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.

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. 

The Irrational- Season 1

6.5/10

In this new NBC show based on the nonfiction book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely, behavioral psychology professor Alec Mercer (played by Law & Order/The Flash's Jesse L. Martin) uses his knowledge of irrational behavior to help the authorities solve crime.

This starts off weak. The first couple episodes or so have some troubled dialogue. The last line of the first episode feels like a parody of network television mysteries. The writers do find their voice but even then it is still an average show of its type in regards to writing and characterization.

The best part is the info dumps about human behavior. They're interesting (and the only well written section of the first episode is the introduction to the irrationality of man). The individual stories aren't too shabby and the show is pretty flexible in the cases Mercer takes on, they're not all murder mysteries. There is an overarching storyline about a tragedy in Alec's past. It doesn't break the network television storyline mode, but it is a competently told and decently paced narrative with a respectable resolution. 

Martin's trademark smooth attitude works for making Mercer feel authoritative. However, this is one of Martin's weaker roles. Mercer as a character is low-key and does not give the actor the opportunity to bring the charisma he has been known. Mercer also has a burn scar on his cheek and the makeup doesn't look great.

Kinda recommended. It's your basic network fare but makes for decent time-wasting, and I do like the look at how irrational people are.

Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, too!

 

7/10

In this made-for-streaming/DVD movie, the Mystery Inc. gang is called in to investigate the disappearance of the Justice League and search the Hall of Justice which is haunted by a phantom. There they team up with Superman's famed pet Krypto.

This film had an interesting history. Images of it leaked a while back but no official confirmation of its existence was given by the WB. The last released SD movie Trick or Treat had a difference in tone and animation style from the other SD made-for-DVD movies released since 2009. Krypto, too! has the original character designs which makes one hypothesize that it was created first. (They produced two of these films a year for a while.)  When it comes to David Zaslav and WB Discovery's controversial cuts since the studios' regime change, Batgirl has got all the publicity for being the completed title that got shelved and never shown, however it looks like SD got hit the hardest. The Scoob prequel was shelved as well as the incomplete pre-school show being made. Another in-production SD made-for-DVD movie was canceled as well. (It would've brought the Hex Girls back and had songs. 'Tis a shame.) It's reasonable to assume that this movie had also been shelved (though there's no official info.) However, an interesting thing happened. The full film was leaked online. It was quickly pulled but not much later its release was announced. Perhaps the leak produced enough views to entice the studio to change their minds.

This is likely the last of the SD made-for-DVD movies for a while based on recent trends. (These have been going on since '98. I fear that ending this universal cornerstone along with Hasbro ending the long running Power Rangers series in the form as we know it may be the harbinger of the unraveling of reality and some dark, looming event. Or it can simply be the fate of media in a changing business environment if you want to get boring about it.) It's a good film to go out on. Wouldn't say it's one of the best in the series, but it's definitely one of the better ones. 

Definitely one of the funnier ones. Dialogue's on point. There are a few really solid self-pokes on legitimate critiques of the DC and SD. (There is one point where I thought to myself "Yes, you're completely right about that! Thank you!") Lex Luthor (voiced delightfully by Charles Halford) is a main part of the cast as he's stuck in the building with the rest of the gang and has to team up with them. He's a sarcastic, grumpy and arrogant interpretation, and he's an interestingly new type of dynamic for the team as they don't usually have a foil to work off of.

Story is also one of the more unique SD plots. The conclusion to the mystery is satisfying. We also get an entertaining group of suspects. 

Admittedly, the plot in the middle act is a bit light, but kids probably won't be as critical. There is a subplot with Jimmy Olson (prolific voice actor James Arnold Taylor) that is arguably problematic and uncalled for but doesn't pop up much.

As it's always been, the 2009-2023 animation remains colorful and smooth. (Though I still hate that they don't include whites in the characters eyes because that's what the original Scooby-Doo Where are you? did in order to be "retro.") Loved the design of the phantom. It has a cosmic/molten lava-like feel to it. Considering that they did a team-up a few years back with the "Brave and the Bold" version of Batman and other DC characters, the change in character designs might be nitpick for some who prefer continuity. But, what can you suspect with a continuity as long as SD?) 

Recommended. This is definitely a fun time for kids or adult SD/DC fans.

