Flash Movie Review: Oppenheimer
I BARELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT HER BOOK report was about, but I still enjoyed hearing her speak it. She was talking about cross-pollination and plants; I looked at the classmates within my field of vision to see if any of them looked like they understood what she was talking about. It was hard to tell. Some students were looking down at their desks, others were playing with their pens, twirling, or fidgeting with them. When she finished her report, the teacher commended her and said it was highly informative. I wondered, “For who?” I found it funny; because when talking to her, you would not necessarily know how smart she really was. I was friends with her and never felt like she was talking down to me or about topics and things that were complex and mystifying. She was like any of the other students in class. I knew she was a straight “A” student; I could not imagine her getting a lesser grade. Anytime we were together with our group of friends and there was a disagreement between a couple of them, she was the voice of reason. More times than not she was able to negotiate a compromise that both parties agreed to without feeling like they were getting cheated out of something. It was a skill I wished I could do. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I ENTERED the workforce that I discovered some super smart individuals were not nice people. At one of my first jobs, there was a man who claimed he was highly intelligent. I did not know, because he rarely talked to me; but I was able to hear him talking when he was near my area of the warehouse. To tell you the truth, I was glad he rarely spoke to me because he was arrogant with a mix of disdain. The way he would talk to employees was nauseating; talking to some like they were infants in this cloying, sadistic baby voice. If his claim of being so smart was true, then I could never understand why he wound up in sales. Not to say there was anything wrong with sales; but I would have thought he would have done something different for a profession. He may have been the first I encountered in my work history, but he was not the last. I met several people who possessed a high intellect. A few appeared to be on the spectrum; others had no sense of humor. There was a wide variety of individuals and characteristics. I appreciated the ones who could talk about something that I was not familiar with but said it in such a way that made it easier to comprehend. From watching this dramatic biography, I would have been fascinated to listen to what the main character had to say. And it turns out it was a good thing people listened. DURING WORLD WAR II AN AMERICAN scientist was drawn into a secret project that could change the world forever. It was a huge responsibility. With Cillian Murphy (The Delinquent Season, Peaky Blinders-TV) as J. Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt (Jungle Cruise, Mary Poppins Returns) as Kitty Oppenheimer, Matt Damon (Air, Ford v Ferrari) as Leslie Groves, Robert Downey Jr. (Dolittle, Iron Man franchise) as Lewis Strauss and Aiden Ehrenreich (Cocaine Bear, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Senate Aide; this history driven film started out rough for me. Not being a fan of jumping back and forth in time, the first 30 minutes made me wonder what all the talk was about for this picture. But then, the script kicked into gear and the actors took their characters and soared with them. The acting, the filming, the direction and soundtrack were all outstanding. Knowing nothing about the story except for the main character’s name, I was fascinated with what was being depicted on the big screen. While I sat in the theater, the thought came across me that I was watching a great film. What a monumental moment in history and the director Christopher Nolan captured it perfectly.
3 ½ stars
Flash Movie Review: Wham!
WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER IN fitness, I did not have the goal to be the best in my field. On the contrary, I did not have the confidence to ever consider it. My hope was that no one would laugh at me. Now I did have a vision that kept me going; I wanted to create a safe space where everyone, no matter what their fitness level was, could be themselves and do their best while having a good time. Looking back at the classes I taught, I believe I achieved that goal. What I did not have was the drive to increase my exposure, such as working to be a fitness presenter at workshops and conversations. To do that, I would have had to collaborate with professionals in the fitness and medical worlds to create a presentation that was certified and safe. This would have taken up a good portion of my time that I did not want to give up. Seeing and getting to know some of the presenters, I realized I was not cut out to take on such an endeavor. The drive and motivation some of these individuals possessed was simply intense. It also included a strong sales personality which I absolutely did not have inside of me. MOST EVERYONE I MET IN THE fitness world achieved their level of skill from putting in challenging work. I cannot say they were all talented, except it usually was a necessity to have a sense of rhythm. It was not like they were born with the skills to lead a fitness class, unlike a singer or painter. The reason I say this is because there was a woman who had a gorgeous singing voice. Compared to her classmates, her singing ability was beyond anything the other students could achieve. Once you heard her sing, you would be convinced she would go far. Now, she had a dream of performing on Broadway, ever since she was a little girl. In school, there was never a school production that did not include her. The teachers realized they could not keep casting her as the lead, but they were reluctant to choose other students because they knew it would not be the same. Gratefully, they did give other students a chance at being the lead. She did not mind, but she always learned the score in case something happened, and they needed to find someone to fill in. Her dedication was commendable, and it paid off because right after college, she was cast in a Broadway musical. She was in the ensemble but was the understudy for one of the female leads. BECOMING FRIENDS IN SCHOOL, GEORGE MICHAEL and Andrew Ridgeley both had a love for music and decided they wanted to become the biggest pop stars in the world. They had stiff competition with Elton John, Tina Turner, Prince, and Whitney Houston. Directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond); this music documentary was not only enjoyable to watch, but it provided me a flashback of a different era with some incredible music. With interviews and archival footage, I had no idea how devoted the two friends were to their craft and dreams. Whenever I watch a documentary about a well-known celebrity, it is a real treat for me to get the back story to that person’s famous contributions. I loved hearing how the two created their songs, besides getting insight into their insecurities and fears. This biography’s primary focus was the years Wham was in existence; it does not follow George and Andrew as they go their separate ways. I would have appreciated getting a deeper picture of their internal dramas, both at home and in business. It would have been interesting to see what the boys were doing prior to becoming friends. However, the lack of this did not deter me from enjoying watching and reliving the music they created. If you are not a fan of this group, then you will not care to see this biography. But if you are, then this film can put you in a happy place before you must go go.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: 65
THERE WERE NO MORE THAN A dozen small cages, but they were my fantasyland. In our neighborhood was a park that had a children’s zoo in the middle of it. I knew all the animals before I was even enrolled in kindergarten. Among the animals there was one bear, one llama, one peacock and one monkey. Since this was my first exposure to a zoo, I was enthralled with the variety of animals. I could spend hours sitting and watching them, though there was not much they could do. The bear would pace from side to side in its cage and the monkey could only climb on the front bars of its cage or the tire that was suspended from the ceiling of its enclosure. At that early age, it never occurred to me how awful their lives must have been. There was only one animal per cage; they had nothing to stimulate them. No playmates, toys, or suitable landscapes to help them pass the time. One of the things I remember distinctly was throwing shelled peanuts into the bear’s cage. At some point the bear must have realized I was the one who was throwing the peanuts because they walked to the side of the cage where I was standing and stood up with its front paws on the bars. I would try to toss the peanuts directly into its mouth. It was one of the biggest highlights of all the times I spent at the park and zoo. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I WAS older that I realized how horrific the conditions were for those animals at that neighborhood zoo. By the time I graduated elementary school, I had seen enough zoos to know which excelled in their treatment of their animals. I know there is some controversy about even having zoos, but I will not go into it here. In the city where I lived, there were two zoos; one was in the heart of the city and the other was situated in a western suburb. These zoos were the first that I experienced that did away with metal bars. Instead, the animals lived in habitats that were recognizable to the animals. They had landscaped outside areas with entryways that led to indoor glass enclosed pens. The animals looked healthier and, in a way, appeared more alive if that makes sense. For the animals that were born to climb, there were artificial or real trees with vines hanging down. Some holding areas had water coursing through like a small stream or river. Recently on a trip, I went to a well known zoo that looked like I was on the live set of The Lion King; it was amazing. With the animals in this science fiction, adventure drama; I felt like I was at something closer to that little zoo from my neighborhood. ON AN ASSIGNMENT TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE to a different planet, a pilot crash lands on Earth. However, it was Earth during prehistoric times. He would have to navigate his way through the terrors of the land to find a way off the planet. With Adam Driver (Star Wars franchise, Marriage Story) as Mills, Ariana Greenblatt (Love and Monsters, The One and Only Ivan) as Koa, Chloe Coleman (My Spy, Marry Me) as Nevine and Nika King (Euphoria-TV, Greenleaf-TV) as Nevine’s Mom; this movie was a misfire. Though I appreciated the cast’s efforts, the story was predictable and pretty much a rehash of similar films that have been shown before. The drama and thrills were lower intensity instead of higher. There were times I felt I was watching a poor version of one of the Jurassic Park films; I was bored several times. It was too bad because I was initially intrigued by the story’s premise. The only reason I can think of watching this film is if you have any children fascinated with dinosaurs or if you cannot find anything else to watch.
1 ½ stars
Flash Movie Trailer: The Miracle Club
WE MET THEM THROUGH A MUTUAL friend. They were friendly and had been together for decades. It turned out we had much in common and that is what sparked our budding friendship. We got together for several dinners and lunches since all of us wanted to explore the unfamiliar restaurants between our homes. Our times together always came with a guarantee of laughter and sharing of similar childhood memories. It was uncanny how our lives followed a similar path. I had been overweight and was picked on because of it; the two of them experienced the same thing in their schools. Between the four of us, two were previously married and divorced; so, there never was a lull in conversation. At some point they wanted to have us over for dinner. They told us how much they loved cooking and based on what they told me, I was a bit envious because they rarely used a recipe. They cooked food from a mix of instinct, taste, and experience. There was no way I could achieve such a degree of cooking; I needed a recipe that exactly listed the steps and ingredients. With the dinner date set, they checked in with us to ask about dietary restrictions and any likes or dislikes. It was sweet of them to make such an effort for us; we were getting excited as the date neared. THE MORNING OF THE DINNER DATE, we ate a light breakfast since the menu sounded extensive. Mid-morning, I received a text that they would have to cancel, and they were so sorry about it. One of them came down with a stomach bug where they could not keep food in them. It sounded awful and we felt bad for them. Of course, we were sad we were not getting together and tasting their lavish dinner. That night we wound up ordering a pizza for dinner; a significant difference compared to what was planned for us. The following day I was on one of my social media sites. As I was scrolling through my feed, I saw the couple had posted something an hour earlier. What I saw stunned me. There was a photo of them standing at a bank of slot machines and the caption above it said, “Winners at the gambling boat last night!” They lied to us so they could go gamble?!?! We were done with them; trust had been broken. Since then, they have reached out, pretending nothing happened; but we simply decline. It is as if they have re-written history to suit their interests. I have experienced other people who have this ability to rewrite history to make their lives easier. You can see an example of this for yourself in this comedic drama. LONG TERM FRIENDS ENTER THE CHURCH’S talent show hoping to win a trip to Lourdes, France to experience a miracle. But when their deceased friend’s estranged daughter suddenly appears, the odds of winning suddenly change. With Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me, The Dinner) as Chrissie, Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell, On the Basis of Sex) as Eileen Dunne, Maggie Smith (The Lady in the Van, Downton Abbey franchise) as Lily Fox, Agnes O’Casey (Lies We Tell, Ridley Road-TV) as Dolly and Mark O’Halloran (Adam & Paul, The Sparrow) as Fr. Dermot Byrne; this movie was worth the price of admission simply to watch the formidable cast show their acting abilities. They were incredible and took the charming script and elevated it despite the spots of predictability. Maggie, Kathy, and Laura were like a well-oiled machine; they did not even have to speak to convey full emotions. I also enjoyed the outdoor scenes of Ireland and France. This was a touching story about friendship, heartache and how people navigate between the two.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Being Mary Tyler Moore
SATURDAY NIGHT ON CAMPUS WAS THE day we would congregate in the Union Hall to watch the Mary Tyler Moore Show. The Union Hall had several televisions, and they were all tuned into the show. Students would plop down around each one; if there was not a seat available then the floor was just fine. It was a communal thing that I enjoyed immensely. From freshmen to grad students, everyone was there for a good time and Mary never disappointed us. Some students would bring snacks to share with the other students, usually popcorn or pretzels. Except for the munching sounds and laughter, no one said a word during the telecast; conversation was saved for the commercial breaks. After the show, some students would stick around to hold an informal discussion about the episode. I did not always stay for them because I was not the type to look deeply into the reasons why a character acted in a certain way. All I knew was Mary Richards was a different type of television character. She was self-sufficient; a single woman with a good job who represented a different type of female that had been portrayed on television previously. Also, the issues the characters had on the show were realistic ones that many of us could relate to in our own lives. Each character was fully developed and not simply a foil to the main character’s antics. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MARY Tyler Moore from the Dick Van Dyke show. With the show in reruns, I would watch the same episodes over and over. Because I loved Lucille Ball in, I Love Lucy, I quickly became fond of Mary because of her physical comedy skills. This was another television show where every character was a strong, identifiable one. The humorous situations were so clever and if I think about it, I felt they were more relatable. One of the things that I distinctly remember about the television show was the fact that Rob and Laura Petrie slept in separate beds, just like Lucy and Ricky Riccardo. It is funny what thoughts remain with us from childhood, but that is one that has always stayed with me. It was such an odd thing to me because I had never seen it anywhere before; no relative, nor any of my friends’ parents slept in separate beds. What surprises me the most is the fact that I can think of an episode from either of Mary’s shows and recall it perfectly. As you might imagine, I was excited to see this documentary about the actress for one of television’s enduring characters. THEY ALWAYS SAY THERE ARE TWO sides to every story; so, it was fascinating to hear Mary Tyler Moore talk about her career and life in this wonderful movie. Directed by James Adolphus (Little White Lie, Dating Around-TV) and written by James L. Brooks (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News), Allan Burns (Lou Grant-TV, He & She-TV) and newcomer Susan Silver, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this documentary. Because we tend to assume the actors are playing themselves in some way, it was interesting to see what Mary was dealing with in life during her career. Using film clips, interviews and home movies; there was a good balance of information on display here. I will say, the script did feel a bit sanitized to the point where I was sitting and wondering at times if Mary had that much control over her emotions and feelings. On the other hand, I loved hearing the tidbits about how things came into fruition in her life. If nothing else, this movie absolutely shows the drive and determination Mary had to further her career. If one is not a fan of Mary, then I do not believe they would enjoy watching this documentary. But if you are, then you will absolutely fall in love with America’s sweetheart.
3 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Joy Ride
WE MET AT A SCHOOL EVENT for alumni. I had not seen her for over a decade, but she looked the same as I remembered her. She was a transfer student who arrived in the middle of the school year; so, you can imagine how difficult it was for her for multiple reasons. All the reasons paled in comparison to the one big reason that was the most visible. She was of a different race who came from a different country. To me, that was not the biggest difference; it was her size. As far as I could tell she looked like she was going to be the tallest and widest girl in the whole student body. My immediate thought was that she would get picked on for it. We became friendly during the lunch hour; like me, she would walk home for lunch. The first thing I said when I walked up to her at the alumni event was asking if she was going to eat here or walk home for a meal. She laughed and asked me if I brought any of my mother’s homemade sugar cookies with me. We both got a good chuckle out of that as we asked each other how life was treating us. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD in common was the fact we both felt like outsiders in school. In our own way, we each tried to fit in but never quite made it. I told her how I learned how to be comfortable in my own skin and had a strong supportive group of friends around me. She told me about her journey to self-acceptance that followed a similar path to mine. The exception was she was married, having found someone who loved her unconditionally. I congratulated her and was genuinely happy for her. I remembered some of the challenges she had to endure in our young school years. We discovered we both had some anxiety about attending this alumni event. When one feels different compared to the other students, it holds them back from exploring who they are and takes away so much energy that would have been better used for positive endeavors. Walking into this event, we both had wondered how we would be perceived; as a happy, comfortable adult or as the quiet oddball back from school. It occurred to us that this was nothing to worry about because we finally felt secure in who we were as human beings. The process I went through made me aware of what the main stars were experiencing in this racy, comedy film. A BUSINESS TRIP TO HER BIRTH mother’s homeland would provide an opportunity for self-discovery for an up-and-coming lawyer. The trip would influence everyone who traveled with her. With Debbie Fan (Aftermath, Reasonable Doubt-TV) as Jenny Chen, Annie Mumolo (This is 40, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) as Mary Sullivan, Ashley Park (Emily in Paris-TV, Mr. Malcolm’s List) as Audrey, Sherry Cola (Good Trouble-TV, Claws-TV) as Lolo and Stephanie Hsu (Asking for It, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Kat; the script for this film had some outrageous moments. The humor was raunchy and funny as the cast worked well together. What surprised me was underneath the comedy and general craziness there was a heartfelt story line. Granted some scenes were far-fetched but the dialog never lost its smart and savvy swag. In the past this type of story would have been led by a male cast; it was refreshing to see the story dominated by strong female characters. The strong language and pronounced sexual tension scenes might be a turn-off for some viewers, but it would be worth it to sit and see what was going to happen to this group of friends.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE wedding where I was struck by nostalgic waves of a time from years ago. The wedding was beautiful, and my first sense of nostalgia was when I entered the venue. A man was seated by a baby grand piano, playing a variety of classic songs. Sitting on top were several framed photos of the wedding couple’s deceased parents. Seeing how the parents were dressed reminded me of a celebratory time when my family and I were attending a relative’s wedding and we were all dressed up. I was wearing a new suit and it was the first time I got to wear a tie with it; granted, it was one of those ready-made ties that clip onto the shirt. In attendance at the wedding, were many relatives of mine. Being together was a comforting feeling. For the ones that were close in age to me, there was a long history of us sticking together and sitting at the same table during meals. We talked about when we were kids and had to sit at the “kid’s table” away from the main dining table. Usually, one aunt or uncle would keep tabs on us to make sure we were behaving and eating the food on our plates. AFTER DINNER AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION, there were several events planned by the wedded couple. One of them was a family photo. I cannot describe the feelings I got when the DJ called up all the family members to the dance floor for a group photo. With the photographer and his assistant getting everyone arranged to be visible, showing off their best side, I was teleported back in time at an earlier staging for a family photo. Looking around at the relatives standing next to me, I could see and remember how they looked when we were all much younger. The feeling was incredible. I even remember one of the family photos we all sat in, I was seated on the floor, and I was the only one who was not smiling. In fact, I looked miserable as if I had been crying. Right after the photographer took the picture, I was taken home and a doctor was called to the house. It turned out I had strep throat and to this day, I remember how awful it felt. That photo that was taken hangs on the wall in the hallway of our home. Though I was sick, the memories and nostalgic feelings I had being around a familiar family outweighed any negative feelings about being ill. This same type of nostalgic feeling was strong through me as I was experiencing it multiple times throughout this action-adventure movie. DESPITE BEING OF RETIREMENT AGE, ARCHAEOLOGIST Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford (The Call of the Wild, Ender’s Game), must travel the world to reach a legendary artifact before it falls into the wrong hands and changes the course of history. With Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Goodbye Christopher Robin, Fleabag-TV) as Helena, Antonio Banderas (The Skin I Live in, The Laundromat) as Renaldo, Karen Allen (Year by the Sea, Starman) as Marion and Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round, Doctor Strange) as Dr. Voller; this latest installment of the film franchise did not have the sharp humor and directorial prowess of Steven Spielberg; however, it did provide a ton of thrills and action sequences. The first 20 minutes were exhilarating and after that the story went from one chase scene to another to another to another. It got to be too repetitive for me; gratefully they were well choreographed and several of them had sly references to the earlier films. Ultimately, if you are a fan of this franchise then you will enjoy this one. Besides Harrison and Mads being perfect, the nostalgic factor was too big for me not to like it.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Price We Pay
ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES FROM when I was a small child was going to the butcher shop and fish market. At such a small age it did not really register with me that the items on display were originally breathing and living things. They looked more like cartoon characters. The fish market had crates filled with crushed ice all around the room, and a huge table in the center with similar crates. I was always amazed with the variety of fish that were lying on top of the ice. So many different colors and shapes, with these open eyes staring out; in my mind they were frozen stiff. There were men working behind the counters filled with ice. Dressed in white aprons, they would lift the fish the customers were pointing at and do something with them that many times involved a whacking sound. After a moment there was the sound of paper ripping in the air and the butcher would turn back around with the fish wrapped up in stiff brown paper, tied with a string. All of them worked in unison like a well-oiled machine as the process went smoothly. I never wanted to touch any of the fish; the smell was enough to make me keep my distance. THE BUTCHER SHOP HAD A MYSTIQUE that aligned more with my imagination. There always were soft downy chicken feathers floating around people’s feet. I used to walk around the shop just to stir up the feathers, making it appear like I was walking in a field of cottonwood seeds and dandelion fluff. It was easier to focus on the chicken feathers than seeing the row of bare chickens hanging from a rack enclosed in a glass case. Except for the chickens, nothing else looked like an animal except for the tray filled with tongues in the deli section. When I found out that pile of meat was from an animal’s tongue and people would willingly eat it for a meal, I got sick to my stomach. It mentally