**1/2 stars
The Gentlemen- Guy Ritchie returns to his violent, comedic gangster roots in this tale of a brilliant streetwise American gangster trying to sell off his vast UK marijuana empire to retire to a quiet life with his wife/partner. The story itself is a whirlwind of deception and double crosses which can be challenging to follow. It's a narrative that could have spun wildly and incoherently out of control. Somehow this tangled web has logic when the big reveals are made. Wry humor is juxtaposed with blinding violence in a way that will keep you entertained at the very least. The film is littered with wonderful performances, but, the standouts are Matthew McConaughey's silky smooth marijuana gangster and Charlie Hunnam's Raymond as the fixer/righthand man to McConaughey. Both deserve much praise. Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery, and Hugh Grant co-star.
***1/2 stars
***1/2 stars
The Turning- This is the type of horror movie that annoys me. No thrills, no chills, no fire whatsoever. I'm sure the creators had something good in their heads, but, it couldn't be articulated to the big screen. And to make matters worse, much of this film is shot in darkness so the action (what there is of it) is a bit sketchy. And, even worse, darkness should work for most horror movies if there is something interesting happening. There isn't. An adaptation from an 1898 ghost story, The Turning is the story of a young teacher who is hired to become governess to a young girl who witnessed the death of her parents outside the gates of the family estate. Life starts to get wild and wooly when the girl's brother returns unexpectedly from boarding school. There are mysteries within the walls of this house that tell a sordid tale of the former riding instructor and previous tutor that threaten to drive the new governess mad. Or, is she merely suffering from delusions like those that have afflicted her mentally ill mother. The Turning feels more like a series of random events than a coherent horror story. It's just not very good. Mackenzie Davis and Finn Wolfhard star.
** stars
** stars
Fantasy Island- The old adage "be careful what you wish for" comes to mind as you watch this film based on the late 1970s, early 1980s TV series. Five guests are flown to a mysterious tropical island resort maintained by the equally mysterious "Mr. Roarke" and his staff. Here they are each allowed to live their greatest fantasy with the caveat that once a fantasy begins, it must be seen through to the end. Little do the guests know that their fantasies are destined to take a drastic, and, in some instances, deadly turn they hadn't bargained for. What is the secret to Roarke and his crazy island? Will anyone survive to solve the puzzle. The film was produced by Blumhouse so it isn't a stretch to assume the story would take a murderous bent. However, with a PG-13 rating, it's devoid of true gore or any real scares. It's an entertaining, if a bit mundane, stringing together of events. The big twist of the film is very much a stretch when you consider the previous actions of that character prior to the reveal. No one is that good. It's very obvious Blumhouse is leaving itself open to making this a franchise if it catches on with audiences. Let's hope if there are sequels Blumhouse will consider upping the ante to get an R rating where the envelope could be pushed a little more. The film works as a mild throwaway suspense thriller. I did enjoy Mr. Roarke's stark stoicism as it came from an actor who has been known to play goofy comedic characters. Michael Pena, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Michael Rooker, and Portia Doubleday star.
*** stars
*** stars
The Hunt- Here's a politically charged thriller/satire for the ages. A film that proudly wears its criticisms on its sleeve. Eleven strangers (originally twelve) wake up in a field not knowing where they are or how they came to be there. They're provided a cache of weapons and then are systematically hunted by unknown assailants. They're in the middle of a deadly game. A game where the elite politically correct try to annihilate the uneducated, gun-loving unwashed masses. But, the PC-ers may have made one critical mistake (of mistaken identity) that could turn the tables in favor of the "commoners." The Hunt will likely make people angry on both sides of the political spectrum because it takes direct swipes at the syrupy social justice correctness on the left and intolerant conspiracy consuming rhetoric on the right. But, it does take care to make these two extremes so over the top that the endeavor is more hilarious than cringe inducing. Most of the death scenes are sudden and ludicrous in nature. It's a film that's just...fun if you don't take the political leanings seriously. So come one, come all and give it a shot whether you're a snowflake beta liberal cuck or a conservative redneck gun-loving racist. According to this movie, neither of you leaves much to be desired. Hilary Swank, Emma Roberts, Ethan Suplee, Glenn Howerton, and Betty Gilpin star.
