Movie Review: Coyote vs. Acme

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Laughs and fun character moments

Cons: A bit broad overall

The Bottom Line:

Taking on a corp

Looney Tunes humor in court

Goal? To entertain

“How Hard Could It Be to Catch a Bird?”

The first time I heard about Coyote vs. Acme, I was on board.  It just sounded like so much fun.  Then, there was the whole drama with Warner Bros. deciding to shelve it for a tax write off.  So, I was thrilled when I heard that Ketchup Entertainment had bought the film, and I made a point of going to see it in the theater.

While the film is more live action than animated, we do have a good mix of animation in the real world.  And it starts like a classic Coyote and Road Runner cartoon.  Coyote is out to catch his dinner, Road Runner, and his latest Acme products do not work as he envisions them.  When he goes home that night, defeated, he sees an ad from a lawyer who represents people like him, harmed by shoddy products.

So Coyote heads into Albuquerque, New Mexico to hire Kevin Avery (Will Forte).  But Kevin just wants to go for the simple settlement, something that Coyote doesn’t want.  Suddenly, Kevin finds himself going up again his law school nemesis, Buddy Crane (John Cena), in a case that is drawing national attention.  Can he figure out how to win the case?

As I said earlier, this film is a mix of mostly live action with a little animation.  But the animation looks wonderful.  It’s more modern 3D, although they do have some fun nods to 2D animation.  The effects are outstanding.  It’s easy to buy what we are seeing on the screen.  And the human actors do a fantastic job of making us believe this world is real.

And yes, many of the Looney Toons characters show up.  Most have extended cameos to further the story.  This is Coyote’s film, and that’s fine.  But I did appreciate how the rest of the characters were used.

Anyone who goes to see the movie will have fun.  There are plenty of laughs from start to finish.  Yes, most of them are slapstick, but what would you expect?  This is a movie that is having fun, and it invites us along for the ride.  It knows it has one job, to entertain us, and it does it.

It is also refreshingly free of so much of the modern movie agenda.  Yes, the movie is an allegory for one issue (I’m being vague so as to not spoil things), but it’s never preachy about it, and it’s an easy issue to agree with the movie on.  While there is a mention or two of corporations being bad, in this case, Acme is pretty evil, so it works.  Again, the movie is focused on entertaining us.

Yet, it does have some nice, tender moments near the end.  These moments kind of snuck up on me, but they were well earned.

I mentioned earlier that the actors did a great job with the effects of the film.  The acting overall was good.  The characters were fairly broad, but that’s the writing.  Likewise, the character arcs were fairly predictable, but I was having fun overall, so I didn’t care.

Coyote vs. Acme is the light comedy we don’t get much anymore.  It’s not an event movie, but it’s a fun way to spend an hour and forty minutes.  You won’t be sorry you gave it a chance.

Movie Review: Toy Story 5

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Good message; nice to see old friends again

Cons: Missing the charm of the first three

The Bottom Line:

It’s toys vs. tech

Tackles subject thoughtfully

But lacking the fun

Surprisingly Nuanced

It’s been several years since I watched any Disney or Pixar animated movie.  And my feelings on Toy Story 4 have changed over the years (I don’t like it as much as I tried to convince myself I did when I first saw it.)  But I have seen all the Toy Story films in the theater (not counting the Buzz Lightyear movie), and I knew I’d kick myself if I didn’t go see Toy Story 5 while it was still in the theater.

After letting Andy grow up in real time, Bonnie (voiced by Scarlett Spears) has stayed a young girl.  And, as we rejoin her and her toys, she is too shy to make any friends, even with her neighbors.  Of course, soon Sheriff Jessie (Joan Cusack) learns that a plague is sweeping through the world, technology.  It is turning all the kids into mindless zombies who just stare at their screens.

To Jessie’s horror, Bonnie’s parents get her Lilypad (Greta Lee), Lily for short.  This device connects Bonnie with some girls from her dance class.  Will they be good friends for Bonnie?  Or is there someone better out there?

Yes, this is Jessie’s movie.  Honestly, I’m okay with that.  They do give Woody and Buzz (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) a substantive subplot, while many of the familiar toys are reduced to extended cameos.  I do miss them, but I get it.  If you are going to tell new stories, you can’t keep all these toys in the story, too.  It just gets too cluttered.

This movie really plays on Jessie’s background, first introduced in Toy Story 2.  Again, I’m not sure we needed to go there, but I did feel like it worked, and I appreciated it.  And I especially appreciated the growth Jessie got as a result.  I feel like it’s something that has been missing from the franchise, but maybe I just need to rewatch the original trilogy.

Which brings us to something I especially appreciated.  In the discussion about devices and technology, it starts out fairly black and white, but it becomes gray as the movie goes on.  After all, like almost anything else, technology can be good or bad.  I also appreciated that it clearly showed adults just as addicted to technology as the kids because it is true.  (Admits the guy who spends so much time working on internet reviews.  And thanks for reading them!)

Having said all of this, the movie was missing that spark that made the original trilogy so special.  I’m not sure what they had to say about technology was worth a new entry in the franchise.  I still would have been okay if they had stopped at the original trilogy with the occasional special.

Then there’s Buzz’s storyline.  I’ve always appreciated his romance with Jessie, but I felt like they were trying too hard for laughs with him.  He’s never been the sharpest, but he felt especially clueless here.

On the other hand, there are a couple of running gags with Woody that I enjoyed.

I guess part of the problem is the things that made the originals feel so special, all those little details, are now such a familiar part of the world these characters live with, they’ve lost the special feeling and they’ve lost the ability to make us laugh and smile.  Instead, the majority of the humor came from a new potty-training device.  Yeah, you can guess where those jokes are going.  I wasn’t a big fan.

There is a mid-credits scene you’ll want to watch.  And there is something at the end of the credits as well, but I didn’t think it was worth sticking around for.

I’m glad I saw Toy Story 5, but I’m glad I went on a discounted night to see it.  It’s fun to see old friends again, but the spark that made the original trilogy so special is still missing.

