DC League of Super-Pets

In their fifth and latest collaboration, the dynamic team of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart have gone animated with their bromance in Warner Bros. DC League of Super-Pets. Following the capture of the entire Justice League, Superman’s dog Krypto (Johnson) joins forces with a group of super powered endowed shelter pets lead by Ace (Hart) on a rescue mission. 

DC League of Super-Pets is a fairly cute, straight forward children’s film that’s action-packed, emotional, and overall enjoyable.  While humorous the jokes are a bit of a crap shoot in terms of landing. Many honestly don’t but there are some good chuckles and even laugh-out-loud moments. I found the pacing of the first half of the film a bit slow and the story a bit janky. A roller coaster of being drawn in then things flat lining.  However, I never completely disengaged from the film or became outright bored.    

A large part of that no doubt is a credit to the cast.  

I went for the team of Johnson/Hart, which is once more a successful pairing, but the stand outs for me were Kate McKinnon’s Lulu and Natasha Lyonne’s Merton.  These ladies steal the show for my money. Big props especially among a cast of heavy hitters the likes of John Krasinski, Keanu Reeves, Daveed Diggs, and Alfred Molina to name a few.

The animation is good, reminds me of the “old school” Saturday morning cartoons.  Good soundtrack.  While DC League of Super-Pets isn’t earth shattering with innovations, the film is what you expect, nothing more, nothing less.  Nothing inherently wrong with that. All told a pleasant way to spend an hour and forty-six minutes on a hot summer day. 

I enjoyed this one.  

The kids in the theater enjoyed this one.  

I’m giving DC League of Super-Pets a 7.5.

And yes, least I forget, following the trend in films DC League of Super-Pets has 2 credit scenes. The first mid credits and integral to the film.  The second post credits, possibly integral going forward.  Definitely meta, fun, cross promotional, and a wink and nod to those who know.

 

Nope

 

The latest anticipated summer release this week comes from writer/director/producer Jordan in his third film Nope.  Peele keeping with tradition of playing things close to the vest, meant I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going in, so with an open mind I went to see if the third time was indeed a charm.

From the onset Nope had me shaking my head and wondering what the hell was going on to the point of not even being sure the films’ beginning was part of the films’ beginning. I also admit I’m still a bit muddled on what that whole storyline meant and its connection to the whole but maybe I’m just a bit slow.  More clues and weirdness follow as you begin to piece things together and the unsettling, creep factor builds.  

Nice.

Until it doesn’t.

Nope runs two hours ten minutes total and chugs along nicely for the first half of the first half (make sense?) then I found the pacing takes a dive.  Things slow and drag for a good twenty minutes or so to the point I found myself straight up bored.  Hate to say it, but I was literally saying it as I sat in the theater feeling restless.

Then boom! Peele hits his stride once again; the film takes off and never lets up for the rest of the ride.

Yay!

The cinematography, direction, and visuals of Nope are stunning and create the perfect unsettling, eerie, creepy, thrilling, tension filled movie landscape that had me (as well as the characters) saying “nope”.  For the record I threw in a few “aww hell naws” and a “f this $#@!” as well.  Apologies to Oprah for that one, but I stand by my reaction.

Great casting/acting all around, but it’s Daniel Kaluuya’s OJ, Keke Palmer’s Emerald, and Brandon Perea’s Angel performances that truly make this film a treat. I do wish Michael Wincott featured a little more.  That voice alone is spectacular.

Jordan Peele’s Nope is another original and freshly creative film that blends multiple genres into something exciting to behold. Despite the pacing issue I say it’s well worth a trip to the local movie theater to take a look.  I’m giving Nope a 7.5/8

Additional tidbit for people with kids.  Upon leaving the theater I had a kid of 9 or 10 ask me what I thought of the film. I gave him my take and asked for his.  He informed me he REALLY enjoyed it (so much so that this was his second viewing), he liked EVERYTHING about it, and that Keke Palmer’s Emerald was his absolute favorite.  So, FYI.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank

 

As the summer temperatures continue to sizzle family friendly films are hitting the big screen as an enticement to lure folks back to the theaters.  This week’s offering is Nickelodeon’s animated film, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.  The story of a dog with big dreams of becoming a samurai.  I again ventured to my local theater with high hopes for an entertaining hour thirty-seven-minute viewing experience in air-conditioned comfort to check this one out.

