Bill & Ted Face The Music

 

 When we last met Bill and Ted they were time-traveling teenagers trying to pass history class and win the battle of the bands. Once prophesized to save the universe with their rock and roll, middle age and the responsibilities of family have caught up with these two best friends who have not yet fulfilled their destiny. They’ve written thousands of tunes, but they have yet to write a good one, much less the greatest song ever written. With the fabric of time and space tearing around them, a visitor from the future warns our heroes that only their song can save life as we know it. Out of luck and fresh out of inspiration, Bill and Ted set out on a time travel adventure to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe as we know it. Together with the aid of their daughters, a new crop of historical figures, and some sympathetic music legends, Bill and Ted find much, much more than just a song.

Talk about an incredibly long wait for a sequel.  When I was a kid - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure was one of my favorite movie.  Great movie?  No - of course not.  It was just a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The sequel was a decent watch but nowhere near as enjoyable as the first one.   This movie was incredibly stupid but it really didn't take itself seriously at all and that ended up making it enjoyable even though it really was a bad movie.

I would still recommend people checking this out who were fans of the first two and the characters.   Besides - let's be honest . . . . . what other movies are out there to watch?

The Tax Collector

 

David and Creeper work as “tax collectors” for a crime lord named Wizard, collecting his cut from the profits of local gangs. But when Wizard’s old rival returns to Los Angeles from Mexico, his entire business is upended, and David finds himself desperate to protect what matters most to him — his family.

This was another great and gritty David Ayer movie.  I've always been a fan of his movies and this one was no different.  It was also great to see Shia LaBeouf show those acting chops that I totally thought were going to bring him to next level years back before he fell off the rails.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's a well done, tight and pretty intense watch that is more than worth the 90 minute running time.

Irresistible

 

After the Democratic National Committee’s top strategist Gary (Steve Carell) sees a video of a retired Marine colonel (Chris Cooper) standing up for the rights of his town’s undocumented workers, Gary believes he has found the key to winning back the Heartland. However, the Republican National Committee counters him by sending in his brilliant nemesis Faith (Rose Byrne) and a local race quickly becomes a fight for the soul of America.

This movie was a pretty decent watch.  I enjoyed the pulling back of the curtain on how campaigns run and what not.  I will say though that I thought the laughs would be much bigger considering all the talent involved.  Still a decent watch but not nearly as funny as I had hoped.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out.  The actors definitely pull their weight and what not but it's not a must see by any means.

The King Of Staten Island

 

Scott (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He’s now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister (Maude Apatow) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother (Marisa Tomei) and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with the guys—Oscar (Ricky Velez), Igor (Moises Arias) and Richie (Lou Wilson)—and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley). But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray (Bill Burr), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.

I am stunned at how good this movie was and how much I enjoyed it.  Pete Davidson was great and had some incredible one liners.  It might have helped massively that he was basically playing himself but it was still great.  The comedy that was like 2 hours and 15 minutes long avoided that usual death sentence.  Had a lot of heart and a lot of laughs with a bunch of characters that you definitely cared about.  

I would absolutely recommend that people check this one out.  Granted not a lot has come out this year but this is one of the best movies of the year so far.

High Note

 

Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights, and Maggie (Dakota Johnson), her overworked personal assistant.  While stuck running errands, Maggie still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) presents her with a choice that could alter the course of her career, Maggie and Grace come up with a plan that could change their lives forever.

This was a very fun and simple movie.  The characters played very well off of each other.   The whole "what a small world" story that plays out was very entertaining.   I was very surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did.   

I would recommend people checking this out if they want a simple and enjoyable watch.  It's not a must see by any means but it was a good, breezy kind of watch.

Scoob!

Warner Bros. Pictures is looking to reboot the cartoon into a new animated movie franchise. Created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" introduced the world to a group of four mystery-solving teens, Daphne, Fred, Shaggy and Velma and their cowardly talking dog, Scooby-Doo. - Chris Columbus boards as creative producer.

