DON’T LOOK UP REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although his films are divisive, in the last twenty years, Adam McKay has become one of the most successful filmmakers working today. To some, he’s best known for making comedies with Will Ferrell in the leading role such as Anchorman and its sequel. Recently, however, McKay has become better known for his Oscar nominated films, The Big Short and Vice. Despite this success, McKay’s films are divisive. There are those who find his works to be entertaining, however, others aren’t as impressed. I belong in the former category and it’s because of this and the star studded cast why I was so excited for McKay’s latest film, Don’t Look Up.

Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem: it's on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. Turns out warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate. With the help of Dr. Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an indifferent President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Cate Blanchett) and Jack (Tyler Perry). With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media obsessed public before it's too late proves shockingly comical -- what will it take to get the world to just look up?

Although I enjoyed Don’t Look Up, I can understand why it has received a mixed response following its recent release in select cinemas. There are those who found it to be funny with McKay’s script exploring a more realistic response to an apocalyptic event. Others thought that the film aimed too high for its scattershot barbs to consistently land. Although I can understand that not everyone will like Don’t Look Up and fail to understand the hype surrounding it, I belong in the former category. A lot of disaster films, including 2012, are serious but have a happy ending. However, what’s most interesting about Don’t Look Up is that, for most of its 138 runtime, it’s a tongue in cheek comedy that focuses on two scientists, Kate and Randall, who struggle to convince everyone that the world is ending. Kate and Randall first meet the President of the United States, Janie Orlean, however, she doesn’t take them seriously and tells them to “sit tight and assess”.The disappointing response from the President leads to Kate and Randall trying to warn the population by appearing on a daytime chat show presented by bright and optimistic hosts, Brie and Jack. Despite Kate and Randall’s warning, Brie and Jack’s try to make light of the situation with the latter hoping that comet will hit his ex-girlfriend’s house. Although this scene is funny, it’s also a little sad as this is probably how most people will respond to a serious warning. 

Those hoping that Don’t Look Up will be similar to his Oscar winning film, The Big Short, and find success at next year’s Academy Awards, may be disappointed because the tone is more like Anchorman as they’re both original comedies written and directed by McKay. While the humour doesn’t always work, Don’t Look Up is rarely boring as it’s filled with memorable characters with the talented ensemble cast delivering amusing performances. After taking a break from acting, Lawrence makes a welcome return as the feisty Kate. Out of the entire cast, she delivers the most serious performance as Kate becomes increasingly annoyed by the laidback response to her and Randall’s warning that a comet is threatening to destroy Earth. Alongside Lawrence, DiCaprio delivers one of his most comical performances as Randall who frequently has mental breakdowns but soon accepts that the world is going to end despite his and Kate’s attempt to try and stop the comet. As the President, Streep is clearly imitating Donald Trump with her portrayal. Because she’s known for her dramatic and Oscar winning performances, it was interesting to see Streep take on a more comical role. As her son and chief in staff, Jason, Jonah Hill is also amusing.
 Like Streep, Blanchett is given an opportunity to deliver a more comedic performance and she succeeds with her portrayal of Brie who develops a crush on Randall. Pop star Ariana Grande is perfectly cast as pop star, Riley Bina, who releases a song, Just Look Up, that supports Kate and Randall’s campaign. Although its Oscar potential may seem uncertain, due to the mixed critical response, if Don’t Look Up could possibly be nominated for anything, my guess would be Best Original Song for Just Look Up.

With Don’t Look Up, writer/director Adam McKay has created a witty comedy that explores how people would really react to the end of the world and is worth watching just for the amusing performances by its impressive ensemble cast.

7/10 

ENCANTO REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

There’s no denying that Walt Disney owns one of the most successful animated studios and it’s easy to see why as they tell original and enjoyable stories through imaginative animation. This is definitely the case with their latest animated feature, Encanto.

The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift except Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz). However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

Encanto tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family through visually stunning animation. The story, written by Jared Bush and Charise Castro Smith, focuses on Mirabel, an ordinary yet lovable individual who is an outsider as she doesn’t have a unique gift unlike her family members. However, Encanto isn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift in order to feel as special. Rather it’s about Mirabel accepting herself, which makes for a heartwarming and inspiring watch. Most of Disney’s early animated features focused on a female character falling in love with a Prince whilst a menacing villain tried to interfere. While their early films were well made and featured stunning hand drawn animation, their story became formulaic. Disney’s most recent animated films have focused more on telling original and meaningful stories that can be enjoyed not just by children but by older viewers as well. Most people think that animated films are just for children, as a lot of them tell a predictable and safe story and feature immature jokes, however, although Encanto will be enjoyed more by children, it will also, most likely, enchant older viewers. 

The imaginative and unique world of the Encanto is brought vividly to life through Disney’s trademark three dimensional animation and is filled with bright and colourful visuals. Encanto is worth watching just to appreciate the hard work that has gone into making one of the most visually stunning animated films of the year.

Disney are known for their inspiring and leading female characters, including sisters Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Moana from their 2016 animated film of the same name and Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon. That’s still the case with Mirabel who, although she doesn’t have any special gifts like her family, is still an interesting individual. What I liked most about Encanto was that it wasn’t about Mirabel going on an adventure to find her gift, rather it was about repairing her relationship with her family and accepting herself. Mirabel is the same at the end as she was at the beginning, however, that’s not a bad thing as there was nothing about her that needed changing. Mirabel is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz who is best known for her role as Rosa in the popular sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She had a small role in Destin Daniel Cretton’s moving 2013 drama, Short Term 12,  and also appeared in Jon M. Chu’s feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical, In The Heights, which was released earlier this year. In Encanto, Beatriz delivers a warm and bubbly vocal performance as Mirabel making her an easy character to like. She also impresses with her singing skills during the lively musical numbers. Unlike a lot of Disney’s previous films, there are no famous actors that distract from the story, which makes the characters all the more easy to accept. What’s refreshing about Encanto is that there’s no villain that is simply created in order to provide conflict. The writers know that there’s already conflict between Mirabel and her family and they focus more on the former trying to make amends with the latter. 

Encanto is at its most entertaining during the energetic musical numbers. The songs are written by Lin Manuel-Miranda, who is one of the most talented and successful musicians working today. He is best known for his Broadway show, Hamilton, and for writing the songs that featured in Moana. Although Miranda’s songs aren’t as memorable as the ones featured in the latter film, they’re still a lot of fun, especially the opening song, The Family Madrigal, which focuses on Mirabel introducing her gifted family to a small group of children. 

Filled with lively musical numbers and featuring imaginative animation, Disney’s latest film, Encanto, tells a meaningful and heartwarming story about self acceptance and family.

8/10

GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following its release in 1984, Ivan Reitman’s supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters, was a success both at the box office, making over $295.2 million, and with critics who said that it was “an infectiously fun blend of special effects and comedy, with Bill Murray's hilarious deadpan performance leading a cast of great comic turns”. A sequel was released five years later, however, while it benefited from the amusing performances by its cast, it was mostly a disappointment. In 2016, Paul Feig released an all-female reboot starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Although I personally enjoyed it, the reception from audiences was negative. Now, almost four decades after the release of the original, Reitman’s son, Jason, has created a follow up, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

After being evicted from their home, a single mother, Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) are forced to move to a decayed farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma, left to them by the children's late grandfather, where a series of unexplained earthquakes are occurring despite not being situated on any fault and strange things are happening in an old mine which once belonged to the alleged occultist Ivo Shandor. The children discover the history of their grandfather with the original Ghostbusters, who have since been largely forgotten by the world beyond their fan base. When supernatural phenomena relating to New York City's "Manhattan Crossrip of 1984" occur and threaten the world, the kids, along with their family and friends, must solve the decades-old mystery of the relocation of their grandfather and use the equipment of the Ghostbusters, and become their successors to save it.


