He's All That

 

He’s All That is a modern remake of the 1999 hit She’s All That. In the gender swapping re-creation Padgett Sawyer, played by TikTok star Addison Rae, is a social media influencer and popular girl at school who takes a bet that she can transform the anti-social and nonconforming classmate, Cameron Kweller, played by Tanner Buchanan, into the next prom king.

I liked that the plot attempted to reinvent the original script with the gender swap. They were also very tech heavy which was appropriate for the modern age. I also appreciated that they tried to pay homage to the original in a number of different ways, including the soundtrack and an almost exact timeline of events. The problem was that the script was corny, not very funny, and I wasn't a fan that in a couple of parts it was also verbatim to the original.

Regarding casting, I enjoyed that they brought back Matthew Lillard and Rachael Leigh Cook but I wish that they would have reprised their original roles. I was also disappointed that more of the original cast didn't come back. For the new group, I wasn’t a huge fan of Kourtney Kardashian’s part. She didn’t actually showcase any acting skills, she might as well have just done a cameo vs playing a character. Addison Rae and Cameron Kweller had some awkward moments and lacked chemistry. The casting director and writers also dropped the ball when it came to properly showcasing the diversity of their characters. Not only was there less people of color than the original but they were also lazy in the writing by stereotyping the minorities. The Black people were the villains or the backup dancers and the Asian people were the nerdy tech gurus or the sidekick friends. They all had minimal character development and hardly any lines.

In the end, this movie was not even remotely as good as the original. It felt too gimmicky and predictable. It also didn't give me the nostalgia I was looking for. Therefore, I came away feeling like this was a lackluster attempt and not worth watching again.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

 

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is the sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard starring Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L Jackson. It picks up where the last left off with Reynolds’ character, Michael Bryce, struggling with the fact that his body guarding career is in shambles. When a terror attack threatens Europe, he must push past his insecurities, to grudging team up with the last people he'd want to work with again, hitman, Darius Kincaid played by Jackson, and his wife, Sonia, played by Hayek.

The plot was foreseeable at times but still very entertaining with high action from almost the beginning, It was funny, with great themes about getting up when you are knocked down and pushing forward though adversity.

Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L Jackson had strong chemistry and worked well off of one another. Salma was the star of the movie and was very funny. I was also impressed when she discussed in interviews that she did her own stunts. I also enjoyed the addition of Morgan Freeman.

Overall, I thought that this was a proper sequel, equal to or perhaps even better than the original. It was full of fun; a clever comedy worth checking out.

Snake Eyes

 

Snake Eyes is a GI Joe origin story starting Henry Golding as the titular character, a young man who has dedicated his entire life to avenging his father's death.

I liked that this wasn’t a typical GI Joe movie. I was worried it would turn into the disgrace that was 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, but thankfully they gave us something better. The plot, which incredibly predictable, was still very engaging. It had heart and relevant themes around family and loyalty.

There was also great fight choreography that was quite creative at times, with well-done cinematography. They did a great job of showcasing some beautiful sets and vast Japanese landscapes. I also liked the traditional costumes.

Regarding the casting, I thought that Henry Golding was a superb choice. He is a leading man and brought range to the role. I also thought it was great that there were no damsels in destress. All of the women cast were strong leading ladies that could handle their own. 

My only critique is that this was set in Japan but there was only a sprinkle of Japanese used. I would have liked the script to have had more authenticity in that aspect.

Overall though, this was a pretty good movie. It is one that is definitely worth checking out and I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel.

Free Guy

 

Free Guy is a story about a non-player character (NPC) who begins to evolve and see his life for more than just the game he's been programed into.

The evolution of AI is not an unknown concept, as it has been used in past movies, however this plot was still able to give me a unique and interesting take on the subject. The script had great themes around bravery, breaking free of the status quo, and opening your mind to new possibilities. Unfortunately the jokes were weak; I only laughed a couple of times.

