Tag: MovieReview

The Family Plan 2

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It has been two years since Dan’s (Mark Wahlberg) family found out that he was a spy. Now that his days of espionage are over, all he wants is to spend a quiet Christmas together with his wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan), his daughter Nina (Zoe Colletti), and his two sons Kyle (Van Crosby) and Max (Peter and Theodore Lindsey). When he learns that Nina has her own plans, they jet off to London. He doesn’t expect to run into someone from his past while he is there.

I remember having a fun time with the first Family Plan film. It wasn’t anything special, but the action was entertaining enough and I liked the family bonding aspect of it all. Although this is yet another sequel that nobody asked for, I was still curious to see what they were going to do.

A good spy story usually includes the characters traveling to exotic places. I loved how this time around the gang visited both London and Paris. Considering the fact that they are two of my favorite cities in the world, I got a kick out of recognizing the various places while also laughing at how unrealistic some of those logistics are – I’m sorry but you cannot walk from Brick Lane all the way to Somerset House. It would just take too long! Still both these places are beautiful to visit during the festive period so it was nice to take it all in.

The Morgan family, and those who portray them, reprise their roles as if no time has passed. When it comes to action, Wahlberg’s still got it. I did like how he leaned into a more comedic side of his role; the exchanges between him and Nina’s boyfriend Omar (Reda Elazouar) had me giggling. The rest are all good and have their own moment to shine.

A new addition to the cast this time around was Kit Harrington who portrayed Finn Clarke, Dan’s half brother. Intended to be the villain, the idea of his character was unfortunately better in theory than in reality. I understand why he felt slighted and why he went after Dan and his family, but the whole thing could have been avoided if they’d just had a conversation.

Overall, The Family Plan 2 was more enjoyable than I was expecting it to be. No, it wasn’t necessary by any means and I won’t be running to rewatch it anytime soon, but that’s okay. They are entertaining and they don’t take themselves seriously. I would not be opposed to more of them in the future.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Wicked: For Good

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Wicked took the world by storm when the first part of the stage adaption hit cinemas in 2024. Exactly one year later, the conclusion fans have been waiting for is here. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is grappling with her new identity as the Wicked Witch of the West after going against the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Meanwhile Glinda (Ariana Grande) has become a public figure as the nation’s defender against Elphaba. But their friendship is stronger than the obstacles being thrown at them and they must make some difficult decisions that will seal their fates.

As someone who has seen the show three times, I always preferred the first act to the second. I thought it would be the same case with the film and while I absolutely loved part one, I have to say that part two really hit me straight in the feels in a way I wasn’t expecting it to. It truly was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

Firstly, I want to thank Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for being the most perfect Elphaba and Glinda. I simply could not imagine anyone else in these roles. Their chemistry shines so bright and was amped up even more for this final outing. Let’s be real, they are the true romance of the story. Erivo had to tap into a different side of her character and she did it so effortlessly. This is a woman who has been so misunderstood by everyone around her, but she doesn’t let anybody sway her opinions. Grande, on the other hand, was the standout for me. She took Glinda and gave her so much depth. If she doesn’t get the Oscar for this, then I will riot.

The film would be incomplete if it didn’t have the rest of the cast members. I enjoyed seeing more of Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. He has quite the arc in this half and he portrayed it brilliantly. I also liked how the storylines developed for Ethan Slater’s Boq and Marissa Bode’s Nessarose. The update for Nessarose in particular was a good choice. Goldblum is just as much of a fake as ever and Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible was despicable in the best way possible.

From the Emerald City to Munchkinland and beyond, the cinematography was visually stunning. The color palette was bright and vibrant where it needed to be, but even in those darker and more sombre moments did they still pop. The costume and make up department were top notch once again. This world and these people became so so real as a result. I also need to give a special shout out to As Long As You’re Mine, No Good Deed and For Good which were the songs I liked best. The latter just completely broke me.

I’ve been seeing that some people haven’t enjoyed the tonal shift, but it is integral to the story. The pacing always felt a little off to me in the stage version, but that wasn’t the case here. They tightened it up nicely and were still able to highlight the most important parts. I’m glad that they decided to incorporate Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. She was more prominent in the film than on stage, but not so much that it took away from Elphaba and Glinda’s story and it also did not hinder the magic that made The Wizard of Oz so iconic.

