47 Meters Down: Uncaged Review

47 Meters Down: Uncaged is a bad movie that I couldn't help but enjoy. This movie is about a group of teenage girls who go diving in underwater caves with ancient sharks. Sistine Rose Stallone gives a horrible performance. Her character is so unlikable it becomes impossible to care about her. Brianne Tju gives a bad performance. However, the role gives her so little to do that she is bearable. Corinne Foxx gives an okay performance. Her character is really unlikable at first, but becomes better as the film continues. Sophie Nelisse gives a decent performance. Her character is likable and easy to root for which helps a lot. Johannes Roberts did a good job directing. The underwater scenes actually look cool, albeit, a little too dark. The script is terrible with awful characters and a non-existent plot. However, this movie is no unashamedly stupid that I had fun laughing at it. At 89 minutes this movie will drag on forever if you take it seriously, but if you're willing to laugh at it you'll have a fun time. Overall 47 Meters Down: Uncaged is by no means a good film but in the right mindset is still a lot of fun.
5/10

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Review

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a fun horror movie that suffers from tonal inconsistency. This movie is about a group of kids who find a cursed book full of scary stories. Soon these stories begin happening to all of them. Zoe Colletti gives a good performance. Her character is likable and she plays scared very well. Michael Garza gives a great performance. His character has a lot of layers and a good dynamic with Colletti. Gabriel Rush and Dean Norris do a good job in their respective supporting roles. They provide some much-needed comedy relief. Andre Ovredal did a great job directing. The horror sequences are well done and scary without an over-reliance on jump scares. The script is a bit of a mixed bag. The characters are likable and the horror scenes effective but they never quite feel equal tonally. The visual effects are great, all the creatures are well designed and creepy. At 111 minutes the pacing is good though the first act is pretty slow, but thankfully picks up. Overall, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a fun horror movie but a weak first act and tonal inconsistency hold it back.
7/10

Good Boys Review

Good Boys has a strong start and finish but falters in the middle. This movie is about three middle school boys who must go on a crazy adventure to fix a drone before their parents get home. Jacob Tremblay is fantastic in this movie. He nails every single comedic and emotional beat perfectly. Keith L. Williams gives a really good performance and has some hilarious moments. However, some of the creative choices with his character make him come across as annoying. Brady Noon gives a fine performance. He is easily the weakest of the three leads but still has a good dynamic with Tremblay and Williams. Molly Gordon and Midori Francis are great as the "villains" chasing after the kids. Gene Stupnitsky did a good job directing. The scenes are well shot and escape the TV movie feel most comedies fall into. The script is all over the place. The first act of this movie had me rolling with laughter. The second act while it still had funny moments, also dragged and had a few parts I found annoying. The movie thankfully recovers in time for the third act though and by the end of everything I had really gotten attached to main characters. At 89 minutes the pacing sometimes flies by but can really drag in the second act. However, the movie ends just soon enough that it does not overstay it's welcome too much. Overall, Good Boys is a very funny movie but held back from greatness due to its mediocre middle.
7.5/10

The Kitchen Review

The Kitchen is an enjoyable but flawed crime drama. This movie is about 3 wives who become mobsters after their husbands are arrested. Melissa McCarthy gives a great performance. She plays tough and vulnerable equally well. Tiffany Haddish gives an okay performance. She has some strong moments but overall never felt consistent. Elisabeth Moss gives a good performance. She does well with what she's given, but she needed a big moment to shine. Domhnall Gleeson gives a fantastic performance. He really impressed me here, showing a dark side I haven't seen from him in a while. Andrea Berloff’s direction is fine but inconsistent. Sometimes the movie has a really unique style and other times it's very messy. The script is good with compelling characters. However, there needed to be a couple of scenes of action to really sell certain plot points. At 104 minutes the pacing is fine. While the movie did occasionally slow down, I never got bored. Overall, The Kitchen was a good, albeit, flawed mob movie.
6/10

The Angry Birds Movie 2 Review

The Angry Birds Movie 2 was not as good as the first one but is an enjoyable kids' film nonetheless. This movie is about the birds and the pigs who must now team up to stop the immediate threat from newly discovered Eagle Island. Jason Sudeikis gives a great performance. He manages to sell a couple of emotional moments very well while still being funny. Bill Hader is easily the best part of this movie. His character has almost all of the funniest lines. His back and forth with Sudeikis is a lot of fun. Josh Gad and Danny McBride both give good performances in their respective roles but they never had a chance to really stand out. Sterling K. Brown is enjoyable but underutilized in his small supporting role. Leslie Jones did a fine job voicing the villain but outside of a couple of funny moments, her character was annoying. Thurop Van Orman did a good job directing. The animation is definitely improved from the first film. The script is where this movie really falters for me. It is a way too generic and safe compared to the first film. There are still a few adult jokes thankfully, but nowhere near as much as the shockingly dirty first film. Also, the villain is poorly written and just annoying almost anytime she's on-screen. Overall, The Angry Birds Movie 2 is a perfectly fine kids' movie but is inferior to the shockingly good first film.
6/10

Brian Banks Review

Brian Banks was a surprisingly compelling drama with two strong performances. This movie is about an aspiring football star whose life is changed forever when he is falsely accused of rape and sent to prison. Aldis Hodge gives a fantastic performance. He is so likable and easy to root for that he carries this movie even through it's weakest scenes. Greg Kinnear gives a great performance. His dynamic with Hodge is the heart of this movie and you buy their friendship. Melanie Liburd gives an okay performance. She does fine with what she is given, but I never fully bought her relationship with Hodge. Tom Shadyac did a competent, albeit, unspectacular job directing. The movie just cannot ever fully escape the TV feeling. The script is a mixed bag. When this movie focuses on the legal storyline and Brian's case, I was invested. However I never really was fully sold on the romance and those scenes could drag on. At 99 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though some parts definitely move quicker than others. Overall, I enjoyed Brian Banks thanks to the strong performances from its two leads, but theirs no denying it's flawed.
6/10

ECCO Review

ECCO is overly convoluted and overly long and yet I couldn't take my eyes off it. This movie is about a former covert assassin who goes hunting after the people responsible for the sins of his past. Lathrop Walker gives a great performance. His character doesn't always talk that much but you become emotionally invested in his quest. Helena Grace Donald and Mahria Zook do fine in their supporting roles, but the movie makes them look so similar it's hard to tell them apart. Michael Winters gives a good performance in his small supporting role. Ben Medina did a great job directing. This movie is extremely visually captivating and the action scenes are very unique. The script is the biggest issue here. While it kept me invested throughout with some genuine surprises, it is so overly convoluted in the first half that I struggled to keep up with the timeline. The fantastic cinematography and score kept me invested even when the plot was losing me. At 123 minutes the runtime is way too long, especially in the first half. Many scenes go by with little to nothing having happened. Overall, ECCO is a complete mess but nevertheless an interesting one that held my attention throughout.
5.5/10

The Art of Racing in the Rain Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain is an emotionally manipulative story with strong acting. This movie is about a Dog named Enzo who has a near-human soul and learns about life through his owner, the race car driver Denny Swift. Milo Ventimiglia gives a great performance. He nails the emotional scenes and really makes you care for his character. Amanda Seyfried gives a good performance. She has great chemistry with Ventimiglia and nails her key scenes but I wish she had a bit more to do. Kevin Costner did an excellent job voicing the thoughts of Enzo. This movie works as well as it does because his voice fits what the dog is doing perfectly. Simon Curtis did a great job directing. The racing scenes are really well done and the movie draws you in almost immediately. The script is extremely emotionally manipulative, but effective. The characters are great and the story is compelling. However, if you cry easily be warned you will have a hard time watching some parts of this movie. At 123 minutes the pacing is very good rarely dragging and it always kept me invested. Overall, The Art of Racing in the Rain, despite being emotionally manipulative, is a compelling story with great performances.
7.5/10

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Review

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a shockingly fun adventure film with a strong lead performance. This movie is about Dora who, as a teenager, goes to experience city life. However, once she and her friends get kidnapped and taken to the jungle it'll take all of them to get back home. Isabela Moner gives a great performance. She truly was perfect casting, nailing every single element of her character, especially the comedic moments. Benicio Del Torro steals the movie voicing Swiper. I was dying laughing every time he was on screen. Jeffrey Wahlberg, Nicholas Coombe, and Madeleine Madden all give good performances as Dora’s friends. Eugenio Derbez is a lot of fun, hamming it up in his supporting role. Michael Pena and Eva Longoria are fine as Dora’s parents but they're underutilized. James Bobin did a good job directing. It comes across a little like a TV movie at times, but it works fine for the movie. The script is a pretty standard kids adventure story with some childish humor. However, there is also a very meta sense of humor that made me laugh quite often when they went for it. At 100 minutes the pacing is good though for adults, you'll wish there was just a little more humor for you. Overall, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a surprisingly fun throwback to old school kids' adventure films.
6/10

