"Wolfwalkers" is an unforgettable, imaginative, transcending tribute to the wild

“Wolfwalkers” Film Review

90/100 “sweet”

By Quinn Marcus

It’s been hundreds of years since the last good kids film came out, at least, it’s felt that way, 2020 has lacked a substantial amount of quality animated flicks. Come to think of it, the last great animated movie I saw this year was Onward, and that came out NINE. MONTHS. AGO. (I’m losing my mind) Since then, I saw the ear-numbing Trolls: World Tour and the horrific Scoob, so that’s nice, and there was not a lot of good in between. I mean, The Willoughby’s was fine, but still not enough. Why are you doing this to me 2020, why? So when I heard that the same people behind The Song of the Sea and The Breadwinner had a new film in-store, I saw hope. Well, there’s also Soul coming later this year, but Wolfwalkers works too. This movie was absolutely terrific, it checked off all of my expectations, and surpassed quite a few of them. It was like this huge cleanse that made me realize there are still fantastic kid's film ideas, not ripoffs that make you want to cry in your sleep. The Song of the Sea was original, visually arresting, and above all, emotionally impactful. While Wolfwalkers wasn’t as unique story-wise, it beat The Song of the Sea on multiple levels. My faith in the animated genre has been restored, I hope this review will explain why? 

Wolfwalkers kicks off with our main protagonist, Robyn, who after her mother’s death has moved from England to Ireland with her father, Bill. In this new land crawling with magic and wolves, it is Bill’s job to hunt and kill the wolves for the Lord Protector. Robyn has grown restless in her boring city life, forced to do what others want instead of going to hunt with her father. One day, she manages to follow her father past the city gates and meets a “Wolfwalker” named Mebh, a girl by day, and a wolf by night. The world Robyn once knew is torn to pieces as she discovers that she too has become a Wolfwalker. Don’t all those plot points just sound fresh to you, smell that, ah, the scent of originality, never gets old, until Trolls: World Tour of course. Anyways, did I have any particular flaws with this animated master-work? I have just a couple, the story at times feels like it draws inspiration from other animated films, most notably the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. While this is fine as it has plenty of creativity of its own, it doesn’t go unnoticed. I would have just liked a little more ingenuity added to the story, but besides that, I loved it. Secondly, the first act does feel a tad slow, the setup was rugged around the edges, but it still manages to hit its stride, eventually.

Wow, that was literally all I disliked about this delightful film, but now the real fun begins. The hand-drawn animation was truly sublime, what this studio is doing for the animated genre is remarkable, for me, it still goes unmatched. Studios like Laika and Disney do damn good stuff as well, but the animation in Wolfwalkers was an homage to classic 2D animated features such as The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977). So many wonderful shots are better than some of the best cinematography I’ve seen in a long time. While its plot-line wasn’t the standout, Wolfwalkers’ animation was immaculate and gorgeous from the first to the final frame. The dramatic themes expertly woven together by an impressive script are almost an ode to nature in all of its beauty. This is a man vs. wild story done right, the relevant questions Wolfwalkers raises are related to humanity’s endless hunger to destroy the wild, and mother nature’s urge to fight back. Some excellent lessons are to be learned from watching this film, and I don’t say that much about other kid's movies. 

I found myself very entertained, and highly invested in the characters, and their goals, kids are going to have a blast watching this epic adventure, and parents are too. What I also really liked was that Wolfwalkers didn’t restrain itself, it has darkness behind the color and light, and isn’t afraid to show it. There’s a scene where a caged wolf is almost murdered on stage by the Lord Protector in front of a crowd, and it’s pretty hard to watch. I would like to take a moment to discuss the stellar voice work by Honor Kneafsey (Robyn), Eva Whittaker (Mebh), and Sean Bean (Bill). Providing sparks of joy, as well as emotionally raw scenes, every member of this cast knew what they were doing, and just like The Song of the Sea, I must congratulate them on a job well done. I will be eyeing this one closely as the time of the Sweet, Sweet Awards begins to arrive. Wolfwalkers left me speechless, and I have to thank directors Tom Moore and Ross Stewart for this profound experience, keep it up guys, I can’t wait to see what you do next.

The final verdict is: Wolfwalkers is an absolute win for those aching for a deep, beautifully poignant, perfectly done kids film that serves as a hidden gem amongst the rubble that is 2020…$PLURGE IT!

