Movie Reviews

'Licorice Pizza' Movie Review

Opening in theaters on November 26th is acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth feature film, ‘Licorice Pizza.’ The movie fallows the story of a teenage actor growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the early 1970s, who falls in love with a twenty-five-year-old woman while working together...

'99 Homes' Movie Review

"99 Homes," starring Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, and Laura Dern, is one thriller of a movie.Based on true events about the home foreclosure crisis, this movie will have your blood boiling and you gripping the arm rest in anger knowing people really were losing their homes left and right -- and...

‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ is DreamWorks on a charming yet also generic setting. The latest film from the company sticks to some familiar, positive messages wrapped in a visually impressive, mildly inventive style.The movie showcases a fun visual style that, while it won’t challenge animated...

Hacking its way into theaters on March 10th, ‘Scream VI’ represents the latest attempt to mine the sprawling serial slasher movie series. How far is too far with franchise sequels? It’s something that was on the mind of 2022’s confusingly titled ‘Scream’, which looked to start a new chapter...

'Women Talking' Movie Review

On limited release now before opening more widely in theaters on January 6th, ‘Women Talking’ represents fourth movie from actor and director Sarah Polley, and while it is certainly her stagiest effort, there are deep, dark and uncomfortable truths running through the script and an outstanding cast...

'Werewolf by Night' Movie Review

‘Werewolf by Night’ introduces MCU audiences to Marvel’s Monster Universe. Accomplished composer and first-time director Michael Giacchino delivers thrills and old school scares in Marvel Studios’ first “Special Presentation."Premiering on Disney+ beginning October 7th is the new hour-long...

'Shotgun Wedding' Movie Review

Premiering on Prime Video January 27th is the new romantic action comedy ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ which was directed by Jason Moore (‘Pitch Perfect’). The new movie stars Jennifer Lopez (‘Hustlers’) and Josh Duhamel (‘Bandit’) as Darcy and Tom, respectively, who decide to have a destination...

'Focus' Movie Review

"Wait, what is Focus again?" This is a question that is usually fired back at me, over the past few weeks, when people ask me what I've seen recently and really liked.Lately, when I run down the movies I've seen recently, "Focus" is always one of those movies I mention, because I really, really liked...

‘Reunion’ is a comedy murder mystery that dies in both genres. Featuring the normally reliable comedy talents of Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howery, Jillian Bell and Michael Hitchcock, it nevertheless wastes most of them.It is tempting to suggest that ‘Reunion’ was birthed when someone watched the...

'Big George Foreman' Movie Review

Big George Foreman is a disappointing biopic about the legendary boxer. George Foreman's story is worthy of a movie, but the execution doesn't work and actor Khris Davis struggles to play the character in different time periods.Opening in theaters on April 28th is the new boxing biopic ‘Big George...

'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery' Movie Review

Opening in theaters on November 23rd before premiering on Netflix December 23rd is the sequel to the box office hit ‘Knives Out,’ entitled ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.’ Once again written and directed by Rian Johnson (‘Brick,’ ‘Looper,’ ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’), the sequel...

'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Movie Review

As the fourth installment of the franchise, it should win back hardcore fans who have become disinterested in the series, but it is basically beat-for-beat the same movie as the original.

'The Perfect Guy' Movie Review

"The Perfect Guy" is the end-of-summer, edge-of-your-seat thriller that had grown men in the theater screaming and cowering in their seats. Starring Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy, and Morris Chesnut, the all-star cast didn't save the "drama for yo mama" -- they brought it to the screen!We've all heard stories...

'The Martian' Movie Review

Last Friday night, local movie theaters were packed in anticipation for the space-thriller showing of Matt Damon's new film, "The Martian." The buzz was ridiculous. Regardless of the hype, I was planning on seeing the film. Who would I be kidding if I didn't see such a star-studded film that included...

‘Gladiator II’: Ridley Scott Returns to Rome with a Stirring, Machiavellian Epic While the sequel to the 2000 original doesn’t quite reach the same level, it will certainly leave you entertained, especially when Denzel Washington’s on screen.Opening in theaters on November 22nd, ‘Gladiator...

Glen Powell-Led ‘Hit Man’ is a funny, sexy thrill ride. Glen Powell and director Richard Linklater reteam for ‘Hit Man,’ a comedic crime thriller with all kinds of spicy twists that’s based on a true story.Premiering in 2023 at the Venice and Toronto film festivals before being scooped up by...

‘The Underdoggs’ has Snoop Dogg fumbling a rude football comedy. Tika Sumpter and Mike Epps are also among the cast for the movie, which aims to do for American Football what ‘The Mighty Ducks’ did for kids’ hockey.Premiering on Prime Video January 26th, ‘The Underdoggs’ is essentially...

‘Polite Society is a fun, charming martial Arts comedy with an original voice. ‘We Are Lady Parts’ creator Nida Manzoor makes the jump (kick) to theaters with this winning tale of sisters and sinister plans.In theaters now, ‘Polite Society’ represents that rare beast –– a movie that manages...

'The Black Phone' Movie Review

'The Black Phone' is a touching coming-of-age story masquerading as a horror film. Director Scott Derrickson crafts a winning supernatural movie that is focused more on the characters and less on the horror.Opening in theaters on June 24th is the new supernatural horror film 'The Black Phone,' from producer...

‘Your Monster’ Has a Shy Actress Finding Her Voice in a Funny, Dark Rom-Com. Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey shine as the mismatched pair in this story of self-confidence, relationships and musical theatre.Opening in theaters on October 25th, ‘Your Monster’ is that age-old story of girl-meets-monster,...

