Slumberland is fine for what it is. You won’t hate it if you have to sit through it. If you are looking for a movie to watch for family night, give Slumberland a try.
Nemo is a young girl who loses her father and now has to live with the grief that comes with this loss. She is sent to live with her uncle, who by all accounts is a boring man living a boring life. Nemo is overcome with grief and seeks to escape her reality. She finds that she has the ability to travel through dreams. Now she and a scrappy outlaw named Flip set out on an adventure to find magic pearls that will allow her to see her dad again. Can they find these fabled pearls before the nightmare consumes them?
I didn’t hate this movie. It certainly has its moments, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it. I zoned out a bit as it is predictable and cheesy, but I am not the target audience. The acting is fine, the story is cute, and the special effects are good for a kids’ movie. I expect the dreams to be crazy surrealism, but they are fine here.
What I loved most about this movie is how it handles grief and depression. I like Nemo going through the stages of grief is set up like a fantastical adventure. It was nice to see her change throughout her adventure and slowly work through her loss. The ending was a bit cheesy and predictable, but I am also not the target audience.
Slumberland isn’t anything spectacular, but it doesn’t suck. I thought the characters outside of Nemo were bland, but I believe that is the point. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it, but it’ll do for family night. You can stream it on Netflix.
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Movie Review: Spirited (2022)
Spirited has released just in time to disappoint you for the holidays. If you are looking for a good holiday movie to add to the season’s list, look elsewhere. Spirited is a modern and mediocre adaptation of the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. This movie proves that star power should never outweigh talent. For those of you wondering if there was an Elf reference, here you go:
Spirited focuses on the agency of ghosts responsible for the hauntings of terrible people in the hopes of making them better. Will Ferrell is the ghost of Christmas Present and is at the point of his career where he feels like something is missing in his life. Ferrell finds hope as he takes on his most hopeless soul yet, Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds is a spin doctor who makes a living by causing disorder and chaos without regard for his fellow man. Can Ferrell change Reynolds in time for Christmas, or is Reynolds truly irredeemable?
Spirited is a boring musical that I can’t recommend. For those of you interested in this movie, wait till someone with talent makes a better cover of the songs. While some of the songs are catchy, the singing and dancing by the leads are rough. The leads can barely hit their notes, and their choreography is stiff at best. If you are looking for your new favorite Christmas musical, Spirited isn’t it.
As far as comedies go, this one isn’t funny. Spirited has taken its collection of funny and charismatic actors and placed them in roles where they are anything but. The jokes are bad and outdated, and this movie tries way too hard to be funny. As much as they shoved their meta jokes down my throat, I did not appreciate any of them. All this movie managed to do was have me sit here and contemplate my boredom.
It should come as no surprise that this story has been adapted better elsewhere. I suggest you choose your favorite adaptation and watch or read that instead. The characters in this movie are just generic renditions of their actors. Ferrell and Reynolds play themselves but are restricted by the writing and their singing. Ferrell’s singing would be fine for an internet short, but it isn’t for a whole movie and Reynolds can barely sing. To make matters worse, Reynolds pays himself yet again. This character has lost his charm a long time ago, and I hope that he can find roles where he can play anything else. There is no real reason to have these two as the leads for this movie because they don’t add value to it except to maybe trick people into wasting their time on this movie.
My biggest problem with this Spirited is that it wastes the star power it didn’t need. This movie needs real singers who can dance. As disappointed as I am with this movie, I caught myself singing one of the songs. They aren’t all bad. I would have easily forgiven the boring plot and comedy if the singing was good. But it’s not, and I am left here with my growing disappointment.
You can stream this movie on Apple TV if you have a subscription, but I wouldn’t waste the data. I urge you to wait for better covers or to look up the songs on YouTube. There isn’t anything worth watching in between the singing, and I am sure there are better covers on their way if they aren’t already out.
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Series Review: Kotaro Lives Alone (2022)
Kotaro Lives Alone is the cutest and most heartwarming anime that you should be watching already. Be warned, this show will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and love as you watch Kotaro make his way in the world.
Kotaro is a peculiar four-year-old who lives on his own. Kotaro is mature for his age and acts like a proper old man from a different time. Kotaro lives in an apartment next to a struggling manga artist. The two will slowly become friends as they spend time together. Kotaro Lives Alone is a story about broken people making friends and dealing with their traumas. The series deals with the themes of neglect, loneliness, abuse, and family while it tells a cute and powerful story.
I watched the English dubbed version and thought the voice acting was great. It is available in the original Japanese with subtitles, but either experience is valid. The art and animation are fantastic for telling this story. Kotaro is so cute, and it’s hard not to fall in love with him as soon as he walks on screen. The rest of the cast is full of broken souls who need Kotaro as much as he needs them. It is heartwarming to see how the characters become friends and go on adventures. This is an anime that is based in reality so don’t expect powers and demons that aren’t metaphorical.
Each episode is made up of different vignettes that neatly come together at the end. You get different perspectives, experiences, and narratives of different traumas as they relate and empathize with Kotaro. This series gets sad, and I cried a lot. If you are someone who gets triggered by abuse or neglect, proceed with caution. It isn’t explicit when it addresses these themes, but it is something to keep in mind. That said, there are a lot of heartwarming moments to make up for it, but they will probably make you cry as well. My only complaint about this series is that I have already finished it.
Go watch Kotaro Lives Alone and thank me later. You can stream it now on Netflix!
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Game Review: Pinball Wizard
I want to start by saying that I was sent this game as a review code. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let this sway my opinion. This will be my honest review of the game.
Pinball Wizard is a cute little pinball game with a few extra steps that I am sure you will enjoy. You can play it on the Nintendo Switch, PC, and IOS devices. This review will be on the Nintendo Switch version.
There is no story mode for this game. Instead, you choose from two game modes: Tower mode and Dungeon mode. In tower mode, you progress through different tables with increasing. Dungeons are larger tables that you can play with as long as you don’t die. Both modes offer a calm and relaxing experience as you try to clear each room, get your loot, and level up your wizard.
This game plays like a pinball. Instead of a ball, you bounce around a cute little wizard. Each table is themed as its own dungeon room with its set of roaming monsters. As you play, your wizard will level up, and you use the loot you collect during each run to level up your abilities and spells. There might be a way to min-max your wizard, but I suggest you unlock the skills that fit your playstyle. You’ll have more fun that way.
My only complaint about this game is that it can be slow as you wait for the wizard to finish traveling. It is only a problem in earlier levels where you don’t have any spells, but it isn’t a huge spell as the tables aren’t too big. Once you get your spells, there is always something to do, but it never gets overwhelming.
Pinball Wizard is worth the $8. This is a great game to pick up if you want something relaxing to play that isn’t a huge commitment. The art is cute, the gameplay is solid, and you can come back to it anytime without feeling lost. If you like pinball and magic, check this game out. You can pick it up from Nintendo, Steam, and the App Store.
Movie Review: The School of Good and Evil (2022)
The School of Good and Evil is a fun little fantasy that I am sure you will enjoy. While not without its flaws, it is a solid narrative. It is made for a younger audience, so expect a general cheesiness to its tone. This movie also leans heavily on its fairy tale tropes, so expect a sappy ending. That said, if you’re looking for something to watch, especially with your kids, try The School of Good and Evil.
The School of Good and Evil was established to create a balance between the two opposing forces. This school was designed to create the actors that would frame the many fairy tales we have come to know. The story is about two girls who are brought to this school from another world. As they struggle to adapt to the new roles they are given, evil lurks in the shadows. It is their destiny to change the world of good and evil presently, but will this change be their happily ever after?
