On the third day of my Christmas marathon, I finally found a good one. I started this venture assuming everything I watched till Christmas was going to be a disappointment, but then Your Christmas or Mine? came around and surprised me. While it is still your typical Christmas story, it is able to charm and entertain its audience. If you are searching for another movie to watch this holiday, consider this one.
Your Christmas or Mine? is the quirky story of a couple who end up attending the wrong Christmas. Hayley and James are heading home to spend Christmas apart. But right before the trains depart, they decide to board the opposite train. They plan to surprise one another at their final destination. But things don’t go as planned, and the couple is each stranded in a strange city with no way to get back. The two will spend time with each other’s family. James gets to spend his night with Hayley’s quirky family, while Haley is stuck with a grinch of a man. By the time Christmas comes around, the couple will grow more in love and full of Christmas spirit.
This is a cute movie because the actors have the charisma to make this movie work. At its core, this is still a cheesy Christmas movie, but one with enough charm where it doesn’t matter. Your Christmas or Mine? is quirky in a way that isn’t annoying, funny in a way that doesn’t try too hard, and better than the other movies in the genre I have had to sit through this year. It may not win awards or become engrained into the Christmas culture, but it will entertain.
Christmas is around the corner and if you need a movie to get you in the Christmas spirit, give this a chance. You can stream it on Amazon video if you have a prime membership.
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Movie Review: Emergency (2022)
Emergency is a fantastic movie that you need to watch. While this movie may be packaged as another Hangover clone, it proves to be much more meaningful. Emergency uses the tired old formula of the genre to make important criticism about racial inequality. This is a movie will make you laugh, but it will also make you think. It isn’t an uncomfortable movie, but its message is real and important.
Kunla, Sean, and Carlos just want one night of epic partying in their last year of college. They decide to go on the blackout tour, a night where they hit all the biggest parties on campus. Their plans get complicated when they come home to discover a passed-out white girl in their living room. The optics don’t look good because they are men of color, and the young white girl is drunk and possibly drugged. They decide that the best course of action is to take her to the hospital so that she can get the help she needs. Unfortunately, this act of kindness leads to the worst night of their lives.
I love this movie. The acting is fantastic, and the chemistry the leads share is infectious. The story is phenomenal. This is a well-made movie.
Emergency differentiates itself from the rest of the genre through its unique narrative. The shenanigans and challenges the leads face during the night aren’t caused by drinking and partying but rather by their race. The characters are limited in what they can do because of the color of their skin. The movie does a fantastic job of contrasting what they are allowed to do against what the white students can. They can’t call the police or do much because they could be arrested or have their reputations destroyed. It is a difficult situation that they continue to be in because they are constantly facing challenges due to their race. The movie does a fantastic job of balancing the humor and messaging to make an effective narrative without it being preachy or difficult to watch. The intention of this movie isn’t to shame or guilt, but rather to share an important point of view that often gets ignored.
This movie became very real for me because it is an issue that I am familiar with. I am constantly being made aware of my race and am limited on what I can do because I have to always worry about the optics. Am I looking menacing when I am walking in the park playing Pokemon GO? Do I look like I am about to steal when I am shopping for groceries? These are just a few thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis. I have to constantly be adjusting how I present myself so that I don’t get in trouble for existing. It is a trauma I have always carried with me, and one that I will continue to carry.
This movie does a fantastic job of showing this trauma through a familiar narrative. I don’t mean to scare you or make you uncomfortable with my analysis. Emergency is a fantastic comedy, but it gets serious when it needs to. It is charming, funny, and a very refreshing take on a tired old genre. Check it out on Amazon if you have a Prime membership.
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Series Review: The Devil’s Hour
The Devil’s Hour is a trippy thriller full of suspense, drama, and mystery. While the series does have a confusing start, it will all make sense the deeper you get into it. If you are looking for a decent thriller to binge for the holidays, you can stream it on Amazon Video.
