F9 review

F9: THE FAST SAGA: 

NINTH INSTALLMENT GETS EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS AND CHAOTIC THAN EVER BEFORE, AND FANS WILL LOVE IT BECAUSE OF THAT! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Dominic Toretto, Letty, Roman, Tej, Mia, Ramsay, and Han are back in F9

 

            Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel-Riddick trilogy, XXX 1 and 3, Marvel Cinematic Universe) and his crew are back in F9, the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise and first to be directed by Justin Lin (Better Luck Tomorrow, Annapolis, Star Trek Beyond) since 2013’s Fast & Furious 6. Hard to believe this franchise managed to get nine films that seem to push the envelope further each and every time, and even more so after the unfortunate passing of Paul Walker (Who portrayed Brian O’Conner from 2001 until 2013), but unlike something like the Michael Bay Transformers or Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, I haven’t gotten tired of this speed team’s wild antics just yet and they seem to go bigger for the right reasons whenever a sequel comes out. 

            The first few films have been about street racing with mostly flat characters that have its fans but aren’t nearly the crazy powerhouses of the later films (From Fast Five and onwards). I enjoyed the first film from 2001 fine enough, but it wasn’t until 2011’s Fast Five when I really got into the franchise as that was the film that breathed new life into the series and gave it a formula that worked with a heist movie edge and showcasing delightfully ridiculous action sequences, a formula in which the sequels followed which I like because speed racing is nice, but I prefer to have a little more plot under the hood as well. 

            Anyway, F9 continues in that formula and cranks it up to infinity, and keep in mind, this is a series known for trying to outdo each other whenever a sequel is released. Classic moments such as the bank vault chase from Fast Five, jumping across a bridge to avoid a tank blast in Fast & Furious 6, chasing a weaponized drone in the streets in Furious 7, and even driving away from a submarine being controlled by a terrorist in The Fate of the Furious. 

            The best way I can describe this movie is imagine the drone chase from Furious 7 if it was on the steroids and the entirety of the movie. To that, I thank the filmmakers because despite its flaws I had a blast. To me, this is kind of stupid I’m looking for and not only does it deliver, but it also manages to literally take the franchise higher than ever before (To the point where a fan theory officially becomes true and canon to its predecessors. 

            The film follows Dominic “Dom” Toretto and his wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez-Resident Evil, Avatar,Machete) living happily with their son, Brian but their happiness is cut short when Dom receives a message from teammates, Roman (Tyrese Gibson-Transformers franchise, Death Race, Morbius) and Tej (Chris “Ladacris” Bridges). It turns out Dom’s brother, Jakob (John Cena-The Marine, Bumblebee, The Suicide Squad) has teamed up with cyberterrorist, Cipher (Charlize Theron-Monster, Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde) and is now out for vengeance against Dom due to something from their past. So, Dom must reunite his crew and go on one last ride to stop Jakob and Cipher and save the world 

            The film also stars Jordana Brewster (All My Children, The Faculty, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) reprising her role as Mia Toretto, Nathalie Emmanuel (Twenty8k, Game of Thrones, Maze Runner 2 and 3) reprising her role from Furious 7 and Fate of the Furious as Ramsay, Helen Mirren (The Queen, State of Play, RED 1 and 2) reprising her role as Madalene and Shaw, Kurt Russell (Death Proof, The Hateful Eight, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2) reprising his role as Mr. Nobody, Sung Kang (Better Luck Tomorrow, Power, Raya and the Last Dragon) reprising his role as Han Lue, and Lucas Black (American Gothic, Sling Blade, Jarhead) reprising his role from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift as Sean Boswell. 

            Overall, F9 is delightfully silly and continues in the tradition of bringing some of the most ridiculous stunts and chase sequences you’ll ever see to the big screen. You really have to go in expecting something stupid and goofy or be a fan of the rest of the series and if that’s your cup of tea then fans will be greeted by a very entertaining ride with just the right amount of cheese. 