Wicked: For Good was my most anticipated movies of the year and it more than delivered. Jon M. Chu should be so proud for what he has accomplished as should the rest of the cast and crew. I laughed, I clapped, I cheered and I sobbed my eyes out. I cannot believe that this era is over – I will miss it. I truly have been changed for good.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

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Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) were the perfect couple who had the perfect life. Fast forward many years later, they are now separated and planning on celebrating one last Christmas together with their kids Sienna and Gabe (Emily Hall and Wilder Hudson) before their divorce is final. When Everett invites his new girlfriend Tess (Jameela Jamil) to join in on the festivities, tensions rise and feelings that Kate and Everett long thought were buried begin to resurface.

It’s that time of the year again when Netflix release a slew of holiday themed films to get people into the festive spirit. While they have been kind of awful, I look forward to them anyway. They’re silly and cringey and totally predictable, but they make me happy and that’s all that I really care about.

The cast were enough of a reason for me to check this out. It was hard for me not to think of Cher Horowitz whenever Silverstone was on screen. Her character wasn’t the most likeable, but she was cute and quirky enough that I was able to give her a pass. Hudson’s character was kind of a douche though I guess that was the point. Jamil seemed more like a plot device, but I didn’t mind because she was still iconic. Geoffrey Owens and Derek McGrath starred as Daryl and Mike, Everett’s dads. They were a bright spot for me and provided quite a few laughs. I also loved how they got Melissa Joan Hart to play Kate’s friend April. To have Cher Horowitz and Sabrina Spellman together was a childhood dream come true. Unfortunately, I found Pierson Fode as Chet, a potential new suitor for Kate, and Timothy Innes as Nigel, Sienna’s British boyfriend, so incredibly annoying and they didn’t add anything to the story.

Where the film fell flat for me was that it lacked some emotional depth. There could have been a few flashbacks explaining in more detail while Kate and Everett decided to separate as well as conversations with the people they were closest with to drive those feelings home to the audience. Instead, the focus was more on some comedy which isn’t a bad thing, but that didn’t always feel necessary here.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas was my first Christmas film of the season. My husband and I watched it while we were decorating our tree and it was very fitting. This probably won’t be one of those films that I will remember much of in a week nor will I rush back to revisit it, but I did think it did the trick.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t

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It’s been ten years since we last saw The Horsemen, but they are finally back on our screens! New performers Charlie (Justice Smith), Bosco (Dominic Sesa) and June (Ariana Greenblatt) team up with the retired gang for a diamond heist unlike any other. Spanning multiple countries and high stakes magic tricks, they have to take on new villain Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike).

I love the first two Now You See Me films so much! When film number one came out I remember being completely enthralled in the idea of it; they took magic and amped it up by a million. While the second wasn’t as great, it was still a fun time. And although this third outing probably wasn’t necessary, I still enjoyed every single minute of it.

All the major players were back: Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas, Woody Harrelson as Merrit McKinney, Dave Franco as Jack Wilder and Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves reprised their roles and it was honestly like no time had passed. They still had such an effortless chemistry with one another and it looked like they were having a ball. I actually liked the new character additions. It made sense to introduce some fresh blood and they fit in well. Pike also completely smashed it as a bad guy. Her accent was not at all convincing, but I think that was supposed to be the point and it added some surprising comedy to her scenes.

I’ve heard some people say that there wasn’t as many full on magic tricks as before and while I can see where they are coming from, I do understand why they had to go bigger this time around. There was still the usual slight of hand and card tricks, but the scene in chateau in France was cool and the final trick came together in a way that I wasn’t expecting though I mean that in the best way possible.

Overall, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t may not have been the best in the franchise, but I still had a blast with it. I could literally watch a million of these films and never get bored of them so here’s hoping we get many more!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Frankenstein

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From the creative mind of Guillermo del Torro comes a new adaption of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The story follows Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a mad scientist, who attempts to bring people back from the dead. When he successfully gives life to a new type of creature (Jacob Elordi), nothing will never be the same again.

This film has been in the works for many years and I have to say it was well worth the wait. Coming in at two and a half hours seemed daunting at first, but every single one of those minutes is warranted. There have been quite a few versions of this story told and this one breathes new life into it while still staying true to the source material.

With del Torro saying he wanted real sets built for authenticity he truly brought his point across. Not only were they expertly crafted, they were so otherworldly that I was left speechless at times. All of a sudden it felt like I was transported into this place with its vibrant colors and cool locations. Each one just kept getting better. The beautiful set designs paired brilliantly with the costumes and the haunting score that played throughout.

The casting was spot on and the performances well done. Isaac was perfect as the titular character. You root for him at the beginning because he wants to prove himself so badly, but by the end I couldn’t help resenting him for the choices he made. Elordi, however, stole the show for me. I was so impressed with the way in which he approached his role. Not only was he unrecognizable, he also had to change his voice and mannerisms to match those of a monster. While Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth did not have a lot of screen time, they were so present every time we did see them and their character’s were just as integral to the story.

