So I didn't HATE "Toy Story 4," but for me it didn't live up to the previous ones. I'll give it 4 out of 5 stars. Why?
Well Woody. He was SOOOOOOOOOO annoying. Anytime anyone told him NOT to do something detrimental he would do just that. It was singular focus, but it sends the wrong message to kids. He always claimed "oh I'm doing this for my kid," but Bonnie isn't just HIS kid.
So it picks up a couple years after "Toy Story 3." After Andy gave Bonnie his toys, Bonnie is ready to start kindergarten. Her dad forbids her to take toys to school, but Woody don't listen and sneaks in her backpack. At school Bonnie doesn't adjust well, but Woody makes sure she's able to play. She creates Forky from trashed school supplies. On a weekend trip with her parents Bonnie takes her toys with her. When Forky jumps out of the RV window to be free Woody takes it upon himself to retrieve Forky and bring him back to Bonnie. And so begins a journey of meeting with old friends, making new ones, and encountering a "villain" like never before.
I will say...the villain isn't really a villain. Once you get deeper into her story you realize she's just doing bad things with a good goal. It teaches kids the lesson there "sometimes there's a story behind the mean."
A summertime kid must! Possible sequel potential. And Keanu Reeves makes a hilarious cameo.
"Men in Black International" is easily 4 stars out of 5.
Reason being it feels like something's missing. You cannot do an MIB movie without Will Smith...maybe Tommy Lee Jones, but NOT Will.
I loved the storyline and acting, but again that element...missing. Chris Hemsworth as Agent H is amazing. It focuses on Tessa Thompson's Molly aka Agent M who finds MIB after looking all her life for them. She's the perfect agent, but there's NO lag in training because she's been studying this her entire life after her failed career as FBI agent. If they linked her to Will I would've liked it more.
Worth seeing and the special effects are awesome. Look for cameo from Rebecca Ferguson and Kumail Nanijani as Pawny.
The thing I love about "Always Be My Maybe" is that it's funny, quick witted, and unpredictable. Easily 5 stars out of 5.
Sasha (Ali Wong) is the childhood best friend of Marcus (Randall Park). During their childhood she had a "noticeable to anyone but him" crush on him. After they finally have sex it changes their relationship in the worst way. Sixteen years after not talking Sasha is a celebrity chef and engaged to a total douchebag Brandon (Daniel Dae Kim) until he unceremoniously dumps her and she bumps into Keanu Reeves (playing a fictionalized version of himself). Prior to bumping into Keanu, she moves into her new house and her assistant calls the HVAC company...who happens to be Harry & Son...Marcus and his dad. And so begins the story.
I love that all of Sasha's love interests are Asian. And that after watching this movie I actually see Randall Park as sexy. I legit did not see him that way before. He was Kim Jun Ung from "The Interview" to me. But this movie he's buff, he's funny, and SUPER sexy. Like DAMN sexy.
So worth watching. You won't be disappointed!!!!
Not sure what movie critics saw but I looooooooooooved "Shaft" so much. 5 stars out of 5!!!!
In this version it kind of pushed aside the 2000 reboot. Samuel L. Jackson is John Shaft, former police detective turned private investigator. He no longer "works for the man" and John Shaft Sr. is actually his dad not his uncle (like the 2000 reboot suggested). There's also a bit of annoyance in Jackson's performance that wasn't there in 2000. I LOVED THAT! And in comes Jessie T. Usher as John Shaft III. His mother (Regina Hall) got him and her out of Shaft's line of work to save themselves.
My ONLY criticism is that I wish JJ's mom was a bit older. Not saying Regina wasn't AMAZING in the part, but with Shaft being 60 today and 40 years ago that basically meant he was with a just out of jailbait woman.
Again I loved this movie.
"Rocketman" stars Taron Egerton as Sir Elton Hercules John born as shy, pudgy Reginald "Reggie" Dwight. Taron sings and acts his ass off, but falls short. Bryce Dallas Howard as his cold, unloving mother Sheila deserves an Oscar nomination if not win. It's Sheila's unlove coupled with his dad's neglect that propels Elton to superstardom.
I feel bad for Taron because I think he wants too get praise, but it just feels like he tried too hard. Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin was great! Very understated. Deserves an award or two himself.
They left out his friendships with Gianni Versace, Tim Rice, and Princess Diana or his Oscar win, but explained his sexuality fully. I would give this movie 4 stars out of 5. It's not billed as a musical but a musical biopic. I went into it thinking it was Bohemian Rhapsody, but it was more like Chicago. Taron does sound like Elton, but I wasn't prepared for the "musical" side of it. It was kind of jarring if I'm being honest.
Worth seeing I will say, but just be prepared for it to be a musical. If you don't like them don't go see it.
Olivia Wilde's directorial debut is glorious at best. The story of a pair of best friends whom have devoted their entire lives to schoolwork and their friendship only to try and go to ONE popular party the day before their graduation is the female version of "Superbad."
"Booksmart" is five stars out of five. Beanie and Kaitlyn deserve Oscar nominations. Look for cameos with Lisa Kudrow and Will Forte...and Jason Sudeikis. But Billie Lourd steals the show as the erratic crazy popular teen people can't seem to figure out.
The real stars are the writing team of Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman. These women were amazing!!!!!! I hope they write more together.
SOOOOOO GOOD!!
