MOVIE REVIEW: RICKY STANICKY

 

Twenty years after creating the imaginary Ricky Stanicky, three childhood friends still use the nonexistent pal as a handy alibi for their immature behavior. When their spouses and partners get suspicious and demand to finally meet him, the guilty trio decides to hire washed-up actor Rod to bring him to life. However, when Rod takes his role of a lifetime a little too far, they begin to wish they never invented Ricky in the first place.

Director: Peter Farrelly

Cast: Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, Lex Scott Davis, Anja Savcic, Jeff Ross, William H. Macy, John Cena

Release Date: March 8, 2024

Genre: Comedy

Rated R for sexual material, language throughout and some drug content.

Runtime: 1h 53m

Review:

Ricky Stanicky's silly setup should be perfectly suited for Peter Farrelly's talents especially with game cast but its never as consistently funny as it should be.  Farrelly's film feels familiar from the start with its goofy, over the top comedy and occasional gross outs paired with some choppy sentimentality.  The best Farrelly brother’s film's worked because the comedy bits tended to make it easier to overlook some of the film's shortcomings.  Peter's solo films have never reached the heights of his collaborations with his brother from the late 90's and early 2000's, a trend that continues here.  There are bits that work mostly thanks to a game cast highlighted by John Cena who does the majority of the heavy lifting.  The biggest issue is the film can never maintain the comedic energy since there are a handful of moments that fall flat which makes the whole thing feel longer than it actually is.  Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino and Cena all do their best, but the comedic dead spots highlight how thinly scripted the whole thing is.  The cast seems to be begging for better material to work with Efron making for a great straight man to the assorted zaniness happening around him.  Likewise, Fowler and Santino's comedic talents feel underutilized throughout which is a shame.  The result is a passable but easily forgettable comedy that feels like it could have been much better.    

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: ARGYLLE

 

Reclusive author Elly Conway writes best-selling espionage novels about a secret agent named Argylle who's on a mission to unravel a global spy syndicate. However, when the plots of her books start to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organization, the line between fiction and reality begin to blur.

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson

Release Date: February 2, 2024 

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for strong violence and action and some strong language.

Runtime: 2h 19m

Review:

Argylle, the latest spy riff from Matthew Vaughn, is overstuffed to the point of exhaustion as it hurls a seemingly endless barrage of twists at the screen which would make even M. Night Shyamalan blush.  Initially, Vaughn's film has a breezy feel as it plays with a fun premises.  The early action sequences that pepper in bits of Henry Cavill doing his best Bond impression is energetic and engaging.  Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell have some fun chemistry with both making the best of their likeable onscreen charm.  Howard is appropriately nebbish early on as insanity plays out around her.  Rockwell seems to be having a blast playing the superspy guiding her and it all works fairly well in the film's opening act.  Bryan Cranston hams it up as the film's central villain but much like the movie's plot, his performance gets progressively more exaggerated and outsized especially as the first reveal which alone would have been a fun thread to chase.  Instead, that initial reveal is barely given anytime to breathe before another U Turn takes in another silly direction follow by another and another.  There are a few fun action sequences interspersed between it all, but those slower moments are noticeably slow especially as the film gets more aggressively silly, highlighted by a colorful bullet filled dance and skating sequence which makes it clear that it’s all intentionally stupid.  In a weird way, Vaughn and his cast end up delivering a modern day Naked Gun film which would have been fun if it weren't so incredibly overstuffed.  

C-

MOVIE REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM

 

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O'Neil, helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Director: Jeff Rowe

Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph

Release Date: August 2, 2023

Genre: Comedy, Sci-fi, Animation 

Rated PG sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material

Runtime: 1h 39m

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an energetic reboot that breathes new life into the long running franchise.  Jeff Rowe's film has a kinetic energy from the start and he manages to maintain that level throughout.  The animation style and characters designs are beautifully rendered with a grungy style that makes each scene pop.  They're inventively done to give them a fresh new vibe while staying true to their classic designs.  Using real teenagers to voice the titular trio pays dividends since Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon all have great chemistry together.  Their youthful energy comes through as they bounce off each other naturally.  It helps that the script is snappily written even if its not terribly deep, light and straightforward but genuinely funny.  Ayo Edebiri makes for a fun April O'Neal who still a stalwart report but just can't handle her nerves on screen.  The rest of the supporting cast is made up of stars clearly having a ball voicing the slew of mutants that pop up on screen.  Jackie Chan and Ice Cube get the largest play with both delivering hilarious turns as the mentor and villain.  The cast provides a fun dynamic which works throughout making Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a fun lighthearted animated ride that's sure to make long time fans happy and make new ones at the same time.  

