Spy Kids: The Parents Aren’t Alright

Spy Kids is a family, action, adventure, comedy film directed by Robert Rodriguez. The plot sees a pair of superspies become captured and it is then down to their children to rescue them and save the world.

I am a big fan of Robert Rodriguez; I think he is very talented both as a filmmaker and as a creative. More than just that though, he has also proven himself to be adept at making great movies for both the adult market and the family friendly market- clearly he is a man of many talents.

Rodriguez brings a warmth to this film that draws you in, once arrived you are introduced to a dense world that is begging to be explored, and characters that you immediately form a bond with and have fun rooting for over the course of the film. This is particularly impressive as both of the leads in this film are children, often child actors can be cringey and scene stealing in all the wrong ways, but Rodriguez manages to get a good performance out of both of his stars.

My only issue with this film was that it was a bit too zany and over the top, as such some of the time it was hard to tell what was going on. I understand it is aimed at Children with 5 second attention spans but even still, the plot loses a lot of cohesion and the film progress and it all becomes just a bit too manic.
Overall, an above average kids film that proves Rodriguez is a man of many talents, just maybe tone it down for the sequel.

Pros.

Likeable child stars

A world primed for exploring

An interesting concept

Cons.

A little bit too busy

It was confusing as too much was happening at once

3/5

Reviewed by Luke

Bulletproof: The Worst Of 90s Sandler?

Bulletproof is a buddy cop action comedy film directed by Ernest Dickerson. The plot sees undercover cop Jack Carter (Damien Wayans), have to transport his ex- friend/ criminal partner Archie Moses (Adam Sandler) across the country to bust a big-time drug lord.

Watching Sandler mid-90s to now you can see a real change and even a maturing. Yes, I know the words Adam Sandler and mature in the same sentence seems like a mistake, but they aren’t. In this film we can see Sandler at his juvenile worst, his character has few to no redeemable qualities and is most just annoying and childish for most of the film. I enjoy Sandler’s recent efforts (yes, even some of his Netflix fare), but even I can see this is far from his best.

Sandler and Wayans have a little bit of chemistry together which is a welcome mercy, but if you compare it to other great buddy cop duos, they might as well be strangers.

There is no point saying that this film is quite icky when compared to a modern standard as it goes without saying, for the stupid people who say ‘oh that’s what things were like back then’ it doesn’t make the critique of it any less valid.

Finally, the heart of the film just doesn’t land, you don’t end up caring about either man or their friendship with the other: the ending is met with a shrug of indifference.

Overall, definitely one of Sandler’s weaker efforts and that is saying something.

Pros.

It has one or two laughs

Cons.

For the most part it is not funny

The emotion does not land

Sandler is deeply unlikable

It goes on for too long

It is generic

1/5

Reviewed by Luke

Wonder Woman 1984: Consent Issues And Rape Threats

Wonder Woman 1984 is a DC superhero film directed by Patty Jenkins.

Yikes. How can a film go from a first entry I gave 5/5 to this. There are so many issues with this film I don’t even know where to begin.

To start on a slightly positive note, Gal Gadot is still a lot of fun as Diana/ Wonder Woman. She brings just the right level or heart and badassery to the role, which makes for a great watch. Likewise, Pedro Pascal is an entertaining villain, and though hammy and scenery chewing manages to have quite a few good moments, that help an otherwise deeply troubled film.

My central issue with this film and the one that almost made me stop watching it is the consent issue. When Diana’s lost love Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) comes back from the dead he is in the body of someone else, this other person does not know Diane or Trevor and yet this body is used by Trevor to have sex with Diana which raises all sorts of iffy moral questions; who thought this was a tasteful idea in a family film no less. Adding to that I don’t understand why recent DCEU films have been so keen on including the threat of rape, these films are supposed to be aimed at a wide audience including kids. At least in Birds Of Prey, it had an older market in mind, here we see Kristen Wiig’s character threatened with sexual assault, why? To show she is weak? Think about the message that sends.

Another issue I had with this film is just how in love with the 1980s it is. When I first started seeing 80s nostalgia it was fun and charming, but this film manages to push it over the line and make it feel gimmicky and annoying. There are moments when the film could have the charm of a Chris Columbus film but then it has to go and overdo it.

Additionally, this film seems to be the most radical departure from Zack Snyder’s bleak and oppressive DCEU films and the most blatant in its attempt to copy the MCU. However, even this it manages to get badly wrong. This film takes the annoying humour from the MCU and stretches it out for 2 and a half hours, (an unreasonably long about of time), not only is a lot of this humour in no way funny, but it also removes any tension from the film; for the 1^st hour and a half literally nothing happens.

