Review by Sean Boelman The newest version of the classic Jack London story, The Call of the Wild attempts to blend a live-action cast with uncannily expressive CGI animals. However, because of the distracting visuals, the entertaining and timeless story is unable to have the impact that it likely would have had if the film had been a bit more polished. The movie follows Buck, a pet-turned-sled-dog as he moves through owners trying to survive and growing in character along the way. Anyone who is familiar with the classic source material will be familiar with the general arc of the film, and while there are some welcome changes (the racism is thankfully eliminated), there are ultimately very few surprises as a whole. That said, the movie still manages to be thoroughly entertaining. Clocking in at around an hour and forty minutes, the film moves by very quickly and never outstays its welcome. There is a reason that this story has been beloved by generation upon generation and gotten so many adaptations. Yet with the overly modern touch of CGI, this version of the tale will likely feel dated in only a few years. The one real perk of the overuse of CGI is that it allows the animal characters to have a great deal of expressiveness. The story is told mostly through narration by Harrison Ford’s inexplicably omniscient narrator, but the mannerisms of the animals are packed with emotion. Of course, this is something that could not have been done with real animals, as they largely lack this ability. Apart from the visual effects, the movie mostly looks very good. Although the modern technology involved in creating the animals would make one think otherwise, the film still keeps its turn-of-the-19th-century setting, and it does a very good job of immersing the viewer within the time period thanks to excellent production design and costuming.
Another strength of the movie is its talented human cast. Harrison Ford leads the ensemble, and he is admittedly the weakest link. It often feels like Ford is phoning it in, or simply giving an appearance for the sake of a paycheck. The rest of the cast, though, is quite good. Omar Sy plays one of Buck’s owners, and he is more charming than ever, and Dan Stevens is good (albeit over-the-top as one of the human antagonists). However, despite the efforts of the cast, the development of the human characters is admittedly lacking. While this is mainly because the focus of the film is on the animals, not their human companions, it is still disappointing that the movie did not expand upon any of the archetypes. With some added depth, these human characters could have added another level of emotion to the film. Although families will undoubtedly be entertained by The Call of the Wild, the poor CGI is too distracting for the movie to be particularly memorable. As the first film released by the re-branded 20th Century Studios, this will also likely end up being their first dud. The Call of the Wild opens in theaters on February 21. Rating: 3/5
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Review by Camden Ferrell To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is the sequel to the highly popular 2018 romantic comedy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. This movie, based on the young adult novel, continues the story from where it left off. Despite its flaws and overly cheesy nature, this movie does have enough moments of sweetness to entertain audiences. This movie follows Lara Jean as she navigates her new relationship with Peter. Among this new experience, she gets a letter from John Ambrose, one of the boys who received a letter in the first film. Lara Jean then takes part in a love triangle and deal with her own feelings and desires. This is the next logical step in developing her story, and it’s a typical rom-com setup that has been done before. Much like the first film, the sequel’s script is riddled with cliché teen dialogue. A lot of it is unrealistic, but it mostly understands its intended sentiment. The direction is also a little better in this film. There is more artistry in its execution and style, and this is one of the few places where the sequel improves. The acting in this movie is more or less what is expected. Lana Candor is innocent and sweet as Lara Jean and Noah Centineo does an adequate as heartthrob Peter. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the performance by acclaimed Broadway actor Jordan Fisher. He was charming and had great chemistry with Candor throughout, and he was overall delightful. The movie deals with many themes and ideas relating to love, and it doesn’t really say anything original. It’s innocent and harmless, but it’s a movie that really tries to delve into the mindset of a woman in love, but it never achieves the levels of insight for which its aiming. It’s mostly superficial, and it doesn’t really do anything to make the story resonant or relatable.