I liked the interesting choice of casting, many of the people I didn't recognize, but I appreciated the diversity and thought everyone played well off of one another. The character development could have used some work. I didn't have a strong investment in any of leads.

Even though Free Guy was predictable I did enjoy the lighthearted nature of the movie. However, this is not worth spending money on in theaters. I’d recommend waiting for it to drop on a streaming service.

Untold: Malice at the Palace

 

Untold: Malice at the Palace is a Netflix distributed documentary that goes into deep detail surrounding the 2004 brawl between Detroit Pistons fans and a few Indiana Pacers players.

This documentary did a great job being impartial unlike the media at the time. I couldn’t believe some of the things media personnel were saying. They would never be able to get away with some of the racist language that they used against the NBA players today. I was young when this originally happened so I didn’t really have much of an understanding as to what went down but now that I’ve seen this, I feel really bad for the athletes involved. Many of them were robbed of their opportunities to win a championship and some had an unnecessarily tarnished image for the remainder of their careers.

The issue to me is with the fans. The emotional investment for some of them was really out of control. I will never understand why some fans feel like they have the right to assault professional athletes or that they can do anything else besides just watch the game.

In the end I thought this was a well-made documentary that left me with a deeper understanding of what happened in 2004. I also see how the NBA still has so much more to learn when it comes to protecting their players. Almost 20 years later, it’s sad to me that the culture shift still hasn’t happened and that fans are still behaving so disrespectfully to players.

Sweet Girl

Sweet Girl is a Netflix distributed action thriller starring Jason Momoa and Isabela Merced. Set it Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Ray Cooper, played by Momoa, is a husband plagued by the death of his wife. He pledges to bring justice to the people responsible while doing everything in his power to protect his daughter, the only family he has left.

In his directorial debut, Brian Andrew Mendoza, did a great job, the plot was interesting and had an impressive and unpredictable twist. The cinematography was also good with the back and forth of time. The only critique I'd give is that sometimes certain scenes in the script were too convenient; it would have been better if certain goals were harder to get to.

Jason Momoa brought his A-Game to his role as the lead actor, producer, and informal casting agent. He chose Isabela and I noticed one of his friends, Michael Raymond-James, who I've seen in True Blood, Once Upon A Time, the Momoa led Road to Paloma and Frontier. There were also plenty of Easter eggs throughout that showed Momoa’s influence from the knives, to the pink cell phone case and some of the character names.

From an acting perspective this was the best I've seen Momoa, minus an exaggerated crying scene that could have used some work. I hadn't seen Isabela in any other movies, but I was impressed with her range and the fact that she did her own stunts. Even though he and Isabela Merced have had a couple of awkward press conferences together, they didn't show any of that in the film. They had very strong bond and there was a decent amount of character development for them. I also liked the diversity in casting, but I would have liked to have seen a deeper dive in some of the supporting characters' backstories. I was also impressed with the crisp and realistic fight choreography.

In the end, Sweet Girl was a surprisingly well done movie, with an engaging plot and a great twist at the end. This is definitely worth checking out.

Awake

 

Awake is a Netflix distributed science fiction thriller starring Gina Rodriguez as a mother and former U.S. Army medic, Jill Adams, who might have the answer to a disturbing global event that wiped out all electronics and for some reason has also prevented everyone's ability to sleep except for her daughter.

I thought that the plot was unique and unpredictable, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I liked the diversity of the casting and the acting from the entire group was pretty good, even with the lack of character development. Rodriguez did well carrying the movie in the leading role as a smart, strong, brave, single mother willing to do anything to protect her children. I wish they would have dug deeper in her backstory. It was hinted that she was a recovering addict and that she had some strained relationships but we kind of had to guess as to why because the script never revealed those necessary details to make a well-rounded character.

The ending only addresses a portion of the plot points so you are left wanting more. Since this was a Netflix issued movie it wasn’t terrible but they could have done more to really bring this to a more satisfying end.

