Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

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It’s been three years since the last Knives Out instalment dropped on Netflix. Now Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and director and writer Rian Johnson are back for another mystery. Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is a young priest who is reassigned to a remote parish in upstate New York. There, he must work together with Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) who is equal parts charming as he is threatening. When someone dies under puzzling circumstances, Benoit Blanc finds himself on the scene.

The original Knives Out is one of my favorite films of all time. I’ve seen it a handful of times and always recommend it to people when they are looking for something to watch. Glass Onion, its predecessor which came out in 2022, was slightly more wacky, but still highly entertaining. To say that Wake Up Dead Man was one of my most anticipated films of the year is an understatement. I could not wait to see what Blanc would be up to this time. While I did enjoy the film, I have to say that I was a little bit disappointed with it too.

One of the major draws of this franchise is its stacked cast. Craig is back for his third outing and he’s just as iconic as usual. My only qualm was that he didn’t come in until the fortieth minute mark! I definitely think he could have been introduced much earlier on. This is hands down O’Connor’s shining moment and boy does he take it. With a perfect mix of innocence and determination to clear his name as being suspect, he truly delivered. Glenn Close portrayed Martha Delacroix, a devoted servant to the church. She was fabulous yet slightly unhinged in her role and I found myself looking forward to whenever she would be on screen.

Unfortunately there were so many other characters who we just didn’t get the chance to know very well. Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Mila Kunis were all well casted. Because they didn’t have much backstory, they were just kind of there instead of seeming like real people. In the previous films we got to know who everyone was and each seemed suspicious. This time around some of the talent was wasted.

While I did appreciate the locked room element of the story, I’ll admit to getting lost in the religious themes. This, combined with the slower pace, and the fact that some of the scenes were just so drawn out made it hard for me to stay invested. Also, unlike in the previous films, there was no exciting reveal and it just kind of fell flat.

Overall, Wake Up Dead Man is my least favorite of the Knives Out trilogy. The cast were great, but I couldn’t help feeling like something was missing. Perhaps my expectations were simply too high, I don’t know. I appreciate Johnson wanting to do something different, but I was missing the thrill that the first two brought to me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

My Secret Santa

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Taylor Jacobson (Alexandra Breckenridge) is a single mom who is doing whatever she can to provide for her daughter Zoey (Madison MacIsaac). When Zoey is accepted into the ski program at the local resort, Taylor disguises herself as Santa so she can pay for the lessons. Matthew Layne (Ryan Eggold) is the resort owner’s son. He has never cared about anything except partying and women so when he’s forced to clean up his act, he steps up as manager. Sparks fly between Taylor and Matthew but he doesn’t know about her Santa gig.

Here we are with yet another generic Netflix Christmas film and I’m not complaining one bit. This was probably the one I was most excited for because I’ve been a fan of Breckenridge since Virgin River premiered. Once again there wasn’t anything to write home about, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Mike Rohl, who also directed The Princess Switch, did a good job here. The story is very reminiscent of Mrs. Doubtfire and that isn’t a bad thing. Taylor’s brother Eric (William Vaughn) and her brother in law Kenny (Adam Beauchesne) lend their expertise and create the necessary prostestics so she can become Santa. The parallels are evident, but the similarities didn’t bother me.

The cast delivered mostly solid performances. Breckenridge brought a warmth and sincerity to the role. She felt like a real person dealing with real life struggles and this makes you root for her. Her scenes as Santa aka Hugh Mann were also hilarious. Eggold seemed a bit more one dimensional, but at least the two of them had cute chemistry. Tia Mowry starred as Natasha, the resort assistant who feels slighted that Matthew has taken the role she has coveted and Diana Maria Riva portrayed Doralee, Taylor’s landlady who develops a crush on Hugh which of course causes all sorts of chaos.

Overall, My Secret Santa is one of those films where you know exactly what’s going to happen in the first ten minutes, but you don’t even care. It’s still a fun time. The story was engaging, the characters interesting and it had me feeling festive. This may actually be a holiday film I will revisit!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Oh. What. Fun.

