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Reviews
Drive-Away Dolls (2024)
Highly recommend!
I highly highly recommend Drive -Away Dolls. I knew next to nothing about this before going in, there was zero marketing, I took a chance by a name director.
Even seeing the film, it's honestly the type of picture that's hard to explain the plot well. A lesbian couple has a wanted suitcase in their trunk, a couple of detectives follow their trail to try and capture what is their's without getting caught and embarrassed. I'll leave it to your imagination what may be in that suitcase.
What I really liked about this film, it's original, it's fun, it's sexy and a perfect length. The two lead actresses were fun to watch and good eye candy as well. There are a bunch of odd segueways which didn't do it for me, but, maybe you'll like it.
Will this win a Oscar next year? No. This is a fun fluff piece.
The Flash (2023)
I think both the DCU and the MCU need some time to rest.
The Flash.. oh boy..I went into this film with really low expectations, and there are honestly very few positives here. I had seen everything at the moment, I wanted something fun , something I could turn my brain off for two hours. This movie though, I was not happy. I felt ashamed for the writers , ashamed for Warner and how did Jim Gunn approve this?
The visuals are disappointing. For a film that cost over 200 Million to produce, it felt like a Saturday morning kid's production. The actor who portrayed Barry and his younger self, are the worst casted characters I can recall recently. Young Barry is so annoying, but for some reason the producers choose to put him in 2/3 of this.
The film starts off well, felt similar to Ant Man, but almost right away goes to this odd time travel plot to save Mom. Others have said the same thing, Michael Keaton was the only good save for this film. The only thing I thought as I watched this, how could an exec think this was ok to be released? Why does Warner have story problems on all DC projects of late? Like my title stated, I think both Disney and Warner need to put their superhero stories on hold for a couple years.
This is a hard pass.
Asteroid City (2023)
Wes is a true cinematic genius!
I just got back from seeing a screening of " Asteroid City," and this one, I went in completely unaware; not reading any reviews or know what the plot is. I'm glad as I didn't, I had a great ride.
The film opens up as a play, which scared me, but shortly after, we open up onto Asteroid City. The look, the color scheme, the buildings are just a fun joy to watch.
We meet Jason Schwartzman, a writer and photographer, who along with his children, get stuck in the city due to car trouble. Augie meets Midge, played by Scar Jo, who likes to photograph her and develop a odd relationship. There's a bunch of odd B plots, the biggest sup plot is this mysterious alien coming for a visit. Jeff Goldblum plays the alien well, though he never speaks, he is fully animated on how he moves.
There are a bunch of great cameos who all deliver a great performance. Steve Carell shines as the hotel manager. Matt Dillion is great as the mechanic. Tom Hanks is great as the grandfather, every role was superior.
This is a film you need to see more than once with all the great visuals and cameo performances. Mr Anderson can honestly deliver a great , cinematic experience! Well done, Sir!
No Hard Feelings (2023)
PERFECT!! HEY NOW!!
Hello from another Summer Day in the auditoriums. I was looking forward to No Hard Feelings, it has been some time since we have had a really good , hard R comedy. This isn't your mothers or grandmothers comedy, if you get easily offend or don't like sexual innuendo, please, don't see it; because I hate people who complain.
Everything about this film was perfect. What I liked, there was no " message" no " diversity" hire. A fun rom com. The location manager needs to get big probs for the great locations used in a part of New York that gets very little camera time.
We meet Jenifer Lawrence's character, who we tell right off hand, isn't doing well financially. Maddie works as a Uber driver and a bartender, yet her car gets towed... by her ex of all people. Maddie reads a job listing that states " Date my son and you get access to our car."
We find out that the son has social problems, rather play video games and play by the rules. They develop a odd friendship, both getting out of their comfort zones. The story is great, the acting and scenery is great, and of course, Jen looks great!!
Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)
Truly Disappointed
As a fan of the original " Book Club", and even though slightly different story, I enjoyed the year's earlier " 80 For Brady." I had high hopes for Book Club 2, I went opening day, but ultimately, I just felt let down.
