Toy Story 5 (2026)

 

Toys and imagination versus tech and screen time. A relevant storyline for our times with some good reminders for parents. Cute and fun as usual. 

Rating: C+

Bill & Ted Face The Music (2020)

An inter-dimensional hot mess. I remember very little about the first two films except that they were funny. I’m not opposed to sequels that take place decades later, especially if they are done with the same care and heart that went into Cobra Kai. That wasn’t the case here.

In Face The Music, a washed up Bill & Ted bounce around through space and time trying to steal a great song from themselves while their daughters put together what’s supposed to be the greatest band of all time + Kid Cudi. Nothing made sense and few jokes landed.

Please stop making sequels to classics unless you can do it justice. I’m okay if Goonies 2 never comes out.

Rating: D

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Cute and fun. Watched with my nieces and nephews. I wasn’t bored.

Rating: C

When In Rome (2010)

Mostly lame and formulaic, but with periodic funny parts courtesy of some of the supporting cast. (NOT her obnoxious friends from work) The black-out restaurant scene was solid.

Rating: C-

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)

Mostly watchable until the unfulfilling end. I'm not exactly sure who the audience for this film is, and I don't think the producers knew either. I was never scared, thrilled, humored, or compelled. It was mildly amusing and that's all. Pretty weak acting by the two teenage leads as well.

Rating: C-

Kate and Leopold (2001)

A pleasant surprise. Smartly written and fun.

Rating: B-

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

A mostly deflated version of the original, like most sequels that are churned out to make money.

Rating: D+

The Muppets (2011)

I didn’t realize until 5 minutes in when Jason Segel broke out in song that this was a musical. From there it only took me 5 nanoseconds to hit the FF button. Show tunes make me physically ill. Redemption could have been had if the film was actually funny, but that would only be the case if your age or IQ are under 12.

Rating: F

Get Him To The Greek (2010)

A mediocre road trip film with plenty of potholes. Mildly funny.

Rating: C

Dinner For Schmucks (2010)

Another one of those movies that seems funnier during production than it is on the screen. Sure, there are a few chuckles sprinkled throughout. I also thought the mice art was pretty cool. But as a comedy, this movie fell flat.

Rating: D