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Reviews
The Mist (2007)
Ugly and tedious
Wow, what a waste of a talented cast. We were stunned at how stupid the premise was. They could have done so much with the mist rather than large insects. As far as the actors, it was like observing one big pissing match. So unpleasant and violent. The Christian zealot was shoved down our throat and appropriately played by Harden. Harden seems to relish these roles (as all lefties do) as she has played an overbearing Christian in Whip It. Yes, I'm calling her out because I have a good memory and I know her schtick. We all know Stephen King's views on Christianity and disdain for God. Plus, he is just a bitter old man in general. I think him and Spike Lee should do a collaboration...LOL. He really worked overtime on it here and should have spent more time on the story. But he didn't and the result was pure garbage. This piece of excrement did not deserve the likes of Thomas Jane and Andre Braugher.
For the Love of Pasta (2022)
Awful
We love Marcus Rosner but this was simply terrible. The story made no sense and seemed to go nowhere. The main actress was really annoying. She kept talking about her weight and barely ate anything including the gelato which she was just stirring. When this movie wasn't fat shaming it was pushing the same-sex couple in the viewer's face which seemed to be the lone goal of this movie. There was absolutely nothing subtle about that. There was also nothing of any substance and we stopped watching during the ridiculous scene at his mother's house. Her accent was so fake and the overracting was unbearable.
Christmas Harmony (2018)
So bad
I tried to like this movie and thought the beginning was sort of a parody since it was so cringey with everyone watching him sing. Things got worse once people started in on the dialogue. The main actress started out ok but devolved into overacting after the breakup. Unfortunately, her fake crying and tantrums were anything but funny. As if we're supposed to believe she was sad that prince charming broke up with her. The first 15 minutes were so painful I turned it off. I could still tell you how the rest of the movie went though it was that obvious! Clearly she was going to have her shot at seeing and blow everyone away. I mean why wouldn't she, right?
Twinkle All the Way (2019)
Poor casting and choices sink this ship.
Poor casting choices doom this from the start. Sarah Drew is no match for the male lead. Her annoying nature surpasses any attractiveness she might have. Everything she is in she has that pouty, frazzled, stressed look to her like she is passing a kidney stone. I didn't believe for a second that the male lead and his brother were related. The story is not sustainable and then things turn melodramatic. Then the audience is treated to a gay couple thrown in to check a box no doubt. As another reviewer said this is offensive to the LGBTQ crowd as it is a secondary story that is nothing more than a side-show.
A Very Corgi Christmas (2019)
Holy bad music!
Wow, this director missed every mark imaginable. To start, we're supposed to believe our wonderful lead is so busy she forgot to reply to her emails and call or text her parents to let them know that she was on her way to visit their house and give them an estimated time of arrival. No, not this woman, she hadn't spoke to her parents in days apparently and when they didn't hear from her they left town on vacation. Ok, I thought, the cast is appealing and I think I can overlook this. Then the lead and her boy are trying to turn on the Christmas lights outside the house and I notice the boy has red and white polka dot (a la Minnie Mouse) mittens on. Really? Then the neighbor hunk asks if she can keep a puppy at her house for a few days until Christmas so as to not ruin the surprise for his daughter. At that point I was done. This is such a ridiculous ask. The female lead supposedly has loads of work to do and instead is laughing hysterically at a puppy. Amazing how the stress of work disappears when a puppy is around, perhaps her deadlines cease to exist as well. Then there was the music. I understand that it was original music, but it was awful, hideous music. Maybe they were family friends since I can't imagine anyone thinking the music would be a welcome addition to any production. I tapped out of this disaster after 30 minutes. I can only imagine how many more hideous songs I missed out on.
