Tag: MovieReview

The Family Plan

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What would your reaction be if you found out your dad was actually a former government assassin who gave it all up for a chance of normalcy?

That is what happens in The Family Plan. Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) has enjoyed his life in the suburbs with his wife Jess (Michelle Monaghan), daughter Nina (Zoe Colletti), son Kyle (Van Crosby) and baby Max (Iliana and Vienna Norris). When a picture shows up on social media, his cover is blown and he’s forced to take them on a road trip across the country to keep them safe.

With its almost two hour run time, the film provided enough thrills to keep me engaged throughout. The action started more or less right off the bat where we see that Wahlberg is still in top form. The best sequences were in the grocery store and the Enya car scene.

Having recently watched a film that focused heavily on a family reconnecting (Family Switch I’m looking at you), it was sometimes hard to differentiate between the two. The age demographic of the children and adults was similar and save for the whole body swapping thing, I could have very well been watching the same film twice. I appreciated the fact that this one at least had the action adventure storyline going for it and how the family did get in on said action.

While it isn’t anything to write home about, The Family Plan is a decent enough romp that people of all ages can find something to appreciate. It’s the type of film that’s perfect to pop on after a long week at work though I did find it dragging towards the end there. All that being said, there were a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming and it did more or less hold my attention so I guess that’s all that matters!

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Wonka

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Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination in Paul King’s adaption of Wonka. We all know what happened after Willy Wonka opened his chocolate factory. He went on to give many people, young and old, joy and happiness with his unbelievable creations. But we don’t know that Willy (Timothée Chalamet) started off as a boy with a dream. All he ever wanted was to share his passion with the world and regardless of all that was thrown at hime, he never gave up.

If you aren’t into musicals, then this might not be for you. It’s not overloaded with songs, but they were there to help move the story along. I thought this incorporation was smart and really added to my enjoyment of the film. Some of the songs were stronger than others. One thing was for sure, the cast were able to carry a tune and I found myself bopping along.

I wouldn’t say I was hesitant about Chalamet’s portrayal, but considering the fact that I’m usually indifferent towards him, I was impressed. He oozed the right charm and charisma and I could see the similarities between him and Gene Wilder which was appreciated. The rest of the casting choices were A+: Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton as the opposing chocolatiers Slugworth, Prodnose and Ficklegruber, Keegan-Michael Key as the gullible Chief of Police, Sally Hawkins as Willy’s mother and Rowan Atkinson as Father Julius. It was Olivia Colman, however, who stole the show as Mrs. Scrubbit. She was both absolutely horrible and completely hilarious all at the same time and I loved how she leaned into the madness of it all.

As the film focuses heavily on delectable and otherworldly desserts, I was in absolute heaven watching them all come to life. The CGI effects were quite outstanding here and really managed to transport me to these places. From Wonka’s shop in the galleria, to the scene in the zoo, it was beyond anything I could have ever imagined it would be.

What I loved the most about Wonka was the amount of heart it had. Sure there were some predictable and corny moments, but it worked overall. It truly reached out to the dreamer in me and had me feeling like anything was possible. This is one the whole family can enjoy and as a result, I recommend giving it a watch this holiday season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

May December

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Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) is an actress who has just landed her next role – portraying the woman who infamously had an affair with a seventh grader and later married him. In order to get to know her character inside and out, she travels to the town where Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) now live with their children. Elizabeth isn’t sure what she’ll find, but it ends up being a lot more than she bargained for.

Director Todd Haynes has set up an interesting character study for us. The way in which the scenes were set up to the unsettling feeling in the air not only added to the story, but kept me entranced from beginning to end. It’s gripping and pulls you in straight away. There was never a dull moment.

Portman and Moore are some of the best actors in the game and I can’t believe this was the first time they starred together in a feature. Their chemistry was as effortless as it was fabulous. The big surprise for me was Melton. I’m familiar with his work on Riverdale and The Sun is Also A Star, but I had no clue that he had this in him. His performance was both comedic and heartbreaking all at the same time and I’d be shocked if he didn’t get some nominations for it.