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 4

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Action and humor are fun

Cons: Very predictable story

The Bottom Line:

Po’s next adventure

Is mostly predictable

But still fun for fans

“You Have Got to Workshop Those Proverbs.”

I haven’t watched any of the Kung Fu Panda movies in a long time.  (And I didn’t even know there was a recent show, or I’d forgotten about it if I knew.)  But I was curious to see what they were going to do with Kung Fu Panda 4.  I did wait until the movie hit streaming, but I’m glad I watched it since I enjoyed it overall.

This movie opens with Po (voiced by Jack Black) being the Po we all know and love.  He’s saving the day in ridiculous ways and helping his dad open his new noodle restaurant.  However, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) says that it is time for Po to pick the next Dragon Warrior so that Po can take on his new role as the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.  Po has no desire to do that, however.

So it works to his advantage when word that a powerful sorceress, The Chameleon (Viola Davis) is back and terrorizing a village.  Po decides that this should be his final Dragon Warrior adventure.  Since he doesn’t know the territory, he agrees to let Zhen (Awkwafina) help guide him.  Zhen is a thief who doesn’t seem to want to give up her ways.  Can Po reform her?  Will he defeat The Chameleon?

I’ve got to say, I was disappointed that we didn’t see much of the supporting cast.  There was a subplot with Po’s dad’s that was okay.  It wasn’t terribly original and pretty much was there to help with the climax, but it had some entertaining moments.

Not that the main storyline was terribly original, either.  I pretty much knew where it was going after about 20 minutes – at the end of act one.  But that’s never a problem if I’m having fun.  And I had fun.  The big scenes were well done and the jokes worked to make me laugh.  I wasn’t fully engaged, but I was having fun.  Granted, the entire franchise hasn’t been terribly original.  I just feel like the first movie had more fun along the way.

I will say, it took me a while to warm to Awkwafina’s voice work in the movie.  You know how sometimes, the voice actors come across as they are reading a script?  That’s how I felt about her character.  I’m not sure if I warmed up to her performance or she got comfortable with the voice acting, but by the end, I was buying her character.

The rest of the cast?  They were fine.

Likewise, the animation was good.

If you are a fan of this franchise, you’ll want to check out Kung Fun Panda 4.  It’s fine for fans, but it won’t change the minds of anyone who isn’t a fan of the franchise.

Movie Review: The Secret Life of Pets

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Main characters, humor early on

Cons: Change in tone made much of the movie only okay for me

The Bottom Line:

Pets in NYC

Cuteness in the early scenes

Mostly average

“I’m Never Eating a Pill Like That Again.  Unless It’s Covered in Peanut Butter Because, You Know, Peanut Butter.”

The Secret Life of Pets was one of those movies I never could quite decide on.  The previews made it look like it could be fun, but I was never completely certain what it was about.  I finally caught it on TV.  I wanted to like it more than I did.

Max’s (Louis C.K.) life is good.  He was adopted as a puppy by a wonderful woman whose only flaw is going to work each day.  He’s even made some friends with other pets in the neighborhood, although his favorite activity is sitting by the door waiting for his owner to return home.

One day, she returns home with a brother for Max – Duke (Eric Stonestreet).  Duke is a big dog, and Max doesn’t want to share his home with anyone, especially a big dog like Duke.  However, his attempt to get rid of Duke turns into a war with both of them being chased by New York City dog catchers.  Will they ever get home again?

Most of the scenes from the previews were in the first few minutes of the film.  That can be good because it doesn’t spoil any of the movie, but in this case, it left me with little idea what the film was going to be about.  I will say, I enjoyed these scenes.  In the context of the film, they were even funnier and heartwarming.  They are pure pet cuteness.

However, once the plot kicks in, we lose some of that cuteness.  The story definitely takes some interesting turns, and there are characters who are the opposite of cute.  In fact, a couple scenes might frighten more sensitive kids.

Personally, I didn’t care for those scenes either but for a different reason.  I didn’t find them funny.  In fact, I felt like the first 15 or 20 minutes of the film were from something completely different.  I get what was supposed to be funny in the rest of the film, but to me it wasn’t.  Instead of being more pulled into the film, I actually began to get tired of it.

Still, there were moments late in the film that I did enjoy, and one scene in particular near the end was extremely heartfelt.  I knew what was coming before it happened, but I was still affected by it.

Most kids will enjoy this film, and I can see why it proved popular enough for a sequel.  The change in tone didn’t quite work for me, however.  I wish The Secret Life of Pets had stayed cuter.

Movie Review: The Jungle Book (2016)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Mostly enjoyable; amazing visuals

Cons: Christopher Walken, darker tone

The Bottom Line:

New take on classic

Adds some interesting parts

Darker overall

Disney’s Newest Jungle Book Remake Offers a Slightly Different Take on the Tale

Near the beginning of Disney’s recent live action remake craze came The Jungle Book.  No, I’m not talking about the ones they released in the 1990’s (which I never have seen); I’m talking about the one from 2016.  Unlike the some of the other early ones, this one stuck close to the animated original, but made a few tweaks to the story.

The set up is definitely familiar.  Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a man cub raised by wolves.  Despite his best efforts, he has never been able to quite fit into his pack because, well, he’s human.  However, when Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba) shows up planning to kill the boy, Mowgli gets off with Bagheera the panther (voiced by Ben Kingsley).  What will happen to them along the way?

As I said, if you think you know the story, be prepared for a few surprises along the way.  I appreciated many of them as they helped flesh out Mowgli and especially his relationship with the wolves a bit more.  Shere Khan is a much more fearsome and present villain in this take on the story, another change I appreciated.

Of course, there was the time I spent expecting certain events or characters from the animated film to pop up.  I kept having to remind myself that this was a different take on things and it was okay that it was different.  It’s not like Disney didn’t really change things around when they made the original animated movie based on some unconnected short stories.