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Every year at Christmas, Claire (Michelle Pfeiffer) goes out of her way to make it a special time for her family. Her husband Nick (Denis Leary) is clueless and spends most of his time in his garage. Claire’s eldest daughter Channing (Felicity Jones) thinks she’s better than everyone because she’s writing novels now while Channing’s husband Doug (Jason Schwartzman) is never taken seriously. Middle daughter Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) shows up with a new girlfriend each Christmas and youngest son Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just been dumped. When her family actually forget about her, Claire packs a bag and sets off to find her own happiness.

The cast is absolutely stacked and that is a good enough reason to check this film out. In addition to the names mentioned above, there’s also Eva Longoria who stars as TV host and Claire’s hero Zazzy Tims, Danielle Brooks who portrays Morgan, a delivery driver who Claire meets shortly after she leaves her home and Maude Apatow is Mae-bell, the girl who breaks Sammy’s heart. Unfortunately many of these characters are kind of awful. They are mean, selfish and as a result do not have very many redeemable qualities. That made it hard to root for any of them. At times even I was yelling for Claire to just speak up and give her family a piece of her mind.

While the film was trying to stand out from others in its genre, it became evident that ideas had been borrowed from other, more well known titles. I saw snippets of Home Alone, The Family Stone and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It wasn’t obvious or in your face at least, but it would have been nice for some more originality.

I did appreciate the message they were trying to get across. The fact that mothers (and fathers or really anybody else who finds themselves in a similar situation) give it their all over the holidays can be under appreciated. At the beginning, I really felt for Claire because her family clearly didn’t even seem to really know her. Over time, however, I felt like this stance was being repeated a bit too much and that took away its importance.

Overall, while I did like Oh. What. Fun for the most part, though it didn’t quite hit the mark. Part comedy, part drama, it was as if the film didn’t know what it wanted to be. It could have made more of an impact if it had leaned a bit more into the drama side of it, but the problem was solved rather quickly.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Eternity

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In the afterlife, everyone has one week to decide where and with who they want to spend eternity. When Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) passes away, she is faced with an impossible choice. Will she pick Larry (Miles Teller), the man she spent most of her life with, or Luke (Callum Turner), her first love, who died at war and has waited for her ever since?

Directed by David Freyne, this is an offbeat, quirky romantic comedy that sparked my interest from the get go. Not only was the concept unique, I couldn’t fathom what the outcome would be. This was definitely one of the most charming films I have seen this year.

Olsen dazzles as the lead. Her performance has it all – comedy, emotion and everything in between. Joan’s dilemma is impossible and from her mannerisms to her facial expressions she encapsulated it so well. While Teller and Turner are excellent choices for her two husbands, they don’t quite match up to Olsen. They still delivered strong performances. Da’Vine Joy Randolph stars as Anna and John Early stars as Ryan, two Afterlife Coordinators who look after Larry and Joan respectively. They were so incredibly funny, but Randolph in particular stole the show for me. She nailed the jokes every single time.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a film about what happens after we leave this earth. This one was just so inventive. From the Junction where you arrive to all the various locations such as Paris Land, Beach World and Men Free World, they didn’t leave anything out. To think that this is a version of the afterlife that could maybe exist is pretty cool.

“All we are is a collection of memories,” Anna says and this could not ring more true. Underneath the glitz and glimmer of paradise and purgatory, here each person is allowed to revisit the version of themselves when they felt the most happy. But as the story progresses, we learn that it’s so much more than that. Life is messy and full of ups and downs. It’s those people who help us grow into who we were always meant to be that has the most impact.

Overall, Eternity is clever, emotional and relatable. It had that old school romcom vibe that we never see anymore. The acting was superb and the fantasy aspect of it all truly worked. Above all else, this one will stick with you. I recommend checking it out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Champagne Problems

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Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) is a marketing executive who travels to France in hopes of securing the acquisition of a renowned champagne brand. Before she leaves, she makes a promise to her sister Skyler (Maeve Courtier-Lilley) that she will spend one night of her time away exploring the beautiful sights that Paris has to offer. When she meets Henri (Tom Wozniczka) at a bookshop, sparks fly. But when Sydney discovers that Henri is the champagne brand founder’s son, things get complicated.

