Month: July 2021

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

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Unlicensed and under scrutiny, bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) decides it’s time to take a break. All seems to be going well until hitman Darius Kicaid’s (Samuel L. Jackson) wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) tracks Michael down and asks for his help. Soon, all three find themselves in a mission to save Europe from madman Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas) and his evil scheme to get rid of Europe and change the world as they know it forever.

I had been looking forward to this one. 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard was a ton of fun and I thought that this would be similar. Having to wait for more than a month to see it was tough and I couldn’t wait until it hit Demand so that I could finally check it out. Sadly my excitement was short lived.

First of all, there was way too much going on plot wise. More than half of the time I was confused and had to ask my husband what was happening. Also, I know for movie purposes that certain things are heightened, but it seriously bugged me at how unrealistic some of the scenes were. Unfortunately, a lot of eye rolling occurred.

Ryan Reynolds is hilarious and I have seen the majority of his films. That being said, I’m starting to think he plays himself in his various roles and I’m not sure if I mean that positively. It is as if they are starting to all blend together into one with their similarities. I did think that Salma Hayek was the best part even though she was seriously over the top. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her screeching voice. I must add that it is also always a treat to see Morgan Freeman.

While Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard was a letdown for me, there were some parts where I found myself laughing out loud. I also enjoyed the action sequences and thought they didn’t let up for one second. At the end of the day though, the movie was a mess and I kind of wish I had just given it a miss.

Rating: ♥♥

The Last Letter From Your Lover

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Ellie Haworth (Felicity Jones) is a journalist who one day stumbles across a secret love letter from 1965. Wanting to learn more about Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and Anthony O’Hare’s (Callum Turner) love affair, her own love story unfolds with the help of Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan), an archivist who aids her in finding more letters.

Based upon the novel by Jojo Moyes, The Last Letter To Your Lover was something I knew I needed to add to my TBR before the film’s release. All I hoped for was that the adaption would be just as good as the book! Luckily I was not disappointed! The film followed the book rather closely and the few changes that were made were necessary.

The aspect that I liked most in the book was seeing how Jennifer and Anthony’s relationship blossomed and so I appreciated the way in which this was shown in the movie. The chemistry between Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner was super believable and a joy to watch. Despite knowing where the plot was going, I was still holding my breath in hopes that they would find their way back to each other.

Similarly I enjoyed the parallels between both female protagonists. I remember thinking that Ellie’s story could have been more fleshed out in the book and was therefore glad that there was more of her on screen. It really drove home her connection to the love affair and I liked how each scene seemed to be interwoven together.

There was something really charming mixing the two time periods together. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong year and I definitely found myself yearning for the 60s while watching. The fashion in particular was absolutely stunning and I coveted all of Jennifer’s outfits.

The Last Letter From Your Lover definitely lived up to my expectations. In some ways I actually think it was better than I was hoping for. It was dreamy, heart wrenching and utterly romantic. I highly recommend it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Fear Street Part 3: 1666

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In the final instalment of the Fear Street trilogy, we are transported back in time to 1666. Finally, we would be able to see the beginning of Sarah Fier’s curse! Not only do we have the chance to witness the events leading up to her death, but we are also able to have a better understanding of who she really was. Meanwhile, back in 1994, the teenagers are once again in a race against time to save Shadyside and put an end to the curse forever.

When the movie started, I’ll admit that I was skeptical. While I’m so happy to have learned more about Sarah, it took a little bit of time for the story to take off. As soon as things picked up though, I was completely transfixed and couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. I thought it was interesting as well how the lives of Sarah and Hannah seemed to mimic those of Deena and Sam’s and how at the end of the day the theme of love was at the root of the entire story.

The way in which everything came together was really impressive. I was hoping for a proper wrap up and was not let down in the slightest. There were twists and turns galore, however the main one was pulled off so incredibly well that I was left speechless. Still two days later, I am thinking about it! Now that I have seen all three films, I would love to rewatch them sequentially so that I can catch the little clues and see how they fall into place.

I am still amazed at how much of a treat Fear Street has been for me. Sure I was curious at first, but I never expected to become such a dedicated fan. I hope that this isn’t the last we have seen of this franchise but until then, I am going to seriously consider venturing future into the horror genre.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5

Space Jam: A New Legacy

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The much anticipated sequel to 1996’s Space Jam is here! A New Legacy sees superstar Lebron James at the forefront. When he and his son Dom (Cedric Joe) get trapped in a digital space by AI-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle), the only way they can get home is if they play a basketball game. With the help of the Looney Tune gang, anything is possible.

