Wish

 

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: 

Full disclosure. I do own stock in the Disney Company.  

With Thanksgiving happening this week in the United States, Disney’s latest family animated film Wish has hit the big screen.  Billed as being 100 years in the making Wish, takes the Disney theme of wishing upon a star to new levels in a new original, nostalgia filled musical homage.

Despite being a Disney fan and stock owner, I can’t say I had any sense of anticipation or great interest going into this film.  The trailers looked okay but didn’t exactly scream “must see” for me, more, “eh, could be cute.”  Combined with the only recently ended actor’s strike there hasn’t been much buzz around this one.  Hell, I had no idea who any of the voice actors were until I actually watched the film.  Still, I opted at the last minute to check Wish out on a last-minute whim before holiday crowds pack the theaters.

I’m so happy I did.

Wish is an hour thirty-five-minute joy to behold.

The old school watercolor animation combined with CG animation is beautiful.  It’s classic and comforting, yet fresh and lively.  When they said 100 years in the making, the film’s creative teamed leaned in hard and the result is amazing.  

Wish is filled with overt and subtle references that cover the history of Disney animation that warm the heart and soul, but don’t detract from the original story or characters.  So, yes, there’s plenty to make you think of Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Frozen, and so many more Disney films, these elements and references are combined in such a way they bring new life to each film and elevate the current one. If you like Easter eggs and pop culture references, you’ll have a blast with Wish.  

POP QUIZ/SPOILER ALERT

Asha's seven friends are a direct reference and exhibit the characteristic of the Seven Dwarves.

END SPOILERALERT

Filled with great musical numbers, Wish had me seat dancing and head bobbing from beginning to end with a very apt, soaring musical score.  There are definitely two songs destined to be the latest Disney earworms driving you crazy for the next few months.

Wonderful casting with Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and of course Disney (and my favorite) Alan Tudyk leading the way.  DeBose was actually the inspiration for the character of Asha, so it’s no surprise she does a beautiful job bringing her to life.  Tudyk is well, Tudyk and makes Valentino as charming and endearing as possible.  Then there’s Chris Pine.  He goes full tilt and absolutely nails Magnifico.

Speaking of leaning in hard, Disney goes all in and gives a delightful, scary villain that doesn’t pull any punches.  

And I was all for it.  

So many films these days are giving such weak, watered down baddies they undercut the overall film.  Happily, not the case here.  In fact, there are a few scenes that had me “damning” out loud and wondering if young kids may find it a bit much.  Hence the PG rating I’m guessing.

Wish is fun, entertaining, and classic Disney at its best with a twist.  A perfect tribute to all the creators and artist that have contributed to the magic of Disney animation for the last 100 years.  Thoroughly a job well done and definitely worth a trip to the theater to see at least once on the big screen.  And when you do, heads up, there is one post credit scene at the very end. It’s not long, but it’s sweet and sure to give Disney fans the feels. I know it brought a smile to my lips and a tear to my eyes. 

While I may not make it back to see it again during its theatrical run, but Wish is on my list for repeated viewings going forward and I can’t wait.  It’s a crowd pleaser.

Wish gets a 10 from me.

#wish

The Marvels

 

Wow, it’s been a minute since I’ve ventured out to the theater to check anything out.  The whole life gets in the way thing and all.  

True confession time. I wasn’t particularly interested in going to see this one. I felt like viewing was more of an obligation than a desire. I certainly feel like the MCU has been hit and miss as of late.  Also, try as I might, I simply haven’t gotten into Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.  There’s just something about the portrayal that fails to garner any more interest from me than... I dunno. Apathy?   As for Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, I liked her and her series (love the family) overall but have issues with parts of the character portrayal.  Teyonah Parris’s Monica Rambeau has me curious.  

Anywho, with this in mind, I nonetheless geared up and headed out to catch the latest offering from Marvel Studios, The Marvels.  

It’s been almost 24 hours since I watched The Marvels and I’m definitely feeling some kind of way about the film.  What exactly that is, however, I’m still not sure.

