My dear reader(s): Yesterday I finally had an opportunity to catch up with the year's most talked-about movie, Barbie.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Barbie suffers a crisis and must brave a world outside Barbieland if she hopes to resolve it.
At this point, it feels like poor form to dislike Barbie. Fortunately, I liked it well enough, even if if I'm more "enheimer" than "Barb" in the Barbenheimer sweepstakes.
Pluses start with the divine Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Despite its many other attributes, I believe the movie would have fallen flat had they not leaned into their roles with such gusto. Vibrant costumes and sets team with upbeat music to sell a perfect world...even when it isn't. There's plenty of nostalgia for those of us who loved our Barbies, and some funny (if mean-spirited) digs at other pop culture icons who have fallen into...if not exactly disfavor, at least a perceived lack of coolness.
Barbie is a great deal more than a film about a doll. It's cleverly written and well acted, with an important message about autonomy and empowerment. Heavy-handed delivery of its message is the picture's only real flaw, but it's a pervasive one that kept me from loving Barbie as much as everyone else seemed to. I don't believe beating people over the head with a point faciliates real change; it only makes them tired of hearing about it, and by the end of this I was pretty tired of the word "patriarchy." Still, Barbie is a solid movie that's greatly enhanced by sparkling performances and a sensible runtime.
Barbie clocks in at 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "suggestive references and brief language."
Barbie is a good movie made great by stellar lead performances, and any shortcomings are easily forgiven once the Indigo Girls start singing. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Barbie gets eight.
Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell
Release Date: July 21, 2023
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Rated Rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language
Runtime: 1h 54m
Greta Gerwig's Barbie is a pastel painted surreal, meta comedy that's sharply written and perfectly cast. Gerwig makes its clear early on that the film and story isn't going to be a simple bit of Mattel marketing with a rather wry opening that spoofs Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Once the story starts in earnest and we are introduced to the colorfully constructed Barbieland utopia there’s a clear undercurrent of the kind of subversive storytelling, there's plenty that will go over younger kids heads, at play. There are bits and piece that echo moments from Toy Story and The Lego movie, especially early on, but once the film finds its footing it reveals its own distinctive voice. It’s a fanciful journey of self actualization as the film covers a bevy of themes from the nature of womanhood, gender roles, conformity and more along the way. If this sounds like a lot for a film about a doll, it is but it’s a rather audacious swing from the filmmaker and the brand to go for something more substantial and meaningful than just a bit of brand cross promotion. There's a lot to appreciate about what's going on behind the scenes in addition to what's onscreen. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the central roles are pitch perfect with both delivering fun performances from start to finish. Robbie fills the titular role with general ease which shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but she does give the character a thoughtful earnestness that's endearing and makes the character easy to like. Gosling is a real surprise though not because he's a stretch as Ken but because he shows off some real comedic chops throughout. He proves to be a scene stealer for the majority of the film especially in the back half of the story. The film's real secret weapon though is America Ferrera who gets a wonderfully rousing monologue which is effectively pointed and meaningful. It’s got the kind of refreshing edge you wouldn't expect from a film about Barbie but that's what elevates the whole production to unexpected heights.
Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, when the Man of Steel and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a ragtag group of animals to master their own newfound powers for a rescue mission.
Director: Jared Stern
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves
Rated PG for action, mild violence, language and rude humor
Runtime: 1h 45m
Review:
DC League of Super-Pets is the type of family film whose sole purpose to exist could be simply to sell cute plush toys. While its sure to accomplish that the film itself is a pleasant surprise. Writer/director Jared Stern's film is breezy, fun and wittier than you'd expected. The setting borrows from Bruce Timm's classic DC animated shows with its art deco style while the character designs are reminiscent of Pixar's The Incredibles. Its a visually appealing film that's filled with Easter eggs and visual cues that long time fans of the DC universe will surely enjoy. The voice cast does excellent work throughout lead by a steady and sincere performance from Dwayne Johnson. Johnson brings a palpable sense of earnestness and authenticity that makes the character much more endearing than you'd expect. Kevin Hart is more of surprise with a measured, funny but thoughtful turn as Ace. The supporting cast of Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna and Keanu Reeves are all clearly having a ball voicing these characters with Lyonne and Reeve's Batman getting some of the film's best lines. The story itself plays out like most superhero films only with a furrier facade. There's plenty to keep kids and adults entertained for the better part of the runtime even though you get the sense it could have been trimmed by 15 or 20 minutes. Its humor occasionally veers outside of it's kids corner into more adult fare that will likely go over most of the younger kids heads. As a whole, DC League of Super-Pets is a surprisingly fun animated offshoot that works far better than it should
A revealing look inside
the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time and the explosive
story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.