Hobbs & Shaw Review

Hobbs & Shaw is top tier Fast & Furious for the first 2/3 but loses itself in the third act. This movie is about Hobbs & Shaw who must help save Shaw’s sister from a supervillain who is after a world-ending virus she possesses. Dwayne Johnson gives a great performance. He nails the action scenes and his comedic timing his spot on. Jason Statham gives a fantastic performance. His dynamic with Johnson is hysterical and easily the highlight of the film. Vanessa Kirby was a very pleasant surprise here. She keeps up with Johnson and Statham with ease and they make a really fun and likable trio. Idris Elba’s villain is not very well written or developed, but you can tell he is having a blast hamming it up in the role that it becomes enjoyable. There are some surprise appearances from actors in supporting roles that I won't spoil but they practically steal the movie. The script is good for what it is. The story here is pretty flimsy and makes little sense. However, the action set pieces are well shot and a ton of fun and the comedy is hysterical with numerous laugh out loud moments. The movie does lose itself some in the third act when it tries to force the core series family theme in. At 136 minutes the first 2/3 flies by with excellent pacing. The start of the third act really drags but picks up in time for the very last action scene. Overall, Hobbs & Shaw is no masterpiece but for fans of over the top action comedy, there is a lot to enjoy here.
7.5/10
P.S. Stay all the way until the end of the credits.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of Tarantino's best and one of the best films of the year. This movie is about a fading television actor and his stuntman who seek success in 1969 Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an incredible performance. He nails the comedic and emotional scenes perfectly. One scene in particular really shows his incredible acting. Brad Pitt delivers a career-best performance. His character is so layered and complex yet just oozes coolness. One scene in the third act he delivers one of the best slapstick performances in years. Margot Robbie is great in her supporting role but she does not have a ton to do. Margaret Qualley also did a good job in her supporting role. The entire massive supporting cast does well in their small roles. Quentin Tarantino did a fantastic job directing. This movie just oozes style and is a love letter to old school Hollywood. The cinematography looks like older films which gives it a unique feel. The script is brilliant with fantastic characters and excellent comedic moments. At 161 minutes the movie is extremely well paced. The first act flies by, the movie does slow down a bit in the second act. However, it makes up for it with a third act that is the best thing Tarintino has ever done. Overall, I adored almost every second of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and it's easily one of the best movies of the year.
9.5/10

The Lion King (2019) Review

The Lion King (2019) is nowhere near as good as the animated classic but is still an entertaining movie in its own way. This movie is about Simba who idolizes his father but his uncle Scar has sinister intentions. Donald Glover gives a good performance. Sometimes it's hard to not just hear the actor but he has good comedic timing and does decent with emotional scenes. Beyonce gives a bad performance. She does okay in a couple of scenes, but her singing is way too out of place and distracting. James Earl Jones is still great as Mufasa but he feels like he's sleepwalking through some scenes. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Scar is very different than his animated role but he does a good job with the different take on the character. John Oliver gives a funny performance as Zazu but he is underutilized. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner steal this movie. Their Timon and Pumba are hysterical. Every single joke with them hits. Keegan Michael Key is also really funny in his supporting role. Jon Favreau did a great job directing. The technical skills on display are nothing short of incredible. The entire movie is visual effects and sometimes it's downright photorealistic. As for the script, there are some new funny comedic moments but for the most part, it's the animated movie's script but worse. As for the musical numbers, the movie screws up a couple of iconic moments but nails the majority of the music sequences. At 118 minutes the pacing is all over the place; sometimes this movie goes way too slow and sometimes it's way too fast. Overall, I enjoyed The Lion King (2019) but I will never choose to watch this over the animated film presented with the option.
6.5/10

Crawl Review

Crawl is a shockingly fun and tense creature thriller despite its weak start. This movie is about a girl and her father who become trapped in their house, surrounded by alligators during a Category 5 Hurricane. Kaya Scodelario gives a great performance. She has a likable presence and nails the physical elements of the role. Barry Pepper gives a good performance. He does not have a ton to do but I bought the father-daughter relationship between him and Scodelario. Alexandre Aja did a great job directing. The creature scenes are extremely intense while never being so stupid that I checked out of the film. He teeters the realism line perfectly. The visual effects on the gators are quite impressive especially considering the lower budget. At 87 minutes the first 15 or so minutes of plot setup is pretty weak but necessary to the film. However, the moment the first alligator shows up I became immediately locked in and the movie never lost me. Overall, Crawl was not cinematic art but it was a really fun creature feature and a lot better than I expected it to be.
7/10

Stuber Review

Stuber is an okay comedy anchored by two likable leads. This movie is about a vision-impaired cop who recruits an Uber driver to take him everywhere to solve the case. As the mismatched duo spends more time together, chaos begins to ensue. Kumail Nanjiani gives a decent performance. His jokes are all over the place. When they hit they are hilarious but when they miss they are very cringeworthy. Dave Bautista gives a good performance. He has  great comedic timing and his dynamic with Nanjiani is the only reason the film works at all. Iko Uwais is wasted as the villain. Michael Dowse did a fine, albeit unspectacular, job directing. The action scenes are fun but have too much shaky cam to ever be fully enjoyed. The script is a mixed bag. This movie has a lot of jokes that completely miss. However, it did have enough that hit and the movie made me laugh often enough to stay invested. At 95 minutes this movie feels way longer than it is and takes far too long to get going. Once the main plot kicks in it remains modestly enjoyable throughout. Overall, Stuber is a mediocre comedy that works purely because of the dynamic between the leads. I enjoyed it enough but this is easily a rental film.
6/10

Midsommar Review

Midsommar is not for most audiences, but film fans will find this is a fun yet extremley disturbing journey you must watch at least once. This movie is about a young couple and their friends who visit a friends rural home for a once in a century festival. As time passes they begin to realize there may be strange things going on unknown to them. Florence Pugh gives an incredible performance. Her character has an insane amount of layers and she plays even the most subtle aspects perfectly. Jack Reynor gives a great performance. This is easily the best work I have seen from him and his strong dynamic with Pugh is the core of the film. Will Poulter brings some much-needed levity to the film with his very comedic performance. Vilhelm Blomgren also impresses in his supporting role. Ari Aster does a fantastic job directing. This is a very slow deliberately paced movie that you have to be patient with as the movie subtlety tells you its story. The script is great but very minimalistic. There are many scenes with just characters having normal conversations or scenes without much dialogue at all. I want to also stress the weird and disturbing nature of this film. If you are not okay with messed up themes and imagery this movie is not for you. The cinematography is stunning with many disturbingly beautiful shots. At 147 minutes the pacing is intentionally a slow build that pays off, but you have to wait through a lot of build-up. That was not an issue for me but it will be for some people. Overall, Midsommar has a very small audience that it’ll work for but for hardcore films fans or experimental moviegoers this is a journey worth experiencing.
8/10

Spider-Man: Far From Home Review

Spider-Man: Far From Home is a fantastic film and the best Spider-Man film yet. This movie is about Peter Parker aka Spider-Man whose European vacation is interrupted when monsters begin causing natural disasters all over the world. Tom Holland continues to be the perfect casting for the title role. He nails Peter’s awkwardness while also not missing a beat as the more snarky Spider-Man. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a fantastic performance as Mysterio, a new superhero who befriends Peter. The way he plays the character will please newcomers and hardcore fans alike. Zendaya gives a great performance and is much improved here from the last film. Her dynamic and chemistry with Holland is off the chart and is easily one of the best romances in any comic book film. Jon Favreau finally gets his chance to shine in a small but crucial supporting role. He is involved in some of the film's best scenes. Sam Jackson turns in yet another strong and funny performance as Nick Fury. Marisa Tomei has less to do this time, but is still quite good in her reduced role. Jacob Batalon and Angourie Rice are hilarious in their side plot. Jon Watts did an incredible job directing. While he already nailed the high school dynamic in the previous film it was lacking in the action department. This movie fixes that issue by keeping the high school element as strong as ever while considerably ramping up the action sequences. This is the best Spider-Man action we’ve ever seen. One sequence, in particular, is one of my favorite scenes in any comic book film ever. The visual effects are all fantastic and never broke my immersion. At 129 minutes the pacing is very good. If I had any flaw for this movie it would be that despite never being boring you do feel the length of the runtime. Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home is yet another fantastic entry into the MCU and should please casuals and hardcore fans alike.
9.5/10
P.S. There are two post-credits scenes that you must stay for.

Yesterday Review

Yesterday was a fun and unique take on the romance and musical genres. This movie is about Jack Malik who, after waking up from a bike accident, is the only person in the world who remembers The Beatles. Himesh Patel gives a great performance. He is an excellent singer while also handling the dramatic scenes very well. Lily James gives a fantastic performance. She has incredible chemistry with Patel and their dynamic is the strongest part of the film. Ed Sheeran gives a surprisingly strong performance in his supporting role. Kate McKinnon gives an okay performance. While she has moments, for the most part, her character was so over the top it took me out of the movie. Joel Fry is a lot of fun in his small supporting role as Patel’s friend. Danny Boyle did a great job directing. The musical scenes are a lot of fun and the movie just consistently has a really pleasant feel to it. The script is really good but has some weakness. Inherently the premise of this movie is very gimmicky and in the second act of the film, they struggle to keep it interesting. However, the dynamic between the main characters is always strong and carries the movie through weaker scenes. At 116 minutes the movie moves at a good pace though it does drag in the second act. The first act is by far the film's strongest, but not to the point it overshadows the rest of the movie. Overall Yesterday was not without its flaws but was a very fun and enjoyable twist on the romantic musical genre.
7.5/10

Annabelle Comes Home Review

Annabelle Comes Home is one of the better movies in the Conjuring Universe and the best of the Annabelle series. This movie is about the Warren’s daughter and her two baby sisters who awaken the evil spirit trapped in the doll. McKenna Grace gives a great performance. She helps ground the more ridiculous scenes while also making us care about her. Madison Iseman gives a really good performance. There is not a ton to her character but she is likable enough to root for. Katie Sarife gives a decent performance. It improves later on in the film but in the first half she is so stupid she is impossible to like. Michael Cimino is a lot of fun in his small supporting role. The best part of this movie is the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They are the heart of this franchise and their small role here is no exception. Gary Dauberman did a great job directing. This is a jump scare fest but he wisely fakes us out numerous times so we do not always see them coming. The script is fine with likable enough characters. The story here is minimal and the movie plays more like a haunted house experience than a film. At 106 minutes the movie has slow parts. The start is strong and very intriguing but not a ton happens in the second act. However, the third act is pure horror fun with plenty of new creepy demons and a pace that does not slow down. Overall, Annabelle Comes Home is another fun entry into the Conjuring Universe and the best spinoff yet.
6.5/10

