Reviews

The Two Popes follows a mostly fictional depiction of the relationship between Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio who would go on to become Pope Francis. It's a interesting story of two people with different interpretations of their religion, politics and among other things.

This was an extremely surprising film with so much wit and great performances. Jonathan Pryce is electrifying as Bergoglio and transforms himself into this character. Anthony Hopkins is also incredibly compelling as Pope Benedict and watching these two but heads throughout is the heart of the film.

Though the film isn't the most historically accurate it still does a fantastic job at showing the different sides of their personality and beliefs. It deals with the more progressive nature of Francis in contrast with Benedict who is far more conservative. Watching their friendship grow throughout the film is very sweet and the heart of the picture.

Perhaps the film's biggest flaw which kept me from loving it was the 2nd act of the film which tends to meander around. The pacing suffers because of this making the 2nd act of the film drag a lot. With that said though The Two Popes is still another win from Netflix with great character work and two stellar performances.

I have never seen Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, so I can't say I was that excited to see The Next Level, but I found something charming in the idea of actors acting like other actors in a Face/Off type of cheesy way. So, ultimately I went I tot his film expecting something generic but at least fun, and yeah that's exactly what I got.

The Next Level is a mostly derivative adventure with some fun action elements, comedy, crazy body swapping and that stuff was the most fun. However, I don't think it's enough to base a movie around especially when it seems the movie is very very similar to the first film.

The film has its fun moments, but there's ultimately nothing that special. It has simplistic themes that are just generic and feels like a needless adventure with the only difference being the characters are swapped into different bodies this time. I had fun, but I also felt I was wasting time on something that was just wasting time.

Black Christmas is the 2nd attempt to remake the the classic 1970s slasher film that helped to pioneer the slasher genre and it fails in every conceivable way. Black Christmas is filled to the brim with themes upon themes upon themes, the the way this film portrays these themes are incredibly misused, problematic and irresponsible.

This film takes its message and shoves it down your throat rather than actually doing anything meaningful with it. The end result is a poor attempt at talking about current topical themes and it is incredibly mishandled.

The horror in the film isn't scary, it's very much laughable and gutless. But a PG-13 is the least of this film's problems. The actors are alright, the characters are even worse. The best is Imogen Poots who is clearly the only one trying and is the only one bringing something to the film. The rest of the time it's just bland boring and doesn't know what it wants to be.

The film wants to be topical, it wants to be a horror film, it wants to be satirical and it wants to be supernatural and none of it ends up working. It's terribly written with terrible characters, bizarre decisions and it's ultimately just a very cringy film with very little to offer.

I was too young to remember the events of the 1996 Bombing, so this film is my first true introduction to this story and I could not wait to see it. Following the events above it tells the story of Richard Jewell who was portrayed as the bad guy in the events after the bombing. It's a classic story of a man who was framed for a crime he did not commit.

Clint Eastwood is the perfect person to direct such a movie, reminding me of his past films such as American Sniper and Sully. Richard Jewell ends up being a solid movie, far better than Clint Eastwood's worst film to date which was released last year, 15:17 to Paris. It has great performances, tense moments and an intriguing true to life story.

Paul Walter Hauser as Richard Jewell is incredible, finally this guy gets a role that puts him in the forefront and he supplies us with one one the best performances of the year. Kathy Bates can also not be ignored, playing Jewell's mother with such wonderful love and feebleness. It's Kathy Bates at her best.

However, problems arise in this film specifically with the villain of the film played by Olivia Wilde who breaks the story of Jewell's possible involvement. They character is nothing more than over the top, one dimensionally evil. The only thing missing is the twirling mustache. She is by far the films biggest problem.

However, the film pulls through with an emotional roller coaster, great performances and an interesting true story that I'm glad was finally told.

Lucy in the Sky is inspired by true events in the most artificial sense. Telling the story of an Astronaut dealing her own sanity. The film means well. It clearly has something to say, but I fails to give anything to us in a meaningful way.

