Elf

Elf is a story of a man raised as an elf, working in Santa’s Workshop, in the North Pole. After he discovers that he is human, he decides to travel to New York City to locate his biological father. 

The movie came out in 2003 but visually holds up. I thought that the plot was easy to follow and wrapped up nicely in the end. I liked the themes surrounding taking a chance and stepping outside your comfort zone, having positivity through all of the negativity around you and the importance of spending time with loved ones.

I was surprised to see Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage, in this movie. His role was prior to his well known character, Tyrion Lannister, and a major step away from that iconic role. In regard to the acting from the rest of the cast, I think that everyone, for the most part, was subdued and very one dimensional. Perhaps that was because they couldn’t be out shown by Will Farrell. His character, Buddy, was extremely extroverted, easily excitable, childlike and full of positivity. I know the juxtaposition of his age and height compared to his behavior was supposed to be funny but it just made me uncomfortable. Farrell’s portrayal was so over top that I couldn’t relate and I didn’t find it funny.

I thought that the plot wasn’t very realistic and that script was corny. I imagine this movie plays better for kids than adults. With that being said, I know this is a classic Christmas movie that some watch religiously, this time of year, but in the end it wasn’t for me.

The Irishman

The Irishman is a typical Martin Scorsese gangster drama starring his go to collaborators, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. It is based off of the book, I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank "The Irishman" Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa by Charles Brandt. It is a loose biography on the life of Frank Sheeran, played by De Niro, who is an Irish meat truck delivery man who is recruited into the Italian mob. The movie covers a pretty vast time frame starting in the 1950s. 

What attracted me to this movie was the high profile cast and director. I think that all of the actors in this movie are great. I also thought that the plot was interesting, since I didn’t really remember a lot about Jimmy Hoffa.

I had some issues with the cosmetology. They tried to do some movie magic to make the actors look 30-40 years younger in the flashback scenes but I wasn’t buying it. I think that the aging makeup that they did was way better than their attempts to turn back the clock on these older guys. Physically, they also struggled emboding younger characters. A scene where this really stood out to me was early on the in the movie De Niro had a fight sequence. He was supposed to be a man in his 30s but it was painful to watch because he had the young makeup and hair but was fighting like an old guy. Even the way he walks, it was not the way a young man walks.
In another scene, Joe Pesci’s character, is supposed to be about 20 years older than De Niro’s, but in real life they are the same age and the makeup didn’t give enough distinction in age, so when he calls him kid it’s almost hilarious since they look about the same age. I think the casting director should have just had younger guys in those scenes.


Another place where I think this movie went wrong was over doing it with all of the type cast actors. Robert De Niro, Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa, Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino, and Boardwalk Empire’s Stephen Graham and Bobby Cannavale as Skinny Razor have all played this type of tough guy, gangster so many times now that I wasn’t really excited to see any of them on screen. I came into this movie hoping that I would get some variety from this talented bunch but I ended up getting a lot of the same.

Additionally, the timeline wasn't super clear. The only thing that gave you a bit of a hint was that you could see them ageing a little bit and there were some historic pin points, but other than that, you never really knew what year you were in.

In the end, this movie was 3 ½ hours long which I thought was unnecessary. The plot was slow moving and the script was super dialogue heavy with a lot of moving pieces and characters so it was hard to keep up. Because of this, I became board pretty early in; this one was a waste of time and I am glad I didn’t spend my money to see this in the theater.

Hustlers

Hustlers is a drama based on the true story of four strippers who flipped the game on its head by swindling large sums of money from shady Wall Street men in the early 2000s. Inspired by the New York Magazine article that went viral, this movie stars Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu.

I thought that the plot was interesting especially since it was based off of real life events. With a female director it did give this movie a different, more female driven, possibly more tasteful perspective, than if it were directed by someone else. There were also a couple of comedic moments that helped to break up the monotony.

The character development was good enough to where you actually wanted to side with the criminals at certain points and could understand their individual struggles. Additionally, the acting was pretty good all around. I thought that Lopez did a great job committing to the character and it was refreshing seeing both her and Wu in these unconventional roles. I liked how all of the women were resourceful, smart and driven. I also enjoyed the cameos from famous musicians like G-Easy, Usher, Lizzo and Cardi B.

This movie has received a lot of Oscar buzz and even though I thought that the movie was good I didn’t think it was Oscar worthy. There was something missing for me to fully jump on to that bandwagon. To me this movie would be okay to watch at home but not worth spending time and money at the theatre.

Point Blank

Point Blank is a Netflix produced action drama starring Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo. In the story Paul, a nurse played by Mackie, is unwillingly dragged into a war between corrupt cops and criminals when he is assigned to an unknown man, played by Grillo, in his hospital. 

The plot was pretty typical and predictable for this genera. The level of suspense that these movies usually have wasn’t really there for me but it was still engaging. The writers did a decent job on character development for the main two leads but they should have elaborated more for the rest of the cast.

As far as the acting was concerned, I though the entire cast did well. Grillo and Mackie interacted well together. I have seen Grillo in other things but he always had a smaller role so it was nice to see him take the lead and carry this movie with Mackie. Of all of the actors though the big surprise to me was seeing Marcia Gay Harden, who played Lt. Lewis. I have been a fan of hers since I saw her in the made for TV gem called She’s Too Young back in 2004, so it was refreshing to see her in something completely different where she took the reigns and was a power player.

In the end, I’m glad that this movie went straight to Netflix. I feel like it was made more for the small screen, since it lacked that big screen budget feel. Even though this is not one that I will probably watch again, I thought it was still enjoyable to catch one time at home.

Falling Inn Love

Falling Inn Love is a romantic comedy that tells the story of city girl Gabriela played by Christina Milian. After losing her job and breaking up with her boyfriend she spontaneously enters a contest and wins a rustic New Zealand inn. When she arrives it is not as it seems so she must team up with a young, handsome contractor to fix and flip it. 

Visually the sets were stunning, vast and rustic. I thought that the themes surrounding community, taking a risk, and following your dreams were great. Additionally, the story was cute, easy to follow, and light hearted.