With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Jason Reitman has created a follow up that will almost certainly be enjoyed by fans of the franchise, including the original film. It features many of the elements that made the first Ghostbusters so successful including exciting ghostbusting action, amusing comedy and fun performances by its cast. It’s not without its flaws, including a predictable story, however, these are easily overlooked as, for the majority of its 124 minute runtime, Ghostbusters: Afterlife makes for a highly entertaining watch.

Unsurprisingly, like the previous films, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is at its best when it’s focusing on its characters battling the ghosts. After Phoebe and her new found friend, Podcast (a scene stealing Logan Kim), discover a ghost, the famous green Munchler from the first film, Phoebe fights it off using her late grandfather’s proton pack in an exhilarating action sequence featuring the famous Ecto-1 car, driven by Trevor. This sequence is one of the many highlights of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, alongside the final battle against returning evil supernatural gods, Zuul and Gozer. What was most surprising about this climatic battle was that, not only was it thrilling, it was also quite emotional as it saw the return of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson as the remaining Ghostbusters. It also featured an appearance from the late Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014, via impressive special effects and the use of archived footage. I can imagine those who watched the original Ghostbusters being moved by their appearances.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduces several new characters to the franchise who are all memorable and interesting individuals with the cast delivering performances. The standout is McKenna Grace who, despite only being fifteen years old, has had an impressive acting career, appearing in Gifted, alongside Chris Evans, I, Tonya, Ready Player One and Captain Marvel. As Phoebe, Grace is socially awkward yet incredibly likeable. Known for appearing in the hit fantasy series. Stranger Things, on the streaming service, Netflix, and for his role as Richie Tozier in Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel, It, Wolfhard leaves a lasting impression as Phoebe’s older brother, Trevor. Rudd provides most of the comic relief with his performance as the laidback school teacher, Gary Grooberson. Aside from Murray, Aykroyd and Hudson, other familiar faces include Annie Potts who appears early on in the film as Janine Melnitz, and Sigourney Weaver who doesn’t appear as Dana Barrett until midway through the credits. 

Speaking of, Ghostbusters: Afterlife features two bonus scenes that take place during the middle and after the credits and are worth watching. The first scene, as previously mentioned, takes place in the middle of the credits and sees Weaver and Murray that is an amusing nod to a memorable scene from the first film. The second sees Zeddemore talking about how he’ll always be a Ghostbuster to Melnitz. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is written by Reitman and Gil Kenan, who directed the 2006 animated horror comedy, Monster House. Their script pays tribute to the original film and one of its stars, Harold Ramis, in a heartfelt way. Although the original film was simply a supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is surprisingly thematic as it explores themes of family, especially through the character of Phoebe who is Doctor Egon Spengler’s granddaughter. Throughout the film, Callie resents her father as she believed that he abandoned her, however, it’s revealed that he was trying to protect her. Following the action packed climatic battle, Callie is able to forgive her father. I can imagine that Jason Reitman was inspired by his relationship with his father, Ivan, who directed the original Ghostbusters, to write this script. With films such as Juno, Up In The Air (which were both nominated for Best Picture Oscars) and Tully, Jason Reitman has established himself as a talented filmmaker who is skilled at both drama and comedy, making him the right man (pun intended) to direct a follow up to Ghostbusters. With Ghostbusters: Afterlife, he has succeeded and created a sequel that is packed full of ghostbusting action, fun performances by its cast and should satisfy fans of the original film.

7/10

THE FRENCH DISPATCH REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of his debut feature, Bottle Rocket, in 1996, Wes Anderson has established himself as one of the most interesting and unique visionary filmmakers working today. While there are those who find many of his films to be too weird for their liking, others who enjoy watching what he’s created. Since watching his most successful film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, in 2014, I’ve become a member of the latter category, especially after watching most of Anderson’s features. What I’ve always liked about his films is that they’re filled with a star studded ensemble cast who each portray memorable and interesting characters and the quick witted humour. Because of this, I was excited for his latest film, The French Dispatch, which was originally scheduled to premier at Cannes Film Festival last year but was postponed to this year following the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus. Finally, after waiting over a year, I got to watch The French Dispatch, however, does it represent Anderson at his best?


The French Dispatch, a high-brow magazine based in the imagined Gallic town of Blasé-sur-Ennui, has reached its end. Its founder, Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray) has died and his beloved creation looks set to shut down operations. In doing so, its staff reflect nostalgically on the publication’s halcyon days, when the writers were as celebrated as the subjects they covered. There’s the art critic, J.K.L Berensen (Tilda Swinton), who regales with the story of a jailed painter’s, Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio Del Toro) obsession with his muse, Simone (Léa Seydoux); a political correspondent, Lucinda Krementz (Frances McDormand) whose ‘current affairs’ once included a young insurgent, Zeffirelli (Timothée Chalamet) during a student protest; and the rarefied food critic, Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright) who becomes quite the pot-au-feu when he finds himself caught up in a kidnapping plot.


Although The French Dispatch isn’t Anderson’s best film, it’s undoubtedly one of his most interesting films as it brings to life a collection of tales published in the eponymous magazine, The French Dispatch. These tales are told visually with each journalist narrating their writings. Prior to watching The French Dispatch, I wasn’t sure if this premise could result in an entertaining film, fortunately, I was proven wrong. The film benefits from Anderson’s imaginative and self assured directing skills. I can imagine that, with The French Dispatch, he wanted to create a film that is a love letter to journalism. When people think of journalism, they probably associate it with tabloids and those who publish false and controversial stories and rumours about celebrities. However, The French Dispatch shows a different side to journalism and that’s one that consists of creative writers who want to tale interesting and informative stories.

The French Dispatch is probably Anderson’s most divisive film yet. Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, it’s received a mostly positive response from critics who praised Anderson’s unique filmmaking skills. However, there are those who were left puzzled at what they just watched. Those expecting a laugh out loud comedy that is simple to follow will find themselves struggling to be entertained by The French Dispatch. However, it will, most likely, be enjoyed more by those who are more familiar with Anderson’s work.

Unsurprisingly, the strength of The French Dispatch lies in the outstanding work from behind the scenes, including Robert D. Yeoman’s clear and precise cinematography, Alexandre Desplat’s delightful and catchy score and the production design. Although the majority of Anderson’s films have been overlooked in the major categories at the Academy Awards (The Grand Budapest Hotel is his only film to be nominated for Best Picture and win four Oscars for Best Production Design, Best Score, Best Make-up and Hairstyling and Best Costume), I wouldn’t be surprised if The French Dispatch were to be nominated for the impressive work from behind the scenes. 

The French Dispatch may be Anderson’s most overwhelming film yet as he crams a lot into the film’s 108 minute runtime. The film is filled with amusing characters, interesting stories and even an animated car chase sequence towards the end. What’s almost certain about The French Dispatch is that each viewer will have a different reaction and will favour a certain story more than others. While I thoroughly enjoyed The French Dispatch, my favourite story was The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner which focuses on food critic, Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright), talking about his article about chef Lt. Nescaffier (Stephen Park) but, instead of taking about Nescaffier, ends up detailing the events of a kidnapping plot involving the young son of The Commissaire (Mathieu Amalric) who Nescaffier works for. For me, this is where The French Dispatch is at its most entertaining and funniest, with Wright delivering a charming performance. 

Following my first viewing of The French Dispatch, my instant reaction is mostly positive, however, because there’s so much to take in, I’m definitely looking forward to my next watch when it gets released as I definitely think that it’s one of those films that benefits from repeated viewings as there’s so much to take in.


Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch represents the filmmaker at his most imaginative and is filled with interesting ideas and a star studded and talented cast. 

8/10

FREE GUY REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Many films that are based on video games fail to leave much of a lasting impression as they aren’t as fun. Those watching the film wished that they were playing the game instead so they could get involved in the action. It’s because of this why there was scepticism towards Free Guy, which is set in an original game, Free City. It was originally meant to be released in cinemas last year but, like a lot of films, was postponed due to cinemas during the pandemic. Over a year later, Free Guy has finally been released, however, is it worth the wait?

