Tag: MovieReview

Thelma

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Thelma Post (June Squibb) is ninety three. One day she receives a phone call from a scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) asking for money. When she complies and later realizes she’s made a mistake, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

What you see is very much what you get with this film. There are no high stakes chase scenes, no CGI or crazy hijinks. Thelma still sets out on a remarkable adventure complete with constantly escaping her worried family and stealing a gun from a friend who has Alzheimers to name a few. Despite her age limitations, the ways in which she pushes herself is still exciting to witness.

Squibb is fabulous as the titular character and I loved her team up with Richard Roundtree’s Ben. In his last role before his passing, Ben is an old friend of Thelma’s. Somehow he gets roped into this adventure and it’s so nice to see the organic chemistry between them develop. Another selling point for me was watching Thelma and Danny’s interactions. They were heartwarming and funny and reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my grandmother who passed in 2012. I mustn’t forget the additions of Parker Posey as Thelma’s daughter Gail and Clark Gregg as Thelma’s son in law Alan who were perfect in their roles and provided some big laughs.

It’s not often a film has an elderly character as its lead and that’s a shame. I really enjoyed watching Thelma take control of her life while also grasping that she can’t do everything as she used to anymore. It also reinforced the fact that it’s important to check in with the elderly people in our family and let them know that they’re not alone.

It’s crazy that at ninety four years old, this is Squibb’s first starring role. She brings Thelma to life and makes this is most wholesome movie you didn’t know you needed in your life. It’s simple yet packs a punch that will ring through right until the very end. I’m really glad I checked it out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Twisters

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The blockbuster hit of the summer has arrived with Twisters! Serving as a standalone sequel to the 1996 version of the same name, former storm chaser Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is lured back to Oklahoma by her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) after a tragedy. Out on the field they come across Tyler (Glen Powell), a social media superstar. First at odds, Kate and Tyler end up working together to figure out how to beat the twisters once and for all.

I’ve never seen the original film so I cannot compare it to this new version. What I can say is that I had a total blast! Right from the very beginning I was gripped with that hardcore opening sequence and that feeling didn’t go away until the credits started to roll. The storm sequences were heart pounding and constantly had me on the edge of my seat.

One of the main areas in which the film excels is in its cast. Edgar-Jones is someone I’ve enjoyed watching since Normal People and Where The Crawdads Sing. Now that she is in such a mainstream movie, she has proven that she can do anything. Ramos was perfect as Javi, a man who didn’t always do things for the right reasons, while Powell killed it as Tyler. Words cannot express how much I love that man; he is so incredibly charismatic and this douchebag character was so much fun! I also need to shoutout the players that made up Tyler’s team (Brandon Perea, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Tunde Adebimpe and Katy O’Brien). They were fab and I would totally go storm hunting with them.

Something I didn’t expect was that the story, with all its crazy moments, had an emotional tone to it. The tragedy that occurs at the beginning comes back throughout the course of the film. It helped make the characters more realistic and multi-dimensional. I also liked the hints of romance between Kate and Tyler. It was never the full focus, but the way in which it was handled was really sweet.

I honestly did not think I was going to enjoy Twisters, but it’s certainly up there with one of my favorites of the year so far. With its action packed storm sequences, fabulous cast chemistry and emotional heart, this is the film of the summer that you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Despicable Me 4

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Gru (Steve Carell), Lucy (Kristen Wiig), Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), Agnes (Madison Polan) and the Minions (Pierre Coffin) are back in an all new adventure! With a new addition to their family, Gru Jr., Gru is finding it difficult to bond with his son, especially because his son is intent on tormenting his dad. When old arch nemesis Maxime (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) break out of prison, the family are forced to go on the run.

I have always been a fan of the Despicable Me and Minion movies. They are just so much fun! The storylines are usually full of twists and turns and while you more or less know how they will turn out, you still have a good time anyway.

This time around we were joined by some new faces. Joey King donned the role of Poppy Prescott, a new neighbor who dreams of becoming a villain. Her dad Perry voiced by Stephen Colbert and her mom Patsy voiced by Chloe Fineman were great additions that added some new dynamics. I also thought that Maxime and Valentina were worthy villains and learning about Maxime’s past with Gru was interesting too.

I’m always so impressed with the animation in these films. It’s so vivid and I enjoyed seeing different locations from the first three instalments. Mayflower, for example, was a cute little town that the family had to flee to for protection. It was fun getting an inside look at the top secret headquarters where the Minions were hiding out as well as Gru’s school where he learned to become bad.

My favorite part, however, was the Minions. The obsession that I have with these creatures is unmatched. They are just so freaking cute and they say the funniest things. I think I laughed the most when they were on screen.