The Kissing Booth 3

 

The Kissing Booth 3 is the third and final installment of Netflix’s Kissing Booth series. It picks up where the second left off; it’s the summer before Elle and her best friend Lee go off to college. Elle wants to make it the best summer ever but is hiding a secret that might just ruin her plans.

The plot was a bit played out and predictable but I still thought it was engaging. I liked that they continued the original themes around the evolution of friendships and love. I thought it was relatable how Elle was dealing with the internal struggle of pleasing others vs finding what makes her happy. I also liked the cinematography and and use of flashbacks to really bring together how close theses characters were.

I appreciated that everyone from the original cast came back again including Molly Ringwald who is so great in that maternal, caring role. Joel Courtney who plays Elle’s best friend Lee was overacting at times so it was a bit of a distraction but the rest of the group were all great. Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Taylor Zakhar Perez, who all reprised their roles of Elle, Noah, Chloe and Marco, respectively, all played well off of one another. I also liked that they dug deeper into the character development of Chloe.

At first I was a bit disappointed in the lack of growth and development for these characters but as time passed I did see a suitable arch. It ended up being a good trilogy, coming full circle. It was a proper goodbye that was heartfelt and a bit of a tear jerker.

Till Death

 

Till Death is a thriller starting Megan Fox. She plays Emma, a woman in an unhappy marriage to her husband Mark. On their 10th wedding anniversary, Mark surprises her with a romantic evening at their secluded lake house, in the dead of winter. Things seem like they might be picking back up again but everything quickly changes the next morning when she finds herself handcuffed to Mark's dead body. Stuck to him and isolated, Emma begins to learn this is only the beginning of Mark's twisted revenge plan.

I thought that the plot was unique with a well written script and the editing was really great and suspenseful.

The character development wasn’t too bad overall. They did enough throughout to give a good picture of almost everyone’s backstory so that it seemed more believable. This was, by far, Megan Fox's best work to date. She was able to hold my attention though her character’s bravery, toughness, wit and resourcefulness. I was definitely locked in, sitting on the edge of my seat, hoping for her survival.

In the end, I was really impressed by the quality of this movie. A couple of parts were a bit foreseeable but overall pretty unpredictable and gripping.

Midnight in the Switchgrass

 

Midnight in the Switchgrass is loosely based on the true story of “The Truck Stop Killer.” It follows a FBI agent and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent as they investigate a string of unsolved murder cases of young women.

I thought that the plot was interesting and with such a stellar cast I assumed that this was going to be a really great movie. Unfortunately, the acting was terrible from everyone except Emile Hirsch. He was the only one that kept me somewhat engaged. I was really disappointed in Bruce Willis. It was like he just phoned this one in; giving no effort what so ever. I haven’t seen Megan Fox in anything in a while but she definitely seems like she’s the same in everything. This was particularly bad for her though and I'm not sure if it was just the script or if it was her delivery as well. There was also a lack in chemistry for the entire cast.

The writing overall was terrible, the dialogue was amateur at best and when getting deeper into the story there were a lot of parts that didn't make any sense.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the cinematography. The editing in general was bad but the over excessive use of the metaphorical switchgrass edits, in the camerawork, was the absolute worst.

The Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox romance that was sparked after the making of this movie is what the media pushed to encourage people to see this film. And honestly it was part of the reason why I wanted to see it but after seeing it I now get why they focused more on the outside noise vs the actual product. This movie was one of the worst I’ve seen all year and was a complete waste of time.

The Suicide Squad

 

The Suicide Squad is the sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad directed and written by Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker, James Gunn. Picking up where the last left off, a new cast of anti-heroes from Belle Reve prison join Task Force X, a secret agency run by Intelligence Officer Amanda Waller, reprised by Viola Davis. She instructs Col. Rick Flag, Harley Quinn and their crew to embark on new deadly mission, on the island of Corto Maltese.

