Jo Jo Rabbit

       Not since "The Producers" have Hitler and the Nazis been satirized to this extent. This totally original and off the wall black comedy skewers the racism of Hitler's Germany and the absurdity of war. Written for the screen (based on the novel, "Caging Skies") and directed by Taika Waititi, it is the story of Jo Jo, a ten year old boy who's extreme nationalism leads him to join one of Hitler's youth camps hoping to one day be part of Hitler's private guard. 

        Jo Jo has an imaginary friend, a  clownish version of Adolph Hitler, played for laughs by Mr. Waititi. Jo Jo is played brilliantly by Roman Griffin Davis, in his film debut. If this young man continues an acting career, he will quickly become a star. He is just incredible to watch in a complicated role. The film also stars Scarlett Johansson as his mother, Rosie and Tomasin McKenzie as Elsa. Representing the Nazis are Sam Rockwell as the commander of the Hitler youth camp, Rebel Wilson and Alfie Allen as his subordinates, and Stephen Merchant as a very creepy Gestapo agent.

       Most of the film is played for laughs but there is always a serious undertone due to the subject matter. There is one scene in particular, that may bring tears to your eyes. But the message of anti-hate is clear and good does triumph over evil in the end. Credit Mr. Waititi to deftly balance the sensitive and serious subject matter with a comedic touch. 

Parasite

      The latest film from acclaimed Korean writer/director, Bong Joon-ho will surprise and shock you. A highly unusual take on class warfare, it's both a satirical black comedy as well as a thriller. It is the story of the Kim family, living at the poverty line and what happens when an opportunity presents itself, in the form of the wealthy Park family. It's full of fun and shocking twists you will never see coming.

       Bong Joon-ho's direction is impeccable and while most of the story takes place in one location, the cinematography is brilliant.  Song Kang-ho leads a terrific Korean cast as the destitute father, Kim Ki-taek. A veteran of many Bong Joon-ho films, he is always dependable to give a great performance. Other standouts are Choi Woo-Shik as his son, Kim Ki-woo and Cho Yeo-jeong as the wealthy Mrs. Park.

        Revealing any more of the plot will spoil the fun. Suffice to say, it's a wild ride. The film is in Korean, with English sub-titles.

         

Joker

          Director Todd Phillips, most known for comedy, turns his attention to the serious origin story of Batman's most famous nemesis, The Joker. Make no mistake this film, while it's roots are in the Batman universe, is not about superheroes or their villains and it is definitely not for kids. Think "Taxi Driver" meets "Death Wish".

          Born from the comics, The Joker has been played by many actors but his origins have never been fully explored. There are multiple versions but Mr. Phillips and his co-screenwriter Scott Silver, focus on a dark, grim story of mental instability and a failing health care system. Dropping the pronoun since the character is not quite fully formed until the end, "Joker" starts dark and only gets darker as it goes. While shot mostly in New York, it takes place in  fictitious Gotham City and while Bruce Wayne makes an appearance, Batman does not (although we do get a glimpse of his own origin). The city is dark, crime is high, a garbage strikes turns things even more foul and dank. The atmosphere is ripe for protest and all it takes is one lunatic to ignite the fuse for civil upheaval.  

          While the grim tone of the film almost makes it unbearable to watch, it is the performance of Joaquin Phoenix that make it all worthwhile. He is simply phenomenal. Depressed, angry, and stabilized only by medication,  Mr. Phoenix's character, Arthur Fleck, is a walking time bomb. Mr. Phoenix's maniacal laugh, body language, demeanor and eventual descent into complete homicidal madness, is a wonder to behold. At first he creates a very sympathetic character (part time clown and wannabe stand up comic) but by film's end, he is a character to be feared, the unhinged murderous lunatic Batman fans have come to know.

         The film co-stars Francis Conroy as Arthur's mother and Robert DeNiro as a talk show host (an homage of sorts to the role Jerry Lewis played with Mr. DeNiro in "King of Comedy"). In a deliberate fitting twist, Mr. DeNiro in that film,once the stalker, now becomes Arthur's obsession. Also co-starring are Zazie Beetz as Arthur's neighbor and possible love interest, and Glen Fleshler as a fellow clown.