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(2020)

Genre: Kids/Family/Animated

(PG)

"The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two" is full of CGI elves, and Kurt Russell santa, but not much else

“The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two” Film Review

40/100 “sour”

By Quinn Marcus

You know, in these troubling times, the one thing we needed was something good to watch in quarantine. A nice, cozy family film that doesn’t copy off of far better Christmas classics, and acts like it’s the next big thing for families. Oh wait, we got The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two, the film I’m sure everyone was dying to see. What was this film? Why does it exist? And most importantly, what the heck went wrong? All of these enticing questions will be answered over the course of this review, a review that I almost didn’t do, in fear of trashing a kid’s film. 2020 hasn’t been the best year for kids’ films, we ended 2019 with Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, which was actually pretty great. Then we got stuff like the horrendous Artemis Fowl, the ear-burning Trolls: World Tour, and now this…sigh. Okay, maybe I’m overreacting, maybe there were aspects of this movie that were amazing, like Kurt Russell singing gospel in the middle of an airport…wait what! I gave this movie some credit for being at least entertaining for younger audiences, and the flashy visuals that will excite children but leave superior VFX artists barfing. This review might be a tad shorter than normal because there’s really not too much to talk about, but I’ll do the best I can.

The film kicks off with Christmas’s favorite heroes, Kate, and her brother who’s absent for the whole movie because, well… Anyways, Kate’s upset because her mom has moved on from her husband’s death, and because her mom has settled down with a nice guy named Bob, she decides to run away. Kate finally gets her chance when the main antagonist, Belsnickel, gives Kate’s mom, and Bob some tickets to go scuba-diving. So, as any great mother would do, Kate’s mom leaves Kate and Bob’s son, Jack completely unsupervised. So, Kate hops into a random strangers’ (Belsnickels) golf cart, and Jack goes as well so the plot can happen. Belsnickel tosses them into a magical portal which takes them to the north pole, they practically freeze to death, but conveniently, Santa just so happens to be around the corner to save the day.

Okay, firstly I want to discuss the villain, Belsnickel. What was his motivation for doing some bad stuff? He was turned into the most disgusting creature ever, a human…wait what! He was turned into a human because he was being a naughty elf, and that’s breaking the elvish code or whatever. So, to get his revenge, he decides to completely destroy Christmas because he’s mad, very mad. So to hatch his scheme, he gives Santa’s elves some blue cocaine shot out from some canons, and while the elves go insane, Belsnickel steals the Christmas star which shuts down all of Santa’s village. However, Santa almost stops him with some generic dialogue about the magic of Christmas, and by using the force, both of them break the Christmas star. WHAT IS HAPPENING?! So, that’s our villain, what a great character am I right?

Let’s move on to a couple of other new characters. Mrs. Claus, portrayed by Goldie Hawn, who reads a bedtime story, heals a reindeer, and that’s about all she does. Then there’s Jack, good old Jack, played by Jahzir Bruno. The kid actors in this movie made me cringe. I mean Darby Camp, playing Kate, was okay in the first, but due to one of the most annoying scripts ever in this wonderful sequel, her performance didn’t fully work. There’s a scene in this movie where they completely copy the airport scene from Home Alone, but to differ from the classic film, they throw in Kurt Russel dancing to, and singing gospel in one of the most chaotic dance sequences ever made. Trust me, it might have been even worse than High School Musical’s dance scenes, and that’s a pretty low bar to hit. 2018’s The Christmas Chronicles worked because it felt like a grounded Christmas movie, it had a plot, and they stuck to it. The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two had so many pointless subplots, it was painful.

Alright, before I anger the remaining few fans of this duo of films, let’s talk about the positives. The film has imaginative aspects to it. Behind all of the simple, plain dialogue, there was some creative potential in there. I spotted hints of cool moments, but as a package, it was a complete mess. Kurt Russell is a solid Santa Claus, he seemed like the only performer in the film that cared a little. He was the best part of the movie, easily. If Netflix decides to cash in for a third movie, they better give me more reasons to watch it besides a gospel singing St. Nick. When I watch a kid’s film, one of the most important things I look for is the reaction on my sibling’s face. In this case, my youngest brother, West watched with me, and he was pretty bored. Even he could see past this illusion of color and coked-up elves. I watched like a hawk for positives about this movie, and that on its own makes The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two a near-failure.

The final verdict is: Despite a committed Kurt Russell, and some creative ideas, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two can’t conjure up enough magic to justify its own existence…$KIP IT!

