Tag: DisneyPlus

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

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Caitlin Morales (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has been struggling since the birth of her second daughter. When she meets Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe) at the farmer’s market and the two seemingly get along straight away, Caitlin takes Polly up on her offer to become her nanny. But it soon becomes clear that Polly isn’t who she says she is. When Caitlin starts to question the woman she brought into her home and her family, nobody believes her.

A remake of the 1992 film of the same name, the trailer made this version out to be a decent enough thriller. Unfortunately it was not decent and it also was not very thrilling. In fact, it had very little going for it that I wonder why I bothered to check it out in the first place. It’s a pity because it did have all the right ingredients for something great. It just ended up being a big old mess.

I usually like Winstead, but even she was unable to save this. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a character considered crazy by everyone around them and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Although I felt for Caitlin, the emotion didn’t completely win me over. I can’t really blame her as I felt she was doing the best she could considering the uneven script, but still. I was way more interested in Monroe’s mysterious nanny and of course we never got any proper background on her. I understand the choice of having one point of view the point of view however I think it would have helped me to understand her motives more. At least the two of them played well off of each other.

What bothered me the most was that it felt like throughout the entire hour and forty minute run time, nothing really happened until the last fifteen minutes. There were small moments here and there that never really went anywhere. As a result, I got bored and kept wondering how much longer it would be until it all inevitably kicked off. And when it eventually did, the pay off didn’t even seem worth it.

Overall, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was a disappointment. I have not seen the original film, but from what I’ve heard, it is far superior than whatever this reiteration was. The only two bright spots amongst the mess were the leading ladies who did what they could. This is not a film that I will be rushing to rewatch nor will I recommend because I’m sure you can do something better with your time. You’re welcome.

Rating: ♥️.5

Swiped

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Swiped tells the story of Whitney Wolfe Herd (Lily James) who, at the age of twenty two, co-founded Tinder. Being the brains behind the famous app, she never got the credit she deserved. Not being able to trust her partner Sean Rad (Ben Schnetzer) and finding herself in a toxic relationship with Justin Mateen (Jackson White), she eventually had no choice but to leave the company. When she meets Andrey Andreev (Dan Stevens) a few years later, he convinces her to start a new app by the name of Bumble.

As someone who has used both apps in the past, I found the film to be very interesting. I didn’t know about their origins and so there was a lot to learn. I thought it would be your average run of the mill biopic that we have seen so many times before. I didn’t realize that there would be a whole other side to the story that inevitably helped elevate it for me.

I have always liked James as an actor and thought that she did a fabulous job as our protagonist. The fact that the real Whitney Wolfe Herd was not involved in the project due to her Tinder NDA meant that James had to dig deeper to sell her performance. Despite how much she went through in her personal relationship as well as trying to make her voice heard in an otherwise male dominant industry, she still preserved. Schnetzer and White were perfect as the stereotypical tech guys. I don’t want to say White has been typecasted as the resident douche, but with this and his character on Tell Me Lies, he really has it down pat. While Stevens wasn’t as prominent as he could have been, I felt like he served his purpose (and he reminded me so much of his character in Eurovision with the accent!) I also loved Whitney’s best friend, cheerleader and colleague Tisha who was portrayed by Myha’la. She was always there in the background, but she played such an important part in Tinder and Bumble respectively.

What I enjoyed most about the film was how empowering it was to watch as a woman. The sisterhood between Whitney and Tisha, as well as the other women who started off working at Tinder and went on to thrive at Bumble was lovely to see. During the short period of time the I dabbled in Tinder, I didn’t have many positive experiences. Seeing this depicted in the film was refreshing because it did shed light on the downsides of online dating as well as the upsides. Having Bumble come into play where women were able to make the first move made me feel safe when it came to romantic and platonic relationships. I’m glad that this was properly explored and that it also reflected the lives of the women who were behind the app in the first place.

Overall, Swiped is definitely one of the better biopics that I have seen in recent years. With a brilliant lead performance by Lily James and the girl power that oozed throughout, I walked away from it feeling like I wanted to do better and be better for all the other women out there. I definitely recommend checking out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Eenie Meanie

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Wrapped up in a world of getaway driving from the age of fourteen, Edie (Samara Weaving) has been trying to break the cycle ever since. When her former boss Nico (Andy Garcia) offers her the chance at pulling off one last job, she can’t say no, especially when it means saving her ex boyfriend’s (Karl Glusman) life.