Anna Review

Anna is a needlessly over convoluted spy thriller that kept me invested throughout. This movie is about a model named Anna, who is secretly a spy for the KGB. Saha Luss gives a fantastic performance. She nails the physicality of the action scenes while also selling me on the emotional side of her character. Hellen Mirren gives a good performance in her supporting role. Luke Evans and Cillian Murphy both give great performances but they are severely underutilized. Luc Besson did an excellent job directing. The action scenes are incredibly fluid and brutal and the movie has a very sleek feel about it. Besson's screenplay though has some serious issues. The core story is great and compelling but the movie has a ridiculous amount of time skips with many of them being completely pointless. Also, this movie has an insane amount of sexual scenes which will turn people off. At 119 minutes the pacing is really good hardly ever slowing down though the time jumps make it hard to keep up with how far into the story we are. Overall, Anna is a very flawed movie and will not be for everyone, but I personally remained invested throughout.
7/10

Toy Story 4 Review

Toy Story 4 is easily the weakest film in the series, but is still a pretty good film on its own. This movie continues the story of the toys as Woody must look after a new toy named Forky, who is quite the handful. Tom Hanks continues to do an excellent job voicing Woody. He nails the emotion and the comedy, though there are moments his voice sounds older that can be distracting. Tim Allen also continues to be a fantastic Buzz though he is slightly underused this time. Annie Potts returns as Bo Peep and does a fantastic job with the new take on her character. Keanu Reeves is a lot of fun in his small supporting role. Christina Hendricks does a great job voicing the villain. Key and Peele are absolutely hilarious as two new characters. Also while sadly underused in the second half, Tony Hale’s Forky has some of the funniest moments in the movie. The rest of the original cast continues to be great here, but they are very small supporting roles this time. Josh Cooley did a fantastic job directing. The animation is near photorealistic at times while also giving off a sense of warmth. The script is really good but flawed. There are numerous funny moments throughout and I liked all the new characters. The movie also succeeds at pulling at your heartstrings numerous times. However, I felt that the underuse of Buzz and some questionable plot choices brought the movie down. At 100 minutes the movie has a good pace though it does have a few moments where it slows down too long. Overall, Toy Story 4 is a really fun and sometimes emotional movie, just do not expect it to reach the greatness of the originals.
7.5/10

Child's Play (2019) Review

Child's Play (2019) is an extremely fun horror-comedy held back by a slow second act. This movie is about a mom who gives her 13-year-old son an AI toy doll for his birthday unaware of the doll's more evil intentions. Gabriel Bateman gives a fantastic performance. He makes us care about him easily and you sympathize with him through everything. Aubrey Plaza gives a great performance though she is slightly underused. She is believable as Bateman's mom and their dynamic is really charming. Brian Tyree Henry is really good in his supporting role. Mark Hamil, though, steals this entire movie. His voice fits Chucky perfectly and he is able to easily balance the mix of creepy and funny. Lars Klevberg did a great job directing. The movie excellently captures the feeling of old school horror films. The script is really good, but has some issues in the middle. The first act perfectly sets everything up and the third act is nothing but crazy fun. However, the movie sacrifices some character work in the second act for kills and the movie becomes weaker for it. At 90 minutes the first and third acts fly by but the second act does drag on too long at times. Overall, Child's Play (2019) is a really fun and entertaining movie, but could not quite reach greatness.
7.5/10

The Dead Don't Die Review

The Dead Don't Die is a very funny offbeat movie but with a very niche audience. This movie is about a small country town that finds itself suddenly being overwhelmed with zombies. Bill Murray gives his best performance in years. His dry delivery makes every line he says laugh out loud hilarious. Adam Driver gives a fantastic performance. He has excellent comedic timing and the scenes he shares with Murray are easily the films best. Chloe Sevigny gives an okay performance. She does a fine job with the material but her character could become annoying. Tilda Swinton gives a good performance in a very weird supporting role. Tom Waits and Selena Gomez are a ton of fun in their supporting roles. There are plenty of short cameos from many other actors that are quite funny. Jim Jarmusch does a good job directing. The movie has a very normal look to it which just amplifies some of the crazy humor. The script is really good but not without its flaws. Any time the movie focuses on its main character its hilarious and the movie never goes too long without a laugh. However, there are side plots that end up being completely pointless and any attempt at political commentary kind of falls flat. At 104 minutes the pacing is deliberately slow and sometimes that works in the movie's favor and sometimes it does not. Overall, The Dead Don't Die was a very unique and fun comedy but will have a very specific audience.
7.5/10

Men in Black: International Review

Men in Black: International was a fun sequel with good performances from its leads. This movie follows two new Men in Black agents as they fight against new aliens and a mole inside the agency. Tessa Thompson gives a great performance. She continues to prove her worth as a lead, especially with comedy. Chris Hemsworth gives a fantastic performance. His comedic timing continues to be spot on and he has an excellent dynamic with Thompson. Liam Neeson gives a fine performance in his supporting role. Kumail Nannjiani gives a hilarious voice performance. He has almost all of the film's funniest moments. Rebecca Ferguson does a decent job with her material, but her role is extremely random. F. Garry Gray did a great job directing. The movie does well with all its unique settings and the movie keeps up its sense of energy throughout. The script is good, but flawed. The characters are fun and there are definitely funny moments, but the film was never quite as hilarious as I hoped. At 116 minutes the pacing is decent, but does have some slower moments where the movie goes too long without a joke. Overall, Men in Black: International was a fun, but not a great addition to the franchise.
6.5/10

Shaft (2019) Review

Shaft (2019) is not for the easily offended, but for fans of old-school R-Rated buddy cop movies, there is a lot to enjoy here. This movie is about John Shaft Jr. who enlists the help of his estranged father to find the truth behind his friend's untimely death. I'll start with saying I have never seen any of the previous Shaft movies but this movie completely stands on its own. Sam Jackson gives a fantastic performance. He is playing an extreme version of his typical character and having a blast doing so. He perfectly nails the mix of action and comedy. Jessie T. Usher gives a great performance. He starts off a little weak, but has excellent chemistry with Jackson and I bought their father-son dynamic. Richard Roundtree and Regina Hall are a lot of fun in their small supporting roles. Alexandra Shipp does a fine job as Usher's love interest but I wish she was given more to do. Tim Story's direction is good, albeit, unspectacular. The action scenes are well shot and the movie has a good feel to it but never quite feels like a big theatrical release. The script is a mixed bag. The comedy in this movie is laugh out loud hilarious and the characters are extremely likable. However, the overly convoluted plot is filled with holes and does not make a ton of sense. At 111 minutes the movie mostly flies by only occasionally slowing down. Overall, Shaft (2019) is by no means cinematic art but for fans of this kind of movie, there is plenty to enjoy here.
7.5/10

Late Night Review

Late Night was a fun comedy with strong performances. This movie is about a famous late-night talk show host, who to save her show brings on a female writer to stay relevant. Emma Thompson gives a fantastic performance. Her comedic timing is spot on and you care for her character even when she acts unlikable. Mindy Kaling gives a good performance. She has an enjoyable screen presence and a fun dynamic with Thompson but she was basically playing herself. Reid Scott and John Lithgow also do fine jobs in their supporting roles. Nisha Ganatra did a good job directing. She captures the feeling of late night TV well, but the cinematography sometimes looks more like a streaming movie than a theatrical release. The script is mostly great with plenty of funny moments and good character beats. The first 2 acts of this movie are great with numerous laugh out loud jokes that balance the political commentary with the story. The last act, while still good, gets quite serious at times and goes on too long without a joke. At 102 minutes the pacing is good but does feel a bit slower in the more drama-oriented third act. Overall Late Night was a fun comedy boosted by Emma Thompson’s fantastic performance.
7/10

Booksmart Review

Booksmart is a really funny modern high school comedy. This movie is about two teenage girls, on the eve of their graduation, realize they should have partied more and aim to make it all up in one crazy night. Kaitlyn Dever gives a great performance. She makes you immediately care for her character and has fantastic comedic timing. Beanie Feldstein gives a good performance. She has funny moments and a good dynamic with Dever. However, she could get annoying at times. Jason Sudeikis and Diana Silvers are fantastic in their supporting roles. Skyler Gisondo gives an okay performance. I liked him in the second half but he could overstay his welcome early on. The best part of this movie is Billie Lourd's hysterical performance. She steals every single scene she's in. Oliva Wilde did a great job with this being her directorial debut. However, she does sometimes overuse music and that dilutes the impact of some scenes. The script is really good. The movie keeps the jokes flowing at a good rate and has numerous laugh out loud moments. The movie also does an excellent job portraying how teenagers talk and interact with each other. Especially strong is the movie's realistic portrayal of high school romance. At 102 minutes the pacing is good rarely going too long without a joke. However, a few scenes in the middle can drag just a bit. Overall, Booksmart is not perfect but remains a great modern high school comedy.
8/10

The Secret Life of Pets 2 Review

The Secret Life of Pets 2 was a really cute animated film and an improvement over the first film. This movie continues the adventures of Max and his friends as they live their everyday lives. Patton Oswalt did a great job voicing Max. He has a very energetic voice that fits the character well. Kevin Hart continues to be a fantastic voice actor and brings numerous laughs playing the fluffy bunny Snowball. Harrison Ford gives a hilarious performance. His character made me laugh numerous times. Jenny Slate and Lake Bell also do good voice work in their respective roles. Tiffany Haddish does a fine job voicing her character, but I found her story to be the weakest part of the movie. The rest of the huge voice cast all do well in their supporting roles. Chris Renaud did a great job directing. The animation is fantastic and all the animals are adorable. The script is perfectly serviceable. The story is very simple and just serves for us to enjoy cute animal antics. At 86 minutes this movie flies by and is a super easy watch. There is nothing mean or offensive here and is just a pleasant watch. Overall, The Secret Life of Pets 2 is nothing great, but is an enjoyable movie for kids and animal lovers.
7/10

