Tag: Netflix

The Electric State

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Based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag, The Electric State follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphan, whose life hasn’t been the same since the war. She teams up with a robot and a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt) to find her long lost brother who she presumed was dead.

Directed by the Russo brothers and boasted to be the most expensive Netflix project ever made, one would expect this film to be slam dunk. Unfortunately that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. While there were some glimmers of hope at the beginning, my interest in the film grew thinner and thinner as the time went on and I just didn’t really see the point anymore.

Where the film excels is in its special effects and cinematography. The various robots that the audience meets throughout come with their own individual personalities thanks to the voice talents of Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Ke Huy Quan and Jenny Slate. The world building was pretty impressive as well with the vast lands of a post apocalyptic United States. As the film took place in the nineties, I also loved the throwback songs that were featured throughout as it really helped set the tone.

Brown is great in everything she does. I’ve grown to admire her as an actor over the years and she does what she can with the role. I can imagine that talking one on one to a robot for most of the film couldn’t have been easy. I can’t help but think that Pratt is being typecasted in yet another Peter Quill sort of role. I’m also not a fan of his in general so I found watching his scenes to be a bit annoying. Stanley Tucci is supposed to be a villain, but I didn’t find him menacing whatsoever.

Pacing was also an issue for me. It felt kind of all over the place and I’m wondering if maybe it had been made into a show instead of a film would it have fared better? The same can be said about the characters. Aside from Michelle, we really didn’t have much backstory on Keats or Tucci’s Ethan Skate which left them rather one-dimensional. I also couldn’t figure out who the target audience for the film was supposed to be.

While I may not have had high expectations for The Electric State, I was still hoping it wouldn’t be that bad. I guess this is something that I should just expect from Netflix going forward though I really wish they would give us more quality films.

Rating: ♥️♥️

Back In Action

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Once upon a time, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) were spies. They gave it all up to settle down and start a family. Fast forward fifteen years, they’re living a life of lies in suburbia with their children Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson). When someone from their past shows up on their doorstep, they are forced to go on the run to try and clear their name.

Diaz’s last role was in 2014. She is finally back on our screens and I couldn’t be happier. She’s always been up there as one of my favorite actors of all time – I didn’t realize how much I missed her until now. She and Foxx shined as our leading characters. Having starred together in projects before, you know that they have a good camaraderie and can make any film entertaining.

In addition we had Glenn Close as Ginny, Emily’s mother and Jamie Demetriou as Nigel, Ginny’s much younger boyfriend. These two stole the show. With Ginny as a former MI6 agent and Nigel providing the comic relief, they were another duo I didn’t know I needed. Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott also made appearances as important figures in Emily and Matt’s past.

Where the film excelled was in its comedy. There was a steady stream of laughs throughout and I kind of wish they’d leaned into the humour more instead of taking themselves too seriously. On the action side of things, it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. From the get go, I felt like I was watching 2023’s The Family Plan. While I did like that one as well, I wouldn’t have minded a little bit more originality.

Overall, Back In Action is an enjoyable enough action flick that’s perfect for a Saturday night. Complete with a sparkling cast and some zany adventures, I had a good enough time with it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Carry-On

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Having coasted through life the past couple of years, Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) feels the pressure to step up after his longtime girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) becomes pregnant. On Christmas Eve, the busiest day of the year for airports, Ethan is put on the x-ray machine. When a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails him into playing along with his terrorist attack, Ethan must go along with the plan while also figuring out a way to save not only Nora, but thousands of other passengers too.

What initially attracted me to this film was the cast. Egerton has always been enjoyable and it was fun seeing him back in an action flick again. He plays the hero well and kept the film grounded. Though Bateman was only really present in the film throughout the second half, he carried an ominous presence from the moment you hear his voice through the earpiece. The way in which those two worked off each other was like watching a delicious game of cat and mouse. The supporting cast members elevated the story too. Carson had a sweet romance with Egerton’s character while Danielle Deadwyler was kick ass as LAPD officer Elena Cole.

As far as action goes, this certainly delivered. After a small introduction, it didn’t waste any time to get going. The airport setting really made it that locked room vibe which I liked and it added to the chaos as well. There was so much tension, like Ethan was running against a clock. I also never in a million years thought that I would watch a fight sequence set to Wham’s Last Christmas, but I wasn’t mad about it.

I didn’t have high hopes for Carry-On at first. It was much better than I thought it was going to be! Not only did it grip my attention from the very beginning, it had enough twists and turns throughout that kept me on the edge of my seat. It may not have been very realistic, but I didn’t care. I had a great time with it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Our Little Secret

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year because Lindsay Lohan is back on our screens starring in another Christmas film. This time around she stars as Avery, a career driven woman who is spending the holidays with her boyfriend Cam (Jon Rudnitsky) and his family. What she doesn’t know is that her ex from ten years ago Logan (Ian Harding) is now dating Cassie (Katie Baker) who just so happens to be Cam’s sister and he’ll be joining in for the festivities. Instead of coming forward about their past relationship, they decide to keep it a secret.