While the film had me completely mesmerised throughout, I have to say that the payoff didn’t go the way I had hoped. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the big climax, and when it didn’t come, I was left confused. I understand wanting the audience to interpret it for themselves, but I wasn’t on board.

May December is a film that I am going to remember. Not only were the performances phenomenal, knowing that the story is based on true events really does provide a bigger impact. Making my top favorites of the year is going to be hard because this one just made the list!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Genie

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Bernard (Paapa Essiedu) is a workaholic and it’s affecting his family life. Missing his daughter’s birthday is one step too far for his wife Julie (Denée Benton). In an attempt to win back his family in time for the holidays, Bernard enlists the help of a genie named Flora (Melissa McCarthy).

Let’s get one thing straight – the main reason why I wanted to watch Genie was because of Richard Curtis. The man behind Four Weddings and A Funeral, Love Actually and About Time is back was back! While the film was far from brilliant, I have to say I liked it more than I thought I would.

Taking place in New York City, down on his luck Bernard is instantly relatable. You want him to win back his family even when he makes questionable decisions. The story picks up quickly, especially when Flora is introduced and the two embark on quite the journey together. McCarthy has the tendency to annoy me so I was surprised to find that that wasn’t the case in this film.

While it was entertaining enough, there was still a lot of room for improvement. The way in which some of the scenes were shot was questionable. For example, the birds’ eye view of the city looked like a miniature village and seemed cheap as a result. I also found the whole Mona Lisa picture swap storyline unnecessary. It’s like they were trying to fit in a whole bunch of obstacles for Bernard to overcome when it could have gone in a more reasonable direction.

I was on the fence about watching Genie and yet I’m ultimately glad that I gave it a shot. it had some rather enjoyable moments and I appreciated the Christmas vibes that went along with it. I probably won’t remember much about it in week’s time, but that’s okay.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Family Switch

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The Walkers are your typical family: mom Jess (Jennifer Garner), dad Bill (Ed Helms), their teenagers CC (Emma Myers) and Wyatt (Brady Noon) and baby Miles (Lincoln and Theodore Sykes). They aren’t as close as they used to be as life has gotten in the way. When a mysterious event occurs at the Griffith Park Planetarium, the family end up switching bodies. In order to change back, they’ll have to walk in one another’s shoes.

Body swap stories have been around for ages. Some have been better than others, but one thing is for sure and that’s we always know more or less what to expect from them. This was the first body swap film that I’ve seen which incorporated Christmas and I loved that aspect of it.

I went into this one not expecting anything amazing. Netflix hasn’t really been delivering lately so I was bracing myself. Color me shocked when I realized I was actually enjoying myself! Sure it’s silly, predictable and some of the CGI moments, particularly with Miles acting as the dog Pickles, were done terribly, but I laughed out loud a ton.

The cast worked well together and really had me believing they were a family. Garner and Helms were perfect as the parents trying to get their teens to hang out with them. I also loved seeing Myers in something since her rise to stardom in last year’s Wednesday. My favorite moments were obviously when the switch had happened and the events that followed.

Overall, Family Switch was better than I expected it to be. It had some valuable family moments, great laughs and a banging soundtrack. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t been feeling like myself lately, but this was exactly the type of film I needed to pick me up.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Wish

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In celebration of one hundred years of Disney comes Wish. In the city of Rosas, people’s wishes are given to King Magnifico (Chris Pine) for safe keeping. When Asha (Ariana DeBose) learns that Magnifico is not what he seems, she makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by Star. Together with Star and her goat Valentino (Alan Tudyk), Asha must save her kingdom.

While reading up on what others have thought about the film so far, I was surprised with all the negativity. Disney has had so many home runs over the years, it’s hard for me to fathom a flop. That being said, I wasn’t put off by what people were saying as I knew it was important for me to see it for myself. I’m so glad that I did because I loved it!

