The Drama

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Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) cannot wait to get married. As they finalize all the small details from flower arrangements to perfecting their first dance, it all seems to be coming together. While at a menu tasting with their best friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim), they come up with the great idea to tell one another the worst thing they have ever done. But when Emma’s revelation takes an unexpected turn, the week leading up to the wedding spins off the rails.

Writer and director Kristoffer Borgli has concocted an unsettling and awkward story unlike any other. If you are looking for a happy go lucky romcom, this is not that type of film. Going into it with as little to no information is the best because, trust me, no matter how much prep you get you haven’t seen anything like it.

Zendaya and Pattinson are two of the most popular working actors around right now. To have them team up for a film of this calibre was sure to garner a lot of attention and rightfully so. Zendaya always smashes it no matter what she does so it came as no surprise that she would do the same here. Pattinson was in top form too. The audience gets to experience everything from his perspective and he truly sells everything he’s feeling. Their chemistry is electric – it sizzles off the scene no matter what is happening. It’s like a train wreck that you know you should look away from, but no matter what you just can’t. Athie and Haim are excellent as Mike and Rachel. Athie’s Mike tries to be the voice of reason while Haim’s Rachel can’t get over what she’s learned about someone she thought she knew so much about. Haim actually impressed me with the shift in her character.

I honestly did not expect the film to go where it did thematically. I’m sure it will certainly divide audiences as a result. That being said, it will also open up some conversations which is important. I believe that the way in which they did deal with it was well done. While it made for some truly uncomfortable moments, they were balanced with some dark humor that doesn’t seem like it should work, but it did. I found myself laughing out loud at so many moments and then right away I’d be cringing at the next. The level of absurdity was on a whole other level, it felt like a fever dream.

The Drama ticked all the right boxes for me. It wasn’t afraid of pushing limits and it did so in a way that was endearing to watch. Combining top tier performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as well as a plot that takes you on a proper rollercoaster, I enjoyed watching it in a packed theatre. the collective reasons alone heightened the overall experience. This is one that will stick with me for a while.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Pretty Lethal

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Five young American dancers are invited to Budapest for a prestigious ballet competition. When their bus breaks down in the middle to nowhere, they find refuge at an inn up the road. They soon realize that the inn holds deep, dark secrets. Being there will do them more harm than good and they will need to escape if it means staying alive.

Premiering at SXSW, Pretty Lethal sparked my interest thanks to it’s intriguing concept. A horror action thriller that mixes the art of ballet, it reminded me of Sucker Punch and Black Swan. As I was a fan of both those films, I couldn’t wait to see how this one would measure up, but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.

It started off promisingly enough. I liked the introduction of the characters, all of who had their own little niche. The tone was perfectly set and managed to do so quite quickly with the bus breaking down and the girls finding themselves at the inn. However, as it went on, it seemed to lose focus. I didn’t know what it was trying to say or why it was trying to say it.

The cast consist of on the rise actresses who make the film what it is. Maddie Ziegler stars as Bones, the leader, so to speak. She’s got a chip on her shoulder, but the girl can dance and she’s ready to use her talents to save them all. Lana Condor was hilarious as Princess. On the surface she’s one thing, but once you get to know her she’s another. Avantika was Grace, a Christian who had to go against her beliefs to get out of some hairy predicaments. Millicent Simmonds and Iris Apatow were Chloe and Zoe, sisters who were at the heart of it all. Behind it all was Uma Thurman who starred as Devora Kasimer. A former ballerina herself, she runs the inn and still lives in the past.

As interesting as these characters were, they weren’t fleshed out as well as they could have been. We learned next to nothing about their backgrounds or their lives outside of ballet. Aside from Chloe and Zoe who had their relationship established off the bat, the audience was introduced to fear in a whole other way. Chloe, portrayed by deaf actress Simmonds, had to focus on other senses to help get her through this ordeal. On the other hand, would have appreciated learning more about Devora because I didn’t really understand why she felt the need to go after the girls in the first place.

