Your Christmas Or Mine: Whoever Wrote This Doesn’t Understand England As Country Or How People Interact

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After parting at Christmas a young couple decide to surprise each other by getting onto the other’s train, but are then both surprised when the other isn’t there and has to spend Christmas with their families.

I found this film infuriating, the writing is so damn poor that any chance it ever had of being a new Christmas based rom-com to be remembered for years to come is quickly squandered in the first few minutes. The fact that it takes them a long time to even have the character explain the mix up to their other halves’ family and until that point just has them be a stranger in the household that no one questions is baffling.

Asa Butterfield does make for a likeable lead but the rest of the cast are either miscast, going through the motions or are non-entities, what is really shocking is how the film wastes some veteran performers as well.

The central romance is fairly weak and all the trials and tribulations the pair have to go through are nothing you haven’t seen done better before.

Overall, an incredibly poorly written Christmas rom-com.

Pros.

Butterfield is trying

It is unintentionally hilarious

Cons.

The writing is terrible

It wastes some great actors

The wider casting is all wrong

The pace is very much off

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Pieces: Peril In The Parish

2/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The film follows the disappearance of a priest’s wife.

Whilst this film is watchable, the mystery really isn’t anything to write home about at all. Everything that happens over the course of the film feels like a checkbox that the writers are ticking off as they go along whilst constantly referring back to the how to write a cliched mystery film guide book. Nothing feels surprising or organic whenever something happens it is met with a well obviously.

In addition the film finds it hard to maintain a sense of tension and for the most part struggled to keep my attention. I found myself getting distracted a lot whilst watching or just switching off because the film was not engaging me in anyway. What makes this worse is the incredibly slow pace that only draws out these problems to a point where they become unbearable.

The film isn’t awful and the performances do raise the bar somewhat and try and make up for the other weaker elements but even they aren’t enough.

Overall, a weak and incredibly obvious mystery film.

Pros.

It is watchable

The performances are mostly good

Cons.

It is obvious

It is cliched

It is boring

The pace is painful at times

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Blockbuster: The Irony Of Netflix Making A Streaming Series About A Company They Put Out Of Business

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A comedy series revolving around the last remaining Blockbuster.

In many ways this show reminded me of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, not just because Melissa Fumero is in both, however, I should follow that comparison up by saying that it reminded me off the early seasons of that show when it was still finding its feet because whilst this show has some promise it is by no means perfect.

In my view the main draw of the show is the relationship between Fumero’s Eliza and Randall Park’s Timmy, the will they wont they aspect. I think both of these two characters are well developed and are interesting enough for you to care about their lives and want to see them end up together. The rest of the cast, however, are far weaker and less explored, they quickly become the definition of take them or leave them and they add little of value to the show.

The comedy of the show is again patchy there are a number of great bits spread over the run of the first season, but there are also a lot of misses, probably more misses than hits in terms of the season as a whole.

Overall, this is fine background viewing, but becomes a little bit harder to watch if you start paying attention. Not without charm and promise but very rough around the edges.

3/5

Pros

Fumero

Park

A few funny jokes

Cons

The supporting cast are mostly non-entities

There are also a number of misses when it comes to the comedy

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Rick and Morty: Analyze Piss

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After seeing a therapist Rick decides to give Jerry a win and let him become a superhero of sorts, however, Rick then sees the result of these actions and becomes a hero himself to try and out perform him and to redeem the origin suit wearer he has taken over from.

I think that this was the best episode of Rick and Morty in a long time, it was everything I liked about the show it was funny, it had some real emotional depth and it didn’t feel gimmicky or as thought the writers were trying to show off some science fiction concept they had just learnt about.

I like that we are being show Rick as a character growing, he is talking to a therapist, he is giving Jerry wins, he is trying to redeem himself and be a better person and I think that highlights the character journey he has been on since season one, it has been long going but it feels rewarding to see.

My only complaint of the episode is the way the family turn on Rick at the end, yes he hands in the suicide note so they know his reasons for doing what he did were mixed but I would still say it didn’t warrant that response. The writers seem to be trying to redeem Rick this season whilst also making the family more and more unlikeable. Maybe the show is leading up to a point where Rick will leave his family and head out on his own again and we will follow him, I am imagining a science fiction version of Bojack.

Overall, a very good episode. Perhaps even a modern classic.

4.5/5

Pros.

Rick’s journey

The Adventures of Piss Man

The humour

The emotional depths

The return of the therapist

Cons.

The family as a group are becoming more unlikeable

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Chucky: Hail Mary

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chucky, played by Brad Dourif, is captured by the kids and turned good, meanwhile a bigger badder Chucky doll finds its way into the school and brings a new Chad-sense to his murdering.

I liked this episode more than the previous episode, I think the idea of a good Chucky is interesting and I like that it gives Dourif a chance to play against type, at least in terms of this series. I think the idea of another Chucky that is jacked is silly, but therein lies the charm of me its dumb but it’s the right kind of dumb.

Moreover, I preferred the more lively pace of this episode when compared to the previous week’s episode as it felt like more was happening and less like the series was playing for time. Plus this weeks murder is far better than last weeks, not only does it feel more rewarding the gore is also a lot better, Chucky giving a nun a heart attack last week was not as funny or as satisfying as they probably imagined it would be.

In a wider sense the series is getting better and I do like where they are heading with it, even if it is down from the fun week in week out craziness of the first season. Hopefully the second half of the season will be better.

Overall, an above average episode made better by the prospect of a good Chucky.

Pros.

Good Chucky

The stupid idea of Chad Chucky

It feels more lively

Cons.

