Roommates

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Devon (Sadie Sandler) never had friends growing up. Hoping to start fresh at college, she asks Celeste (Chloe East) to be her roommate. Celeste is everything that Devon is not: confident, cool and she doesn’t care what people think about her. But what starts as a ride or die friendship soon takes a dark turn.

I was initially on the fence about watching Roommates. It looked like your typical run of the mill Netflix comedy, not to mention it was produced by Adam Sandler and Happy Madison. However, as someone who has had their fair share of roommate drama in the past, I was curious to see what it was all about. I’m glad I did because it was better than I thought it was going to be though still not anything special.

This was actually my first time seeing Sandler act and while she wasn’t perfect, I thought she did a decent enough job as the lead. I could sympathize with her for wanting to make friends so badly she’ll do whatever it takes to fit in. I also felt for her when she started to realize that Celeste wasn’t who she thought she was. Similarly unfamiliar with East, I thought she was the standout. You could tell she was leaning into the antics and having fun during it.

The film boasts quite a colorful cast of characters and with them a great cast. Natasha Lyonne and Nick Kroll portrayed Devon’s parents Hannah and Brian. Aidan Langford starred as Alex, Devon’s brother. Carol Kane was Devon’s grandmother while Sarah Sherman was Dr. Schilling, the new dean of Walton University. Cameos by Megan Thee Stallion, Steve Buscemi and Janeane Garofalo were appreciated too. My favorites were Sarah Sherman and Megan Thee Stallion. They had some great scenes.

While I was able to relate to the roommate drama, I have to say that where the film lost me was the way in which is ended up coming together. I don’t want to spoil it and give too much away, but it did kind of fell apart in the third act. The choices seemed farfetched and like they were grasping at straws just for shock value. As a result, it took me out of the story.

Overall, Roommates was a fine film. It’s perfect for a Saturday night in. As I said before, I enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to, but ultimately it will be forgettable in the long run.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

You, Me & Tuscany

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Anna (Halle Bailey), a down on her luck professional house sitter, has lost her way since the death of her mother. After quitting culinary school, she isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) and learns that he has a villa in Tuscany that is empty. Taking a chance, she sets off to experience the dolce vita. Unfortunately for Anna, all the hotels in the area are booked up. Remembering the empty villa, she breaks in and decides to stay for a while. But when she runs into Matteo’s family, she comes up with the elaborate lie that she’s his fiancée. This complicates everything when Anna meets Michael (Regé-Jean Page), Matteo’s cousin, and a connection forms between them.

Romantic comedies have been few and far between over the last few years and that is a shame. Sometimes all we need is something predictable yet comforting when we know exactly how the film is going to end, but for a couple of hours we still enjoy the journey that gets us there. I was looking forward to seeing You, Me & Tuscany for a variety of reasons and I am glad to report that it completely delivered.

Bailey already proved her leading lady status when she starred as Ariel in the live action Little Mermaid. It was nice to see her something more contemporary and I thought she did a great job. She brought a relatability to Anna that made me want to root for her, even in the middle of the mess she finds herself in. I hadn’t seen Page in anything in a hot minute. While I didn’t feel like his character was as fleshed out as Anna, he still delivered a solid performance. From the very first moment they met, their chemistry was palpable and I thought they were so cute together. I only wish we’d seen just a few more scenes between them to make it that much more believable.

The film was genuinely funny and I think that was partially thanks to the supporting cast. Marco Calvani starred as Lorenzo, a taxi driver who Anna befriends when she gets to Italy. I enjoyed each moment he was on screen. Not only did he have some good one liners, he and Anna had a great rapport. Isabella Ferrari portrays Gabriella, Matteo’s mother, while Stella Pecollo is Francesca, his sister. The former made me laugh for all the discomfort caused between her and Anna while the latter had me giggling with all of her over sharing antidotes. I only wish we had had more of Aziza Scott’s Claire, Anna’s bestie, who provides support for her from across the pond. She’s the type of no nonsense, wise cracking girl we all need in our corner.

It’s no surprise that the backdrop is stunning. Taking place in a small town in Tuscany, the views look like they belong in a picture perfect postcard. From Matteo’s villa, to the town square and the sprawling mountains, this made me want to book a vacation there stat. The cinematography was also a feast for the eyes when it came to all the food that was featured. The close up shots of Anna’s bruschetta as well as the various dishes made at Ristorante Costa and everything else in between, I was positively salivating.

Overall, I think we need more films like You, Me & Tuscany. It didn’t reinvent the romcom genre, but it didn’t have to. It leaned into it in just the right way. Sure it was cheesy and I had to suspend some belief throughout, but it did leave me with a massive smile on my face and that’s all that matters. It’s also awesome to see two Black leads on the big screen. This is something that doesn’t happen enough and the representation is so important. I recommend checking it out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

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: ♥️♥️