            However, as goofy as this film is, it does at least try to have some tender moments, specifically the origins of Dom and Jakob and the film taps into something none of the earlier films never really explored, Dom’s past and what his relationship with his father and sibling were like before everything went down and finally explains the whole wrench incident that landed him in prison, all of which I thought were very interesting and the kids playing younger versions of Dom and Jakob do a solid job. 

            The action sequences are spectacular and some of the craziest in the entire series, cars flying in the air, cars with giant magnets inside them, and even one of the most talked about things ever on the internet regarding both this film and the series as a whole. I won’t give it away here, but if you have seen the movie or know about the most memed and referenced moment then guess what? They do it! 

            F9 continues to deliver all the overblown, cheesy goodness the series is known for while also sneaking in a few somber and heartfelt moments. If you’re a fan of the series then this is one not to be missed, grab your buddies, get in your car, grab your Corona, and experience Fast’s highly anticipated return. 

            Though, I will admit I have no idea how they’re going to top this with two more movies announced because where else can you go when your last movie includes cars getting sucked into a giant magnet attached to another car and flung into other cars or buildings, Vin Diesel and John Cena fighting each other practically like superheroes, and a climax that takes place somewhere you wouldn’t expect to see Fast & Furious characters go? At this point, you might as well just say “F-it” and give Dom and his team superpowers in the next one, I would totally see Fast 10 right away if that’s the case. 

            F9 cranks up the silliness to eleven for our amusement and I guarantee you’ll leave the theater with a big, dumb smile on your face. It’s stupidity done right and I’ll gladly watch it again on the big screen. 

Luca review

LUCA:

LATEST PIXAR FILM ISN’T JUST A BEAUTIFULLY ANIMATED, FUNNY, AND HEARTFELT STORY ABOUT BROMANCE, BUT ALSO A LOVING TRIBUTE TO ITALIAN CULTURE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

DISNEY/PIXAR

Luca and Alberto are about to enter a strange, new world in Pixar’s Luca

 

            A young sea monster goes on land for the first time and experiences life as a human boy in Luca, the new film from Pixar Animation Studios and their second film to be released exclusively on Disney+ following 2020’s Soul. Originally intended to be released in theaters and even having a trailer attached to theatrical showings of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, the film ended up being dropped onto Disney+ due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

            Whether theater or streaming, there’s no way I’d miss Pixar’s next animated film despite not being extremely hyped for it. I thought the movie looked good and I’d probably end up really enjoying it, but the trailer wasn’t quite grabbing me as much as something like Soul, Coco, Inside Out, or even the Toy Story movies.

            Upon seeing the movie, I can gladly say that it’s another great Pixar movie…though I wouldn’t call it one of their best personally. Like every Pixar film, Luca is absolutely gorgeous in the animation department, tells a strange but sweet story about friendship and learning to be yourself, and it fully embraces Italian culture the same way Ratatouilleembraced French culture and Coco embraced Mexican culture. 

            The film follows Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay-Room, Good Boys, Doctor Sleep), a young sea monster living off the coast of the Italian city of Portorosso (Which I guarantee is not named after the Hayao Miyazaki film, Porco Rosso…actually, it is!) who desires to go to the surface because herding goatfish day after day is making him bored. One day, he meets another sea monster named Alberto (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer-It: Chapters 1 and 2, We Are Who We Are, Shazam!) who takes him to dry land and Luca realizes that he can transform into a human when on the surface…just don’t get him wet, and I’m not talking about the Gremlins rule!

            What follows is an unforgettable summer for the boys with lots of gelato, pasta, and scooter rides to the point where scooters become a plot point. Specifically, the boys want to get a Vespa so the two of them can leave their worlds behind and travel the world, and they decide to enter the Portorosso Cup Race in hopes of winning the cash prize so they can buy a Vespa. 

            They befriend a young girl named Giulia (voiced by Emma Berman) who is also participating in the race and encounter the egotistical, Ercole Visconti (voiced by Saverio Raimondo) as they race to the finish line and hopefully get their Vespa while also hiding their secret about being sea monsters. 