scarred me where I disliked having to go to the shop. Also, it did not help that most meats on display were red colored. As I got older, the store represented more of a torture chamber than a neighborhood retail establishment. Seeing a butcher slicing, deboning and cutting meat products was creepy. Customers would walk out with these odd, shaped packages that were wrapped in waxy paper that came from a large dispenser that looked like a carpet roll. No matter how gross things appeared in the butcher shop back then, I would rather be locked up and forced to watch the butchers all day than see this grotesque, bloody horror movie. WHEN THEIR HEIST DOES NOT GO as planned, the robbers and their hostage find a farmhouse to lie low in until things die down. However, they would find something that was terrorizing to them. With Emile Hirsch (American Night, Into the Wild) as Alex, Stephen Dorf (Don’t Go, World Trade Center) as Cody, Gigi Zumbado (A Night to Regret, Bridge and Tunnel-TV) as Grace, Vernon Wells (The Christmas Tapes, Weird Science) as the Doctor and Tyler Sanders (Just Add Magic-TV, The Rookie-TV) as Danny; this action thriller was more horror than action thriller. I thought Gigi had the best screen presence and did not mind the beginning of the film. However, the turn it soon took was horrible. Besides showing nothing different in this genre, there were non-believable scenes, poorly written scenes and a bare budget look to the movie. I strongly reacted to the gory and bloody, torturous scenes. It felt to me like the writers and director just wanted to see if they could get a reaction out of the viewer. Well, they did; I was sorry I spent the time watching this putrid picture. And the fact Emile was one of the producers made me question his mental capabilities. This was the worst film that I have seen in the past year.
1 star
Flash Movie Review: Elemental
WHEN SHE TOLD ME SHE AND her family were planning to move to the city, I was surprised. Not that there was anything wrong with the city where we both were born; however, it was not the trend anyone in the family was doing. As far as I knew, both families and friends were moving further and further north and west of the city. I did not understand the trend, assumed it was following new construction. Nevertheless, when I asked my relative why they were moving from the suburbs back to the city, she said she did not want her children to grow up in a neighborhood like she had when she was small. Seeing the confusion on my face, she explained to me that there was nothing wrong with her childhood neighborhood, but it was not the real world. Almost everyone she knew growing up was the same religion and race; there was little diversity, and she wanted her kids to be exposed to people from all parts of the world. Thinking about my childhood home, I began to understand what she was trying to do. The neighborhood she planned on moving to was known as a diverse neighborhood; it was a conglomeration of various ethnic and religious groups. Instead of buying a house, she and her husband decided to buy a three flat, so the kids would learn the ways of living with neighbors. I had to admire my relative’s determination in creating a meaningful life lesson for her children. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS RELATIVE WHEN I was living on my own. One of my first places to live was in a two flat in the city. I lived on the 2nd floor; the landlord and his family on the first. In one of the hotspots of the world our two religions were at war; however, here in the city we were friendly and neighborly with no issues. In fact, we both were curious to learn about the other’s customs and beliefs. I could not help but think about what my relative was trying to achieve with her children, to instill respect and acceptance in people who were not the same as themselves. It really was an admirable goal. My thoughts triggered a memory I had from elementary school, when a new student was introduced to our class. They were the first person of color to be enrolled at my school. Most of the students treated this new student like any other new student; but I can remember a few classmates who used to tease this new student. Those kids could have used my relative’s guidance in how to treat people. HER FAMILY WAS FROM FIRE AND his from water; two unlikely residents of the city who discovered the things they were led to believe all these years about the other were not necessarily true. With the city in danger, could they overcome their differences to help protect the residents in peril. With Leah Lewis (The Half of It, How to Deter a Robber) voicing Ember, Mamoudou Athie (Underwater, Jurassic: World Dominion) voicing Wade Ripple, Ronnie Del Carmen (Inside Out, Soul) voicing Bernie, Shila Ommi (The Illegal, Tehran-TV) voicing Cinder and Wendi McLendon-Lovey (Bridesmaids, Reno 911! -TV) voicing Gale; this latest animated Pixar film had a beautiful message about immigrants and diversity. I appreciated how the writers spun these themes into the story. The visuals were interesting and at times stunning; however, compared to other movies of the same ilk, this one did not overwhelm me. I did not get a strong sense of contrasts in the emotional and dramatic scenes. There was decent humor but nothing memorable. This comedy, adventure movie’s strength was the story line; it was sweet and charming, with a touch of insightfulness to stimulate the viewer’s mindset.
3 stars
moviejoltz 