The Afterparty- Season 2

8/10

In season two of the Apple+ mystery/comedy, Aniq (played by Veep's Sam Richardson) and Zoe (Zoe Chao) are attending her sister's wedding at her rich fiancee's family home. The morning after the wedding groom Edgar (Silicon Valley's Zach Woods) is found murdered and bride Grace (Poppy Liu) is the main suspect. Aniq calls in Danner (Tiffany Haddish) to help solve the mystery.

Season two doesn't quite compare to the first one. The dialogue, plotting, characters, and editing aren't as sharp. Aniq, Danner, and Zoe's characters don't have quite the kick they used to. This season takes place at a fancy manor and the scenario isn't as visually interesting as that of a famous singer's modern fancy house with more emphasis on the party atmosphere.  This season looks more at the characters' past before the day of the murder, so there isn't as much of being able to compare how many people's views of the situation have differed. Plus, the finale feels a little rushed and not as strong as the last one.

But, that's all compared to the first season. Season 2 is still pretty funny. The writers are more ambitious with how each person's memory is done in a different film genre, and they go more high concept including such stuff as the cast in Jane Austen garb and talk. The mystery isn't as easy to solve as last time. Sure, they didn't make the clues too easy, but you could figure out who did it a few episodes in. Here, it takes a lot longer. All the mind movies work except for the first episode having Aniq doing another rom-com. (It suffers from Meet the Parents syndrome in that they are way, way too hard on Aniq.) Whereas Danner's solo episode last year was the weakest part, this one is quite good.

We've got great casting that's a who's who of experienced comedic actors. Most of them bring on the funny, but when it becomes time to be serious and emotional, a few of them land some excellent performances. Again, the show tends to lean into typecasting some of the actors. Once more Richard Jewel/I, Tonya/Black Bird's Paul Walter Hauser is cast as a well meaning awkward guy who isn't the smartest, Grace's ex-boyfriend Travis. But, it's PWH so of course he does a great job. Edgar is once again the socially awkward guy, but for a change of pace, this time he isn't the butt of the joke. His character is humorously odd but he's also rich and a very smart guy who's at the top of the heap (well, till the murder). Pen15's Anna Konkle as Edgar's sister is delightfully quirky and has some of the best delivery in the show, but unfortunately she isn't given that much screentime. The real MVP of this though is Big/Weeds' Elizabeth Perkins as Isabel, Edgar and Hanna's mother. She delivers a whirlwind of saltiness, waspish emotional distance, alcoholism, and possible nuttiness. 

Unfortunately, John Early isn't returning to as Detective Culp to assist Danner again. I'll miss the two characters' chemistry, but Aniq and Danner do also work well together.

Recommended. May not be exactly what one wanted as a follow-up to the first season, but it is a good time.

Nancy Drew- Season 4 (Final)

6.5/10

In this the final season of Nancy Drew, Nancy (played by Kennedy McMann) and company must deal with a new supernatural problem when a bunch of corpses are stolen from a graveyard.

I'll be honest: perhaps this is the best time for the show to end as it is definitely experiencing series fatigue. I kinda missed when the show was a combination of regular mysteries and the supernatural and now the writers feel the need to shove the supernatural into every orifice of this show's figurative body.  That having been said, I liked most of the individual episodes and their threats; solid entertainment.

However, it's the overarching stories where the show feels like it was losing steam. George (Elemental's Leah Lewis) gets a weird subplot about clerking for lawyers without going to law school yet, and Bess (Madison Jaizani) gets the worst of it in a storyline that runs completely on goofy character logic (vaguely similar to the poorly written awful rich people in the first two seasons). Nancy and Ace (Alex Saxon) have a tragic love storyline going on and it feels really obvious and is dragged out all season. Ryan Hudson (Riley Smith) on the other hand, yeah, I liked where the guy was taken this year. He's a great character but his personal life didn't have much trajectory last year and now he's given something to occupy his time. 

I will give the show this: it did a wonderful job of connecting multiple characters and plotlines naturally without feeling sloppy at all. Also given that the showrunners weren't notified that the show was canceled until only a handful of final episodes were left to shoot, the finale didn't feel messy or rushed.

