Wolfs

When Margaret (Amy Ryan) finds herself in a delicate situation, she calls a fixer (George Clooney) to come and cover it up. But then another fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two realize that they need to work together. The night spirals out of control in more ways than one.

The big selling point here is the team up of old time pals Clooney and Pitt. Their real life friendship truly shines through. The banter between them as rivals is whip smart and snappy; I found myself chuckling along at various intervals. I liked how their characters started off seemingly so different from one another, but as time goes on, you realize that they are actually quite similar.

In regards to the supporting cast, Ryan does a good job at setting the scene though she disappears shortly thereafter. Austin Abrams helps kick things up a notch with his rather integral role. I feel like the action doesn’t really start until his character comes into play. I remember seeing him get his start in Euphoria so the fact that he is now starring along side two of the greatest actors of our generation is impressive. Poorna Jagannathan was also a welcome addition as June, a lady who works with both of the fixers.

Unfortunately the film doesn’t have much by means of plot. It takes a while to get going as it really needs to set it all up. The chase sequences and fight scenes are chaotic and entertaining, especially the one that takes place in the final act. With that being said, I think I may have missed the overall point.

Wolfs is your typical run of the mill action caper that does very little to break the mold. It excels thanks to its two lead stars who help drive the film forward in every single way. Not bad for Sunday afternoon viewing, but not entirely memorable either.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Do Revenge

If Gossip Girl, Mean Girls and John Tucker Must Die had a baby, it would be Do Revenge. Everything that Drea (Camila Mendes) has worked so hard for to be popular in high school and get into an Ivy League college goes up in flames when her sex tape is leaked by her boyfriend Max (Austin Abrams). Over the summer at tennis camp, she befriends transfer student Eleanor (Maya Hawke) who was recently outcasted by the girl she had a crush on (Ava Capri). Realizing they have more in common than they would have ever thought, the two decide to team up to carry out each other’s revenge.

It has been a very long time that a teen movie hit all the right notes for me. The script was sharp, witty and modern while not trying to be over the top about it. It also had a color palette and costume design to die for as well as a killer soundtrack. Hearing Olivia Rodrigo one moment and Meredith Brooks at the end was genius.

The main selling point for me here was it’s cast. Take Veronica Lodge from Riverdale, Robin Buckley from Stranger Things, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) from Game of Thrones, Ethan Daley from Euphoria (Austin Abrams), Kamran (Rish Shah) from Ms. Marvel, Jessica Davis (Alisha Boe) from 13 Reasons Why and Pope Heyward (Jonathan Daviss) from Outer Banks, mesh them all into one project and the outcome is fantastic. Sure it may seem like a bunch of cameos, but for once I’m not complaining about it. The standouts are, of course, Mendes and Hawke whose chemistry was delightful to watch. I didn’t know if I wanted them to remain friends or if I wanted them to get together romantically.

On the surface, Do Revenge might seem like a vapid film that you will forget after just one viewing. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Drea and Eleanor wanting to right the wrongs that were bestowed upon them was inspiring to watch, especially because both cases were so relatable in today’s day and age. As you watch their stories unfold on screen, you notice that they could very well be yours. This one is definitely worth checking out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