Natalie Portman gives it her all, playing a character that is losing herself and has a lot of emotional baggage. She's terrific, but sadly the rest of the film is not. Lucy in the Sky is a miscalculated mess, with so many things in it and so little as well that it's hard to remain engaged.

The movie feels empty, emotionless and very dull. The only thing of visual interest are when then the aspect ratio of the film changes throughout the film. We go from 4:3 to 16:9 and more. The screen shrinks grows and it all seems based on how our character is feeling at the time. It's interesting, but proves to be a large distraction.

The film ultimately has nothing to really offer. There's no incite, no intrigue and it's ultimately empty. Natalie Portman does her best as do the rest of the cast, but it ends up just being a failed film with good ideas executed poorly.

Uncut Gems comes to us from the incredibly talented Safdie brothers and this time follows Adam Sandler as the owner of a jewelry store who finds himself in a whirlwind of problems, debt and favors. It is one of the years very best and a fantastic performance for Adam Sandler.

When Adam Sandler does something other than his usual comedy outings he can be absolutely incredible and he proves himself in this film as he gives one of the best performances of the year. Sandler commands this film with an infectious performance and a character that is so slimy, so scummy and a terrible person, but Sandler manages to make you care about this guy. You hate seeing everything go wrong for him and you start to truly care.

The Safdie brothers style is in full force here with great cinematography and score that gets your blood pumping. It is sure to cause anxiety in its viewers as the pulsing beat pounds you throughout. The film also manages to have creative flares in terms of its cinematography especially with the "uncut gem" itself. Several times throughout the film we see a close up, a zoom into the inner workings of a gem. These moments are beautiful with colors that reminded me of the final moments of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Uncut Gems is a great film with a great performance from an unexpected place. I would love to see Sandler hang up the comedy hat and star in more films like these, because he truly is a force to be reckoned with!

6 Underground is brought to us by director Michael Bay and is one of the most insane films I have seen in 2019. It's an over the top action thriller from Netflix l, starring Ryan Reynolds and written by the guys who wrote Deadpool. Needless to say a lot of this film is heavily influenced by Deadpool, from Ryan Reynolds' dialogue to the structure of the film.

6 Underground is not a good film. It makes so many bizarre choices from a writing, acting, directing and editing standpoint that it's really something to behold. And I loved every minute of it! This is Michael Bay fully unleashed in a violent comedy film that doesn't really know what it wants to be.

The editing in this film is filled with quick cuts and don't flow together, the cinematography is a combination of close ups (too close for comfort) and Dutch angles. It can be very nauseating, but what do you expect from Michael Bay at this point? Plot, Character and story take a backseat to display insane action and I couldn't get enough of it.

This is Michael Bays Best pure action film in a long time. It's technically not a good movie, far from it, but it is absurdly entertaining with insane decisions, writing and story whose structure feels very familiar to Deadpool. It's overall a blast if you want to watch some schlock, but if that's not what you're looking for I can't really recommend.

21 Bridges tells the story of a detective who joins a citywide manhunt and comes across a deeper conspiracy. I was excited for this film. The trailers looked intriguing and I'm a huge fan of Chadwick Boseman and with the Russo's producing I though we could be onto something. Sadly I left this film feeling entertained but extremely overwhelmed.

21 Bridges has a good concept: a city wide manhunt, conspiracy, racial tensions as well and I had a good cast to boot. Chadwick Boseman does a really good job in this film and carries it on its shoulders. It's also made up of some fun action scenes some shootouts, but it's all the standard stuff we've seen before.

21 Bridges problem is the half baked script with familiar ideas that aren't given to us in a fresh new way but more of a recycled way. It feels lazy as well as weak. This makes a lot of the film just a by the numbers cop drama. That doesn't mean it's bad. It's an enjoyable movie, but it's not going to stick with me much after finishing it.

21 Bridges has a good cast good acting, it's slick, it's fast paced, action packed but it's story remains flimsy filled with ideas we've seen before with nothing new added.

The Good Liar is based off of the novel of the same name following an elderly con man who sets his eyes on a widow in hopes of obtaining her fortune. It stars Ian McKellan and Helen Mirren and is directed by Bill Condon. The Good Liar is a solid film with great performance, but feels a little underwhelming by the end.

