Mistletoe Mixup

Holly's (Ryan) Christmas wish is to find Mr. Right.  While waiting with her boss and best friend Vicky (Thomas), she is given a sprig of mistletoe.  She goes to pick out a Christmas tree and meets Tom (J. Lawrence).  Tom carries the tree to her car and asks for her number.  On the drive home, the tree falls off her car and onto Austin (M. Lawrence).  Austin offers to carry the tree home and they decorate it together.

This will be Holly's first Christmas alone.  She accepts Tom's offer to go skiing with his family, where she learns that Tom and Austin are brothers.  Both Tom and Austin feel that they have a connection with Holly and compete for her affections.  Can Holly find love as the brothers fight?

This is a Lifetime Holiday movie.  It is also a family affair - director Andrew Lawrence cast his brothers, Joey and Matthew, as his brothers (and leads) and mother, Donna, as Grandma.

The Good:

If you like the Lawrence brothers, you may enjoy this film.  I like the Lawrence brothers (and enjoyed their 1990s TV show Brotherly Love), but they are trying too hard here.  Danielle C. Ryan is a decent lead, but it is not enough to save the film.

The Bad:

The acting, especially Donna Lawrence (who is not a professional actress).  The story is choppy and just does not work.

Other Comments:

-Joey Lawrence is now engaged to co-star Samantha Cope (who he met on this film).

-Joey's daughter Charleston also appeared in the film.

-Not great... there were some funny moments, but it wasn't enough to make the film work.

Mistletoe Mixup (2021) 83 minutes

Director: Andrew Lawrence

Starring: Danielle C. Ryan as Holly

Matthew Lawrence as Austin

Joey Lawrence as Tom

Andrew Lawrence as Seth

Donna Lawrence as Grandma

Samantha Cope as Liz

Adrienne Thomas as Vicky

Wendy Dang as Cali

A Lot Like Christmas

The small town of Hudson Springs loves Christmas.  The Roberts Tree Farm is a beloved fixture in the town, that residents visit to cut down their tree each year.  Jessica Roberts (Lawson) is excited for the season and trying to keep her late father's dream alive, as this is the first Christmas without him.  Her brother, Scott (Visser), is concerned about their finances and worries that they will be unable to keep the farm.

Meanwhile, Clay Moore (Russell), is sent to town to make sure the opening of the big Harvest Garden Supply (HGS) store is a success.  Clay is from the city and quickly learns that he will need to use new tactics to bring in the customers.  He goes to the Roberts Farm to figure out why they are successful.  He meets Jessica and sparks fly.  Without realizing that Jessica is the owner of the Farm, he begins a campaign to steal their customers.  Jessica is also unaware that Clay works for HGS.  As the stores go to battle and they continue running into each other, can their budding attraction survive the season?

This is an All Canadian Entertainment film, one of 4 TV-Holiday films (alongside Toying with the Holidays, Joy for Christmas, and A Kindhearted Christmas).

The Good:

This is a made-for-TV Christmas movie, if you go with those expectations, you will enjoy this.  The story is predictable, but it does try something new.  Maggie Lawson and Christopher Russell have good chemistry and you want them to get together.

The Bad:

The story is predictable - big, evil company vs. small, mom and pop shop.

Other Comments:

-Enjoyable and earnest.

A Lot Like Christmas (2021) 86 minutes

Director: Stacey N. Harding

Starring: Maggie Lawson as Jessica Roberts

Christopher Russell as Clay Moore

Marlie Collins as Delaney Watson

Matt Visser as Scott Roberts

Frances Flanagan as Annie Roberts

Ian Collins as Xavier Norris

A Very Nutty Christmas

Kate (Hart) owns Dancing Flours Bakery.  With Christmas approaching, she and friends/employees Rosa (Winokur) and Justin (Manjil) are struggling to fill all of their holiday orders.  Kate just wants to survive the holidays.  And then she gets dumped by actor Mark (Caltagirone).

While walking home from work, she is convinced to buy a nutcracker, which the seller (Richard Riehle) claims is the original nutcracker from the story.  That evening she puts the nutcracker under the tree and in the morning, trips over a man in a nutcracker uniform, Chip (Watson).  She believes he is a method actor, like her ex, and renting a room in her house until Christmas Eve.  Chip claims he only wants to help her and begins working in the bakery.  Can he help Kate open her heart to love Christmas again?

This is a Lifetime Christmas movie.  This is the 6th made-for-TV Christmas Movie Melissa Joan Hart has appeared in 2006 (following Holiday in Handcuffs for ABC Family, Broadcasting Christmas for Hallmark and 4 for Lifetime: The Santa Con, Broadcasting Christmas, and A Very Merry Toy Store).  She subsequently has made 3 more Christmas movies for Lifetime: Christmas Reservations, Dear Christmas, and Mistletoe in Montana.

The Good:

The story is an update on the Nutcracker and the leads end up at a performance of the ballet.  It's an interesting take on the story.  Barry Watson dives into the role, playing up the innocence and charm of the character without going over the top.  Melissa Joan Hart is also likeable in this film, and they work well together.

The Bad:

It's a strange film... jumping back and forth in theme / focus.  It also has over the top villains, including 2 with evil mustaches (they are obviously fake and over the top).

Other Comments:

-Watson and Hart previously appeared in the Lifetime Christmas Movie The Santa Con in 2014, where they play siblings.

-Don't go into the film with expectations, but at least have a little knowledge of the ballet, and you may enjoy it.  Not bad for a short, TV movie.

A Very Nutty Christmas (2018) 90 minutes

Director: Colin Theys

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart as Kate

Barry Watson as Chip

Marissa Jaret Winokur as Rosa

Rizwan Manjil as Justin

Conchata Ferrell as Clara

Ryan Caltagirone as Mark

Dear Christmas

Natalie Morgan (Hart) hosts a popular podcast about holiday love.  While she literally wrote the book about true love, she has yet to experience it herself.  She heads home for Christmas with her family, with plans to air a live episode on Christmas Eve.

Her parents, Randy (Begley Jr.) and Jenny (Prince), usually go all out for Christmas and host an annual ugly sweater party.  This year, they have been too busy with their new bookstore to decorate.  They are thrilled to have both daughters home for the holidays and eagerly await the birth of their daughter Emma's (Whelan) first child, due on Christmas Eve.

As Natalie prepares for her live show and Christmas, she continually encounters Chris Massey (Priestley).  Chris is a former classmate, who is know around town as Mr. Christmas and always willing to lend a hand.  Every time Chris and Natalie meet, sparks fly.  Will Natalie take a chance at real love?

