Movie review: The Secret Life of Pets 2

 

 Max and friends are back again living their secret lives when their owners leave home each day. With a new baby at home, a vacation to a farm, and a caged circus tiger, Max and his pet friends deal with the challenges of life.

Patton Oswalt (Max), Kevin Hart (Snowball), Harrison Ford (Rooster), Eric Stonestreet (Duke), Jenny Slate (Gidget), Tiffany Haddish (Daisy), Lake Bell (Chloe), Dana Carvey (Pops), Hannibal Buress (Buddy).

The Secret Life of Pets 2 launches with Max learning a baby is being added to his home and a vacation to a farm. With Max and Duke gone, it is up to Chloe, Gidget and the crew to keep things in order at home. But when Daisy shows up with a story about a caged tiger, Snowball rises to the call as a superhero. The rest of the film is a fun adventure as the pets try to save Hu the tiger, survive the farm, and retrieve a favorite toy. Chloe teaching Gidget to be a cat was hysterical.

As this was animation, voice work rather than acting was the focus and from that perspective, everyone did an excellent job. Ford was a nice addition and fit perfectly. Haddish was enjoyable as well, as was Bell, and Slate rocked it once again.

Animation was again good with excessively vibrant colors and a nice blend of fantasy and reality. Dialogue remains campy, corny, and a lot of fun. Sound and soundtrack are well done.

Once again, a great choice for family movie night with the younger kids. The story is silly and simplistic, but enough that adults shouldn't be completely bored.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 2.26.20
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Animation, Family movies, Goofy, Campy

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Mr. Right

 

 Martha finds everything she could want in a man when she encounters Francis. But she may find more than she wanted when she learns he is a crime cartel hitman running from his employers.

Sam Rockwell (Francis), Anna Kendrick (Martha), Tim Roth (Hopper/Reynolds), James Ransone (Von), Anson Mount (Richard), Michael Eklund (Johnny), RZA (Steve), Katie Nehra (Sophie), Jaiden Kaine (Bruce).

Mr. Right launches with Martha being dumped which propels us into her encounter and blooming relationship with Francis. While Martha thinks she has found the perfect guy for her, she hasn't yet learned his is a hit man on the run from his employers. The comedy comes in the form of honesty from Francis, and disbelief from Martha. Once on the same page things get more interesting through the Happy Ever After ending.

Acting was enjoyable with Rockwell delivering another unusual character nicely. Kendrick was solid and more fun than expected, though not quite the bombshell fit one would expect. Roth was solid as usual and a good fit for his role. RZA was a great choice, brought some good humor to things and delivered well. Ransone, Mount, and the remainder of the supporting cast were decent.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are nicely done with a solid feel. CGI was mild but fitting and added nicely to the film. Action scenes were fun without taking over the story. Dialogue had some nice laughs blended in with the drama. Sound and soundtrack are enjoyable.

While Mr. Right may not win any big awards, it is a fun film with a bit more depth than some. The characters and plot are developed well with good attention to detail. Those who enjoy a light-hearted romantic comedy should enjoy this one.

With some mild sexuality, violence, and foul language, this one is rated R but good luck keeping the teens away.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 2.25.20
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action, Romantic Comedy, Action Comedy

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Avengers: Endgame

 

 Half of the universe is literally gone following the Infinity War, but that won't keep the Avengers down for long. Reaching out to old allies and recruiting new members, the reform with the goal of confronting Thanos and reversing his actions.

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony/Iron Man), Chris Evans (Steve/Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce/Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha/Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Clint/Hawkeye), Paul Rudd (Scott/Ant-Man), Brie Larson (Carol/Captain Marvel), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Josh Brolin (Thanos).

Avengers: Endgame picks up where Infinity War left off; with the Avengers and the last of humanity mourning the half of everything Thanos destroyed. But the Avengers don't give up and quickly dust themselves off, begin recruiting new members, and put a team together to try and reverse what Thanos has done. The result is probably the darkest and most depressing of the Avengers films to come out. There are regular reminders of those who were lost, and the hopelessness of the situation. Something the less-than-happy ending does nothing to change.