Christmas in Pine Valley (2022)
Ruined by reporter
This had potential with a fun cast of characters running the business. However, the actor playing the reporter ruined this for us. He was not only a poor actor but also offensive and gruff. In what should have been a fun interview of how the older "couple" met, he kept on asking "and then?" which was annoying since they already answered his question. If he wanted more details, he should have asked follow-up questions like, "that must have taken you by surprise, or what did your family think? The female lead chose to stay in character with her overacting, phony, fast-talking bit which was completely devoid of humor and charm. Lies are always tricky and they have to be executed in a way that is not only funny but endearing. Again, this missed both marks. Instead of telling the truth to the distributor, the female coworker stepped on the lead's foot, then she kept hitting her in the side. Nothing funny about that, it actually made me wish the lead hit her back since she was being annoying. All this within the first 20 minutes before we turned it off.
Love in Full Swing (2021)
Fail
I could not believe this was so bad given the two likeable leads. The beginning gave me hope until I realized it was one of those movies where the love of his life is right in front of him in the form of his bestie. Ok, I said we will see where this goes. Well the train went off the tracks when our male lead decided to show up on his ex-girlfriend's doorstep after 10 years. Nothing was funny or plausible after that and we are supposed to believe that his bestie is along for the ride staying at his parent's house and meets a guy...Do people actually watch this and think it is good? I mean, talk about a trainwreck. It could have had a chance if it was funny but we didn't laugh once.
Love's Second Act (2024)
Poor writing sinks this
My wife and I were excited to watch this since we love Jodie Sweetin. She always seems to bring light and charm to a show. Unfortunately, this time she was saddled with a poor script and poor cast. The male lead was the first red flag as he has been in several failed productions and lacks charisma. The family absolutely ruined it. Once again, we have a ridiculous depiction of a father. He is a wise-cracking artist who resembles no father I've ever met in my life. Then there are more pointless family scenes and before you know it the movie is going nowhere and not even the lead can save this sinking ship.
The Single's Guidebook (2022)
Hard pass
We didn't get far into this to realize it was a waste of time. The lead actress was not funny even though she tried really hard to be cute. Her counterpart seemed like he might be able to carry the film at first but then the cooking class scenario erased any chance of that happening. The whole thing came off like a cheap sitcom with poor setups and flat punchlines. The only thing missing was a laugh track. The actors lacked chemistry and intrigue to the point where you are just waiting for the scene to end. I mean how does one character realize something is burning and the other one is just as close and doesn't?
Tableau (2022)
Weighed down
Not a bad start and the lead actress, her sister, and boyfriend were all quite appealing. Beyond that, the film was weighed down by too much melodrama. As if not enough that the sister is ill, they throw in the mother's infidelity. The film weaves back and forth between college to home, from one mundane conversation to the next. For such a short running time the pacing is slow as molasses. There is a ridiculous scene with the dad where he dances with the mom. Whose dad acts like this? I suppose that was supposed to show what they once had before his wife stepped out on him and the family. I feel like the director manufactured as much adversity as possible for our young protagonist which made for painful, tedious scenes. The acting is generally good overall, and the end really does show that mother can't just move on even though she wants everyone else to. The film also shows the dangers of listening to controlling parents in your adulthood rather than making your own decisions and taking risks.
Our Dream Wedding (2021)
Awful male lead
The female lead was appealing but the male lead played a dork. Not only that he was rude, obnoxious, overbearing, and annoying. No wonder the female had commitment issues; who would want to marry him? In one scene he enters her family's house to pick her up and takes the last three cookies for himself. We turned it off shortly after that since we just couldn't. If a woman was faced with the prospect of marrying a man like that, that is enough to depress anyone. Too bad since the story could have worked with the rest of the cast and a more likable male lead who was actually in the same league as the female.
Christmas in the Cotswolds (2023)
American?
This was absolute rubbish and an insult to Americans. It took two people to direct this drivel and they were too lazy to get an actress with a passable American accent? I knew this had to be made by Brits with the lack of authenticity so apparent in their portrayal of Americans. If the characters were actually appealing I would have overlooked these details and became involved in the story. I just couldn't though as the absurdities kept piling up. For instance, we're supposed to believe these half-sisters hadn't actually met in person before and the one sister never was curious enough to travel to London. Right, since even busy, successful Americans never fly to Europe. I want to once again acknowledge the fact that it took two directors to make this gem.
