Credits Rolling

Teen movies are all the rage nowadays and I have to say that I can’t seem to get enough of them. No matter how cringe they may seem, I am so there. I had watched The Kissing Booth sometime back when it first came out on a whim. I didn’t know anything about it and only put it on because I was bored, but I remember being surprised at how much I liked it! So, when the second film came out last month, I was looking forward to it, but it had kind of fallen off of my radar? I need to stop disregarding this franchise because it really is great!

This movie starts off more or less after the events of the first one. Elle (Joey King) has just seen Noah (Jacob Elordi) off to the airport as he is about to begin his first year at Harvard University. While deciding to pursue the long distance thing, they both agree that giving each other some space to start off with is a good idea. This is beneficial for Elle who has to start thinking about what colleges she would like to apply to.

But when Noah asks her if she’d consider looking at Harvard, Elle feels like she is being pulled into two different directions. Ever since they were kids, it was always the plan for Elle and her best friend Lee (Joel Courtney) to go to Berkeley together. There is also the tiny detail that Elle’s dad doesn’t have too much in his savings to send her to such a prestigious school which she needs to consider.

When Elle finds out about a Dance Dance Revolution contest, she jumps at the chance to sign up. That’s her and Lee’s game and the prize money would be more than enough to pay her tuition. However, Lee has other things to worry about. His girlfriend Rachel (Meganne Young) is worried that Elle is imposing on their ‘couple time’ as she is alays trying to integrate herself into their plans. Lee, deciding it’s best to bow out of the contest, arranges for new kid Marco (Taylor Zakhar Perez) to take his place. Marco and Elle start spending all of their spare time together and she can’t help it when sparks begin to fly. Maybe she wouldn’t be so confused about her feelings if Noah wasn’t spending so much of his time with classmate Chloe (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and posting about it all over social media.

I like these films because they are, for the most part, realistic. Elle goes through various scenarios that an actual high school senior would which makes her relatable. In addition to that is the love story between Elle and Noah that just makes you want to swoon (we’ll just ignore the fact that Jacob Elordi seemed totally off during filming…)

The only thing that bothered me was how silly Elle and Noah were acting the whole time. I understand that the point of the storyline was to create conflict, but their actions were often foolish and could have very well been sorted by a simple conversation. There was a lot of back and forth between them and while you want them to work out, you can’t help but fall for Marco and Chloe’s charms at the same time. At least their bickering and arguments weren’t anything at all like Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky. At the end of the day, The Kissing Booth trilogy is the more superior for sure!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Anything Lucy Hale touches turns to gold. Fact. She hasn’t starred in something I haven’t liked and I’m happy to report that the same applied here. A Nice Girl Like You only grabbed my attention about a week before it was set to come out and I knew then and there that I would add it to my list. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high going into it, but I’m still glad I watched this.

Lucy (Lucy Hale) is a nice girl. A violinist who always takes pride in sticking to the rules and playing it safe, her world is suddenly turned upside down when her long time boyfriend Jeff (Stephen Friedrich) breaks up with her. The reason? She’s uptight in every sense of the word and he can’t take it anymore.

So, Lucy decides to create a list of wild to dos that she hopes will get her to step outside of her comfort zone. With the help of her friends and fellow violinists Nessa (Jackie Cruz), Pricilla (Mindy Cohn) and Paul (Adhir Kalyan), Lucy is guided through all sorts of eye opening situations. Meanwhile, she keeps running into the dashing Grant (Leonidas Gulaptis) almost every where she turns. But there is one questions she cannot shake: does he really want to help her break free of her inhibitions or is there something else up his sleeve?

Funny and cute are the two words that come to mind when describing this film.  I liked how it didn’t shy far from real life situations especially if someone is dealing with a similar situation as Lucy was. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments as well as some cringe worthy ones. Overall though, you end up rooting for Lucy and hope that she gets her groove back and this makes those otherwise uncomfortable moments worth it.

The chemistry between Grant and Lucy was fun to watch, but I have to say that my favorite dynamic was actually the friendship between Lucy and her three besties. I could tell while watching that they really were supportive of her endeavors, no matter how strange they became. I mean, Paul even took her to a brothel! No normal friend would do that.

Unfortunately, the pacing was quite slow and I found myself checking the time (and my phone) throughout. It just did not hold my attention all the way through! Not only that, but I felt like the thing that ties it all together was missing and I was left wanting more.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Ah, when comedies are done right! What a joy that is. I knew nothing about this movie until only a few days before it’s release, but the trailer alone was enough to gauge my interest. Plus, I have always had a fascination with the Groundhog Day effect so I knew I wasn’t going to pass this one up. It was actually so much better than I expected it to be too!