As said the performances are magnificent. Seeing Ian McKellan and Helen Mirren together is an absolute treat and they really sell these performance. It's also great to see Ian McKellan playing a role I'm not used to seeing him in. He manages to pull it off perfectly. Helen Mirren is also fantastic as are all the other players.

The films story is also very intriguing, adding some back story to McKellan's character I didn't see coming making the film far more complex than its trailers let on. The film has a great pace to it and manages to gripe you with sinister scenes of tension and reality cool twists.

However, this films biggest flaw is how standard it all feels. The film has nothing about it that stands out aside from the performances and one major twist near the end of the film that caught me off guard. I think a lot of it has to do with Bill Condon's mostly bland direction that leaves the film feeling bland and ultimately forgettable.

All in all The Good Liar is a solid film with great performances and an intriguing story that is brought down by its bland approach.

Midway tells the incredible true story of the Battle of the Midway in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It boosts an incredible star studded cast of talented actors, showcases flashy special effects and gives us a balanced perspective, but that movie can't help but feel just overly bland.

Midway is yet another film by infamous director Roland Emmerich that fails to understand that drama is through character and not situations and explosions. In the end the film really fails the real people that risked their lives by portraying them as flat one dimensional people.

As I said the cast is really good and sometimes they all manage to give at least something memorable to the film overall, but there's really not a reason to care for these characters aside that they're based on real people that have their lives. The action scenes are good, but it's nothing we haven't seen before and done much better.

Midway ends up being a lifeless soulless recreation of historical events that fails to illuminate on the horrors of war, or the sacrifices made. It is just a stale and very bland film that never picks up and feels ultimately underwhelming and forgettable.

I'm always a sucker for a good romcom from time to time and I was actually genuinely interested in this based off of the cast, director and writer. The movie comes from Paul Feig mostly known for his comedies and yes "that" Ghostbusters, but in the past he has proven himself a very solid director. And Emma Thompson penning the script had me intrigued and overall I enjoyed my time with this film.

For one I think this is a solid movie to watch around the Christmas time, drenched in the Christmas landscape it at times can feel like a bigger budgeted hallmark movie, but the cast is way better. Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding are terrific in this film and showcase some genuine chemistry on screen.

The film also has a lot of heart and is at times very magical. The script that Thompson has written goes into some interesting directions with some twists that at the end of the day may seem heavy handed but I found them sweet and pulled off well in the context of the film.

Perhaps the films biggest flaw is it's familiarity and Hallmark channel vibe, but it's actors and the spirit of the film managed to get to me and made this ultimately a win. It's a fun film, not the best this genre has to offer, but for a film taking place around Christmas it's something that's at least worth one watch.

Arctic Dogs is a terrible animated film with subpar animation that is bright and colorful. The voice cast is Really good with great actors such as Jeremy Renner and John Cleese, but it cannot save this unfunny and completely disposable mess of a film.

It's an incredibly lazy film with nothing inventive in its animation or storytelling with very little in terms of character development and a villain who's motivations are unclear throughout the majority of the film. It's not good and it's very lazy, much like this review.

Harriet tells the incredible true story of Harriet Tubman and her rise from slave to abolitionist. It's a story we've heard of many times in history classes and now her story had finally come to the big screen and is ultimately just a serviceable film that doesn't have much to offer.

Harriet is a solid film, a good film even with a stellar cast including: Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monáe, bust sadly the film ends up just being a standard retailing with very little flash to separate it from other more powerful films regarding slavery. It's a shame too since Harriet Tubman is such a huge part of our history and her story is so well known.

The acting however is strong. Cynthia Erivo gives a committed and wonderful performance as Harriet. Supporting cast also goes a great job and the film overall looks very nice. The costuming the period is wonderful and authentic, but the film can't help but feel tired and at times uninspired. Overall Harriet is a solid film elevated by its subject and its actors but fails to leave any real impact.