The movie can also be frustrating at times. It’s an experience where you are constantly disappointed with the narrative choices and decisions that the character’s make. Their motivations are questionable, and their problems are resolved far too easily. It feels a little lazy, and it seems like the movie doesn’t ever want to challenge their character’s in an interesting way. Regardless, this movie does provide all of the frills that one would expect. It’s fairly fast-paced, and it’s full of romantic moments that are sweet if nothing else. Fans of the first film will love this sequel. Its predictability is a fairly big flaw, but it should satisfy audiences regardless. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a sequel that is more or less the same as its predecessor. It’s cheesy, simple, and romantic. It’s a Netflix film that will mostly appeal to younger and teen audiences. If you’re looking for a new rom-com to watch while staying home, this one’s harmless to check out. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is now streaming on Netflix. Rating: 3/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Fantasy Island is the newest horror movie from Blumhouse Productions. This movie is based on the popular television series of the same name. While the film does have its charms that prevent it from feeling lifeless, there are still many flaws that will make this film appeal to only the most fervent fans of teen horror. In this movie, five guests are taken to the titular island where they are given the opportunity to live in their fantasy. However, things soon go awry as the island is not what it seems. This premise has a lot of potential since there are multiple story lines to balance and explore without any of them feeling too tired. The movie is fairly successful at juggling the characters’ stories, but it doesn’t really do its premise justice. The execution of this movie is what you would expect from a horror movie marketed at teens. It utilizes jump scares and other cliché methods of horror. It isn’t particularly scary when it’s supposed to be, and it actually works better when it’s aiming for comedy. The script is also fairly weak. The dialogue is forced, the characterization feels superficial, and it really aims for a lot of low-hanging fruit. Fortunately, the acting is pretty charming throughout. Out of the entire ensemble, Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang give the best performances. Playing stepbrothers, these two have a great dynamic, and they also contribute some of the funniest lines in the movie. Their storyline is consistently the most entertaining, but this unfortunately makes other sections feel underwhelming in comparison. The movie is yet another iteration of the saying, “Be careful what you wish for”. It’s a painfully tired message that this film tries to communicate. It’s so blunt, and the movie would have been better if it doubled down on the absurdity of the guests’ fantasies rather than try too hard to push its message in an uncreative way. It’s a message that has been done countless times that bears minimal effect now.
This movie does to certain things right though. It edits between the different fantasies fairly well, and it all blends fairly well towards the end. These alternating story lines prevent the film from ever being truly boring. It’s bizarre but in an interesting way. Some stories are significantly better than others, but they’re distinct nonetheless. However, the movie completely falls apart in its final act as it tries to push too many twists at once. It becomes really invested in the lore of the island and tries to juggle that with a contrived ending that is more frustrating than it is clever. It’s a movie that had the potential to be good but failed due to its own creative choices. Fantasy Island may provide thrills for younger teen audiences and also provide some nostalgia for an older crowd. The movie is not as bad as one would expect, but it is far from good. It has some entertaining moments, but it’s ultimately a shallow exploration of a tired message. Fantasy Island is now playing in theaters. Rating: 2/5 Review by Sean Boelman Directed by cult-favorite filmmaker Joe Begos (Bliss), VFW is a new schlocky action-horror flick that serves as a wonderful throwback to the drive-in splatter features of yesteryear. Thanks to a fun and gleefully over-the-top sense of style, Begos’s film is a total hoot, and a must see for any fan of the genre. The movie follows a group of veterans spending the night in the local VFW as they must fight to survive when they are targeted by a drug dealer and his gang of angry punk mutants. If this premise doesn’t sound like it makes a whole lot of sense, that’s because it doesn’t, but Begos goes all-in on the lunacy, covering up for some of the deficiencies in Max Brailler and Matthew McArdle’s script. From the moment the action gets started, the film never lets up. Even when there seems to be a reprieve, the characters are never truly safe. Although this doesn’t have a lot of explanation in regards to the world of the movie, it does allow the film to be relentlessly entertaining. Those who are uninitiated to the aggressive pacing of classic B-movies may find themselves put off by how rushed it feels, but this will almost certainly satisfy fans. One of the most surprising strengths of this movie is that the character development is relatively impressive. Although there are some archetypes to be found, especially with some of the less integral characters, it is easy to sympathize with all of the heroes. The film is really built off of the dynamic between the characters, and as a result, it works very well. Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don’t Breathe) is the lead of the movie, and he does an excellent job as the war-hardened hero of the film. The script requires very little of him other than kicking butt and delivering brief tidbits of wisdom, and he does so very well. The supporting ensemble, including William Sadler, Martin Kove, and George Wendt, is also strong, many of them being in place mostly to deliver witty one-liners.