Acting was good as always but I really enjoyed the blending of Bruce with the Hulk and the depth Ruffalo was able to bring as a result. Downey, Evans, Hemsworth and Johansson were all solid as always. Renner is okay but lacked energy this time around. Gillan and Saldana did nicely and Brolin did great once again. This huge cast all did quite well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are consistent with the franchise however it felt like VFX were lacking a bit of quality and detail at times. Dialogue was decent with good depth and a few bits of humor to break up the drama and depression. Sound and soundtrack are good as always.

Overall Avengers: Endgame is a decent continuation of the storyline, but a bit disappointing as a film. We've come to expect some humor and light drama from the franchise and much of that was missing here. Many will enjoy the consistency and finish with this one despite the darkness, while others may miss the humor.

With some mild sexuality, plenty of violence and gore, some foul language, and adult situations, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 2.11.20
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure, Comic Books and Superheroes, Action Sci-Fi

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Marriage Story

 

 From filmmaker Noah Baumbach, and incisive and compassionate look at a marriage breaking apart and a family staying together.

Adam Driver (Charlie), Scarlett Johansson (Nicole), Azhy Robertson (Henry), Wallace Shawn (Frank), Robert Smigel (Mediator), Julie Hagerty (Sandra), Laura Dern (Nora), Alan Alda (Bert), Ray Liotta (Jay).

Marriage Story follows the lives of couple Charlie and Nicole through marriage and divorce as the family ends up staying together. There really isn't much more to say about the film. Literally we are treated to the ugliness of divorce, the couple fighting, and the kids being stuck in the middle. The only way the film could have been more realistic would have been cameras following around a couple who aren't actors.

Johansson delivered once again in an emotional and interesting role for her. She seemed to work well with Driver, though we don't know how. Driver is constantly awkward, seems physically out of place, and delivers strange energy. Dern, Alda, Liotta, and the remainder of the supporting cast were pretty good.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were all well done. In fact, technical work in the film overall was very nice with a solid, realistic feel. Dialogue was pretty good though they completely forgot the comedy. Sound and soundtrack are okay.

If you really enjoy family drama, divorce, bickering, and lawyers making a fight out of nothing, then by all means check this one out. You will probably love it! If on the other hand you can do without the reality of divorce drama, move along and find something better.

With some sexuality, mild gore, foul language, and mentally numbing adult situations, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 2.3.20
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Showbiz Drama, Reality

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Hustlers

 

 Based on a New York Magazine article, Ramona is a top earning stripper who takes struggling youngster Destiny under her wing, showing her how to make big money entertaining Wall Street clients.

Jennifer Lopez (Ramona), Constance Wu (Destiny), Julia Stiles (Elizabeth), Mette Towley (Justice), Wai Ching Ho (Grandma), Keke Palmer (Mercedes), Cardi B (Diamond), Lizzo (Liz).

Destiny is a struggling young stripper when she meets Ramona, a top earner, who decides to be her mentor. Things are great until the 2008 stock market decline shrinks their clientele at which point the two come up with a scheme to fleece the Wall Street power players. That is also where the film misses a chance to be more interesting. Instead the story, based on a New York Magazine article, limps along to an easily forgotten ending.

I have to give Lopez credit. She looks good, works a pole well, and put it all out there. That said, her acting leaves a lot to be desired. Wu was mildly interesting but didn't sell it as a stripper at all. Palmer, Lizzo, and Stiles did fairly well while Cardi did nothing to change our trailer trash impression of her. The remainder of the cast was okay.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were decent. Settings felt like actual clubs minus the smoke and sticky floors. Physical action was good and it appeared most did their own work without body doubles. Dialogue could have been a bit more interesting and lagged seriously at times. Sound and soundtrack are pretty good.

If you are a big Lopez fan, or fan of other main cast members, you may want to check this one out. If instead you are hoping for a story with depth, or impressive acting, move along you will only be disappointed.

With a fair amount of nudity or close to it, some violence, plenty of foul language, and adult situations, save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2019
Reviewed: 2.3.20
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Dramas Based on Real Life, Crime Drama, Indie Drama, Comedy

copyright ©2020 Dave Riedel