In the open world video game, Free City, Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by Millie (Jodie Comer) and Keys (Joe Keery) into Free City by the publisher Antoine (Taika Waititi), Guy becomes self aware of his world being a video game and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Although Free Guy will, most likely, be enjoyed by those who played video games, as they’ll understand a lot of the references. However, those who have less experience playing video games will have a lot of fun watching it. The premise is simple as it focuses on a background character in a video game who escapes his Groundhog Day-like life and surprisingly finds himself saving the world along with Millie’s avatar, Molotov Girl. Although the narrative is predictable (it’s obvious it’s going to have a happy ending with Guy successfully saving the world), Free Guy combines fast-paced action with amusing humour and is one of the most entertaining films to be release this year.

The strength of Free Guy lies in the star studded cast who are all clearly having a lot of fun. None more so than Reynolds who is best known for portraying the foul-mouthed, violent Deadpool. However, as Guy, he delivers one of his funniest performances and portrays him as an ordinary individual who is unaware that his life is artificial. Those who find Reynolds irritating are best off avoiding Free Guy as their minds won’t be changed. Comer is best known for her role as psychopathic assassin, Villanelle, in the thrilling drama series, Killing Eve. However, in her first major role in a feature film, Comer shines and is a delight as Millie, who is the creator of Free City. However, she frequently appears in the video game as Molotov Girl, who Guy falls in love with. Like Comer, Keery is best known for his work on the small screen as he appeared in the Netflix original series, Stranger Things. In Free Guy, he portrays Keys who created the video game with Millie who he has a crush on. Although he works for Antoine, he frequently helps Guy and Millie in the video game. Lil Rel Howery is a scene stealer as Guy’s friend, Buddy, who is also an NPC and is a police officer. Waititi is perfectly cast as the eccentric Antoine. Free Guy also features some brilliant cameos from YouTubers and famous faces. 

Free Guy is directed by Shawn Levy and is his best work yet. The director is best known for working with comedian, Steve Martin, on the films, Cheaper By The Dozen, The Pink Panther and its sequel. He also directed the Night at the Museum trilogy. Although these films weren’t the best received by critics, they were a big part of my childhood and I still enjoy them now as an adult as it brings back fond memories. Because of this, I was excited for Levy’s latest film, Free Guy. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint as I found it to be thoroughly entertaining and action packed with hardly a dull moment to be found in its 115 minute runtime. 

The narrative is the weakest aspect of Free Guy as the scenes that take place in the real world aren’t as entertaining as the sequences set in the video game. However, these scenes benefit from Waititi’s amusing and over the top performance. Free Guy is at its best when it’s focusing on Guy and his attempts to become a hero in an attempt to impress Millie. Although the majority of Free Guy is an action packed comedy, the scenes, involving Guy and Millie, are where the film is at its most romantic, with the couple sharing their love of bubblegum flavoured ice cream. However, because Millie is technically falling in love with an AI that isn’t real, the film makes fun of this. 

Free Guy isn’t without its flaws, including a predictable story, however, that didn’t prevent me from thoroughly enjoying it. 

7/10

JUNGLE CRUISE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Because it was based on a ride at Disneyland, Disney’s live-action feature, Pirates of the Caribbean was a surprise hit both with critics and at the box office when it was released in 2003. Its success led to four sequels being released over the next fourteen years. Like Pirates of the Caribbean, the story Disney’s latest adventure packed film, Jungle Cruise, is also inspired by a popular attraction located at Disneyland.

Jungle Cruise focuses on wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) who travels from London, England with her brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank's questionable services to guide them downriver on his ramshackle-but-charming boat, La Quila. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities that possess the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate hangs in the balance.

Although it’s not without its flaws, including weak special effects and a predictable narrative, Jungle Cruise benefits from the chemistry shared between Blunt, Johnson and Whitehall and the lively adventure sequences. It’s clear that the trio are having a lot of fun and, as a result, I enjoyed watching them. Blunt stands out as Lily, who is Disney’s female version of Indiana Jones. She’s a scientist seeking the Tree of Life as its petals have healing properties. Johnson is charming as Frank who is the captain of the steamboat. Prior to watching Jungle Cruise, I noticed that Whitehall has been criticised for his portrayal of Lily’s sister, MacGregor. However, I found him to be amusing. The main problem with his character isn’t Whitehall’s performance, it’s the fact that Disney have described him as his first gay character, however, this is only briefly hinted in a scene he shares with Frank. I think that if Disney want to include characters that represent the LGBTQ community, they should embrace it. Another fun character is Jesse Plemons’ villainous Prince Joachim, a deranged and ambitious German aristocrat who finances and leads a military expedition to claim the Tree of Life for himself.

I think that those who have been on the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland will, most likely, enjoy the film more than those who haven’t. Although I visited Disneyland when I was a child, I don’t remember going on Jungle Cruise, however, following my watch of the film, I definitely want to return to Disneyland and ride it. Many people will argue that Jungle Cruise is simply a way to promote the attraction and make money off it. Although I do agree with this, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Following the release of Jungle Cruise, I can imagine that the popularity of the ride will increase. I can also imagine that the producers behind the film are hoping that it’ll be just as successful as Pirates of the Caribbean and lead to several sequels being made. Although Jungle Cruise is a lot of fun and packed full of adventure, I found the narrative one of the weakest aspects as it’s predictable and unimaginative. Because of this, I think that a sequel is unnecessary, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if one is made in the next few years.

Prior to watching Jungle Cruise, I read a few reviews and a quote that stood out to me was it’s “a movie that implicitly asks ‘What’s wrong with good old-fashioned entertainment?’ The answer is ‘Absolutely nothing’.” I agree with what this critic is saying as a film doesn’t have to be perfectly made in order to be enjoyed. I knew that Jungle Cruise wasn’t going to be the best film I’ve ever seen. However, I was hoping that it would provide me with other two hours of escapism through fast paced adventure and fun performances delivered by its cast and that’s what I got. Those looking for a film with realistic special effects and an original story will be disappointed.

Jungle Cruise was originally meant to be released in cinemas last year but, like a lot of films in a similar position, its release was delayed until now. However, as well as being shown in cinemas, it’s also available to watch on the streaming service, Disney+, for a premium access fee of £19.99/$29.99. I think that this pricing is expensive as it’s more than a single cinema ticket but is suitable for a big family wanting to save money. Since the release of Jungle Cruise in cinemas and on Disney+, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding this decision with actor Scarlett Johansson suing Disney for violating her contract that said her film, Black Widow, would only be released in cinemas. Although I can understand that Disney don’t want to risk anyone’s safety, with the pandemic still going on, I don’t think that releasing a film both in cinemas and on streaming on the same day is a good idea as piracy has become easier with people recording films from their home. It’s also unfair to cinemas that have struggled financially since they were forced to close last year. I’ve frequently said this but I much prefer watching films on the big screen as they’re the perfect form of escapism especially in these difficult times. Although I could have easily watched Jungle Cruise at home, I’m glad I didn’t as it was actually cheaper for me to experience it on the big screen. 

Jungle Cruise is adventure packed with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt delivering fun performances.

7/10

FREAKY REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Writer/director Christopher Landon is best known for combining the classic Bill Murray comedy, Groundhog Day, with the famous serial killer films, Friday The 13th in his films, Happy Death Day and its sequel, Happy Death Day 2U. The films followed a college student who is murdered on the night of her birthday and begins reliving the same day repeatedly as she tried to find her murderer and prevent her death. Both films were successful at the box office, with critics describing it as “darkly humorous sci-fi spin on slasher conventions”. Landon’s latest film is Freaky, however, is it as entertaining as his previous films?

Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton) spends her days trying to survive high school and the cruel actions of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the latest target of the Blissfield Butcher (Vince Vaughn), the town's infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries. When the Butcher's mystical dagger causes him and Millie to magically switch bodies, the frightened teen learns she has just 24 hours to get her identity back before she looks like a middle-aged maniac forever.

With Freaky. Landon brings the body swap antics from the 2003 Disney comedy, Freaky Friday, with the thrilling serial killer action from Friday the 13th. This results in a thoroughly entertaining film, filled with gruesome murders and amusing physical humour. 