This is a Lifetime Christmas movie.  Melissa Joan Hart has appeared in a Lifetime Original Christmas Movie every year since 2017 (this is her 7th made-for-TV Christmas film, following Holiday in Handcuffs for ABC Family, Broadcasting Christmas for Hallmark and 4 for Lifetime: The Santa Con, Broadcasting Christmas, A Very Merry Toy Store, A Very Nutty Christmas, and Christmas Reservations).

The Good:

The leads, Hart and Jason Priestley, are likeable and have good chemistry.  The sets are lovely and I enjoyed the humor.

The Bad:

The story isn't great... but it isn't a reason to skip the film.

Other Comments:

-The acting, besides Hart and Priestley, is not great.  I like Ed Begley Jr. and Faith Prince in other things, but not here.  It is a small cast (the actor who plays Emma's husband does not appear on any cast list I could find), and it makes the acting stand out.

-In addition to the main story, there are several video messages from Natalie's audience, explaining how they realized they were in love.  The main stand-out here is the cameo appearances by Hilarie Burton and Antwon Tanner, who previously appeared together in TV's One Tree Hill.

-Ok, but not great.  It gets by on the charms of it's leads.

Dear Christmas (2020) 87 minutes

Director: Emily Moss Wilson

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart as Natalie Morgan

Jason Priestley as Chris Massey

Ed Begley Jr. as Randy Morgan

Faith Prince as Jenny Morgan 

Nicky Whelan as Emma

Robin Givens as Penny

Snowbound for Christmas

Rachel (Darnell-Martin) is eager to impress her new boss, Adrian (Wade).  Adrian and their team are preparing a big pitch for a Tuscan villa.  Adrian and two members of the team will make their presentation that weekend.  He decides to take architect Diane (Buettner) and Rachel, the marketing director.  The meeting is at the Lafayette, which Adrian and Diane previously refurbished.

They are the first and only guests at the resort.  After arriving, they are invited to lead a new project at the resort.  Diane goes to the other side of the resort to begin planning, while Adrian and Rachel remain in the hotel to give the presentation.  A blizzard throws all their plans away.  Diane and her driver/guide Fred (Lo Presti) are stranded in a remote cabin.  The presentation is canceled and no guests are able to make their way to the resort, leaving the Adrian and Rachel alone.  As they take advantage of all the amenities, sparks fly.  Can their budding attraction survive when the snow stops?

This feels like a made-for-TV movie.

The Good:

The scenery is beautiful.  The cast is small, but works well together.

The Bad:

The story is predictable and choppy.

Other Comments:

-Apparently the film is based on a Harlequin novel, "Snowbound with the CEO".

-I'm not sure that this counts as a Christmas movie, despite the title.  Christmas is coming, everything is decorated for Christmas, and the final scenes take place on Christmas Eve (there is also a work Christmas party)... but the holiday isn't the focus.

-Pretty but forgettable.

Snowbound for Christmas (2019) 83 minutes

Director: Marco Deufemia

Starring: Zarrin Darnell-Martin as Rachel

Henderson Wade as Adrian Blackstone

Scott Thompson as Jean-Luc

Josephine Buettner as Diane

Franco Lo Presti as Fred

Julia Baldwin as Natalie

Joseph Cannata as Jerry

Kato Alexander as Ray

Hitched for the Holidays

 

On Thanksgiving, commitment-phobe Rob Marino (Lawrence) announces another failed relationship to his family.  They laugh about how he is unable to keep a relationship going over the holidays.  His beloved grandmother, Theresa (Shaw), says her dying wish is to meet the woman Rob will marry.  To lift her spirits, he tells her about a fake girlfriend named Rosemary.

Meanwhile, Julie Greene (Hampshire) is tired of her mother, Maxine (Henner), interfering in her love life.  The last straw is when she is set-up with a boring ex-boyfriend, who is told that she is free for the entire season.

Julie and Rob agree to pose as a couple for the rest of the year, attending all holiday functions together.  Rob wants to make Grandma Theresa happy, and Julie agrees to be Rosemary.  Julie wants her meddling mother to stop interfering and Rob agrees to be Jewish for her family.  As they juggle the events of the holiday, can they keep up the ruse without falling in love?

This is a Hallmark Christmas film.  It is a story you've seen before, with a Christmas and Hanukah spin.

The Good:

It is short.  The acting is ok.

The Bad:

The cast.  I normally like Joey Lawrence, but not here.  He feels miscast or something.  I did not like Emily Hampshire.  They had some good moments, but as a whole, it just didn't feel like the right people.  Most of the characters are more like caricatures or extremes... I think it is intended to be funny, but most were grating.  I didn't dislike all of the characters, but I also was not impressed with any of them.

Other Comments:

-The film is predictable.  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good.  Blasé is the best I can say about it.

-The meeting of the families, where the Catholic Marino's pretend to be Jewish, complete with Star of David decorations and Menorah's throughout the house.  Along with the realization that most of the Menorah's are actually Kwanzaa candles, was the funniest part of the film.  Ridiculous, but it did make me laugh. 

-Don't waste your time, there are better versions of this story and better Christmas and Hanukah films to watch.

-A better version of this story, although not set over the holidays, is My Fake Fiancé.  This ABC Family film starts Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart.  It is still corny, but much better than this film.

Hitched for the Holidays (2012) 87 minutes

Director: Michael M. Scott

Starring: Joey Lawrence as Rob Marino

Emily Hampshire as Julie Greene

Linda Darlow as Evie Marino

Serge Houdue as Butch Marino

L. Harvey Gold as Mel Greene

Marilu Henner as Maxine Greene

Paula Shaw as Theresa Scotti

Christopher Gauthier as Stevie

Christina Sicoli as Maria

Lisa Durupt as Molly

Colin Lawrence as Patrick

A Very Merry Mix-Up

Alice Chapman (Witt) owns an antique store and loves the history of the items she sells.  The store, which originally belonged to her late father, barely makes ends meet and a developer wants to buy the property.  She is hesitant to sell, despite the encouragement of her executive boyfriend Will Mitchum (Gibson).

That evening, Will proposes.  He suggests that they spend Christmas with his family to share the news of their engagement.  They are unable to travel together because he is in the middle of a big deal.  Alice is worried about meeting her future in-laws.  Her fears increase when the airport loses her luggage and her cell phone, containing the Mitchum address, is damaged.  But things look up when she meets Matt Mitchum (Wiebe), who is also heading home for Christmas.

