Strays

 

8/10

This is basically a movie where someone said to themselves, "What if we did an R-rated comedy version of The Incredible Journey?" In Strays, Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell) is abandoned in the city by his awful owner Doug (played by SNL/Last Man on Earth's Will Forte). Reggie and some new dog friends decide to travel back to his home in order to get revenge on Doug.

If you're worried that the trailer may have used up all the A material, you'd be pleased to know that this isn't the case here. A ton of crazy and funny stuff that you couldn't predict goes on here. Not every joke lands, but they're quickly replaced by ones that do. I had tears in my eyes with the ending I was laughing so much.

Get that this is a hard R. Writer Dan Perrault (creator of American Vandal) takes full advantage of the fact that you can do adult content with dogs that is harder to do than with humans. I'm amazed at how clever he was with coming up jokes involving dog behavior and anatomy. But, this should also be a warning for some. This is a hard R. If you're not a fan of scatological humor or other gross stuff, this may not be for you. (There's one scene in particular I felt I didn't need to witness.)

Be aware that the jokes are clever, but the actual plot itself is rather predictable in where it's going.

As in Megamind, Will Ferrell does a fine job of being sympathetic and playing a character better than you'd expect considering his tendency to be a personality actor. The best performance in this is Jamie Foxx as the voice of Reggie's new friend Bug. He plays the completely cliched streetwise animal who befriends a domestic one, but he jumps into the role with both legs. 

Love the location scouting for the woods the dogs walk through; some very scenic areas.

Recommended. Maybe too raunchy for some, but for everyone else this is really funny.

Blue Beetle

6.5/10

In this new movie based on the DC comics character (which was originally supposed to be on HBO Max but new management felt it had a chance in the theaters), Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) is entrusted with a scarab that turns out to be a biomechanical suit that bonds with him transforming him into the superhero Blue Beetle. He's soon hunted by a corrupt corporation out to retrieve the scarab. 

This is one of those films with a weaker first half and a stronger second half. At the beginning, Reyes' family, which is a huge focus of the film, is just too silly and goofy for their own good. (In fairness, I'm a very, very white guy (I know who Glenn Yarborough and Garrison Keillor are). This is a Hispanic director and screenwriter and intricacies of Hispanic families and culture may be lost on me.) It is also frustrating that Jaime is way too naive and idealistic and his cynical sister Milagro (Hocus Pocus 2's Belissa Escobedo) is too self-destructive in her devil-may-care-decisions.

However, when the story starts getting serious and the humor is downgraded then I started liking the family. They felt like real characters and though there were still jokes, they no longer felt too cartoonish. The sentimental family bonding moments really work. Jaime's uncle Rudy (George Lopez) is the one who gets the most screentime and is definitely the VIP. He does get the best jokes but is also a great ride-or-die ally and the tech guy. Lopez gives the best performance I've seen (and isn't playing his usual type) and nails the more serious moments. He definitely has the best interactions with Jaime.

The movie has the problem that you sometimes find in shows and films these days in that it tries to look at a culture while also telling a superhero story and has difficulty balancing the two. The movie tries to cram as much demonstrations of racism and other struggles for Hispanics in America as it can before Jaime gets the suit. It feels inorganic and like the movie is talking down to you. (There are not one but two white people who don't care about getting Spanish names wrong.) Again, things improve in the second half; the messages are shown not told.

If you don't know, Jaime is the third Blue Beetle in the comics. If you're a fan of his predecessor Ted Kord (who may not mean anything to anyone unfamiliar with BB but trust me, he has a fan base. He was pretty prevalent during the 90's), you may like to know that the movie does honor the BB legacy.

The single worst part about this is the villain Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon). She's a one-dimensional evil/racist businesswoman/weapons manufacturer. Sarandon's trying her best but her dialogue is painful and she's impractically evil for the sake of evil. Her right hand Carapax (Mayans M.C.'s Raoul Max Trujillo), who actually does the fighting, is better. He's an effective physical threat, and I give Trujillo credit for nailing the character's body language. He can say a lot without speaking at all.

Jaime's suit has an artificial intelligence (voiced by singer/actress Becky G). She appears to have her own personality, but the movie makes it slow to figure this out at first. So much time is spent on the family and other human characters, the relationship between Jaime and his suit is lacking. She just speaks up when the plot needs it and no more.

The best part of this is the action and visuals. The action in the second half, especially the final battle are some of the best choreographed fight scenes I've seen in a superhero movie in a while. They don't break the mold but are really entertaining. 

I love the use of color in this. Everything looks so vibrant. The city the family lives near is a superb quasi-futuristic-looking accomplishment. 

Special effects really blend in well in this. I applaud director Angel Manuel Soto for making it look like the actors aren't even acting with CGI effects they can't see.

The movie does a surprising job of accurately replicating the Blue Beetle suit in live-action. It doesn't have a mouth hole, but they have the suit have a lower lip-like section at the bottom that moves as Jaime talks. I've never seen a movie do something like that ever before. It sounds goofy but manages to work.

Kinda recommended. The first half and Victoria Kord can be a slog to get through, but when the movie works it's really entertaining. I'm really impressed by the action and physical design in this. I do feel a little bad this isn't doing well at the box office. I kinda want to see Jaime and company in a sequel with a chance of correcting the flaws of this film. Also, again white guy here. If you're Hispanic, you may get a lot more out of seeing your culture represented.

