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Starring: Seth Rogen and Sarah Snook
Synopsis: This latest comedy for HBO Max was at one time going to theaters, but instead ended up on stream given the new climate. It comes from writer Simon Rich, based on his short story, and centers on an immigrant (Rogen) who falls into a vat of pickles, is sealed in there, ends up in hibernation for 100 years. During that time his wife and unborn child live and die, and the world changes a lot. When he's released, he finds his one living relative, a great-grandson (Rogen as well), and they end up living together and clashing. Rogen does a decent job in the double role, pretty much carrying the entire narrative. And there are moments that are funny here, and even a couple poignant moments. But ultimately this is strange, and there's parts of the adversarial nature of the story that didn't work for me. It was OK, but nothing great.
Rating: PG-13 for some language and rude humor.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.
Starring: Julia Garner, Jon Orsini, Noah Robbins, and Matthew Macfadyen
Synopsis: This film from writer/director Kitty Green clearly wants to drop the audience into what it's like to be a low-level employee at a movie studio. Garner gives a decent performance, but this is a film that doesn't develop characters enough to draw you in. Macfadyen arguably gives the most memorable performance in a single sequence as a smarmy human relations executive, but overall this was a strange and often dull film that doesn't deliver on its promise.
Rating: R for some language.
Verdict: One Star out of four.
Starring: Isabela Merced, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena, and Eva Longoria
Synopsis: This film was released late in the summer of 2019 in theaters (remember those), and is now making the rounds on streaming. I had thought from the trailer it looked interesting, but I didn't get a chance to see it last year. Now that it's on Amazon Prime, I caught up with the film, and it was the light-hearted fun and entertainment I thought it might be. Merced serves as the lead, and the film has plenty of recognizable adult actors as well. It does a nice job of paying homage to the cartoon series upon which it is based and offers some good laughs, some light action, and plenty of laid back summer entertainment. It's worth checking out, and it's more than just a kids movie as some dismissed it to be.
Rating: PG for action and some impolite humor.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.
Never Be Done: The Richard Glen Lett Story (Limited)
Synopsis: It's been quite the year for documentaries. The best movie I've seen this year was the documentary "Rebuilding Paradise," while last week I mentioned enjoying "Reel Redemption." This week I got a chance to see a screener of "Never Be Done," which is a documentary over nearly a decade following the life and career of comedian Richard Lett. This is a powerful story of real redemption, as Lett overcomes his demons, addictions, and worst impulses and comes out better for it on the other side. This is at times tough to watch as we see Lett his rock bottom in his personal life and in his control on stage, where he lets his prejudice and rage form into something ugly during some performances. Just as powerful is the closing act, where we see Lett freed from the demons holding him back, able to live as a loving father and finding joy again from performing on the stage. This was a powerful and engaging story, and one worth seeking out. This is also a tremendous credit to director Roy Tighe, who stuck with his subject for years and was able to capture this tale of redemption beautifully.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Four stars
Richard Jewell (HBO Max)
Starring: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Olivia Wilde, and Jon Hamm
Synopsis: Clint Eastwood brings this story of a security guard who became a hero, then a suspect, then a villain to life. Jewell (Hauser) was a man who wanted to serve, especially in law enforcement. One fateful night while working as part of the effort to host the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Jewell spotted a suspicious backpack. Despite doubts from police officers on site, he took it seriously as a threat. The bomb went off, and people died. But Jewell was a hero who saved lives and kept it from being much worse. Soon, however, the FBI's lead agent (Hamm) turn the focus of the search for the bomber on the unlikely hero, turning him into a reviled suspect and media figure over night. His lawyer (Rockwell) and mother (Bates) stood by Jewell as he tried to clear his name. This is a story many have heard of to some degree, but probably not the depth this piece goes. It really celebrates Jewell and his strength to stand against an unexpected and unwarranted assault, and the friends who stood by him. Hauser is quite good in an understated role, while Rockwell, Hamm and Bates are solid in their roles, too. Eastwood is a talented storyteller who is good at getting the most out of stories. This isn't his best, but it's an engaging and interesting biopic.
Rating: R for language including some sexual references, and brief bloody images.
Verdict: Three Stars out of Four.
Waves (Showtime)
Starring: Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Taylor Russell, Lucas Hedges, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Sterling K. Brown
Synopsis: This was one of the most hyped films from the end of last year, and I was excited to finally get to check it out. Set in South Florida, this tale from writer/director Trey Edward Shults is about a family enduring waves of tragic events. Tyler (Harrison) struggles with an injury that ends his wrestling career and is soon burdened as he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. In a rage fueled by pills and booze, he does something unthinkable, and the waves ripple out to his family. His father (Brown), stepmother (Goldsberry) and sister (Russell) struggle to cope and find peace in the aftermath. There are a lot of interesting potential themes here, but it doesn't quite come into view. There are some great visuals, and there is a particularly powerful scene with Brown and Russell that I found quite moving, but the film doesn't feel consistent in this regard. Russell gives perhaps the best performance, and the actors are solid, but the characters and narrative didn't quite swell as much as the music did near the end.
Rating: R for language throughout, drug and alcohol use, some sexual content and brief violence-all involving teens.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.
Work It (Netflix)
Starring: Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, Liza Koshy, and Keiynan Lonsdale
Synopsis: Netflix has been killing it with original content this year, and "Work It" is another example of that. The film is set in the world of dance, and focuses on a driven young woman (Carpenter) who needs a dance class to make it into Duke. She clashes with the leader (Lonsdale) of the schools top dance team, but recruits her friend (Koshy) to lead a new team, coached by a former champ (Fisher). What started as a mission of desperation turns into a life calling, and a lot of fun. Netflix has turned out a couple films set in the world of dance this year, and this one feels a bit like it's following the "Step Up" playbook at times. But it's funny and light, the dance sequences work, and Carpenter and Fisher have good chemistry and this was a good way to pass the long days of summer.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Two stars out of four.
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