Operation Finale Review

Operation Finale is an extremely well-acted true story film held back due to some pacing issues. This movie is about the true story of Israeli secret agents who tracked down Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Holocaust. Oscar Issac gives a terrific performance. He is able to add multiple layers to a very straightforward character. Ben Kingsley gives a fantastic performance. The scenes with just him and Issac talking are among the film’s best. Melanie Laurent and Haley Lu Richardson both give really good performances in their smaller roles. Chris Weitz did a great job directing. He mostly succeeds at keeping the tension high. The script is really good, though drags some moments on for too long. At 122 minutes the movie moves at an okay pace, but slows down too much in its third act. Overall Operation Finale is an extremely good movie but does not reach greatness.

7.5/10

Beautifully Broken Review

Beautifully Broken, while not without its flaws, was a compelling true story drama. This movie is about a family of refugees from Rwanda and how their life intersected with two other families. Benjamin A. Onyango gives a great performance. His character is by far the most compelling part of the movie. Scott Winters gives an okay performance. He has a few great moments, but a lot of his performance is cheesy. Emily Hahn gives a really good performance. Not all of her moments work, but she has the best moment in the whole movie. All the other performances are very mediocre but watchable. Eric Welch’s direction is serviceable. However, some of the editing choices are downright terrible. The script has some cheesy moments, but overall has a good plot with characters I cared about. At 108 minutes the pacing moves fairly well only occasionally dragging. Overall Beautifully Broken, while not perfect, was a compelling true story with good characters.
6/10

The Happytime Murders Review

The Happytime Murders was an enjoyable comedy that never achieved its full potential. This movie is about a disgraced puppet detective who must team up with his old human partner to stop the murders of the puppet cast from an 80s kids TV show. First thing I want to stress immediately is this movie is Rated R. Just because it involves puppets does not mean this is a family movie. Melissa McCarthy gives a good performance. Her chemistry with the puppets was extremely believable. Maya Rudolph and Leslie David Baker are a lot of fun in their supporting roles. However, this movie belongs to the puppets. Bill Barretta gave a fantastic voice performance and his work as a puppeteer is incredible. All the puppeteer work from the entire cast was extremely well done. Brian Henson’s directing is good, especially in the scenes that only involve puppets. The script is a bit of a mixed bag. While there are hilarious moments to be found here, they do not come as frequently as you might expect. However, thankfully due to likable characters and a compelling plot, I never lost interest. At 91 minutes the pacing is good, but could have been improved with a few more big laughs. Overall The Happytime Murders was not as great as I had hoped, but I still had a fun time.

6.5/10

A.X.L. Review

A.X.L. is a mediocre, albeit serviceable, kids movie for its target audience. This movie is about a teenage boy whose life is changed forever when he comes across a highly advanced robot dog known as A.X.L.. Alex Neustaedter gives a good performance. He has a likable screen presence and his friendship with AX.L. is fun to watch. Becky G gives an okay performance. Her character is very simple, but she has good chemistry with Neustaedter. All the other performances from smaller characters are corny and out of place. The script is very mediocre. The lead characters are likable enough and A.X.L. is fun to watch, but the movie lacks a compelling plot. Oliver Daly’s direction is competent but nothing more. The visual effects are mostly great though a few terrible moments remain. At 100 minutes long the pacing is all over the place with some scenes going way too fast and others lasting way too long. Overall A.X.L is a serviceable kids film, but has too many flaws for me to recommend seeing this in the theater.

5/10

Alpha Review

Alpha is a terrible movie and was heavily mismarketed. This movie is about a young caveman injured in a hunting accident, who befriends an injured wolf. First of all, this is not the family movie it was advertised to be. This is a slow-paced PG-13 movie that is completely subtitled with no dialogue in English. Kodi Smit-McPhee gave an okay performance in the lead role. All the other performances were horrible. Albert Hughes direction is average at best and occasionally terrible. The script is atrocious and pointless. There is no character development and I cared about no one other than the wolf. Also, there is barely any semblance of good storytelling. Some of the scenes with the wolf are cute, but they are rare moments. The cinematography is by far the best part of this movie. Some of the scenery shots looked absolutely stunning. At 97 minutes the movie drags through the entire runtime. The first half is nearly unwatchable. However, the second half slightly improves with a few decent moments. Overall Alpha is a horrible movie that I recommend to no one and is one of the worst movies of the year.