          The film's cinematography and score capture the dark mood perfectly. The city hasn't looked this slimy and grim since the '70's. If you live in New York, you may find the terrible location continuity bothersome ( for example, Washington Heights is not magically connected to Bay Ridge Brooklyn) but it can be forgiven as it serves the story well.

      The film's message is pretty clear. When the system fails the mentally ill, the potential for a violent outcome is that much greater. We have seen this over and over again in real life, especially in recent years and there are genuine fears that "Joker" can incite real violence.  While Mr. Phoenix gives a tremendous performance, there is little entertainment value in watching him sink into madness and bring society down along with him.

Judy

         Renee Zellweger is Judy Garland in this biographical drama of Ms. Garland towards the end of her career. The film focuses on the five weeks of live shows at the "Talk of The Town" club in London 1969. There are flashbacks to her childhood on the set while filming "The Wizard of Oz" but the majority of the film finds Ms. Garland near the end of her tragic showbiz life.

         Ms. Zellweger owns the film. She is in almost every frame (except for the flashbacks) and her performance is quite simply astonishing. She captures Mr.s Garland's vocal style and mannerisms perfectly. You can't keep your eyes off her, even while her performance breaks your heart. Without a doubt, this film puts her at the head of the Oscar class for this year's best actress.

         The film co-stars Finn Wittrock, as Mickey Deans (Judy's last husband), Rufus Sewell as Sidney Luft, (her third husband and father of Lorna and Joey),  Gemma Leigh-Devereux as Liza Minnelli, Michael Gambon as Bernard Delfont, Jessie Buckley as Rosealyn Wilder and Richard Cordery as Louis B. Mayer. Dari Shaw plays the young Judy in the flashbacks.

         Despite what may really be known about Ms. Garland, the film certainly paints her as a sympathetic character, used and abused by the Hollywood system from which she never recovered.  Despite the concerts, Oscar nominations, TV show and years of accolades, Ms. Garland's life was a terrible tragedy and the film pulls no punches in it's depiction of her alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression, even while she gathers the strength to still wow an audience. And Ms. Zellweger's performance will wow you just the same. 

Ad Astra

            Co-written and directed by James Gray, this new space drama is technically and visually fantastic but the pace and score may actually put you to sleep. The title is Latin for "to the stars". Titled in a dead language is actually appropriate as Brad Pitt stars and his performance is so controlled and nuanced to the point of numbing blandness, you wish for Leonardo DiCaprio to show up in a cameo and bring him back to life.

             Alas, that doesn't happen but credit Mr. Pitt who actually performs perfectly suited to his character, Roy McBride.  Roy is an astronaut on a mission to find out what happened to his astronaut father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, who may be responsible for powerful surges from space threatening Earth. 

             The film also co-stars Donald Sutherland as a fellow astronaut, Ruth Negga, as a Mars station director and Liv Tyler as Roy's wife, back on earth. Natasha Lyonne also makes a quick cameo in an odd bit of casting. It's a strange film when all of the co-stars have relatively very small parts compared to Mr. Pitt, who commands the screen in almost every scene.

              The film is visually stunning. You actually believe these people are in space. Mr. Gray and his team should be congratulated for the technical aspects of the film. However, while the visuals hold your attention, the story moves so slowly (not helped by Mr. Pitt's monotonous voice-over) that you can find yourself drifting off into space too. There are a few action sequences that are exciting but they are too short and far between.

               Mr. Gray and writing partner Ethan Gross have a lot to say about family (fathers and sons, in particular), loss, and self sacrifice. The film is a moving but dour experience  filled with such promise, especially after a great opening sequence, but ultimately drags itself to a disappointing end.

It: Chapter Two

                Just as the book was divided in two parts, the inevitable sequel has arrived to cover the second half of the story.  The kids only thought they had killed "It" but now its 27 years later and as adults, they reunite to return to Derry and face "It" once again.

