Going in Style

Going in Style is the story of three elderly friends who are struggling to pay the bills and after their pensions get frozen, so they decide to take back what they felt was theirs, by robbing their own bank.

It was a unique twist to the typical bank robber story. I liked that the movie was short and sweet with a good and clear vision. I thought it was funny and I also enjoyed all three lead actors, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine. They played well off of each other and were amusing to watch.

If you are looking for something easy going and entertaining, I’d recommend renting this little gem.

Moana

Moana is a family friendly story, set in Ancient Polynesia, of the daughter of the chief taking a leap of faith when she decides to go out on her own to save her people.

The only thing that I didn’t like about the movie was The Rock’s character, Maui. The Rocks typical personality didn’t really translate to an animated character. It came off as super obnoxious and annoying.

On the bright side I liked that the film promoted diversity, showcasing its first Polynesian family and using voice actors from the Polynesian triangle. It also had a catchy soundtrack and positive themes about female empowerment, going out on your own, bravery, and family. The CGI was also quite vibrant and colorful.

For those looking for something uplifting, light-hearted or cute  I’d recommend checking this out one.

The Bad Batch

The Bad Batch is a straight to DVD movie that was promoted as a dystopian love story. What seemed like a cool idea, unfortunately, didn't pan out as promised.

One of the major issues I had was with the plot. First, I didn’t see anything that could have qualified as a love story within the entire movie. Additionally, the film had no clear direction, so by the end, I had trouble even putting together what the point of this movie was. There were hints of an interesting story that could have paralleled Mad Max or The Book of Eli, but the ideas were never fully divulged into, thus leaving the viewer lost and disappointed.

The acting and the script also needed work. I like Jason Momoa as an actor, and I give him a lot of leeway in the projects her chooses but this has got to be one of the worst films I’ve seen him in. His character is supposed to Cuban but his accent is pitiful. A surprising addition to this movie was Jim Carrey, whose character is a huge departure from his traditional comedic roles. He is almost unrecognizable and even though he doesn’t have many lines, he does all right in the film. I however couldn’t really get invested in either of these characters, nor the main character, played by Suki Waterhouse, because the script lacked the necessary character development to help you feel connected.

All in all, I’d have to say that The Bad Batch was a complete waste of time. Save 2 hours of your life and avoid this one at all costs.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins is the true story of a New York socialite who, despite having a terrible singing voice, perused her dreams of being an opera singer.

This biographic, dramedy isn’t one that I would normally be excited to see or seek out in theatres, but since Meryl Streep was at the helm I decided to give it a shot once it became available for rent.

I found the plot to be interesting and the acting from the entire cast was pretty good, especially Meryl Streep. She was able to evoke the passion Florence had for music, the love she had for her partner and friends and especially the naivetés she had for her vocal quality, which did provide some laughs.

Overall though, the film itself was a bit dry, which made it feel longer than it was, and I didn’t think there was enough comedy throughout the film. If you are a Meryl Streep fan you will probably be able to get through this one but for most this movie won’t be for them.

Girls Trip

Girls Trip was everything I hoped for in a comedy. There was great chemistry with the leading ladies and hilarity throughout.

Newcomer, Tiffany Haddish,, brought most of the laughs as the character Dina. Her vulgarity, edgy delivery and comedic timing were spot on. It was also great to see Queen Latifa and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Set It Off alums, reunited for the first time in 20 years and they haven't aged a bit. Additionally, Regina Hall did a fabulous job as a first time leading lady.

All in all, even with a predictable plot, it was still an engaging and really fun movie. If you are looking for something light hearted and funny, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

The Mountain Between Us

This Mountain Between Us is about two strangers who end up being stranded on a mountain, during the dead of winter, after surviving a plane crash. It stars Academy Award Winner, Kate Winslet, and Golden Globe Winner, Idris Elba.

There was such potential within this film from the beginning with its suspense and vast and beautiful landscapes, but somewhere toward the end, the plot started to fall off and it was a struggle to tie it all up. It was only an hour and 40 minute long movie but it felt so much longer than that. Additionally, Kate Winslet and Idris Elba’s connection was good but not great. I felt like something was lacking in the character development. Because of these things I came away from this movie disappointed. I’d recommend saving your money and avoiding this one.

Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything was a really cute movie. It’s the story of a teenage girl that has an illness, so she is confined to her home, and unexpectedly ends up having a life changing relationship with the boy next door.

Even though it was clearly tailored for a younger audience I found it to still have a lot of heart and engaging content. Additionally, it had some great acting and character development. Though the plot was a bit predictable it was still a sweet, refreshing and entertaining story.

If you are looking for something that will tug at the heartstrings I’d recommend checking this one out.