They completely ditched the youth center this season, and I kinda missed it. Also, the set up they did last season where Nancy's career is going was basically thrown out the door and forgotten. The show now has it's FOURTH chief of police/primary law person in the form of Sherrif Lovett (The Astronaut Wives Club's Erin Cummings), a pointless role with poor dialogue. Also, couldn't stand the most prominent human antagonist who doesn't just have poor dialogue but truly awful ones. 

Acting's still great. Lewis, Jaizani, and Smith all still do a great job with their delivery. The writers have learned that McMann has more range and gave her more fun stuff to do.

Kinda recommended. Again, the individual stories are fun and when the show is entertaining, it's definitely entertaining. Just don't expect much from the main storylines this time around.

Velma- Season 1

6/10

In this, the first straight-up adult take on Scooby-Doo, Velma (voiced by Mindy Kaling) tries to solve both the mystery of her missing mother and who's been killing popular girls at her high school. (To dispel a lot of misinformation, Mindy isn't the showrunner on this; that's Charles Grandy. She's just a voice actor and executive producer.)

In case you haven't heard, this is getting a LOT of hate online. It has a 1.4/10 on IMDB. Won't lie, I kinda liked it. Don't get me wrong, it isn't a perfect show and most of the criticism is well warranted, however, it isn't the worst thing ever as some make it out to be. You ever liked an Adult Swim show (or equivalent) where things go too far or the characters are self-involved but you still like watching it? (I love the Venture Brothers, but let's be honest, Dr. Venture is awful and the creators do go to unhealthy places nobody wanted them to go sometimes.) That's basically what this show is.

What I'm about to say isn't that much different than whatever anyone else is saying, but it can't not be said. Velma can be hard to like. She's rude and mean, super judgmental and tends to put people in boxes, she uses her friends and love interests and takes them for granted, and any lesson she learns doesn't last long. 

The show makes a lot commentary jokes, like WAY too many parts where the characters feel like they're talking directly to the audience. There's a  lot of social commentary jokes, especially aimed at the glass ceiling and the white patriarchy. Problem is that the writers use them as a crutch. They're just repeating the same way-too-obvious points over and over again. However, I don't consider them a deal breaker like some. They can be fun at points, and I feel that having commentary jokes is still far more palpable than when writers just have the characters awkwardly speak the commentary without any nuance. (I'm not anti-woke. I just feel that some shows fumble the ball when they try to apply social issues to a genre plot.)

One last issue is that this has the sexualization of underage teen girls in this. (At least, I assume they're underage. One piece of advertising listed Velma as 15, and i assume the girls around her are the same age.)

On the other hand, there is some pretty funny stuff sprinkled throughout, and the plots for each episode are interesting. MOST importantly, the mystery itself is intriguing with many twists and turns. I honestly couldn't figure out who the villain was until the final episode.

Say what you will about this, but it has a great voice cast. Kaling, Constance Wu as Daphne, It's Always Sunny's Glenn Howerton as Fred, and Sam Richardson as Norville (they're calling Shaggy by his given name for now; yes canonically, it has always been Norville), all sell their characters.

The animation is also really well done and fluid. The show has a unique character design to it.

If you don't like animated shows that can be mean-spirited or too weird (this is definitely a hard sell for an older audience) then this definitely won't be your bag. Everyone else, I do recommend you check the first few episodes out. Many won't be interested, but many might. Again, this isn't a great show, but the plot keeps being interesting enough that I want to watch season 2.

Missing

8/10

In this sequel to the 2018 John Cho movie Searching, June (A Wrinkle Through Time's Storm Reid) uses the Internet to investigate the disappearance of her mother Grace (Nia Long) and her mother's boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung) during their vacation in Colombia. (So, basically it's a flip of the first film. Instead of a parent searching for their teen child, a teen is searching for their parent). Like the first entry, the entirety of the film is shown through social media and camera feeds.

