Tag: MovieBlog

One Of Them Days

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) are best friends and roommates. They are total opposites with Dreux hoping to secure a job as franchise manager of the restaurant where she works and Alyssa drifting through life as an artist. When they discover that Alyssa’s boyfriend (Joshua David Neal) stole their rent money, they are faced with eviction. In an attempt to raise the funds by the end of the day, they’ll do whatever it takes to save their home.

One Of Them Days wasn’t initially on my radar. When I heard so many good things about it, I knew that I had to check it out for myself. This was the film that I didn’t know I needed in my life and I am glad that I gave it a go.

Hands down, this would not work if it wasn’t for the chemistry between our two leads. Palmer and SZA gelled together so incredibly well it was infectious. I was invested in their friendship right from the beginning. It had been a while since I saw Palmer in something, but her comedic timing is perfect as always. As for SZA, though she is more well known in the music scene, one couldn’t tell that this was her feature film debut.

While some of the predicaments the girls find themselves in are not at all realistic, they were still thoroughly entertaining. This is the type of film that is best if you go into it suspending all belief because then you can fully embrace the craziness of it all. And while it is mostly crazy, there are also some heartwarming moments too.

Overall, One Of Them Days has the same sort of formula we’ve seen before, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t any less enjoyable. Thanks to the dynamic duo that is Keke Palmer and SZA, this girl power caper delivers the laughs right until the credits start to roll.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Mickey 17

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Sometime in the not so distant future, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) signs up to be an expendable on a space mission. Whenever he dies, a new version of himself is automatically created. When something goes wrong one day, Mickey discovers that there are now two versions of himself alive at the same time.

I’m not usually a fan of science fiction. Most of the time that’s because the world building can be too complicated for me. I was worried that this would be the case here and I’m happy to report that it wasn’t. For the most part, I was able to follow along with the story and I actually enjoyed the film way more than I thought I would.

Pattinson was brilliant as the titular character. All the different versions of him were so interesting and unique. This wasn’t a typical role for the actor and I liked the lighter, more comedic tone that it required. The rest of the cast were stacked. Naomi Ackie smashed it as Mickey’s girlfriend Nasha. Though we never knew her backstory, she proved herself to be a bad ass character who could hold her own. Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette starred as Kenneth and Yifa Marshall, the leaders of the mission. They were so over the top, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a certain someone who is currently in power right now…

Director Bong Joon Ho is well known for his outlandish and satirical ideas. While this is quite the opposite of former Oscar winner Parasite, it is still a film that will give the audience a lot to think about.

Overall, Mickey 17 was a pleasant surprise. With fabulous performances, a crazy storyline and the beautiful backdrop of Niflheim, it was hard not to become wrapped up in this world. I do think it could have been a little bit shorter timing wise and it would have been nice to see more of the characters fleshed out, but that is something I was able to overlook.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Picture This

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Prime Video’s latest romantic comedy offering comes in the form of Picture This. Pia (Simone Ashley) has always marched to the beat of her own drum despite her family’s wishes to settle down and find a husband. When she receives a prediction that true love will find her in five dates, they step up to the plate to play matchmaker. Their plans may be thwarted, however, when her ex Charlie (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) reappears.

Ashley soared to fame in Netflix’s Sex Education and Bridgerton. For her first leading role, I thought she did a commendable job. Her character stuck to her guns no matter what and always put her passion for photography first. I had no idea she could be funny either; her little quips and one liners combined with the physical aspects worked well. Fiennes Tiffin has come a long way since the After series. I’m glad that he’s putting himself forward for different roles and getting more out there.

Laxmi (Sindhu Vee), Mukul (Adil Ray) and Sonal (Anoushka Chada) make up Pia’s mother, father and sister. They were all perfectly casted. Everyone gelled well and it did feel like a proper family. I can’t forget Pia’s best friend Jay (Luke Fetherston). Seemingly the brother she never had, their scenes were so genuine.

While the chemistry between our two leads was cute, I can’t say that the film was really a romcom. The main focus was definitely on Pia and while I preferred that direction more, I do think it would be confusing to those expecting more swoon-worthy moments.

Picture This didn’t quite deliver on the romance aspect. Where it made up for was in the running theme of family. That was where the true heart of the film laid and that is where it excelled the most.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Last Showgirl

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Directed by Gia Coppola, The Last Showgirl follows Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a dancer, who has been working at Le Razzle Dazzle for almost thirty years. Nobody can believe it when they hear that the show will be closing. Suddenly Shelly, along with the people she’s come to know and love, must think about what they want to do with the rest of their lives.

