Tag: Netflix

Enola Holmes 3

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It’s been nearly four years since Enola Holmes last graced our screens. Now the young detective is back and our story picks up in Malta. Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is set to marry Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) in an elaborate ceremony fit for a lord and lady. But the nuptials are thrown off course when Dr. Watson (Himesh Patel) announces that Sherlock (Henry Cavill) has gone missing. Enola is suddenly thrust into a case unlike any other. With help from her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter) and local Mikiel (Joe Azzopardi), it’s a race against time to find Sherlock.

I love everything and anything having to do with Sherlock Holmes. The first two Enola films are so much fun! They’re lighter in tone due to the younger heroine front and centre, but they also deal with some important topics too. I couldn’t wait for this new instalment, especially since the last one came out so long ago. Now that the cast have grown up, I was curious to see if and how this would be reflected in the story.

From the get go, the tonal shift was evident. Like Enola who is preparing to become a wife, Brown has also recently gotten married and adopted a child. The level of maturity was ramped up significantly. The case, for example, is the most emotional one yet and the way in which this influenced the characters was interesting to watch unfold. This did make it feel like the stakes were raised and while some of the other themes were a bit muddled, this one at least shone through.

People often say that Brown overacts, but I don’t agree. I have always liked her as an actress and I think this role is perfect for her. With this being her third outing, she’s got it down to a T. The character is relatable and I think young girls can really look up to her. All the usual suspects are back for the adventure too. I particularly enjoyed Bonham Carter who just looks to be having a ball. Sharon Duncan-Brewster has returned as Moriarty too. We have had many variations of this individual over the years, but I quite like how they chose to make her a woman here.

While I do agree that Enola Holmes 3 is the weakest of the bunch, I still had a great time with it. It took a while to get going, but once it did I was hooked. Though this could stand as a finale, and a fitting one at that, I also wouldn’t be opposed to more in the series. I guess only time will tell!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Voicemails For Isabelle

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Jill (Zoey Deutch) and Isabelle (Ciara Bravo) are not only sisters – they are best friends. Inseparable, ride or die, they speak to each other every single day about everything and anything. But Isabelle is sick and when she passes away, Jill’s whole life is turned upside down. Currently competing for a coveted baker position in San Francisco, Jill throws herself into her work and swears off men. As a way of coping, Jill starts leaving voicemails for Isabelle. Unbeknownst to her, the phone number has been reassigned to real estate agent Wes (Nick Robinson) and he ends up listening to all her confessions.

There are films that you watch and then there are films that make you feel. Voicemails For Isabelle falls into the latter category. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into it and I’m glad that I didn’t because I was granted such a beautiful viewing experience. The storyline may not be entirely original, but that didn’t matter. Every other aspect worked.

Deutch just has this charisma about her. She’s magnetic to watch. With the heavier subject matter, I was able to see another side to her that I hadn’t before. Not only did she nail those emotional scenes, I felt like I was on this grief journey too. Each decision was so relatable and came across so naturally. It had been a hot minute since I’d seen Robinson in something. He fell right back into the romcom game effortlessly. The chemistry he shared with Deutch was sincere. I also thought the supporting cast were strong with the likes of Harry Shum Jr. and Leah McKendrick as Andy and Breeda, Wes’s best friends, as well as Toby Sandeman as swarmy podcast host Tyler, Nick Offerman as the diabolical Chef Bastien and Lukas Gage as Arthur, a classmate of Jill’s at the cooking school.

At the core of the movie, however, is the love story between Jill and Isabelle. Their bond was so incredibly special and this was captured right from the get go. I need to give a shoutout to the actresses who portrayed these two when they were younger, Alice Comer and Iris Everly, because they helped set the scene of what was to come. For once it was nice that the focus wasn’t just on a romantic type of love, but instead love in all forms. That unbreakable bond between sisters was beautifully depicted throughout and although I do not have a sister myself, it still impacted me deeply.

Voicemails For Isabelle is one of those films that wasn’t just entertaining. It had something to say and it said it loud and clear. Funny, devastating, not afraid to be vulnerable and deeply human, it was like a rollercoaster in the best possible way.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Office Romance

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Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez) is the President and CEO of Air Cruz. She’s the big boss in charge and everybody know it. Having dedicated her professional life to get to the place that she is, her romantic prospects are zero to none. Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein) is a British lawyer who spends his free time visiting his incarcerated sister Lizzy (Jodie Whittaker) while trying to get her moved back to the UK. When Daniel starts working directly with Jackie, sparks fly between them.