I had a lot of fun with this movie. The acting is great, the action is fun, and it has a solid narrative. The movie attempts to challenge the traditional roles in fairy tales by having two headstrong and competent female leads challenging the system. It is nice that they aren’t perfect at first, but they do suddenly become perfect when the plot needs them to be. I also liked that the story focuses on their friendship, rather than having a prince give them meaning. It is a solid attempt at redefining the genre, but they could have pushed the boundaries further.
This movie is long, but it never felt like it. Every actor in this brought tremendous energy making this movie a fantastic experience. The villain is a bit one-dimensional, but there are enough characters to hate to keep the plot moving nicely. The movie gets a little preachy about the ideas of good and evil, but I kind of expected it from the general tone. Regardless of its flaws, it’s a solid fantasy movie.
This movie is what I believe the Descendants movies tried to be but failed to do so. If you are looking for a fun movie to watch with your family, this is a solid choice. It has action, adventure, and some pretty solid leads. Go stream it on Netflix.
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Movie Review: Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Most people are already done with this IP, but Illumination seems to be determined to milk it for all its worth. While it might not be the best addition to the franchise, The Rise of Gru is certainly one of the better ones. If you have kids, you’ve probably already seen this movie. If you haven’t, you can stream it on Peacock.
The plot is a simple origin story. It focuses on the mentorship of Gru as he comes to his own as a villain, while also establishing him as a sympathetic character. I didn’t feel like it added much to the lore or did anything worthwhile, but I didn’t hate it.
This movie doesn’t do anything special, and I would only recommend it if you have kids. The voice acting is mostly solid and I enjoy the art style. It is hard to write too much about this movie because you’ve seen this type of origin story done many times. There were some cute moments in this movie that help The Rise of Gru stand out among the rest of these movies, but nothing I would rush to see.
If you are looking for something to throw on for a family movie night, this is a solid option. If you are looking for something to throw on in the background, why not. Otherwise, you can probably live without it. You can stream it on Peacock.
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Movie Review: Hocus Pocus 2
I wasn’t impressed by this sequel. As of writing this, I struggle to remember what I just watched. If you are a fan of the original, you have already been disappointed. For the rest of you, watch the original instead.
This attempt feels heartless and empty. It is a very cheesy and cartoonish movie, clearly written for a younger audience, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this movie is boring. The acting is great for the Sanderson sisters and Gilbert, but everyone else feels flat. The main characters feel shallow because they are poorly written. I did not care for the main characters or the fact that they were no longer friends because there wasn’t enough to them for me to do so. The conflict between them seemed manufactured to fill the run time. Their only motivations seem to be driven by the script instead of any defining characteristic. I can’t even name you any of the main characters because they only existed to chase after the sisters.
The plot of this movie is clearly a shallow attempt at cashing in on some nostalgia. There isn’t any tension in the movie despite there being a deadline. The villains and heroes were all goofing around so I stopped caring pretty early on. If this movie isn’t wasting time on pointless high school drama, being politically correct, or making references to the original, then nothing is happening. This movie builds up, if you can call this poorly written plot build-up, to a very disappointing conclusion powered by terrible writing and Ex-Machina. It is anti-climactic, and the Sanderson sisters deserved a better conclusion.
This movie was clearly written for kids. Hocus Pocus 2 was a sloppy attempt to reboot the series for a new generation. I expected more. You can stream on Disney+, but I recommend you watch the original instead.
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Series Review: The Umbrella Academy
I love the Umbrella Academy, and this new season did little to change that. It might not be the best season, but it still holds up against up well against the other shows in the genre.
The Umbrella Academy is an orthodox way of looking at the superhero narrative. The show is about a family of superhumans adopted by an eccentric man with selfish intentions. The seven members of The Umbrella Academy endured a traumatic childhood where their father raised them to be superheroes. They struggle as adults to adjust to normal life because they are restrained by their traumas. Now that the end-of-the-world is at their doorstep, they must learn to work through their issues and save the world. Can they do it?
I haven’t read the comic, and I can’t make a comparison between the two mediums. As a series, however, it is fantastic. The story is great, the acting is solid, and the soundtrack is amazing. Sure, some of this series is bogged down by family drama, but that’s the point. The Umbrella Academy isn’t just about superheroes saving the world, but about people trying to work through trauma.
