Y2K

Grade: B

SNL alumni Kyle Mooney's directorial takes place on New Year's Eve 1999. In this alternate reality, Y2K wasn't fixed in time and electronical devices start attacking and killing people. The movie follows unpopular teen Eli (played by It's Jaeden Martell) as he tries to survive the night. 

The movie is fairly funny, has some surprisingly well-written character progression with a couple supporting characters, and a couple of moments that really take you by surprise. This was clearly made on the cheap, but the mostly practical electronics effects look good.

The first half is really well-paced and moves quickly. However, the plot slows down for the second half, and a few of the dialogue exchanges really feel like they could've been cut down and cause you to lose your enthusiasm a little.

Eli's goal of landing the popular girl is a pretty basic high school comedy storyline that we've all seen before. I honestly wished they'd gone with another scenario for this premise. 

The best performances in this are the supporting players. Mooney plays a druggie DVD rental clerk, and he's good with making fun of laid back 2000's-personalities. Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison as Eli's best friend brings the same loud personality he's known for being good at. Yeah, it's nothing new, but he still has one of the best scenes in the movie. The actors who took me most by surprise are Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's Lachlan Watson and Tales from the Loop's Daniel Zolghadri as a couple of rap enthusiasts with differing philosophies (mainstream vs. non-commercial). 

Not particularly recommended one way or another. Some will have genuine fun while others may be bored with the second half or Mooney's over-reliance on references to the 2000's rap/rock scene.

Family Guy: Gift of the White Guy

Grade: B-

In this Christmas Family Guy special on Hulu, Peter Griffin (voiced by show creator Seth McFarlane) has to find a gift for his company’s white elephant gift exchange, and Stewie (also McFarlane) tries to turn over a new leaf, so he can stay off the naughty list.

Just like the Halloween special, this appears to be a regular episode that was arbitrarily called a special and put on streaming. 

This is a somewhat stronger entry than the last one.The Brian (again McFarlane)/Stewie b-plot was stronger and more unexpected than they usually are. There are a couple truly funny moments. Also, Peter’s logical-minded boss Preston Lloyd (The Orville’s Peter Macon) is in this, and he is always fun. (It has occurred to me that he is Peter’s fifth boss, man, Peter has gone through a lot of them).

However, this does have another worn out Peter/Lois (MadTV/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Alex Borstein) storyline where it does not really focus on their relationship, but it still feels toxic and worn out. 

Also, this wholesale recycles a subject for a joke from an earlier Christmas episode and not as well.

Recommended if you are a fan of the show that still watches, but not a standout or entry point.

Hot Frosty

Grade: B-

In this new Netflix Hallmark-esque romcom, a snow sculpture named Jack (played by Schitt’s Creek’s Dustin Milligan) is brought to life by a magic scarf and falls in love with the widowed Kathy (Mean Girls’ Lacey Chabert).

This movie has garnered itself a bit of attention with its basic premise of what if Frosty the Snowman was hot (and heterosexual and bi ladies and gay and bi men, the advertising is not false; you briefly see Milligan shirtless, and he does not skip gym day). Writer Russell Hainline (who has 3 different Xmas romcoms made from his scripts this year; good for him) runs with this silly idea with a decent script by the standards of these of these films.

The romance is standard, but the script is having more fun than you would expect. Honestly, Jack’s interactions with the local townsfolk are more entertaining than his courtship of Katie. 

There is more comedy than expected with one joke that made me chuckle a little. They hired a couple of comedy veterans to play the comic relief: The Office’s Craig Robinson and Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Joe Lo Truglio as the town’s ego-driven sheriff and simple-minded deputy, respectively. They really are the most entertaining part as they do the most with their characters and have the best delivery.

Milligan was prime casting: a handsome guy who knows how to do comic delivery. Chabert, however, is just okay, doing a basic performance.

Kinda recommended, if you don’t like Hallmark-style films at all, this will not do much to change that, but I do feel it is stronger faire for what it is, and effort was put into the setting and humor.

Only Murders in the Building- Season 4

Grade: A

NOTE: There are no spoilers for this season, but this will include a significant spoiler from season 3 if you haven't seen it yet.