 

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Suicide Squad

My dear reader(s): The weekend just passed brought us the latest installment in DC Comics' extended cinematic universe, the Suicide Squad.

A collection of the criminal and the criminally insane embark on another secret mission.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or a general familiarity with the product.

Technically, I believe the Suicide Squad is considered a sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad. In reality, minus Jared Leto's Joker and with an almost completely new cast, it feels more like a do-over. The original was universally reviled (though I didn't hate it), so putting maximum artistic distance between the two probably was in the best interest of the new movie.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Suicide Squad and *the* Suicide Squad are two very different films. As mentioned, gone is Leto's deeply divisive Joker. While that's a significant character to remove from the mix, I don't think the movie misses him. Gone, also, is Will Smith as Deadshot. The team's new leader is Bloodsport, portrayed by Idris Elba. Will Smith is cool, but I can't say there are many actors I wouldn't happily swap for Elba, and Mr. Smith is no exception. (Sorry, Will. Love ya.) Margot Robbie makes her third big-screen appearance as Harley Quinn, and — given the character's psychoses — it feels inappropriate to say she's delightful, but delightful she is. She's come to own the character, and certainly she owns the screen whenever she's on it. Joel Kinnaman returns as Rick Flag, and Viola Davis as Amanda Walker, but most of the other faces are new to the property, if mostly familiar to movie-goers. Notable are the brilliant Peter Capaldi, John Cena, and David Dastmalchian, a favorite of mine since he named Rachel Dawes as next on the Joker's hit list in the Dark Knight. (Dastmalchian and co-star Michael Rooker have also done time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.) Sylvester Stallone is a scene-stealer as the voice of King Shark. Most of the performances can fairly be called terrific without a "for the genre" qualifier. The Suicide Squad uses a solid score by John Murphy and an interesting selection of tunes to underscore its dark mood, another important distinction from the original, which often felt more like a series of music videos than it did one cohesive film. The movie has its fair share of juvenile humor, but an equal helping of legitimately funny bits. CGI is decent throughout, and action scenes are exciting and don't wear out their welcome. Harley Quinn features in a fight sequence that is right up there with the Freebird/church scene in Kingsman: the Secret Service as a new classic and maybe an all-time great.

While the 2016 and 2021 Suicide Squads are very different, they're also quite similar. Both are very, very violent, though in a stylized way that doesn't seem as much about the gross-out as it does about interesting visuals. Both have a bright comic-book look to them, with colorful graphics and bold text. Both feature an abundance of bad language and disturbing content. (Why does James Gunn hate birds??) Both play Harley Quinn's insanity for laughs when, really, hers is a grotesque and unsettling story. If the houses ended up looking quite different, it's clear their foundations were the same.

The Suicide Squad is now playing in cinemas worldwide, and streaming on HBO Max through the first week of September. It runs 132 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use, and brief graphic nudity."

The Suicide Squad is good fun for those who aren't squeamish about extreme content, a definite improvement over the original. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Suicide Squad gets seven and a half.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: THE SUICIDE SQUAD

 

The government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world -- Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn and others -- to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Col. Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave.

Director: James Gunn

Cast: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi

Release Date: Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity

Runtime: 2 h 12 min

Review:

James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is a visually aggressive Dirty Dozen grindhouse film in the guise of a superhero film.  Gunn's Guardian of the Galaxy was one of first Marvel films that had a decidedly unique feel to it but those expecting something similar in DC universe will be surprised.  In this film Gunn has gone back to his gory roots by mirroring his first film's, Slither, story and using his refined directorial talents to great effect.  He delivers some truly beautiful sequences which will leave a lasting impact, Harley's escape is colorful collage of carnage.  His story is goofy, bloody but heartfelt at the same time even if all those elements don't hit the mark perfectly.  The character arches are filled with lingering mommy and daddy issues which doesn't give the ensemble much depth outside of being an outcast.  Robbie's Harley fares the best since her character has had three films to evolve into herself.  Idris Elba instantly feels like a more natural fit for this film than Will Smith did in the original film. Elba has a natural toughness that oozes through the screen which works perfectly for his character.  John Cena's Peacemaker should be the stand out of the piece but the script doesn't give him much to work with so he's not as impactful as the script wants him to be.  Daniela Melchior's Ratcatcher 2 ends up being the beating heart of film with her and Bloodsport's relationship providing the emotional string to the film.  Joel Kinnaman's Col. Rick Flag gets an expanded role here which makes him feel more like a complete character even amongst the insanity of Sylvester Stallone's, R rated Groot, King Shark or David Dastmalchian's Polka Dot Man.  Gunn's film embraces the insanity full bore by the final act by delivering the kind of big budget midnight movie madness which you have to appreciate for its sheer audacity.  

