A24's chaotic humor, finding an avenue that is one part lighthearted, one part dark and foreboding, and one part sarcastic and over-the-top. Together, these styles meld and blend, another symbolic gesture that provides plenty of entertainment and offers a nice distraction from the movie's overarching theme. It helped with pacing, helped add that silver lining to a somewhat depressing story, and has some well-timed comedic avenues to add that chef's kiss moment of comedic relief a movie sometimes needs. What it does for keeping the pace balanced, entertaining, but not getting in the way of the storytelling that A24 is highly invested in.

As for the acting, this case accomplished much with the characters they (ironically) brought to life. Turner's role is enjoyable, sincere, romantic, handsome, and a bit more befitting of the Rom-Com male lead. He's got quite a style with handling the multifaceted role, with great delivery that felt as if this relationship had actually happened. Olsen is a bit more dramatic, hitting elements that are perfectly fitting for this scenario with all of her emotions brought to the forefront. It's endearing, deep, focused, and conveyed in a quality manner, only missing this logical side that I got from her character at the start of the film that I wanted to see more of. As for Teller, the man knows how to take his foundation and adjust it to fit the character. In this case, his mannerisms and delivery had these wonderful imitations of the older man he started as, with the attitude that reflects the confusion this man has become ensconced in. Together, all three make this awkward triangle that was promised in the synopsis, and it works so well from a variety of angles they chose to address. Because of this... the deeper material sings much more than I expected it to, and is the solid rock the film built itself upon.

DISLIKES: The Twisted Comedy To An Extent The Hard Lesson Of This Film There Could Have Been A Little More Campiness Some Deeper Storytelling Elements With the Side Characters Limited Scope In Audience Enjoyment?

Summary: With A24's focus, there are always some decisions that don't always agree with my personal style preferences. The twisted comedy sometimes gets a bit too much for me, and to play around with some sensitive materials in the land of death may not be everyone's cup of tea, depending on your feelings on the subject matter. Eternity holds harsh lessons that are very emotional, hard-hitting lessons that pulled at my heartstrings, but yet, also serve as a reminder about the finite time of life that can be a little depressing at the same time. A little more campiness could have served to help this out; some of the latter adventures they have could have been adjusted and done earlier to alleviate that foreboding cloud, or something a little less intense. In addition, they kind of play fast and loose with their rules, which leads to some elements that make this concept a little less intense/artistic when you decide to bend the rules as much as they did. My favorite character and her associate also had some more storytelling to convey, some hints, some stories, or something else we could have built on to help keep the allure going. Yet, these fell to the wayside, with the big secrets kind of fizzling out into something hopeful and stimulating, yet just not worth the wait. Finally, with this particular subject matter and style, is this the movie that is going to be for everyone? I don't think so. The drier humor, darker motifs, and missing that classic Rom-Com feeling of joy, happiness, and the passionate "romance" that Valentine's Day conveys will turn some away from this thought-provoking film.

The VERDICT: Eternity turned out to be one of my favorite A24 films that is not geared to being an uncomfortable horror film. An incredible cast works with incredible material, and a stimulating bout of reflection around the convoluted concept of love is the result of their talents. It encompasses so many elements, and this visual essay is able to convey so much, but still not going too far to present that material. To do so with comedy, respect, and decent pacing, Eternity accomplishes a lot and leaves you feeling a deeper sense of respect if you keep your mind and heart open. Yet, such production quality doesn't come without a price. For a romantic comedy, you're not going to get all the fun that the genre is expecting, which when combined with the somber nature of the movie, may lead to less appreciation and fun. I can understand some people finding the jokes a bit too indulgent and mocking of a serious concept as death, further limiting the scope of people who will enjoy the film. However, past these elements, I have to say Eternity is a film that is worth seeing, both in and out of the theater, when you have the chance. When I factor all of this together, I give Eternity: Rom-Com/Drama/Fantasy/Romance/Comedy: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.5.

