Disenchanted

7.5

In this sequel to Enchanted, Giselle (played by Amy Adams), originally from the magical and animated kingdom of Andalasia, and her husband Robert (Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey) move from New York City to the suburb of Monroeville. Dealing with the stresses of a new baby, the move, and her now teenaged stepdaughter Morgan's resentment of said move, Giselle ends up making a wish that turns the suburb into a fairy tale land. Unfortunately, since Giselle is a stepmother, the spell starts turning her into a traditional fairy tale "evil stepmother."

So, yeah, this isn't on the same level as the first film. The more adult humor and moments are gone and the dialogue and emotional tone isn't quite as on point. The musical numbers aren't as lavish or as well-shot. The animation is kinda shabby for Disney and doesn't compare to the animation from fifteen flippin' years ago. However, the issues are mainly that the movie can't quite recreate the feel of the first. By itself, it's still a fun film and does a lot better than expected for a sequel that came out over a decade since the original. (Think of this like the more light-hearted TMNT II: Secret of the Ooze when compared to the first TMNT film.) 

I think the idea of Giselle dealing with the long term difficulties of living in the real world is an admittedly predictable idea of where to take the story. However, the route the movie goes down feels fresh. The idea of Giselle turning bad is really the best part. Amy Adams was already great at playing an upbeat Disney princess, but she proves how good an actress she is as she knocks the other identity out of the park. I was a little worried about how the villain (besides evil Giselle) would turn out as I thought the weakest part of Enchanted was Susan Sarandon's rather one-dimensional evil queen. I'm pleased to say I'm relieved. Though Maya Rudolph's evil queen Malvina isn't the most complex character, she is enjoyable and has a lot more screen time in which to get to know her. One of the best parts of the film is evil Giselle and Malvina fighting against each other for dominance.

The relationship between Giselle and Morgan (Gabriella Baldacchino) is the emotional backbone of the film and it's done really well delivering a very satisfying climax. The whole final act itself is really good and a lot more satisfying with the action, stakes, and visual spectacle.

Too bad the movie doesn't really know what to do with Robert, who's sidelined Kristoff in Frozen II-style, and King Edward (James Marsden), who's still funny whenever he's onscreen but isn't in this much because the story just doesn't have much room for him.

The songs are done by the king of Disney songs Alan Menken with lyrics by Wicked/King of Egypt's Stephen Schwartz. The songs mostly aren't on the same par as the original film, but they aren't bad and I appreciate they're ability to mimic the old school Disney-fairy tale style (though there's an I-have-a-dream song that is a little too on the nose if you ask me). The biggest issue people bring up about Enchanted is that it has Wicked/Frozen's Idina Menzel, but she doesn't sing a word (in fairness, from what I've heard, she did have a song but it got cut.) Disney has clearly made the effort to remedy this as she gets two songs, including one that really shows off her pipes (too bad it doesn't compare to her songs from both Frozen films). Now, back when I said the songs mostly weren't on the same tier, this "mostly" is referring to the exeption of the song Badder which is both entertaining and a real earworm. (I've been listening to this online on repeat since yesterday.) The last film never got a villain song (heck we haven't had a true Disney villain song for a while), and this movie makes up for it. It's a duet between Adams and Rudolph and they both kill it, especially Rudolph who I didn't realize was musically talented. It's really too bad that the audio is off in the film and the music is loud enough that it's hard to hear the lyrics. I recommend you turn on the subtitles or listen to the song in the end credits where the audio is correct.

Recommended. Again, this isn't the perfection of the first film (with the exception of the one weird out-of-nowhere poop gag; what was with that?), but it is enjoyable and one that's good for family night.

Weird: the Al Yankovic Story

 

7.5/10

This Roku TV film based on the Funny or Die video is about the career of parody singer Weird Al Yankovic (played by Harry Potter/Miracle Workers' Daniel Radcliffe).

I you walk into this not knowing much about Weird Al, I want to make this clear: this is a PARODY film. A few parts are gleaned from slivers of truth, but the majority of this is totally made up. 

This turned out to be a consistently funny film with solid script and dialogue from Yankovic and director Eric Appel. What can I say, Yankovic knows parody, and he completely nails the usual plot points found in music biopics.

Only reason I'm not ranking this a little higher is that since the movie's following a formula, parts can be a little too expected. Also, one can't help comparing this to similar elements in the earlier music biopic parody Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox story. (Though let me be clear, I found this to be a better film than Walk Hard.) The opening with the disapproving father (played by Toby Huss, one of those people who's not a household name but's been in a ton of stuff) feels especially similar to WH. Then again, these feelings might be just me, and if you haven't seen WH, this is probably going to be a fresher experience for you.

Radcliffe does a great job in the lead and clearly understood the assignment. As some of his more recent roles have shown, he's got a taste for comedy and outside-the-box roles. Radcliffe doesn't really do an impression of Al (also, all the songs are clearly dubbed by Al and not Radcliffe's voice), but he's not supposed to. Radcliffe's supposed to play a parody of all singers from music biopics who suffer ups and downs, and he plays the role completely straight. Westworld's Evan Rachel Wood does a surprisingly good job as Madonna and really has the character (I mean the very made-up, fictional version of the singer) mapped out. Expect a lot of known names to make cameos in this, usually as famous people from the eighties, and we get a pretty fun bunch of performances out of this. Weird Al himself plays a music exec in this, and he does a darn good job of playing other than his usual personality.  

Recommended, this is a well done comedy.

Star Trek: Lower Decks- Season 3

9/10

This third season continues the misadventures of the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos.

