Reviews

Kicking & Screaming feels like an amateur league Will Ferrell movie. It has all the familiar elements you'd recognize from his comedies, but it doesn't seem to be working as hard or as well as it should. The plot runs the route you'd expect it to, and you can see the jokes coming from yards away. Ferrell also didn't seem to know how he should play his character. I'm not saying this movie is terrible, because it's not. And I even smirked a couple of times at the more ridiculous moments. Still, I think the next time I wanted to watch a family sports comedy, I'd keep Kicking & Screaming on the bench.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is just as unique as its name. This is a bizarre & entertaining experiment in story, with Nicholas Cage playing an exaggerated version of himself in an initially grounded story that quickly becomes embellished with ridiculousness. Also, Pedro Pascal is simply a delight as Javi Gutierrez, and makes you smile whenever he's on the screen. I not only found myself entertained as I watched this movie, but I also enjoyed the mystery of having no idea what was going to happen next. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is definitely more than just a meme generator.

Honestly, I didn't expect much from Toy Story 2 when it first came out. After all, Disney sequels up to that point weren't really high quality. However, Pixar was a different animal and managed to create a sequel that is almost as strong as the first movie and certainly better than many animated children's movies. The story builds on the original premise and expands it in a way that feels natural. It offers plenty of humor and some true, gut-punching emotion. Plus, the new characters fit right in to the existing group without making things feel crowded. I wish more sequels could be like Toy Story 2.

I used to watch The Fall Guy television series when I was a kid and, while I can sing every single word of the theme song, I only really remember the basic premise of the show. Therefore, I wasn't really bothered by how different this movie is from the series. It's an intentionally over-the-top experience. That being said, I do think the dialogue would have benefitted from a little more scripting and a little less improv. And when they blend in CG effects into the stunts, it makes the practical effects look fake. I wanted to like The Fall Guy more, but overall this movie just feels a little clumsy.

I'm currently showing my kids Saved by the Bell, and we finally arrived at Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style. One of the most striking differences between this made-for-TV movie and the regular TV series is the lack of studio audience sound effects. The jokes all land a little flatter without the laugh track cushion. Yes, the plot of this movie is ridiculous, but no more so than most of the regular episodes. And the cast seems to be having a good time vacationing in Oahu while doing some occasional filming. Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style is not a great movie, but it's a good enough extended episode.

I am aware that Mom and Dad Save the World isn't great cinema, but it's a family favorite. I'm surprised at how badly this movie bombed financially, although that could be because they pulled it from theaters after only a couple weeks. This is a fun film featuring amusing performances from Teri Garr, Jon Lovitz & Jeffrey Jones, and some clever humor. I am also impressed with the set designs & costumes. They really put a lot of work into it. And, as an added bonus, Kathy Ireland is in it! Even with its shortcoming, I don't think you have to be from a planet of idiots to enjoy Mom and Dad Save the World.

It's probably not a sure thing that Love, Guaranteed will please everyone, but I enjoyed it enough. I am always happy to see Rachael Leigh Cook in a romantic lead, and even though it was strange to see Damon Wayans Jr. Play such a serious and straightforward role, he did a good job, too. There aren't any big surprises when it comes to the plot. It's a familiar route many rom-coms have taken before. However I was surprised to see Heather Graham show up. Anyway, I smiled most of the time I was watching it and I even chuckled a few times, so I think Love, Guaranteed was worth the time I spent on it.

Toy Story is more than just a kids movie. Much like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this film was revolutionary and demonstrated what was possible with computer animation. But it's also more than just a showcase of technology. It's an imaginative, funny & heartwarming tale. So even though the rough edges of the animation are a little more pronounced now, the story is just as strong decades later. This is a timeless movie with memorable characters and moments that kids & adults can watch together. And when it was released back in 1995, it proved that Pixar was destined to be a family film powerhouse.

