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Flash Movie Review: Jurassic World Rebirth
THE WAY SHE SAID “HI” TO ME, told me she did not recognize me. Instead of saying my name, she said hers, as an introduction. I looked into her eyes and replied “hi” it is Jordan. Her face transformed from momentary confusion to shock to bubbling joy; she lunged and put her arms around me, saying over and over, she could not believe I was there.When she moved back from hugging me, I smiled and she said she now recognized me because of my dimples. We had not seen each other in close to forty years. However, in our early years when we were not even enrolled yet in elementary school, we lived and grew up in the same apartment building. We were related because my mother and her father were siblings. We spent so much time together, from holidays to weekends plus many times after school. I was over to their apartment for dinner just as much as they came over to our place. Our foundation was vast and strong, filled with so many memories, both happy and sad. We were at a celebration of life memorial, in a small banquet room that was off of the dining room of a well established restaurant. There were on the average thirty to forty people milling about at any given time. Despite the crowd, we managed to get a little history about each other including spouses and children. it was such a surreal experience for me. ALL THE WAY HOME AND THROUGH the rest of the week, I kept getting a variety of memories about her when we were children. Honestly, if she had not introduced herself, I would have had to take a second look at her before going up to her; the transformation from child to senior citizen was more dramatic since there were no reference points established through the decades between. It is funny what a child will remember. We were playing outside in front of our building when her grandmother from the other side of the family came out to give her some candy before she was going to go home. I was standing right next to her but the grandmother never offered me any which hurt my feelings. Over the following years, I made a point of never being anywhere near the woman, having grown a strong dislike of her. Truth be told, a hatred of her for not giving me any candy. Luckily, there were so few times I saw her that eventually she slipped into the recesses of my mind. Plus, the good memories I had growing up far outweighed the negative ones. These reactions were so similar to the ones I was having as I viewed this latest installment of the action, adventure franchise. A SMALL EXPEDITION MADE UP OF individuals from different backgrounds, agreed to navigate isolated waters to extract DNA from forgotten creatures, to be used in what would hopefully be a revolutionary medical breakthrough. The crew, however, each had their own reasons for agreeing to undertake such a dangerous mission. With Scarlett Johansson ((Fly Me to the Moon, Black Widow) as Zora Bennett, Mahershala Ali (Leave the World Behind, Green Book) as Duncan Kincaid, Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton-TV) as Dr. Henry Loomis, Rupert Friend (The Young Victoria, Pride & Prejudice) as Martin Krebs, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven, Widows) as Reuben Delgado; this science fiction film had excellent CGI effects working in its favor. The action scenes were exciting and thrilling, aided by a strong cast of actors. I enjoyed seeing the dinosaurs and felt the action scenes were well choreographed. On the negative side, the script was a letdown. Every character was transparent, making it easy to immediately know what the character would do in every scene. The dialog was basic, avoiding any kind of depth, both mentally and emotionally. Despite these flaws, I still had a good time watching this on the big screen.
2 3/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Accountant 2
THE OPPORTUNITIES SHE WAS MENTIONING WERE ones that never occurred, let alone been uttered, when I was in school. She talked about having multiple aides in the classroom whose sole purpose was to work individually with one assigned student. There were plans laid out for the student with goals and rewards to help their progression. The thing that amazed me the most was her telling me the other students in the classroom were aware of these group of students’ special needs. When I was growing up, I do not recall ever hearing the terms autism or on the spectrum. My science class was the only place I heard about spectrums and it had nothing to do with where a student might lie on the autism spectrum. Not one teacher ever broached the subject and it never appeared in any of our textbooks. This relative telling me about the things available for special needs students is an elementary school teacher. Out of a class of twenty-five students, there are six that need extra attention. The stories she told us about these students varied from heartbreaking to amazing. One student cannot sit still and focus for more than ten seconds before something else draws their attention away; there has not been one test they have passed since attending the school. Another student has little self control, yelling out of turn and fidgeting constantly in their seat. At least, these students have help from the moment they enter the school until the time they leave. FROM HER STORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS, I sat back and thought about the students that were in my classes. I now can say with certainty there were students who were on the spectrum. I have no idea if they were assessed or not, but there never was any extra help for them, nor did any of the students know what was going on with them. Instead, the majority of them were labeled losers, dorks, and other words that simply are too inappropriate to mention here. They were picked on and teased, some to a horrific level of abuse. The other students knew something was wrong but without any guidance, their