Following my blissful ten-week Rocketman interlude, yesterday it was off to the pictures for the decidedly-un-Rocketman-like Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
When a genetically-enhanced baddie (Idris Elba) threatens to release a virus to cull humanity, it's up to Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) to put aside their differences and save the world.
In the grand tradition of the Fast & Furious franchise, Hobbs & Shaw is big, loud, dumb fun that uses a single ridiculous set-piece to up the ante for the whole action genre. (Think Tom Cruise hanging off the side of that airplane in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation.) The film is fast-paced from start to finish, with well-choreographed fight sequences and insane car chases, but the last act holds a special surprise only hinted at in the trailers. Overall the movie looks really good, though there are a few spots where the green screen is so obvious the actors might as well be Colorforms. (How old is everyone reading this? Do I need a different reference there?) The humor comes easy and is only seldom forced, working especially well for Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds in roles that are little more than cameos, but are just what the doctor ordered for the aging F&F series. Elba, Statham, Johnson, and franchise newcomer Vanessa Kirby ensure the movie isn't short on eye-candy. The picture's a bit overlong, but it keeps moving well enough that it's hardly noticeable.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw clocks in at 137 minutes and is rated PG13 for "prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material, and some strong language."
While it's fair to say the Fast & Furious franchise is getting a bit long in the tooth, Hobbs & Shaw is good fun that not only ticks all the boxes for action fans, but also continues to raise the stakes for stupidly huge stunts. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw gets six.
Fangirl points: My go-to guy Jason Statham and my want-to guy Idris Elba! Until next time...
The shadow of the Bellows family has loomed
large in the small town of MillValley for generations. It's in a mansion that young Sarah
Bellows turns her tortured life and horrible secrets into a series of scary
stories. These terrifying tales soon have a way of becoming all too real for a
group of unsuspecting teens who stumble upon Sarah's spooky home. Director: André Øvredal Cast: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel
Rush, Austin Abrams, Dean Norris, Gil Bellows, Lorraine Toussain Release Date: August 9, 2019 Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller Rated PG-13 for terror/violence, disturbing
images, thematic elements, language including racial epithets, and brief sexual
references. Runtime: 1 h 47 min Review: Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark is a solid
entry level horror movie that may be a gateway for younger horror fans to
explore the genre. Norwegian director André
Øvredal, who has been turning out solid horror films for a good while now,
delivers an impressively stylish film.
It’s not ground breaking in any shape or form but his adaptation of the
short stories are staged well enough to keep most people entertained even if
the film start to film like a light version of IT as the plot unfolds. The monsters are effectively creepy which
makes for some solid moments of terror even though the film is very light on
blood. The cast of mostly unknowns does
a great job of carrying the film with Zoe Colletti leaving a strong
impression. More seasoned horror aficionados
may find the whole thing a bit quaint since the film feels like a throwback of
sorts to the old horror films like Night of the Scarecrow or The Town that
Dreaded Sundown.
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in
Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star
Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad
Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The
ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple
storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age. Director: Quentin Tarantino Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot
Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Austin Butler, Dakota
Fanning, Bruce Dern, Al Pacino Release Date: July 26, 2019 Genre: Comedy, Drama Rated R for language throughout, some strong
graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references Runtime: 2 h 45 min Review: Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s
9th film, is a gloriously unfocused tome that takes the audience
back in time to another era. Tarantino’s
film feels like a unrelated assembly of story vignettes which ultimately do
converge in an interesting and unexpected fashion. While the finale will get a lot of buzz but
the journey is just as enjoyable. The
film is anchored by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt who are both clearly having
a blast in their roles. They both share
some amazing chemistry that keeps the film watchable and enjoyable for the
duration. Their takes of their character
layered, subtle and ultimately lots of fun.
There’s a huge whose who of faces that pop up through out the film that
boost the film at just the right times.
You can almost feel Tarantino’s gleeful energy come through the screen
as some of the screen legends pop up on the screen. There might be a bit of a complaint about how
unfocused the whole thing is and in comparison to his other films, the story
here isn’t the strongest. Still it’s
hard not to enjoy this dazzling stroll through a bygone era brought back to
life by one of films most talented directors.
Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and
takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival.
Scar, Mufasa's brother -- and former heir to the throne -- has plans of his
own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and
drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious
pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what
is rightfully his. Director: Jon Favreau Cast: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel
Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé
Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones Release Date: July 18, 2019 Animation, Adventure, Drama Rated PG for sequences of violence and
peril, and some thematic elements | Runtime: 1 h 58 min Review: First and foremost, I have to admit that
I’ve never seen the original Lion King.
It’s a film that’s become so ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist that it
almost doesn’t feel necessary. None the
less, I understand it’s a much beloved property that many people have
incredible affection for so it makes watching this remake a strange
experience. The film itself is a
technical marvel, all the animals are beautifully realized throughout. The film’s voice cast is a who’s who of big
stars who all do serviceable work in their particular roles with nobody really
standing out. A handful of the legendary
songs reappear with some strong staging but all of it feels strangely hollow. Unfortunately the whole thing feels rather
soulless much like most of Disney’s ongoing money making scheme of remaking all
their animated classics. Jon Favreau’s
film isn’t a terrible film by any stretch but it’s strangely uninspired. Some of that might come from the fact that by
making the film photo realistic the animals lack any sort of real expressive
features, something that’s much easier in an animated feature. As such it feels like you are watching one of
those old 90s Homeward Bound films with much better production values.
When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu
(Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a
cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he’s thrust into a harrowing ordeal
where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star
rating. Directed by Michael Dowse, this action-comedy from 20th Century Fox
also stars Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, Betty Gilpin, Jimmy Tatro, Mira Sorvino
and Karen Gillan. Director: Michael Dowse Cast: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Iko
Uwais, Natalie Morales, Betty Gilpin, Jimmy Tatro, Mira Sorvino, Karen Gillan Release Date: June 28, 2019 Action, Comedy, Crime Rated R for violence and language
throughout, some sexual references and brief graphic nudity Runtime: 1 h 33 min Review: Stuber is one of those stupid mindless
action comedies that seemingly pops up every summer. Michael Dowse’s film knows what it is and
never really pretends to be anything else especially anything resembling
serious. The action is loud, kinetic and
surprisingly bloody for some reason.
Still it all carries very little weight in terms of gravitas. It’s all played for fun and both the leads
are more than ready to go all in. Dave
Bautista, aka Mr Monotone, uses a schtick similar to his Guardians of the
Galaxy routine which works well here.
His massive size compared to Kumail Nanjiani’s plays right into the
film’s general hook. Nanjiani is
perfectly neurotic as the hapless uber driver who’s commandeered for the drive
around the city. Together they make for
a fun pair delivering a low rent 48 Hrs. or Running Scared. Ultimately, the film does sort of feel like a
throwback to those 80’s buddy comedies even if doesn’t quite reach classic
status.
With their relationship in trouble, a young
American couple travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where a seemingly
pastoral paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the
locals reveal their terrifying agenda. Director: Ari Aster Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm
Blomgren, Will Poulter Release Date: July 3, 2019 Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Rated R for disturbing ritualistic violence
and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language Runtime: 2 h 27 min Review: Midsommar, Ari Aster’s 2nd film,
is a singular movie watching experience.
It’s the type of film that’ll stick with you for a long while
afterward. Aster’s direction is self
assured and methodical while never being boring even with the film’s glacial
pace. There’s a steady sense of dread
from the outset and it never really lets up throughout the better part of the
film. While this film isn’t quite as
strong in the horror category as Hereditary was its still filled with plenty of
starkly bleak imagery and iconography.
At its center is Florence Pugh who carries the film and elevates some of
the weaker portions of the film’s plot.
