Florence Foster Jenkins: Streep Can’t Sing?

Florence Foster Jenkins is a comedy drama biopic directed by Stephen Frears. The plot follows Jenkins (Meryl Streep), an aging amateur opera singer, as she dreams of success on the stage, the only issue is that she can’t actually sing.

I thought it many ways this was a surprisingly touching film, the final scene of the film between Jenkins and her husband made me feel something. I cared about the characters and I wanted her to achieve her dream and become a serious singer. The performances from Grant and Streep are also excellent as well, both of them are so clearly in love with one another and care so deeply it is very endearing. From a character point of view this film is a triumph.

However, from a pacing perspective it is not. Oh god no. This film is on for just shy of two hours, but it feels a lot longer. For long stretches of time very little happens, and it feels as though the film is being padded out, I firmly believe there is no reason a good half hour of this film couldn’t have been cut. To that point we also have a whole collection of side characters and sub plots that lead nowhere and achieve very little making you question their need for inclusion within the film.

Overall, emotional this film is something it has strong moments that make you feel, but these are few and far between and for the most part you’re left bored and wondering how much longer is left.

Pros.

Streep and Grant.

The emotion.

Cons.

Too long.

Too many characters.

Not enough to keep your interest.

2/5

Hotel Transylvania 2: A Little Bit More Dead

Hotel Transylvania 2 is an animated comedy fantasy film directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. The plot follows on from the events of the last film and sees Dracula’s (Adam Sandler) daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), marry Jonathan (Andy Samberg) and have a baby. This is great news for Dracula, and he couldn’t be more excited, but as the baby is born he has to come to terms with the possibility that it might be human, and that Mavis and her child might move away.

I think this film is a step down from the first. Both in terms of emotional beats and also in terms of nuance. The first film really made Dracula a sympathetic character and his arc of coming to love Johnathan in his own way was really well done, however, in this film we have that same arc repeated just replacing Johnathan with Mavis’ baby. Moreover, this film back both Johnathan and Dracula act like dicks and it ruins any likability they had from the first film; I would assume this is easy plotting, but it cancelled out any kinship I felt with them.

Furthermore, the relations between humans and monsters in the first film had nuance, the way Dracula came to terms with humanity changing to love monsters was well done. Here the monster human divide is handled as incredibly in your face, poorly disguised social commentary that has all the subtly of a brick on fire breaking a window. I assume they must have taken on new writers for the second film. If so fire them, if it is the same people, have them reflect why they did this.

Overall, while the film is still good and fun in many ways, it feels like a step back. The character arcs don’t progress but regress in the worst way, the writing in this second film really is sub-par and it brings down the film overall as a result.

Pros.

More of the same

The humour is better

Some good emotional moments

Cons.

A lot of ham-fisted emotional moments

The characters regress

The social commentary is a bit too in your face for my tastes

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

The Rugrats Movie: Back In The 90’s

The Rugrats Movie is an animated adventure comedy film directed by Igor Kovalyov and Norton Virgein. The movie carries on the plot of the TV show and shows the introduction of new character Baby Dill. The plot details Tommy’s (Elizabeth Daily), struggle to adapt to having a new brother and no longer getting all of his parents’ attention, this struggle ends up with the kids in the woods depending on each other to survive.

I grew up watching the Rugrats cartoons on video, and I have seen all the movies countless times before. However, as a rewatched this recently it was almost as though I was seeing it for the first time. There are quite a lot of deep emotions on show in this film a lot of thoughtful topics being broached, that as a kid I would not have picked up on but watching it now I appreciate.

I enjoyed what this film had to say about having siblings and about familial bonds, whether it reflects your life or not, I think there is at least a small amount of relatability that we can all take away from it. I was genuinely surprised about how insightful this film was at times, it gives you far more to think about that your standard kids film.

Overall, I thought this was a fun film that reminded me why I liked the cartoon, I also enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t always an easy watch and that as an adult there was a whole other subtext to it that put everything in an entirely new perspective, there is certainly a hidden depth to it.

Pros.

The brother’s relationship

Capturing what I loved about the cartoon.

Funny jokes.

Surprisingly insightful.

Cons.

The supporting characters really didn’t have much to do.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

The Kings Of Summer: Coming Of Age

The Kings Of Summer is a coming of age comedy film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The plot sees two boys become fed-up with their homelives and their parents and seek out a life in the woods. What starts off as a modern-day Garden Of Eden, quickly descends into petty jealously, loneliness and despair.

This is a fantastic film for so many reasons. It feels personable, it feels relatable in a way that very few films are. Yes, the plot line of kids escaping from home, building their own sanctuary and then something coming between them is nothing new, but here it is done in such a way that it hits you emotionally and feels fresh.

