|
Review by Adam Donato  David Gordon Green used to make smaller dramas and comedies, but lately he’s been nothing but horror. Universal was so happy with what he did with the requel Halloween trilogy that they gave him full reign on their new Exorcist trilogy. The only problem is that it failed both critically and commercially. A movie like Nutcrackers is exactly the type of movie to get him back on track. Ben Stiller, who also produces the film, stars as a businessman who gets saddled with his late sister’s four boys as Christmas approaches. It’s been awhile since Stiller has starred in a film as he’s been focused more on streaming series. No need to worry about the box office as the film is going straight to Hulu just in time for the holidays. Is this family film the step in the right direction for David Gordon Green? Nutcrackers is a story that has been told before and it’s very obvious where it’s going right from the jump. Stiller has a big business deal to close, but he’s gotta get rid of these kids. During the process they bond and everyone’s priorities are reevaluated. Not that it’s a bad story, it’s just entirely unspecial. It is a good back to basics narrative for David Gordon Green, who was given a great deal of creative freedom with some high profile horror franchises. The story is effective in what it’s trying to accomplish, but that’s more due to the direction and performances than the screenplay.  This role is very familiar territory for Ben Stiller. Uptight dad type gets cartoonishly jerked around by a bunch of rascals. He plays up the physical aspect of his comedic performance well. One of his strong suits is how his type of character handles awkward situations. There’s a romance that is supposed to be developing between Stiller and Linda Cardellini, who plays the social worker that’s assisting him with his family situation. This doesn’t get much time to develop and feels ancillary to the main story about his relationship with the kids. Tim Heidecker has a small role as a police officer in this small town and he is criminally underused. The kids are all purposefully annoying. Only one of them really stands out, the oldest boy who has an underdeveloped romance with a girl he used to dance with.
The film is called Nutcrackers because one of the children rewrote the original Nutcracker story and his version is what the family is to perform at the end. This dance sequence is very cute and heartwarming. A story thread that was very uncomfortable is when Stiller’s character tries to pawn the kids off on other parents potentially that are in the area. It really makes his character seem slimy in an unredeemable way. They hadn’t really established him as being that immoral and was an unsatisfying pitstop in the narrative. A familiar story, but done by a couple competent filmmakers. Hopefully this experience grounds David Gordon Green a bit as he starts a new chapter in his career. It’s very nice to see Ben Stiller leading a comedic film again as he has been preoccupied for so long. The film is a good enough Christmas flick to throw on as the spirit of the holidays grows closer. Nutcrackers will be on Hulu on November 29. Rating: 3/5
0 Comments
review by Jonathan Berk  It’s been 24 years since Ridley Scott brought the world Gladiator, a film that would go on to win Best Picture and earn Russell Crowe the Oscar for Best Actor along with several other nominations. Now, Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel from the storied director, has finally hit the screen — but despite its star power, it doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor. The performances, while strong, aren’t enough to match the impact of the original, and some of Scott's creative choices seem puzzling. Years after the death of Maximus, Rome is now under the rule of tyrannical twin emperors. While many traditions have changed, the bloody spectacle of the arena endures as a primary source of entertainment. Lucius (Paul Mescal), who finds himself alive but filled with rage after a violent encounter with Roman soldiers led by General Acaius (Pedro Pascal), is given a chance to fight for Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Through this opportunity, Lucius could potentially earn his freedom as a Gladiator. The true reason to see this film lies in the performance Denzel Washington delivers. It's no secret that Washington is an incredibly talented actor, but he is doing something that feels very distinct in this role compared to his previous work. He is clearly enjoying himself, fully immersing in his character, while also bringing tremendous depth to the story. Often, actors are referred to as scene stealers…but in Gladiator II, Washington steals the entire film. He owns every moment he is on screen, and it's impossible not to be captivated.  That’s not to say Mescal, Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger don’t deliver on their parts. Each of them turns in a solid performance, but none manage to pop the way Washington does. It’s not a matter of being overshadowed or diminished, but rather that they seem to struggle to connect with the material as effectively as Washington does. Many of their characters are burdened by trauma or tragedy, which forces them to play their roles in a restrained way —and the result isn’t quite as engaging as it could have been.
