It’s hard to believe that another year has come to an end. In some ways, it was like I blinked and 2021 was over. Starting out in another lockdown (which definitely impacted my maintaining this blog) was rough, but then halfway through, movie theatres opened up again. Nothing will ever beat walking into that large auditorium, settling into those chairs and buckling in for a life changing journey.
2021 brought many great films that certainly made making this list a difficult task. Some I forgot along the way. Some made themselves known to me more recently. And others I wish I could erase from my memory all together. There are also a few that I think I generously rated, but what can you do?
So without further ado, here are my top 5 best and worst of the year.
When Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student and her professor Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) discover a comet within the solar system, they can’t believe their eyes – until they realize that it is on its way to Earth. Upon embarking on a media tour that takes them to the White House, it seems that nobody really cares that they are all going to die. With only six months until the comet makes impact, Kate and Randall will do whatever they can to get the world to just look up.
Don’t Look Up seemed so promising. The cast, which boasted big names such as Meryl Streep, Cate Blancett, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Kid Cudi and Ariana Grande, was one that grasped my attention as soon as the trailer hit Netflix. And I almost hate to admit it, but this movie was just such a miss for me. I guess I can’t really say I’m surprised since it’s not a subject I am very familiar with, however, I still wanted to give it a go.
Films with so many famous people in it are not always successful. This was one of them. Some characters had more screen time than others and some were also not very likeable (though I think that was kind of the point?) I must admit that Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence had good chemistry together. I also loved seeing Meryl Streep portraying The President.
While this was pegged to be a comedy, I did not think it was very funny. Sometimes humor tends to go over my head and I found myself missing out on the various supposed jokes.
Overall, I understand what Don’t Look Up was trying to achieve, I’m just not sure it landed all too well. I expected much more from the movie and can’t help feeling disappointed since it was my last film review of the year.
Tired of his family’s judgement on his single status, Peter (Michael Urie) begs his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to come home with him for Christmas so they can pretend to be in a relationship. The plan seems perfect since everyone in Peter’s family thinks they should end up together anyway, until his mom Carole (Kathy Najimy) interferes and sets him up on a blind date with her trainer James (Luke Macfarlane), causing everything to go haywire.
Single All The Way is a great holiday rom-com and I love that it is Netflix’s first with same sex representation. Despite the predictable storyline, I was still swept up in the joy of it all. The scene, in particular, of Peter dancing with his two nieces to my favorite Christmas song My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears will live rent free in my mind for months to come.
I have to give a special shout out to the cast. Not only was the chemistry between Michael Urie and Philemon Chambers adorable, but some of the supporting members were too good for words. Kathy Najimy shined as Peter’s mom. I loved her meddlesome ways and how supportive she was of her son. Jennifer Roberston of Schitt’s Creek fame was hilarious as Peter’s sister Lisa and who could forget Jennifer Coolidge as Peter’s aunt Sandy? The woman is amazing in everything she does and this was no exception.
Everything about Single All The Way was perfect and just what we need for this time of the year. There may not be anything special about it, however, it will leave you feeling all warm in fuzzy inside.
What are we meant to do with the time that we have? That is the question that Jon (Andrew Garfield) can’t help but ask himself as he attempts to write the next great American musical. Preparing for the showcase that will make or break his career, Jon feels pressure from everyone and everything around him. His job waiting tables at the Moondance Diner is not stimulating enough, his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) dreams of something more herself and Jon’s best friend Michael (Robin De Jesus) transitions from a life of fantasy to something more stable in the advertising industry.
There was no question in my mind that Tick, Tick..Boom! would be a revelation. Anything that Lin Manuel Miranda touches is, let’s be real. His directorial debut saw him adapting Jonathan Larson’s life before his untimely death right as he finally broke into Broadway.
Andrew Garfield was mesmerizing as the titular character. I knew the guy could act, but I had no idea whatsoever that he could sing. Everything that he brought to the role of Jon was amazing to watch. More stunning performances from Alexandra Shipp and Robin De Jesus helped strengthen the film. And who could forget Vanessa Hudgens as Karessa and Joshua Henry as Roger, friends of Jon’s through and through. It also wouldn’t be a Miranda production without some cameos from other much projects of his.
An ultimately sad story, Tick, Tick…Boom! was really something else. I love how it made me think about just how I am spending my time here on this Earth. The fact that this took place during the AIDS epidemic in the 1990s only added to that notion. Mixed together with a stellar soundtrack, this is a movie that I won’t soon forget.
The Princess Switch franchise is back for another holiday instalment. Following the events of last year, the story follows Queen Margaret (Vanessa Hudgens) and Princess Stacey (Vanessa Hudgens) having to do damage control when a priceless artefact is stolen. In order to get it back, they enlist the help of cousin Fiona (Vanessa Hudgens), who has been doing community service hours in a convent. Together along with Fiona’s henchmen Mindy (Florence Hall) and Reggie (Ricky Norwood) as well as a man from her past Peter (Remy Hii), they are the perfect team to outsmart Hunter (Will Kemp), the man who took it to begin with. But no Christmas is complete without a switch and once again, Margaret and Stacey are roped into the escapade.