Pugh’s ability to emote pain and grief comes through the screen which
some of the film’s more trippy sequences all the more powerful. As for those hallucinatory sequences they are
some of the most discombobulating and outright weird sequences I’ve seen on
film. It's easy to compare Midsommar to
the original Wicker Man, it does share various similarities with that film, but
ultimately it’s it own wonderfully weird amalgam of that film and the 1981 film Possession, destined to become a
cult classic in it's own right. A-
Yesterday I took an (involuntary) break from back-to-back Rocketman screenings to check in with my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
To no one's surprise, Peter Parker's plan to participate in a school trip like any normal teen goes awry.
Like almost all Marvel product, Spider-Man: Far from Home trades heavily on the capital of its star's charisma and real-life personality. Tom Holland is an absolute jackpot in this regard, having proved as charming off-screen as on, and--while Andrew Garfield remains my perfect Spidey--the more age-appropriate Holland carries a big franchise film with the ease of someone far more experienced. His supporting cast is fleshed out this time with the always-wonderful Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as recurring turns by Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Samuel L. Jackson, and Coby Smoulders. The movie's got flaws, but not a single member of this cast is among them.
Far from Home represents a sort-of torch-passing, following the events of Avengers: Endgame. The film features spectacular disaster and creature effects, yet somehow Spidey himself looks weirdly CGI-ed even when it's probably a live actor or stunt person performing. The movie is never boring, precisely, but it's too long before it even gets out of its first hour. There's a big "twist" that manages to serve its purpose while probably not being much of a surprise to most fans. Some great action sequences, an engaging cast, and spot-on humor make Far from Home a fun movie, but, ultimately, it's nothing special.
Spider-Man: Far from Home clocks in at an excessive 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments."
Far from Home is another fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel that you'll forget before the next fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spider-Man: Far from Home gets seven.
Fangirl points: My best boyfriend Jake (obvs.)! Martin Starr! The Ramones!
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame,
Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed
forever. Director: Jon Watts Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson,
Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin
Starr, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal Release Date: July 2, 2019 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some
language and brief suggestive comments Runtime: 2 h 9 min Review: Spider-Man: Far from Home has the simple
task of tidying up the events of Avengers: Endgame while also moving forward
Spider-Man character’s story.It’s a
hefty task and the film’s only partially able to pull it off, even though it’s
at the cost of other elements.Jon
Watts’ film is a light and breezy affair with nary an air of heft or weight to
it. They’re never any moments where you wonder if the hero is in any real
danger, which is a common occurrence is these single character films but here
it feels even more obvious.That’s not
say to there isn’t plenty of superhero action to go around along with some
impressively staged sequences, particularly in the third act.Tom Holland is still excellent as
Parker/Spider-Man but while he gives more angst teen drama this entry, it feels
more inorganic and stilted than it did in Homecoming.Zendaya is relegated to a more standard love
interest role than she did before and no amount of snark can hide it.Jake Gyllenhaal is an interesting addition to
the film but he’s a retconned villain from Spider-man villain who could just
wear a sign around his neck stating “Don’t Trust Me” during the first
half.His reveal is interesting and it’s
hard not to see the screenwriters taking swipes at a certain someone in the current
political zeitgeist with the villain’s primary motivation.It’s an interesting take and something that
would have been more interesting if it’d been explored more but as is it’s a
solid film.Ultimately, it does close
out this “phase” of the Marvel universe but does so in a workman like
function.That being said there are 2
post credit sequences that actually have bearing on the film you’ve finished
watching so it’s worth staying all the way through the credits in this
one. B
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.
After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from
his mother -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend.
When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other
neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc.