                It is the rare sequel that outdoes the original but that is definitely the case here. While Pennywise the Clown may not seem as frightening as he did in the first film, only because we are familiar with him now, there are still plenty of thrills and chills in this new chapter.  The actual terror may be the same but the psychological terror has been escalated as the adults now have to face their greatest fears to destroy the one thing that threatens them all. The characters are well defined and there is a full bodied richness to the story that didn't exist in the first film. 

                The film balances the many flashback sequences well. The adults are all interesting but it's fun to see them as the kids from the first film again too. The adults are very well cast to match their younger selves. They are played by James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, and Andy Bean

                Standouts among the adults are Mr. Hader, Mr. Ransone and Ms. Chastain. Playing a comedian, it is easy for Mr. Hader's "Richie" to act as the comic relief and he has great chemistry with Mr Ransone as "Eddie". As the only woman in the group, Ms. Chastain does an excellent job balancing both strength and vulnerability.  Bill Skarsgard returns as "Pennywise the Clown" and as I mentioned, while not quite as terrifying in the first film, he's still got some creepy good scares left in him.

                Directed by Andy Muschietti, the film is almost three hours long but moves at a brisk pace. It allows for each actor to have a pivotal sequence in the story. The special effects are well done but turn silly in the final climax of the film, which ultimately is a bit of a bore. It relies on many similar horror ending cliches (steals one scene right out of "Poltergeist").

                Everything up until that moment is extreme fun and exciting to watch. As one character in the film is told repeatedly, "your books are great but your endings stink".  While the climax was a bit disappointing, I will say it is still a satisfying ending.  Of course, the film will probably make gazillions of dollars and we have most likely not seen the last of "It".

                I give it four out of five red balloons.

Aquarela

         Not quite a documentary but rather more like a long form music video, this new film is all about the power and beauty of water. Directed by Viktor Kossakovsky, the film contains no narration and no context but is rather just a visual spectacle of water in nature.

          From cleaving glaciers in Greenland to the magnificent Angel Falls in Venezuela, the film spans the globe to show us water in it's purest form. The accompanying soundtrack is by Apocalyptica. The music blends beautifully for most of the film but can be overwhelming at times. There are just a few scenes including people or animals and how they are affected by water in it's various destructive power, and literally life and death in one particular scene. 

        It's a hypnotic ninety minutes that moves randomly from place to place with water, not the subject, but literally the protagonist. It's probably not for everyone but it is visually breathtaking.

Good Boys

       Remove the R-rated language and you have a very sweet film about that time in life between being a kid and hitting your teens. However tweens cursing and buying drugs puts a whole different spin on it. The cursing is funny for a while and does wear thin after a while but the situations these three 12 year old boys find themselves get more and more outrageous.

        Jacob Trembley, Keith L. Williams and Brady Noon are the three "Beanbag Boys". Friends for life that are about to go to their first "kissing party". First they have to learn how to kiss. Things get pretty crazy from that point. Even though their adventures get wilder, there remains something very sweet and nostalgic ( especially if you were ever a 12 year old boy) about their relationship.

       The three leads are terrific, basically doing what boys do, and have great chemistry. I can picture them grown up as Ben Stiller, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride respectively. The film co-stars Molly Gordon, Lil Rel Howery, Midori Francis and Will Forte.

           Co-written and directed by Gene Stupnitsky, the spirit of male tween years is captured perfectly. The major plot point of trying to recover "Molly" for two older girls was a bit uncomfortable for me but it does manage to put the boys in some crazy situations. Most of the visuals gags are seen in the preview but some pretty funny dialog is saved for the film. There are many laugh out loud lines, most of which are unrepeatable here as the film definitely earns its "R" rating.

Brittney Runs a Marathon

             Based on a true story, writer/director Paul Downs Colaizzo has fashioned a biting new comedy that actually bites back. Brittney is an overweight, late night party girl who, after a visit to a doctor to procure Adderall, finds that her health is a lot worse than she thought and decides to do something about it.