I'm a little surprised Searching got a sequel, I thought it was pretty good, but it didn't seem to leave much of an impression on the public. I'm genuinely happy it got a sequel as Missing is as good as the first film. (Though with the lack of advertising for this and being dumped in January, I'm worried this won't get a lot of attention. Although, the attendance at my showing wasn't too shabby.) This film has more surprises and general tension than the first. I didn't know where the story was going as there are some genuinely good twists and turns. (I didn't see the trailer, but I hear it spoils things. Probably best to avoid it.) Having the disappearance happen in an entirely different country and having the main character have to deal with solving the mystery remotely, was a good way to add to the original concept. Admittedly, the movie does stretch disbelief a bit considering how much June is able to accomplish online. Also, the parent-child dynamic may feel too similar to Searching for some. Though, it's only generally similar, there are a lot of differences in the specifics.

Like the first film, visually this is very creative with the directors/screenwriters coming up with new ways to impart information. This continues the trend of online screen films like Unfriended and Searching, by being able to impart the plot or characterization without dialogue through seeing Google searches or messages being scrapped. It's a different way of filmmaking, and this style hasn't inundated the market, yet.

The phone calls in this do feel a little too clear in the audio, and the dialogue doesn't feel like your usual phone calls.

Pretty good casting in this, except for maybe Amy Landecker as a friend of Grace. She isn't a bad actress, she just feels miscast, something about the delivery. Reid was a fine choice as lead as she's able to cover all the emotions. She's no John Cho, but hey, who is.  

Highly recommended. This is a well told and engaging thriller and the equal to Searching. (When it comes to which one's better, Missing is more intricately plotted and thrilling, but Searching had John Cho, so they neutralize each other. It's simple matheChotics.)

The Pale Blue Eye

8/10

In this Netflix film and adaptation of the book by Louis Bayard, retired detective Augustus Landor (played by Christian Bale) is called upon to investigate a mysterious death at West Point. He's soon aided by a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling, best known for playing Harry Potter's cousin) who's a cadet there.

This was a well constructed film with sort of an old-fashioned Hammer Studios feel to it. Superb acting all across the board (with a surprising number of British actors playing Americans). Has a solid script and dialogue and competent mystery. Sets and shooting locations and cinematography really help build the atmosphere.

Even though this features Poe, I'm glad they were interested in making this more of a historical film than a Poe-porn movie with constant references to his future works or their dark/gothic nature. (Funny enough, this has been the second movie about the author solving murders. Remember The Raven? That was decent, but I think this was better.) The movie features a young Poe as just that, a young Poe who's an aspiring poet. He's not supposed to be at the horror stage of his life yet. I appreciate that the movie doesn't even have a scene showing how the murderous events in the film will shape his future (you know, the obvious scene of him saying "This gives me an idea for a story.")

This length might not be for everyone. Pale Blue Eye runs at a robust two hours and eight minutes. Pacing is steady but deliberate. Nothing runs too long, but there is a fair amount of setting the characters and plot points up, and some of it probably could've been cut.

As I said, the cast's great. Christian Bale, naturally, delivers a strong performance. However, it's Melling who steals the show. The guy is perfectly cast. His face kinda resembles the author and he delivers an impressive Southern accent and manages to make the already solid dialogue flow oh-so-well. It's too bad this isn't the sort of film that attracts award nominations, because I thought Melling was Oscar-worthy. I also like that Pale Blue Eye features a few faces you haven't seen in many films these days (or at least American ones.) Timothy Spall is Superintendent Thayer, the head of West Point, and I was blown away by his accent and voice. I've always seen him talk the same away. I never realized he was talented at voice work, too. You wouldn't know it was him if you just heard the audio. Also, there is one other actor or actress in this that did a great job, but I won't spoil them for you.

Recommended. This is just a well-made film.

See How They Run

7/10

In See How They Run, Inspector Stoppard (played by Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) investigate a murder in the 1950's at a theater where Agatha Christie's new play The Mousetrap is performed.

This is a decent, but not standout movie. Remember The Radioland Murders? This is a lot like that. The story is fairly entertaining and has fun playing with the conventions of an old-fashioned murder mystery and an actual famous Christie play (The Mousetrap has the record for longest run in a theater). Though the solution to the mystery isn't groundbreaking, the movie does a good job with the twists and turns.   

However,  a lot of the dialogue and humor is just okay. (I can see why Disney, which ended up with the film after the acquirement of Searchlight Pictures, has given so little advertising for this; even the Bob's Burgers Movie had more love.) I only laughed out loud once. Some of the dialogue parts feel like they run too long without much going on besides people talking. That having been said, the final act definitely brings up the energy and is the most interesting part. 