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(2020)

Genre: Family/Comedy/Fantasy

(PG)

"The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" is a christmas treat for Star Wars fans, and newcomers alike

“The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special” Film Review

65/100 “sweet/sour”

By Quinn Marcus

You know, when it comes to Star Wars, you’re always going to have someone taking a crap on your opinion. If I say I like a random Star Wars movie, some guy will come up to me and give me a thousand pointless reasons not to keep my opinion. For example, I actually enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker, and because of that, I’m receiving death threats online, okay maybe not death threats, but you get what I mean. You either love a Star Wars movie, or you hate it, that’s the philosophy of toxic Star Wars fanboys. There’s nothing in between, it’s just bad or good. What I thought this film did so well was that it won’t make anyone angry. All Star Wars fans will walk out feeling their expectations have been fulfilled. This is a decent kids film, a whole lot of people will agree with me on that. I sat down with my younger brother looking for a comfy, easy to watch animated adventure, and that’s precisely what I got. I didn’t adore what I saw, in fact, there were plenty of flaws, but what I saw was joy on my five-year-old brother’s face, and that was enough for me.

The film kicks off with the whole gang preparing for “Life Day” (Star Wars Christmas), Rey is training Finn to become a Jedi, but it isn’t going too well. In response, Rey goes on a journey into the Galaxy’s past and hopes to return to the party in time, while also finding the key to becoming a true master. See how easy that was to explain, I didn’t need to cover a million different plot points. So, what did I like and dislike about this Lego extravaganza?

The humor was surprisingly solid, I chuckled a few times, but also cringed as well. The story is delightfully fast-paced and consistently entertaining for children. Sure, you might consider the entire plot to be plain fan-service (which it is), but for a kid who hasn’t seen a Star Wars movie yet, this will be an action-packed epic. Its message is generic, it seemed as though even my younger brother had seen the same thing countless times before. Where it lacks in substance, it picks up with flashy visuals, energetic voice acting, and an undeniable sense of fun. Overall, if you’re looking for a COVID watch that will distract you from all the bad in the world, as well as give you a generally enjoyable escape, this is the one for you.

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(2020)

Genre: Fantasy/Action/Adventure

Age: 5+

"The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special" is Brimming with Nostalgia and Fun Action

“The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special” Film Review

60/100 “sweet/sour”

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By: Keaton Marcus

The Skywalker Saga may have ended late last year with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, a bittersweet conclusion that didn’t quite make the cut, but that doesn’t mean that the franchise can’t have anymore fun. The latest installment, The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special has just been released on Disney Plus to mostly positive reception, and I’m taking the time to review it. First of all, let me just say this: if you don’t enjoy this film, your idea of fun must be quite the snooze fest. No, this is not a legendary re-awakening for the saga, or even remotely special in any way, but it is a warm blanket of nostalgia and fun adventures that was like a massive hug for us Star Wars fans. Also, it’s far less embarrassing than the 70s Holiday Special, which was likely the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen. Why? Because this type of thing works best in animated form, and it shows.

It’s Life Day in the galaxy, and our friends Poe, Finn, Rose (that’s right, she gets actual lines) and Rey are planning for a big celebration. However, Rey is stressed about teaching Finn how to become a Jedi after she senses that he is, in fact, force sensitive. She’s missing something that the Sacred Jedi Texts just won’t help her with, but after using the Force, she realizes that she must go back in time to watch how other masters trained their apprentices. On the other hand, Poe is struggling with making Tip-Yip, and after Rey leaves, the trio fail to keep the party planning together. After she finds the key that will allow her to time travel, fans get some sensational callbacks to previous films in the original trilogy, and even the prequel trilogy. It may not be creative writing, but it’s always fun to see Rey and Darth Vader fighting while Anakin’s pod-racing. From here on out, she’s on her own to find out how to train Finn to become a Jedi.

But seriously, there’s so much welcome nostalgia that it can feel a bit overstuffed at times, and that’s perfectly fine with me. We get appearances from Emperor Palpatine, Vader, Kylo Ren, different versions of Luke, Yoda’s training sessions from The Empire Strikes Back, Mando and Baby Yoda followed by many more. The voice acting, for the most part, was actually solid, especially from Trevor Devall, who voiced Palpatine. It was also nice to see actors like Kelly Marie Tran, Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams make returns from the live-action movies. Although I would have loved to see Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and particularly Daisy Ridley reprise their respective roles, I didn’t mind the replacements. Overall, this is a rocking time free on Disney Plus, and it’s only 45 minutes long. What could go wrong?