Motherless Brooklyn is the long awaited passion project from writer/director/star Edward Norton that tells the story of a NYC Private Investigator who with Tourette's who tries to solve the murder of his mentor. It is based off of the 1999 novel of the same name and after 20 years in development has finally made it to the big screen.

Right off the bat Motherless Brooklyn boasts an incredible cast of A list actors including Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw who all do a terrific job as well as our lead played by Edward Norton himself who manages to pull of this role of a man dealing with Tourette's flawlessly. If this was 1999 I could see him winning for best actor for sure.

The movie is also wonderfully detailed. Norton manages to bring the 1950s to vibrant light through the costumes and the cars and the looks. The cinematography is also fantastic. It's a beautiful looking film managing to capture the 1950s perfectly on screen. However for me this is where most of the positives end.

Motherless Brooklyn has problem with flat uninteresting characters and dialogue as well as a pace that moves incredibly slow you at times feel like your watching a 3 hours movie rather than a 2 hour 20 minute film. The films runtime and pacing completely destroy any excitement that could be found in the film.

However, with some genuinely good acting beautiful cinematography and a committed performance from Edward Norton Motherless Brooklyn ends up being a very disappointing film with some good components throughout the rest of the mess.

Terminator: Dark Fate is yet another attempt to revive this dead franchise and so takes the Halloween (2018) route by disregarding all films after Terminator 2, making this the true sequel to that film. In the end it is a solid attempt giving us possibly the best film in the franchise since T2. However, it is not a total win. Ever since T2 ended this franchise has tried their best at making the film again in form of Rise of the Machines, Genisys and now this film (Salvation being the only film since T2 to do something new and different).

Dark Fate ends up just being a retread of what we've seen before with a new shade of paint. However, I cannot deny I was extremely entertained throughout a majority of the film. Dark Fate has some great action especially in its first half and actually manages to produce a few compelling characters along the way.

The first moments of this film are probably going to interest fans or deeply upset them, but I found this early twist to actually be very interesting and wondered where the film would go from here. Sadly, it just becomes Terminator 2 yet again, but it's not bad it just feels like a terribly missed opportunity to do something different and rejuvenate this franchise. The film simply replaces Skynet with a new antagonist Legion and overall this detail doesn't matter because there's not enough to differentiate them so it might as well have never changed in the first place.

The action in this film as said before is a lot of fun especially in the first half of the film. Being directed by Tim Miller, director of Deadpool you get that same brutal action especially in one of the first fight scenes in the movie that takes place on a highway. It's in the trailers and well filmed, choreographed and just a lot of fun. However, as the film goes along the action becomes more and more stale and with very little grit to it. A strength in the film also lies in the return of Linda Hamilton who gives and incredibly fun performance. It's also just great to see her again. That said the best addition to this film is with Mackenzie Davis as the character of Grace. They really did a great job at making this character feel compelling. There's a lot to her character that is discussed during the film and Davis manages to give and extremely compelling performance. Also, the opening of this film has an amazing beach scene taking place in the future that felt like something right out of T2.

However, this film fails in the main focus of the film. This young girl who is the new John Conner. There is very little to this character and no reason to ultimately care about here. There's some odd choices as well with Arnold Schwarzenegger's terminator that felt like a desperate attempt to recreate the T-800 from T2. The film also just ends up feeling very tired in the second half and just drags on.

Dark Fate might be the best sequel since T2, but it's still a little too messy. With too many comparisons to T2 and very little in the way of new it feels kind of pointless and for many will seem like a waste of time. Overall I enjoyed it. I liked a few of the new additions the return of Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis and the action set pieces, but it's far from what made the first two films so great.

The Report tells the true story of Senate Intelligence Committee staffer Daniel Jones and his investigation into the torture of terrorist prisoners under the authority of the CIA. It's a compelling and dark chapter in the United States' 21 Century history and director Scott Z. Burns is able to capture this moment brilliantly.

Adam Driver is having quite the year it seems with this film, Marriage Story and the coming final installment in the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker and he manages to give one of his best performances today. It wonderful when a script allows for an actor to really sink their teeth into something and The Report does that for Driver.

