Category Archives: Comedy
Comedy
Flash Movie Review: Unfrosted
I DO NOT REMEMBER WHAT AGE I became where I no longer found kids’ jokes funny. There was the constant “knock, knock” jokes, along with jokes like “Why did the chocolate chip cookie go to see the doctor?” He felt crummy. Or “What’s a pirate’s favorite class to take in school?” Arrrrrt. At some point, I had heard them so much they were no longer funny to me. Even today, I have a couple of friends who constantly tell the same type of jokes multiple times. At some point I can no longer pretend they are funny; the jokes lose their surprise element. Changing a word here and there does not change the joke. I feel the same way about food companies that introduce different variations of their best-selling items. A sandwich filled cookie where the filling changes and gets weirder does not appeal to me. I am here to say, I am not on the pumpkin spice bandwagon. When I walk through the aisles of the grocery store and see so many products with this flavor, I cannot make sense of it. Why would I want my pasta, butter, or salmon to taste like pumpkin spice? NOW THERE IS ONE FOOD ITEM I do not care what they do to it because I was never a fan of it. I was never attracted to food items that had fruit filled centers. When Pop Tarts were introduced, I was curious about them but did not want to eat one. The only time I tried them was when I was at a friend’s house. If their mother offered me one, I did not want to be rude by saying no, so would take one and try to eat it. Many times, I would eat around the edges because there was so little fruit filling there. It would be times like that where I wished my friend’s mom would have chocolate chip cookies, which were my favorite. I believe the other reason I was not a fan of Pop Tarts was because they could be toasted. In my mind, if something is going into the toaster then it is meant to be eaten for breakfast or it is bread. I could not tell if this fruit filled item was a dessert or snack item. Now that you know I get tired of the same jokes told repeatedly and am not a fan of Pop Tarts, what do you think I thought about this biographical comedy? LOCKED IN A BITTER RIVALRY FOR store shelves, it was a race to see which food company could come out with a completely new food item that would change everyone’s minds about breakfast and dessert. With Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld-TV, Curb Your Enthusiasm-TV) as Bob Cabana, Jim Gaffigan (Collide, Peter Pan & Wendy) as Edsel Kellogg III, Hugh Grant (Wonka, Love Actually) as Thurl Ravenscroft, Amy Schumer (I Feel Pretty, The Humans) as Marjorie Post and Melissa McCarthy (Genie, The Little Mermaid) as Donna Stankowski; I honestly thought with this cast, along with the variety of celebrity cameo roles, there would be no way this film, written and directed by Jerry Seinfeld, would not be funny. I was completely wrong. Not only was it not funny, but it was lame. I do not know if I can honestly say if there was any acting taking place. The script was so boring and ridiculous that I only kept watching because I thought it would have to get better at some point. Instead of appearing like a movie, this felt like a series of comedy bits that kept falling flat. The only time where I showed interest in humor was one exchange between Melissa and Hugh; that was it. I would have enjoyed seeing how Pop Tarts came into existence, but I believe there was only a speck of truth the script was based on, and the rest was slapstick nonsense. For viewers who grew up during that time, the retro references could be fun, but so many of the shown ones were attached to some nonsensical scene that instead it could become irritating. There was nothing fun or entertaining about this picture. Even if I loved Pop Tarts, I still would not have subjected myself to watching this if I had known what the script was going to be. This film had no shelf life and was stale from the start.
