The Lovebirds (2020) - Movie Review

Director Michael Showalter and rising star Kumail Nanjiani, after kicking in the door and breaking new ground for rom-coms with The Big Sick, have collaborated once again. Only the results here are a lot more… regular than their innovative prior. It’s a Date Night-style affair, where Nanjiani and Issa Rae are in a struggling relationship that gets rekindled over the course of a blisteringly weird and violent night. While the step-down is a little disappointing, I’d argue that all hands being able to work this well with the material is still cause for a recommendation.

Pitch Perfect 3 (2018) - Movie Review

The plot: Three years after their victory at the a cappella World Championship, the Bellas are struggling to make their mark in the world outside of music. However, after they reunite under false pretences, they decide to go on one last tour and perform for the U.S. troops, taking part in a competition to win an opening spot for DJ Khaled. However, as they see that the rest of the bands actually play their own music, it seems that this last hurrah is going to be the most challenging feat the Bellas have ever faced.

Café Society (2016) - Movie Review

For as much as I’ve argued otherwise, I do understand that separating the actions of the artist with the published art can be harder said than done. The amount of times I hear Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport around my house (long story involving younger siblings) on a daily basis is made even tougher knowing what and where Rolf Harris is writing nowadays. Yes, we’re talking about the king of all things neurotic and Jewish Woody Allen once again, and in an attempt to keep with my central doctrine concerning this, I have actually liked his recent output. From the outstanding character drama Blue Jasmine to the sharply written rom-com Magic In The Moonlight to the wonky but still commendable morality play Irrational Man, I don’t have much to argue with in terms of his artistic output. However, once it gets to the point where said artist essentially inserts himself into the art, that disconnect proves ever trickier.