There is very little reading in Book Club 2, in fact the story or little story there is is simple; four friends head to Italy for a Bachelorette party. Something wasn't gelling with me as I watched this this morning. The pacing felt slow, felt that there wasn't enough story and detail. The sub stories weren't even exciting, ( bags get stolen, car breaks down and we walk.) Maybe for me the fact this took place in Italy or the fact the spouses had very minor developments, turned me off.
Mary Streenburgen, for me, was the only highlight. She sparkles, whereas, Diane Keaton stands , does her same acting style and more or less just phones it in.
The first Book Club wasn't great, but it was fun. The thing about Book Club 2, it feels too much of a different movie. Different tone, pacing is off and of course, the location. A good way to know if you are in a bad movie, I kept thinking what I want for dinner. Avoid or watch the original.
Cocaine Bear (2023)
Thank you Liz Banks and Lord / Miller!!
Cocaine Bear is the type of movie that we need more of, that for some reason, is not getting produced a lot. I feel to many writers have been going to " soft" making things more teenager friendly, but , this is a movie, where it isn't a franchise or superhero story.
The pitch for this story is absolutely simple yet engaging. Plane drops packages of cocaine, and bear eats cocaine and random people in the story on the floor. Yes, it is silly, yes the premise may be stupid, but the whole film was a fun ride. When I watch a movie, I think about what I want to add as I write a review downlater on, I was never a " fan" of Liz Banks beforehand, but watching this I can tell she was the right creative person for this job.
The role I was most surprised (?) by was Margo Martindale's. I liked the character of the park ranger, she was silly yet took her job seriously at the same time her character wasn't " integral", but wished they had her stay on longer.
The fun thing about this movie, there is humor there is gore and it does not take itself to seriously. There was no acting performance I wanted less of, they were all great. Cocaine Bear is to bears what Jaws was far sharks. I want to thank NBC Universal for going all gory instead of the terrible PG-13.
This is a definite SEE!
A+
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
I'm conflicted by what I just saw..
Let me state right away, I am not a regular Marvel Universe Viewer, so my opinion is subjective. I have seen Doctor Strange 2 and one of the Spider Man's theatrically, so, bear with me on this one.
You may be asking, why did I go to see Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania , when I have only seen two other Marvel films? I wanted to see a film, and help my Disney shares.
Having not seen the events of the last two films, I can't state why Scott is Ant Man. We open in normal San Francisco, Paul Rudd wrote a book about the events of the last film. He picks up his daughter from prison, (who is also an ant daughter?) his family, along with Michael Douglas get swept into this other dimension. This point was when I kept asking myself , what the heck is going on?
The whole film felt far too cartoony, like this made for children. I don't hate Marvel, but, I always feel like I'm watching a movie for kids. Bill Murray makes a fun cameo, but he's in for only 5 minutes. They have a character, a central charcter, named MODOK (?) , which is a giant head. He gets annoying quick.
The only thing I found really likable was Michael Douglas, I found myself thinking of other things to often while viewing this, which is not a good sign.
This movie relies on CGI too much and in my opinion, had a poor story.
C.
Pathaan (2023)
Felt like the Indian Mission Impossible
Before walking into this movie today, I rarely if even dabbed into Bollywood films. I saw everything and didn't want to re see something, so I thought I would take my chances on Pathaan. This was honestly a really really fun surprise.
As my title states, this feels exactly like the Indian version of Mission Impossible with a mix of Oceans 11 with Bond in it. I will be honest, I can not explain if I was at gunpoint, what the story wa about. The actual plot is hard to keep track, we start in India, move to Russia, then south Frace, then Spain, ultimately going back to Paris.
There are several great action sequences, we having a driving chase, a snow chase and this great train chase sequence. The sequences are phenomenal, but, sadly there are not enough of these great chase sequences to liven up at pretty dul story. As the first Indian film I saw, I probably won't rush out to see another. It was fun, but not " rush out to go see good."
C+
Missing (2023)
Stick with the story, leads in a interesting direction
Missing is a somewhat sequel to 2018's searching, set in the same universe, but this time a mother goes missing and her daughter needs to figure the clues to find where she went.
The basic plot without giving anything away, Grace ( Mother) goes on an innocent trip out of the country , with her new Boyfriend, Kevin. Grace isn't a fan of listening to her messages, and honestly, just wants her mother out to party. Grace leaves money for June, for " emergency" only, but a friend buys liquor as soon as mom leaves. June gets so buzzed, sleeps through the alarm to pick up her mother, arrives late then realizes, my mother isn't here. The first two thirds of the film, I found June really annoying, but she then became more like Liam Neesen in Taken.