Honestly - this movie benefitted by doing the VOD release instead of postponing for theaters.   This never should have been a wide theater release.   Like this was a made for bluray movie all along.  I'm all for a good animated movie and have always been a Scooby Doo fan but this movie was pretty much straight trash.  Like highway robbery for families if it was in theaters.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this turd.  Very disappointing entry of a Scooby Doo wide release movie.

Trolls World Tour

Can’t stop the feeling as the colorful, wondrous Trolls return for the follow-up to 2016’s breakout global hit about how far you’ll go for happiness… "Trolls World Tour" will continue to where the first film left off. It’s all glitter and happiness in Troll Town until Queen Poppy and Branch make a surprising discovery — there are other Troll worlds beyond their own, each defined by a different genre of music. When a mysterious threat puts all the Trolls across the land in danger, Poppy, Branch, and their band of friends must embark on an epic quest through unfamiliar terrain to do the impossible: create harmony among the diverse Trolls to unite them against certain doom.

This was pretty much massively disappointing.  The original had a certain level of cuteness that hooked both kids and adults with great music and characters.  You really couldn't help but enjoy it on some level.  They have since turned it into a cartoon on Netflix that was actually pretty good too for what it was.  But this sequel was pretty much missing all of that.  Like all of it.  It came across as more of a blatant money grab.

I wouldn't really recommend people bothering with this when it comes out (if it comes out with how things are in April).  But let's be honest - by that point parents and kids will be happy to go to a movie just to get out of the house after this month long sabbatical.

The Hunt

Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don’t know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen… for a very specific purpose … The Hunt. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, a group of globalist elites gathers for the very first time at a remote Manor House to hunt humans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of the hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin, GLOW), knows The Hunters’ game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off, one by one, as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman (two-time Oscar® winner Hilary Swank) at the center of it all.

This movie is 100% what you thought it would be by the trailer.  A bunch of political infused society commentary intertwined with the idea of hunting humans.  There really is not much more to say about it.  It is what it is.  If you are able to stomach both the violence and the commentary than it is an okay watch.  If you can't - stay far far away.

Like I said above  - can't really blindly recommend this based on the quality of the movie because of those two factors.  I was able to watch it for what it is and think it was decent.  Not awesome.  Not great.  Not bad.  Not atrocious.  Just kind of there and watchable but I would just as easily understand someone completely loving this or completely detesting this too.  A very big point of view movie.

The Invisible Man

The film centers on Cecilia Kass, a woman trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist. She escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister, their childhood friend and his teenage daughter. But when Cecilia’s abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turn lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

FINALLY!!!!   A scary movie that lives up to the scares it advertises.  I feel like I have seen so many unscary movies in the last year or so that I've become numb to them.  But this movie was awesome.  This is the most tense I have been watching a movie since A Quiet Place.  Like I was actually sore when the movie was over from how long I spend tensed up.  The acting was great.  The camerawork was phenomenal and the creepiness of it absolutely sticks with you and makes it a little bit uncomfortable at times when you are alone and wondering if you really are.   

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It's pretty much a must see and absolutely a movie that lives up the creepiness that is advertised.

Onward

The story is set in a world with no humans, only elves, trolls and sprites. The film centers on two teenage elf brothers whose father died when they were too young to remember him. But thanks to the little magic still left in the world, the boys embark on a quest that will allow them a chance to spend one last magical day with their father. In the film, unicorns are so common that they’re considered pests.

I feel like I ask this every time but does Pixar make bad movies (outside of Cars 2)? No.  No they do not.  And this was no different.  This was a very excellently told tale of siblings but in a post fantasy world.  The subtext social commentary was awesome.  The characters were awesome.  There were plenty of a laughs and the pacing was great.  I even got choked up unexpectedly a couple of times.  Gotta love Pixar!   My only knock against this is that you are used to Disney/Pixar characters becoming kind of iconic.  I don't see that happening for these characters as enjoyable as they were.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  Again - Pixar never fails (except for Cars 2 which I will give them a pass for).

