Review by Adam Donato At the beginning of 2023, parents complained about limited options for children’s films at the theater. After a summer of stellar animated movies, the fall delivers PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. In this sequel to the first film, Chase and his friends receive superpowers from an errant meteor and must stop a mad scientist from trying to destroy the city. Nickelodeon is coming off a win with the recent reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and hopefully that streak can continue here. The biggest takeaway from this entry into the franchise is that Chase is no longer the center of attention, as he was in the first movie. Instead, the sequel turns its attention to Skye’s character. She’s insecure about her size, as she feels like the runt of the litter. Her character is even given a Jessie from Toy Story 2 type sequence, where we get to see her origin story. Significant screen time is also given to Liberty’s character, as she is the only member of the PAW Patrol to not receive superpowers, and is left with the responsibility of watching after the new kitty recruits. As the female comic relief of the movie, this provides ample opportunity for cute humor so that Rubble isn’t having all the fun. Rounding out the major players in this sequel is Victoria Vance, the antagonist to the PAW Patrol. The name is a good indicator of the comic book inspiration for the character. Fans of the first movie get to see her team up with Mayor Humdinger, another superhero movie trope. Nobody expects PAW Patrol to reinvent the genre, so don’t expect kids to call out the movie for its derivative tropes the way adults did fellow superhero film, Blue Beetle. Kids are sure to enjoy PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie for a myriad of reasons. All the characters are given time to shine, and supporting characters are able to take center stage. The amount of little girls lining up at the press screening to take a picture with the Skye poster was staggering. This is a solid achievement, as one might assume PAW Patrol leans more towards little boys. The action is fun and light, without being too dangerous. While the majority of the jokes are aimed at the kiddos, there are a few jokes for the parents that really work. Visually, the characters are cute and full of color. While the bar is obnoxiously low, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie delivers everything it needs for a fun family outing. In a day and age when children’s content is being inspected under a microscope, it’s interesting not to hear PAW Patrol catch criticism. If two women kissing in the background of a Pixar movie is a federal case, then PAW Patrol is not innocent. The police, as well as other government workers, are the real superheroes. A prominent building in the middle of the city is crashed into, laying devastation to the citizens below. The villain is a quirky woman of color with dyed hair, whose ship emanates the colors of the trans flag as it flies by. She teams up with a foolish old man who speaks lovingly about stolen elections. Is PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie right-wing propaganda aimed to corrupt America’s youth with conservative ideology? Of course not. Even the most innocent of children’s content can be twisted, perverted, and weaponized in today’s political landscape. Not everything needs to be a conspiracy theory.
But again, the target audience of this movie is primarily in pre-school, and they probably won't understand — much less care about — these undercurrents. Unless you have kids or just enjoy wholesome animation, more adult options like Saw X and The Creator are also opening this weekend. That being said, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is a wonderful family outing that kids are sure to eat up every last bite of. Expect this one to hit Paramount+ just in time for the Christmas season. The subject matter is ripe for toys and other children’s merchandise. Dark and gritty, be damned! This sequel is a ray of cuteness and delight. Be sure to take the kiddies out to see this one! PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie hits theaters on September 29. Rating: 3/5
0 Comments
Review by Adam Donato Spooky season is upon us as audiences have already been put in a scary mood with the release of The Nun II. However, it's nice to see an original horror feature coming to the big screen in It Lives Inside, which follows a teenager named Samidha, shirking her values in pursuit of high school popularity. In a landscape dominated by franchise entires that are past their prime — like Expend4bles, Saw X, and The Exorcist: Believer — NEON is letting first-time filmmaker Bishal Dutta play the role of the underdog with his effective chiller of a debut. While critics seem to be enjoying It Lives Inside, the audience scores for the film are middling at best from early screenings at festivals and as the Regal Mystery Movie earlier this month. Some early feedback on the film suggests that the movie is too basic and not ambitious enough. This review argues the simplicity of the story is one of the movie's strengths. At just under a hundred minutes, It Lives Inside does follow a similar structure to other horror movies, but where it excels is how cohesive and effective the individual elements are. Samidha rejects her childhood friend, pushes away her parents, and ignores her heritage. While her character is understandably going through a phase, all these issues fit together and emphasize her arc. As much as this movie tries to masquerade as a generic horror movie, it is fundamentally a poignant tale of a girl reconnecting with her morals. Megan Suri stars as Samidha and gives a solid lead performance. Her character is so internally torn apart, allowing you to feel for her every step of the way. Dedicated fans to the horror genre will be happy to see Betty Gabriel, famous for her supporting role in Get Out. Her character is a teacher who is a mentor to young Samidha and has concern for Samidha’s former childhood friend, Tamira. Other notable members of the cast include Neeru Bajwa and Vik Sahay, who play the concerned and confused parents of Samidha. However, there's not much room to shine for the cast, as the real star of the show here is the direction.
