MOVIE REVIEW: M3GAN

 

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that's programmed to be a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by Gemma, a brilliant roboticist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector. When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences.

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Stephane Garneau-Monten

Release Date: January 6, 2023

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

M3gan plays like the strange offspring of The Twilight Zone episode, I Sing the Body Electric, and the Chucky franchise.  It’s the kind of genre film that could have recycled tone and tropes from various other sources, Speilberg’s A.I., HBO’s Westworld or the original Westworld movie, to deliver passable entertainment.   Thankfully, Akela Cooper’s screenplay is self-aware enough to try something different and embrace some of the funnier elements of the conceit and deliver a film that will deliver more laughs than actual scares.   Gerard Johnstone directs a sleek, efficient film that’s easy to enjoy, especially once the opening act sets up the introduction of the titular android.  Once M3gan shows up, the film really finds it footing due in no large part to well the live action/FX creation works as a character.  It’s a fascinating bit of screen alchemy with the character feeling authentically artificial while still having a clearly defined persona.   Amie Donald physical performance combined with Jenna Davis voice work serve as the life blood of the film, making incredibly watchable especially when it leans into the funnier aspects which are best left as a surprise.  The supporting cast is solid but Voilet McGraw interactions with M3gan really make the film pop before the fairly sanitized homicides start happening.   The plot, itself touches on themes like technology raising our children but it’s nothing terribly in depth or meaningful. The film moves at such a fast pace that you get the sense there is a more detailed longer cut of the film somewhere which expands on some the story threads.  Needless to say, that there’s something to explore in the inevitable sequel which will hopefully maintain the same level of fun as this entry. 

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: GET OUT

A young African-American photographer (Daniel Kaluuya) is nervous at the thought of meeting his white girlfriend's parents (Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford) for the first time during a trip to the latter's country estate. However, his anxiety soon turns into outright terror when he discovers that the family's seemingly idyllic community is hiding a sinister conspiracy, one that involves the disappearance of several black people in the area. Jordan Peele, one half of the comedic duo Jordan Peele, makes his directorial debut with this horror thriller. Allison Williams, LaKeith Stanfield, and Caleb Landry Jones co-star. ~ Jack Rodgers, Rovi

Director: Jordan Peele

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root, LaKeith Stanfield, 

Allison Williams

Release Date: Feb 24, 2017

Rated R for Language, Bloody Images, Sexual References and Violence

Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.

Genres: Horror, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

Get Out is a fine debut for Jordan Peele even if it isn’t a landmark horror benchmark some have made it out to be.  Get Out plays more like a comedic satire of classic horror movie tropes with a racial slant.  As it plays out, it’s clear that Jordan Peele is a fan of classic films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Stepford Wives.  On the downside there are few surprises for anyone who’s watched any of these films, resulting in a few jump scares but very little in the way of tension.  Thankfully, there’s a fair amount of laughs as the increasingly uncomfortable weekend unfurls for our protagonist.  Daniel Kaluuya is solid as the lead even if he isn’t given much to do outside of act uncomfortable and mildly terrified.  Allison Williams, and her dead eyes, is perfect for what the role calls for, which is very little.  Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener are given fun roles, which they clearly relish, but there is practically mustache twirling unsettling from the get go.  As a result, there is a very little surprise about where any of these characters end up.  LaKeith Stanfield is given the best role in the film as Chris friend who spends the majority of the film telling him there’s something seriously off about the situation.  It’s a credit to Jordan Peele’s talent that he can make you overlook these short coming and deliver an enjoyable film.  Get Out isn’t a hallmark in horror filmmaking, the majority of hardcore horror buffs may walk out disappointed, but it’s a solid debut.

B+