Will, called Billy by his family, did not tell them about Alice or the engagement, so they are are surprised to meet Alice.  His parents, Penny (Hogan) and Joe (Fitzpatrick), and beloved Grandfather (Dane) welcome her with open arms.  She is thrilled to have a family again, but also feels a growing attraction for Matt.  As Christmas approaches, can Alice make the right decision about her future?

This is a Hallmark Christmas movie.  It doesn't try to surprise the audience, but it also isn't terrible.  It is just fine.

The Good:

The film embraces Christmas traditions, such as baking Christmas cookies and the memories behind the ornaments on the tree.  The relationship between Matt and Alice is good.

The Bad:

It doesn't try to hard to do anything beyond clichés.  It is clear who Alice will end up with and why the other candidate is very, very wrong for her. 

Other Comments:

-Predictable, but not bad.  I enjoyed it in the moment, but don't ever need to see it again.

A Very Merry Mix-Up (2013) 87 minutes

Director: Jonathan Wright

Starring: Alicia Witt as Alice Chapman

Mark Wiebe as Matt Mitchum

Sam Gibson as Will Mitchum

Lawrence Dane as Charles

Susan Hogan as Penny Mitchum

Richard Fitzpatrick as Joe Mitchum

The Christmas Ornament

A few weeks before Christmas, Kathy Howard (Martin) is struggling.  Her late husband's cycling business is barely making ends meet.  She is avoiding the holidays, other than making Christmas cookies to share with the important people in her life.  Her best friend, Jenna (Staite), is worried and drags her to buy a Christmas tree.

Kathy escapes to the gift shop, where she meets the owner of the shop and trees, Tim Pierce (Mathison).  They connect and begin running into each other everywhere.  He brings her a tree and she responds by bringing a tray of cookies.  The cookies are a hit with Tim's customers and lead them to team-up.  Can Kathy find joy again in the midst of her grief?

This is a Hallmark movie.  It is short and sweet, and doesn't require much of a commitment.

The Good:

This is not your typical Hallmark movie.  Yes, the main characters are dealing with pain, but they it doesn't focus on pain for pain's sake.  The story focuses on overcoming that pain and choosing to see the potential in the future.  It doesn't rush the characters into a relationship, it takes time to build the characters and believability, which is refreshing.

The Bad:

They don't give much attention or backstory to the side characters.  Jewel Staite's Jenna is the most fleshed out character, but you don't know much about her.  Everyone else just ticks a box and are defined by their roles.

Other Comments:

-Kellie Martin and Cameron Mathison are strong leads and have good chemistry.

-The film has a nice mix of tones, without leaning too far in one direction.  It ends on a nice uplifting moment.

-Enjoyable.

The Christmas Ornament (2013) 83 minutes

Director: Mark Jean

Starring: Kellie Martin as Kathy Howard

Cameron Mathison as Tim Pierce

Jewel Staite as Jenna Lowe

Matthew Kevin Anderson as Ben Lowe

Brendan Meyer as Connor

Laura Mennell as Rebecca

Cole Vigue as Graham

That Thing You Do!

"I've found that a hit record is like a stew.  All the ingredients have to come together just right.  Otherwise, it's just soup."

In 1964, Guy Patterson (Scott) works in his family's appliance store by day and dreams of being a jazz drummer by night.  His friends, Jimmy (Schaech), Lenny (Zahn), and T.B. (Embry), have a band called the One-ders and are preparing for their first performance. When their drummer, Chad (Giovanni Ribisi), breaks his arm, they ask Guy to fill in for the show.  At the show, Guy plays their original song "That Thing You Do" at a faster tempo, to roaring cheers from the audience.

They decide to make a record and have Jimmy's girlfriend Faye (Tyler) sell the records at their shows.  Eventually, their record is heard by Play-Tone records and Mr. White (Hanks) becomes their manager.  Under Mr. White's direction, they become the Wonders and begin touring.  As their record climbs the charts, will there love of music be enough to save the band and their friendship?

The film was written and directed (in his directorial debut) by Tom Hanks.  In addition, the songs performed by the band "That Thing You Do", "All My Only Dreams", "Dance With Me Tonight", and "Little Wild One" were written for this film.

The Good:

The title song is catchy (you hear the full song twice, but parts of the song play numerous times throughout) and gets stuck in your head.  The cast and the characters they portray are great.  This was the film debut of Tom Everett Scott and he is a solid lead.  The band has good chemistry and are believable as lifelong friends.

The film is upbeat and fun and leaves on a hopeful note.  It also holds a PG rating and is relatively tame for a film about a band in the 1960s.

The Bad:

No complaints

Other Comments: 

-The film holds up to repeat viewings and has aged well.

-Hanks' family - wife Rita Wilson, son Colin Hanks, and daughter Elizabeth Hanks - all have cameos in the film.

-Ethan Embry's bass character does not have a name (and is never called by name in the film).  In the end title card, he is listed as T.B. Player, which stands for "The Bass Player".

-Mike Viola provides Jimmy's vocals, backed by Adam Schlesinger (who wrote "That Thing You Do"). 

-The theme song "That Thing You Do" was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song.  It was also nominated for American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Songs list.

-There is also an Extended Edition of the film that was released in 2007, it is 148 minutes.

That Thing You Do! (1996) 108 minutes

Director: Tom Hanks

Starring: Tom Everett Scott as Guy "Shades" Patterson

Liv Tyler as Faye Dolan

Johnathon Schaech as Jimmy Mattingly

Steve Zahn as Lenny

Ethan Embry as T.B. Player

Tom Hanks as Mr. White

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

 

"Three years we spent behind those walls, trying to break out.  And now you want us to break back in."

Thomas (O'Brien), Newt (Brodie-Sangster), and Frypan (Darden) are on a mission to save their captured friends from WCKD.  With help from Right Arm, they are able to save a train car of immune kids, but a second car, including their friend Minho (Lee), is taken to WCKD.

WCKD's base of operations is the walled "Last City".  The teens are informed that it is impossible to rescue their friends, especially when their last hope for escape is almost complete.  Thomas, Newt, Frypan, Brenda (Salazar), and Jorge (Esposito) sneak away to save Minho.  As they approach the Last City, they run into Gally (Poulter) who agrees to help them get past the guards.

In the city, WCKD scientists, led by Teresa (Scodelario)  and Ava Paige (Clarkson) are torturing the captured teens.  They hope to find a cure for the deadly Flare virus.  Janson (Gillen) and the other adults are desperate and willing to do anything to escape the virus.  They also expect Thomas and the other Gladers to make a rescue attempt.  Can the Gladers save the day and evade the reach of WCKD?