***3/4 stars
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn- I contemplated writing a longer more formal review on this film. But, then I thought better of it because there really isn’t much to say about Birds of Prey. Well, not much good anyway. I wish the worst thing I could complain about was the ridiculously long and silly title. But, let’s start. The long and short of it is, this movie is a sequel of sorts to 2016’s Suicide Squad. Harley Quinn, the Joker’s paramour, has literally been kicked to the curb by her “puddin’.” Floundering aimlessly for a time, drinking heavily, and trying to enjoy a fabulous egg sandwich, our mildly psychotic protagonist attempts to stay under Gotham City’s radar. It seems she’s angered quite a large number of people in the underworld and the fact that everyone still believes she is the Joker’s lover is the only thing keeping her alive. That is until the fateful day when she’s finally ready to move on and “explosively” declares her independence from the Clown Prince of Crime to the world. Big mistake because Roman Sionis, the crime boss known as Black Mask, has a bone to pick with her. But, first, he needs her to complete a task involving a diamond that not only he, but, several others are eager to obtain. Among those are a trio of women, Black Canary, Huntress, and GCPD detective Renee Montoya who might be friend or foe at various times given the circumstances. Everyone is on the trail of a smalltime teen pickpocket by the name of Cassandra Cain who has possession of the diamond. First, let me say that if you believe from the trailers sight unseen that this was a Margot Robbie vanity project that should have stayed a vague idea in someone’s head, you would be correct. I do remember liking her rendition of Harley in S.S. But, absence did not make the heart grow fonder and 1000 nails scraping across a chalkboard would have been less annoying than her in this film. She was a big goof machine with little substance outside of “let’s see what crazy thing Harley says or does this time!” It had already grown tiresome after the first 20 minutes. The fourth wall breaking and complete irreverence I suppose had a certain Deadpool-like quality to it, but, Ryan Reynolds carried this off with a lot more pizazz in my opinion. Margot Robbie is better than this script. As a matter of fact, Ewan McGregor (Black Mask) is better than this script. The other Birds are mainly inconsequential props for most of the runtime. The one exception could have been Huntress who has an interesting backstory. That’s a tale with meat on the bone that I would have been interested in the movie pursuing. But, alas, this wasn’t about Huntress’s emancipation. And let me say this. If you are a fan of Cassandra Cain’s “Batgirl” character from the comics, you might want to stay away from this one. You might be ready to fight someone. Her character in this film is nerfed as badly as Bane was in Batman and Robin. You’ve been warned. On the positive side, there are several well-choreographed action sequences. I believe the fight coordinators from the John Wick franchise were used here and you can very definitely see that influence. All this said, Birds of Prey is not a terrible movie. I’ll use a food analogy (I use a lot of those). It’s a bologna sandwich. It’s edible, but, you want more than a bologna sandwich, unless you just love bologna sandwiches. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, and Jurnee Smollett co-star.
**1/2 stars
Bloodshot- In the ongoing war between Marvel and DC, it's easy to forget there are other comic book properties in the world. It isn't as if an abundance of those properties have been converted to the big screen to be fair to movie fandom. Which brings us to this release of Bloodshot, a Valiant Comics property which doesn't have much recognition outside of comic circles. Admittedly, as much of a fan as I am of the genre, I didn't know much about the character either. So, unlike most Marvel and DC-related adaptations, I had no clue what to expect nor did I have any preconceived notions of what I envisioned the story to be. U.S. soldier, Ray Garrison, is murdered by a revenge-seeking enemy and is subsequently resurrected by a high tech corporation specializing in enhancing severely injured military personnel. Bolstered by tissue regenerating nanite technology, Garrison becomes the special ops agent, Bloodshot. But, this is a very deep rabbit hole Garrison has found himself in. Deceptions and manipulations surround Ray's new life as he attempts to piece together the missing fragments of his current existence. Bloodshot was a much deeper movie than I anticipated which was a refreshing change of pace than what you usually find in this genre. Even so, you still get your standard action movie tropes. The nanotech CGI was competent. The story does become overly complicated at certain junctures which is what kept it from being a great movie for me. But, it's a fairly solid one. Vin Diesel and Guy Pearce star.