            The film also features the voices of Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Big Hero 6) as Luca’s mother, Daniela, Jim Gaffigan (Mr. Universe, Hotel Transylvania 3 and 4, Peter Pan and Wendy) as Luca’s father, Lorenzo, Sandy Martin (Napoleon Dynamite, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Big Love) as Uncle Paguro, and Sacha Baron Cohen (Madagascar franchise, Borat, The Trial of the Chicago 7) as Uncle Ugo. 

            Overall, Luca doesn’t quite have the same emotional punch as other Pixar films, but it offers a gorgeously animated, funny, and heartfelt story about friendship and being who you are, as well as a loving tribute to Italian culture. Pixar really got Italian lifestyle down in this movie, from the architectural designs of the buildings to the colorful characters, food, and dialogue, it’s often charming (and at times humorous) to see Luca and Alberto interact with their environments and people inhabiting it. 

            The film got a lot right, but it isn’t without its flaws, for starters, the beginning feels very rushed and aside from a few glimpses we don’t see much of Luca’s life in the water, I would have liked a little bit more of a stronger reasoning as to why he wants to leave. Had the film established more of Luca’s life underwater, I think we would have had a much stronger literal “Fish out of water” story, but as is, it’s perfectly fine and cute enough. 

            Another disappointing element is the villain who is this egotistical, self-obsessed race winner who is constantly taunting Giulia. While he is animated in a funny way and he has some laugh out loud moments, he doesn’t pose much of a threat nor are there any stakes raised because of him, he’s just a one-note comedic villain and nothing more, I would have preferred someone a little more threatening. 

            The chemistry between Luca and Alberto is very strong, I could believe those two were actual friends or brothers talking to each other. While it does have a bit of a misunderstanding cliché, it doesn’t go for too long and both characters are devoted to get a Vespa which is basically the ultimate Italian luxury according to the characters and while they don’t always agree with each other they try to help each other out when possible. 

            While Luca isn’t perfect, it has enough appeal to make any family happy, it’s got beautiful animation, likable characters, funny jokes, and a thought-provoking and heartfelt script. This is a trip to Italy that’s definitely worth checking out. 

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard review

HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD: 

SEQUEL HAS SOME FUNNY AND EXCITING MOMENTS, BUT IT’S MORE OF THE SAME! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** ½ out of 4

LIONSGATE

Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek, and Samuel L. Jackson are back in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

 

            Ryan Reynolds (National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, Deadpool 1 and 2, Free Guy) and Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Shaft, Marvel Cinematic Universe) are back as bodyguard, Michael Bryce and notorious hitman, Darius Kincaid in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the sequel to the 2017 action-comedy smash, The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Real quick, I’ll give my thoughts on the first movie before diving into this one. 

The first film while flawed, I had a very fun time with when I saw it in Summer 2017, it isn’t perfect, and you could argue that the plot is very unoriginal and repetitive. But Reynolds and Jackson’ charisma and chemistry as well as some entertaining action sequences with just the right amount of goofiness is what made The Hitman’s Bodyguardenjoyable enough for me, the perfect example of a dumb, fun action-comedy blockbuster. 

Now, we have a sequel with Reynolds and Jackson reprising their roles as well as Salma Hayek (Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, Frida) as Darius’ wife, Sonia and Patrick Hughes (Red Hill, The Expendables 3, The Man from Toronto) returning to direct. I have to say, despite enjoying the first film, I had forgotten a sequel was even in development, maybe I was self-quarantined for too long during the COVID-19 pandemic or I looked at some articles around the time it was announced and didn’t think of it again until after seeing a trailer of it before Spiral. 

Well, now that it’s finished and released does Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard deliver a worthy follow-up that takes the franchise anywhere new? Not really, it’s more of the same! 

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard isn’t horrible, and Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek do get some laughs, but it just feels like another sequel to a relatively successful movie that can’t justify its own existence and tries to rely mostly on what worked in its predecessor without doing anything new or interesting. 

The film follows unlicensed bodyguard, Michael Bryce (Reynolds) and hitman, Darius Kincaid (Jackson) forced back into action by Darius’ even more volatile wife and infamous con artist, Sonia (Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge, the trio finds themselves right in the middle of a global plot and that they are all that stands between Europe and a vengeful Shipping tycoon known as Aristotle Papadopoulos (Antonio Banderas-Desperado/Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Mask of Zorro/The Legend of Zorro, Shrek franchise). 