This is the third film in the Maze Runner series, following The Maze Runner in 2014 and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials in 2015.  The films are based on the James Dashner young adult novels.  In addition to these 3 novels, Dashner wrote 2 prequel novels "The Kill Order" and the "The Fever Code" to set-up some of the details and backstories for the series.

The Good:

The plot sticks closer to the novel than the previous film, but there are still major changes.  The film opens at the start of the train heist.  This scene reminds the audience of the stakes: the tension and action are high, with no guarantee that the mission will succeed.  It is also a good reminder that no one is safe.

The rest of the film continues that momentum with the stakes, the action, the destruction, etc.  In this case, it feels warranted.  These teens, and their allies, are in danger that keeps escalating.  All of the characters (who are still alive) from the previous installments, make an appearance here.

The Bad:

They attempt to explain/justify/redeem the characters who have made questionable decisions in the previous entries, specifically Will Pouler's Gally and Kaya Scoldelario's Teresa.  They only succeed with Gally.  I dislike Teresa in the books and I do not like her at all in this film.  Her final act is not enough to change that.  It feels like a waste of time and effort.

Other Comments:

-Wes Ball returns as the director and T.S. Nowlin returns as the screenwriter.

-O'Brien was injured in the stunt that opens the film.  The injury was enough to halt filming for almost a year.

-A solid ending to the franchise.

-As usual, the book is better.  I suggest starting with the novels, and then watching the films.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) 143 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for intense scenes of sci-fi violence and action, language, and some thematic elements

Director: Wes Ball

Starring: Dylan O'Brien as Thomas

Ki Hong Lee as Minho

Kaya Scodelario as Teresa

Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt

Dexter Darden as Frypan

Will Pouler as Gally

Jacob Lofland as Aris

Rosa Salazar as Brenda

Giancarlo Esposito as Jorge

Patricia Clarkson as Ava Paige

Aidan Gillen as Janson

Barry Pepper as Vince

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

"People just don't understand me."

"Maybe if you talked slower..."

"No, I mean who I am.  Man, now I have to worry about my diction too?"

Commandant Lassard (Gaynes) of the Police Academy has a new idea: Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) to help his understaffed officers.  The purpose of C.O.P. is to have citizen volunteers working alongside the police officers in Lassard's officers.  The governor loves the idea and sends Lassard to England to present a seminar on the topic.  Lassard leaves the C.O.P. program in the hands of his favorite officers: Mahoney (Guttenberg), Hightower (Smith), Jones (Winslow), Tackleberry (Graf), Callahan (Easterbrook), Hooks (Ramsey), Sweetchuck (Kazurinsky), and Zed (Goldthwait).  Commissioner Hurst (George R. Robertson) leaves command of the Academy to Captain Harris (Bailey).  Harris and his bumbling assistant Proctor (Kinsey) hate the idea of the C.O.P. program and plans to destroy the program.

The C.O.P. volunteers include gun-enthusiast senior citizen Mrs. Lois Feldman (Bird), overweight Tommy "House" Conklin (Thacker), inept lawyer Milt Butterworth (McGrath), photographer Laura (Bohrer), skateboarding delinquents Kyle (Spade) and Arnie (Backer).  The program also draws the attention of reporter Claire Mattson (Sharon Stone), who follows the group for a story.  Can the officers and volunteers work together to bring Lassard's dream to fruition?

The fourth (of 7) films in the Police Academy franchise: Police Academy in 1984, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment in 1985, Police Academy 3: Back in Training in 1986, Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach in 1988, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege in 1989, and Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow in 1994.  The franchise also included 2 TV shows (one live action and one animated).

The Good:

The main characters from the prior film, excluding Officer Fackler (and his wife) and villain Commandant Mauser, return for another adventure.  The characters all hit the same marks from the previous films: soft spoken Hooks shouting, Jones' incredible sound effects, Smith's intimidating presence, terrorizing Harris, outsmarting Proctor, etc.  They also continue the tradition of Lassard and his goldfish.  These pieces will familiar and necessary, without being overly tired.  The pairing of Tim Kazurinsky as Officer Sweetchuck and Bobcat Goldthwait as Officer Zed is great... in the previous films (2 and 3) they were at odds, but here they are mostly friends who fight.

The new characters add to the story, and give the film a reason to be at the Academy and training new recruits.

The Bad:

While the cast is good, there are too many characters (including the brief scenes with the Kirklands and Nogata) to have good stand-out moments for anyone.

Other Comments:

-This was the final appearance of Steve Guttenberg in the franchise, although the character of Mahoney appeared in the animated Police Academy television show (1988-1989).  It is also the final appearance of Kazurinsky and Goldthwait.  Officers Sweetchuck and Zed also appear in the animated show.

-Film debut of actor David Spade

-Tony Hawk is one of the skateboarders in the film.

-Theme song "Citizens on Patrol" that plays at the beginning of the film and again over the end credits is performed by Michael Winslow and the L.A. Dream Team.

-Nominated for a Razzie (Golden Raspberry Award) for Worst Original Song for Brian Wilson's "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car"

-Not bad, but also not great.

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) 88 minutes

Director: Jim Drake

Starring: Steve Guttenberg as Sergeant Carey Mahoney

Bubba Smith as Sergeant Moses Hightower

Michael Winslow as Sergeant Larvell Jones

David Graf as Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry

Tim Kazurinsky as Officer Carl Sweetchuck

Leslie Easterbrook as Lieutenant Debbie Callahan

Marion Ramsey as Sergeant Laverne Hooks

Lance Kinsey as Lieutenant Carl Proctor

G.W. Bailey as Captain Thaddeus Harris

George Gaynes as Commandant Eric Lassard

Bobcat Goldthwait as Officer Zed McGlunk

Derek McGrath as Milt Butterworth

Billie Bird as Mrs. Lois Feldman

David Spade as Kyle Rumford

Brian Backer as Arnie Lewis

Tab Thacker as Tommy "House" Conklin

Corinne Bohrer as Laura

Batman vs. Two Face

During an experiment to extract the evil from criminals, the machine malfunctions.  District Attorney Harvey Dent (Shatner) is splashed by the vilified liquid.  The accident leaves him physically and mentally scarred and he becomes villain Two-Face.

He is captured by Batman (West) and Robin (Ward), undergoes surgery to repair his face, and is rehabilitated.  Months later, he is able to return to work as the assistant to the District Attorney. 

Meanwhile, Batman and Robin investigate a series of crimes that seem to implicate Two-Face.  Batman is not convinced that Dent is the culprit.  Robin thinks it is obvious that Dent is still committing crimes as Two-Face.  Can the Dynamic Duo set aside their differences and solve the mystery?