Cast is good. Though Rockwell makes for a solid detective, it's Ronan who steals the show. as she has this humor and liveliness about her. Tim Key also does a great job as their superior, and the three have a strong dynamic together. Unfortunately, all the effort of the film goes into the cop part. The suspects, and there are several, just aren't that interesting or distinct.

Kinda recommended. Not something you need to pay a lot of money to see, but makes for a fine just-have-fun movie. Rockwell and Ronan's dynamic and the finale are definitely of value. 

Only Murders in the Building- Season 2

8.5/10

NOTE: (There are no spoilers for this season, but this review does touch on the setup from the finale of the last season.)

In this sophomore season, the murder podcast trio have to clear their names of murder.

Once the original main mystery of a show is concluded, there is always the risk of subsequent seasons not being able to recapture the magic. I'm happy to say, this isn't the case with this one. The show remains as funny as ever. The character work and arcs here for the three main cast members remain strong. (Oliver Putnam's subplot is especially compelling.) This season also does a great job of building upon supporting characters from last season; cat-loving neighbor Howard (played by Michael Cyril Creighton) continues to be funny.

If I'd say there were any downsides to this, the three main lingering plot questions from last season remain unanswered. Whereas the mystery last season felt unraveled naturally, it did feel like all the plot points were shoehorned into the end in this one. Though, I also felt more satisfied with this finale. Like I said, season 2 does a great job of utilizing existing characters, but there a few sudden missing supporting characters disappearances that may be jarring, particularly the neighbor who wanted Tim Kono's apartment. She was present throughout last season whenever you had group scenes in the apartment building, so it's weird to see the character suddenly absent.

Cast is still great. Martin Short remains the funniest with his constant comic energy. Also, I wouldn't be surprised that Jayne Houdeshell as former HOA board head Bunny Folger gets an Emmy nomination. Last season, she was just the grump who served as a sort of semi-adversary for Putnam, but here the character gets an episode that gets to show more of her and Houdeshell NAILS IT. 

Highly recommend, another smart and funny season.

Death on the Nile

 

8/10

In Death on the Nile, based on Agatha Christie's book of the same name, Hercule Poirot (played by director Kenneth Branagh) solves a murder upon a ship sailing the Nile containing the members of a wedding party. 

Though I wouldn't say this had as many stand out moments as its predecessor Murder on the Orient Express, this is the better structured film. I think Branagh learned from the last film feeling a little rushed, which was natural considering that that film had a wider cast of suspects to cover. Death on the Nile does a good job of defining the characters and placing all the pieces for this mystery. The buildup to the murder might be a bit slow for some. Admittedly, a lot of that is people lounging about and engaging in white, rich people activities. Things pickup when the actual investigating starts. Also, like the last film but even more, the dialogue may not be to everyone's taste. People are too quick to describe everything about themselves, especially their problems, like they were in a play of earlier years.

This is definitely darker than MotOE; a lot of mining of human emotion. The strongest part of this isn't the main mystery, but actually Poirot himself. There is a lot more of his backstory here and what makes him tick.  

What I like about this movie is that it manages the fine line between being modern and changing some things while maintaining the basic structure and story of the original work. One major change is that Poirot's friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) from the last film returns here. I honestly don't mind the addition. He makes a fine associate to Poirot. The script does a good job of having him be a humorous layabout, but making it believable that he also has a serious side when things go deadly.

Great cast, maybe not quite as many household names, but there's still some big/veteran players. Especially effective are Annette Bening as Bouc's sharp-tongued mother and Sophie Okonedo as a quick-tongued songstress. The most surprising role is that of comedian Russell Brand, known for his specific outgoing personality, as a doctor. Taking over MotOE's Josh Gad slot as traditional comic actor who wants to prove he has chops, Brand plays it completely straight, and I didn't even recognize him as first. I can't say he has the strongest character in this, but he really gave it his all with becoming the character.      

Branagh brings the same visual panache he did in the last film, bringing some pretty majestic or interesting shots. The whole thing is retro fashion porn. There a couple of shots that didn't work for me, but I credit the director for at least taking a chance.

Recommended. Liked the first one a little more, but this is a solidly made film that has a real cinematic feel to it.