Director: Simon Kinberg
Cast: Gabriel Bateman, AubreyPlaza,
Brian Tyree Henry, Mark Hamill
Rated R for bloody horror violence, and
language throughout Release Date: June 21, 2019
Genres: Horror
Runtime: 1h 30 min
Review:
The remake of Child’s
Play bears only passing resemblance to 80s original which isn’t a terrible
thing.Sure purist will complain about
it but this new version does feel a bit cleaner and more straightforward which
is a good and bad.The film itself it
fairly lean and moves at a decent pace although it does feel a tad rushed in
spots.Gabriel Bateman who plays Andy is
solid if unimpressive in the lead role while AubreyPlaza
feels miscast and under utilized at the same time.Brian Tyree Henry sparks up the film when he’s
on screen but much like Plaza, the film doesn’t take advantage of their
talents.Mark Hamill’s voice as Chucky
is distinctive enough from Brad Dourif’s work in the previous films to leave an
impression.Still, Dourif’s work is so
iconic at this point that it’s hard to believe that anyone would choose this
new iteration as their favorite.Simon
Kinberg directs the film with an odd sense of humor but it’s never all that
edgy or scary.Even the violence feels
somewhat sanitized and bland, not to mention the general silliness of the whole
thing.Still it wasn’t as if the original
films where any bastion of high end writing so perhaps the remake is still in
line with the older films.
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!"
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the
gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The
adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour
leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo discuss the old
days, they soon start to realize that they're worlds apart when it comes to
what they want from life as a toy.Director: Dexter Fletcher Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts,
Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Madeleine McGraw, Christina
Hendricks, Keanu Reeves Release Date: June 20, 2019 Biography, Animation, Adventure, Comedy Rated G Runtime: 1 h 40 min Review: Toy Story 3 really felt like a proper and
fitting send off for the venerable franchise while leaving fans an emotional
wreck. This fourth entry had some work
to do to explain its reason for existing besides an obvious money grab. Thankful this fourth entry is a fitting
epilogue to the franchise that ties up storylines while maintaining the high level
of layered storytelling that’s always been a calling card of the
franchise. The story isn’t going to
level your emotions the way part 3 did but it’s still got a solid bit of bite
in spots particularly in the final frames.
Thematically it’s got some heady issues at play, particularly finding
your personal worth and self actualization which is hefty stuff for a kid’s
movie. That’s not to say kids won’t
enjoy it because they will, it’s probably one of the most vibrantly animated entries
in the series. The setting like the
antique shop and carnival are visual cornucopias of colors and details that you’re
liable to need a few views to see everything they put in. The cast delivers across the board like they
always do even though some of the characters are regulated to the 2nd
or 3rd tier. The new
additions of Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key
and Jordan Peele make that easier to deal with but I would have liked a bit
more of a spotlight on some of the established characters. Tom Hanks’ Woody is
the primary focus here with most of the story serving his character arch. Adding Annie Pott’s Bo Peep back into the mix
as a strong self realized female character makes for an interesting dynamic
that really adds to the overall impact of the story. If this truly is the end of the series, it’s
a fitting bittersweet send off.
Having zero interest in sleeping through the latest Men in Black installment, this weekend I enjoyed another double-shot of Rocketman at the cinema while turning to Netflix for something new. On the docket, the suspenseful comedy Murder Mystery.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
Americans on a belated honeymoon accept an invitation from a mysterious stranger, only to find themselves at the center of a murder mystery.
Of late, Netflix originals have done a fine job of competing with the big studios. It comes as something of a surprise, then, that Murder Mystery feels more like an old-school network Movie of the Week.
Murder Mystery moves quickly through a by-the-numbers, "Clue"-like plot. It's amusing enough, and a stable of reasonably-famous faces keeps it from feeling *too* low-rent, despite the fact there's very little mystery in the murder. None of the leads plays against type: Jennifer Aniston is the girl-next-door, Adam Sandler her over-earnest husband, and Luke Evans the dashing and mysterious stranger. Netflix won't be hanging its hat on this one come awards season, but it's decent fun nonetheless.
Murder Mystery clocks in at 97 minutes and is rated PG13 for "violence/bloody images, crude sexual content, and language."
Murder Mystery is unmemorable, but if you're looking to shut off your brain with a bit of entertainment that doesn't challenge, it's just the ticket. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Murder Mystery gets five.
The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe
but so have the villains of the universe. To keep everyone safe, decorated
Agent H and determined rookie M join forces -- an unlikely pairing that just
might work. When aliens that can take the form of any human arrive on Earth, H
and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save the agency -- and ultimately
the world -- from their mischievous plans.
