Minions: The Rise of Gru

Ever since they made their film debut back in 2010s Despicable Me, I’ve been a big Minions fan and have looked forward to every iteration with great anticipation and delight. In the follow-up to Minions, Minions: Rise of Gru set in the mid 70s a now 11 3/4-year-old Gru attempts to join the ultimate group of baddies, the Vicious 6, on his quest to become the worlds’ greatest supervillain. I couldn’t wait to be front and center for this latest adventure.

Even with the absence of Pharell Williams, Heitor Pereira goes it alone this outing, the soundtrack is once again bumping, pulls you in from the jump and has you bopping along the entire film.  Yes, plenty of smiles, seat dancing and singing along was done.  I don’t apologize and regret nothing. A note of caution, while not as catchy as say Happy, Diana Ross’ Turn Up the Sunshine encapsulates the 70s vibe perfectly and will get stuck in your head.  

Minions: Rise of Gru is chock-full of call backs, reference, and familiar characters that serve the film well.  Many new characters, save for Otto and Wild Knuckles, sadly get short shrift, consequently, don’t pack much of a punch.  Having the likes of Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Lucy Lawless, Danny Trejo, and RZA is all well and good, but disappointments that they don’t figure more into the film.  With only an hour twenty-seven-minute runtime, fleshing out these characters for an additional 10 - 15 minutes would really strengthen the overall film.  It would also help tighten up the multiple subplots of the film into a more cohesive whole.

Overall, Minions: Rise of Gru is pretty much what’s to be expected from the franchise.  90 minutes of silly, fun that will get you out of the heat and entertain you.  There’s more nudity (yes, I said nudity) this time around and some of the action may be a tad intense for younger kids, but as long as you go in not expecting a heartfelt, life altering movie experience (Hello? It’s the Minions!) You will be entertained and will leave the theater (only after one small scene at the top of the end credits) with a smile on your face.  

Minions: Rise of Gru is a fun summer ride and gets a 7.5 from me.

Lightyear

 

Twenty-seven years, yes, twenty-seven, after the release of Toy Story, Disney/Pixar has brought Buzz Lightyear back to the big screen in the “real life” story of the man, the myth, the legend himself in Lightyear. To be clear, this is NOT your childhood’s version of the popular character.  In fact, if you haven’t already checked out the Beyond Infinity Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear thirty-six-minute documentary on Disney+, I highly recommend you do so. I feel it important to emphasize this as it has a major impact on the film. 

Lightyear is a darker, more mature, grittier film than any of the Toy Story films. Think more along the lines of Up in terms of tone and content.  Less whimsical and more realistic. Something to keep in mind when viewing, so much so, while billed as the movie that Andy watched that made him want the Buzz toy so badly, Lightyear comes across more like the documentary of the man that inspired the film Andy loved more than the actual film he saw.  Got it?  If you do than you’ll be in the correct mind set for what takes place in Lightyear.

On to the actual film.

Disney/Pixar once again out does itself with the visuals.  Absolutely stunning and a treat for the eyes. Attention to detail, textured, and the lighting is off the charts with this one as well. Good action sequences, some get a bit intense, but the kiddos in the audience didn’t seem to have issue with them.

The story itself is rather simple and straightforward, pacing is good, and the voice acting, again, top notch. Chris Evans’ Buzz works perfectly in this iteration of the character and while yes, I missed Tim Allen, I had no problems overall buying in and enjoying his performance. That’s not to say that I was also frustrated and annoyed with the character (I didn’t have an outburst but yeah, Buzz was pissing me off) as well.  That’s more of a writing/characterization issue than an acting one.   While Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, and Uzo Aduba bring their A games as well their characters didn’t quite light up the screen. They’re fine, but don't pack much of a punch.

Not gonna lie, for me, when all is said and done, Lightyear is all about Peter Sohn’s SOX.  Think Rhino from Bolt. This scene stealer brings the joy, humor, and relatability/likeability that’s largely missing from the film.  I’m going to tell you right now, parents, go ahead and get your SOX toys now for Christmas.