Last Night in Soho

 

7.5/10

In Last Night in Soho, fresh new design school student Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) rents an apartment in London. Soon she begins to dream about Sandie (Queen's Gambit's Anna Taylor-Joy) a woman from the 60's, Eloise's favorite time period. Though she is initially fascinated with Sandie's life, things soon get darker and dangerous. The movie's got two decent acts followed by a final one that knocks it out of the park. 

LNiS is competently run throughout. It's directed by Edgar Wright and he knows how to bring in the style. The 60's London and paranormal stuff are shot so well, including an excellent use of lighting and colors and just the setup of the dream/ghostly stuff. There are a few scary/action scenes in this that are some of the best looking of the year. The basic messages of the plot, the importance of mental health and how women can be preyed upon by men, are both well handled. (In fact, the latter concept is a great example of how the second Black Christmas should have been handled. It's able to address the message of women's exploitation by men in a way that's done naturally while also telling a good story).   

However, the first two acts may be kinda a drudge for many viewers' taste. I wouldn't say any scene is too slow or boring, but there is a lot of exposition and set up. I could predict where things are going way ahead of time, and then it became the burden of waiting to see things happen. It doesn't help that mean Eloise's fellow fashion student Jocasta (Synnove Karlsen) and her clique are too one dimensional and cliched and Eloise's love interest John (Michael Ajao) feels pretty underdeveloped. 

My issues with the film disappear with the third act. I mean it completely wowed me. It's no longer predictable. Pacing, suspense, and the visuals run at 11/10. Admittedly there is one big plot hole at the end, but I didn't consider it a deal breaker. 

Great casting in this. McKenzie does a very good job playing a character going through a gamut of emotions. We get a couple solid performances from some experienced actors. Terence Stamp plays a man connected to the dreams. From what I've seen at least in his American films, he often plays serious characters, so it's nice to see him play someone more lively: a clever sort whose presence automatically makes the watcher uncomfortable. The late Diana Rigg in what is her last film shines in a smaller role as Eloise's old-fashioned, no-nonsense neighbor.   

Wonderful soundtrack, featuring multiple classic 60's hits.

Overall, I think this is worth watching. It definitely could've been improved but comes from a good place, and when it impresses it impresses. Really nails the classic supernatural thriller formula.

Nine Perfect Strangers- Season 1

 

9/10

In this Hulu show based on the book by Big Little Lies' Liane Moriarty, nine people, each with their own emotional baggage/damage, visit Tranquilium, a wellness retreat, lead by the charismatic but enigmatic Masha Dmitrichenko (played by Nicole Kidman). She is said to get results, but her methods soon get controversial. 

I didn't set high expectations when I walked into this. The trailer looked interesting, but I didn't quite know what to make of it. I'm pleased to say this show really took me by surprise. The writing's really good. All the characters and all their personal issues gel. Dialogue is strong.

I like that this is a "dealing-with-your-demons" story, but it isn't trying to be too serious or dark. There's sad stuff in this, but this show isn't about being defined by it. It's also refreshing to see a mystery show that is also not trying too hard to be serious or dark, which feels like a rarity these days. Shocking, kinda trippy, unexpected stuff does happen, mind you, and you're definitely kept interested in what happens next. Though you may be able to guess some of the characters' story arcs, you won't be able to predict all the ways this story will go.   

I do think the show does go a little overboard with Masha's indecipherableness and her quasi-new ageness. There's a subplot with her and her employees that felt like too much.

Has an amazing cast full of big names and familiar faces. Besides Kidman, there's Michael Shannon, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Bobby Canavale, Regina Hall, and The Good Place's Manny Jacinto, (who proves to be very versatile in a completely different role than his humrous Jason Mendoza character). They're all good. Shannon and Asher Keddie here are the real acting heavyweights as a couple with tragedy in their past, and the former gives one of his best performances. Weaving as an influencer and Hall as a woman trying to restart her life give the best character work I've ever seen them do.

Highly recommended. This is a very interesting show. I can't say there are a lot exactly like this.

Secrets of Sulphur Springs- Season 1

 

8/10

In Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Griffin Campbell (played by Preston Campbell) moves into an abandoned hotel where a girl went missing decades ago. There, Griffin and his new friend Harper Dunn (Kyliegh Curran; yes that's how her first name is supposed to be spelled) discover a big secret which causes them to investigate the disappearance. 