             Played by Jillian Bell (who finally gets the lead role she deserves), Brittney is an overweight, self obsessed, nasty, selfish character who is hard to root for. Only after she decides to start running (since she can't afford a gym) does she become someone you can start to care about. Ms. Bell is in every scene and brings to life a real flesh and blood character. There is not a false note in her performance.

             The supporting cast, as written by Mr. Colaizzo, are also very honest characters. The film co-stars Alice Lee, Michaela Watkins, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. Brittney's various relationships with each character are completely believable and the entire film never falters. Even the end, by Hollywood standards, works in the context of the story.

             The film is both funny and heartbreaking. On the surface, you may think you have it figured out but it will definitely surprise you. It's a smart script brought to life by a terrific Ms. Bell, who is not afraid to immerse herself in an unflattering role. And for all the "Brittneys" out there, it is an inspiration.

Blinded by the Light

        Based on a true story, this is a film about the trans-formative power of music. The music of Bruce Springsteen plays a major role in the film but don't be put off if you're not a fan. In fact, the film will give you insight into Mr. Springsteen's songs that you may have never realized and you may find yourself a fan by the end.

         Co-written and directed by Gurinder Chadha,  this is the story of Javed Khan, a Pakistani teen alienated in his working class British town by local bigotry, and by his father, Malik, who insists he stop trying to be "British" and stick to his roots. It's the late '80's in England and unemployment is at an all time high. The National Front are marching in the streets against immigrants and Javed's future looks bleak. He longs to be a writer but his father rules his family and has other plans for Javed. When another immigrant classmate named "Roops" gives him two Springsteen cassettes, Javed's life is changed forever.

         Springsteen's lyrics speak directly to him and Javed finds solidarity, strength and self confidence in the songs. The film follows a familar arc but is presented in such a fresh and unusual way, you can forgive the cliches. Javed is played by Viveik Kalra and he is a natural. Full of expression and honesty, you can't help but root for him. His father is played by Kulvinder Ghir and other co-stars include Hayley Atwell as Javed's English Literature teacher, Nell Williams as Eliza, and Aaron Phagura as Roops.

         Ms. Chadha highlights Springsteen's lyrics visually into the background while Javed's cassettes play in his head. Emphasizing specific lyrics makes you think about them in a new way, even as Javed makes his connection. There are joyful dance numbers that actually make sense as well as moments that will have you reaching for tissues. For Javed, it's the music of Bruce Springsteen that makes a difference but the film also makes the point, it could just as easily be another singer or songwriter. If anyone's music touches you in a very real way, it can help change your life. 

           This is a terrific film on many levels and should not be missed. And stay for the credits to see pictures of Sarfraz Manzoor, the real Javed, who's book inspired the film, with Mr. Springsteen at various times through his career.

The Nightingale

                  Writer/director Jennifer Kent, who's last film, "The Babbadook" still gives me nightmares, returns with a completely different kind of horror film. 

                    In 1825 Tasmania, we meet Claire, played by Aisling Franciosi, a married convict who works servicing the British soldiers who oversee the penal colony. The film contains multiple scenes of rape and murder (even of children) and is not an easy film to watch. While many viewers have left the theater in disgust,  Ms. Kent defends her decision to depict such violence, claiming "the film contains historically accurate depictions of the colonial violence and racism that took place against the Australian Indigenous people of that time".

                     Claire, as a convict and a woman, is treated no differently from the Aborigines, called "Blacks" by the British,  and is subjected to unbelievable violence and cruelty. The film is produced in collaboration with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Elders who feel "this is an honest and necessary depiction of their history and a story that needs to be told". Ms. Kent remains proud of the film despite much negative response and stresses "the film is about a need for love, compassion and kindness in dark times".

                      While a story of revenge, it is clear that Ms. Kent's message comes through and needs to be heard.  Gripping, powerful and never easy, Claire's growing relationship with the Aboriginal tracker, Billy, played by Baykali Ganambarr, and the surprising direction of the story is raw, honest and heartbreaking. The three lead actors have very difficult roles but they are just brilliant, including Sam Claflin as the despicable Lieutenant Hawkins (one of the all time horrendous screen villains).