Firstly, there was no other choice for Asha than DeBose. Bringing this now iconic character to life with her determination and angelic voice was brilliant to witness. The fact that she never gave up no matter obstacles were thrown in her way was truly inspiring and I’m sure youngsters will be able to look up to her. I didn’t know what to think of Pine taking on the role of the villain initially as I’d never seen him in something similar. He completely made Magnifico his own. The charisma he put into the character and his decline was done perfectly. Additionally, Tudyk was hilarious as Valentino. I appreciated the fact that he didn’t oversell his performance and instead picked his moments to shine.

Another aspect I found so well done was the use of Easter eggs littered throughout the story. These callbacks to previous Disney films from Snow White, to Sleeping Beauty and Bambi gave the film a little more magic. I liked how some were very obvious while others were a little harder to identify. I already want to go back and pay attention to these details to see if I can find anymore!

Wish is epitome of Disney. It showcases the importance of family, friendship and being true to yourself. It really bums me out to hear that so many people didn’t see what I did. While most will say the film is generic and missing that spark, I have to disagree. An instant classic to me for sure.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Saltburn

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Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is struggling to find his place when he starts at Oxford University. Soon he meets Felix, (Jacob Elordi) who with his good looks and wealth is everything that Oliver is not. When the two strike up a friendship, Felix invites Oliver to spend the summer with him at his family’s estate for the summer.

Never have I ever been so engrossed while watching a film, but that is what happened with Saltburn. It took me on a journey from the very beginning and did not let up for one single moment. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the rug was pulled from underneath me. As the story unfolded, the events got crazier and more deranged, but I mean that in the best way possible.

Emerald Fennell is a visionary. I was such a fan of her debut Promising Young Woman; she made it known right off the bat that she wasn’t afraid to push the envelope and I couldn’t wait to see what she’d do next. I just had no idea she was capable of this.

The script is punchy with many jokes thrown in. They all land, thanks to the amazing delivery of the cast. Keoghan has proven time and time again that he is an absolute star. The places he took Oliver to were otherworldly and I have to commend him. I was pleasantly surprised by Elordi as well. Not only did he have the role of heartthrob down pat, he added that extra ounce of humanity to the character that made you give a shit.

The film would be nothing without its supporting cast, all of who knocked it out of the park. Richard E. Grant, Rosamund Pike and Alison Oliver make up the rest of the Catton clan. Their chemistry is impeccable and they each brought something unique to the table. I loved the addition of Carey Mulligan as the slightly unstable family friend too.

Saltburn is like a rollercoaster you don’t want to get off of. It is insane and didn’t hold anything back, but that is what I loved about it. Not knowing where it was going to go was refreshing and I never wanted the experience to end.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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Sixty four years before Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), there was another victor in town. Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) wasn’t always a tyrannical dictator. Wanting what is best for his family, he sees a chance at improving not only their future but his own when he is chosen as a mentor for the tenth annual Hunger Games. Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) is everything that Coriolanus is not. Somehow he still find himself drawn to her.

The grand return to Panem was one I wasn’t sure how to feel about. I remember being hesitant about this prequel because Snow wasn’t a character I cared for in the first four films. Why would I want to read about him? I did become curious, however, when I heard they were adapting the novel for the screen.

While I cannot speak as to whether or not they stayed close to the source material, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the film. There was a lot to fit into its two hour and twenty seven minute run time, but I think it flowed moderately well. The first two parts were jam-packed. Unfortunately the momentum was lost in the final act and we were left with a rather abrupt ending.

The casting was pretty spot on here. Blythe was a great choice for our lead. I’d not seen him before and appreciated that he was able to keep things going. Zegler, on the other hand, is an actress that I have grown to love over the years. She is so talented and I love that she was able to show off her incredible singing voice in this role. Other standouts include Viola Davis as the creepy Dr. Gaul, Hunter Schafer as Corio’s devoted sister Tigris and Peter Dinklage as Dean Casca Highbottom.