There were quite a few things I didn’t like though. I thought that the soundtrack was not well thought out, the acting was terrible, especially that from Milian. I don’t really remember seeing her in anything else lately so maybe she was a bit rusty, but to me her entire performance wasn’t authentic. I also didn’t really believe the connection she was supposed to have with her love interest, Jake, played by Adam Demos. Their interactions seemed forced and once they got together it felt rushed. I also could have used a lot more character development for the entire cast.

In the end, this movie wasn’t one that I would watch again. It lacked a lot of the depth and connection that I wanted to see. This is easily one that can be skipped.

Otherhood

Otherhood is a Netflix original comedy starring Angela Bassett, Patricia Arquette and Felicity Huffman. The story follows three best friends who feel ignored by their adult sons after they all forget to wish them a proper a Mother’s Day, so the women drunkenly decide to leave the suburbs and drive to New York City to surprise them. 

The entire cast was diverse, they all had unique and relatable plot-lines and strong character development. All three of the leading women were likeable, flawed and entertaining. I especially loved Angela Bassets character and thought that it was a great change of pace from some of her other roles. 

The story was fun, easy to follow, full of heart, unpredictable, and I really liked how they wrapped it up in the end. There were great themes about the evolution of motherhood and being young at heart and not afraid to have fun at any age. I was engaged the entire time and really enjoyed every minute of this movie. 

If you are looking for a cute, funny, light-hearted movie, this could be the one for you.

Harriet

Harriet is a biographical drama that covers about 10 years of Harriet Tubman’s life. Starting from her escape from slavery, to her repeated trips back to save others and briefly to her time serving the military during the Civil War.

I thought that the plot was easy to follow and the story was engaging and brought forward some things that I didn’t know from when I learned about Tubman in school.

There were quite a few unknowns in this movie, including the lead, Cynthia Erivo, which I thought was great for expanding the horizons of diversity on screen. Overall the entire cast did well and Erivo did a nice job carrying the movie. She was able to show the fear, strength and determination to break her chains and the empathy and bravery to continue to go back to free others. Even though I enjoyed all of the acting, I don’t think that any of it would be considered Oscar worthy.

The sets and the costumes looked historically accurate for the time and place. The only thing that they could have done a bit better was in the makeup department when it came to aging Tubman a bit over the course of this decade covered in this movie.

The editing was well done and at times emotionally triggering. This movie, however, didn’t have that big screen budget feel that I was hoping for; it was more like a made for TV movie. Also, it was PG-13 so it lacked some of the intensity that some of its predecessors like Amistad or 12 Years A Slave had. I think that is why they glossed over some key historical moments, they didn’t really show the brutality of slavery nor did they go into much detail about her vicious head injury. Historically it has been said that this head injury lead to an acute form of narcolepsy paired with vivid dreams that would last for hours. Therefore I felt it wasn’t very realistic when the writers tried to conveniently tie this into neatly placed, brief visions that would always alert her of any eminent danger.

Toward the end the movie I was left wanting more. I would have liked to have seen on screen a more realistic take on Tubman’s experience in the military. I would have liked the director to have expanded more on her career as a spy for the North during the Civil War and her life post war. She experienced a lack of respect during her service and wasn’t recognized for the sacrifices and impact that she made until much later. She also was involved in charities the rest of her life that often crippled her and her family financially but instead we get a brief glamorized view of her life at the end of the movie. I also would have liked there to have been a highlight on Tubman being discussed as the new face of the $20 bill.

Even though there were quite a bit of misses I am glad that this story was made. Harriet Tubman was able to help change the course of history though her drive and determination and because of that this story should be shared and seen by all.

The Sun Is Also a Star

The Sun Is Also a Star is romantic drama based on the young adult novel of the same name. It stars Black-ish TV Show darling, Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton. When artist and romantic, Daniel, spots Natasha, a young woman with limited time on her side, he will stop at nothing to have her fall in love with him in a day.

At first glimpse of this plot it seemed really unrealistic, a bit stalker-ish and childish, but after giving this movie a chance, I found it to be quite engaging, mature and unpredictable.

I thought that the acting between Shahidi and Melton was wonderful. The interactions felt really genuine and because of the strong character development for these two, toward the end you really became quite invested in their story. The character development for the co-stars, on the other hand, could have dug deeper but overall I really liked the diversity of this cast. I also liked the surprise addition of John Leguizamo.

If you are looking for an inspiring, surprisingly relatable, tear-jerker this could be the one for you.

The Hustle

The Hustle is a comedy about two con-women who team up to take down wealthy men. It stars Anne Hathaway as the more established, polished, stiff, high-class thief and Rebel Wilson, the yin to her yang, a more relaxed, fun though sloppier, lower-level version.

I thought that the plot was incredibly predicable. There were some clever parts and they did a good job of bringing the movie full circle but that is about all they got right. For a movie that is supposed to be a comedy I thought that the jokes were all softballs and I didn't laugh out loud once.

I just saw Anne Hathaway in Ocean’s 8 and really liked her but but in this film I feel like she over acted and in the end wasn’t very likable. Rebel Wilson didn’t give me much range. She is, at this point, the same thing in everything and it is getting old and tired.

I was pretty much over this movie about 20 minutes in. This is not one worth seeing in theaters, renting or even stealing for free. This one can be skipped.

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow is a dramatic thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton. It follows ballerina Dominika Egorova, played by Lawrence, who after becoming the victim of an unfortunate injury that sidelines her career, she is recruited to a Russian intelligence branch, known as the Red Sparrow, where she is forced to use her beauty as a weapon. 

I thought that the plot was a lot more interesting than the previews led on. It was surprisingly quite engaging throughout and had a great twist at the end.

I liked the character development for Dominika. She was cunning, smart, ruthless and independent. The costumes for her were chic but her hair looked like a bad wig and at times was a distraction. I also struggled with in the acting from the entire cast, especially Jennifer Lawrence, who is normally a really great actor but in this film I felt like she just wrote it in and didn’t fully commit. She was supposed to be Russian but her accent was terrible. It would fade in and out and was never quite strong enough. Additionally, the rest of the cast, that were supposed to be Russian, also had no accent or a fluctuating one. And hardly any of the Russian language was even spoken, which was an over site for a movie that was supposed to be based in that country. I also would have appreciated it if they would have given a lot more depth in the development of the rest of the cast in the storytelling.