***1/2 stars
***3/4 stars
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn- I contemplated writing a longer more formal review on this film. But, then I thought better of it because there really isn’t much to say about Birds of Prey. Well, not much good anyway. I wish the worst thing I could complain about was the ridiculously long and silly title. But, let’s start. The long and short of it is, this movie is a sequel of sorts to 2016’s Suicide Squad. Harley Quinn, the Joker’s paramour, has literally been kicked to the curb by her “puddin’.” Floundering aimlessly for a time, drinking heavily, and trying to enjoy a fabulous egg sandwich, our mildly psychotic protagonist attempts to stay under Gotham City’s radar. It seems she’s angered quite a large number of people in the underworld and the fact that everyone still believes she is the Joker’s lover is the only thing keeping her alive. That is until the fateful day when she’s finally ready to move on and “explosively” declares her independence from the Clown Prince of Crime to the world. Big mistake because Roman Sionis, the crime boss known as Black Mask, has a bone to pick with her. But, first, he needs her to complete a task involving a diamond that not only he, but, several others are eager to obtain. Among those are a trio of women, Black Canary, Huntress, and GCPD detective Renee Montoya who might be friend or foe at various times given the circumstances. Everyone is on the trail of a smalltime teen pickpocket by the name of Cassandra Cain who has possession of the diamond. First, let me say that if you believe from the trailers sight unseen that this was a Margot Robbie vanity project that should have stayed a vague idea in someone’s head, you would be correct. I do remember liking her rendition of Harley in S.S. But, absence did not make the heart grow fonder and 1000 nails scraping across a chalkboard would have been less annoying than her in this film. She was a big goof machine with little substance outside of “let’s see what crazy thing Harley says or does this time!” It had already grown tiresome after the first 20 minutes. The fourth wall breaking and complete irreverence I suppose had a certain Deadpool-like quality to it, but, Ryan Reynolds carried this off with a lot more pizazz in my opinion. Margot Robbie is better than this script. As a matter of fact, Ewan McGregor (Black Mask) is better than this script. The other Birds are mainly inconsequential props for most of the runtime. The one exception could have been Huntress who has an interesting backstory. That’s a tale with meat on the bone that I would have been interested in the movie pursuing. But, alas, this wasn’t about Huntress’s emancipation. And let me say this. If you are a fan of Cassandra Cain’s “Batgirl” character from the comics, you might want to stay away from this one. You might be ready to fight someone. Her character in this film is nerfed as badly as Bane was in Batman and Robin. You’ve been warned. On the positive side, there are several well-choreographed action sequences. I believe the fight coordinators from the John Wick franchise were used here and you can very definitely see that influence. All this said, Birds of Prey is not a terrible movie. I’ll use a food analogy (I use a lot of those). It’s a bologna sandwich. It’s edible, but, you want more than a bologna sandwich, unless you just love bologna sandwiches. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, and Jurnee Smollett co-star.
**1/2 stars
Bloodshot- In the ongoing war between Marvel and DC, it's easy to forget there are other comic book properties in the world. It isn't as if an abundance of those properties have been converted to the big screen to be fair to movie fandom. Which brings us to this release of Bloodshot, a Valiant Comics property which doesn't have much recognition outside of comic circles. Admittedly, as much of a fan as I am of the genre, I didn't know much about the character either. So, unlike most Marvel and DC-related adaptations, I had no clue what to expect nor did I have any preconceived notions of what I envisioned the story to be. U.S. soldier, Ray Garrison, is murdered by a revenge-seeking enemy and is subsequently resurrected by a high tech corporation specializing in enhancing severely injured military personnel. Bolstered by tissue regenerating nanite technology, Garrison becomes the special ops agent, Bloodshot. But, this is a very deep rabbit hole Garrison has found himself in. Deceptions and manipulations surround Ray's new life as he attempts to piece together the missing fragments of his current existence. Bloodshot was a much deeper movie than I anticipated which was a refreshing change of pace than what you usually find in this genre. Even so, you still get your standard action movie tropes. The nanotech CGI was competent. The story does become overly complicated at certain junctures which is what kept it from being a great movie for me. But, it's a fairly solid one. Vin Diesel and Guy Pearce star.
***1/2 stars
Bad Boys For Life- This third installment of the buddy cop franchise finds detectives Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett at different crossroads in their lives. Mike is still the hotshot super crimebuster he's always been, but, is now realizing his life is a bit empty. Marcus is looking to leave the detective game for greener pastures particularly after the birth of his grandchild. When a dangerous thread from Mike's past comes back into the picture, it's time for the Bad Boys to unite in their irreverent destructive way for "one last ride." BBFL is saturated with the same mirth and mayhem as the previous installments. So chances are very good if you liked the first two chapters, you'll enjoy this as well. I, for one, have never understood the mad love audiences have for this franchise. It's not that I haven't enjoyed it, but, I haven't found it any more appealing than other action franchises. It's ridiculously over the top and preposterous on every level imaginable. The only other action franchise I can compare it to for sheer lunacy is the Fast and Furious series. But, I suppose that's its appeal. It does lunacy very stylishly and that makes all the difference. For, me though, its good but I'm not in love with it. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star.