Hit Man proves, once again, that Glen Powell is more than just a pretty face. In fact, he has many pretty faces in this movie. And each time he dresses up as a different person, I was entertained. He seems to be having a really good time in this role, as well. Additionally, Adria Arjona does a good job of making her character seem believable. And director Richard Linklater is able to use a real-life story as a springboard to create an intriguing movie plot. I don't think they knew how to finish this story, so the ending feels oddly abrupt, but the overall ride of watching Hit Man was a lot of fun.

Crocodile Dundee came out of nowhere with the first movie and surprised audiences all over the world. When Crocodile Dundee II came out, viewers knew what to expect and what we got wasn't quite as good. This is still an entertaining movie, especially in the second half when they arrive in Australia. But this feels more like an action/adventure film than a comedy, which is a little disappointing. Paul Hogan is still very likeable as Mick Dundee, though, and it's his subdued charisma that really props up this sequel. Maybe it's just because I used to watch it as a kid, but I like Crocodile Dundee II.

Because this movie is made for kids, The Mighty Ducks can skate along with a cookie-cutter inspirational sports movie plot, amateurish acting, and juvenile humor. I'm not going to judge it as harshly because I know that I enjoyed watching it when I was younger, even if I wanted to send some aspects of this movie to the penalty box while I was watching it as an adult. There are still even a few moments that made me smile with nostalgia. That being said, I don't think I could recommend this movie to adults who didn't watch it as kids. I don't think The Mighty Ducks would fly with that kind of audience.

The Bourne Ultimatium rounds out a solid trilogy of political thrillers. While this sequel's plot may not be as clear-cut as the previous installments, it still presents a compelling plot and exciting action sequences. Matt Damon makes it easy for the viewing audience to believe that he's a highly competent spy, yet he also adds an element of vulnerability to the role. I'll admit that I don't always know exactly what is going on while watching these movies and I'll also admit that these three films tend to blend together, but The Bourne Ultimatum is a good capstone for this formidable film franchise.

Apparently IMDb will remove reviews if they don't meet the required characters, even if they were written and published well before that time. Therefore, below you will find my original review from back when I watched Iron Man for the second time, many years ago. And, in addition, I'm happy to report that I still stand by this review and would give this movie the same rating years after the fact: Amazing film! Highly entertaining even the second time through. A refreshing change of pace from all of the standard superhero films that have been being cranked out lately. This is a movie you have to see.

Rio Bravo is another strong showing for director Howard Hawks and John Wayne. This movie features a character-driven story, which meant that I was willing to overlook the simplistic story. I liked the characters and was interested to see what they'd do in the given situations. I also gave a pass to the obvious stunt casting of singers Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson (along with their somewhat random musical number) because they were able to hold their own in the film. Sure, Rio Bravo may have its faults, but it's how it stands up to those faults with a bold determination that makes this movie likeable.

Inside Out 2 isn't really a kids' movie. This is a film for teens and parents of teens. It's missing most of the whimsical fun the first movie had, but it replaces that with an emotional depth which is simultaneously heavy and satisfying. The story is fairly predictable and doesn't make sense at times, however what this sequel does well is that it gives you some tools to help understand and manage emotions when things go a little haywire. My young children may have been a little bored as they watched Inside Out 2, but parts of it definitely resonated with me and I think it did with my older kids, too.

If you're only going to watch one Godzilla movie in your life, I might recommend that it be Godzilla Minus One. I've seen a handful of them and, to be honest, I haven't been very impressed. However, this version has a compelling plot surrounding the humans. The actors aren't acting like they're in a cheesy monster flick, they're giving highly dramatic performances. It also helped me realize why people are afraid of Godzilla. He's menacing and terrifying and when he attacks, it all seems so hopeless. They could have subtracted about 20 minutes or so from Godzilla Minus One, but I enjoyed watching it.

I know that Ernest Goes to Camp isn't great. It's a corny and dated movie for kids. Nevertheless, nostalgia takes over whenever I watch it and I can't help but enjoy it. There's something about Ernest that just seems so... earnest. Jim Varney really does a good job of playing the idiot with a heart. I watched this movie with my young kids and was happy to see them laughing at the silly stuff and being concerned about the semi-stressful stuff. So no, I can't really recommend Ernest Goes to Camp to other adults, but every now and then, when I want to relive a piece of my childhood, I enjoy watching it.