This one wasn’t initially on my radar though I’m not sure why. A festive romcom taking place in the city of love is right up my alley! And as far as Netflix films go, it’s actually one of the more decent ones.

While I found Sydney to be a bit annoying at first, once she stopped being so uptight and decided to be more spontaneous, I really warmed up to her character. Kelly did a great job portraying her and as the film progress the audience gets to understand why she’s so career driven to begin with. Henri is the handsome Parisian who sweeps Sydney off her feet and sweep he does. Their meet cute was charming (I wish that bookshop actually existed!) and it was nice to see them let their guard down around each other even when they learned of the other’s true identities.

I’m so pleased that they casted French speaking actors as it made the story feel more authentic. Thibault de Montalembert starred as Hugo Cassell, Henri’s father and the founder of Chateau Cassell. Astrid Whettnall was Brigette, an interested buyer. Joël Cudennec was the devoted butler and lover of vintage cars. Thierry René was the helpful concierge Marcel at the hotel where Sydney stayed. In addition to them were Sean Amsing as Roberto Salazar and Flula Borg as Otto Moller, two other interested buyers who were super funny and stole many of the scenes they were in. They all played their parts well.

Choosing to film on location was a great choice. Paris at Christmas is a joy and the chateau in the countryside was also beautiful. All that snow and the small town vibe really had me feeling cozy.

Overall, Champagne Problems was actually not bad. The storyline mixes business and pleasure with the backdrop of the festive season. The two leads have good chemistry and while it’s predictable, it’s still sweet enough that I didn’t even mind. I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for something to get you into the holiday spirit.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Zootropolis 2

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Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are now partners in the police force. Because they are a rabbit and a fox, they feel like they still have to prove themselves amongst the stronger animals. When a new case presents itself, Judy and Nick must do whatever they can to save Zootropolis and clear their name in the process.

It has been almost ten years since the first Zootropolis, or Zootopia, film hit the scene. The highly anticipated sequel is finally here and it was well worth the wait! I did not think this one could be as good as its predecessor, but I was wrong. There was so much that I enjoyed and it left a massive smile on my face.

A big part of what makes an animated film so good are the voice talents. Goodwin and Bateman are back and better than ever. Their friendship is beautiful and I loved how each character was given more depth. We were also introduced to some new faces. Ke Huy Quan starred as Gary De’Snake who was probably my favorite of them all. His dedication to bringing his family home was so inspiring to watch. Fortune Feimster was Nibbles Maplestick, a beaver who joins forces with Judy and Nick. She was hilarious and had me laughing every time she was on screen. Quinta Brunson portrayed Dr. Fuzzby. Although she wasn’t featured as much as I would have liked, she still stole the scene she was in. Danny Trejo perfectly encapsulated Jesus, a wise lizard who Judy and Nick meet on their journey and helps put them on the right track. They were all brilliantly casted and really helped elevate this world for me.

The animation was visually stunning. The world of Zootropolis is filled with various nooks and crannies. Being introduced to Tundratown and Reptile City was so cool. They were so intricately designed and every detail down to a tee. This just goes to show that there are many more places to explore in this world and I would totally be up for that.

It’s not a proper Disney film if I’m not laughing out loud one minute and then crying in the corner the next. Every single joke landed. They weren’t just funny, they were whip smart. The blink and you missed them ones like the ‘Hungry, Hungry Hippos’ reference and the Pixar were so smart to incorporate. This franchise has always been known for its strong messages too. Community and harmony between species was at the forefront this time and while it was never in your face, the way in which it was handled was perfect and still hit the mark. It is also so topical in today’s day and age.

Zootropolis 2 marked a return to form for Disney. The film captured all the magic from the original while also building upon it. With its beautiful animation, fabulous voice talents and a well done story, it had everything I could have ever wanted. I hope we get more from this universe because I need it in my life.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

The Family Plan 2

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It has been two years since Dan’s (Mark Wahlberg) family found out that he was a spy. Now that his days of espionage are over, all he wants is to spend a quiet Christmas together with his wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan), his daughter Nina (Zoe Colletti), and his two sons Kyle (Van Crosby) and Max (Peter and Theodore Lindsey). When he learns that Nina has her own plans, they jet off to London. He doesn’t expect to run into someone from his past while he is there.