The film also stars Morgan Freeman (Driving Miss Daisy, The Dark Knight trilogy, Wanted) as Michael Bryce Sr., Richard E. Grant (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Gosford Park, Logan) reprising his role from the first film as Mr. Seifert, Frank Grillo (Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Purge: Anarchy/The Purge: Election Year, Kingdom) as Bobby O’Neill, Tom Hopper (Merlin, Black Sails, Game of Thrones) as Magnusson, Gabriella Wright (The Tudors, The Perfect Husband, The Transporter: Refueled) as Veronika, and Dragan Mićanović (Layer Cake, The White Countess, RocknRolla) as Vlad.  

Overall, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard should entertain fans of its predecessor, but it never really goes anywhere beyond them. The plot is extremely paper thin and rehashed from several other movies (The film is even guilty of having its climax take place on a boat which is normally not a good sign when you’re doing an action movie sequel, Speed 2 and 2 Fast 2 Furious, anyone?), with that said most of the action sequences are exhilarating, a good half of the jokes land, and the chemistry between Reynolds, Jackson, and Hayek is very strong and the heart and soul of the entire film. 

It isn’t a slap in the face to the original or anything like that, it’s just…there! Fans of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek, and the first film in general will probably get some good laughs out of it, just don’t expect it to be like the John Wick: Chapter 2 or The Dark Knight of The Hitman’s Bodyguard, however, it is a million times better than XXX 2, that’s for sure! 

My review is probably all over the place, then again, the movie is all over the place, but if you’re looking for a silly action-comedy to turn your brain off for and enjoy something dumb and ridiculous with three very charismatic actors as the leads, then this “Hitman”, “Wife”, and “Bodyguard” may be for you. 

In the Heights review

IN THE HEIGHTS: 

JON M. CHU AND LIN-MANUAL MIRANDA SUCCESSFULLY BRING THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTS TO LIFE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

Melissa Barrera, Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, and Corey Hawkins are In the Heights

 

            Hamilton creator, Lin-Manual Miranda joins forces with director, Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2 and 3, Now You See Me 2, Crazy Rich Asians) to bring the streets of Washington Heights to life in the film adaptation of In the Heights, based on Miranda’s stage musical of the same name. The film had been in development hell since 2008 and was originally intended to be directed by Hocus Pocus director, Kenny Ortega under Universal Pictures, but the project never came into fruition until Chu and Warner Bros. acquired it. 

            I should make this clear, I’ve never seen the musical before so I’m not sure if the film faithfully captures the spirit of it. But after enjoying Miranda’s supporting role in Mary Poppins Returns and absolutely loving Hamilton when it was released on Disney+, why not give a film adaptation of one of his musicals a shot? Even if the trailer was overplayed in movie theaters for a long time. 

            Well, after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, In the Heights has finally been released in theaters as well as HBO Max. So, after all the hype surrounding this movie, was this long overdue trip to Washington Heights worth the wait? Yes, it is! 

            While I don’t think it’s quite on the same level as other musicals like West Side Story, The Sound of Music, or even La La Land, In the Heights is an incredibly entertaining movie that’s more than just a musical…it’s a celebration of culture and community with vibrant colors, dazzling musical numbers, great songs, and a colorful cast of characters. I was literally dancing in my seat, tapping my foot to the music, and by the end I came out of the theater with a big smile on my face…to me, that’s what a great musical is supposed to do, and this is no exception. 

            The film tells the story of the lively neighborhood of Washington Heights where the lights are up and this vibrant, almost fantasy-like community shines from day to night and follows those who inhabit the neighborhood. At the center of it all is a bodega owner named Usnavi (Anthony Ramos-Hamilton, A Star is Born (2018), Trolls World Tour) who saves every penny from his daily grind in hopes of a better life.

