Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Review

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was a fun summer musical. This movie is about Sophie who finds out more about her mother's past while also dealing with her own pregnancy. Lily James gives an incredible performance in this movie. She is extremely likable and funny and handles emotional moments with ease. She is also a fantastic singer and does an excellent job in the musical numbers. Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner, and Josh Dylan all do a fantastic job playing their characters and have a great chemistry with Lily James. Amanda Seyfried gives a great performance and does a good job with her big musical numbers. Pierce Bronson, Stellen Skarsgard, and Colin Firth all give excellent performances as Sophie’s dads. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are a lot of fun in smaller roles. Cher, however, I was not a fan of in this movie. Her character is forced into the movie and I did not like her big musical number. As for this musical numbers themselves, most of them are fantastic with great singing and excellent choreography. Director Ol Parker did a fantastic job with such a large ensemble. The script is filled with likable characters and never spends too long without a musical number. The cinematography is great and the locations look stunning. At 120 minutes the movie moves at a good pace, but stalls a bit toward the finale. As for other flaws the present day scenes are good, but I was far more invested in the flashback story. Overall Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a fun summer movie for musical fans.

7.5/10

The Equalizer 2 Review

The Equalizer 2 is a good action sequel but a step down from the first film. This movie is about Robert McCall who delivers vigilante justice till one day he loses someone close. Denzel Washington gives a great performance. He does a fantastic job in the action scenes and is always enjoyable to watch. Pedro Pascal gives a great performance as Denzel’s old partner. Bill Pullman and Melissa Leo also give good performances in smaller roles. Director Antoine Fuqua continues to be a great action director. The fight scenes here are a ton of fun and innovative at times. The script is good with well-written characters but takes too long to get going. At 121 minutes the movie has an entertaining slow first half, but makes up for it with an action-packed second half. Overall The Equalizer 2 was a good action sequel with another great Denzel Washington performance.

7/10

Sorry to Bother You Review

Sorry to Bother You is a wild, crazy, unique movie with a heavy dose of political commentary. This movie is about a telemarketer who lives in an alternate reality version of Oakland. The less you know about this movie the more fun the ride will be. Lakeith Stanfield gives a fantastic performance. He plays every aspect of his character to perfection. Tessa Thompson gives a really good performance as Lakeith’s girlfriend. Danny Glover and Armie Hammer both give great performances in smaller roles. First time director Boots Riley did a fantastic job creating a world and characters that I was immediately grabbed by. The script is fantastic filled with tons of laughs and a few surprises. The cinematography and editing are both fantastic and done in a way that gives the movie a unique feel. The score as well stands out, especially in a few scenes. At 105 minutes the movie moves at a very quick pace that never gives you much time to catch your breath. As for flaws, I am still not sure every creative decision in the 3rd act worked for me but it definitely left an impact on me. Overall Sorry to Bother You was a great movie, but is only going to work for certain audiences.

8/10

Skyscraper Review

Skyscraper is a dumb fun action movie with a slow start. This movie is about a former FBI agent who must save his family from a fire in the world’s tallest building. Dwayne Johnson gives a good performance. He carries this movie and is the only reason any of this works. Neve Campbell gives an okay performance but has very little to do. Roland Moller’s villain is laughable and way over the top. Chin Han is completely wasted as the owner of the building. Director Rawson Thurber does a good job directing, especially in any of the scenes involving heights. The script is extremely dumb with almost every big action scene stolen from a better movie. The visual effects are mostly really good though some of the fire effects could be better. At 102 minutes the movie takes around thirty minutes to get going and then it remains moderately entertaining. Overall Skyscraper isn’t a very good movie, but for fans of Dwayne Johnson, it is worth a watch.

6.5/10

Sicario Day of the Soldado Review

Sicario Day of the Soldado was a good sequel but a step down from the first movie. This movie is about an FBI agent who works to prevent drug cartels from smuggling terrorists across the U.S. border. Josh Brolin gives a great performance. Benicio del Toro gives a fantastic performance bringing tons of nuance to his character. Isabela Moner also gives a good performance in a smaller role. Director Stefano Sollima does a good job, especially in the action scenes. Taylor Sheridan’s script is good, but some moments during the 3rd act make no sense with the characters. The cinematography has some strong moments but overall looks more like a tv show than a movie. As for other flaws, there’s a completely unnecessary subplot that takes up too much screen time. At 122 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though it slows down a bit too much. Overall Sicario Day of the Soldado is a good sequel, but a significant step down from the the first movie.