imaginations came up with reasons these students acted the way they did. Stuff like, they were dropped on their head at birth or the doctors had to use a large set of pliers to get them out of their mother’s stomach. When I think about it, it was truly an awful, even at times hostile, environment for these kids. And the sad thing about all of this is when I graduated to being a high school freshman, I never saw any of those elementary students in the high school. After seeing this dramatic thriller, I think if any of those past students in my elementary school classes who were on the spectrum had the skills the main character had in this sequel, they would have had such an easier time in the school. WHEN HER BOSS IS FOUND DEAD, with a cryptic message sprawled on his arm, a treasury agent finds herself working with a man who does not follow the rules to solve the perplexing mystery. With Ben Affleck (Deep Water, This is Me…Now) as Christian Wolff, Jon Bernthal (The Amateur, Origin) as Braxton, Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Colombiana, The People We Hate at the Wedding) as Marybeth Medina, J.K. Simmons (Red One, Juror #2) as Ray King, and newcomer Allison Robertson as Justine; this action crime mystery had a hefty dose of the first movie built into it. The difference was the added cast members; they provided an interesting and at time humorous mix to the story. These is a lot of violence and blood in this picture, so if you can get past that, the movie can be entertaining. It helped that the story line had a pull the heartstring factor in it because there were times the script felt clunky and farfetched. The surprise for me was when the script did a 180 degree turn and had touching moments; those moments could have even been explored further in this film and I would not have minded. For pure escapism and some interesting performances, this picture kept my attention as long as I did not think about it too much.
2 3/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: Anora
DIVORCED ONE DAY AND WAS MARRIED three months later. I already knew it would never work out. You see, my friend had been in a non-working marriage. The two of them had such polar opposite views that it was hard for them to find common ground. The one thing they had in common was they were both stubborn, which was not helpful in their situation. She was sociable; he was not. I do not necessarily think that would be a big stumbling block, but for them it was because neither one would compromise. Part of being in a relationship is sometimes we do things we do not like to please our partner; in their case, neither one was willing to help the other. Seeing them get a divorce was a good thing, in my opinion. But before the ink was dried on the court papers, she met a man, and they started dating. I would have thought she would have had a period of mourning, or alone time to reflect on her choices and actions that were made before immediately jumping back into the dating pool, but she did not waste a moment. When she introduced me to her, by then, fiancée, I was flabbergasted. I did not get a good feeling about him; he had a negative energy that rubbed me the wrong way. Nonetheless, I kept my thoughts to myself and congratulated them on their engagement. MY SUSPICIONS WERE CONFIRMED SIX MONTHS into their marriage. After they had their honeymoon phase they bought a house. They took me to see it as it was being built. During our time together they were all ‘lovey-dovey” and seemed perfectly happy together. Knowing my friend as well as I do, I sensed something was off, because she was so aggressive in her public displays of affection towards him. Things like having to hold hands all the time and little pet names for each other; I call this the teen school years period. Her actions did not come across as genuine; they were more for show. And sure enough six months into the marriage she started complaining about him. It started off as little complaints but several weeks later they were becoming major ones. She admitted to me she made a mistake by getting married so fast. I finally was able to have a deep conversation with her, mentioning he nor anyone else could fill the void in her heart. She had to love herself first before anyone else could love her. I shared my philosophy which is no one can make a person feel complete or make them happy; the individual must feel they are whole (or work at feeling whole) and accept who they are so they could love themselves before letting someone else love them. It is okay to be broken, but one must take responsibility to put in the work to become whole again. Six months later the two of them got divorced. I think my talk with her helped and if that is the case, I wished I had the opportunity to talk to the main character in this romantic comedic drama. AFTER MEETING AND MARRYING THE SON of a Russian oligarch, a young escort thought she could leave her former life behind. But when her husband’s parents hear about the marriage, they immediately plan to come to New York. With Mikey Madison (Scream, Better Things-TV) as Ani, Paul Weissman (The Final Equation, The Killing of Jacob Marr) as Nick, Yura Borisov (Guest from the Future, Centaur) as Igor, Lindsey Normington (Snuff Queen, Off Book) as Diamond, and Emily Weider (Art of Diversion, First Shift) as Nikki; this multiple Oscar winner surprised me. If I had published my Oscar picks, this film would not have been on my list. I thought the concept and script were good, but I must tell you the movie did not capture me like it evidently did with the Oscar voters. The acting was well done and felt authentic, but I still saw the characters as one dimensional. There also was a Cinderella touch to the story that I found charming, and I did feel Ani’s emotions by the end of the movie. Maybe if there had been less yelling and more depth to the script, I would have enjoyed it more, to the point where I felt it deserved its Oscar wins.
