Agatha all Along

Grade: B+

In Disney+'s limited series follow-up to Wandavision, amoral witch Agatha Harkness (played by Kathryn Hahn), is back. On a quest to restore her lost powers, she travels on the Witches' Road, which grants the desires of whichever witches complete its challenges, alongside the mysterious young warlock Teen (Hearstopper's Joe Locke) and her new coven.

The showrunner is Jac Schaeffer, who also helmed Wandavision, and this really feels like one of the most seamless transitions from one MCU product to another. Some may be annoyed that the majority of the episodes is just one trial after another without any big story threats, but this still makes for an entertaining piece. Characters are strong, the show is imaginative, and it excels at plot payoff and timing on info dissemination.

However, pacing may bug people. It feels like certain moments and other elements appear haphazardly and aren't done as effectively as they could.

Also, know how what was happening in Wandavision was rather dark? This is a lot more. I can't say this is as dark as that "one" plot point of Moon Knight, but this feels like the most nihilistic of the MCU Disney+ shows (yes, even more than Secret Wars). One can't help but ask "What happened to you Schaeffer? What made you like this?"

This includes a certain team from the comic. If you don't like it when comic movies/shows simplify characters, make them more grounded, and take away some of the over-the-top aspects of them, you won't like what they did here (. Honestly, why even use the characters if you have no love for them. (Admittedly, Disney is trying to make its MCU shows more cost effective and some of the appearances of said characters would've cost dough. Also, this is a team that not everyone knows, so a lot of you probably won't care).

If you feel that Agatha may be too much like Loki, don't worry. Whereas there is part of Loki that wants to be the hero, and he puts up a face to hide his security, Agatha remains a confident, me-first sociopath who's always thinking of a quick way to come out on top. Not that the show doesn't show that she has a human side, but it doesn't try to glide over what she has been or done or suddenly soften her. 

Hahn (who I'm guessing is one of the major reasons this show got made) continues to have this presence about her. Agatha may be awful but Hahn makes her very entertaining as she wisecracks and proves she's the cleverest one in the room.

The cast all around is pretty good. Aubrey Plaza is on the same level as Hahn as Rio Vidal, a mysterious witch that has a past with Agatha. Plaza is the queen of being weird and wild, but she really proves her acting job as she can show her more human side with just a look. Patti Lupone who is a theater star, but doesn't get a lot of high profile show/movie roles these days, is lively as a fortune seeing witch, and Debra Jo Rupp returns as the neighbor from Wandavision, and retains her trademark buoyant personality. SNL's Sasheer Zamata is a witch and high priestess in this. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of hers back on the sketch show. She really wasn't working for me. (Though to be honest, it could be the show may not have been using her properly. Wouldn't be the first time). But she was killing it here as a person with a confident personality and the one who likes Agatha the least. Honestly, I felt Zamata was underutilized here.

Recommended. I don't have quite as high opinion of this as many others online, but it does make for a solid watch that doesn't get boring, and definitely feels more confident and stronger than the recent likes of Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion.

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.

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.

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.

Monster Summer

7/10

In Monster Summer, kids on a small island town are being attacked and turned into shells of themselves by a mysterious being. Young Noah (played by The Black Phone's Mason Thames) teams up with grizzled, retired cop Gene (played by Mel Gibson) to track the monster down.

This is one of those movies like Monster Squad (or the 1999 TV movie the Darklings; highly underrated), it's kind of a kids film, but the content is edgier than expected. The movie earns its PG-13 rating.  A lot of this feels like traditional children's fare and there's no explicit violence, but the threat is dark and dangerous and the finale is surprisingly tense.  (It's kinda like that Nancy Drew movie with Millie Bobby Brown where people were surprised with how close the villains were to messing Nancy up.) The biggest "Wha...?" about this that there are straight up references to child predators/abductors and the characters compares the antagonist to them. They never specify what child abductors do, but it's still shocking coming from a movie with more basic children's leads and shenanigans.