Arguably the most impressive thing about this movie, though, is its practical effects. As one would expect, this film is heavily reliant on gore, and the special effects do a wonderful job of recreating the look and feel which Begos is so obviously trying to capture. Admittedly, none of it looks particularly realistic, but that isn’t the purpose anyway. Stylistically, Begos’s movie is a bit too dark for its own good at times, as the low lighting does make it hard to see some of the sequences, but there is still a lot of ambition. The production design, for example, is very good. With the film being set in and around a single location, Begos does a good job of immersing the viewer in the world of the movie. Although VFW is far from a perfect film, it is entertaining for what it is — a throwback to a genre of movies that are notoriously so bad they’re good. This isn’t for anyone outside of hardcore fans, but those hardcore fans will likely lead this to get a cult following. VFW is now in theaters and on VOD. Rating: 3.5/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is a new film for Disney+. This movie is based on the popular children’s books, and it is written and directed by Academy award winner Tom McCarthy. While it tries its best to be a quirky adaptation for families, it is often too offbeat and monotonous for its own good. This movie follows the titular character as he runs his detective agency with his imaginary polar bear. This is a premise that is quirky and exciting that could have made for some fresh and original family fun. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t utilize the film’s strongest attributes and mostly wastes its source material’s potential. McCarthy’s script suffers from the flaw of being pretentious but not self-aware. He’s trying to craft a family film that plays out like an overly intelligent comedy, and it doesn’t work. Movies like Fantastic Mr. Fox have enough self-awareness to make this work really well, but this film doesn’t do the same. McCarthy is typically a strong director, but the execution of this film leaves a lot to be desired. The cast is led by Winslow Fegley as Timmy Failure. He wasn’t given the greatest material, but he doesn’t quite nail the comic deadpan the movie desperately aims to achieve. The performance isn’t bad, but it isn’t really the most entertaining. The supporting cast including Wallace Shawn and Craig Robinson are decent in their performances, but they also don’t really add much to the film’s quality. One of this movie’s few virtues is its exploration of childhood. It subtly deals with serious issues that many kids face, and it inspires a healthy outlet for their emotions. This movie teaches its audience about the importance of creativity, originality, and friendship. They are common themes, but they are always needed by many kids today.
However, even if the intent of this film is noble, a lot of its charm is lost in translation to the big screen. The movie is more uncomfortable than awkwardly charming, and there are some scenes which drag significantly. It’s a rather short film, but it’s one that feels a lot longer than it is. While some may like its narrative jumps, it’s more frustrating than anything. This movie is cute in very small doses, but as a whole it becomes a tad insufferable. There were a lot of directions in which this movie could have gone, but it made a lot of questionable decisions which ultimately bogged down the final product. It’s admirable that they tried to create a new type of family film, but it didn’t work out very well. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made may be suitable for families to watch together, but Disney+ has a library of much better material. Some may be enamored by its offbeat attempts at humor, but the movie is more boring than not. Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is now streaming on Disney+. Rating: 2/5 Review by Sean Boelman Written and directed by Stella Meghie (Everything, Everything) and produced by Will Packer (Girls Trip), The Photograph is a star-studded new romantic drama film. Thanks to this stellar casting, and an admirable sense of style from Meghie, the movie manages to overcome its conventional script to be moderately enjoyable. The film tells the interconnected stories of a journalist doing a profile on a fisherman from New Orleans, the fisherman and a photographer who fall in love, and the photographer’s daughter as she explores the secrets of her mother’s past. Ultimately, this is a relatively by-the-book set-up for an intertwined romance story, and as a result, the plot isn’t particularly interesting. Part of the reason that the movie struggles to keep the viewer’s attention is that it takes far too long to get moving. Once the two leads of the film eventually meet, the movie becomes much more entertaining thanks to the actors’ chemistry together. The flashback sequences also work relatively well, as they are the more cinematically-written of the storylines. The character development in the film also needed a bit of additional work. Disappointingly, the more conventional of the storylines is the one that ends up being most compelling because the characters’ motivations are more sympathetic. Although the movie’s leads do have a motivation, they aren’t compelling enough to justify the film. Because of this, the movie doesn’t resonate on an emotional level as it likely should. Thankfully, this also means that the film never falls into tear-jerking territory, but the movie still should have elicited more of a reaction. Nothing in the film feels particularly urgent or necessary, mostly because everything that happens is so predictable.