Overall, since I came in with low expectations, I found this movie to be much less of a disappointment than originally anticipated. Now, I’m glad I didn’t watch it in theaters because I think that would have been a waste of money, but for an at home viewing, I found it to be tolerable but not something I would watch again.

Joker

Joker is the origin story of one of Batman’s archenemies starring Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro. 

Set in 1970s Gotham City, the cinematography was dark and gritty. The plot was engaging and unpredictable. The themes of mental illness and the effects of how people treat each other were sewn throughout the film. It was written and delivered so powerfully that if you didn’t know this was a comic book movie, it could have easily just been a well done fictional drama.

The acting was superb; everyone held up their parts. Robert De Niro was a surprise addition and his part was something slightly outside of his normal typecast so I liked him in his role. To me though, Joaquin Phoenix stole the show and properly carried this movie with his Oscar-worthy performance. He was a broken and deranged man, looking for love and happiness in all wrong ways. His commitment to this character was unmatched. This Joker is right up there with Heath Ledger’s performance.

I would not be surprised if this movie receives multiple nominations during awards season. It was an unexpected and impressive portrayal of this DC villain. Note, this is not your typical kid-friendly Marvel or DC movie, it has a lot of intense violence and uncomfortable scenarios. It was one that I had to wrap my head around before I watched because I knew that it may be hard to shake after the fact. In the end I think that this movie will be liked not just by comic book fans but also fans of crime dramas.

Tall Girl

Tall Girl is another Netflix produced, coming of age, teen romantic comedy/drama. This story follows high school junior, Jodi. She is bullied for being the tallest girl in her school, which has always made her feel insecure. But when a tall, handsome, foreign exchange student arrives, Jodi starts to look within to find the confidence to unapologetically be herself.

I thought that the plot was cute and easy to follow. It kind of reminded me of John Hughes' 1980s classic Pretty in Pink. To be honest, the mold for this movie is almost exact to so many of its predecessors so there isn't much that's unique in this story.

In regard to the cast, a lot of the actors were unknown to me but I liked the diversity of the group and their dynamics with one another. Some of the characters were clearly typecast, and they could have done a better job with character development, but for the most part, the cast did well with the script that they had.

There were plenty of parts that were predictable and others that didn’t make sense but I thought overall it was realistic and made some strides at being quite heartfelt. Though not a movie that I would watch again, it was fine for a one time watch. I'd recommend it for anyone who is a fan of this genera.

Ad Astra

Ad Astra is a science fiction film with an all-star cast led by Brad Pitt, including Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland. In the not so distant future, it follows Roy McBride, an astronaut, who must go on a mission into space to locate his long lost father and determine the cause of a threat to the Solar System.

The previews for this movie really hyped it up. All the reviews about how this is one of Brad Pitt’s best performances ever really drew me in. Visually I thought that the cinematography was well done. It was very vast and bright and the juxtaposition in the colors was brilliant.

After fully digesting Brad Pitt in this role I felt that he just borrowed from character in Meet Joe Black. His portrayal of Roy McBride required that he didn’t show a lot of emotion so I didn’t see a lot of range there until the end. It wasn’t a terrible performance, but just felt like something I’ve seen before. In regard to the rest of the cast, I liked Toomy Lee Jones and Ruth Negga in their roles but wished they both had more time to fully develop their characters. Of everyone I felt like Liv Tyler’s character warranted a lot more screen time. Her role was so basic and one dimensional that they didn’t even need a big name to fill it.

I found the plot to be very slow moving and the mood of entire movie to be flat. There were only a couple of times throughout the entire film where I felt any type of excitement or suspense. For the most part this movie was long, dry and boring. This is the type of space movie that I try to avoid.

Overall I think that the hype wasn’t warranted. I like Brad Pitt but this wasn’t one of his best films and in my opinion is one that can be skipped.

Little

Little is a comedy; it the story of a controlling and belittling boss who is cursed to be her teenage self. 

I thought that the movie’s themes of treating people right and being yourself even when it’s not perceived as cool were great messages to send to viewers. Overall the movie was fun and easy to follow. The plot was similar to a Freaky Friday scenario with the majority of the script being predictable but there were a couple of twists toward the end that were not foreseen.

I enjoyed the all-female led, diverse cast with a female director. I was impressed with the young actor from Black-ish, Marsai Martin, who not only starred in this film but also was one of the youngest to ever produce a film. Sometimes she overacted the scene, but the majority of her onscreen time was great. Additionally, I liked Regina Hall. She was however her normal self. She didn’t give me a lot of range. This was a safe role for her. I also liked seeing Issa Rae in this film. I think she was typecast but I still found her to be the heart and comedic genius of this movie.

This film was cute and sometimes quite funny. I would not say that it is something worth seeing in theatres but definitely worth supporting from home.

Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair is the story of a woman from a poverty stricken background using her wits and beauty to make her way up the ranks in English society in the early 1800s. The movie stars Reese Witherspoon as Rebecca "Becky" Sharp. It also had some familiar faces in James Purefoy as Colonel Rawdon Crawley, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Captain George Henry Osborne and Gabriel Byrne as the Marquess of Steyne. 

The movie came out over 15 years ago but still held up visually. The costume design was diverse, vibrant and appropriate for the time. The plot was easy to follow, short, sweet and to the point. On a number of occurrences the theme of rising up when you are knocked down was presented which was great to see.

The acting from the entire cast was well done. I especially enjoyed Reese Witherspoon in the leading role. She was fierce, smart, strong willed and resourceful. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was basically his Tutors character King Henry VIII. It’s clear that he has been typecast for a while as a villain of sorts. Gabriel Byrne and James Purefoy on the other hand brought something different to their roles and I thought that they both did well.

In the end I thought that this movie was just okay. For me it lacked a strong emotional connection and because of that didn’t leave me wanting to watch it again.