Dark Phoenix Review

Dark Phoenix is better than I expected, but is still the worst of the new series. This movie is about Jean Grey whose incredible powers begin to corrupt her. As she becomes more powerful, lines get drawn in the X-Men as internal conflict rises. Sophie Turner gives a good performance. She sells the conflicted nature of her character well. James McAvoy gives a great performance. He has a couple of stand out moments but he is not as good as he has been. Jennifer Lawrence gives a fine performance. She is better here than the previous film, but still seems like she does not want to be there. Jessica Chastain gives a mediocre performance and her character is totally pointless. Michael Fassbender is by far the best part of this movie. He is still giving this role his absolute all and has numerous strong moments.  Kodi Smit-McPhee and Tye Sheridan also give good performances in their respective smaller roles. Simon Kinberg's direction is a mixed bag. While some of the dialogue scenes feel very TV-like, the action sequences are among the best of the series. The script is fine but feels like there are parts missing. There are characters who feel like they had a much bigger role originally before rewrites. The score is great making you feel emotional at times when the script did not quite get me there. At 113 minutes the pacing is mostly great. The first act has an intriguing setup and does a good job bringing you into the story. Despite some strong moments, there are large parts of the second act which do not work at all. The third act, however, is fantastic and has one of the best action scenes of the franchise. Overall, I rather enjoyed Dark Phoenix despite all its flaws and I am going to miss this cast.
7.5/10

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Review

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a step down from the first film but is still an enjoyable monster movie. This movie is about a bunch of monsters fighting for dominance of the earth after being released by humans. Kyle Chandler gives a good performance. It is not an extremely developed character, but he is charismatic enough to be a likable lead. Vera Farmiga gives an okay performance. She is doing the best she can with the material but her material is so ridiculously stupid and over the top, I could not take her seriously. Millie Bobby Brown gives a great performance. She has a good screen presence and makes you care about her character. Ken Watanabe gives a fantastic performance. He easily has the best-acted scene in the movie. The rest of the massive supporting cast all do serviceable jobs in their roles. Michael Dougherty did a great job directing. The monster scenes have a good sense of scale and are exciting to watch. However, they do sometimes cut back to the human characters too much. The script is a very mixed bag. The plot is insanely stupid and some of the dialogue is so cheesy that you do not know whether to laugh or cringe. Anytime the monsters are on screen the film immediately improves. The monster designs all look fantastic. The visual effects are also great, though very much hidden behind darkness and rain to hide the flaws. At 132 minutes the pacing is all over the place. Sometimes the movie flies by especially during the monster segments, other times it seems to drag on for forever. Overall, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a fun monster film with great action scenes, but those looking for any depth in plot or characters need not bother.
7.5/10

Aladdin (2019) Review

Aladdin (2019) is a fantastic movie and the best live action remake yet. This movie is a remake of the 90s animated classic and is about a street rat who falls in love with a princess. Mena Massoud gives a great performance as Aladdin. He is a really good singer and has a natural charisma that makes him fun to watch. Naomi Scott gives a fantastic performance as Jasmine. She is an incredible singer and has excellent chemistry with Massoud. She brings so much extra depth to her character. Will Smith does an incredible job as the Genie. He wisely does not copy Robin Williams' iconic performance, instead fully making the role his own. This is his best performance in years and he is clearly having so much fun. Nasim Pedrad is a lot of fun in her supporting role. Marwan Kenzari gives a really good performance as Jafar. His character is very different than the animated film and is sure to cause some debate, but I thought he played the unique take well. Guy Ritchie did a great job directing. The action sequences are thrilling and the musical numbers are a ton of fun to watch. The musical numbers translate really well to live action and the new musical numbers are equally incredible. The script is excellent. It keeps the classic story while also adding a few unique changes. They also improved Jasmine's character and gave her more to do. The visual effects are much improved from the marketing. Blue Will Smith never looked out of place and the action scenes were stunning. At 128 minutes the pacing is excellent rarely dragging at all. Overall, Aladdin (2019) is a fantastic movie and one of the best movies of the year so far.
9.5/10

Rocketman Review

Rocketman is a great musical biopic with a strong lead performance. This movie tells the true life story of Elton John in musical form, as we live his fantasy. Taron Egerton gives a fantastic performance. He completely disappears into the role to the point you sometimes think you are watching young Elton for real. Jamie Bell gives a great performance as Elton’s songwriter. He has good chemistry with Egerton and the two play off each other well. Richard Madden gives a decent performance. He plays a jerk decently enough. Bryce Dallas Howard gives a good performance in her supporting role and she looks unrecognizable. Dexter Fletcher did a great job directing. The musical numbers are well shot and intricately done. The script is really good but has some issues. The start of the movie is rather weak. As for the musical numbers themselves, some of them are extremely forced. The ones that work, though, are extremely fun and exciting to watch. At 121 minutes the pacing is fine. I was never bored, but there are parts that drag on way too long. Overall, Rocketman was a good musical biopic with a fantastic lead performance that culminates into a great time at the movies despite its flaws.
8/10

Ma Review

Ma is a mediocre horror thriller with a great lead performance. This movie is about Sue Ann, a lonely old lady who opens up her basement for teenagers to drink and party. However, there are dark secrets hidden in her past. Octavia Spencer gives a great performance. She never quite reaches the full craziness level that this movie needed but she captivates the screen well. Diana Silvers gives a really good performance. She is easily likable and her character is smart enough so that she is easy to root for. The rest of the main teenagers give okay performances, but their dialogue does not sound like modern-day teenagers. Tate Taylor did a fine job directing. The movie is competently made but never is spectacular. The script is fine but never goes as crazy as it should have. There are way too many slow moments and the crazy stuff is never quite as messed up as it should be. At 99 minutes the pacing is all over the place. Some scenes go fast while others seem to drag on forever. While I was never bored this movie does feel longer than it is. Overall, Ma is a mediocre horror thriller that gets a boost thanks to its two strong lead performances.
6/10

Brightburn Review

Brightburn was not without its moments but never came close to making full use of its premise. This movie is about a superpowered kid crashes on Earth but instead of saving it he has much more sinister intentions. Jackson A. Dunn gives a good performance. He can act creepy extremely well but really needed more development to fully care about him. Elizabeth Banks gives a great performance. She plays the conflicted nature of her character perfectly and you really feel for her. David Denman gives a fine performance but outside of one great scene is not given a ton to do. David Yarovesky did a good job directing. The actual scary scenes are well done but never quite as tension-filled as they should be. However, he should be commended for stretching his small budget as this is a beautiful looking movie. The script is a bit of a mixed bag. While I fully cared about Bank's character Dunn's journey is more rushed. This movie rushes too quickly to get to the violence but then goes long sequences with not much happening. The finale is more fun as it delivers the movie that people are expecting from this story. At 91 minutes the pacing is poor with many boring scenes. The movie starts well and ends extremely well but is sometimes downright boring in the second act. Also, note this is not a movie for the faint of heart. The violence here is extremely disturbing and bloody. Overall, Brightburn was an entertaining movie overall but wastes its awesome premise.
6/10

The Sun Is Also a Star Review

The Sun Is Also a Star was an awful romance movie that at least improves as it goes. This movie is about a hopeless romantic boy, unsure about his future, who falls for a girl who does not believe in love. Yara Shahidi gives an okay performance but she has nothing to work with. Charles Melton gives an awful performance. All his attempts at romance come across as creepy and stalker like. His chemistry with Shahidi is non-existent. Ry Russo-Young did a great job directing. The saving grace of this movie is the beautiful cinematography and camera work. The script is atrocious, but does get better as the film progresses. By the start of the third act, the movie became bearable and borderline good at times. A massive step up from the unwatchable first act and poor second act. At 100 minutes this movie feels like it drags on for forever. Overall, The Sun Is Also a Star was an absolutely atrocious movie with barely any redeeming factors.
2.5/10

A Dog's Journey Review

A Dog's Journey is easily one of the biggest movie surprises of the year so far. This movie continues the story of A Dog's Purpose as Bailey begins his quest to look out for his owner's granddaughter. Josh Gad continues to do great voicing all the main dogs. His voice fits perfectly and his comedic moments really land. Dennis Quaid gives a really good performance in a smaller role this time. Betty Gilpin's performance is fine, but her character is so unlikable for the majority of the movie she becomes annoying to watch. Abby Ryder Fortson does a fantastic job playing CJ when she is young. She is incredibly charming and just delightful to watch. Kathryn Prescott does a great job playing teenage and adult CJ. She is immediately likable and handles her emotional scenes perfectly. Henry Lau gives a decent performance and has good chemistry with Prescott but does not have a ton to do. Gail Mancuso did a really good job directing. The movie looks great and the way certain scenes are shot was very creative. The script is fantastic with likable lead characters and a compelling story. The movie might be a little overly emotional manipulative, but that did not stop me from crying numerous times throughout. I do want to stress while this movie might be PG, this is not a kids movie. The story deals with some extremely heavy and dark topics that kids will not understand. At 109 minutes the pacing is good though it does occasionally drag. Overall, A Dog's Journey was a massive surprise and really connected with me emotionally.
8/10

John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum Review

John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum is easily the worst of the series but still a great action movie in its own right. This movie picks up immediately after Part 2 and is about John Wick on the run from an assassins guild with no help and a 14 million dollar bounty on his head. Keanu Reeves turns in another fantastic performance as the title character. He continues to be incredible in the action scenes while just being an extremely likable presence. Halle Berry gives a great performance in her supporting role. She has a good dynamic with Reeves and is mindblowing in her action scene. Asia Kate Dillion gives a good performance. Their character is in many of the films weaker scenes, but they play the part well. Lance Reddick really gets to shine this time. He has numerous standout moments. Mark Dacascos gives a great performance in the action scenes, but I found his character to be a bit too over the top. Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne continue to be fantastic in their supporting roles. Chad Stahelski did an incredible job directing. The action scenes of this series continue to be some of the best ever put to film. The script is where this movie falters. The start is incredibly strong with almost one long action scene. The second act slows down dramatically and is only saved by the scenes with Halle Berry's character. The movie also makes the baffling decision to explain Wick's past and give him weird motivations. Things pick back up for the awesome action-packed finale. At 131 minutes the first and third act flies by, but the movie does slow down way too much in its second act. Overall John Wick: Chapter 3 is a great action movie, but fails to live up to the perfection of the first two films.
8.5/10