With brilliant set design and special effects that totally transported me back to the Capital and the Districts, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is definitely one of the stronger entries of the franchise. It had constant high energy that had me gripping my seat, a diverse cast of characters and a touching love story that I couldn’t help rooting for. Of course I wish we’d seen more of Snow’s downfall, but I still had a good time.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

How To Have Sex

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Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce), Skye (Lara Peake) and Em (Enva Lewis) are best friends embarking on a rite of passage holiday to Greece. It should be the best summer of their lives filled with drinking, clubbing and meeting cute guys, though it quickly turns into anything but.

From debut director Molly Manning Walker comes a thought provoking and raw portrayal of friendship, love and consent. It helps knowing that she also penned the script which had the perfect blend of humor and drama. The whole film was an experience, one that I simply couldn’t tear my gaze away from.

Throughout its entirety, I couldn’t help but feel like I was watching my life unfolding in front of me. This trio of girls were so incredibly realistic; their conversations and the antics they found themselves in during the various nights out was reminiscent of my own memories. When they talked to one another, it seemed more like improv than lines because their chemistry just clicked. It really was like I was watching real life friends. And with friendships at that age comes the highs and lows which were depicted brilliantly.

While everyone gives impressive performances, it is McKenna-Bruce who takes the spotlight. The transformation we see Tara go through is mesmerizing. She perfectly encapsulated the excitement at the beginning of the holiday to when things start to go awry and how she wonders if she really wants to be there at all. When an event happens that changes everything for her, the performance shifted and became heartbreaking.

The topic of consent is an important one. The ambiguous way in which it is handled was smart because it leaves it open for interpretation. Sadly, this is the way in which these situations usually happen. I appreciated that it wasn’t obvious, but that I was never able to forget it.

How To Have Sex completely blew me away. I loved its boldness and the way in which it didn’t shy away from real situations. I commend Manning Walker for her direction and her writing and I am thankful to the cast for telling this story. This is a film that will truly stay with me and I urge you all to watch it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Marvels

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Having reclaimed her identity from the Kree, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) finds herself on a new space mission. While there, her powers become entangled with those of her niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and fangirl Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani). The three are left with no choice but to team up in order to take down a new foe.

This next entry in the MCU is one that fans have been waiting for for awhile. Unfortunately I didn’t quite feel like it held up to the hype. There was a lot about the story that seemed off to me and while it wasn’t terrible, it’s certainly one of the least impressive of the franchise to date.

With a run time of only an hour and forty five minutes, this is the shortest Marvel yet. I feel like this could have benefitted from some extra time to flesh things out. For example, new villain Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) was given literally no backstory. She just showed up and we were supposed to figure her out as the plot progressed. She would have been so much more multidimensional with some extra scenes to fill in those holes. The shortened length also impacted a lot of the flow. There were scenes that occurred in the second half that seemed random and like they weren’t supposed to be there.

The shining light here was Kamala Khan. She truly stole every scene she was in. All of her one liners had me laughing out loud and I loved how she was always unapologetically herself. Her family was another bright spot, especially the scenes in which they shared with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). I also got a kick out of Goose the cat. Sadly, I couldn’t get on board with Larson’s performance as Carol this time around. It felt flat and like there was no passion there at all. I also got rather annoyed by the beef she and Monica shared with one another. Luckily all three balanced one another out well and made a good team.

It’s a pity that The Marvels left a lot to be desired, but I can’t help but think that Marvel may be having somewhat of an identity crisis. A lot of fans have claimed there hasn’t been a decent installment since Endgame and I’m starting to agree with the,. It seems like they’ve been preferring quantity over quality which is not always a good thing. Though the mid credits scene did peak my interest, I hope they work out the kinks and get back on track soon.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5