            The film also stars Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton, Kong: Skull Island, BlacKkKlansman) as taxi company employee, Benny, Leslie Grace as college student, Nina Rosario, Melissa Barrera (Tanto amor, Vida, Scream(2022)) as aspiring fashion designer and Usnavi’s love interest, Vanessa Morales, Olga Merediz reprising her role from the Broadway musical as Abuela Claudia, Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Smash, Katy Keene) as Daniela, Gregory Diaz IV (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Carrie Pilby, Vampires VS the Bronx) as Sonny, Jimmy Smits (L.A. Law, The West Wing, Star Wars prequel trilogy) as Nina’s father, Kevin Rosario, Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Short Term 12, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part) as Carla, Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black, Joy, The Irishman) as Cuca, Miranda as Piragüero the Piragua Guy, and Marc Anthony (Hackers, Bringing Out the Dead, Man on Fire) as Usnavi’s father, Gapo de la Vega. 

            Overall, In the Heights is one of the most entertaining, energetic, and downright charming musicals I’ve seen since La La Land at least. The songs are incredibly catchy to the point where you’ll want to tap your foot in the theater, the musical numbers are well-choreographed and full of life, and just about every character in this movie is extremely likable…even the supporting characters. 

            There’s nothing emotionally deep or complex about these characters, but they’re all just so happy and lively singing about their neighborhood and dancing everywhere, it’s impossible not to crack a smile. But the movie doesn’t shy away from giving them relatable problems that they need to overcome and unique personalities which is why the characters in this work whereas the characters in Mamma Mia! or The Greatest Showman do not because you don’t have much of a connection with those characters as you do here and the main focus of those films were mostly on their soundtracks, not to mention a charming cast helps a lot. 

            All the actors work wonderfully together, most notably Ramos, Hawkins, Barrera, and Grace and not once did I think they were merely acting with one another, Even when they’re singing and dancing, I believed they were either close friends or romantic partners, because the entire cast have good chemistry and the script allows them to have slow and somber moments to develop their characters. 

            In the Heights is easily one of the best modern musicals as well as one of the best films of the year. It’s an energetic but also thoughtful celebration of culture and community with singing, dancing, and a whole lot of happy-go-lucky characters that are impossible to resist. 

I guarantee it’s a trip to Washington Heights you’ll never forget. 

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway review

PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY: 

A CUTE, FURRY, AND PERFECTLY SERVICEABLE FOLLOW-UP THAT PARENTS CAN WATCH WITH THEIR KIDS! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** ½ out of 4

COLUMBIA PICTURES

That mischievous rabbit is back for seconds in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

 

            The lovable and troublemaking rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s books returns to the big screen in Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, the long-awaited sequel to 2018’s Peter Rabbit. I still remember when the first movie was coming out and actually cringing at how awful the trailers made it look, keep in mind this was shortly after Sony released the unanimously despised, The Emoji Movie so I initially had zero faith in this film. 

            However, I came out of the first film thinking it was a decent children’s movie with lots of cute little bunnies running around and some genuinely funny moments, specifically those involving Domhnall Gleeson (Ex-Machina, Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Revenant). It wasn’t anything great, but it was much better than I expected, and it wasn’t the disservice to Beatrix Potter’s work that I originally thought it would be. 

            Now, we have this sequel originally intended to be released in 2020 but was postponed due to COVID and while I thought the first film was a relatively pleasant surprise, I was not eager to watch a sequel to it. Then again, Sony’s own, The Angry Birds Movie 2 completely surpassed my expectations and ended up being a very funny and clever follow-up to a mostly subpar animated film, so I was willing to give Peter’s second outing a try and…it’s not half bad. 

            I’d say I like it about the same as the first movie where it’s an enjoyably silly and cute kids’ movie with some really funny and even clever moments tucked inside. It isn’t perfect but it feels like there’s a little more substance and funnier jokes, this time around compared to the first film. 

            The film follows Bea (Rose Byrne-Bridesmaids, Neighbors 1 and 2, Instant Family) and her neighbor and Peter’s former nemesis, Thomas McGregor (Gleeson) getting married and Bea becoming a successful children’s book author writing about the rabbits that inhabit their garden, most notably Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden-The Late Late Show with James Corden, Into the Woods, Smallfoot). However, when the books depict Peter as naughty and after a misunderstanding with Thomas, Peter runs away from Bea, Thomas, and the rabbits thinking that they’ll be better off without him. 