I remember having a fun time with the first Family Plan film. It wasn’t anything special, but the action was entertaining enough and I liked the family bonding aspect of it all. Although this is yet another sequel that nobody asked for, I was still curious to see what they were going to do.

A good spy story usually includes the characters traveling to exotic places. I loved how this time around the gang visited both London and Paris. Considering the fact that they are two of my favorite cities in the world, I got a kick out of recognizing the various places while also laughing at how unrealistic some of those logistics are – I’m sorry but you cannot walk from Brick Lane all the way to Somerset House. It would just take too long! Still both these places are beautiful to visit during the festive period so it was nice to take it all in.

The Morgan family, and those who portray them, reprise their roles as if no time has passed. When it comes to action, Wahlberg’s still got it. I did like how he leaned into a more comedic side of his role; the exchanges between him and Nina’s boyfriend Omar (Reda Elazouar) had me giggling. The rest are all good and have their own moment to shine.

A new addition to the cast this time around was Kit Harrington who portrayed Finn Clarke, Dan’s half brother. Intended to be the villain, the idea of his character was unfortunately better in theory than in reality. I understand why he felt slighted and why he went after Dan and his family, but the whole thing could have been avoided if they’d just had a conversation.

Overall, The Family Plan 2 was more enjoyable than I was expecting it to be. No, it wasn’t necessary by any means and I won’t be running to rewatch it anytime soon, but that’s okay. They are entertaining and they don’t take themselves seriously. I would not be opposed to more of them in the future.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Wicked: For Good

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Wicked took the world by storm when the first part of the stage adaption hit cinemas in 2024. Exactly one year later, the conclusion fans have been waiting for is here. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is grappling with her new identity as the Wicked Witch of the West after going against the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Meanwhile Glinda (Ariana Grande) has become a public figure as the nation’s defender against Elphaba. But their friendship is stronger than the obstacles being thrown at them and they must make some difficult decisions that will seal their fates.

As someone who has seen the show three times, I always preferred the first act to the second. I thought it would be the same case with the film and while I absolutely loved part one, I have to say that part two really hit me straight in the feels in a way I wasn’t expecting it to. It truly was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

Firstly, I want to thank Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for being the most perfect Elphaba and Glinda. I simply could not imagine anyone else in these roles. Their chemistry shines so bright and was amped up even more for this final outing. Let’s be real, they are the true romance of the story. Erivo had to tap into a different side of her character and she did it so effortlessly. This is a woman who has been so misunderstood by everyone around her, but she doesn’t let anybody sway her opinions. Grande, on the other hand, was the standout for me. She took Glinda and gave her so much depth. If she doesn’t get the Oscar for this, then I will riot.

The film would be incomplete if it didn’t have the rest of the cast members. I enjoyed seeing more of Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. He has quite the arc in this half and he portrayed it brilliantly. I also liked how the storylines developed for Ethan Slater’s Boq and Marissa Bode’s Nessarose. The update for Nessarose in particular was a good choice. Goldblum is just as much of a fake as ever and Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible was despicable in the best way possible.

From the Emerald City to Munchkinland and beyond, the cinematography was visually stunning. The color palette was bright and vibrant where it needed to be, but even in those darker and more sombre moments did they still pop. The costume and make up department were top notch once again. This world and these people became so so real as a result. I also need to give a special shout out to As Long As You’re Mine, No Good Deed and For Good which were the songs I liked best. The latter just completely broke me.

I’ve been seeing that some people haven’t enjoyed the tonal shift, but it is integral to the story. The pacing always felt a little off to me in the stage version, but that wasn’t the case here. They tightened it up nicely and were still able to highlight the most important parts. I’m glad that they decided to incorporate Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. She was more prominent in the film than on stage, but not so much that it took away from Elphaba and Glinda’s story and it also did not hinder the magic that made The Wizard of Oz so iconic.