Lucy is a single mother trying to give her son, Isaac the best life she can. Isaac is a troubled kid who is incapable of feeling emotions. Isaac is a troubled kid who sometimes sees things that aren’t there. As heartbreaking as it is for Lucy to watch, she is determined to help Isaac lead a normal life. The trouble is, Lucy sees things too. Each day it seems that her visions are getting more vivid, and she struggles to keep a hold of reality. Will she ever make sense of what is going on, or is she slowly losing her mind?
I enjoyed The Devil’s Hour quite a bit. The acting is fantastic, the story is interesting, and the mystery is well done. The pacing can be an issue at parts, but it never got bad enough to make me quit. One thing to note before starting this series is that it constantly jumps between narratives. It can be a bit disorienting at first, but the show does a great job of giving enough clues to keep the viewers grounded. As jumbled as this series may seem, it is a pretty straightforward narrative. You won’t need to be taking notes.
My only complaint with the series is that the ending is a bit disappointing. The story does a great job at building to something big, but then it just ends on an unsatisfying cliffhanger. I hope they don’t cancel this series before I get my closure.
This is a difficult series to review because I don’t want to spoil anything. I think this series is fine and you won’t hate if if you watch it. The Devils Hour is an interesting and unique thriller that you can stream on Amazon if you have a membership.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today! You can also try Amazon Prime with my Affiliate link!
Image by S. Hermann / F. Richter from Pixabay
Movie Review: Love and Monsters (2020)
Love and Monsters is a lighthearted movie about surviving the end of the world. If you haven’t seen it or are thinking about it, think no more. Go watch it! This cheesy fun movie is a delight and you can watch it on Amazon if you have a Prime membership.
Humans are once again the catalyst for the world ending events that drive the narrative of this film. Animals have mutated because of the radiation, killing off most of the human population. The survivors now live scattered across the globe in small colonies. The movie focuses on Joel, an average guy who is incapable of taking action. Joel freezes at the sight of danger and as a result is left to cook and repair stuff for the colony he lives in. Joel is done waiting around and decides to venture out into the monster infested world to find his long lost girlfriend. Will Joel find the strength and courage to survive in a post apocalyptic California, or will the monsters make a meal of him?
Love and Monsters is a lot of fun, especially if you are a fan of Zombieland. It shares a similar style, but not as edgy. It is light hearted and cute, but there are real dangers lurking around the landscape. I loved the monster design, and each monster encounter was thrilling despite the overall tone of the movie.
Joel is played by a fantastic actor who brings this movie to life with his quirky nervousness. It is fun to see his character develop as he faces and overcomes adversities. He is also has some amazing chemistry with every actor he interacts with, including the dog. Joels charisma and chemistry with his costars create the tone necessary to make this movie work. With narratives like this, you need a lead with enough charisma to drive the plot and make the audience care.
As far as stories go, its fine. You’ve seen movies like this before but it’s done well. It is a little cheesy but the cheese gives this movie its charm.
Movie Review: 1UP(2022)
1up is possibly the best modern video game movie out right now. The story is great, the characters are fun and memorable, and the acting is solid. It might be a low-budget film and a bit on the cheesy side, but it is a fun story that you are sure to enjoy. If you have a Prime Membership, you should be watching this movie.
V and her friend Sloan are the only girls on their college’s esports team. As a result, they deal with the constant discrimination that comes within the misogynistic world of gaming. They are pushed to the sidelines, not because they lack the skill, but because they are women. Fed up, the girls quit and decide to form an all-girls team. Now they must learn to work together to prove to the world that girls can be gamers too.
I have grown to be wary of video game movies because most of the time dialogue is just a series of gamer terms strung together in a desperate attempt to be hip. Worse yet, women in these movies tend to be very one-dimensional and quirky in the worst way. I am tired of poorly written female leads designed to fit males’ obsolete image of women. 1UP does a better job than most movies. The girls are still archetypes, but at least they aren’t characters. I like that they have real tangible goes, and they work towards them. Best of all, they feel like a group of friends who just want to play video games.