After hearing so much about Anderson’s career best performance, I knew that I had to check it out for myself. Having been misunderstood in the past, many have overlooked her talent. She has proved everyone wrong with this role. The fact that it was written with her in mind says a lot, but she still puts in the work and the pay off is priceless. The nominations she received were one hundred per cent warranted.

The rest of the cast are perfect in their roles too. We’ve got Jamie Lee Curtis as Shelly’s friend Annette, a former showgirl who now works as a cocktail waitress. In some ways she’s the complete opposite of our protagonist, but their friendship is heartwarming to watch. Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka portray Mary-Anne and Jodie respectively, two fellow dancers who look up to Shelly and think of her as a mother figure. Dave Bautista steps out from his usual action persona to play Eddie, the club owner, while Billie Lourd is Shelly’s tentative daughter trying to reach out to the mother she never really knew.

What makes this film so topical is its depiction of ageism. Shelly, who is in her fifties, is considered too old to be in show business. When she goes for auditions, she’s turned away without so much as a blink of the eye. Annette is facing a similar situation. Going from a dancer to a cocktail waitress was already something she didn’t really want to do and then she finds her hours are being cut to favor other, younger women.

Overall, The Last Showgirl may seem like a simple film, but in reality it is so much more. It is a bleak look into show business that is both eye opening and upsetting. Anderson’s performance combined with the glitzy Las Vegas background are all additional reasons as to why you should check this one out for yourself.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

The Gorge

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Levi (Miles Teller) and Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) are two highly trained operatives who are enlisted to guard an ominous gorge. Despite the rules telling them they are not allowed to communicate, a special bond still forms between them. When they discover the truth about what lies beneath, they must work together to stop the secrets from coming out.

I will watch anything that Taylor-Joy is in. Drasa was a sad character and you wanted to root for her from the beginning. The same could be said about Teller’s Levi. Having nobody close to him was the main reason why he was chosen for this mission. At first I wasn’t sure how this pair up would work, but I was pleasantly surprised. Though their relationship developed quickly, it really was the highlight for me.

Where the film sort of lost me along the way was with its many genres. Part sci-fi and part romance with some drama and even a little bit of comedy, at times it seemed like it didn’t really know what it wanted to be. As a result, I do think the second act suffered especially when our two heroes find themselves in the gorge. While I was impressed with the special effects and felt they looked very realistic, it did get a bit too convoluted for its own good. I’m all for layers, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think it really added anything to the story and instead left me confused.

The Gorge an enjoyable enough flick perfect for a Sunday afternoon. With great performances by Teller and Taylor-Joy that illustrates a quite charming love story and an interesting enough premise, I was kept entertained throughout. If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, then this is right up your alley.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Captain America: Brave New World

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is adjusting to life as the new Captain America. When he finds himself at the centre of an international incident, he must work with Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) to find out who is behind these attacks and put a stop to them once and for all.

Mackie was excellent. I’ve always liked Sam as a character and I think that he donned his new title effortlessly. He was never trying to be Steve Rogers; he just wanted to be himself. I loved his friendship with Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez). Their banter was playful and fun. It really had that sibling feeling to it. The introduction of Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas) was a welcome one and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her in the future.

Unfortunately some of the other characters were underused. I was so much looking forward to seeing Ford hulk out. To say I was disappointed with that part of his storyline is an understatement. I feel like he would have been a more interesting villain than Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns. I also wish we’d had more time with Carl Lumby who played Isaiah Bradley and Giancarlo Esposito who portrayed Sidewinder.

While the action sequences and special effects were decent, there were times throughout where I felt like the quality of the shots were grainy. Maybe that is what they were going for, but it was distracting. Additionally, the storyline itself was also a bit clunky. I didn’t really understand a lot of what was going on. I do think that watching The Incredible Hulk, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Eternals beforehand is helpful.

