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We’re through July and heading toward August. The summer blockbuster season is winding down, so now it’s all about finding some diamonds in the rough. Here’s a look at all the films I saw this week. If you want to keep up with me, follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The Beanie Bubble (Apple TV+)
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Geraldine Viswanathan, Sarah Snook, and Zach Galifianakis
Synopsis: Back in the 1990s, Beanie Babies were everywhere. And Beanie Baby fever was alive and well. The latest film from Apple TV+ looks at the craze, but moreso three women who were integral to the Beanie Baby revolution. In the film we meet Robbie (Banks), who in the 1980s is trapped in a loveless marriage and a dead-end job when she meets Ty Warner (Galifianakis). Together, they launch a toy company—Ty—that erupts in long-term success. Next, in the 1990s, we meet a pair of women who were integral to the Beanie Babies. First is Maya (Viswanathan), who starts as a college student and a part-time receptionist but soon becomes a part of the online marketing that leads to the rapid rise. The second is Sheila (Snook), a single mother of two girls who provide some of the early inspiration for the toys. The film bounces along about a 16 year-period from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. It focuses on telling these stories, showing how they intersect and how all three women were integral in the success of the brand, yet often forgotten by history. The performances here are solid. Galifianakis is the thread that connects the stories and is sufficiently strange and at times vindictive as Ty. The female leads all do a nice job in their roles, though the standout for me was Viswanathan, who has some interesting moments as Maya. The look of the film is solid, exploring the fashions of the 1980s and 1990s. The story moved at a good pace and the way the interwoven narratives were told made it easy to follow. Overall, the film was an interesting look behind the scenes of the craze, focusing on the people who brought it to life and played a role in its demise. Apple TV+ has had a strong year for original films and this is a nice addition to the lineup. It’s worth checking out for those who are interested in learning more about the Beanie Baby craze.
Rating: Rated R for language.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Haunted Mansion (Theaters)
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jared Leto, Chase Dillon, and Jamie Lee Curtis
Synopsis: I love Disneyland. Among my favorite parts of the park is the Haunted Mansion ride. It’s a classic that, for me, never gets old. It makes sense that the ride would serve as the inspiration for a journey to the big screen, though the film released Friday isn’t the first bite at the apple. That came in 2003, with Eddie Murphy in the leading role. It was an OK production but hardly iconic. In this new take, we see more scenes and pieces that relate directly to the ride. But we also get a longer story that wants you to invest in the characters, at least most of the time. Here, a doctor (Dawson) and her son (Dillon) buy an old New Orleans mansion off Zillow, hoping to open a Bed and Breakfast. Soon, they discover they’re not the only ones in the house. Unable to rid themselves of spirits, they turn to a group of people for help. There’s a priest (Wilson), a medium (Haddish) and a professor (DeVito). But the biggest part of the team is Ben (Stanfield), a decorated scientist who plied his trade to the supernatural until a tragedy in his personal life sapped all his enthusiasm. Now, can he find that passion for both the work and for life to help free the house of a tyrannical evil spirit (Leto) with designs on ruling the world? That’s the challenge here. If you watched the marketing, you’d be tempted to view this as a comedy. There are some funny lines and funny moments. But on the whole, this film is darker and more serious than you’re probably expecting. In fact, the plot and the main nemesis ends up being downright ghoulish. In the midst of it, I enjoyed the performances. Stanfield and Dillon were among the standouts. Their characters also seemed the most fully formed and had the greatest emotional connection, something that comes into play in the Third Act. I enjoyed the ride and the overall look of the film. It’s a strong cast and a good deal of the action is enjoyable. That being said, the tone is uneven at best. It also feels like it could stand to be tightened, running more than two hours. Despite the run time, characters and performers like Daniel Levy get short shrift. Overall, it’s entertaining and a step up from 2003, but not all that I hoped it might be.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and scary action.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Happiness For Beginners (Netflix)
Starring: Ellie Kemper, Luke Grimes, and Nico Santos
Synopsis: The latest from Netflix is an original film based on the book from Katherine Center. It focuses on Helen (Kemper), a divorced teacher who is looking to kick start her life. She decides to take on an adventure—a hiking trip with a group of strangers. It’s meant to build character and give her time for reflection. She soon discovers her brother’s friend, Jake (Grimes), is also taking the trip. At first frustrated, could their time in the wilderness lead to sparks flying? If you’ve read the book, or have a feel for these types of films, you know the answer to that question. This is about the journey not the destination. With the book, there will be a built-in audience. The leads also work well in this film, with Kemper being the right kind of performer for the lead. Grimes, who’s used to playing a tough character on Yellowstone, gets to show off a different side. Their chemistry together is solid and that helps make the film engaging. If you’re looking for a light-hearted romance, this is the perfect kind of date movie. I enjoyed the performances and the story, and I thought it was worth checking out.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Three stars out of five