Tag Archives: free

YouTube Movie Reviews: Just Friends

As far as Romantic Comedies go, you can’t go wrong with “Just Friends.” It is a light-hearted story about a guy trying to win over a girl he was in love with in high school. You have a charming Ryan Reynolds, a crazy Anna Faris, and one of the best ending credits scene out of any movie. I recommend this movie if you like Romantic Comedies. Heck, I even recommend this if you aren’t because it has a certain charm that I believe anyone can enjoy.

My only issue with the movie is the idea of the friend zone. The friend zone is such a gross concept because it suggests that women are prizes to be won. They aren’t, and I think this movie does a great job dealing with this issue by showing the audience that the feelings of love didn’t materialize because Ryan Reynolds won, but rather that the feelings always existed. The love interest in this movie is still a bit one-dimensional, but she is not as bad as others in the genre.

If you are looking for a movie to watch on your next date night, or just browsing for something to watch, you can’t go wrong with this. You can watch it on Netflix and it is also free on YouTube.

YouTube Movie Reviews: The Ex (2006)

I take issue with this genre of movies because, at its core, it is about objectifying women. Two men will fight over the desired woman as if she were a prize until the “good” one proves victorious. There is a lot of deception, betrayal, and shenanigans along the way. If you can look past the objectification, they can be fun movies you will forget about soon after. This movie isn’t fun’ I do not recommend it.

My biggest issue with this movie is with the main character. He is rude, selfish, and self-serving. He is only the better option because the rival is irredeemably and cartoonishly evil. The main character is equally unlikable and it makes this movie difficult to get through. This whole ordeal becomes a drawn-out fight between two characters that you won’t care about.

This whole movie could have been avoided if there was a clear and honest discussion between the couple. But there isn’t, because the woman’s opinion doesn’t matter. I forgot the woman existed until she would randomly pop up to move the plot forward. The fact that she forgives the main character after the fact proves how one-dimensional of a character she is. She only exists to have the baby and be fought over. It is disgusting.

It is a shame that there is so much wasted talent in this movie. On paper, a cast like this should result in a funny movie but the funny moments are too far in between to be worth watching. The movie is slow the rest of the time. I say don’t waste your time with this. Watch “School for Scoundrels” instead. But if you insist on ignoring my caution, you can find this movie free on YouTube.

YouTube Movie Reviews: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

I found myself enjoying this movie up until the end. The acting is what makes this movie work so well. John Goodman’s character is amazing! His character is what gives the movie most of its suspense. I will commend the film’s ability to effectively tell a solid narrative through the interactions between three people. They create a whole world within a small bunker and I am here for it. I recommend this movie to see John Goodman.

My issue with this movie is with the ending. This movie is a part of a larger Cloverfield Cinematic Universe (CCU), but I don’t think it works here. The connection to the CCU seems to be an afterthought and thus lazily executed. If you ignore this connection, it is a much more compelling story about prisoners trapped in some stranger’s basement. That’s the movie you need to see, not this poorly executed alien invasion movie. Ignoring this connection is ideal, but it also creates a new issue. If you do not know anything about the CCU, the ending to this movie is disorienting and disappointing. But if you don’t ignore it, you will still be disappointing.

But don’t let the promise of disappointment dull your intrigue about this movie. If you ignore its connection to the CCU and look past the ending, you have a solid and entertaining movie you can watch for free on YouTube.

YouTube Movie Reviews: Jingle All the Way (1996)

It is that time of year! Christmas is in all the shop windows; everyone is busy buying last-minute gifts. It is important to sit back and enjoy small moments of respite with a Christmas movie. There are so many to choose from, but this one happens to be free on YouTube. Holidays are expensive; you can’t go wrong with free!

I consider this film a classic. Now while it may not be in the same vein as “A Wonderful Life” or “A Christmas Story”; it is an important movie in the genre. You have Arnold Schwarzenegger being as charming as he can be. You have Sinbad in his prime. It has deception, conflict, betrayal, and redemption. All markers of a great adventure. While the story borders on fantasy; it is an enjoyable story for the whole family. I will say that there are jokes in this movie that do not age well, but that doesn’t ruin the experience.

If you haven’t seen it, check it out. If you have, it’s free. I will always include this movie in my Christmas movie marathon.

YouTube Movie Reviews: Fanboys (2009)

If you haven’t seen this movie, I urge you to check it out. If you’ve seen it and love it, it’s free on YouTube.