In season 4 of this popular Hulu show, true crime podcasters Charles-Haden Savage (played by Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) try to solve the murder of Charles' long-time stuntman and friend Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch). Meanwhile, a movie is being made of their first podcast.

This feels like a real step up from season 3, and that season was perfectly good. The various storylines and people the gang meet make for a diverting time, with the story taking you to some surprising places you might not expect. The writers are firing on all cylinders in terms of both story and jokes (episode seven is hands down the best one) and the show's focus on how people often don't really know other people may be at its strongest and most effective here.

I think most of us are sad to see Sazz die as she was a fun character who had been around since the beginning, but it was an effective move to kill her off. Though, she could get on Charles' nerves, you could tell she was his oldest, closest, and most loyal friend. A good portion of this is Charles dealing with the sorrow and anger of his friend's demise in his own difficulty-expressing-himself-way. (Martin does some of his best work with the character here). The season also allows us to really see (through flashbacks) into Sazz and her life more than the show ever did with her before. (I honestly feel this is the best performance I've ever seen Lynch do).

This season also involves the trio being portrayed in the movie and shadowed by Eugene Levy, Zach Galifiankis, and Eva Longoria. Having them interact with the leads is a lot of fun, and Galifiankis, who has an eccentric combativeness toward Oliver, and Eva, who is basically playing a parody of out-of-touch celebrities, are the real highlights.

Highly recommended. Honestly, this might be the second best season.

Monster High- Season 2

8/10

Continues to follow the exploits of Clawdeen Wolf (voiced by Gabrielle Nevaeh), Frankie Stein (the West Side Story remake's Iris Menas), Draculaura (Courtney Lin) and the other monsters at Monster High. Also, Clawdeen has to deal with being the new Were Ruler.

MH continues to do a solid job of being both entertaining and teaching kids lessons. I also admire this as one of the more progressive shows out there. Characters are still fun, and they do a surprisingly decent job of giving a large cast (due to this being made to sell all the toys) distinct personalities (mostly, I don't think the writers really decided on how to write the ghost Spectra (Valeria Rodriguez)). 

Ongoing plot isn't as strong as the last season, which was kind of impressive in that it had more going on than you'd expect, however the storyline ain't half bad.

Animation is still nice: colorful with distinct character and building design. For a computer animated show, they manage to include more background characters than some others do; really makes Monster High feel populated.

Recommended for kids. Doesn't have strong grown-up crossover (though, I think many will appreciate how modern some of the lessons are). I think kids, particularly the main demographic of young girls, will like this.

English Teacher- Season 1

7.5/10

In this new comedy on FX, gay English teacher Evan Marquez (played by Brian Jordan Alvarez) has to deal with the trials and tribulations of teaching high school in the modern era. 

This is naturally going to get comparisons to Abbott Elementary, but I would say this differs in that, besides being about a high school instead of an elementary one, in that it's more cynical and perhaps a bit more adult in its humor (although I wouldn't say it's too cynical or mature, mature.) This is a fairly good satire of American education and has fun poking at both the liberal and conservative sides of matters. Also, I love the students' often disinterested or overreactions to Evan's adult sensibilities and passions. (You see less of them in the last few episodes that focus more on Evan, and I hope they'll correct this if there is a second season.)

I'd say the show's one major down point is its focus on Evan's life. Honestly, he's kind of a selfish guy and sorta a wreck. (This is another thing I hope could be corrected in another season.) Also, episode 6 felt a bit broad when compared to the other episodes.

Fine cast in this. Just Shoot Me/Veronica Mars/Flashpoint's Enrico Colantoni plays Principal Grant Moretti. He's always good, but I think this might be his best performance here. He plays the often pragmatic-type of principal, who is trying to survive until retirement, and he probably gives the funniest performance in this. Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge, the school's center-conservative coach and Evan's friend, is also a lot of fun. Guy nails his delivery and may be the most likable character in this.

Recommended. Despite my grumblings about the main character, this is still a smart comedy.