This isn't my age demographic, but the commercials made me curious. It had a sort of uncanny feel to it that Watcher in the Woods had. Turns out the show isn't that spooky. The commercials and parts of Sulphur Springs try to imply things get eerie, but they really don't. Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark this isn't. But that's alright, this is a mystery-heavy paranormal kids show and you just don't see those that much. So, yeah if you were found of WitW, then you may like this. 

The story is pretty simple overall, but the show does a surprisingly good job of pacing things. That being said, Griffin's two younger siblings and their subplot of investigating the hotel's haunting feels just like filler and don't add much. (On the other hand, Harper's brother Topher (Bryant Tardy) is one of the better parts of the show and is a sibling that works. He provides decent semi-comic relief and never overstays his welcome.)

What's refreshing is that the main characters make smart decisions. This involves a gimmick, which I won't spoil, that's been done a lot, and it's nice to see the writers say "yeah, we've all been here before and we're not gonna waste your time with the characters wrapping their heads around it."  

There is also a stern, overbearing father character in this who is painfully one-note, but he's not in this that much.

The child acting in this is pretty good all around. Campbell and Curran do their roles well, I wish them the best in their future careers.

Overall, I recommend this show for your kids. It's just well done.

Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob

 

6/10

In The Sword and the Scoob, the Mystery Inc. gang visit an English town. While they're there, they encounter the sorceress Morgan Le Fay (voiced by Grey Griffin), who sends them all the way back in time to the age of King Arthur. (Considering all the situations and known figures that've been thrown Scooby's way, I'm not surprised at this concept. Rather, I'm wondering why the franchise hasn't done this before.) 

This may sound weird, but I feel bad for not liking this more. I definitely see kids liking this and can see several adult SC fans liking this more than me. The screenwriters/directors came from a positive place. The film is crammed with jokes and goofy bits. They continue going with the kooky version of Daphne seen in the last direct-to-DVD film and the show Be Cool Scooby-Doo, and I love this interpretation of the character. The opening and the big reveal at the finale are in fact some of the stronger/more creative things I've seen in the series. 

However, I can't get myself to like this more. I think that the majority of the film didn't feel strong enough. I don't think they did enough with the Camelot concept as they could have. Way too much focus is given to King Arthur (Jason Isaacs) and Merlin (Nick Frost). Arthur especially is mined more for material than he can provide and would've worked better in smaller doses. With the exception of Daphne, who gets a fun segment, the Mystery Inc. gang isn't given enough to do.  

The animation seems better to me than the last film but something still feels off when compared to the rest of the recent film series. (In fairness, animation production may have been affected by COVID-19). The characters, especially Fred, feel slenderer than usual and there are too many visually unambitious closer shots. But, the animation still remains colorful.

So, overall I think this is a so-so movie, but  like I said I think your kids will enjoy it, and it won't ingratiate upon you when they watch it. I also think that it's creative enough that it ranks above a lot of the many more formulaic entries in the SD film series.  

Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?- Season 3

7/10

I found this season, currently on Boomerang, stronger than the first and weaker than the second. 

Whereas the latter half of season 1 and season 2 took the basic Scooby-Doo concept and took it to some creative places, the stories here with the exception of one episode felt more basic. That having been said, they're decent enough stories with decent humor, just not inspired.

The one highlight is The Last Inmate. It's a feather in the show's cap that it was able to get THE Morgan Freeman to be in this. The episode does a great job of parodying his narrating career as he leads a documentary about the Scooby gang. The entire thing is a hoot as a Freeman calmly  reacts to every situation and the basic elements of a Scooby-Doo mystery.

Surprisingly, there weren't a lot of actor guest stars this time around, and fictional characters were dropped entirely. (Fun fact: this season includes original Scooby-Doo at the Movies guest star Faye Dunaway.) With no actors or voice actors, there are a lot of personalities whose performances are just okay. Also, besides Freeman and Macklemore, there aren't a lot of really high profile names. Arguably, I mean. No disrespect to any fans of the guests here. Though why is food network personality Alton Brown here? Nothing against him, but what kid is a big fan of Alton Brown? I'll give you professional eater Joey Chestnut, because that seems like something a kid may be into, but a general food presenter I don't get.