This movie is a fun underdog story. The characters are silly and lovable. The pacing is perfect as it builds up to a satisfying conclusion. It does follow a lot of the tropes and themes that are common in the genre, but I had enough fun with this movie where it doesn’t matter. The way gaming is woven into the narrative is fun and exciting. I loved the dramatized fights and how intense the tournaments were even if they weren’t clicking the right buttons. Most importantly, it deals with an experience that movies about gaming tend to ignore. Being a girl who likes gaming is hard. Being a gamer girl comes with a lot of stigma and misogyny. This movie does a decent job at addressing a lot of these issues, but it does so softly. They could go a lot harsher in showing how bad it gets, but I will take what I can get.
This is a fun movie that I recommend to everyone. Even if you don’t play video games or have never touched a MOBA, this film does a good enough job where it doesn’t matter. You won’t get lost in the jargon or the gaming, but I can’t say the same for the story. I loved this story. I urge you to watch it on Amazon.
TV Series Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty turned out to be a solid coming-of-age story that I didn’t hate. Usually, I stay away from these types of shows because I am not the target audience, but I am glad I didn’t. If you are the target audience or love sappy reverse harems, this is a decent one you can find on Amazon.
The show focuses on Belly who has just grown out of her awkward teen phase. She takes it upon herself to make the most of her summer and try to find love as well as define who she is. Will she find love, or will she be overwhelmed by the new world she is setting off into?
While the show does follow some of the tropes and the characters are a bit two-dimensional, it stands out against others I’ve seen. It is a lot tamer, the characters are likable, and the story is interesting. I liked that the show doesn’t rely heavily on fan service, current slang, or over-the-top quirky characters to trick people into watching it. You have a solid cast, some heartwarming moments, and some very real situations despite the narrative existing in a bubble.
The whole story takes place in a vacation town, far removed from most problems. It allows Belly to exist in this world where she can be the main character for once and also gives her the opportunity to find herself. The show handles a very complicated period in our lives pretty well. I liked watching Belly grow from her experiences and mistakes, but I was a bit disappointed by the ending. My problem with this story is that this is a very specific experience that plays out like a fantasy. As a result, the story is a bit sappy, but it never got cringy or unwatchable. I think if you are the target audience and enjoy these types of dramas you will enjoy this show a bit better.
You can watch this on Amazon with your prime membership. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it, you won’t hate it if you do.
TV Series Review: The Boys
I know I am a bit late for this review, but I thought I would share it anyways. If you haven’t seen The Boys on Amazon, I highly recommend it. The Boys challenges the traditional tropes of superheroes by satirizing the current American political climate. There are three forces that control the superhero narrative. There is a narrative created for the public, one where the hero is just and honorable, ready to save the day. It is the expected narrative of the genre. But behind closed doors, in the shadows of society, there is the narrative that is kept a secret. One that is pushed away from the public eye, where heroes are revealed to be selfish and careless, causing mayhem and indulging in debauchery. If people truly knew what their beloved superheroes were really like, there wouldn’t be superheroes. It is up to the corporation Vaught to control the narrative, and sell the public on superheroes.
The series focuses on a band of misfits who want to bring to light the true evil that hides beneath the public narrative. They are brought together by the symptoms of Vaught’s greed and evil. They face impossible odds as they are up against the most powerful man and the superheroes he controls.
I love this series because it is a refreshing take on a tired genre. I didn’t believe that live-action comic book adaptations could ever work, but I am glad I was wrong. If you have seen the series, I would recommend the comic. There is enough repetition between both where it won’t be repetitive, and it is a solid read. If you haven’t seen the series, you should stop reading and go watch it now. A bit of warning though, the show and comic are very brutal and gory. The deeper you get into the series, the more bloody and violent the show gets. The third season specifically tries to outdo its violence and gore with each additional episode and it is fantastic.
The story for this show is brilliant. There is violence, mayhem, and some very much appreciated satire. The third season is a little more obvious with its satire, often times parodying direct events from American politics, but it is well done and fits the overall tone of the series. The story is brought to life by an amazing cast who give some great performances.
You need to watch this show if you haven’t already. Keep in mind that this show is very violent and bloody. If that sounds good to you, you can watch The Boys on Amazon with your Prime membership.
Movie Review: The 355 (2022)
As far as spy thrillers go, The 355 is just okay. I didn’t hate this movie, but it also didn’t leave much of an impression. I will forget what this movie is about tomorrow, and so will you. This movie doesn’t do enough to earn a recommendation.