Like the 2016 film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, this film is a new story based on the 1966 Batman TV show.

The Good:

Unlike the villains in the previous film, Two-Face never appeared on the 1960s TV show.  The producers were unable to find a family-friendly way to introduce the character.  This film gives them the opportunity to add him to the rogues gallery.

Once again original cast members Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reprise their roles here.  William Shatner is a decent addition to the cast as Two-Face.

The Bad:

Not bad, just different... the tone of this film is darker than the previous film and the show.  It is not as dark as the current versions, but feels a little out of character.

Other Comments:

-The film is dedicated to West, who died in 2017.

-Lee Meriwether played Catwoman in the 1966 Batman movie.  Here, she voices lawyer Lucilee Diamond.  As a nod to that role, her character wears the Catwoman costume and says "purr-fect" in her final scene.

-It is not necessary to watch the 1960s TV show or the 2016 film before watching this, but it does help.

-Stick around to watch the main characters (Batman, Robin, Catwoman, Alfred, Aunt Harriet, and Two-Face) dancing to the music while the end credits roll.

-Not bad, but definitely not as funny as the previous film.

Batman vs. Two Face (2017) 72 minutes

Director: Rick Morales

Starring: Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman

Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin

William Shatner as Harvey Dent / Two-Face

Julie Newmar as Catwoman

Steven Weber as Alfred

Jim Ward as Commissioner Gordon, Hugo Strange

Thomas Lennon as Chief O'Hara, Warden Crichton

Lynne Marie Stewart as Aunt Harriet

Jeff Bergman as Joker, Bookworm, Desmond Dumas

Wally Wingert as Riddler, King Tut

William Salyers as Penguin

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

"No one can can out smart Batman for very long."

When supervillains Catwoman (Newmar), Joker (Bergman), Penguin (Salyers), and Riddler (Wingert) team up, the city of Gotham turns to the caped crusaders Batman (West) and Robin (Ward) to save the day.  The criminals steal a duplicator ray and return to their lair.  When the Dynamic Duo track them down, Catwoman scratches Batman with "batnip" in order to turn him evil.

Batman seems unaffected by the batnip and they evade the trap of the supervillains.  As Batman and Robin try to find and capture the quartet, Batman begins to show more aggression.  Can they save Batman and Gotham from the the machinations of their foes?

This film is an animated sequel/continuation to the 1966-1968 Batman TV series.

The Good:

The film keeps the look, feel, and sensibilities of the 1960s show.  Three original cast members Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar reprise their roles, while the other characters have new voice actors.  The costumes and mannerisms of the characters follow the portrayal from the show.  The tone is light, while also giving Batman a chance to go darker.  It is still a mostly comic take, which is in stark contrast to the dark and gritty tone of modern Batman films.

The film also features the rogues gallery from the show: Bookworm, King Tut, Shame, Siren, etc.  While most of the characters do not say much (and their original actors are deceased), Wally Wingert's Riddler sounds like Frank Gorshin's take on the character.

The Bad:

The actors voicing Joker and Penguin sound slightly off, they have the iconic laughs of Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith, down, but not the exact voices.  Aunt Harriet is annoying and off-putting, she is snarky and winking at the audience.  I didn't love the character in the show, but here she is unbearable.

Other Comments:

-Stick around to watch Batman and Catwoman dance to the music while the end credits role.

-Watching the 1960s TV is not a prerequisite, but you will definitely get more of the in-jokes and callbacks.

-In the 1960s, Catwoman was portrayed by 3 actresses: Julie Newmar (seasons 1-2 of the show), Lee Meriwether (Batman: The Movie), and Eartha Kitt (in season 3).  Each had a slightly different, but equally iconic, take on the character.  This film features a nod to these women when Batman is knocked on the head and sees triple Catwoman who look like Newmar, Meriwether, and Kitt.

-Where is Batgirl?  Yvonne Craig died in 2015, but it is disappointing that there is no nod or reference to her or Batgirl in this film.

-This film did well enough to get a sequel in 2017, Batman vs. Two Face.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)

Director: Rick Morales

Starring: Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman

Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin

Julie Newmar as Catwoman 

Jeff Bergman as Joker, Announcer 

William Salyers as Penguin

Wally Wingert as Riddler

Jim Ward as Commissioner Gordon

Steven Weber as Alfred

Thomas Lennon as Chief O'Hara

And Then There Were None (1945)

"What I'd like to to know is if we're the cat, or the mouse."

Eight strangers are invited to spend a week at the secluded island home of Mr. and Mrs. Owens.  They are met by the Owens' new servants, butler Thomas Rogers (Haydn) and his wife Ethel (Leonard), who is the cook.  The Owens' are away, but are expected to join the group for dinner.

At dinner, they notice the centerpiece: ten Indians in a circle and recite the corresponding nursery rhyme.  That evening, via a gramophone recording, Mr. Owens' accuses everyone of murder:

• Judge Francis Quincannon (Fitzgerald) of sentencing an innocent man to death
• Dr. Edward Armstrong (Huston) of causing a patient's death
• Philip Lombard (Hayward) of killing 21 East African tribesmen
• Vera Claythorne (Duprez) of the death of her sister's fiancé
• Prince Starloff (Auer) of killing two people
• General John Mandrake (Smith) of sending his wife's lover to be killed in battle
• Emily Brent (Anderson) of the death of her nephew
• William Blore (Young) of perjury, which caused the death of an innocent man
• Thomas and Ethel Rogers of killing an employer so they could inherit her money.

They learn that no one, including the Rogers', have met their hosts.  They also learn that they are stuck on the island until the boat returns on Friday and there is no way to reach anyone off the island.

They ignore the warning, until the guests begin dying, in a manner matching the nursery rhyme.  They search the house and grounds and cannot find anyone else on site.  As the bodies begin piling up, can they identify the murderer and escape the island?

The story is based on Agatha Christie's 1939 novel "And Then There Were None".  It is one of Christie's most popular novels, and one of the best crime novels ever.  Christie adapted the novel to a play in 1943 and changed the ending.  Most of the adaptations use the play ending, instead of the novel ending.

The Good:

The film, shot in black and white, makes the most of shadows to heighten the suspense.  The script sticks close to Christie's novel.  There is a nice mix of suspense, mystery, and some humor to keep the film from getting too dark.  The story sets a decent pace and does not waste any of it's runtime.

The cast is good, with Walter Huston's Dr. Armstrong as a highlight/standout.

The Bad:

The cast is fine, but some characters are annoying.