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca
Ferguson, Rafe Spall, Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, Liam Neeson, along with Emma
Thompson
Release Date: June 14, 2019
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.
Runtime: 1h 54min
Review:
Men in Black: International is a half hearted reboot that does boast a
pair of a game stars that almost makes the film memorable. F. Gary Gray captures some of the feel from
the original but its never maintained for a consistent amount of time. As such, the film is better in parts than it
is as a whole. The scripting doesn’t
help much with it playing to the most basic and predictable story beats. So ultimately it’s up Chris Hemsworth and
Tessa Thompson to make the whole thing watchable, luckily their chemistry makes
the whole thing an enjoyable romp even if it’s ultimately forgettable. The Men In Black series has always had
trouble nailing the original’s feel in the sequels. The third entry in the film came close and is
an underrated entry in the series, International will probably fall just short
of that entry. It did take on the
gargantuan task of replacing the Will Smith/Tommy Lee Jones dynamic and it does
reasonably well even if the story is generic and ultimately mundane.
Yesterday I preceded my day-long Rocketman festival with an early screening of the Secret Life of Pets 2.
This review will include some very specific spoilers that--as a pet mom and animal lover--I feel obligated to mention. However, I will put them at the end after the rating, with a warning, for anyone who wants to read to that point for a general overview.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 revisits our old friends from the first installment, sending them in mostly different directions, adding new friends and adversaries, and giving us a movie that feels a little disjointed.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 features three separate plotlines, two of which converge at film's end, and one that mostly stands on its own. It's not really a problem, but it does make the whole seem a bit jumbled. That aside, pieces of the movie are laugh-out-loud funny. If the dogs are broadly drawn, the cats are spot on. These writers, they're cat people! The art and animation are sharp and colorful, and a cheerful score is peppered with familiar tunes sure to appeal to young and old alike. Kevin Hart's voice work as the unhinged bunny Snowball is again the movie's highlight, and this time he's playing off a familiar costar, Tiffany Haddish, a new addition as Snowball's puppy pal, Daisy. This is a fun outing that doesn't overstay its welcome, making the movie’s shortcomings easy enough to forgive.
An aside: This was my first experience with a sensory-friendly movie screening, and I want to give props to my local theater, Marquee Cinemas, for offering this option. The film itself is unaltered, but the volume is lowered, the lights don't quite go all the way down, and there are subtitles on the screen. This screening also skipped the trailers. It was a good experience that seemed to go over well with its target audience, and it did my cold heart good to see kids who mightn't otherwise get to experience the cinema enjoy a movie.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 runs a quick 86 minutes and is rated PG for "some action and rude humor."
The Secret Life of Pets 2 is nothing special, but it's a fun enough summer outing to get folks by until Toy Story 4 hits screens in a couple weeks.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Secret Life of Pets 2 gets five.
Hereafter there be spoilers!
Fangirl Demerits (a first!):
I have never been a person who blames people's behavior on entertainment; on the contrary, I greatly value personal accountability. However, when it comes to anything targeting children, I do think we need to be careful what we put out there, and this movie does a few things that bothered me.
Near the beginning of the movie, there's a scene of a baby pulling on a dog's ears and tail. In the real world, this is how children get bitten and innocent animals get put down. Pets are not toys. This cannot be stressed enough, and it's no joke.
In one scene the little dog Gidget is using the dishwasher as a sauna. A silly enough gag, but how long until somebody's child puts a small dog in the dishwasher, much like kids were flushing fish down the toilet to “set them free” after seeing Finding Nemo? The movie loses nothing without that scene, so just don't do it.
Finally, in one plotline, the apartment-dwelling Max and Duke visit a relative on a farm, and are told, "Dogs sleep outside." Decent people don't make dogs sleep outside, and decent pet owners don't bring their dogs to places where they aren't welcome indoors. I docked this movie a full Weasley point for that one.
This is the story of one
of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey, as she evolves into the
iconic DARK PHOENIX. During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is
hit by a cosmic force that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants
of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own
personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart
and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet. The film is the most
intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years
of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must
face their most devastating enemy yet -- one of their own.