I had so many expectations for this movie. Space Jam is one of my all time favorites – I rewatch it on the regular and hold it in very high regard. Sadly, the reboot fell short for me. There were certain things that I did like such as the jokes, seeing beloved cartoons like Tweety and Lola (Zendaya) again as well as all the throwbacks they made to the original. The effects were also stepped up which helped add an extra element.

However, that is where the enjoyment ended for me. The plot was not interesting in the slightest and I felt like it took forever for the story to get going. Basically I could have done without the entire first hour. At times it also seemed as if the movie was one big marketing campaign for other WB pictures. I thought that was smart in beginning, but it became overused as the film went on.

Space Jam: A New Legacy was…interesting to say the least. I am happy I saw it and that it was my first movie back in the cinema since last September. Part of me wishes that they had left a good thing alone though. Not every single thing needs a reboot or a sequel!

Rating: ♥♥

Gunpowder Milkshake

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Sam (Karen Gillan)is a dangerous assassin who has made quite a name for herself since starting out. When a mission goes wrong and she is forced to protect eight year old Emily (Chloe Coleman), Sam turns to her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey) for help. Together with Scarlet’s associates Madeleine (Carla Gugino), Florence (Michelle Yeoh) and Anna May (Angela Bassett), they must take down The Firm for good.

I had been really looking forward to Gunpowder Milkshake. A badass cast of women kicking butt and taking names? Yes please! It sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, I did find the plot to be a bit on the weak side. Some things didn’t make sense and I would often lose track of what was happening.

That being said, there were still plenty of great aspects. I already mentioned the cast, but they really were fabulous. I could have watched them interact for hours because their chemistry was so impressive. In fact, I would totally be on board for a sequel if they ever decided to make one. That is how much I loved them all.

I thought the effects were amazing and the style in which the film was shot was very cool and different. The music was on point and the fight sequences rocked.

Overall, Gunpowder Milkshake is a fun film that radiates girl power and there is certainly nothing wrong with that! I just wish it had packed a bit more of a punch for me.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Fear Street Part 2: 1978

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Following the events of 1994, Deena (Kiana Madeira) and Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) track down Christine Berman (Gillian Jacobs), a woman who survived a series of murders back in 1978. Christine, who went by Ziggy (Sadie Sink) back then tells the story of the summer she spent at Camp Nightwing. What started as a seemingly normal time turned deadly when a fellow camp goer becomes possessed by the witch’s curse. Ziggy must put aside her differences with sister Cindy (Emily Rudd) in order to reverse the curse before it’s too late.

Just when I thought I couldn’t like Fear Street more, the second instalment came along. I thought this was much better than the first one. So many things worked and I was completely transfixed the whole way through. By now the story has found its footing and all bets are off. The twists were brilliant and there is something about the camp setting that is so perfectly spooky. I couldn’t get enough of it to be honest.

The characters this time around were more interesting. I liked learning about the dynamics of Ziggy and Cindy’s relationship. There was also Cindy’s boyfriend Tommy (McCabe Slye) and former friend Alice (Ryan Simpkins) who added something extra to the story. I felt like I cared more about everybody this time around which was great. I also appreciated learning more about the feud between Shadyshide and Sunnyvale. It seems like this is going to play an integral role in bringing each movie together and I can’t wait to see how.

Once again, the music was fabulous and really went well with the times. Soundtracks are so important in capturing pivotal cinematic moments and Fear Street has really exceeded here.

I am already very excited for the third and final movie taking place in 1666. I think this one will scare me the most, but I’m ready for it! It will be awesome to see how everything comes to a close.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Black Widow

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The long awaited return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally here! After its release was delayed for over a year, Black Widow landed in movie theatres and on premium Disney + this week. The story follows Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) after the events of Captain America: Civil War. When a conspiracy arises with ties to her past, Natasha must dig up the parts of her life that she had hoped to keep buried forever. Not only does she need to deal with her history of being a spy, but she must also find the family that she thought she left behind.