I’ve fallen into Disney’s trap so far by referring to this as a live action movie.  It really isn’t.  Mowgli is real, but everything he is interacting with, including the sets, is computer generated.  They do a marvelous job.  It’s easy to turn off your brain and believe that everything you are seeing is real.  The animals do have just a hint of animation to them, making their speaking seem more natural than in the computer animated The Lion King remake.

And I have to give praise to Neel Sethi.  He was interacting with nothing as his part of the film was made, but I believed his performance completely.  It’s real and helps ground the movie for us.

The voice cast is good.  I enjoyed Bill Murray as Baloo.  Scarlett Johansson was fun as Kaa.  I’m realizing I’m not really a fan of Christopher Walken, and that didn’t help me enjoy his take on King Louie.

The movie does incorporate some of the songs from the original, but not all.  They aren’t a big feature of this film, and maybe that’s why a couple of them seemed out of place.  (See once again, King Louie.)  But it’s hard to go wrong with “The Bare Necessities,” and I certainly enjoyed that scene.

Parents of young kids should know that there are some intense scenes.  This movie is rated PG for a reason.  Most kids will probably be okay, but sensitive kids should still with the animated version from the 1960’s until they are ready for something more intense.  I’m sure parents will be able to judge that for their own kids.

I think that darker tone was what bothered me the most about this film.  It felt like they went needlessly dark, keeping some of the humor and fun from the original out.  That doesn’t make this film bad, but I think I prefer the animated original over this one.

I enjoyed most of what the new material added to the story, but overall, I found the newest version of The Jungle Book a little dark for my tastes.  I’m not sorry I finally watched it, but if you want a fun story, it’s best to stick with the original.

Movie Review: Ferdinand

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Entertaining for kids, the target audience

Cons: Little that will grab adults

The Bottom Line:

The bull who won’t fight

From picture book to the screen

A movie for kids

“Looks Like Weird is the New Normal.”

I vaguely remember the picture book Ferdinand.  The cover sticks out to me more than the content, although I could have given you a one sentence summary if I had to.  When I saw it was turned into a movie a few years back, I was curious about it, but I waited until I could catch it on TV.

For those who aren’t familiar with the character, Ferdinand is a bull (voiced by John Cena as an adult and Colin H. Murphy as a youth).  While he is at a ranch that raises bulls for the nearby bull fight, Ferdinand is more interested in stopping and smelling the flowers.  So he is happy when he finds a way to escape and settles into life on a flower farm.  However, when he grows, he accidentally causes a catastrophe and winds up back at the ranch.  Will he be able to escape?  Or is it his destiny to enter the bull fight?

This movie faced a hurdle that any movie faces that takes a picture book and turns it into a movie – how to fill an hour and forty-eight minutes with a story that was initially told in a book that takes five to ten minutes to read.  One obvious way is to introduce new characters and give us backstory.  This movie does both, and uses them to good effect.  While I know that the movie was expanding a storyline, I didn’t feel like much of the action was blatant padding.

On the other hand, much of the action was aimed at kids.  I get it, this was an animated movie based on a picture book.  I’ve definitely been spoiled by the animated movies that aim at the entire family audience.  There’s nothing wrong with aiming this movie more at kids, but I didn’t find the movie as funny as I wanted to.

I can well imagine kids loving this movie and begging to see it over and over again.  Ferdinand’s side kick would appeal to them.  I did find a wild chase through town to be fun, and I’m sure kids will love that, too.

The voice cast isn’t filled with names I recognized, but sometimes that can be fun because it allows you to more fully get lost in the story.  That’s certainly the case here.  Likewise, the animation is perfect for this film.  It’s cartoony, but considering the subject matter, it works.

Ferdinand is a fun movie for kids.  There is little here to make this a must see for adults, but I can see it being one kids will enjoy over and over again.

Disney Short Review: Once Upon a Studio

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great celebration of 100 years of Disney

Cons: So much going on hard to catch it all

The Bottom Line:

Celebrate Disney

Short honors one hundred years

Magical for fans

Magical Short for a Magical Anniversary

Being the Disney fan that I am, I was excited when I started hearing about the short Once Upon a Studio.  It sounded like it would be a great tribute to the 100^th anniversary of the Disney studio.  I made sure to watch it when it premiered on the TV, and I’ve watched it again on Disney+.  Needless to say, I love it.

The premise is really simple.  In honor of the 100^th anniversary of the studio, all the Disney characters are getting together for a group picture.  Yes, heroes and villains.  And sidekicks.  And characters from the shorts and movies – after all, Mickey and Minnie are organizing it.

That’s it.  That’s the plot.  I mean, it’s less than ten minutes long.  Most of the short is watching the characters assemble and what complications they face along the way.  And, for Disney fans, it is a pure delight.  They’ve got characters interacting who have never interacted together before (at least to my knowledge).  They’ve got some great jokes.  And they’ve got tender moments, as well.  No, I didn’t cry like some did, but I was definitely moved at the tribute to Walt and hearing “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

They also did this with a mix of animation styles, so characters look like they originally did.  That means we’ve got hand drawn and computer animation side by side.  They two mix seamlessly, and I love the look.

This is just a Disney project.  If you are looking for Pixar characters (or Star Wars or Marvel), you’ll be disappointed.  (The one exception is BayMax from Big Hero 6, which was a Disney animation film with Marvel characters.)

There are so many characters it’s hard to take it all in.  Some of them only have blink and you miss them cameos.  Even watching it a couple of times, I know I’ve missed stuff.

As much as possible, they used the original voice actors.  Sometimes, that means they used archival recordings.  Yes, I can usually tell (because I recognize a line), but I don’t care.  Naturally, there are times they’ve used the newer voice actors as well.  I wouldn’t know any better.  (And yes, that is Robin Williams voicing the Genie with approval from his estate.)

The other things this does is make me want to watch the classic Disney movies all over again.  They really have released some magical stories, haven’t they?

Once Upon a Studio is at once a celebration of Disney’s history and a thank you to the fans.  And it works as both.  If you love Disney, you need to make a point of watching this short.