That said, the movie does have the major strengths of its cast working on its side. Although Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield may not immediately jump out as two actors who would work as an on-screen couple, their chemistry together is great and absolutely sells the film. They are also surrounded by a wonderful supporting cast, including Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lil Rel Howery, Courtney B. Vance, and Chelsea Peretti, although none of them are given very much to do. Another thing about the movie that works very well is the film’s sense of visual style. Since the movie is very much tied up with the spirit of Louisiana, it is understandable why the soundtrack of the film would be defined by jazzy and soulful sounds, and the look of the movie feels very similar. Meghie’s talents behind the camera shine much stronger than her talents behind the typewriter. Ultimately, the main reason to see The Photograph is the undeniable task and chemistry of the cast. Although the script of the film is rather forgettable, it will likely be pretty entertaining for most audiences because of the largely inoffensive nature of the movie. The Photograph opens in theaters on February 14. Review: 3/5 Review by Sean Boelman Co-written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (The Way Way Back), Downhill is a remake of the darkly comedic Swedish satire Force Majeure. Taking a lighter (and often funnier) approach to the film’s themes than the source material, Faxon and Rash deliver an entertaining and well-acted dramedy, even if it isn’t as insightful as one would hope. The movie explores the dynamic of a family in disarray after a disaster leaves them questioning their loyalty and love for each other. Ultimately, the premise is very intriguing, and it is understandable why Faxon and Rash (along with co-writer Jesse Armstrong of Succession fame) wanted to adapt this story for American audiences. However, one can’t help but feel like this film is too little too late. When Force Majeure was released back in 2014, BlackBerry had hit its prime and was just starting to be usurped by iPhone and Android. Now, when smartphone culture and self-centeredness are even more commonplace, the movie’s central question no longer feels like a thought experiment but something that could actually happen. As a result, it feels like the characters in the film are highly underutilized. Although the writers do as good of a job as expected of building the tension in the dynamic between the characters, there are multiple instances in which it becomes obvious that there is a lot more potential in these characters’ stories if only the filmmakers weren’t held back by trying to make the movie more widely appealing. That said, the film does have some extremely funny moments. Miranda Otto, who plays a boisterous and sometimes trouble-making concierge at the resort, steals the screen every time she appears, always bringing the laughs. For the most part, the movie is pretty consistently enjoyable or tense, although there is one ten-minute aside that sadly doesn’t go anywhere.
Another thing working in the favor of the film is its cast. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell have excellent chemistry together, and as a result, it is easy to buy into the core relationship of the movie. Additionally, it is nice to see Ferrell playing a character that is outside of his usual forte, with a much more subdued performance than is usual for him. The filmmakers do a solid job of using the Alpine setting of the film to their advantage, creating a feeling of coldness that mirrors what the characters are going through in their relationship. Apart from some CGI during the avalanche scene that is less than stellar, the movie mostly looks very good thanks to solid cinematography. Thanks to inspired casting and a solid script, Downhill is mostly very funny, though it does feel a bit too surface-level at times to be particularly impactful. While Force Majeure is the superior version of this story, Faxon and Rash have delivered what is one of the more impressive American remakes in recent memory. Downhill opens in theaters on February 14. Rating: 3.5/5 Review by Sean Boelman Written and directed by French filmmaker Céline Sciamma, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the acclaimed new period romance that gained a ton of buzz out of its Cannes premiere. Thanks to a gorgeous visual style and a simple but nuanced script, Sciamma’s film is undeniably one of last year’s most beautiful. The movie tells the story of a French painter in the late 1800’s who is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman in secret. This is certainly an idiosyncratic premise, but it works quite well, setting the stage for one of the most wonderful and subdued romances to have ever graced the screen. To some, the film may be seen as unexciting due to the relaxed pacing and low-key nature of the script, but it is this deliberate pace that allows it to be so compelling. There is an undeniable poeticism about Sciamma’s work, both visually and narratively, and this is what gives the movie its momentum. The rhythm comes not from melodrama, but Sciamma’s unique style. Additionally, the characters in the film are extremely well-written. Both of the leads are very complex and realistic characters, and the relationship between them is easy to support. Although their individual arcs do feel a bit too traditional at times for the movie’s own good, the way in which Sciamma brings them together is very unique. A significant part of what makes these characters so effective is that the actresses who bring them to life give performances that are among last year’s best. Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel have excellent chemistry together, but they are also very strong on an individual level as well. Haenel is particularly impressive in her role, bringing a lot of nuance to the character.
