MOVIE REVIEW: BORDERLANDS

 

Returning to her home planet Pandora, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits. Together, they battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to uncover one of Pandora's most explosive secrets.

Director: Eli Roth

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Édgar Ramírez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, Jamie Lee Curtis

Release Date: August 9, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some suggestive material.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Borderlands isn't the worst film I've seen this year, but it is the most generic and tiring thing splashed onscreen thus far.  Everything about Eli Roth's film feels like a rehash of other far better films.  Its continuously loud and over the top to the point of exhaustion with the uneven special effects killing any campy fun that might be had.  The story is straightforward and simplistic, which should be more than enough for the top notch cast to deliver some semblance of fun onscreen.  Sadly, there are only a few fleeting moments of life and fun scattered throughout the film's brisk runtime.  Cate Blanchett swaggers onscreen with a self assured confidence that makes her the most interesting person onscreen at any given time due to the sheer fact that an actress of her caliber is trying to carry this shlocky, soulless film decked out in full anime cosplay.  She seems to have a good time as she recites clunky lines of dialogue with a devil may care detachment which shows she's more than game to go full camp throughout.  Unfortunately, everybody else onscreen is annoying or obnoxious, specifically Ariana Greenblatt and Jack Black being particularly grating.   Only Kevin Hart appears to be comfortable in this sphere, but his character is written as the straight man for some confounding reason.  Édgar Ramírez and Jamie Lee Curtis are both over the top but their characters, much like everyone else onscreen are so underwritten that they barely register.  Borderlands is the type of film that will end up in heavy rotation on TNT/TBS weekend loops serving as little more than background noise.   

D

MOVIE REVIEW: IT ENDS WITH US

 

Lily Bloom moves to Boston to chase her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid soon sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, she begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan, suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle gets upended, leaving her with an impossible choice.

Director: Justin Baldoni

Cast: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj

Release Date: August 9, 2024

Genre: Drama, Romance

Rated PG-13 for domestic violence, sexual content and some strong language.

Runtime:  2h 10m

Review:

It Ends with Us is a glossy romantic drama that tries to broach the issue of domestic abuse and generational trauma with mixed results.  Justin Baldoni directs the film with a Nancy Meyers style sheen that gives everything a music video/perfume commercial look and feel.  A hefty amount of musical montages only add to the effect, giving everything an artificial sense of detachment from reality that is part in parcel in this genre.  This approach does make it difficult for the film to change gears once it starts to deal with the more grounded issues of domestic abuse that loom larger in the story's back half.  Baldoni never finds a real tonal balance between the storybook romance and harsh reality of abuse leaving the latter underserved as it tiptoes around some of the uglier elements at play.  Blake Lively, for her part, delivers an earnest heartfelt performance in the central role.  Its clear from the start that Lively has a deep affection for the material, she also a producer on the film, and character with a measured performance that tries desperately to give the character some real sense of depth outside of her chic bohemian exterior.  The issue is that the characters are generally thin across the board with each having one or two defining traits but little more.  Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar's character are essentially two halves of one person with neither being able to bring something more to the role outside of smoldering looks. Jenny Slate does provide some much need energy when she pops up as Lily's best friend but the film never takes full advantage of her as the film never bothers to really establish their friendship and instant connection.  Its an issue across the board a series of contrivances brings characters together which kills any sense of authenticity.  The film's lackadaisical pacing paired with some incredibly clunky dialogue that probably reads better on the page than it does on screen keeps It Ends with Us from making the sort of impact it sets out to make. 

C

MOVIE REVIEW: TRAP

 

A man and his teenage daughter realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, Alison Pill

Release Date: August 2, 2024

Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for some violent content and brief strong language

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

M. Night Shyamalan's Trap is a collection of bad serial killer cliché paired with a ludicrous set up which might have been fun if everything wasn't so hackneyed.  The general conceit offers plenty of options to build tension and tighten the screws on the Josh Hartnett's central killer as the walls close in.  Shyamalan doesn't take advantage of any of this by delivering a series of bland situations and coincidences that barely register throughout the film's runtime.  The script is peppered with silly contrivances such as overly chatty arena employees and SWAT team members apparently have blinders on to people acting suspiciously.  Josh Hartnett desperately tries to deliver a chilling performance as a central killer but neither side of the character is believable since the "normal" is anything but and the killer side is just too full of goofy twitches and mommy issues.   It’s hard to place all the blame on Hartnett since the script lacks any sort of nuance or depth so it doesn't work on a serious level and its never campy enough to be enjoyed as a goof.  There is also a sense of cynicism that washes over once Shyamalan pops up on screen in one of the sillier coincidences that only ramps up the film's stupidity as it heads into its final act.  It doesn't help that the singer who's the lynchpin of the overall conceit is none other than his daughter, Saleka Shyamalan, in a shameless display of nepotism.  It would all be easier to forgive if any of the film was more entertaining but it’s a testament to Trap's quality that it feels far longer than its actual runtime.

D

MOVIE REVIEW: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.

Director: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Rob Delaney

Release Date: July 26, 2024

Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references.