Nyles (Andy Samberg) is the plus one at Tala (Camila Mendes) and Abe’s (Tyler Hoechlin) wedding. Sarah (Cristin Milioti) is the bride’s sister. Both would rather be anywhere else than stuck (literally) in the middle of the desert in Palm Springs. Finding solace in each other one night, Sarah is transported into an alternate time loop in which she wakes up every day to the same day having to repeat it over and over again. As it turns out, Nyles is stuck in the very same predicament.

Desperate to break through the loop, Sarah attempts absolutely everything she possibly can to have the day be over. Though as she spends more time with Nyles and learns that he has been stuck for even longer than she initially thought, Sarah is forced to think about making some serious changes in her own life while trying staying true to herself in the process.

This was awesome all around! I already mentioned that the concept is one that I love because it makes you think and I love movies that are left open for interpretation. Not only that, but it was very funny and incredibly smart at the same time. It all just seemed to work well together.

With a stacked cast including Peter Gallagher and JK Simmons, it is impossible not to be starstruck. Mix them all in with a stunning backdrop and you are in for quite a treat!

At the end of the day though, I really do think that the moral of the story is an important one and I guarantee that you will walk away from this one with an impression that will last.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

We all know by now that comedies have been very hit or miss for me lately. That being said, this one pretty much captured my interest straight away. I think I can chalk that up to the female led cast! It was some mindless fun and that really is all that matters.

Wes (Nasim Pedrad) is not your usual type of girl. She is loud, outspoken and (kind of) desperate to find love. Her friends Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns) are supportive in whatever shenanigans that Wes usually finds herself in despite the fact that they are dealing with their own problems. Brooke is trying to decide if she should divorce her husband while Kaylie is struggling with fertility issues.

But when Wes thinks she has met The One, all bets are off. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make Jared (Robbie Amell) hers, even if she has to pretend to be somebody she’s not in the process. Everything seems to be going well until Jared goes off the grid for a few days. Fearing the worst, Wes sends him a long and rambling email calling him out for ghosting her while in a drunken stupor.

Wes is immediately brought back to reality when she discovers that Jared was in an accident while down in Mexico. Panic over the email sets in; if he reads it then their relationship is over! So she decides to do what any other girl would do in the same situation – book a ticket and fly down with her best friends to take matters into her own hands!

Recovering the cellphone is no easy task. It seems as if the world just does not want anything to work out for Wes. Mix in a lot of misunderstandings, beautiful views and a cute guy named Sean (Lamorne Morris) who wants to help, this is one entertaining movie.

It is very unlikely in real life that someone would just drop everything to go and delete an email off someone’s phone, but it does make for an interesting storyline. All that can seemingly go wrong does and at the end of the day you really end up rooting for Wes to succeed.

The cast meshed very well together. I have loved the chemistry between Nasim and Lamorne ever since they starred in New Girl. It’s always a treat when actors pair up for more than one project. The dynamic between the leading ladies as well was quite believable and had me envying their on screen friendship.

If you are looking for a fun chick flick movie, then this is the one for you! Just don’t expect too much from it.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Call me a cheat, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to write about the greatest musical of our generation. When the news came out that Hamilton was being put onto Disney + for everyone to see, I was so excited! Despite the fact that I got to see the show live, having it more accessible now and knowing that the rest of the world can enjoy it too just makes me smile.

Normally, in my reviews, I discuss the plot and then go into the reasons as to why I liked or didn’t like it. This time around will be different because I feel like many of you already know the story of Alexander Hamilton and how he helped shape America. Instead I will take this time to explain why this musical is as amazing as everyone says it is and why you should all drop what you are doing right this moment to go and watch it!

History can be quite a dire subject. Even though I liked it for the most part, there were only certain time periods that really grasped my full attention. What is refreshing in Hamilton is that the story was given a modern spin. The characters talk about the past today which makes it more fun and engaging. While some details were changed for entertainment purposes, the general idea remained true and the way in which the story was actually told is unlike anything I had ever seen before.

Lin Manuel Miranda is an absolute legend! Creator, composer and writer, he put his blood, sweat and tears into this and it shows every step of the way. It literally took him seven years to make everything perfect. Every single word is told through song and rap making it unique and adding a whole new dimension to an otherwise mediocre story.

It was always my dream to see the original Broadway cast in action, especially after listening to them countless times on the soundtrack. Putting their voices to faces made everything full circle. You simply can’t beat the likes of Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Phillippa Soo (Eliza), Jonathan Groff (King George), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica), Chris Jackson (George Washington), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Peggy/Maria Reynolds) and Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison). It’s hard imagining these characters being played by anybody else.

I also really appreciated the new footage that includes close ups of the actor’s faces,  aerial shots etc. When I saw the show live, I was sat all the way at the back and missed out on a ton of details. These extra shots definitely add to the overall experience.