7/10

Incredibles 2 Review

Incredibles 2 is a fantastic sequel and well worth the long wait. This movie is about Elastigirl taking over the superhero work while Mr. Incredible has to stay home and take care of the kids. Craig T. Nelson does a fantastic job voicing Mr. Incredible. Holly Hunter does a great job voicing Elastigirl. Sarah Vowell did an excellent job voicing Violet, but you can tell the actress' voice is not quite the same as it was fourteen years ago. Newcomer Huck Milner does a perfect job voicing Dash and I could not tell it was a new voice actor. Samuel L. Jackson remains a ton of fun voicing Frozone. The animation in this movie is absolutely stunning to look at throughout. Director Brad Bird did an excellent job returning to the series. The script is filled with numerous laugh out loud moments with great character development. As for flaws, the villain is weak but it does not ruin the movie. At 118 minutes the movie moves at a fast pace rarely slowing down and is always entertaining. Overall Incredibles 2 was a hilarious exciting sequel and I hope we don't have to wait for another fourteen years for Incredibles 3.

9.5/10

Won't You Be My Neighbor? Review

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?  is a fantastic documentary. This movie is about an inside look at Fred Rodger’s life and his show Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood. Director Morgan Neville should be commended for taking an honest look at this story. Throughout the entire 93 minute runtime I was engaged and never bored. Overall Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a fantastic documentary for anyone interested in the subject.

9/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp Review

Ant-Man and the Wasp is an absolute blast from start to finish. This movie is about Scott Lang who is under house arrest and is drawn into a scheme to rescue Mrs. van Dyne from the quantum realm. Paul Rudd gives a fantastic performance. He is absolutely hilarious and extremely likable. Evangeline Lilly gives a great performance and has a great dynamic with Rudd. Michael Douglas gives an excellent performance especially in the more dramatic moments. Hannah John-Kamen and Walton Goggins are good villains but they are underdeveloped. Michael Pena gives a hilarious performance and consistently steals the movie. Randall Park is a lot of fun as Scott’s parole officer. Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale are both really good in their respective roles. Abby Ryder Fortson is fantastic as Scott’s daughter and their scenes are pure joy to watch. The script is filled with plenty of laugh out loud moments with great character development. Peyton Reed’s direction is excellent. The action sequences are extremely unique and thrilling to watch. At 118 minutes this movie flies by and never drags for a moment. Overall I adored Ant-Man and the Wasp and highly recommend it.

9.5/10

The First Purge Review

The First Purge is another fun edition to this unique series. This movie is about a government experiment known as The Purge where all crime is legal for 12 hours. Y’lan Noel gives a great performance as our lead. He’s consistently compelling and handles the action well. Lex Scott Davis gives an okay performance but remains believable enough. Marisa Tomei gives a good performance in a smaller role. Most of the acting in this movie is very cheesy, but it adds to the B-movie charm. The script has some standout moments, but it is mostly an excuse for the violence. Gerard McMurray’s directing is good especially in the action sequences. At 97 minutes the movie moves at a good pace overstaying its welcome. Overall The First Purge is a fun B-Movie if you know what to expect.

7.5/10

Superfly (2018) Review

Superfly (2018) was a fun crime thriller despite being overlong. This movie is about a drug dealer named Priest who wants out of the business, but a mistake threatens to bring everything crashing down on him. Trevor Jackson gave a great performance in his first big role. He has a great screen presence and handles the dramatic scenes well. Jason Mitchell gives a good performance as Priest’s friend. His character is slightly underutilized but does well with what he’s given. Michael Williams gives a great performance in a smaller role. The script is good but has far too much filler. The direction by Director X is competent but standard. The cinematography is the best part this movie. At 108 minutes the movie is twenty minutes too long with a lot of filler in the second act. Overall Supefly is a fun crime thriller but isn’t for everyone.

6.5/10

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Review

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a good sequel but is not without its issues. This movie is about Claire who must reunite with Owen Grady to save the dinosaurs from an active volcano. Chris Pratt gives a great performance. He does a fantastic job in the action scenes and is extremely entertaining to watch. Bryce Dallas Howard gives a really good performance. Her character is definitely more developed this time and her dynamic with Pratt is strong. Isabella Sermon and Rafe Spall both give good performances in their respective roles. The script is good with a few standout moments, but sometimes feels like two different movies. Juan Antonio Bayona’s direction is fantastic especially in the big action scenes. As for flaws, the second act drags quite a bit and the tone can be inconsistent. At 128 minutes the movie is never boring, but it easily could have been 20 minutes shorter. Overall Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a fun summer blockbuster despite some flaws.

8/10

Tag Review

Tag is a hilarious comedy with great characters. This movie is based on a true story about a group of friends who have been playing the same game of Tag for 30 years. Jeremy Renner gives a hilarious performance especially in the action sequences. Ed Helms and Jake Johnson give really good and heartfelt performances. Jon Hamm and Hannibal Buress both give great performances and have excellent comedic timing. Isla Fisher gives a crazy performance, but the movie gets an energy boost whenever she lets loose. The script is filled with tons of laugh out loud moments while still having plenty of heart. Jeff Tomsic’s directing was fantastic especially in the unique way he handled the action scenes. As for flaws, there is a romance subplot that slows the movie down whenever it comes up. At 100 minutes the movie moves at a good pace never going too long without a laugh. Overall Tag is an absolute blast to watch with tons of laughs.