Admittedly, the mix of light and dark and this sort of retro old-school darker 80's kids movie feel works in Monster Summer's favor. It is a unique blend that made me nostalgic for the yesteryear of children's movies. Can't say the movie is perfect. You're just thrown into the plot and the characters. I wished Noah and friends were introduced more naturally (the movie doesn't mention that Noah has a little sister until like a half hour after you meet him and his mom; she's just there all of a suddenn), seeing them hanging out and living their lives more before the poop hits the fan. 

The look of the movie also goes for that old school 80's and 90's feel. This is the second film from Wizards of Waverly Place lead David Henrie, and for a newbie director working with a small budget, he does fairly well for himself. He uses too many closeups, but he's got some solid stuff going on too like some nice panning shots of the island and he manages to make the villain's car intimidating as of itself. Speaking of the island, they picked a pretty photogenic place to film.

A lot of the casting is just alright, but the few known actors they got for do this do lighten up the proceedings. Gibson gives the best performances and is probably the most interesting character in this. Also, the characters of Gene and Noah just work really well off of each other. Credit should also be given to King of Queens' Kevin James, who seems to be in this just to show everyone that he does a really good southern accent. (It's weird. Between this and Becky, it seems that lower budget, lower profile films are the ones that really managed to let James shine as an actor).

Recommended. Admittedly, Monster Summer feels a bit confused as to who its demographic is, but it makes for a decent watch and its divergence from the norm keeps things fresh. (Also, watch The Darklings if you can find it. It's a kids' version of Rear Window.)

The Exorcism

4.5/10

In The Exorcism, actor Anthony Miller (played by Russell Crowe) is cast as a priest in a new demonic possession movie, only to find himself possessed by an actual demon. (Yeah, it's weird that Crowe decided to do two exorcism movies so close together, but he does play a very different character here.)

This is one of those movies that is frustrating because there are hints of what could've been a good film. Miller's tragic backstory, and the reason he's vulnerable to possession, is well-crafted. There are some good pieces of dialogue and performances are good throughout.

However, the movie is inconsistent in quality. There are also several lines that don't work. Pacing is very slow. The lighting is just too dark. Also, there appears to be a logic to the demon's plan that isn't made as clear as it should be.

Now if it was just the flaws above, I would've been more charitable with the rating on behalf of the stuff that does work, but then comes the ending. The finale is truly disappointing. 

Going back to the performances, you really can't blame the cast. Crowe may not have the best material, but you definitely believe him as the character. It's too bad Frasier's David Hyde Pierce isn't in that many movies (I recommend you see him in the underexposed thriller The Perfect Host; he's quite good.) He's very congenial as a priest consultant on the film. The Equalizer TV show's Adam Goldberg is probably the best at making all the lines work as the movie's director.

Not recommended. The slow pace and bad ending do not make the ending worth watching.

Imaginary

7.5/10

In Imaginary, Jessica (played by Jurassic World: Dominion's DeWanda Wise) and her husband and two stepdaughters move into her childhood home. The youngest girl Alice (Superkitties/Erin & Aaron's Pyper Braun) finds an old stuffed bear named Chauncey who becomes her new imaginary friend. However, there's something sinister about the bear who begins to have more and more control over poor Alice.

Wasn't expecting much from this movie; Blumhouse didn't give this much advertising. But, this turned out better than expected. This is one of those horror films that is trying to have fun, which is refreshing with so many movies going with the serious psychological horror route.

There are some pretty good scares in the beginning. I've seen so many horror movies that I've become desensitized. I rarely get scared, so it was refreshing to have a couple of the scares get to me. (The film's pretty good at catching you unexpected.)  Also, the film does a surprisingly good job of making a stuffed bear with minimal movement be creepy. The final act isn't as effective in being scary, but it makes up for it by being one of the more visually creative finales to a horror film.

For yet another movie where the child's imaginary friend turns out to be a monster/ghost/demon, the story is told better than most. Jessica makes for a compelling protagonist who's worried about her stepdaughter, and Alice makes for a sympathetic kid.

This is a Jeff Wadlow movie (the Fantasy Island movie, Truth or Dare, Wolf Creek) and this has the flaw I've seen in his other horror movies. Guy has some solid ideas and scenes, but the plots are always uneven. There are parts of this where the dialogue and exposition could've been tighter. 