I'm impressed at how this show has managed to maintain quality. Okay, no single episode has been as funny as the Badgey and ascension episodes from season 1, but the show remains consistently funny, creative, and does a wonderful job of working with and poking fun at Star Trek tropes.

The stories this season even feel like a step up from season two, and bare in mind that that was also a good season. Episode seven in particular is one of the show's most creative episodes. Though still primarily episodic, this is the season with the most reliance on an overarching storyline resulting in a really satisfying finale that is on par with season one's.

One of the best things about the third season is that the characters grow. Both ensigns Mariner (voiced by Space Force's Tawny Newsome) and Boimler (Scream/The Hunger Games films' Jack Quaid) get some much needed character development. Both the former's need for control and the latter's lack of faith in himself were starting to get old, and I'm glad the writers were realizing that too. Consistently, the two funniest characters remain the tough but secretly sensitive security officer Lieutenant Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) and the constantly upbeat Ensign Rutherford (Eugene Cordero, one of those actors who pop up frequently in various comedies).

Highly recommended. This remains one of the most entertaining and well written animated adult comedies currently on.

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. 

Werewolf by Night

9.5/10

In this Marvel Halloween special on Disney+ based on the comic of the same name, a group of monster hunters are summoned for a competition to secede their late leader as the possessor of the powerful Bloodstone. However, there are a couple hunters whose priorities are a little different...

Wow! Marvel's first special knocks it out of the park. It's especially impressive that besides a couple shorts, this is the first directing job from popular film composer Michael Giacchino (that theme from the beginning of Up, that's him.) The action is pretty good. I know a dozen people have already mentioned it, but this is the most violent Marvel offering (not counting Marvel TV) to date being helped by the black-and-white color scheme of the movie.

Humor's pretty good too. A nice touch to this is that the monster hunting society is populated by a bunch of eccentrics, the higher ups being particularly weird, providing some unexpected, fun bits. I think the character of Elsa Bloodstone (played by The Nevers' Laura Donnelly), the daughter of the former leader, is probably my favorite in this as she's the straight man and gives some decent reactions and pushbacks to the insanity around her.

Werewolf by Night looks great, going with a 30's/40's appearance. Some of the outfits, sets, and props are just really impressive looking. The werewolf outfit in this, however isn't as good as what your imagination can come up in. The torso's too puffy and evokes the impression of the actor wearing a wool coat. (On the plus side there is one really strong monster design in this.) In terms of cinematography, this may be the best I've seen a movie replicate the appearance of a different age. Only downside is that like early movies, the camera focus isn't always 100%, especially with the backgrounds.  The blurriness may get to some people.

If there are any other cons about this, the fact that this is only only fifty-two minutes means limited time to build the lead characters of Elsa and hunter Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal). You do get enough to understand the characters, but there is also some having-to-fill-in-the-blanks that may annoy some people. Some may also wish that the ending be a little less open.

Highly recommended, this is a unique and very fun film that looks superb.

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. 

Cobra Kai- Season 5

10/10

This season Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) is determined to stop Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) from spreading the influence of Cobra Kai far and wide.

After the highly entertaining previous season, which surpassed the second and third seasons, I'm happy to say that this keeps up the level of quality. The season is full of surprises, good comedy and dialogue, and great action and acting. (Also set-wise, I like the look of the new state-of-the-art Cobra Kai facility in this and Silver's house.)

I think the writers heard the criticism of how the show can spin its wheels a bit with the characters, and I'm happy to say that there is a LOT of character growth here. A lot of parts feel like they have an endgame and characters are finally working through their issues. I especially felt troubled Cobra Kai fighter Tory (Jessie/Bunk'd's Peyton List) had some especially strong development and storyline this time around. One of the few characters who are still mired in their issues that have been plaguing them is Danny, whose hatred towards Silver and Cobra Kai is consuming him more than ever. He's been doing it since season one, but I'm surprisingly not tired of it like I was the last few seasons. It's really because it feels like the show is nearing the finish line with his issues. The writers are finally addressing how toxic and self-destructive they have become for Danny, and they feel less repetitive because the show is finally hitting the nail on the head with what truly made Danny this way: it's never been just Cobra Kai, but his hatred toward Terry Silver and what he did to him in the third Karate Kid film. Also, the writers even managed to make Stingray (Richard Jewel's Paul Walter Hauser), who annoyed me previously, actually tolerable and sympathetic.

The show also cuts down on the repetitive team drama here by focusing more on the adults, again like the writers realized they've dried up the well with the teen's dojo-on-dojo high rivalries and were giving us some relief. Speaking of the adults, it was a great idea to make Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), Danny's rival-turned-ally from the second KK film be a full cast member this season. He turns out to the be the funniest character, an interesting combo of sincerity and intensity. 

Also if you're tired of the aimlessness of some of the conflict in seasons two and three, you won't find it here. Season five exactly knows where it's going. Silver is kinda a supervillain here with a main plan, and it's refreshing how more focused and efficient he is than Kreese. After three seasons of the guy as main villain, it's nice to go with someone else. (You don't get much Kreese, but he does shine in the scenes he does have.) Silver is one of the best elements here with his charisma, intelligence, manipulativeness, and sheer psychosis. You also get a new ally of Silver in the form of a Korean karate instructor named Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim). The actress immediately cinches the role the moment you hear her speak, bringing an energized, sinister confidence. 

If I had any issues with this, it's that the show finally addresses the background of Kreese and Silver learning their style of karate under their mentor who was name dropped in the third film, and it's just not at all as interesting as what your imagination could have come up with. 

Highly recommended. It's a really good time.