The other supporting roles are also quite good including Annette Bening as Dianne Feinstein. Her as well as Driver's work in this film are completely praise worthy, but the writing cannot god understated. For those who love films filled with political intrigue and conspiracy the films dialogue, formate and ticking time bomb nature will be familiar.

The film, though mostly taking place between four walls manages to make some of the most tense and pulse pounding scenes I've seen all year. The torture scenes in particular are brutal to watch and that's brought through the incredibly rough cinematography which allows these scenes to feel so raw.

The Report manages to tell an interesting story with great performances and a great central lead while keeping grounded and brutal and interesting throughout. Some might find the films tad stale in parts with a deliberate slow pace that only adds to the tense nature of the film.

I didn't know what to expect going into Brittany Runs a Marathon and left extremely enthusiastic. In a world filled with films about accepting your body and being happy about it or on the complete opposite of the spectrum here comes a film that is uplifting and doesn't shy away from the problems of obesity. It's a subject people don't like discussing, but there is a difference between being healthy and unhealthy. Finally, we have a film that talks this issue in a not so glossy fashion.

This film can easily be compared to last years film I Feel Pretty which has a similar idea in place about accepting who you are, but whereas the film felt misguided and mishandled this film is powerful. Telling the story of Brittany, an overweight young woman who begins to exercise to not become desirable or for any selfish gain, but just to become more healthier. It's a comedy, a drama and a story that doesn't gloss over and make everything alright.

It's a powerful relatable story with great characters and great actors, witty dialogue, funny gags and a great story to tell. It doesn't pick a side in this issue, it merely tells the inspiring story of one woman.

This is one of the most surprising films I've seen this year with a funny lead performance and a story that is done right it is definitely worth everyone's time.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette is based off of the novel of the same name and tells the story of Bernadette Fox who is going through a bit of a midlife crisis as it begins to effect the people around her. I've been really interested in this film ever since Richard Linklater's name was a attached. He is a director I admire and couldn't wait, however reviews for this film have not been kind and I really don't understand why.

This film manages to balance drama and comedy in a very clever and consistent way that really works in my opinion. The acting all around is very good, especially from Cate Blanchett who wonderfully portrays this character in a quirky and self destructive way that still makes you feel sorry and care for her. Billy Crudup, a very underrated actor also does a great job as he is trying to keep his family from Fallon apart.

The story is very quirky, but as I said balances with drama as well making it feel well rounded and never feels too whimsical. It's just right and is very heartfelt and relatable. It can be sappy at times, but I didn't mind it at all.

Perhaps the acting from the daughter could have been better and the trailers pitched a very different film, but I think what we got is funny, heartfelt and very well acted. It's not up there with Linklater's best, but it is a win for me.

Klaus is a Spanish animation Christmas film that showcases beautiful 2D animation against a traditional Christmas tale. It tells the story of Jesper a young postman who is sent far north to deliver mail and soon tries to bring the town back to life by helping a familiar Mr. Klaus deliver toys to children.

It is a classic retelling of the Legend of Santa Claus Told with a unique voice and beautiful animation. The animation itself is completely unique by using traditional 2D animation and enhancing it with CGI to give it a whole new look. The characters are memorable, funny and relatable and help in bringing this new story to life.

The voice acting is also great. Jason Schwartzman is perfect as the clumsy and often goofy Jesper and J. K. Simmons is perfect as the title character Klaus. What impressed me so much about this film on top of it's beautiful animation was it's heart. This is one of the most heart warming films I have seen this year that will put you in the perfect Christmas mood.

The film manages to balance out comedy with whimsical moments that are poignant and uplifting by tell the story of Santa Klaus in a new exciting way that also feels familiar. It's wonderfully done and the final moments are tear jerkers in the best sense. It may be too soon to tell, but we may have a new Christmas classic on our hands that I could see families watching around the holidays for now on.

Perhaps the only glaring flaws in the film reside in the films familiarity, stock villains and a few cliches sprinkled in. However, the film overrides this with terrific traditional animation, a wonderful whimsical tale and a whole lot of heart. Klaus is definitely worth your time.