2 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Arthur the King
I BELIEVE IF I DO THE SAME thing every day then I will be able to do it for a long time. I must believe it will work. This is how I am wired; if I exercise every day, I will never not be able to when I am older. Just this week on the local news, they reported an eighty-year-old woman entered a half marathon for the first time in her life and completed it. That is what I am talking about. I never want my age to define me. Having taught in fitness centers for over thirty years, I have seen every variety of people’s exercise regiments. It has been inspirational to see seniors consistently show up on a regular basis to lift weights, cycle, jog, or take some type of fitness class. I have witnessed individuals in wheelchairs or on crutches maneuver themselves into a weight machine to lift weights. In one of my yoga classes, I had a member who was in her eighties and still flexible enough to easily do various poses. What motivates me is fear; the fear of having to depend on someone to help me get out of a chair or lift a grocery bag into my car. The fear of not being able to get up from sitting on the floor or climbing a stepstool to reach something high in a kitchen cabinet. These fears play in the back of my mind like constant companions. WITH MY BRAIN WIRED THIS WAY, I am aware that I must be realistic. There will be things I cannot maintain the same way as I did in my thirties or forties. When I was in my twenties, I could jog outside for over an hour. These days I jog on a treadmill, and I must alternate between jogging and power walking. With my years of teaching, I have always stressed smart exercising. I instinctively knew I could not continue to jump on concrete or hard floors without my legs getting damaged in some way. In class, I would demonstrate a high impact move then change to the low impact version for the duration of the routine. In my mind, I think I can get back to the form I had when I was teaching twenty classes a week, plus doing my own workout routine. I do not question myself because I need that image as fuel to motivate me on those days when I do not feel like going to the health club or cycling for an hour. I have always encouraged my members not to set a weight loss goal or maximum lifting weight; just continue moving and slowly improving your performances. Not knowing at first this film was based on a true story, I quickly fell in line wishing for the team’s success in this dramatic adventure sport film. HAVING NEVER WON AN ADVENTURE RACING COMPETITION, a competitor assembles a team one last time to make a go of it. And along the way they wind up with a fifth member. With Mark Wahlberg (The Family Plan, Joe Bell) as Michael, Simu Liu (Last Breath, Atlas) as Leo, Juliet Rylance (A Dog’s Purpose, Perry Mason-TV) as Helen, Nathalie Emmanuel (The Killer, Game of Thrones-TV) as Olivia, and Ali Suliman (Lone Survivor, The Swimmers) as Chik; the story in this film was written to draw the viewer in. I had never heard of this 425-mile race that takes place over ten days. That alone was enough for me to become attracted to this picture. The script was written to pull at the heartstrings and there was an element of predictability; however, this did not take away from the extraordinary experience the racers endured. The outdoor shots were beautiful, and the dog was something special. Personally, I cannot imagine participating in such a race, and I cannot understand why people would sign up for it. However, I am glad they did so this story could make it out into the general public and allow me to experience it vicariously. It was a wild ride that I still find hard to believe.
