Recently Reviewed Movies

Showing the 100 most recent reviews. Each review is scored on my 4-point rating system.

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A delightful comedy of errors with a blast of an 80s cast. Fun to see ZAZ write/direct something with a single plot running through it.

2024-12-02 #1

Spider-Man 2

(2004)

Does psychologically unstable yet relatable villains better than any other superhero film.

2024-12-02 #3

Spider-Man

(2002)

Campy and fun, with a great cast and pretty decent story. Always a blast.

2024-11-30 #3

Fame

(1980)

Exhausting theater kid energy. Had some interesting perspectives on everyone's journey through their art and the paths that can take. But, felt disjoint, with too many characters. It also just seemes like drama for drama's sake- they just kept throwing bad things at these kids and everyone seemed miserable. It's ending was especially unsatisfying- it's a song where the ensemble pretends like everyone is fine when all evidence from the film points to the exact opposite. Whole thing was a real slog.

2024-11-29 #1

Cute concept and some nice social commentary, but felt fairly formulaic otherwise

2024-11-29 #1*

Incredibly charming. Nicely paced, great cast, touching story. Captures the Christmas spirit better than any other

2024-11-29 #1*

Tense and well acted. Fun inside look to the way NYC trains work. Heavy action, but keeps it moving. Could have maybe done more with the characters (and thinks about it) but it still works as a mostly-action outing.

2024-11-29 #1

Hot Frosty

(2024)

It's a fun premise and a decent cast, but the lack of chemistry and an odd but not-fun performance out of Milligan left us out in the cold.

2024-11-28 #1

Maybe the world's foremost Thanksgiving movie.

2024-11-21 #2

Airplane!

(1980)

Tight, funny, and densely packed with classic gags. Some of the references don't resonate today and a few of the jokes are bumpier than I remembered. But, it has such a good nature that I couldn't help but grin the whole time.

2024-11-20 #2

Zero Hour!

(1957)

Cheesy and contrived, but has good bones. Occasionally tense, some goofy lines, and generally good performances. It's remarkable how much of Airplane! came straight from this.

2024-11-17 #1

Has some good gags, but the pacing felt off. Some segments are dense, but others are more air than joke. Most of the time, it felt silly for silly's sake. You can see the inspirations for Airplane, but it definitely wasn't there yet.

2024-11-16 #1

My Old Ass

(2024)

Surprisingly touching. Mixed drama and comedy well. Good performances out of a young cast. Had low expectations, but really enjoyed it.

2024-11-12 #1

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

(2022)
πŸ₯ˆ
πŸ”Ž

Watched with the director's commentary podcast, which was fun! Annoying to keep in sync manually, but had some good bonus trivia.

2024-11-09 #4

Timeless, clever, silly, and delightful as always.

2024-11-06 #5

Ready or Not

(2019)
πŸ₯ˆ
πŸŽƒ

no additional notes, see rating

2024-10-28 #2

Well acted, atmospheric. Definitely creepy, with cool lighting and cinematography. Story was pretty good but I'm not sure the solve was fair.

2024-10-22 #1

Tucker and Dale vs Evil

(2010)
πŸŽƒ

Perfect mix of gory, funny, and heartfelt. One of the all-time classics of this genre. Tudyk is top-notch as always!

2024-10-17 #4

A cute premise paired with a good cast and some fun killings. Does a good job playing with the summer camp slasher genre and exploring what it’s like to be in a movie. Light and fun!

2024-10-17 #1

A small "bottle" movie with surprisingly little blood for its subject matter. Tense, interesting, and mysterious. Great performances all around.

2024-10-16 #1

Well-tread premise that has a few tricks up its sleeve. Ok performances and a predictable plot mostly let it down, but it picks up some steam in the back half.

2024-10-10 #1

Jurassic Park

(1993)

no additional notes, see rating

2024-10-09 #3

Lilo & Stitch

(2002)

Beautifully Hawaiian movie. Hits pretty hard emotionally, but does a good job peppering in jokes to not make the whole thing too heavy.