Overall, Pretty Lethal had a great premise, but it ultimately lacked in its execution. The idea was fresh and unique making way for some beautifully choreographed fight sequences. Unfortunately it just never came together in the way I was hoping it would. This ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice

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For many years, Mike (James Marsden) and Nick (Vince Vaughn) have had each other’s backs as friends and as colleagues. But when something goes awry during one of their jobs, Nick uses a time machine to go back to before the scene of the crime to change the future.

Sometimes you just need to leave your expectations at the door and put on a film that is pure entertainment. After a long week at work, that is exactly what I wanted for a cozy Friday night in. I didn’t know much about Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice except that it was part time travel, part buddy comedy and park mob action flick. The cast were also a selling point so I figured why not? It was definitely better than I thought it was going to be.

I love a good time travel plot line and while I understand why this was integrated in the film, I have to wonder if it was entirely necessary. It had been set up to be a huge deal and in the end it was just a detail to go with everything else that was happening. Had they fleshed out this particular aspect more, I think it really would have tightened up those loose ends.

The cast are all fabulous and were what made the film watching. I have been a fan of Marsden since he starred in Hairspray; he is such a dynamic actor who approaches each role with everything he’s got. Vaughn typically plays the same type of characters, but I did enjoy his portrayal of two versions of the same person. They were different enough to decipher who was who and really added to the comedy. Eiza Gonzalez starred as Alice, Nick’s wife, who just so happens to be having an affair with Mike. I loved how even though she was swept up in the drama, she tried to help out instead of sitting back and acting like a damsel in distress. Keith David was enjoyable as shady boss Sosa while Jimmy Tatro, who played his son Jimmy Boy, was a big scene stealer.

We’ve seen plenty of similar storyolines before so it’s not trying to reinvent the genre by any means. But where it exceeds is in its comedy and action sequences. There are some genuinely funny moments throughout that had me laughing out loud. I also thought that the action was exciting. That final fight scene was particularly amusing and thanks to a killer soundtrack, it all just came together.

Overall Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is the perfect film for a quiet night in. It’s not perfect, nor does it entirely make sense, but it is highly entertaining and that was all that mattered. I’m glad I gave it a go.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

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Picking up right after the events of the first film, Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) has survived the wedding night from hell. Just when she thinks that life can resume back to normal, she is swept back into yet another deadly game. Four other rival families who have pledged themselves to satan are after her for their seat in the organization and they will stop at nothing until one of them is victorious. But this time around Grace’s estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) is along for the ride.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett struck gold with the original film that came out in 2019. A fresh take on the horror slasher genre, it was fun, gory and boasted a kick ass female lead. I didn’t see the film until many years after it first premiered, but it rapidly became one of my favorites. While nobody asked for this sequel, it was still a devilishly fun time at the cinema.

Weaving has proven herself time and time again that she is a bonafide Scream Queen. She’s back and better than ever as Grace. After going through hide and seek the first time, she is no stranger to the craziness that will inevitably ensue for round two. She’s become desensitized and just wants it all to be over, especially now that Faith has become involved. I have to say that the addition of Newton was a brilliant one. The two definitely pass for sisters and their various scenes added an extra emotional depth to the film.

The audience were also introduced to a slew of new characters. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy starred as twins Ursula and Titus Danforth. One of the more prominent of the families, their dynamic was so interesting to see unfold. I have been a fan of Gellar’s since her Buffy days and to see her in her first feature film role in fifteen years was such a treat. The other family that I enjoyed were the El Caidos. Nestor Carbonell, Maia Jae and Juan Pablo Romero portrayed Ignacio, Francesca and Felipe respectively. A scene that took place between Grace and Francesca was one of the best of the entire film. I also loved the addition of Elijah Wood. He plays The Lawyer, he makes sure that everyone follows the rules of the game. Not only was he a scene stealer, I would love a spin off of him to learn about where he got to this place in his life.