2 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Gladiator II
ANGER IS A TOOL THAT IF used carefully can fuel one in their endeavors. I firmly believe this since I am a product and result of it. Going through what I went through in school, my anger was nourished by the abuse and bullying I endured. Every time I was punched, kicked, and called a name, it only made my anger grow larger. Of course, no one saw it because I forced it to stay inside of me. Instead, I would excessively eat to stuff and keep my feelings down inside of me. I know this behavior is both typical and non-typical for others; but for me it worked, though ironically the more I ate to keep my feelings down, the more I was providing ammunition for the abusers and bullies to get meaner towards me. It was a vicious cycle. In the middle of this taking place, I had no idea my anger was plotting and nurturing my dreams, my dreams to just fit in with the rest of the school population. Sure, in my fantasy world I could hit a baseball farther than anyone else at school or be the fastest running back on the football team, but in the real world I felt I stood out because of my size, my hair, and my complexion dotted with acne. I just wanted to be invisible. Unbeknownst to me, anger had a plan. DURING THE EIGHTH GRADE SOMETHING HAPPENED inside of my brain. I wanted to wear clothes like everyone else, since many current fashions did not come in my size. So, I started exercising at home. A book I found at the library had photos with step-by-step instructions of different exercises like jumping jacks and sit-ups. Every day after school I would spend between 30-60 minutes doing various calisthenics. I never wavered or put off my exercising because my anger would not allow me. I wanted to show everyone I was not the things I was being called. My diet drastically changed where I got on this kick to drink hot bouillon for lunch with oyster crackers every day. I had read somewhere about not eating late, so I made a rule to finish eating at least five hours before I had to go to sleep. My other rule which again I had read in some magazine was not to put anything on top of things; in other words, eat a hamburger or hot dog plain with no catsup, mustard, pickles, etc. It took the entire school year and summer to lose weight; so, when it was time to start high school, I felt like I was a different person. This is what anger did for me and if you think that is something, please feel free to see what anger does for the main character in this epic action-adventure film. AFTER HIS HOME AND CITY WERE captured by the Romans, a man was forced to fight for his life in Rome’s colosseum. No one knew this man’s pedigree. With Paul Mescal (All of Us Strangers, Aftersun) as Lucius, Denzel Washington (The Equalizer franchise, The Magnificent Seven) as Macrinus, Pedro Pascal (The Uninvited, The Mandalorian-TV) as General Acacius, Connie Nielsen (Wonder Woman franchise, Role Play) as Lucilla, and Joseph Quinn (Overlord, A Quiet Place: Day One) as Emperor Geta; this drama was meant to be big and bold and seen on the big screen. I enjoyed the way the script wove in the original film’s story into this one where it made perfect sense. The acting was good by all, however, Denzel turned out to be the big eyecatcher of the group. He ate up his scenes. On the downside, the script dragged out the story way too long and had some ridiculous scenes, like the one with the shark(s). There was an overabundance of blood and gore which got tiresome. That with the script being predictable in places, made for a mixed viewing bag for me. This film did not catch all the pomp and glory of the original one.
2 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: The Six Triple Eight
IN PREVIOUS REVIEWS, I MENTIONED I spent time volunteering at various organizations around the city. I decided to do this to honor a special person who was no longer in my life. This individual was a volunteer who found themselves doing whatever needed to be done, from restocking office supplies to being support host to delivering food to those who were not able to provide for themselves. From the stories I heard, it was obvious my friend was making a difference in the lives of so many people; I felt an intense sense of pride in the work they were doing. So, when I decided to devote time to volunteering, I chose organizations that either meant something to my friend or were doing similar types of work to the places where they had volunteered. My first introduction as a volunteer was to get dressed up in a suit and tie and walk around at this organization’s annual fundraising event, selling raffle tickets. It was being held in a downtown hotel’s grand ballroom and I had to be there an hour before the doors opened. Having this be my first experience volunteering, quickly took away any anxiety or nervousness I was feeling. In fact, my only biggest worry was making sure I did not mess up when giving back change whenever someone was using cash to make a purchase. Outside of that, the evening went smoothly, and the volunteers even got fed as well. FROM THAT FIRST EXPERIENCE, MY NEXT commitment to volunteering was for an organization that provided medical and health needs for those on limited incomes. The organization, for the past few years, was accepting donations in the form of household products such as kitchenware, ceramics, and artwork. Someone in their marketing department came up with the idea of opening a pop-up resale shop and stock it with all the donations they had been collecting. I thought it was a great idea. A group of volunteers were chosen to head over to the retail space and set up displays all over the store, using the donations. When we arrived at the shop, we all gathered inside and went around stating what each of us would like to tackle first. I wanted to create displays after the items were unpacked; three other volunteers wanted to join me. We each took a corner of the store and got to work. I had an awesome time setting out the different pieces, creating settings such as a den, office, and kitchen. By the time we were done the place had been transformed into what looked like a model home for sale. Gratefully, all the volunteer assignments I had were a positive experience. Yet, after seeing this historical drama and seeing what the main characters endured during their stint, I was simply scratching the surface of volunteering. The women in this story were doing something monumental. WITH RAMPENT RACISM AND SEXISM BLANTLY on display, the Women’s Army Corp’s only Black battalion was sent overseas on a mission. No one expected them to succeed, which was why they were chosen. With Kerry Washington (American Son, The Prom) as Major Adams, Ebony Obsidian (If Beale Street Could Talk, Sistas-TV) as Lena Derriecott King, Milauna Jackson (A Jazzman’s Blues, Strike Back-TV) as Captain Campbell, Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things-TV) as Bernice Baker, and Shanice Shantay (Perfect Harmony-TV, The Wiz Live!-TV) as Johnnie Mae; this movie based on a true story needed a better script. The reason I say this is because the story was so much better than the film. Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the script had too many syrupy moments that were not necessary. The acting, however, was wonderful. Kerry was perfect in her role, commanding attention every time she was in a scene. I honestly cannot believe this important event in history had never been brought to light before. I could not stop thinking about this film after I was done watching it. A remarkable achievement that needed a stronger vehicle to carry its message. There was actual footage shown during the ending credits.