Finally, Kristen Wiig is badly miscast. Her character is a cliché inside of a stereotype and it is clear from the off where it is going to end. In that vein, you would think the film would make more of an effort to give her Cheetah a moment to shine, but no she is quickly defeat within 5 minutes; we can’t have any threat or tension now can we.

Also the film looks oddly cheap throughout which does not make sense considering its budget.

Overall, this film somehow manages to be worse that Birds of Prey and reignites all my fears for the DCEU, please if anyone over at Star Wars is reading this remove Patty Jenkins now before she ruins the next film.

Pros.

Gadot and Pascal

Cons.

The consent issue

It looks cheap

There is no action

Kristen Wiig is miscast, and her character does not have a minute to shine

Why is there a rape threat in a family film?

1/5

Reviewed by Luke

Lethal Weapon 2: Advertising Condoms

Lethal Weapon 2 is a buddy cop action film directed by Richard Donner. The plot this time around sees Murtaugh (Danny Glover), and Riggs (Mel Gibson) go after a cartel of South African criminals that have a personal connection to Rigg’s past.

I think here we can see the tonal issues starting to become apparent, there is a lot of fallout surrounding Shane Black exiting the projecting and his darker script being rejected in favour of a more light hearted one; said script I would say is the major issue with the film. Quite dark and upsettingly violent sequences are upended with jokes and quips, which serve to ruin any tension built and let the air out of the balloon so to speak.
The tonal issues carry over to the characters as it limits their emotional growth and the extent of their journey’s. There is some interesting ideas and notions being floated around here, like Riggs dying to save his partner’s life at the end of the film, however, the film seem to gutless to follow through with these interesting character moments in favour of maintaining the status quo for sequels.

Gibson and Glover are still a terrific paring and have a lot of great on-screen chemistry together, sadly that is limited by insufficient character work.

Overall, this film shows us what is wrong with Hollywood, whereby the inevitable sequel is prioritised over the film itself to the detriment of all involved.

Pros.

Gibson

Glover

Cons.

The tone is mismatched and doesn’t work

The ending loses its emotional impact

The characters don’t seem to progress emotionally or personally from where they were at the end of the film

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Get The Gringo: Bringing Hand-Grenades To Office Meetings

Get The Gringo (Or as it is known in other territories How I Spent My Summer Vacation), is an action film directed by Adrian Grunberg. The plot sees an unnamed heister (Mel Gibson), become imprisoned in a corrupt Mexican prison, he must fight for his own survival as well as to protect a child who he has befriended.

So, yes none of my Mel Gibson action film reviews would be complete with me condemning his personal life and views, take that as a given here as always.

However, that said I really enjoyed this film and Gibson was a big part of the reason I did. He is magnetic in this film, despite being unnamed and undeveloped, in a few different ways, he has enough action hero charm that you don’t question it and instead get swept up in the adventure. As the film ends you can’t help but cheer for his character.

The plot of the film is quite smart, it is simple and self-contained enough to not be overly complicated, whilst also having enough twists to keep you constantly engaged and asking what is going to happen next. The third act is particularly well done in this respect, it has some great action set pieces, but also an almost Soderbergh level of suave to the final tie up.

Overall, I enjoyed this film a lot and I thought it was terrific.

Pros.

Gibson

The action

The twists and turns

The ending

Cons.

Some of the characters feel underdeveloped to the point of becoming stereotypes.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Lethal Weapon: Mel Gibson’s Bare Arse.

Lethal Weapon is a buddy cop action film directed by Richard Donner. The film follows a pair of mismatched detectives who are brought together to work a case in spite of their differences.

In the action genre this film is very important, it laid the groundwork for a lot of what the buddy cop action sub-genre would there after go. Personally, the thing I most admire about this film, after watching it for the first time for this review, is its sense of style. Everything from the soundtrack to the setting is perfectly paired to create a dense lived in world that never feels overly dire, but also doesn’t feel too comical.

In that regard, this film made me laugh quite a lot throughout. I wasn’t expecting the film to be as funny as it is, but it really tickled me.

Mel Gibson (despite being vile in reality), and Danny Glover give two of the best performances in the action genre and cement themselves as legends. They have marvellous on-screen chemistry together, and it is a treat to watch them interact. If I had to pick a favourite it would probably be Gibson’s Riggs as I love how off the wall yet effective he is.

Overall, a very strong action movie that refines both the standard action formula and the buddy cop formula to a tee and makes for one hell of a watch.

Pros.

Gibson

Glover

The action

The laughs

The style

Cons.

None

5/5

Fatman: Santa Claus Will Put A Bullet Right Between Your Eyes, Go On, Test Him

Fatman is a Christmas based action film directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms. The plot sees a budding young sociopath put a hit out on Santa Clause (Mel Gibson), after he receives a deserved lump of coal for Christmas. What follows is a battle to the death between not so jolly Old Saint Nick and hitman Johnathan Miller (Walton Goggins), who has his own axe to grind against ‘the fatman’.