As is usually the case in any sequel, the plot wasn’t as tight this time around. I remember being intrigued all the way through in the original, but this seemed to lack that same magic. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed learning the new lore – there was so much of it! I also loved how the kills were ramped up to a whole other level. People were exploding all over the place in very unique ways. At least it mostly kept me on the edge of my seat.

Overall while Ready or Not 2: Here I Come wasn’t entirely necessary, I am still glad that we got it. It gave fans the chance to revisit this world. I appreciated the fact that they tried to build upon what made the first one so great and they mostly exceeded thanks to the brilliant cast and the exciting mythology. While they could make a million of these films, I do think that Grace and Faith’s story was given a nice ending. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t mind spin offs in the future. Let’s see what happens.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Project Hail Mary

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Based on the book by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary follows science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who wakes up alone on a spaceship lightyears away from Earth. As he attempts to piece together who he is and how he got there, he learns that he’ll need to solve the riddle of a mysterious substance that is causing the sun to die. But when he makes an unexpected friend along the way, maybe he won’t have to do it alone.

Staying away from the trailers, I knew next to nothing going into this film. I am also not usually a fan of sci-fi flicks, but there was something about this one that told me I’d be silly to give it a miss. Going into it completely blind was probably the best way I could have done it – not only did it enhance the overall experience, I was completely and totally swept up in what was unfolding before me. To say that this exceeded my expectations is an understatement.

Although I have not read the book, there was nobody else who could have played Grace than Gosling. Much of the film is focused solely on him as he is the only one alive in the spaceship. He single-handedly carries the film on his back while perfectly blending comedy, drama and some unsuspecting heartfelt moments. It’s possibly his most endearing performance to date and I would be shocked if this didn’t get him any nominations come next year’s awards season. Sandra Huller stars as Eva Stratt, the woman responsible for hiring Grace. Although she isn’t featured as much as Gosling, she delivers a solid performance. She’s a bit of an enigma in that we don’t really know much about her personal life, only that this mission is super important to her.

Perhaps the most endearing aspect of the film comes in the introduction of Rocky. Rocky is an alien life form that Grace meets on his journey. Never in a million years did I think I would become so invested in this little creature, nor fall totally and completely in love with him. Voiced by James Ortiz, it was remarkable watching these two not only learn to work together for their common goal in saving their planets, but also in the friendship that develops. This is truly where the heart of the film lies.

Though I was worried that the science of it all would be too difficult for me to understand, I am glad to report that this was not the case. It was easy to follow and interesting enough in its execution. I couldn’t get over the beautiful atmospheres that we as the audience were privy to. From inside the spaceship to the different planets, the visual effects were literally out of this world. That, combined with the score, really elevated it all.

I never could have imagined loving Project Hail Mary as much as I did and yet here we are. It’s got everything you could want in a film while also focusing on important themes such as friendship. I truly think that this film will become a classic in the years to come. I highly recommend giving it a watch.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Reminders of Him

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Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) returns to her hometown after five years in prison. After driving under the influence with her boyfriend Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow), the two are in a car accident that ultimately kills Scotty. Pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, Kenna now hopes to make amends and she wants to start by reconnecting with her daughter Diem (Zoe Kosovic). But Scotty’s parents Grace (Lauren Graham) and Patrick (Bradley Whitford) don’t think it’s a good idea. When Kenna sparks up a friendship with Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), local bar owner and Scotty’s best friend, she hopes that he’ll help change the Landry’s mind about her.

The third of Colleen Hoover’s novels to get the big screen treatment, Reminders of Him was actually the first I read from her. I was curious to see how they would tackle it. From the romance to the not so easy subject matter, it was pretty much how I expected it would be. Hoover adaptions are starting to have the same sort of formula though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was a perfectly fine outing to the cinema.