Family Guy: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater

6.5/10

In this Hulu exclusive special, Peter Griffin (voiced by show creator Seth McFarlane) and friends try to help Joe Swanson (Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton) win a in a pumpkin competition against his rival Patrick McCloskey (Glenn Powell). Meanwhile, Stewie Griffin (also Seth McFarlane) decides to bring his teddy bear Rupert to life with unforeseen consequences.

Yeah, this was clearly a regular Halloween episode that the executives decided to dub a special. There is nothing notable about it, and there was no attempt to give it anything of a kick to it involving the holiday (unlike that hour-long Christmas special they did a while back that intentionally had that extra oomph.) 

The stories themselves are just kinda there. However, this is fairly funny with decent jokes in it. 

Yeah, anyone could've voiced Powell's character, but he is good at doing a cocky guy. Also, I liked McCloskey's over-the-top douchey pumpkin-themed attire. Some people may be annoyed that Rupert isn't voiced by the usual guy who occasionally does Rupert in Stewie's imagination. I won't spoil who does it, but it made me think "Huh? That was a surprise choice."

Kinda recommended. It's nothing outstanding, but it has its moments and makes for an alright episode of Family Guy.

Haunted Wedding

6/10

In this recent Hallmark Halloween entry, ghost hunters Jane (played by Pretty Little Liars' Janel Parrish), the more science-focused one, and Brian (Shadowhunters' Dominic Sherwood), the more spiritual-focused one, are getting married at a hotel. At said hotel, they encounter Angelique (Cassandra Potenza), a ghost pining over her one true love tragically separated by fate. Jane and Brian decide to help reunite them.

This is a Hallmark movie and fine for what it is. They're simple comfort food and not trying to be high art, and this is exactly what these movies' audience want them to be. The plot isn't complex, but it doesn't quite feel like it's coasting. There are some decent jokes and lines in this, and the writers felt like they took their job seriously. (I mean by Hallmark standards. I kinda love the fact that once the ghost hunters find true evidence of the paranormal for the first time, they don't try studying it at all. Absolutely, no use of scientific equipment or recording anything. They just immediately decide to help Angelique 'cuz the power of love.) Overall, the dialogue, acting, and script all have a good-natured feel to it.

Best performance is definitely Parrish whose Jane is fairly driven and empathetic. Sherwood brings a sort of likeable quasi-dorkiness to the role. Though, a lot of this movie is Angelique being ticked off or feeling sorry for herself (I also kinda like the fact that Angelique is just kinda peeved at the couple most of the time, even though they're trying to help her), Potenza makes it work. No one's trying to win an Oscar in these movies, but I felt that Lauren Cochrane as Jane's best friend was sorta stale.

Recommended if you like Hallmark movies. It's an alright way to spend time where you know you're watching something safe that won't mess with your expectations or require a lot of involvement. Most of the people behind this felt like they were game. I checked and, surprisingly, Hallmark hasn't done that many ghost movies, and a human-human, ghost-ghost romance is something new for them.

Simpsons: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

5/10

In this Simpsons Disney+ short, Sideshow Bob (voiced by Frasier's Kelsey Grammer), sings along with the Disney villains in a Halloween parody of the Christmas song The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

This is a bit of a nothing burger. Running at two or three minutes, MWTotY is over before it has begun. This also feels like a paler imitation of the last Simpsons/Disney villains special. There are a couple decent jokes, and Grammer and Bart Simpson voice Nancy Cartwright are definitely game with their delivery, but most of the material is just there, not particularly good or bad. Also, if you were looking forward to Bob singing again, I'm afraid that 69-year-old Grammer's voice just isn't as strong as it used to be.

Not particularly recommended or not. Given its short length it is no biggie if you watch it, even if you don't end up liking it.

Velma: This Halloween Needs to be More Special!

7.5/10

(NOTE: No spoilers for the special itself, but this will give away part of the ending of the last season if you haven't seen it yet.)

In this special and what appears to be end of the Velma show (one of the background artists stated online that it is ending, but no official announcement has been given yet), Velma (voiced by Mindy Kaling) is now a ghost, and her friends try to cast a spell that will bring her back to life.