Other Comments:

-This is the first (of many) film adaptations of the novel.  It is also considered the best of the bunch.

-The film is well-done and enjoyable... and it makes me want to read the novel again.

And Then There Were None (1945) 97 minutes

Director: Rene Clair

Starring: Barry Fitzgerald as Judge Francis Quinncannon

Walter Huston as Dr. Edward Armstrong

Louis Hayward as Philip Lombard

June Duprez as Vera Claythorne

Roland Young as Detective William Henry Blore

Mischa Auer as Prince Nikita Starloff

C. Aubrey Smith as General John Mandrake

Judith Anderson as Emily Brent

Richard Haydn as Thomas Rogers

Queenie Leonard as Ethel Rogers

Harry Thurston as Fred Narracott

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

"A hit. You have sunk my battleship."

In the future, the world lives by the music of the band Wyld Stallyns and reveres the words of Bill S. Preston Esq (Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Reeves).  But not everyone is happy with their utopia.  Chuck De Nomolos (Ackland) steals a telephone booth time machine and sends robot versions of Bill and Ted back to 1990s to stop Wyld Stallyns from winning the San Dimas Battle of the Bands.  Bill and Ted's friend/mentor Rufus (Carlin) hitches a ride on the time machine to rescue the duo, but does not reach his destination.

In the 1990s, Bill and Ted are preparing for the Battle of the Bands.  The band now includes their girlfriends, Princess Joanna (Trigger) on drums and Princess Elizabeth (Azcuy) on keys.  They win a slow in the show, and propose to the princesses.  But that evening Bill and Ted are murdered by the evil robot clones.

Bill and Ted are met by Death (Sadler).  They can challenge Death, for the chance to return to their lives.  Can they outwit Death, save the babes, and fulfill their destiny at the Battle of the Bands?

After the success of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure in 1989, the writers (Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon) and cast reunited for this sequel.  Director Stephen Herek did not return for the sequel, so Peter Hewitt served as the director for this film.

They also made two TV shows: the animated Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures from 1990-1991 and a live-action TV show, also called Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures, in 1992.  The characters also appear in several video games.

The Good:

The film is not a rehash of the original film, although their are fun call-backs to the previous film - such as Missy's relationship.  The story feels like a natural progression of Bill and Ted's journey to immortality.  The main characters are back, along with some legendary historical figures (but not the ones from the original film).

Once again, the story doesn't take itself too seriously and again, it works.

The character of Death is hilarious (and says the quote at the beginning of this review).  The game sequence is a standout.  William Sadler fully commits to the character and accent.

The Bad:

Station... I don't understand.

Other Comments:

-The princesses have a larger role in this film and are played by different actresses (Kimberley Kates was Princess Joanna and Diane Franklin was Princess Elizabeth)

-The Battle of Bands performance before Wyld Stallyns is the song "Tommy the Cat" by the band Primus.

-The writers appear in the séance scene.

-Reeves and Winter returned for another sequel, Bill & Ted Face the Music in 2020.  Matheson and Solomon also wrote this sequel.

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) 93 minutes
Director: Peter Hewitt
Starring: Keanu Reeves as Ted "Theodore" Logan
Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston
William Sadler as Death
Joss Ackland as Chuck De Nomolos
Pam Grier as Ms. Wardroe
George Carlin as Rufus
Amy Stock-Poynton as Missy
Hal Landon Jr. as Captain Logan
Annette Azcuy as Elizabeth
Sarah Trigger as Joanna

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

 

Lawrence Jamieson (Caine) is a refined con artist.  He convinces wealthy women that he is an exiled prince and needs money to fund his rebellion / return to power.  He meets Freddy Benson (Martin), a small-time con artist with big plans.  Both are bound for Beaumont-sur-Mer, where Lawrence lives.

Freddy is impressed by Lawrence's success and blackmails his way into training under Lawrence.  Together, they are successful, until Freddy wants more.  They make a wager: the first to steal $50,000 from American tourist Janet Colgate (Headly) can stay in town.  Freddy poses as a wheelchair-bound veteran who needs money for his treatment.  Lawrence steps in as psychiatrist Dr. Emil Schaffhausen, the specialist who can help Freddy.  With everything on the line, who will win the bet?

This film is a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story, starring Marlon Brando and David Niven.

The Good:

The casting is great.  Michael Caine is suave and sophisticated, and funny.  Steve Martin goes for the physical comedy and is a good foil for Caine.  Their scenes together are the best parts of the movie - whether they are working together or at each other's throats.  Glenne Headly makes the most of her role and has good chemistry with her male co-stars.  The story is clever and hilarious and makes the most of it's great cast.

The Bad:

Nothing really.

Other Comments:

-The film was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2004 starring John Lithgow as Lawrence, Norbert Leo Butz as Freddy, and Sherie Rene Scott as Christine (the Janet role).

-The film was remade in 2019 as The Hustle starring Anne Hathaway in the Michael Caine role and Rebel Wilson in the Steve Martin role - skip it.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) 110 minutes

Director: Frank Oz

Starring: Steve Martin as Freddy Benson

Michael Caine as Lawrence Jamieson

Glenne Headly as Janet Colgate

Anton Rodgers as Inspector Andre

Barbara Harris as Fanny Eubanks

Ian McDiarmid as Arthur

Oscar Picks 2021

This is my 15th year of predicting the Oscar winners.  Last year I saw 1 of the nominated films and correctly predicted 5 of 7 categories (I don't predict them all).  This year I saw 3 films (for the full list of nominees, go to the Academy Awards website):

Emma.

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Emma. is nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Best Supporting Actor

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami

Paul Raci, Sound of Metal

Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

My Pick: Daniel Kaluuya

I feel like he has the momentum at this point.

Best Supporting Actress

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Olivia Colman, The Father

Amanda Seyfried, Mank

Youn Yuh-jung, Minari

My Pick: Youn Yuh-jung

Again, she has the momentum and I have only heard good things about her performance.

Best Actor

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Gary Oldman, Mank

Steven Yeun, Minari

My Pick: Chadwick Boseman

This is the Academy's last chance to award Chadwick Boseman, so I think they will take it.

Best Actress

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

My Pick: Frances McDormand

Just a guess.  I assume it will be Frances McDormand or Viola Davis.

Best Director

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

David Fincher, Mank

Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round

Chloe Zhao, Nomadland

My Pick: Emerald Fennell

I haven't seen any of these films, but let's spread the wealth and guess the direction for Promising Young Woman, or David Fincher for Mank.