2 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Woman of the Hour
IT IS NOT LIKE I STUDIED FOR it or practiced it over and over again; it is just some feeling that directs my interactions with the world. Let me give you an example. I had an indoor gym set that essentially consisted of one weight stack, one bench, and various attachments to work the different muscle groups. One of my exercises on it was a lat pulldown, pulling a bar suspended above my head down until my arms formed a 90-degree angle. One day, I started to close my eyes and turn my face away from the weight stack in front of me as I pulled down the bar. I cannot tell you why, though it was odd, but it was something I started doing every time I did this exercise. After one week of doing this, the next time I went to start the routine by standing to reach the bar and bringing it down, the cable snapped. I was stunned. Because t had just grabbed the bar, there was little force, and the frayed cable end flopped down onto the bench that was between my legs. It suddenly occurred to me that if I had been sitting down exerting force by pulling down on the bar, that cable would have snapped right into my face. The crazy part was after I replaced the broken cable and sat to do the pulldowns, I was not aware at first that I did not close my eyes or turn my face away. I have no explanation. THIS SAME, LET ME CALL IT, phenomenon of feeling or sense happens with people. A friend of mine introduced her boyfriend to me after they had been dating for a few months. When I shook his hand in greeting them, I got a bad feeling. It was not something physical per se, more like a sense of dread, ache or ickiness. Every time we got together, I always had this bad feeling around him. I did not want to upset my friend while she was dating this man. However, as they started to settle into being a couple, some things started coming out. It turned out he was controlling and preferred having things his way. Whenever he did not get his way, he would pout and stew about it. Gratefully, my friend did not put up with such behavior for too long, though she went longer than I would have gone. So, you see, there is just something inside of me that protects me and helps me make decisions so I can avoid getting into a bad/uncomfortable situation. I know other people have this ability and you can see for yourself how it helps the main character in this crime mystery drama. TRYING TO BREAK INTO SHOW BUSINESS, an aspiring actress agrees to go on a televised dating show. She does not realize that her instincts just might save her life. With Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect franchise, Up in the Air) as Sheryl, Daniel Zovatto (Don’t Breathe, The Pope’s Exorcist) as Rodney, Tony Hale (Quiz Lady, Arrested Developments-TV) as Ed, Nicolette Robinson (One Night in Miami, Day of the Fight) as Laura, and Pete Holmes (Home Sweet Home Alone, Crashing-TV) as Terry; this film based on a true story was Anna’s directorial debut. She did an excellent job for her first time, building up tension while not showing graphic violence. Because of the script, I did not get a strong connection to the characters, and maybe that was done on purpose to focus more on the women, for the period of time the story was set in. The fact this was based on a true story made me sit and wonder what things must have been like back then; it was such a sad and crazy story. By the time the movie ended, I had the feeling that Anna could easily make a career out of being a film director.