Yeah, the show still tries a little too hard with the topical and social humor, but I found this to be fairly funny. I laughed out loud twice. The writers stick to what has been working: wacky characters and just going nuts. There's a lot of stuff going on, and the special doesn't get boring.

Cast remains strong. Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Glenn Howerton still excels as man-child Fred where he always adds that extra bit of exaggeration to the character. Prolific voice actor and original voice of Fred Frank Welker has also really found his place as Fred's father. When the show first started, the character wasn't working for me, but once you got to see his sillier, more human guy, there's just something about Welker that works as the eccentric straight man.

If the show is leaving, it's going out with a bang. The fluidity of animation remains strong, and I'm impressed with the amount of action the animators are able to squeeze into this.

Recommended. I know a lot of people hate this with the passion of a thousand suns. but I'll miss this show. It was so creatively bizarre. This special was a nice ending point that entertains and does encapsulate the good points of Velma.

Sunny- Season 1

8/10

In this new Apple TV+ show, Suzie (played by Parks and Recreation/Angie Tribeca's Rashida Jones), an American living in a future Japan where robot technology has advanced, is grieving the death of her husband Masa (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and her son in a plane crash. A coworker of Masa gifts her a robot named Sunny (voiced by Joanna Sotomura) that he created, which is a surprise to Suzie since she didn't know Masa worked in that field. Sunny turns out to be different than other robots with a stronger personality and more independence. Soon, Suzie and Sonny begin an investigation into the robot's creation, Masa's past, and his death.

This is a very unique work (not surprising that this produced from indie studio A24). It's a quirky combination of comedy, thriller, and science fiction. It's also a look at grief and loneliness. It isn't a show where everything is predictable. 

Sunny has a wide of array of varied and well-defined characters. Jones gives what may be her best performance as Suzie and really sells her depression and grief. Judy Ongg stands out as Suzie's mother-in-law Noriko, who contrasts with her daughter-in-law by dealing with her loss by keeping busy instead of being angry.

As for the Sunny the robot, Sotomura makes the character instantly personable with an upbeat voice, but her switch to anger feels just as natural. Sotomura just has this punch to her. The design for Sunny is rather different than your usual TV/movie robots. She has this cute circular, minimalist look to her with a screen that provides her facial expressions.

Visually, the show looks nice with the use of colors. The creators seemed to have a good time with the Japanese sets and locations. There is a lot of Japanese culture in this, naturally since this takes place in the country, which serves as world-view for the unfamiliar. (I mean, I hope it's accurate. White American here. If this show is inaccurate or is a thin example of Japan, I apologize.) 

Some may find Suzie's personality to be a bit standoffish, but I feel it works as part of her character and journey. The squeamish should understand that this is one of those shows where there isn't much violence, but when there is the show doesn't hold back.

Highly recommended. If you're looking for something new and engaging, check this out. 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

8.5/10

In this sequel to Beetlejuice, and now grown up Lydia Deetz (played by Winona Ryder) must make a deal with the chaotic demon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) when her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) get stuck in the afterlife.

The Beetlejuice sequel has been gestating for a long, long time, since the 90's in fact. Winona Ryder even had a clause in her Stranger Things contract that gave her time off to do a Beetlejuice sequel if it ever came to fruition. Well, they finally did it. They made another Beetlejuice with director Tim Burton returning, and honestly this is the most inspired he's been in a long, long time. He's been cautious about doing sequels, the only reason he did Batman Returns is because they wouldn't take "no" and offered him complete creative control, but he never gave up on Beetlejuice. The reason he never faltered and regained his mojo is the same reason Big Eyes is one of his stronger latter entries, he has a genuine passion for the subject material.

This movie is nuts in a good way. So much creativity went into this with so many fun ideas and macabre humor thrown at us. It manages to do something different, which is what made the first film so popular. The third act is definitely something and the funniest part.