With James Gunn at the helm on this movie I was optimistic that it would be a much improved film. I thought that the script and the plot twists were better and it was funnier than the original. The Guardians movies are known for their amazing soundtracks so I was also listening closely to the music choices in this film and found them to be pretty good as well.

I liked the choice in casting. With Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman reprising their roles, they led the way. And then with the new additions of Idris Elba and John Cena giving some extra physicality, punch and comedy; it was a unique but well curated bunch.

The fight sequences and action choreography were entertaining. Margot Robbie's character, Harley Quinn had by far the most impressive, physically creative, stunt choreography.

Unfortunately, just like the original, the main villain was terrible. It was so cheesy I couldn’t even believe this was something that they would pick. Sometimes I feel like when you tow too close to the comic book line, it doesn’t always play out right to a non-comic book reading audience.

Overall, this movie was an improvement from the original regarding the script, action and acting however it was still a lackluster film and not one I'd watch again. 

Naomi Osaka Documentary

 

Naomi Osaka is a 3 part Netflix documentary series that shows the evolution of a young tennis star dealing with the struggles of being a naturally introverted person in a competitive sport, and trying to figure out how to handle fame and the confidence to use her voice for good.

I'm glad this came out on Netflix and not another service provider where I would have to wait a week for each part. Parts 1 & 2 were a bit repetitive. It was a lot of the footage that showed how reserved Naomi was. I thought it was interesting that she talked a lot about being nervous and socially awkward because of her homeschooled upbringing. You see a lot of shots of her looking sad or being nervous mixed in with photo shoots where she looks awkward and like she doesn't want to be there. You also see how she handled the ups and downs of her tennis career and the struggles she had early on with mental toughness. 

I probably wouldn't have made it to part 3 if it weren't for the ability to binge, which would have been a terrible mistake because part 3 is where this documentary and Osaka come full circle in finding her voice. You also see her start to gain more confidence in her convictions as she takes the lead in her life and in her happiness. 

In the end I thought that this documentary was just okay. It definitely gave me a more well-rounded understanding of Osaka and her family dynamic but I still think they could have gone deeper. Therefore, this is not something I’d watch again but wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Stuber

 

Stuber is buddy cop action comedy starring Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista. When Uber driver Stu, played by Nanjiani, picks up a passenger, played by Bautista, he has no idea that his life is about to change forever.

I thought that the plot was unique and fun and I liked the themes around manhood, family and the courage to stand up for yourself. The cinematography was well done and the action sequences were fast paced and entertaining.

I liked the diversity of the casting. Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista had great chemistry. They worked well off of each other so no one person really felt like the star of this movie. It was easy to connect to both of their characters. I haven't seen Nanjiani in a lot of movies, but I really liked his deadpan comedic style. Additionally, I really enjoyed watching Bautista on screen. I feel like he gives me something different with every role he plays. He’s come a long way from the WWE.

Even though sometimes corny and predictable, this movie was well worth the watch. It was easy to follow and full of some funny memorable moments.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

Those Who Wish Me Dead is an action thriller starring Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult and Game of Throne’s Aidan Gillen. The film is set in the Montana wilderness and follows Hannah played by Jolie, a smokejumper, still reeling from a major trauma that she experienced. When she comes across Connor, a boy played by Finn Little, who has just witnessed the murder of his father and is on run for his life from a pair of trained assassins, played Nicholas Hoult and Aidan Gillen, Hannah and Connor must do whatever it takes to survive.

I enjoyed the cinematography with its beautiful vast landscapes.
I thought that the plot was unique and engaging. It was also a bit unpredictable. Even though not entirely realistic, I did like how a couple of the females were portrayed. They were incredibly tough, resourceful and could take on any man.

The casting choices were diverse and very interesting. I liked that there were quite a few notable actors who choose a part outside of their typical typecast. Angelina Jolie and Finn Little were a great duo. Even though Finn Little was quite young, in this role, he had very impressive range and played well off of Jolie.

In the end I felt like this was the perfect type of movie to watch from home. Not everyone will like this one but I liked it.