Goldstein, who has written for Ted Lasso and Shrinking respectively, is no stranger to the comedy genre. I was so much looking forward to his foray into romance because how could he not knock that out of the park? Ladies and gentlemen take a seat because I am sorry to say that this was just not it for me. At all. And I was so disappointed. (But I still love you Brett).

Where do I even begin? For a film titled Office Romance, I was shocked to discover that the romance didn’t even start up until the halfway point. Sure there were some small hints at the beginning, but they stalled and didn’t really go anywhere. Nothing against Lopez or Goldstein who are great actors in their own right. I simply did not feel the chemistry between them. It seemed forced where it could have actually been really sweet if only they had covered a bit more ground together.

As far as the comedy goes, I also wasn’t sold. Very few of the jokes landed. Many of them were actually downright crude and I do not mean that in a good way. They could have leaned into it by going the same route as There’s Something About Mary or Forgetting Sarah Marshall where that raunchy humor heightens the plot and doesn’t take away from it. Instead it was over the top. I keep replaying the birth scene that Betty Gilpin’s character Sydney had and cringing because of how uncomfortable it made me.

Overall, Office Romance is the worst movie I have seen this year. I know that Netflix has made some stinkers in the past and unfortunately this is one of them. I don’t even have more I can say about it because it was boring and never went anywhere. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Rating: ♥️

Remarkably Bright Creatures

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Based on the novel by Shelby Van Pelt, Remarkably Bright Creatures follows Tova (Sally Field), an elderly widow who works nights at the aquarium. She befriends an octopus named Marcellus (Alfred Molina). When Tova is unexpectedly injured and has to step back from her cleaning duties, new to town Cameron (Lewis Pullman) fills in. The two couldn’t be more opposite from each other, but they will soon find

Getting a book to screen adaption right is no easy feat. Most of the time, the film will suffer because of how impossible it is to include every detail into it. I read the book a couple of years ago and while I didn’t fall in love with it like everybody else did, I could still understand why so many were charmed by the story. Of course I couldn’t help but be curious to see how they would put it all together for the silver screen. I am so pleased to report that it was absolutely wonderful!

This would have been an entirely different film if not for the brilliant casting of Field and Pullman. Field was perfect as our protagonist. The emotional depth that she showed was mesmerizing. As we learned more about her character and the loss she went through, not only with her husband, but also her son, my heart broke for her. Pullman also delivered a nuanced performance. They complimented each other nicely and had an organic chemistry. Molina voicing Marcellus was a genius choice; his distinctive and calming voice helped set the tone. He was the perfect narrator! I mustn’t forget Colm Meaney’s character, Ethan. Fellow townsman who runs the local store, he was a wonderful addition to the group and provided some laughs.

While the premise may seem strange – an octopus using his wiles to bring together two lonely individuals – it totally and completely worked. In other films it may come off as cheesy or unrealistic. That wasn’t the case here because everything was handled with such care, it didn’t even matter. The pacing was slow yet deliberate and every moment was made with purpose.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of my favorite films of the year so far. A beautiful story about grief, loneliness and the unexpected ways that people find their way back to each other, it swept me up and refused to let me go. From the bright colors, to the stunning scenery, and the perfect casting choices, it felt magical. I wasn’t expecting this to impact me as much as it did, but I was left in tears. I have a feeling this one will stay with me for a long time to come.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Roommates

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Devon (Sadie Sandler) never had friends growing up. Hoping to start fresh at college, she asks Celeste (Chloe East) to be her roommate. Celeste is everything that Devon is not: confident, cool and she doesn’t care what people think about her. But what starts as a ride or die friendship soon takes a dark turn.

I was initially on the fence about watching Roommates. It looked like your typical run of the mill Netflix comedy, not to mention it was produced by Adam Sandler and Happy Madison. However, as someone who has had their fair share of roommate drama in the past, I was curious to see what it was all about. I’m glad I did because it was better than I thought it was going to be though still not anything special.

This was actually my first time seeing Sandler act and while she wasn’t perfect, I thought she did a decent enough job as the lead. I could sympathize with her for wanting to make friends so badly she’ll do whatever it takes to fit in. I also felt for her when she started to realize that Celeste wasn’t who she thought she was. Similarly unfamiliar with East, I thought she was the standout. You could tell she was leaning into the antics and having fun during it.

The film boasts quite a colorful cast of characters and with them a great cast. Natasha Lyonne and Nick Kroll portrayed Devon’s parents Hannah and Brian. Aidan Langford starred as Alex, Devon’s brother. Carol Kane was Devon’s grandmother while Sarah Sherman was Dr. Schilling, the new dean of Walton University. Cameos by Megan Thee Stallion, Steve Buscemi and Janeane Garofalo were appreciated too. My favorites were Sarah Sherman and Megan Thee Stallion. They had some great scenes.