B

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Bumblebee, Aquaman, and Holmes & Watson

Holiday Catch-Up Triple Feature!

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the catch-up triple-bill of Bumblebee, Aquaman, and Holmes & Watson.

Spoiler level here will be mild, including a couple non-plot-specific things not revealed by trailers (far as I remember).

First on the docket: Bumblebee, a Transformers origins story.

Bumblebee is a pretty great film that, for me, was ruined by a really bad audience. I'll keep this review as objective as possible, but I know I didn't love it half as much as it deserved due to the poor theater experience.

Bumblebee represents a bit of a reset for the much-maligned Transformers franchise. Gone are the male leads and testosterone-driven action, replaced by Hailee Steinfeld as our young heroine with extensive auto-repair skills and an impressive collection of concert tees. Though Bumblebee doesn't diverge from the Transformers mold, Steinfeld carries the acting and action almost entirely on her tiny shoulders. Second-fiddle John Cena is amusing, and Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. is quite charming, but mostly it's down to Steinfeld and giant alien robots. Bumblebee's effects are sufficiently huge, and thankfully minus the dodgy bits that plague many CGI-heavy blockbusters these days. Sound mixing and editing are extraordinary. The picture boasts a hot 80s soundtrack that helps it accurately capture the feel of the decade. I didn't enjoy Bumblebee as much as the previous two entries in the franchise, but even I must admit it is, objectively, an improvement and a nice step in a positive direction.

Bumblebee runs 114 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."

Bumblebee feels longer than it is and I enjoyed it less than I should have, but it can fairly be called not just a good Transformers movie, but a good movie all 'round.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Bumblebee gets seven and a half.

Fangirl points: Lovin' that Damned tee! And Save a Prayer in digital surround-sound? Yes, please!

The filling in yesterday's cinema sandwich was the latest entry in DC Comics' cinematic universe, Aquaman.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Well, it's not Aquaman, though for years a yellow cartoon sponge has been laughed at only slightly more than DC's waterlogged hero. That ends now.

I am a DC girl through and through, and I'd been giving big-screen Aquaman the side-eye for some time. Between Arthur Curry's comic-relief role in Justice League and a wisecrack-heavy trailer, I expected a full-on attempt to mimic Marvel's "funny" superhero films. While Aquaman is neither as grounded as the Nolan Bat-verse nor as grim as Batman v. Superman, I'm pleased to report it finds a solid balance and is quite the enjoyable outing.

Jason Momoa is terrific as the would-be King of Atlantis, carrying the picture with his super-heroic buffness and easy charm. The dude-bro act from Justice League has been toned wayyyyyyy down, leaving a very human, very 2018 hero who hugs his pa, cries over his ma, and even makes a reasonable facsimile of that awful classic Aquaman costume look pretty rad. Patrick Wilson appears to be having the time of his life as Curry's half-brother and nemesis, gleefully overacting at every turn.The film is all the better for having names like Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, and Nicole Kidman in supporting roles. The only real negative is a dull turn by Amber Heard, who occupies just enough screen time to be annoying, but thankfully not enough to ruin the film. Aquaman boasts magical visuals, and natural comedy that flows well and doesn't feel forced. The movie does run a bit long, and the second act starts feeling like one run-on fight; like most superhero movies, by the time it hit the two-hour mark, I was ready to jump in and save the damn world myself.

Ultimately, though, Aquaman is enough fun that the need for a trim is a small quibble. Though I'm still jonesing for a really good Batman movie starring my favorite Bruce Wayne, Ben Affleck*, I'm happy to let Arthur Curry and Diana Prince get DC back on solid cinematic footing.

Aquaman clocks in at 143 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and some language."

Aquaman is a redeeming big-screen outing for an overdue hero and an unlikely win for DC. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Aquaman gets eight.

Finally, yesterday's closer was the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly comedy, Holmes & Watson.

A comedic take on the world's greatest detective and his sidekick.

Here I shall go on record as a fan of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, both individually and as a team. Talladega Nights is a top go-to movie in my house; we watch it religiously and quote it relentlessly. I mention that only to be clear: There's nothing that made me pre-disposed to dislike an idiotic comedy; it was quite the unpleasant surprise that I hated Holmes & Watson so, so much. The sad fact of the matter is: It just isn't funny.