The Current War: Director's Cut is as fascinating as it's subject matter. This film has been in limbo ever since the Weinstein fiasco and now here it is with the editing of the film finally being overseen by the director himself. It tells the true story of the rivalry between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse.

This films original cut was critically panned several years back, this directors cut has faired much better and I must say this is a fine, wonderfully made film that still has its rough spots, but it's great to see the director vision come to life. The film boasts an incredible cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicolas Holt, Tom Holland and Katherine Waterson. All give phenomenal and realistic portrayals that go for realism over bombastic drama.

The relationship and rivalry between Edison and Westinghouse is key to this film and Cumberbatch and Shannon work together perfectly and the moments when they are together on screen are incredibly tense and fulfilling. That's not to say the rest of the film isn't as intense which it is, sometimes feeling like a ticking time bomb.

The period is also wonderfully realized in splendid costumes and beautiful cinematography. The only problem really lies in the films pace. Sometimes the film powers though scenes and other times it slows down to a snails pace.

In the end The Current War is a handsome production with great performance, beautiful cinematography, costumes and attention to detail, but I won't win everyone over in terms with its pacing. Still is is great to see a directors true vision brought to the screen and with such an intriguing story.

Black and Blue tells the story of rookie cop Alicia West who witnesses an attack by crooked cops finds herself in the fight for her life as she is hunted down by these men. Black and Blue at first glance and unsubtle title looks like a film that could address and give an interesting perspective to a very important issue, but fails to really say anything new.

Black and Blue is ultimately just another cop film with its themes of cop violence and mere window dressing. It keeps it simple rather than showcase to real life complex issues at hand. The films saving grace though is the acting. Naomie Harris gives it her all in a fantastic performance. She is great in the film as well as our supporting players.

The action scenes are chaotic and messy and sometimes resort to shaky cam but I overall found them for the most part entertaining. However the film has a problem when it comes to engagement.

The movie for the most part is kind of bland, bland action and with a simplified version of topical issues it just feels pointless. Naomie Harris gives it her all and makes this film interesting and her performance carries the film when it's themes fail.

Zombieland: Double Tap is a sequel I never actually thought we would get. Talks of a sequel have been in the works for years and with the eventual announcement of this film I wondered to myself if it was too little too late for a sequel. I was wrong. Though Double Tap never feels as fresh as its predecessor it is still an entertaining zombie romp that brings back the beloved characters in a always entertaining, but ultimately unnecessary sequel.

Taking place several years after the events of the first film the gang has finally settled down in their new life and have to deal with each other more than any sort of zombie attack. What impressed me with Zombieland Double Tap was how it's humor still managed to be extremely funny and clever just like the first film. The actors don't skip a beat and it was really nice to see Abigail Breslin once again who really hasn't been doing much for the past few years.

The action, the jokes, the characters, they're all here and just as good as you remember them. The only problem with this film may be some of its more episodic nature, mainly feeling like a story that's just meandering until the climax. Also it just feels a bit familiar with nothing really new to dad to this series.

Overall, I enjoyed my return to Zombieland. The comedy and characters make this a welcomed return even though it ultimately feels unnecessary in the end. I definitely would recommend it to anyone who was a fan of the first one.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is the sequel to the very successful first film. It sees the return of Angelina Jolie in perhaps the role she was born to play. It also sees the return of Elle Fanning as well as a new character played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Picking up right after the events of the first film, Princess Aurora is to be wed to Prince Philip and visits her family where her godmother Maleficent is invited as well, but soon things turn to the worst as Maleficent turns against everyone and now we have our sequel.

I'm actually a fan of the first film. It's revisionist fairytale meant to show the story from the villains point of view and for the most part I thought it worked fine. The film was also elevated by great performances from its leads and the same can be said here. The performances in this film from out three leading ladies are really good especially in regards to Jolie and Pfeiffer who work so well together as adversaries.