Realizing that Mom never boarded the plane, she goes in detective mode. She hires a Task Rabbit for $48 , what was presumably left in her account, to help her out. For whatever reason, Javi gets a connection with June, and lets her to call him anytime, even without payment.
I'll be honest what I did hate about the film, the constant use of screens. It did not feel like a film, like one giant ad, for Apple or Google or Microsoft. Actually the whole film uses screens until the last ten minutes.
Remember the Modern Family episode where each family member is communicating on ipads or iphones? This is it... but feature film film version.
The thing I did love about this movie though, it moves fast, it is a fun ride and the story is fun to follow. The ending, not saying anything, is a really fun oh my god, I did not see that coming!
Overall , B+
80 for Brady (2023)
Silly fun for 90 minutes
I saw 80 For Brady at one of the earlier preview screenings, earlier this week, but wouldn't allow review before the said date. For some unknown reason, I was looking forward to this movie like no other movie before. The ads, even though I had seen them multiple times, I laughed repeatedly each time.
The premise is fairly straight simple. Lilly Tomlin's character had cancer 16 years ago, and her remote was not working, so her and her friends were watching the Super Bowl, for wait for it... Tom Brady.
Cut to present day, Lily Tomlin's character. Suggests we need to go to the Super Bowl! I am not saying " how" we " get" there, but is filled with, absurdity, love, humor, a strange Guy Fieri cameo which works, and a bunch of shenanigans seeing 4 friends getting into the stadium to see the Super Bowl.
The other fun thing , not just the acting and the good script, but counting all of the cameo big name appearances that drop in. We get, Patton Oswalt, we get Andy Richter, and Sara Gilbert plays a small part to Lilly Tomlin's daughter .
This has a lot of love, a lot of laughs and made me want to stay with these four even longer.
See!
A+
The Whale (2022)
Acting is phenomenal, but, story is somewhat flawed
The Whale, is not Free Willy, but an overweight English instructor, who eats to cure his depression. His students have no idea, until a reveal of what he looks like. Chalie, played greatly by Mr Brendan Fraser, stays inside all the time, is embarrassed by his weight, and leaves cash in mailbox for food delivery.
Charlie has no friends, but, a care taker who is his only friend, and brings in food and supplies. We find that Charlie is stubborn; he refuses to go to the hospital having high blood pressure, stating he has no health insurance. ( We learn latter he has around $120,000 saved for his daughter.) The care taker, Liz, we find out is a enabler; bringing double cheese meat ball sandwiches, and other treats.
The Whale is based on a play, yet works better as a play. The film more or less has two sets, living room, and bedroom. The film is more or less seen through Charlie's viewpoint. The camera does not leave the doorstep of the apartment. It just felt there was more that could have been focused on had Charlie left home.
I didn't hate this film, but, I guess I went in with bigger expectations. The acting is phenomenal, but the 2nd act tended to get reparative fairly quick. I do hope Mr Fraser wins the Oscar, but, as a movie, it is good, but I did not leave the auditorium feeling " wowed.."
See it, but, I don't mean to come as harsh, but, it felt as if too much was edited out in final process as well.
Maybe I Do (2023)
I enjoyed it
I love rom com's, this was a film I was looking forward too. It's a fairly straightforward story. A young couple goes to a wedding, the male catches the bouquet then leads Emma Roberts character to be annoyed, as she is the flower girl. She is confused from this small action if they should be together after this incident.
During this, we are introduced to three other stories. Think " New Years Eve", yet these eventually connect. Without giving anything away, this is a story about wanting more and not being happy in your relationship.
This is written and produced by Michael Jacobs, the creator of Boy Meets World, and the similarities show. The young couple thinks that dinner with our parents would be the smart thing, yet , we the viewer already knows at this point, all four of them all fooled around with each other.
My only big complaint with this film, without giving much away in details, is it honestly does not go anywhere. Once we get to the parents house, it's just admitting not being happy and doing everything you want to do.
