Tag: MovieReview

Materialists

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From writer and director Celine Song comes an unconventional take on dating in the modern world. Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a high end matchmaker who just witnessed her ninth couple getting married. At said wedding she meets the incredibly handsome and filthy rich Harry (Pedro Pascal) who is instantly smitten with her. But at the same wedding Lucy also runs into her ex boyfriend, struggling actor John (Chris Evans), and realizes that there is still a spark between them. Now she has to make an impossible choice.

If you are going into this film expecting a cute romcom, you would be mistaken. Instead what Song has given us is something so much more than that. The dating scene has changed over the years, especially with the influence of social media, and this was an interesting take on just how materialistic we’ve all become as a result.

The casting of our three leads was perfect. I could not imagine anybody else playing these characters except for Johnson, Pascal and Evans. Together they had real, organic chemistry and it was hard for me to determine who I wanted Lucy to be with more. On their own, they each portrayed a stereotype of people at different stages of their lives: Lucy at a crossroads of what she truly wants and what stage of life she thinks she should be at, Harry with an established career and stunning apartment and John dreaming of becoming an actor while living with two roommates and struggling to make ends meet.

While there was plenty of romance and some moments that had my theatre laughing out loud, there were some other themes woven throughout that I really appreciated. Self-worth, value and materialism are at the forefront and they really had me reflecting on not only personal experiences I have had in the past, but also those of my friends who are still dealing with similar situations every single day. It also illustrated the less glamorous side of dating such as individuals only wanting a certain age bracket or skin color as well as what could happen when a date takes a turn for the worst.

Materialists was one of the films that I was most excited for this summer. I was a big fan of Song’s debut Past Lives and couldn’t wait to see what she was going to do next, not to mention the fact that this cast was an absolute dream. I’ll admit that the marketing may be misleading, but I actually think I enjoyed the film much more because I went into it thinking it would be one thing and I ended up getting so much more out of it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Freakier Friday

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Twenty two years ago, Anna (Lindsay Lohan) and Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) swapped bodies. Now Anna has become just like her mom and is trying to raise her teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters). When Anna falls in love with Eric (Manny Jacinto) and the two decide to get married, Harper is less than thrilled. Eric has a daughter named Lily (Sophia Hammons) and the two girls cannot stand each other. After an encounter with a physic at Anna’s bachelorette party, history ends up repeating itself.

Twelve year old me loved the original Freaky Friday back in 2003. Not only did I see it more than once in the cinema, I wore out that VHS tape! I knew each line and all the song lyrics. I wanted to be Lindsay Lohan and I was in love with Chad Michael Murray. Upon my rewatch I was pleased to see that it still holds up. While news of the sequel was no surprise, I didn’t think it was necessary. What did surprise me was how much I enjoyed it!

It felt like no time had passed with Lohan and Curtis reprising their iconic roles. You can tell that they are having the time of their lives. Playing teenagers made for some hilarious hijinks. I was in absolute stitches at the scene where Harper as Anna is taking to Anna’s former flame Jake (Chad Michael Murray) in the record shop. Butters and Hammons are welcome additions who mix things up. They had just as much fun eating junk food and zipping around LA on scooters.

Plenty of other familiar faces have returned as well. It was so nice to see the likes of Mark Harmon as Ryan, Lucille Soong as Grandma Chiang and Rosalind Chao as Mama P., Ryan Malgarini as Harry and Stephen Tobolowsky as Mr. Bates again. Pink Slip is back too with Christina Vidal and Haley Hudson as Maddie and Peg giving yet another brilliant performance of Take Me Away. In fact, there are so many little easter eggs scattered throughout that makes it so much fun.

I was not expecting to get so in my feels. Not only did the film once again focus on mother daughter relationships, it also threw in themes of found family, loss, grief and acceptance. Lily losing her mother hit too close to home and I sympathised with her for not wanting to open her heart up again. On the other hand, Anna and Harper on stage in the final act almost had me full on sobbing. If you know you know.

Overall, Freaky Friday did not need a sequel, but I’m glad they made one. Fans of the original will be happy while newcomers will be able to fall in love with the franchise right away. Lohan and Curtis are in top form while the Butter and Hammons are worthy additions. Somehow Disney was able to completely up the stakes making for another brilliant outing.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

My Oxford Year

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Based on the book by Julia Whelan, My Oxford Year follows Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson) as she sets out to the prestigious university to study poetry. She’s had her life planned out just so, but she never expected to meet Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest). A PHD student filling in as a TA for the poetry class that Anna is taking, the two have a rocky start that quickly develops into something life changing.