3/10

Mile 22 Review

Mile 22 was an intense thrilling action film. This movie is about a secret group of Special Forces operatives who must escort an informant 22 miles. Mark Wahlberg gave an incredible performance. He plays his typical fast-talking character and was fantastic in the action scenes. Iko Uwais gave a great performance in his American film debut. He played off the cast well and did an incredible job in every action scene. Lauren Cohan gave a really good performance. She does great in the action scenes and you care about her character. Ronda Rousey gave an okay performance. However, in my opinion this is her best performance yet.  John Malkovich is also a lot of fun in his smaller performance as the group's commander. Peter Berg did a fantastic job directing. The action sequences were frequent and thrilling to watch, though they did occasionally include too many quick cuts. The script, while simple, was really good. The characters are developed enough that you care about them and the plot kept me guessing. At a brief 90 minutes, this movie flew by extremely fast. Even during the setup, I was fully engaged in the plot. Other than some questionable editing, I had no other flaws with this movie. Overall Mile 22 was a great action thriller with an intriguing plot and good characters.

8.5/10

Crazy Rich Asians Review

Crazy Rich Asians is a culturally significant, albeit, underwhelming entry into the romantic comedy genre. This movie is about a rich guy who takes his girlfriend home to meet his family. However, the girlfriend is unaware that the family is extremely wealthy. Constance Wu gave a fantastic performance. She did a good job selling a character that is just as lost as the audience. Henry Golding gave a great performance. He had fantastic chemistry with Wu and they were a believable couple. Michelle Young gave an incredible performance. She brought multiple layers to a straightforward character. Awkwafina gave a hilarious performance and all her scenes are high points in the movie. Jon M. Chu did a great job directing. He especially handled the large-scale scenes well as they were truly stunning at times. The script, however, is good but not great. There are so many characters that I struggled to keep up with who was who. Also, there is a ton of filler including numerous sequences of just the family showing off their wealth. However, the main romance story is sweet and believable. The comedy when it is there hits. For me, though I felt the movie could have used more jokes as there are long periods without any. At 121 minutes this movie is far too long and really drags at times. You could easily compact the script down to 90 minutes and the movie would be stronger for it. The big discussion around this movie has been about the fact that this is the first Hollywood movie in 25 years to have an all Asian cast. To that fact, I am happy this movie exists for a culture that is far underrepresented in Hollywood. Overall I had a good, but not great, time with Crazy Rich Asians.

6/10

BlacKkKlansman Review

BlacKkKlansman is an extremely well-made interesting movie, but some minor flaws prevent it from greatness. This movie is about the true story of an African American police officer who successfully infiltrates his local chapter of the KKK. John David Washington gave a fantastic performance. He is an extremely charismatic presence and handles the dramatic moments well. Adam Driver gave an excellent performance. His dynamic with Washington is great and the highlight of the movie. Laura Harrier gave a good performance, but I was not a fan of her side-plot. Topher Grace gave a fantastic performance. He disappeared so much into the role; I did not realize it was him until after the movie was over. Spike Lee did a great job directing and bringing his unique style to the story. The script is overall very good. When it is focused on the main story, it is quite strong. However, the side plots are nowhere near as compelling. At 135 minutes the movie is very much a slow burn. The pacing would improve if you shave 20 mins off the running time. Overall BlacKkKlansman is a really good movie and a fascinating true story despite its minor flaws.

7.5/10

The Meg Review

The Meg is dumb summer fun though it never achieves its full potential. This movie is about a rescue diver who accidentally unleashes a megalodon, a seventy-foot shark, believed to be extinct. Jason Statham gives a great performance. His character is likable and he does an excellent job selling the action scenes. Rainn Wilson gives a really good performance. However, his character is nothing more than a massive stereotype. Li Bingbing gives a good performance, though too frequently her character is neglected. Ruby Rose and Robert Taylor give okay performances even though the script gives them very little to work with. Cliff Curtis gives a really good performance for his smaller role. Shuya Sophia Cai is delightful in a smaller, but funny role. Jon Turteltaub did a great job directing. The action scenes are well done and easy to follow. The script, however, is a mixed bag. The characters are likable enough and there are plenty of really fun moments. However, there are too many attempts at taking the movie seriously. Also as dumb as the story gets, I wish it fully committed and went insane. The visual effects are mostly great except for few moments when the green screen is obvious. At 113 minutes the movie moves at a good pace only occasionally slowing down too much. Overall while The Meg definitely is not perfect, it works as dumb summer fun and is best seen with a crowd.

