Blue Beetle (2023) - Movie Review

While DC Studios deals with one hell of a production reworking (one of several over the last decade), this film has been released in limbo. Following on from The Flash, whose reality-twisting premise seems to have officially spelled the end for the DCEU timeline as we know it, but still coming out before James Gunn’s official re-establishing of the universe. Between the burnout that the superhero genre has been experiencing post-Endgame, and the ongoing fandom civil war concerning DC on the big screen, it’s unfortunately easy to see why this production would get left behind in the shuffle. Even the upcoming Aquaman sequel, which also exists in the same state of flux, has a stable connection to what past films have shown us; this has to stand entirely on its own. Although, it should be said, that this film arguably does manage to do that, albeit with some stumbling blocks along the way.

Blackbird (2021) - Movie Review

Well… after a much longer (and unannounced; apologies for that) break than anticipated, I’m already wishing I took a bit more care regarding the film I'd come back with. I mean, a film all about voluntary euthanasia isn't exactly the cheeriest material I could have picked for my return. But after so much inactivity, I’ll take anything I can get my hands on, and to this film’s credit, I certainly don’t feel like I wasted my time watching it.

VHYes (2020) - Movie Review

There’s something inherently nostalgic about VHS tapes. I remember growing up right when the big transition from VHS to DVD was taking place, and I have a lot of fond memories of trawling through the family’s excessive collection (we had numbered crates full of tapes, along with a written register for what was in which crate) to find something I could occupy my time with. And with this latest film from Jack Henry (son of Tim) Robbins, the nostalgia glands are lovingly milked to make an exceptionally bug-fuck offering.

Bad Moms 2 (2017) - Movie Review

 

For as much derision as the practice gets, I don’t have any major issue with the whole sequel/franchise/cinematic universe thing in Hollywood. I find it interesting to see what films hold up to the original, and I’m always surprised to see films that manage to exceed what came before it like John Wick: Chapter 2 and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. Today’s film, however, is of a brand that does make me tilt my head. It was a little over a year ago that I looked the first Bad Moms, a film that I still think people didn’t give enough credit to for the kind of film it was. Having this little amount of time between instalments is usually the sign of a cash-in “let’s just repeat what we did before” sequel. Combine that with this being a Christmas film released in November, because doing it in December would’ve made too much sense, and this has a high probability of being less-than-adequate.

 

Still, given how impressed I was with the first film and seeing how some equally impressive cinematic follow-ups this year, I’m holding onto some hope that this might be decent. For once, I will not be pleased if I’m proven wrong.

Tammy (2014) - Movie Review

Okay, I swear I didn't plan for this. It just happens that this is the third review in a row where I talk about a lead actor who is best known for playing one character in most of their movies. At least I get to shake things up a bit by talking about an actress this time around: Melissa McCarthy, best known for being the loud obnoxious woman whose weight is the butt of most of the jokes. Well, here's the official notice: I am going to refrain from just constantly making light of her weight, unlike some other reviews out there, because quite frankly it's well-trodden ground and if there's one thing internet critics are well known for, it's originality… wait…