The film is also beautifully shot with bright colors and impressive looking worlds. The costumes are fantastic, but with so much visual splendor the film can't help but feel artificial at points. The film also is not held back by the story of the first film which for the most part was a simple retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but here the writers and filmmakers had the freedom to take the story wherever they wanted. However, they don't really go far enough.

The plot of Maleficent 2 is by far its weakest asset. It has some new additions, adding to the new mythology hinted at in the prologue of the first film with Maleficent and her people. That stuff is interesting, new and creative, but that's only part of the film. The rest of the film simply feels like a retread of what was I. The first film, only with new characters spliced in.

Overall, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a sequel that has interesting ideas but doesn't do enough with them, leaving a film that feels rather empty and unnecessary. It has good performances, good visuals, but can't make up for its bland unremarkable and recycled story.

Charlie's Angels is the newest sequel/reboot of the films directed by McG as well as the campy series of the same name. This time Elizabeth Banks is at the help and tries to give us a fun and silly spy film filled with feminist ideas, which isn't a bad thing in concept, but in execution it just doesn't work. Banks has mistaken themes over fun and the two just do not mix. Charlie's Angels is for the most part devoid of fun, takes itself to seriously at times and handles its message in a very mishandled and lazy way.

I'm not going to pretend like the previous Charlie's Angels films are great cinema. They are far from it, but they were fun, schlocky movies that new what they were and never took themselves too seriously. This new reboot/remakes does not. In fact it makes the mistake of taking itself too seriously. Now, this could be done. There are plenty of remakes/reboots/sequels that have reinvented themselves into something new and different, but Banks's script doesn't allow for this. Banks has instead made and incredibly bland and unremarkable film that only has one thing going for it and that is its new feminist angle. However, Banks fails to implement this in a clever or meaningful way and it ends up feeling forced and amateur.

This years Late Night, written by Mindy Kaling had a feminist edge to it about working in the workplace and it handled it so much better. Kaling has proven herself in the past to be a very clever writer and Late Night ended up being a very fun and poignant film with similar themes this film wants to explore, but it is handled in a much worse way. Banks has stated that her film is filled with "sneaky feminist ideas", but there's nothing sneaky about it. It's so in your face, it comes off as a parody of itself.

What about the rest of the film? It's mostly just standard, bland and very boring. The film takes forty minutes of its near 2 hour runtime to truly get started and still finds time to waste time. The original McG films lacked in plot, but made up for it with fun action beats happening every second. This film instead has very little going on.

Now, some have actually criticized the acting of this film, however I found it fine. Our three main leads to an alright job with the script they're given and find ways to have fun with it, but the best stuff is watching the actors work off of one another. The action scenes are also choppy and chaotic, but there's a few moments where there was some potential and some alright choreography, but mostly it just ends up feeling very bland.

Charlie's Angels is not a total disaster, but it's not a good film either. It mistakes topical themes for story and character and fails to give those themes real meaning. It is mostly just a bland generic action film that is ultimately just very forgettable. It feels amateurish in many respects and just ends up feeling like a complete waste of time.

Noelle is the 2nd Disney+ original film and unlike Lady and the Tramp which was made specifically for the streaming service, Noelle feels like it was dumped on Disney+ the same way the term dumped on Netflix has been used for. Noelle is not a terrible film, but it is definitely a slump in quality even compared to Lady and the Tramp which was film I overall liked but didn't think was anything special.

Noelle tells the story of Santa's daughter who has to hunt down her brother who has gone missing so he can become the next Santa. It is practically a clone of the film Elf making it a fish out of water story. It's practically a larger budgeted Hallmark film with well known actors such as Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader and one the end that's what this is.

Noelle feels cheap in a lot of ways and very familiar and I can see why Disney would have opted to release this on their streaming service rather than theatrical. It's not a great film, but isn't terrible either. It's a very silly film, corny to a fault and kind of lame, but the charisma of Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader is what saves it from complete disaster.

If you're looking for something that's more akin to a hallmark film or something that will just put you in the Christmas spirit, this film might do it for you, but not everyone is going to be won over by the familiar been there done that story. It's not bad, and has its moments, but it's nothing particularly memorable.