            On his journey, he befriends an old rabbit and friend of Peter’s deceased father named Barnabas (voiced by Lennie James-Les Miserables (1998), Snatch, Blade Runner 2049) who takes him in and introduces him to his crew, a mouse named Samuel Whiskers (voiced by Rupert Degas-Reunion, Shoot the Messenger, Red Dwarf), sibling alley cats, Tom Kitten (voiced by Damon Herriman-Mindhunter, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Mortal Kombat (2021)) and Mittens (voiced by Hayley Atwell-Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cinderella (2015), Blinded by the Light) as they all plan to pull off the ultimate fruit and vegetable heist, steal from the Farmer’s Market all the while Peter learns his true place and the importance of family. 

            The film also stars David Oyelowo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Selma, Nightingale) as publisher, Nigel Basil-Jones and features the voices of Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, DC Extended Universe, I, Tonya) as Flopsy, Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby (2013), Widows, Tenet) as Mopsy, Aimee Horne (East West 101, Double Take) replacing Daisy Ridley as Cottontail, Sia as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Byrne as Jemima Puddle-Duck, Gleeson as Mr. Jeremy Fisher, Sam Neill (Jurassic Park 1 and 3, Event Horizon, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) who previously portrayed Mr. McGregor in the first film as Tommy Brock, Ewen Leslie (The Daughter, Sweet Country, The Nightingale) as Pigling Bland, and Tim Minchin (Two Fists, One Heart, Robin Hood (2018), Upright) as Busker K. Bushy, Esq. 

            Overall, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is a perfectly serviceable sequel with plenty of cute little animals, some goofy shenanigans, and frequent bursts of intelligence inside. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Peter Rabbit 2’s plot is actually quite clever, and it sort of mocks a lot of sequel clichés much like 22 Jump Street or Muppets Most Wanted. 

            One of the plot points is Bea meeting with her publisher about marketing her books and the publisher is going on about toy deals, movie rights, a story where Peter and his rabbit family go into space, and another where the rabbits are kidnapped and they have a car chase, boat chase, and jump out of a plane…can you guess what happens during the climax? It’s a very funny and smart commentary on selling out and the film has a lot of fun with this idea. 

            I think a good half of the jokes work in this movie and are extremely funny, clever, and even imaginative while the other half are the dumb, low brow humor to make the little kids giggle, but if enough jokes not only get me to laugh but laugh hard then I don’t care if they need to balance them out with a butt or toilet joke for the kids. 

            The voice acting is well done, James Corden is still pretty much playing himself but in rabbit form and he gets a few laughs, Margot Robbie and Elizabeth Debicki are quite funny as Flopsy and Mopsy, and I was in disbelief that Daisy Ridley wasn’t returning to voice Cottontail because Aimee Horne sounds exactly like her to the point where I had to be reminded that Ridley isn’t voicing her this time. 

            Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway is what it is, a cute and entertaining movie for parents to watch with their kids. It has plenty of cute bunnies and silly humor for the kids and some very smart and hilarious commentary on selling out and the clash between creator and businessmen, not a perfect movie and at times the tone can be all over the place but it’s a fine pick for a family movie night and the much better choice than Spirit Untamed. 

Spirit Untamed review

SPIRIT UNTAMED: 

CG-ANIMATED FOLLOW-UP CAN’T QUITE RECAPTURE THE SAME “SPIRIT” AS ITS HAND-DRAWN PREDECESSOR! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** out of 4

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

Spirit and Lucky in Spirit Untamed

 

            A young girl befriends a wild stallion in Spirit Untamed, the latest film from DreamWorks Animation and follow-up/spin-off to the 2002 hand-drawn animated feature, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. This is an interesting situation here, we have a computer-animated sequel or spin-off to a movie that was traditionally animated with ink and paint as one of the few hand-drawn animated films from DreamWorks with the others being The Prince of Egypt, The Road to El Dorado, and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. 