Nick Offerman’s turn for the dramatic in this film as Joe’s (Nick Robinsons) father surprised me in the best way. I love Offerman’s comedy and his character in Parks and Rec, but this film proves he has serious chops as a dramatic actor as well, he really sells his character and has a number of captivating scenes.

I also think the younger cast give terrific performances as well. Robinson is proving himself to be quite the talented newcomer with the likes of this and Love Simon. Erin Moriarty is also terrific and does a lot with very little, her character could easily have been two dimensional, but thanks to the performance feels rounded.

Overall, this is a touching film that connected with me. I think all involved are giving it their a game and it shows. If you have not seen this film you should.

Pros.

Offerman

Robinson

Moriarty

The emotional connection

The inter-character relationships

Cons.

None.

5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Space Jam: Who Said Product Placement

Space Jam is a basketball themed live action CGI film directed by Joe Pytka. The plot sees acclaimed basketball player Michael Jordan be drafted into a match alongside characters from the Looney Tunes cartoons. Together they must defeat evil mutant aliens that have stolen the talent of some of the NBA’s best players.

I have not watched this film since I was a kid, watching it again now I have to say it is the embodiment of the hectic crazy 90’s spirit. None of it makes any sense and everything is either a mad dash for product placement or badly put together CGI. However, that is the charm.

The CGI is terrible, it is clear that Michael Jordan is not really there and a lot of the time there is a slight delay in between a Looney Tunes character saying something and Jordan’s reply, because he clearly isn’t in the same room as the voice actors and it has been badly put together. However, I won’t be too harsh on it because though it took me out of it, it was good for the time period.

I think in terms of Looney Tunes film I preferred Back In Action, as that had more of the manic energy of the cartoon and this seems to focus more on the basketball at the expense of said energy, other than a few moments that remind you these cartoon characters could be anyone.

Overall, this is a testament to the craziness of the early 90’s and its weirdness only adds to its charm, but as a Looney Tunes film it doesn’t live up to the cartoon.

Pros.

It’s a great basketball film.

Bill Murray.

The craziness of it all.

Cons.

It is not a good Looney Tunes film.

Most of the characters feel quite empty.

3/5

Reviewed by Luke

Sister Act 2: This Time Its Personal

Sister Act 2 is a musical comedy film directed by Bill Duke. The plot once again follows Deloris (Whoopie Goldberg), as she takes up the role of Sister Mary Clarence; this time to save an inner-city school from closure.

Was this follow up needed? That is the question every sequel has to answer. In this case I am afraid the answer is no. It is by no means a bad film, rather it is just more of the same, it doesn’t push the concept or try and do something new with it; it just feels like a watered-down rehash of the first film.

The kids this film introduce to try and create some new flavour don’t work out. The mentor mentee relationship they have with Goldberg’s character is fun, but it just can’t compare with the relationships between Deloris and her fellow nuns in the first film. The new characters are so paper thin that you can’t for the life of you remember who is who and why are they important.

The songs are still a lot of fun and have a quality to them that makes you want to get up and dance, but even in this regard I have to say the first was better.

Overall, this entire film fails incredibly to live up to the first. It proves that just because something is popular it doesn’t always need a sequel. It is the shame that this film misses the note almost entirely.

Pros.

Its more of the same.

The songs are okay.

Cons.

It is nothing new.

It doesn’t justify its own existence.

It ends the series on a bad note

2/5

Reviewed by Luke

Zombeaver: Creepy and Gross

Zombeaver is a creature feature film directed by Jordan Rubin. The plot sees a group of scantily clad teens head off to a lakeside cabin after one of them breaks up with their boyfriend. Their weekend is interrupted by a pack of murderous zombie beavers that seems hell bent on killing them all.

This film is gratuitous for all the wrong reasons, that is my one-line summary of this film.

Before I get into the thousand and one reasons why this film is trash, I want to talk about the one scene that I enjoyed. One of the very first scenes is a conversation between the girls and their landlady for the weekend, said landlady played by Phyllis Catz had me in stiches. She was the best part of this film.

Yes, it truly did peak at the 10-minute mark everything after there went straight down the toilet. So first off the bat the nudity is excessive, even for a film like this, it goes beyond the point of awkward and cringe and borders the tasteless.

Secondly, the main girl (the one who is cheated on), is vilified by the other characters and all of them seem to hate her by the end of the film. Also the cheater and the person he cheated with are also pushed as the real heroes of the film in a move that is simply baffling. All of the characters are firmly unlikable.

Overall, this is trash, its not even dumb fun it is just mean spirted, voyeuristic and soulless. You might have noticed I didn’t name the characters for the most part, that is because they’re so underdeveloped I couldn’t remember any of their names.