Vanessa Hudgens is a pretty impressive actress. The fact that she plays three very different characters, each with distinctive mannerisms is not something you see every day. Sometimes it’s hard to tell each one apart, especially when they do switch and pretend to be each other. It’s always nice seeing the rest of the cast in Nick Sagar as Kevin, Sam Palladio as Prince Edward, Mia Lloyd as Olivia and Suanne Braun as Mrs. Donatelli too. The movie wouldn’t be complete without them!
The storyline this time around was more enjoyable for me. I remember feeling like something was missing from part two, however, the decision to focus more on Fiona was the right one. There was so much we didn’t know about her and learning about her past really had me sympathizing with her. The various hijinks everyone found themselves in throughout were just as out there as usual and I loved the festive atmosphere of Montenaro once more.
Overall, The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star, while utter crap, was fun, entertaining crap that I enjoyed every single second of. These movies are not to be taken seriously whatsoever and they are something that I look forward to each year. In all honesty, I’d be happy if they did seven more too with many more variations of Hudgens’ character because they are just so much fun.
Red Notice follows FBI top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) as he embarks on a mission to find some of the world’s most wanted. Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds), a renowned art thief, is trust into Hartley’s way, forcing the two of them to team up to find The Bishop (Gal Gadot), another art thief who is always one step ahead. On the hunt for Cleopatra’s eggs, Hartley and Booth will stop at nothing to get to them first, even if it means traveling the world, participating in some heists and having to put up with one another in the process.
My hopes for this film were high. How could they not be? Three of the most popular names in cinema right now star along side each other in this action adventure flick and I like them all individually. The chemistry between Johnson and Reynolds was exactly what I had anticipated while Gadot was great addition to the mix. My only problem with this trio was that once again, Reynolds was basically playing himself. I realized that this was the third movie I had seen him in this year and he really does tend to play the same type of character over and over again. While I do enjoy him as an actor, I also wouldn’t be mad if I didn’t see him in any projects in the coming year. I need a break.
I liked the storyline and thought the quest was interesting enough. There were some fun chase sequences and lots of twists along the way. The action was sort of lack lustre on the whole, however, and there was a bit too much predictability. I wish I had been caught off guard a few more times.
Netflix movies have mostly been full of misses lately and that makes me sad. I was really looking forward to Red Notice and while it was entertaining enough, my expectations weren’t really met. That being said, they set it up nicely for a sequel which I would still undoubtedly watch.
Natalie (Nina Dobrev) is a hopeless romantic journalist from LA who has been on countless dates over the years. When she matches with handsome Tag (Darren Barnet) who lives on the East Coast, Natalie thinks that her luck is finally changing. The two spend a couple of blissful weeks talking non-stop until Tag suggests she visits him for the holidays. Taking a leap of faith, Natalie is completely surprised when she discovers that she has been catfished by Tag’s childhood friend Josh (Jimmy O. Yang). To get her to stay, Josh says he’ll help Natalie land Tag if she pretends to be his girlfriend in front of his family (James Saito, Rebecca Staab, Althea Kaye, Harry Shum Jr. and Mikaela Hoover) he tries so hard to impress.
I actually wasn’t going to review Love Hard at first. I thought it would be just another Netflix movie that would be forgettable right after I finished it. Well, I was totally wrong. While it wasn’t a masterpiece of any sort, I loved absolutely every single minute of it and figured that there was no way that I couldn’t not write about it!
There was never a question as to whether or not I’d watch the movie. The cast, in particular, reeled me in. I’ve been a fan of Nina Dobrev’s since her Vampire Diaries days. I hadn’t seen her in much lately which is a shame because she’s such a likeable person. Darren Barnet of Never Have I Ever fame is a rising star. Mark my words, he will be in a lot more projects for years to come. His looks don’t hurt either. It was also a treat having Harry Shum Jr. in this as Josh’s overbearing, perfectionist brother.
What I liked most about this film was the moral it wanted to share. Never judge a book by it’s cover. I feel like this is so important, especially today where social media has such a strong influence. It’s so easy to pretend to be somebody else, but it is important to be yourself regardless. While some say that the outcome of the story was not entirely believable, I think it worked perfectly for the tone.
Love Hard officially marked my first Christmas movie of 2021. I swear I’m starting earlier and earlier, though I can’t lie and say that I really mind. Not only was it adorable, it had me laughing multiple times and swooning at others. It was a perfect light, feel good movie that instantly put a smile on my face right when I needed it.
The prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead which came out earlier this year, Army of Thieves follows Sebastian (Matthias Schweighöfer), or more commonly known as Ludwig Dieter, your average every day banker who just happens to have a knack for cracking safes. Bored of the regular nine to five life, Dieter hopes for something more. Then one day, he is approached by infamous jewellery theif Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) to join in on a top secret heist during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.