            I actually revisited the original film in preparation for this review which was my first time watching it since its theatrical release almost 20 years ago and I have to say, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron holds up much better than I thought. I remembered liking it okay as a kid but never really thought about it after seeing it, now upon watching it again I come to appreciate the more laidback tone, the lack of talking animals and reliance on a few narrations by Matt Damon and the horses’ facial expressions which I forgot how brilliantly animated they were, and the connection between humans and animals a lot more, not to mention the animation is still gorgeous (I really miss seeing animation like this on the big screen!) and Hans Zimmer’s musical score is incredible, in my opinion the first Spirit is an underrated DreamWorks classic. 

            Despite not being talked about as often as other DreamWorks films like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, or How to Train Your Dragon, people still remember Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron as it eventually led to an animated series on Netflix called Spirit: Riding Free which I’ve never seen so I’m unsure if this movie is tied to the original film or the TV series…or if it’s an entirely different beast altogether. Anyway, now we get to Spirit Untamed which upon hearing the news of it I had no idea what to expect because it’s been nearly 20 years since the first film so why are we making a sequel now let alone a CG one? Nevertheless, I was still open to the idea because it’s a DreamWorks property that doesn’t get much attention so does it capture the “Spirit” of the original? Nope, if anything it just went in one ear and out the other. 

            Spirit Untamed isn’t horrible and it will likely entertain young viewers, but it’s a very bland and uninspired film especially for a follow-up to a movie that was a huge risk at the time, that rehashes several tired clichés from other animated kids’ movies, heavy focus on its human characters unlike its predecessor that again we’ve seen in other movies, and the drama or connection between human and animal isn’t nearly as powerful as in the first film. 

            The film follows a young girl named Lucky Prescott (voiced by Isabela Merced-Transformers: The Last Knight, Instant Family, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) who moves to the rural community of Miradero to live with her widowed father, Jim (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal-Prisoners, Nightcrawler, Spider-Man: Far From Home). While there, Lucky meets a wild mustang named Spirit and she immediately starts to bond with him, but when a group of horse wranglers plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky, Spirit, and Lucky’s newfound friends, Pru (voiced by Marsai Martin-Black-ish, Little, PAW Patrol: The Movie) and Abigail (voiced by Mckenna Grace-Crash & Berstein, Fuller House, The Haunting of Hill House) must ride off to stop them and save Spirit’s family. 

            The film also features the voices of Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, Crazy Stupid Love, Still Alice) as Lucky’s aunt, Cora Prescott, Walton Goggins (Lincoln, Tomb Raider (2018), Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Hendricks, Eiza González (Baby Driver, Alita: Battle Angel, Godzilla VS Kong) as Lucky’s late mother and famous horse rider, Milagro, and Andre Braugher (Glory, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, BoJack Horseman) as Pru’s father, Al. 

            Overall, Spirit Untamed is a perfectly harmless and inoffensive animated film that may entertain young viewers, but it’s also a serious downgrade from its predecessor. This film takes one of DreamWorks’ boldest and most mature films (Despite the first film being rated G) and turned it into a tired and standard animated movie that only the very young at heart may find some enjoyment out of. 

            Yes, the horses still don’t talk in this movie, but unlike the first film where it was a mostly serious movie with very little dialogue and only a few human characters, this one is bombarded with human characters and has a much lighter and goofier tone that it’s completely pointless in comparing it to the first film and just becomes another disposable children’s movie. 

            I will say, even though I prefer the hand-drawn animation in the first film, the CG-animation in this is very good and has a lot of nice colors and designs, some of the scenes where Lucky is bonding with Spirit are done well, and at times I got a few chuckles. But that’s about it in terms of aspects I liked in this film. 

            If you got little kids who want to see it then it’s perfectly fine, it won’t offend anyone nor is it even close to being one of the worst animated or kids’ movies. Everyone else should just stick with the original film, it’s of much better quality, has animation that still holds up today, and it took its audience seriously which is something this film did not do. 

