roexpat

How long can one watch perfectly choreographed action scenes? The director figured on close to 3 hours, I called it a day after just 1. This movie is so far from the first, or even the second installment in the series that it might as well be called something else and star someone other than Keanu Reeves. The acting and story are not only wooden and trite, but somehow manage to become annoying. Anyone who utters a word becomes instantly unlikeable. The far-fetched action is way past unrealistic and firmly in the realm of fantasy. When it's comical you can't be sure that it's intended or simply part of the ridiculous smorgasbord of run and gun. Is it self-aware? Maybe, but it's certainly self-absorbed. It's the epitome of aiming for "bigger and better" and succeeding only in the size department.

3 stars for the hard work put into creating this. Shame about the result.

Wasn't Superbad good enough? No, it was with *shudder* bOys. This seems to have been Olivia Wilde's motivation in directing this wannabe comedy. It's the kind of movie made by a person with a less than basic sense of humor who insists that they're really funny because they know exactly what humor is. According to Booksmart humor is, first and foremost, quips. Fun quips, quirky quips, snide quips, casual quips. Every type of quip is covered by the two protagonists who relish the opportunity to interact with all of the background characters just so that they can quip about it to themselves or each other.

I'm not giving it 1 star because, in spite of the smug attempt at humor, it moves rather than plods and the budget makes it look much better than the story and dialogue deserve. It's what some might define as a polished turd.

This is one on those things where if you're going to watch one Woody Allen movie make it this one. Make it Annie Hall because, firstly, it's a good perood piece but timeless in its portrayal of American society, and secondly, because it will make you want to watch other Woody Allen movies.

On one hand, you'd be hard pressed to find a film come out of Hollywood in 2022 that's this honest without being vulgar, provocative, or, like Don't Look Up , using humor as a political vehicle. On the other, if movies like this already exist -and plenty do - it's not worth complaining about the state of modern cinema. Just switch off, switch on, remember your mantra, and keep away from bad vibes.