Pros.

That one funny scene with the landlady.

Cons.

Twisted morals.

Needless Nudity.

Stereotypes and other harmful clichés

It couldn’t make killer beavers fun.

0.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Mallrats: The Film Of The 90s

Mallrats is a stoner comedy film directed by Kevin Smith. The film follows best friend duo T.S (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee), as they’re both dumped and must find a way to either move on or get back together with their respective girlfriend. Like all great quests, theirs start out at the mall.

I have a big soft spot in my heart for the films of Kevin Smith, I have fond memories of watching them growing up and after rewatching this one a few nights ago I have to say it still holds up.

I loved all the nerdy little in jokes and of course Brodie’s conversation with Stan Lee is the highlight of the movie. The conversation manages to be both moving and also incredibly funny and appeal to my comic fan side all at the same time.

I have also loved Jason Lee from a young age growing up watching My Name Is Earl so seeing him here in this prime was a treat. He was hilarious and easily had some of the funniest and most quotable lines in the whole film. Also seeing him interact with the future Randy (Ethan Suplee), was another highlight for me.

My one complaint would be I don’t think it has aged well. There are a number of jokes that seem a bit old fashioned by today’s standards and there is also a prolonged scene just staring at a woman’s breasts that feels a bit needless and creepy if I am being honest, but the 90’s were a different time I suppose.

Overall, this still stands up as one of Smith’s gems and one of the standouts of the era. It may offend those of a deflect sensibility, but it is still well worth the watch.

Pros.

The Stan Lee appearance

Jason Lee

The jokes

The realistic but also larger than life feel

Cons.

The icky creepiness.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

Hotel Transylvania: Adam Sandler Hits You In The Feels

Hotel Transylvania is an animated family film directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. The plot sees Dracula (Adam Sandler), hide away from the world after the death of his wife. He raises his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), from the safety of his monsters only hotel and everything seems to be working out; that is until one day a human arrives.

Not to begin on too much of an animation rant, but I think when talking about western animation Sony Animation is often treated as the bastard stepchild no one wants around, yes, they have made some stinkers, but I have often found myself enjoying some of their movies. This is one of those times.In short, I don’t think they deserve the hate they get.

Yes, this film suffers from some of the same issues a lot of Sony’s other animated offerings have such as an overreliance on pop songs and flat fart jokes, but what lifts this film up for me is its heart. Say what you will about Adam Sandler he is always very easy to root for and that is incredibly true here. His relationship with his daughter and his arc about learning to trust humans again hit you in the feels in much the same way as some of Pixar’s greatest emotional beats.

I think this film is a lot of fun and very easy to turn your brain off and enjoy, I think the paring of Sandler and Andy Samberg (who plays the human Jonathan), is genius as the two have a great repour in this film; you can also see what I am talking about if you watch That’s My Boy. The two are a great comedic pairing.

Overall, this is a very nice easy to watch film that has a lot of heart and a few laughs here and there, I can’t help feeling like if this was made my Pixar or DreamWorks that it would have gotten more fanfare, but hey it is still an excellent film with plenty of charm.

Pros.

Sandler and Samberg

The right amount of heart

Genndy Tartakovsky

Cons.

The fart jokes don’t work for me

The cringy pop songs

3/5

Reviewed by Luke

Cheaper By The Dozen 2: Sweet Easily Becomes Sickly.

Cheaper By The Dozen 2 is a family comedy film directed by Adam Shankman, it serves as a sequel to the previous Cheaper By The Dozen film. The plot this time sees the Bakers head to a lakeside getaway where they get into a fierce competition with another family and only one can win.

This film is by far the worst of The Dozen movies, it has no charm. The less than stellar stuff in the first film you could overlook because it had heart and it made you smile but the same can’t be said for this film. In this instalment we see that Tom (Steve Martin), is actively a bad father, he doesn’t care about his family and just uses them to prove that he is better than the rival father. Whatsmore the worldview and messages of this film feel about 50 years behind the times.

Another thing I didn’t like about this film was the sickly-sweet ending. The baby being named Tom after Steve Martin’s character didn’t hit me in the feels, unlike when the family welcomed back its runaway member in the first film, this time it just made me roll my eyes. It is too sweet to the point that it becomes irritating.

There is some fun to be had, if you can ignore everything else wrong with it. Basically it is just more of the same but done worse with clearly less effort.

Ultimately this film proves that not everything needs a sequel, this certainly didn’t.

Pros.

More of the same if that is a good thing to you.

Some of the jokes land, but most don’t.

Cons.

Questionable messages.

A strange perviness in a wandering camera.

It doesn’t justify its existence.

The ending is cringeworthy.

2/5

Reviewed by Luke