1 star
Flash Movie Review: Drive-Away Dolls
I WANTED TO KILL MY FRIEND. It was bad enough he enjoyed pushing my boundaries, but this time he went too far. He was outgoing and I was more of an introvert. There were times we would get together to hang out and in the middle of a conversation he would tell me he signed both of us up for an event. Sure, I could have said no; but most of the events were affiliated with some type of charitable organization and I did not want look like this uncaring, self-centered guy. I say this because my friend would mostly tell me about these things with other friends around. For one occasion, he put my name down to be a raffle ticket seller at this gala event that was being held in one of the old, grand downtown hotel’s ballrooms. The idea I would have to circulate through the entire ballroom, go up to strangers, and ask them to buy raffle tickets for the silent auction frightened me. I had experiences like this with my very first job, when I was thirteen years old, which was going door to door selling household goods that my friends and I were told were assembled by visually impaired people. At that age we believed the person who hired us; however, a few years later when we were no longer working for them, we found out on the news the whole thing was a fraud. The man who hired us was jailed. THE EVENT MY FRIEND SIGNED ME UP for was an auction, where I would be one of twelve men being auctioned off for charity. The charity that was having this auction bought small multi-family residences throughout the city to house those too ill to take care of themselves. It was a highly regarded organization which made my decision tougher. I did not talk to him for the rest of the day after I heard the news. The next day, I called the organization to see exactly what would be required of me. For the next three months, I would need to be available to go to several spots within the city for meet and greets, where potential bidders could get to know me and the rest of the “bachelors.” I would also need to have a couple of outfit changes during the auction. The scary part for me was the meet and greets instead of the actual auction, though I would be upset if I could not at least reach the opening bid. It turned out my fears and anticipation were worse than the actual events; I had an enjoyable time after I got over the first couple of meet and greets. Deep down I knew my friend meant well and was just trying to get me out of my shell. And this is why I understood what the friend was trying to do in this action, comedy, thriller. WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A fun road trip for a couple of friends turned dangerous when, due to accidental circumstances, they got on the radar of a criminal gang that had only one thing on their mind. With Margaret Qualley (Sanctuary, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) as Jamie, Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers, The Beanie Bubble) as Marian, Beanie Feldstein (The Humans, Lady Bird) as Sukie, Joey Slotnick (Twister, Hollow Man) as The Goon and Coleman Domingo (The Color Purple, Rustin) as The Chief; this movie written and directed by Ethan Coen was too much of one thing for me. I found the script dull at times, where the same scenario was being repeated over and over. On the other hand, there were several humorous moments and I especially enjoyed Geraldine’s acting. Most of this picture felt like a rehash of previous films I had seen before; I was periodically bored at times. I will also add there were many scenes of a sexual nature and with harsh language. The only way one should see this movie is if a friend asks you to go with them; but it better be a good friend.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Ricky Stanicky
WHILE AT A FRIEND’S HOUSE, THERE was a crash we heard coming out of the kitchen. We both raced to see what happened. On the floor were scattered ceramic pieces mixed with what looked like to me, broken chocolate chip cookies. Over to the side of the mess was their young son. When asked what happened, the little boy said the cookie jar fell off the counter. Their parent asked if they did it and the young son said he did not. I stayed near the kitchen door because I could see where this conversation was going, and I did not want to find myself in the middle of it. I assumed there was going to be crying or wailing soon, so I wanted to make sure I could step quickly out of the room while my friend managed the situation. It did not take long for the crying to start, so I made my exit and sat back down on the sofa. I only had to wait a couple of minutes before my friend returned. We were both amused about the situation, commenting on how most kids’ first response when confronted by a troubling situation is either “I do not know” or “not me.” Granted at an early age, responsibility can be an obtuse concept. I can tolerate a young child not grasping this concept; but not for an adult, who should know better. WHEN I ENCOUNTER AN ADULT WHO does not take ownership of their actions, that is when I have a tough time engaging with them. I worked at a company that had an employee who never admitted to any kind of wrongdoing or inconsiderate action. They worked in a different department than I did, but we all worked close together in a large office. Because I was not a coffee drinker, I was not involved with the perpetual employees who would come out of the kitchen and ask who left an empty coffee pot on the burner of the coffee machine. No one ever confessed to this “crime” as far as I could tell. However, I remember one time walking into the kitchen just as this one employee was drinking the last bit of coffee from a Styrofoam cup the company provided with the coffee. Before they turned to acknowledge me, they quickly tossed the cup into the garbage. We exchanged a couple of pleasantries before they walked out. I noticed there was an empty coffee pot sitting on a burner that was still on. I turned it off before I got my cup of water and returned to my desk. Whenever someone would come out of the kitchen and ask who left an empty pot, I always took a glance at this employee. They never let on that they were the culprit. Granted, in the scheme of things, this is not a major thing; however, if you want to see adults not taking responsibility for their actions in a big way, then you might want to watch this comedy. THREE ADULT MEN WHO KNEW EACH other since elementary school had a friend that was always getting in trouble for them. The friend, however, was not a real person; he was made up. With Zac Efron (The iron Claw, The Greatest Showman) as Dean, John Cena (Freelance, Vacation Friends franchise) as Ricky Stanicky (Rod Rimestead), Andrew Santino (The Disaster Artist, Me Time) as JT, relative newcomer Riley Stiles as Young Dean and Brian Jarvis (The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Daddy Knows Best-TV) as the Police Chief; this film was lucky it had John and Zac in it. The script was a mix of slapstick and lowbrow humor, with some crassness thrown in. I gave John credit for all the situations he was put in which he wholeheartedly took on. Also, he does have a certain screen presence that makes the viewer root for him. With some scenes not being believable to me, I was bored part of the time. I am afraid the writers have no one to blame for this car crash of a story but themselves.