There's some pretty good casting. Wise in particular is one to watch as she's so convincing. However, there are two actors playing figures connected to Jessica's past that really don't work out.

Recommended. Yeah, this could've been more polished, but this is an entertaining and spooky work.

Hazbin Hotel- Season 1

7.5/10

In Hazbin Hotel on Amazon Prime, the forces of Heaven, fearing the great numbers of sinners in Hell, hold an extermination once a year where they kill a lot of souls. (In this world, all dead people either become demons or angels.) Idealistic Charlie Morningstar (voiced by Erika Henningsen, who was the original lead in Broadway's Mean Girls the Musical), is tired of this, so she decides to create a hotel that specializes in redeeming any who stay there so that they can get into heaven.

The pilot for this came out four years ago (this was an indie animation that had to first be picked up, plus animating takes time), and I've been waiting, genuinely curious as to the final outcome, and yeah, this doesn't disappoint. Characters are well defined, there's great world building, and the show manages to hit the funny bits pretty well. One is engrossed with the story as it develops and whether Charlie will achieve her dream. This is kinda like The Good Place in that it questions the concept of eternal damnation for people that were lousy or made poor decisions but weren't evil, evil.

Be forewarned that this is very adult. Very, very adult. Maybe more sexed up than the Rocky Horror Picture Show and more foul-mouthed than South Park (I've heard the words b**** and holes, as in orifices and not in the ground, more times than I ever have.) And this, show can be pretty bipolar when it comes to its content. Hazbin Hotel can have a funny part and then something dark may happen. Unlike Bojack Horseman, which was known for balancing lighter and darker humor, I don't know if this finds the balance. The creator Vivienne Medrano is definitely a talent, but she's like those two guys who created the Venture Brothers, they're definitely creative, but you're truly worried about their state of mind. Medrano's original pilot and her web cartoon Helluva Boss, which didn't have to censor for streaming, are a LOT. Things can get uncomfortable with her. The subplot of hotel occupant and porn star Angel Dust (Blake Roman) gets DAAAARRRKKKK. It is front and center in episode four and their is a reason why it is rated 18+ while all the others are 16+.

Also understand that this season is only eight episodes long. The show has a lot of characters and ideas, but they don't all have their equal time to shine. There's so much plot being revealed that it's easy to remember what's going on this season but so hard to remember what was the main story of each individual episode.

The voice cast is good. This show is a musical, and I'm happy to say everyone they cast are good singers. Henningsen really manages to sell Charlie's sheer unbridled optimism. (A big part of her character is how pure she is despite living in a terrible place with awful people.) The other star of the show is Alastor, the Radio Demon (Amir Talai), who sounds like he's speaking over an old-timey radio. He's a very powerful demon that's sponsoring the hotel not because he believes in it, but because it amuses him. He's the "aren't-you-glad-I'm-on-your-side"-type, equally charming and funny and a terrifying fellow when you cross him.

People have already pointed out that Charlie's girlfriend Vaggy (Reno 911/Encanto's Stephanie Beatriz) sounds like and is kinda similar to Poison Ivy in the Harley Quinn show. But in fairness, the pilot came out before HQ. Credit to be given to the show for how the lovers' relationship is made clear through showing without having to explain.

The animation feels like a Deviantart artist's page come to life with a distinct type of character design. It's a very unique depiction of the afterlife. The animation is colorful, and the quality itself is really fluid and detailed. 

The songs are pretty good; there are weaker entries but no bad ones. I particularly like the variety; none of the songs feel like parodies/homages of existing songs like I've seen in many other musical TV shows.

Kinda recommended. This is definitely not for everyone. If you don't like M-rated stuff, stay away. And I do not fault anyone for episode four being too much. However, if you're okay with all of that, you may very well like this creative, well produced work. (You might want to see the pilot on Youtube first. The first episode does explain the premise, but the pilot explains stuff more.)

Monster High 2

6/10

In this made-for-TV Nickelodeon sequel, Draculaura's future practicing witchcraft is threatened when witches attack Monster High. Plus, Clawdeen's attempts to make the monster world more progressive is threatened by returning student Toralei Stripes (played by Salena Qureshi).