                       The cinematography of the Tasmanian landscape is a rich and beautiful contrast to the transpiring story. Ms. Kent's direction is impeccable, holding back nothing to the audience and driving home her point. She is a talented filmmaker with a unique style. While certainly not for everyone, this is a remarkable film.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

                This comedic drama is a terrific comeback for actor Shia LaBeouf.  Bad behavior and the resulting bad press have kept him out of the spotlight for the past few years but this charming Indie story has Mr. LeBeouf in top form as a down on his luck drifter, traumatized by his brother's death, who befriends a young man with Down's Syndrome ( a terrific Zack Gottsagen) who dreams of being a pro wrestler.

                When "Zak", who is on the run from where he has been living, is discovered hiding under a tarp on Mr. LeBeouf's boat, they form an unlikely friendship. On the run himself, Tyler (Mr. LaBeouf), decides to help Zak get to a wrestling school to fulfill his dream. 

                  The film co-stars Dakota Johnson as Eleanor, the aide from the center where Zak had been living, tasked with finding him since she figures out where he is heading. Also featured are Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, Thomas Hayden Church, and Jon Bernthal.

                   Beautiful locations in the Outer Banks and a great score help tell this simple but unusual story.  It is a charmer that is both heartwarming and very entertaining.

Luce

      Co-written (with J.C. Lee) and directed by Julius Onah, this is a domestic drama that is smart, well acted and very unsettling. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the adoptive parents of Luce (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a black teenager, they have raised since the age of seven when they rescued him from a war torn African nation.

       Luce is a star senior at his high school, excelling at track and on his way to be class valedictorian at his graduation. He is well liked by his teachers and classmates with the exception of Ms. Wilson (played by Octavia Spencer), his history teacher. When accusations begin and tension grows, the film veers into a very uncomfortable space. Credit Mr. Onah for creating an atmosphere that keeps the audience off balance and never quite sure who to believe as things escalate.

      Norbert Leo Butz co-stars as the school principal, torn between his obligations for his teacher and student alike. Andrea Bang and Brian Bradley also co-stars as significant classmates of Luce. The entire cast is excellent. Mr. Harrison Jr. in particular, as Luce, is a star in the making. 

       The film raises troubling questions and quickly escalates into a psychological war of words that teeters on the edge of potential violence. It's an intelligent drama that will have you thinking about it even after the credits roll.

Hobbs & Shaw

       Spinning off from the "Fast & Furious" franchise, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham team up as "Hobbs & Shaw" to take on a global threat of a missing super virus. The villain, an enhanced rogue agent is played by Idris Elba and the twist is that the virus is dormant inside Shaw's sister, Hattie, played by a very capable Vanessa Kirby.

         The charisma and chemistry between Mr. Johnson and Mr. Statham carry the film as they trade insults and one-liners, pretending to hate one another, while engaging in a serious "bromance" to save the world. Ms. Kirby more than holds her own against these two action stars, as an MI-6 operative that injects herself with the virus to keep it out of the hands of Mr. Elba.

          The silly plot is secondary to the action and fans of the "Fast & Furious" franchise will not be disappointed by the chase scenes including an amazing sequence involving multiple trucks and a helicopter that needs to be seen to be believed, as well as plenty of fast cars and one incredible motorcycle. 

           This is the ideal summer "popcorn" flick. It doesn't ask you to put much thought into the film, just to sit back and enjoy the action and visual flair of it's director, David Leitch. Helen Mirren and Eddie Marsan have bit parts and there are two surprise cameos that add to the fun.  Mid and post credit scenes set up the inevitable sequel and probably the start of another franchise.

Once Upon A Time...in Hollywood

           Quentin Tarantino is a genius. A self indulgent egotistical genius but a genius none the less. His ninth film runs two hours and forty minutes and he crams every cinematic trick in the book into every frame. He practically screams look how cool I am and the neat things I can do behind the camera. But despite what you may think of his style, he makes it all work and it is incredibly entertaining.