It's a fairly short film, poorly directed but fun idea.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Surprisingly not just good, but AMAZING
I very seldom go to see animation, and today I saw Puss in Boots, The Last Wish. Due to a technical error at my AMC, my original desired showtime was no longer an option, so stuck with Puss In Boots. I need to be clear, I had very low expectations. I just feel, with Animation of late you get disappointed more than in awe.
There was not a second of film where I lost focus or was thinking what I want to eat or do latter. Puss is told he has one life left and needs to stop being so wild. There is a odd (?) b story with the three bears and Little Jack, played by the talented Mulhaney. Puss is told to go to a cat day care, we meet a dog who talks, and this dog is essentially our " Donkey." We escape the day care, and try to follow our last wish.
The supporting characters are pretty hit or miss. The bear storyline really added nothing to me. What was great about this film, this felt like early 2000's Dream Works Animation. Simply superb animation. Now, not having seen Puss one, and gave up with the Shrek franchise on number 3, how does Puss become who he is? How did Puss and Shrek meet? I guess I need to watch Shrek 3, 4 and Puss one then.
All in all, I was hooked for the whole story. Great voices and outstanding animation.
A+
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)
Stanley Tucci was the only positive
I went into I Wanna Dance With Somebody complete cold turkey. I can not list a Whitney Houston song , yet I am only familiar with The Preacher Wife. I like these artist based films, sso I thought I would give this a try.
The acting, or more correctly, the lack of acting by the actress portraying Whitney Houston is just well, comical. It felt that the Producer's wanted to put in too much and there wasn't a " good enough plan." Someone wrote there is too much un explained situations which happen that do not go resolve. That is true.. Producer's wanted to cram to much in.
This leaves me with Stanley Tucci. The story overall was weak, but Stanley made me more, well, anticipated to see him return. I don't understand why Costume and hair gave Stanley that bad hair piece and just had him go bald as normal.
None of the supporting characters, in my opinion, other than Tucci, were anything good. For some reason, all the actors were rather irritating. This is no spoiler, but, there is no " ending." It's very much like The Sopranos.
I came in with low expectations and I left with low expectations.
The Santa Clauses (2022)
If you watch this, you will get upset and angry. Avoid
As a fan of the original film ( note I said " original" not " sequels" ), I was looking forward to this series, yet, also had some major worries; what with Disney Plus's latest original's have not been so well written and have mostly made me well upset.
I'm not going to get down into plot, or characters in my analysis. " The Santa Clauses " focuses on a minor character of Kal Pen, who is a Jeff Bezos type, working at a E Commerce site. Santa ( Allen) is getting less work because of this third party; Santa is told to retire because.. shock.. the e commerce is getting all the work. Which brings me to this key frustration, the myth of Santa, isn't he supposed to make everything?
Scott makes a visit at " little " Sara's house, except Sara is an adult now and doesn't believe in Santa anymore. Fine...yet Scott loses his powers because less people are believing in him.
I don't know where the Producer's found the child actor's, but these " elves" need better acting lessons. I didn't catch a name, Santa's assistant, Friend in the sleigh, had to be the most annoying side kick on any show.
Somewhere between Santa Clause 3 and this show, Scott had another kid. Ok.. I didn't know that was possible in the North Pole. Speaking of children, we saw Scott's step daughter, though no Charlie?
Which brings me to this frustration, I get this isn't a $100 Million budget, but, this felt really cheap. Another pet peeve I noticed with this and other writers recently, stop making pop culture references that won't be relevant in even three years. Look, I love a good pop culture reference when done right, but, just in the first episode they mentioned Harry Styles. Come on, he won't be relevant in twenty years.
This really let me down. And no Judge Reinhold? Come on now.
Ticket to Paradise (2022)
I Truly regret seeing this.
I had high hopes for " Ticket to Paradise", but alas, I walked in angered by the film. Let me walk you through the basic premise. Kaitlyn Dever plays the daughter to George and Julia. There characters are since separated and do not want to be even in the same time zone.
Lily, Dever, is a lawyer, and we are to assume her parents give her a gift to Bali for graduating. Cut to a month later, David, Clooney, gets a email stating she is planning on getting married to a guy she knew for only a month. The two ex lovers fly to Bali to try and stop the marriage. That is the basic premise.