Best Animated Film

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul

Wolfwalkers

My Pick: Soul

Disney and Pixar normally dominate this category, so I think Soul will probably win.  However, I am most excited about Wolfwalkers - I have loved the Irish Folklore animated films of Tomm Moore.  I would be pleasantly surprised if it won, but I fully expect the award to go to Soul or Onward.

Best Picture

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

Trial of the Chicago 7

My Pick: ______

Honestly, I have no clue.  I'm going to say Trial of the Chicago 7 (won the SAG Award) or Mank (a movie about the movie industry). 

EDIT: 4 of 7, not great... but for only seeing 3 films, I accept it.

The Hustle (2019)

Penny Rust (Wilson) is a con artist who takes advantage of foolish men.  After narrowly avoiding capture, she decides to scam her way through France.  On the way to a small town in the French Rivera, she meets Josephine Chesterfield (Hathway).  Josephine is a successful, sophisticated con artist.  She has a lavish estate and employees Brigitte (Oliver) and butler Albert (Woodeson) to assist with her schemes).

Penny is impressed, and asks to be trained by Josephine.  She reluctantly agrees and their partnership is born.  However, a few cons later, Penny wants more.  They strike a wager: the first to get $500,000 from wealthy app designer Thomas Westerburg (Sharp), gets to stay on the island and the loser must leave.  With everything on the line, who is the better grifter?


This film is a remake of the 1988 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, which is a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story starring Marlon Brando and David Niven.  This film has the same basic premise as the previous films, but flips the genders of the con artists.

The Good:

The setting is gorgeous.  The island, filmed at Mallorca, and Josephine's home are beautiful.

The Bad:

The film is crass and unnecessary.  And for a comedy, it wasn't very funny.  All of the funniest moments appeared in the trailer.

Other Thoughts:

-This film is disappointing.  It has potential... the bones of the story are good (as evidenced by the success of Bedtime Stories and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), but the execution failed.

-The filmmakers took the easy joke and embraced the crude... and the end result has a few funny moments, but as a whole, I wasn't impressed.

-Final verdict - skip it.  There are better versions of the same story, and the cast has been better.

The Hustle (2019) 94 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for crude sexual content and language
Director: Chris Addison
Starring: Anne Hathaway as Josephine Chesterfield
Rebel Wilson as Penny Rust
Alex Sharp as Thomas Westerburg
Ingrid Oliver as Brigitte Desjardins
Nicholas Woodeson as Albert

Over the Moon

"Magnetic levitation is the coolest!"

Fei Fei (Ang) loves when her Ma Ma (Miles) tells the story of the Moon Goddess, Chang'e (Soo).  According to legend, Chang'e took an immortality potion and ascended to the moon as a goddess, leaving her true love, Houyi, behind.  The Moon Festival is Ma Ma's favorite time of the year, when their family gathers to make moon cakes for the village.

Fei Fei is devastated when her mother gets sick and died.  Four years later, Fei Fei still misses her mother and continues to hold on to the traditions and stories of her mother.  Her father, Ba Ba (Cho), introduces Mrs. Zhong (Oh) and her energetic son Chin (Chiu) into their lives, bringing unwelcome changes into Fei Fei's life.

Fei Fei believes if she can prove that Chang'e is real, life would go back to normal.  She builds a rocket to the moon, taking her rabbit Bungee on the trip.  Chin and his pet frog stowaway on the trip, which frustrates Fei Fei's plans.  Can Fei Fei find Chang'e, get her proof, and make it home again?

The film is based on the the Chinese legend of Chang'e the Moon Goddess, while also telling a very personal story about dealing with grief.

The Good:

The animation is beautiful.  Everything is bright and vibrant and feels like a Disney movie, while still  having it's own unique identity.  The scenes on the moon have an inner-lumination, and feel like a dream.

The story, written by the late Audrey Wells (the film is dedicated to Wells), is interesting and melds the Chinese myth of Chang'e and the Festival of Festival, with the story of a young girl dealing with the loss of her mother.

Chang'e's costumes were designed by haute couture designer Guo Pei.  Her costumes are beautiful and memorable.

The Bad:

The characters of Chin and Gobi are obnoxious... they eventually grow on you, but both characters teeter on the edge of annoying.

Other Comments:

-Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2021

-This marks Glen Keane's directorial debut.  Keane is a well-known animator who worked for Disney for 30+ years.  He also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 2018 for Dear Basketball.

-The film is an emotional journey, while still adding humor and new songs.

-The songs were written by Christopher Curtis, Marjorie Duffield, and Helen Park.  And the score is by Steven Price.  They are good, but don't stick with you like other animated musicals.  The stand-out is "Rocket to the Moon", performed by Cathy Ang.  I also enjoyed all of Phillipa Soo's performances (she has a beautiful voice), especially "Ultraluminary" which is an excellent introduction to the character.

-Final verdict: it is a well-made and enjoyable film, but it's not my favorite.

Over the Moon (2020) 100 minutes

Director: Glen Keane

Starring: Cathy Ang as Fei Fei

Phillipa Soo as Chang'e

Robert G. Chiu as Chin

Ken Jeong as Gobi

John Cho as Ba Ba

Ruthie Ann Miles as Ma Ma

Sandra Oh as Mrs. Zhong

Secret Magic Control Agency

 

A few days before the King's (Thompson) birthday, he is kidnapped by black magic.  The guards are unable to rescue him and the Prime Minister (Mike Pollock) turns to the Secret Magic Control Agency for help.  The Secret Magic Control Agency (SMAC) covertly watches all magicians in the kingdom.  They know every spell, potion, and trick that the magic community performs.  Even they are stumped by the King's disappearance.

The leader of the SMAC, Agent Stepmother (Reilly), wants to try a new strategy: look at the crime from the criminal's perspective.  Agent Gretel (Shaw) is ordered to arrest her famous magican brother Hansel (Corda).  Gretel is a serious, by-the-books agent, working hard to become the Best Agent.  Hansel is a charlatan and con-artist, who likes a good spectacle.  Agent Stepmother asks the siblings to work together to find the King.

They reluctantly agree to work together.  Their clashing investigation methods lead to an accident with magic potions, turning them back into children.  Can the siblings put aside their animosity to find the King and save the kingdom?

The film, by produced by Wizart Animation, is based on the Hansel and Gretel fairytale.  It has all of the main points of the story, while adding a fresh spin.

The Good:

This is clearly a family film.  It is bright and colorful, not too scary, and encourages the bonds of family.  The film is a nice mix of fantasy, fairytale, and spy movie.  It keeps the story from veering into some of the darker images/themes from the classic fairytale.  There is lots of humor, without talking down to the audience or boring the adults.