Monroe, who is more commonly known in the horror genre, tries her luck in the romance field. She does a good job as Kenna, bringing a likability to her character. It’s obvious that she’s made mistakes, but she doesn’t want these to define her. I liked seeing her get her life back on track whether that included finding a job, befriending some of the fellow residents at her apartment complex (Jennifer Roberts and Monika Myers are standouts as Ruth Clayton and Lady Diana), and taking in a cat. Withers, another horror face, is also trying something new here. Although I wasn’t convinced by his powerful scenes, I did buy his chemistry with Monroe and thought they worked well together. Graham and Whitford were solid as the grieving parents who aren’t quite ready to move on. Graham, in particular, really impressed me with her emotional turn.

While there is no doubt about the romance element, I did think that the film excelled when it focused more on the family drama. Both biological and found family are explored here and even though they did a good job, I think it could have been even more impactful. I would have liked a scene between Kenna and Patrick, for example, where he forgave her. It also would have been nice to see a few more flashbacks between Scotty and his parents as the only one we got was the day of his birthday. That being said, I was appreciative of the flashbacks we did get because they helped fill in the blanks and also gave more backstory to these characters.

If you are looking for an uplifting film about family, love and second chances, then you should check out Reminders of Him. It may be a little bit on the slower side, but the payoff is mostly worth it. It’s not my favorite CoHo film to date, but I still thought it was a decent adaptation.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

How To Make A Killing

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Loosely based on the 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets, How To Make A Killing follows Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) who, at birth, was disowned by his extremely wealthy family. But an average run of the mill life isn’t good enough for Becket anymore. He takes matters into his own hands and decides he’ll do whatever it takes to reclaim what is rightfully his.

I think it’s pretty clear by now that I will watch anything that Glen Powell is in. As soon as I heard about this film, I knew I needed to see it. I love a good dark comedy after all. While it doesn’t offer anything new to the genre, it was undoubtedly still a fun time at the cinema.

Powell is great as our protagonist. He’s just got this effortless charm to him that he’s able to inject into each of his roles. This character fitted him well. Wanting pay back for those who have wronged him had the audience rooting for him from the beginning. Another stand out in the cast was Margaret Qualley who portrays Becket’s childhood friend and crush Julia. When Julia bursts back into Becket’s life, everything changes. On paper, it may seem like Julia is the complete opposite of Becket, but what they have in common more than anything else is that they refuse to give up on what they want. It’s obvious that Qualley is having a blast in this role as she is absolutely diabolical. Jessica Henwick also shined as Becket’s fiancee Ruth. She is quite possibly the only normal part of Becket’s life though I love how she was a strong and individual character in her own right.

While there are an array of other characters the audience do not really get a chance of getting to know them well. Becket needs to go through seven family members before claiming his inheritance, but we only get to know a few select players. Zach Woods starred as Noah, one of the cousins. We get to know him the most – an artist who Becket cozies up to, he also gets close to Noah’s girlfriend Ruth. There was a somewhat memorable sequence with Topher Grace’s pastor Steven as well as the inevitable showdown between Becket and his grandfather Whitelaw portrayed by Ed Harris. We barely had any time with the others and that was a pity.

The film was a bit more on the predictable side. There were a couple of twists here and there, but for the most part it was pretty much what you see is what you get. I feel like had they gone just that extra step further it would have elevated to a whole new level. Giving more of a voice to the side characters, ramping up the kills and really leaning into the camp that I know is there would have helped tremendously.

Overall How To Make A Killing is a solid popcorn flick. It’s got a fabulous cast, an intriguing storyline and it’s old school vibes. There have been plenty of eat the rich films in recent years and while this one depicts that to a tee, it left me yearning for something more.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

The Bride!

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We all know the story of Frankenstein, but how much do we know about the woman who was created to be his bride? In this version, Frank (Christian Bale) asks Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening) to make him a companion after living for many years on his own. Together they reanimate a murdered young woman by the name of Ida (Jessie Buckley). When the two monsters meet, a romance sparks between them while also causing police attention and a radical social movement.