Movie Review: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun, especially for fans of the video games

Cons: Could have been a tad stronger overall

The Bottom Line:

Mario movie

Honors entire franchise

Fans will love details

“I Knew Saving Brooklyn Was a Bad Idea.”

Growing up in the 80’s, I played many of the popular original video games, and I had one of the original Nintendos.  While I don’t play as many videos games today as I once did, I have followed the Super Mario franchise, which meant that I was interested when I heard that they were working on The Super Mario Bros. Movie.  Then, I started to hear good things about it, which made me really want to watch it.  I didn’t watch it until now, but I enjoyed it.

When we first meet Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt), he has just started a new plumbing business in New York City with his brother, Luigi (Charlie Day).  Their first client doesn’t go as well as they might have hoped, but things really take a turn when they rush down to help with a problem that threatens all of Brooklyn.

That’s when they get sucked down a pipe and separated.  While Luigi winds up a prisoner in the dark lands, Mario winds up in the Mushroom Kingdom, where he makes a new friend, Toad (Keegan-Michael Key).  Toad is sure that Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) will be able to help, but she has concerns of her own.  She’s just gotten work that Bowser (Jack Black) is coming to destroy her kingdom.  Will Mario and Princess Peach be able to stop Bowser if they team up?

Those most familiar with the original games will note that they’ve changed up the premise.  Originally, Mario and Luigi were trying to help free Princess Peach from Bowser.  Here, she’s not a damsel that needs to be rescued but fighting alongside Mario.  Of course, we’ve seen that in other games in the franchise (she was always my favorite to play as in Super Mario Bros. 2), so it’s not unprecedented.

And fans of the video games will absolutely love all the Easter eggs that are hidden in this movie.  I was smiling the entire way through at things I spotted.  I’m sure I missed plenty, but it was obviously made by someone who loves the games themselves and loves the fans.  We also get appearances from other Mario related titles like Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Kart, and even Mario’s first appearance as Jumping Man in Donkey Kong.  As I mentioned, I played all the popular games from the 80’s, so I was thrilled they acknowledged his origin.

Having said that, I didn’t enjoy the movie quite as much as I was expecting, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.  I think part of it may have been that I had seen it praised so much, I went in with expectations that were too high.  I do feel like they spent a little too long with the prologue before Mario and Luigi got sucked down the pipes out of Brooklyn.  I think it was also because the story was fairly predictable.  That’s not always a bad thing, but I was usually a step or two ahead of the movie, and they didn’t quite have the fun twists on things they needed to make up for it.

Again, overall, I liked the film.  It is a very solid four stars out of five.  If you are a fan of the franchise, you absolutely need to see it.

The voice actors are all excellent.  Even if I knew who was voicing the character, I was able to forget that and quickly get caught up in the story.

The animation is good as well.  It perfectly captures a Mario Bros. game brought to life, which is exactly what I would want to see.

I do want to issue a warning to parents.  When Luigi first lands in the dark lands, what happens to him is scary.  It’s played with laughs, and it fits in with the games.  If you have a child who is easily frightened, you might want to preview it yourself first.  I think most kids will be fine with what happens here.

As I said earlier, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was clearly made by someone who loves the games and the history of the franchise.  Fans of the games will definitely enjoy it.  If you are looking for a fun animation movie, you’ll enjoy it as well.

Movie Review: Spider-Man - Into the Spider-Verse

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: A fun, fast movie

Cons: A little slow to get started

The Bottom Line:

Meet new Spider-Man

Filled with action and humor

Purely delightful

“I Can’t Let You Open a Portal to Another Dimension.  Brooklyn Isn’t Zoned for That.”

I didn’t pay too much attention when Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came out several years ago.  It was only after it had been out for a while and I started hearing lots of people praising it that I decided I should watch it.  Since my to watch list is as long as my to be read pile, I didn’t get to it until this last weekend, but I quickly saw why everyone loved it.

The movie tells the story of Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore).  He’s struggling with being the new kid at school and dealing with a father who is stricter than Miles appreciates, especially when it comes to Miles’s passion of being a graffiti artist.

While his uncle is helping him with a painting in the sewers one night, Miles is bit by a spider.  He thinks nothing of it until the next day, when things seem different.  Since there is already a Spider-Man in the city, Miles quickly figures out what is happening to him.  But a trip back to the sewer to confirm his theory gets him involved in a fight with the city’s future, not to mention all of reality, on the line.  And with help coming from some surprising places, can Miles figure out his new powers to save the day?

I’ll admit, I was beginning to wonder exactly where the movie was going early on.  I know it had to introduce us to Miles and his world before we could really get into the story, but it seemed a bit slow to me.  But that is a minor complaint overall.

Not being super familiar with the comics, I don’t know how the characters here fit into any comic books, but I don’t care.  This is fun, and what is presented here makes sense even if you are coming in cold.

Once the movie really got going, it was an all-out roller-coaster ride to the end.  It was hard to look away for a second as there was always something going on.  The story moved forward quickly.  Yes, some aspects of it were still predictable, but this is definitely a case where I didn’t mind because I was having fun.

There are lots of great one liners that provide laughs.  Some of them are pretty meta, and others are witty.  I laughed numerous times and smiled plenty of others.

Yet the movie also does a good job of giving us characters moments.  We truly do come to care for Miles and some of the other characters, so some of the events in the third act really hit home.

The voice cast is filled with names I recognized.  But they never outshine their characters.  I got lost in the story, never listening for voices I recognized instead enjoying their performances.  And this movie also has Stan Lee’s final Marvel cameo in it.

The animation is very stylized.  It’s designed to mimic a comic book.  I’ll admit, it took a bit to get used to it, but it was worth it.

I know the sequel has just opened.  While I doubt I’ll go see it in the theater, I have definitely added it to my to watch list.  If you have missed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, you’ll be happy you made it a priority to watch it.

Movie Review: Turning Red

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: Animation, voice acting, some laughs

Cons: Lots of laughing at embarrassing situations, questionable messages

The Bottom Line:

Potentially fun

Middle school complication

With some poor morals

“Is There Anything Else I Should Know About?”