***1/4 stars
Bad Therapy- This black comedy adapted from a Nancy Doyne novel follows an upper middle class couple who make the fateful decision to attend marriage counseling sessions. Unfortunately for them, their counselor, Dr. Judy Small, has a different agenda for the couple and will use unorthodox methods to execute it by any means possible. The biggest issue I had with this film is that it's neither uproarious enough to be even mildly amusing nor dark enough to be provocative. You're going to have a hard time understanding why the Howards are in counseling in the first place. The wife is a bit of a nag. The husband is a little indifferent. The teenage child is a typical embarrassed-by-your-parents movie kid. There could have been some life in the Dr. Small character with some tweaking. She's definitely manipulative, but, doesn't have that sense of smoldering evil underlying the surface to make her truly menacing. You keep watching hoping someone will at least lose an eye or something that will wake you out of your doldrum. This isn't an awful film, but, you'll get the sense that it could have been so much more. Alicia Silverstone, Rob Corddry, and Michaela Watkins star.
**3/4 stars
Sonic the Hedgehog- As a rule, video games don't translate very well to the big screen. And the first trailer for Sonic several months prior left much to be desired, particularly the CGI on the title character. But, in a rare instance of Hollywood listening to the backlash of the fandom we got a much tighter looking design and a renewed interest in the project. I'm glad it happened because it would have been a shame had this movie not gotten off the ground. Sega's Hedgehog with an attitude starts the film as a youngster on his own world where other anthropomorphic animals covet his power to move at supersonic speeds. Escaping to Earth through a ring portal, Sonic spends the next 10 years in hiding living in the shed of a local Montana sheriff and longing for a friend. One evening his frustration gets the better of him and he creates a power surge that blacks out a good portion of the Pacific Northwest landing him on the radar of the U.S. Department of Defense. They bring in controversial scientist, Dr. Robotnik, to investigate. When the sheriff finally discovers who is living in his shed, the two go on a wild adventure trying to evade the relentless Robotnik who desires the alien's power. Not that Sonic ever gets too deep, but, there is some surprising character development here. You feel his loneliness and isolation until he's befriended by the sheriff. The relationship these two develop is actually sweet. And Jim Carrey, undoubtedly the biggest name in this film, hearkens back to his sillier days of Ace Ventura or even The Mask as the evil Robotnik. You haven't seen him this manic in years. The CGI effects during Sonic's power manifestations were impressive. This was a fun movie that gives you everything you can expect in a family friendly story. Longtime fans of the Sega games should hang around for the mid-credit scene which is undoubtedly signaling a sequel is in the works. Ben Schwartz voices Sonic. James Marsden co-stars as the sheriff.
***1/2 stars
***1/2 stars
Extraction- This Netflix original isn't really a special movie unless you're a fan of two things. Chris Hemsworth and John Wick-ish style action. The only issue is the Wick action is very good. The non-Wick moments will mostly have you longing to get back to the Wick moments. There really are no compelling characters in this including the lead which I don't think is the fault of the actors themselves. Their characters just aren't fleshed out enough for you to care very much outside of the action sequences. Tyler Rake is a black market mercenary who is hired to retrieve the son of a powerful incarcerated drug lord who has been kidnapped by a rival drug lord. Rake and his extraction team must fight through hordes of thugs, corrupt military, and police through Dhaka, Bangladesh to save the child. And, hopefully not get themselves killed in the process. Great eye candy, but, not much else to hang your hat on.
***1/4 stars
***1/4 stars
The Lovebirds- What do you need when the magic has left your relationship? According to this Netflix feature, a good old fashioned murder might do the trick. Julie and Eric's passion has faded after four years together. They fight constantly. They're on the verge of breakup. But, fate hilariously (and fatally) steps in when they hit a bike rider with their car. There's more to this disheveled man than meets the eye when they realize he was actually on the run from a killer who has now targeted them as well. There's nothing terribly special about the story itself, but, it does provide consistent if not always spectacular laughs. And there is comedic chemistry between the leads which drives the film. Hopefully, we'll see this pairing again in the future. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjani star.