Out of the slew of festive films that Netflix have released this year, this one has been my favorite. Lohan is in top form here; she’s so effortless in the romcom genre and she always delivers when it comes to comedy. I thought that Harding was a good choice for the role of Logan. The chemistry between the two of them was cute. I’ve always liked the friends to lovers trope and while they were mostly exes during the film, we got to see their relationship develop in a more mature way.

Among the rest of the cast were some familiar names like Tim Meadows and Judy Reyes who portray Stan and Margaret, family friends, respectively. The big scene stealer, however, was Kristin Chenoweth as Erica, Cam and Cassie’s mother. She was such a bitch, but that just made me love her more. You could tell that she was having the time of her life.

I found the film to be genuinely funny. The scene in the church and the one with the family dog particularly had me in stitches. They were just so over the top! But what I appreciated was the balance with Avery dealing with her mother’s sudden loss from a few years ago. It was something I could relate to and it added a deeper layer to the story.

Overall Our Little Secret was a cute little Christmas romcom. With a great cast, hilarious hijinks and a heartwarming love story, this is one that I will definitely revisit in the future.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

The Merry Gentlemen

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Netflix has been really delivering with their Christmas movie offerings this year! Up next on the rota is The Merry Gentlemen. Ashley (Britt Robertson) comes home with her tail between her legs after she’s let go from her job as a Jingle Belle. When she discovers that her parents’ (Michael Gross and Beth Broderick) performing venue is struggling, she decides to stage an all male revue. With the holidays coming up, she is hoping she’ll be able to raise enough money so that business woman Denise (Maria Canals-Barrera) doesn’t replace it with a juice bar.

When I heard that Chad Michael Murray was starring in a knock off version of Magic Mike, I thought sign me up! He’s been a heartthrob since his One Tree Hill days and though he’s not as prominent in the industry anymore, I still like seeing him on my screen. Robertson is someone else who I’ve been familiar with for a while having seen her in many TV shows and films growing up. While I didn’t totally buy the chemistry between the two, I did root for them by the end.

I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t completely invested in the film at the beginning. Though there was a short run time and it didn’t take too long for things to get to going, I would have liked a little bit more background on some of the characters or some extra scenes here and there to really make me care. Unlike Hot Frosty I didn’t feel like this one had much substance.

That being said, I was totally sold on the musical sequences. Another one of the members, Troy (Colt Prattes) has a dancing background and you could tell. I liked how each night was dedicated to a particular theme and it didn’t hurt that they were all good looking.

Overall, The Merry Gentlemen was a fun film. I think I was looking forward to it more than I actually ended up liking it, but that’s okay. It still provided me with the right amount of entertainment.

Rating: ♥️♥️

Hot Frosty

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Kathy (Lacey Chabert) is a recent widow who owns a diner and gets by with some help from her friends. When she accidentally brings a snowman to life, Kathy learns that maybe there’s a second chance at love after all. But Jack’s (Dustin Milligan) time is running out – it will take a Christmas miracle for the two to realize their feelings for one another.

It’s important to suspend belief while watching the film as the plot not exactly believable. That being said, once you go along with it, it’s actually a pretty cute story. I like how Kathy started as someone stuck in the past and then slowly seeing her open up again once Jack comes into the picture. The character development and the heavier subject matter helped ground the story more.

Chabert has starred in many Christmas romcoms. She’s got this easiness and charm about her that makes watching her so enjoyable. Milligan, on the other hand, went for it with his portrayal as Jack Snowman. The innocence he embodied added an extra playfulness to his budding relationship with Kathy on screen and I liked watching them together. I also need to give a nod to Joe Lo Truglio and Craig Robinson as Deputy Ed Schatz and Sheriff Nate Hunter respectively who provided many laughs. Having previously starred together on Brooklyn 99, you just know it’s going to be comedy gold.

Over the years, Netflix have become well known for the various titles they release around the festive season. Whether or not these films are anything to write home about is a different story, but I can never resist them. Hot Frosty was no exception. Luckily there was a little bit more meat to it this time around which I appreciated.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Emilia Pérez

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From director Jacques Audiard comes a story centred around four women in Mexico City. When lawyer Rita Moro Castro (Zoe Saldana) is approached by a cartel boss named Manitas to help fake his death and take on the life he’s always wanted as a woman, it is an offer she can’t refuse. And so Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) is born. Four years later, Emilia gets back in touch with Rita with a new mission: to reunite her with her wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and their children.

After winning the Jury Prize and the Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as receiving a nine minute standing ovation, I knew I had to check it out. Not only did it have an amazing cast, the fact that it was also a musical was something that interested me.