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s sophomore directorial outing seemed to be right up my alley. I loved the idea of finally giving The Bride her own backstory. I loved the gothic romance and film noir vibes that were boasted in the trailer. However, this film ultimately left me scratching my head. It was unlike anything I could have expected it to be and I don’t mean that in a good way. While there were a few bright spots, I couldn’t help but feel let down by the entire experience.

The cinematography was a strong point. It was lush, dramatic and it completely understood the assignment. Combined with the production design, it was a feast for the eyes. The way in which the 1930s were depicted was unlike anything I had seen before. I also have to give major props to the make up and costume department because they smashed it. The black blood smudges were a great choice as was Ida’s burnt orange dress.

Buckley was phenomenal as the titular character. Not only does she portray The Bride and Ida, she also dons an unexpected third: Mary Shelley. The author of Frankenstein in all her glory has been resurrected (in some form or another). I’m not entirely sure what the point of her inclusion was, but it says a lot for Buckley to be able to play three completely different individuals and have them all stand out from the other. While I like Bale as an actor, I have to say that he had tough competition here. Coming off of Jacob Elordi’s stunning turn in Guillermo Del Torro’s Frankenstein that dropped last year, it was hard not to hope for a similar performance. Bale did what he could though he was outshined by Buckley. At least they still had a decent chemistry with one another.

Bening as Dr. Euphronious seemed interesting enough though we as the audience never really got to know a lot about her character. She wasted no time agreeing to Frank’s wishes and it would have been nice to understand why. Penelope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard starred as Myrna Malloy and Jake Wiles, two police officers who are determined to track down Ida and find out how she is still alive. Again, these characters were one-dimensional at best. Why did Jake care so much about Ida back when she was alive and why did Myrna want to be lead detective so badly? Lastly, I mustn’t forget to mention Jake Gyllenhaal, the director’s brother, who stars as Ronnie Reed. Ronnie Reed is an actor that Frank idolizes. At the beginning of the film, I thought that was maybe because a part of him used to be Ronnie, before he died and was stitched up with other bodies and then I was proven wrong. We never did get any answers to this and it played a rather large part in the story.

This was probably one of the aspects that bothered me the most while watching. I simply did not see what the point was. There was so much potential. The film started off on a really interesting note and I was looking forward to seeing where it was going to go. But there were just too many ideas and none of them came together. I also don’t think it helped that too much was going on in general. I didn’t know if I was watching a love story, a feminist piece, a take on Bonnie and Clyde or a mob caper. I appreciate Gyllenhaal for wanting to swing big, but that doesn’t always equate in success.

I knew The Bride! was going to be divisive and I’m sorry to say that I am part of the few that disliked it. I’m usually all for the bizarre and outlandish, but this was too much. Despite it’s brilliant case and beautifully shot scenes, it wasn’t enough to save it for me. I needed for something to make sense, for it to all come together in some way or another, and it simply never did.

Rating: ♥️♥️

Hoppers

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Nineteen year old Mabel (Piper Curda) is an animal lover who will do anything she can to save the glade that meant so much to her late grandmother (Karen Huie). When she discovers that her professor Dr. Sam (Kathy Nijmay) has created technology that allows humans to place their consciousness into robotic animals, Mabel decides to use it to become a beaver. As Mabel meets various species, she uncovers more about the animal world that she ever thought possible.

Disney and Pixar’s latest offering is an original story that boasts a unique spin. I honestly wasn’t sure what to think of it from the trailer aside from the fact that the animals looked cute. I ended up getting a lot more than I bargained for and thought that it was well executed.

As usual, the world building and animation design were incredible. It was the perfect combination of high level detail needed to depict the many locations while also experimenting with some more cartoonish character features. The glades, pond and forest area seemed so realistic in their illustrations while the animals themselves stood out for their quirkiness.