Also, most of the character attention still goes to Shaggy and Scooby. The rest of Mystery Inc. still don't quite pop.

I know I've been pretty critical, but I still mean in it when I say the show alright. I feel that it has more potential to fulfill is all. This will probably be a lot of fun for kids and adult Scoob fans won't have any issues. Seriously, see the Morgan Freeman episode.

The Alienist: Angel of Darkness (Season 2)

9/10

This second season of The Alienist, which feels more like a sequel and is based on the book sequel Angel of Darkness. Psychiatrist Laszlo Kreizler (played by Daniel Brühl), John Moore (Luke Evans), now a reporter, and Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), now a private detective, reunite to hunt down a baby killer. I think I liked this more than the first.

The length was cut down from ten episodes to eight and I think that really helped with the pacing. Subplots and the mystery don't feel dragged out like last time did a little. 

Brühl, Evans, and Fanning remain a powerhouse acting triumvirate. The personal subplot of Kreizler, whose storyline last season was wrapped up, feels undercooked. Moore and Howard, whose romantic tension carries over from last season, have a lot more to work with.

The character of former police commissioner Thomas Byrnes is greatly improved here. Ted Levine gave a good performance last time, don't get me wrong, but the character felt a little thin. Here, he's given more to do and is written more nuanced. You understand him more and he's an interesting morally ambiguous character. One of his highpoints this season is his many behind-the-scenes scheming sessions with William Randolph Hearst (Matt Letscher), which is one of the best additions this season.

The antagonist here is more interesting than last time.

The show continues to do a great job working with the historical setting, including the topics of Hearst's yellow journalism and the climate just before the beginning of the Spanish-American War. Visually, the show's depiction of 19th century New York still looks really, really good, especially considering this is for cable television. My hats off to whoever designed Fanning's outfits. They are all so unique and expertly compliment the character and the actress' distinct features.

Be forewarned that like last season, this show goes DARK. Although, I'm pleased that this season didn't feel like it crossed the line and pushed things too hard like they did with that one scene with Moore last time.

I did feel that there were too many "blatantly uncaring establishment" characters shoved in the audience's face. Also, there is an element in the show that is big at first but suddenly feels completely and unsatisfactorily abandoned by the end. 

Overall, if you liked or kind of liked the last one, I recommend this slicker version. 

Psych 2: Lassie Come Home

7/10

This sequel to the first film, which itself was a follow-up to the entertaining USA Network series, does some things better than the first film and some not as well.

The first film made the mistake of trying to squeeze in so many familiar faces that the plot got away from it. The story, while having some pretty fun villains, also felt a little bare. This one is stronger. Psych 2 feels like the show as there is more focus on the mystery and the story in general, not to mention that there is a lot more of the trademark rapid fire funny remarks of fake psychic Shawn (James Roday) and his friend Gus (Dulé Hill).

On the other hand, this film suffers from the same issue as the last one: Things just feel stretched out. The movie is written by people who worked on the show and they haven't quite nailed how to evolve Psych from episode to feature length. Also, this movie misses some of the bigger swings and more energetic moments from the first.

I do like that Psych 2 carried over and double downed on a couple of the plot elements they introduced last season instead of forgetting about them.

The most pleasant part about this is the return of Lassiter (Timothy Omundson). The grumpy, tightly wound foil to Shawn had to be mostly written out of the last movie when Omundson suffered a stroke. Luckily, the actor has recovered enough to appear here. He's not in 100% condition (I mean, he suffered a stroke), and the writers were smart enough to have him recover from a similarly debilitating incident. I saw an interview with Omundson and the movie appears to be specifically looking at the struggles he has had to go through. Lassiter hands down has the best subplot and journey in what is a poignant look at the man at his lowest. 

There is one aspect of Lassiter's story that felt odd. I know that I complained about the character nods in the last film, but you'd think you'd see at least some of his family members hanging around while he is recuperating in a hospital.

Psych fans will enjoy this. Not the best work but still entertaining. If you're new to Psych, though, this probably isn't the best entry point. You can find this on NBC's new streaming site Peacock. It has a free tier, just be prepared to sit through a few commercials at the beginning.