Like Happy Death Day, Freaky never takes itself too seriously which makes it all the more fun to watch. However, those who are squeamish will probably want to avoid this as it’s very violent with characters being killed off in gruesome and stomach churning ways. The opening sequence introduces viewers to the Blissfield Butcher who kills off a small group of teenagers using a wine bottle, a toilet lid, a tennis racquet and by impaling one of them. It’s a great way to start the film as it fully captures the Butcher’s violent and murderous personality. Following the intense opening, Freaky introduces Millie who is a shy and insecure teenager, with her long, blonde hair hiding her face. She has two friends, Nyla (Celeste O’Connor) and Josh (Misha Osherovich) and has a crush on Booker (Uriah Shelton). Millie is also bullied by popular mean girl, Ryler (Melissa Collazo) and her teacher, Mr. Bernardi (Alan Ruck). These characters later become the Butcher’s next victims who, because he’s trapped in Milly’s body, takes advantage of his new body. Although Milly is shocked to be in the body of a serial killer, she too makes the most of her new found strength by standing up to one of the bullies. 

After performing as a mascot during a game at school, Milly encounters the Butcher whilst she’s waiting for her mother, Coral (Katie Finneran) to pick her up. The Butcher stabs her with a mystical dagger that causes them to switch bodies. The scene where Millie first wakes up in the Butcher’s body is one of the funniest in the scene, with Vaughn delivering one of his most amusing performances. It would have been easy to have delivered an over the top performance that could have come across as caricatured and irritating, fortunately, that’s not the case here. Vaughn’s performance is similar to Jack Black’s in the recent Jumanji films, Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, The Next Level. Newton is equally as impressive, both as the shy and quiet Millie and the serial killer trapped in her body. It can be challenging trying to convince as an entirely different person stuck in the body of someone else, however, both Vaughn and Newton succeed. As Millie’s best friends, O’Connor and Osherovich provide memorable supporting roles. 

Freaky was first released in cinemas in the United States in November last year. Since then it’s received a mostly positive response from critics who described it as an “entertaining slasher with a gender-bending, body-swapping twist”. Eight months later, with cinemas finally reopened in the United Kingdom, Freaky has been released. Although there’s a lot of films currently showing in cinemas, including the riveting thriller, A Quiet Place Part II, uplifting musical, In The Heights and intoxicating Danish drama, Another Round, I think that Freaky is definitely worth seeing at the cinema as it provides 101 minutes of much needed escapism through bloody and gruesome murders and physical comedy. 

7/10

LUCA REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Pixar Animated Studios are at their best when they’re creating films based on original stories that are meaningful and thematic. This is certainly true of their previous animated feature, Soul. Because of its deep and thought provoking story, it was enjoyed more by critics. Pixar’s latest film, Luca, will appeal more to families as it tells a simple story about friendship. 

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Luca is a coming-of-age story about one young boy, Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with pasta, gelato and endless scooter rides. He shares these adventures with his new found best friend, Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Luca is directed by Enrico Casarosa who previously made the Pixar animated short, La Luna, which was told a peculiar story about a young boy coming of age. In just six minutes, Casarosa was able to create a meaningful film that featured beautiful animation. A decade later, Casarosa has created Luca which is a warm and enjoyable animated film. Although it doesn’t represent Pixar at their best, it’s far from their worst films and provides viewers with ninety minutes of lighthearted entertainment. Prior to Luca’s release, Casarosa said that he was inspired by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The town of Portorosso is a nod to one of Studio Ghibli’s animated films, Porco Rosso. The script, written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones, reminded Casarosa of his childhood friend who was called Alberto. However, the main character’s name is Luca as the director didn’t want to use his first name, Enrico. It’s clear that Luca means a lot to Casarosa and I can imagine that it’ll mean a lot to a lot of viewers as well.

Like most of Pixar’s films, the animation in Luca stands out as it’s filled with bright and vibrant visuals. The country of Italy is effectively explored and captured through the stunning animation. Pixar sent several of the film's artists to the Italian Riviera for a research trip, during which they took photos of the area's landscape and people. Luca is rooted in the 50s and 60s, a time that Casarosa has described as a "golden age that feels timeless", with the music and designs inspired from that period "to capture a little bit of this timelessness of summer." Because of its sunny and warm setting, Luca is the perfect summer film.

It is a shame that, like Soul, Luca wasn’t released in cinemas as the animation would’ve impressed more on a bigger screen. Understandably, the producers were also disappointed by Disney’s decision to release it on their streaming service, Disney+, as Disney’s latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon, was released both in cinemas and on Disney+. Although I don’t mind watching films at home, I would have much preferred to have watched Luca at the cinema as they’re the perfect form of escapism. 

Luca is at its most heartwarming when it’s focusing on the friendship that develops between Luca and Alberto. Luca is shy and fearful of leaving his family, however, Alberto is confident and encourages Luca to enjoy their adventures together. The pair meet and befriend Giulia (Emma Berman), who is outgoing and charming. Together, the three become involved in the Portorosso Cup Triathlon, which involves the participants racing by swimming, eating a plate full of pasta and riding a bike to the finish line. Although Giulia has previously entered, she has never won due to throwing up but believes she can finally win with the help of Luca and Alberto. All three of these characters are interesting and fun to watch, with the talented young cast, including Tremblay, Grazer and Berman, impressing with their vocal performances. While the majority of the film focuses on Luca, Alberto and Giulia, Luca’s parents, Daniela (Maya Rudolph) and Lorenzo (Jim Gaffigan) search for him. Their scenes provide viewers with amusing physical comedy as they try and find Luca by splashing children with water. 

A lot of animated films are aimed at children and tell a simple and boring story. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Luca, which, like most of Pixar’s animated films, can be enjoyed by viewers of any age. Children will, almost certainly, enjoy the fun adventures involving Luca and Alberto, with older viewers appreciating the deeper meaning behind some of the themes. By many older viewers in the LGBTQ+ community, the story of Luca hiding his true self has been interpreted as a metaphor for a homosexual struggling to come out. Obviously, because it’s a family friendly film, the relationship between Luca and Alberto is nothing more than platonic, however, it’s easy to see why the film will mean a lot to those in the LGBTQ+ community. Luca will also mean a lot to those who had an important friend during their childhood. 

Luca features bright and warm animation and tells a heartwarming story about friendship and is packed full of adventure.

7/10

HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an action-packed comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson as hitman Darius Kincaid and Ryan Reynolds as bodyguard Michael Bryce, was a surprise hit at the box office when it was released in 2017. Although it worked as a stand alone film, a sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, has recently been released, however, is it as entertaining as its predecessor?

The world's most lethal odd couple, bodyguard Bryce and hitman Kincaid are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman, Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas).

Although a sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard wasn’t necessary, it was inevitable as it made over $176 million at the box office. Because I enjoyed the first film, I was really looking forward to the sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint and met my expectations. Like its predecessor, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is filled with fast paced action and tongue in cheek humour. 

Fans of The Hitman’s Bodyguard will, most likely, enjoy Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as it offers more of the same. The majority of the sequel focuses on Michael, Darius and Sonia as they work together to try and stop Aristotle who wants to destroy the European power grid and infrastructure since the European Union is planning to impose more sanctions on Greece. The story is one of the weakest aspects as it’s predictable and similar to the plot of The Hitman’s Bodyguard which focused on Michael and Darius on the run from a team of bad guys. Although the narrative does feel repetitive, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the exhilarating action and the amusing humour.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard balances the action and comedy really well. The action sequences are where the film is at its most exciting. The Hitman’s Bodyguard was filled with fast-paced car chases and violent gun shoot outs and that’s still the case with Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. At the beginning of the sequel, Michael is receiving therapy following the events of the previous film which has led to him having nightmares involving Darius. His therapist tells him to take a break from body guarding. During his break, Michael is interrupted by Sonia who tells him that Darius is in trouble and needs his help. Following Darius’ rescue, the trio find themselves working for the FBI in order to stop Aristotle. Unsurprisingly, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is at its funniest when it’s focusing on Michael, Darius and Sonia. Most of the humour comes from physical comedy and sarcastic and witty dialogue, most of which are delivered by Reynolds as Michael. Those who find Reynolds irritating, especially in Deadpool, won’t find him bearable in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as he is basically playing the same character if Deadpool were a bodyguard. Jackson is his usual bad-ass self. In The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Hayek was a scene stealer as Sonia, however, most of her scenes were in a prison cell. In Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Hayek’s screen time has been extended significantly and she delivers a feisty portrayal of Sonia. Banderas is perfectly over the top as the villainous Aristotle. In the marketing campaign, legendary, Oscar-winning actor, Morgan Freeman appears on one of the posters for Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, however, his role was not specified. I won’t spoil his role as it’s one of the most surprising and funniest revelations. 