I’ll admit, the preview for Turning Red, the newest Pixar movie, didn’t grab me right away.  But it’s Pixar.  Of course, I was planning to watch it.  This was especially true since it was premiering on Disney+, which is the one streaming service I subscribe to, making it super easy.  While I can see how others would enjoy it, I found it disappointing overall.

The movie tells the story of Meilin (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a thirteen-year-old living with her parents in Toronto.  She does exactly what is expected of her, getting amazing grades and spending her afternoons and evenings helping with the family’s temple, which is a tourist attraction.

However, her life turns upside down one day when her mother, Ming (Sandra Oh), embarrasses her horribly.  The next morning, Meilin wakes up to find that she is a giant red panda.  She quickly figures out that it is triggered by strong emotion.  She tries to go on with her life while avoiding strong emotions that will trigger it, but…well, eighth grade.  What will happen when others discover her secret?

I can see how the movie would be funny for some.  There are certainly plenty of scenes that would make others laugh.  However, I was too busy cringing rather than laughing at them.  I was embarrassed for Meilin myself.  These are the types of things I could see myself finding funny on a rewatch, but they certainly weren’t the first time around.

One in particular involves Meilin’s mom thinking that Meilin is getting her first period until Ming figures out what is really going on.  I cringed through that scene, and I can see it leading to lots of questions in kids.

However, my biggest problem with the movie is the moral.  Yes, I get that as you grow, you start to express your independence and you start to rely more on your friends than your family.  That is an overall healthy thing.  However, the way the movie handled that left a very bad taste in my mouth.  You definitely need to have a balance between friends and family.  Heck, even as an adult, you need a balance.  This movie came down fully on the side of the friends over family.  Maybe it’s just because the film didn’t have the time for the nuance that would be needed to balance them out, but it bothered me.

Then there’s the idea that Meilin is ultimately praised for sneaking around behind her parent’s back.  Not to mention her father being a very weak parent (almost forgotten character, really), and her mom is the closest thing we have to a villain (she reminds me too much of King Triton from The Little Mermaid in this regard).  And, maybe I’m taking things too far, but I feel like the “embrace who you are” message, which again can be good, was left wide opened to embracing some bad behavior.  I’d be willing to give the movie the benefit of the doubt, but based on the way the culture is going these days, I don’t think I’m wrong that they left it vague on purpose.

I’ve got to admit, as my niece and nephew have gotten older, I’ve become much more sensitive to these type of messages in the movies I watch.  I can only imagine how I would feel if I had kids of my own.

It’s a shame the message was so poor since the film has Pixar’s usual high standards for movie making.  The voice cast is stellar.  The animation is a bit stylized, but it has some beautiful shots along the way.  And there were some things I laughed at as the movie progressed.

As I said at the beginning, I can certainly see why people would enjoy Turning Red.  But, for me, the movie had too many poor messages to let me enjoy it.

Movie Review: Encanto

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Animation, fun moments in songs

Cons: Overly serious and too quickly wrapped up

The Bottom Line:

Magical fam’ly

Surprisingly serious

It’s not Disney’s best

“How Do I Save a Miracle?”

I’m always up for an animated Disney movie.  While I’ll watch trailers, they don’t influence me one way or the other.  I know I’m going to see them.  I waited to watch Encanto until it was on Disney+, but I was really looking forward to it.  Sadly, it didn’t work for me.

The movie tells the story of Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), the only member of her family not to have a magical gift.  While the rest of the family uses their gifts to help the village around them, Mirabel tries her best to help out in ordinary ways.  However, the magic that has helped the family and the village for years might be cracking, and Mirabel appears to be tied in to the magic’s fate.  Can she figure out how to save it?

I’ve got to admit, that premise was intriguing to me.  I thought I knew where it was going to go before I sat down to watch it, but I was okay with that.  I was expecting something fun.  Who wouldn’t with that premise?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as fun as I was expecting it to be.  The story is pretty serious despite all the magic going on.  It might just be me – that I identified with Mirabel a bit too much – but it was somber.  My initial predictions for the plot proved to be wrong, and even once I got a bead on where the movie was going, it still surprised me a time or two along the way to the ending.

Then there’s the moral.  Don’t get me wrong, I completely agree with what they were going for with it.  But in a kid’s movie?  They aren’t going to understand the lessons about family expectations.  Furthermore, that part of the movie is so quick, and the resolution so abrupt, that it really doesn’t feel like a good resolution to things.

What kids will enjoy is the animation.  This movie is gorgeous!  The colors pop off the screen, and there are many fun moments in the film.  Heck, the scenes with the house acting magically alone will keep them entertained.

Then there’s the music.  While these aren’t the most memorable songs we’ve gotten from Disney, and I don’t see any hits coming from this film, the animators went to town with many of them, conjuring some of the best musical fantasy scenes we’ve gotten in recent Disney animated films.

The voice cast is also fantastic.  I’m not familiar with any of them, but that just helped me get lost in the characters they were creating on the screen.

This is Disney’s 60^th animated movie.  For such a landmark film, I wish I had liked it more.  Encanto isn’t a bad movie, but it’s not up to Disney usual magic, either.  I don’t think it will have the rewatch factor of their better films – at least for me.

Movie Review: The Grinch (2018)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Surprisingly fun take on familiar story

Cons: Still has some pacing issues; not quite Seuss’s look

The Bottom Line:

Familiar story

Most of the changes work well

Turns out I enjoyed

Still Stretched, but this Version of The Grinch Does Entertain

When Illuminations released their animated take on The Grinch back in 2018, I wasn’t that interested in seeing it.  I was convinced that it would be hard to create a full-length movie that didn’t drag things out too much.  When I spotted it on TV last year, I decided to give it a try.  While this version does have pacing issues, it turned out to be much more entertaining than I expected it to be.

You already know the heart of this story.  It tells the story of Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), who hates Christmas.  Unfortunately for him, he lives just north of Whoville, and the Whos love Christmas.  As much as he tries to avoid it, he can’t help but be bothered by the music and the spectacle that they make Christmas.  But this year, he’s going to do something about it.