Fans of Baby Driver may flock to Eenie Meanie expecting a similar story. While it never reaches the same heights, it is entertaining enough to keep you invested throughout. With the many impressive car chase sequences, hilarious banter and a talented ensemble cast I couldn’t help but wonder how it didn’t ever come together in the way I was hoping it would.

Weaving once again proves that she is a solid leading lady. Not only is she the bright spot here, she was probably the only reason I wanted to watch the film in the first place. She gives Edie so many layers and is really the driving force of the story. It’s hard for anybody else to compare. Glusman is quite something as John, Edie’s ex. Underneath it all he wants to do the right thing, but he’s just so awful that it’s hard to be reminded of that. I understand why Edie isn’t able to just cut him out of her life, but she deserved so much better. The other characters were like caricatures of heist films of the past: Jermaine Fowler as The Chaperone, Marshawn Lynch as Perm, Randall Park as Leo, Mike O’Malley as Leo and of course Andy Garcia as the ring leader of them all Nico. They were criminally underused and as a result I found it difficult to really care about any of them.

Somewhere along the way, the film starts losing sight of what it’s really trying to be. I would have been totally fine with an action adventure flick and a bit of romance on the side if it was earned. Instead it just became too convoluted. As a result, I missed out on some major plot points because I just could not separate them from one another.

Overall, Eenie Meanie had all the ingredients of a great heist film, but it ultimately fell short. Samara Weaving was the only bright point in what was otherwise a lacklustre project. Had it been much tighter and well thought out, it would have been a home run. Because of that there are definitely better films of the genre out there that are more worth your time.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Descendants: The Rise of Red

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Five years after the original trilogy came to a close, the Descendants are back. The Rise of Red follows Red (Kylie Cantrall), the daughter of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), who is nothing like her tyrant mother. When chaos breaks out in Auradon, Red is forced to team up with Chloe (Malia Barker), the daughter of Cinderella (Brandy) who just so happens to be the former best friend of the Queen of Hearts. Together they must travel back in time to change the future.

When I first heard that they were making a sequel to the franchise, I didn’t think it was really necessary. The way in which they ended things in the last installment seemed fitting and the fact that none of the OG four characters were attached to the project had me skeptical. Still I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about and unfortunately I walked away feeling disappointed.

One of the aspects I did like was the introduction of some new characters. Red was a decent enough protagonist and I thought that Ora completely embodied the role of the Queen of Hearts. It was also cool how they incorporated Brandy’s Cinderella and Paolo Montalban’s King Charming and of course it was nice to see China Anne McClain reprise her role as Uma, the only bridge between the old and new stories.

The songs and choreography didn’t feel synonymous with what we had seen before. You could tell that there was no cohesion between when Kenny Ortega was at the helm and now with Jennifer Phang. I couldn’t help but think that they were trying too hard to incorporate some Tik Tok fads as well which is something I couldn’t relate to.

Another thing that really bothered me was how clunky the plot played out. The first two acts were fine but the third went by in the blink of an eye with no proper wrap up! They’d built up the Castlecoming Dance the whole way through and then the audience didn’t even see it happen. There wasn’t even an epic final performance to end on a high note.

Overall, Descendants: The Rise of Red was a letdown. I didn’t have high hopes to begin with but this was just poorly executed and unnecessary. I feel bad for the longtime fans who were looking forward to this one.

Rating: ♥️♥️

The Greatest Hits

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Harriet (Lucy Boynton) has been dealing with the sudden loss of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet). In order to help her grieve, she discovers that certain songs can transport her back into a particular time in which they spent together. As she tries to fit the pieces together in the past, her life in the present takes off when she meets David (Justin H. Min).

I really liked the concept of this movie. It blends so many different genres together from romance, comedy and drama to time travel. It’s so true that one particular song can really send you back to when you first heard it. The way in which this was incorporated throughout the film was really smart. The song choices were A+ too; there were some well known classics and others that I wasn’t familiar with, but they all fit perfectly.