The final opinion is: The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special makes up for what it lacks on treading new ground with plenty of welcome callbacks, energetic voice acting and fun action sequences that will get younger kids engaged in the franchise, and have adults remembering the good old days of the live-action movies…$TREAM IT

Bill & Ted Face the Music

By Quinn Marcus

Bill & Ted Face the Music

(2020)

Age: 9+

70/100: Sweet/Sour

“Be excellent to each other!” Bill & Ted Face the Music was written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon and was directed by Dean Parisot, director of Galaxy Quest. In part one of their excellent adventures, Bill and Ted traveled back in time to collect famous people from the past and bring them back to the present for their history presentation. In the third chapter, reality and time itself are at stake as Bill and Ted travel throughout time, looking for a version of themselves in the future that has the song they need to unite the universe. Meanwhile, their daughters go back in time, searching for the most influential musicians to help their dads play the music. I know right, the stakes change pretty quickly in these movies. Ever heard the term “candy for the soul?” (ya neither have I). I don’t mean filling your soul with candy, but honestly, something just to watch for fluffy, sweet, lighthearted entertainment. That’s what Bill & Ted Face the Music achieves to the fullest, but the movie isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, let me explain. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you eat some candy, it can be any type of candy you can ever imagine? Sometime later, a friend asks you what candy you ate, but alas, you have forgotten. All you can remember is the satisfying, sweet taste in your mouth. Of course this situation only applies to those with a poor memory. Unlike them I can remember the last candy I had perfectly given my superior mind, it was…um, anyways! That’s what this movie is; you won’t remember anything super significant about it, you’ll just remember that you had an enjoyable time watching it. Now, without further ado, let’s get started with the review (did a little bit of rhyming there, did you see that). What were my flaws? 

The story. Although creative and appropriately ridiculous, I found the plot to be muddled and a tad overstuffed. In Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bill and Ted are working towards a common goal, keeping their friendship together by acing their history presentation. In this, Bill and Ted are trying to find a song to unite the universe while trying to keep their marriages together. The major difference between the two movies is the number of subplots. In the original, the only part of the film that you could begin to consider a subplot is Napoleon hanging out with Ted’s brother and friends. In this one, we have the two daughters trying to form a band, the wives in couples therapy, the insecure killer robot hunting Bill and Ted, future San Dimas with the “great ones,” trying to figure out a way to save reality. It’s kind of hard to follow and didn’t always work. However, it’s perfect if you want to sit back, relax in quarantine, and watch some insanity. I have one mixed point before I get into the positives. The comedy. Many will disagree with this point, and I can understand that, but the comedy kind of went up and down for me. When Bill and Ted were on screen, I laughed out loud, when the daughters showed up, I wasn’t nearly as amused. This is because the two daughters, Thea and Billie, are precisely the same as Bill and Ted. While this is cool, they felt like a rehash of the original characters; there wasn’t much special about them. They made the same jokes, acted the same; it became pretty tiring at some point. I felt some energetic highs and lows, so in my opinion, the comedy was not as good as I wanted it to be.

Alright, what did I like about the movie? The nostalgia and cheesy visuals. This film was filled with callbacks to the original film; the special effects were absolutely bodacious and perfectly cheesy. While watching, you get an instant rush of retro adrenaline that keeps you going, that’s something the world really needs right now, and they did it right. The directing. Dean Parisot may not be the original director, but damn did he do a good job. Using all of the proper elements needed to make a film like this, he managed to craft a lively, rocking, crazy, flawed film that benefits from its epic cast. As someone in quarantine, I say this is a must-watch. Personally, I would probably watch it again, but overall, it’s a happy distraction from the bad in the world right now. Get over to your television, call your parents over, open up Prime Cinema, and support this movie by either renting or buying for a most impressive price of 20 bucks. Trust me; you’ll surely have a wild ride watching it.

The cast, including Keanu Reeves (John Wick), Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), Samara Weaving (Ready or Not), and Brigette Lundy Paine (Bombshell), all had excellent performances. However, Reeves and Winter are truly the stars of the show. They were both able to portray their hysterical and dumb characters without ever losing any of the charisma or charm from the original movie. Also, when they played the future versions of themselves, their comedic chemistry was perfect, especially in that prison scene with some awesomely ridiculous makeup. And fat, drunk Keanu, I mean, can’t get much more insane than that. Despite having lesser characters, I thought that Weaving and Lundy Paine both were highly entertaining to watch on screen, and never really got boring, just a little slow in terms of comedy. 