Miss Bala

Miss Bala is an action, drama based on a Spanish language version starring Gina Rodriguez. Gina played Gloria Fuentes, a makeup artist from Los Angeles. When Gloria heads to Tijuana to support her friend, Suzu Ramós, during the Miss Baja California pageant, they run into some trouble with a local gang and Gloria has to step outside her comfort zone to protect them both.

I like Gina Rodriguez, so, as much as I had a feeling this movie wasn’t going to be good, I still wanted to give it a chance for her. I enjoyed Gina’s portal Gloria; the growing confidence and ability to take her power back in this male dominated, corrupt world, however there was a lot that I didn’t like.

The plot was interesting but there were major holes in it and quite a few parts that were not realistic. This movie is supposed to cover a period of 3 days and it was just impractical, due to a serious lack in character development, how a make-up artist with no previous gun experience was able to survive multiple shoot outs with career criminals. Her relationship with the gang leader and how much he choose to trust her also didn't make sense because of the short amount of time they actually spent together. I also thought that there was too much English laced in this movie, since it was supposed to be based in Mexico. I really don't think in real life everyone would be as fluent as they all were in English.

Richard Roeper, a well-known writer and movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times said, "run away from Gina Rodriguez's ludicrous drug running shoot-em-up... Miss Bala is an early contender for a spot on my list of the worst movies of 2019." Since I choose to watch this at home, I didn’t have as visceral of a reaction as Roeper did to the film. After watching I’d say it’s not worth seeing in theatres, but it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve seen this year either. This is the type of movie that you can put on when you are bored and are down to take a ride with a movie that you can check out on because it won’t make any sense in the end.

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (TV Special)

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones is Dave Chappelle’s newest Netflix stand up special. He covers a variety of topics from Michael Jackson, R Kelly, the LGBTQ community, some of his time on the Chappelle show, the current climate of cancel culture and a number of other topics. 

For anyone who has ever seen his other standups or the Chappelle show, you will know that Dave Chappelle is more cutting edge than some of the other famous comedians out here right now. Before I watched I knew he was in hot water because of the Michael Jackson jokes, so before I saw it, I was on edge about what he was going to say. After hearing the jokes all the way though, I didn’t think it was a bad as some people felt. It may have been in bad taste but that is Chappelle’s style. I actually thought that his LGBTQ jokes could have been perceived as more offensive but no one was talking about those.

Just like with any of his previous standups, I found the majority of the set to be very funny, with only a few that did hit with me. For the most part I find his jokes to be very clever and his storytelling to be engaging, keeping you in for the hilarious punch at the end. Although I didn’t think it was necessary, I also liked his humility when he said, "if you’re in a group that I made fun of, then just know that I probably only make fun of you because I see myself in you."

In the end, I thought that this standup was pretty good. Not his best within the last few years but definitely up there. For those that are not super sensitive and can roll with the punches, this could be the one for you.

Men In Black - International

Men In Black – International is an action packed comedy starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. It is a spinoff of the Will Smith originals. In this story the Men in Black have to work together to figure out who the mole is within their organization.

I thought that the plot was predictable but still engaging and fun to watch. The cinematography and soundtrack had a nostalgic feel to it. Additionally, the movie itself was definitely kid friendly making the jokes mediocre softballs.

The acting was good from the majority of the cast, I especially enjoyed Tessa Thompson in this role. I was also surprised to see some star-studded casting in Rebecca Ferguson, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson. The only disappointment in the cast was the addition of professional dancers, Les Twins. They are amazing dancers but it didn’t make sense to have them in an actual role. The acting from them wasn’t that great and there was a lot of CGI used. I am assuming the director was trying to use their strength as dancers within their super powers but it just came off corny. I would have rather just seen them do a cameo as dancers than them have an actual part in the movie.

Overall, the film was cute and easy to follow. It was not something worth seeing in theatres but not bad if you are watching at home.

Angel Has Fallen

Angel Has Fallen is the third in the Olympus Has Fallen franchise. When Secret Service Agent Mike Banning is framed for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Allan Trumbull, he must work against the clock to discover the true threat while evading his own agency and the FBI. 

The plot was engaging throughout, the script was quite funny at times and the acting was great from the entire cast. I liked that Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman reprised their roles as Mike Banning and now President Trumbull, respectively. I liked their dynamic that they were able to transfer from the second film. This is the first time where I thought that Gerard might be a bit too old for this role. He was looking a little out of shape but was able to muster though this one in the end. Jada Pinkett Smith and Danny Huston were great additions to the cast. Jada was a smart, confident boss and Danny was conniving, calculated and intimidating. The only casting I was confused by, at first, was why Coyote Ugly actress, Piper Perabo replaced Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning, but in the end I was good with her portrayal.

I really enjoyed the suspenseful, high action sequences and the gritty fight choreography. The ending sequence wasn’t very realistic but still entertaining.

The editing was a little off, there were scenes in this film that were blatantly obvious when they were using a green screen. With the budget of this movie, you would have hoped that they could have cleaned that up a bit more.

Additionally, the movie was fairly predictable from the beginning with only a couple of twits to keep you on your feet at the end. With that being said, I still think the first movie was the best but this wasn’t bad for a third movie in a franchise. I thought that the story moved well and was definitely worth checking out in theatres, just be sure to re-watch the first two as a refresher before catching the third.

Aladdin

Aladdin is a remake of the 90s cartoon of a smart, good-natured street urchin and a power-hungry enemy who discover a magic lamp that has the power to make their wishes come true. The film had a surprising director choice in Guy Ritchie, who isn’t really known for kid friendly movies, and starring Will Smith as the Genie and lesser known actors Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi Scott as Jasmine.

The score was updated to correct some of the offensive language from the original, which was appreciated. They also incorporated some new songs, some of which were pretty corny but overall catchy and cute.