Though I don’t like Mel Gibson, because he is a vile human being, I managed to separate my personal feelings from this film and ended up really enjoying it. I like the inherent silliness in the concept, a hit man trying to kill Santa Claus, I think the film deals with its absurdity well and plays it up to great effect.

The action scenes where nicely done as well and I enjoyed the final fight as well, the ending was unexpected, I thought that the fight was clearly going to end one way, it did not. I always enjoy it when a film deviates from where I think it is going especially so if they do it in a clever way. I thought the final scene, when Santa pays a visit to the kid that put a hit on him was the best scene of the entire film, not only was it incredibly tense, but it knew how to play off Gibson as an actor; the role really does feel tailor made for him.

Overall, though reviews have been mixed on this one, I personally really enjoyed it. I thought it was silly and fun but also a really well thought out action film that capitalised on its star.

Pros.

The role was tailor made for Gibson

The tone is just right

The action

The premise

Cons.

The elf cgi is not good

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

Boss Level: Don’t You Hate Waking Up With A Gun In Your Face

Boss Level is a science fiction, action film directed by Joe Carnahan. The plot sees ex solider Roy (Frank Grillo), become stuck in a time loop. As is customary he has to live out his death over and over again until he can find out what is going on and stop it.

Before I get into the review fully I just want to say, that ending- my my how much of a tease can you be.

This film will be familiar to most, the time loop concept has become very much a new fad in films over the last 5 years, with films like Happy Death Day and Palm Springs being good examples; by now you know what to expect from these sort of films. However, the thing I would say that sets this film apart from the others is Frank Grillo.

Grillo’s character goes on a real arc over the course of the film, as he makes various discoveries about his current situation and you can see the change in emotion and person happening before you very eyes. Grillo is incredibly versatile and he really sells his role. He made me both laugh and cry over the course of the film.

I enjoyed the film’s references and clear inspiration from classic videogames, I think this game feel helps it to standout and give itself some personality.

Overall, a nice surprise that has quite a few good moments and Grillo himself is superb.

Pros.

Frank Grillo

The character arc

The emotion

The ending

Cons.

It does feel a bit too familiar

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Chick Fight: Alec Baldwin Is The Drunk Fighting Instructor We All Need In Our Lives

Chick Fight is an action comedy directed by Paul Leyden. The plot follows Anna (Malin Akerman), a woman who’s life is going to the dogs, she is on the verge of being evicted, she can’t find a job and her love life is non-existent. However, one day she walks into an underground women’s fight club and a new chapter in her life begins.

This film is fine, nothing more nothing less. It is nothing that you haven’t seen before and of those films most are better. However, I also would not call this film bad, it is solidly watchable and some of the supporting performances are quite good.

With that in mind, I give props to Bella Throne for being quite a good antagonist here, you hate her, but at the same time you feel for her a little bit; her and Akerman have some entertaining scenes together. Alec Baldwin as Anna’s coach/trainer is also quite good, he plays the boozy old man who lives at the beach well, and I am really digging this phase of Baldwin’s career; he is also great in Pixie.

Akerman herself is a passable lead, though her role could be played by literally anyone.

Overall, it is an easy watch though it is a touch generic. Watch if you can’t find anything better.

Pros.

Throne and Baldwin

A few funny moments

It is very watchable

Cons.

Akerman doesn’t do much

It is very generic

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Greenland: When The Apocalypse Comes You Need The Architects, Screw Doctors

Greenland is a disaster action film directed by Ric Roman Waugh. The plot sees a comet come into Earth’s atmosphere which poses an extinction level threat to mankind. In amongst the people trying to stay alive is family man John Garrity (Gerard Butler), who must go to great lengths to keep this family alive and get them to the new promised land, Greenland.

I remember seeing the trailer for this film in the cinema awhile back, and I thought it looked promising. Now having seen it, I can say I am mixed on it. Yes, it does have a strong premise, with a suitably tense ticking clock narrative that keeps things moving forward nicely.

However, on the other hand, it does not do much with its premise beyond ending up like just another generic action, disaster film. Moreover, some of the dramatic choices here feel needless and really don’t add much to the narrative as a whole. Like why did John’s son need to be kidnapped? What did that thread add?

Butler was okay, this seems like an easy fit role for him, he was everything I would expect him to be. Your enjoyment of his performance will depend on how you feel about Butler and his ‘character’ generally.

Overall, despite initial promise this film ended up being just another generic disaster film.

Pros.

Gerard Butler

The set pieces

The tension

Cons.

It doesn’t do much with its interesting premise

Drama and twists added needlessly

It is generic

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke