2025 movies

‘F1: The Movie’ is the Summer Blockbuster I’ve Been Hoping For (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

If you’ve been following my reviews for any amount of time you know I am a sucker for an underdog sports movie. It’s funny because I’m not much of a sports person aside from open water swimming, but I love the inherent drama of sports on the big screen. Knowing my tastes I was pretty excited sitting down for F1: The Movie, the latest racing movie, and to my delight it was a blast. It’s probably the best studio blockbuster since Wicked last year.

This film is directed by Top Gun Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, and in many ways he just transitions what works in that film from jets to racing cars here (please forgive me if I use incorrect words. I literally know nothing about F1.) The action scenes are propulsive and exciting. The dynamic between the older veteran driver played by Brad Pitt is very similar to Tom Cruise in Maverick. Same thing with Damson Idris here as the young driver and Miles Teller in Maverick getting schooled by the more experienced yet rebellious professional.


The movie can get a little convoluted in the wild ways of Pitt’s character on the track. He crashes on purpose to slow things down and things like that but I didn’t really care. I just needed to know if things are looking good, bad, moving forward, which was communicated enough to keep me invested.

The racing scenes in F1: The Movie are thrilling and so much fun to watch. Pitt has charisma in spades to make the out-of-car sections work and the supporting cast are fantastic with Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem (who has rarely been more charming,) Tobias Menzies and more. In the end, it’s just a super entertaining film. I don’t know what else you could want from a summer blockbuster. It’s the kind of movie I’d see multiple times and probably will do so. Definitely see it in the theaters while you have the chance because the racing sequences will not be the same on the small screen. Don’t miss it!

My patrons keep me honest and able to see and review as much as I do. Make sure you check out the patreon for perks, exclusive reviews and to be part of our monthly events and watch alongs. If you value honest criticism check it out. Find out more here.

Congrats Disney you made the same movie…Again- LILO & STITCH 2025 (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

Way back in 2002 when Lilo & Stitch first came out as an animated film I was honestly quite mixed on the film. I felt it was overly somber and then too silly with the alien shenanigans. However, it is a movie that has grown on me, and I really appreciate how unique it is in the Disney canon of films. Here is my video on the film for my Disney Canon Project:

I love that Lilo is a weird little girl with strange hobbies like taking pictures of fat people and collecting creepy dolls. I love the relationship between the sisters and the spirit of  Ohana and all the Hawaiian vibes I of course love. The watercolor aesthetic to the animation is so  unique in the Disney canon that it really sticks out as a special film even if the tone doesn’t always work for me.

Now we have the new live action remake and I feel very conflicted about the film. It’s fine and the little girl playing Lilo is very cute (although they way toned down the strangeness which is a shame.) and most people will see the movie and have a pleasant enough time.

I guess my struggle is- what’s the point? As messy as the recent Snow White is at least it tried new things, had new songs, took the story in a new direction. This Lilo & Stitch is the exact same movie as the animated film but in live action so the uniqueness of the animation is lost.

Director Dean Fliescher Camp has done what he can to create a cute new Stitch and the little girl playing Lilo Maia Kealoha is very cute but almost everything else is identical. Gantu is replaced by Jumba but the aliens are mostly humans Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen and their antics are basically the same.

The only other change is Tia Carrere is given most of the Cobra Bubbles role and Courtney B Vance is mostly sidelined with that character. As far as scenes, this is pretty much a shot-for-shot remake of the animated film, and why would I want that when I can just watch the animated film? It just feels like a cash grab to me, and I find that frustrating especially with all the resources Disney has at their disposal.

That said, I’m sure lots of people will see this Lilo & Stitch and have a good time with it because a lot of people have a good time with the animated film. If a shot-for-shot remake sounds appealing to you than go and see it. As for me, I can just sigh and wish the world was different than it is. Can I at least ask everyone who see’s this film to also watch Fliescher Camp’s delightful Marcel the Shell with Shoes On? That would make me happy.

My patrons keep me honest and able to see and review as much as I do. Make sure you check out the patreon for perks, exclusive reviews and to be part of our monthly events and watch alongs. If you value honest criticism check it out. Find out more here.

PARTHENOPE and THE UNBREAKABLE BOY Reviews

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi friends! I have quick thoughts on 2 new releases to share.

PARTHENOPE

First up is an Italian film called Parthenope that is actually being distributed by A24 so it may get a pretty decent release schedule. It is from director Paolo Sorrentino who directed The Hand of God a few years ago. He knows how to make a pretty movie and capture the beauty of Italy. Unfortunately I wish his storytelling was as strong as the images he puts on screen.

The main problem with Parthenope is it feels so derivative of countless other coming of age movies in a similar style and feel. One can’t help but think of Call Me By Your Name or Cinema Paradiso, The 500 Blows or even The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. All of these do what Parthenope is trying to do but do it better with more interesting characters, better dialogue and less self-indulgent moments from the director.

Parthenope can be a very sexy movie but since I wasn’t attached to the characters it wasn’t escapist or enjoyable. Just honestly quite dull and plodding. I am sure some will like this movie more than I did for the visuals but it just isn’t for me.

Frown Worthy

THE UNBREAKABLE BOY

It’s always frustrating when it seems like the marketing for a film isn’t really selling what the actual experience watching it is. Such is the case with The Unbreakable Boy. The trailer makes it look like a cloying story of a precocious and plucky boy it’s actually a lot better than that.

The strongest part of The Unbreakable Boy is not on the boy (who is perfectly adorable played by Jacob Laval) but the portrait of the marriage between Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy’s character. This is a realistic, raw marriage with highs, lows and the blessings and challenges of having a special needs child. The focus on the marriage gives the film a grounding that anyone will be able to relate with.

I had the chance to interview Kevin Downes producer on the film and the CEO of Kingdom Story Company after I had seen and enjoyed the film. We had a great conversation about faith-based films, the making of The Unbreakable Boy and what makes it a special movie.

I’m not going to say this film is Oscar-level or anything like that but it’s a sweet, inspiring portrait of a family and a marriage that was a lot better than I expected it to be.

Smile worthy

 

Make sure you check out the patreon for perks, exclusive reviews and to be part of our monthly events and watch alongs. Find out more here.