It is important to note that these are not traditional heroes. They will mess up a lot, they will act selfishly, and sometimes not act heroically. The show does a good job of showing how the pressures of heroism take their toll on each member. Each member has a moment of crisis that they have to deal with, and they don’t always deal with it well. The charm of this show is the constant state of crisis they seem to find themselves in because they are flawed. As a result, it is fun to see how experience changes each character throughout the series.
The Umbrella Academy is one of few narratives that handle time travel and multiverses well. I never felt overwhelmed by the jumps, changes, or the number of narratives because of how well the story is told. Everything in this series is held together by a mystery that will keep most audiences guessing till the end. I think by the third season you should already be able to solve the mystery, but with all the changes in the timeline, it can be hard to know for sure.
I recommend you watch this series. It is full of fun action, serious moments, and some fantastic music. This series is well done, and there is enough of it to keep you busy for a while unless you end up binding it in one sitting. If you do, I don’t blame you. Check it out on Netflix.
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Movie Review: Look Both Ways (2022)
Look Both Ways is a cute story that explores how the life of a young woman splits after one defining moment. In her senior year of college, Natalie takes a pregnancy test that would determine her future. The movie explores how her life would have turned out with either outcome. In one version, Natalie works toward the goals she has set for herself while the other version of Natalie becomes a mother. The movie will constantly shift between the two, comparing each other’s achievements and hardships. It is a neat idea, and it makes for a cute story.
The movie is cute because of its cast and the chemistry they share. The story is okay, but it plays off as too much of a fantasy. There is hardly any adversity in this quirky little narrative, and what does exist is easily overcome. Everything works out in the end, so think of this as a fairy tale you watch when you want to relax.
I liked how they showed that life wasn’t over for Natalie after she got pregnant, and she could still work towards her goals. Both narratives were treated nicely but limited by this mirroring the narratives had to do. Each switch had to be parallel so the choices Natalie made had to be the same or similar.
My only complaint is that the ending was a bit disappointing, had it ended a few minutes earlier it would have been better, but it didn’t ruin the experience. Also having it limited to only two successful outcomes is a bit limiting, but any other combination would have either been too long or biased.
It’s cheesy, its fun, and you won’t hate it. It isn’t going to win any awards, but I enjoyed the story, and I appreciate how it was told. You can stream it on Netflix.
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Movie Review: Lou (2022)
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As far as cheap and generic action movies go, Lou fairs a little better, but I still can’t recommend it. I am sure there is an audience for these types of movies, but they haven’t found any in my home.
Lou is about a recluse who lives in the woods and hunts for her food. The movie starts as she is about to commit suicide, but her attempt is interrupted by her one and only neighbor. Her neighbor’s daughter has been kidnapped, and Lou takes it upon herself to track down the kidnappers and save the little girl. The problem is, there is a storm shaking the island, and her arthritis is flaring up. Will she be able to save the little girl before the arteritis takes her hands?
This movie was average at best but never worth your time. The acting is average, with Lou being the best actor. The other characters try their hardest, but the writing doesn’t do much to help them. The plot is simple and linear, and the action isn’t fun or exciting.
I am not sure how I feel about this trend of older action heroes. I am glad that actors are no longer type-casted into the grandparent role, but I don’t think they’ve figured out the formula to make them work. Granted, these movies aren’t made for me, but it is still a valid opinion. At least this one was more realistic. It makes me nervous for the final Halloween movie seeing how the last movie was over-the-top ridiculous. I have nothing against Jamie Lee Curtis, but she had Micheal Meyers level of resilience to knife wounds; that is a hard truth to accept.
It is hard to say anything more about this movie because it just exists without leaving much of an impression. When there isn’t any action, I was trapped watching two women hiking through the woods, bonding due to circumstances. It may not be the worst action movie, but it is forgettable. You can stream it on Netflix.
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