***1/2 stars
Becky- This is kind of a strange one. The King of Queens in the role of a fascist neo-Nazi criminal. Becky is the "kindly" story of a father and daughter attempting to reconnect after the tragic death of the mother/wife. Becky, an already deeply emotional 13-year old, is none too pleased when her father announces that he is now engaged to an unwanted guest (in Becky's mind) at the family cabin in the woods. A larger monkey wrench is added to the mix when four escaped criminals come calling in search of a mysterious key that is located somewhere in the cabin. Now, if you were expecting some type of deep mystery into what this key means, what it opens, why the key is in that cabin, and why the criminals want it, you won't get anything more than it's important to the Aryan nation for some reason. It's the ultimate McGuffin. The important takeaway here is that Becky goes full psychotic Kevin McAllister on the four invaders. And, that has entertainment value in and of itself. So, if you're satiated by a couple of gory kills, the film has value. But, there's not much to it outside of this. Except maybe you have an inkling by the end that all is still not well with Becky. But, I guess they'll save that for the sequel. I was entertained. Lulu Wilson, Joel McHale, and Kevin James star.
***1/2 stars
***1/2 stars
Becky- This is kind of a strange one. The King of Queens in the role of a fascist neo-Nazi criminal. Becky is the "kindly" story of a father and daughter attempting to reconnect after the tragic death of the mother/wife. Becky, an already deeply emotional 13-year old, is none too pleased when her father announces that he is now engaged to an unwanted guest (in Becky's mind) at the family cabin in the woods. A larger monkey wrench is added to the mix when four escaped criminals come calling in search of a mysterious key that is located somewhere in the cabin. Now, if you were expecting some type of deep mystery into what this key means, what it opens, why the key is in that cabin, and why the criminals want it, you won't get anything more than it's important to the Aryan nation for some reason. It's the ultimate McGuffin. The important takeaway here is that Becky goes full psychotic Kevin McAllister on the four invaders. And, that has entertainment value in and of itself. So, if you're satiated by a couple of gory kills, the film has value. But, there's not much to it outside of this. Except maybe you have an inkling by the end that all is still not well with Becky. But, I guess they'll save that for the sequel. I was entertained. Lulu Wilson, Joel McHale, and Kevin James star.
***1/2 stars
The Old Guard- Imagine. An elite mercenary team full of Wolverines. An unscrupulous pharmaceutical CEO who wants to unlock their secrets. A former CIA operative who has been tracking the team's exploits for some time for his own secretive purposes. Netflix brings Greg Rucka's comic series to life in this brutal actioner that examines immortality and the melancholy trappings that come with this "gift." The mercenaries' immortality comes with a caveat, however, as the line in the old Guns 'N Roses song goes "nothing lasts forever." One thing I enjoyed a great deal about this film is, although there's plenty of action and blood spatter, it never felt bombastic or put me on sensory overload as many action movies tend to do these days. There's a story with some meaning here among the shootouts that draws you in on more than a superficial eye candy level. And, it leaves room for a sequel. I wouldn't mind seeing a continuation of this group's adventures. Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor star.
***3/4 stars
***3/4 stars
Relic- Natalie James' directorial debut is an ambitious one, I'll give her that. In the tradition of films like "The Babadook", Relic takes a very real problem in our world and twists it for the purpose of fitting the horror genre. However, also like The Babadook, this real world concept isn't really frightening on a visceral level. And creeping you out down to your bone marrow is the mark of good horror. Relic does offer some macabre imagery, but, not much more. An older woman mysteriously disappears from her home for several days. Her daughter and granddaughter travel to her home to conduct a search. When the woman, Edna, finally reappears at her house, she seems none the worse for wear. Physically. Mentally, however, might be a different matter as Edna's behavior becomes stranger. What could be the issue? Is this a case of possession? Or, is it a nefarious physical ailment rearing its ugly head? The whole film is a large metaphor which I won't give away in this review. I applaud the effort at attempting to present horror in a different manner. The execution just wasn't there for me. Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, and Bella Heathcote star.