Director: Simon Kinberg
Cast: James McAvoy,
Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye
Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Jessica Chastain
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi
violence and action including some gunplay, disturbing images, and brief strong
language Release Date: June 7, 2019
Genres: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 1h 54 min
Review:
It’s typically not the
biggest compliment for a film when you start comparing it to past entries in
the franchise only to confirm that it’s not as bad as some of the series low spots. In this case, Dark Phoenix isn’t the
collective disaster that X-Men The Last Stand was and it’s far more palatable
than X-Men Apocalypse. That doesn’t
necessarily make a good film though, it’s serviceable at best. The first two acts of the film rush through
exposition and tries to get the audience to care about Jean Grey whom we’ve
spent barely anytime with as a character in the previous films. Sophie Turner just isn’t terribly engaging as
the titular character, her acting ranger here seem to consist of staring
blankly into space angrily. The real
shame is that the film is stacked with excellent actors and actresses across
the board. Jennifer Lawrence is barely
given much to do and her character’s storyline doesn’t land the way it
should. It’s a consistent issue with the
film, its first two acts feel like an emotionless slog peppered with some
respectable action sequences. Jessica
Chastain’s character and performance exemplify this since she’s a walking
talking emotionless villain who’s not so much a character but a plot device to
move the story forward. She’s utterly wasted throughout the film, much like Michael
Fassbender whose role feels more like an extended cameo. James McAvoy fares slightly better but it not
enough to turn the tide, the films final battle is solid but strangely Simon
Kinberg decided it was a good idea to uses certain beats from The Last
Stand. Since the final act was entirely
reshot, it’s hard not to see a problematic production turn into a messy
uninspired film.
An epic musical fantasy about the uncensored
human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years.
Director: Dexter Fletcher Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard
Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard Release Date: May 31, 2019 Biography, Drama, Music Rated R for language throughout, some drug
use and sexual content Runtime: 2 h 1 min Review: Rocketman is a thoroughly entertaining jukebox
musical/biopic of Elton John. Director
Dexter Fletcher style and structure give the film a pulsating energy from the
get go. Fletcher’s direction gives the
film a certain type of energy that differentiates from the more paint by the
numbers feel of Bohemian Rhapsody. As
such, it’s feels like a better made film from start to finish and it’s hard not
to think about Julie Taymor’s underrated Across The Universe which had a
similar feel. At the center of the
entire thing is Taron Egerton who deserves all the accolades that are sure to
come his way during award season.
Egerton has long been doing impressive work across multiple films
outside of The Kingsman series but here he just embodies Elton John. His performance and singing are just superb
throughout the entire film. The supporting
cast is just as strong even if some of the characters feel a bit more like
types as opposed to fully formed characters.
Richard Madden is impressively enigmatic as John’s first manager and
lover while Jamie Bell performance is quieter and more subtle but just as
effective. Ultimately, your enjoyment of
the film will come down to your enjoyment of musicals and Elton John’s timeless
music, outside of those caveats, Rocketman is sure to please.
Members of the crypto-zoological agency
Monarch face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty
Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the
three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species-thought to be mere
myths-rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity's very existence
hanging in the balance.
Director: Michael Dougherty
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie
Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas
Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe,
Zhang Ziyi.
Release Date: May 31, 2019
Action, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Rated PG-13 for sequences of monster action
violence and destruction, and for some language Runtime: 2 h 11 min
Review:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a movie at
war with itself.The obvious main
attraction is the monster mayhem promised in the title and on that basis alone
it succeeds.The battle sequences are
beautifully shot even if they tend to be a bit dark in spots.Portions of the epic battle sequences almost
look like some sort of insane renaissance painting of carnage.So is that enough to make a film enjoyable if
the human portion of the film feels like it was lifted out of a bad 90s summer
blockbuster?It’s difficult to tell
since those portions are just so bland and terribly scripted.The cast assembled is incredibly strong but
they’re mostly wasted spouting hackneyed lines.Character motivations vary from act to act and the logic behind some of
the people’s actions are ludicrous.To
say that the film lags in spots would be an understatement since it’s a series
of ups and downs in terms of excitement.On the most basic level, Godzilla: King of the Monster works as a
mindless and summer blockbuster that delivers some of the best kaiju action
ever.Sadly the overstuffed run time
could have excised entire portions of the human side of the story and the film
would have been better for it.