First film was stronger. I miss a bit of the humor from that one. The main villain pales in terms of personality and motivation in comparison to the last movie's one. MH2 is all about the three main leads trying to stop the war between vampires and witches. They talk a lot about the reasons why to be sympathetic with witches, but we don't get to see enough benevolent witches, so it's hard to see how peace can be achieved when the understanding is one-sided.

That all having been said, I do credit the writers for putting effort into the plot. This could've been complete fluff and general Nickelodeon hijinks but the movie has a clear message about getting along and diversity. Thought was given into the whole history of the witch/vampire war and the whole affair does feel like a genuine threat to monster kind.

Songs, except for one that pits Clawdeen Wolf (Mila Harris) against Torali, aren't very memorable, but I wouldn't say any are bad either.

Sorta recommended. Not the greatest children's movie ever made but decent, and kids will probably like it.

The Nun II

6.5/10

In this sequel, Sister Irene (played by American Horror Story's Taissa Farmiga) is tasked with hunting down the demon Valak/the Nun (Bonnie Aarons) across Europe.

This sequel made a concentrated effort to address the criticisms about its predecessor. (I liked that one, but I confess it's my least favorite of the ones I like. All the others put a little more effort in.) More emphasis is put into the story here and the scares. Whereas the graveyard scene is the only scene most people remember from the first, here we've got a few memorable and eyecatching ones. Definite thought was given to the visuals kinda bringing a beautiful darkness to the whole affair. The newspaper stand scene from the trailers is a creative standout. This movie feels more like an adventure film than the other Conjuringverse movies. Some fairly high production values here for a horror film. The Nun does get a little too physical a couple times rather than only relying on traditional demonic powers. The demon felt a little too much like a slasher killer. 

Though I liked the scares, not enough time is spent on them. In order to correct the lack of a story backbone, I fear this movie went too far the other way. Irene's story feels like it's just there to give her a story rather than being anything substantial. The story of Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), her ally from the last film, definitely has more weight to it, but the problem is that they repeat story beats way too often. His story should've been much leaner. Because of the story padding, we're left frustrated and waiting for things to get scary again. Sure, the last movie was basically just pottering around a monastery, but at least the spookiness remained consistent.

Farmiga gives a strong performance, nailing all the emotional beats. Given that this movie is more serious than the last, Maurice isn't given the chance to be as comedic and fun as the last movie, but I do love Bloquet's performance. Maurice is just a nice guy. Unfortunately, Damian Bichir doesn't return from the first film as Father Burke. I liked the guy. Also, it seems odd that the Vatican sends Irene out by herself without any exorcism professionals.

Kinda recommended. I liked the scary parts, but I did wish the film moved faster. I think I prefer the last one better as it was quicker paced even if it didn't have as many strong scenes.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

7/10

In this film based on a section from Bram Stoker's Dracula, the audience follows the crew of the Demeter, the ship that brought Dracula from Transylvania to England.

This is one of those movies that fail to go that extra mile but are competently made. Though there are some pretty good lines of dialogue, a lot of it, including the exposition-heavy first thirty minutes, feel perfunctory. Camerawork and lighting are good, but again just decent. The very opening scene and the very ending scene feel forced and don't flow naturally. Also, there's one obvious moment near the end where you might go "Why didn't they...?"

But like I said, this was by no means a shoddy effort. I was engaged and didn't regret watching this. Loved the set design of the ship; it felt impressive. The filmmakers went darker than you'd think with this, and I applaud their guts. The throat biting is the goriest I've seen in vampire movies. 

Some may be annoyed that LVotD goes with mostly silent monster Dracula and not conversational able to pass as human Dracula. However, in this film, he does make an unsettling creature. The creepiest thing about Dracula is his toothy mouth. He's enjoying this and seeing him smile is even more spooky. Wouldn't say this has the best CGI, but director Andre Ovredal (Troll Hunter, Authopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) is wise enough to know less is more and keeps Dracula partially hidden in shadows most of the time.

No complaints about the casting in this. Straight Outta Compton/In the Heightss Corey Hawkins as ship's doctor Clemens and Game of Thrones' Liam Cunningham as Captain Elliot both have some above average delivery.