'The Boy and the Heron' Movie Review

‘The Boy and the Heron’ sees legendary animation Master Hayao Miyazaki back on fantastical form. The new animated movie from Studio Ghibli is about a young boy dealing with grief and change.When you see the names Studio Ghibli and especially company boss/master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki attached to...

'Avatar: The Way of Water' Movie Review

Arriving in theaters on December 16th, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ represents James Cameron attempting the same high wire trick he pulled with the 2009 original, with the added pressure of 13 years between releases.But as the old maxim in Hollywood goes, it’s best not to bet against Jim Cameron!...

'Ticket to Paradise' Movie Review

‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’s Ol Parker co-writes and directs an old-school comedy that fully embraces the usual cliches to mostly winning effect. Opening in theaters on October 21st, ‘Ticket to Paradise’ aims to make up for several years without a star-focused romantic comedy. And it has two...

'Prey' Movie Review

‘Prey’ is the perfect ‘Predator’ prequel. Director Dan Trachtenberg delivers a brilliant movie that recaptures the magic of the original and features a career-making performance from Amber Midthunder.Premiering on Hulu August 5th is the latest movie in the ‘Predator’ franchise called ‘Prey,’...

'Ambulance' Movie Review

Opening in theaters on April 8th is the new action thriller 'Ambulance' from 'Transformers' and 'Armageddon' director Michael Bay. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal ('Spider-Man: Far From Home') and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ('Aquaman') as bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take an EMT (Eliza Gonzalez)...

‘Fly Me to the Moon’ often stalls, but works hard to stay airborne. One great movie and a couple of okay ones fight for space in ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ an uneven mix of rom-com and space drama that’s just enjoyable enough.‘Fly Me to the Moon’ has ambitions almost as large as that of the...

‘Night Swim’ is a watery new horror thriller that has some depths. The movie from filmmaker Bryce McGuire was inspired by the director’s short film, which also featured something nasty lurking in a swimming pool.In theaters on January 5th, ‘Night Swim’ is the latest product to roll off the...

'The Little Mermaid' Movie Review

Halle Bailey shines in Disney’s live-action ‘The Little Mermaid’. Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ might be the best Disney live-action adaptation yet as Halle Bailey is a powerhouse and Melissa McCarthy’s steals every scene.The 1989 animated feature film is a part of the Disney Renaissance...

'Murder Mystery 2' Movie Review

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston up the action in ‘Murder Mystery 2’. Sandler and Aniston are still hilarious on-screen together, but this time get their hands dirty with more stunts in this bigger and bolder sequel.Four years after solving their first murder mystery, husband and wife duo Nick Spitz...

'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' Movie Review

The long-awaited sequel to 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ entitled ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ will finally be release in theaters on March 17th and is once again directed by David F. Sandberg (‘Annabelle: Creation’). The movie will mark the 12th installment of the DC Extended Universe franchise, which...

'Lightyear' Movie Review

Chris Evans gives a strong voice performance as the title character, channeling his best Tim Allen, but is upstaged by the breakout star, Sox the Cat!The film begins by introducing us to Buzz Lightyear (Evans), a Space Ranger exploring a new planet with his commanding officer Alisha Hawthorne (Aduba)....

'Mortdecai' Movie Review

The ad campaign for "Mortdecai," the new Johnny Depp comic caper film, is so befuddling, both opaque and overbearing, that a recent Vulture article spent several hundred words trying to decode what, exactly, the movie was and why the powers that be behind said movie were content with selling the project...

‘Thelma’ is a gentle, funny, smart “action” thriller with lots of charm. June Squibb scores her first starring role (at 93!) and proves that she has long deserved to be the focus of movies with a wonderful, knowing turn.Arriving in theaters on Friday June 21st, ‘Thelma’ is combines fun action...

‘Juno’ writer Diablo Cody returns to horror-comedy with ‘Lisa Frankenstein’. Even appealing young stars Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse can’t spark any electricity into director Zelda Williams’ flat, unfunny ‘Lisa Frankenstein’.Appropriately enough, given its title, ‘Lisa Frankenstein’...

‘I Saw the TV Glow’ peers at the dark side of nostalgia and suburbia. Reality cracks wide open in ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ an eerie and evocative tale steeped in ‘90s pop culture nostalgia and the pain of self-realization.Opening in theaters on May 3rd is ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ directed by Jane...

‘Challengers’ May Be the Most Erotic Movie About Tennis Ever Made. Tensions run high as Zendaya leads a sexy, smart drama about three ambitious tennis players who know how to manipulate each other on and off the court.There have been justified complaints for quite some time now that adult-oriented...

‘I.S.S.’ is a thriller that gets lost in space (and melodrama). Gabriela Cowperthwaite directs the new science fiction thriller, which begins plausibly, but descends into pulp even as the station threatens to fall.Opening in theaters on January 19th, ‘I.S.S.’ might be set in the near future,...

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' Movie Review

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes reinvents the franchise as a musical. The new Hunger Games prequel is surprisingly a musical, and while it features strong work from Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler, it stumbles in the third act.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is an entertaining prequel...

Since their last directorial collaboration with comedy sequel ‘Dumb & Dumber To’ in 2014, sibling filmmakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly have charted distinctly different paths. Peter has looked for a different level of recognition, making the Oscar-winning ‘Green Book’ and the less well-received...

'You People' Movie Review

Exploring race and culture, love, and family divides is perhaps not what you’d expect from a film that is also trying to be a romantic comedy. Yet ‘You People’, co-written by/starring Jonah Hill and co-written/directed by ‘Black-ish’ creator Kenya Barris, pulls off the trick with just a couple...