Boynton should lead more films because she did a stellar job as our protagonist. She’s clearly been through a lot and she’s torn between her past and her future, but wouldn’t anybody be in her predicament? Max and David couldn’t be more different, but neither of them outshine the other. Boynton has pitch perfect chemistry with both Corenswet and Min that you can’t help rooting for both of them to end up with her. The addition of Harriet’s best friend Morris (Austin Crute) was a welcome one. You could tell he was her ride or die and I appreciated how supportive he was of her while also keeping her grounded.

As much as I enjoyed the time travel aspect of the story, I have to say that it did get a bit repetitive. I also wish we’d had a bit more background on Max. As the film was told in Harriet’s point of view we didn’t really get to know him outside of her thoughts and feelings.

The Greatest Hits is an emotionally charged romantic dramedy that only got better as it progressed. With fabulous performances and an even better soundtrack, this is a film I will be revisiting.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Quiz Lady

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Anne (Awkwafina) and Jenny (Sandra Oh) couldn’t be more opposite. When their mother’s gambling addiction throws them together, they are required to put aside their differences in order to settle her debts. Obsessed with the same game show since childhood, Anne just needs to land herself an audition and everything else will fall into place. If only it were that easy.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up watching a game show every evening. My grandmother introduced me to Jeopardy and before I knew it, I was hooked. The routine was soothing and I began to think of Alex Trebec as family since he was in my home all the time. Unlike myself, Anne grew up feeling neglecting by the other members of her family and so she turned to Can’t Stop The Quiz for solace. I liked how the show became a way that she and Jenny eventually reconnected.

The dynamic duo of Awkwafina and Oh was one that I never knew I needed. They worked so flawlessly off each other and really did pass as sisters. What I enjoyed the most was the fact that they didn’t play the characters we expect of them; Awkwafina usually tackles the more offbeat individuals, while Oh plays the more straight laced, career-driven types. To see them essentially swap places was a breath of fresh air and it worked.

The film wouldn’t have been complete without its supporting cast. Will Ferrell gave quite a touching performance as game show host Terry McTeer. It was nice to see him as a father figure to Anne and I’m glad he didn’t dial it up too much. Holland Taylor was great as Anne’s elderly neighbor Francine, while Jason Schwartzman a shoe in for villainous fellow contestant Ron. And of course I can’t leave out the cameo by Paul Reubens who left us not too long ago.

Overall, Quiz Lady is a quirky story filled with lots of laughs and some heart along the way. The shenanigans that Anne and Jenny found themselves in throughout kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re looking for something fun to watch this weekend, I recommend checking this one out as it’ll surely leave a smile on your face.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Peter Pan & Wendy

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The 1953 animated version of Peter Pan is in my top five favorite Disney films of all time. I’m pretty sure the story is one of the reasons why I wanted to move to London in the first place. Over the years, there have been various retellings of the beloved tale. I didn’t have high hopes for this one simply because I didn’t feel like it had the right marketing – I was only made aware of it very recently! That being said, while it started off promisingly enough, it slowly but surely escalated.

Let me start with the positives. I thought the cinematography was well done. One of the most exciting sequences for me was when Peter (Alexander Moloney) whisked Wendy (Ever Anderson) and her brothers John (Joshua Pickering) and Michael (Jacobi Jupe) away to Neverland. Flying through Big Ben and seeing time literally stop was done in such a cool way.

Another aspect that I loved was the updated casting choices. Yara Shahidi as Tinkerbell was a great choice and Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily were great choices. Both characters were finally given proper representation and more to do. Having a mix of boys and girls in the Lost Boys was also smart and reflected on the changes in society.

Not all the casting choices were great, however. Jude Law is fabulous in everything he does so I did not doubt that he’d be a brilliant Captain Hook. The big letdown for me was Moloney in the role of Peter Pan. His performance was wooden and he did not have chemistry with anybody; Pan is supposed to be cheeky and mischievous, and this was anything but. Had they put the film’s focus more on Wendy, I would have enjoyed it much more as I thought Anderson did a decent job in the role.

When the film opened, I thought it wouldn’t end up being too bad after all. Unfortunately I was sorely mistaken. It lost all pacing and I found it incredibly boring and difficult to get through. A pity considering Disney has been really struggling with these live action remakes. Sometimes I wish they’d just give it a rest.

Rating: ♥️♥️

2022 Wrap Up

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I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I feel like the years go by faster as I get older.

2022 was another great year of movies. With some memorable visits to the theatre where my auditorium cheered during a viewing on opening day of Top Gun: Maverick to seeing Triangle of Sadness in Cannes, steps away from where the famous film festival takes place, this year will go down in the history books for me.