Yesterday I abandoned my coworkers, turned my back on the best weather day of the budding summer, and hid inside a dark cinema with a monster monarch and pop music king.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from trailers and clips.
First on my agenda, Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
With Earth threatened by Titans and eco-terrorists, it's the King of the Monsters himself to the rescue.What I expect from a Godzilla movie, first and foremost, is for the monsters to be huge and impressive. Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivers that in spades, and I didn't even see it on the biggest/best screen at my cinema. I can only imagine how spectacular it looks in IMAX! The CGI sleek and effective, and the light effects on various creatures add some punch to a movie that, overall, is rather dark and sometimes hard to see. The disaster and even weather effects are also a sight to behold. A cast that boasts names like Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, and Ken Watanabe might ordinarily be relied upon to elevate a movie beyond "just a monster movie," but, unfortunately, this monster movie is the equivalent of cement shoes on its actors. I was a little embarrassed to watch such quality talent utter this poorly-crafted dialogue, and I groaned out loud more than once at putrid attempts at humor. That aside, Bear McCreary's score smacks of old-school Godzilla pictures, and solid wall-to-wall action makes for a fast-moving couple hours of summer escapism.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters runs 131 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of monster action, violence, and destruction, and for some language."
It's not the best Godzilla movie ever, but King of the Monsters certainly isn't the worst. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla: King of the Monsters gets six.
Next on the docket, a movie for which it feels like I've been waiting forever: Rocketman, a musical fantasy based on the life of Elton John.
Dearest reader(s), I am utterly in love with Rocketman. I want to talk about this movie. I want to talk about this movie a LOT. If you don't care to dive right into the thousand words that will undoubtedly follow, just get off the couch, put away the laptop, and get out to the cinema now. Do it. If you *do* want to dive right into my thoughts on Rocketman, well, here ya go...
The first words I said to anyone about Rocketman were: "That's not just the best movie I've seen this year; that's the best movie I've seen in ten years." While it'd take a bit more careful consideration to see how close that statement is to actual fact (it's only been nine years since two new entries, The Social Network and How to Train Your Dragon, jumped into my all-time top ten), I'll stand by the enthusiasm. Rocketman is a truly extraordinary cinematic achievement.
Rocketman is staged like a Broadway musical, with John recounting his childhood, rise to fame, and difficulties with addictions and relationships through musical numbers. The film moves deftly from heartbreak to passion to euphoria without ever feeling disjointed or like it's lost its way. Though the real strength of the musical numbers lies in John's timeless tunes, the staging bursts with fantastic choreography and brilliant costumes. John's story is fascinating enough in its own right, but here it's brought to life with a theatrical flair reminiscent of Bob Fosse's brilliant biopic All That Jazz, another of my all-time top-ten movies, which I was disappointed to discover recently is not available for rental or streaming...if I want to watch it, I have to dig out my old DVD. How very 1998!
Rocketman features top-notch work from a delightful cast. Taron Egerton gives up every inch of himself to *become* Elton John, and if I had the whole of the Internet I couldn't say enough about his performance. Masterful, exceptional, and entirely expected of Egerton, who is unfailingly extraordinary. He does his own singing here, too, in case anyone was wondering. If Egerton perfectly captures the cacophony of Elton John, Jamie Bell's stalwart Bernie Taupin serves as the movie's quiet cornerstone. Bell has been turning in brilliant performances literally since he was a child, and this one moved me to tears more than once. The remainder of the cast, particularly Richard Madden as John's sexy, sleazy first love and manager John Reid, fantastically fleshes out the highs and lows and brights and darks of John's world, nary a weak link to be found among them; even the young kids are terrific.