Meanwhile, we also meet Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely), who is desperate to meet Santa to get a special request to him.  What will happen when her path crosses Grinch’s?

Like the other versions of the movie I have seen, this one does try to give us a little backstory on Grinch to help explain why he hates Christmas.  However, it doesn’t spend much time on that.

As much as I like other versions that have Cindy-Lou attempting to be nice to Grinch before that fateful Christmas Eve, this one actually gives her a separate storyline.  I guessed where her story was going early on, but I appreciated it and how it impacts Grinch some as we near the climax.

Of course, there’s still not enough story for an hour and a half movie, so this one is filled with sight gags and slapstick.  It actually works pretty well and had me laughing more than I expected.  At times, it still felt like the film was dragging, but the jokes and gags really did help with that.

The soundtrack is great.  While I wasn’t especially fond of the cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” we get here, we do have some classic versions of Christmas songs and a few modern classics popping up here.  These songs definitely helped make the film work for me.

I was surprised to find that the characters didn’t quite fit the Dr. Seuss drawings.  If anything can bring his whimsical work to life, you’d think it would be animation.  Here, the characters look a bit more stylized like the rest of the films that Illuminations has released (Despicable Me, etc.)  I’m not saying they look bad, but they aren’t quite Dr. Seuss.

Another thing I liked about this version is that we see more of Grinch apologizing to the Whos and there is more to the story after he brings Christmas back.  I like how all of that played out.

There is more to like than dislike with this version of The Grinch.  While it probably won’t be annual holiday viewing, I’m glad I watched it and I will certainly consider watching it again in future Decembers.

TV Show Review: Beebo Saves Christmas

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun story filled with laughs

Cons: The moral doesn’t quite work for me.

The Bottom Line:

Unique Christmas show

Designed for all to enjoy

Delightfully fun

“Hot Chocolate Fixes Everything.”

When I first heard that the CW was going to premier a Christmas special this year, I didn’t know what to think.  Beebo Saves Christmas could either be a lot of fun or turn into a disaster.  I decided to give it a chance, and I’m very glad I did.

Not familiar with Beebo?  Then you aren’t a fan of the DC Arrowverse shows that air on the CW.  Beebo is a stuffed creature, I'm thinking closest to an alien type bear, that has appeared in most of the shows in that extended universe, most noticeably Legends of Tomorrow.  Supposedly, Beebo is a stuffed animal who has starred in a series of animated TV specials over the years.  The toy version of the character has had some pretty fun and funny moments in the Arrowverse Superhero shows, so he has a loyal fan base already built in for those who watch them.  All the characters on those shows know who he is.  Now, it’s our turn to get to see him in his original animated universe.

As this special opens, it is almost Christmas, and Beebo (voiced by Ben Diskin) is excited.  His friends, however, seem to be preoccupied with things in their own lives and aren’t ready to celebrate it the same way he is.  Then Beebo gets a form letter back from Santa, and Beebo fears something is wrong.  When he finds out his friends have gotten the exact same letter, he decides he must travel to the North Pole and find out what is going on with Santa.  Since it is Christmas Eve, the clock is ticking.  Can he save Christmas?

The animation in this hour long special was very stylized.  It almost looks hand drawn, although I’m sure it was computer generated.  It’s not quite retro, not quite fully modern.  But it works, especially since we are dealing with characters we aren’t supposed to recognize.  Don’t worry, when we are dealing with Santa or elves or some other familiar character, they look right.  Still stylized, but we recognize them.

Yes, this is an hour long special, and that was part of what worried me.  I worried this could fall flat and be painful to watch.  I started it giving myself full permission to turn it off if it was bad.  Within minutes, that fear went away.  It was fun.  There was plenty of humor, some of which was aimed at adults without being adult humor, if that makes sense.  We’re talking things like the characters commenting on how short the trip to the North Pole turned out to be.  Little jokes that poke fun at Christmas specials.

I’ve mentioned the Arrowverse shows several times, but that isn’t to say that you need to have seen those shows to enjoy this special.  It stands completely on its own.  You might wonder who this main character is, but after a few minutes, you will be caught up in the action and not care in the slightest.

The story holds up, too.  I’m not sure I completely like the moral of the story.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad.  In fact, it’s good in some ways.  But it also partially excuses some behavior that I think shouldn’t be encouraged as Beebo realizes that the behavior from his friends was their way of enjoying the holiday.  I feel like the writers were trying to justify their own behavior.  Again, it’s not bad, and it is something to remember – there are two ways to look at everything.  Anyway, there are plenty of fun moments and complications on the way to the resolution of the story, so this becomes a mostly minor issue for me.

I’m not super familiar with the voice cast.  Ben Diskin has voiced Beebo’s plush version on the Arrowverse shows, so I’m glad they stuck with him here.  One of the other main characters is voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown.  All of the main cast does a great job capturing the spirit of the special with their work.  I have to give a special shout out to Victor Garber, a main character on Legends of Tomorrow for a few years, who gets a voice cameo here.

Is Beebo Saves Christmas something I’m going to want to watch every year?  Most likely not.  But I could definitely see myself watching it again in the future if I have the chance.  It’s fun if not quite classic material.

Movie Review: Sing (2016)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Fun singing, lots of action

Cons: A bit too many stories for a movie

The Bottom Line:

Animals singing

Too much story for the film

Kids will still enjoy

Competition to Save a Theater

I wasn’t that interested in seeing Sing when it first came out, but I had some friends tell me how good it was.  I tucked that away, still not rushing out to see it, but when I spotted it on TV, I decided to watch it.

All Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) has ever wanted is to own a theater.  His dream has come true, but the problem is, his not very good as a theater manager.  In fact, his theater is so in debt that he’s about to lose it.  His only hope is one last, hugely successful show.  And, he’s come up with the perfect idea.  He’s going to host a singing competition, pulling people from the local area.  This will give him a huge audience to draw from to sell tickets to the show.  But will it work?