Did Lightyear knock my socks (no pun intended)?  Not entirely, but it’s definitely a solid and enjoyable film. I was never bored, but never "wowed" either. It’s charming, emotional, and entertaining, but falls a bit flat overall.  There’s a certain lack of spark or “magic” to really stick the landing.  This goes back to the disconnect between what’s actually on the screen and the action/adventure Space Ranger that would make a 9-year-old (let alone the rest of the world) want a Buzz Lightyear.  A divide I’m sure will be closed in a sequel. I'm sure there will be a sequel and I'm down for it.

Lightyear gets a 7 from me.

Oh, yes.  Again, I warn you not to leave the theater immediately.  There are 3 credit scenes (top, mid, and post) in this one.  

Jurassic World Dominion

 

The summer box office continues to heat up with this weeks’ release of Jurassic World Dominion, the sixth and final installment of the popular movie franchise based on Michael Crichton’s novels.  Twenty-nine years after Jurassic Park, dinosaurs are living and hunting alongside humans taxing the fragile balance of nature all over the world.  Well, that’s what we’re led to believe is the setup for Jurassic World Dominion, however, the movie we actually get is an altogether different beast.

Jurassic World Dominion is essentially two different films with the original trio of Sam Neil (Alan Grant), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Jeff Goldblum (Ian Malcolm) reuniting in one story (the more interesting of the two in my opinion) and Chris Pratt (Owen Grady) and Bryce Dallas Howard (Claire Dearing) picking up and continuing their story from Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.  Eventually the two stories meet and everything is brought to a conclusion.  

Sadly, the conclusion, as well as the ride leading up to it is far from spectacular or overall satisfying.

The pacing in Jurassic World Dominion is clunky and uneven, particularly in the beginning.  Many of the themes are heavy handed and preachy to the point of making you feel you’re sitting in a lecture hall.  Oddly enough, Ian’s actual lecture in the film is more entertaining and thought provoking than the bludgeoning messaging throughout the rest of the film.  The call backs to previous films in many cases are stale.  With the exception of the original Big Three, the returning characters are lifeless (in Pratt’s case the film plays more like a contractual obligation) and uninspired.  BD Wong’s Dr. Wu takes an unexpected turn and the resolution of his story line feels unearned. New characters aren’t fleshed out and act more as props to get from point a to point b than characters.   

Worse still, Jurassic World Dominion, is a dinosaur movie that has little to do with dinosaurs.  Again, Goldblum’s Ian says it best when he goes off on the seduction of dinos excusing what’s going on.  A note that the writers should of taken when sussing out the story.  Dinosaurs are freely living among humans, what’s that like?  Dunno, it’s glossed over save for a few references. I mean at one point in this 2 hour 26 minute film you go a good half hour to forty minutes without seeing or hearing ANYTHING about the dinosaurs.  

Serious bait and switch as well as a major disappointment.

The biggest saving grace of Dominion is the legacy characters, especially Goldblum’s Ian. The wit, charm, and humor is classic. All three actors seem to be having a blast and it shows and you feel it ever time they’re on screen.  When you get the dinosaurs they look amazing.  These bad boys never fail to delight. 

All told Jurassic World Dominion looks great, has some shining moments, but ultimately is lifeless.  If this is what the franchise has to offer, it’s time to let it go the way of actual dinosaurs. 

Jurassic World Dominion gets a disappointing 5 from me.

The Bob's Burger Movie

The Belchers clan has joined the ranks of The Simpsons and the South Park gang and made the leap from the small to the big screen. As a Bob’s Burgers fan, I’ve been looking forward to this latest adventure and was a bit surprised, yet not disappointed.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a glorified extended episode of the popular television series and that’s what makes it work. The gang doesn’t fall into typical television to big screen gimmicks. Staying true to its television roots in every way that matters, but the expanded scope allows this musical, murder, mystery to breathe and entertain organically. 

Staying largely with the main characters and locations from the show we’re treated to an entertaining Bob’s Burgers experience that is sure to delight fans.  

On that note, I can’t really say how non-fans will react to this one.  It may play well, or it may not. Lack of familiarity may possibly detract from the viewing experience.  I can’t say for sure though.  With the film being as well written and acted, that may not even be an issue.

 The Bob’s Burgers Movie is exciting, funny, thrilling, quirky and one-hour forty-two minutes well spent. Escapism at its best.  

But, once again, don’t leave too soon.  There’s a cute bonus scene after the credits.

The Bob’s Burgers Movie is a solid 9 from me.