After the spread of coronavirus led to cinemas closing for most of last year, they’ve been reopened with distrubition studios releasing films that have been delayed, including A Quiet Place Part II and other much anticipated films, including Cruella and In The Heights. Prior to the pandemic, cinemas were one of my favourite places to visit as they were a form of escapism and a distraction from reality and that is especially true right now. Although Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard isn’t the best film to be released in cinemas following their recent reopening, it’s still a lot of fun and provides audiences with 100 minutes of entertainment through fast-paced action and amusing comedy. 

7/10

IN THE HEIGHTS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Lin-Manuel Miranda is best known for creating the award winning musical, Hamilton, which premiered at The Public Theatre in New York City in 2015. The staged production was filmed and released on the streaming service, Disney+, so it could be enjoyed by musical fans outside of the United States. Miranda also wrote the songs for the Disney animated feature, Moana, with one of them, How Far I’ll Go, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. In 2018, Miranda delivered a memorable supporting role alongside Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns. Safe to say there’s no end to Miranda’s musical talents and that’s further proven with In The Heights, which first premiered in 2005, and has been adapted into a feature film directed by Jon M. Chu who previously directed the romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians. 

In The Heights tells the story of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) who owns a bodega and has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights. The film also focuses on the lives of other characters including Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), who Usnavi has a crush on and is a fashion designer, Nina (Leslie Grace), who has recently returned from Stanford University, however, she doesn’t want to go back but doesn’t know how to tell her father, Kevin (Jimmy Smits), who paid for her tuition. 

From its energetic and uplifting opening to its meaningful conclusion, In The Heights is a feel good musical that will make you want to get up from your seat and dance with the characters. The story is filled with heartwarming romance, engaging drama and amusing comedy. Prior to watching In The Heights, I hadn’t seen the original stage musical so wasn’t sure what to expect, fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely one of the best musicals since the Oscar winning La La Land. Both films are thematic and explore how following your dreams can affect your personal relationships. In In The Heights, Usnavi wants to leave Washington Heights to live in the Dominican Republic but doesn’t want to leave Vanessa who he has had a crush on since high school. After following her dream of going to Stanford University, Nina returns home disappointed by her experience and how she was treated. Although In The Heights is mostly a joyful and uplifting musical, the story doesn’t shy away from important themes, such as home, dreams, love and death, which are all explored through musical numbers. 

Unsurprisingly, In The Heights is at its most entertaining during the musical numbers. The film opens with the titular song which introduces the characters, including Usnavi, his cousin, Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), Vanessa, Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) who is the matriarch of Washington Heights and portrayed as a motherly figure to most of the characters, Kevin, Nina’s father who runs the taxi company, and Benny (Corey Hawkins) who works for Kevin and is in love with Nina. All of these characters are memorable and interesting enough to keep viewers invested in their stories. Most of these characters get their moment to shine with their own musical numbers where they express their thoughts and feelings. Personally, my favourite songs were 96,000, which focuses on the characters singing about what they would do with a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000, Blackout, which takes place during a power cut, and Paciencia y Fe which is a moving ballad sung by Abuela shortly before she passes away. This was one of the most emotional scenes in In The Heights as Abuela was a mother figure to many of the characters who are saddened by her death. I don’t think there was a dry eye in my screening during this sequence.

What I liked most about In The Heights was that it didn’t just focus on Usnavi and his story, it followed the lives of other individuals who lived in Washington Heights. The framing device sees an older Usnavi telling his life story to a small group of children. At first, it appears that Usnavi is living on a beach in the Dominican Republican, making the viewer believe that he succeeded in following his dream and leaving Washington Heights. However, it’s revealed later on that the location he’s in a shop he built with Vanessa that has a backdrop that looks like the Dominican Republican. This was a clever twist that I didn’t see coming and made for a satisfying ending to Usnavi’s story. 

In The Heights benefits from the lively performances delivered by its cast. Most of the actors aren’t that well known, because of this, they’re more convincing in their roles. Ramos previously had a small supporting role in the Oscar winning A Star is Born alongside Lady Gaga, however, in In The Heights, he delivers an impressing leading performance as Usnavi. Fans of hit sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine will recognise Stephanie Beatriz who appears as one of the salon ladies. He shares chemistry with Barrera who portrays Vanessa. Miranda has a cameo as Piragüero, who owns a small food stand. I was expecting Miranda to have a bigger role in In The Heights, however, I can imagine that he didn’t want to steal the spotlight from the main cast. 

While fans of the original staged musical will, most likely, be impressed with what Chu has created with his adaptation of In The Heights, I think that it can be enjoyed by viewers who are less familiar with it. Because of its mostly lighthearted tone, it’s family friendly and can be enjoyed by viewers of any age. 

The last year has been especially difficult for obvious reasons. The timing of In The Height’s release couldn’t be better as it’s the feel good film we all need right now. Because of its energetic musical numbers, In The Heights is sure to bring a smile to your face. Many people go to the cinema to escape from the realities of the outside world and In The Heights is the perfect film for that. Although 143 minute runtime may seem long, the story and musical numbers are so entertaining that you’ll forget how long it is. 

With energetic and upbeat musical numbers, In The Heights is the ultimate feel good film that we all need right now.

8/10

CRUELLA REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Cruella De Vil is one of the most memorable villains from a Disney animated film. She made her first appearance in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, which was released in 1961. She was evil because she wanted to make a coat out of puppies’ fur. In Disney’s 1996 live action remake, 101 Dalmatians, Cruella was portrayed by Glenn Close. Close captured Cruella’s fierce and eccentric personality and returned to the role in the 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians. Because Cruella is one of the most memorable villains, it’s easy to understand why a new live action film has recently been released that explores her life before she became obsessed with dalmatian fur.

Set during the 1970s punk rock revolution in London, the story follows a clever and creative young grifter named Estella (Emma Stone), who is determined to become a successful designer. After Estella befriends a pair of young thieves, Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser), who appreciate her appetite for mischief, the three build a life for themselves on the London streets. Before long, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute fashion legend (Emma Thompson). But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

The strength of Cruella lies in the amusing performances delivered by both Stone and Thompson. The former delivers a fresh portrayal of Cruella. She captures both Estella’s kind and friendly personality and the wicked side of her alter ego, Cruella. Because Cruella is a villain, I think that a lot of people were worried that the film would redeem her and try and make her sympathetic. However, this isn’t the case with Cruella which shows both the dark and light sides of the eponymous character who is seen as a flawed individual. Although Cruella isn’t the most likeable of characters, she’s, by far, one of the most interesting villains and is brought to life through Stone’s performance. Another standout performance is delivered by Thompson who is a scene stealer as Cruella’s rival, the Baronness. Both Stone and Thompson are having a lot of fun portraying their characters and, as a result, I had a lot of fun watching them. Fry and Hauser are funny as Cruella’s side kicks, Jasper and Horace, who help her with her devious plans. Although Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Cruella’s childhood friend, Anita, and Mark Strong as the Baronness’ valet, John, deliver solid supporting roles, they are underused. I would have liked to seen more of the friendship between Cruella and Anita, who is a journalist and reports on Cruella’s increasing fame. The entirety of Cruella is worth watching just for Stone and Thompson’s performances.