Speaking of corny, Will Smith’s version of the genie was just that. No one can really replace Robin Williams, but this wasn’t even close for me. Not only was his singing voice flat, he really struggled with some of the more emotional scenes. I had a hard time connecting to him and taking him seriously. I also wasn't feeling his facial or the wig that was pasted on top of his head. It all looked cheap and fake. He also had a single in the closing credits with DJ Khaled that was so bad, I had to leave the movie right then and there. In regard to the other characters, I liked the choice of Princess Jasmine. She had a great singing voice and a more empowered personality than the original. I liked that she portrayed a more independently thinking, strong willed character. The casting of Aladdin wasn’t my favorite, he was a good actor but I thought that he was too old for the role and his singing voice wasn’t that great. Additionally, the Jafar casting wasn’t anything like the cartoon. Not only did he not have the same body type, he also didn’t rock the signature facial hair, which was a disappointment.

The costumes were a modern, conservative twist on original. I loved the colors and I appreciated the more practical wardrobes, but I do wish they would have still re-introduced some of the well-known outfits from the original.

I liked the vibrant, Bollywood infused dance sequences, especially the one toward the end. I also liked the high action sequences and stunt work throughout the movie.

Overall, Aladdin is a fun, nostalgia-filled walk down memory lane. They made a valiant effort to mirror the original but it didn’t quite get there for me. Therefore I’d say skip this one in theatres and wait for it on home video.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is a high action spin off of the Fast & Furious franchise. The story takes place two years after The Fate of the Furious. Recruited by the CIA & MI6, Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw are forced to form an undesirable alliance to locate and protect a fellow MI6 agent who comes in contact with a virus that could destroy the world.

The plot was easy to follow and engaging. I enjoyed the high action moments, especially the motorcycle sequences. The script was basic with a lot of corny lines but expected for this series.

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham reprised their roles as Hobbs and Shaw, respectively. They were a good duo. Statham had the funnier delivery and script. Johnson was too much at times with some really bad dad jokes. Additionally there were too many references to Johnson’s size and strength and his old persona as The Rock. There were also a lot of Game of Thrones references which were two months too late and too many. Idris Elba played Brixton Lore, a genetically enhanced villain who has a much skewed vision for the future of humanity. I thought he did a great job as the bad guy. The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby played Hattie, an MI6 agent. She showed me some very different acting chops and had some really great fight choreography. She definitely held her own in this male dominated film. There were also hilarious and unexpected cameos which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked that the cast was diverse and the input of Samoan culture was great.

For those who have seen previous Fast & Furious movies, you know what you are getting into with this type of movie. It’s not going to be nominated for any Oscars but I thought that it was entertaining though not very realistic and predictable from the beginning. If you are into this franchise, you will still like this one.

The Spy Who Dumped Me

The Spy Who Dumped Me is an action-comedy starring Justin Theroux, Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon and Outlander’s Sam Heughan. After Audrey, played by Kunis, discovers her ex-boyfriend is a spy, she and her best friend Morgan, played by McKinnon, unwillingly become entangled in an international operation. 

The entire cast did well, though it would have been nice to see some diversity among the group. I liked seeing Heughan outside of Outlander and showing some range within his skillset. The script was quite amusing with McKinnon taking the lead. She was much funnier in this than Ghostbusters. The plot was engaging with a couple of good twists but the major pieces were pretty predictable from the beginning. It also wasn’t very realistic but it was still enjoyable. I also appreciated that this movie had two strong female leads at the helm that didn’t rely on men. I thought that visually the movie did well with the variety of sets and the action sequences.

I purposely skipped seeing this one in theatres and I’m glad I did. I found it to be much more enjoyable as an at home movie. In saving my money on this one I was able to take the movie for what it was without the pretenses and what I saw was that it wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible. Just good enough to enjoy at home, on a random holiday Monday.

The Intruder

The Intruder is a drama starring Meagan Good, Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy and Power’s Joseph Sikora. When married couple Scott & Annie Russell find their dream home, they think they are getting the fresh start they both want, little do they know, the former home owner has no plans on leaving his property.

I thought that the plot was interesting and that acting from the entire cast was pretty good. I liked seeing the main characters, played by Megan Good and Michael Ealy, in non-stereotypical roles. I also thought that they had good chemistry. Dennis Quaid did well as the creepy former home owner, Charlie Peck and it was nice to see Joseph Sikora in something outside of Power. Unfortunately he didn’t give me a lot of range and overall the character development for the cast was weak. Additionally, I was not a fan of Megan Good’s hair style nor wardrobe. It looked lazy and as if she wasn’t put together by a real stylist.

Overall this was just as bad as what they previews showed. It was predictable, not realistic and not worth seeing again.

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood has been called a love letter to Hollywood and movie making by its director, Quentin Tarantino and the cast. It is a fictional story of a fading television actor, Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and his best friend and stunt double, Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt. It is set during the transition of Hollywood's Golden Age to the hippy era in 1969 Los Angeles.

Although the plot was fictional it did touch on some authentic historical content including the sets, the costumes, the music, some of the Manson Family history along with Margot Robbie playing Sharon Tate and a couple of the TV shows that DiCaprio’s Dalton were on were also real shows, all of which I thought was pretty interesting. Additionally, the storytelling was unique. Something I always thought was interesting about Tarantino’s writing was that he does his own thing. You know with his movies he will be bringing the over the top violence and providing a different, and at times satisfying, twist on history.

A lot of critics are talking about how great Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio were together and I have to agree with them. They had a very effortless and natural chemistry. I haven’t seen Pitt in a lead role, with as much hype as this movie, in quite a while, so I was pleased with his triumphant return. DiCaprio was surprisingly very funny and vulnerable. I thought that the character development was strong for them which made both likeable. Where the character development lacked for me was with Sharon Tate’s character. Not only was I was hoping Robbie would have had more lines but her on screen time wasn’t as extensive as it could have been. You are just left feeling like she was a sweet girl but nothing else. You couldn’t really connect with her character.

The movie was long but didn’t feel like it. The only issue I had was with some of the editing. There were these odd, sometimes lingering shots of characters feet. It didn’t make sense in the scene and after further research I discovered that apparently Tarantino has a foot fetish. Other than those few minutes of confusion I thought that the movie was entertaining, unpredictable and funny. This isn’t my favorite Tarantino movie but it is worth checking out.

UglyDolls

UglyDolls is an animated film that follows Moxy, a free-spirited doll, that doesn’t conform to the beliefs that she is not pretty enough or perfect enough for the love of a child. Throughout her story she and her UglyDoll friends have to confront those who don’t appreciate their differences and have to find ways to encourage others to embrace their uniqueness.