2024-10-08 #3

A pretty perfect movie to kick off a honeymoon in hawaii. Keeps you on your toes even if it doesn't totally deliver on its premise. Great performances out of Zahn and Olyphant

2024-09-28 #1

A neat concept that doesn’t quite deliver on its potential. Strong cast though.

2024-09-21 #1

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

(2022)
πŸ₯ˆ
πŸ”Ž

Better than I remembered. Great cast and a good number of layers

2024-09-13 #3

Gripping pace but unlikable characters. A sort of interesting plot, but didn't do it for me. Very cool lighting though!

2024-09-12 #1

The Proposal

(2009)

Fun cast, silly premise, but done well.

2024-09-09 #1

Elemental

(2023)

Has some really touching stories about the immigrant experience and family dynamics, but the whole thing is let down by its otherwise uninspired writing. Absolutely stunning graphics though, and some charming worldbuilding.

2024-09-08 #1

Inside Out 2

(2024)

Cute extension of the original's concept. I liked the literal emotional complexity on this one

2024-09-06 #1

A fun behind-the-scenes. A ton of detail and work went into this thing. If only the movie were better!

2024-09-05 #1

Sweet Home Alabama

(2002)
🎭

Cute story with a good supporting cast. Comfort food, basically.

2024-08-14 #1

Deadpool & Wolverine

(2024)
🍿

I enjoyed the heck out of this one. Though the actual plot and villain don't bring a lot to the table, it never forgets to have fun. I'm not sure it would stand on its own if you'd never seen any other marvel things, it rewards that familiarity with great payoffs. It was great to see Hugh Jackman back in the saddle. The dialogue was funny and the references right up my alley, but YMMV. More than any other recent Marvel movie, it feels like it understands what makes these franchises worth watching.

2024-08-14 #1

Probably the best X-Men movie. Great emotional payoffs building on an entire franchise. Always fun seeing the ensemble cast together.

2024-08-13 #3

Has some emotional payoff from the last couple of movies, but is significantly less fun than them. A fitting climax, but leaves somethign to be desired.

2024-08-12 #2

X2

(2003)

I like the plot and acting a little less than the first one, but it’s fun to see budget and care put behind the franchise.

2024-08-07 #2

Game Night

(2018)
πŸ₯‰

A fun romp that's ultimately about marriage, and that's very sweet. Snappy writing and cinematography that punches way above its weight

2024-08-05 #3

A light and charming coming-of-age for the ages.

2024-08-02 #3

Anyone But You

(2023)
🎭

no additional notes, see rating

2024-08-01 #2

X-Men

(2000)

A little dry and the sets don’t all look great, but the casting is top-notch and the story has some high points. A good way to start off a franchise

2024-07-31 #2

Crazy Rich Asians

(2018)
🎭

Hit me harder than normal. The emotional climax does a great job with the family drama.

2024-07-28 #4

Yesterday

(2019)

A great feel-good movie

2024-07-27 #4

Does many things that make prequel movies fun. Lots of nods to the franchise as a whole, too.

2024-07-27 #2

Star Trek

(2009)

This movie is so dang fun

2024-07-26 #7

Hit Man

(2024)

Liked it more than I thought I would. Charismatic cast and a fun premise, plus some fun face acting.

2024-07-26 #1

Pretty hokey, but it was earnest. It’s fun seeing 1960s SF and Vicky liked how many whales there were. I’m not totally onboard with the emotional climax being 100% whale noises, but it was a good watch overall.

2024-07-20 #1

Batman

(1989)

Sort of a fascinating movie. Felt longer than it was. I generally liked Keaton, but I didn't feel like we got much of him compared to Nicholson. Felt totally unfocused, bouncing between big action set pieces and goofy joker dances. Art direction was pretty good, but won't go down as a better Batman

2024-07-14 #1

no additional notes, see rating

2024-07-13 #4

So good hearted, which paves over any other issues (of which there are few)

2024-07-09 #4

Holes

(2003)
β˜€οΈ

Stacked cast, tight screenplay, and a good story. Truly an all-timer.