Most of Disney’s recent live action films, including last year’s Mulan, Aladdin and The Lion King, have been been straightforward but unimaginative remakes of the original animated features. Fortunately, the same can’t be said about Cruella, which explores the background of one of the most memorable and interesting characters in all of Disney’s animated films. The screenplay is written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara and is based on a story by Aline Brosh McKenna, Kelly Marcel and Steve Zissis and is filled with entertaining rivalry and fun twists. The majority of Cruella focuses on the back and forth rivalry between Cruella and the Baronness. The latter is the most famous fashion designer whose personality is very similar to that of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly in the 2006 romantic comedy The Devil Wears Prada and is narcissistic and is rude to her staff. It’s easy to see how Estella becomes Cruella after she works for the Baronness. Estella wants more than anything to be a famous fashion designer and, after working for the Baronness, she quickly becomes Cruella and is soon stealing all of the attention with her outrageous and over the top costumes. What I liked most about Cruella’s story was that it features a clever twist involving both Cruella and the Baronness that I didn’t see coming. Because of this, it made the film all the more interesting. Although I’m one of the few people who enjoy Disney’s live action remakes, I can understand why a lot of people think they’re unnecessary. However, Cruella is one of their best live action films as it tells an original story.

Craig Gillespie previously directed I, Tonya which starred Margot Robbie as figure skater Tonya Harding who became involved in a controversial scandal. It was a highly entertaining film that showed another side to Tonya that a lot of people might not be familiar with. Harding wasn’t perfect by any means but she wasn’t as villainous as the media made her out to be. A similar comment can be made regarding Cruella who is seen as an antagonist in both the animated film and the live action feature. However, Cruella shows her early life and how she became the famous villain everyone knows her as. Gillespie is an ideal choice to direct and, with Cruella, he has created a widely entertaining film. 

Because Cruella is known for wanting to make a coat out of Dalmatian fur, a lot of people were concerned that Cruella would try and excuse her actions. However, the majority of the film focuses on the rivalry between Cruella and the Baronness. The former does briefly kidnap the latter’s three pet Dalmatians after one of them swallows a luxurious necklace that was lost by Cruella when she was a child and found by the Baronness. For those worried about what happens to the Dalmatians needn’t be as nothing bad happens to them. Cruella is a family friendly film so it’s highly unlikely that Disney would want to create a film where dogs are harmed. Cruella even has a pet dog of her own named Buddy, as does Horace whose dog is small and half blind and is named Winky. 

Because Cruella and the Baroness are talented and creative fashion designers, the costumes and clothes worn by them had to match their creativity. Fortunately, the costumes designed by Kelly Beavan are iconic. From Cruella’s white cape that transforms into a red dress after she lights it to the Baroness’ luxurious dresses, the costumes are the most impressive aspect of Cruella. I’ll be surprised if Beavan, who won an Oscar for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road, doesn’t receive a nomination for Best Costume at next year’s Academy Awards.

Cruella has been released in cinemas and also on the streaming service, Disney+, for an extra premier access fee of £20 ($30 in the United States). However, because I saw it at the cinema, I actually saved a lot of money. I think that Disney+'s premier access fee is quite expensive as most cinema tickets are about £10-12. Although I enjoyed Cruella, I don’t think it’s worth paying the access fee unless you really want to watch it and don't want to see it at the cinema.

Although I enjoyed Cruella, including the performances by Stone and Thompson and the rivalry between their characters, it’s not without its flaws. The soundtrack is filled with famous and catchy pop songs from the 1970s, including Blondie's One Way or Another, Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash and Nin Simone's Feeling Good, however, I found them too distracting from certain scenes. The opening scene, which focuses on Estella’s childhood and rebellious behaviour in school, is overlong. Fortunately, these flaws didn’t prevent me from finding Cruella to be entertaining and an interesting exploration of the story behind one of Disney’s most famous villains.

7/10

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are best known for producing the Oscar winning animated feature, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. They’ve also directed the highly entertaining animated features, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and The Lego Movie. All three of the films have been successful both with critics and at the box office. Because of the success they’ve found through the world of animation, if a film has Lord and Miller’s names attached to it, it’s enough to get people interested in whatever they’re making. Their latest animated feature, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, which is written and directed by Michael Rianda, features their trademark witty humour and eye-popping visuals. 

The story focuses on the Mitchell family, which includes film and phone obsessed, Katie (voiced by Abbi Jacobson),  her dinosaur obsessed younger brother, Aaron (Rianda), and her parents, Linda (Maya Rudolph) and Rick (Danny McBride). Katie has just been accepted into a college in California and is excited to leave her imperfect and dysfunctional family. However, Rick changes her plans and decides that the whole family is going to go on a road trip to California. Their journey is disrupted by the uprising of evil robots led by villainous PAL (Olivia Colman). This leads to the Mitchell family taking on the robots in order to save the world.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was originally scheduled to be released in cinemas in January 2020 but was postponed to September. However, with cinemas being forced to close as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, its release was delayed again to October. With most cinemas still closed, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was released on the streaming service, Netflix, at the end of April. Although I can understand why it was released on Netflix, it’s a shame that it wasn’t released in cinemas. The cinema is the perfect form of escapism, especially for families. An issue with home viewing is that it’s so easy to get distracted, making it difficult to fully focus on the film. Children are known to get bored and restless easily and, at home, they’ll probably lose interest in the film. If The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was released in cinemas, I think that children would have enjoyed the film more as they’re not distracted. 

A lot of animated films are usually aimed more at younger viewers and, because they tell an unoriginal and predictable story, it can be a dull watch for adults. However, that’s why animated production companies, such as Pixar, are so successful as they create animated features that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. That’s the case with Sony Pictures Animation’s latest feature, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, which is the definitive family friendly film. Children will enjoy the fast-paced action and older viewers will be able to relate to the techno obsessed world that the Mitchell family live in. 

Modern society has become obsessed with technology, including having the latest smartphone, getting the most likes on the photo sharing app, Instagram, and having the most followers on the social media app, Twitter. The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is set in a world similar to ours with the majority of people addicted to technology. The main character is Katie who is interested in films and is almost always on her phone and making short films. However, her father, Rick, wants to spend quality time with his family before Katie leaves them for college. An amusing scene sees the family at the dinner table struggling to make eye contact and be away from their phones. Although Rianda isn’t anti-technology, he’s just reminding us what’s most important and that’s family. In the beginning, the Mitchell family are dysfunctional, however, they are able to work together to stop the evil uprising of robots which brings them closer together. This is what makes The Mitchells Vs. The Machines one of the best family friendly films to be released recently as it captures the family dynamic really well. 

What’s most impressive about The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is its animation, which is filled with bright and colourful visuals which are all imaginative. It’s because of the vibrant animation why I wish I had seen it at the cinema as the quality would have been better on the big screen. When watched on a standard, small television screen, the animation doesn’t impress as much as it probably would have done at the cinema.

Most of the humour in The Mitchells Vs. The Machines comes from the relationship between the titular family who frequently bicker. The characters aren’t perfect and occasionally make mistakes, however, that’s what makes them likeable and relatable. Of the characters, I related to Katie as, not only does she share the same name as me, but we also have a passion for film and technology. She behaves how most people her age do and is excited to finally leave home and her dysfunctional family for college. Katie is a great leading character as she’s bright and has a bubbly personality. The rest of the characters are all fun to watch too, including Katie’s younger brother, Aaron, who is obsessed with dinosaurs and has a crush on Abbey Posey (Charlyne Yi), however, he freaks out whenever he tries to start a conversation with her. Their mother, Linda, is jealous of the seemingly perfect Posey family, which includes Abbey and her parents, Hailey (Chrissy Teigan) and Jim (John Legend). Her husband, Rick, loves nature and is an expert at DIY, however, he believes that his family have become too obsessed with technology. Although most of the robots are evil and controlled by the villainous PAL, the Mitchells are helped by friendly robots, Eric (Beck Bennett) and Deborahbot 5000 (Fred Armisen). The characters are all interesting and fun to watch and add to the overall entertainment of the film.