Keep in mind that Sing is set in a world of animals.  So Buster is a koala.  Among his contestants are a pig, an elephant, and a gorilla.  It adds some fun to the movie.

If you are looking for huge plot surprises, this isn’t the movie for you (which is true of many animated movies, I’ll admit).  I had the big picture figured out early, although there were a few complications that I hadn’t expected along the way, and I was pulled into the story to see how they’d reach the ending I was expecting.  Still, the plot is enjoyable, and kids will love it.

My problem was that the movie tried to focus on too many characters.  In addition to Buster, we spend quite a bit of time with about half of the contestants, and they are all given their own arc.  That might work in a TV show, but in a movie that runs under two hours, it keeps us from getting to know all of the characters well.  I just couldn’t quite get invested in them the way I wanted to.  I cared a bit about the outcome, but I wanted to care more.

But kids probably won’t care about that.  They’ll be drawn in by the animals, who are a lot of fun.  With so many storylines to balance, the pace is fast, which will also appeal to them.

And adults?  They’ll have a lot of fun listening for the bits and pieces of music used in the movie.  I got a kick out of seeing who would be singing which song next as the story unfolded.  They probably won’t enjoy it as much as their kids do, but it is entertaining.

The voice cast is extremely impressive, with the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane, Tori Kelly, and Jennifer Hudson working to bring the characters to life.

This isn’t a movie I’m going to want to sit down and watch often, but I’m glad I watched Sing.  Kids will definitely enjoy it more than their parents, and since they are the intended audience, that’s okay.

Movie Review: Luca

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Characters, plots, animation, pretty much everything

Cons: “Silenzio Bruno!”

The Bottom Line:

Curious Luca

A creative adventure

Sure to entertain

Touching Story of Unlikely Friendships

I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t that intrigued by the original artwork we were seeing for Luca.  But, since it was a Pixar movie, I knew I’d see it at some point.  Then came the first trailer, and I was hooked.  It looked like it could be another classic Pixar movie, so I couldn’t wait to watch it.

This movie tells the story of Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay).  He just happens to be a sea creature, who spends his days tending his family’s flock of fish.  Despite warnings from his family, he dreams of life above the surface and is fascinated by the human monsters.  (That’s us.)

His life changes when he meets Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer).  Alberto is another kid about his age, but he lives part of the time above land, where both of them are able to appear like the human monsters when they are dry.  Alberto lives on an island, and he and Luca quickly bond over dreams of getting a Vespa and traveling the world.  Their only hope of actually doing that, however, is venturing into the human village on the mainland.  That’s when they meet Giulia (Emma Berman) and learn about an Italian triathlon that might give them the prize money they need to buy a Vespa.  Will they be able to win?  Or will Luca’s parents find him first?

I will start by getting the one thing that bothered me out of the way.  Luca disobeys his parents and runs away from home and it is essentially what starts him on this adventure.  It’s nothing new in a kid’s film, and I get that there is a need to give the kids a chance to star in the story.  Additionally, Luca’s father seems pretty clueless much of the time.  I’m noting these things only in passing, however.

Because, on the whole, I loved this movie.  As you’ve probably noticed from my teaser, this has some bits that are classic Pixar.  You know what I mean, those things that you would never have thought of, but fit perfectly in the world they are creating, like the way Luca’s life under the sea works and mirrors our own.  It’s those little things that make a Pixar movie so special.

And the animation is beautiful.  Yes, the main characters are stylized, but the setting is richly detailed.  There are some shots that show off just what animation can do.  Not every shot is that way, but the ones we get are gorgeous.

Of course, a movie is really only as good as the story.  Here, again, the movie shines.  There are several conflicts that run through the movie, and that always keeps us engaged.  I loved how those conflicts came together for a spectacular ending.

But it is the friendships among the main characters that are the heart of the film.  They are what make the climax perfect.  It couldn’t have ended any other way and been as satisfying.  I might have teared up as I watched it.

Not that the film is all emotional.  There are plenty of laughs along the way as well.  We’ve got funny lines and sight gags, so the usual for a Pixar movie.

The voice cast is wonderful.  I’m not familiar with them, but that just allowed me to get fully engrossed in the story that much faster.

I already can’t wait to watch Luca again.  This is a movie destined to be another Pixar classic.  Don’t wait to enjoy it.

Movie Review: Raya and the Last Dragon

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun, good moral

Cons: Predictable

The Bottom Line:

Quest to save kingdom

Predictable but still good

Should entertain all

Collecting Gems with a Dragon

So many movies were delayed during 2020, understandably so, that I suspect we will soon be seeing a flood of movies coming our way.  The first of these for me was Raya and the Last Dragon.  I waited until it hit disc release instead of watching it on Disney+, and I enjoyed it.

The movie takes us to Kumandra, a land that once was united and flourished under the magic provided by dragons.  All that changed when the Druun attacked the region, and the dragons sacrificed themselves for the world.  With their magic gone, the land splintered, with only one small part of the dragon’s magic left in a magic gem.

Which brings us to Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran).  The Druun have returned, and the magic gem has been split.  Raya is on a quest to find a way to save the land, which includes finding Sisu (Awkwafina), the last dragon.  It soon becomes apparent that reuniting the gem is the only way to save the world from the Druun.  Can Raya find all the pieces and do that?

I’m going to leave off the plot teaser there.  Yes, it is pretty basic.  But I don’t want to spoil anything, and I’m afraid if I do more, I will.

This is one of those movies that is predictable.  It’s fairly easy to see where the film is going, and we just go along for the ride with Raya until we get there.  That’s not to say that the film wasn’t enjoyable.  I got caught up in the action at the various stops Raya makes along the way.  And Sisu is very funny.  Between the action and the laughs, I enjoyed the film.  I just wish it had included one twist I wasn’t expecting.

The moral of the movie is a little obvious.  In fact, it just manages to keep from crossing the line to preaching.  Yet, I loved it.  In these times, the message is especially important.  Even when we have differences, we can still find ways to work together.  Or at least we should try.