1 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Upgraded
FROM MY DATING EXPERIENCES, MY FAVORITE way of meeting someone was by chance; though I hesitate to say chance because I believe there are no accidents. I met someone at the grocery store who I dated for 6 months, all because they asked me a question about a food product, we were both looking to buy. There were a few individuals I met while riding the city’s public transportation. In fact, a partner of mine was someone who I met while waiting in line to get on a ride at a Florida amusement park; I was with a group of friends as were they. All I did was ask if they would take my camera and shoot a photo of me and my friends. After that both groups of friends started talking to each other since there was a long wait to get on the ride. What made for an easier time to be able to talk to each other, even while getting on the ride, was that each seating compartment fit eight individuals. They wound up in my car, seated behind me. After the ride was over, and I was able to get my equilibrium back, we chatted at the exit until the rest of our friends joined us. By the time we were going off in our own directions, we exchanged contact information and promised to communicate once we returned home. THE NEXT BEST WAY I ENJOYED meeting potential dates was online. However, I was on a learning curve before I was able to really deal with all the different facets of online dating. Some people’s profiles were too blunt and aggressive for me; I was more of a hopeless romantic, enjoying the art of interaction and conversation. The other part that I had a tough time with were the individuals who did not match up to their stated profile. This would annoy me to no end; why would someone willingly lie about themselves to get a date. I do not mind a little exaggeration to accentuate a person’s better qualities, but some of the things I witnessed were utterly foolish. And here is the thing, when it came to a person’s physical attributes, I did not care about their weight, height, color of hair or occupation. The only thing that concerned me was whether they had good teeth and clean fingernails. One time I met a potential date at a coffee shop. I stood near the front door while looking for them, never realizing they were sitting at a table, which I had already scanned over when I arrived. I did not acknowledge them because they looked nothing like what they conveyed to me. Why would someone want to start out a potential relationship with a lie? I asked myself this same question while watching this romantic comedy. AFTER BEING UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS, for a business trip, a young employee winds up being seated next to a handsome man. He takes an interest in her when he mistakenly believes she is the head of a firm, due to her not correcting his misunderstanding. She had to find a way to tell him, despite enjoying their time together. With Camila Mendes (Palm Springs, Riverdale-TV) as Ana, Archie Renaux (Catherine Called Birdy, Shadow and Bone-TV) as William, Marisa Tomei (The King of Staten Island, Spider-Man franchise) as Claire, Leno Olin (Adam, The Artist’s Wife) as Catherine and Anthony Head (Imagine Me & You, Buffy the Vampire Slayer-TV) as Julian Marx; this film does not break any new ground. However, having Marisa and Lena in the cast made for a better than average story. I will say, I thought I was watching a “The Devil Wears Prada” wannabe, except for the added love story. There were many enjoyable scenes, despite the script’s predictability and I enjoyed the set up of having powerful women figures. I also liked the fact that there was another story going on besides the bumpy relationship between the two main characters. This was an easy and harmless movie that did not pretend to be something more than what it was meant to be.
