I just watched the available episodes for Apple’s new series The Big Door Prize, and I can’t help but feel disappointed. The series had potential and some interesting ideas, but it was boring. It was a mistake for Apple to make this series a weekly release. The series is about halfway over, and I don’t want to finish it. I probably will because I have to, but I doubt it gets better.
A small town becomes destabilized when a mysterious machine appears at the local grocery store. For just two dollars, the machine can tell you your potential. After seeing their potential, some people find the courage to pursue a dream they didn’t know they had. Others will spiral as they struggle with the ideas of fate and free will. Where did this mysterious machine come from? Is it really the miracle everyone believes it is, or is it a piece of nefarious engineering?
The series has a solid cast who give decent performances, but the writing and pacing aren’t good. The events of this series move much too slowly because they drag this series out for too many episodes. This could have been a better movie or smaller series, but instead, we have to sit through all its filler. It doesn’t help that the commentary and criticism it tries to make about fate and potential are redundant and lazy. The biggest issue I had was keeping myself from fast-forwarding to the end.
The Big Prize Door proved too quirky, slow, and dull for my taste. It isn’t the worst series in Apple’s catalog, but it is hard to sit through. If you are thinking of watching it, I hold off till you can binge the whole thing, and then I would hold off until you have nothing else to watch.
Movie Review: Chupa (2023)
I almost gave up watching Chupa because it has such a weak start. While the movie did get better, I still find it difficult to recommend. If you are watching this with your kids, there are worse movies you could be sitting through. Chupa isn’t a bad movie, but it is a little too cheesy and slow for its own good. If you don’t have kids, I wouldn’t bother watching it.
Alex has a hard time dealing with the death of his father. He also has trouble fitting in at school because of his race. Alex is lonely and ashamed of his race. Despite his protests, Alex is sent to Mexico to spend the summer with his grandfather. In Mexico, Alex and his cousins find a chupacabra. Through their adventure together, Chupa will become more than just a monster. He will become a friend.
The story is what you would expect from any other friendly monster kids movie. The plot is predictable, but I did enjoy the Mexican flavor sprinkled throughout. It was nice to hear the familiar dialect, and I enjoyed the luchador backstory. The actors are easily the best part of the movie, and they give the film its charm. The performances may not be award-winning, but it saves this movie from being terrible. It also helps that the chupacabra is adorable.
I liked that this movie tries something different with the genre. Instead of Alex finding a friend and getting the girl, he becomes close to his family. Chupa also attempts to tackle heavy subjects like grief and loneliness, but it doesn’t go deep enough. What hurts the movie is its pacing. It has a very slow buildup and then rushes to the end. It may be fine for a kids’ movie, but it leaves a bit to be desired.
Chupa is an okay kids’ movie. I didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t have watched it otherwise. It’s a bit too slow at times and boring at others, but it is never bad. Unless you have kids, I wouldn’t bother watching it. If you have kids, you have better options, but it is an option. You can stream it on Netflix, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.
Image By 26th Street Pictures/Netflix – http://www.impawards.com/2023/chupa.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73289413
Series Review: Unstable (2023)
I just watched Unstable and thought it was a delightful series, but nothing too spectacular. While it will entertain, it does get a bit too quirky for its own good at times. At the very least, this series makes for good background noise.
Ellis Dragon, founder and Ceo of a Biotech giant, finds himself spiraling after the death of his wife. As a result, he isn’t productive or profitable, and the board members are looking for an excuse to kick him out. In a last-ditch effort to get Ellis back to his old self Anna sends for his estranged son Jackson. The hope is that repairing the relationship between father and son will stop this spiral and get the company back on track. Will the two be able to put aside their differences and forge a relationship neither thought they could have or are they destined to be estranged forever?
The best part bout this series is the actors. The actors give terrific performances, and the chemistry between them is even better. The story is fine, but I found it a bit lacking in places. Some of the story is sacrificed for goofy gags, and some characters aren’t great. It isn’t enough to turn me off the series, but it keeps it from being something you need to rush to. That said, the series will have some solid character moments and jokes that are worth sitting through.