           The film is written as well as directed by Mr. Tarantino and while it's basically the story of a friendship, it is also a story of a specific time and he captures the period of 1969 Los Angeles perfectly with attention to every conceivable detail. He mixes reality and fiction into the film, much the way he has done in the past. He blends suspense, comedy, and outrageous violence together but it all makes sense if you remember the title. 

       His stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are simply terrific leads tearing up the screen as a fading TV star and his long time stuntman respectively. Their scenes together as well as independently are pure magic. The detail Mr. Tarantino puts into Rick Dalton's (Mr. DiCaprio) backstory is incredible. The research into TV commercials, billboards, radio spots and other advertising of the time is meticulous.

       Margot Robbie co-stars as real life actress, Sharon Tate. Her role may be small but her intended fate casts a large shadow over the entire film. Also in small but significant roles are Al Pacino, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant, Margaret Qualley, Damian Lewis (as a dead on Steve McQueen), Bruce Dern (the perfect crotchety old man), Kurt Russell, Mike Moh (As Bruce Lee), Dakota Fanning as "Squeaky" Fromme and Lena Dunham as "Gypsy". Tarantino regulars Michael Madsen and Zoe Bell also have cameos. It's a great cast but most of the screen time belongs to Mr. DiCaprio and Mr. Pitt and they don't waste a second of it.

         You also can't discuss a Tarantino film without mentioning the soundtrack. It is a cavalcade of late '60's songs crossing different genres but all woven perfectly into the film. One could argue the film needs editing and could have been shorter but Mr. Tarantino doesn't want you to miss a thing and you are better off for it.

Midsommar

      Written and directed by Ari Aster, this is his follow up to last year's terrific horror film, "Hereditary". This film too is being billed as a horror film but don't be fooled, it's not. Yes, there are some horrific elements and graphic scenes but the film is just a silly mess.

       The film stars Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, and Will Poulter as students who follow their Swedish friend Pelle (played by Vilhelm Blomgren) back to Sweden to experience a once every ninety year summer festival. Ms. Pugh's character Dani is getting over a horrible personal tragedy and her boyfriend Christian (Mr. Reynor) ends up reluctantly inviting her on the trip. Once they arrive at the remote makeshift village, you just know things are not going to end well.

       Mr. Aster builds his suspense very slowly and as the film progresses, graphic violent moments inter-cut the idyllic setting. The film runs almost two and a half hours and is in serious need of editing. It is a tedious slow build to a ridiculous payoff. The population of the village appear to be ad libbing the silly songs, dances and rituals built around their "festival". It's pretty clear from the start, these people are part of a crazed cult who's intentions are far from friendly.

         Save your money and your time by watching  "The Wicker Man" instead. This is an obvious variation on the same theme and "Wicker" is a far superior film. Mr. Aster is definitely a filmmaker to watch but this is a step backwards.

The Art of Self Defense

         Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, and Imogen Poots star in this very black comedy. Black to the point it stops being funny and descends into very dark territory.

        Mr. Eisenberg is Casey, a meek account who lives alone with his dachshund. One night while going out for dog food, he is brutally mugged. While recovering, he passes a Karate Dojo and  decides to sign up for classes. Mr. Nivola plays the Sensei who attempts to "make a man" out of Casey through Karate and his own warped life lessons. Ms. Poots plays another student, already advanced to Brown Belt and teaching a children's class.

         The film is written and directed by Riley Steams, who certainly has an original vision. It's deliberately set in an unnamed city during an unnamed time period (probably the '80s)  and contains only three principle locations. The focus is completely on Casey and his "transformation". The viewing experience is like watching a bad accident. You know you should turn away but you can't help yourself. To his credit, Mr. Steams finds a way to keep you engaged even while the story makes you squirm and keeps you off kilter.