**1/2 stars
Fatal Affair- Welcome to the Netflix version of a Lifetime channel thriller. Well acted to be sure. But if you want a film with all the usual tropes of a psychotic attraction turning horribly wrong (is there any other way this can go), you've hit the mother lode. A successful attorney semi-bored with her current family life almost (please note almost) does the unthinkable with a handsome colleague that has recently come back in her life. Needless to say, this near-dalliance doesn't work out very well for the attorney who must now fend off the disturbed would-be paramour interjecting himself in her life at every turn. This is a movie whose plot points you can call from minute one. It has all the subtlety of a spinning roundhouse kick to the dome. Fatal Affair is not so much a bad movie as it is one you've seen dozens of times. It's a film that lacks nuance and has paint-by-the-numbers suspense. It's a bit of near trash entertainment if you have nothing better to do. Nia Long and Omar Epps star.
**3/4 stars
Unhinged- I don't think I've seen road rage taken to such extremes since the 1971 classic, Duel. Unhinged is a very basic movie. Newly divorced mother has a traffic entanglement with a stranger. Said stranger is mentally unstable (to put it mildly) and begins stalking his "prey" relentlessly. There is no more to the plot than what I just described. Really no motivation for why the stranger is what he is or does what he does other than he's just psychotic. This film would have had the opportunity to become a true cheese fest if not for one thing. Russell Crowe plays the Hell out of the role of the deranged psycho stranger. Seriously, he'll give you chills he's so damn evil. He was Unhinged's saving grace and makes this very simple movie watchable.
**1/2 stars
Fatal Affair- Welcome to the Netflix version of a Lifetime channel thriller. Well acted to be sure. But if you want a film with all the usual tropes of a psychotic attraction turning horribly wrong (is there any other way this can go), you've hit the mother lode. A successful attorney semi-bored with her current family life almost (please note almost) does the unthinkable with a handsome colleague that has recently come back in her life. Needless to say, this near-dalliance doesn't work out very well for the attorney who must now fend off the disturbed would-be paramour interjecting himself in her life at every turn. This is a movie whose plot points you can call from minute one. It has all the subtlety of a spinning roundhouse kick to the dome. Fatal Affair is not so much a bad movie as it is one you've seen dozens of times. It's a film that lacks nuance and has paint-by-the-numbers suspense. It's a bit of near trash entertainment if you have nothing better to do. Nia Long and Omar Epps star.
**3/4 stars
Unhinged- I don't think I've seen road rage taken to such extremes since the 1971 classic, Duel. Unhinged is a very basic movie. Newly divorced mother has a traffic entanglement with a stranger. Said stranger is mentally unstable (to put it mildly) and begins stalking his "prey" relentlessly. There is no more to the plot than what I just described. Really no motivation for why the stranger is what he is or does what he does other than he's just psychotic. This film would have had the opportunity to become a true cheese fest if not for one thing. Russell Crowe plays the Hell out of the role of the deranged psycho stranger. Seriously, he'll give you chills he's so damn evil. He was Unhinged's saving grace and makes this very simple movie watchable.
*** stars
An American Pickle- This weird little dramedy features a unique plot. Well, one I never heard of prior to now. A Jewish-Russian immigrant working in an American pickle factory in 1919 accidentally falls into a vat of pickle brine as the factory is being condemned. The brine perfectly preserves him for a century and he's revived to learn that his only living relative is his great grandson. Eras clash in comedic and sometimes dramatic ways as the two lean on each other, then fight, come back together, then fight some more. This is the kind of movie with its unquestioningly goofy premise that you have come to expect from its star. And, more often than not, he usually pulls it off. There are some genuinely hilarious moments, but, it's by no means a straight goofball comedy. There is also some genuine pathos from both sides ping ponging from the grandfather's sense of loneliness to the grandson's feeling of inadequacy in his career. This is a solid feature if not a spectacular one. Seth Rogan stars in a dual role.
