Credits Rolling

I cannot believe that the wait is finally over. Those who know me are aware that I have been waiting for this movie for what seems like forever. I am the biggest Wonder Woman fan and having the long awaited sequel pushed back way too many times truly made me think that I would never get to see it. So when I finally settled down to watch on Christmas Day, I couldn’t help but think that I had just received the best present ever.

It’s the 1980s and our heroine Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) has been trying to quietly live her life among mortals as a curator of ancient artifacts at a local museum. Her alter ego, Wonder Woman, is someone she tries to keep separate from her every day life.

But when Diana encounters Max Lord (Pedro Pascal), a man who is hungry for power, she must do all that she can to stop him from taking over the world. However, Max Lord isn’t the only foe that Diana must look out for – her former friend and colleague Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) has become The Cheetah, a villainess with superhuman strength. She wants Diana out of her way so that her plan to stay powerful doesn’t get thwarted. With the help of old flame Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), Diana has this covered. Or does she?

There was a lot that worked here. The special effects were great and really made me feel like I was brought into the film. I also really liked the stunts performed by Wonder Woman. They were super cool, very bad ass and definitely had that girl power essence to it.

Speaking of Wonder Woman, I absolutely love Gal Gadot in the titular role. She was the perfect choice for me ever since I saw her in the first movie and I don’t think that will ever change. I believe that she has become a great role model for girls of all ages to look up to; I know I do. Actually, I must say that the other casting choices for this installment were well done too. It’s hard to imagine these characters played by anybody else going forward.

I must admit that despite my utter excitement, Wonder Woman 1984 did not surpass the amazingness that was its predecessor. The multiple, interwoven storylines were a bit too much at times and I found it difficult to keep track of everything that was going on. There were also some slower moments, particularly in the beginning to get everything set up that I didn’t really find necessary. And I do feel like the extra waiting time had an affect.

With all that being said, the movie was still a ton of fun and exactly what you would want from a superhero story. I’m so happy to have finally seen it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Sometimes you just need a movie that will allow you to have a good cry. All My Life fit the bill perfectly. Back when I saw the trailer, I was wondering whether or not this would do the trick for me. Like most films these days, this one was put on Demand shortly after it’s initial cinema release. I did have to wait longer to see it, but not as much as in the past. Luckily that didn’t take away from my enjoyment.

When Jennifer Carter (Jessica Rothe) meets Solomon ‘Sol’ Chau (Harry Shum Jr.) she knows that he will change her life forever. When Sol proposes to Jenn after a whirlwind romance, the two are over the moon and cannot wait to start their lives together. But then they get some devastating news. Sol has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.

Jenn and Sol’s time together is running out. So their friends and families pitch in to give the couple the wedding of their dreams before it is too late.

This movie was everything that Life In A Year should have been. It had heart, it was relatable and the chemistry between Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr. was very believable. Despite the sad ending, I was still rooting for them and I liked seeing their journey unfold.

I think what I loved the most about All My Life was that it is actually based on a true story. I didn’t know this fact going in, but it really made more of an impact. If you like movies based on real people and stories and are looking for something to make you weepy, then this is the one for you!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

I knew Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom would be the perfect addition for this blog for many reasons. The main one, though, was the fact that this marked Chadwick Boseman’s last acting role. His death was certainly untimely, but I am glad that we were given the chance to enjoy his talent one last time. The story itself was one I hadn’t heard of and I liked the fact that it was based on true events. In addition, anything having to do with music and being transported back to the 1920s is always a good idea and so I was excited to dive in.

The movie takes place over the course of an afternoon at a recording studio. A band of musicians is waiting for the legendary ‘Mother of the Blues’ Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) to arrive so that they can get started. Ma, the no nonsense spitfire, is not exactly the easiest of people to get along with – is constantly arguing with her manager and producer to have control over her own music.

Meanwhile, trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) is determined to do whatever he can to stake his claim in the industry even if that means ruffling a few feathers here and there.

I thought it was interesting to see two people at different stages in their careers come together. Ma is clearly very established already, but she still faces struggles every day. Levee, on the other hand, is just starting out and will stop at nothing to achieve his dreams. Despite their opposites, I do think they are quite similar at the end of the day because of their drive and passion.