I loved the idea of splitting the film into three separate chapters. This gave the audience a chance to experience the events that were unfolding from different perspectives. You know the saying there are two sides to every story and then there’s the truth? That seemed to ring true here. Each part helped build all the important plot points and didn’t leave anything out. In most reiterations of Frankenstein, the Creation is usually depicted as an evil monster. This time around he was given some proper human qualities. I really appreciated this change and felt like it added so much more.

Overall Frankenstein really is as epic as everyone has been saying it is. From the performances, to the brilliant sets, costumes and the world building itself, it is truly a treat. Although I wish I had had the chance to see this in the cinema, I am glad that it exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to see how it does come awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Die My Love

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Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson) are young and in love when they move to a rural house in the middle of nowhere in Montana. After the birth of their son, Jackson goes back to work while Grace is stuck at home looking after him every day. Slowly Grace descends into madness, questioning every single she thought she knew and worrying those around her.

Directed by Lynne Ramsay, this film is a slow burn character study that uniquely portrays postpartum depression. A topic that is usually overlooked, the way in which it was approached here was unlike anything I have ever seen and I have to commend all who were involved. It was raw and intimate and gave me a lot to think about.

This is hands down Lawrence’s film. She steals every single scene she is in and gives it her absolute all. From making me laugh one minute to being concerned the next, I never knew in which direction she would take Grace. The lines are often blurred throughout – it is hard to determine exactly what is real and what is happening in Grace’s mind, but that doesn’t matter. It’s a wild ride that I never wanted to get off of and I’d be surprised if she didn’t get an Oscar if nomination for this.

Pattinson didn’t have the easiest task of selling the distressed husband, but it came across well. The choices he makes along the way aren’t the best though they can be understood to an extent due to everything that is going on at home. Sissy Spacek stars as Jackson’s mother Pam. Not only was she present for her son, she was also there for Grace whose own parents are no longer around. While she’s going through her own type of heartbreak, she still stands as a pillar of support.

The way in which the film was shot really adds to the whole dreamlike state that I felt while watching. The house served as some sort of limbo where whatever happened between the walls would just stay there while life carried on outside of it. This made it all the more isolating. I already mentioned that the pacing was slow which was necessary for the story. At times it was even repetitive, but then something crazy would happen that would snap the audience back to attention. It was kind of like whiplash, but in the best way possible.

Die My Love is not a film for everybody, but I really enjoyed it. With career best performances and stunning cinematography I was swept up into the lives of these two flawed characters from the very beginning. While I do think the runtime could have been just a bit shorter, I appreciated the daring way in which they dealt with the heavy topics and weren’t afraid to push the boundaries.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

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

Regretting You

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Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) got pregnant just out of high school. She married her boyfriend Chris (Scott Eastwood) and together they raised their daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace). When Chris is in a fatal accident with Morgan’s sister and Clara’s aunt Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), an unbelievable betrayal comes to light. Morgan is now forced to pick up the pieces, but she isn’t alone – best friend and Jenny’s baby daddy Jonah (Dave Franco) is in the same boat.

Based on the best selling novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, this is the second title to be adapted for the screen. After all the background drama surrounding It Ends With Us, I was skeptical to give this one a go. That being said, I did read the book a few years back and remember enjoying it. I also had the chance to watch this at an advanced screening so how could I say no?

There are quite a few characters and I thought that the casting choices were spot on. Williams was a shoe in for Morgan; she had the cautious and overprotective parent act down pat. Morgan’s relationship with Clara was an interesting one filled with many ups and downs. Williams and Grace worked well off each other and I bought them as mother/daughter. I still can’t get over the fact that Grace is nineteen now. I remember her starring as literally every single little girl character in every movie or tv show out there not too long ago! Franco had the whole quiet and slightly nerdy type down to a tee. His character was not the typical leading man, though as the film progressed, it became clear that that is exactly who he was. While Eastwood and Fitzgerald aren’t featured as much, the scenes that they were in helped to set up the dynamic between the friend group which I appreciated as there is a lot of important backstory.