***1/4 stars
The New Mutants- I always had reservations about this film. First I wasn't thrilled that Fox was turning a film about "junior X-Men" into a pseudo-horror movie. I wasn't convinced that the studio that has given us just as many bad X-Men movies as good could pull off a concept this bonkers. There wasn't a lot of confidence instilled when the release date was moved a number of times. There was even speculation that the movie would never be released when Disney acquired Fox. Why would Disney even allow this confusion when they are likely going to restructure the X-Men film mythos under Marvel Studios? But, I guess earning some money is better than earning no money at all, and, since it was already in the can, here we are. As much as I thought New Mutants was going to be yet another trainwreck on Fox's bipolar X-Men railroad, I have to say, it was shockingly...decent. It's a better entry into this now defunct universe than Dark Phoenix was. Faint praise, sure, but, it's something. Five young mutants (Danielle Moonstar, Illyana Rasputin, Sam Guthrie, Roberto da Costa, and Rahne Sinclair) are "guests" at a mysterious hospital facility run by Dr. Cecelia Reyes. Here Dr. Reyes attempts to train the super powered teens under the auspices of one day becoming X-Men once they've complete command of their abilities. After the admission of Moonstar, strange things begin to happen almost immediately for the other mutants, manifestations of their worst nightmares. Dani is the key to all even to uncovering the secrets of the hospital which may not be all it appears to be. While I have no trouble admitting New Mutants is a better movie than I thought it would be, it is by no means a perfect movie. There are parts of it that feel disjointed. The characters themselves aren't particularly fascinating (outside of Illyana). And there's a Demon Bear that's important somehow (don't ask). But, I was mildly entertained by this one. You'll leave the Fox X-Men franchise with a better taste in your mouth than you had with Dark Phoenix. Faint praise once again. But, you could do much worse. Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Alice Braga star
*** stars
Antebellum- This one's a strange amalgam. A little bit The Village. A little bit Hostel. We start with a slave in the Antebellum South who suffers the usual indignities of black people of that time (branding, rape, and general disrespect as being less than a person). Then maybe about halfway through, we see the same slave as a successful professional in the modern world. What happened? A time warp? A fever dream? Bad sushi? You'll just need to watch to understand what's going down in this trippy feature. Like most films that depict this time in history, parts of the narrative made me extremely angry. But, this isn't your usual Civil War-style movie. The transitions are a little abrupt, but, it's a well acted surreal story that does deliver on its punchline. This was a different kind of film. In this instance, different is good. Janelle Monae, Jena Malone, and Gabourey Sidibe star.
***1/2 stars
***1/4 stars
Hubie Halloween- The latest collaboration between Netflix and Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production company is another screwball comedy in the same vane as most of the comedians other projects throughout his career. Hubie DuBois is a well-meaning socially awkward deli worker in Salem, Massachusetts. He's the subject of much ridicule and many practical jokes among the town's citizenry. When his tormentors begin disappearing mysteriously after Hubie meets his eccentric new neighbor, Hubie in his own inimitable style begins his own investigation with the assistance of Salem's "top cop", Steve. The fun in Hubie Halloween isn't necessarily the story itself. It's a typical Sandler movie. Kind of cute and sweet in its somewhat vulgar way. For me this is nowhere near the equal of Sandler's magnum opus, Happy Gilmore. Many of the characters are variants of other characters you've seen in Happy Madison productions. The fun for me is a kind of "gang back together" kind of theme. One thing you can say about Sandler is he will always give his friends and collaborators work in his movies. I kind of like that about him. It always appears to be a big party among Sandler and his buddies. In addition to Sandler, a bevy of Happy Madison alums co-star (Julie Bowen, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi, Ben Stiller) Shaquille O'Neal, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, Tim Meadows, Michael Chiklis, and June Squibb add their lunacy to the mix as well.
***1/4 stars
Ava- Ava is an action thriller that is only notable for its mundane similarity to other better action thrillers. In fact, I'm not even sure why this film was made. It's not horrible, but, you won't find a more standard imitation of a genre than this. Title character, Ava, is a trained assassin who falls from grace at her secret agency for some strange reason. She has to fight her way through setups, other assassins, and, ultimately, her boss. Along the way, we are also introduced to her volatile, estranged sister, bedridden mother, and her sister's fiance who was formerly her lover. And she has the pre-requisite handler/mentor who cares for her like a daughter. Well, if your daughter was a deadly assassin. Nothing remotely notable here. They even end this with the possibility of a sequel. Please don't waste anyone's time. Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Colin Farrell, and Common star.
**1/2 stars
The Owners- This quirky little thriller takes place in the English countryside. A group of delinquent friends think they have an easy score when they break into the home of an elderly couple. However, when the couple arrives home unexpectedly, the would-be thieves have to improvise and hold the victims captive. But, who really are the captives in this scenario? This is the kind of strange low budget thriller that I think suits the horror genre very well these days. Sure, it's not likely to scare you senseless, but, it is disturbing in its own screwball way. This is a film in a similar vane as the 2016 classic "Don't Breathe." It's not as good, but, entertaining in its own right. Maisie Williams stars.