Anybody can technically watch this movie; there’s nothing terrible in it. Some kissing, high stakes, non-graphic disintegrations, people are in peril occasionally, a few uses of “di-k” and “hell.” I really just put my 9+ rating there because I believe that’s the perfect age to start understanding the movie correctly. But anyone, at any age, can watch it and enjoy it in their own way, that’s the magic of Bill & Ted, one of the great comedic duos of the 21st and 20th centuries.

$kip it? $tream it? or $plurge it?

I Say…$TREAM IT!

"Hamilton" Finds Its Way to Disney Plus, and It Hasn't Lost Its Magical Touch

87/100 “sweet”

By: Keaton Marcus

The legendarily popular musical, Hamilton, has been formatted for the Coronavirus. It has found its new home on streaming platform Disney Plus, and the transformation is glorious. Though nothing can be as good as a front-row seat, this is an excellent, safer viewing option, especially for those who haven't seen the play. The dazzling choreography and striking performances have truly found their new place. Lin-Manuel Miranda is exceptional and so is the rest of this ensemble cast. And you won't be able to stop tapping your feet from the first tune till the last. While the end is truly emotionally wrenching, this is a joyful event that couldn't be more relevant for America today. I'm not a huge fan of musicals, especially when they run a bit long, but I even enjoyed this event massively. Think about all the music buffs of the world and how they'll react!

If you haven't seen the show, this is an epic that tells the story of the rise and fall of Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel) during the time of the Revolutionary War. It also focuses on the many people that influenced his life and death, including George Washington (Christopher Jackson), Lafayette (Daveed Diggs), Thomas Jefferson (also played by Diggs), and most importantly, Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.). The play captures the man's entire life in just two acts marvelously, and Miranda always keeps the plot moving at a wicked speed. While never flawless, this also plays as a nearly-perfect history lesson for the younger ones, or anyone for that matter, who has not been informed about this man's legacy.

There are so many positive things to say about this achievement, and the cast deserves the highest honor. Miranda, of course, both wrote and led the production. And you can tell this guy is a true master, weaving a creative and informative play almost seamlessly as well as giving a tour-de-force performance as the man himself. But let's not forget the other members, especially the double helping of Daveed Diggs, one of the most talented actors working today. He's hilarious and extremely flexible when it comes to character. He knocks it out of the park as the goofy Lafayette, and then portrays the earnest Thomas Jefferson, albeit laced with a bit of fun. Philippa Soo and Renee Elise Goldsberry are also fantastic in their respective roles as two of the Schuyler sisters. There are too many cast members to praise them all, but truly, every single one of them has my respect.

And it all comes down to the man that made this Disney+ event even possible, Thomas Kail. Mr. Kail also brought Grease on streaming with success, but this is on another level. The technical aspects of this movie/play are extraordinary, and the camera-work is beautiful. There are undoubtedly flaws with this play, however, including one massive inaccuracy. Miranda has forgotten to include Hamilton's involvement with the massive Native-American genocides. While the guy worked tooth and nail to get this as perfect as it can get, you cannot ignore the imperfections. Also, just a quick note...relentless R&B can get a little tiring if it's stretched for two hours and forty minutes. However, everything but these two flaws is truly priceless. Thanks for curing our quarantine blues.

The final opinion is: Hamilton's transportation from stage-to-screen is technically impressive, and it captures all the marvelous performances, striking dance choreography, and iconic music wonderfully...$PLURGE IT

Rated: PG-13 (for language and some suggestive material)

Genre: Musical/Drama

Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes

Directed By: Thomas Kail

"Artemis Fowl" is a Failed Franchise Starter, Filled with Exposition and Wasted Talent

By: Keaton Marcus

25/100 “D-sour”

Once again audiences are put to the task of enduring another attempt to create the next Harry Potter franchise. This time it's with Disney's book-to-film adaptation of the popular Artemis Fowl. You can tell this thing had a lot of potential, backed by a talented cast and a 125 million dollar budget. But this proves that sometimes an expensive cost and some capable actors really can't save this would-be franchise starter from collapsing. Director Kenneth Branagh attempts to wow viewers with special effects galore and world-building, but his own attempts at an innovative film get crushed under the confusing storyline and flat-out mediocre performances. There's plenty of VFX and CGI of all sorts in nearly every scene, but even the visuals feel a bit artificial. Sure, there are a few nice-looking set pieces, but the flaws commonly outweigh the pros. Ferdia Shaw, who portrays the iconic criminal mastermind, doesn't have the spunk the character needed, but at least he puts in some effort.