Twisters is odd because it's not really a sequel to the original Twister (1996), nor is it a remake. It's its own thing. And that's kind of a good thing. This film is highly predictable, which takes away a lot of the suspense, but it still manages to present a few exciting moments. Also, I expected the visual effects to far surpass the ones from the 90s, but they honestly seem about the same. And there are far too many characters for me to care about any of them individually, except for Glen Powell, who is a whirlwind of charisma. Even with all its eye-rolling moments, I enjoyed watching Twisters.

True Lies isn't as satirical as Last Action Hero, which came out the year before, but this tongue-in-cheek action flick still stands firmly on the border of ridiculousness. James Cameron was already pushing the budgetary boundaries, since this was the first movie to cost $100 million, and you can see his fingerprints all over the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be having a great time in the starring role, as does Jamie Lee Curtis. And I didn't find Tom Arnold that annoying, which is impressive. The budget and runtime may be a little bloated, but True Lies is a solid movie-viewing experience.

I like the song Jailhouse Rock a lot. I don't like the movie as much. The plot is a pretty standard story of a person's rise to fame. However, for some reason, they decided to make Vince, Elvis Presley's character, arrogant and annoying for almost the entire time. Normally they make the lead character more likeable. It also doesn't help that Elvis isn't that great of an actor. He can sing, sure, and he has charisma, but some of his lines were just laughable. I'm trying to remember if I've seen another Elvis movie in its entirety, but if Jailhouse Rock is one of the better ones, that's not a good sign.

Everybody's favorite amnesiac spy is back in The Bourne Supremacy. And while this movie seems a little more singular in its scope & mission, it still manages to pack in a solid story, exciting action sequences, and some memorable moments. This sequel serves as a kind of epilogue to the original story. Although they leaned into the shaky cam effect from the first movie, which is distracting at times. It also feels like a longer runtime, even though it's about 10 minutes shorter. The Bourne Supremacy proves that Jason Bourne, as well as his film franchise, should definitely not be underestimated.

The Bourne Identity may be based on a 1980 novel, but when it was released in 2002, this movie felt like it came out of nowhere. This was an action film unlike any others at the time. It offers a more grounded look at espionage, which resonated with audiences, and even influenced the James Bond franchise's future installments. It's an intentionally slow and thoughtful spy thriller, with realistic and memorable action sequences. The color filters, shaky camera movements, and jumpy editing definitely keep this film stuck in the early 2000s, but Jason Bourne definitely makes a good first impression.

Legally Blonde is undeniably likeable. Elle Woods isn't just another ditzy or snobbish blonde. Reese Witherspoon portrays the character in a way that makes you want her to succeed. This movie is also an interesting examination of how our preconceptions regarding others may not always be accurate. Plus, it's just a funny movie. There are many quotable lines and re-playable gags. It may have a few shortcomings, and it might not be completely accurate when it comes to law school, but Legally Blonde is certainly one of the most entertaining films I've seen that's set in a courtroom. What, like it's hard?

Airplane II: The Sequel feels like the reheated leftovers of the original movie. This comedy uses a lot of recycled jokes, which aren't as funny the second time around, and the original stuff isn't that clever. Perhaps it's just because the story is supposedly set in the future, but this movie feels more dated, too. I'm not saying I didn't laugh at all while watching it. In fact, it made me chuckle a few times. However, it's not laugh out loud funny. I can't say that I was surprised when I found out that the team who wrote & directed Airplane! (1980) had no involvement with Airplane II: The Sequel.

Pitch Perfect is ridiculous, but it knows that it's ridiculous. The fact that this movie is in on the joke about how seriously these characters take acapella singing makes it enjoyable. The whole cast has moments where they shine, yet Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, and Brittany Snow really are the standout performances. Even Rebel Wilson is more humorous than annoying. Plus, despite the corny choreography and cheesy vocal arrangements, I enjoy the songs they sing throughout the movie. Pitch Perfect isn't a film I'll watch regularly, but if others want to put it on every now and then, I won't complain.