Woof. “Strays” follows a dog (voiced by Will Ferrell) who is abandoned by his owner (Will Forte), and with the help of a pack of stray dogs (voiced by Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, and Randall Park) sets out to get revenge; Josh Greenbaum directs. This was originally due out in June, but for several reasons… Continue reading ‘Strays’ Review: This Comedy Is a Ruff Watch
“Shortcomings” is the directorial debut by actor Randall Park, and follows a struggling wannabe filmmaker (Justin H. Min) who has to deal with his personal issues after his long-term girlfriend (Ally Maki) moves cross the country for an internship. Sherry Cola, Debby Ryan, Tavi Gevinson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jacob Batalon, and Timothy Simons also star. I… Continue reading ‘Shortcomings’ Review: A Warm, Funny Directorial Debut From Randall Park
The animation renaissance is upon us and I am here for it! “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is the seventh feature film of the franchise, and first since 2016’s live-action adaptation. Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon voice the titular team, alongside a supporting cast including Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne,… Continue reading ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ Review: Cowabunga! This Animated Reboot Has Style to Spare
A director getting a $100 million budget to produce a three-hour adult drama with an ensemble cast? Yeah, I’m thinking movies are back! (and of course I saw this as part of the Barbenheimer double feature) “Oppenheimer” follows the titular theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapon during World War II. Cillian… Continue reading ‘Oppenheimer’ Review: Christopher Nolan Returns to Theaters With a Bang
He did it, that crazy SOB did it again! “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is the seventh installment of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, and as the title suggests is the first of two parts to the concluding chapter of the 27-year-old series. Christopher McQuarrie returns to write and direct from the previous two… Continue reading ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Review: Tom Cruise Looks to Save the World (and Theaters)… Again
Sometimes when you reach five films of your franchise, you realize you should have quit while you were ahead. “Insidious: The Red Door” is the fifth installment of the “Insidious” franchise, and a direct sequel to 2013’s “Chapter 2” (“Chapter 3” was actually a prequel, as was 2018’s “The Skeleton Key”). Patrick Wilson reprises his… Continue reading ‘Insidious: The Red Door’ Review: More Like ‘The Red Snore’
Sometimes, when a film is delayed a half-dozen times, maybe it should stay dead and buried… “The Flash” follows the titular hero (played by Ezra Miller) as he sets out to go back in time in order to stop the murder of his mother, only to accidently enter a different universe and encounter his past… Continue reading ‘The Flash’ Review: A Fast Hero Stuck in a Slog of a Film
I love a well done horror-comedy! “The Blackening” follows a group of friends who come together to celebrate Juneteenth at a cabin, only to be hunted by a masked killer. Grace Byers, Jermaine Fowler, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Dewayne Perkins, Antoinette Robertson, Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, and Yvonne Orji star as Tim Story directs. At… Continue reading ‘The Blackening’ Review: A Meta Horror-Comedy That Works
Just when I think I’m out, the “Transformers” franchise pulls me back in! “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” is the seventh installment of the series, and a stand-alone sequel to 2018’s “Bumblebee.” In the film, the Autobots (led by Peter Cullen’s Optimus Prime) must team up with two reluctant humans (Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback)… Continue reading ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Review: Maybe Bay Was the Problem?
I think it’s wildly impressive that we are over 10 “Spider-Man” films deep and have yet to have a (truly) bad one! That’s some “Scream” level of consistency! “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is the sequel to the 2018 film “Into the Spider-Verse,” and follows Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld)… Continue reading ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Review: More Manic, Web-Slinging Fun
The Reel Deal 