One notable difference from the original is the film's depiction of its action sequences. Gladiator felt more grounded in its battles, while this film includes moments that lean toward the fantastical. There is one particular scene in the arena that feels almost magical, with a battle that borders on the improbable. It's not a poorly executed sequence, but it feels somewhat out of place, given the gritty tone of the two films. The narrative also suffers from pacing and development issues. Despite the film running over two hours, some plot threads seem to materialize out of nowhere, without buildup. The third act, in particular, gets wild, introducing events and twists that feel unearned and disconnected from the careful build of the earlier scenes. Gladiator II ultimately feels like the mid-card fight that Roman citizens might have watched indifferently while waiting for the main event. Some moments, especially those featuring Washington weaving his plans and integrating himself into the other characters' lives, are truly worth cheering for. However, there are plenty of other scenes that will leave you glancing at your sundial, wondering how much longer this spectacle will go on. Gladiator II is in theaters everywhere on November 22. Rating: 3/5 Review by Adam Donato  Musical adaptations have not seen much success at the box office as of late. Mean Girls, The Color Purple, West Side Story, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, and Cats all saw failure at the box office in the last five years. Wicked appears poised to buck the trend. These days musicals seem to try to hide the fact that they’re musicals, but Wicked brandished it like a badge of honor. The only thing it’s trying to hide is the fact that it’s a part-one situation. Just like Dune, the uninitiated will be going in completely unaware that this two-hour and forty-minute movie is only half of the story. The difference between Wicked and Dune is that Wicked Part Two is slated for next year, but Dune wasn’t a slam dunk to get a part two. Any inch marketing can get to squeeze out a larger audience. The film is dazzling. Despite its lengthy runtime, it’s engaging throughout. The film centers around the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba as they start out at odds with one another, but develop a sister-like bond. There have been many adaptations of The Wizard of Oz, but it’s been over a decade since the last theatrical adaptation of the story. That fact, coupled with the fresh perspective on the narrative, keeps this movie feeling fresh. It may not hold up to the original The Wizard of Oz, but that’s arguably the greatest fantasy film of all time. Regardless, they made something old feel new and it’s sure to delight audiences.  Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are electric together. It’s not easy to follow in the footsteps of Idina Menzel when it comes to singing, but Erivo does a great job hitting some of those notes. Her makeup looks convincing and her look overall was on point. The role requires a ton of dramatic weight that will have audiences on the verge of tears. Such a heartbreaking role and performance. Grande may be the more impressive performance as acting is not her main trade. Going from popstar to musical lead isn’t a total change, but it’s not a one to one comparison. Fans of Nickelodeon shows like Victorious and Sam & Cat know that Grande is hilarious, but she reminds the world here that she is. It’s a very physical comedic performance as well that kept the tone feeling light throughout. Her character has more of an arc than Erivo’s character, but that’s just due to the fact that this is more of Erivo’s story and this is only one half of the film.
A good deal of concern was brought up over the look of the film. Many were up in arms about the cinematography saying that it was too washed out and desaturated. This is less of a problem while watching the film. While the film doesn’t give you that bright technicolor feel like in the original, the world does look pretty and it’s not as distractingly dull like the Solo: A Star Wars Story is infamous for. The special effects hold up pretty well. There’s probably going to be more intense CGI in the second half of the story, but the talking animals and the flying sequences look good. It feels like the visual inverse of Oz the Great and Powerful, which was criticized for its over reliance on green screens. Wicked is very much a known commodity. It’s sure to be one of the biggest box office successes of the year despite tough competition in Moana 2 and Gladiator 2. The musical lives up to the lofty expectations and is sure to garner some awards nominations this year. What a glorious win for Broadway adaptations and for moviegoers everywhere. Be sure to check this one out in theaters this Thanksgiving season. Wicked will be in theaters on November 22. Rating: 4/5 Review by Adam Donato  Curious how streaming sites decide when to let their movies be released in theaters and for how long. Any normal person would think that a big, action blockbuster starring Captain America, the yellow peanut M&M, and The Rock might attract people to come out to the theater. Of course these streaming sites don’t want to support the box office as they want to kill the theater industry and move movies to streaming. Short term payday or long term culture shift? Today, Amazon chose a wide theatrical release. Jake Kasdan has directed many comedy films, but Red One feels most akin to the Jumanji reboot duology. That franchise also stars The Rock and is a bad mouth, but family friendly, fantasy, action, adventure romp. Those movies were a big hit at the box office, but this time the franchise recognition is Santa Clause and The Rock’s reputation isn’t the same as it was five years ago. Speaking of five years ago, that’s the last time Chris Evans played Captain America. He’s collected a few streaming flops in that time in Ghosted, The Fall Guy, and Pain Hustlers. The marketing for Red One is pretty substantial for an original film like this. Seems like a pretty big gamble. There’s plenty of good ingredients here, but this movie is just corporate garbage. Evans and The Rock have zero chemistry together and the majority of the movie is just the two of them together. The constant lame one liners from Evans are cringe inducing and make him entirely unlikable. The Rock is the same old serious The Rock action man. Both of these guys are really good actors that have had success in the past and have the potential to succeed again, but Red One is no success.  It’s funny thinking of Santa Clause as a franchise. Can’t make a blockbuster without some sort of name brand recognition. It is interesting to see the different takes on Santa in movies. This corporate ripped Santa and CIA esq crew are not a crazy new take. It’s reminiscent of Arthur Christmas, especially in its corporate aspect. The entire joke of J.K. Simmons’s Santa is that he’s ripped, but it’s funny because Santa is usually fat because he eats all the cookies. The elves are little CGI freaks. The trolls are big CGI freaks. One of the main supporting characters is a CGI polar bear named Garcia, who happens to be the only memorable character. Just seeing this corporate/special ops take on Santa coming from Amazon was sad.