Director: Jay Roach
Cast: Charlize Theron,
Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton,
Malcolm McDowell, Allison Janney
Release Date: December 13,
2019
Rated R for sexual
material and language throughout
Runtime: 1hr 48 min.
Genres: Biography, Drama
Review:
Bombshell’s impact on
anyone is sure to be colored by their feeling about the real life people
portrayed. Jay Roach delivers a funny
but ultimately depressing tales about the behind the scenes machinations at
propaganda machine as known as Fox News.
Roach has the unenviable task of displaying people who are all on
varying scales of terrible. The tale
about Roger Ailes numerous misdeeds was previously covered on Showtime’s The
Loudest Voice so Bombshell feels a bit like a companion piece since this film
focuses more on the woman than Ailes himself.
As such the trio of Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie are
front and center and truly carry the film.
Charlize Theron’s Megyn Kelly is one of those transformative performances
that is sure to garner her a lot of awards buzz and with good reason. She’s nearly unrecognizable here, capturing
Kelly’s look and voice with an uncanny degree of accuracy. The performance is such an attention grabber
that it’s easy to overlook Nicole Kidman and Margo Robbie slightly more subtle
performances. Kidman’s take on Gretchen
Carlson is solid but it’s hard to say it any better than Naomi Watt’s version
on The Loudest Voice. Robbie’s character
is a composite character but serves a purpose of putting us in the room with
Ailes while he’s harassing and victimizing these women. John Lithgow’s take on Roger Ailes isn’t as a
nuanced as Russell Crowe’s take earlier this year which leads to the bigger
issue at play. Bombshell seems content
with going through basics but never really cares to dig any deep or offer any
colors of gray. As such certain
characters are painted as heroes which can be difficult to swallow since their
real life counterparts are terrible for other reasons.
Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter
in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the
fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie. After a freak
bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover
that The Beatles have never existed. Performing songs by the greatest band in
history to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes on overnight
sensation with a little help from his agent. Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran,
Kate McKinnon Release Date: June 28, 2019 Biography, Comedy, Fantasy, Music Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and
language Runtime: 1 h 56 min Review: Yesterday is an uplifting musical fantasy
grafted onto a romantic comedy. Danny
Boyle’s film is energetically directed resulting in a film with a strong pulse
beating throughout. Himesh Patel is
pitch perfect in the central role, carrying the film with impressive ease. He’s likable throughout the entirety of the
film but is greatly helped by being paired with Lily James. The film works best when they are on screen
together because of the strength of their onscreen chemistry. James hasn’t ever really left much of an
impression beforehand but here she’s just perfect playing the part of a
lovelorn love interest. Patel has an
impressive singing voice which makes his renditions of a bevy of Beatles
classics infinitely more toe tappingly good.
If there are a few drawbacks it’s the story itself outside of the
initial premise is a fairly straight forward romantic comedy, thankfully the
two leads make you invest emotionally into their story arches. Kate McKinnon, who I usually enjoy, is just
terribly miscast and just sticks out in all the wrong ways. Also, there is a late act reveal that’s sure
to be divisive amongst fans. It’s a strong
impactful moment that’s probably one of the bolder decisions in an otherwise
safe film. Even with a few drawbacks
Yesterday is one those rare films that will have you leaving the theater with a
smile on your face.
Last night I was fortunate to catch an an early screening of Danny Boyle's Yesterday.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
During a freakish worldwide blackout, a young musician is hit by a bus and wakes to find no one else remembers the Beatles.
Dear Reader(s), a disclaimer: Yesterday is not a science fiction film. It does not get into the hows and whys of the blackout or the items subsequently missing from memory. The story simply moves forward on the premise that it happened, and it expects viewers to do the same.