I didn’t hate it.  If anything, I feel it was better than I may have expected.  But I also don’t think it’s the greatest either.  I will admit that I’m feeling more hopeful and positive about what’s coming next in the MCU and the direction they seem to be heading than I have felt in a minute.  The one credit scene hit me in the feels, took me to my happy place, and got me really excited. This scene alone made the entire film worthwhile.

Other positives and there are quite a few.

Samuel L. Jackson.  Love him.  Love his portrayal as Fury and he killed me again and again every time he’s on screen.  His dialogue and delivery are pure perfection.  The humor and the humanity he brings to each situation had me laughing, cheering, and vibing throughout.  

As previously mentioned, the Kahn family.  Having them on the big screen is a joy.  Also loved them bringing in some of the Ms Marvel stylistic elements to this project.  

Nia DaCosta’s direction is impressive. Especially how she handles all the amazing fight sequences.  Kudos to her and the editing team pulling off all the body/power switching shenanigans.  

Goose and the Flerkens. 

Good humor. 

Good cameos.

I won’t call them negatives, but I do file these under “my issues”.  

I still don’t have any particular interest in Captain Marvel after this film, but in fairness this is the most engaging portrayal of the character to date. 

Ms Marvel. I understand she’s a “kid” but between the series and events of this film, the endless, over-the-top fawning/fangirling has gotten tedious to me.  She’s been through and seen enough $#@! at this point she shouldn’t still be on 11.  Dial it down and bring it to at least a 6 or 5.  Character development and growth are good things.  

Yes, The Marvels is a more lighthearted and fun film, but the one bit that was just plain silly? No, just plain stupid didn’t do the movie any favors.

The continuing big bad issue.  Once again, our villain, Dar-Benn played by Zawe Ashton is lacking. The character doesn’t have my character development, takes way too long to explain her motive, and for all intents and purposes doesn’t come off as being more than a generic threat.  Lackluster is now the norm, I guess?  They've forgotten the better the villain our heroes to overcome the better the story.

While the writing is strong for the more humorous and lighthearted elements of the film, the dramatic bits are more hit and miss.  There are moments in particular with the three main characters that really come off as forced and contrived.  

As I stated, these aspects of the film may simply be no more than me being a grouchy old woman. So, grain of salt.

My final stance.

Yes, I did enjoy the film. Yes, I’m glad I saw it in the theater. I certainly laughed and left the theater feeling hopeful for what has been set up.  Yet, my overall feelings remain, apathetic toward the film as a whole. 

As such, The Marvels doesn’t get a rating from me.

#TheMarvels

A Haunting in Venice

 

I’ve been an Agatha Christie fan since my elementary school librarian turned me on to her novels.  I’ve been thrilled that Kenneth Branagh has been bringing the stories to the big screen as both actor and director since 2017. However, I’ve also felt the last two films results were a bit of a mixed bag for various reasons.  Still, with this new original adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel Halloween Party I went into A Haunting in Venice with high hopes that the third time would be the charm and Branagh would’ve successfully cracked the code on delivering a great Agatha Christie movie.

Point of fact. A Haunting in Venice is again a mixed bag for me.

The pros. 

Good cast. Strong acting by Branagh (easily his best turn as Poirot to date) and Jude Hill (Belfast). Wonderful cinematography. Terrific set design. Location, location, location! Top notch atmospherics capture the supernatural, brooding darkness perfectly.

The cons.  

Much like the last two films, A Haunting in Venice is a slow burner that’s an absolute slough to get through at least the first third if not half of the film. From the beginning I was barely engaged and really struggled to not only be interested but stay awake.  Like Death on the Nile, it took ages for the first body to drop and the movie to get going.

For such a good cast, the bulk of them are underused and feel wasted.  Then there’s Tina Fey.  Love her, but feel she was miscast in her role of Ariadne Oliver. Her performance came across as more of a SNL skit version of the character.

The overuse of jump scares becomes silly and undercuts the overall eerie disquiet the film creates.  There’s also an overall lack of energy to this one that pulls the entire production down. 

