Tag: PedroPascal

Materialists

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

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: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

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: ♥️♥️♥️

The Wild Robot

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Dreamworks has been responsible for the release of many classic films. From Shrek to Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, they have all been unique and full of vibrant animation. Their latest offering, The Wild Robot, follows ROZZUM unit 7134, or Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), that finds itself stranded on a deserted island. It must learn to adapt to its surroundings.

Animation styles have changed a lot over the years, but I have to say I have never seen anything quite like this before. The island backdrop looked like something out of a painting. It’s like you could see the brushstrokes of the water or of the trees. That combined with the vibrant colors made it feel so realistic.

The various characters we meet had sparkling personalities that leapt off the screen. Nyong’o was the perfect choice for Roz. The way in which her voice changed from being unsure to more confident as the film went on was executed well. Pedro Pascal was Fink, a cunning fox who ends up befriending Roz. His playful tone balanced Roz’s uncertainty and I really liked the friendship that formed between them. Kit Conner was Brightbill, a gosling that hatches in Roz’s hands and immediately believes it to be his mother. From the moment they met, my heart soared; they had such a sweet, genuine relationship that I really loved watching. And of course there was Bill Nighy as Longneck who played an integral part in Roz’s task. As usual he was full of wisdom. I only wish we’d had more of him!

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I’ll admit that I wasn’t interested in it. When the reviews started coming in and they were all glowing, I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about. This is officially my favorite film of the year. It ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it repeatedly, but I mean that in the best way possible! The way in which it was able to go from a light-hearted moment to something more emotionally driven was brilliant. The message of tolerance and unity as well was so spot on and so, so important.

I highly recommend checking out The Wild Robot. This is the type of film that touches you and leaves an impact long after you leave the theatre. It is also one that makes you want to be do better. I can’t wait to see it sweep at Awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️