2024 movies

THE WILD ROBOT or How Nurturing Others Changes Us (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

As many of you may know I am 43, single with no children of my own. As such I’ve always felt a little separated from the human experience of mothering or nurturing children. At times I’ve even wondered if I have what it takes to raise a child as clearly it is not something God saw in the cards for me to experience?

It is this personal questioning that made me especially appreciate the beautiful film from DreamWorks: The Wild Robot. This is a wonderful movie that explores the power of shepherding another life and how the act of parenting changes us.

The parent in question here is Roz a robot marooned on an island with seemingly no humans in sight. As she explores her environment she looks for a purpose but comes up empty until she meets a little gosling geese Brightbill. She is told she needs to help her new charge eat, learn how to swim and fly and in order to fill this purpose she must grow and change even though her programming may fight such orders.

There are many things that impressed me about The Wild Robot but what stood out the most is director and writer Chris Sanders boldness to not feel a need to dumb down the story for kids. This is a grown up story. We don’t really get Brightbill’s perspective. How many animated films are there that focus on the parents and their journey? I can think of 2 off the top of my head, and they are both anime films- Tokyo Godfathers, and Wolf Children. Both are examples of films with huge humanity and such is The Wild Robot. It may be about a robot but at its core it’s about someone changing from the act of parenting.

The technicals of the film are also superb with some of the most beautiful animation I’ve seen from DreamWorks and the pitch-perfect voicework. Everyone fit so well into their characters that I was not distracted by celebrities like Lupita Nyong’o or Pedro Pascal. The sound design was also lush and created an immersive natural experience when combined with the animation.

My only real critique of the film was the score by Kris Bowers didn’t always fit with the actions happening on screen and the use of songs by Maren Morris feels out of place.

Other than that 2024 will be hard-pressed to produce a film I like more than The Wild Robot. I found it oddlly comforting that if Roz could find a way to raise Brightbill maybe I would have what it takes if ever given the chance? What a wonderful thought from a stunning animated film. I highly recommend watching it in the theater if you get the chance. An all time classic.

Smile Worthy

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Current Mini Reviews (Challengers, Hard Miles, My Divorce Party)

| Rachel's Reviews

It’s always nice in months like April when releases slow down a bit and us critics can catch up on some smaller films and indies that we might miss in the busyness of the summer season. Today I have 3  recent films to report on and will let you know how they succeed in telling their unique stories.

Challengers

Challengers is the new film from Luca Guadagnino and it’s one of those movies that’s hard for me to write about because I think it is just ok. I liked it as a sports movie and competitive rivalry narrative than I did as an erotic thriller. In fact, it was not the spicy movie the trailers had led me to expect. Most of the sensuality in the film stays squarely on a pg13 level with the R rated elements coming from a locker-room scene and language more than the sensuality. Of course, this is fine but I just felt the trailers had led me to expect an escapist romance and that’s not really what you get.

That said the 3 actors Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist have terrific chemistry and the competitive side of it is compelling- how each member of their friendship group tries to one up each other and it’s hard to determine who is in control over the course of the movie.

The movie would be much better if it was trimmed down from 131 minutes to 90 minutes. It screams of a tighter edit as many scenes are repetitive and we start to care less about the characters. The score is memorable by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, however, it can be overwhelming at times. I don’t know anything about tennis but the games all looked convincing to me and I was drawn into the matches. It’s just the tit-for-tat of the romance that could have been more exciting. It’s probably one you could wait and rent if it sounds interesting to you.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Hard Miles

Hard Miles is another athlete movie coming out this week which is worth checking out. I’m a sucker for an inspirational true sports story and there is a nice one at the core of this film. I wish it was a little sweeter and cuddlier but that’s not the kind of movie they were trying to make.

Matthew Modine plays Greg Townsend a social worker at a juvenile detention center who decides to take some of his teens on a bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon. This helps them believe in themselves and come together as a group.

The adult cast is very strong in Hard Miles with Modine capturing a flawed but determined leader. Sean Astin and Cynthia Kaye McWilliams are fine supporting players. By the end we want these boys to succeed and make something of their lives and its gratifying to see them climb every mountain on those bikes.

The only downside to the movie is that it feels too long and in particular takes forever for the cycling to start. Some of the acting from the boys wasn’t on the level of the older actors. However, it’s definitely worth seeing for the performances and gritty true story.

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy

My Divorce Party

The last few years we’ve gotten a number of films about female friendship and for the most part I’ve enjoyed them. Last year I particularly enjoyed Joy Ride which I found surprisingly sweet along with the raunchy humor. Even this year we already have the disappointing Drive-Away Dolls which was all about female friendship.

The latest entry is My Divorce Party which is written and directed by Heidi Weitzer and stars Desiree Staples in the lead role. Staples plays Xan a woman who is sick of her marriage and decides she wants to burn all her assets in a divorce party with her friends so that her ex-husband will not have access to it. Her friends gather with her over the weekend for the Divorce Party and talk her off the ledge, convincing her there is life after divorce.

A movie like this depends so much on the cast and this one is strong with the likes of Rumer Willis and Laith Ashley.  It’s also filmed with energy and color that makes it pleasing to watch. Obviously a film like this is on a small budget but I had a good time with it. Not every joke lands but enough do that it works as a comedy. Most importantly the friends group felt real and authentic. There is a particularly funny gag about an eagle statue I won’t spoil but trust me- it works.

My Divorce Party would be a great movie to watch with your girlfriends and reminisce about the good and bad times that you’ve been through together. It’s worth checking out.

7 out of 10

Smile worthy

(I interviewed Desire and Heidi for Hallmarkies Podcast and it was super fun. Look for it coming out next week here)

So there you have it. 3 new movies to check out. Let me know what you think if you get to see any of them.

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