LIKES: The Animation The Adventure The Comedy The Voice Acting The New Song The Pace The Heart The References Summary: Disney has so much technology to animate at their hands, and it continues to show that off with this film. Smooth movements, a colorful design, and plenty of character in the motions, Zootopia 2 is a gorgeous display of what is possible with their resources, giving the audience plenty to look, gawk, and enjoy as the multi-biome city returns once more to the big screens. Within this environmental playground is an adventure that feels a bit bigger and more explored than the previous film's montage did. We dive into a few more secrets and environmental factors, playing around with the fauna that is indigenous to them, adapting to the needs as the wild adventure unsheathes its claws. It goes more down the traditional Disney route to teach lessons, but not be so in your face like the first film, which opens up a bit more of an escape from the real world. And helping to keep things fun is comedy that is present in so many forms that it's hard not to find some style to have you cracking up in the theater. Kids are going to become infatuated with a lot of the silliness invoked, and many of the parents will probably get pulled into the fervor with them and making many Instagram/TikTok videos to mimic them. My favorite part had to be the references. Like Wish, Zootopia 2 is ready to poke fun at Disney's work, and you'll find references abound within the two hours as another collective "cameo" menagerie is integrated into the movie. Mostly comedic, sometimes emotional, these references serve as another angle to enjoy the film for a geek like me. All of this is done at a decent pace, an adventure to follow in a manner that doesn't feel slow, and relatively keeps things in check to not be extremely fast you have no content.

The movie, of course, has plenty of emotional aspects with the Disney magical touch. A heartfelt film that digs deep into some hot topics, the monologues are sweet, sincere, and relevant to the new age of viewers. Bringing that to life (alongside the comedy) is stellar voice acting from an assorted cast who know how to bring such heart into their animated characters. Goodwin is always a command of emotions, bringing happiness and sadness in this genuine form that adapts to every scene with such sharp precision. Bateman is Bateman. That's not a bad thing, but his character didn't require as much spread across the emotional range. But he knows how to enunciate and manipulate his words to make the puns come to life, the jabs feel fun, and he really commands the comedic element so well. As for Quan, I loved him as the snake, genuine, cute, and somehow managing to embody his usual self in that snake form. I loved his little tweaks and had hopes they would have done a bit more with the film. In most cases, the delivery brings the heart this film needs, and I feel many will soften to the wonderful work they gave us with this film's content and performances. And if that's not your beef, then Shakira's new song has got a bit more flair, fun, and utilization as this zoo is ready to show you what it contains.

DISLIKES: The Predictability Some Overkill On Comedy Needed A Bit More Mystery/Suspense A Bit Overkill With References Missed Some Character Development Summary: Yet, the movie suffers from predictability, with many of the mysteries easily solvable within the first thirty minutes. Zootopia 2 is having so much fun that some of the stronger elements feel weaker in this film, diluted to be less intense for fear of being too much for the target audience. While I'm glad there was more adventure, I would have liked a little more magic, mystery, and suspense added to this to keep things on edge as to what would happen. Alas, I think Disney's focus on comedy and references may have gotten in the way of better storytelling. To put so much focus into these slapstick fests of clumsiness, goofy walking, and yammering by several characters into what will surely be a new trend, there just seems to be less focus on the older audience moments. Throw in that many side stories feel bland and pieced in, leading to too many subplots battling for relevancy, so that they seem to trip up each other to a small degree. And despite the hints of touching, the character development is surprisingly weaker than I had thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, there are still some elements that appear, but again, much of the sharing is a lot of references, comedic jabbering, and these shallower elements that I was surprised they pursued.

The VERDICT: Zootopia 2 is very fun, endearing, and an adventure that returns to Disney's era, where the adventure was just as important as the messages. Beautiful animation and voice acting work together to bring our buddy cup duo back to life, and I loved how well these were all integrated to make the tale come to life. With lots of comedic elements, a good pace, and references to scope out each rewatch, it's a film that will cater to a lot of audience members, especially the younger generations. Where the movie fails is getting too lost in that fun, silliness, and multiple stories, so that the elements of the first film feel a bit flatter than I expected. Character development is not missing, but doesn't lack the same intensity, nor does the mystery/suspense that also feels like kiddy gloves were pulled on for writing the story. There was more to unlock, discover, and fight, but the new era of storytelling/censorship still is a bit more prominent, and it's holding back some of Disney's strongest elements. Still, in the long run, the movie is a theater-worthy adventure for many reasons, and I encourage you to head out and give it a look if you can. My scores for Zootopia are: Mystery/Action/Adventure/Crime/Animated/Family: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.