We get to see a lot more of the afterlife here, and it's a wild impressive-looking ride. For this, Burton tried to use as much practical effects as he could, and it really helped. If you missed the eighties/nineties era of practical effects, then you'll like this. It just feels more real than CGI, and helps lend to the movie's kitschy feel. Actor turned ghost cop Wolf Jackson, played by Willem Dafoe, has part of his skull missing, and their is just something so distinct about the colors and makeup they did for it. It may bug some that the sandworms in this looker cleaner and have less life in them than the original.

But of course, you can't have a Beetlejuice movie without Beetlejuice, and Michael Keaton's still got it. He's like Jim Carrey in the Sonic movies, he can't due to the rapid physical humor like he could back in the day, but he's got the comic delivery down pat. Beetlejuice remains a hilariously awful being. Unsurprisingly, Catherine O'Hara, returning as Lydia's avant-garde artist stepmother Delia Deetz, is one of the major draws. The writers took some inspiration from her career reviving turn in Schitt's Creek and allowed her to be more over-the-top, which feels natural as she has just become more of her major traits as she's gotten older. Her delivery is on par with Keaton and she steals any scene she's in. 

Best newcomer is Dafoe's Wolf. Though he's a real cop now, he can't help playing it like a TV actor and hamming it up. He's an unexpected character when compared to everyone else and the tone of the afterlife, but he somehow works. Torchwood/Pacific Rim's Burn Gorman is also fun as a priest who speaks in a verbose, old-school pastoral manner.

Though this is one of those surprisingly strong follow-ups made decades after original, it isn't quite at the same level as the original. (Let's be honest; a lot of Tim Burton scripts are imperfect.) First off, Beetlejuice is pining for Lydia, who he met as a FIFTEEN-YEAR OLD! And no one in the production process shot this down?! You would especially think they'd avoid something like this due to Jeffrey Jones not coming back due to his child pornography charges.  

This doesn't have quite the heart of the original and seems to revel more in being meaner. I do miss the Maitlands, the ghost couple from the first film. They were the actual main characters, and in my opinion as important to the movie as Beetlejuice was, and their normalcy and being generally nice people is what served as the backbone of the plot. The ending in particular feels less solid and more cynical. There are attempts to add an emotional element to the film, but they feel half-baked. Astrid's discord with her mother doesn't feel natural enough.

Going back to the "being meaner" part: The writers follow the recent trend for a lot of franchises saying "we need to kill more people and go for a harsher turn". (Be prepared that this is noticeably more violent than the original). If I want to watch a new blockbuster franchise film, I want to have fun, not have it be a bit of a bummer.

I felt Ortega’s talents were wasted here. She had a couple good reaction moments, but Ortega was given a basic character without much to do. The character of Rory (Justin Theroux), Lydia's manipulative boyfriend and producer is completely unnecessary. Theroux plays the role well, and he has a couple nice bits, but he doesn't add much to the plot, and you don't quite understand why Lydia puts up with him, because it feels inconsistent with the rest of her behavior.

Recommended. It's not 100% the original, but it doesn't miss by much. There are valid criticisms with the film, but I feel the spectacle, humor, and whole of it all is massively entertaining.

Total Drama Island (2024)- Season 1

8.5/10

The reboot of the long running Canadian cartoon franchise sticks to the original concept: a bunch of teenagers compete on an island (northwestern, not tropical) for a million dollars.

I'm pleased to say that this really retains the original feel of the show. You've got a cast of distinct, likable, and funny characters. I particularly like the plucky Priya (voiced by Homeschooled's Farzanah Haqq). She was raised by her parents for her entire life to compete on this show. They could've portrayed her as being hardcore or completely lacking social skills, but I liked that they wrote her as positive and nice, and you can't help but root for her.

Dialogue is fun and the writers come up with a lot of crazy, over-the-top situations and challenges for the campers. Also, the show still has its gross humor, which I wasn't fond of, but a lot of kids will probably love.

It may bug some how over-the-top straight up dangerous and deadly a lot of the challenges the show's host Chris McLean (Terry McGurrin, the current voice of Snoopy) comes up with. They've really flanderized the guy with his sociopathic desire for ratings and causing suffering for his own amusement. The challenges feel kinda crazy when compared to earlier seasons and all credulity about how this show is even allowed to continue is thrown out the window. However, it's a kids show, and realism probably isn't a priority. 