2 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Freelance
LEAVE IT TO FATE TO PLAY a cruel trick on me, being chosen to be the driver for a presenter that made me have a bad attitude towards her. It was the year prior; I was attending a fitness convention where she was one of the headliners. To lower the cost of attending, I joined as a volunteer. Being in such a position, I was able to see the things that were taking place behind the scenes. To say this presenter scared a bunch of us may be an exaggeration; however, most of us were cautious around her because she was demanding. She needed things done her way, even if the results would come out the same as us. The part that I disliked the most was the way she would sometimes talk down to a volunteer, as if they were her personal indentured servant. It was appalling how rude she could be. Now, I understood she was a big name in the industry and had to be tough to get to the position she was currently in, but couldn’t she still get there with a little kindness? What is that phrase about being kind to the people you meet on the way up because you will be meeting them on the way down; it could certainly happen to her, I felt. During the convention, I made it my mission to stay out of her way. FAST FORWARD TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR’S convention, where my volunteer assignment was to drive this same person around for the weekend. This entailed picking her up first thing in the morning and returning her at night, besides any errands she might need throughout the day. I could not believe that I got chosen for this position. The first day I went to pick her up, I had to convince myself not to show my dislike for her, besides not getting into an argument if she started treating me like I remembered how she was acting the year prior. She was waiting outside when I arrived; I took her gym bags and put them in the trunk before we began our route to the convention spot. On the way we started out making small talk, but our conversation took a more serious turn when she asked how I became a fitness instructor. I had nothing to hide so told her the facts about being picked on for years for being overweight, flunking P.E. in school and how I found a group of people who accepted and made me feel welcome in their exercise class. It turned out she had a similar experience with being overweight and shared some horrific things that were done to her. By the time we arrived at the convention I had a better attitude about her. She even talked about the reservoir of anger she still has that comes out when she sees someone not taking pride/ownership in their actions/responsibilities. This change of attitude was like how I felt about one of the main characters in this action, comedy film. AN EX-SPECIAL FORCES SOLIDER AGREES TO help a friend’s business by being the security detail for a journalist traveling to interview a dictator. Soon after they arrive a military coup takes place that forces them to hide out into the jungle alone. This was only the start of their troubles. With John Cena (Ricky Stanicky, Hidden Strike) as Mason Pettis, Alison Brie (Promising Young Woman, Somebody I Used to Know) as Claire Wellington, Juan Pablo Raba (The 33, The Marksman) as Venegas, Christian Slater (Chupa, Very Bad Things) as Sebastian Earle and Alice Eve (Star Trek into Darkness, She’s Out of my League) as Jenny Pettis; this film came across like an action wannabe. It had similar elements to films like Romancing the Stone and a similar vibe to some of Dwayne Johnson’s movies. Though there was little chemistry between John and Alison, I did not mind their characters and thought John had a similar quality that matches Dwayne’s persona in his pictures. The script was super basic, not providing many surprises or thrills. It felt like a hodgepodge of previous movie bits that were hobbled together to try and make a coherent story; it did not work. Sadly, this was an easily forgettable film that I was glad I did not go to the theater to see.
1 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Mean Girls
I THOUGHT HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE an easy transition for me because it was across from my elementary school. My walk to school would not be different, I could go home for lunch if I did not want to eat in the school cafeteria; it seemed like everything was in place for me. After the first week went by, when all the students were figuring out where they fit in, I had a sense of dread. I did not feel I fit in anywhere. There were lists of clubs and activities posted throughout the school, but when I looked at the lists there was nothing that either interested me or I felt I was capable of participating in. The only thing that stood out for me was to be part of the sales team for the high school yearbook that came out once a year. It turned out there was very little contact with anyone else on the team because we were simply assigned receipt books we had to carry with us throughout the school day, that we would fill out when a student wanted to place an order. I had to let students know I was one of the yearbook reps, which you would have thought would be a good introduction to establishing connections with other students. However, that turned out not to be the case. Among some of the responses I got were being laughed at and spitted on, told to get out of their face, punched in the stomach and verbal abuse. I did, however, sell some yearbooks that first and only year I sold them. IT SOON BECAME APPARENT TO ME there was a pecking order or hierarchy