The student teacher relationship aside, I have to say that I thought the relationship between our two main characters was lovely to watch. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope, but this one packed a punch I didn’t see coming. It seems as though Carson has been in everything and anything on Netflix lately, but I am not complaining. I was familiar with Mylchreest from Queen Charlotte and remember him being quite the heartthrob. Together they had a sweet and organic chemistry; I was rooting for them from the beginning.

As I hadn’t read the book prior to watching the film, I went in blindly and I was completely floored when I discovered where the story was going. I probably shouldn’t have been too surprised and yet I was still caught off guard by how touching the whole thing was. The importance of living every moment as if it’s your last was not only prominent, but depicted perfectly.

Another selling point for me was, of course, the beautiful Oxford backdrop. It’s been a hot minute since I last visited, but I was instantly transported there. The various pub outings, kebab stand and the Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race were just so quintessentially British that I couldn’t help but smile.

Overall, I went into My Oxford Year expecting a cute, easy going rom-com and came out of it with something more. The acting may not have been the best and I didn’t really care for the side characters, but that’s okay. The story and the central romance was enough to keep me invested.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

The Bad Guys 2

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The Bad Guys are back and they are set on turning over a new leaf. Life on the other side of crime isn’t easy as Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) struggle to find new jobs. When they are forced out of retirement, they need to decide if being good is what they really want.

I enjoyed the first Bad Guys film. The story was interesting and the animation had a modernized twist to it. I had no idea Dreamworks were making a sequel until recently. It would be fun to be reunited with this colorful cast of characters. It did end up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.

One of the ways in which the film excels is in its voice talents. Everyone is back for this adventure and this time they are joined by some new faces. Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), Doom (Natasha Lyonne) and Pigtail (Maria Bakalova) are The Bad Girls. They were welcome additions to the cast and I liked their various interactions with the gang.

Once again, the animation is vibrant and stylish with some new locations featured throughout. It also has a fabulous soundtrack that had me dancing in my seat. The theme of acceptance was heavily featured and I appreciated how it focused on who these characters really were as opposed to the choices they might have made.

Aside from that, the plot was a bit too convoluted. There was a lot going on and at times I struggled to keep track of it all. The actual job that The Bad Guys were roped into doing was too random for me to believe and it seemed like it had all this build up to just end in an anti-climatic way. I’m sure a younger audience wouldn’t have minded, but I couldn’t help but wish for more.

I do believe that The Bad Guys is one of Dreamworks better projects, but this sequel wasn’t necessary. From what I can remember the original was wrapped up nicely though in today’s day and age, I guess another instalment was inevitable. I guess after I was so pleasantly surprised by the first one, I had higher expectations this time around.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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With its third outing this year alone, Marvel is officially kicking off Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the first Marvel family, returned from a space mission with superhuman powers. Now they about to face their biggest test yet when a god named Galactus (Ralph Ineson) threatens more than just Earth.

There have been a couple iterations of Fantastic Four before. I’ve not seen them, but I heard that they left a lot to be desired. Since I cannot make a comparison, I am only able to go off this one. Overall there was much to like. However I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.

Casting always has a huge impact and this time around was no exception. The core four perfectly embodied their characters. Not only that, they really did feel like a family. The simple scenes of them at the dinner table or when they discovered that Sue was pregnant really helped ground them and made them more authentic. I also appreciated how we didn’t have a full on backstory and instead were brought up to speed in a way that felt fresh.

The look and feel of the film was such a vibe. Set in the future, but with a sixties flair, it definitely set itself apart from other installments we have seen. From the color palette and fashion, to the robot sidekick and the flying car, I felt like I was watching an episode of The Jetsons.

Unfortunately the pacing seems off to me. Some scenes felt disjointed and this resulted in some slower moments that took me out of the story. I also wasn’t particularly sold on the villains. Galactus was threatening enough though I felt like he just came out of nowhere all of a sudden. Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), on the other hand, had more promise, but again we weren’t given too much information about her until almost the end of the film.

Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a solid entry for the MCU. I’m glad that they seem to be finding their footing once again. Something was just missing for me and I’m not entirely sure what. Maybe my expectations were too high. I did enjoy it, but I didn’t love it like I was hoping to.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

I Know What You Did Last Summer

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Thirty years after the original, I Know What You Did Last Summer has been given the legacy sequel treatment. When a group of friends inadvertently cause a car accident, they make a pact that they will never discuss the events of that night. One year later they discover that someone knows what they did and this person is hellbent on revenge.

I only got around to seeing the first two films about a month ago. My first foray into this franchise was with the 2021 television series. When I heard that a sequel was being made and that it featured a bunch of actors that I like, I decided to finally do my homework. These films were right up my alley which I guess is no surprise considering the creator, Kevin Williamson, was also behind Scream.

This new version was a total blast. Right from the beginning we are brought into the lives of this new group of friends: Ava (Chase Sui Wonders), Danica (Madelyn Cline), Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), Teddy (Tyriq Withers) and Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon) and the night that changes their lives forever. Though the acting chops weren’t the best, I absolutely loved every moment that Cline was on screen. Danica had so many fabulous one liners that were delivered flawlessly. I also thought Wonders did a decent job as our leading lady.

With any legacy sequel there needs to be plenty of callbacks to the original. The major one here was the return of Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson. This was the series that catapulted them to stardom and seeing them back in these iconic roles was truly brilliant. My crush on Prinze Jr. was also reignited throughout the almost two hour runtime.

It was obvious pretty early on that the stakes were so much higher. There were so many jump scares and the kills themselves were way more gory and surprising. I can’t lie and say that I wasn’t closing my eyes during many of them. Where the film dwindles is in its final act when one of the twists comes so out of left field it will certainly leave viewers divided. I was completely shocked, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I do think it could have been explained better though.

Overall I Know What You Did Last Summer may not have been necessary, but I had a great time with it. I felt like it did a great job encapsulating that nineties feeling and went full force on the slasher front. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it didn’t have to be.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Superman

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The newly reinvented DC Universe is here and with it a brand new Superman adventure. This time around it’s no origin story – instead it picks up in the middle of a war between two neighbouring countries. As an alien himself, Superman (David Corenswet) is forced to face his roots with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.

With James Gunn at the helm, I was cautiously optimistic. Having enjoyed both Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, I was looking forward to seeing his take on the iconic comic book character. Mixing his signature blend of comedy and heart, we have the most human version of Superman there’s ever been and that was quite refreshing.

It is no doubt that Corenswet looks the part of our hero. I didn’t know what to expect though I think he did a good job. Superman isn’t supposed to be full of depth, but having this version of him show a more caring side worked. Rachel Brosnahan’s version of Lois Lane was spot on. I like how she had her own stuff going on alongside her relationship with Clark. That being said, the chemistry Lois shared with Clark was sweet and believable; it was probably my favorite of the recent versions we’ve had. Nicholas Holt is a menacing Lex Luthor. At times I really wanted to punch him because he was so annoying, but I was equally as charmed by him because he was doing it so well. Special shout outs go to Skylar Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawgirl and Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher. I’m already looking forward to hopefully seeing much more of them as this universe expands.

While the film boasted a vibrant color palette, some beautifully shot moments and mostly convincing CGI, it wasn’t without its faults. There was a lot going on storyline wise and I’m not sure they were all completely necessary. This meant that there was also an abundance of characters and at times it was hard to keep up with them. And although I liked how it picked up right in the middle of a battle, I did find that choice a bit disorienting and it took me a minute to get situated.

It’s no secret that superhero movies have been on a downward spiral over the last few years. DC, in particular, has put out some subpar films that never fully captured the hearts of its audiences. I always tried to defend them, but I knew they could be better. While this was not a full return to form for the franchise, I definitely think Superman was a step in the right direction.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

M3GAN 2.0

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It’s been two years since M3GAN’s (Jenna Davis) destruction. Gemma (Allison Williams) vowed never to dig up the past. Unfortunately she has no choice when she’s asked to take down Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), a mass military weapon built using M3GAN’s blueprints.

The first M3GAN was a runaway smash hit that made me appreciate the genre. I remember how excited I was about it; the campiness and absurdity of it all just worked. Hearing that a sequel was on the horizon seemed inevitable and I could not wait to see what our favorite killer robot would get up to next. I never could have imagined this.

It’s important to note that if you are going into this film expecting horror, you will be disappointed. The complete shift in genre is one that had many fans, including myself, scratching their heads. While the storyline itself was actually interesting and it dealt with the very topical subject of AI, I’m not sure why they went down this route.