Also, almost every episode seems to involve the island's animals. The characters being attacked by random critters loses its impact after a while.

Highly recommended. This is one of those shows that has elements that appeal to both younger and older audiences.

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

5.5/10

In this new Netflix film based on the SpongeBob SquarePants show, all of the ocean town of Bikini Bottom is stolen by mysterious forces from above. It is up to Sandy Cheeks (voiced by Carolyn Lawrence), the squirrel scientist who lives underwater in diving equipment, and SpongeBob (Tom Kenny), the constantly optimistic fry cook, to save the town and their friends.

I give this movie points for having a more original plot than the last film, which had too many similarities to the first one, and I give the creators credit for creative randomness and just trying to have fun. But the jokes are really hit and miss. The plot ideas in here are all just okay; nothing that is particularly strong. 

I do admire for them giving the focus to Sandy, who to be honest doesn't get as much spotlight as some of the other characters (at least back when I saw the show, it's been a while). Heck, she's had so little to do in the last three films. I fear that the show's writers didn't have as much fun writing for her as the other main characters, but here they do manage to pull off the character being the center of your attention. There are many weak points, but Sandy is not one. She's always been the most adventurous of the characters and works well as someone facing a lot of physical obstacles. Also, her camaraderie with SpongeBob is so natural. The sponge himself also remains on point in his writing and his lovable personality. 

The animation like the jokes and story is hit-and-miss. Main characters and main props look good, but ancillary characters and parts of background don't feel as smooth. I do give the animators credit for doing such a good job translating the colorful 2D world of SpongeBob to 3D. Also, the slapstick and general motion animation are really smooth; the animators and storyboard artists really put their all into this..

Not strongly recommended or not. This is one of the weaker SB films, which is too bad, because it is clear that the directors and writers cared and were trying. If you're an adult SP fan, this like a lot of the later material just isn't the franchise at its finest, however kids probably won't have a problem with this, and it's an easy film to sit through.

No Time to Spy: A Loud House Movie

7/10

In the second animated film based on the Nickelodeon cartoon show (whereas the first was on Netflix, this is on Paramount+), the Loud House family go to a tropical getaway for the wedding of their grandfather Pop-Pop/Albert (voiced by Piotr Michael, who performs a lot of sketch characters on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) to ex-secret agent Gran-Gran/Myrtle (voice actor Alex Cazares, replacing Jennifer Coolidge in the role). While they're there, Loud son Lincoln (Bentley Griffin) and Myrtle run into the forces of her old enemy Dr. Dufus (The Fantastic Beast movies' Dan Fogler).

This is definitely a stronger effort that the last LH movie, which felt rather basic and like the creators were struggling to come up with an idea to last an entire film, and feels slightly stronger than the film of the LH's spin-off The Casagrandes. The plot, while nothing stellar is a decently structured effort with the emotional message at the ending of the film being the one element that really stands out. The humor ain't too shabby with the jokes coming fast-and-loose; one joke that may not work for you is quickly being replaced by one that may. The funniest part is definitely the strangely good-natured henchman who always seem to have the best lines. Also, the comical action scenes aren't too shabby.

The biggest flaw is that Lincoln's constant need to go on a spy mission with Myrtle, despite everyone trying to focus on the wedding, does feel a little too selfish and poorly thought out for the character.

Also, like the last film, Lincoln is the main lead. The whole family is there, but none of them are given a specific spotlight. One'd think they'd go for a change of pace and give one of the many Loud sisters a bite of the main plot. Also if you're a fan of Lincoln's best friend Clyde (Jaeden White), he again is relegated to basically a cameo, which admittedly makes sense given the large cast and the change in settings in order for the movies to feel like something different.

The simplistic, but distinctive character design is interesting. The look of Fifi (Strangers with Candy's Amy Sedaris), a comic relief tourist, is especially eye-catching with her noodle-thin body, long pointed noise, and wavy hair. It's hard to compare her look to anything. As is the case with the show, the color palette is a little too muted for my taste.