One of the most important ingredients in making an animated feature is voice casting. If the actor simply reads the dialogue rather than acting it out, it can ruin the enjoyment of the film. Fortunately, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines features a talented cast who all deliver lively and enthusiastic performances. Jacobson is perfectly sweet as Katie and makes her a likeable and interesting individual. McBride and Rudolph are perfect choices to voice her parents, Rick and Linda, as they bring their talented comedic skills to their roles. What’s most interesting about Aaron is that he’s voiced by the writer/director Rianda who is clearly having a lot of fun making The Mitchells Vs. The Machines. Oscar winner, Olivia Colman, is a scene stealer as the villainous artificial intelligence, PAL, who is not as friendly as her name may suggest.

Because they’re best known for producing Into The Spider-Verse, expectations were high for Lord and Miller’s next production, The Mitchell Vs. The Machines. I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with what Rianda has created as, like the Oscar winning animated feature, it features dazzling and imaginative animation, with the story filled with fast paced action and amusing comedy. Although Into The Spider-Verse was incredibly successful, I think that The Mitchells Vs. The Machines will appeal to a wider audience as it tells an original story. 

With The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, writer/director Michael Rianda has created a fun family friendly feature that is filled with vibrant and imaginative animation.

8/10

PALM SPRINGS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of Groundhog Day in 1993, there have been a lot of films that were inspired by the time loop premise which focus on the main character reliving the same day repeatedly, including Doug Liman’s action packed sci-fi, Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and comedy, Happy Death Day and its sequel, Happy Death Day 2U. Palm Springs is the latest film to explore this premise and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of last year where it was well received. It was released in the United States in July on digital streaming. The release proved to be timely as, following the outbreak of coronavirus, millions were forced to spend months at home, with each day feeling a repeat of the previous. Although Palm Springs was enjoyed by viewers in the US, it’s taken almost nine months for it to finally be released on the streaming service, Prime Video in the United Kingdom. 

Palm Springs focuses on Nyles (Andy Samberg) who is a wedding reveller stuck in a time loop. In fact, he’s been stuck in it for a very long time. So, when the bride’s sister and maid of honour, Sarah (Cristin Milioti), gets trapped in the same time loop, it looks like a romance could be on the cards. But tales of boy-meets-girl-then-meets-girl-again-then-meets-girl-again rarely do run smooth.

The timing of Palm Spring’s release couldn’t be more appropriate as the UK is currently coming out of its third lockdown. The last year has felt like a bit of a blur, with each day feeling the same. Although the stuck in a time loop premise has been used several times, Palm Springs feels fresh and, for the majority of its 90 minute runtime, is rarely anything less than thoroughly entertaining. At the beginning of Palm Springs, Nyles has been stuck in his time loop for a while and has accepted his situation. He spends the day having sex with the same woman, then lounging in the pool before attending the same wedding. He begins to make out with Sarah before being chased by a mysterious man where he escapes through a portal. Nyles wakes up in the same bed and continues his routine but is shocked to discover that Sarah has followed him and has become stuck in the same time loop as him. Understandably, she is shocked and, despite Nyles telling her it’s pointless, tries to escape through different ways, including staying awake and killing herself. Unsurprisingly, Sarah’s attempts to escape fail and she soon accepts her situation leading to her having fun with Nyles. Most of the entertainment of Palm Springs comes from watching Nyles and Sarah have fun together. Although the former has accepted his situation, the latter soon wants to escape and tries to find a way out. 

Prior to making Palm Springs, the writer, Andy Siara, knew that his script would be, inevitably, compared to Groundhog Day so he explores the stuck in a time loop in a different way by showing viewers what would happen if two people were stuck in the same day. Because the story includes several surprising twists and features several memorable and interesting characters, there’s hardly a dull moment to be found in Palm Springs. Although the majority of the film focuses on Nyles and Sarah, there’s a third person trapped in the time loop and that’s Roy (J. K. Simmons), who accidentally became stuck after he did drugs with Nyles . Since then, he blames Nyles for getting him trapped and frequently chases him as a way of seeking revenge. Roy could have easily come across as a one dimensional villain, however, thanks to Siara’s writing and Simmons’ performance, Roy is one of the most interesting characters as he’s disappointed that he’ll never be able to see his children grow up. It can be challenging to make an original film that is inspired by a premise that’s already been explored several times, however, with Palm Springs, Siara and director, Max Barbakow, they’ve successfully created one of the funniest films to be released in the last year. 

One of the posters for Palm Springs shows Nyles and Sarah relaxing in a pool. At first, the idea of spending the same day relaxing sounds ideal, however, the film shows how tiresome it can get for the characters who are repeating the same day. This is why Nyles tries to change his day by hooking up with different people, trying every drug and finding new ways to hijack the wedding. What surprised me the most about Palm Springs was how thought provoking I found it to be. Prior to watching it, I was expecting an enjoyable comedy, however, the story made me think about what I would do if I was stuck in a time loop. I think that I’d be shocked like Sarah, however, like Nyles, I would soon accept the situation and try to make the most of the day by having fun. 

Palm Springs benefits from the performances by Samberg and Milioti. Samberg is best known for appearing in the popular sitcom, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and on Saturday Night Live. In both shows, he has established himself as a witty comedian, making him the ideal choice to portray the laidback Nyles. He shares chemistry with Milioti who delivers a solid performance as Sarah.

Since premiering at the Sundance Film Festival last year, Palm Springs has been lauded by critics and was nominated at the Golden Globes earlier this year for Best Motion Picture Comedy with Samberg receiving a nomination for Best Leading Actor Comedy or Musical. It’s easy to understand why Palm Springs been received so well by so many as it’s a throughly entertaining comedy.

7/10

I CARE A LOT REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2015, J Blakeson released his adaptation of Rick Yancey’s 2013 novel, The 5th Wave. Unfortunately, it received a negative reception from critics. With his latest feature, I Care A Lot, Blakeson is given an opportunity to establish himself as a skilful filmmaker. Following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, I Care A Lot has been lauded by critics. It’s recently been released on Amazon Prime in the UK, however, is it as good as critics are saying it is?

Poised with sharklike self-assurance, Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike) is a professional, court-appointed guardian for dozens of elderly wards whose assets she seizes and cunningly bilks through dubious but legal means. It's a well-oiled racket that Marla and her business-partner and lover, Fran (Eiza González), use with brutal efficiency on their latest "cherry," Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest) - a wealthy retiree with no living heirs or family. But when their mark turns out to have an equally shady secret of her own and connections to a volatile gangster, Roman Lunyov (Peter Dinklage), Marla is forced to level up in a game only predators can play - one that's neither fair, nor square.

In answer to my earlier question, yes, Blakeson’s I Care A Lot is as good as the critics are making it out to be. It’s a wildly entertaining thriller, filled with clever twists. 

The standout aspect of I Care A Lot is Pike’s performance as Marla. Although her character isn’t the most likeable, as she steals from vulnerable old people, she’s a lot of fun to watch and her actions are unpredictable. Throughout I Care A Lot, I wasn’t sure what she was going to do next. If it wasn’t for Pike’s lively performance, I Care A Lot would have been boring. Marla is a very similar character to Amy Dunne, who Pike portrayed in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, as they’re both selfish, cunning and smart. Currently, Pike is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 78th Golden Globes. Although I’m not sure if she’ll win, I’m glad her performance in I Care A Lot has been recognised. Hopefully, Pike will receive a nomination from the Academy. The supporting cast are all on top form too, especially Dinklage who is intimidating as Roman, Jennifer’s son who isn’t happy that his mother has been forced into a care home. Despite Roman’s violent threats, Marla isn’t afraid and fights back. Although she shares chemistry with Pike, I felt that González was underused. I would have liked to seen more of her as, like Marla, she’s an interesting character. 