Man. It's hard even to describe how muddled this plot is. It's principally about Artemis Fowl II (Shaw), whose father, Artemis Fowl Sr (Colin Farrell), gets mysteriously kidnapped. He finds that the only way to free his father is to retrieve a MacGuffin called the Aculous with help from Domovoi Butler (Nonso Anozie). They will hunt down a secret world of fairies led by Commander Root (Judi Dench) in a daring attempt to save Fowl. My brain nearly imploded from writing that little paragraph. This film is a chaotic, confusing, and befuddling failure. Oh, and Josh Gad plays an Exposition Machine, Mulch Diggums. This will likely anger fans of the novels while ripping and tearing at non-readers' heads.

The cast is being filled with a hefty amount of skilled people, but they barely even try and make this movie better. As mentioned, this project is lead by Ferdia Shaw, who plays Artemis II. He wears Men in Black suits and glasses, and you can tell that Branagh was truly trying to make a superhero for kids to root for. Shaw has a few solid quips as the 12-year-old genius, and the result of the movie clearly wasn't his fault. The screenplay just isn't smart enough to help this kid. To make it even more saddening, it's Shaw's first role. I just can't help but feel terrible for him. Colin Farrell's character begins promising, but he is taken away in the duration of the first ten minutes of Artemis Fowl and is mostly off-screen for the remainder of the film. Clearly, they also wasted both Judi Dench and Josh Gad, who both play horribly idiotic characters.

You can tell this was gonna be a real baddy. The fact that Disney decided to just dump the movie on their streaming service, Disney+, gives you a clue that they don't care about this flick. However, their other upcoming releases, such as Mulan and Jungle Cruise, were simply just pushed back. The movie has also been through some development hell, switching to many directors over the years. It was originally supposed to come out in theaters last year. Unfortunately, it was delayed until later in 2019. After being pushed again to earlier in 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic made sure that it wasn't going to happen. Now here we are, watching a film made for the big screen on the comfort of our couches. But hey, at least we don't have to pay. Several live-action Disney films have been fairly disappointing, but this is a new class of horrible. Nice job, Mr. Branagh.

The final opinion is: In a failed endeavor to make the next cash- grabbing YA franchise, Artemis Fowl is a flightless, poorly-acted and artificial-looking adaptation...$KIP IT

"Scoob!" Reboots the Long-Dormant Franchise with Painless, but Disappointing Results

56/100 “sour”

By: Keaton Marcus

After more than a dozen years since the last Mystery Inc. movie, we finally get an animated update dubbed Scoob. One thing's for sure, nobody asked for one after 2004's Monsters Unleashed, but this remake does some justice to the classic television series and will be more than enough for kids. Still, the manic, unfocused plot and only sporadic laughs make it little more than colorful eye-candy with a talented voice cast. More and more animated films today are becoming distractions, and except for Pixar flicks, just flat-out cash-grabs. Thankfully, Scoob isn't an awful movie, and it does its job extraordinarily well, benefitting from a couple terrific moments. But I was still disappointed that this was the best they could come up with, a storyline populated with stock characters and the dumbest plot I've seen from here to Timbuktu. I wasn't horribly let down, however, because none of the trailers really caught my eye--so that helps, I guess.

Oh, man. Here comes the premise. We get a little sneak peek of how Shaggy (voiced by Will Forte) finds Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker), which was nothing less than adorable. Then as the film goes on, the iconic duo befriends three teens named Fred (Zac Efron), Daphne (Amanda Seyfried), and Velma (Gina Rodriguez) who form the Mystery Inc. Together, as friends, they solve little crimes around the city. However, many years later, Scooby and Shaggy are abandoned by their three pals and saved from these scorpion robots (don't ask) by superhero Blue Falcon's son, Brian (Mark Wahlberg), his robotic dog Dynomutt (Ken Jeong) and ally Dee Dee Sykes (Kiersey Clemons). The two then find that a villain named Dick Dastardly (Jason Isaacs) wants to take Scoob to open a magical portal. But there's so much more. Guys, this plot is just exhausting, and I'm not getting into it anymore.