Overall, I went into Captain America: Brave New World with very little expectations. There was just something about it that I wasn’t excited about. I’m glad this was the way I approached it because I was able to enjoy it more. That being said, I still wasn’t completely sold. It’s not the worst of Marvel’s offerings, but it certainly isn’t one of the best. I’m hoping the next two instalments of the year are better.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Our beloved heroine is back for one last hurrah. After the loss of Mark (Colin Firth), Bridget (Renée Zellweger) finds herself navigating life as a widow and single mom. With the help of her friends and family, Bridget slowly starts to get back out there. She returns to work and even signs up for a dating site with some surprising results.

It has been nine years since we last saw these characters on screen. Everyone was back on board and I loved being able to dip back into Bridget’s world. Zellweger eased back into the titular role effortlessly. I’m glad that Firth was back, even if it was in a smaller scale. Hugh Grant stole the show as former flame Daniel Cleaver; he’s so cheeky, yet you can’t help but love him. Bridget’s friends played by Sally Phillips, Mark Lingwood and Shirley Henderson were along for the ride as well and just as supportive as ever.

Of course there were some newcomers too. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mr. Wallaker starred as a teacher at the school Bridget’s children attend and Leo Woodall portrayed Roxster, a young man who happens upon Bridget and instantly becomes enamoured with her. The romance was A+ and at times I simply did not know who I wanted Bridget to end up with. One moment I was swooning over a shirtless Roxster and the next I wanted to geek out on science and play the piano with Mr. Wallaker.

What I loved the most about Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, however, was that it was the perfect send off for these characters that we have grown to love over the past twenty years. In some ways, I feel like I grew up with Bridget and I’m sad to be saying goodbye. There were so many brilliant callbacks to the original (like the reindeer jumper and the scene in the snow) which were genius. I loved how I went from laughing out loud during one scene and then crying my eyes out in the next. I will miss this universe so much, but I am so glad that we had the chance to revisit it one last time.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Companion

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Ever since their meet-cute in the grocery store, Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) have been the perfect couple. When they go away to a billionaire’s lakeside mansion for the weekend, their idyllic getaway takes a dramatic turn.

Trying to describe this film without giving too much away is difficult! I truly believe it’s best to go into this one knowing as little as possible. I’m still wondering why the trailer decided to give away some of the story. Luckily that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it.

There are only a few horror films I can handle, but this was one I needed to check out. The premise gripped me from the onset and I found I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. As the events unfolded bit by bit, the audience was clued in to what was really going on. Once it all fell into place, the execution was brilliant.

Thatcher first hit my radar in Yellowjackets. She was as impressive then as she is now, if not more. She’s a star on the rise and I can’t wait to see what she does next. This role was practically made for her – the way in which she embodied Iris was truly remarkable. This isn’t the first time Quaid has played a similar character. It’s kind of his shtick, but he does it so well! The other members of the group included Patrick (Lucas Gage), Kat (Megan Suri), Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Sergey (Rupert Friend). Each played an important role in the story and had their chance to shine which I appreciated.

Companion is a film that is worth checking out. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but it ended up being so much better. Behind the dark comedy and the blood spill, the social critique going on behind the scenes is what hit me hard. Exploring themes of interpersonal relationships, toxicity and misogyny was especially topical.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

You’re Cordially Invited

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

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

Back In Action

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Once upon a time, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) were spies. They gave it all up to settle down and start a family. Fast forward fifteen years, they’re living a life of lies in suburbia with their children Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson). When someone from their past shows up on their doorstep, they are forced to go on the run to try and clear their name.

Diaz’s last role was in 2014. She is finally back on our screens and I couldn’t be happier. She’s always been up there as one of my favorite actors of all time – I didn’t realize how much I missed her until now. She and Foxx shined as our leading characters. Having starred together in projects before, you know that they have a good camaraderie and can make any film entertaining.

In addition we had Glenn Close as Ginny, Emily’s mother and Jamie Demetriou as Nigel, Ginny’s much younger boyfriend. These two stole the show. With Ginny as a former MI6 agent and Nigel providing the comic relief, they were another duo I didn’t know I needed. Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott also made appearances as important figures in Emily and Matt’s past.

Where the film excelled was in its comedy. There was a steady stream of laughs throughout and I kind of wish they’d leaned into the humour more instead of taking themselves too seriously. On the action side of things, it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. From the get go, I felt like I was watching 2023’s The Family Plan. While I did like that one as well, I wouldn’t have minded a little bit more originality.

Overall, Back In Action is an enjoyable enough action flick that’s perfect for a Saturday night. Complete with a sparkling cast and some zany adventures, I had a good enough time with it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️