Holmes & Watson hopes to earn laughs by exaggerating Sherlock Holmes' insufferable arrogance and John Watson's sometimes pitiful devotion. Ferrell's trademark ridiculousness is in full effect, but the film is more gross-out than slapstick. Proving that resistance turns up in the unlikeliest of places, Holmes & Watson takes a few swipes at He Who Must Not Be Named and American gun culture. While both are easy marks, that sort of poke only works if it's funny and/or clever, and this is most emphatically neither. Even more unforgivably, the movie is a criminal waste of two of my best girl crushes, Rebecca Hall and Kelly MacDonald. There's one solid gag at the end, but it's way too little, way too late.

Holmes & Watson runs a painful 90 minutes and is rated PG13 for "crude sexual material, language, some violence, and drug references."

If you really need a Sherlock Homes fix for 2018, your better big-screen bet is the one where he's a garden gnome.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Holmes & Watson begrudgingly gets one.

Fangirl points: He must've lost a bet to turn up in this garbage, but great to see Hugh Laurie!

Until next time...

*Shut up. I won't believe he's not coming back until they cast someone else.

MOVIE REVIEW: BUMBLEBEE

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee the Autobot seeks refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. Charlie, on the brink of turning 18 years old and trying to find her place in the world, soon discovers the battle-scarred and broken Bumblebee. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns that this is no ordinary yellow Volkswagen.

Director: Travis Knight

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, Pamela Adlon,  Dylan O'Brien

Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Runtime: 1h 53min

Review:

The Transformers movie series was in need of jump start since The Last Knight was easily the worst of the Michael Bay’s run.  Travis Knight takes the helm for this prequel/reboot and he does so with gusto.  Knight clearly knows the 80s cartoon and finally delivers the kind of Transformers film that we fans have been asking for all along.  Knight and his team redesign the Transformers removing a lot of the more insect like look of the Bay era with designs that look much closer to the original cartoon design.  It’s a simple change but one that makes longtime hearts feel all warm and fuzzy.  There is quite a bit of nostalgia mining going on but in doing so Knight never loses focus of what really matters, the actual characters.  Bumblebee is front and center with Hailee Steinfeld making for a likable lead.  At its base it’s a simpler story, one that isn’t overly busy which is a welcome change of pace from the hectic Bayhem we’ve come to expect from these films.  The story shares a lot with The Iron Giant which is a good thing.  The villains of the pieces are slightly underwhelming since they’re fairly non descript and unmemorable.  It’s a shame since they cast Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux.  Still, this film is just what the franchise needed in order to make fans happy, hopefully it’s a sign of better films to come.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: BLOCKERS

Julie, Kayla and Sam are three high school seniors who make a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. Lisa, Mitchell and Hunter are three overprotective parents who flip out when they find out about their daughters' plans. They soon join forces for a wild and chaotic quest to stop the girls from sealing the deal -- no matter what the cost.

Director: Kay Cannon

Cast: Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, John Cena, Geraldine Viswanathan, Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon

Release Date: April 6, 2018

Genres: Comedy

Rated R for crude and sexual content, and language throughout, drug content, teen partying, and some graphic nudity

Runtime: 1h 42min

Review:



Blockers is a new entry in the raunchy coming of age teen comedies in the vein of Porky’s, Superbad and American Pie.  Flipping the script by focusing on 3 girls instead of horny teen boys makes for an interesting take.  It helps that director Kay Cannon has a cast that shares excellent chemistry and sport some strong comedic chops.  The trio of teen actresses are particularly impressive which is a big win for the movie overall.  If they weren’t as strong the movie would be a lot less effective and funny.  Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz and John Cena are just as funny across the board which isn’t a big surprise.  They make for an unlikely trio but it works with each playing well off each other.  John Cena, in particular, shines by displaying some great comedic timing even though he looks like a Cro-Magnon caveman.  The film is filled with all the filthy jokes you’d expect from the genre and most are sharply written.  Ultimately, the film’s message is decidedly sweet and thoughtful even though it’s wrapped in a naughty shell.

B+

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Star Wars: The Last Jedi & Ferdinand

Dearest Blog: 'Tis the season where I never work a five-day week, so yesterday I took advantage of a Friday away from the office to beat the (worst) crowds to The Last Jedi and Ferdinand.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers, BUT...as people are uber-sensitive about Star Wars I'm gonna say spare us all the stress and just don't read this until you've seen the movie. I might have a thought that hints at an idea that will utterly destroy your experience or something.

Normally I write in the order I see, but as a courtesy I'm going to drop Ferdinand first so parents who are wondering, "Should I take my kid to this?" don't have to wade through 2,000 words on why I've been in love with Luke Skywalker since I was ten before getting their answer.