I was one of the few people who actually really liked Army of the Dead. When I heard the universe was being expanded, I couldn’t wait, especially when the next instalment would be about my favorite character Dieter. I instantly fell for his charm and nerdy ways and so to have the opportunity to learn more about him was awesome. He was the perfect protagonist to lead this film. It was also impressive to discover that in addition to starring in the movie, he also produced and directed it.
The other characters were a lot of fun to get to know too. They each brought something to the table and I wouldn’t be surprised if they popped up somewhere down the line as there is still so much we don’t know about them. Super hacker Korina (Ruby O. Fee) was sassy and oozed girl power, meathead Brad (Stuart Martin) while wonderful to look at was kind of a dud and sandwich loving getaway driver Rolph (Guz Khan) was severely underused.
Being transported inside the safes was really cool. In fact, the way in which the film as a whole was filmed felt like it belonged in a comic book. The character introductions, location names, music choices and fight sequences sucked me in and made me feel like I was in another dimension.
While the film was full of entertainment, the storyline itself was more on the predictable side. It was easy to tell what was going to happen next and there weren’t many surprises along the way. I also felt that what was going on outside of the heist didn’t do much to advance the plot. I guess I expected a lot more action considering the original movie, but I was wrong.
Still, for an origin story, Army of Thieves was an enjoyable caper that left me pretty satisfied. The various Easter eggs bridging the two movies together was done well and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this franchise.
For one night only, college student Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) fills in for his brother Jay (Raúl Castillo) as a chauffeur in hopes of making some extra cash. His job is to drive around two women, Blair (Debby Ryan) and Zoe (Lucy Fry), for what he’s been lead to believe, a night of party hopping. What Benny doesn’t bargain for is the real identity of his clients’. Soon Benny is exposed to a world he never knew existed where a war between humans and vampires has been going on for centuries and it is up to him to save Los Angeles before the sun comes up.
When I first saw the trailer for Night Teeth, I couldn’t help but think what a cool concept. Sure vampires are old news these days – I have devoured more than enough stories of them over the years. But for some reason, I have never tired of them. Maybe it’s because there is always something different thrown into the mix. And this time around looked like yet another fresh take on the mythical creatures that I knew I had to watch it immediately.
One of the things that drew me in initially were some of the cast members. I knew most of them: Debby Ryan from Suite Life on Deck, Alfie Allen of Game of Thrones fame, rising star Sydney Sweeney and Megan Fox, who I hadn’t seen around for awhile. While I was disappointed not to have as much of some characters as I would have liked, I have to say that I thought Benny made a great protagonist. He was your average every day college guy just looking to make his way in the world. I also really liked seeing his relationship with his Abuela (Marlene Forte) because it added a humanized element to the otherwise supernatural atmosphere. Despite having seen Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in films before, this was the first time I actually paid attention to him.
I also enjoyed the bits and pieces that were added to enrich the legend of vampires. There were some pieces of information that we knew already (staking the heart, can’t stay out in the sun etc.) however, I appreciated the extra details that gave the story a more modern take. I also thought the war between the humans and the vampires was interesting. I just wish we could have learned more about it.
Unfortunately that’s where the excitement ended for me. Maybe I had too high expectations, I’m not sure. But Night Teeth didn’t pan out exactly the way I had anticipated it would. It had some really great ideas, a pretty good cast and yet I was left wanting more. Some of the time I felt like some scenes were dragged out while others I wanted more. It all just fell a bit flat for me at the end of the day.
Alex (Winslow Fegley) loves horror stories. He loves writing them and he loves reading them, though sometimes this sets him apart from the other kids in his class. When nobody shows up to his birthday party, Alex decides to burn all of his story books. What he doesn’t expect is while he is on his way to do so, he is lured by a witch into her swanky, modern apartment where he becomes his prisoner. In order to avoid death, Alex convinces Natacha (Krysten Ritter) to let him tell her a scary story each night. But he is no alone in the apartment. Yazmin (Lidya Jewett) has been her servant for the past three years and she knows the ins and outs of the place. Together, Alex and Yazmin devise a plan to escape before it’s too late.
The concept for Nightbooks seemed really cool. I liked the element of Alex having to tell stories to Natacha for his freedom where that was the one thing that got home stuck in her apartment to begin with. All of the scenes that took place there were magical. I loved the special effects and everything was was incorporated to give that creepy effect. At times it really was as if the audience was supposed to be stuck in a real life nightmare.
I was mainly interested in watching the movie because of Krysten Ritter. I’ve been a fan of hers ever since she guest starred in Veronica Mars way back in the day. She hasn’t been up to much since Jessica Jones was cancelled and that’s a right shame because she’s such a delight. Winslow Fegley and Lidya Jewett were enjoyable enough as Alex and Yaz. I liked their friendship and thought they worked well off each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw more of them in the future.
Nightbooks was a fun film, but it wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. It is definitely marketed towards a younger generation and it shows. I’m still glad that I watched it, I just wish it had held up the intrigue factor I felt while checking out the trailer.
Credits Rolling 