Moving back to Europe did change the way in which I ran this blog. Usually due to where I was at a certain point in time or the fact that certain films were released on different days was something I needed to adjust to. At least I was always able to fall back on my streaming platforms! All that being said, I look forward to what 2023 will have in store.

Without further ado, here are my top five best and worst films of the year:

Best:

  1. The Menu
  2. Triangle of Sadness
  3. Top Gun: Maverick
  4. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
  5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Worst:

  1. Deep Water
  2. Pinocchio
  3. The Weekend Away
  4. Disenchanted
  5. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Disenchanted

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Ten years after the events of Enchanted, the storybook opens once more on Giselle (Amy Adams), Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino). After the birth of baby Sofia, Giselle thinks its time they move somewhere new. Unfortunately, Morgan is anything but thrilled at the idea of leaving behind her beloved New York for Monroeville. When the two get off on the wrong foot in their new home, Giselle makes a wish that changes all their lives forever. Can every day really be a fairytale?

Getting all the gang back for the sequel that fans have been waiting years for was a wondrous sight. Amy Adams is the epitome of Giselle. Her mannerisms and high pitched voice complete with her charming innocence it was makes her so lovable. This time around, it was interesting have her go through a complete transformation unlike anything we’d seen before. Another bright point of the film was having more time with Nancy (Idina Menzel) and Edward (James Marsden). I always felt like they needed more time in the original so this was a treat for me.

Amongst the returning cast were the newbies. Maya Rudolph portrayed the role of wannabe evil queen Malvina. While I’m not a fan of Rudolph’s, I have to say that she was perfect here. The way in which she worked off of Adams made for some really fun scenes. I wish we could have learned more about her and her minions Rosaleen (Yvette Nicole Brown) and Ruby (Jayma Mays).

In typical Disney fashion, I was transported into a land straight out of my dreams. The bright and vibrant color palette really worked and I loved how that only changed as the plot turned into something more dark and sinister. On top of that was the delightful costume designs; I basically envied every single one of Giselle’s outfits. And who can forget the new, catchy soundtrack?

Enchanted is one of my all time favorite films. I remember the first time I watched it and it still makes me tear up at the end. I always thought it was genius to play off of typical fairytale stories and then putting a new spin on them. There was no way that Disenchanted would be better. I hoped it would come close and there were elements I really did like. For the most part though, it seemed like some of that magic was missing. Maybe it was the tired evil stepmother trope that did it. Regardless, I did finally get a glimpse into Giselle and co.’s lives post happily ever after so I guess I can’t really complain.

Rating: ♥♥.5

Rosaline

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We all know about Romeo and Juliet’s doomed love, right? But did you know that before Juliet, Romeo was in love with a maiden called Rosaline?

Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever) and Romeo (Kyle Allen) were the perfect couple. They dreamed of running away together, their families be damned, if it meant they could be together forever. When he meets Juliet (Isabela Merced) at the masquerade ball, Romeo falls head over heels in love with her. Suddenly jilted by the love of her life, Rosaline will stop at nothing until she finds out who this new woman is. Who she didn’t expect it to be is her cousin.

A modern retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Rosaline was actually pretty cute. Dever shone as the lead, captivating me from the get go. Her comedic timing and meddlesome ways made for some great scenes that had me giggling. I’ve seen her in a variety of projects now and I must admit that she always surprises me.

The other cast and characters were fun to get to know too. I thought it was brilliant to dumb down the role of Romeo; the way in which Allen did this added a different element to the story and made it somewhat unpredictable. Merced did a fine job as Juliet, though I would have liked to see more of her. Bradley Whitford portrayed Rosaline’s father and Minnie Driver who played Rosaline’s nurse Janet didn’t have nearly enough screen time, but who were still welcome additions. And then there was the gorgeous Sean Teale who starred as Dario. His chemistry with Dever was palpable from the very first moment they laid eyes on each other and I just couldn’t wait until they got together.

With costumes that had me truly believing I was born in the wrong century and a soundtrack that gave me major Bridgerton vibes, Rosaline was a much better film than I gave it credit for. While it wasn’t perfect all the way through and at times seemed to drag on a bit, I really did enjoy it.

Rating: ♥♥♥