On an emotional level, the film is certainly very well-done. Sciamma crafts her narrative in a way that brings the maximum possible emotional punch, culminating in what is arguably one of the best ever endings to a movie. Few viewers will leave the theater feeling untouched by what they have seen, and many may even leave without a dry eye. Yet even with a script as impressive as this, the true highlight of Sciamma’s film is its wonderful visual style. The cinematography by Claire Mathon is pristine, and although this movie is unfortunately not receiving the accolades it deserves, Mathon’s work will not go unnoticed. Additionally, the score by Jean-Baptiste de Laubier and Arthur Simonini does an excellent job of complementing the mood of the film. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is undoubtedly one of the most understated masterpieces of last year. While it is disappointing that it didn’t get more awards attention, this stunning work of art still deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. Portrait of a Lady on Fire opens in theaters on February 14. Rating: 4.5/5 Review by Camden Ferrell After a long development and a complete redesign of the character that was the center of attention online last year, Sonic the Hedgehog has finally arrived. This movie based on the globally popular video game is the feature directorial debut of Jeff Fowler. While this film does feel derivative at times, it ultimately is a fitting film in which fans old and young will find joy. This movie follows the titular hedgehog as who joins forces with a small-town police officer as he tries to avoid an evil mastermind who is trying to capture him. This is a fairly simple plot which incorporates the protagonist and major villain in the franchise. Even though the plot is familiar, Sonic’s unique abilities provided a lot of potential for creative scenes throughout. More than anything, this movie is aimed at children, but it often tried too hard to appeal to that demographic to be funny. It recycled many tired and predictable tropes, and many of the jokes just fell flat. Despite this, the movie finds some creative ways to create laughs in its action scenes and its execution. Its script is definitely its biggest flaw, but the film finds other ways to compensate for it. The film does have a select few great performances. Ben Schwartz does a solid job playing Sonic. He is an actor who has a great sense of timing and also an ability to capture the childlike joy in Sonic’s persona. However, the biggest surprise comes from Jim Carrey’s performance as Dr. Robotnik. Carrey gives an absolutely hilarious performance that will make audiences of all ages laugh uncontrollably. He uses his trademark abilities to overact and exaggerate to bring the iconic villain to life. Since Sonic is known for his speed, the movie utilizes this ability very well. This is a source of a lot of visual gags that are mostly enjoyable. Fowler also executes some really funny slow-motion sequences that are reminiscent of Quicksilver’s scenes in the X-Men franchise. It doesn’t happen too often, but it’s very exciting when it does.
The movie often feels like its being carried by Carrey’s performance though. While he is amazing at what he does, there is a notable lag whenever he isn’t on screen. The supporting cast is apt, but they are mostly forgettable. The chemistry between Schwartz and Carrey is great, but it’s a dynamic that isn’t exploited enough. Regardless, this is a movie with some familiar but important themes for young audiences. It’s a film that explores friendship, acceptance, and courage. The film also has some fairly decent visual effects that will remind audiences of the characteristic joy of the video games. Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t a great film, but it is a satisfyingly fun film for families. It has a fairly weak script, but it also has some hilarious performances throughout. Make sure to stay for both credit scenes that will surely lead to plenty of joy among audiences this weekend. Sonic the Hedgehog is in theaters February 14th. Rating: 3/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Olympic Dreams, the newest film that was directed and co-wrote by Jeremy Teicher, had its premiere at the 2019 South by Southwest Film Festival. While this movie may suffer from its own narrative simplicity, it is more than made up with a sweet spirit and a pair of extremely compatible leads. This movie follows an Olympic cross-country skier and the dentist with whom she meets and befriends after she is finished competing in PyeongChang. This is an incredibly simple premise that really focuses on the character’s connection rather than an over-complicated plot. It has hints of Before Sunrise, but it feels original at the same time. Teicher’s direction is generally agreeable throughout the film. He gives the actors room to express themselves and engage in natural movement. The film was also shot on location, so the film has a sense of authenticity that Teicher really makes lively in many scenes. He utilizes a simple style of direction to execute the simple story, and the movie is all the better for that. The best aspect of this movie is its acting. This movie is led and co-written by Alexi Pappas and Nick Kroll. They have some magical chemistry, and there’s such a subtle charm to everything they do. They don’t overact or over-romanticize their scenes, it’s a very natural and engaging bond that they share on screen. This charm helps carry the movie through its slower moments, and it forms the emotional core that’s necessary to make this film work. The movie carries some familiar but strong themes. We get to experience each of their own longings, fears, worries, and passions, and it’s often resonant. Most audiences will find a piece of themselves in these characters, and the script really helps give them realistic and captivating personalities. It doesn’t say anything super original, but it has enough heart to convey its message effectively.
One of the main flaws of this movie is how some sections can drag on significantly more than others. The simple plot of the movie means that there’s a lot of filler in certain scenes, and it ruins the momentum of occasionally. It’s not entirely off putting, but it’s definitely noticeable. It would have been nice to see more dialogue-driven interactions between Pappas and Kroll, but they still fairly sufficient time to interact. Despite this, the movie can simply be described as sweet. It’s a harmless and totally adorable movie that will occasionally move you. It has some funny moments and it mostly balances it out with a sense of reality that allows this story to feel tangible. Olympic Dreams is a simple yet effective film. It’s a fittingly cute movie for this Valentine’s Day. While it may feel a little slow at times and certain moments may feel familiar, this is a movie that is propelled by some great atmosphere and stellar chemistry from its actors. Olympic Dreams is on VOD February 14th. Rating: 3.5/5 |
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