I already mentioned Chadwick Boseman though I didn’t say just how phenomenal his performance really was. I actually haven’t seen him in many things outside of Black Panther, but this showed his top notch acting skills and it’s crazy to think that he put his cancer aside to give us all these roles. Similarly, Viola Davis was almost unrecognizable as Ma. That woman is such an enigma and she really is amazing in everything she does.

If you love music and want to lose yourself in a bit of history, I recommend checking out Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Wild Mountain Thyme was a movie I should have liked. Romance is one of my favorite genres, I am a fan of both Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan, and it takes place in the gorgeous Irish countryside. Sad to say that none of these things were enough for me this time around. I simply could not get into the story and thought about turning it off at various intervals. The only reason I didn’t was because I kept hoping it would get better.

It did not get better.

Rosemary (Emily Blunt) and Anthony (Jamie Dornan) grew up across the way from each other on their family’s adjoining farms. It was always clear to anyone who knew them that they would end up together, but they were too stubborn to realize. Then Anthony’s father Tony (Christopher Walken) thinks about passing the farm down to Anthony’s American cousin Adam (Jon Hamm), knowing that Adam would have a better chance at settling down to have a family. Rosemary and Anthony decide to put their differences aside to prevent this from happening.

I can’t think of any other reasons why I initially wanted to check out this movie. The biggest problem I had with it was that I was bored. The plot didn’t interest me in the slightest and I even had trouble buying the chemistry between the two leads. It was also way too slow burn for me – I hated how long it took them to figure their shit out.

Also, I have to admit that the accents were pretty questionable. We know already that Jamie Dornan is in fact Irish and it was pretty attractive listening to him speak in that way, but everyone else’s attempt just made me cringe.

Overall, Wild Mountain Thyme was not what I hoped it would be at all. I should have stuck to my initial thoughts about it back when I saw the trailer and avoided it all together.

Rating: ♥♥

I love musicals! I am such a sucker for them. No matter my mood, I will automatically be transported into the story and everything in my life will feel better. The Prom was a title I had been excited for since hearing about it however many months ago. I mean, how could I not be? Directed by Ryan Murphy and filled with such a star studded cast, I knew I would love it.

All Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) wants is to go to the prom and dance with her girlfriend Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). It should be simple, but the PTA members lead by Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington) are doing whatever they can to put a stop to this happening. Even Principal Hawkins (Keegan-Michael Key) is struggling to settle the matter.

Enter a group of washed up, self-obsessed Broadway stars: Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep), Barry Glickman (James Corden), Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) and Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells). Looking for something that will get them back into the spotlight, they make the trek over to Indiana to help Emma make her dreams come true.

I briefly mentioned the cast earlier, but I must reiterate just how phenomenal they all were. To have such a big budget movie with so many household names is a gift. I really do feel like everyone was casted perfectly and their roles will live rent free in my heart forever.

The music and dancing was amazing. It needed to be and I was so happy at how it was executed. I also appreciated how each actor had some sort of singing capability. And I was very impressed with Jo Ellen Pellmen. I believe that this was her first major role and she definitely has a bright future ahead, especially with that angelic voice of hers. The costumes were full of glitter, lots of bright colors and patterns. It really fit with the Broadway theme. Even the sets were outstanding.

There was a slight dip about midway through and I would have liked to have more ensemble numbers throughout. Also Nicole Kidman could have been in more scenes, but that’s me being biased.

If you love musicals like I do, then you need to watch The Prom. It’s a ton of fun for people of all ages to enjoy and is just the type of film we need nowadays.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

The hype for Freaky has been real! The movie was released in cinemas about a month ago, but due to the pandemic, I had to wait until it was on Demand in order to watch it. This genre isn’t even my usual go to and I think I only wanted to check it out because it reminded me of Jennifer’s Body. I am so happy to report that this did live up to my expectations though it did not exceed them. It was a ton of fun though and highly enjoyable.

When Millie (Kathryn Newton) magically swaps bodies with a serial killer by the name of The Butcher (Vince Vaughn), she learns that she only has one day, Friday the 13th, to find him and change back or else the swap will become permanent. In The Butcher’s body, Millie needs to convince her friends to help her before time runs out for good.