This series is a bit cheesy, but I enjoyed a lot of the dorky humor. It doesn’t always land, but it will mostly leave you laughing. This is a solid workplace comedy and one you should at least add to your list for later.
I like how this series deals with grief by showing two eccentric characters working through a difficult loss. While the series does get cheesy, it knows when to get serious. The writing isn’t perfect, but it is good enough to sit through. I don’t know where this series will go from here, but I am at least curious to see where it ends up.
Unstable is a delightful workplace comedy that while it hasn’t found its footing, is worth checking out. The actors are terrific, the story is heartwarming, and it will at least make you chuckle. You can stream it on Netflix, and I would at least recommend you use it as background noise. You might end up watching it more than you think.
Series Review: Uncle From Another World
I almost gave up on Uncle From Another World because I didn’t like the pacing or the format. I am glad I didn’t because this series is delightful. If you are a fan of Isekai anime or know of them, you should check out this series.
Takafumi’s life changes when his uncle wakes up from a 19-year coma. At first, Takafumi believes the time in the coma has made his uncle insane because he speaks in gibberish and talks about being in another world. But there is some truth to this madness. While Uncle’s body lay in a coma all those years, he also existed in another world where he learned magic and became a powerful adventurer. Uncle was even able to bring his magic to this world. As Uncle regales Takafumi about his adventures in the other world, the two become closer.
Uncle From Another World is framed narrative that pokes fun at the isekai genre. This is a series that won’t take itself seriously, but it is competent enough to effectively balance its humor and narrative. While I do appreciate the effective use of parody, this series manages a decent story. It is a bit of a slow start as it sets up the world and lore, but it eventually settles into something worth your time. Uncle can also be a bit grating character at first, but he becomes lovable with time.
What I liked most about this series is that Uncle isn’t the typical protagonist for this genre. He isn’t a brooding, edgy genius whose knowledge of gaming makes him a god in this new world. Uncle is dorky, ugly, and isn’t even a good gamer. Despite Uncle’s obsession with old-school gaming, he is shown multiple times not being good at the games or even accurate with his knowledge. What makes Uncle such a memorable character are his flaws. Uncle is a powerful character, but he gets a lot wrong. He is clueless about what is going on. A lot of the humor in this series comes from his lack of awareness. Uncle is a refreshing take on the hero that is worth the time to at least experience.
Uncle From Another World is filled with anime tropes that don’t quite fit because of how dorky Uncle is. They will even point out the discrepancies between Uncle and a traditional anime protagonist in dialogue. Instead of watching Uncle’s adventure in real time, he is reflecting on it as other characters are there to comment on his experience. It was a strange format at first, but I grew to enjoy it for its novelty.
I enjoyed this anime, but I understand that it isn’t for everyone. The framed narrative might not vibe with some viewers because Uncle can be annoying. I would argue that the point is for him to be difficult to like at the beginning of the series, but he grows more likable as you learn more about his past. That said, I understand if you can’t ever get there. I would also say that some exposure to the isekai genre is necessary because a lot of the charm of this series comes from parody. Uncle From Another World is available for streaming on Netflix.
Movie Review: Murder Mystery 2 (2023)
I liked Murder Mystery, so I was excited about this sequel. I wasn’t expecting a comedic masterpiece, but I at least thought it would be entertaining. Murder Mystery 2 is a lazy sequel and a waste of time. It was clear that this movie was made for a paycheck because it lacks any of the charm or humor to make it work. If you want to sit through a boring and predictable mystery, go ahead and queue this up.
The Spitz find themselves in the middle of another mystery. Someone is framing them for a kidnapping they didn’t do, and now the race is on to piece it all together before they are sent to jail. Can they do it in time? Yes, they do, and it is boring.
There isn’t much to say about this movie because no one is trying. The writing is lazy, the mystery is predictable, and the acting is okay at best. As a comedy, this movie is rarely funny. The jokes that did make me laugh aren’t worth sitting through this movie. The mystery is so poorly written that you can solve it in the first few minutes without even trying. You will know who did it as soon as they walk into the scene.