As far as these road trip because one of our friends is dying movies go, you can’t go wrong with fanboys. It has a certain charm that I find is unmatched. Now I won’t sit here and lie to you, the ending is cliché. What is important here is the journey they go on and not the destination and that’s ok because you enjoy the journey they go on.

The characters are lovable and memorable. The hijinks for the most part are grounded in reality, and those that aren’t are funny enough that it doesn’t matter. It is a well-crafted movie and I urge you to watch it.

I particularly like that the nerd culture isn’t overbearing like in other movies. It feels like a group of friends who are passionate about Star Wars that set off on an adventure. It’s one of the better movies on the platform and you can’t go wrong with free.

Youtube Reviews: Idiocracy (2006)

This movie is a political satire that addresses the dangers of commercialism, complacency, and laziness. It is an interpretation of a possible future if we as a society do not change. The future is a waste land full of idiots who no longer are capable of solving basic problems. There are trash mountains, rampant government corruption, and human life is owned by corporations.  The movie is simple in it’s story telling, but it is a tone that fits the movie.

I recommend this movie based on it’s uniqueness. The acting is over the top. Some of the saturations and shenanigans are ridiculous.  It is an imagining of a future that hasn’t been presented before and I for one am here for it. I will say that this movie can put off some people. It can be gross, obnoxious, and rude but that is the point of the movie. Overall I believe it to provide proper social commentary and I urge everyone, even those who might not like it, to watch it. This is easily one of the better films on the platform.

Youtube Reviews – Taxi (2004)

This is a dumb movie. You have Jimmy Fallon as an incompetent cop who is trying to prove himself. You have Queen Latifah who wants to be a race car driver. You have super model bank robbers and a  race against the clock to catch them. The whole idea is ridiculous and when this movie came out, it worked. Watching it now, the movie hasn’t aged well, the jokes don’t land, Jimmy Fallon is annoying, the special effects are ugly. It isn’t a bad movie, you can watch it but you will probably lose interest 30 minutes in. I suggest you watch this movie if you want something in the back ground that you don’t have to pay attention to.

It’s a very middle of the road movie. It’s not funny enough, not interesting enough, not exciting enough. It is just a movie you put on to pass some time and forget you ever watched it. You can do a lot worse for free.

Youtube Reviews – The Switch (2010)

This is a charming movie that you should check out if you haven’t done so already. It is heartwarming, light, and the cast is amazing. I recommend this movie for a date night or any other night.

My only real issue with this movie is how they blur the line between learned behaviors and genetic traits  that are passed down between parent and child. The movie hinges on the idea that the child in this movie inherits all of these quirks from a father he hasn’t ever met. It goes out of its way to suggest that there is this natural unbreakable attraction between biological family. It is almost a magnetic attraction that is bound by traits that should have been learned through experience and not genetics. That being said, you can learn to overlook this and enjoy it for the story it is. A story about a man who learns how to be a father and family that was always destined to be together. Watch it.

Youtube Reviews: Bandslam (2009)

There isn’t too much to say about this movie.  It isn’t impressive and hasn’t aged very well. It isn’t bad, it’s just a another kids movie where the goal is to win the battle of the bands. If you’ve seen one, you’ve have seen them all. But don’t let that dissuade you, it is no where near being the worst movie on the platform.

This movie probably isn’t for the regular movie goer. It is good if you have kids.  The plot is simple, the characters are awkward but likable, and the some of the music is decent. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have any of that repetitive, torturous toddler music. The performances in this movie are also pretty solid. The main character really feels like this geeky kid who is passionate about music. The friend group in this movie feels like a real group of kids who are in a band together. If you have to watch this, you won’t want to kill yourself.
 

My only real issue with the  movie is that I never really got into Ska. There was a bit too much ska in this movie for my taste, but that in no way ruined my experience. I just wish it had more punk or even some of the emo stuff they tease you with.

Watch this movie this if you have nothing else to do. Throw it on if you have kids. Skip it if you hate ska.

Youtube Reviews: Nacho Libre (2006)

I will be upfront, I am a little biased when it comes to this movie because it played a big part in my teenage years. That being said, I urge you to watch this movie if you haven’t done so. This is a comedy that makes light of the mundane life in a sleepy village in Oaxaca. If you are looking for a loud and outrages comedy, this is not it. It is a quite ride where the guide is Jack Black and Jack Black came here to perform. I would argue that this is one of his best roles. He is charming, he is funny, and he brings in all the charisma this movie can hold within the limits of its run time. His performance alone should be enough to convince you to give this movie a chance.

If you have kids, this is an inoffensive movie to watch as a family. If you are bored and need something to watch, or re-watch, it’s free!