The best part of the direction here is the atmosphere of the film. The scary scenes are effective, but there’s this underlying sense of paranoia and dread that persists throughout this film. Notable scares in the film include a monster’s eyes illuminating from a closet, a swing set massacre, and a high-tension climax. Dutta holds back on showing the monster in the film, and as such, the buildup to the climax is well earned. The ending works so well because the effort was put into having a main character audiences will care about and a proper escalation of scary scenes. It Lives Inside feels much closer to something like Talk To Me than The Nun II. Once again, more independent horror rises above the lazy franchise continuations. Unless you are a sixty year old man wanting to see Expend4bles or a scaredy cat, It Lives Inside is certainly the movie of the weekend for you. Proper character development and solid direction from Dutta make for one of the better horror movies of the year thus far. Be sure to check this one in theaters, as it’s one of the few horror movies that actually puts the work in. It Lives Inside hits theaters on September 22. Rating: 4/5 Review by Adam Donato September is usually a mild month when it comes to theatrical releases, but due to the ongoing strikes, movies continue to get delayed. This leaves room for smaller movies like Camp Hideout to get a slice of the coveted box office pie. Ethan Drew stars as Noah, a hoodlum teen forced to go to summer camp to avoid juvie. Christopher Lloyd, no stranger to straight-to-DVD quality films, plays the creepy camp owner of this picture. The other notable name in the cast is former Disney Channel B-list star, Corbin Bleu. For those without a conversion chart at home, a Disney Channel B-list star is equivalent to a Hollywood D-list star (no, the D isn’t for Disney). Can Camp Hideout soak up some of the leftover summer rays at the box office this September? Besides the cast comparison to Disney Channel original movies, Camp Hideout much more clearly aligns with a Nickelodeon family film. It’s beyond cheesy and seems unlikely that anybody above the age of 12 would enjoy this. The story is beyond basic as the edgy teen slowly warms up to the friendships created at camp. By the end of the movie, it turns into a cartoonish Home Alone ripoff. IMDb trivia calls Camp Hideout a mix between Home Alone and Ernest Goes to Camp with a sprinkle of faith. There’s a scene where they pray. Nothing this movie sets out to accomplish is achieved. Drew is annoying and unlikable as our main protagonist. His character regularly looks at the camera to make a witty remark and it’s never funny. The movie is framed with a voice over from Drew that feels like it was stripped from an elementary school essay, but at least Bleu and Lloyd are professionals and handle their stereotypical characters well. They both bring some amount of warmth as they mentor Drew’s character through the movie. Meanwhile, Josh Inocalla and Joshua Childs essentially play the bad guys from Home Alone. It’s very annoying watching them pretend to be that stupid.
