Randomizer2600

When watching a mockumentary with a point of view, if you agree, then you don't expect much more than vindication.

Michael Moore's "Roger and Me", was the first of these that I'd seen. He made the target look ridiculous, but there wasn't much more to it. The movie was kind of mean-spirited.

These Ben Shapiro productions can be hit or miss. "Lady Ballers" was kind of dumb. They started with a decent premise, but it wasn't executed well.

Matt Walsh does a nice job with these "I'm just asking questions" movies. "What is a Woman?" was great. He just asked a bunch of questions, and let people speak for themselves.

"Am I Racist" is similar. Walsh has to think on his feet, and kind of set it up for people in the racism industry to show who they are. I'd expect a movie like this to be amusing and a little cringy, but this was hilarious in parts. These people are outlandish.

It was a nice touch to show how much the people were paid to appear.

The show creator, Leslye Headland, has done some good work, particularly Russian Doll. It's not clear why Disney gave Headland a Star Wars TV show. The Acolyte seems to be Headland's self-indulgent fan fiction.

Headland doesn't have experience with a TV show that relies on special effects. The special effects and sets are serviceable, but nothing awesome. It's hard to imagine how this show cost a half-million dollars per minute to produce.

The Acolyte does feel like fan fiction in that Headland seems to be familiar with Star Wars, but always wished the fundamentals of the story corresponded to her particular interests. This show completely redefines the nature of the Star Wars universe.

The Acolyte feels like it was written by Anne Rice, the author of Interview with a Vampire, rather than a show set in the George Lucas Star Wars universe.

I stumbled on this movie without knowing anything about it. It's a charming high school rom-com with no surprises, but executed very well.

The viewer does have to suspend disbelief on a few things. High school students aren't this glib, most of them aren't queer, and they aren't this nice. They drink and take drugs, but they are very polite. Unlike a John Hughes movie, all the students get along. There aren't any bullies or bad guys.

Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, and Isabella Ferreira all did a great job. They all seemed like real people with back stories and the usual uncertainties.

The adults, Aasif Mandvi, Michelle Buteau and Megan Mullally are background characters for the high school drama, but they had there own things going on and added to the plausibility of the movie.

There were a lot of funny quips and witty dialogue. Not hilarious, but funny if the viewer is paying attention.