Tolkien Review

Tolkien was a mediocre biopic with good performances. This movie is inspired by the life of J.R.R. Tolkien and tells his life story. Nicholas Hoult gives a good performance. He plays Tolkien well in the school scenes but struggles with other parts. Lily Collins gives a great performance. She nails her emotional scenes and any scene she shares with Hoult is easily the films' best. The supporting cast all turn in fine but unmemorable performances. Dome Karukoski's direction is okay. He handles the school scenes well, but his war scenes are bland and tensionless. The script is a mixed bag. When the movie is focusing on his school life I was really invested but everything else was a total bore. At 112 minutes the pacing is bad with a dull and boring first act and a second and third act that never remain consistent. The editing in this movie is noticeably awful. It is extremely choppy and makes keeping up with the order of events difficult. Overall Tolkien is a bland and mediocre biopic saved by its two lead performances.
5/10

Poms Review

Poms is a mediocre comedy that starts weak and never quite hits its stride. This movie is about a group of women in a retirement home who decide to start a cheerleading club. Diane Keaton gives a really good performance. She has good comedic timing and sells the dramatic moments well. Jacki Weaver gives an okay performance. She has a few funny moments but when she is not being funny her character is annoying. Rhea Perlman and Bruce McGill are the highlights of this movie. They had all of the funniest moments. Alisha Boe also gives a good performance in her supporting role. Zara Hayes' direction is very bland and looks more like a tv show than a movie. The script is not without funny moments, even including a few hilarious parts. However, the first act of this movie is painfully unfunny and hard to get through. Things pick up in the second act but the movie never has the jokes coming quite as fast as it needed. At 91 minutes the pacing is good, once you get past the awful first act. Overall, Poms was not without its moments but its awful start brings it down a lot.
5/10

The Hustle Review

The Hustle is a fun comedy with two entertaining leads. This movie is about two female con-artists who decide to make a tech billionaire their next mark. Anne Hathaway gives a great performance. Her accent takes some getting used to but she has spot-on comedic timing. Rebel Wilson gives a good performance. She has a fun dynamic with Hathaway and gets to shine most in scenes they share. Chris Addison does a fine job directing. The locals are beautiful to look at, but he never does anything unique. The script is a mixed bag. The lead characters are fun to watch but the movie was lacking some massive laughs. Instead, we just get a movie with just enough funny moments to keep you invested throughout. At 93 minutes the pacing is good, but slow at the start. The first act often goes too long without a laugh but things pick up at the start of the second act. Overall, The Hustle is a perfectly fine comedy with fun leads and just enough funny moments.
6/10

Detective Pikachu Review

Detective Pikachu is a very funny and enjoyable movie once you get past the slow start. This movie is about a boy who comes across a talking Pikachu who also happens to be a detective. Together they team up to find the boy's missing dad. Justice Smith gives a good performance. He does a great job playing against a completely CGI creation and is likable to watch. Ryan Reynolds is fantastic voicing Pikachu. He is absolutely hilarious while also nailing every single emotional scene. Kathryn Newton gives a great performance in her supporting role. She has an excellent dynamic with Smith and their interactions are fun to watch. Bill Nighy and Ken Watanabe are a lot of fun in their small supporting roles. Rob Letterman did a fantastic job directing. The visual style is incredibly unique and the action sequences are equally funny and thrilling. The script is really good but starts off weak. The first 20 minutes are necessary to the plot, but the movie does not really get going until Ryan Reynold's character shows up. The visual effects are incredible. All the Pokemon look fantastic and I always believed they were there. At 104 minutes the movie starts slow, but once it gets going the movie flies by. Overall, Detective Pikachu is an incredibly fun movie for anyone, you just have to get past the slow start.
7.5/10

UglyDolls Review

UglyDolls was an awful animated film, but it was not as bad as I expected it to be. This movie is about a group of UglyDolls who want to find their way to the real world to belong to a person. Pitbull gives an okay voice performance. He does have a few funny lines though. Kelly Clarkson gives a fine vocal performance as the lead. She's not awful, but there is almost nothing to this script. Blake Shelton gives a decent vocal performance. The cast has no problem singing as they are all singers before being actors; it's just all the songs stink. Kelly Asbury did a competent job directing but it feels more like a TV special than a film. The script is awful with boring characters, conflicting messages and dull songs. However, I will not deny there was a handful of lines that did make me laugh. The animation is a mixed bag with dull looking main characters but some really creative and cool looking backgrounds. At 87 minutes this movie drags on for a very long time. Overall, UglyDolls is an awful movie with a couple small redeeming factors.
3/10

Long Shot Review

Long Shot is a hilarious comedy with some serious pacing issues. This movie is about a reporter who reunites with his old babysitter who is now running for President of the United States. As they spend more time together romance begins to brew. Charlize Theron gives a fantastic performance. She has incredible comedic timing and is immediately likable. Seth Rogen gives a great performance. He is playing himself but he does it well and he has incredible chemistry with Theron. June Diane Raphael and O’Shea Jackson Jr. are hilarious in their supporting roles. Johnathan Levine did a good job directing, albeit, unspectacular. The script is great, filled with likable leads and numerous laugh out loud moments. At 125 minutes the biggest issue to this movie is its running time. While I was never bored at all, I felt every single minute of the running time. Overall, Long Shot was a really funny movie held back due to poor pacing.
7.5/10

The Intruder Review

The Intruder is an awful film but is somewhat entertaining due to unintentional hilarity. This movie is about a young couple who buys a beautiful country house only to find the former owner is struggling to let go of the property. Meagan Good gives an awful performance. Her character is so stupid the movie makes it impossible to like her. Micheal Ealy gives an okay performance. He is doing the best he can with the material, but is not given anything to do but complain. Dennis Quaid is the saving grace of this movie. He is the only person aware of the trashy thriller they're in and his performance is suitably over the top. I am not even sure if it is a good performance, but the movie becomes immediately watchable anytime he is on screen. Deon Taylor does a mediocre job directing. There is not anything outright awful, but he never does a single thing unique or creative. The script of this movie is atrocious with characters that act like such massive idiots its impossible to root for them. At 102 minutes the movie drags on anytime Quaid is not on screen. Overall, The Intruder is an awful movie that is still semi-watchable thanks to Dennis Quaid’s crazy performance.
3/10

Avengers: Endgame Review

Avengers: Endgame is a perfect conclusion to the 11-year Infinity Saga. This movie is about the Avengers who seek to undo Thanos's actions that left the universe in ruins. Robert Downey Jr. gives his best performance yet as Tony Stark/Iron Man. He brings dramatic weight to every single scene he is in while also bringing levity at the right moments. Chris Evans gives another fantastic performance as Steve Rodgers/Captain America. He has some incredible dramatic scenes while also being incredible in the action sequences. Chris Hemsworth continues to impress as Thor delivering a brilliant, but controversial performance with yet another bold take on the character. Mark Ruffalo gives a great performance as Bruce Banner. While he gets a few dramatic moments, Ruffalo really gets to show off his comedic chops this time. Scarlett Johansson also gives her best work yet as Black Widow. She is incredible in her emotional scenes delivering a heartbreaking performance. Jeremy Renner gives a fantastic performance with a new take on the Hawkeye character that is equal parts awesome and sad. Paul Rudd continues to be a pure comedic delight in these films while also really showing his dramatic chops. Don Cheadle gives a really good performance but is not given a ton to do. Brie Larson also gives a fine performance, but her role is minimal. Karen Gillian turns in another great performance as Nebula, continuing to develop her complex character. Bradley Cooper turns in another fantastic performance voicing Rocket. He is very funny while also delivering great emotional moments. I would not dare spoil any of the surprise appearances, but the entire cast turned in great performances. The Russo brothers did an incredible job directing. The action sequences are some of the best I have ever seen in film history. They also know when to let scenes breathe so you do not get exhausted. The script is masterful with complex characters and numerous hilarious moments, while not sacrificing a single emotional beat. The more of an MCU fan you are, the more you will appreciate every little detail in this movie. The visual effects are incredible and so seamless there never distracting. At 181 minutes this is by far the longest MCU movie and it flies by. This is the quickest paced 3-hour movie I have ever seen. The first act really takes its time bringing you back into this world and builds to the greatest action sequence in any comic book movie ever. Overall Avengers: Endgame is a near flawless masterpiece. This is one of my favorite films ever and the greatest superhero movie of all time.
10/10

Breakthrough Review

Breakthrough had a few redeeming elements but never escaped being a bad movie. This movie is inspired by true events and is about a 14-year-old boy who drowned and was declared dead. As the mom was praying loudly, all of a sudden, the boy had a pulse. Chrissy Metz gives an okay performance. She has a few really strong moments but for the most part, her character drove me crazy. Josh Lucas gives a good performance. He is not given a ton to do early on but really shines in the second half. Topher Grace gives a great performance. He did well with the dramatic scenes while also bringing a good sense of levity to the film. Mike Colter is the best part of this movie. He gives a deep performance with actual weight to it. Roxann Dawson did an okay job directing. The cinematography looks like a real film, but the direction is very bland. The script is a mixed bag filled with an awful main character and some really cringy dialogue but also some genuinely moving and funny moments. The side plots were all far more interesting than the main plot and the movie sets up numerous, more interesting stories but never develops them. The soundtrack of this movie is notably awful. The decision to use secular music that had to be censored for a Christian film kept taking me out of the movie. At 116 minutes the pacing is all over the place and sometimes drags and then speeds over the interesting stuff way too quick. Overall Breakthrough had some redeeming qualities but not enough to outweigh its poor main plot.
4/10

Penguins Review

Penguins was a cute documentary from Disney Nature. This movie is about a Penguin named Steve who wants to find a partner and start a family. Ed Helms did a great job narrating the factual information. He also was a delight voicing the thoughts of the main penguin, leading to numerous shockingly funny moments. Alstair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson did a fantastic job directing. The scenery in this documentary is beautiful. The movie does make the odd decision to incorporate the rare pop song and it always feels extremely out of place and sometimes unintentionally funny. At 76 minutes the pacing is fine but a little odd at times. There needed to be a better balance of factual information and cute voiceover. Overall, Penguins is a perfectly innocent documentary worth watching, especially for Penguin lovers.
6/10