Runtime: 2h 7m

Review:

Deadpool & Wolverine releases the floodgates on fan service, taking the meta approach to storytelling used in the previous entries to a nuclear extreme here.  It’s not shy about acknowledging the fact that the story is little more than an excuse to open up the sand box to let Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman run amok in the most gorily funny way possible.  The script is funny throughout with Reynolds doing his thing while Jackman is more than capable as the gruff straight guy.  By this point in time, Ryan Reynolds wears this character like a second skin, so his comedic energy is expected but Hugh Jackman manages to bring a tortured depth to this version of Wolverine.  Their onscreen energy carries the film even as the cameos, winks and nods start coming at a regular rate.  There are plenty of genuine surprises scattered throughout the film which serves a love letter/send off for the Fox era Marvel movies which Reynolds clearly has an affection for.  On the supporting end, Matthew Macfadyen and Emma Corrin get the largest amount of screen time with each leaving enough of impression that makes you wish the film had used them a bit more.  Macfadyen brings an outsized, manic energy to his character while Corrin is clearly having a ball playing the more calculating villainess who likes to get up close and personal.  The action sequences are over the top and gleefully bloody even though the Deadpool Wolverine fight lose some of their punch by the second or third time they roll around since neither can actually die.  It’s a strange balance for the film as it veers into full blown parody of the genre on multiple occasions but that doesn't keep Deadpool & Wolverine from being an entertaining jaunt even for the uninitiated. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: FLY ME TO THE MOON

 

Sparks fly between a marketing executive and a NASA official as he makes preparations for the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Director: Greg Berlanti

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jim Rash, Anna Garcia, Donald Elise Watkins, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Nick Dillenburg, Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson

Release Date: July 12, 2024

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, and smoking

Runtime: 2h 11m

Review:

Fly Me to the Moon is a charming rom-com throwback carried by Scarlett Johansson who ably guides the film over some of its more glaring missteps.  Greg Berlanti's film is generally lighthearted and fizzy making it easily digestible onscreen even though he struggles to a nail the overall tone he's shooting for.  There's a handful of choppy transition in tones as the film covers more serious subject matter such as Vietnam War and the Apollo 1 tragedy.  Their inclusion makes sense but with the rest of the fictional story playing it very light those moments are all the more jarring.  When the film is focused on the central romance and Johansson's character in particular there's a noticeable bump in energy.  Johansson is magnetic as the ad exec brought in to "sell" the moon by giving her a believable sense of charisma, drive and determination.  It’s a confident turn that drives the entire film which she pulls off with impressive ease.  She's the most interesting on screen for the majority of the film's overlong runtime.  Channing Tatum doesn't fare quite as well as he delivers a serviceable but stiff performance that rarely matches Johansson's energy.  It doesn't help that they don't have much romantic chemistry with their early antagonistic exchanges working better than the romantic side.   Tatum tries his best to give the character an air of tortured regret over the Apollo 1 tragedy, but it doesn't quite land the way it should.  Woody Harrelson, on the other hand, is in his wheelhouse playing the mysterious spook that recruits Johansson's Kelly Jones and devises the fall back plan.  Harrelson brings the perfect mix of playful and menacing to his character who is constantly hovering in the background.  Jim Rash brings his manic, over the top energy as the director tasked with filming the actual contingency plan.  Anna Garcia, Donald Elise Watkins and Noah Robbins have smaller supporting roles but make the most of their screen time even though it’s a bit confounding that film makes such little use of Ray Romano's earnest energy.  There's a handful of issues like that which really keep Fly Me to the Moon from hitting out of the park in spite of Johansson's inspired turn.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: TWISTERS

 

Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney, Sasha Lane

Release Date: July 17, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images.

Runtime: 2h 2m

Review:

Lee Isaac Chung’s pseudo sequel to the 90's film, Twisters, brings all the large-scale spectacle and destruction promised to the big screen but even the best efforts of its good-looking leads can't keep it from feeling hollow and soulless.  Chung's film is a good looking blockbuster, taking full advantage of the wide open spaces and vistas as he sets up impressive action sequences.   The digital wizardry has improved by leaps and bounds in the twenty eight years since the original film hit the screens which makes the tornados much more visceral and impactful.  Chung is more conscience to go beyond the thrill ride aspect of the whole thing and take time to show the level of damage and carnage left in the wake of these all too real storms.  It adds some weight to the film that grounds the story in a more realistic way than the original film.  Sadly, the rest of the story is little more than a remix of the original film with it hitting a lot of the same story beats throughout.  There are a handful of callbacks to the original film scattered throughout such as recycled lines of dialogue or Daisy Edgar-Jones sporting an outfit identical to Helen Hunt's.  The appearance of "Dorothy" early on is the only direct connection to the original film although it’s never explained how that equipment made it into the crews hands.  Story wise there's plenty that feels familiar with the F/X and cast left to do the heavy lifting.  Glen Powell's natural screen charisma is used to maximum effect as he leans into his southern roots as the YouTube star storm chaser.   It’s a role that's perfectly suited to his talents and he gives his thrill seeking character an authentic confidence from the moment he hits the screen.  Daisy Edgar-Jones is just as believable as the haunted storm chaser, with her bringing a tangible sense of determination once she’s fully committed again.  The strange thing is Powell and Edgar-Jones just don't share much romantic chemistry together which isn't a huge issue since that angle is more subtle here but it’s still noticeable.  Anthony Ramos is given the thankless task of being the wanna be love interest who just ends up being supportive in the end which seems like a waste of such a talented actor.  There's another motley crew of characters assembled here but none of the corporate or rag tag groups are really given much time to leave an impression.  It’s an issue across the board with none of the characters, even the leads, feeling like three dimensional people.  That's not to say the original was some dramatic masterwork but at least you had a better sense of some of the characters.  Twisters ultimately proves to be a capable redux that delivers the sort of mindless summer blockbuster fun that will fade quickly after the film ends.

C+