I’ll cut to the chase, the best part of this outing was indeed the AC and to a lesser degree the snacks.  Neither of which was worth leaving home or burning gas for.

The sinking feeling began with the opening short film. I can’t honestly remember the name of this one, but it still has me shaking my head wondering WTF.  It was...bizarre and unsettling at best. I’m not sure what anyone was thinking with it, let alone why it was paired with Paws of Fury, but it definitely set the tone for the lackluster main attraction because once Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank began, things didn’t get much better.  

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is one of those animated films we get every few years where all the time and money seems to have been spent on assembling a heavy hitting voice cast and little else. 

Billed as an animated remake of Blazing Saddles, with a healthy dose of Kung Fu Panda as well, PoF is more a POS that lacks the charm, originality, or entertainment value of either.  

Slogging through the first half of the film was a joyless and mind-numbing endeavor that felt endless. Fortunately, the second half of the film was much stronger and was a better viewing experience. However, overall, it’s a case of too little too late.

Samuel L Jackson is the best part of this film hands down. This is another Turbo situation. In addition, Kylie Kuioka (Emiko) also breathes much needed life into this story as well.  As for the rest of the cast, there simply isn’t much for them to sink their teeth into. No character development. Little story.  Lots of pop culture references (heavy on all things Mel Brooks), dog and cat puns, and visual gags fell short as all indications is this film is aimed toward a younger audience and it was going over their heads.  Being one of the oldest audience members I chuckled here and there, but the only laugh out loud moment for the entire audience, especially the kiddos, came at the end of the movie.  

Positive messaging throughout while important/great is handled with all the subtlety as a hand grenade in a bowl of oatmeal in its heavy handedness and becomes tedious quickly.  

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank doesn’t hold much to warrant a trip to the theater.  The potential was there in the concept but fails in the execution.  This one’s a stream at home at best.  If and when you do, don’t forget to fast forward to the end of the credits for one last tiny scene. The sentiment captures this film perfectly. 

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is a disappointing 3 for me.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Another week is under our belts and with it came the next big summer movie release. Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder. My excitement following the success of 2017 Thor: Ragnarök and the return of Taika Waititi as not only director but also co-writer has been palatable as well as guarded. With only an hour fifty-nine-minute runtime, the return of so many established characters, along with the introduction of new storylines, combined with the “late in the game” onslaught trailers, clips, and other hype I was more than a bit fearful we would’ve pretty much seen the entire film before it actually hit the screen.  

Both valid takes as it turns out.

Thor: Love and Thunder is indeed a fun, summer romp of a film that delights in many ways.  The light-hearted to downright silly comedic beats, plenty of expected as well as unexpected call backs, fast paced action, and a storyline with heart at its core for my time and money put Thor: Love and Thunder in the same realm as Thor: Ragnarök.  

Sweet.  

Same realm but not quite the same level, however.

The less is more runtime definitely keeps TLT from hitting the full Ragnarök level of enjoyment.  Not all the comedy is a solid hit, but more importantly the drama and the emotional elements aren’t given the time to sit/breathe making for a less impactful viewing experience that’s emptier than it should be.  

Christian Bale delivers as the “Big Bad”.  I just wish there had been more Gorr to feast upon.  The same can be said for Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster/Mighty Thor.  The chance to really delve into and expand on their characters never quite comes to fruition and while seeing them is enjoyable it’s also frustrating as a result. The character development remains only skin deep here. A truly squandered opportunity.

Then there’s Russell Crowe.  I can’t even begin to wrap my head around that one.  Better than his outing as Henry Jekyll in 2017 The Mummy but still...  If nothing else, what the hell was up with that accent?  I’ll leave it at that.

Moving on.

Good visuals.  Strong direction. Then there’s the soundtrack. Ahhh, the soundtrack.  An around the world and back snap for certain.  Guns N’ Roses takes me back, ABBA makes me happy, Mary J. Blige is never wrong. 

Thor: Love and Thunder as a whole is a bit of a mixed bag, not unlike all the Thor films.  Fortunately, there’s more good about it than bad.  

Did I want more from it overall?  Yes.  Did I enjoy seeing it on the big screen?  Yes, again.  Can I recommend you head to the theater to check it out?  Again, I’m going to say yes.  Go for the fun, go for the joy of catching up with the familiar characters and for a glance of seeing where they may head in the future.  Go with the right mind set for a summer movie experience but be sure to stay for the 2 end credit scenes.

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 7.5 for me.