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.

Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie

6.5

In this special on Apple+, Marcie (voiced by Arianna McDonald) deals with her introvertedness getting in the way of her goals and responsibilities.

This special does a really heartfelt job of showing children it's okay to be introverted and how to deal with it. Charlie Brown's not in this much, but there is one scene where the special does a great job of reminding us that he's probably one of the most likable fictitious characters out there.

However, this didn't need to be 39 minutes long. There are too many scenes of Marcie having difficulty. Admittedly, this does nail her struggles but also beats the issue to death. Also, kids have short attention spans.

Like the previous Apple+ specials, this still feels like Peanuts diluted. The characters feel more two-dimensional. Peppermint Patty and Marcie have really been Flanderized, reduced to just "the sports one" and "the brainy one." Part of the original strip's success is that through Charlie Brown's insecurities it related with a lot of people. However, the rougher aspects of the original are gone.

Also like the previous specials, this looks great. The scribbly line look of the Peanuts kids feel really strip accurate. The bright colors are not faithful to the classic specials, but they are so colorful, I forgive them. The 2d-animation has never looked better for Peanuts like it's on a film budget.

Kinda recommended. Does deliver a great message for kids and does it well, but it's slow and a poor imitation of classic Peanuts.

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.)  

Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie

 

5.5/10

This movie version of the popular French cartoon series is a retelling of the show except it's a musical now (I guess to spice things up; best not to worry about it). It's currently on Netflix in the US. In this, young teenagers Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste are gifted with magical jewelry known as Miraculous which turn them into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir.

This feels like one of those late 80's or 90's animated movies that were not by Disney or Don Bluth. Story feels very basic. Even emotional moments feel very simple. (In fairness, I believe this is for younger viewers.) A lot of this involves Marinette's insecurities which feel very manufactured. There are moments with jokes and other scenes that feel like a little effort when in, so this isn't a complete no-one-tried effort, but nothing really shines.

One may ask why retell the same story instead of coming up with a new adventure? I wouldv'e preferred more creativity, but I can understand why they might want to make this accessible to newcomers. Also, the show was still in production, so I can also see why they wanted to avoid continuity issues.

Visually this movie is excellent. Yeah, this doesn't have a Disney or other American studio budget, but this is the second most expensive French film ever made. One part of what made the show so successful is its fun look to its heroes and villains and their outfits, which clearly sells dolls, and a fanciful depiction of Paris. The larger budget here gives the animators a chance to include a lot more detail. The scenery is so picturesque and the bright use of color is so well done here.    

The songs are pretty innocuous; again that basic animated movie feel. Also, a lot of the songs sound the same. The English singing voice for Marinette (at least I think the speaking and singing were separate people) is, I'll give you that. The background score for this, well at least in the third act, is more effective than the songs themselves.

Not recommended for adults by themselves, unless they're big fans of good animation, but children will probably like it. If your kids are already fans of the show, there will probably be no complaints. Again, this has a bright and colorful look that will definitely catch a lot of younger eyes.

Hijack

8/10

In this new British limited series on Apple+, a flight from Dubai to London is hijacked. The show focuses on passenger Sam Nelson (played by Idris Elba), who has to use his wits and skills to keep himself and the others safe. 

Movies about hijacked planes have been done before, but they've never done a show about one to the best of my knowledge. Making this turned out to be a good idea. A longer running length allows more time for details, plotting, and getting to know the characters. But, the showrunners were enough to keep itself to only seven episodes so the whole affair doesn't feel too drawn out. (The Brits are usually good about not overextending.) Though the show doesn't advertise, this is kind of a 24 in that each episode covers one hour of the flight.

What ensues is a truly suspenseful work. The writers do a grand job of surprising the audience. The motivation of the hijackers is actually a mystery, and Hijacked keeps you invested in what exactly is going on.

The show manages to balance a large cast pretty effortlessly as it covers events in the plane and on the ground (everything unfurls and people are introduced at such a natural pace). Idris Elba gives peak Elba. He doesn't really do anything outside his box, but you get what you pay for. To be clear, this mostly isn't an action show. This isn't a situation where Elba's Sam has to rely on muscle. He has to out think the situation, and you want to see what he tries next. They provide a solid background for why he's so good at this.

Elba's the only household name in this, but Hijacked has a fine cast all around including a few faces you might've seen before. Max Beesley is very watchable as Daniel O'Farrell, a cop and the main guy seen dealing with the situation on the ground, who though he doesn't have as much screen time as Sam also has a pretty eventful seven hours. Neil Maskell gives a rather human performance as the hijackers' leader who's trying to maintain his control on the plane.

Show also has an excellent song selection for each of the ending credits. Opening credits are well done.

Probably the show's biggest weak point is that some of the things that happen feel arbitrary and more for the sake of the story and drama than happening realistically. Sam definitely has plot armor on. It gets harder and harder to argue why the hijackers just don't kill him. I also wouldn't have minded a little more to the epilogue.

Highly recommended. If you like thrillers where people are trapped in an area, this is definitely for you.