Shifting Gears (2024)
Not good
The leads were not a good match and had no chemistry. The female lead was not even likeable, much less appealing. I didn't buy their relationship for a second and am not sure why she was cast in that role. When they were skating they looked silly. I think that Julie Gonzalo would have been a much better choice as she and Tyler Hynes have great chemistry together. I also didn't buy the guy playing Tyler Hyne's father. The get to know you segment on the tv show was super cringey even for a Hallmark movie. I actually think just about any other female in the Hallmark universe would have been a better fit for the female lead than the one they cast.
Eat, Love, London (2024)
Rubbish
The main character was completely unlikeable and unbelievable. Besides her awful attitude, she is supposed to be from Montana yet has an accent more akin to NYC. Lazy direction and a waste of a cast. If you are going to have a character play an American at least get it right son. We barely made it past the food critic scene. I can assure you someone from Montana is most likely not going to talk like her or behave like that. Someone from the east coast might but that is like a different world. The lead actress has some impressive credits to her name but she might want to try an accent from a different part of the US if she wants to be believable.
Sports Night (1998)
Pretentious schlock
I like most of the cast in this and really wanted to like the show. However, after viewing a few episodes it was just too much. The dialogue is so cringe-worthy. Rapid fire, high-brow lines that are just too cute and pretentious to be funny IMO. It tries to be a dramedy which leads to moments in which the characters are so self righteous and the political bent has Sorkin written all over it. The show is just not relatable to the average person and clearly in love with itself. Like another reviewer said, if it was so great, then why didn't it last? For all its posturing, it just didn't work. What a waste of a brilliant cast.
Vengeance (2022)
Why do you care so little?
I watched this gem twice in the past couple weeks. This film was directed by and starred BJ Novak of The Office fame. It is full of memorable characters and dialogue. Ben strives to truly understand America and tell stories of it's people through his podcast. Well he certainly gets a golden opportunity to do just that when he is summoned to West Texas. The cast contains some really talented actors - some I recognized and others I didn't. The journey that transpires onscreen is profound and the film really made an impact on me. As others have said it has heart and sort of resembles a fish out of water Hallmark film type of plot which gradually delves much deeper. Things grew messy in the parking lot of the Whataburger which set the stage for the big reveal in the brilliant and powerful final act. Lots of films rely heavily on music to drive the action, the music here is background which perfectly complements what transpires on screen. In this well written film the most powerful exchange is in the climax when Ben delivers a perfect comeback to the antagonist questioning him "Why do you care so much what happened to Abilene?" He shoots back, "Why do you care so little?" In trying to understand the people of America and their polarizing political views, this exchange pretty much sums it up for me as well as the subsequent events that concluded this fine piece of art.
Behind Closed Doors: Beverly Hills, 90210 (2020)
Just average
It took awhile for this episode to get started and they seemed to pack a lot of content in. I enjoyed the tribute to Luke Perry as well as how they selected the cast. What I did not enjoy was hearing from Gabriel Carteris. Honestly, I'm not surprised she lied about her age to get the part but think she is a hypocrite since she always comes off as so self-righteous on reality shows she appeared in. Her character added nothing to Beverly Hills 90210 and I don't care to hear her commentary on it. I would have much preferred to have Joe E. Tata talk about the show and the different actors he saw during his time on the show.
Smart Drugs (2018)
Feckless
It started out promising enough in that it was entertaining and I was motivated to keep watching. The subject matter is definitely relevant and timely but there are way more supplements on the market than just so-called smart drugs that are supposed to provide similar effects. Also, he omitted the fact that the internet was born on the west coast as well as the PC. To me that is an important detail that would have added even more credibility to the conquest. As it happened, his little experiments led to nothing. As others have commented he is not exactly an ideal subject though since his diet include junk food, alcohol, and smoking. He is out of shape, addicted to food, and has insomnia. A better test than fasting for more than 24 hours would be to try to work up to 16 hours which would be challenging enough but at least is more realistic and sustainable. It would also have been interesting to see him eat healthy food rather than quaff a pint at a pub during the trial.
