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Here's a look at the new film I saw this week.

Thunder Force (Netflix)
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Jason Bateman, Bobby Cannavale, Taylor Mosby, and Melissa Leo
Synopsis: This new comedy on Netflix marks the fifth cinematic collaboration between McCarthy the star and Ben Falcone, her husband, the director. It's been a mixed bag in those five films, with some being amusing and some being a disaster. Their most recent collaboration, Superintelligence, debuted on HBO Max in the Fall and was quickly forgotten. Thunder Force brings together a high-profile cast and an amusing idea, but it's not what we might have hoped. It's a touch better than Superintelligence, but about on par with the duo's first collaboration, Tammy. Spencer is a great actress, and McCarthy has been great in comedies, but somehow this pairing, or perhaps the pairing with this material, doesn't work. There are amusing moments and ideas here, but it doesn't coalesce into a good or memorable film, which is a shame. This is another case where all the elements are there but the final production doesn't mirror expectations or potential.
Rating: PG-13 for some action/violence, language and mild suggestive material.
Verdict: One star out of four

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