The cast, as you now know, is extremely talented, and while they feel a little wasted, they all have their moments. Led by charming performances from Will Forte and Frank Welker, the screenplay doesn't help much, but they have some great chemistry that helps them succeed. Their two characters also have that classic friendship bond, similar to what's in the series, which is most likely my favorite aspect of the film. Mark Wahlberg also gets his quips in as Brian/Blue Falcon, despite phoning it in a bit. Ken Jeong is also in the movie as a robotic dog, and while he is a lot of fun, I've seen better. The supporting cast was kind of left in the dust, with Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, and Gina Rodriguez not being in most of the film and Kiersey Clemons abandoned with little to do. And don't get me started on the generic bad guy performance by Jason Isaacs.

One major issue I had with this movie was the way it was directed and written. The direction felt a little too much, with helmer Tony Cervone attempting to make this film go too many different directions until it leaves audiences exhausted. Looking at his career, he's not even a director, known for being in the art department for Space Jam and Cats & Dogs. In fact, the only things he helmed were a bunch of TV films. But that's not the worst of it. Scoob was written by four people. Maybe that is why the movie just felt a little much, too chaotic. But this is an animated movie, so I guess you can forgive some of it. On the contrary, this is 2020, people! Don't children deserve better than this? Eh, whatever, my younger siblings enjoyed it, other people will. Anyway, this is quarantine, so who gives a f..k?

The final opinion is: Scoob! is enough for younger viewers and fans of the franchise, though it may leave the older ones wanting a little more plot-wise...$KIP IT

Rent for $19.99 and buy for $24.99 on Amazon Prime Video

Scoob!

By Quinn Marcus

(2020)

Age: 5+

45/100: Sour

So What’s The Story?

Scoob! has many different, unnecessary plots, but here’s what I got from it. As a child, Shaggy meets Scooby-doo and makes other friends. Together they solve their very first mystery in about 20 seconds and then we cut to them being adults. As adults Fred, Velma and Daphne want to start a business out of Mystery Inc. However, Shaggy and Scoob get upset with the idea and leave. Later, Shaggy and Scoob get beamed up after being chased by killer scorpion robots led by a villain literally named Dick Dastardly. Fred, Velma and Daphne (almost absent the entire movie) get in their van to go after Shaggy and Scoob. Meanwhile because Scooby-doo has superheroes now, Shaggy and Scoob meet Blue Falcon and his team of heroes. That’s the beginning of the movie just so you know.

Is It Worth Your While?

Try as it might, Scoob! tried to capture the heart and soul of the original show, but came out a bland, overstuffed movie with like five different plots. Before I really get into the negatives, let’s start with a few positives. 1. The movie is a great distraction for young children, the animation is generic but colorful and some jokes just might get to them. 2. The voice cast was actually not bad (we’ll get to that later). 3. There are a few moments in the film, where the story actually works and the jokes are funny. That’s about it for the pluses of the film. Oh wait I almost forgot about the most memorable moment of the movie. When Dick Dastardly repeatedly shouts that his name is in fact Dick into Scoob’s face. That’s the one thing that stuck with me through this movie, and I think I will horrifyingly remember that for the rest of time.

Did you know that they needed four people to write the script. Maybe that’s why the movie had so many storylines. It’s perfect, we have the guy who wrote Rampage (2018, 40% sour), the guy who wrote the new Addams Family which is literally one of the worst animated movies of all time. The man, the legend, who wrote nothing except Scoob! Actually, make that two people who have written nothing besides Scoob! To be fair, some jokes in the film were written very well, and there was a little heart there, but it just didn’t fit together. By the way, I was very excited for this film, I walked out of the room so disappointed in what I had just seen. The story is so distorted and messy, it’s basically just scene after scene of pointless action and a few quick jokes. I know this is a Shaggy and Scooby origin story, but they couldn’t have come up with a better excuse to get the rest of the gang pretty much out of the movie? Critics have been split on this film, the Rottentomatoes score currently rests on 54%. There are the fans of Scooby-doo who will adore this film and there are the other fans who will feel nothing but disappointment. Overall Scoob! is a mostly failed attempt to re-light the fire of Scooby-doo with bad jokes, less then average writing, a frantic set of stories and generic animation.

How About The Cast?