The Good Fight (2017)
Woke AF
Unlike other reviewers here I was done with this after the first few minutes of the first episode. This provided me with all the info I needed from multiple characters as to what this series was about in a similar way Scandal did. I mean talk at least the series didn't lead me on, pull me in, or deceive me. No, it was blatant woke 101 material from the outset which saved me from having to endure the Anti-Trump content. It is too bad since I was a huge fan of The Good Wife and was expecting something similar here. I don't understand why they couldn't find an American to play the young woman instead of importing someone to play one.
Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 (2022)
Stale content
Not sure why this was marketed as new when this is so old. This documentary has already been done by HBO so nothing fresh here. The only additions are the woke commentary from some former MTV VJ and concertgoers who give props to metoo and woke culture in the closing remarks. Otherwise, this didn't shed any new light on the subject and as a viewer I couldn't help thinking of what a great lineup of shows attendees got to see. I realize I was supposed to be mad at the performers for inciting a riot or igniting the fire. Instead, I thought the only good part of this production was being able to catch a glimpse of Korn, Bush, Limp, and RHCP perform. I must say attendees were treated to awesome performances. As far as the destruction of the venue, what do you expect when you mix 200K young adults with drugs, alcohol, extreme heat, and jack up the prices? The footage is so dated now it makes me wonder why this wasn't produced like 8 years ago for a 15-year anniversary or something.
Coast to Coast (2003)
Uneven and laborious
While Dreyfuss made this fairly entertaining, it was tough to get through the first hour. Despite the star power they really went cheap on the locations and instead displayed a ridiculous map to try and cover for it. I felt like I was watching a play and not once did I get lost in the characters and/or stop realizing they were acting. Judy Davis as she did throughout the 90s, plays the same role, faking an American accent (was an American actress not available?). I didn't believe for a minute that she would be married to Dreyfuss or was someone who would live in Connecticut. The supposed funny parts were not funny and the ending was telegraphed early on.
Thief (1981)
Long and dull
Lots of effort went into this film and it was well-reviewed back in 1981 so I figured it was highly probable that I would enjoy it. However, it was a colossal disappointment. A few things are wrong with this film, the lead is difficult to relate to and not that interesting. The dialogue is unrealistic and staged and next to nothing happens throughout the film. There is no pacing and it is extremely dull considering the subject matter. This would be a great film to fall asleep to since there are long stretches of filler backed by Tangerine Dream scores. Contrast this to the wonderful American Gigolo around the same year and judge for yourself which one earns the payoff at the end.
House Hunters International: Big Dreams, Cramped Reality in London (2022)
Misinformation by HGTV
I enjoy watching these shows and generally like real estate agent Richard who is usually informed on all things London. However, at the beginning he uttered "London properties are much more expensive than southern California." I realize central London is super expensive but so are large parts of SoCal which makes this statement absurd. The first property he showed was a 3 bedroom in Fulham for $4700. Try searching 3 bedroom rentals in Santa Monica, Venice, West LA, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, La Jolla, etc. And tell me you can consistently find properties for less than that.
You: W.O.M.B. (2021)
Fall from grace
The first two seasons were dynamite. This season was brutal but I trudged through despite the constant political references which were completely unnecessary. That was until I reached this episode when the thin plot went from bad to ridiculous and they still found opportunities to throw in politics. The Scott Speedman and Marcia Cross conversation in his kitchen was just so dumb and contrived. I'm not going to continue watching and have my intelligence insulted.
The Best of It (2016)
So Dull
For such an interesting subject this was stunningly dull. I was excited to ride along with these subjects as they placed actual bets and experience the highs and lows. What I got instead was a bunch of gibberish and technical terms that had no context. I didn't want to just hear these guys talk and wanted to see some of the action. I turned it off after a half an hour since I was so sick of hearing them mumble and still no action.