Although there are some dramatic themes throughout the film, there are some sweet romances too. Clara falls for Miller Adams (Mason Thames), the most popular boy in school. He becomes a pillar of support for her after the death of her father and aunt. I thought they did a great job depicting their relationship. It really encapsulated that first love feeling. I also loved the will they won’t they for Morgan and Jonah. He’s had feelings for her for forever and somehow ended up with her sister instead. How it all develops between them had me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, Regretting You exceeded my expectations. It had everything you could want from a romantic dramady. Complete with swoon worthy moments and some devastating ones, what it all came down to was the importance of family. As far as I recall, it was also true to the book which always gets extra points from me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Roofman

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From director Derek Cianfrance comes a heartwarming true crime caper. Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), an army vet and struggling father, starts robbing McDonald’s to make ends meet. After escaping prison, he ends up living in a Toys R Us while he figures out what he’s going to do next. What he doesn’t expect is meeting and falling for divorced mom Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst). Suddenly his double life is on the line and it’s only a matter of time until somebody recognizes who he really is.

I had really been looking forward to this film. The fact that it was based on a true story only heightened my interest. I was ultimately expecting a cute romantic comedy mixed with some true crime, so imagine my delight when I got so much more than that.

Tatum’s performance as the titular Roofman is a career best. I had no prior information about Jeffrey Manchester and why he embarked on this life of crime. To discover that it was all to provide for his daughter just made so much sense. He was constantly feeling like he could never measure up and I think Tatum really made that clear in his delivery. Though at times I couldn’t help but feel bad for him, he was able to switch the tone at the drop of a hat by providing some hilarious moments. Dunst was solid as Leigh; I hadn’t seen her in a film in a while and she was just as great as I remembered her to be. The two shared such a charming chemistry with one another. I really loved watching their scenes and rooted for them so much.

The supporting cast were just as good. LaKeith Stanfield starred as Steve, a former army vet and friend of Jeffrey’s. He’s there for Jeffrey after the prison break though I wasn’t ever sure if we could trust him. Peter Dinklage was Mitch, the store manager of the Toys R Us where Jeffrey lived. He was not a particularly kind man, but I thought he perfectly portrayed the douchey boss. Juno Temple played Steve’s girlfriend Michelle. She didn’t have much screen time which was unfortunate because I do like her as an actress. And then there was Uzo Aduba as Eileen and Ben Mendelsohn as Pastor Ron who Jeffrey meets when he joins Leigh’s church. They were a lovable pair who seem very accepting of everybody.

I couldn’t resist the early two thousand vibes that the film boasted. From the Toys R Us store (do they even exist anymore?), to the quick blink and you’ll miss it Blockbuster and the Red Lobster sequence, I felt like I had been transported back in time. Even the way in which it was filmed gave it that retro feel which I loved.

Roofman truly surprised me. It was funny, but it was also quite emotional. It was obvious from the beginning that Jeffrey was in an impossible situation and to see how he coped with that involved many ups and downs. All he wanted was to make his family proud and I feel like even though things didn’t work out the way he wanted them to, they understood why he did what we did. I recommend checking this one out!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

The Threesome

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Connor Blake (Jonah Hauer-King) has had a crush on Olivia Capitano (Zoey Deutch) for ages. Aside from one night where they hooked up, she’s only ever seen him as a friend. When Jenny Brooks (Ruby Cruz) is stood up at the bar where Olivia works, the three strike up a conversation. One thing leads to another and the three engage in a night of passion. It all comes crashing down around Connor when he discovers that both girls are pregnant.

My initial reasoning for wanting to check the film out was its cast. I don’t understand why Deutch isn’t on my screen more because I have always liked her as an actress. Hauer-King has been popping up more and more lately and I can’t say that I’m mad about it. I was unfamiliar with Cruz, but she impressed me. I was just expecting a cute romcom of sorts and that wasn’t exactly what I ended up getting.

The relationship between these characters was the grounding force of the film. Their chemistry was palpable and I thought that the love triangle was fell thought out. I don’t blame those for thinking that the story would warrant more explicit material, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The threesome was just the launching pad of what was otherwise going to develop into something else.

Although this was pegged as a comedy, I don’t think that that is a very fair description. Sure there were some moments, particularly in the first act or two that had me giggling. As time went on, however, the tone shifted to something more dramatic. At the core, these people were thrown into an impossible dilemma that had me wondering how they were all going to get out of it. Understandably the characters changed as time went on, but I did not like the way in which Deutch’s character was taken; she was quite unlikable by the end. I also felt like the run time could have been cut short by about twenty minutes because it did drag a bit.

I had had high hopes from The Threesome, especially after hearing many positive things about it. While it did uniquely portray such a situation, I felt like it didn’t really know what it wanted to be at the end of the day. I also felt no satisfaction with the ending and as a result did not think it was very realistic.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5