8.5/10

Ocean's 8 Review

Ocean’s 8 is a fun heist film despite pacing problems.  This movie is about Debbie Ocean who gathers a group of seven other female thieves to steal a priceless necklace.  Sandra Bullock gives a great performance. Cate Blanchett gives a fantastic performance. Mindy Kaling and Rihanna are decent in smaller roles. James Corden is a lot of fun in a small role.  Anne Hathaway is the best part of this movie.  She is having a blast and the movie gets a boost every time she is on screen.  The script is standard with a few clever moments sprinkled throughout. Garry Ross’s direction is good but never stands out.  At 110 minutes the movie starts and ends strong, but it drags in the middle.  Overall Ocean’s 8 is a fun heist movie that is worth a watch despite flaws. 

6.5/10

Hotel Artemis Review

Hotel Artemis was a fun action thriller with a unique premise.  This movie is about a nurse who runs a secret hospital for criminals in a riot torn Los Angeles.  Jodie Foster gives a great performance. She added lots of subtle traits to enhance her character. Sterling K. Brown gives a fantastic performance. Sofia Boutella continues to impress especially in the action sequences. Dave Bautista and Charlie Day are both a lot of fun in their respective smaller roles.  Jenny Slate gives a good performance, but I was not a fan of her arc. The script is serviceable with a few standout moments. Drew Pearce’s direction is quite good, especially during the fight scenes. At 97 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though slows down too much in the second act.  Overall Hotel Artemis is a fun thriller worth checking out.

7/10

Adrift Review

Adrift was a great true story drama despite some questionable decisions.  This movie is a true story about a couple stuck on a boat who must survive one of the worst hurricanes in recorded history.  Shailene Woodley gives a fantastic performance. Sam Claflin also gives a great performance.  Woodley and Claflin had fantastic chemistry and I believed their relationship.  The script, while a bit standard, serves its purpose. Baltasar Komakur did a really good job directing especially the hurricane scenes.  The best thing about this movie is the cinematography by Robert Richardson.  This movie can be downright beautiful to look at. As for flaws, the editing in this movie feels choppy at times.  At 96 minutes the story moves along at a good pace.  Overall Adrift has some minor problems but is a fantastic watch about an incredible story.

8/10

Show Dogs Review

Show Dogs is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  This movie is about a dog named Max who must go undercover at a dog show alongside his human partner to rescue a kidnapped panda.  Will Arnett gives a terrible performance.  He is trying, but his character has no purpose.  Ludacris gives an awful performance voicing Max.  All the acting from everyone in this movie is atrocious.  The script is filled with non-stop toilet humor and cheesy puns with zero character development. Raja Gosnell does a horrid job directing with tons of shots that make no sense.  At 92 minutes this movie felt like it lasted forever. This movie has some entertainment value in the so bad its good department, but there is not enough of that either. Overall Show Dogs was a massive pile of garbage that should be avoided at all costs.

2/10

Breaking In Review

Breaking In is the definition of a mediocre film. This movie is about a mom who must protect her family during a home invasion. Gabrielle Union gives a good performance. She’s mostly compelling and believable in the action scenes. Billy Burke gives a decent performance as the bad guy but he’s bland overall. Ryan Engle’s script is standard for this type of movie taking zero risks. James McTeigue’s directing is competent at best, though some scenes are very questionable. This move desperately needed an R Rating to give the action scenes some sense of fear. At 88 minutes the first act is very slow, but then it becomes moderately entertaining throughout the rest of the runtime. Overall Breaking In is yet another mediocre addition to the home invasion genre.

5/10

Upgrade Review

Upgrade was a fun sci-fi thriller overall, however, it was disappointing. This movie is about a man named Grey, who after a tragedy happens to him, is implanted with an experimental computer chip known as Stem. Logan Marshall-Green gives a great performance. He does fantastic in the action sequences while still keeping us interested in his character. Harrison Gilbertson and Betty Gabriel both give good performances in their smaller roles. Writer and Director Leigh Whannell does a fantastic job directing the movie bringing an extremely unique style to the action sequences. However, his script could’ve used some work. The biggest problem for this movie is its pacing; for a 100 minute running time the first 25 minutes are downright boring. Overall I recommend Upgrade just be prepared for slow start.

7/10

Overboard (2018) Review

Overboard (2018) is a hilarious summer comedy with likable characters. This movie is about a wealthy man who loses his memory and becomes the target of a mistreated employee. Anna Farris gives a really good performance as the lead. Eugenio Derbez gives a great performance. The chemistry between Farris and Derbez is fantastic. Eva Longoria also gave a decent performance in a smaller role. Rob Greenberg and Bob Fishers’ script is filled with numerous laugh out loud moments. Greenberg also directs and does a perfectly serviceable job. At 112 minutes the movie moves at a good pace and never goes too long without a funny scene. Overall I had a lot of fun with Overboard and recommend it for comedy fans.

8/10