7/10

Dog Days Review

Dog Days is one of the most mediocre movies of the year.  This movie is about a group of people in Los Angeles who are brought together by their love for dogs.  Nina Dobrev gave a good performance. Vanessa Hudgens gave an okay performance.  Finn Wolfhard gave a great performance. Adam Pally and Thomas Lennon gave hilarious performances in their respective roles. I was not a fan of Eva Longoria’s performance; her character did not work for me.  Ken Marino’s direction is competent albeit unspectacular.  The script is an extremely mixed bag. For every genuinely funny moment, there is an equally cringe-worthy moment.  The characters range from fun and likable to extremely annoying.  My biggest flaw with this movie is the pacing. At 112 minutes it moved extremely slow and felt closer to three hours long. Overall Dog Days is mostly watchable, but has too many flaws to earn a recommendation.

5/10

The Darkest Minds Review

The Darkest Minds was a surprisingly enjoyable movie. This movie is about a group of children who now have superpowers after a virus wipes out 98% of the world’s kids. Amandla Stenberg gives a great performance. She plays the vulnerable side of her character extremely well. Harris Dickinson gives a really good performance and has a believable chemistry with Stenberg. Miya Cech gave a good performance, especially for a character who never speaks. Skylan Brooks was a lot of fun as the sidekick of the group and was given a few standout character moments. Jennifer Yuh Nelson did a great job directing her live-action debut. The action sequences are thrilling and extremely well done. The script, while it definitely has weaker moments, is filled with enough likable characters to keep you invested. However, the romance events got particularly cheesy at times. At 105 minutes the movie moves at a good pace overall. The first and third acts are very strong. The second act does slow down quite a bit, but never to the point of boredom. Overall The Darkest Minds was a lot of fun and I would gladly watch the possible sequels.

6/10

Eighth Grade Review

Eighth Grade has some good performances and a couple standout moments. However, overall it is not a good movie. This movie is about a thirteen-year-old girl named Kayla and her attempt to survive the end of 8th grade. Elsie Fisher gives an okay performance. She does the best with what she is given, but her character has no depth. Josh Hamilton gave a good performance as Kayla’s dad. Their relationship is one of the few things that work here. Bo Burnham did an okay job as a first time director. There is nothing special here, but it is perfectly competent. However, his script is rather weak with very little character development. He seems more concerned with creating a realistic depiction of 2018 middle school than compelling characters. However, some of the realism choices are extremely questionable. This movie has two standout sequences both in its third act. At 94 minutes this movie is an absolute drag at times. Overall Eighth Grade was a big disappointment and not worth your time and money.

4.5/10

Christopher Robin Review

Christopher Robin is an absolute delight from start to finish. This movie is about Christopher Robin, who is now grown up, reencountering Winnie the Pooh who helps remind him what is important in life. Ewan McGregor gives a fantastic performance. You really believe that he is talking to Pooh and not special effects. Hayley Atwell and Bronte Carmichael give great performances as Christopher Robin’s wife and daughter. All the voice work in this movie is excellent. Jim Cummings is a pure joy as Pooh and brings an excellent sense of energy to Tigger. Nick Mohammed, Peter Capaldi, and Toby Jones are all a ton of fun in their smaller roles. However, Brad Garret’s Eeyore stole the movie for me. Every single moment with him was perfection. Director Marc Forster did an excellent job directing and bringing an almost dreamlike feeling to certain scenes. The visual effects on every character are fantastic and true to the classic looks. The script is fantastic; filled with great character arcs and plenty of funny moments. At 105 minutes the movie moves at a slow but good pace. However, the first thirty minutes are heavy on necessary character work and may bore young kids. Overall Christopher Robin is a pure delight to watch and fun for the whole family despite some slow moments early on.