Kinda recommended. This does nothing to break the mold; but it's a decent watch.

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.

Pretty Freekin Scary- Season 1

7/10

In this Disney Channel show, middle schooler Frankie Ripp (played by Eliana Sua who was Hobbs' daughter in Hobbs & Shaw) dies before she's supposed to. The Grim Reaper or GR (Murdoch Mysteries' Siobhan Murphy) sends her back with two Underworld employees, the ever cheerful Pretty (Kyan Samuels) and the dour Scary (Leah Mei Gold). (Are they dead or were they never human to begin with? No idea. The writers don't seem to worry so neither should you.)

So, this sort of your traditional Disney Channel live-action show. The jokes and story aren't high art, but they're suitable for a kids' s program and are good goofy fun. I kind of like the sheer suspension-of-disbelief everyone has with Frankie suddenly popping back up from the dead with two new "foreign exchange students." (That's, right she doesn't immediately come back the moment she died. I'm pretty sure it was implied she was buried and everybody is way too chill with it. The government isn't looking into it or anything.)

By "sort of your traditional Disney Channel live-action show," Pretty Freekin Scary should be given credit for being well-planned out. This has a full storyline going behind GR's motivations for sending Pretty and Scary. Sure, there are other Disney shows with ongoing stories, particularly the superhero ones, but most of those are told in bits and often don't last the whole season. Here, everything is heading towards a clear purpose.

Best part of this is Sua; her Frankie is just so darn congenial. There is also a main antagonist to this show, and I've got to say, the actor is having a blast with the roll.

Gold and Samuels, especially the latter, do a fine job but admittedly it feels like Frankie isn't given enough time with them to bond. The writers like to pair her up with her goth friend Nyx (Emma Shannon). The duo's personalities are also one-note in the first half, but they become more engaging as the show goes on.

Going back to Nyx, she's likable enough, but there is a problem with her existence, having a quasi-anti-societal goth and Scary, who's not a people person, and both of whom have dry wit feels a little redundant. (Although, the writers do push Nyx more toward being a traditional friend as the show goes on.) In all honesty, I thought the recurring character of Layla Mueller (Adora Sheikh), Frankie's former best friend interacted better with her than Nyx. Unfortunately, the writers soon get bored with her and she disappears. (In fairness, maybe they realized the large cast of kids was too much.)

Also not loving GR. Murphy is fine in the role but her hiding info. for no rational reason other than to drag out the mystery is frustrating. The fact that's she bossing Frankie around all the time does not make one adhere to her.

Recommended. Wouldn't say it's one of THE best live-action kids shows ever made, but it's definitely watchable. Kids should like the cast who are all game.

The Venture Brothers: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart

9/10

The Venture Brothers had a good run, going seven seasons from 2003 to 2018. However, they were originally slated for an eighth one, but then the powers that be (I don't think it was the head of Adult Swim's call) decided it made business sense to cancel. VB had a solid base, but the numbers were never huge. So, the show ended on a cliffhanger. Luckily, now the show's two creators get to tell their story, even if it is truncated.

In this movie now on DVD/Blu-ray and streaming, Dean Venture (voiced by Michael Sinterniklass) searches for his brother Hank (show co-creator Christopher McCulloch) who's gone AWOL after the events of series finale. Meanwhile, the O.S.I., this world's version of G.I. Joe, and the supervillain organization The Guild of Calamitous Intent find themselves with a common foe in the form of the new supervillain organization ARCH.

McCulloch and other showrunner Doc Hammer have not always been able to do their best properly getting across what they're trying to say to the audience. I was worried that what with this being only 83 minutes that they'd have issues squeezing in all the story they intended. I'm pleased to say this movie moves really smoothly especially for one that juggles a lot of story and characters. I'm actually proud of the filmmakers being able to squeeze in as many fan favorite characters as they could. The reveal of the main antagonist's motivations do feel a little rushed, but as a whole this film moves quite smoothly.

All these years later and VB hasn't lost any of its magic. The movie still has that unique retro-modern humor to it. The script is definitely not your typical adventure story as is the case for VB. The show differed from a lot of other animated adult comedies in that it doesn't stay stagnant in the same place; characters grow up a little and things change in an ongoing story. This movie keeps with that in a mythos-bound tale that finally reveals the answers for a few of the show's big mysteries. (The movie even brings back up a one sentence remark from several seasons ago. That's how big McCulloch and Hammer are on world building.) Make sure you stay after the credits.

