We Broke Up: The Romantic Comedy Film For Swingers, Cuckolds And Anyone Else Of An Open Lifestyle

We Broke Up

2/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Why are romantic comedy films so toxic? Why can’t we just have one film without a needlessly nasty message? To wit in this feature the idea seems to be there is nothing hotter than your committed partner fooling around with someone else: as referenced by a scene where the supposedly broken up, but clearly not really, couple have a steamy session after the guy admits being unfaithful. What is this saying?

Moreover the leads, who are broken up for the purposes of the film and drama but are basically a couple; you know how it goes let’s pretend to still be a couple and then get back together at the end, are charmless and cliched. It is a shame as I like both the actors in other things, however here they just can’t do it for me, they have about as much believable chemistry together on screen as two paper cut outs would.

The ending is fairly predictable, and that is the case for the whole film. Though it is very watchable and not terribly bad, hence the 2, there is nothing new here it is the same old same old pumped out again to a vain and desperate effort to separate you from your money.

Overall, bland and disappointing.

Pros.

It is watchable

There are worse rom-coms out there.

Cons.

The leads have no chemistry

The cheating plot line

It is predictable and ultimately boring

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Bad Witch: The Relatable Witch

Bad Witch

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Comedy horror often has the issue of favouring one element over the other, however, as a rare exception this film manages to perfectly capture the essence of both and balance them together well, forming a perfectly rounded comedy horror film.

I enjoyed the comedic gimmick of the unfortunate witch who is just as much of a screw up as the rest of us, I thought it made the character feel very relatable and easily likeable, whilst also helping to bring out and enhance the comedic elements. This film made me laugh a lot throughout.

I also thought the scarier parts of the film worked well, they managed to build on the unsettling moments to create strong through and through scares that stay with you long after the film. I appreciated how the film focused on atmospheric scares over jump scares, I think it is always the more effective route and it is proven so here.

My only problem with this film is that it is poorly paced and does have a few moments that drag on.

Overall, a near perfect comedy horror film that could have been made perfect with a tighter edit.

Pros.

Comedy

Horror

A relatable lead

The ending

Cons.

Pacing, bloat, and needless subplots

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Pride: Fight For The Change You Want To See In The World

Pride

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

This film made me both happy and sad, as paradoxical as that might be. On the one hand it was hopeful to see the miners embrace the LGBTQ+ activists, but on the other, seeing the horrible homophobia made me sad. I left the film feeling conflicted towards humanity.

This film can beautifully play with your emotions, as it did to me, and that is a testament to the writing, but also the real events that inspired the film. The film feels empowering to watch, inspiring you to make a change for the betterment of society.

The acting talent on display here is undeniable, Joe Gilgun, Dominic West, Andrew Scott and an always reliable Paddy Considine all perform well and leave an impression long after the film ends. George McKay is a little less strong and does drag down some of the scenes he is in, but thankfully he is not given much of the heavy lifting to do.

Furthermore, Pride does struggle with pacing and ends up feeling overly long and a little indulgent, by the time we reach the end the film is already starting to outstay its welcome.

A final note before concluding, Faye Marsay is terrific and should be cast in more films- a staggering young talent.

Overall, a good film that suffers with pace.

Pros.

The acting, bare McKay

The message

The empowering tone

Cons.

The Pace

George McKay

Thunder Force: Seal Is Overplayed

Thunder Force

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

The team-ups between Melissa McCarthy and her director husband Ben Falcone, have so far produced bad film after bad film. Many would tell you that this film is yet another in that line, however, I have to say it is not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

The world of the film, and the characters other than McCarthy’s lead, are all entertaining and fun enough that you happily watch them for the duration. Jason Bateman as the likeable sub villain turned hero has a lot of great moments on screen and steals the show ultimately. Likewise Octavia Spenser as one of the founding members of the Thunder Force brings a lot of class and presence to the role and makes the most out of it.