Most of all, I am so happy that this musical was finally put out into the world. So many people were stripped of the opportunity to see this live (not to mention tickets were ridiculously expensive). Having it now at our disposal whenever we want it is great. Everyone should watch this at least once and I dare you not to come away feeling all the feelings.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Full disclosure: I have never watched Eurovision before. Oh, I am fully aware of the concept, but for some reason it never grasped my attention. Until now. This movie was SO MUCH BETTER than I ever could have hoped for. I was excited for it because it looked completely batshit crazy (and it really was). Half the time it didn’t make any sense and it was not very realistic, but it still had me in stitches. It has now been about two and a half weeks since I watched and I want to go back and see it ten more times. That’s how much fun it is!

Lars (Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) have always dreamed of competing in Eurovision. Ever since childhood, their families would get together every year to watch the show. Unfortunately, no one seems to take their endeavours seriously. Lars’s father Erick (Pierce Brosnan) acts as if his son doesn’t even exist while Sigrit’s mother would prefer that her daughter do something more worthwhile with her time.

When fate intervenes and a spot opens up for them to fly to Scotland for the competition, the duo known as Fire Saga are ecstatic. However, what comes next is not at all what they were expecting. The rest of the artists are fierce and well established. They have no problem going after what they want in order to get ahead. In addition, Lars and Sigrit begin to butt heads over their set as jealousy arises.

I loved this movie! It is no parody – if you are a fan of Eurovision, it will seem as if you are actually watching the real life competition. It is pure escapism and the same can be said for the movie. It was hilarious though it also stayed true to the story and had a lot of heart in it at the same time.

In true Eurovision fashion, the music is the most important aspect. Think back to ABBA’s Waterloo. An iconic song that we still know all the lyrics to today. The soundtrack here is absolutely brilliant. There is no bad song and they all fit into the theme as well. I’ve had Double Trouble stuck in my head on repeat.

For those who know me, Will Ferrell is not one of my favorite actors. In fact, I have never liked anything that he has starred in. But here, I was so wrapped up in the story and the characters that I didn’t even see him. I only saw who they were portraying on screen. Rachel McAdams, in contrast, is an actress that I have always been a fan of. To me, she stole the movie. She is such a breath of fresh air and it’s a pity that we don’t see as much of her anymore. Having Pierce Brosnan in another musical role was amusing and Dan Stevens as Russian competitior Alexander Lemtov was almost unrecognisable. Seriously. I couldn’t figure him out the entire time.

This film truly has something in it for everybody. It was funny, lighthearted and simply out of this world. For the first time in it’s history, Eurovision was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were disappointed as this is an event that people look forward to every year. But this film is a great replacement. It’s almost as if they knew what was going to happen and the creator wanted to give the fans something to hold on to.

And for those die hard fans? Pay close attention while watching. There’s some special Easter eggs hidden just for you!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Surprise movies are the best. There’s nothing I love more than going into one more or less blind and coming out feeling really satisfied. It’s actually how I was introduced to some of my all time favorite titles. Infamous might just be another one to add to my list! it had pretty much all you could want in a movie and was not at all what I was expecting.

Ever since she can remember, Arielle (Bella Thorne) has wanted to be famous. With big ambitions to one day leave behind her dull life in Florida and make her way to Hollywood, she has been saving up as much money as possible from her job as a waitress in order to make this a reality. But when she discovers that her money is missing, her plans are thwarted.

Not knowing who to trust, Arielle decides to leave that very night. She invites along the mysterious Dean (Jake Manley) who moved to town after a stint in prison. Relieved to finally be away from their problems, they start to wonder what they will do in order to make a living for themselves.

And so they decide to start robbing from gas stations, weed dispensaries and the like, anywhere really that is off the beaten path. Their exploits are put up on social media for the everyone to see. It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt and Arielle will stop at nothing until the world knows her name.

I loved the twists and turns that this movie took throughout. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, an obstacle is thrown in the works and derails everything. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time!

Infamous was made up of an array of genres so it reaches a wider range of audiences. The romance between Arielle and Dean rivals that of Bonnie and Clyde. There’s a lot of action and adventure with some humor thrown in too. Ultimately I would classify it as a drama because of the gripping storyline.

I believe that Bella Thorne is underrated. While she got her start at Disney, she was successful in branching away from that squeaky clean image and established herself as a diverse actress and business woman. She is passionate about all her projects and that is apparent here. While Jake Manley didn’t leave a lasting impression (his bleached blonde hair was too distracting), I did appreciate having Amber Riley on my screen again in a supporting role.