This is definitely not for newcomers. There is just way too much reliance on existing plot and lore. 

Dr. Venture (James Urbaniak) as with the show can be funny (and Urbaniak always nails his delivery), but also as with the show, his selfishness can be draining. Also, it's hasn't been uncommon for Christopher McCulloch and Doc Hammer as funny as they are to do something messed up/in bad taste. (I love the show, but I'm not proud of it when these things happen.) This movie has one brief scene that may make you say "I don't think I'm cool with that." 

The character animation may not be for everyone (my mother once called it the show with the ugly animation), but VB definitely has a unique style, and it's not one of those shows that are common these days where the designs are very simplistic. Background animation remains slick with the unique retroesque look the VB has.

Recommended. Not for newcomers, but definitely prime VB for those who are already fans (credit should be given to the franchise for still feeling fresh after all these years.)  

Insidious: The Red Door

8/10

(Note: Contains no spoilers about Red Door, but contains a brief reference to the conclusion of the second film.)

After them being absent in the third and fourth installments, which were prequels, we revisit the Lambert family. The psychic father and son Josh and Dalton Lambert (played by Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins) had their memories wiped of their abilities in order to prevent the residents of the Further from gaining access to our world. Dalton's going to college now (credit should be given to bringing back the original actors who were kids instead of recasting them, (looking at you Independence Day sequel; Mae Whitman starred in The Duff, but she wasn't good enough to come back for you?!)). The hypnosis has left Joshua with a foggy mind and there's a rift now between the two. Soon, events cause the two to again investigate the dark and dangerous world of the Further. 

This is Wilson's directorial debut and he does a decent job of keeping up Insidious' distinct feel. It doesn't quite have the scare and cinematic quality of the first film but in fairness, none of the sequels quite manage it. Important thing is you still get a good heaping of creepy imagery and ghosts.

Like in the previous entries, this has a few jokes. It's rather one of the funnier entries (without damaging the atmosphere.) 

Patrick again does an excellent job as the Josh and he really sells his difficulty but also willingness to connect with his son and his mental struggles in general. Sinclair Daniel plays Dalton's new college friend Chris Winslow and is one of the hightlights, serving as the snarky comic relief as well as the voice of reason. Sadly, Lin Shaye as psychic Elise Rainier and Leigh Wannell and Angus Sampson as her assistants (who'd been promoted to leads in the last two films) barely appear in this.  

Unfortunately, the movie continues the sequel-that-came-out-some-time-later-than-the-last-story  trend of having the heroes end up in a far worse place than when we last saw them which has become really tiring. I think Dalton's mother Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) was basically character assassinated in this piece as I didn't agree with her choices or root for her.

I'm not loving the lack of creative ambition when it came to the forces of darkness here. The Insidious movies have always been known for the distinct style of their supernatural entities. However, Red Door has lost that distinctness. Don't get me wrong, the ghosts and such are still scary, they just don't have that Insidious brand look to them. I was disappointed there is no new big bad here. I've always felt that a strong point of the films were that had new villain with a new look and gimmick rather than recycling. 

The scares are separated by lengthy scenes of people just talking to each other, which to be fair also kinda happened in the first film (I liked that three and four felt a lot faster), but it feels more obvious here. Some may get bored, but for me it wasn't a deal breaker, and I thought the dialogue mostly worked.

Kinda recommended. Many will enjoy another Insidious movie and this continues to deliver what we want. However, some may be bored by the pacing or disappointed that it doesn't 100% quite have that Insidious feel to it. I'd rank this above Insidious 2 and below the other movies.

Ghosts- Season 2

8/10

In season 2 of this comedy, Samantha Arondekar (played by iZombie's Rose McIver), who can see ghosts after she hit her head, and her husband Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) finally open up the country house Samantha inherited as a bread and breakfast.