I found the movie to be surprisingly star studded. It was a borderline musical with all of the catchy numbers. I was glad that they picked a lot of popular singers to do the voices. Kelly Clarkson was the lead voice of Moxy, Pitbull, Ice-T, Blake Shelton, Wanda Sykes, Janelle Monáe and Nick Jonas were all also a part of the cast.

The animation was visually appealing, the story was engaging and the plot was relatable. Where I think that the movie lost me was that it was too focused on the negativity of the plot. You almost wonder how this could be a child friendly movie at times. The run time was 87 minutes but it took until about 60 minutes in to finally see the more positive themes in this underdog tale.

With that being said, I thought that the movie meant well but I don’t really think that this was able to strongly showcase the themes that they were trying to highlight. I think that it could be easy for kids to misinterpret the purpose of the movie, thus this is not one that I would recommend for kids and not worth checking out for adults.

Spider-Man: Far from Home

Spider-Man: Far from Home is the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. It picks up right after Avengers: Endgame. In this film Peter Parker is still reeling from the death of his friend and mentor. All he wants to do is check out and enjoy his international summer school trip but Nick Fury has other plans for him. Peter then has to come to terms with either stepping up as a leader and an Avenger or falling back, putting the world at risk.

In this Marvel film I had more enjoyment of the script and cast dynamics than I did with the actual action sequences. Quite a few people came back from the original group of actors, which I enjoyed. The new additions also did a great job playing off of one another. I am really enjoying seeing Zendaya on screen as MJ. She was once again a great co-star to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. She has such spot on, dead pan sarcasm. Someone who is direct and straight forward on what she says. I also liked her seemingly disinterested yet still very interested personality. The script was very age appropriate for the cast, which I appreciated. I don’t like it when writers create a script for high school characters but the conversations that are so full of depth that you know it’s not what high school kids would be saying. Additionally, the plot moved well, there was never a dull moment. I also found the twists within the story to be unpredictable and interesting.

Within this great film there were only a couple of things I wasn’t fully on board with, the villain was one. I thought he was a bit corny and not as threatening or believable as a Thanos, per se. Also, the action sequences were well choreographed and visually appealing but not as heart pounding or engaging as previous Marvel movies.

With all of that being said, I still really liked this movie. I thought that it was an enjoyable ride, full of funny moments, great acting and plenty of heart. I would definitely recommend checking this out in theatres.

Rocketman

Rocketman is an Elton John bio pic and musical. It follows him from about age 7 until his mid-thirties, covering some of the most tumultuous times in his life.

I thought that the plot was interesting. There were a lot of pieces in Elton John’s life that I didn’t know much about. The movie did a good job giving you insight into his family dynamic, his long standing and destructive addictions and his friendships and relationships.

In regard to the acting. I was impressed across the board. The last movie I saw with Taron Egerton was Robin Hood, which was terrible, so I came in with low expectations for his role as Elton John. I am happy to say that I was actually very impressed with his portrayal. Not only did he sing well, but he was also able to humanize Elton in a way that you don’t see in this iconic singer’s depiction though the media lens or even in his performances. You saw a vulnerable man trying to come to terms with the relationship that he had with his family, someone trying to gain confidence and come into his own while also trying to manage the frenzy that was forming around him during the height of his career.

Additionally, I didn’t know much about Elton's relationship with his longtime songwriter Bernie Taupin, played by Jamie Bell, so that was also an interesting plot line. Bryce Dallas Howard was a great choice for his mother, Sheila. She wasn’t the kindest woman and some of the things that she would say to Elton were terrible, but I think that she was trying to do the best she could with the tools that she had. I also enjoyed seeing Richard Madden as Elton’s love interest, John Reid. It was nice to see this Game of Thrones alum showcase some variety in his craft.

I’m not a huge Elton John fan but I was surprised by how many songs I recognized. I also liked the montage at the end where you see old photos of Elton compared to photos of Taron. They did a great job in the costume department replicating some of Elton’s most iconic outfits.

Where the movie lost me a bit was in some of its editing and that it was heavy on the musical side, almost corny at times. I got Austin Powers vibes with some of the earlier musical sequences in the film. I would have liked it to be more like Bohemian Rhapsody, which was more of a movie with the music parts seamlessly intertwined.

Overall I thought that the movie was good. Not one worth seeing in theatres, but something worth catching once it makes its way to video.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile is a historic drama that follows Ted Bundy's former girlfriend, Elizabeth "Liz" Kendall during the height of the Bundy murders and his subsequent trial. 

I thought that Zac Efron did a great job playing a conniving, charismatic serial killer. I thought that Lily Collins did well as Liz, I enjoyed the surprise additions of Jim Parsons and John Malkovich. Efron for me, however, stole the show. He showed some range that I've never seen from him before. His presence was the only thing that kept me locked into this movie.

In the editing, I liked how the director, Joe Berlinger, did some scenes, like Bundy’s jail interview or his behavior in court, almost shot for shot as to what it was in real life. He also wanted you to see the film from innocent eyes, from the perspective of Liz, someone who thought Bundy was innocent until the end. I understand the reasoning behind the choice of not actually showing the majority of the murders, but I feel that they missed something there with not properly depicting the heinous crimes of this particular individual.

In the end I wasn’t really satisfied with the direction of this film or the time taken to cover this moment in history. Efron fans will be able to stick with it but everyone else can skip this lackluster movie.

Dark Phoenix

Dark Phoenix is the last of the X-Men First Class prequels. The plot centers on Jean Grey, played by Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner. During a mission she encounters an alien power that changes her into the Dark Phoenix, making her a danger to anyone around her. The X-Men must decide to either kill her or help her control her new power. 

I’m always impressed by the caliber of actor that choose to do these super hero movies. This one did not disappoint in its quality. Mega stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence all reprised their roles from the previous films. An impressive addition was Oscar-nominated actress, Jessica Chastain. The entire cast all brought her A-Game to these roles.

I also enjoyed the cinematography. Specifically the editing, the fight sequences and the CGI. It all looked crisp and realistic. The movie was full of action and fun.

