“Toy Story 4” Review
Only the saga of Toy Story could be bold enough to charge into a fourth film after 24 years and still have that same engaging edge that only grows grander with age. I haven’t outgrown these toys as they always seem to bounce back with more to say and something Continue Reading
“Men in Black: International” Review
Sony once more mistakes the tech for the talent of remaking its familiar properties. Men in Black: International has all the decadence of numerous alien creatures, intergalactic technology, and plenty of well-dressed agents trying to keep the secret space alien populace in the shadows. But there’s not much of that Continue Reading
“Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” Review
Detective Pikachu is a film that banks heavy off its nostalgia in more ways than one. Sure, there’s the obvious adult relation for those who grew up playing the game in the 1990s, so attuned most know the TV series’ iconic theme song and lengthy PokeRap by heart. The film Continue Reading
“Long Shot” Review
Similar to Seth Rogen’s previously produced comedies, Long Shot takes a topical and interesting subject matter and performs a comedic dance around the hat. In the same way that Sausage Party took glee in the question rather than the answer of mortality and faith, this film takes aim at messy Continue Reading
“Missing Link” Review
The Laika animation studio continues to churn out some of the most original and boundary-pushing of stop-motion animation. Their previous works include the culturally creative Kubo and the Two Strings and the exciting horror ParaNorman. While Missing Link isn’t quite the same level of a masterpiece, it does go to Continue Reading
“SHAZAM!” Review
As the DC Comics cinematic universe tries to find its firmer footing, SHAZAM stands tall and proud as a classical superhero outing. Not only does it do right by the titular hero and his quirky world of magic and adventure but it also a knowing smirk for the rest of Continue Reading
“Dumbo” (2019) Review
Easily one of the most powerful scenes from 1941’s Dumbo is the scene where the big-eared, titular elephant longs for his mother’s touch. Locked behind bars, Dumbo’s mom can still reach her son by extending her trunk out of the window and gently cradle her child. The sweet melody of Continue Reading
“Heavy Trip” Review
For a film that features death metal, vomit, and a corpse that gets tossed around at a concert, Heavy Trip manages to be inspiring and even adorable at times. In the same way that films such as Sing Street present aspiring musicians eager to become a hit, this film presents Continue Reading
“The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” Review
2014’s The Lego Movie was such a groundbreaking animated take on toy-based property films that a sequel would not be easy to craft. So it’s not the least bit surprising that The Lego Movie 2 treads and fairly safe ground, taking care to stick to what made the first film Continue Reading
“The Upside” Review
I partially knew what I was in for with a film like The Upside. Prepared for the most milquetoast of melodrama, I grabbed a coffee and sat back hoping to be won over by the chemistry of Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. The coffee was a mistake as I found Continue Reading