Look, I love rom com's. You've Got Mail, Jerry Maguire, When Harry Met Sally ,but Ticket to Paradise is basically Adam Sandler's Just Go with It without Sandler. This legitimately felt liked a bad Netflix Original. The whole time I kept thinking of other things I wanted to do or watch or wished I went to see something else instead. That is not a good thing that a writer wants to hear, that the audience is thinking of other things.
Yes, the scenery is good, but does not help a poor script. Sadly, in my opinion, the supporting cast is unlikable. Julia Roberts character was even starting to annoy me by the end, like seriously, she was supposed to be wealthy by being a auctioneer? I am not going to spoil the ending, but left me going, " Come on, are you serious?"
So, my final verdict, I wish I did not pay to see this.
Patton Oswalt: We All Scream (2022)
Wow..
I have generally have enjoyed most of Netflix's stand up special's and I can say I am a fan of Patton's , but wow. Let me just start by saying, why is comedy post Covid, the same topic for each stand up and yet, comedy as a whole, just feels softer.
Cut to " We All Scream." Patton describes a 13 minute, yes, 13, which honestly should have been no more than thirty seconds, about... clown pubes in a barn? This was your opening material? The more he said it I kept wincing, and he didn't move on, kept going back to this stupid metaphor, which made zero sense. Yet, Patton mentioned this material took him two years to come up with. This is why we have producers and Creative Executive's, so someone can say " Don't do this."
Another detail that really is frustrating me with these specials in general, I get it, Covid was a big thing yes. It's over, yet Patton is doing material on the lockdown, vaccines and telling us he watched Deadwood. Can we please just get one special not to say the words " Lockdown" " covid" or " vaccinations" anymore, please? I don't know about you, but I get annoyed being September 2022, and a stand up is talking about lock downs. Let's go back to actually creating real comedy without talking about injections or not being able to do anything.
Gigi & Nate (2022)
A fun surprise.
A saw " Gigi and Nate" today during Cinema Day. I knew the basic premise of the film, but didn't do any further research, and I am happy going in naked on this one.
We meet Nate, then 18 years old, cliff diving. He does a fall, walks it off, but days later with family celebrating Independence Day receives major pain and diagnosis that paralyze him for good. We do a time jump, Nate tries to kill himself in the family's koi pond, and dad, played by Jim Belushi, saves his life.
Mom realizes her son needs a companion; she gets a helper monkey. Everyone at first is not really fond or accepting of Gigi, but.as soon as Gigi starts to help out, he is more accepted.
I'm giving this a 10 star, but, and a huge but, I was not a fan of the lead, Nate. The parents and sisters were acted great, but Nate, Charles Rowe, under impressed for me. I was more taken away by Jim Belushi's performance and the young women who played his sister's. In fact, I was watching this wondering why Belushi does not do more of these roles. He can truly act, and , I just felt he is being under used.
I felt every emotion. I cried. I smiled I laughed. I shrieked. Even if the story does not sell it for you, see this for the monkey. The monkey made the sweetest faces and the fact he developed this bond with Nate was charming.
The ending, I am not saying, but was perfect. It came full circle.
Teen Wolf (1985)
I'm late to the Teen Wolf Party, I feel underwhelmed
For some reason I never discovered Teen Wolf. Back to the Future, classic and great story. Teen Wolf? No, not even in the same league.
Teen Wolf stars Mike J Fox, as Scott, who thinking he's going through a bad case of puberty change, is really a ... werewolf. He " becomes" the wolf when he gets angry or excited. We see the all wolf change come at a basketball game, yet, his team notices the change but no one acknowledges hey, he's a wolf now?
Scott's father then say's I'm a wolf too, which he is, but to also make Scott feel at ease. Scott, until this point never realized his father was a wolf? Seriously? Why are people more accepting of Scott as a wolf? Why, are there only two wolves then? I know this is complete fantasy, but seriously come on, I'm breaking this film down, none of this makes any sense.
Why, oh why, this is another irritation, why did the writer's name Scott's love interest (?) Boff? What the heck is that short for?
This isn't a terrible film by no means, but it's just way too out there to make any sense.
