Tag: GeraldineViswanthan

Oh, Hi!

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) have been dating for four months when they decide to go away together for a weekend. What starts as the perfect romantic getaway complete with stopping at a roadside strawberry stand, swimming in the private pond and a scallop dinner complete with dancing under the stars quickly escalates. When Iris finds out that Isaac isn’t exactly on the same page as she is in their relationship, she does the only thing she can think of – leave him tied up against the bed to try and convince him why they would be good together.

Sophie Brooks wrote and directed this offbeat, quirky romantic comedy. I went into the film not really knowing what to expect; I certainly did not think it was going to be so funny. This helped balance out the slow descent of chaos that Iris eventually finds herself in. What could have very well been something dark and unsettling was actually believable enough that the audience can understand why she makes the choices that she does.

I love that this took place primarily in one location. It made the whole thing feel a lot more intimate and like we were right there with the characters. The farmhouse and its surrounding landscapes were beautiful; it was a great juxtaposition for what ends up happening. There also was a small amount of characters which made it easy to keep track of. Gordon and Lerman did a fab job as Iris and Isaac. Throughout the film you find yourself siding with both of them and seeing where they are both coming from in this predicament. Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds star as Max and Kenny, Iris’s best friend and her boyfriend. Their addition halfway through the film is a welcome one as the comedy ramped up even more.

Oh, Hi! surprised me in the best way possible. I knew very little going into it and I think that was the best way to experience it. While the loose ends are tied up a bit too neatly, the overall message shone through. As a result it was way more relatable than I was expecting it to be.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

You’re Cordially Invited

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Palmetto Island is one of the most idyllic locations to get married. When two weddings are booked on the same day, the rival families vow to make the most of it. But things get messy when father of the bride Jim (Will Ferrell) and sister of the other bride Margot (Reese Witherspoon) go head to head.

It’s hard to believe that this is the first time Ferrell and Witherspoon have teamed up in a film. While their characters were great individually, I have to say that I did not completely buy their romantic chemistry. If anything, I would have preferred for them to stay friends. I did enjoy watching their antics unfold on screen and them calling each other out had me laughing out loud.

The rest of the cast is stacked with some familiar names. Geraldine Viswanathan, who portrays Jim’s daughter Jenni, was brilliant. The father daughter relationship was a big selling point for me, even though it was borderline cringe on several occasions. Meredith Hagner was Neve, the other bride and sister of Margot, who was super bubbly and added an extra layer of comedy. Jack McBrayer played Leslie, the inn keeper who you couldn’t help but feel sorry for among the and Celia Weston was kinda scary and a little bitchy as Margot and Neve’s mother.

Though the film started off promisingly enough and with an interesting concept, it soon grew to be tired. The constant back and forth initially kept me enthralled. After a while it was repetition. The insults weren’t as funny and the hijinks were too far fetched. It also seemed liked the film didn’t really know what it wanted to be. The constant back and forth started to give me whiplash.

You’re Cordially Invited was better than I thought it was going to be. Unfortunately, I just don’t think it reached its full potential. It’s a pity because the cast were great and really seemed to give it their all. I just wish the story would have been more well rounded.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Beanie Bubble

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I remember the Beanie Baby craze like it was yesterday. I had dozens of them and was always looking for more to add to my collection. My favorite was Patti the platypus because she was purple and that was my favorite color. And then suddenly, they were just gone and I never really knew why. That is why I was looking forward to checking out The Beanie Bubble.

Released on Apple TV+, the movie follows Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis), a salesman down on his luck. When he teams up with friend and neighbor Robbie (Elizabeth Banks), their creation takes on a life of their own. Thanks to the help of a gifted receptionist named Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Ty’s fiancée Sheila (Sarah Snook), we see the rise and fall of one of the greatest times in consumerism.

While this is mostly based on a true story, there were some liberties taken here and there to elevate the material. What they wanted was to give this film more of a comedic air and while I appreciated the notion, I didn’t really see it in the long run. Yes there were some funny moments, but it was mixed in with some dramatic moments too. At least the color palette was poppy and vibrant which, combined with the fun soundtrack mixed with early 90s hits, made for an uplifting experience.

Galifianakis and Banks are fine comedians who did a great job at carrying this film on their backs. The former was unrecognisable as the toy tycoon. He makes you want to root for him at the beginning, but as time goes by, you realize it is actually the women in his life who are the true heroes of this phenomenon. Maya, in particular, was the most impressive of all – give this woman her own film!

Although there was nothing to write home about, The Beanie Bubble was an interesting enough addition to the long list of consumerist movies ranging from Tetris, to BlackBerry and most recently Barbie. With a likeable cast and insight into the rise and fall of a toy that I loved growing up, it made for great Sunday afternoon viewing.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️