Either a good or bad thing depending on your opinion, this isn't a musical like the last film.

If you're a parent who's very conservative about the violence you're children see, there is a a moment where a female character is struck surprisingly hard. I mean nothing PG-13 or anything, but you just usually see a children's show like this go so hard.

Recommended. The movie won't differentiate itself from the average made-for-TV/streaming children's film, but makes for an entertaining affair that I think will please the fans.

Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation

7.5/10

In this Disney Channel/Disney+ movie, the Greens, a family of farmers living in the big city, end up going to space in order to farm space crops for rich scientist Gwendolyn Zapp (voiced by SNL's Cheri Oteri).

The first half or so, admittedly, does feel a little like a stretched out version of the show. Usually, an episode has a traditional someone-learns-a-lesson-after-letting-things-go-a-little-nuts structure which takes up fifteen minutes. Here, we have the same blueprints trying to be applied across a full hour and twenty-two minutes. However, things really pick up in the second half when the conflict kicks into motion. The outer space and sci-fi technology setting really make for a good physical threat for the Greens, plus it is something that elevates this as a movie and something a little different from the show. 

The movie includes the show's trademark humor: the sometimes silly and sometimes clever kind that works for adults and kids. (This show doesn't get enough credit for being arguably the best written children's comedy currently on.) There are even a few delightfully dark bits.     

This is yet another episode where Green son Cricket (voiced by show co-creator Chris Houghton), ends up causing chaos when he purses something he's told not too. Usually, the formula works because his scampishness doesn't usually cross the line too much. Here however, he goes too far and feels a little too selfish. This is used to make a point in order to create a more emotional storyline than usual, but I don't feel the movie properly condemn him for his behavior. 

Houghton does still excel at Cricket's high energy and confidence, and Marieve Herington still excels with her unique salt-of-the-Earth accent as empathetic but odd Green daughter Tilly. We get a newcomer in Hamilton/Girls5eva's Renee Elise Godlsberry, who is clearly having fun with a commanding voice as stickler-for-the-rules space captain Colleen Voyd (one wishes she had more time in this).

If you've been watching the show and have been disappointed that Zapp hasn't been in any recent episodes, you'll be pleased with her presence here. (Though some may be disappointed that the movie doesn't include the show's main baddie Chip Whistler, but I give the creators credit for going with what chaacters fit the story.) Zapp is a nutty lady whose priorities are much different than others. I feel a little bad that Oteri's career after SNL kinda plummeted, because between her delightfully wacky vocal inflections matched with the character's goofiness and unpredictableness, Zapp makes for the most entertaining person in the film. 

The movie focuses on the main characters, which is a good call when you're trying to write a tight script and don't want to focus on too many of them. However, that means popular recurring faces don't appear or are given very little to do. 

I wouldn't say the songs in this are the greatest ever, but there are some solid ones. I've relistened to them several times.

The animation is like that of the show but a little better. The color seems to be a little brighter and there appears to be a greater frame rate to the characters' movements. The action scenes are pretty fluid for a made-for-television budget.

Recommended. I wouldn't say the movie is as good as some of the show's best episodes, but it definitely is a fun time and your kids will probably like it.

South Park: The End of Obesity

7/10

In the most recent South Park special, Cartman (voiced by show co-creator Trey Parker) wants to lose weight with Ozempic, but has to struggle with the American healthcare system when his insurance won't cover it.

The highlight of this are the really pointed jabs at the health insurance industry. The creators savagely rip apart how broken it is. (There is one bit addressing how healthcare works that is the highlight of EoO).

When it comes to the other topics: Ozempic, and the show's satire of how rich people are using it to lose weight while it's originally intended for diabetes, the sugar industry, and the topic of body image, the messaging is a little more mixed. This is one of those South Park entries where Parker and other showrunner Matt Stone try to address concept issues by being a little complex, and it's harder to understand their exact meaning. Not to say that this subject matter doesn't mine some decent jokes.

Lightly recommended. Can't say this is South Park's best, but it's a fine time. Plus, it's worth it for that one bit I mentioned.