If you want to be surprised, then this is the film for you. I’m sure that you will end up rooting for Arielle and Dean even though what they are doing is morally wrong. They have a lot to lose and because of that, it is easy to relate to them.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

I don’t know why Netflix didn’t do more to promote Feel The Beat because it was a super cute, feel good film that put a big smile on my face. I have loved Sofia Carson since her rise to fame in Descendants so I knew regardless that she would rock this role. She is a triple threat after all!

The story follows April (Sofia Carson) an aspiring Broadway star hoping to catch her big break. After an incident threatens to ruin her career forever, she returns to her hometown with her tail between her legs.

Hoping to lay low for a while and think strategically about her next move, April is one day recruited to train a group of young dancers for a big competition. The catch? She could end up getting her name back out there because well known musical producer Welly Wong (Rex Lee) is a judge on the panel.

April knows that this may be her last shot at making her dreams come true. Although she accepts, teaching these kids is no easy task. This new gig will require patience and a lot of time. Throw in an ex boyfriend who she never really got over and she’s got a lot on her plate.

Movies that focus heavily on children are not usually my thing, but instead I found myself rooting for them throughout. Each had a unique story that made you fall for them. One in particular, the daughter of the football coach (Shaylee Mansfield), is deaf. She communicates in sign language and it was touching to see the rest of the dance troupe all knew how to do so as well to help her out. There was also a little boy (Justin Allan) who I believe stole the entire movie. He joins the team about halfway through and really brings it all together. I could not stop melting every time he came on screen.

The adult cast were great too with Enrico Colantoni of Veronica Mars fame as April’s dad and of course Rex Lee as Welly Wong. Donna Lynne Champlin was hilarious as Miss Barb and hello Wolfgang Novogratz! Where have you been all my life?

If you are looking for a movie that you don’t have to take seriously, but one that will also touch on important life values, then I do recommend this. Just be prepared for some cringey and cliched moments.

Rating: ♥♥♥

This is not usually the type of movie I gravitate towards watching. Even my husband was shocked when I said I was interested in it. But for once I decided to listen to the critics which is honestly something I never do. It’s a good thing that I did though! It was so much better than I expected it to be and I thought it was the perfect Friday night flick too.

Scott (Pete Davidson) has been a mess ever since his dad, a firefighter, passed away years ago. He lives at home with his mom Margie (Marisa Tomei) and sister Claire (Maud Apatow). When Claire goes off to college, things start to change.

While he’s been used to getting stoned every day, hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley) and dreaming of opening his own tattoo parlor, everyone around him seems to be moving on. Claire is gone, Kelsey wants to take things to the next level in their relationship and even his mother has started seeing Ray (Bill Burr), who just so happens a firefighter too.

Stuck in his ways, Scott struggles to break out of his funk, but he must do so if he ever wants to make something of himself.

I have to give a round of applause to Pete Davidson. Dude really knocked this role out of the park! I never watched SNL so I couldn’t speak for his acting chops beforehand. To me, he was just Ariana Grande’s ex-boyfriend. However I was really impressed with what I saw and I wouldn’t be surprised if this got him some award show buzz.

The rest of the cast were perfectly chosen as well. And though I haven’t been known to like Judd Apatow’s work in the past, this was truly the exception.

My main reason for liking The King of Staten Island so much was because it was loosely based on true events. Stories like that make everything so much more believable and it’s something that I appreciate. Despite losing focus a few times throughout and missing some of the jokes, it was an overall positive viewing experience.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Comedies are super necessary these days, especially with everything that is going on in the world. Having that escape and being able to laugh is important. I was hesitant going into The Lovebirds though. It initially did not seem like something that appealed to me. But after a friend came to me expressing their positive views, I decided to give it a try. And you know what? I’m glad I did.

Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) have been together for four years, but are slowly beginning to drift apart. They both want different things and seem to clash more than ever before. As they are on their way to a social function one evening, they wonder if maybe they should go their separate ways.

Before they can even process what is happening, the couple are swept up in a murder mystery caper that changes their lives – and relationship – forever. Will these events pull them even further apart than they already are or is this actually a blessing in disguise?

This movie was funny! It had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. I thought that Issa Rae and Kumail Najiani worked really well off each other and had great chemistry. It was almost like they were a real life couple and that just added to my enjoyment while watching.

The other cast members were great additions too; most notably seeing familiar face Anna Camp of Pitch Perfect fame in another comedic role. Ultimately it was refreshing to have a black woman and a Pakistani man as the leads. I cannot stress enough how uncommon this is and that needs to change.

Unfortunately, while I mostly liked the film, the plot did lose me a couple of times. Every so often I would become confused because there was a lot going on and I didn’t think that the scenarios Leilani and Jibran found themselves in were all that likely. I understand that was the point of the story, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

Rating: ♥♥♥