Following so quickly on the heels of the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, comparisons are inevitable, so, for whatever it's worth, here's how the two films stack up for me. Throwing no shade at Bohemian Rhapsody, which I loved, Rocketman is a much better film. The most objective and therefore critically relevant reason is simple: It's just more self-aware. Bohemian Rhapsody wanted so very badly to be taken seriously, and ultimately it succeeded, but for my money it skimmed too lightly over the dark times and hard questions to earn it. Rocketman was only ever billed as a fantasy, so, though it's based on some real-life people and happenings--and not all happy ones--it could always be whatever it wanted...and it is EVERYTHING. More subjectively, though I'm a big fan of Rami Malek, I've always believed Taron Egerton could do anything, and in each and every project he proves me right. Malek was terrific as Freddie Mercury, but Egerton inhabits Elton John in a way I've seldom seen, not even from the most experienced and decorated performers. Finally, Queen made some epic, legendary music and I love all of it, but it's never moved me in the way Elton John's music does, and that's allowing for the fact that my favorite Elton John songs--Madman Across the Water and Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding--are unrepresented in this picture. So...if you're going to make the comparison, for me it's not a hard call: Rocketman is a better movie than Bohemian Rhapsody by far and in every way.
Rocketman clocks in at 121 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some drug use, and sexual content."
Rocketman will break your heart and mend your soul. I haven't stopped smiling since I saw it, and I can't wait to see it again. There aren't nearly enough Weasleys to give this movie the rating it deserves, so I'm just going to beg you: GET OUT AND SEE ROCKETMAN NOW!
Academic overachievers Amy and Molly thought
keeping their noses to the grindstone gave them a leg up on their high school
peers. But on the eve of graduation, the best friends suddenly realize that
they may have missed out on the special moments of their teenage years.
Determined to make up for lost time, the girls decide to cram four years of
not-to-be missed fun into one night -- a chaotic adventure that no amount of
book smarts could prepare them for.
Director: Olivia Wilde
Cast: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Will Forte,
Lisa Kudrow, Jason Sudeikis
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Genres: Comedy
Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and
drinking - all involving teens
Runtime: 1h 42min
Review:
Booksmart can easily be written off as a female version of Superbad but
it’s actually much more than just that.Oliva Wilde directorial debut is a smart and funny even if feels
familiar.The coming of age story is
well worn and it can be difficult to bring something new to the table.Wilde brings a nice bit of visual flair along
with likable characters.The central duo
of Kaitlyn Dever & Beanie Feldstein share great chemistry and strong
comedic timing.The supporting cast is made
up of a steady stream of familiar faces who all make the film better though I
do wish we’d gotten a bit more of Jason Sudeikis.Billie Lourde does stand out as a recurring
character that’s constantly everywhere.Overall, the story has a strong sense of inclusiveness and heart at its
center adding depth to the raunchy romp.It’s likely to join the list of the great coming of age movies much like
Superbad.
What if a child from
another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind,
he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary
filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling,
subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.
Director: David Yarovesky
Cast: Elizabeth Banks,
David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, Meredith Hagner
Release Date: May 24, 2019
Rated R for horror
violence/bloody images, and language.
Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.
Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi
Review:
Brightburn feels like a
“what if” issue of a comic book series.
David Yarevesky plays up the Superman motif at multiple points during
his gory superhero/horror hybrid.
Jackson A. Dunn fills the creepy kid well with Elizabeth Banks and David
Denman doing strong work as his adoptive parents. The conceit is solid but even as the film
moves into darker territory you get the feeling that they don’t quite get the
most out of the idea. The film isn’t
really scary per say, just gory in parts, even though Yarovesky does set up
some genuinely tense sequences. Sadly,
there’s not a ton of surprise in store and most everything plays out exactly
like you think it would. The finale does
hint at the possibility of a sequel which could be interesting in its own right
depending how they decide to play the story.
As an origin story, it’s solid if slightly uninspired.
