Hi friends! I have a bunch of movie reviews to share with you. First up I came back from SXSW festival 2 days early but still got to see some fun movies. I did a recap podcast with Dillon from Slasher Reviews and it was super fun. I definitely hope to have him again on the podcast because he’s very funny. This episode includes my review of Death of a Unicorn which I enjoyed. I found it unpredictable and creative even though it is quite bloody so it won’t be for everyone.

Here are some other reviews:

Black Bag-

Because I was at the festival, I missed the screening for Black Bag and was a little late in getting it watched. While I was waiting I heard mostly rave reviews. People saying it’s the best Steven Soderbergh movie in 14 years and a new spy classic and other such hyperbole. I try to not let such buzz get to me but it is possible I came into the movie with too high of expectations because I left feeling letdown by what Soderbergh offered. The film is stylish with a terrific cast but even at 94 minutes the pacing felt lethargic and the spy elements undercooked.

Frankly Black Bag wasn’t any fun and shouldn’t a spy movie be a little bit fun? It looks nice but I was just not interested in the story or the intrigue between the characters. The actors like Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender do all they can to uplift the material but it left me wanting more action, intrigue, mystery, something engaging for a spy movie!

Everyone else seems to be liking it more than I did so give it a try maybe you’ll enjoy it but I was underwhelmed

Frown Worthy

THE KING OF KINGS-

In recent years the Christian film market has expanded beyond traditional fare to franchises like The Chosen and hit films like I Can Only Imagine and Sound of Freedom. The latest offering King of Kings is what I call a Sunday School film. It’s not trying to appeal to non-believers but be a teaching tool for Sunday school teachers and parents to help kids understand Christ’s ministry. While this won’t appeal to everyone I think there is a place for this type of storytelling especially when it is done well, which it is.

The conceit of the movie is Charles Dickens (Kenneth Branagh) is telling his son about Jesus’ life as portrayed in the Bible. Especially during Easter, parents need something like this to help them explain the events of Easter without traumatizing them or making them feel badly. King of Kings does this well with nice animation and a terrific voice cast including Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan and Oscar Isaac as Jesus Christ. Again, this won’t win over new converts to Christianity but if I had kids I’d watch it with them and we’d have a good talk about Jesus’ life and sacrifice. That has value and will be worth a watch for many people of faith.

Smile Worthy

NE ZHA 2-

Another film I had to catch up on this week is the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2. I’m so grateful to AMC for keeping it in theaters so long that it was still available a month after its initial release. Amazingly enough this sequel film is the most successful animated film ever from just one country (China over 1 billion!) Now I have seen it and while certain elements feel derivative of action animation like Digimon and Avatar the Last Airbender it is big and bold spectacle entertainment anyone should enjoy.

The subtitles  were  small and went by very quickly so that could be challenging but the characters are cute and like I said the action is incredible. The last act of the film is especially exciting as Ne Zha’s group and their opponents are battling it out with characters transforming, supernatural and fantastical beings and big explosions and transformations you need to see. It’s very exciting.

I don’t want to give any more away but Ne Zha 2 is worth seeing for the spectacle alone and to see what animation other cultures inspires. I definitely recommend it if you get a chance to see it.

Smile Worhty

THE PENGUIN LESSONS-

Next up we have a movie that’s practically impossible to not enjoy. It’s called The Penguin Lessons and out of the many penguin movies which have come out over the years this is one of the cutest and most endearing.

Steve Coogan plays a professor in 1976 Argentina that is depressed over the political chaos that surrounds him. One day he gets a penguin to take care of and at first he’s not excited but the adorable penguin quickly wins him over. Jonathan Pryce is a tougher win as the crusty headmaster who doesn’t like our penguin.

This movie is simply adorable and I think you’d have to be super cynical to not be charmed by it. It’s not doing anything new or exciting but Coogan is warm and sweet and the penguin is so cute. This is the kind of movie I could recommend to my Dad. He’d love it.

Smile Worthy

Finally I watched 3 rom-coms as part of Hallmarkies Podcast episodes (one on Netflix rom-coms that is yet to be released.) I liked all 3 of these rom-coms and find them all a lot of fun to watch.

MEET CUTE IN MANHATTAN-

I had the chance to interview the director and lead actors in Meet Cute in Manhattan which was a lot of fun especially because I enjoyed their little rom-com. It’s a real homage to the rom-com where 2 people meet-cute at the beginning and then end up being picked to pretend date in commercials for dating app. The more they pretend to be dating the more in love with each other they fall, which is really cute!

One of my favorite parts of this movie besides the cast (who are great) is the many homages and tributes it makes to classic rom-coms. There are tons of Easter eggs throughout the film and even a segment where they recreate scenes from Singin in the Rain, Roman Holiday and more. I also really enjoyed Terence Chen and Kendall Leary as our love interests in this one. It’s a charmer

Smile Worthy

LA DOLCE VILLA-

Everyone knows I am a big fan of cheesy rom-coms especially ones with other family dynamics like a father daughter story. Such is what you get in the new film on Netflix La Dolce Villa. In this movie Scott Foley’s daughter (Maia Reficco) buys a dilapidated villa in Italy and he goes to Italy to help her get this house off the ground. Meanwhile he meets feisty Francesca and they have all kinds of pretty Italian adventures.

Some people will say this movie is trash but if so than it is my brand of trash. I really enjoyed the father/daughter dynamic and the romances were fun to watch. Italy is pretty. I’m not sure what else you could ask for in this type of film. It’s charming!

Smile Worthy

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD-

I love when I get the chance to watch a rom-com from a country I’m less-familiar with their cinema and I get a chance to learn and enjoy. The new film on Netflix called The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is the first Indonesian film I’ve seen and even though it’s quite bonkers at times I had a good time with it.

First of all this movie shouldn’t be called Most Beautiful Girl because everyone in the film is gorgeous. Raza Rahadian plays a man who’s father runs a network with a popular Bachelor type of show and through various contrivances he ends up being the contestant. Shelia Dara’s character is a stiff producer who doesn’t take anything Rahadian says seriously. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is cute and like I said it goes to some strange places. At one point they are marooned together on a deserted island and have to survive in the wild!

I do think the movie could have been a little steamier. We don’t even get a big romantic kiss at the end. Still, I liked this film and am excited to watch more rom-coms out of Indonesia.

Smile Worthy

So there you have it! All the new movies I’ve been watching lately. Make sure you check out Hallmarkies Podcast and my youtube channel for more reviews and podcast episodes! Enjoy!

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