m-sileo

A very entertaining character study with that '90s indie vibe that really pulls you in. It shines in its observations about Asian-American culture and how the characters interact, especially the friendship dynamic between Ben and Alice: open conversations, shared dinners, and parties that bring out the best in both of them, even when he's behaving poorly.

Ben Tanaka (Justin H. Min) is an immature, narcissistic, and toxic protagonist, obsessed with white women and frustrated with Asian representation in cinema. What's curious is that, despite everything, you end up caring for him thanks to Min's performance, which gives him an uncomfortable charm and small flashes of self-awareness. His girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki), finds in New York the opportunity to grow far away from him.

Adrian Tomine's screenplay, based on his graphic novel, is full of witty dialogue and film references; it kicks off with a smart satire of Crazy Rich Asians and from there blends humor, cultural critique, and a very genuine portrayal of interracial relationships, self-deception, and millennial aimlessness. The chapter structure gives it rhythm, though it stalls a bit in the third act.

What I value most is that Randall Park avoids the temptation to redeem his protagonist with a sugarcoated ending. The happiness of those around him doesn't depend on Ben changing: he only manages to recognize his own flaws and begin dealing with his depression. It's an adult comedy, without forced hope or easy morals, but fresh, irreverent, and deeply human. A solid directorial debut that confirms Park as an interesting new voice in the indie scene.

Watchers II isn't perfect-some of the performances are a bit weak-but it's still entertaining and the story manages to draw you in. The characters work well, Marc Singer delivers as the lead, and the dog is absolutely adorable. The film feels more like a remake than a true sequel, but it does the job: the monster is better filmed, carries a touch of tragedy, and the '90s practical effects add a lot of charm. Plus, the cinematography is genuinely beautiful for this kind of production. Overall, it's fun, solid, and visually appealing-perfect if you enjoy classic '90s movies.

This episode wasn't the best. The idea of Max and Caroline competing in Cupcake Wars sounded promising, but it was wasted with an over-the-top and nervous Caroline, who ended up ruining several scenes and being the worst part of the episode. I also wasn't convinced by the storyline of the New Orleans contestants, which felt forced and out of place, even with Max's "charms." There were some funny moments, like Oleg thinking he was filming a lesbian scene, and Sophie's solid final reflection about shortcuts to fame: obvious, yes, but it at least gives some meaning to the girls' failure and the idea that they need to keep fighting from the bottom up.