Yesterday presents an interesting quandary: What if you were the only person who remembered something as previously well-known and well-loved as the music of the Beatles? What if you could return to the world a wonderful thing it was suddenly missing? What if you stood to gain from doing so? These questions weigh heavily on Jack Malik, portrayed with humble charm by Himesh Patel, and his struggle gives anchor to what otherwise might seem a flighty premise. Lily James is endearing as Jack's stalwart manager/number-one fan, and Ed Sheeran is terrific playing Ed Sheeran With a Bigger Ego. Ed gets full marks for being a good sport here, and as a fan I am excited that what I expected to be a cameo is actually a significant role, complete with a new song! Kate McKinnon is a little too much (as she often is) as the brash Big Deal Music Manager, but she's a small misstep in what's otherwise a pretty perfect movie.
Yesterday tells its unique tale in flawless fashion, with nary an instant where your attention might stray. The Beatles' music is as magical as ever, and Patel sings their songs as if he were born for it. The film's humor is self-deprecating and well placed, offering laugh-out-loud moments as well as sympathetic chuckles. If you are a Beatles fan, there's a gut-punch in the final act that hurts like hell, but, objectively speaking, it adds yet another layer to an already well-crafted story and the movie is better for it.
Yesterday clocks in at 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "suggestive content and language."
Yesterday takes a horrifying idea--a world without the Beatles--and turns it into an uplifting story about the power of music, truth, and love.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Yesterday gets nine. Fangirl points: I mean, Ed, obviously.
Also great to see Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sarah Lancashire!
Until next time, as Sir Ringo would say, "Peace and love!"
The Spy Who Dumped Me tells the story of Audrey (Kunis) and Morgan
(McKinnon), two best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an
international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped
her was actually a spy.
Director: Susanna Fogel
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Sam Heughan
Release Date: August 3, 2018
Genres: Action, Comedy
Rated R for violence, language throughout, some crude sexual material
and graphic nudity
Runtime: 1h 57min
Review:
The Spy That Dumped Me is one of those goofy
comedies that light and easy but fairly forgettable.It’s a shame because the two leads have
strong comedic talents but the film never fully takes advantage of them.Susanna Fogel directs her film with a zany
energy which starts to lose steam towards then end.Fogel switches from zany antics to hardcore
spy action throughout the film making for a slightly choppy feel.The movie just doesn’t find a steady groove
even though there are plenty of laughs to be found.Big chunk of the gags work mostly due to the
Kunis and Mckinnon’s talents, in the hands of lesser actresses the film
wouldn’t be nearly as funny.Even they
can’t keep the film from dragging in the last act.These types of films should be quick and
easy, a 2 hour runtime needs to be earned.The Spy That Dumped Me could have used some editing which could have
shaved off a good 20 minutes, making it a more effective comedy in the long run.
Five best friends (Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana
Glazer, Zoë Kravitz) from college reunite 10 years later for a wild
bachelorette weekend in Miami.
Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a
male stripper. Amid the craziness of trying to cover it up, they're ultimately
brought closer together when it matters most.
Director: Lucia Aniello
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Ilana Glazer, Ty
Burrell, Demi Moore
Release Date: Jun 09, 2017
R for crude sexual content, language
throughout, drug use and brief bloody images Runtime: 1 hr. 41 min.
Release Date: Jun 16, 2017
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Rough Night is a raucous comedy with a free
and loose feel to it with a solid cast.Writer director Lucia Aniello directs an efficient comedy with only a
handful of noticeable dead spots.The
story isn’t ground breaking by stretch of the imagination but the cast keeps it
fun for the better part of the film.Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Kate McKinnon and Zoe
Kravitz make for a fun comedic combination.Kate McKinnon creates another memorably weird character that steals most
of the scenes she’s in.Johansson is a
tad bit under utilized as the “straight man” in the piece.Ty Burrell and Demi Moore have fun supporting
roles that probably could have been played for a few more laughs if the script
had given them a little more to do.Similarly,
Paul W. Downs boyfriend character and his bachelor party seemed like it was
ripe for more laughs even though his story thread provided some inspired
sequences.There are a few sequences
near the end of the film that slow the story down. They try to give the story a bit of emotional
depth which ends up feeling tacked on.The story doesn’t really need it, its mindless guilty fun that delivers
what it set out to do.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for a pair of strange bedfellows: The Infiltrator and Ghostbusters.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: The Infiltrator.
A US Customs officer launches a dangerous undercover mission to catch one of the world's top drug kingpins.
It is both a blessing and a curse that The Infiltrator is good, but not special. In an age where the Internet has no problem convincing people they hate films they haven't even seen yet, being neither great nor terrible enough to be buzzworthy isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Still, structured as it is around a decorated actor (Bryan Cranston) in a role tailor-made to earn him more hardware, the tense tale ultimately can't help feeling a little disappointing.
