Month: May 2026

Finding Emily

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When Owen (Spike Fearn) meets Emily (Sadie Soverall) while on shift at one of the many university bars in Manchester, he believes he has found his dream girl. Realizing she gave him the wrong phone number, he sets out on the impossible task of finding her. But there are many Emilys who go to the same university and he has no idea how he’ll track her down. Enter Emily (Angourie Rice), an American psych major, who is writing her thesis on how love makes people do crazy things. She volunteers to help him thinking he’ll be a great addition to her case studies. Grateful for her act of kindness, Owen accepts, though he has no idea of her true intentions.

From the team behind Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually, I knew from the very first time I saw the trailer that I needed to watch this movie. Romcoms are few and far between these days which is something I can never understand because they just make you feel so good. I’m pleased to report that this film exceeded my expectations in more ways than one. I loved everything about it!

Rice more than delivers as the titular Emily. While her character may be a morally grey one, she plays it well. The choices she makes are questionable at the best of times, but I have to admit that I understood where she was coming from. She stuck to her guns and knew when to admit she was wrong which I appreciated. Fearn was utterly charming as our unlikely Romeo. He wears his heart on his sleeve and will stop at nothing for love. This may not have always worked in his favor, but his gumption made it all worth it. Together their chemistry was real and genuine – it popped off the screen right from the first moment they met.

Though the film was initially supposed to be set in Los Angeles, I am glad that it was moved to Manchester. The north England vibes just added so much to the story. From the sprawling university grounds, to the student bars, and the local shops, I felt like I was transported to this time and place. The soundtrack was also filled with some brilliant bops that perfectly captured what was transpiring on screen.

The romance was spot on and the comedy delivered in spades. But the film also focused on consent in romantic relationships which is so important. We all know that Owen didn’t mean any harm when he set out to find Emily, but not everybody agreed with the choices he made. The way in which this was depicted was smart and topical. I’m glad they included it. I also did not expect the film to be so heartfelt. It dealt with some pretty serious themes such as grief, loss and rejection that were well handled too.

Finding Emily was probably the biggest surprise of the year for me so far. I had a feeling I would enjoy it, I just didn’t know how much. It left me smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. An instant classic for sure!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Forbidden Fruits

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Apple (Lili Reinhart) works at Free Eden with her friends Cherry (Victoria Pedretti) and Fig (Alexandra Shipp). She also runs a secret witch cult in the basement of the mall store after hours. When new girl Pumpkin (Lola Tung) joins the group, the dynamic between the friends changes.

If Mean Girls, Heathers and The Craft had a baby it would be Forbidden Fruits. From the moment I heard about it, I knew I had to add it to my list. It was right up my alley and the cast was banging. Unfortunately it never hit UK cinemas, but luckily I was able to catching it on digital. While it wasn’t as flawless as I had hoped it would be, there was still a lot to enjoy.

As I previously mentioned, the cast was stacked. Reinhart, Pedretti, Shipp and Tung each delivered a unique performance. Each character stood out for one reason or another though I have to say that Reinhart and Pedretti were the main scene stealers. Reinhart was a total badass as the leader of the pack; she had a darkness to her that was peeled away over time and I loved discovering more. Pedretti, on the other hand, was the total opposite. Coquettish and naive, everything from her line delivery to her mannerisms was genius.

The film was so aesthetically pleasing. From the bright bursts of color in the mall, to the eclectic outfits, it was an overload to the senses in the best way possible. The dialogue was snappy and smart. It leaned heavily into a blend of millennial and Gen Z cultural references that worked effortlessly. The soundtrack boasted plenty of girl power pop tunes that only heightened the whole experience.

Ultimately this was a solid portrayal of toxic female friendships. In a world that seems like paradise, it’s clear that there was something lurking in the shadows. As the cracks began to show, the cattier each girl got. The horror element blended well with the comedy and I appreciated that it didn’t try to overtake what the film was trying to say. The singular location of the mall was also a great choice as it gave that locked room feel.

Overall, Forbidden Fruits gets off to a rocky start, but when it finds its footing, it has a lot to say. It’s campy and uneven, but I still really liked it. It kept me on my toes and I honestly did not know where it was going. This will definitely be one of those films that becomes a cult classic in the years to come. It just needs to find its audience.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Remarkably Bright Creatures

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Based on the novel by Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures follows Tova (Sally Field), an elderly widow who works nights at the aquarium. She befriends an octopus named Marcellus (Alfred Molina). When Tova is unexpectedly injured and has to step back from her cleaning duties, new to town Cameron (Lewis Pullman) fills in. The two couldn’t be more opposite from each other, but they will soon find

Getting a book to screen adaption right is no easy feat. Most of the time, the film will suffer because of how impossible it is to include every detail into it. I read the book a couple of years ago and while I didn’t fall in love with it like everybody else did, I could still understand why so many were charmed by the story. Of course I couldn’t help but be curious to see how they would put it all together for the silver screen. I am so pleased to report that it was absolutely wonderful!

This would have been an entirely different film if not for the brilliant casting of Field and Pullman. Field was perfect as our protagonist. The emotional depth that she showed was mesmerizing. As we learned more about her character and the loss she went through, not only with her husband, but also her son, my heart broke for her. Pullman also delivered a nuanced performance. They complimented each other nicely and had an organic chemistry. Molina voicing Marcellus was a genius choice; his distinctive and calming voice helped set the tone. He was the perfect narrator! I mustn’t forget Colm Meaney’s character, Ethan. Fellow townsman who runs the local store, he was a wonderful addition to the group and provided some laughs.