A gentle bull called Ferdinand has to save himself and his friends from the bullfighter's ring and the Burger King.

Ferdinand is a cute, mostly benign kids' movie. I hesitate to call it a family movie because, really, there's not much here to entertain anyone over the age of ten...or most people over the age of ten, I guess, because I liked it well enough. Ferdinand's art and animation are merely decent, and the predictable story--while enjoyable--is certainly not on par with its most recent animated competition, the extraordinary Coco. A lively score from the brilliant John Powell works especially well with the film's brighter and more colorful bits. Wrestler John Cena isn't overtaxed in the lead, and, oddly, my screening seemed mostly filled with Cena fans, just one little kid among them. There's not much to say about the supporting crew other than Kate McKinnon is marginally less annoying than she was in Ghostbusters, and the animated David Tennant has WAY more lines than the animated David Tennant did in How to Train Your Dragon. To me some of Ferdinand's themes seem a little harsh for smaller kids. The film is pretty clear on what happens to the bulls, whether or not they make it to the ring, so if you still hope to feed your kids that Hamburger Helper on a busy night, maybe take a pass on this one. I don't have children and always assume kids of any age know more than I'd guess, but I also thought the language was somewhat crass for very young audiences, so, again, skip it if your kids aren't already at an age where everything "sucks."

Ferdinand runs 106 minutes and is rated PG for "rude humor, action, and some thematic elements."

Ferdinand is a passable kids' movie that offers little for the rest of the family...but I liked it. 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Ferdinand gets five.

Fangirl points: David Tennant! Raul Esparza!

Okay, now onward to Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

With hope all but lost, the Resistance seeks a new hope. Erm...hang on.......

When a property is as iconic as Star Wars, it's more important than usual to offer a disclaimer on where these opinions come from, because I feel like most opinions on such things come from more than whether or not the movie itself is any good. So...I was ten when the first Star Wars came out. If memory serves, it was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I fell in love with Luke Skywalker and have been in love with Luke Skywalker ever since. Thus, even though The Force Awakens is pretty universally well loved (and I, myself, loved much of it), it was also a bitter disappointment to me due to the lack of Luke. You can keep your Han. You can keep your Leia. For me it's all about Luke.

As advertised, The Last Jedi features a fair bit of Luke. Surly, difficult, fed up, conflicted, heroic Luke. Mark Hamill turns in an epic performance worthy of an epic installment in an epic series. Luke Skywalker, you remain my hero. The rest of the cast is great and terrible and a little bit in between. Kudos to John Boyega (who needs more to do) and Oscar Isaac, who engage with honesty and charisma. Of course Carrie Fisher is amazing, though her every appearance is a kick-in-the-gut reminder of what we've lost. Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux is a moustache-twirl away from a cartoon, but for my money is a more entertaining and menacing baddie than Kylo Ren, who always feels more like a kid sulking in his room with a comic book than a genuine threat to the galaxy. Much of that may have to do with Adam Driver, who is ineffective at portraying the conflict within this tormented character. Despite her closet full of awards, Laura Dern is about as exciting as a paper doll, and I'm only grateful her screen time is limited enough that it didn't ruin more of the movie for me. Annnnnnnd...Daisy Ridley is somewhere in between all that. Rey is so critical--both to Star Wars in particular and movies in general--sometimes I feel like the actor just doesn't do the character justice. 

The Last Jedi starts fast out of the gate, but suffers great lags across its bloated runtime. In addition to my usual complaints (really, there are only so many moves that are interesting and necessary in any fight or chase scene), there are a couple places where the picture drops asides that seem extraneous and could have been eliminated with no real damage to the end result. The effects and CGI look pretty great, and much of the film is simply stunning, visually. The action is exciting and often takes unexpected turns, and there's a good bit of humor that mostly hits the mark without feeling forced. It goes without saying that John Williams' score is once again the very definition of iconic. The Last Jedi does a fine job of giving new players their due, while never seeming to shaft the old favorites, then tying both together in such a way that fans can probably envision this series going on forever, passing the baton from one generation of rebels to the next.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi clocks in at a massive 152 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of sci-fi action and violence."

The Last Jedi has won over critics, while leaving the fandom bitterly divided. I found a lot to love about it, but was left without the euphoria I expected when the end credits rolled. As always, though, I beg you, dear reader(s), not to let the Internet make up your mind about this movie. Get on out to the theater and see it for yourself. 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Star Wars: The Last Jedi gets eight and a half, which includes one (1) bonus Weasley for having an actual Weasley in the cast.

Fangirl points: You guys...ADRIAN FREAKING EDMONDSON is in this movie!

Until next time...