Jurassic World Dominion

Jurassic World Dominion; Return to form for the franchise, delivering a greatest hits of the typical thrills of dinosaur inflicted peril. Howard continues to be a drag on the series, while the rest are admirably recreating the guilty delight for what should be the final time. Suitable diversion; B-

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare; Tells a fascinating true story of intense action derived from grim circumstances but fails to capture the momentous stakes by never quite presenting the key players as anything less than an invulnerable super squad. Entertaining but emotionally stunted; B
 

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine; Fan service in a good way, delivering all the expectations plus many surprises. The fights are gratuitous, the cheeky asides hilarious and the meta moments glorious. A bromance for the ages that strangely maintains superhero cliches it simultaneously subverts. Great pairing; A-

The Holdovers

The Holdovers; Aesthetically breathing like a film made in the time it is set, from its production design, cinematography & pacing to its writing, acting & directing. The characters and their symbiotic interactions delight in their struggle for growth and self actualization. Solid holiday fare; A-

Kung Fu Panda 4

Kung Fu Panda 4; The fight scenes continue to be amazingly fun to watch & the characters will always have appeal to them, but the story itself has played out & sequels at this point seem unnecessary. New additions are fine but don’t quite have the magic of the first three films. Let the panda be; B
 

Drive-Away Dolls

Drive-Away Dolls; Salaciously subversive & bitingly satirical in a way only a Coen could craft. Cameos are fun but its leading ladies’ spirited performances that add heart amongst hilarity. Comic buffoonery, surprise gaffs, all in a rapturous road movie buddy film that plays & smashes tropes; B+

A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice; Creepy use of classic Venice setting plus a game cast makes for a great mix of sleuth and spooks. Dutch angles aplenty and some wicked lenses add to the atmosphere while highlighting the haunting history and beauty of the surroundings. A touch of humour rounds it out nicely; B

Descendants: The Rise of Red

Descendants: The Rise of Red; The played out concept can’t get off the ground despite what appears to be a decent new crop of talented & likeable AKs & VKs. Even the brief return of China Anne McClain as Uma isn’t enough to raise this up to the middle pack of Disney Channel level entertainment; C-

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; With the synth soundtrack intact and the cast all back, the retro feel is fully realized, especially from the zillion car destruction opening. However, this one could stand on its own without the flashback and throwbacks, as Eddie and JoGo and Paige make for a fun trio; B

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?; A marvel of hybrid live action and animation on its initial release, it still delights in the marrying of two worlds. The characters are fantastical and the cameos are delightful. Yet the core of the film, the murder mystery whodunnit, raises it above gimmick status; A-

Despicable Me 4

Despicable Me 4; Comedic voice cast given little to do besides playing 2nd fiddle to slapstick shenanigans of minions, who still land laughs. Story shows how the studio doesn’t know what to do w/Gru anymore, while side characters are an even greater afterthought. A solid, safe summer diversion; C+

The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion; A bit of Frighteners level scares that are creepy but balanced off for family fare through Murphy’s comic presence. Some fun scenes for parks fans plus some great practical effects and makeup for the ghouls. Stamp is a perfect casting choice to convey the concocted story; B-

Ultraman: Rising

Ultraman: Rising; Takes story beats we’ve seen before on a trajectory that’s somewhat predictable but has enough of its own flavour & design that it is enjoyable to watch, partly on account of the exquisite animation. For family fare, it’s definitely serviceable and worth the time spent for most; B-
 

I Saw the TV Glow

I Saw the TV Glow; Bizarre, off kilter allegory that will confuse and confound some, while speaking truth to others. Solid performances that don’t play to one note characters but rather nuanced complexity. A tale that uses the trappings of a past time to illustrate a very current feeling for some; B

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2; Presents a deeper story on account of its more fully realized and previously established roots, similar to the way Frozen 2 expanded into darker, more mature themes. Voice cast continues to blend beautifully while the depiction of abstract intangibles provides a gamut of emotions; A

Love Lies Bleeding

Love Lies Bleeding; Time capsule of an 80s noir that feels like it was truly shot in that era and not just recreated. Leads play to the slummy lows the script provides with brave confidence. Raw, sexy, violent and sad with a bit of the bizarre to boot; B

Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One; Full disclosure. Watched this in the dubbed version because reasons. It is ridiculously serious while coming across laughably silly. Anticlimactic, telegraphed and syrupy melodramatic, the fervent appreciation for this film is a complete head scratcher. Give me a rubber suit; C
 

I.S.S.

I.S.S.; The Among Us susness premise is not overly drawn out, and the key pieces and relationships are quickly established enough for us to believe in the individual character motivations and to care about these people in space orbit. Nicely paced bit of creepiness and tension on a budget; B
 

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero; Nicely ping pongs btwn his real life family & behind the scenes moments & stage performances that reveal how each element relates/ties into songs’ content or themes. Nicely spotlights tour’s supporting team of artists while still focusing on the burgeoning musician; B+

Bodies Bodies Bodies

Bodies Bodies Bodies; Enticing cast goes overboard in increasingly ridiculous ways which makes me wonder what was in those drugs they did. Playing werewolf at a party is interesting but the face slapping is a questionable choice. Mood & energy over actual intrigue & suspense. Ludicrous yet fun; B-