I’ll come right out and say that Black Widow was never my favorite Avenger. Perhaps a large reason for that is because I’m not a fan of Scarlett Johansson. Still, this movie was much needed to put together pieces of the puzzle. It was important to know where Natasha had come from, though I must say that there wasn’t much in regards to her backstory. I thought we would see more about her start as a spy and her life before she became an Avenger, but that was skipped over.

In true Marvel fashion, the sets and special effects were on point. I feel like they always go above and beyond and this was no exception. Maybe it was also because it had been so long since we last had a movie in this franchise that made it seem more spectacular. In a way, it almost felt wrong not watching it in a cinema.

My favorite part of the whole thing was meeting Nat’s family. Alexei (David Harbour) and Melina (Rachel Weisz) as her parents were so dead on. It was awesome to have both of them join this fandom. However, I do believe that Florence Pugh as Yelena stole the show. She shone in every single one of her scenes and brought some much needed comedic relief. I cannot wait to see more of her in this role as the saga progresses.

While I did enjoy the film, I wasn’t too keen on the villain. To me, he didn’t seem fleshed out enough and I know that Marvel has had more intense bad guys. Also, I tend to get confused during these films because of their small and intricate details. I’m more of a straight forward kinda gal and found myself getting lost during the course of the story. That being said, I am looking forward to seeing how this has set the tone for future instalments and I am happy that Marvel is back!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Fear Street Part 1: 1994

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Welcome to Shadyside. Legend has it that a curse has shadowed the town for centuries. When a circle of friends accidentally stumble across the grave site of the witch responsible for said curse, a series of murders begins. As it turns out, this is not the first time something like this has happened either. It is up to the teenagers to do whatever they can to stop the forces of evil while facing their fears in the process.

First things first, I am not a fan of horror. It is not a genre that I usually gravitate towards. Jump scares, in particular, are too much for me to handle. But I don’t mind a bit of gore. When I heard about the premise of this trilogy, I was intrigued. I never read the books, but I am familiar with R.L. Stine’s work. I had a feeling that this was the type of horror I could take, even if it meant I would watch some of it hiding behind a pillow.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It was very entertaining and I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. I liked how the energy was turned on high and just when you thought you knew the direction in which things were going, you had to think again!

Another aspect that I appreciated was the 90s setting. As someone who grew up during that time period, it made me feel nostalgic to see the cassette tapes, fashion and those retro TVs. I also loved the music choices that were made throughout. I felt like I had stepped into a time machine.

Unfortunately the main character just didn’t do it for me. Deena (Kiana Madeira) came off as whiny and annoying. I found it difficult to root for her at times. Everyone else was cast well though. I particularly enjoyed Deena’s brother Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) who was the horror know it all and Deena’s girlfriend Sam (Olivia Welch).

I also thought that there were a couple of unanswered plot points by the end of this film. I understand that this is the first instalment of three so I am hoping that these questions will be tackled down the line.

As far as horror goes, Fear Street Part 1: 1994 was a wild ride that I did not want to get off from. I am very excited to see what 1978 has in store. Bring on the scares.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Good On Paper

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Andrea (Iliza Shlesinger) is a comedian who has always put her career above everything else. When she meets Dennis (Ryan Hansen) on a plane, he honestly seems like the perfect guy. He’s smart, he’s nice and respectful, he’s funny and he’s successful. He might just be too good to be true. Andrea can’t help but wonder – do guys like this really exist?

I liked this. It was funny and had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. It wasn’t your typical rom-com either which I appreciated. I swear I’ve seen them all and nothing surprises me anymore so I am glad that this wasn’t entirely predictable. I didn’t know much about the story going in either which certainly helped in my overall enjoyment. There were various moments where I was caught off guard and that is always a good sign.

I hadn’t seen Iliza Shlesinger in anything before, but I thought she did a great job as the lead protagonist. I liked how relatable she was and her comedic stylings really shone through. As a Veronica Mars fan, I am familiar with Ryan Hansen’s work and have always rooted for him. It was nice seeing him in something new again and I hope that that will only continue more in the future. My favorite though was Margaret Cho. Her portrayal as Andrea’s best friend Margot was absolutely hilarious and she stole every scene she was in.

While I enjoyed Good On Paper, it wasn’t groundbreaking or anything amazing. It was, however, perfect to watch on a Friday night while eating some Chinese take out and sometimes that’s more than enough.

Rating: ♥♥♥