Sonic The Hedgehog

The hybrid CG-animated/live-action feature is based on the acclaimed "Sonic the Hedgehog" video game series. The film will look to capture Sonic’s irreverent tone and spirit, reuniting him with some of the most revered and infamous characters of the franchise, including the evil Dr. Eggman. Playful, mischievous, and quick on his feet in more ways than one, the world’s fastest hedgehog is known for his ability to move at supersonic speed to protect his friends from their enemies.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.  I thought that this would be watered down nonsense for kids and it was not.  It wasn't just as good for adults as kids like a Pixar movie or most Disney fare but it was enjoyable enough for adults and anyone whoever played Sonic to enjoy along with the kids who will absolutely love it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out - especially families.  It's a great option for the week off from school and plenty entertaining.  It was also a bonus to finally watch Jim Carrey being silly in a movie again.

The Way Back

A former high school basketball star struggling with alcoholism who has lost his wife and family foundation due to it is offered a coaching job at his alma mater, to which he accepts in the hopes it will redeem his soul.

Don't get me wrong - this movie is 10000000% formula.  If you saw the trailer then you saw the movie.  There is nothing you don't see coming.  There are no heart strings that don't get pulled.  That being said - it was still a very enjoyable watch for a sports and redemption type of movie.  Ben Affleck was really good in this simple movie.

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not remotely a must see movie but it is a better than average watch for sure.

Emma

The Jane Austen novel was first published in 1815, a comedy of manners focusing on Emma Woodhouse, who can't help herself from constantly meddling in the love affairs of others.

I tried.  I did.  I don't know why I do honestly.  I have never been able to make it through fully attentive or enjoy any of these Jane Austen type of movies but it showed up online so I tried.  Made it 45 minutes and didn't care at all so I pulled the plug.  

Not sure that I can recommend it or not because I just didn't care for it or any of these movies.  Sorry.

Brahms: The Boy II

The Boy 2 is a follow up to the successful horror-thriller feature "The Boy" (2016), which starred Lauren Cohan and Rupert Evans. Katie Holmes (Batman Begins, Phone Booth, Ray Donovan) will headline the cast in the role of Liza. Unaware of the terrifying history of Heelshire Mansion, a young family moves into the estate, where their young son soon makes an unsettling new friend, an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms.

I'll be honest - I barely remember the first one.  That alone speaks volumes about if a sequel was warranted whatsoever.  And to do one and mail it in as much as this one did is ridiculous.  Like I'm not even sure this was a movie.  Wasn't scary.  Had no point.  They cast Katie Holmes in the lead.  I am completely baffled as to why this was a thing.

I would absolutely not recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a giant turd and a complete waste of time.

Birds Of Pre

Cathy Yan has been chosen to direct Margot Robbie in the "Birds of Prey" film, that will feature Robbie’s Harley Quinn and a number of female DC characters, with the likes of Batgirl and the Birds of Prey reportedly also in the mix for the film. The film will introduce the villain Black Mask to the big screen. Black Mask is known as being one of Batman’s greatest foes and a mob boss in the city of Gotham.

This was actually a pretty decent watch.  I can't complain about it like I would complain about most DC movies - except for the CONSTANT references to the Joker that is not the same Joker about to win an academy award for a totally different origin story that took place like 40-50 years ago.  Outside of that - this was pretty simplified.  Good action.  Lots of laughs.  Continued perfect casting of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.  I wish that they would have formed the team a little bit earlier and seen them together more because it kind of felt like all of a sudden they were finally altogether and then all of a sudden the movie was over.  But it was a decent watch regardless.

I would lukewarmly recommend people seeing this.  Definitely better than your usual DC movie.  But I wouldn't rave about it or anything.  Kind of like a R rated Shazam.