Operation Repo: The Movie (2009)
Painfully bad " acting"
I just finished binge watching Operation Repo, which, I know, it isn't a great show, ok.. it's a D+ of a show, show I then see there is a " film." You have the same cast from the show, but, the acting is overly dramatic.
I don't know who originally aired this, but, this feels like a very bad Tele Novela. The cast were not actors before this project, so everyone is too stiff and over acting. When I watch movies like this, I feel bad for the money wasted and what could have been put to it instead. I can't even say " well, they tried", this is worse than a high school film project. What made Operation Repo, good, or, well watchable, it was about Repo's. But this, this is trying to be too hard to be the Tele Novela Taken.
Hard out.
Fall (2022)
AMAZING! This is why we go to the theater!
I will admit, I knew nothing of Fall before hand, I want in naked on this one. Fall opens with three friends scaling a mountain side. This isn't a spoiler, as it's in the first three minutes, husband falls.
We do a time jump of a year, Becky is depressed and not answering her phone. Her friend has the " smart idea" to climb this 2,000 foot tower to make you happy again, which she clearly did not want to do. The ladder is un stable and there is quite uncertainty.
The ladder falls off early on, and we get then a how do we get down story. They go through numerous ways to try and get down, and maybe they survive, maybe they don't. But, what I will say, it is fun seeing ways on how they can get help.
This is the first film I have seen in possibly a year or two I wasn't thinking about other things half way through. The shots are amazing, great suspense, and yes, we have good eye candy as well. I would defiantly see this theatrically again, soon.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
Dissapointing and poorly mis casted
Most prequels are honestly not good and do not come close to the original story. When I heard about First Kill, I was cautious. This is the origin story ( does every character need a origin now? ) of Leena causing trouble to the first family in Estonia.
What made Orphan great originally, was not just the actress playing Leena/Esther, but the supporting cast were all perfectly fit. You could tell they actually felt like a family. Julia Stiles did not have the same exuberance that Vera portrayed. The son, was a frustrating character. I felt that the writers did not know where to take his character.
What made the original Orphan great too, there was much more suspense. There is honestly not enough scares to sustain the rating that it was given. I don't want to call this " sequel" a " family film', because it isn't, but it felt too clean then the original. When I see a horror film like this, I expect more blood and more scares, this was lacking in my opinion. This could have been better had it gone in a different direction, but, this is way to watered down.
Password (2022)
Jimmy Fallon is not Betty White
I had very very low expectations for this revival. The fact that Fallon is not only the producer, but is essentially playing the Betty Whitte role is frustrating. Jimmy is not the host, but you wouldn't know it from his constant screaming, jumping and running like a child.
I don't hate Mr Fallon, but each project he does that isn't the Tonight Show, I seem to ask myself the same question, what does Universal see in him?? I am not familiar with the host, Keke Palmer, but, there are times when you honestly can not tell who the host is. Keke's hosting or should I say, lack of hosting or moderating skills are nothing special.
This is the type of brand that will have multiple different variations still in years to come, but this version is a definite pass. Look, the version of Password I will recommend though, Super Password, hosted by Regis on CBS in 2008 I believe. Jimmy Fallon, unfortunately, is not Regis or Betty White. I get it, shows like this are super cheap to produce and turn a profit quick, but they are the easy way out.
Generation Gap (2022)
No Cousin Sal as Host? WTF?
Generation Gap was originally a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live, with Cousin Sal playing the moderator. Kimmel is just a producer on this incarnation, and Kelly Ripa is the host. There is something so unlikeable about Ms Ripa and fake.
Cousin Sal made the bit and without him, it sinks.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Surprisingly good!
I can honestly say before viewing Dr Strange 2, I was not a Marvel fan. I watched Wanda Vision, but that was all. I wanted to go to the theater, and see anything. Maybe I was a little irritated by the constant green screen action, but, this is a mindless popcorn film.
Probably the highlight for me, was re introducing Professor Xavier; fun, familiar but ultimately, I wanted more screen time with Stewart.
There are a lot of quick changes / things flying at you quickly. This is definitely one of those film you need to watch two more times to catch the easter eggs. For putting my toes into the Marel waters, I am happy I saw this. Again, I haven't seen the other Marvel cannon films, so I can't " gauge" if this was good, but hey, I enjoyed it.