2024-07-07 #4

Argylle

(2024)

Crowded cast let down by clumsy writing and uncanny CGI. Not as bad as everyone says it is, but not great.

2024-06-26 #1

Big Fat Liar

(2002)

A fun plot and some stellar performances make this a great watch.

2024-06-25 #1*

Chicago

(2003)

Packed cast, great music, and somec cool staging help this stand the test of time.

2024-06-24 #1*

Really holds up in its pacing and writing. Good ensemble and lots of slow moments let it not hit you over the head with action (like some later movies).

2024-06-23 #5

In the Heights

(2021)
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Some cute intertwined love stories, big spectacles, and great music pull the whole thing together. Great cast too. Big summer vibes.

2024-06-22 #2

The pacing and CGI really hold up, as do the sense of fun about the whole thing. Action is good, writing is snappy, world is well-developed. A fitting start to the franchise.

2024-06-02 #6

Peter Pan

(1953)

Defenitely deserves its cultural sensitivity warning preroll. Story is decent and bits are funny, but largely fell flat for me. That said, I liked the orchestration, especially how they timed it with the action.

2024-05-26 #1

Stellar cast and a fast-moving plot make help this movie stay pretty fun throughout. Bits of it are dated in interesting ways, but that’s what you get.

2024-05-25 #1

Pocahontas

(1995)

Drop-dead gorgeous and a great soundtrack. Story is what it is and there’s not much of a supporting cast, but it holds up more than I remembered.

2024-05-24 #1*

Stacked cast and a surprisngly compelling story. Decent action and intrigue (if a bit predictable). Nice to have an atypical protagonist.

2024-05-14 #1

The Gentlemen

(2020)
πŸ₯‡

no additional notes, see rating

2024-05-07 #2

Shrek

(2001)

Holds up remarkably well. Great jokes, decent animation, fun references. The full package.

2024-05-04 #3

Well cast and paced. Was like 10% less fun than I wanted, but it's still a good time. The plot is weirdly straightforward and conflicts are easily resolved. Also the chatacters lack any emotional depth or background. It was also missing his characteristic flair, weirdly.

2024-05-01 #1

Light and charming; not a bad watch but doesn’t say a lot. It’s mostly a sillly thing about how out of place he is, but he sells it.

2024-04-28 #1

Uncharted

(2022)

A decent enough romp, but a little too joyless for my tastes. Other movies have done adventure better since and there wasn’t enough fun tying it to the games.

2024-04-27 #2

Freelance

(2023)

The most remarkable thing this movie did was star both John Cena and Alison Brie yet be so boring and un-funny. The dictator was sort of the emotional core of the whole thing, which leads to some complicated messaging.

2024-04-26 #1

Hot Fuzz

(2007)
πŸ”Ž

no additional notes, see rating

2024-04-23 #3

Titanic

(2023)

Sort of knew what was coming, but the movie did a good job humanizing the disaster and exploring the social implecations of the whole thing. Glad I finally saw it.

2024-04-14 #1

The Big Year

(2011)

A fun concept reasonably presented. Felt a little light on actual plot resolution, but it's a fun watch if you like birds.

2024-04-05 #1

Pretty dumb, but I love the layers of parody at play. They really pack in the references and cameos.

2024-04-04 #2

Mean Girls

(2024)

A tasteful update to a classic. Music was fun but not especially memorable. All of the cast was super funny though.

2024-03-29 #1

Carries the trademarked Wes Anderson flair and tells a cute story with a great cast and set design.

2024-03-26 #1

Has some pretty dumb bits, but also some fun one. a decent follow-up to a goat

2024-03-22 #3

Young Frankenstein

(1974)
πŸŽƒ

no additional notes, see rating

2024-03-17 #3

The Mummy

(1999)

Extremely Brown Movie and always a fun watch.