This season's much like the last: a good mix of solid jokes and distinct, enjoyable characters. The majority of the cast remains great. I don't have time to go into them all, but I think the one who shines the most is Jay. Ambudkar has such great comic delivery, and his character steals the show with his nerdy enthusiasm toward the ghost world and the way he reacts to all the chaos around him.

There are a couple things that are wearing a bit thin: 1) Jay and Samantha doing a poor job of covering for themselves when Samantha is hearing the ghosts or the ghosts have put the two into a situation is repeated way too often. You'd think the couple would've learned to how to do a better job of posturing. 2) The ghosts being selfish and constantly pushing Samantha into doing stuff. Sure, they usually feel bad or see the consequences of their actions when things go too far, but it's so repetitive. You want Samantha to just say no once or a while (admittedly we wouldn't have much of a story there).

Overall, the show's still pretty funny. Recommended.

Darby and the Dead

6/10

In this film on Hulu, teen Darby Harper (played by Henry Danger's Riele Downs) had a near death experience as a child and can now see ghosts. She uses her ability to help them move on to the next world, but keeps herself distant from the living and is unsocial at school. Her rival, popular mean girl Capri (Auli'i Cravalho, best known for voicing Moana) dies, and she forces Darby into seeing that the big birthday party she had coming up still happens.

I can see why this went directly to streaming. The story had potential, but the whole thing feels like a basic Mean Girls formula story. It's not bad but sorta predictable. There isn't enough to really elevate the material. I'm definitely not the first to say this online, but it's got to be said, it can be kinda hard to sympathize with Capri and buy her growing friendship with Darby when she can be so mean and selfish at times. 

In the film's defense, there are some pretty funny lines sprinkled throughout, especially from Capri's trio of cheerleader friends. I also appreciate Capri's relationship with her boyfirend, aspiring singer/songwriter James (Shazam's Asher Angel). The writers refreshingly didn't go with him being either handsome, rich, the most popular guy in school, or a star player. Capri's, admittedly over-the-top, devotion to him feels genuine, which is a nice change of pace when compared to mean girls in other films.

I've got no complaints about the casting. Everyone does a solid job. Cravalho is pretty entertaining and energetic in her role. Supergirl's Nicole Maines, Kylie Lia Page, and Genneya Walton do a great and funny job as the cheerleaders. The movie also features a couple veteran actors who haven't had as much exposure as they used to. I won't spoil one, but the other is Who's the Boss' Tony Danza as Gary, a ghost friend of Darby's. He does a pretty good job.

A soft not recommended. Like I said, the film's so-so, but there's nothing awful about it. You don't need to see this, but it's not a bad time waster, and also like I said, there are some good lines.

Monster High the Movie

6/10

(Not my demographic but my curiosity gets the best of me.) In this new movie on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ inspired by the popular doll line, half-werewolf/half-human  Clawdeen Wolf (played by Miia Harris; not a typo, there's two i's), who has to hide in the human world, is invited to attend Monster High, but must keep her human side secret or face expulsion.

This is your typical just-okay kids film. Also, a typical Nick channel film in that it's not quite a Disney Channel film. (I know the Disney movies aren't high cinema but there is always that little bit of budget and promising young acting talent that can be found in them.) All the background monster characters are just actors in very basic-looking bright color makeup. The story relies a little too heavily on the Clawdeen and her roommate Draculaura's personal crises. As a children's film this could've tried to have a little more fun and and take itself less seriously. The adult monsters' prejudice and overbearingness is laid on pretty thick. Though, I do give the filmmakers credit for not going the basic children's film route and adding a tinge of darkness to it. The ending wraps things up a little too quickly and neatly.

The movie does have it's fun points. There are a few good jokes in this that did more with the element of the macabre than expected for Nickelodeon. The most entertaining part is the smart but socially awkward, on account of being created fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot). Their lines always sparkle.

Balagot really stands out as the best actress in a sea of actors that are decent but don't shine. Kyle Selig has his moments as one of their teachers. On the other hand, the guy who plays Clawdeen's dad delivers the only truly weak performance in this.

There are songs in this; they're are alright. Not bad but not memorable either.

