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It’s mid-February and we’re getting plenty of interesting films, including some seasonal releases. Below is my take on all three new films released this week. If you want to keep up with everything I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Lisa Frankenstein (Theaters)
Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, Carla Gugino, and Joe Chrest
Synopsis: As we near to Valentine’s Day, we’ll be getting some more seasonal offerings. But not all love stories are the same. That’s the case with the new film Lisa Frankenstein, which opens today. The film is written by Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body) and directed by Zelda Williams, the daughter of Robin Williams. It’s fair to say it’s not the kind of romance you’re used to seeing on the big screen. But it’s got its own charm and appeal. Set in 1989, Lisa (Newton) is undergoing a rough transition. After her mother was murdered, she moved to a new town for her senior year as her father (Chrest) got re-married. She inherited a stepsister, Taffy (Soberano), who is a cheerleader and seemingly eternal optimist. And she got a stepmother (Gugino) bent on making her life difficult. Taffy tries to ingratiate Lisa with the cool crowd, but she’s more interested in her abandoned cemetery and spending time alone. One night, after a party experience gone wrong, she stands before her favorite grave and declares she wishes she was with its occupant. As fate would have it, a giant storm produces a bolt of lightning that brings the occupant (Sprouse) to life. At first, Lisa is caught off guard. But soon, she and her new creation hit it off. There’s one catch—he’s missing pieces and looking for donors to make him whole. When you see the Frankenstein element of the title, it conjures a certain kind of story. We get some of that here, but this also feels a bit like an Edward Scissorhands vibe. There’s some dark comedy and plenty of fun 1980s vibes. I have been a fan of Cody’s writing since I saw Juno. I still remember lines from that film, and some of the delivery of those lines, that I quote even more than a decade later. Her comedy style is unique and sometimes lead to hit-and-miss results. But we’ve seen a solid horror comedy script from her before. While not everyone’s cup of tea, I enjoyed Jennifer’s Body and was curious to see what she’d do with this story. Visually, the 1980s style pops. I enjoyed the sequences and the performances that Williams was able to cull from the cast. Newton, Sprouse and Soberano are great. Gugino has a couple memorable scenes, and I enjoyed the periphery of Chrest’s character and his sort of obliviousness to what’s happening around him. But much of this comes down to the story, which is at times weird and wandering. But at other times, it’s incredibly charming with some dialogue and moments that really hit for me. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for sure, but ultimately, I had fun with the production and appreciated the tone and the writing. If you’re looking for something a little darker and off-beat this February, Lisa Frankenstein hits the spot.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, sexual material, language, sexual assault, teen drinking and drug content.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Suncoast (Hulu)
Starring: Nico Parker, Laura Linney, and Woody Harrelson
Synopsis: It’s not easy to lose someone you love. Worse still is watching them fade away slowly, especially as you’re trying to find your way in the world. For Doris (Parker), that’s her everyday life as she watches her brother Max (Cree Kawa) fade away slowly from brain cancer. She’s caught serving as a caretaker and holding vigil while her formative high school years are racing away. In the new film Suncoast, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and streams on Hulu Friday, we meet Doris and her family. We learn more about her, the grief and loss that consumes her world and her deep desire to just be a teenager. It’s a raw and beautiful portrait of grief and loss interwoven with a coming-of-age story. The film is set in Florida in the early 2000s. Doris’ brother is transferred to a care facility—Suncoast—as his time is drawing to a close. It just so happens that’s the same facility caring for Terry Schiavo, whose case has made national news and drawn national attention. Doris and her mother, Kristine (Linney), don’t often see eye-to-eye. Kristine has been so focused on Max and his care that, at times, it seems Doris and her needs have slipped through the cracks. Doris wants to be a normal teen and with her brother in a facility and her mother holding vigil there, she uses the opportunity to connect with some girls her own age at school. When she’s not making new friends at school, Doris is at Suncoast. While there, she crosses paths with plenty of protestors there to uphold the sanctity of life as Schiavo’s husband seeks to compassionately end his wife’s suffering. One of those protestors—Paul (Harrelson)—connects with Doris. They swap stories and form a friendship that helps ease both their grief. This film was written and directed by Laura Chinn, based on her personal experiences. That personal connection comes through as the film is, at times, deeply emotional. It is also engaging and develops characters and a world that pull you in. The film is buoyed by some strong performances. I enjoyed Linney and her arc. I appreciated the way that it explores her grief but also the way that she has become so consumed with Max she’s forgotten Doris, at times. This is as much her story as it is about Doris. I also enjoyed Harrelson. His character and story add a lot of emotional depth, and his back-and-forth with Doris is often cathartic. Their final exchange near the end of the film was beautiful and touching. But what really makes it work is Parker. She’s asked to carry a lot in the film and is able to convey a great deal with her expressions and non-dialogue performance. The raw emotion she demonstrates, particularly in the third act really hit home for me. It’s a beautiful performance paired with a beautiful and emotionally resonant story. To this point, Suncoast is my favorite film of the new year. It’s beautiful and engaging, full of strong performances. This is one that you should make a point to seek out this weekend.
Rating: Rated R for teen drug and alcohol use, language and some sexual references.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Upgraded (Prime Video)
Starring: Camila Mendes, Archie Reneaux, Marissa Tomei, Lena Olin, and Anthony Head
Synopsis: Prime Video is releasing a new romantic comedy timed for the weekend before Valentine’s Day. In the film we meet Ana (Mendes), an art graduate who is working for a renowned auction house in New York. She’s just been assigned to the firm’s top agent—Claire (Tomei)—who is something of a prickly pear when it comes to interacting with others. Ana is invited to be her third assistant and accompany the group to London for a big auction. On the plane, she meets William (Reneaux) and sparks fly. She also inflates her position with the company. Soon, she connects with William’s mother (Olin) and her mother’s friend (Head). They get along well but when Ana discovers William’s mother is the client in the big auction she’s come to work, it puts her personal and professional life in peril. There are a lot of elements going on here. In some ways, it feels like the set up to a Hallmark film you might see this time of year. In other ways, the film is going for a Devil Wears Prada sort of vibe, particularly with Claire’s character. It works to varying degrees. There are predictable moments and some slower sequences, but overall, these type of films work based on characters and your engagement with them. Mendes is likeable as Ana, and her chemistry with Reneaux is fun. The film has some moments that work, and the cast does a nice job. Overall, it’s nothing special but it’s an ideal sort of a date night streaming option. I enjoyed it for what it is.
Rating: Rated R for language and some nude art images.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five