On the downside, I thought that the script wasn’t that great and that the plot was full of holes. I was hoping that this would be the movie to connect this series to the original X-Men films from the 2000s, but it didn’t. Now that I know there will be no other movies from this franchise, I find myself having more questions than when I started.

With that being said, I am a fan of this genera and I still liked what the movie. I know what I'm getting myself into when seeing these films, so I took it for what it was worth. If you are like me, and sometimes just want something easy to follow and are cool with just going with what you are given, this is the one for you.

Into The Forest

Into The Forest is a pre-apocalyptic dramatic thriller, based on the novel of the same name. It follows two sisters, in the near future, who have to learn how to survive on their own in a remote area, after a massive, country-wide, power outage. 

I found the plot to be very interesting, suspenseful and engaging throughout. It wasn’t easily predictable and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The editing and cinematography were able to capture the vast beauty and also danger of what is in the forest.

The acting was powerful and compelling from Ellen Page as Nell and Evan Rachel Wood as Eva. The character development was well done, you connect with these sisters; you feel their pain and anxieties.

I liked the themes of sticking together, family, resiliency and female empowerment.

If you are in the mood for a heart pumping, anxiety triggering film, with great acting across the board, check this one out.

Barry

Barry is a Netflix film about former president, Barack Obama. It is a snapshot of his life during his time in New York at Columbia University. 

The movie did a great job of showing the way his experiences shaped who he is as a person. I thought that the actor who portrayed, Barack, Devon Terrell, who was unknown to me, did a good job re-enacting the former president’s cadence. He was able to show him as a young, slightly naive, well-meaning person trying to figure out who he is and what he is meant to do in the world. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Ashley Judd in this movie. She played Barry’s mom and I thought that she also did a nice job in her role.

It is a bit slow moving but I found it to be interesting never the less. I’m sure that there was some creative liberties taken for entertainment purposes but for the most part, I thought the movie seemed believable.


If you are looking for a relatively honest bio-pic about President Obama, this could be the one for you.

I Am Mother

I Am Mother is a Netflix produced science fiction thriller. Set in a post-apocolipic world, a child is born in an isolated bunker. She is called Daughter and is raised by a robot she calls Mother. When a stranger arrives with some disturbing news, Daughter starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. 

I wanted to see the movie because Hilary Swank is in it. She is a fantastic actor but the character she played was hard to connect to. There was a mystery to her at first but as the film went on I couldn’t really believe what was perceived as her end goal. I wish there was some further development with her character to really understand her more. Rose Byrne was the voice of the robot, Mother. I thought that it was a unique and interesting choice for her. The main actor, Clara Rugaard, who is lesser known, did a decent job carrying this movie. The interactions between her, the robot Mother and Hilary were good. I thought that they all did well with what they had; I just think it’s tough to bring a movie to life that has such few characters and not enough meat or depth in the scrip and character development.

Additionally, the plot was interesting but slow moving. The ending left me with a lot of unanswered questions. Some additional context would have been helpful in this film. I think that this is another movie full of great ideas that fell flat at the end. Because of that, I would suggest skipping this one.

Always Be My Maybe

Always Be My Maybe is a Netflix produced romantic comedy starring, comedian, Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Fresh Off the Boat star, Randall Park as Marcus Kim. Ali and Marcus have been best friends since childhood. 16 years after an awkward moment with Marcus, Ali moves back to San Francisco, to open one of her famous restaurants. After an unexpected visit, she re-connects with Marcus for a life changing experience. 

The plot was fun and easy to follow. The script was smart and hilarious. I liked that the cast was diverse and everyone interacted well with one another. I have never seen Ali’s stand up nor Randall’s show, but after enjoying them so much on screen, I now want to go back and watch some of their other material. The only misstep was that there were a couple of scenes with Keanu Reeves that were a bit over the top and uncomfortable to watch.

In the end, the movie was a fun and heartwarming. It was another great Netflix rom-com that brings it all the way until the final scene. Though predictable, I still enjoyed the movie and would definitely recommend it as a fun date night film.

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give is a drama featuring, The Hunger Games, Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, who I know from the TV shows, Lincoln Heights and Seven Seconds, Insecure’s Issa Rae and rapper, Common. When Starr Carter, played by Amandla, witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer, she must make the decision of staying quite or standing up for what’s right.

I thought that the plot was very relevant and heartbreaking. The character development was strong and the script was well written and honest. They talked about gang mentality, snitching and how to break the cycle of negativity in one’s community. I also liked the touches on the issues of code switching, which is very real for people of color. Code switching is how one must act differently in front of their community vs outside of their community and how that affects a person’s ability to be their true self in either setting.

There was great acting across the board but I really connected with Amandla’s character. I thought that she did a wonderful job bringing this person to life. The only issue I had was that I thought that Russell Hornsby, who played Maverick 'Mav' Carter, Starr’s father, was typecast. I’ve seen this character from him before, multiple times. It would have been nice to see something else from him, but I thought that he still did well in the role.

Overall, this one is heavy and hard to watch at times, but is one that I think young adults up to adults should see, especially in the current climate.

Irreplaceable You

Irreplaceable You is a romantic drama starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Game of Thrones actor, Michiel Huisman. When Abbie, played by Gugu, receives a life changing diagnosis she and her fiancé, Sam, played by Michiel, go through a roller-coaster of emotions coming to terms with the results. 

The plot was engaging. The themes of everlasting love, friendship and grief were all poignant in this film. The script was well written and smart with the comedic jab.

The character development and acting were done so well that you really feel for these people. Gugu and Michiel were great together. I was touched by their chemistry. Gugu really brought her acting chops to this role and did a great job carrying this film. I also enjoyed some surprising additions to the cast in Kate McKinnon as Glass Half Full Kate and Christopher Walken as Myron. They were both was very funny and helped to lighten up the tone of the film.

This movie reminded me a lot of PS I Love You, which is another favorite of mine. It was full of heart, stellar acting, some touches of comedic charm and just a full on tear-jerker. If you are looking for a good cry this movie is the one for you.