The Curse of La Llorona Review

The Curse of La Llorona had great acting but consisted only of cheap jump scares. This movie is about a social worker who begins fearing for her own children’s lives after the mysterious death of two other kids. Linda Cardellini gives a fantastic performance. Any of the dialogue scenes involving her character I was invested in whatever was happening. Raymond Cruz is a lot of fun in a supporting role. Marisol Ramirez is suitably creepy as the title demon even if all she does is walk around dark hallways. Patricia Velasquez’s performance did not work for me as it was way too over the top. Roman Christou and Jaynee-Lynne Kinchen give good performances, especially for children actors, despite their characters being stupid. Michael Chaves does an okay job directing. The movie has a good visual style, but the scare sequences are practically nothing but cheap jump scares. Though he does begin to get a bit more inventive in the finale. The script has an intriguing story and mythology but writes its characters to be idiots at times. At 93 minutes the pacing is okay at best, though the movie can become frequently boring unless you’re watching it with an interactive crowd. The second half begins to pick up but then completley ruins any good will it started to build with an awful ending. Overall, The Curse of La Llorona has plenty of great performances but its lack of any inventive scares make it not worth a watch.
3.5/10

After Review

After is an awful and problematic movie that I enjoyed every single second of. This movie is about a young woman who falls in love with a guy with a dark secret and their rocky relationship. To clarify this right from the start this movie stinks, however, there are so many unintentionally funny moments that it is sure to have a cult fanbase. Josephine Langford gives an okay performance. She does what she can with the material, but the script never allows her to be her own character. Hero Fiennes Tiffin gives an awful performance. He always comes across as a creeper instead of the mysterious romantic he is supposed to be. Selma Blair and Dylan Arnold give hilariously bad performances and their characters are insanely problematic. Jenny Gage does a fine job directing. The movie is competently shot with the occasional impressive scene. The script is awful in all the best ways. Almost every single attempt at romantic dialogue is comedy gold. The movie also has a very problematic message about being an adult and who should control your life. At 106 minutes the movie drags on forever unless you just begin to laugh at the movie. Overall, After is an absolute trainwreck of a movie but I cannot deny how much fun I had watching it.
3.5/10

Hellboy (2019) Review

Hellboy (2019) is a serviceable fun B-Movie, but never justifies its existence as a reboot. This movie is about Hellboy who must work to defeat an ancient sorceress from medieval times. David Harbour gives a great performance. He plays the title character well and balances comedy and emotion equally. Milla Jovovich is a lot of fun as the villain. She is extremely over the top, but it fits the tone of the movie. Ian McShane gives a good performance in a supporting role. He provides numerous big laughs at the right moments. Saha Lane gives an okay performance. She has a good dynamic with Hellboy but her character is severely underdeveloped. Daniel Dae Kim gives a fine performance but I was not a fan of his character for a large part of the movie. Neil Marshal did a great job directing. The movie has a cool and unique visual style and plenty of fun action sequences. The script is a mixed bag. While I cared about the main characters and there were plenty of fun moments, the story is overly convoluted. At 121 minutes this movie drags way too much for a movie with so much going on. There are numerous sequences that just feel pointless. The visual effects are good, especially for the lower budget, with some really unique and creepy creature design. Overall I enjoyed Hellboy as a fun campy experience, but it never does anything quite good enough to justify its existence.
6.5/10

Missing Link Review

Missing Link is another good movie from Laika Animation but never reaches greatness. This movie is about Mr. Link who recruits explorer Lionel Frost to find his long lost relatives across the world. Hugh Jackman gives a fantastic voice performance. He has great comedic timing while also giving certain scenes dramatic heft. Zach Galifianakis gives a really good voice performance. His comedic timing is excellent, but I always just heard his voice instead of the character. Zoe Saldana gives an okay voice performance but outside of one scene, is given almost nothing to do. Timothy Olyphant and Stephen Fry are a ton of fun in their supporting roles. Their characters are very over the top but contributed well to the adventure vibe the movie is going for.  Chris Butler did a fantastic job directing. The stop-motion animation is great, but there was no big wow moment that made it look any different than your standard animated movie. The script has good lead characters with a few good jokes, but there are far too many segments with very little happening. The highlight of the movie is an action sequence in the second act that was truly thrilling. At 94 minutes the pacing is good but it does drag occasionally despite its short runtime. Overall, Missing Link was a fun animated film but never reached greatness.
6/10

Little Review

Little was not without its funny moments, but there was not near enough to justify a watch. This movie is about a business woman who is turned into a child in order to learn to be a better person. Issa Rae gives a good performance. She has good comedic timing and plays off the rest of the cast well. Regina Hall gives a fine performance, but her character has nothing to do but be mean. The star here is young Marsai Martin. She is great in this movie. She has excellent comedic timing and she even handles the dramatic scenes well. She fully sells being an adult trapped in a kid's body. Tina Gordon Chism’s direction is decent, albeit, unspectacular. It comes across a little too much like a Netflix special instead of a movie. The script has enjoyable lead characters, but there is just not near enough funny jokes here. I only had one big laugh and the occasional chuckle. At 108 minutes the first act drags a lot but picks up in the second act. Overall Little is a completely painless experience, but does not have enough funny moments to justify a watch.
4/10

The Best of Enemies Review

The Best of Enemies was an interesting true story movie with fantastic acting. This movie is about a real-life unlikely friendship between a civil rights activist and a local KKK leader in 1971 North Carolina. Taraji P. Henson gives a great performance. This is easily the best work I have seen from her yet as she brings her inherent likability to the role while also having a shocking amount of intensity. Sam Rockwell gives a fantastic performance. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors. He has incredible comedic timing while also being able to carry heavy dramatic scenes. Any scene where Rockwell and Henson share the screen are the best moments. Anne Heche and Bruce McGill give good performances in their small supporting roles. Robin Bissell did a great job directing. The movie looks and feels like it takes place in the 70s. He also is able to ratchet up the tension to an extremely high level in the second half of the film. The script is good, albeit, a bit formulaic. This is definitely a case of the actors elevating the material given to them. At 133 minutes the pacing is decent but it does have chunks in the middle where it slows down way too much. Overall The Best of Enemies is a good movie led by two fantastic performances.
7/10

Pet Sematary (2019) Review

Pet Sematary (2019) was a really good horror drama even though it does not quite stick the landing. This movie is about Dr. Louis Creed and his family who relocate to rural Maine. One day they discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their home that may be more than it seems. Jason Clarke gives a great performance. His character goes on a very unique journey and he sells every step of it. Amy Seimetz gives an excellent performance. She sells a few of the horror set pieces incredibly well and you immediately care about her. She also had believable chemistry with Clarke. Jete Laurence gives an incredible performance. She is immediately likable and does great in some character turns later on. John Lithgow gives a fantastic performance and makes the most out of a character whose main purpose is to deliver information. Hugo and Lucas Lavoie do a really good job in their smaller role playing the same character. The character rarely speaks, so there is not much for them to do. Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer did a great job directing. This movie is filled with a creepy atmosphere and sense of dread throughout. The script is where the issues begin to show. The first 2/3 of the movie are fantastic and kept me incredibly invested despite not being very scary. The third act starts pretty well, but the last 15 minutes become a very conventional horror film and lose the uniqueness the first 2/3 had. At 101 minutes the pacing is slow, but I was never bored even when the movie began to lose me at the end. Overall Pet Sematary (2019) is a really good horror movie that would have been great if the ending was as good as the rest of the movie.
7.5/10

The Beach Bum Review

The Beach Bum was an excruciating experience despite a dedicated lead performance. This movie is about Moondog, a rebellious stoner and author, who lives large. Matthew McConaughey gives a great performance. I absolutely hated his character, who was always drunk and high but he played it perfectly. Snoop Dog is playing himself, but he had a couple of funny lines. Isla Fisher is wasted and given nothing to do. Jonah Hill is fine in a small supporting role but his character is pointless. Stefania LaVie Owen gives a good performance and they set up the possibility for an interesting character but nothing ever comes of it. Martin Lawrence is by far the best part of this movie. His role is small, but it brought me the only real laugh in the whole movie. Harmony Korine’s directing is competent but unspectacular. The movie looks good visually but he misses numerous opportunities for fun drug trip sequences. The script for this movie is absolutely atrocious. There is no real story or character development for anyone. This movie is classified as a comedy, but I only laughed once and chuckled a couple of times. At 95 minutes the movie dragged on for so long I could not wait for it to end. Overall The Beach Bum is a movie that I cannot recommend to anyone despite its great lead performance.
3/10

Shazam Review

Shazam is a hilarious and charming edition to the growing DCU. This movie is about Billy Batson, a boy bouncing around foster homes, who is given the ability to become an adult superhero when he says a magic word. Zachary Levi gives an incredible performance. He plays a kid stuck in an adult's body perfectly. He also impresses in the action scenes. Asher Angel gives a fantastic performance. Even when his character is a jerk, you cannot help but sympathize with him. He nails all the emotional scenes he is given and almost brought a tear to my eye. Jack Dylan Grazer gives a really good performance. By the second act I was fully on board with his character, but he took me a bit to warm up to. His dynamic with Levi is the core of the film and all their interactions are highlights. Mark Strong gives a great performance. He balances the line between scary and campy perfectly coming across as intimidating, but also funny. Djimon Hounsou gives a decent performance in a small supporting role. Grace Fulton and Faithe Herman are great as some of Billy’s foster friends. Ian Chen and Jovan Armamd both give good performances but not given a lot to do. David F. Sandberg did a fantastic job directing. The action sequences are well shot and a ton of fun to watch. He brings a style that makes everything look like a live action comic book. The script is great with well developed characters, numerous laugh out loud moments and a fair amount of heart. The main characters interactions are always fun to watch. Even the villain was pretty well developed. At 132 minutes the movie feels long, but it never drags. The first act is a bit slow as there is a lot of setup, but once the second act starts the movie only gets better from there. Overall Shazam has some minor issues but is a ton of fun that I highly recommend.
8.5/10