The voice cast is wonderful.  While there were a few names I was familiar with in the credits, most of them were unknown to me.  I think that actually helped me get lost in the story.  There were some moments early on that felt a little forced, which might have been the writing or the voice acting, but it didn’t last for long.

Likewise, the animation is wonderful.  There are a few beautiful shots that help us fall in love with this fantasy world.

It’s rare that a Disney animated movie has no songs, but that’s the case here.  While I usually enjoy the songs, I don’t think this film needed them.  It worked well without them.

And, I definitely did get drawn into the story.  The ending brought tears to my eyes.

Obviously, I have some nitpicks with Raya and the Last Dragon, but it is a Disney movie that kids of all ages will still enjoy since it is overall fun.

Movie Review: The Boss Baby

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Laughs, creative premise

Cons: Some jokes questionable for kids

The Bottom Line:

Baby with secrets

Creative and fun movie

Questionable jokes

“Can We Talk About This Over a Juice Box?”

Of the recent animated movies I have missed in the theater, the one I was most intrigued by was The Boss Baby.  To me, this one looked like it could be fun, but I didn’t make a trip to the theater a priority when it came out in 2017.  I finally got a chance to watch it when it was on TV, and I was right.

When we meet Tim (voiced by Miles Bakshi), he is a seven-year-old who has enjoyed his life as an only child.  He has his parents’ complete devotion and a very active imagination.  All that changes when his parents (Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow) introduce him to his new baby brother.  Tim isn’t pleased as the baby keeps everyone up all night and take all his parents’ attention.

Then he discovers the unthinkable – his baby brother is talking (and is voiced by Alec Baldwin).  Tim thought something was off about his brother, but now he needs to prove it to his parents so life can go back to normal.  But what if returning life to normal can only happen by working with his baby brother?

This is the kind of movie I love.  It takes a creative premise and then brings this new world to life with all kinds of details that are just perfect.  There are so many sight gags and things that take on a different meaning in this world that are delightful.  Kids and adults alike will get these jokes.

The laughs and plot points come fast and furious.  You barely have enough time to accept what is going on before you are on to the next thing.  Kids will absolutely love this fast pace.  I thought it was a little frenetic, but that was only a slight problem for me.

Some of the jokes are definitely more adult in nature.  I’m sure kids won’t get what is funny about them, but I thought they were a little over the line.  Parents will definitely want to keep that in mind before they let their kids watch.

While the premise is unique, the plot was fairly obvious once it got set in motion.  Mind you, I’m not complaining.  I was laughing and enjoying myself the entire time.

This movie definitely falls into the cartoony animation style as opposed to the super realistic style, but it works for the movie.

Likewise, the voice cast is perfect at bringing their characters to life.  I forgot who they were and got into the characters they were playing.

I wish I could recommend this movie wholeheartedly, but I do have some reservations about content for kids.  Having said that, I do still recommend The Boss Baby as long as you know what to expect.

Movie Review: Soul

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good theme and animation; fun overall

Cons: A different story, so takes a couple watches to fully appreciate

The Bottom Line:

A different film

Reminds us to enjoy life

Takes a watch or two  

Rediscovering the Soul of Life

I finally did it – I have signed up for a streaming service.  Anyone surprised that it was Disney+?  I didn’t think so.  The first thing I watched when I signed up was Soul, the newest film was Pixar.

The movie tells the story of Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx).  While he works as a music teacher, he has always dreamed of being a Jazz musician.  When he finally gets his shot, he is so excited, he stops watching where he is going, and he winds up falling down an open manhole.

When Joe wakes up, he discovers that he is now in the in-between.  Not ready to be dead with his dream so close, Joe tries to find a way to get back to Earth, finally connecting up with 22 (Tina Fey), a reluctant soul that doesn’t want to head to Earth at all.  Will mentoring her help Joe get back to Earth himself?

Honestly, the previews for this movie left me feeling a bit cold.  I just couldn’t quite figure out what the movie was going to be about and how much I might enjoy it.  But I still had to watch it because…Pixar.  I’m glad I did.

Obviously, the premise of this film isn’t something I’d agree with theologically.  If you have kids, you will want to keep that in mind.  But, I don’t look to animated films for my theology, so this is worth noting only in passing.

I suspect the humor in this film is something that will grow on my over time.  While I was certainly amused by parts of it, I felt like I should have been laughing at it a bit more.  I suspect watching it in a crowded theater would have helped with that.

The story is good.  There were several developments along the way I wasn’t expecting, and I enjoyed that.  That isn’t to say I was surprised by the ultimate outcome of the story, just several of the developments along the way.

I don’t recognize as many of the voice cast as I often do.  In addition to the two cast members I already named, the film also features Phylicia Rashad and Angela Bassett.  As always, the voice cast is wonderful whether I recognized their name or not.

And the animation is fantastic.  The fantasy world that they’ve created is fun and inventive.  Meanwhile, the scenes set in New York City look great as well.

The theme of the movie is one that is familiar to fans of Pixar and especially fans of director Pete Docter’s other movies (including Up and Inside Out).  It’s certainly a good reminder to stop and enjoy life along the way while pursuing our goals.  I think that was one reason I did enjoy the movie so much was the theme.

As I’m writing this review, it’s about a day after I watched the movie, and I’m still trying to pin down my exact reaction to the movie.  I think this is one of those movies that will grow on me with rewatches.  Now that I know where the movie is going and how it gets there, I was relax and enjoy the journey.  This wouldn’t be the first film that has become a favorite the more I’ve watched it.  The Princess Bride and The Emperor’s New Groove are other movies that fall into that category. 

If this sounds like I think the movie is bad, that’s not the case.  It’s just different.  Many people seem to be embracing it right away, but I’m still trying to process the film for what it is and separate it from my expectations.

Of course, this movie was supposed to be released in theaters with a short.  That was is “Burrow,” and you’ll find it on Disney+ as well.  I definitely recommend you search it out because it is cute.

Soul is a good movie.  It’s different from a normal Pixar film.  If you are a fan of Pixar, you should definitely watch it with an open mind to the story the film is telling.