This movie is so uninspired and unremarkable that I have already forgotten what it was about. It was such a waste of time that I considered turning it off after only thirty minutes, but I powered through it knowing it wasn’t going to get better. If you liked the first one, rewatch that instead. If you are curious about this movie, don’t be. It isn’t good You can stream it on Netflix, but I wouldn’t waste my time.
Series Review: Swarm (2023)
Amazon’s Swarm is a creepy and strange series that you should be making time for. The series has an amazing cast that gives terrifying performances, a solid story, and beautiful cinematography. At the very least, add this series to your watch list.
After Marissa’s suicide, Dre finds it impossible to adjust to a life without her sister. Dre’s only comfort now is listening to her favorite RnB singer, Ni’Jah. But Dre’s love for Ni’Jah is dangerously obsessive, and this obsession makes Dre violent. The series will deal with the extent of Dre’s toxic fandom as she turns against anyone who offends Ni’Jah. Swarm is violent and full of sex, drugs, and nudity. Viewer discursion is advised.
I will keep my review vague because I don’t want to spoil the experience. This incredibly creepy and captivating series never ceased to amaze me. It is a bit slow and artsy, but it works. The storytelling in this series is amazing. The foreshadowing, symbolism, and fashion all work together to elevate the effectiveness of its narrative. I loved the attention to detail as I picked up on the subtle clues. I even went back to pick them up the ones I missed. Swarm has a well-crafted mystery if you are paying attention. I will be rewatching it to see how much of them I have missed.
This series would be nothing without its lead, Dominique Fishback. Fishback as Dre is the best thing about this series. The way she plays Dre remains unrivaled in the genre. You need to watch this series just to appreciate her performance. The rest of the cast is just as great and plays off of Fishback’s terrifying energy beautifully.
This series does a fantastic job of dealing with obsession and addiction. The way Dre and other characters let their lives be controlled by their obsessions is what makes this series truly terrifying. It is a reality that does exist for people, and this series does a great job depicting the nightmare.
If you haven’t seen this series, at the very least add it to your watch list. It is creepy, beautiful, and has a great story. You can stream Swarm on Amazon if you have a subscription.
Series Review: Great Pretender
Great Pretender started as background noise. It was something I threw on randomly while I worked. Instead of something I glossed over, I ended up binging the series far quicker than I wanted. This anime has beautiful art, a great story, and a fantastic soundtrack. If you enjoy watching heist movies, this series should be next on your watchlist.
Edamura was a lowly scammer in Japan, preying on the old to get by. His life changes when a mysterious blond French man recruits him into an elite group of con men. This group of ethical con men preys on the shadiest figures that plague the planet to rob them of all their money for personal gain. But despite Edamura’s natural talent as a scammer, he doesn’t want to be a conman. As hard as he tries to live a normal life, Edamura keeps finding himself on another job. Can people like Edamura ever find peace?
This series captures everything I loved about heist movies. It has unique and charming characters to fall in love with, high stakes, and a very colorful art style. This series is full of deception and misdirection. Every time I thought I figured out the mystery, I found myself being scammed. What sets this series apart in the genre is Edamura’s constant struggle with being a con man. He doesn’t want to scam anyone, even when they deserve it. Watching this struggle as he tries to figure out what kind of man he wants to be made for a powerful narrative. Watching the cast grow with Edamura was even more powerful still.
The crew that Edamura joins isn’t perfect. They never execute a plan perfectly, and they find themself having to constantly improvise. This gave the series a much-needed sense of tension. I liked that despite the crew being made up of gifted individuals, they are all flawed. I loved watching them work through their flaws and grow from their experience. It makes for a very good narrative. One that I am sure you will enjoy.
Great Pretender is a fantastic series with beautiful art, terrific music, and a fun story. If you haven’t done so already, check it out on Netflix.
Series Review: Agent Elvis
I remember reading about Agent Elvis when it was announced, but I had completely forgotten about it. While the series isn’t the worst adult cartoon I have seen this year, it isn’t good either.
