New Film Review: Good Boys

GOOD BOYS

The film follows three 6th grade boys as they get mixed up in drug running; being hunted by (unrealistic) teenage girls; while trying to make it home in time to make the party they want to be at to get their first kisses.

I did not laugh as much as I hoped, but I was entertained through the whole film. Plus the film did not overstay its welcome coming in at 90 minutes.
All 3 young actors Jacob Trembley as Max; Keith L Williams as Lucas; and Brady Noon as Thor give good performances and have great chemistry.

You really have to let your mind go while watching this because of plot holes...that involve these 6th graders and no one calling the police at least once!!!!!!!!!!

Well this is a short review because I dont want to spoil it...especially dad's CPR doll.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 for a film that delivers what you want. Laughs.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: IT Chapter 2

IT Chapter 2

There is an ongoing inside joke in this film where older Bill, played by James McAvoy, who is a writer whom cannot finish a script, or story. This is often said about Stephen King and his books. So they have this running joke in the film where it is mentioned often, including by Stephen King himself playing an antique store owner. I happen to agree with this assessment, other than Christine and Carrie....he really struggles at finishing stories. Sadly this includes IT.
Positives:
The acting/casting. Everyone of the actors in this film are great. Jessica Chastain as Bev; McAvoy; Isaiah Mustafa as Mike; Jay Ryan as Ben; James Ransone as Eddie.
However the one big standout is Bill Hader as the grownup Richie. He steals this film away from the bigger names. His character goes from hilarious too sadness too all out fear. He is very very good.

Sadly this brings me to negatives:
At 2 hours and 50 minutes, yes you read that right , the film does not move. We follow the now losers club back home as they promised in part one, to return if Pennywise returns. So we spend a lot of the film looking at what happened to each member of the losers club right after the incidents of Pt 1. It drags on and on. Then 45 minutes left in the film they finally decide to go after Pennywise. Without any weapons. Huh? However they have this mystical thing that really made no sense to me. To be honest I never really understood what the hell Pennywise was. I think a wicked ghost. Maybe???!!! I know he can get into their heads...so....Hell I Do Not Know!! But what I do know is...this story just dragged.
So I will stop there no spoilers as usual.
I wanted to add....the town? Maybe they could not afford extras but the town seems always empty. However there is a fair in town ? Sooooo...I guess everyone is always at the fair? Where is everyone????????!!!!!! Oh there is shit going down in this town but maybe the police are at the fair also, because I cant find them WHERE THE SHIT IS GOING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!

Well I am giving IT Chapter 2...2 stars out of 5. Well acted, plus there is an overriding nice story about the bonds of friendship. However...........it is still a bit of a disappointment. King cannot finish!!

Quick note: I have been behind on reviews...so keep an eye out for a flood of reviews coming!!!!!

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: Dora And The lost City Of Gold

DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD

Dora (Isabela Moner) after being raised and home-schooled by her parents, now must adapt too high school life while her parents are on an adventure looking for the Lost City Of Gold. Unfortunately she has to then go try and find her parents.

This film was clearly not made for me. So I am open minded enough to understand the age group it is for, however I have to tell you it was kind of entertaining for the adults in the audience.
The casting is what makes it work:
Moner is great at playing the brilliant Dora, and yet socially clueless.
Eva Longoria and Michael Pena are perfectly cast in small roles as Dora's parents
The great Eugenio Derbez is brought in for comic relief.
Nicholas Coombe; Madeleine Madden; and Jeff Wahlberg as Dora's new found friends are funny.

As for the story...it is a basic B league Indiana Jones Jr. It works even though it has big holes; and is silly; and becomes a little messy at the end. Kids will not notice the problems.
They may notice however the cheap bad effects and the awful decision to use that monkey!!!! You have to see it to know. It takes away from the film.

3 stars out of 5 for the just better than average Dora The Lost City Of Gold.

From the shadows as always thanks for you time.

New Film Review: The Farewell

THE FAREWELL


This small film is getting good reviews and good word of mouth.
The film is based on a true story of a Chinese family discovers their grandmother has a short while to live. However they elect not to tell her and just schedule a wedding for a reason for everyone to get together. Amazingly this is based on a true story
As for the film, I do not think it is as great as what the word of mouth is saying, but it is interesting.
It dives in to the culture of Chinese family dynamics that is for sure. The film had a good premise and then I am not sure it went anywhere with it, or was there anywhere to go with it. I swear I could have chopped a half an hour off the movie and you would have missed nothing. They tried to add drama of.... should we tell her or should we not. However I am not sure that drama carried the film very well. Then they added some comedy as we followed Billi (Awkwafina) from New York to China. There are funny moments but some are more awkward than funny. I still am not sure Awkwafina is a very good actress, I noted this on my review for Crazy Rich Asians. She is kind of awkward on screen and seems to be often just reading her lines and not acting.
I am a big fan of art films. I like the slow pace of a good story and the slow build to see what happens at the end. Here I just felt it was awkard, maybe slightly mean making fun of a family culture. The premise did not have no where to go, and the lead Billi, I kind of did not care about or like.\
2 1/2 stars out of 5 for The Farewell. Its interesting with small funny moments. Thats all.

From the shadow as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: Midsommar

MIDSOMMAR


A young couple heads to Sweden to visit this fabled festival. Not knowing it is more of a pagan cult.


This will be short. I went to this film after it started getting a strong buzz and word of mouth. If you follow my reviews, this is usually not the type of film I will review or go to. Then throw in that it is done by Ari Aster who did Hereditary which critics liked and I could not stand.
So...critics liked this...and yes there is deep references here I understand...still I could not the people in this film and the stupidity of it all.
Good things:
The performances by Florence Pugh as  Dani and Jack Reynor as Christian.
The look. I mean it is beautiful.
Okay I told you it would be short.
Not a huge fan of this or Aster.

1 1/2 stars for Midsommar. I move on.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: Crawl

CRAWL


Haley drives through a category 5 hurricane to check on her dad. Only to find the house surrounded by gators.


This is a fun film with a lot of jumps and scares. A wonderful summer non-thinking film.


Great casting with the lead Kaya Scodelario as Haley. There was not a second in this movie that I did not find her believable. Her father played by Barry Pepper has a thankless role of playing the character just shouting directions and screaming.


Yes biiiiiiig plot holes ( basement in Florida?), that you have to ignore.
Yes an awful ending!!! No spoilers but...it was way too open.


So 3 1/2 out of 5 stars for Crawl. It delivers the screams, the hide your eyes moments you pay for and want in a summer film. It is fun.


From the shadows as always

New film review: Stuber

STUBER


A police officer trying to avenge the death of his partner has to enlist an Uber driver to help him get from point A to point B and C and D and on and on.


My takeaways from this film:


-Easily the worst title of a film this year. What were they thinking? How about Ride Share or something?


-Baiutista and Nanjiani have pretty good chemistry and the film has its moments. I just wish it was funnier...and maybe a little less plot holes. That being said................


-Bautista should not be a lead. His acting chops as a lead...lacks a bit. He is much better in a co-starring roll.


- It is good to see Mina Sorvino again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It is sad because I wanted this to be better. We do not get good comedy action movies in the theaters any more sadly. Production houses do not want to take the chance to put these types of films in the Cineplex these days, they end up on Netflix or Hulu or something like that. We need one of these types of films to break through. Sadly this is not it.


2 1/2 stars out of 5...and that may be generous. The film is harmless but worth the wait for home viewing.




From the shadows as always thanks for your time.