There is still a lot of teasing and no delivering

The cliches are still there and are starting to effect the story

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Chucky: Sinners Are Much More Fun

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Chucky, voiced by Brad Dourif, arrives at a Catholic school.

To be blunt with you this wasn’t a very good episode. Very little happens and most of it is just set up for things happening later in the season, that is not to say the things being set up aren’t interesting but they aren’t present in this episode so it doesn’t bring it up.

Moreover, the whole school setting is proving incredibly cliché everything that you would imagine when you think of strict religious boarding schools is shown here and nothing is subverted or done in any form of clever way, its tropes through and through.

I am glad to see Devon Sawa return to the show this time playing Father Bryce and he certainly does manage to bring with him a certain level of gravitas, it is just a shame that his character is clearly being written again as a cliched trope, really just being there to bully the kids and do little else.

I think the wider world stuff is far, far more interesting than what is going on in the school and the idea of Nica, played by Fiona Dourif, and Chucky working together to take out Tiffany, played by Jennifer Tilly, is interesting and one that I will be keen to see how it plays out. Plus the arrival of Glen and Glenda will hopefully spice this season up somewhat.

Overall, a weak set up episode.

Pros.

Nica and Chucky working together

It is watchable

It sets up some interesting things for later on

Cons.

Teases and set up make this episode feel like filler

Everything to do with the kids at school is dull

Father Bryce is a cliché

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American Horror Story NYC: The Sentinel

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killer is caught but the killing continues.

I enjoyed that they finally caught the serial killer and brought him to justice, now hopefully we can tackle the two other major elephants in the room, the supernatural Big Daddy killer and the quickly spreading AIDS epidemic two things which are far more interesting that just a bog standard serial killer narrative.

I thought Russell Tovey’s Patrick is the shining star of this episode and his fiery speech as he leaves his employment at the police force is definitely a fist in the air sort of moment. I am intrigued by the fact that he is seeing visions of Barbara, played by Leslie Grossman, and hope that they further explore his connections to the supernatural killer that took her life.

I again found this episode a little slow at times and do think they are dragging out the season and that it would have been better with fewer episodes.

Overall, a good episode but one that highlights the wider pacing issues with the season as a whole.

Pros.

Finally catching the killer

Tovey

The visions of Barbara

They can now focus on the bigger picture

Cons.

Pacing issues

A fair number of slow moments that indicate padding and filler within both the episode and the season.

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Rick And Morty: Full Meta Jackrick

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After breaking the fourth wall one too many times Rick and Morty fall into the meta and are imprisoned by Story Lord returning from a past episode.

I would say this is probably the best episode of the season, in some senses that is because structurally it is more like one of the earlier season episode, meaning more of a one off adventure wherein other episodes are mentioned but there is no heavy need to build the story up, also the tone is breezy and silly rather than brooding and depressed. Two keys wins in my book.

I thought the gimmick of the episode was fun and I liked that Rick and Morty had to face off against different story tropes and writing devices, I thought it was clever. The ending felt a little like the writers trying to self-deprecate themselves, which works in the narrative sense but isn’t very funny. It also feels a little Deus Ex Machina for my tastes.

Overall, hopefully we get more episodes like this going forward into the last few episodes of the season so that it can be salvaged.

Pros.

The concept of the episode

Rick and Morty facing off against various different writing tropes and devices

It feels fun and one off

A few good jokes

Cons.

The ending and its convenience

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Wednesday Series Overview: A Family Reunion

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega, is given her own show wherein she is sent off to boarding school.

I think this is the best series Netflix has made in a long time. Yes, there are similarities between it and Riverdale, though this is infinitely better written and less gratuitous, because both are teen shows set primarily with dealing with teen issues and occasionally otherworldly hijinks.

However, where the two differ is that this show has far more going for it than Riverdale ever did and an appeal that vastly goes beyond the teen girls that Cole Sprouse brought in, and is something everyone can enjoy. There is enough member berry goodness, with the returning Christina Ricci and the references to the now classic films that it can bring in old fans whilst also offering something new to bring in fresh crowds.

Tim Burton’s dark sensibilities are but to great use here and the tone for the series feels both very in keeping with his aesthetic whilst also appropriate for the source material. I think the best thing that Wednesday has going for it is its characters and the writing as a whole, the former being instantly memorable and easy to warm to and the latter feeling like a natural continuation that also is devilishly funny.

Overall, this is the sort of teen programming we deserve.

Pros.

Ortega

The characters

Ricci

The ending of the series and the similarities with Harry Potter

It is very funny

Cons.

It could have done with being a few episodes longer

4.5/5

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Witchfinder General: Those Who Claim To Be Holy And Righteous Often Aren’t

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A sadistic witchfinder general, played by Vincent Price, makes life hell for residents of one British village.

There are things to like about this film, such as the distinctly British folk horror feeling that permeates almost every frame of the film, to the decidedly gothic and sinister sense of horror that makes us question all we know about witch hunters and also highlights the darker aspects to the witch trials in terms of morality.

However, for me personally I found this film quite slow going. The pace was really quite oppressive at times, and no I am not some TikTok child with a few second attention span I have watched many other longer films than this it is just the way this one is paced that is the issue. Things take a long time to get going and when they do they all follow a fairly predictable and entry level plot pattern that leads to a very obvious ending.

Overall, though I appreciate the folk horror elements, I find the slow pace and the predictability make this film hard for me to get on board with.

Pros.

The gothic sense of horror

The distinctly British folk horror elements

It is watchable

Cons.

The pace

The predictability

The ending

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