established within the student body. Those students that participated in the mainstream sports of football, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading were the alphas of the school. Those with big personalities, who quickly grabbed the spotlight and held on to it tightly were the next group up. After them came the brainiacs, as they were called. They were the ones who understood most class lessons, who had more “A” grades than anyone else and the best part, they could get away with not dressing up in the latest fashion trends. After these three groups, it was a toss-up on who had any pull or sway among their classmates. My claim to fame, if you even want to call it fame, was never to get into trouble. In other words, I was a “good” kid. That did not give me hardly any street cred among the students; I still had a miserable time throughout high school despite being native to the area. For a student that transfers into the area, I do not know how they could survive. See for yourself in this comedic musical. AFTER HAVING BEEN HOME SCHOOLED, IT was like stepping into a different world when Cady Heron, played by Angourie Rice (The Beguiled, The Nice Guys), found herself being chosen to become friends with one of the elite groups in the school. Things were going smoothly until she took a liking to the group leader’s ex-boyfriend. With relative newcomer Renee Rapp as Regina George, Auli’I Cravalho (All Together Now, The Power-TV) as Janis “Imi’ike, newcomer Jaquel Savey as Damian Hubbard and Avantika (Senior Year; Mira, Royal Detective) as Karen Shetty; I was surprised by the number of musical performances performed in this film. Nowhere in any of the advertising did it show any music scenes. As for this being an update on the original film, there were some tweaks made to accommodate our current times; but overall, I was bored with the script and story. There were isolated scenes that stood out for me such as Avantika’s comedic timing and Renee Rapp’s screen presence; but It was not enough to maintain my attention. The musical score all sounded the same as did the dance performances in various musical scenes. I was not a fan of my high school years, and I was not one of this updated remade film.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Self Reliance
I WAS CHANNEL SURFING WHEN SOMETHING caught my eye that made me stop at a channel. I could not understand what was taking place; I was dumbfounded. There were two people completely unclothed scavenging for food on either some exotic island or jungle setting. There were palm trees and thick foliage that rose above the couple as they looked about for something edible. At certain angles where their genitals could be visible, the censors had blurred them out, but just barely. It took me a bit of time to realize I was watching a reality show. A reality show!? I could not imagine who would want to be placed in a setting with no food or water, stripped of all their clothing and left to fend for themselves. And it was not just for a day and night, it was for a couple of weeks. As the program progressed there were a couple of shots of wild animals that were lurking by; but were they really lurking by I wondered. Obviously with the production company spending a bunch of money on the show, I am sure they would not want their contestants killed off in the first episode, or for that fact any episode I am guessing. Though if it would give a boost to ratings, who knows? I HOPE I DO NOT SOUND judgmental, but certain reality shows make no sense to me. Watching people make fools of themselves for a free trip or cash prize is not my thing. I remember at a health club where I was working out, they had one of their TV monitors on a channel that showed an obstacle course that was designed to knock the contestant off balance. This had nothing to do with strength or balance; the obstacles were more cartoonish like a huge foam hammer that would pound the track the contestants had to walk on. Or there was a waterfall of some green slime that one had to run through despite the road being slippery from the gooeyness. The shows I tend to watch are more talent based like singing or dancing. Even shows that test mental capabilities, like searching for clues in a foreign city or figuring out a recipe to bake with only random food items the producers gave them, are types of reality shows I can watch. I could never see myself participating in any type of reality show, no matter how much money I was offered. And I especially would not participate in the show being done that the main character agreed to do in this comedy thriller. THE CHANCE OF WINNING ONE MILLION dollars was enough for Tommy, played by Jake Johnson (Safety Not Guaranteed, New Girl-TV), to agree to a dark web reality show and because he believed he had found a loophole that would keep him alive. With Andy Samberg (Palm Springs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) as Andy Samberg, Bjorn Johnson (The Passing Parade, Parallel Chords) as Magnus, John Hans Tester (Royal Pains-TV, The Man in the High Castle-TV) as Anders and Anna Kendrick (Woman of the Hour, Pitch Perfect franchise) as Maddy; this movie had an interesting mix of humor, satire and drama. Since Jake wrote and directed this picture, I expected his comedic timing to be on target and it certainly was perfect. I thought he and Anna had a good screen presence together. As the story moved to the last half, things started to break down for me. I do not know if I was simply getting bored or missing the point of the plot, but I felt myself becoming disengaged. It might have to do with some scenes feeling repetitive to me or it could be the fact that things became predictable. Either way, I was left with only an okay feeling after viewing this movie. It was not great nor was it horrible and that is my reality.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Anyone But You
