Sonic the Hedgehog; Not quite the caliber of video game human world hybrid as Pokémon, even w/Jim Carrey in classic plastic faced villain form. Aside from the laughs he provides, not much to get excited about. Feels like a Hop retread w/Marsden talking to a CGI animal again; C+
Knives Out; Layered murder mystery mixes up all the elements of movie making to concoct a pleasure trove of nods and odes. Brilliantly played by the cast, working at multiple levels, political, social, theatrical, without a missed beat. Delightfully entertaining; A+
Jojo Rabbit; Devastatingly funny. Feels like a Wes Anderson directed Monty Python film. Equal parts whimsical, stylistic and gallows humour. Cast is so good at playing the humour without sacrificing the horror of the situation. A real triumph of filmmaking. Sheer comic genius; A+
Birds of Prey; Insanely well directed psychotic blend of DC Comics characters. A literal funhouse of action scenes with fresh fight styles and staging. All the leads exhibit complete joy inhabiting their roles and playing up the chaos and irreverence. Lots of fun; A-
Little Women; Latest adaptation reflects our current times as much as it envisions the era. This has mixed results, as the casting works but the narrative lacks a cohesive through line. Still, it’s not a shame for each generation to have its own adaptation of this beloved book; B
John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons; A definite must see. Leguizamo’s one man shows are always delightful, filled w/heart, humour & a joie de vivre (often displayed through dance & music). This one exceeds its predecessors with a bite & relevance both grand and personal; A