*** 1/4 stars
Superintelligence- Artificial intelligence takes a comedic turn in this wacky, but, sweet comedy. An A.I. that has achieved sentience decides to study the most mundane human it can find to determine if people are worth saving or destroying. Its guinea pig is a former executive-turned-milquetoast activist whose life is turned upside down by the intrusion of her newest "friend." But, can a woman as average and unassuming as this really convince an advanced technology that humanity is really worthy of survival? Superintelligence is the fourth collaboration between Melissa McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone, who serves as director and supporting character. I said earlier it's a sweet comedy. It hits a few humorous threads, but, like its main character, is fairly standard. McCarthy does her best to inject her unique brand of silliness into mundane script. What results is an adequate but safe comedy. The very definition of "cute." In addition to McCarthy, James Cordon stars as the intrusive and jokey A.I.
*** stars
Freaky- Blumhouse strikes again with their latest horror comedy extravaganza, Freaky. Basically what you have here is your common body swap movie melded with a slasher film. A vicious serial killer switches bodies with a bullied teenager through the arcane magic of a supernatural dagger (of course). The killer (in the teenager's body) discovers this body change thing is great as he can now go basically undetected and unsuspected on his sprees. Meanwhile, the teenager is completely dazed and confused living in the serial killer's macabre world. Now this could have been an interesting splicing of genres. While the film does have its fair share of gore. I don't think the comedy was what it could have been. Freaky is mildly amusing, but, I feel it kind of held back pushing its utter absurdity. It's an entertaining watch, but, one that could have been so much better. Vince Vaughn stars.
***1/4 stars
The Stand-In- What do you do when you want to escape the trappings of your life? You get someone else to live it for you. After a very public meltdown, a pampered movie star becomes a sad recluse To avoid rehab, she sends her former movie stand-in to take her place. When the stand-in inadvertently rejuvenates the star's career, the star, who has found love online (and an unexpected talent for carpentry), wants no part of it which causes a darkly comic rift between the two women who clearly want different things out of life. The key here is the complete reversal of roles between star and standi-in. One turns out to be not as bad as originally presented. The other turns from meek to master manipulator. The film isn't as comical as I'd hoped, but, the performance by the lead actress will keep you entertained throughout. Drew Barrymore stars in the dual role.
***1/2 stars
Fatale- Here's a film that has many narrative similarities with Fatal Attraction and one big one with an old Hitchcock thriller. A successful sports agent has a one night stand with a woman he meets at a friend's bachelor party. Events take place that bring the two together again in an unexpected way. Little does the agent know how costly his dalliance was as his life is turned inside out. Fatale is not a hard film to figure out. You'll call out events before they happen. But, that doesn't mean you don't have some fun getting to the destination. Plot twists lead into bigger ones. The film is layered with complexities, but, I think it accomplishes its goal quite nicely. This is a solid thriller. Michael Ealy, Hillary Swank, and Mike Colter star.
***1/2 stars
*** stars
a coherent story. I'll give it a go. Best as I can discern, an agent from an unknown group learns to manipulate the flow of time to prevent an attack from the future that threatens to annihilate the present. If you're saying, "Huh?", imagine sitting through it. As visually stylish as it is, I have to give this one a big, "Nah." John David Washington, Kenneth Branagh, and Robert Pattinson star.
*3/4 stars
Soul- This latest computer animated feature is the latest from the creative minds at Pixar. Joe Gardner is a middle school music teacher who has big dreams of playing jazz professionally. When he finally gets his break to play with a jazz legend, he is so elated that he inexplicably falls down an open manhole. His soul wakes up in the Great Beyond where Joe desperately attempts to get back to his own body. He finds an out when he becomes "mentor" to a cynical unborn soul called 22 who hasn't found a purpose for living since her/its existence. When both land back on Earth, a series of comic misadventures may just give both what they have been looking for. So, what else is there to say? It's a Pixar movie, so Soul was almost automatically going to be a glossy high-quality production. It is funny despite the subject matter. But, what separates Pixar from most animated features is the incredible heart infused within these productions. Soul is no different. Some of the concepts of loss and finding your place in the world may be a little deep for younger audiences, but, they will almost certainly be appreciated by the parents of those audiences. This is a cute movie with a lot of heart and dare I say...soul. Featuring the voice talents of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey.
***3/4 stars
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0*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look. Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good
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