THROUGH THE ENTIRE DINNER, I PRAYED a fight would not break out at my table. Two of the seated guests had dated for a brief time; their relationship ended badly. I was friends with both and heard each of their complaints about the other. There was no way I was going to get in the middle, so stayed neutral without voicing an opinion. Anytime one of them asked me a loaded question, I deflected and answered with a question back at them. This was their battle and there was no reason for me to be a part of it. The hosts for this dinner party did not know the two guests were not on speaking terms. However, most of our table guests knew as we shot side glances at each other whenever the vibe neared a hostile state. Instead of keeping their mouths shut for the sake of the other guests, these two former partners would make snide remarks about the other one, who happened to be seated directly across. I wanted to just tell them to be adults for one evening and not spoil things for the rest of the guests, including the hosts. Some of us tried to ignore this former couple’s antics, but it still was uncomfortable and made eating the meal stressful, as if a ticking timebomb was about to explode in front of us. Once I finished the last course, I excused myself and went to talk to a few friends who were seated at another table. MY EXPERIENCES WITH BEING IN THE same space as an ex were less dramatic. Gratefully, most of the relationships I was in ended amicably; and the ones that did not, attitudes softened as the years went by. The only uncomfortable meeting I had was at a funeral service, of all places. My ex and I were both friends with this person whose mother had died. We both knew we would see each other at the memorial service. When I arrived, they were already in the room. Since this was the first time seeing each other after our rough breakup, I really did not want to have a conversation. It turned out neither did they. I quickly figured out they were watching me because wherever I walked in the room, they would move away to maintain us being on opposite sides of the room. Yes, I know it sounds and probably is ridiculous, but I was fine with it. There was nothing to say to each other and frankly I was there for our mutual friend, to support her in her time of sorrow. Since the service lasted around one hour, it was easily doable. If it was an occasion that would have taken longer, such as the one in this romantic comedy, then it might have been a different story for me. AFTER HAVING A FANTASTIC FIRST NIGHT together, a couple’s morning spirals down to a new low for each of them. Angry and bitter, they never see each other again, until by a rare coincidence, they are each invited to the same wedding. With Sydney Sweeney (Americana, Euphoria-TV) as Bea, Glen Powell (Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick) as Ben, Alexandra Shipp (Shaft, tick, tick…Boom!) as Claudia, Hadley Robinson (Little Women, Moxie) as Halle and Dermot Mulroney (The Getback, The Family Stone) as Leo; this film had the appearances of a fun time. The two main stars had appeal and were equally matched. There were a few fresh moments; but overall, the writers stuck to a formulaic pattern. Much of the story was predictable, though there were a few tender scenes that had a little more oomph to them. What kept me interested in this film were certain parts of the dialog and some of the antics, which by the way, I hope I never find myself in such situations, where I would have to deal with such things.
2 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Genie
AT FIRST, I ADMIRED HIS DEDICATION to his job. He had been with the company for decades, rising the ranks until he was promoted to an upper management position. We were friends and considering the background he grew up in, I was both impressed and proud of his achievements. In his newest position, he was now responsible for over 150 employees. Early in our careers we would get together quite often to talk about our jobs. We would swap stories about the crazy things we each saw taking place at our companies. I told him about the receptionist at my company who would be high on drugs while managing the switchboard. On her break she would go outside and smoke a joint or drop acid, come back to her desk, and continue with her work. She purposely wore tinted glasses so no one would see her eyes, but I could tell when she was high because she would always be giggling. The day I told him about this employee was the day he did not have a story that could top mine. In fact, occasionally, he would call my office just to hear the switchboard operator speak and guess if she were high. As far as I knew, no one else in the company knew about the operator’s extra activities during her breaks; she stayed with the company for four years before resigning to take a job somewhere else. AS THE YEARS PASSED BY, MY friend and I had less and less contact. With each of his promotions, he was taking on increased responsibilities and less and less time off. His job started including some travel, to various branch locations where he had employees working remotely. It was a demanding job, but he was being appropriately compensated. I did notice; however, he was losing touch with several of his friends. After