While the premise may seem strange – an octopus using his wiles to bring together two lonely individuals – it totally and completely worked. In other films it may come off as cheesy or unrealistic. That wasn’t the case here because everything was handled with such care, it didn’t even matter. The pacing was slow yet deliberate and every moment was made with purpose.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of my favorite films of the year so far. A beautiful story about grief, loneliness and the unexpected ways that people find their way back to each other, it swept me up and refused to let me go. From the bright colors, to the stunning scenery, and the perfect casting choices, it felt magical. I wasn’t expecting this to impact me as much as it did, but I was left in tears. I have a feeling this one will stay with me for a long time to come.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Sheep Detectives

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George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) is a devoted shepherd to his flock of sheep. Aside from making sure they are fed and giving them their medicine, he reads them detective novels every night. When an unthinkable tragedy rocks the farm, the sheep realize that they must become the detectives and solve the crime.

While Jackman delivers his most wholesome performance yet. Joined by the likes Hong Chau, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitizine, Molly Gordon and Emma Thompson they were all brilliant in their roles. However, the sheep were front and center. Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) and Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) were the leaders of the flock who took it upon themselves to try and solve the mystery. The voice talents didn’t stop there with Brett Ronnie and Reggie (Brett Goldstein), Sir Ritchfield (Patrick Stewart), Cloud (Regina Hall) and Zora (Bella Ramsey). Each had such a distinct personality that helped set them apart from the rest. They are so real and I wanted them to succeed so badly in their quest for the truth.

The mystery element was the main selling point for me. Not only was it compelling, but I was invested from the get go and couldn’t wait to see how it would all play out. The Agatha Christie vibes were strong – the clues were bountiful and the suspect list was small yet filled with some good options. I genuinely did not see that final twist coming which made it all the better. Paired with the quaint English countryside village, it was the perfect backdrop for the story.

I truly did not expect this film to tug at my heartstrings so much. With the themes of community and teamwork as well as found family featured, there were a couple of moments there that had me in tears. The bond between an animal and a human really can be so special and to see this depicted many times throughout was lovely. I also enjoyed seeing the sheep come together to prove they are so much more than those who have deemed them stupid.

The Sheep Detectives is a delightful film. Whether young or old, it is perfect for the whole family. If you are looking for something that will capture your heart, I recommend checking it out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

The Devil Wears Prada 2

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The original Devil Wears Prada is one of the most iconic films of all time. Since its release in 2006, it has become a cinematic staple. Twenty years later and we finally have a follow up. Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is now a renowned journalist, reporting on important stories like she has always wanted to do. When she is unceremoniously laid off from her job, a chance to return to Runway, and once more working with Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) presents itself. Together with Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), they join forces to combat the decline of traditional magazine publishing.

Legacy sequels are all the rage these days. Most of the time they aren’t necessary. I really thought that The Devil Wears Prada 2 would be a senseless cash grab to add to the endless pile. You could therefore imagine how pleasantly surprised I was by how much I enjoyed the film. I would have been fine without it, but since it needed to happen, I’m glad that they delivered a story that actually mattered.

This film wouldn’t have worked without the return of Hathaway, Streep and Tucci. Emily Blunt was also back as the incomparable Emily Charlton. Having the gang back together was a pure treat and they were better than ever. While they’ve grown up a bit, they were still the lovable characters we grew to love two decades ago. Miranda and Emily had some epic one liners that had me giggling throughout though obviously the tone had to shift slightly due to the changes of today’s society.

Our fearless foursome were joined by some new faces for this outing. Kenneth Branagh starred as Stuart, Miranda’s new beau, Justin Theroux and Lucy Liu were Benji and Sasha Barnes respectively, a former famous power couple, B.J. Novak was the new owner of the magazine publication while Simone Ashley starred as Miranda’s first assistant Amari and Patrick Brammall was Andy’s new love interest Peter. Although some of these supporting characters were one sided, I did appreciate their inclusion. There were also some really cool cameos that featured throughout.

One of the best parts of the film is without a doubt the beautiful clothing that is featured. The level of fashion this time around is upped to the max with so many garments that I could only ever dream of owning myself. Andy had some brilliant costumes, but I was also a big fan of Emily’s various Dior looks. Another selling point are the sprawling locations from New York City to Milan and Lake Como, I was instantly transported to each and every spot. And then there was the soundtrack which featured some banging numbers by Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga and Olivia Dean to name a few that perfectly set the scene.

But as I mentioned already, this sequel actually had something important to say. Journalism, and print journalism in particular, isn’t the same as it used to be. A lot has changed over the years and with the looming threats of artificial intelligence etc., this will only escalate more. Having this be the main storyline was a smart choice as it’s extremely topical and the way in which it was depicted was well executed.

Overall, I may have initially been on the fence for The Devil Wears Prada 2, but I actually really liked it. From the very beginning it knew was it wanted to do and I’m glad that it wasn’t trying to outdo its predecessor. Instead it managed to stand on its own feet. As much of a nostalgia trip it was to be reunited with these characters and to be able to revisit this world, I do think that this was a proper conclusion and believe it should end here.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️