As you could imagine, this film had a lot of funny moments. In particular, I loved when the two leads had switched bodies and Vince Vaughn had to act like a high school girl. That was something I never thought I would witness and it still cracks me up just thinking about it. Alternatively, Kathryn Newton as a deranged serial killer was kinda genius and sort of bad ass because she didn’t take anybody’s shit.

I also appreciated the supporting cast of characters in Millie’s best friends Nyla (Celeste O’Connor) and Josh (Misha Osherovich), her crush Booker (Uriah Shelton), as well as her sister Charlene (Dana Drori) and her mother Coral (Katie Finneran). The dynamics helped to strengthen the story and made it more relatable.

While I did really like Freaky, I do believe that the extra wait time affected my overall enjoyment. I had built it up for so long in my head which isn’t always a good thing. Still I had a blast while watching and would definitely revisit it again in the future.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

One is never too old for Disney movies. I actually think I gain a new appreciation for them as the years go on. Godmothered wasn’t a title I had heard much about. Despite having Disney +, I often forget to check what they have on there. It was my husband who told me about this movie and when I discovered that Isla Fisher was the star, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I needed to check it out. I have seen so many of her films and loved every one. Luckily Godmothered lived up to my expectations.

Eleanor (Jillian Bell) is a young fairy godmother who, clumsy at times, is eager and willing to learn the tricks of her trade. Over the last few years, the use of fairy godmothers hasn’t been as great as before. With talks that the Motherland is closing for good, Eleanor decides to set out on a journey of her own to prove that she can turn things around for her people by finding Mackenzie (Isla Fisher), a little girl who wrote to the godmothers and whose letter ended up in the archives.

When Eleanor makes it to America, she discovers that Mackenzie is no longer the ten year old who wrote that letter all those years ago. Instead, she is an overworked, single mother of two who never got her happily ever after. Eleanor only has a few days to help Mackenzie turn her life around or the portal to get back home will be closed forever.

This movie was so freaking cute. I couldn’t get over how adorable it all was. I felt major Enchanted vibes while watching which is awesome because that is also one of my all time favorites. In true Disney fashion, the backgrounds, costumes and make up were completely magical and served as a perfect escape for me. Additionally, the fact that the storyline takes place around Christmas was very fitting.

I loved the friendship that grew between Eleanor and Mackenzie. The adventures they went on together were fun and definitely otherworldly. The fact that the film was helmed by two strong, female characters was much appreciated.

If you are in the mood for something lighthearted, I recommend giving Godmothered a try. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face and envelope you in a giant hug.

Rating: ♥♥♥

If I remember correctly, I had stumbled across an article written about Life In A Year quite recently. It was this that got me interested in the story. I have to admit that the reviews were off putting and I almost didn’t even finish watching. But I’m not a quitter and I wanted to find out what would happen. After all, I am a sucker for my teen romance films. Unfortunately I’m still on the fence about this one. There were some things I liked, but overall it left me feeling rather indifferent. I guess I just expected more?

When Daryn (Justice Smith) meets Isabella (Cara Delevingne) one night while they are both attempting to crash a concert, their lives are forever changed.

Unable to get her out of his head, Daryn tracks Isabella down and asks her on a date. Isabella, though hesitant at first, eventually relents. But then Daryn finds out that she is sick and only has one year left to live. He comes up with a plan to give Isabella every experience he can possibly think of for the time she has left.

I actually quite liked the idea of the movie. I knew going into it that it was going to be sad, but because I never really felt the chemistry between the two leads, I struggled to really feel that emotion. Separately the actors were fine; I have seen Cara Delevingne in various other projects over the years and while she isn’t a favorite by any means, I don’t mind her work. I believe this was my first time seeing Justice Smith in anything and while he was also just okay, I was impressed with the scene he shared with his mom at the hospital.

Because of this issue, it was hard to me to relate to the story and to take anything away from it. I kept hoping for something new and different to happen, but it was all very predictable. There was just nothing to look forward to because I knew how the movie was going to play out down to a tee.

Overall, I am still glad that I checked this out despite my disappointments. It did make me cry which can sometimes be cathartic. Unfortunately my expectations were just too high.

