Who Invited Charlie? feels like the pandemic version of Uncle Buck and that’s not a bad thing. familiar with the trope, an unsuspecting family gets an unwanted visitor who they can’t stand but slowly teaches them to loosen up and laugh and love. It’s well honed territory, and can provide a good base but there’s some character building that’s sacrificed in the narrative.
Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania feels like deja vu. Starring Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton and Jonathan Majors, the latest Marvel installment is… fine. Listen, I love a Marvel film and I’m just nerdy enough to understand the implications the film is supposed to have as it ushers in Phase 5. What I’m at a loss to understand is just why this task was laid at the feet of Ant-Man.
Let’s talk about Bros, The new comedy written by and starring Billy Eichner and directed by longtime collaborator Nick Stoller. The film was also produced by Judd Apatow giving it a chance at distribution from a major studio – a first for a primarily LGBTQ film especially in the rom-com space. It’s a triumphant feat for Eichner and hopefully we’ll see more films get the chance.
The film revolves around an unlikely pair of brothers thrown together by the foster system. Will Sharp (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is fresh from the military and trying to find stability and financial security for his new son and ailing wife. Danny Sharp (Jake Gyllenhaal) stayed home and picked up the family business of robbing banks and vandalism.
Michael Bay’s Ambulance is a thrill per minute! Too bad there are 135 of them. Excepting about 15 minutes of setup, the action gets going and never stops until about 20 minutes before the end. That’s when there’s a ton of slow motion. While this hectic action can be maintained in a 90-minute property, 2 hours and 15 minutes is a lot of adrenaline to spend.
I’m all for a comforting and predictable film. With the stresses of the last couple of years, watching a Marvel film or a rom-com speaks to me. I told myself I wasn’t in the mood for something too original so I sat down to Everything Everywhere All at Once thinking it would be a fun Matrix knock-off where I could see Michelle Yeoh kick butt.
Movies like Disney’s Sneakerella allow me to rest in the idea that the kids really are alright. One one hand, fairytales are classic tales full of heroism, romance, action and usually a moral lesson at their heart. On the other hand, they are often heteronormative, misogynist, lack any diversity and some of the endings are more nightmarish than any fairytale should be. The effect of these films and stories can’t be denied. Millions of little girls want to be princesses and millions of little boys want to be valiant princes.
From Dreamworks and NBCUniversal, The Bad Guys is a fun, animated romp for kids of all ages. Starring Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Zazie Beetz and more, the film is kind of a Suicide Squad for kids! Let me explain.
Dylan O’Brien (left) stars as “Richie” and Zoey Deutch (right) stars as “Mable” in director Graham Moore’s THE OUTFIT, a Focus Features release.
Courtesy of Nick Wall / Focus Features
In the age of extensive effects, massive budgets, and huge names, The Outfit director Graham Moore chose a quieter approach that is no less thrilling. The Outfit is a period gangster movie set in mid-’50s gangland Chicago. Filled with twists and turns, The Outfit will leave you guessing until the very end and keep you enthralled with capable performances from a plethora of talent…
It’s uniqueness that makes the Amazon Prime original I Want You Backstand apart from normal romcoms. Sure, we’ve seen exes plot their beloved’s returns (or demises), but it’s not often we see it done with such heart and relatability.
There are certain actors that when you see their name you know exactly what to expect. When I see Toni Collette listed I know things are about to get real messed up. When I see Jonathan Majors I know the intensity is sure to ramp up a few notches. And when I see Noomi Rapace, I know that I’ll be treated to a warped version of some mythic fairy tale that will scar me for life. You Won’t Be Alone does not disappoint.