The mystery and the clues to solve it are fairly obvious this go round so the “whodunit” aspect is fairly weak.  What's the fun in that?

At the end of the day, A Haunting in Venice is a good effort and mildly entertaining but isn’t a film you need to get to the theater to see.  It should be available for home viewing before long, check it out then.

A Haunting in Venice gets a 5 from me. 

#AHauntingInVenice

The Equalizer 3

 

This week Denzel Washington re-teams with director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Magnificent Seven) purportedly for the 3 and final time, in the role of Robert McCall. There’s not a lot to say about this one, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.

The Equalizer 3 is the movie you want and expect going in, only with a different approach than the other two.  This time around McCall’s completely international. We’re also left in the dark as to what’s going on and why until the very end of the film which delivers a different flavor to the storyline.  E3 overall is a slower burner as a film as well in terms of the pacing.  But it actually benefits the film in the process.  Washington is almost 70-year-old now so having more exposition and character development as opposed to non-stop action makes sense, keeps the film grounded, and makes the action sequences pack and even harder punch.

In regard to the action, yes. 

Yes. 

YES. 

It’s intense, no holds barred, gory, and shockingly brutal in its violence.  In short, everything I wanted and expected.  Juxtaposed against the calm and quiet of the majority of the film it really stands out and makes these moments even more satisfying.  Robert McCall takes to peace and quiet and retirement about as well as John Wick and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of this character as a result. 

The settings are gorgeous, the cinematography beautiful.  The good guys are good and the bad guys deliciously wicked so the brutal force in which they are dispatched is a pure delight.  If anything, there are couple I wished suffered a bit more before their demise, but that’s just me.  

The international cast all deliver strong and engaging performances.  Having Dakota Fanning re-teaming with Washington 19 years after their last film together (Man on Fire) is a bonus treat.

The third time is certainly a charm for The Equalizer 3.  It’s fun, entertaining, and you get what you came for in a satisfactory experience.   I had the pleasure of seeing this film with a great crowd and the interaction made it even more enjoyable. It was one big watch party in the best sense.

It’s a solid 8 from me.

 #TheEqualizer3

Gran Turismo

I am not a gamer.  

I also couldn’t care less about auto racing. 

However, seeing the trailers and having a cast including David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou, I wanted to see this underdog story based on true events.  

Glad I did. 

Gran Turismo is a much-needed palate cleanser and a thoroughly enjoyable film from start to finish.

First, it's an interesting story.  Completely far-fetched on the surface, but the fact it really happened makes it intriguing. While there's tons of exciting action, the film doesn't skimp on heart, emotion, or humor. Gran Turismo has it all in a crisply directed, chaotic entertaining package.  The soundtrack is surprising and evening shocking but works like a charm.  My heart and appreciation go out to the sound mixers on this one. These folks did an incredible job capturing the intensity, thrill, and excitement of auto racing.  

Really gets the adrenalin pumping.

The casting and acting are great. Archie Madekwe’s performance as Jann Mardenborough is powerful and engaging.  You feel for him every step of the way, delighting in each triumph and lamenting every setback. David Harbour is definitely on a roll.  While underused, Orlando Bloom nails it. The emotional performance of Djimon Hounsou took me to my happy place even as he brought me to tears.  

Yes, Gran Turismo gives us characters to invest in and care about.  If anything, I wanted to delve deeper into several of the characters. 

Score! 

With a two-hour 15-minute runtime, Gran Turismo isn’t overly long in reality, but there are some pacing issues making it feel longer.  The film never quite drags, but it definitely gets too close for comfort in places and had me wondering/feeling things should be wrapping up and how much longer I'd be sitting there. Not great, but far from terrible.

As far as racing films go, I’d say Gran Turismo isn’t quite on par as say, Ford v. Ferrari, but it’s definitely up there. It's a solid, thrilling, inspiring, and well worth a trip to the theater.  

Gran Turismo gets a 7 from me.

