The Sheep Detectives (2026)

 

Once you get past the CGI sheep, it’s a cute film that focuses on community and a mystery. Made me miss Babe Pig In The City.

Rating: C

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

 

I prefer Simon Pegg when he's starring in his own silly movies, like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. This was very predictable, cliché, and not very funny. 

Rating: D+

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Fun, but not magical. I may be too grounded to get carried away in this kind of fantasy.

Rating: C

The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)

Third in the Cloverfield franchise and the dumbest of the bunch. Reminded me of Event Horizon, where nothing makes sense--just a mishmash of confusing sequences that somewhat resemble a story. Doesn’t work as a standalone film or as a necessary installment in the series.

Rating: D-

Molly’s Game (2017)

For characters that are speaking Aaron Sorkin fast, you may be surprised by the 140 minute run-time. It’s a long movie that is  slick and fun when focused on poker and how Molly’s rise to power came to be. There are flashbacks and flash-forwards that keep the story from growing stagnant. Things fizzled out a little towards the end.

Rating: C+

St. Vincent (2014)

Terrific performance from Bill Murray. The plot is your typical About-A-Boy style dysfunctional pairing between a flawed adult and mature beyond his years boy. Despite often being clichéd, it’s still witty and sometimes heartwarming.

Rating: C+

Epic (2013)

Pretty good as far as animated kid’s movies go. An updated Fern Gully of sorts, with a decent amount of action and creativity. But honestly, if it wasn’t for Aziz Ansari as the slug, I would have rated this much lower.

Rating: C

Pirate Radio (2009)

I imagine this was an extremely loose interpretation of events that actually transpired off the coast of England in 1963. I certainly wouldn't jump on the bandwagon for calling this the British "Pump Up The Volume". It's amusing with a terribly cheese ball ending.

Rating: C

The Sapphires (2012)

Another lovely Australian film. I can’t get enough of them. This is a drama/musical based on a true story of 4 Aboriginal singers who traveled to Vietnam to sing for the troops. Chris O'Dowd shines in yet another great roll, adding some much needed humor to the script. He makes the film. The singing is good too. A fun time.

Rating: B

Friends With Kids (2011)

A relationship movie that covers some familiar themes, but often in original and funny ways. Characters felt authentic, likely because the actors are all friends in real life. A very clichéd ending.

Rating: C+

This Is 40 (2012)

I’m always up for a Judd Apatow movie. The writing is sharp, funny, and usually crude. He features the same cast of regulars that we all love and enjoy. The characters and situations are relatable. What’s not to like?

This Is 40 is a solid effort, but not among his best works. Certainly worth spending an evening with it though.

Rating: C+

Bridesmaids (2011)

There are far too few funny, raunchy female helmed comedies. Good ones. The only one that comes to mind is The Sweetest Thing, and that came out forever ago. Bridesmaids was hilarious. The scene following the dress fitting—you know the one—was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on screen in years. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe, my sides hurt, and tears were streaming down my eyes. This isn’t exactly high art, but it’s all you could ask for in a comedy.

Rating: B+