2024-03-16 #5

Probably her best yet - jokes are tight, strikes the right chords, kept it fresh.

2024-03-10 #1

The Holdovers

(2023)

A sweet exploration of the relationship between a boy and a teacher. Small cast goes a long way.

2024-03-08 #1

Great examination of what makes a rivalry and how it's differentiated from enemies. And there's a lot of great Michigan history in this one, which is fun.

2024-03-07 #1

The Departed

(2006)

Ran a little long, but was a pretty gripping drama. Unbelievable cast, twists and turns, quite a ride.

2024-03-01 #1

Some steller performances held back by just the slowest and lowest stakes narritive I’ve seein in a while. Disappointed, as I’ve loved most of McDonagh’s other work. This wasn’t a dark comedy, it was just… dark and boring and melancholy.

2024-02-29 #1

Absolutely spectacular. The staging adds a lot to the show and the music and stories are superbly presented. There’s a lot going on but there’s a lot of heart. I was a mess at the end. Beautifully done.

2024-02-28 #1

The Menu

(2022)

It was unhinged, but I sort of loved it. At some points it felt twisted for twisted's sake, but there was clearly thought put into every bit of the staging and story.

2024-02-26 #1

Great mix of acerbic, funny, and heartfelt. I really like it as a reaction to the past few years of american media/culture.

2024-02-25 #1

Whiplash

(2014)

Extremely intense. Unbelievable performance out of Simmons. The examination of ambition and perfection is interesting, but all the characters come off as assholes who didn’t learn anything. Maybe that's "leaving it up to the viewer", but it left me with a sour taste. Definitely earned its intensity badge though.

2024-02-24 #1

Anyone But You

(2023)
🎭

Extremely cute movie. Charismatic cast and some great comedy. You could tell they were having a good time on that set and it shines through. Light and fun, top to bottom.

2024-02-23 #1

Valentine's Day

(2010)
🎭

I’m a sucker for a stacked ensemble and I just love how this shows so many versions of love.

2024-02-14 #7

The Marvels

(2023)

Scattered and fun. The cute parts are great, but all of the marvel fighting felt pretty boring. Getting hard to keep everything straight.

2024-02-13 #1

no additional notes, see rating

2024-02-07 #2

Great cast and a well-paced plot keeps this spy thriller moving nicely.

2024-02-04 #2

Lift

(2024)

Pretty dumb with the occasional cool set pieces. Hart gets carried by a better supporting cast and there's some decent heisting.

2024-01-29 #1

Pretty dumb, but not a terrible watch. I think their comedy works more in short form than long, but there are some good bits.

2024-01-29 #1

Barbie

(2023)
πŸ₯‡

Hysterical movie and a big Oscar snub for Gerwig and Robbie.

2024-01-23 #2

no additional notes, see rating

2024-01-21 #3

Mean Girls

(2004)

Held up much better than I thought it would. Not all the jokes still land (or are worth making), but its message is largely there. Great script overall and some inspired casting.

2024-01-20 #2

The Out-Laws

(2023)

Fun concept, but quickly devolves into a run-of-the-mill action comedy. Pretty good cast, but didn’t really do it for me.

2024-01-12 #1

Is really just one of my favorite movies. Soundtrack jams, characters are fun, villains rock. It’s the complete package.

2024-01-01 #6

Good natured, but pretty boring

2023-12-27 #1

Not without its charms, but it’s remarkably the exact same movie as California Christmas? And very wine-y.

2023-12-26 #1

Not very christmas-y. Some nice elephant protection messaging, but remarkably lacking in any further charisma or interesting (or even funny) plot

2023-12-26 #1

Family Switch

(2023)

Funny movie, but not actually very christmasmy. A worthy add to the pantheon of Body Swap movies.

2023-12-25 #1