1. Black Phone 2 - I really liked the first one, which is surprising because I don't usually take to supernatural horror stuff. But, it felt really grounded in reality and I thought Mason Thames was fantastic. Unfortunately, I haven't liked him in anything else since then - including this sequel. So, I guess his performance was a fluke. I didn't love this movie either. About an hour in, I realized I wasn't really following the plot. They are trapped at a children's camp during a snow storm - he starts getting the calls and his sister starts having the dreams, but there's nothing much else to it. They realize that it all started there and that their mother was involved. But I didn't really need the lore - sometimes it's better not knowing stuff! The whole sequel just feels like a cash grab, and there's nothing scary or creepy at all. I don't really have anything else to say. I do think it's interesting that some people pointed out The Grabber's mask looks like Epstein! I never noticed it, but it's true. I think Derrickson said it was unintentional, but it's funny nonetheless! Anyway, this was sort of meh. *shrugs shoulders*
2. Code 3 - Okay, so I sort of have mixed feelings about this movie. I think there are certain expectations for an action/comedy starring known funny men like Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery, and Rob Riggle. And those expectations are for a COMEDY. Even if it's a dumb, cheesy comedy. This is NONE of those things - while it can be considered a dark comedy, it's mostly an existential drama. And, unfortunately, it was not what I was in the mood to watch so I think it clouded my judgement of it. The story is about this burned out paramedic who is training a new paramedic on the daily horrors of being a paramedic. It's DARK - I mean, people die horrible, tragic deaths and the dialogue is basically like "everyone dies and life is miserable". There are some funny moments, sure, like the scene with the subway scenario when he calls him racist (it genuinely looked like Rainn was laughing in the scene). But overall, this is not a funny movie. I also think they oversell the under-appreciated paramedic trope. Paramedics make WAY more than 43k a year, especially in California (the low end is still 80k. Yes, I looked it up because it seemed ridiculously low and not realistic). And I think a lot of people appreciate Paramedics! They are every day heroes! But, I think it dives deep into the psychological trauma of experiencing other peoples tragedies every single day and sometimes not even knowing the outcome. I like a lot about this movie - the breaking the 4th wall way that Rainn talks to the audience gives it a little edge. I definitely recommend this movie - just not if you are in the mood to watch a dumb comedy.
3. Predator: Badlands - So, I might have accidentally prematurely deleted my notes for this or maybe I didn't take any? Not sure, but I do know that I liked this quite a bit. I appreciate a new direction in this long-running franchise because it actually feels fresh. I really liked
Prey as well because it also goes in a different direction. I think that's the only way to move forward with a franchise, and some people (mostly nerdy white boys) will have something negative to say about that, but I think we need to stop giving that type of negativity any attention at all. Genuine criticism is always welcomed and necessary (both good and bad), but to just hate on something because it wasn't made for you specifically is just a waste of energy. Anyway, the absolute highlight is the ever adorable Elle Fanning. I just ADORE her. I had avoided all trailers and spoilers for this so I was SHOCKED by her character reveal. And that she does double-duty by playing twins. She's fantastic. I like that we get to know this new predator, Dek, and that he has deep daddy issues that sets off the plot of the film. I think it's interesting to get to know the "enemy" because we're all just trying to survive. There are some cool shots, and overall, I think it was fun!
4. Ella McCay - Wow. I read some of the negativity, but I think a lot of it was about the stupid looking poster (which I still don't understand the hoopla), so I was expecting something a bit cheesy and maybe a little too endearing etc., I was not expecting something this awful. Like ONE STAR awful. With a cast like this, that's just unacceptable! Directed by James L. Brooks?? Why is it so bad? I think a lot of it just comes down to it being a bad script. There's no cohesive story here - it's about this woman who is about to be the governor, but all the men around her are terrible. Her dad is a womanizer (and apparently seduced her friend? It was a throwaway line, but I was like "WHAT?" Can we get some clarity on that?), her brother is a shut-in, and her husband - who is a nice guy up until he *very* suddenly is not - takes advantage of her political position. I think the story is supposed to be about this woman navigating all of this, but it's just all over the place. One scene she's dealing with a blackmail situation and the next scene her dad is confronting her at a bar. It's so
weird. And then there is a scene that's like 30 minutes long of her brother trying to ask out a girl. Why is this scene even in the movie? It has nothing to do with the main character, and we don't get to know the brother enough to care about him. And
why does her husband suddenly become such an asshole? There was no catalyst for that happening. The cast is mostly great - Emma Mackey will recover from this, hopefully. Jack Lowden (*heart eyes*), Rebecca Hall (who is barely in it), Ayo Edebiri (Good Lord, this woman needs help picking movie roles), Woody Harrelson, and Marge Simpson! (She mostly narrates, but I was like WAIT...is that Marge Simpson's voice?! And YUP!). But, I really have a hard time with Jamie Lee Curtis now. I can't pinpoint when it happened, but I used to really love her and now I really think she's one of the worst actresses currently working - she's so over-the-top. Ugh...I cringe just thinking about it. Believe the bad reviews with this one.
5. Splitsville - I thought I was going to like this by some of the reviews, and because I love Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona. But, unfortunately, I thought it was really dumb and bland. And I think it's meant to be "edgy" with this whole open relationship thing, but it's just blah. Like, there's nothing edgy about this at all. And, I'm sorry, but there is no way in the world that these two men can get women like Dakota and Adria. My brain was instantly like, why the fuck would these two hot women be with these old boring-looking men, but I looked it up and apparently these men are YOUNGER THAN ME?! I thought, for sure, they were in their 50s. But also, I realized they wrote the film, and one of them directed it, so OF COURSE they are going to hire women who are too hot for them (LOL. I would do the same! If I wrote & directed a film that I was also going to star in, I would totally hire Taron Egerton to be my husband.). Anyway, I wanted a bit more - either make it funnier, more romantic, or even wackier, but it's just all sort of boring. It's just a deeply uninteresting story about two mediocre rich white men - and I'm so over it. The women barely have a story - just used for sex plots. Adria gets a montage of dating a bunch of men (either to show the time that has past or that she's a slut - I'm honestly not sure which...). And then all of these men hang out with each other??? What? It doesn't even make any sense or have any sense of realism. I just really hated the whole thing and rolled my eyes A LOT.