Why didn’t a movie about camp come out in June or July? Why is this not premiering on Nickelodeon on a Thursday night at 8/7 Central? What financial troubles is Christopher Lloyd enduring that makes him star in movies like this? None of these questions can be answered by a viewing of Camp Hideout. Don’t see this movie in theaters and don’t even leave it on in the background when it plays on cable. The summer of 2023 gave way to many family films worth checking out. Head for open waters. Camp Hideout hits theaters on September 15. Rating: 1/5 Review by Adam Donato Phil Lord and Chris Miller are two of the greatest filmmakers working today. Interestingly enough, the duo hasn’t directed a feature in almost a decade. In the meantime, they’ve been succeeding as producers. This year alone they’ve already seen successes in Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse and Cocaine Bear. Strays definitely falls more in line with the latter. It's a talking dog comedy, but this time with a hard R-rating. Think Homeward Bound meets The Wolf of Wall Street. While the kids are just about ready for school, adults who grew up on dog movies can enjoy a raunchy twist on the genre. It’s funny that R-rated studio comedies are intended for adults, but no other demographic will enjoy them more than boys 13-17 years old. Strays is excessively explicit, but that’s the whole joke. It’s not high-brow humor, but it’s meant to appeal to the masses. This movie certainly takes advantage of the R-rating, which is nice because it’s easy to see a world where this movie keeps it family friendly for a PG-13. If you think the word “f**k” is funny or are interested in jokes about sex and poop, then Strays is sure to be a blast. Expect an unrated cut on the DVD featuring a naked Will Forte. Long ago were the days where Will Ferrell was a comedy rockstar. That 2000s run with hits like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights, and Step Brothers defined studio comedies for a while. These days, Will Ferrell is much more miss than hit. Here he does well with his voice over performance, but it’s hard to assume his star power coupled with Jamie Foxx will put butts in seats. The outrageous premise should be doing the heavy lifting. Foxx has fun as well, but the standouts here are Randall Park and Will Forte. Park is doing his typical nice guy geek thing, but it's very funny as his character is this gigantic dog compared to his friends who are mostly lap sized.
Dog movies are a persistent genre and most of them are exactly the same. We see the world through the innocent eyes of a dog who is ignorant to the complexities of the human world, but due to this simple perspective, their insights hold more wisdom than we know. Not to mention, they’re silly little guys who like chasing squirrels and food. It’s a winning formula, but a formula nonetheless. Strays parodies this genre in a delightful way, going as far as to feature Josh Gad as the stereotypical dog narrator. In such a saturated market for films like these, it’s refreshing to see Strays have such an outrageous take on the subject. Strays is sure to satisfy comedy fans who can stomach crude and outrageous content. Bring some friends and have some drinks for this one as it’s a total riot. Somewhere out there, there’s a cool uncle who is taking their middle schooler out of class to catch this one. Poor parenting aside, what a great day. Still catching up on the amazing summer slate at the theater? Feel free to wait to check this one out at home. Still, it's a good time comedic romp. Bless Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Strays hits theaters on August 18. Rating: 4/5 Review by Adam Donato Netflix has varied successes when it comes to their original films. Sometimes they’re the best movies of the year and sometimes they’re the worst. They Cloned Tyrone is the latest entry in Netflix’s filmography. The film is written and directed by Juel Taylor, who is most known for writing Creed II and LeBron James inspired projects like Space Jam: A New Legacy and Shooting Stars. The script was actually featured on 2019’s Blacklist. This clearly caught the attention of stars like Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris. Foxx was even a producer for this project. With a star studded cast, does this directorial debut have the juice to stand out on Netflix’s original filmography? All the credit in the world goes to the trio of main characters in the movie. Their group dynamic is the lifeblood of the movie. Each character is distinct and interesting in their own way. Obviously, Boyega has more to do as he has to play several characters in the movie, but if there was a standout of the trio, it would be Parris. About to star in the latest Marvel movie, Parris has built up quite the reputation. It will be exciting to see what opportunities she gets going forward after the exposure she will be receiving. Not to leave Kiefer Sutherland off of the hype train, but he was a solid antagonist despite his monologuing. Foxx was reduced to a more comedic role, but he’s the most prestigious of the group and everyone knows he can pull off whatever he wants. Overall, the performances are fun all around. The story and themes of They Cloned Tyrone are similar to those explored in Get Out, Us and Sorry To Bother You. This is certainly good company to be in, but while its best aspects are reminiscent of those other films, the whole does not reach the same heights. There's nothing outwardly wrong with the film, except for the fact that it will get lost in the sea of content on Netflix. Maybe social media and good word of mouth will garner this film an audience, but the marketing has done no favors. It is good enough to deserve an audience. It would have been nice to see this have a theatrical run because it’s very good. It’s an interesting concept with inherent themes that become more compelling as the mystery of the plot is revealed.