A drug cartel has made a device that allows the user to hack anything. The race is on to get the device before it falls into the wrong hand. This world-ending device brings together a group of unlikely characters who must work together to retrieve the device and save the world. Will they be able to save the world? Of course they do, this isn’t a deep movie.
The movie has a great cast whose talents are wasted. The biggest problem I have with this movie is with its plot, it is slow and dry. If you are going to have good actors in your movie, make sure the story takes advantage of their strengths. As far as action movies go, this movie is limited by its actors’ abilities. There are a few interesting sequences, but a lot of it is awkward. If you aren’t going to have a good story, at least make the action fun and exciting. The movie suffers as it slows down for pointless backstory, and meaningless tech babble, and it tops it all off with obvious twists. If you watch this movie, you will skip a few scenes.
You can watch this movie on Amazon with your prime membership. While it is not the worst movie out there, I wouldn’t rush out to see it.
Movie Review: The House of Gucci (2021)
House of Gucci is one of the harder movies I’ve had to sit through this year. I took a break five minutes into this movie because of how bad the accents are. I have a headache from two hours of this nonsense. Save yourself the trouble and forget this movie exists.
The worst part of this movie is Lady Gaga’s performance as Patrizia Gucci. I couldn’t possibly pick a worse lead for a movie that wasn’t very good to begin with. I watched an interview with Lada Gaga where she talks about the different schools and methods of acting that she used for her performance, and I am here to tell you that none of them worked. She should stick to roles that take advantage of her limited range. The character is supposed to be a manipulative, obsessive, and powerful woman. Lady Gaga is awkward at best and flat the rest of the time. I struggled to restrain myself from skipping any of her scenes because of how boring they are.
The story doesn’t fair much better. With a better cast, I still don’t think this movie would be good. It would be easier to sit through, sure, but there isn’t enough here for a compelling story. You get to watch boring meetings, awkward conversations, relationship problems, and betrayal that happens off-screen. This story might make a good documentary, but there isn’t enough to make it the drama this film desperately wants to be.
You can watch this movie on Amazon with your prime membership, but I wouldn’t bother. I understand why the Gucci family was offended. I am offended by them, and I am not even Italian.
TV Series Review: Bang Bang Baby (2022)
Bang Bang Baby sits as a unique mob story that I believe is worth your time. It is full of dreams, quirky characters, and action. While the English dubbing is solid, I would recommend watching it in the original Italian as you will lose a bit of the intended cadence and emotion in the dubbing. While the show can be a little cheesy in parts, the message and social commentary are serious and important.
The show follows a young Alice who spends her life as the invisible shy girl living a dull life. Her world is shaken when she finds out that her father, who she believed dead, is part of a very important mob family. Her father convinces her to help him out of trouble, throwing her into the mob life. The more she attempts to go back to her normal life, the harder it becomes for her to leave the mob world. Will she be able to save her father and get the normal life she’s always wanted, or will the call of the underworld be too persuasive to resist?
This is such a unique story full of color, wacky antics, and interesting characters. The acting is fine, the cinematography is fantastic, and the story is uniquely engaging. This isn’t your typical mob story with a focus on hardened stoic criminals, but rather a story that focuses on the underrepresented groups whose stories are never told or are always misrepresented. These would be the story of the women, the homosexuals, and the undesirables. The plot is a combination of different narratives about people who don’t fit into the traditional roles set up by the ruling mob culture.
While there is an overarching mob element, the focus is on the outliers who are trying to find a place in a world that doesn’t want them. It is fantastic. You get a strong and capable female protagonist whose story doesn’t get preachy about girl power. You get LGBQ characters who aren’t caricatures or stereotypes and play an important role in the narrative. Most importantly, the show deals with breaking out of the traditions and expectations to find an identity that isn’t dictated by tradition or misogyny. You throw all this along with one of the best soundtracks in all of television, and you have a fun and unique show that I believe is worth your time.
I will say that there are parts of this show that slow down a bit, but it never gets unwatchable. You can watch this show on Amazon if you have a Prime Membership.
