Spirited (2022)

 

A creative twist on the Dickens classic. Would have preferred a non-musical version, as I’m not a showtunes guy. 

Rating: C

The Adam Project (2022)

 

Time travel movies never make sense; this one included. It’s a bit of child-fantasy fun that will make dads feel guilty about not spending enough time with their kids. 

Rating: C

Free Guy (2021)

 

A background in playing video games will make this movie more fun, but it isn’t necessary. The writing and acting are good enough to make up for some of the references being lost on you. 

Visually and audibly, it’s fun to see on the big screen. Ryan Reynolds and Jodi Comer really elevated the material. Excellent facial expressions in this film. It was surprising how quickly I got pulled into this fake world and what happened there. Not an easy feat within the confines of 90 minutes. 

The script was funny. Bit characters pulled in some huge laughs. A lot of creative nerd/gaming culture Easter eggs are there to be enjoyed. 

Rating: B-

6 Underground (2020)

It’s always baffled me how audiences root and cheer for the good guys taking out the bad guys despite a massive body count of collateral damage. The opening 20 minutes of action saw property damage on the scale of a Midwestern tornado with pedestrians getting slaughtered willy nilly.

Meanwhile, we the audience, don’t know who these guys are. We don’t know why they are doing it. And we don’t know why we should care about any of this. There’s no backstory or character development of any kind at this point--only senseless violence without purpose.

It’s a B-movie with high production value. No thought was given to dialogue or continuity. If you are wetting your jammies in anticipation for the next Fast & Furious clown show, this should help tide you over.

Rating: F

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Turns out you can’t just put all the superhero movies in a blender and produce a delicious smoothie. Very messy.

Rating: C-

Adventureland (2009)

The critics made this film sound smarter than it really was. Good, but not great.

Rating: C+

The Voices (2014)

This one missed the mark for me. I get the dark comedy horror theme they were going for, but it wasn’t scary or funny enough to be either.

Rating: D

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)

Like an Asian version of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Really funny at times, ok at others. Plenty of cameos to keep you guessing.

Rating: C

Turbo (2013)

Mildly entertaining cartoon about a supercharged snail racing in the Indy 500, so yeah, it was based on a true story.

Rating: D+

Definitely Maybe (2008)

Much better than I expected. Some thought was actually given to the plot and characters. Very funny in parts too. Not just another chick flick.

Rating: C+

R.I.P.D. (2013)

A cross between Men In Black, Defending Your Life, and Ghostbusters, with a hint of Ghost—all far superior films. Also a cross between TV shows Reaper and Dead Like Me—any given episode of which was more entertaining than R.I.P.D. Their depiction of the afterlife and their interaction with the live world were positively stupid. It wasn't all bad news. A few scenes made me chuckle. That’s the extent of the good news.

Rating: D-

Smokin’ Aces (2006)

This is worth seeing just to watch Jeremy Piven do his thing. As for the film, I get what they were trying to do. A hit is out on some guy, and every crackpot assassin comes around to pay a visit. Nothing new here plot-wise. Still, it's a decent flick. Lots of big names and familiar faces along the way.

Rating: C

Waiting… (2005)

An off-color comedy that is much funnier if you've had the opportunity to work in the food service industry, which most of us have. If you watch this film and are still dumb enough to give your server a hard time, then you deserve to eat everything that gets wiped onto your food in the back.

Rating: C+

The Change-Up (2011)

Wildly inappropriate. Not everything hit, but plenty did. I laughed a lot. Bateman and Reynolds were fantastic portraying each other. Added bonus having Leslie Mann to look at. Huge crush on her.

Rating: C+

The Proposal (2009)

A complete formula movie, but not without merit. I don’t understand America’s love affair with Sandra Bullock. She’s far too old to be doing romantic comedies—regardless of how much work she’s had done to her face. (a lot) But there were quite a few funny lines which made the film bearable. However, the ending was beyond preposterous.

Rating: C-

Buried (2010)

Why was I expecting a happy ending? I spent the movie feeling uncomfortable, sleepy, and wishing he would just run out of oxygen so I could watch something else. On the plus side, it made me recall fond memories of the Kill Bill coffin scene. Now that's how it's done.

Rating: D