Despicable Me 4 is just as much fun as its predecessors. Audiences of all ages can find something to enjoy here. With its brilliant animation and talented voice cast, there is a lot to appreciate. I am already very much looking forward to the next Minions movie and whatever else may come from this franchise. I don’t think it’s one I will ever get tired of.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

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: ♥️♥️

Space Cadet

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Tiffany “Rex” Simpson (Emma Roberts) is a party girl from Florida who works as a bartender. Once upon a time, she wanted to be an astronaut. When her best friend Nadine (Poppy Liu) tweaks her letter to NASA, against all odds, Rex is accepted into the program.

I’ve been a fan of Roberts for as long as I can remember. She takes on a lot of different types of roles and while they don’t win any awards, you can tell that she is having a fun time with it. Her friendship with Liu’s Nadine was one of the highlights for me – the way in which Nadine went to bat for Rex and pretty much committed fraud just so she could make her dreams come true shows that she is a true ride or die. In fact, the rest of the cast was pretty good too. From the camaraderie with the rest of her teammates in NASA (Kuhoo Verma, Desi Lydic, Yasha Jackson, Andrew Call and Josephine Huang) to Logan O’Leery (Tom Hopper) and Pam Proctor (Gabrielle Union) who ran the program, everyone gelled really well together.

One needs to suspend all disbelief while watching as there is no way that this could happen in real life. But at the core of an otherwise bonkers plot is a story of finding yourself and following your dreams. It reminded me a lot of Legally Blonde. Nobody believed Elle could go to Harvard just like everyone overlooked Rex at NASA. At the end of the day, they proved everyone wrong.

I honestly thought that Space Cadet was going to be awful. It came across as cringey and kind of childish, just what you would expect from a film on a streaming platform. What I got instead was something that actually really resonated with me as I’m sure it will with many others. It was also the perfect pick for the Fourth of July.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

A Family Affair

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In Netflix’s newest romantic comedy offering, Zara Ford (Joey King) works for movie superstar Chris Cole (Zac Efron) who is the worst boss ever. By a twist of fate, Chris strikes up a relationship with Zara’s mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman).

This is not the first time we’ve seen a relationship blossom between an older woman and a younger man. I liked how this time around the age factor wasn’t the focal point of the story. Instead the audience is invited into the worlds of these characters as they embark on a journey of self discovery. Of course some hijinks ensue. There are some laugh out loud moments and one in particular that had my husband reaching for the remote to rewind it and watch it again.

At the core is a heartfelt story about finding yourself and growing up. Sure Chris and Brooke form the central romance, but I really liked the depiction of the mother daughter relationship between Zara and Brooke and that of Brooke and her mother in law Leila (Kathy Bates). It really helped tie it all together for me.

The cast was what definitely made the film. King, although a bit whiny at times, was relatable as the lead. Efron proves he’s still a heartthrob and Kidman is as lovely and beautiful as ever. At first I didn’t buy their chemistry, but I have to say that it did eventually win me over. The fact that they got Bates for the grandmother was genius and we can’t leave out the supporting cast of Liza Koshy and Sherry Cola as Zara friends Eugenie and Stella.

Overall, A Family Affair may not add anything new to the genre, but it is a perfectly fine flick with something everyone can enjoy. Thanks to the star studded cast and the emotional material it left me feeling satisfied.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Kinds of Kindness

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In Kinds of Kindness, three different stories are played out on screen. The first features a man who tries to make his own choices after having his whole life mapped out for him, the second follows a cop who can’t help but wonder if that is really his wife who has returned after being lost at sea and the third is about a woman who is in search of someone with a special ability.

Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his strange and unusual movies. After watching and loving Poor Things earlier this year, I was looking forward to seeing what he was going to do next. Unfortunately his newest venture didn’t quite hit the same marks that his predecessor did. One day later I’m still scratching my head over what it was that I watched.

What I did like was seeing some familiar faces in the film. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Hunter Schafer, Mamoudou Athie and Joe Alwyn are the key players here. They each take on a different character throughout the three stories. I thought the performances were well done which is unsurprising with a cast of this calibre. That didn’t mean that any of them were particularly likeable, nor did I want to see any of them succeed.

That’s about where the enjoyment ended for me. As time ticked by (and it did so slowly), I became more confused. There was no correlation between the fables that I could detect and I couldn’t help but wonder what the point was. I think I would have appreciated it more otherwise. Also, it was as if each story just got more strange and convoluted. I like to think I’m open minded, but some of the scenes that unfolded before me have been etched into my mind and not in a good way! It’s like Lanthimos just did it for shock value and not because it added anything to the plot.

