Tag: NatashaLyonne

The Bad Guys 2

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

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

His Three Daughters

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

Three estranged sisters come together in the last days of their father’s life. They couldn’t be more different: Katie (Carrie Coon) who has been struggling to get through to her teenage daughter, Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) who is away from her child for the first time and Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) who has never left the apartment she shares with her dad. Being in such close quarters for the first time in years will surely bring up all sorts of emotions.

I always like it when a film takes place in one location. It makes me feel like I’m watching a play. Not only that, but it really makes the overall atmosphere more intimate than usual because its focus is on a few select players. The father’s apartment holds a different meaning for each of the sisters though that doesn’t make it any less important. The only time the setting shifts is when we see the park and that in itself just feels like an extension.

Each actor delivers an impressive performance. They know these characters well and the way in which they work off each other was enjoyable to watch. Coon drove me crazy at times with her controlling ways, but I could also emphasize because as the eldest daughter she obviously felt like she had the most responsibility. Olsen was the peacemaker; I appreciated her efforts to mend the bridge between Coon’s Katie and Lyonne’s Rachel. Speaking of Lyonne, I’ve never seen her in such a role before. Her fear of a life without her father was so relatable. I think she was my favorite.

One of the downfalls for me was that sometimes the arguments would be solved too quickly. I would have liked more time in between for the dust to settle. I do understand these time constraints, however. In addition, there was a choice made in the final act that I didn’t completely agree with. It would have been more impactful if they had left it out entirely.

Overall, His Three Daughters was a realistic depiction of a family going through tragedy. With plenty of dramatic moments, there were also had some hopeful ones that perfectly balanced everything out. I’m not sure if it’s a film I’ll be revisiting anytime soon, but it is one that I’m glad I watched.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️