Dumbo (2019) Review

Dumbo is a charming and enjoyable remake of the 1940s animated film, but is not without its flaws. This movie is about a young circus elephant whose huge ears enable him to fly. When the circus partners with a famous business tycoon, Dumbo and his friends begin to uncover dark secrets. Colin Farrell gives a fantastic performance. It takes a little time to really get behind the character, but he plays the emotional complexity of the role perfectly. Danny DeVito is a ton of fun as the owner of the circus. He plays the part well, but the role does not allow for many dramatic scenes. Michael Keaton gives a great performance. He is very over the top, but the fact he is clearly having a blast sells the craziness. However, he is using a very weird accent that takes some getting used to and it is distracting until you do.  Eva Green gives an excellent performance. She has a good dynamic with Farrell and she makes you believe Dumbo is really there. Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins give good performances as the kids who train Dumbo. However, some of their delivery comes across as very wooden and occasionally unintentionally funny. Tim Burton does a great job directing. This is a very visually unique movie and the scenes of Dumbo flying were pure magic. The script is good but has a very slow start. While not without its moments, the first act of this movie was not good. However as soon as Dumbo flies, this movie begins to soar. The second and third acts of this movie successfully reinvent the story for 2019 and are truly something special. The visual effects are incredible and the movie has an almost dreamlike look. Dumbo himself is absolutely adorable and stunningly realized. I never thought for a single second that he was not there. At 112 minutes the pacing is a mixed bag. The weak first act drags on, but the strong second and third acts fly by. Overall, Dumbo was a really good update to the original animated film but due to a weak start did not quite reach greatness.
7.5/10

Us Review

Us is another great unique horror thriller from Jordan Peele. This movie is about a family whose lives turn to chaos when their doppelgängers begin to terrorize them. Lupita Nyong’o gives a fantastic performance. She is able to play both characters so different, but equally brilliant. Winston Duke gives a great performance. He is able to come across as menacing but also brings numerous moments of humor throughout. Shahadi Wright Joseph gives a really good performance. She plays scared very well, but she is even better at being scary. Evan Alex gives a good performance. While he is not given a lot to do, he has some great standout moments. Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker give fine performances in their small supporting roles. Jordan Peele did a fantastic job directing. He masterfully directs scenes of suspense always knowing exactly what to focus on. Peele’s script is great, but not perfect. The characters are likable and the way he leaves a bread crumb trail of clues through the film to the ending is brilliant. There are also numerous moments of hilarious comedic relief. However, for such a unique movie it is weirdly predictable at times and has some annoying plot holes. The cinematography is really good. The way some scenes are shot is beautiful and can still send chills down your spine. I adore the soundtrack and the score for this movie. Every music choice is perfect, whether it is for a laugh or to creep you out, it all works. The editing is also great with some edits in the third act that were so perfectly placed. At 116 minutes the movie is never boring, but you do feel the length. The first act, while necessary to the story is quite slow at times as the movie takes its time. The second act is quite good as things pick up. However, I love the third act so much. The last 25 minutes of this movie are perfect. Overall, Us is a great and unique horror thriller despite its plot holes and a slow but necessary first act.
8/10

Captive State Review

Captive State was a bad movie that was also a massive waste of potential. This movie is about the Earth that has been occupied by aliens for a decade as we follow different characters’ lives from all sides. Ashton Sanders gives a good performance. He does his best with what he's given and is enjoyable to watch. Johnathan Majors gives a great performance, but the movie never gives him enough time to really shine. John Goodman gives an okay performance but it seems like he is phoning it in. Vera Farmiga’s role is so small and pointless it is practically a cameo. Rupert Wyatt’s direction is all over the place. There are a couple of scenes that are genuinely tense and enjoyable, but they are few and far between. The script is bad overall despite a few clever moments. Characters randomly disappear for long periods of time without reason and most of the story reveals are either obvious or do not make sense. The visual effects range from fine to laughably bad. At 110 minutes the movie drags on and inexcusably dull for a movie with this premise. There were sequences I enjoyed but for the majority of this movie, I was just bored. Overall, Captive State was a huge miss despite it's few redeeming qualities.

4/10

Five Feet Apart Review

Five Feet Apart is a really good romance film with great performances. This movie is about Stella, a cystic fibrosis patient who spends her life living a routine in a hospital until she meets Will, a charming boy with the same illness. Haley Lu Richardson gives a fantastic performance. She makes you care about her character immediately and nails every emotional beat. Cole Sprouse gives a great performance. His character is more layered than it initially seems and has incredible chemistry with Richardson. Moises Arias gives a really good performance. It took me a bit to warm up to his character, but I ended up genuinely caring about him in the end. Kimberly Herbert Gregory gives a strong performance in her supporting role. She provides a couple of key moments of comedic relief but also nails her emotional scenes. Justin Baldoni did a good, albeit, unspectacular job directing. The script is great but does succumb to some annoying clichés in its third act. The romance is believable and despite being emotional I never found it overly manipulative. At 116 minutes this is a slower paced movie but it is never boring. It takes its time letting our characters meet and fall in love naturally. Overall, Five Feet Apart is a good romance film with fantastic acting despite its flaws.
7.5/10

Wonder Park Review

Wonder Park is a fun, innocent, animated film for kids that still manages to be heartfelt. This movie is about a young girl, June, whose amusement park from her imagination comes to life. Brianna Denski gives a good voice performance. She did a good job with a few key emotional moments. Ken Hudson Campbell, Kenan Thompson, John Oliver, and Ken Jeong all give fine voice performances but did not have any standout moments. Mila Kunis gives an okay voice performance, but I could not hear her voice and it took me out of the movie. Norbert Leo Butz gives an average voice performance but he still gets a couple of moments. Jennifer Garner gives a great voice performance in a small supporting role. She was the emotional core of the movie and was well developed. Matthew Broderick is fun, but a  pointless addition in practically a cameo role. This movie has no director attached due to behind the scenes controversy. The direction itself is fine, though the action scenes are not much more than visual noise for older audiences. The script could have used some work in the humor department, but nails the emotional core of the story. Also, there is a message that is good for all ages to hear. The animation is beautiful and easily the best aspect of the movie. There are multiple shots that are truly stunning to look at and the movie has its own unique visual style. At 85 minutes this is a very short movie that really does not stop moving. While some scenes may be boring for adults, kids should stay entertained throughout. Overall, Wonder Park is an average kids film with a strong emotional element and a good message for all ages.
6/10

Captain Marvel Review

Captain Marvel is yet another great addition to the growing MCU. This movie is about Vers, a Kree warrior, who finds herself caught in an intergalactic war with Earth in the middle of everything. Brie Larson gives a great performance. She does a fantastic job in all the action scenes. Her personality is very sarcastic, but likable, and I cannot wait to see where they take the character. Sam Jackson gives an incredible performance reprising his role as Nick Fury. He plays a younger version of the character thanks to de-aging technology and he sells being twenty years younger flawlessly. Ben Mendelson gives a great performance playing the leader of shapeshifting aliens. He can be very intimidating and his comedic timing is flawless. Jude Law gives a really good performance. He is always a fun presence to watch and makes some duller scenes fun. Annette Benning is delightful in a small supporting role. She is having so much fun and you feel her energy. Lashana Lynch gives a fine performance in her supporting role. She has great chemistry with Larson, but her character does not have an arc to it. Clark Gregg is great in his very small, but fun, role reprising one of the MCU's most famous characters. Lee Pace's return is cool, but pointless and does nothing for the story. One of the best parts of this movie is a Cat named Goose, every single scene with him is hilarious. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck did a great job directing with fluid and entertaining action sequences. However, the direction lacks any unique visual flair to make it memorable. The script is fantastic with great character development for our leads and plenty of funny moments. There are also plenty of little hints and details that are quite exciting as to what they could lead to. The visual effects are mostly fantastic especially the de-aging. However, there are a few moments in the third act where the effects look unfinished. The soundtrack of recognizable, but not super famous 90s songs are really fun and kicks in at just the right moments. At 124 minutes the movie really flies by though there are a few moments at the end of the second act that goes on a bit too long. Overall, Captain Marvel was yet another fun and exciting Marvel film with great characters.
Make sure to stay for the credits all the way through
8.5/10

Greta Review

Greta was a fun stalker thriller but was overall too predictable to reach greatness. This movie is about a young woman whom befriends a lonely widow that begins to stalk her and is harboring a dark agenda. Chloe Grace Moretz gives a fantastic performance. She brings a unique sense of likability and vulnerability that is hard to achieve. Isabelle Huppert gives a really good performance though I am still unsure if some of her campiness was intentional or not. Maika Monroe gives a great performance as Moretz's best friend. She gets a few standout moments that are among the film's best. Neil Jordan did an excellent job directing. He knows how to milk maximum tension out of certain scenes and he made me feel uncomfortable a few times. The script is a mixed bag. The first 2/3 are fairly predictable and Moretz's character makes some stupid decisions that are hard to overlook. However, the third act was creepy and disturbing with some genuine surprises that I loved. At 98 minutes the pacing is quite good, but could have lost ten minutes in its second act to really tighten everything so you do not get a chance to relax. Overall, Greta was a fun thriller with some great performances and a strong third act.
6.5/10