            I think Jeremy Jahns says it best “It’s a movie I’m not gonna remember in T-Minus 1 Day! Yep, already forgot!” and that is exactly what happened to me with this movie. I acknowledged I watched it but when I wake up tomorrow morning I’ll be like “Did I go see a movie yesterday or something?”. 

            But that’s what happens when your Spirit film doesn’t capture the “Spirit” of what makes it good. 

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It review

 THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT: 

THIRD INSTALLMENT HAS SOME EFFECTIVE SCARES, BUT NEVER QUITE TAKES THE POPULAR HORROR FRANCHISE ANYWHERE NEW! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** ½ out of 4

WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND NEW LINE CINEMA

Vera Farmiga in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

 

            Real-life paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren take on the literal Devil in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, the third installment of the Conjuring trilogy and first to not be directed by James Wan. While Wan returns to write and produce, the film is helmed by Michael Chaves this time, who had previously directed a film in the Conjuring Universe with 2019’s The Curse of La Llorona. 

            The first film released in 2013, I thought was a very chilling and well-crafted throwback to classic haunted house and possession horror that had a lot of spine-tingling suspense as well as some very compelling characters and its critical and commercial success led to a pretty solid sequel in 2016 with The Conjuring 2. Anyway, now we have the third film and the first without Wan behind the camera, is Chaves capable of capturing the same sense of terror that Wan did with his previous installments or will it suffer the same fate as his La Llorona movie? Eh, it’s complicated! 

            The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It has some effective scares and both Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Insidious 1 and 2, Aquaman) and Vera Farmiga (The Departed, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)) have strong chemistry as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Unfortunately, this third outing never quite takes the franchise anywhere new and instead stays in this mostly dull and standard horror movie narrative with not nearly as many chilling moments as its predecessors. 

            The film follows demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren starting what could be their most terrifying case ever, protecting a young man who was possessed by none other than the Devil after he murdered someone. This will mark the first time in U.S. history where a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense and only the Warrens can solve the case and break this supposed family curse. 

            The film also stars Ruairi O’Connor (Delicious, The Spanish Princess, Teen Spirit) as Arne Cheyanne Johnson, John Noble (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Fringe, Sleepy Hollow (TV series)) as Father Kastner, Shannon Kook (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Carmilla, Shadowhunters) reprising his role from The Conjuring 1 and 2 as Drew Thomas, Ronnie Gene Blevins (A Beautiful Life, Joe, The Hunted) as Bruno Sauls, Ingrid Bisu (Toni Erdmann, Dracula: The Dark Prince, The Nun) as Jessica, Sterling Jerins (Deception, World War Z, Divorce) reprising her role from The Conjuring 1 and 2 as Judy Warren, and Charlene Amoia (How I Met Your Mother, American Reunion, Birds of Prey) as Judy Glatzel. 

            Overall, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It at best is a perfectly average horror film that may satisfy die-hard fans of the Conjuring franchise, but those looking for more substance in their scary movies probably won’t find much here. It isn’t bad, but it just feels uninspired and for a lack of better word, Dull! 

            The plot is very by the numbers even by Conjuring standards, but at least the previous two films offered something unique or interesting. This one just feels like a repeat of the plots from its predecessors that doesn’t add anything new to the formula and even when they do try to add something interesting to the story, the script feels very jumbled together and doesn’t really give the time needed to execute the idea properly. 

            The films always involve haunted houses, possessed children, and creepy demonic entities which is fine as long as you can do something unexpected or take it in a different approach that people weren’t expecting. This one plays like a Best Of the Warrens video with most of the really inventive and creepy scares removed. 

            With that said, there are a few scenes that are rather scary and suspenseful such as a little boy getting one bloody as hell shower, a handful of the jump scares are pretty effective, and a couple of the possession scenes blur the line between scary and unintentionally funny. 

            Wilson and Farmiga continue to work wonderfully together and even if I’m not fully invested in the story of this movie, I am fully invested by their performances. 

            This is probably one of the most mixed reviews I’ve ever done for a movie like this, if you’re a fan of the previous Conjuring films then you might like this movie, just don’t expect anything mind-blowing or new in this. But if you want something with a little more substance, then it may not be your flick, not bad but not great either.