Elvis becomes a vigilante because he wants to fight against the injustices that plague America. His life changes when a secret organization recruits Elvis so that he can perform in an official capacity. But instead of living the cool spy life, he has always envisioned, Elvis begins to uncover dark secrets about his life that begin to shake his foundation.
This series certainly had its moments, but not enough to be worth the trouble. I would occasionally get a good laugh from a joke or gag, but everything between those moments was boring. The animation is fine, and the voice acting is solid, but the story is dull. This is a crude adult cartoon that feels like a lazy copy of Archer, but one that doesn’t have any of the charm. Even if you are an Elvis fan, your time is better spent watching his movies or listening to his records instead.
Agent Elvis isn’t as bad as Velma, but I don’t think it is good enough to recommend. It is a bland and uninspired show that makes alright background noise, but it isn’t anything you should be rushing to watch. You can watch it on Netflix if you are still interested, but your time is better spent elsewhere.
Series Review: The Last of Us (2023)
I didn’t want to get my hopes up for The Last of Us because historically, video game adaptations haven’t been good. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the series adapted the story, and I was deservingly hooked after the first couple of episodes. While not every episode is a masterpiece in storytelling, the series is solid and worth looking into if you haven’t done so already.
Civilization spins into chaos when a fungus starts turning people into zombies. Now the remaining survivors hold up in the ruins of the old world. Most survivors have gotten used to the hopeless routine of survival, but there are still those few who continue fighting for something better. In this hopeless world, a glimmer still exists. Ellie is the only known survivor immune to the infection, and it is up to Joel to get her to anyone who can use her to find a cure. The pair will travel over hostile lands in search of a better future, but is Ellie the cure humanity is waiting for?
This series is incredible. The acting is fantastic, the story is amazing, and the action is keeping you on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between the two leads is powerful, and what drives the story. Watching the relationship between Ellie and Joel evolve through the series will make you obsessed with this series.
I’ve seen people complain about the lack of zombies this season, but the zombies wouldn’t have added much to the narrative. This first season acts as a way to build the world and characters, and it does that spectacularly. If the lack of zombies bothers you, it has been confirmed that the next season will feature more.
The only issue I have with this series is that some of the episodes felt slow and drawn out. It wasn’t bad enough to quit the series, but inconsistency dulled some of my excitement. I was also a bit disappointed by the finale, but that is mostly due to having to wait for season two. The finale has some great character moments and does enough to set up season two, but I wanted more. I could play the games for instant gratification, but I need to find time to play them.
If you have HBO+ or can still get the free trial, you need to watch this series because it is one of the better shows on the platform. Go stream it now!
Movie Review: The Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is the first and only movie I’ve seen from the spin-off. I am honestly surprised that The Last Wish wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. If you have to sit through this movie with your kids, you won’t hate it, but it won’t be one of your favorites. As it stands, this film is a decent kids’ movie that you can stream on Peacock.
Puss in Boots finds himself on the last of his nine lives. Facing his newly discovered mortality, Puss becomes afraid of death for the very first time in his life. Instead of facing his problems head-on in his usual arrogant way, Puss decides to spend the rest of his life hiding as a normal cat. But the quiet life doesn’t stick, and Puss finds himself on another adventure with a pair of unlikely companions as they look for the wishing star. Can they make find the star before Death claims the Puss in Boots?
The plot is silly and as simple as you would expect from a kid’s film. The voice acting, art, and music are fantastic. I love the art style in this movie, especially for the fight scenes. The action is well-choreographed, but it isn’t without its moments of silliness. There are a lot of sight gags and body humor that didn’t always land, but they never got obnoxious. I loved all the cat jokes a bit more than I should have.
There isn’t much more I can say about this movie because it is another movie where the brooding, edgy protagonists learn the value of friendship. The villains aren’t dynamic, and the story is basic, but I wouldn’t expect more from a kids’ movie. The Last Wish is cute, fun, and perfect for your next movie night. It might not have the lasting power of Shrek, but it won’t be the worst kids’ movie you’ll have to sit through. You can stream it on Peacock.