The thing that lets this film down is Melissa McCarthy. As many of you know I am no fan of McCarthy or her humour, she is frequently the worst part of the films she is in, and this is a near perfect example of that. Her dated references aren’t funny, the jokes aimed at her being fat or odd aren’t funny and feel needlessly mean, and don’t even get me started on the slapstick.

Overall, not as bad as you have heard, but I still can’t recommend it.

Pros.

Bateman

The world

Cons.

Melissa McCarthy

The humour

The plot/premise and the over familiarity

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Made In Italy: Who Knew Renovating Old Houses Could Be So Emotional

Written by Luke Barnes

Made In Italy is a comedy drama film directed by James D’Arcy. The plot sees an estranged father and son bond whilst renovating their derelict Italian home for sale.

I enjoy Liam Neeson, I think he is great as an action hero, he is great in his rare comedic roles and he is great as a dramatic actor- this film proves that last point. This film is so passionate and raw that it simply has to hit a nerve in those watching it, and Neeson is a big part of that.

The dynamic and bond between the father and son is so moving and beautiful that it brought a tear to my eye. The relationship is more than a little relatable, and I am sure many can agree on that point, and the scene when the two finally open up to each other and talk about their issues is particularly heart-breaking.

There are a few different romance subplots sown into the film, but where in other films this could prove to be an unwelcomed distraction here it only serve to boost the emotion of the film and at times provide some much needed comedic relief.

Overall, a beautiful and thoughtful film that reached me on an emotional level.

Pros.

The father son dynamic

Neeson as a dramatic actor

The emotion

The ending

The score is also very strong

Cons.

None

5/5

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Bad Trip: The Worst Of Tiffany Haddish

Written by Luke Barnes

Bad Trip is a hidden camera comedy film directed by Kitao Sakurai. The plot sees two best friends (played by Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howley), go on a quest to escape their boring lives and chase love in New York City.

I am split on this film. On the one hand it had several funny moments, mainly from Andre, that made me laugh out loud. However, on the other there were also a fair few jokes and stunts that were in deeply poor taste: such as one where Andre’s character gets his hand caught in a blender, now the reason why this is in poor taste is because those around Andre’s character think it is real and respond as such- this could be potentially traumatic.

Moreover, I didn’t find either of the main characters particularly likeable, however, of the two Andre’s is by far worse, he is a selfish jerk, and it is hard to root for him. I don’t know if this is a deliberate character decision or not, but it does taint the film to a degree.

Furthermore, Tiffany Haddish is unbearably unfunny as the films villain. Haddish has films were she shines, and films were she is the worst part, and this is definitely the latter. Her character has one trait that this film is interested in and that is that she is tough, and the film doesn’t bother to explore her character beyond that.

Overall, though it has a few laugh out loud hilarious parts, the film runs the gambit of bad taste and doesn’t have characters that you can even remotely root for.

Pros.

A few really funny jokes

Cons.

Haddish

Bad taste

Not all of the jokes land

The ending

1/5

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Paradise PD: Are You Edgy Enough To Enjoy This Show?

Written by Luke Barnes

Paradise PD is an animated tv show created by Waco O’ Guin and Roger Black. The plot follows the wacky goings on in a small town police department.

Paradise PD and Brickleberry are both very divisive shows. The comedy of this show often goes very dark and tries to out edgy itself, as nothing is off limits; it makes programs like Family Guy look tame.

Usually edgy humour doesn’t bother me, if anything I enjoy it. However, the third season of this show, which is the primary review focus of this piece, took it too far and put me off. It was not a particular thing that was said, but rather the wider attitude of the show. The jokes felt lazy, they were just trying to be as offensive as possible with no wider thought than that: they point this out numerous times with fourth wall breaks, but as I have said in previous reviews pointing out bad writing or in this case bad jokes doesn’t suddenly make them good.