Undoubtedly, I Care A Lot is a significant improvement over The 5th Wave, as it proves that Blakeson is a skilful filmmaker. Because the latter film was based on a book, it lacked original ideas. However, I Care A Lot has a unique premise as it focuses on a female con artist stealing from the elderly. The story features several clever twists that I didn’t see coming, especially the ending which sees Marla forming a surprising business partnership with Roman. The characters are all memorable and interesting. The character that surprised me the most was Jennifer. At first, I thought that she was a simple, kind old woman, however, that wasn’t the case. 

With the entire nation currently a third lockdown, many of us are spending our days watching films on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.I Care A Lot is currently available to watch on Amazon Prime and is definitely one of the most entertaining films that’s on the streaming site. 

Rosamund Pike delivers one of her most memorable performances as the cunning Marla in J Blakeson’s I Care A Lot which is a wildly entertaining thriller. 

7/10

ON THE ROCKS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although I’ve only seen two of her films, I think that Sofia Coppola is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today. With Lost In Translation, she provides viewers with an uplifting and heartwarming film that focuses on the interactions between two strangers in Tokyo. I think that the film represents Coppola’s best film and her original screenplay earned her her first Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards. Lost In Translation also featured impressive performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as the two strangers who meet at a bar in Tokyo. Both are lonely and seek comfort in one another, which made for a fascinating watch. The only other film of Coppola’s that I’ve seen is The Beguiled, which, while not as good as Lost In Translation, was still an intriguing period drama starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell. Coppola’s latest film, On The Rocks, sees her reuniting with Murray, however, is it worth watching?

Faced with sudden doubts about her marriage, a young New York mother (Rashida Jones) teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father (Bill Murray) to tail her husband (Marlon Wayans) in a bittersweet comedy by Coppola.

On The Rocks is an amusing and lighthearted feature that benefits from the fun performances delivered by Jones and Murray. The majority of the film focuses on the father and daughter duo as they try to find out if Dean really is cheating on Laura or not. Both Jones and Murray work really well together and make a great pairing. Felix clearly cares about Laura and is immediately suspicious when she mentions Dean’s behaviour to him. On The Rocks is at its best when it’s focusing on the interactions between Laura and Felix. Although the latter is charming, he’s not a perfect individual, however, it’s definitely one of the most interesting characters Murray has portrayed recently. Coppola made the perfect decision in casting Murray as he brings both comedic and dramatic elements to the role. I’ve only seen Jones deliver small supporting roles in films such as The Social Network and Friends With Benefits, however, in On The Rocks, Jones impresses with her lead performance and provides viewers with a character a lot of people can empathise with. When Laura first notices changes in her husband’s behaviour, she becomes suspicious and her insecurities increase after meeting one of Dean’s colleagues, Fiona (Jessica Henwick). I can imagine a lot of people being able to relate to Laura and feeling like their partner isn’t giving them enough attention. 

While I wouldn’t say it’s one of her best films, Coppola has created an enjoyable comedy that is easy to watch. The story is fairly predictable, however, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the interactions between Laura and Felix. I can imagine that the inspiration for the script came from Coppola’s own relationship with her father, Francis Ford Coppola, who is best known for directing The Godfather. Although it can’t have been easy being related to a legendary director, Coppola has successfully made a name for herself and established herself as one of the most unique filmmakers working today. I’m even more interested in seeing more of her works, including The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette. I can’t imagine fans of Coppola’s being disappointed with what she’s created with On The Rocks.

While there is a lot to like about On The Rocks, it’s not without its flaws. With a runtime of just 96 minutes, the story does feel a bit rushed. I think that it would have benefitted from an extra 20-30 minutes to fully develop the characters and effectively explore the relationship between Laura and Felix. The story is also predictable and the ending is anticlimactic. These are all minor issues though and didn’t prevent me from enjoying On The Rocks as a whole.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of films have either had their release date delayed to 2021 or been released via video on demand without a theatrical release. On The Rocks was released in a few selected cinemas before being released on Apple TV. While it’s not necessarily a film that needs to be watched on the big screen, I really enjoyed watching On The Rocks at my local cinema as I find it easier to focus on the film because, at home, I’m easily distracted. However, I can imagine a lot of people preferring to watch films in the comforts of their own home so those with an Apple device can enjoy On The Rocks at home.

Although it doesn’t represent her at her best, Sofia Coppola’s latest film, On The Rocks, is an enjoyable watch that benefits from the charming performances by Rashida Jones and Bill Murray.

7/10

THE BROKEN HEARTS GALLERY REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Many romantic comedies struggle to leave a lasting impression as they're predictable and the characters are boring. Prior to watching The Broken Hearts Gallery, my expectations weren't high. 

The Broken Hearts Gallery focuses on Lucy (Geraldine Viswanathan) who is a young gallery assistant and collects mementos from her past relationships. She discovers that she must let go of her past to move forward and comes up with a lovely artistic way to help herself and others who have suffered heartbreak.

The Broken Hearts Gallery beat my expectations and was a pleasant surprise. While The Broken Hearts Gallery is very predictable, that didn't prevent me from enjoying it. Those who have seen any romantic comedy will know exactly what's going to happen, however, most of the enjoyment comes from watching the characters interact with each other, especially Lucy and her love interest, Nick (Dacre Montgomery). The pair awkwardly meet after Lucy mistakes Nick's car for an Uber, following an evening where she embarrasses herself at the art gallery. This leads to her getting fired and dumped by Max (Utkarsh Ambudkar). Lucy is left heartbroken, however, she soon befriends Nick who is in the middle of creating a boutique hotel. This is where Lucy gets the idea to make a unique gallery filled with mementos she has collected from past relatiKonships. While the mementos are nothing special, Lucy thinks that the gallery is a great way for people to find closure and overcome their heartbreak. This idea is what makes Zoe a likeable individual. A lot of people, following the end of a romantic relationship, are left heartbroken and struggle to move on, however, Lucy's new gallery helps them. I found The Broken Hearts Gallery to be at its best when it was focusing on Lucy and the gallery. It's clear that she's very passionate about getting the gallery as she believes it will help people overcome their heartbreak. While the story is predictable, it's more original than a lot of films that usually get released.

The Broken Hearts Gallery works better as a romance than a comedy. I enjoyed the scenes that focused on Lucy and Nick and watching their relationship develop. Both Viewanathan and Montgomery share chemistry and are convincing as their characters. The former recently appeared in films such as Bad Education, alongside Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, and the comedy, Blockers, which was released two years ago. As Lucy, Viewanathan leaves a lasting impression and makes her a likeable character. Montgomery is best known for starring the latest series of fantasy series, Stranger Things, as Nick, he delivers a charming portrayal. 

Most of the comedy comes in The Broken Hearts Gallery from Amanda (Molly Gordon) and Nadine (Phillipa Soo) who provide support as Lucy’s friends. While a lot of supporting characters in romantic comedies are forgettable, both Amanda and Nadine steal a lot of the scenes they appear in as they frequently bet over Lucy's relationships and their outcomes. A fun scene takes place at a bar on Amanda's birthday where the trio sing Ava Max's hit single, Sweet But Psycho. An issue with a lot of films in general is the lack of characters in the LGBTQ community. Nadine is a lesbian, however, what I liked most was that it was treated like it was no big deal. Too many characters, who identify as a homosexual, are stereotypes and portrayed as camp and over the top. I'm glad that this wasn't the case with Nadine. 

The Broken Hearts Gallery is one of the latest films to be released in cinemas since they reopened two months ago. While I'm not sure it's the type of film that needs to be seen on the big screen, like Christopher Nolan's latest action packed thriller, Tenet, it's still worth a watch, especially for those of you who, like me, enjoy romantic comedies. 

Pop singer, Selena Gomez, is one of the executive producers of The Broken Hearts Gallery. I can imagine a lot of her fans seeing the film as it has her name attached to it and I can't imagine them being disappointed. The soundtrack features a lot of hit songs, like Elton John's Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA and Little Mix's #1 single, Woman Like Me. These songs are some of my favourites so their inclusion only increased my enjoyment of The Broken Hearts Gallery.

Overall, because it features memorable characters and an interesting premise, The Broken Hearts Gallery is one of the best romantic comedies to be released recently.

7/10