Netflix saw amazing success releasing Glass Onion in theaters for a week, so it’s baffling they haven’t continued this practice. Opening week is when movies make their splash anyways. Garner interest there and then let it live on the streaming service forevermore. Jamie Foxx is an Oscar winner, so if it also has good reviews, then it would have had a chance at the box office. Regardless, it’s worth your time even if it’s just on Netflix. It’s a comedic science fiction thriller that is sure to suck you in. They Cloned Tyrone streams on Netflix beginning July 21. Rating: 4/5 Review by Adam Donato It was recently announced that Big Mouth will be ending with its eighth season and that the spin-off show Human Resources would be ending as well. Before there’s any reception for the second season of Human Resources, it’s already over. At least this gives the writers the opportunity to give it a real ending. Does the ending live up to the potential of a franchise finale? Does this new season justify giving this spinoff show a second season in the first place? What’s new about season two and does it work in the first place? It’s funny to find out this is the final season because one could watch this season and have no clue the show is ending. This season has a finale, but it’s no grander than any regular season finale. Without spoiling anything, there’s a couple plotlines that are left open. It seems like they’re trying to continue. Whether any of these plot lines will converge with the final season of Big Mouth and be resolved there has yet to be seen. If this is the last we see of the Human Resources characters, it’s not an entirely unsatisfying ending. While there may not be super high expectations for spinoffs, it’s fair to say Human Resources is a success. It was liked enough to garner a second season. There was never a grand plan for the show to last many seasons so ending after two is reasonable and admirable. As its own season of television, Human Resources season two is generally a good time. Picking up right where we left off in the first season, Maury and Connie have a child and their conflict is that the child doesn’t want to be a hormone monster and instead wants to be a shame wizard. This plot line is interesting in that it fleshes out the world and personal struggles these creatures go through. The love triangle between Pete, Rochelle, and Dante is well developed and doesn’t take the easy way out. The collection of humans being helped by Emmy and the other creatures do a good job of exploring different types of people and situations. The crude humor is in line with what came before, but the bit is starting to wane. It seems like there’s even less songs in this season than the last. It almost makes one think the musical element was obligatory and should’ve been left out of the spinoff.
It’s pretty impressive what new cast members are featured here in this second season. Young hot stars like Miley Cyrus and Florence Pugh lead the way, while older pros like Eugene Levy and Isabella Rossellini carry the weight. Cyrus is pretty recognizable, but blink and you won’t notice Pugh. Levy is a comedy legend and Rossellini tackles one of the more complex human characters in the show. These separate plotlines are given a common theme that wraps the season up together nicely. Decently funny and well put together, Human Resources season two is a welcome introduction to Pride Month. While it’s not the bombastic finale Big Mouth will probably be, this sequel season brings enough new stuff to the table and wraps things up well to put a bow on this spinoff. It’s a niche audience, but those who are still around will be satisfied. Enjoy Human Resources season two on Netflix. Human Resources streams on Netflix beginning June 9. All ten episodes reviewed. Rating: 3/5 Review by Adam Donato Anybody who follows the NBA knows that the GOAT discussion is non-stop. With LeBron still kicking it in his late thirties, that debate is ever changing. A few years ago, LeBron ended his second stint in Cleveland and decided to take his talents to Los Angeles. Not only are the Lakers arguably the most storied and popular franchise in NBA history, but they’re also geographically in a great spot for expanding business to other industries. LeBron starred in a sequel to Michael Jordan’s Space Jam and has been producing other projects. The latest tells the story of LeBron’s journey to the NBA and his unshakable bond with the friends that helped him achieve that goal. Is Shooting Stars a positive for LeBron’s legacy? As the title says, this movie is LeBron James propaganda to the highest degree. Not accusing LeBron of embellishing his story, but the movie goes out of its way to paint LeBron in the most beautiful light. Even his lowest lows aren’t don’t reflect poorly on him. One could say this movie is a testament to how great of a person LeBron James is on and off the court. It’s not illegal to be corny, but making a movie about your rise to fame while you’re still playing is corny personified. LeBron is under contract with the Lakers and had previously made his intentions clear that he wants to play with his son. The last thing LeBron said publicly is that he is considering retirement and with surgery on the way, it seems like a realistic possibility. The point is this story would’ve hit harder if it came out after his career as a player is over. Unlike The Last Dance, which was instrumental to maintaining Michael Jordan’s GOAT status, Shooting Stars feels more cheese than anything. Shooting Stars as a movie is a cute little story about friendship and the keys to success. LeBron and his friends are referred to as the Fab Four and their chemistry together is palpable. The shining star of the group is Caleb McLaughlin of Stranger Things fame. His experience is brought to the forefront as his character struggles with being undersized and therefore doesn’t feel like he belongs amongst his teammates. He has ample personality and has the most gripping narrative thread. When it comes to the coaches, Wood Harris was a much better tone setter than Dermot Mulroney. The boys who played LeBron were serviceable, but it was especially funny when the real life LeBron James voice was modified and played as if it was a teenage LeBron.
As a movie, Shooting Stars is good enough to satiate NBA stans. It’s corny as all hell, but that’s very on brand for LeBron. Cute coming of age tale, but nothing is being added to the legacy with this one. Check it out on Peacock instead of White Men Can’t Jump on Hulu. Shooting Stars hits Peacock on June 2. Rating: 3/5 Review by Adam Donato Jack Harlow is having himself a little moment in the music industry as of late. What a time it is to capitalize on this fame with some exposure in other entertainment industries. Harlow is clearly a basketball fan, even having a song named after Miami Heat star Tyler Herro. Thanks to Disney buying Fox and all their intellectual properties included, Harlow was able to remake nineties sports classic White Men Can’t Jump. While the original sported big name actors like Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Harlow stands out next to Sinqua Walls in terms of name brand recognition. Over thirty years after the original, does this remake justify its own existence? This remake is rated R just like the original. Not to give Disney credit, but one wouldn’t put it past them to water this story down to a PG-13 rating to get more eyes on their content. That being said, White Men Can’t Jump loses all of the balls the original movie stands out for. Indoor basketball courts are much more accessible today, but it takes away from the grit of the original. Isn’t it a large part of the story that these two men are struggling with money? This update just makes the story that much less relatable. Not to mention, the ending is softened up Without spoiling anything, the original movie impresses by not letting our protagonists easily off the hook. Here, we take the easy way out for a more standard feel good movie. It’s just sad to see a movie remade to be “safer." Harlow’s big difference here compared to the same character Harrelson plays in the original is his focus on passivity in conflict. His character is also a big-talking hustler, but his whole goal seems to be not only stealing their money, but pissing them off in the process. He’s also a trainer who is constantly pushing his weird health supplements. His relationship with Laura Harrier of Spider-Man: Homecoming fame seems to be an afterthought, whereas the original goes out of its way to flesh that relationship out. Still, Harlow is cool enough and looks the part of a hooper. It’s a far cry from what Harrelson brought us, but it's clear the goal wasn’t to elevate the original, but to inflate the ego of a famous musician.
It’s interesting the direction they go with Walls's character. Not much of his backstory is explored in the original, but here, it’s the focus from the jump. To any basketball fan in the last decade, it’s clear they’re trying to draw comparisons to LaVar Ball — an overbearing basketball dad, who seems to enjoy the media attention just a bit too much and overdoes it with unwavering confidence in his son’s ability. Walls’s character lost his serious basketball opportunity due to his inability to keep composure when goaded. This aspect of his personality conflicts with Harlow’s character nicely. However, their arguments about race feel nowhere near as genuine as the original and therefore are hollow. The rap on White Men Can’t Jump is similar to most high profile remakes. It’s completely unnecessary and does nothing to improve upon the original. It’s extremely disappointing to fail to adequately address the racial discussions at the heart of this story seeing as racism is very topical these days. This performance may not garner Harlow any future opportunities in acting, but may add to his street cred and Spotify subscribers. No need to check this one out, but definitely check out the original if you haven’t seen it. White Men Can't Jump streams on Hulu beginning May 18. Rating: 2/5 Review by Adam Donato Disney+ is such a strong player in the streaming wars due to their long catalog of classic films and latest blockbusters. Seldom does Disney+ put big money into a direct-to-streaming feature film that isn’t a sequel or reboot of some kind. Crater is an original film from the producers of Stranger Things. It cost just over $50 million to make, but don’t worry about the marketing budget because it’s almost nonexistent. Still, that’s a lot of money to pour into something you don’t have a lot of faith in. For Disney to quietly dump this on their streaming service, this must be a terrible movie, right? Surprisingly not! Crater is a refreshing change of pace compared to cheap shots like Peter Pan & Wendy, Disenchanted, and Pinocchio. Its strength lies in its likable group of young rebels leading the way. There’s good chemistry all around. It feels like a bunch of teens naturally riffing with one another and some of it is genuinely funny. McKenna Grace previously worked with Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. She shares most of the spotlight here with Billy Barratt and Isaiah Russell-Bailey. The two play friends on a lunar mining colony who use the girl as an opportunity to break out and explore a crater on the moon. The standout in the group is Orson Hong, who had his own musical number in John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch. It seems the Stranger Things producers were able to recapture a little bit of the magic that made them famous. This story is a whole lot of fun. It’s like when your friends would explore abandoned places. The stress of potentially getting caught. The jokes along the way. It’s truly a coming-of-age tale in space. Speaking of the science fiction element of the story, the special effects and production design are both solid. It’s a goo- looking movie compared to most live action family films. This is an extremely positive sounding review because Crater stands head and shoulders among its peers. The pre-teen demographic is the target and they’re sure to enjoy this, but it’s good enough to mildly entertain adults too. These characters, while fun, are not as memorable as peak movies in this genre like the recent It movies. Still, it’s a step in the right direction and it deserves more than Disney is marketing.
Crater is a good-time throwback to hanging out with your childhood friends. Its story and characters are relatable to youths and adults alike. With a solid cast and solid visuals, Crater is worth checking out on Disney+. Audiences vote for what they want more of with what they click to watch. This original feature is worth the risk of a lack of brand recognition. Crater is now streaming on Disney+. Rating: 3/5 Review by Adam Donato From the television director of Doctor Who and We Are Lady Parts, Nida Manzoor, comes her feature debut, Polite Society. It stars Priya Kansara as a teenage girl who aspires to be a stunt woman. Everything changes when her sister (played by Ritu Arya) starts seeing a man instead of pursuing her art career. This unlikely action comedy adds a stylized and violent twist to the typical family comedy. With a theatrical release, it will have to combat newcomers like Sisu, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Big George Foreman, and a re-release of Return of the Jedi. Does Polite Society have the personality to stand out among the field? For the uninitiated, this movie takes a wild turn, and it’s all the better for it. Obviously, the main character aspires to be a stunt woman, but the extent of the high-concept action is beautifully over the top. The story was working well when it was just the hijinks of her and her friends trying to break her sister’s relationship up, but the action aspect of the storyline is what maximizes the concept. The movie has so much personality, and the fight scenes just amplify these moments. The more ridiculous the moves get, the more fun that’s to be had. It definitely delivers on the action front. Kansara and Arya are so much fun together in this movie. They feel like genuine sisters, and their bond is the life source of the movie. Nimra Bucha — who some might recognize from the Ms. Marvel show — plays the mother of the husband-to-be and is a strong antagonistic force throughout. The standouts from the supporting cast were the friends trying to help break up the couple. Seraphina Beh and Ella Bruccoleri are the funniest characters in the movie. The three friends have ample chemistry and make this venture as fun as can be. The family dynamic is well developed, especially the mother, as she has to deal with the social pressures from the lack of success from her daughters.
Polite Society is a movie that deserves to be seen in theaters. It’s more narratively competent than most of the franchise blockbuster fare cluttering the movie theater these days. Nida Manzoor has a bright future, and it will be exciting to see what she tackles next. For an original movie written and directed by a first-timer to be this enjoyable is impressive. It’s got equal parts good action, likable characters and funny moments. This is sure to be a crowd-pleaser if it garners any attention at the box office. Be sure to check this one out in theaters while it lasts. Polite Society is now playing in theaters. Rating: 4/5 |
Archives
May 2024
Authors
All
|