Continuing on in that vein I thought this season was the worst of the show as well in terms of meta-comedy. The previously mentioned fourth wall breaks are used to a point of becoming insufferable here, they have been used in the show before, but now a reference to how the world actually exists as an animated tv show every few minutes, and it really isn’t as clever as the show clearly thinks it is.

Overall, hopefully much like Brickleberry this series will only run for 3 seasons and it won’t go on to tarnish itself.

Pros

One or two good jokes

It was nice to see Gina move beyond her infatuation with Dusty

Cons.

It mostly isn’t funny anymore

It is irritating

The plot for the most part seems unable to advance and has to repeat the same points over and over again

1.5/5 (for season 3) higher for the series as a whole.

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Interview With Jamie Insalaco: Writer/ Director For Will Reading

Written by Luke Barnes

Hey Everyone! I recently had the chance to interview Jamie Insalaco about his film Will Reading. The plot of the film revolves around a group of friends who meet up to help their friends widow find some money their friend has hidden from the IRS. Within the interview we talk, about the meaning of friendship, do it yourself filmmaking and the Coen Brother classic No Country For Old Men

Q: How would you describe this film in a word?

JI: Everything!

Q: Who is your filmmaking inspiration?

JL: So many! The song drops in where old The Simpsons episodes would drop a musical number (“Marge vs the Monorail”), and the referential comedy of that writers room is certainly an inspiration. I appreciate Kevin Smith’s indie can-do “Why not?” spirit – and YouTubers showing how much they could do with so little really got me going. Will Reading is full of homages to other movies.

Q: What was your catalyst for making this film?

JI: I knew I wanted to make a movie and I also knew I’d have to do it myself – so the situation dictated which story treatment I would develop into a script and that eventually became Will Reading. The runner up was just too ambitious: it revolved around a wedding. Too many locations, too many costumes, too many extras… but it was kinda similar in the respect that it would have a long dinner scene and a fight as the climax. I don’t think I’d ever make a movie like this again in terms of no crew, extreme limitations on the script and so forth.

Q: What was the message behind this film?

JL: I think the viewer can take a few different ideas from the movie… and I guess I prefer to let them pick! One message that comes from the character journeys is “Know thyself.” At least for Steve and Tom. For Dave and Wendy, it’s more of a “Give Trust a Chance” situation. The movie takes place after the Great Recession economic downturn, so that certainly influences the messaging and colors a lot of what’s going on, how people are reacting to their situations and what the movie is saying about life at this time in the twenty first century in this little pocket of the United States

Q: Friendship is a key theme of the narrative in Will Reading, how would you say your film tackles this theme, what are its intentions?

JL: Relationships are always tricky. As opposed to family, when it comes to relationships we choose – romantic or platonic – maybe we expect or at least want them to work perfectly. And when they don’t, we end up with these “I thought I knew you” ideas floating around in our heads. What does it say about me that I chose this? Particularly here in Will Reading, Steve wants his relationship to go back to the way it was with Wendy when they were teenagers. That’s a big ask. Wendy needs to get back to a place where she can trust Dave – the nature of these relationships have to change so they can move forward – that’s the thing we’re really trying to show here.

Q: What would you do if you found a large amount of lost or hidden money?

JL: I’d probably leave it where I found it! I’ve seen NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN too many times. The line, “At what point would you quit bothering to look for your 2 million dollars” is burned into my brain! A large amount of money will always be missed, there are ALWAYS consequences to any action – the bigger the action, the bigger the consequence. My answer is NO COUNTRY! Everybody go watch NO COUNTRY. Leave the money where you found it!

Q: Sequels or future filmmaking plans?

JL: A sequel is highly unlikely but not completely off the table. It’d be more of a spinoff rather than a Will Reading 2: On the Move direct sequel. I have a short in the works and as far as features go, a horror movie and a “one last job” movie – one of which will probably be my next indie feature, unless something drastically changes!

Q: If you could go back in time to when you were first starting out as a filmmaker what advice would you give yourself?