The CGI in the film was disgusting. Again, outside of Garcia the polar bear. All the CGI characters had such ugly designs and were very unconvincing. There’s a scene where The Rock slides down a giant outdoor slide. Horrible. One of the recurring bits in the movie was that some characters would have the ability to shrink to about half their size in an instant like Ant-Man. This looks bad every time. That being said, there are some makeup and practical effects that look cool in this movie, this is especially true for Krampus and his horde of goons. It was reminiscent of the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. A movie that’s quite similar in tone to Red One, but much, much better quality. The humor in the film is lazy. It’s littered with baseline “person getting hit or falling down” jokes. Red One is rated PG-13 and thinks mild cursing is a good punchline. They don’t even actually go for it. PG-13 allows one f bomb and they cut away from it. Either say the word or don’t. They want to appeal to the same type of kids that would go to a Marvel movie. This is really sad because Jake Kasdan has a very good track record of comedies. The film just feels passionless and artificial. When the people asked for original movies, this is not what they meant. Maybe paying Dwayne The Rock Johnson $50 million in 2024 wasn’t a good value contract. He cannot wait until Moana 2 revives him. Unluckily for Red One, Moana 2 is only a couple weeks away. Next week is only Gladiator 2 and Wicked. If Amazon would’ve kept this on streaming, nobody would’ve noticed this bellyflop. The masses may mildly enjoy this, but it’s not sneaking into the annual Christmas movie rotation. Red One is in theaters everywhere on November 15. Rating: 1/5 by Jonathan Berk  If you celebrate Christmas, then you’re probably familiar with the story of Frosty the Snowman. The kids build him, put a magic hat on his head, and Frosty springs to life. The children have a blast with their new friend, the adults are understandably alarmed, and a jealous villain wants his magic hat back. Now, imagine if Frosty were incredibly ripped — dare I say, hot even. Netflix’s newest Christmas movie, Hot Frosty, delivers on that very premise. Kathy (Lacey Chabert) has struggled to care for herself and her home since her husband passed away. Her friends encourage her to start moving forward and to put more effort into fixing up her house. On her walk home from her diner one night, she places a scarf around the neck of a hunky snow sculpture. To her surprise, Jack (Dustin Milligan) shows up at her diner the next morning, ready to thank her for bringing him to life. Chabert has starred in countless Christmas movies since her Mean Girls days, with most of her titles in full Hallmark syndication. While she often brings charm to these Hallmark roles, she rarely seems to fully lean into her comedic potential. For Hot Frosty, however, Chabert taps into the peak of her talents, using her charm and comedic timing to make the movie shine among the available holiday-themed streaming options. Chabert’s wit and warmth are firing on all cylinders, making this movie stand out in the crowded world of Christmas rom-coms. Chabert shares strong chemistry with her co-star Milligan, who brings new meaning to the film’s title as he struts onto the screen with nothing but a scarf (and an eight-pack). The movie leans into Milligan’s unique combination of raw sexuality and genuinely humorous appeal, leading to charming, laugh-out-loud moments. In one of the funniest scenes, Jack startles an elderly couple walking their dog — the husband is frightened, while the wife is thoroughly amused. Milligan’s blend of heart and humor is a delight, turning a frosty figure into a warm Christmas charmer.  Fortunately, Milligan is more than just eye candy. His character brings loads of heart, a touch of Buddy-the-Elf optimism, and excellent comedic chops. He’s a joy to watch, as his innocence and sense of morality are shaped by TV and the people around him. Whether he’s fixing the roof, helping unstick a car, or making pizza, Milligan shines with every scene.
Director Jerry Ciccoritti’s film manages to balance the saccharine sweetness we expect from a Christmas movie with more traditional comedy elements. The film even ends with bloopers, reminiscent of the '90s comedies that we rarely see today. There’s enough romance here to classify it as a rom-com, complete with an extended montage that both cements this idea and serves as a fun homage to the genre. Notably, Lauren Holly, who appears in this film, starred in a ’90s movie that similarly paid homage to the same rom-com classic, which wasn’t lost on me. Craig Robinson and Joe Lo Truglio also bring standout performances as cops, injecting comedic gold into every scene they’re in. One highlight is a sequence where Milligan and Lo Truglio discuss dating. What begins as an innocent chat escalates into a hilarious exchange of compliments, ratcheting up the laughter as the scene continues and we watch these characters bond. That’s not to say Hot Frosty is an instant classic. The ending is a bit predictable, and a few scenes go on a bit too long or feel excessive. Still, the script is solid, with nearly every setup paying off meaningfully. The charm between the characters and the heartwarming holiday message create a feel-good experience perfect for the season. It is a fresh and funny Christmas comedy balanced with just the right dose of much-needed joy and holiday cheer. This might even earn a spot in my and my wife’s annual Christmas rotation. Hot Frosty is streaming on Netflix on November 13. Rating: 3.5/5 |