O Shinji Ozeki LIKES: The Musical Score The Cinematography Moments An Exploration of Japan's Culture The Acting The Sincerity The Message Summary: Rental Family is a movie that relies more on the content than the visual effects, but don't discount the art brought to this movie to bring it to life. Hikari's camera team uses wonderful techniques to establish the wholesome tone of the movie, with close-ups that outline every line of feelings, while also doing their best to give as much of the Tokyo culture to the viewer. I never found it distracting or over-artistic, and often found just the right angle to give me style and realism in one shot. The location choices I felt were very relevant, and I loved the span of seeing all types of Japan's culture as life unfolded around Phillip. Traditional and modern elements are abundant in this film, and I felt it honored them very well as they were integrated into the story, rather than some shallow inclusion that seems to be a normal trend. And when you add the music to the moments, well, I'm a sucker for such things as the interludes seem to team up and drive the messages harder into your brain. While all of this works well together, I must say that the acting has to be the element that bridges everything together. The first-billed cast has two who are more extras, but many of the cast members accomplish these wonderful moments of support that work so well with Fraser's character, providing variety and spice to a man lost in his purpose. As for Fraser, the man really has found a new stride, and I thoroughly enjoyed his talents again with this incredible display of emotional control that seems so sincere, authentic, and heartfelt. He has managed to trade away most of his goofiness and heroic antics for something deeper, and I love how well I connected with his character through his efforts to make Brendan come to life. His acting alone is enough for me to encourage people to see this movie, but Rental Family's content is what I need to review next.

As previously stated, Rental Family is about the content than the special effects or fantasy characters. It's a movie that is taking what sounds like an odd service and dissecting the culture of how ideas start and can be molded in different ways. Phillip gets put into things most would not dream of doing for various reasons, but in Japan, he shows a different culture that is intriguing, if not complicated. And through this journey, we see something I personally believe is something that many might enjoy and find relatable about connection. Phillip's character starts to see this job as something more, and throughout the film, the elements of connection, friendship, and authenticity bring a strong foundation to which other questions are asked and answered. Hikari's story is poetic in so many ways, but doesn't fall victim to the independent art some stories choose, which is a beautiful combination that should speak to so many people. The messages of life, when blended with the cultural respect, help create an inspirational (if soft and fluffy) tale that I think is going to resonate with so many, finding ways to connect that have been blunted by the conventionality the world seems to be trying to shift to. With such incredible performances, and this content that feels balanced, it was a surprise at how much a drama like this kept my attention, which I believe will extend to those with an open mind to such concepts.

DISLIKES: Predictability Character Utilization A Few Too Many Conveniences Summary: In terms of dislikes, the movie has a lot of predictable elements that take the edge off the movie, which can dial back some of the entertainment elements. Other films have looked at the concepts presented, with other angles being on the darker side of this concept, which makes things mysterious, intense, and captivating. This film's lighter side is needed, but the setup, foreshadowing, and dialogue paint too much of a predictable picture that seems to be a common limitation for my fellow reviewers. Something I am big on balancing is character utilization. Rental Family does this decently, as there are a lot of secondary characters in Phillip's bizarre world, but time limitations have led to most characters feeling like there was more to explore. His fellow workmates were the biggest area to expand upon, stories and twists that were decent, but lacked the full organization to maximize the "wow" factor. I think a book does better. And for clients, well, some are done amazingly well, and others that were sold as much more engaging, but still need some time to flesh out and give us the full impact of these arrangements. Aside from that, there are moments where the conveniences get a little too much for my taste to be believable, but these elements are limited, and I was relating to content too much to find full heart. Throw in that there isn't a lot of that adventurous, high-definition effects to lull you into the theater, which for a lot of audience members is going to be a huge limitation.

The VERDICT: Rental Family is a gorgeous movie about life that conveys elements that I find very relatable, important, and beautiful. Hikari has directed an artistic movie that feels very personable, which amplifies my enjoyment and conveys a message that I think is relevant to the current world. An odd concept from such a unique angle is rare to pull off in this beautiful manner, with camera work and music a solid quality to help convey emotions, culture, and enjoyment in such a balanced manner. Japan holds so many fascinating ideas, and Hikari shows us that in an honorable way, as he builds this story to embrace it rather than superficially include it as a check box fulfillment. Performances are incredible, bringing to life these genuine concepts about relationships, I believe, should be reintegrated to some degree, with a movie that inspires more than I thought it would. Yes, it's fluffy, bright, and doesn't fulfill the full potential such a story offers due to the "cheesy", feel-good nature of this direction. The predictability and character development could use some work as well to help add some entertainment and intensity, while trying to avoid conveniences in the long run. However, these become more trivial as you dive into the content and find the connections I did if you have the mindset. Worth a trip to the theater? For content, yes, but otherwise, most will want to watch this at home if you need that exciting thrill ride. My scores are: Tragedy/Comedy/Drama: 8.0-8.5 Movie Overall: 7.5.