The Place Beyond the Pines

The Place Beyond the Pines is a crime drama, the name coming from the loose translation of the name of the city, Schenectady, that the movie is set in. The movie stars, Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. When a motorcycle stunt rider, played by Gosling, discovers he has a child, but is unable to support his child with a low paying job, he decides to start robbing banks. During a particular robbery he has an encounter with a cop, played by Cooper, which ends up changing both of their lives for generations. 

The story was gritty and dark. It had a couple of odd plot transitions, the shift in main character about an hour in was different from other movies that I had seen in the past. It made me have to wrap my head around the fact that this is, in a sense, like a 3 act film, which I was not anticipating.

In regard to the acting, I was mostly on board. I liked Eva Mendes as the love interest, Romina. She played a hardworking, loving, and driven mom. I was pleasantly surprised to see Mahershala Ali in this film. He played a supportive and kind step-father. A young Bradley Cooper also brings his A-game to this movie, as a cutthroat cop. Ryan Gossling was the only disappointment to the cast. He was one-dimensional and boring.

Overall this movie wasn’t my taste. It had a tension throughout and a low budget, indie vibe to it. I couldn’t connect to the characters and I wasn’t fully convinced by the outcome of the plot, which seemed a bit unrealistic to me. I'd say skip this one.

Before The Flood

Before The Flood is the 2016 climate change documentary narrated by and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The title is in reference to the Triptych oil painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights, by Hieronymus Bosch, which shows three panels on the inside, the left shows the meeting of Adam and Eve, the center is the world in excess and the right is a version of Hell. 

I thought I knew about climate change already but I found the film to be quite informative. Sometimes films like this can be a bit dry or boring but Leo did a good job in that he was able to travel the world and interview a number of different people, which kept my attention throughout.

Some of the places that he went to that I found interesting were, China, where he talked with leaders about their transition from highest polluter in the world, to their beginnings of transition to more wind and solar. He also went to India, where he had a bit of a tense conversation with a woman talking about their poor countries struggle with changing over from coal to renewable energy and how the US, as a global leader, needs to step up first before less developed countries would be inclined to join in.

Some of the more depressing parts were seeing the Island of Palau, where the effects of climate change can already be seen in the flooding of their island and their homes due to sea level rising. You also see what this destruction has done to coral reefs which is leading to starvation in certain parts of the world. One of Leo’s interviewers stated that in the last 30 years, 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost. In Indonesia they are experiencing the destruction of 80% of Sumatra’s rain forests for palm oil, which is used in food and cosmetics in the US.

Something that I also found interesting was that this documentary was created during Leo’s filming of The Revenant. He shared his first-hand experience on what climate change is doing to the world, because the cast and crew had to relocate from their set in Canada to finish filming in Argentina, since it was one of the last places in the world that still had snow.

The most impactful part to me was in the end were Leo interviewed an astronaut who said, the ice is melting, the world is warming, seas are rising. In a few decades parts the world will become drier with less food and water, in places where icebergs have stood for centuries, they will continue to melt and flood, and other parts of the world will get colder. He was however optimistic in a possibility to repair the trajectory that we are on, he talked about even simple changes like changing our diets, such as switching beef for chicken.

I found this documentary to be very well done with a lot of insightful information. Because of this documentary, I have been inspired to work on doing my part to make a better impact on this world. Hopefully anyone else who finds this subject interesting will take a look at the documentary and be inspired themselves.

The Highwaymen

The Highwaymen is a Netflix produced biography about two older, retired Texas Rangers, Frank Hamer and Maney Gaul in the 1930s, hired to hunt down Bonnie and Clyde.

I didn’t know a lot about these people and only knew high level about Bonnie and Clyde so I found the story to be quite interesting.

The cast was impressive for a Netflix film, not only were Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson in this movie, but also starred Kathy Bates. Costner and Harrelson played the leads, Frank Hamer and Maney Gaul, respectively, and Bates played the first female governor of Texas, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson. They were all great in their roles. Kathy Bates gave a strong and convincing performance. It was great to see her in such a commanding and important role. Kevin Costner didn’t give me anything new with his range, but he played a character that was strong in his convictions, sometimes a bit out of control, but overall a great even keeled leader for the team and for the role. I also liked that Woody Harrelson brought some comedic jabs to the script to help lighten up the seriousness of the situation.

Esthetically, the set design and costumes looked quite authentic for the time period.

I thought that the writers and director did a good job focusing on the perspective of the law enforcement and less on romanticizing Bonnie and Clyde, which is what the news media was doing at the time and what other movies have done in the past. Where it lacked in action, it was able to bring suspense and was thankfully was not too dialogue heavy.

If you are looking for a well-made drama with a steady moving, surprisingly refreshing plot then this bio-pic this could be the one for you.

#RealityHigh

#RealityHigh is another Netflix produced, coming-of-age drama. It follows high school senior, Dani Barnes. She is a nerd with a clear plan for her future. She is not noticed by many, until one day the most popular boy in school asks her out and the most popular girl in school befriends her, drawing her into a Southern California lifestyle that threatens everything she's worked so hard to achieve.

You could pretty much tell how this story was going to play out by the previews. Even though the plot was predictable and typical for this genera, I still found it to be quite enjoyable. It had Mean Girls themes. It also reminded me of She’s All That or Pretty in Pink at times but with a much more modern, diverse cast.

The way social media was used in this film was pretty smart and realistic for the time. The script was good it had some sweet and humorous moments, with only a few parts that were not very convincing.

The acting from the entire cast was entertaining. The principle, played by Pitch Perfect’s John Michael Higgins and the veterinarian, played by Grey's Anatomy’s Kate Walsh, were the only two people I recognized from the group, the rest were relatively unknown to me. The lead actress, Nesta Cooper who played Dani Barnes was not only very pretty but also a great actress. She did a great job of bringing this awkward, naive and innocent character to life. Keith Powers who played the star athlete and her love interest, Cameron Drak, as did a great job in his role giving me Zack Siler, from She's All That, character vibes. Together I thought that they had great chemistry and played well off of one another.

I liked almost everything about this movie, it was fun, full of growth and redemption. An overall a proper chick flick. If this is your genera you’ll like this one.