I know I listed a bunch of cons about this, but it is a perfectly serviceable film for your children. Nor is it something that will aggravate if they rewatch it multiple times. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

9.5/10

In the third installment of the original Ghostbusters universe, Callie (played by Carrie Coon) and her two kids move into the house of her late, absent father. There they find his link to the titular ghost trapping team.

I'm pleased to say that this is the best Ghostbusters film since the original. (Not to knock the other two. They were entertaining but had their flaws.) It understands what worked for the first two films (which the reboot didn't understand): great humor juxtaposed with a serious threat and a sincere dedication to the backstory of said threat. (This is directed by original director Ivan Reitman's son Jason who clearly is doing his all to be reverent toward the franchise).

But this film also realizes that changes needed to be made. The biggest mistakes of 2 and the reboot were just recycling the story beats. After 3 whole films where the characters have to start or restart their careers while going up against skeptics, this movie refreshingly skips that. I mean, we're here to see people fighting ghosts and not having to sit through the minutiae. We also finally get a film happening someplace other than New York. And you can't do much more different than the large city than a small country town used here. The rustic landscape looks really good. (Also, it's got to be a lot more cost effective to film in the county than than the city.)

The best change about this is that it's more character-driven and sentimental than the other films, tackling character emotions with a depth never before seen. The movie also provides an excellent nod to Egon, whose actor Harold Ramis sadly passed away. There are three characters that standout: smart, but socially awkward Phoebe (McKenna Grace), the Egon of the film, talkative podcaster Podcast (Logan Kim), and good-natured science teacher Gary Guberson (Paul Rudd). Phoebe and Podcast make the film as both their actors nail their delivery. They have excellent chemistry together and sell being two eccentrics whose friendship is built on neither being judgmental of the other.  Rudd excels in being goofy and charming.  

Love the cinematography and special effects for this. I don't think I've seen a movie come so close to feeling like it was made during the 80's. Also, the opening and ending to this are so excellently done. The former in particular is something you could show in film school on how to properly shoot a scene.

I do admit the editing could've been better. This is one of those films where it's definitely clear more stuff was shot, but it got cut. There's a few characters in this that feel like they were supposed to have more to do then barely show up. There is one person in particular, whose usage is so disappointing, it probably would've been easier if he or she was cut. Though I do like the finale, I do admit it ends abruptly. 

Even before I saw the movie, I heard complaints that there were too many nostalgia throwbacks. When I watched the film, I thought "Huh, I'm not seeing it." Then the third act hits and you're hit by a flood of references, like the reference dam opened. However, I still wouldn't call this a dealbreaker. There's too much to enjoy in this for the nostalgia baiting to bring it down.

Highly recommended. I think this is the type of Ghostbusters that people have been waiting for for a long, long time.

Werewolves Within

8/10

In the horror comedy Werewolves Withing, loosely based on the video game of the same name, the residents of the small isolated town of Beaverfield find themselves cut off from the outside world and the possible prey of a werewolf.

I found this to be a rather fun, quirky, and clever film. There are a good few twists and turns in this. I kind of like the idea of a werewolf film that operates more like a murder mystery. (Anyone remember 1974's The Beast Must Die? It's sort of in that vein but a comedy.) Kind of wish we had more of these. Good use is made of the growing suspicion and paranoia amongst the suspects.  

Some may find the townspeople to be a little over the top. Nor can I say that the characters or every line of dialogue are necessarily amongst the top tier of comedy (like in Clue). However, the cast really delivers. The lines come fast, and you get plenty of good bits. Basically, it's an appreciate the sum-of-the-whole rather than the details situation. 

The leads, Veep's Sam Richardson as the new park ranger, and the AT&T girl Milana Vayntraub as a postal worker, are what really make the movie. They work really together and make a great duo. Vayntraub brings a quirky energy. Richardson is the MVP. He plays the well-meaning guy who's doing his best to stay keep things together. Richardson knows the perfect delivery for every line.

This is directed by College Humor alumni Josh Ruben who also directed the horror comedy thriller Scare Me. I think he'll be one to watch. There's a couple interesting camera shots that remain focused on one person or angle that work rather well. The song selection for this is also rather interesting and helps set the mood (especially the first song.)

Recommended. I mentioned some quibbles, but I really did enjoy myself.