May the 12th be with you

5/10

This is yet another Simpsons Disney-synergy special. In it, Marge Simpson (voiced by Julie Kravner) takes several Disney characters to the world of Star Wars in order to celebrate Mother's Day.

Yeah, this might be the weakest Simpsons Disney special yet. It's just a bunch of forced-in Disney cameos without much plot and only three jokes that work. To the show's credit, this does conclude better than some of the specials.

Not recommended. You'r not missing anything.

Unfrosted

7/10

Jerry Seinfeld is an interesting guy, after having one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, he's been limited in his output. The only major projects he's spearheaded afterwards are Comedians in Cars with Coffee and the animated children's film Bee Movie. And now he's co-written and directed a really fictional Netflix comedy account of Kellog's creation of the Pop-Tart and its competition with Post.

This is a throwback to films like Naked Gun or Airplane, movies that are just completely silly, wacky, and gag/schtick heavy. (The co-writers were the same guys who worked on Bee Movie, which may give a hint at the tone of this.) The film is the writers throwing a bunch of stuff at you. Not every bit or line is a winner (Seinfeld's got an interesting style of rapid-fire dialogue that may not work for everyone), but something that works will quickly come along afterward. If you're a fan of 60's nostalgia, Unfrosted is filled to the brim with humorous depictions of famous figures.

The movie is  a who's who of well known or at least experienced actors, usually comedic. Unfrosted is one of those works where you might want to tune in just to see who'll pop up next. Seinfeld and Melissa McCarthy, as the one's overseeing the creation of the Pop-Tart, and Jim Gaffigan as company owner Edsel Kellog III make for a solid trio that work well alongside each other. Unfortunately, there are way too many good performances to list in this. I think we have time to mention Hugh Grant, who's been doing more and more comical performances, but this is appears to be his first pure comedy that isn't also a hybrid film. Here he plays a thespian actor who also plays the Tony the Tiger mascot (seeing Grant in the costume alone is a delight).  Though admittedly he already played a full-of-himself actor in Paddington 2, I found this performance to be just different enough. He plays himself more faux serious and less pomp here. Grant is doing the most ridiculous stuff he's ever done in his career, and the famous actor is completely game for anything. 

A lot of credit should be given to the look of the film. It's very colorful, again evoking 60's nostalgia.

Recommended. I'm not saying this is the funniest movie of all time, but if you want something light that you want to turn your brain off for, then this may be for you.

Spy X Family Code: White

 

7/10

(Full disclosure: I did fall asleep for a small part of the film. I wasn't bored, I'd up my guanfacine dosage for my ADHD and was very tired.)

In this the first film for the anime Spy X Family, spy Loid Forger and his family head up to the northern country of Frigis in order to help adopted daughter Yor find the recipe for a dessert she intends to enter into a baking contest. On the way there, Yor accidentally gets herself involved in a secret military plot. 

This isn't one of those anime movies spun from a show, like the action ones, where you can coast and not worry too much about not seeing the original. Don't get me wrong, the movie does give newcomers a refresher on the basic plot, but the whole world and additional characters felt like a little too much for me (not enough detail). I think the biggest issue is that this is an imaginary, Cold War-esque world with its own helping heap of political backstory and international policy. (I do appreciate the world-building.)

But if you're already a fan of the show, I feel like this may be up your alley. I'm surmising that a main draw of this is the humorous situation the characters get into and the core characters themselves (this really feels a like a character piece for the family). That having been said, I as a newcomer did feel like a lot of the scenes of the family just hanging out went on too long.

There is action, but it mostly isn't till the end. Still, when it happens, the fight scenes are well handled enough. Also, the villain in this isn't too shabby. Since a lack of filler stories for ongoing anime stories can feel basic or lackluster, this guy at least had a bit of a personality to him. His design ain't too shabby, either.

This is one of those show-to-movie adaptations where basically it's television animation that looks a little better. This isn't a huge budget, but I'm not knocking it. The animators were clearly putting in the effort, and I particularly liked the amount of detail in the backgrounds.

Kinda recommended. I think the fans will be pleased, but this would probably be more of a 6/10 for newbies in a story that feels just okay without context.