Cranston is solid in the lead, but it's John Leguizamo who steals the show as his loose-cannon partner. Diane Kruger, Benjamin Bratt, and Joseph Gilgun are also terrific in supporting roles.
Characters are well fleshed out, so that even the worst earn a bit of sympathy. Focusing on the money side of the illegal narcotics trade, The Infiltrator is less sensational than movies that detail the gorier realities of drug running, but the intense plot has no trouble holding your attention. Sadly, if it's details that elevate a good movie to great, that's where The Infiltrator fails.
Some of the direction is decidedly amateurish, with too-obvious foreshadowing and lingering frames that almost stray into comic territory. Hairstyles, fashions, and music are sometimes not correct for the picture's 1985 setting. There's no obvious filler, but the movie runs a hair too long and drags noticeably in the second act.
The Infiltrator clocks in at 127 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language throughout, some sexual content, and drug material."
The Infiltrator boasts strong performances and well-definted characters, offering solid "grown-up" counterprogramming on a blockbuster family-release weekend.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Infiltrator gets six and a half.
Fangirl points: Jason Isaacs!
Next up: the poliarizing reboot of Ghostbusters, a.k.a. why it's best to ignore Internet trolls.
Three scientists, an MTA employee, and the world's best-looking receptionist team up to quash a ghost infestation in New York.
Dear Reader(s): We all have things we love enough to drive us past the point of reason. I am no stranger to this phenomenon, and, thus, in my presence it is best not to speak of that unfunny, unholy, disrespectful dumpster fire that is 2004's Starsky & Hutch. Herein I shall attempt to give even the staunchest fan of the original Ghostbusters a few reasons why 2016's Ghostbusters is NOT 2004's Starsky & Hutch.
Ghostbusters is a well-and-truly funny comedy, with laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Rather than bastardizing beloved characters, it reboots with new ones. Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy are delightful as estranged friends reunited by the spirit crisis; their chemistry is fantastic. Leslie Jones' wisecracks and physical comedy provide the movie's funniest moments, and Chris Hemsworth is perfect as the dopey but ridiculously-hot office assistant.
There's nostalgia aplenty for those who want it, in faces both living and undead, the recurring Ghostbusters theme, and that very familiar logo.
Though rarer than laughs, there are a fair few proper scares to be had as well. The movie boasts super effects and 3D that is not just worthwhile, but great! Ghosts run the gamut from pretty terrifying to pretty hilarious. The comedy slows up a bit in the movie's second act, displaced by some fun, well-executed action sequences.
Only Kate McKinnon's character, Jillian Holtzman, is a weak link, so jarringly off that every appearance becomes an unfortunate distraction. Writers and actress must share blame for bringing to life possibly the most irritating character I've ever seen on the silver screen (and, yes, I'm including Jar-Jar Binks in that equation).
Ghostbusters runs 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "supernatural action and some crude humor."
Ghostbusters is a uniformly funny movie with a great cast and terrific effects. Only that rare individual who strongly feels Chris Hemsworth is better used in something like Black Hat wouldn't find something to enjoy here.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ghostbusters gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: Michael Kenneth Williams and one teeny glimpse of my beloved Shubert Theatre!
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon,
Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth
Release Date: Jul
15, 2016
Rated PG-13 for supernatural action and some crude humor.
Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters isn’t the disaster many
predicted but it’s not good enough on it’s own to prove it was necessary
either.I’m one of the few people who
always liked Ghostbusters but was never in love with it even though I grew up
with it.There’s a definite fondness for
the original film but I never really thought it was sacrilegious to remake it
with women.The director and cast do the
best with what they have but it’s clear that there’s an issue with the
story.The overall plot hits a lot of
the same notes that the original did but with a more generic punch.As the film goes on, it does feel like
everybody is reigning it in a bit, making me wish they’d decided to go for a
full on R rated comedy.I think that
would have been a better choice for this director and cast.As is, the cast is solid throughout with
Chris Hemsworth leaving the biggest impression by displaying some strong
comedic chops.The film is a tad
overlong by about 20 minutes or with some noticeable dead spots that could have
been easily excised.The Ghostbusters’
remake isn’t a train wreck but it’s not as good as it should have been to
justify its existence.