years of not being available they moved on without him. When it came time for him to retire, he mentioned he would work at getting back in touch with everyone. Sadly, he only enjoyed retirement for eight months before he passed away. I was sad that he never got to really enjoy living life because of all the constant working he had done. And the interesting thing, his story was familiar to me. I knew other people who wound up in similar situations. Another friend of mine’s wife divorced him because he was never around, always working. Like I used to mention in my yoga classes, yoga helps us with balance, balance in class and in life. You can see an example of what happens when someone is only focused on one aspect of their life in this comedy fantasy film. AFTER HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER LEAVE for a trial separation, a workaholic must find a way to win them back. The answer may have already been sitting in their house under his fingertips. With Melissa McCarthy (The Little Mermaid, The Kitchen) as Flora, Paapa Essiedu (Men, The Lazarus Project-TV) as Bernard, Denee Benton (Our Friend, The Gilded Age-TV) as Julie, Jordyn McIntosh (Unprisoned-TV, Abbott Elementary-TV) as Eve and Alan Cumming (The Anniversary Party, Rare Objects) as Flaxman; this movie was meant to be a holiday charmer for this year. The cast was wonderful together and Melissa gave it her all, putting her comedic timing to clever use. However, the script was so basic that there was nothing new offered for the viewer. Many scenes were predictable and did not provide much laughter, or even chuckles. If it were not for the cast and especially Melissa, I would have gotten bored. Despite my misgivings, I thought this still was an easy and light picture to sit through and on some level, I enjoyed parts of it and especially liked the message it was trying to convey.
2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Totally Killer
THE MAN IN THE PHOTO WAS a college football player. He was fit and trim with wisps of hair trailing out under the back of his helmet. What was shocking about the photo was the fact he was my friend’s father, and I could not see any resemblance to the man that was standing next to me. I am not talking about graying hair or wrinkles; the man next to me was short and slightly hunched over. The excess weight he carried was stored in his belly; it hung prominently in front of his frame. His gait since I had known him was unsteady; there were times where I saw him struggling to get up from a chair. The man in the photo compared to the one I knew were polar opposites. Granted, I was not privy to any health issues he might have; but it literally looked like two different individuals. What makes me curious about such a difference is what kind of life did they live to get to their present state. Absolutely, one’s career can affect one’s health. I knew a person who experienced health issues like heartburn, headaches and dizziness Monday through Friday, the days they were at work. Let me just say, stress can seriously damage a person. I guess I am fascinated when a person has a dramatic physical change over the years. THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT GIVES me an equal amount of surprise or shock. When someone I know, whether they are an acquaintance, relative or business associate, reveals something unexpected that never occurred to me. For example, a friend’s father who to me was this quiet, older gentle man told me he used to work for the United Nations as an interpreter, having studied seven different languages. There were times he sat in on meetings just so he could hear exactly what international diplomats were saying to each other: I was stunned. It sounded like espionage to me. All I knew about him was he owned a few apartment buildings. It was not like I was making any assumptions about his life; it was just what I observed when I was around him. I think the other reason this kind of stuff fascinates me is because the adults are parents and what child imagines their parents doing something exotic or wild in life. When I see old photographs of friends’ relatives and see them in a different light, it looks like they almost had an alter ego. I think it would be wild if we were able to see our parents and relatives when they were so young. The results could be eye opening, which happened to the daughter in this comedic horror film. WHEN AN ACCIDENT TRANSPORTS A DAUGHTER back in time, she will need the help of her now teen mother to try and solve why a killer has returned after so many years. With Kiernan Shipka (Wildflower, Mad Me-TV) as Jamie Hughes, Olivia Hold (Same Kind of Different as Me, Cloak & Dagger) as Pam Miller, Charlie Gillespie (Love You Anyway, Suze) as Teen Blake Hughes, Lochlyn Munro (A Night at the Roxbury, White Chicks) as Adult Blake Hughes and Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson (Let’s Scare Julie, Big Sky-TV) as Teen Lauren Creston; this movie was a surprise for me. With the mashup of genres and a smart script, I enjoyed watching this picture with its well-placed actors. There were amusing parts sprinkled into the serial killer scenes that gave off a freshness to the story. The acting was good, and I really enjoyed the fun factor. It was as if the writers took a little bit from Back to the Future, mixed it in with the Scream franchise, then added their own twist that provided me with almost two hours of enjoyment. After watching this film, maybe it is not always a good idea to see what one’s parents were like when they were young.
3 stars
moviejoltz 