Hi from Austin, Texas! I am currently in the Lonestar state for SXSW Film Festival, so make sure you are checking my social media and youtube shorts for all my reactions to what I’m seeing at the festival.
In addition I have some quick other reviews to share with you. Sorry these are a little late. It’s just been a crazy time between being sick and then planning this trip. Here goes:
MICKEY 17
Even though I’m not the biggest sci-fi person I was really looking forward to Mickey 17 because I have enjoyed all the films from director Bong Joon-ho I’ve seen (even the sci-fi ones.) Unfortunately this film proved to be a massive disappointment and is nearly unwatchable.
It’s a shame because Robert Pattinson is giving his all in an unhinged performance at the lead as a man who is deemed an ‘expendable’ on an alien planet in the future. I just wish the script gave him a more interesting narrative but instead he’s given little compelling to do for not only one but multiple versions of his character.
At the head of this space colony is a Trump clone named Kenneth Marshall played by Mark Ruffalo and his controlling wife (who seems to be mocking Jill Biden more than Melania but who knows?) played by Toni Collette. This would be fine if they were given anything funny or interesting to do or say. It’s especially discouraging because Bong’s previous film Parasite had so much insight into class and politics but it was still entertaining and engaging for the audience. This is just repetitive, obvious and annoying.
Other people seem to be enjoying Mickey 17 more than I did but I can only speak for myself in that it was a rough sit. I couldn’t wait for it to be over and definitely do not recommend the film. Save your time and money for something actually worthwhile.
Frown Worthy
BARBIE & TERESA: RECIPE FOR FRIENDSHIP
If you don’t cover the Barbie movie scene like I do you might not realize that a new Barbie movie came out a few days ago! It’s called Barbie & Teresa: Recipe for Friendship. You can see my review above but this is a pretty good entry from the Netflix era of Barbie movies.
In the film Brooklyn and Malibu Barbie (they are recurring characters who are both named Barbie Roberts so they go by their city names) go to NYC to help their friend Teresa’s cousin open her Mexican restaurant. While there Brooklyn’s other friend Emmie needs help with a workshop for a play she is putting on which leaves Brooklyn torn between helping both of her friends.
While I wonder how much little tykes will be interested in such grown up problems for Malibu and Brooklyn but there’s enough songs and fun friendship moments to hopefully help them enjoy the film. I’d say this is the best Barbie movie since Dolphin Magic. It’s available on Netflix and I’d definitely give it a watch.
Smile Worthy
PICTURE THIS
I was actually quite hopeful when I sat down to watch Picture This that it would be a fun little romantic comedy. I was a big fan of Simone Ashley on Bridgerton s2 and the premise sounded cute. Unfortunately this was another let down and was more tedious than charming.
Ashley does what she can playing a woman who finds out she will meet the love of her life in the next five dates. She is very likable on screen but the screenplay doesn’t take advantage of that charisma. Nothing funny or engaging happens so it becomes a real slog to get through each of these dates. The 101 minutes feels much longer than that and she also has no chemistry with any of the guys including Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
Unfortunately Picture This is a romcom you can skip.
Frown Worthy
QUEEN OF THE RING-
Finally we have a more successful female story in the biopic Queen of the Ring. This film tells the story of pioneering women’s wrestler Mildred Burke played by Emily Bett Rickards. I know absolutely nothing about wrestling so can’t speak to the movie’s accuracy but it’s told in an entertaining and believable way with good performances throughout.
This film doesn’t break any biopic molds and is fairly conventional but I’d say it’s a good example of this kind of rote storytelling. They do spend too much time on Burke’s tumultuous marriage with Billy Wolfe played by Josh Lucas but they are both so good in their roles I can forgive the cliches.
Writer/director Ash Avildsen does a good job creating a believable world and the performances are real enough to be entertained and inspired throughout.
Smile Worthy
So there you have it! What have you been watching? Have you seen any of these films? Let me know!