2 ¾ stars
Flash Movie Review: Alien: Romulus
THE THREE OF US MET AT a restaurant housed in an historical building, dating back 1 ½ centuries ago. The structure was huge, originally built to house and store train locomotives. My friend and I were going to meet a childhood friend of his who I had only met a couple of times; they had a much longer history together than I did with my friend. Once we were seated at a table, we marveled at the original brick and limestone making up the walls. Huge wooden rafters crisscrossed above our heads, like a multi highway interchange, supporting the roof. I took a couple of photos while seated, using the wide angle setting to capture the vastness of the cavernous dining room. We caught up with each other on our current state of being while the waitstaff politely checked in wondering if we needed anything to start before ordering our meals. Each of us ordered a drink and decided to order our food choices as well because we were hungry. While we waited for the food to come, my friend and his friend began reminiscing about their childhood homes that were next to each other, wondering what they must look like now. Their conversation quickly became filled with memories they shared; I simply listened and enjoyed hearing about some of their antics. ONE OF THEIR STORIES WAS ABOUT the time they ran away with a shopping cart from a store and took turns riding it as the other one pushed. They went to a short side street in their neighborhood that was on a decline. Using the cart like a sled, without the capability of steering, each of them would sit in the cart and ride it down the street until it either tipped over or crashed into the curb. Their story triggered a memory of mine; a time where my friends and I took the lids off garbage cans and used them as saucer sleds down a hill we had in our neighborhood. We did not have to own sleds, the garbage can lids worked just as well, at least the metal ones. I shared my memories with them and as the day progressed, they mentioned several other stories that triggered my memories as well. Though I did not grow up with them, I could easily understand how they felt reliving their times together because I had had similar experiences with my friends. While watching this science fiction, horror thriller, I once again found myself reminiscing about my time years ago sitting in a theater and being petrified. A SMALL GROUP OF SPACE COLONISTS see an abandoned space station as a way out. However, once aboard they make a terrifying discovery that could have far-reaching consequences. With Cailee Spaeny (Civil War, Priscilla) as Rain, David Jonsson (Industry-TV, Deep State-TV) as Andy, Archie Renaux (Morbius, The Greatest Beer Run Ever) as Tyler, Isabela Merced (Instant Family, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) as Kay and Spike Fearn (Aftersun, Sweetheart) as Bjorn; this latest installment of the long running movie franchise had slick production values, which created scenes filled with dread and tension. The music and sound editing were perfect accompaniment as well. while the cast also worked well together. As for the script, there were references to the original film; however, I do not feel one needed to have seen it to understand what was going on in this one. The story took a long time to kick into gear, where I was teetering onto boredom, but things finally picked up in a big way. With thrills and fright, I found myself tapping into my memories of watching the 1979 film. I felt more connected to the past characters than the ones in this picture. However, the visual and audio stimuli kept me engaged along with my memories.
2 3/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: It Ends With Us
I LEARNED QUICKLY TO STAY OUT of one student’s line of sight. To this day, I do not understand how I did not become one of his targets, but whatever was watching over me, I am thankful. There is no other way to say this, but he was truly a mean kid. He would pick on students during PE classes, in the school hallways, on the school grounds; it did not matter who was around him. He was a real “alpha male” with his group of cronies who followed him everywhere, acting as his audience and cheering section. Through my years at the school, I only suffered his bullying once; I was not the direct target but was with a group of friends who all suffered his nastiness. After witnessing a few of his pranks on students, I started imagining what could have happened that made him turn out so mean. It was “normal” for him to trip or knock students down in the hallway. Another of his acts was to grab an unsuspecting student’s book, lunch bag, or personal item and throw it down a staircase. I always believed he was hoping the item would get trampled on by students on the way to their next classes. ONE COULD CALL IT LUCK OR fate, but whatever it was I happened to be in the right place at the right time. One day at the grocery store, I spotted him standing with a police officer. I assumed it was his father because they looked so much alike. Also, a police officer would not be yelling and slapping a perpetrator’s face in the middle of a crowded store. I was not close enough to hear everything since I was trying to remain partially out of their sight. The thing that struck me was how our school bully looked so timid and fearful; his “tough man” persona was gone. They soon left the store after making their purchases and I was left processing everything I had witnessed. I understood our bully was being bullied/abused by his father, which explained where he learned how to become a bully. It was not until my college years that I learned what the other ramifications could be by being a victim of an abusive parent. Whether he was taking out his frustrations on innocent students or trying to temporarily beef up his masculinity, it still did not take away the fact he was becoming just like his father. If I were to venture a guess, I do not think he ever acquired self-awareness to his actions; I can only hope if he has children, he has not taught them what he learned from his father. WITH OPENING HER OWN BUSINESS AND being in a committed relationship, everything seemed to be on track for Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively (A Simple Favor, The Age of Adaline). However, when an old flame enters the picture, Lily begins to question the path she has taken in life. With Justin Baldoni (Con Man, Jane the Virgin-TV) as Ryle Kincaid, Jenny Slate (Obvious Child, I Want you Back) as Allysa, Hasan Minhaj (Babes, No Hard Feelings) as Marshall and Brandon Sklenar (Midway, The Big Ugly) as Atlas Corrigan; this movie based on the best-selling novel was a perfect vehicle for Blake to act out in. She had the screen presence and emotions to make her character come to life. I became attached to the story, having been abused/bullied myself; but felt the script could have gone through a rewrite to tighten and improve the dialog. Also, one did not have to experience an abusive episode to appreciate this picture. I also thought Blake and Jenny worked well together. With an important story and message, this was a worthwhile viewing experience.
2 ¾ stars
moviejoltz 