Wicked: For Good was my most anticipated movies of the year and it more than delivered. Jon M. Chu should be so proud for what he has accomplished as should the rest of the cast and crew. I laughed, I clapped, I cheered and I sobbed my eyes out. I cannot believe that this era is over – I will miss it. I truly have been changed for good.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

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Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) were the perfect couple who had the perfect life. Fast forward many years later, they are now separated and planning on celebrating one last Christmas together with their kids Sienna and Gabe (Emily Hall and Wilder Hudson) before their divorce is final. When Everett invites his new girlfriend Tess (Jameela Jamil) to join in on the festivities, tensions rise and feelings that Kate and Everett long thought were buried begin to resurface.

It’s that time of the year again when Netflix release a slew of holiday themed films to get people into the festive spirit. While they have been kind of awful, I look forward to them anyway. They’re silly and cringey and totally predictable, but they make me happy and that’s all that I really care about.

The cast were enough of a reason for me to check this out. It was hard for me not to think of Cher Horowitz whenever Silverstone was on screen. Her character wasn’t the most likeable, but she was cute and quirky enough that I was able to give her a pass. Hudson’s character was kind of a douche though I guess that was the point. Jamil seemed more like a plot device, but I didn’t mind because she was still iconic. Geoffrey Owens and Derek McGrath starred as Daryl and Mike, Everett’s dads. They were a bright spot for me and provided quite a few laughs. I also loved how they got Melissa Joan Hart to play Kate’s friend April. To have Cher Horowitz and Sabrina Spellman together was a childhood dream come true. Unfortunately, I found Pierson Fode as Chet, a potential new suitor for Kate, and Timothy Innes as Nigel, Sienna’s British boyfriend, so incredibly annoying and they didn’t add anything to the story.

Where the film fell flat for me was that it lacked some emotional depth. There could have been a few flashbacks explaining in more detail while Kate and Everett decided to separate as well as conversations with the people they were closest with to drive those feelings home to the audience. Instead, the focus was more on some comedy which isn’t a bad thing, but that didn’t always feel necessary here.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas was my first Christmas film of the season. My husband and I watched it while we were decorating our tree and it was very fitting. This probably won’t be one of those films that I will remember much of in a week nor will I rush back to revisit it, but I did think it did the trick.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Running Man

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In a near futuristic world, Ben Richards (Glen Powell) has just been let go from his job. He desperately needs to find a way to make money to get some medication for his sick daughter. With no more choices, he joins a game show called The Running Man where contestants are allowed to go anywhere in the world while trying to escape the hunters who are hired to kill him. If he survives, he will win one billion new dollars.

I was not familiar with the book by Stephen King nor with the original 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. If I’m being completely honest I probably wouldn’t have checked this reboot out if it weren’t for Glen Powell as I have the biggest crush on him. I’m glad that I did though.

Powell was such a great choice for the lead. He’s like the new Tom Cruise, but better. His character had so much grit and determination to do whatever he needed for his family. He has more than proven his leading man status and I cannot wait to see what role he takes on next. Josh Brolin starred as Dan Killian, the creator of the competition. Manipulative and selfish, he mostly see him on screen and yet he’s still someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. Colman Domingo was a scene stealer as Bobby T, the host. He truly shined every time he was on screen. I only wish we had more of his backstory. The same could be said for Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Katy O’Brian and Michael Cera. Though they all played important roles, the audience didn’t get to know them very well.

Censorship and controlling media is a running theme throughout. As Ben continues on with the game, he learns more about the government and how they are trying to hide the truth of what is really going on. This is something that has been happening more and more in present day and I believe it will only continue. It’s scary to think of a reality where game shows of this nature could exist, but I could see it happening.

Overall, The Running Man was a thrilling and heart pounding blockbuster that kept me mostly on the edge of my seat. I do think that it lost some steam along the way however. The first half was engaging, but somewhere at the halfway point it stalled and the ending was a bit anti-climatic. That being said, I still had a good time with it and that’s all that matters.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️