#GranTurismo

Blue Beetle

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I’m not a comic book reader and have no knowledge or insight of this character above or beyond what is shown in the film.

This week two new films hit the theater, I opted to see DC’s latest superhero offering Blue Beetle.  I’m going to make this review short and not so sweet because frankly, like the film’s writer, I don’t feel like putting much time, effort, or thought into it.  So yes, I didn’t choose wisely.

The pros.  

The soundtrack is good.  Once you get past the initial, clunky setup, George Lopez’s Uncle Rudy is enjoyable.  You have to sit through three fourths of the film to see it, but once she steps into the spotlight, Adriana Barraza’s Nana also delights and shines.  Nana is easily more interesting and engaging in her limited screen time than the main character.  

And... that’s pretty much it for the pros.

The cons.

There are many. 

Too many.  

First, the film is just boring.  The two hour seven-minute runtime feels like an eternity.  From the jump, nothing pulls you in or makes you care about what’s going on.  I was fidgeting, looking at my watch, and starting myself analysis of why I wasn’t engaged within the first twenty to twenty-five minutes.  Forty minutes in I was itching to pull out my phone and start scrolling.  It wasn’t just a “me” thing either. The majority of the audience was squirming in their seats, getting up to get refills or hit the restroom, or like the gentleman in front of my, just slumped over with his head resting on his hand barely awake.  And yes, I did see a couple of people sleeping.

The script is generic.  There’s little to no depth of anything.  It’s predictable and the dialogue takes cringe worthy to a new level. Plot holes upon plot holes.  Ugh. If this was really the final draft for the script, I’d hate to see what the rough drafts were like.  Nothing is developed or explained.  There’s no meat on these bones. The film relies on telling us every five to ten minutes what it’s aiming at instead of just showing us.

The entire film is nothing more than tropes and stereotypes held together by CGI.  Our villain, Susan Sarandon’s Victoria Kord is cartoonish and cliched.  What a waste and a disappointment.  The other characters lack characterization and development and are reduced to mere caricatures.  Stupid, annoying caricatures.   

With the exception of a couple of lines, the humor misses like a Stormtrooper in a hallway battle.

The post credit sequence is even weak and predictable.

Yes, I can go on and on with this one. But, like film itself, there’s no reason. I can't and won't recommend seeing this one.

Blue Beetle gets a 3 from me.

#bluebeetle

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

 

Movie Review: The Last Voyage of the Demeter

The summer movie season is starting to wind down, but anticipated films continue to hit the big screen. My latest trip to the theater had me checking out the second Dracula film released this year. Namely, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, based on The Captain's Log from Bram Stokers’ 1897 gothic novel Dracula. 

The production values on this film are great and really set it apart.

Gorgeous sets, great lighting, a haunting Bear McCreary score, rich audio mixing, and strong direction. All combine with beautiful cinematography, strong performances, good CGI and creature effects to create the perfect tone for the harrowing tale to be told.

Sounds promising.

However, the overall film fell/felt flat.

No doubt a large part of that can be attributed to the film’s pacing.  

The Last Voyage of the Demeter clocks in with a runtime of 1 hour 58 minutes, but feels much, MUCH longer.  It takes the better part of an hour before things pop off and there really isn't much going on during the setup.  That’s just too long to wait for the action. Especially given the audience awareness of what’s behind the “mystery” on the ship.  Even once the crew is aware something is off, things continue to drag out before there’s a true sense of urgency or danger.  Undercutting the suspense and tension.  

Precisely what you don’t want to do with a horror film.

The script is thin and lazy as is the resulting character development.  For the all the great acting, there isn’t much to the make you care or root for the characters.  As for their actions (and inaction), to put it mildly they’re nonsensical at best. Silly at worse.

I really had high hopes for an epic Dracula story with The Last Voyage of the Demeter.  I got a visual feast that lacks any real punch.

No need to rush to the theater for this one. It should be streaming soon. 

The Last Voyage of the Demeter gets a 5.5 from me.

#demetermovie