Overall, Kinds of Kindness is one of those films that will certainly divide audiences. I wanted to like it so much, but I think it just went way over my head. At least the cast were great and the cinematography worked so there were some silver linings.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Bikeriders

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Based on the photography book by Danny Lyon, The Bikeriders focuses on a motorcycle gang’s reign during the sixties and seventies. When Kathy (Jodie Comer) meets Benny (Austin Butler) at a local bar, her life will never be the same. Benny is the newest member of the Vandals. As the country changes over time, Benny is constantly forced to choose between the woman who becomes his wife and Johnny, the enigmatic leader of the club.

With an incredibly stacked cast, I was instantly sold. Hardy gives a solid performance as the leader of the group. He doesn’t take any shit from anybody and he also serves as a father figure to many of the members. Butler’s role this time around wasn’t as convincing for me, but I think that was what the character called for. wasn’t as strong in comparison. He was a bit of a wet rag if I’m being honest. But he’s so beautiful to look at that I would interested even if he were to read the phone book. The film belongs to Comer though who shines as Kathy. Told through a series of interviews given to Lyon’s character played by Mike Faist, she instantly captivated me even if the accent took some getting used to.

The look and feel was cool. The small town America back drop complete with the old school outfits and the soundtrack was all very fitting. I also appreciated the cinematography especially in regards to the motorcycles themselves. During many of the drive by scenes, the way in which the camera was positioned on the road with the engines revving was such an adrenaline rush.

Unfortunately the film did fall flat around the halfway mark. I understand that this was more of a character study, but it was missing any sort of real conflict. The pacing, as a result, was slow and I found myself losing interest. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the leading trio, but I felt like we didn’t even really get to know who they were as people, let alone the side characters (played by Norman Reedus, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook and Damon Herriman to name a few).

Overall, I did enjoy The Bikeriders, but I felt like it could have been better. This was a prime example that a stacked cast isn’t always worth the hype because outside of the performances, there wasn’t much on offer.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Inside Out 2

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Ten years after its first instalment, Inside Out is back and so are its beloved emotions. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Fear (Tony Hale) and Anger (Lewis Black) have perfectly curated Riley (Kensington Tillman) to be the best person she can be. None of them expected what was going to come next: puberty. And with this new chapter in Riley’s life comes some new emotions: Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser).

While I thoroughly enjoyed the original story, it was never up there with the greats. I still couldn’t help but wonder how Pixar would top it, considering it is a movie that so many people hold dear. I actually think I loved this one even more because I was able to relate to it on a whole different level.

As usual, Pixar knocks it out of the park with the animation. Whether it is the different areas of Riley’s mind like the stream of consciousness, the pits of sarcasm or the back where bad memories are banished to, or in the real world where we see Riley at hockey camp, there is a blend of vibrant colors and out of the box ideas that completely sucked me into the story.

The cast is once again a stand out here with some returning favorites and other newcomers. Taking on the roles of Disgust and Fear respectively are Lapira and Hale who do a fine job; it is like they had been there since the beginning. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sadness and was overjoyed to see her back – when she bursts into tears and face plants in the ground I feel that! But I also have to give major props to the new emotions who each brought something to the table. Ennui was much funnier than I expected, but it was Anxiety who impacted me more than anyone else. The way in which Hawke portrayed this character was so on point it was scary at times.

It wouldn’t be a Pixar film if it didn’t make me cry. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it, but I have anxiety and depression, so seeing these depicted on screen really hit me hard. With Anxiety getting more out of control and Joy’s line about struggling to find joy when you become an adult was like a punch to the gut.

I am so glad that movies like Inside Out exist. They teach children the truths about growing up and how important it is to stay true to yourself in such a smart way. Though our theatre was packed with people young and old, I do think it was the adults who took more away from it. I am sure that when the youngsters grow to understand the subject matter a bit more, Pixar will have done its job and that is something they should be proud of.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Hit Man

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From director Richard Linklater comes a caper full of twists and turns that is a guaranteed good time! Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a college psychology professor who also moonlights as a hit man for the New Orleans police. When he breaks protocol to help Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who is trying to leave her abusive husband, the two lives that he has worked so hard to keep separate suddenly blur together.

Powell is hands down one of the best actors around right now. He has been on a steady incline and I’m sure he will only keep getting better. This role solidifies him as a bona fide star. The different personas that he dons while dealing with different clients just got better and better; I couldn’t decide which one was my favorite! Arjona, who I was not previously familiar with, holds her own against Powell. Their chemistry is electric and full of passion and I couldn’t help but swoon when they were on screen together.

I have to admit that there were some pacing issues throughout the film. It seemed as though a lot of time passed until things really started to happen. I didn’t mind the slow burn because I feel like the payoff was worth it, but I can imagine that other people would have expected more. Once the twists kept coming however, they didn’t stop. I do think that they tried to pack so much in that the ending was abrupt as a result.

Hit Man is a film with something for everyone to enjoy. The fact that it is based on true events is pretty cool! Having the chance to join Gary on his adventures and never knowing what to expect was a great way to spend a Friday night.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️