Rating: ♥.5

Happiest Season was one of those movies that once I saw the trailer, I knew I had to watch it. The cast, the humour, the heart and the fact that we need all the festive movies ever right now – sign me up! I just don’t think I expected to love it as much as I did. It will definitely be one of those films that I watch every year around the holidays.

Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) are completely inseparable and totally in love. When Harper decides to invite Abby home for Christmas, everything changes for them. Unfortunately for Abby, Harper’s family are not exactly the most welcoming. Her father Ted (Victor Garber) is running for mayor while her mother Tipper (Mary Steenburgen) is busy with his campaign. Older sister Sloane (Alison Brie) quit her high profile lawyer gig to get married and have children and has regretted it ever since, while younger sister Jane (Mary Holland) was always overlooked by everybody. But nobody knows that Harper, always the ‘perfect’ daughter, is gay.

So now Abby is stuck at her girlfriend’s family house pretending that she and Harper are just friends and roommates. Raising many red flags for her and her best friend John (Dan Levy), she does her best to get through it. After all, it’s only for a few days right? And then there is Harper’s ex Riley (Aubrey Plaza) who keeps showing up everywhere that Abby is…

This movie had me in actual stitches. It was hilarious and I can’t praise the writing enough. Clea Duvall really outdid herself and I was impressed.

I touched briefly on the cast, but I must reiterate how stellar they all were together. So many big names on one project doesn’t always pay off, but that wasn’t the case here. I couldn’t get enough of them. Also, if you are still pigeonholing KStew for her role in Twilight, y’all really need to wake up. Girl has seriously grown up and is actually a diverse actress who I have grown to love watching.

Another thing that I loved about this was that for once we have a major motion picture that features a same sex couple in the forefront. I know that this has been improving over the years, but I cannot stress enough how refreshing it was to see the representation in such a popular movie. Neither characters were sexualized either which I appreciated greatly.

My favorite thing about Happiest Season was it’s depiction of family. We know that every family dynamic is different: some of us have great relationships while others may not be so fortunate. I feel like emotions are heightened during the holidays and the way in which this was portrayed throughout was a true illustration of these struggles. However, the movie also showed how we all just want to be true to ourselves while hoping for our family’s acceptance at the same time. I’ll admit that I was moved to tears on a few occasions because of how realistic and relatable it all was.

I want everyone to watch this movie. I cannot sing it’s praises enough and I am sure that you will be able to take away something from it afterwards. And I am keeping my fingers crossed that there’ll be a sequel!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

I was so excited to see The Christmas Chronicles 2. I remember absolutely loving the first instalment when it was released two years ago and have been hoping for a sequel ever since. This year I got my wish! My expectations for this one was higher than normal and I’ll admit that it did take awhile to get going, but when it did, I was completely engrossed. I loved it almost as much as the original and am still smiling about it days later.

The story picks up a couple years later. Kate Pierce (Darby Camp) is on vacation in Mexico with her brother Teddy (Judah Lewis), her mother Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) as well as her mom’s new boyfriend Bob (Tyrese Gibson) and his son Jack (Jahzir Bruno). Unfortunately, Kate does not like Bob very much and fears that her mother has started to forget about her late father.

Fed up and wanting to return home, Kate decides to take matters into her own hands. Her escape route, however, goes completely wrong and she is instead reunited with Santa (Kurt Russell) and Mrs. Clause (Goldie Hawn). Together with Jack who ended up coming along for the journey, the four must work together to stop a troublesome elf from canceling Christmas forever.

Guys, the visuals in this movie are un-freaking-real. Mexico is already breathtaking, but when we are transported to the North Pole, I couldn’t get over how everything looked. The sweets, the elves, the toy shops in Santa’s Village and of course the house where Santa and Mrs. Clause live. I wanted to pack my bags and go there immediately!

I have to say that while I did guess a few of the plot twists ahead of time, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment. There were a few different things going on at a time which seemed confusing at the beginning. Luckily everything came together at the end of the day which is all that matters.

The Christmas Chronicles 2 is a wonderful festive film for people of all ages to fall in love with. The humour, intrigue, adventure and heart makes for an unforgettable experience that be appreciated for years to come.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