JL: Be bolder. Drink more coffee and keep going. There were shots I wanted in Will Reading but they were too technically difficult to pull off by myself. Now, I have the experience and understanding to execute them – think it through. “There’s probably a way to cheat that in post if I plan it out right on set.”

Q: Any funny on set stories?

JL: Sometimes we’d get giggling and couldn’t stop. I would hand out bottles of water as a mini break, to try and alter the mood. From then on, if anything went wrong, the cast would suggest I hand out water – like, if the battery on the camera died: “Water will fix this.” Someone couldn’t get through a long bit of dialogue, “Have some water.”

Q: If you won an award for this film who would you thank in your acceptance speech?

JL: Of course the cast, who really brought Will Reading to life, and then a long speech about my wife and my mom, who were constantly behind me even though they are not particularly interested in filmmaking – they were just there for me.

If you would like to watch Will Reading you can find it on Amazon Prime right now, with a wider release planned for the near future and as always I have a review of the film up on my site right now!

If you enjoyed this interview, then please head over to my Patreon to support me, I offer personalized shoutouts and the ability for you to tell me what to review next. Check it out!

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Will Reading: Helping Your Dead Friends Wife Cheat The IRS

Written by Luke Barnes

Will Reading is a comedy film directed by Jamie Insalaco. The plot sees a group of friends gather together after the death of one of their number, to help the deceased widow find money that her husband had hidden from the IRS.

I think there is something so earnest and pure about this film. It captures friendship in such a realistic and warm way, the friendships within this film feel genuine, it reminds you off those you are closest to and it feels like a warm security blanket.

I found the laughter from a sad origin idea to be quite ingenious, and I thought seeing this group come together to help out after the death of their friend only really added to the wholesome appeal of the film.

Though this film is not a laugh a minute, there are a good amount of laughs scattered throughout and many more moments to smile to.

Overall, a delightfully funny comedy with a winning personality and a wholesome appeal.

Pros

The wholesome appeal

The focus on friendship

A few good laughs

A lively pace

Cons.

Somewhat predictable

3.5/5

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Interview With Phil Stubbs: Writer/ Director Of Last Chancers

Written by Luke Barnes

I recently had the chance to interview Phil Stubbs writer and director of Last Chancers, a film about two friends who run afoul of a local gangster and must find a way out of their situation. We chat about

Q: How would you describe the film, in a word?

PS: Friendship

Q: Who is your filmmaking inspiration?

PS: Peter Jackson

Q: What was your catalyst for making this film?

PS: I just had to try making a feature film, despite having no experience.

Q: Any funny on-set stories?

PS: An unpleasant cafe owner was having an argument with Brian Croucher then recognised him from EastEnders.

Q: Gloucestershire plays a large role in the film, why was this setting so important to you and the film?

PS: I’ve always lived in Gloucestershire and always thought it would look good on film and be a different setting for this kind of story

Q: What is your favourite British crime film, other than your own?

PS: The Long Good Friday

Q: How would you describe your experiences making this film?

PS: Very stressful. Learning how to get the work done while battling many onset problems

Q: How did you manage the comedy to crime ratio, and how important was the buddy dynamic between Flynn and Aiden?

PS: Keeping the tone consistent was important so I was very careful when writing the script. The friendship between Flynn and Aiden anchors the whole story so had to be believable and compelling for audiences to enjoy the film.

Q: If you could go back in time to when you were first starting out as a filmmaker what advice would you give yourself?

PS: Don’t get so stressed, take more time to get the shots how you want them.

Q: If you won an award for this film who would you thank?

The amazing cast, the crew, the editor Lucy, and my girlfriend Ali for putting up with me pursuing the crazy idea of being a filmmaker.

If you enjoyed this interview you can find Last Chancers on Amazon and as always I have an review of the film on site now.

If you enjoyed this review, then please head to my Patreon to support me, I offer personalized shoutouts, the ability for you to tell me what to review next, and a film based Q and A. Check it out!

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