While I was able to relate to the roommate drama, I have to say that where the film lost me was the way in which is ended up coming together. I don’t want to spoil it and give too much away, but it did kind of fell apart in the third act. The choices seemed farfetched and like they were grasping at straws just for shock value. As a result, it took me out of the story.

Overall, Roommates was a fine film. It’s perfect for a Saturday night in. As I said before, I enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to, but ultimately it will be forgettable in the long run.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

People We Meet on Vacation

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Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) could not be more different. Poppy is outgoing, kills every plant she’s ever owned and can’t stay in one place for too long. Alex is reserved, would rather be stuck in a book and enjoys staying home. When the two meet by chance, they somehow become best friends. They decide that no matter how far apart they are, they will meet up once a year and go on vacation together.

The first of author Emily Henry’s books to be given the silver screen adaption treatment, Netflix had big shoes to fill. It’s the second of her six novels and I remember reading it as if it was yesterday – I was tucked up in a cottage in Canada with my husband during the summer of 2021. The weather was not on our side, but we made the most of it by watching movies, grilling under the covered deck and of course, reading. I was so excited when I heard that this was being made into a film. I’m pleased to report that they did it justice.

Every now and then, when you’re reading the source material, you sometimes have an idea in your mind of who you would like to be casted as the characters. I actually had no ideas prior to the film, but Bader and Blyth were Poppy and Alex. They exuded every single quality down to a tee. As the story was told mainly in Poppy’s perspective, Bader had a chance to really shine on screen and she did. I was already a fan from her time on My Lady Jane, but she’s proven now that she is a true leading lady. Blyth, of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes fame, was not featured as often, but he did make it count whenever he was. Together, their chemistry was so cute, easy and very believable.

One of the aspects I was most looking forward to seeing come to life was, of course, the depiction of each vacation. From camping in Canada, to getting drunk in New Orleans, to a derailed Norwegian plan and finally to the ill fated trip to Tuscany that changed everything, it was so fun to embark on these adventures with Poppy and Alex. I absolutely loved the club scene in New Orleans when Alex woos Poppy with his dance moves, but I think my favorite was Norway (or what should have been Norway).

Another way in which the film excelled was in its comedy. It was genuinely funny. I was laughing out loud on multiple occasions. I don’t remember the book having the same affect, but I’m not complaining. Some of the supporting cast members such as Jameela Jamil, Molly Shannon, Alan Ruck and Lukas Gage helped in this regard. The script was tight, some of the scenes condensed to make them flow better and although they did make some changes from the book, it wasn’t without reasoning.

Overall, People We Meet on Vacation is one of the better romcoms I have seen in awhile. Films of this genre have lately been disregarded; people don’t think they are realistic enough and don’t believe they should be taken seriously. This one was handled with the proper respect and care that was needed to drive home its message. I was left with the biggest smile on my face and my husband even became totally invested too. Now I can’t wait to see more of Emily Henry’s books receive the same treatment.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

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It’s been three years since the last Knives Out instalment dropped on Netflix. Now Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and director and writer Rian Johnson are back for another mystery. Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is a young priest who is reassigned to a remote parish in upstate New York. There, he must work together with Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) who is equal parts charming as he is threatening. When someone dies under puzzling circumstances, Benoit Blanc finds himself on the scene.

The original Knives Out is one of my favorite films of all time. I’ve seen it a handful of times and always recommend it to people when they are looking for something to watch. Glass Onion, its predecessor which came out in 2022, was slightly more wacky, but still highly entertaining. To say that Wake Up Dead Man was one of my most anticipated films of the year is an understatement. I could not wait to see what Blanc would be up to this time. While I did enjoy the film, I have to say that I was a little bit disappointed with it too.

One of the major draws of this franchise is its stacked cast. Craig is back for his third outing and he’s just as iconic as usual. My only qualm was that he didn’t come in until the fortieth minute mark! I definitely think he could have been introduced much earlier on. This is hands down O’Connor’s shining moment and boy does he take it. With a perfect mix of innocence and determination to clear his name as being suspect, he truly delivered. Glenn Close portrayed Martha Delacroix, a devoted servant to the church. She was fabulous yet slightly unhinged in her role and I found myself looking forward to whenever she would be on screen.

Unfortunately there were so many other characters who we just didn’t get the chance to know very well. Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Mila Kunis were all well casted. Because they didn’t have much backstory, they were just kind of there instead of seeming like real people. In the previous films we got to know who everyone was and each seemed suspicious. This time around some of the talent was wasted.

While I did appreciate the locked room element of the story, I’ll admit to getting lost in the religious themes. This, combined with the slower pace, and the fact that some of the scenes were just so drawn out made it hard for me to stay invested. Also, unlike in the previous films, there was no exciting reveal and it just kind of fell flat.

Overall, Wake Up Dead Man is my least favorite of the Knives Out trilogy. The cast were great, but I couldn’t help feeling like something was missing. Perhaps my expectations were simply too high, I don’t know. I appreciate Johnson wanting to do something different, but I was missing the thrill that the first two brought to me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

My Secret Santa

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Taylor Jacobson (Alexandra Breckenridge) is a single mom who is doing whatever she can to provide for her daughter Zoey (Madison MacIsaac). When Zoey is accepted into the ski program at the local resort, Taylor disguises herself as Santa so she can pay for the lessons. Matthew Layne (Ryan Eggold) is the resort owner’s son. He has never cared about anything except partying and women so when he’s forced to clean up his act, he steps up as manager. Sparks fly between Taylor and Matthew but he doesn’t know about her Santa gig.

Here we are with yet another generic Netflix Christmas film and I’m not complaining one bit. This was probably the one I was most excited for because I’ve been a fan of Breckenridge since Virgin River premiered. Once again there wasn’t anything to write home about, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Mike Rohl, who also directed The Princess Switch, did a good job here. The story is very reminiscent of Mrs. Doubtfire and that isn’t a bad thing. Taylor’s brother Eric (William Vaughn) and her brother in law Kenny (Adam Beauchesne) lend their expertise and create the necessary prostestics so she can become Santa. The parallels are evident, but the similarities didn’t bother me.

The cast delivered mostly solid performances. Breckenridge brought a warmth and sincerity to the role. She felt like a real person dealing with real life struggles and this makes you root for her. Her scenes as Santa aka Hugh Mann were also hilarious. Eggold seemed a bit more one dimensional, but at least the two of them had cute chemistry. Tia Mowry starred as Natasha, the resort assistant who feels slighted that Matthew has taken the role she has coveted and Diana Maria Riva portrayed Doralee, Taylor’s landlady who develops a crush on Hugh which of course causes all sorts of chaos.

Overall, My Secret Santa is one of those films where you know exactly what’s going to happen in the first ten minutes, but you don’t even care. It’s still a fun time. The story was engaging, the characters interesting and it had me feeling festive. This may actually be a holiday film I will revisit!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Champagne Problems

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Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) is a marketing executive who travels to France in hopes of securing the acquisition of a renowned champagne brand. Before she leaves, she makes a promise to her sister Skyler (Maeve Courtier-Lilley) that she will spend one night of her time away exploring the beautiful sights that Paris has to offer. When she meets Henri (Tom Wozniczka) at a bookshop, sparks fly. But when Sydney discovers that Henri is the champagne brand founder’s son, things get complicated.

This one wasn’t initially on my radar though I’m not sure why. A festive romcom taking place in the city of love is right up my alley! And as far as Netflix films go, it’s actually one of the more decent ones.

While I found Sydney to be a bit annoying at first, once she stopped being so uptight and decided to be more spontaneous, I really warmed up to her character. Kelly did a great job portraying her and as the film progress the audience gets to understand why she’s so career driven to begin with. Henri is the handsome Parisian who sweeps Sydney off her feet and sweep he does. Their meet cute was charming (I wish that bookshop actually existed!) and it was nice to see them let their guard down around each other even when they learned of the other’s true identities.

I’m so pleased that they casted French speaking actors as it made the story feel more authentic. Thibault de Montalembert starred as Hugo Cassell, Henri’s father and the founder of Chateau Cassell. Astrid Whettnall was Brigette, an interested buyer. Joël Cudennec was the devoted butler and lover of vintage cars. Thierry René was the helpful concierge Marcel at the hotel where Sydney stayed. In addition to them were Sean Amsing as Roberto Salazar and Flula Borg as Otto Moller, two other interested buyers who were super funny and stole many of the scenes they were in. They all played their parts well.

Choosing to film on location was a great choice. Paris at Christmas is a joy and the chateau in the countryside was also beautiful. All that snow and the small town vibe really had me feeling cozy.

Overall, Champagne Problems was actually not bad. The storyline mixes business and pleasure with the backdrop of the festive season. The two leads have good chemistry and while it’s predictable, it’s still sweet enough that I didn’t even mind. I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for something to get you into the holiday spirit.

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