A Madea Family Funeral Review

A Madea Family Funeral started off quite funny, but wore out its welcome very quickly. This movie is about Madea and her friends traveling to the backwoods of Georgia and find themselves planning a funeral that might unveil some dark family secrets. Tyler Perry gives a good performance. He deserves a lot of credit for how well he is able to play multiple different characters. Cassi Davis and Patrice Lovely can be quite funny, but their humor got old quickly. Ciera Payton, KJ Smith, and Aeriel Miranda all give fine performances in their small supporting roles. Jen Harper gives a great performance with one emotional scene that, while out of place, was awards worthy. Courtney Burrell and Rome Flynn's performances are overly dramatic to the point of unintentional hilarity. Tyler Perry did a passable job directing, but it feels more like a stage play than a movie. Perry's script starts off quite strong, for the first 40 minutes I was laughing hard and I was laughing often. Sadly after those first 40 minutes, the laughs vanished and I was left with just the rare chuckle. At 110 minutes the pacing was fast those first 40 minutes when I was laughing, but once the laughter stopped the movie began to drag a lot. Overall, A Madea Family Funeral was not without its moments. Despite a funny first act, this is still a bad movie.
4/10

Run the Race Review

Run the Race started off as a decent religious film with a lot of promise but did not stick the landing. This movie is about two brothers, who are both sports stars, that face escalating problems as their two opposing worldviews affect their relationship. Tanner Stine gives a good performance. His delivery is sometimes wooden, but he sold a few key emotional beats well. Evan Hofer gives a decent performance. He fails to convey much emotion but he has realistic chemistry with Stine. Their dynamic felt like real brothers. Kelsey Reinhardt gives an okay performance. She has good chemistry with Stine but some of her delivery is unintentionally hilarious. Kristoffer Polaha's performance was good when he only had to play a drunk, but when the script asked him to convey emotion he failed. Mykelti Williamson and Frances Fisher's performances are quite bad but their not in the film much. Chris Dowling's direction is fine, but he never did anything unique. The script is a gigantic mixed bag. The dialogue ranges from fine to cringy and unintentionally hilarious. However, I was willing to forgive a lot because it was being extremely professional and realistic about its religious elements. I was shocked by how fair they were being to all sides. Then they ruined it with the worst last 15 minutes I have seen in years. They killed the movie's fair portrayal of religion and it left me fuming at the way everything wrapped up. At 101 minutes I was honestly entertained through a majority of its runtime. The pacing was consistent and I was invested in the characters. Then the horrendous last 15 minutes happened and almost sunk the entire movie. Overall, Run the Race started out with potential, but its unbelievably awful ending makes this a bad film.
4.5/10

Fighting with My Family Review

Fighting with My Family is an odd mix of a movie that will not work for everyone, but I had a blast. This movie tells the true story of an aspiring wrestler named Paige as her and her brother audition to be in the WWE. Florence Pugh gives a great performance. She sells the physical elements while bringing a likable sense of vulnerability to her character. Jack Lowden gives a good performance and sells some key third act moments extremely well. His relationship with Paige feels like a real brother and sister. Lena Heady gives a decent performance as Paige's mom in a small supporting role. Nick Frost is hysterical in a small supporting role as Paige’s dad. Almost everything he says is hilarious. Vince Vaughn gives a fantastic performance. This is the best I have seen him in years and he even sells the dramatic scenes well. Dwayne Johnson is perfect in a very small supporting role. He only has a couple of scenes, but they are among the film's best. Stephen Merchant did a good job directing but there is nothing standout about it. Merchant’s script is an odd mix of dark humor and typical sports drama. It will not work for everyone but I enjoyed the unique mix. Every single joke had me laughing out loud. At 108 minutes the film moves at a decent pace though it could have been 15 minutes shorter to make things flow better. Overall, Fighting with My Family is a fun sports comedy, but due to its unique sense of humor will not work for everyone.
7.5/10

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a perfect ending to the trilogy despite its flaws. This movie is about Hiccup and his friends whom must defend their home from an infamous dragon killer. Jay Baruchel continues to do a fantastic job voicing Hiccup. America Ferrera does a great job voicing Astrid. She plays off Baruchel perfectly. F. Murray Abraham does a fine job voicing the villain, but is not given a ton to do. Gerard Butler is incredible in a few flashback scenes. All the rest of the voice cast give great performances in their respective roles. Dean DeBlois did a fantastic job directing. The action sequences are coherent and thrilling and lets the slower moments take their time. The script is great, though could have been incredible, if they developed the villain a little more. The setup for a great villain is there, but they did not develop certain ideas enough. However, for fans of the series, the emotional payoff in this movie is perfect. The finale had me wiping tears long after I left the theater. The musical score as always for this series remains great and kicks in at just the right moments. At 104 minutes the pacing is good but slows down in the second act. However, it makes up for it with a pretty much perfect third act. Overall, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is not as good as the previous installment, but remains a great ending with a perfect finale to this trilogy.
8/10

Isn't It Romantic Review

Isn’t It Romantic is a fun throwback to old Rom-Coms while poking fun at its most famous tropes. This movie is about Natalie, who after suffering an injury, wakes up in her own personal romantic comedy. Rebel Wilson gives a good performance. Typically I am not a fan of hers, but she reigned in her typical craziness here. Adam Devine gives a fun performance in a supporting role. He continues to play off Wilson well thanks to their work on Pitch Perfect together. Liam Hemsworth gives a great performance. He is clearly having a ton of fun in the role and is always enjoyable to watch. Priyanka Chopra gives a fine performance in a small supporting role, but is given very little to do. Brandon Scott Jones gives a fantastic performance and his character was a massive shock. What starts off as a borderline offensive gay stereotype turned into one of the best written gay characters I have seen in a mainstream rom-com in a long time. Betty Gilpin gives a decent performance in a small supporting role. Todd Strauss-Schulson did a good job directing, this is a very colorful movie and he wisely plays on certain tropes at the exact right moment. The script has likable lead characters and enough funny moments to keep you invested. However, the movie is not laugh out loud hilarious and could have used a few more big laughs. At 88 minutes the movie thankfully does not overstay its welcome and moves along at a pretty consistent pace. Overall, Isn't It Romantic is a fun throwback to classic romantic comedies, but is not something you'll remember in a few weeks.
6/10

Alita: Battle Angel Review

Alita: Battle Angel is a technical masterpiece but has serious issues with its script. This movie is about a cyborg named Alita who awakens with no memory. As she is taken in by a sympathetic doctor, she begins to learn more about her past. Rosa Salazar gives a great performance. She carries a lot of this movie on her shoulders and makes us care about her character. Christoph Waltz gives a good performance playing a doctor with a complicated past. Ed Skrein does a fine job playing a stereotypical bad guy. Mahershala Ali and Jennifer Connelly both give decent performances in their supporting roles but are severely underutilized. Keean Johnson’s performance is awful and hilariously bad at times. I started laughing at how bad his acting was in some scenes. Robert Rodriguez did a great job directing. The action sequences are fluid, exhilarating and easy to follow. However, I do wish there was more of them as they do not feel frequent enough. The visual effects are mind-blowing good, easily the best I have ever seen. I was frequently in awe that what I was watching was all CGI. The cinematography and art design are also both incredible, the movie is always beautiful to look at. The script, however, is where these movies problems lie. The core storyline is good, but the dialogue varies between mediocre and atrocious. The romantic dialogue in this movie is some of the worst I have ever heard. At 122 minutes the pacing is slow in the first half, but definitely better in the second half when the action picks up. Overall, Alita: Battle Angel is incredible on a technical level, but it's weak script holds it back from being more than a fun spectacle showcase.
6/10

Happy Death Day 2U Review

Happy Death Day 2U is a great follow up to the surprise first film taking the series in a new direction. This movie is about Tree who gets stuck in another time loop with a new killer after them. Jessica Rothe gives a fantastic performance. She carries this entire movie on her shoulders and is extremely funny and charismatic. Israel Broussaed gives a great performance with his role slightly expanded this time. He still has incredible chemistry with Rothe and is an equally compelling character himself. Phi Vu gives a good performance in a significantly larger role but sometimes his character is a bit annoying. Rachel Matthews is a lot of fun in a small supporting role. Christopher B. Landon does a great job directing. He brings the right amount of tension when it's needed while letting his actors do most of the work. The script is fantastic but different than what you might expect. While the first film was a horror comedy this movie almost completely ditches the horror element and becomes a sci-fi comedy. At 100 minutes the pacing is great. Once the setup is over this movie does not stop moving. Overall, Happy Death Day 2U was a fun and unique sequel and I hope we get a third film. 
8/10

Cold Pursuit Review

Cold Pursuit is not what you would expect and is all the better for it. This movie is about Neil Coxman’s quiet life as it comes crashing down when his son dies under mysterious circumstances. He goes on a revenge quest to kill the drug lord he believes to be responsible. Liam Neeson gives a fantastic performance. This is the best he has been in years. He's always sympathetic and pulls off the dark comedy well. Laura Dern gives a fine performance in a small supporting role. Emmy Rossum gives a fun and likable performance playing the police officer investigating everything. Tom Bateman is having a blast hamming it up in an over the top villain role. Hans Peter Moland did a great job directing and making very basic scenery interesting to look at. The script is good, albeit, a bit tonally inconsistent. Sometimes the hard shift from heavy drama to dark comedy is jarring and does not always work. At 118 minutes the movie moves at a good but slower pace and does occasionally slow down a little too much. Overall, Cold Pursuit is an odd mix of a movie, but remains enjoyable thanks to Liam Neeson’s committed performance.
7.5/10

What Men Want Review

What Men Want was a bad movie but was not without funny moments. This movie is about a female sports agent who, after meeting with a psychic, gains the ability to hear men's thoughts. Taraji P. Henson gives an okay performance. She is committed to the role but far too often comes across extremely unlikable. Josh Brener gives a good performance making the character his own despite being written as a gay stereotype. Tracy Morgan gives a great performance. His character frequently made me laugh whenever he was on screen. Erykah Badu also has a few moments that made me laugh hard in her small supporting role. Adam Shankman did a fine job directing. Nothing stood out, but I never noticed anything terrible. The script definitely has funny moments, but more often than not the jokes do not land. At 117 minutes the pacing is all over the place. The first act drags on forever and has very little funny humor. The second act is the film's best with plenty of chuckles and a few laugh out loud moments. The third act takes things way too seriously and the pacing grinds to a halt again. Overall, What Men Want was not without its funny moments, but not enough to warrant a recommendation.
4.5/10