         What comedy exists in the film is uncomfortable and cringe worthy. The film gets darker as it goes and offers  little in the way of redemption, except for a glimmer of hope at the end.

Stuber

       There have been many great mismatched partner comedies. "Stuber" is not one of them. It's got a good premise with truly opposite stars in Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista but it fails to live up to it's potential. It's an uneven action-comedy that is at once too cute or too violent. The genre mix here is awkward despite a few funny moments.

       Most of the humor is supplied by Mr. Nanjiani's very funny one liners or physical responses to the mayhem happening around him. He plays an Uber driver, named Stu, forced to help Mr. Bautista's rogue cop, Vic, catch a murderous drug dealer. Unable to see due to Laser eye surgery, Vic needs Stu to drive him seemingly through every neighborhood in the Los Angels area to find the dealer. Along the way, there are fights, shootouts, explosions and a cute dog wasted in just two scenes. The poster for the film gives the false impression the dog has a bigger role.

         The film co-stars Natalie Morales as Vic's daughter, Betty Gilpin as Stu's friend and romantic crush, and Mira Sorvino as Vic's police Captain. Iko Uwais plays the drug dealer and Jimmy Tatro plays Stu's boss at his daytime job.Karen Gillan, who co-starred with Mr. Bautista in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Avengers" movies, has an early cameo.

         It's a new setting for a very old concept and while the two leads have good chemistry, the story around them unfortunately, doesn't. 

Toy Story 4

 









   A perfectly happy ending to “Toy Story 3” closed the book but if there is money to be made, Hollywood will keep going. The latest installment in the beloved franchise could be subtitled “Woody finds his Mojo”.

          The latest version finds our favorite group of toys now the property of little Bonnie who is about to start kindergarten. Woody has been basically ignored and is feeling lost. He stows away in Bonnie’s backpack when she goes to school and basically is responsible for creating the newest character, “Forky” voiced perfectly by Tony Hale.

            Woody, voiced beautifully by Tom Hanks, feels responsible for Forky and the story concentrates on their relationship reducing Buzz Lightyear, voiced again by Tim Allen, to a lesser role. All the other familiar toys are back but basically background with the exception of Bo Peep, voiced by Annie Potts, who is Woody’s love interest.

             It’s a sentimental story with a strange interlude in an antiques store where our heroes encounter a sad and a bit crazy doll named “Gabby Gabby”, voiced by Christina Hendricks. The magic of the first film has been lost through the sequels but it’s still a treat to reconnect with the beloved characters. The animation is terrific and there are some other guest toy voices that work perfectly. Keanu Reeves is a perfect surprise.

              Kids will definitely enjoy the story (although there are some scary moments for the little ones) but adults may not be as charmed as they once were.

Spider-man: Far From Home

            The latest Spider-Man adventure continues with characters from the last film "Homecoming"  in an atmosphere of teenage playfulness and angst. Tom Holland returns as the best actor to capture  Spider-Man's comic book roots. He embodies the teenage Peter Parker/Spider-Man perfectly.

             Joining Mr. Holland once again is Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Zendaya as MJ, and Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds.  And in keeping within the continuity of the Marvel Universe, of course Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill. Playing the comic relief as the teacher/chaperones are Martin Starr and J.B. Smoove. Robert Downey Jr. is there in spirit as well, since he was Peter's mentor ever since "Captain America: Civil War" and is a significant part of the story that you will understand if you have seen "Avengers:Endgame". 

              Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers move the story to Europe and a class trip for Peter and his friends. They do a terrific job of changing things up and yet keep the Marvel continuity intact, frequently referencing other films and plot points in the series. The first half of the film has plenty of action, which includes adding Jake Gyllenhaal to the cast as "Mysterio" but the mood is still playful and rather light. True gravitas kicks in during the second half, on the turn of a plot point, and the stakes get more serious. The action ramps up culminating in a terrific battle sequence in London. 

              As with almost all the Marvel films, there are extra scenes during the end credits. In this instance, rather than throwaways, the two scenes are very significant, paving the way for the next stage of the Marvel universe.