The voice cast were brilliantly chosen. Curda brought real emotion and charm to Mabel. We’ve all felt alone and like we don’t really belong anywhere at least once in our life and I feel like she encapsulated that so well. Bobby Moynihan who portrayed King George, another beaver who lead the mammals, was hilarious. The friendship that formed between him and Mabel was so lovely. Other notable names such as Meryl Streep, Ego Nwodim and Sam Richardson played the Insect Queen, Fish Queen and Conner, one of Dr. Sam’s associates, respectively while Dave Franco seemed to be having a blast as the Insect King. Each delivered in bringing their characters to life.

I liked the film because it was different. The placing of human consciousness into a robotic human was slightly Avatar-esque, but it actually made me care. I cared about these characters and the world they were living in. Learning how important animal habitats are was also interesting and I loved seeing how they all worked together while adapting the pond rules. This film made me think of what we are going through today and how different things may be if we could all come together while also shedding light on environmental conservatism.

Overall, Hoppers seems to be a return to form for Pixar. It’s last few ventures fell a bit flat, but this time around I could sense that good old, familiar magic. The film was inventive, very funny and deeply touching. It really is one of those films that every member of the family can enjoy.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Scream 7

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In the latest instalment of the Scream franchise, Sidney Prescott-Evans (Neve Campbell) has built a new life with her husband Mark (Joel McHale) and daughter Tatum (Isabel May). While it has been some time since her last Ghostface encounter, Sidney knows that she is never truly out of the woods. Before long, a new killer makes themselves known and this time he’s targeting Tatum. Sidney must once again face her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.

After a lot of behind the scenes shake ups, Kevin Williamson is not only back in the writing seat, he is also in the director’s seat for the first time. Many people thought that this, combined with Campbell’s triumphant return as everyone’s favorite Final Girl, would be enough for fans to tune back in after the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega’s Sam and Tara who helmed the last two films. Having Sidney back front and centre was surely a treat though I cannot say that I didn’t miss Barrera or Ortega as I thought they fit in well. The film itself wasn’t the strongest of the franchise, but I still had a good enough time with it.

It really did seem as though Sidney had never left. Campbell fit back into Sidney’s trauma effortlessly and this time the stakes were raised even higher because of who Ghostface is now targeting. Seeing Sidney as a mother and watching her complicated relationship with Tatum unfold was interesting. May did a formidable job; it was like she was always meant to be there. I also liked the dynamic between Sidney and Mark; domestic Sidney was someone I never knew I needed. Courteney Cox resumed her role as Gale Weathers. Her entrance was absolutely iconic, as if we could expect anything less, though I didn’t think she was featured as much as she should have been. The same can be said about Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding who portray Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin. I appreciated that they were a tie in from the previous two films, but they were severely underused.

Unfortunately not many of the new characters worked. Tatum’s friends Hannah (Mckenna Grace), Lucas (Asa Germann), Chloe (Celeste O’Connor) and Ben (Sam Rechner) seemed like caricatures rather than fully fleshed out human beings. Each started with so much promise though the audience never gets to really know them. The addition of Anna Camp was a good one though she had maybe about ten minutes screen time which was a disappointment. At least we had the so-called legacy cast to fall back on: Matthew Lillard, David Arquette and Scott Foley are all back in some shape or form and I enjoyed seeing them again.

It wouldn’t be a proper Scream film without some blood, gore and good old jump scares. This one had many! The opening sequence was very well done and I particularly enjoyed the scene that took place in the bar too. However, I do think that while there was a high body count that there were still a few moments where nothing of importance happened. I’m used to these films being fast paced and never a dull moment. Also, I’ll admit that while I did not see the final reveal coming, I did think that it left a lot to be desired.

Overall Scream 7 is worth checking out for Neve Campbell’s return alone. That being said, whether or not this instalment was truly necessary remains to be seen. Part of what makes these films so enjoyable is how self aware they are. I love how they don’t mind poking fun at themselves, but I can’t help wondering how many times the same formula will continue to work before it gets played out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️