8/10

The Spy Who Dumped Me Review

The Spy Who Dumped Me is an okay comedy but good spy thriller. This movie is about two women who are thrown into an international conspiracy when one of them learns her ex-boyfriend was a spy. Mila Kunis gives a great performance. She has good comedic timing and handles herself well in the action scenes. Kate McKinnon gives an okay performance. Her character has her moments and has good chemistry with Kunis. However, her character does cross into annoying territory a few times. Justin Theroux and Sam Heughan give good performances in smaller roles. Newcomer Susanna Fogel did an excellent job directing this movie, especially in the action scenes. She has a very promising future as an action director. The script works well as a spy thriller that constantly keeps you guessing who is a good guy. However, as a comedy, the jokes only hit about 40% of the time. There are still a few standout humorous moments though. At 117 minutes the first act is pretty rough to get through at times. However, once the movie finds its rhythm, it gets going and remains fun throughout. Overall The Spy Who Dumped Me may not fully please comedy fans, but for people just looking for a fun diversion it may be good enough.

6/10

Mission: Impossible: Fallout Review

Mission: Impossible: Fallout while not reaching the heights of Rogue Nation is another great entry into this franchise. This movie is about Ethan Hunt who must race against the clock to recover nuclear material after a failed mission calls his loyalty into question. Tom Cruise gives a fantastic performance. His commitment to the action sequences amplifies the intensity. Henry Cavill gives a great performance and was a worthy addition to the series. Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg all give excellent performances in their smaller roles. Sean Harris returns as the villain and remains as compelling as he was in the last installment. Alec Baldwin and Vanessa Kirby are a lot of fun in their small appearances. Director Christopher McQuarrie did an excellent job here. All the action sequences are extremely well done. The script is great and treats its audience smartly. However, it does rely heavily on having seen the previous installments. At 147 minutes the movie moves at a good pace, but the first act does drag at parts. Overall Mission: Impossible: Fallout is yet another exciting and fun addition to the franchise.

8.5/10

Teen Titans GO! To the Movies Review

Teen Titans GO! To the Movies is a hilarious send up of the superhero genre. This movie is about Robin and the Teen Titans who just want to be like all the other superheroes by having their own movie. In an effort to get what Robin wants, the Titans must attempt to get an arch nemesis. Scott Menville does a fantastic job voicing Robin. Greg Cipes, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, and Hynden Walch all do great jobs voicing their respective characters. Will Arnett does an excellent job voicing the villain. Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage are a lot of fun in smaller roles. Directors Aaron Horvath and Peter Rida Michail did a fantastic job translating the tv show to the big screen. The script is mostly great with only a few jokes missing and the rest hitting hard. The classic 2D animation looks stunning. At 84 minutes this movie flies by insanely fast. Overall Teen Titans GO! To the Movies is a great movie and some of the most fun I have had at the theater this year.

8.5/10

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Review

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is the weakest of the trilogy but is still a fun watch. This movie is about the Drac Pack who decide to go on a cruise. However, the captain is the granddaughter of the infamous monster hunter, Van Helsing. All the voice cast here does a fantastic job. Adam Sandler remains a great Dracula. Steve Buscemi is a standout this time having numerous hilarious moments. Newcomer Kathryn Hahn fits perfectly into the already stacked cast. The animation remains fantastic and the monster designs are unique yet true to the classic looks. The script, while not perfect, has compelling characters and a fair share of clever jokes. Director Genndy Tartakovsky continues to be a great choice for this series providing enough humor for adults and kids. At 97 minutes the movie moves at a good pace and is never boring. Overall Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is a fun sequel for fans, but doesn’t reach the heights of the previous installments.

7/10

Uncle Drew Review

Uncle Drew was a funny sports comedy especially for basketball fans. This movie is about a group of older basketball players who reunite to compete in a local tournament. Kyrie Irving gave a really good performance and was shockingly good in dramatic scenes. Shaquille O’Neal gives a funny performance, but also handled the quieter moments well. Chris Webber, Reggie Miller and Nate Robinson all give likable performances. All of them have a great sense of friendship. LilRel Howery gave a great performance and plays off the cast well. I was not a fan of Tiffany Haddish and Nick Kroll’s performances. Their characters annoyed me every time they were on screen. Charles Stone III did a good, albeit, standard job directing. The script is rather weak at the start but once it gets going the laughs start hitting. At 103 minutes the movie moves at a good pace after the rough start. Overall Uncle Drew is a fun summer sports comedy.

6.5/10