There’s a lot going on in the film. With many different genres ranging from crime to comedy to thriller to self-discovery, one might get lost amongst it all. It’s certainly an ambitious project, but I thought it was well executed for the most part. I couldn’t help but watch in awe as the events unfolded before me. The set up in particular was engrossing as well as the riveting final act when it all came together. Though the middle was a bit clunky, it was able to even itself out.

Where the film really excels is in its performances. Saldana shines as Rita. Her Spanish was impeccable and she had a lovely singing voice too. She was the glue that held the story together and I wouldn’t be surprised if she got some nominations come awards season. Gascón was a total force to be reckoned with. Not only did she portray the titular character, she also took on the role of Manitas which I thought was a brilliant choice. Her performance was both heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. Gomez really impressed me here. I’m used to seeing her act in more comedic roles so this dramatic turn was welcoming. She also got to act and sing in Spanish which was new territory for her. I also can’t forget Adriana Paz who portrayed Epifanía Flores, a woman who becomes enamoured with Emilia. Her poignant delivery helped tie it all together.

Overall, Emilia Pérez is a film unlike any other. Because there is so much going on, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The performances are A+ and the exciting musical sequences, this has been one of my favorite film experiences of the year.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Time Cut

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Four students were murdered twenty years ago. Lucy’s (Madison Bailey) sister Summer (Antonia Gentry) was one of them. While she’s always tried to forge her own path, it’s clear that Lucy will never fill the void that Summer left behind. When she accidentally time travels, she has the chance to get to know the sister she never had. But uncovering the decades long mystery becomes difficult for if Lucy alters the timeline, she will cease to exist.

If you saw Prime’s Totally Killer from last year, then you know more or less what to expect from this film. The similarities are endless, but what I really enjoyed about Time Cut was the time period in which it was set. Being transported back to 2003 was such a nostalgia trip. Reliving the velour sweatsuits, platform flip flops, French tips and initial necklaces had me feeling like a preteen again. Throw in a banger of a soundtrack with tracks such as So Yesterday by Hilary Duff, Complicated by Avril Lavigne and All You Wanted by Michelle Branch and my heart was soaring.

The cast did a good job in their respective roles. I’ve been a fan of Bailey’s since the early days of Outer Banks and I am familiar with Gentry thanks to Ginny and Georgia. Seeing the two of them team up and as sisters was enjoyable. I felt like they had a natural chemistry. Griffin Gluck, who portrayed Quinn, was a welcome addition. I like how he helped the sisters track down the killer.

Though the film started off on the right foot, it seemed to lose its way around the midpoint mark. It started with a dip in which some scientific jargon had to be explained and then it didn’t really bounce back afterwards. I did have an inkling as to who the killer was and though I was proven right, it wasn’t in the way that I was expecting. The twist was certainly different, but ultimately confusing and could have been explained better.

Overall Time Cut is a fun little slasher flick that is perfect for this time of the year. I would have liked for it to be a bit more fleshed out and with some more gruesome kills, but the nostalgia trip alone made it worth watching.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Woman Of The Hour

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Based on a true story, Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick) is an aspiring actress who goes on the matchmaking TV show The Dating Game. Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), also known as bachelor number three, is the lucky winner. What nobody knows is that Alcala is a serial killer responsible for the death of many women.

I remember hearing about this ages ago so the fact that it is now out for the world to see is a treat. Kendrick, who not only stars in the film, also directs for the first time. I have to say that I was very impressed; the way in which she approached the subject matter was perfect. I can’t wait to see what else she ends up working on behind the camera in the hopefully near future.

The acting on display is nothing short of brilliant. Kendrick aside, we have Zovatto who was so amazingly creepy that I was very much convinced with his performance. He made you want to know more about him. Not only that, he was very charming and easily manipulative towards the women we see him come in contact with. I do wish we’d had more backstory about why he was the way he was though. The supporting cast of Tony Hale as Ed, the TV show host, Nicolette Robinson as Laura, a woman who had a previous brush with Alcala, and the various victims we were introduced to were all great additions. It was Autumn Best, however, whose portrayal of Amy, was pivotal to the story. The final act of the film had me on the edge of my seat.

Another aspect that I appreciated was the combination of pure seriousness one moment and the sudden change to something more light and comedic. I would be holding my breath during those tough scenes and then I would have to recalibrate my brain and shift gears. I truly believe that The Dating Game sequences are the best of the film, with great writing to boot.

Overall, Woman of the Hour was a captivating experience. I went into the film not knowing anything about it and found myself completely enthralled with what was unfolding in front of me. I hadn’t know anything about Rodney Alacala until that moment and learning about how horrible he was was eye opening. I recommend giving this one a go.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

His Three Daughters

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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: ♥️♥️♥️