All the familiar faces of the original are back. Williams reprises her role as Gemma and I liked how her character ended up developing throughout this instalment. Violet McGraw, as Gemma’s niece Cady, took a bit of a backseat though her special bond with M3GAN was still very evident. Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps, Cole and Tess respectively, are vital members of Gemma’s team. I couldn’t imagine these films without them.

The titular M3GAN is, of course, the main event once more. From the moment she is resurrected, the audience is put under her trance yet again. While I was missing her murderous ways, I can understand their reasoning for making her more human. It fit with the new story. Though I wish we’d had one of her epic dance routines, there is a scene that rivals Titanium which had me in stitches.

Overall, M3GAN 2.0 is a decent enough film as long as you can wrap your head around the complete tonal shift. I do wish it had stuck more to the root of what made it so lovable in the first place, however, I respect the choices that were made to focus on another vital situation. It may not have been what I wanted, but I will always tune in for another adventure with M3GAN.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

F1: The Movie

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The blockbuster event of the summer has arrived! F1: The Movie follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a driver coming out of retirement for the first time in thirty years. After he is approached by his old friend Ruben (Javier Bardem) to join his failing team APXGP, Sonny is paired up with a rookie named Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Together the two must learn to put aside their differences otherwise the team will cease to exist.

I’d like to think that I’m not a total amateur when it comes to Formula One. My husband, being the sports fanatic that he is, always has the races on so I have picked up some things over the past eight years. That being said it was never something that really appealed to me. I didn’t think watching cars race around a track was interesting. And then this movie came around and made me rethink everything.

Right from the beginning I was swept up into this world. Pitt delivers a brilliant performance as our underdog protagonist. He’s got a major chip on his shoulder and as the film progresses the audience is let into his life. Idris is a star in the making. I wish we’d had more backstory to his character. These two men worked really well off each other; their constant jabs were comical though at the end of the day they had a lot more in common than they could have expected. The rest of the cast were stellar too. Kim Bodnia, Sarah Niles, Abdul Salis and Tobias Menzies each added that extra something to the film. I also enjoyed Kerry Condon’s Kate McKenna, the team’s technical director. Her romance with Sonny did seem like an afterthought and either could have been developed more or scrapped all together. Give us a girl boss who doesn’t need a man!

I thought it was genius to film the races alongside actual stops of the 2023-2024 seasons. It made the feel so much more authentic. They used the exact same grids and we even had plenty of cameos by the real racers and behind the scenes people of the sport. Not only was it thrilling to watch and be part of, I also learned a lot.

F1: The Movie is what any summer smash should be. It’s got adrenaline pumping race sequences, a killer soundtrack and great performances. I’m not sure if I’ll start watching the actual races just yet, but I’m definitely not opposed to the idea anymore. Go and see this film on the biggest screen possible. You won’t regret it!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Elio

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Pixar’s latest offering follows Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a space fanatic whose life has been upended after the death of his parents. He moves in with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana), but the two don’t exactly see eye to eye. Elio can’t help but feel like he doesn’t belong and when he’s beamed up to a planet in the sky he’s hopeful that he’s finally found his place.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t overly excited for this film. Maybe that’s because there was little to no marketing for it. This was a pity because it had a lot of things going for it. It may not be one of the best Pixar films ever, but it was still solid.

Let’s start with the voice talents. While I was unfamiliar with Kibreab before, I felt like he perfectly encapsulated the titular character. Elio is someone you want to root for. He feels misunderstood and like he hasn’t found his purpose which is just so relatable. Saldana is similarly just as relatable as aunt Olga; nothing could have prepared her to look after her brother’s son and the fact that she gives up her dreams of becoming an astronaut to do so shows that she cares. In the Communiverse we meet an array of unique characters voiced by the likes of Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Matthias Schweighöfer and Shirley Henderson, all of who gave their best to the performances.

The film is filled with some beautiful animation. It’s bursting with rich colors and zany designs. From there it almost seemed like an entirely different story which isn’t necessarily a bad thing – if anything it helped set aside the difference from Earth.

Perfectly blending humor, emotion and action, Elio was an enjoyable enough film for the whole family. Dealing with themes of loss, grief and the desire to belong, it’s unfortunate that not a lot of people seem to know about it. I’m sure the delayed release didn’t do the film any favors and I definitely think it’s still worth checking out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️