The Bad:

Elvira's confectionary minions.  They have cartoonishly big eyes, speak in gibberish, and don't really contribute to the story.  The cupcakes are a cute idea (like the Despicable Me Minions), but are annoying.  The gingerbread men and licorice ladies don't really do much.

Other Comments:

-I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  I know the Hansel and Gretel story, and I enjoyed the ways this film used the story as a template, without being a scene by scene retelling.

-The villains - Baba Yaga and Elvira - cover the main characteristics of the villain from the fairytale.  Baba Yaga is the witch that wants to eat kids and Elvira is the candy/baking witch.

-The SMCA is a great idea and gives them lots of material if they want to expand the world.

-The end of the film teases a future case, recalling another Brothers Grimm fairytale.  I would love to see their take on other beloved fairytales.

Secret Magic Control Agency (2021) 104 minutes

Director: Alexey Tsitsilin

Starring: Nicholas Corda as Hansel

Sylvana Joyce as Gretel

Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld as young Hansel

Courtney Shaw as young Gretel

Erica Schroeder as Elvira

Marc Thompson as King

Georgette Reilly as Agent Stepmother

Johanna Elmina Moise as Agent Stepdaughter

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

"I rode a motorcycle through the jungle with a pack of raptors."

"We're not compatible."

Three years after Jurassic World was overrun by dinosaurs, the island of Isla Nublar is facing a new threat.  The active volcano on the island is going to erupt and destroy all life on the island.  Claire Dearing (Howard) leads a group that wants to save the dinosaurs from extinction, again.  After the U.S. Senate rules again a rescue, Claire is contacted by Sir Benjamin Lockwood (Cromwell).  Lockwood created the dinosaurs with John Hammond, but their partnership ended before the park was created.  Lockwood and Eli Mills, his assistant, want to save the dinosaurs and they need Claire's help.  To rescue the last velociraptor, Blue, they need the assistance of the raptor wrangler Owen Grady (Pratt).

Owen and Claire are joined by veterinarian Zia Rodriguez (Pineda), IT technician Franklin Webb (Smith), and a team of mercenaries.  They quickly learn that the mercenaries have other plans for the captured dinosaurs.  As the danger from the volcano and the dinosaurs loams, they are able to escape the island and return to the mainland.  Can they discover the real reason the dinosaurs were rescued?

This is the 5th film in the Jurassic Park franchise, after Jurassic Park in 1993, The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997, Jurassic Park III in 2001, and Jurassic World in 2015.

The Good:

The filmmakers attempted to learn from the criticisms of the previous film: the characters have reasonable clothing / footwear, the deaths are earned, etc.  Does it match the power of the original film - no, but it isn't terrible.

The Bad:

Jurassic World was like a retread of Jurassic Park (putting dinosaurs in a park is bad), and this film is more like The Lost World (the dinosaurs are alone on an island, idiots return to study them and at least one dinosaur is brought back to the mainland).

My question throughout the film is why: Why go back to the island (especially if you already experienced the carnage); why do you believe moving the dinosaurs is a good idea; why do you trust the men with guns who clearly have different motivations; etc.  In addition to that, I don't particularly like any of the human characters.

Once again the scientists are trying to create a smarter, deadlier dinosaur, without thinking about the consequences.  We are also supposed to feel sympathy for the dinosaurs, who are given more emotions in this film.  It works in some cases, but in others it just feels like overkill or a waste.

Other Comments:

-The film features a cameo by Jeffrey Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm.

-The sequel, Jurassic World: Dominion, is planned for 2022.  This film will end the Jurassic World trilogy.

-I didn't hate this film, but I also didn't love it.  It has some good suspense, but it doesn't stay with you like Jurassic Park.  I will probably see the sequel, but I don't have high expectations.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) 128 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for 

Director: J.A. Bayona

Starring: Chris Pratt as Owen Grady

Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing

Rafe Spall as Eli Mills

Justice Smith as Franklin Webb

Daniella Pineda as Zia Rodriguez

James Cromwell as Sir Benjamin Lockwood

Toby Jones as Mr. Eversoll

Ted Levine as Ken Wheatley

B.D. Wong as Henry Wu

Isabella Sermon as Maisie Lockwood

Stan & Ollie

"I'll miss us when we're gone."

"So will you."

In 1953, Stan Laurel (Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (Reilly) travel to Great Britain for a comedy tour.  It is an opportunity for them to perform together and build momentum for their next film: a Robin Hood comedy.  They use the travel time on the tour to work on material, even though their film producer is elusive.

While they enjoy working together, old wounds start to resurface.  Sixteen years earlier, their films were popular, but contract negotiations pulled them apart.

The tour producer, Bernard Delfont (Jones), does not promote their shows or understand their appeal.  Audiences love the show and as they start making public appearances, the shows are sold out.  On stage, they are a well-oiled machine, but life off stage is not as rosy.  The tension increases with the arrival of their wives Ida (Arianda) and Lucille (Henderson).  Can their friendship and careers survive the tour?

Laurel and Hardy were an iconic comedy duo.  They made 107 films together: a combination of silent, feature-length, and short films.

The Good:

Where to begin.  The story, by Jeff Pope, focuses on a specific point in their careers: it opens at the height of their careers in 1937 and then the rest of the film is the 1953 tour.  It takes a look at the private lives of these legends, while also showing why audiences love them.

The performances are great.  Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly may not seem like obvious choices, but they really deliver.  Both wore prosthetics to mimic the well-known look of their characters, and studied their mannerisms.  They have the difficult task of recreating iconic Laurel and Hardy acts, while making it look easy / natural.  Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda also wanted to bring their characters to life, while paying homage to these women.  They all work well together and make the characters come to life.

The Bad:

No real complaints.

Other Comments:

-I loved this movie... it was a fun tribute, without being overly sentimental.  It also focused on the end of their career, while still lovingly looking back at their heyday.

-The end credits feature clips and photos of Laurel and Hardy, from the the real events depicted in the film.  It made me want to go out and watch Laurel and Hardy films... starting with Way Out West

-The story is inspired by the book "Laurel and Hardy: The British Tours" by A.J. Marriot (there is a part I and part II).

-While the film was not nominated for any Oscars, it was nominated for several British Academy Film Awards.

Stan & Ollie (2018) 98 minutes

Director: Jon S. Baird

Starring: Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel

John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy

Shirley Henderson as Lucille Hardy

Nina Arianda as Ida Laurel

Rufus Jones as Bernard Delfont

Danny Huston as Hal Roach