The cast was probably the best thing about the film, the voices of Will Forte as Shaggy, Mark Wahlberg as Blue Falcon, Jason Issacs as Dick Dastardly and the rest of the cast including Zac Efron. While these people didn’t have much to work with, their voices were delightful, funny and clearly expressed their commitment to this film. If Scoob! proves one thing, it’s that all of the cast have the capacity to be great voice actors. Even if they were practically wasted in the movie. Although Blue Falcon’s character didn’t really matter to me, Mark Wahlberg gave the best performance of the movie having all of the good jokes. I think the writers forgot that it’s supposed to be Scooby and Shaggy who are the hysterical ones, but their voices were still spot on.

Aging ‘Shaggy and Scoob’

Scoob! is absolutely perfect for children as young as five years old. There is very tame violence, lasers, explosions etc. There is a giant ghost dog which is in no way scary, in fact there’s nothing in the movie that is remotely frightening. There’s a very faint message of friendship and standing up for yourself and your friends. This movie is perfect if you have nothing else to do but sit back on your couch and watch the insanity at play.

Scoob! is now available to buy or rent on Amazon today!

"Trolls World Tour" is a Colorfully Animated, Harmless Sequel Made for the Outbreak

By: Keaton Marcus

63/100 “sweet/sour”

Behold the perfect movie to watch again and again with your family during quarantine, the sequel to the beloved animated movie, dubbed Trolls World Tour. It may be far from the most impressive movies of the year, but it ends a solid diversion for the younger kids, and perhaps a bit more. With dazzling animation, a talented voice-cast and an over caffeinated set of tunes, there's not a lot to dislike here. Of course, the plot is utterly manic and there isn't much going on in the head, but for kids, it's more than enough. Though not quite as good as the 2016 original, the sequel does bring some new stuff to the table and carries one of the sweetest messages ever heard of. That's expected though, right? Yes, you could argue that this movie is just more of the same, though they do get a little more creative than that, even if it's just a bit. Glitter, colors, K-POP trolls, what's not to like?

This sequel completely diverges from the path set from its predecessor, for better or for worse. The movie focuses once again on Poppy (the delightful Anna Kendrick) who has been crowned as Queen of the Trolls. The Trolls are once again living in harmony, however, when Poppy learns that there are other types of Trolls out there, her and Branch (Justin Timberlake) decide to go into the unknown. The queen of the dubbed Rock Trolls named Barb, though, wants to destroy all other types of music and unite every troll under rock. Oh yeah, they get really crazy with the different types of music, we got smooth jazz, funk, pop (K-POP as well) and even classical. And of course, they call the king of Classical Trolls "Trollzart". Combine that nifty storyline with non-stop singing and energetic voices, you have the fluffy fun World Tour is.

The voice-cast, as always, is a delight for the children. Leading the group once again is Kendrick, who portrays Poppy, the sweet, loveable Troll that can't stop dancing. Literally. Kendrick's adorable chemistry with Justin Timberlake's Branch and their solid voices make them an on-screen couple worth watching. The list of popular stars goes on! We've got James Corden, Kelly Clarkson and Jamie Dornan heading the supporting cast. Yeah, they threw in both Chance the Rapper and Sam Rockwell in there as well. Despite the performances not matching up to the great animated actors, the cast has this manic energy that will entertain kids and maybe a few adults willing to turn their brains off.

Much like the eye-popping original, World Tour is just as colorful. They spent some good money on it as well, with a price tag coming at about 100 million dollars. Sure Dreamworks will lose a lot of cash due to the lack of theaters open, but the money put into the production paid off visually. Even I adored looking at those pinatas like explosions of candy-colored glitter. It's fun, don't get me wrong, though you do get a little fatigued near the end of 90 minutes of non-stop dancing, colors, and singing. Still, for most of the film, you should be very entertained. Also, I gotta mention it again, during pressing times like these, this brightly animated sequel may be the cure we all need.

The final opinion is: Trolls World Tour may be more of the same, but it's still a colorfully-animated, well-acted follow-up that should please fans of the original...$TREAM IT (well that's all you can do nowadays)

Rent on Prime Video for $19.99

"Onward" is a Suitably Entertaining Pixar Film With a Likeable Cast and Dazzling Visuals

By: Keaton Marcus

77/100 “sweet”

The newest production from Pixar seems autopilot, but "Onward" still makes its mark as sweetly-made animated entertainment that largely benefits from its talented voice-cast and dazzling visuals. The children's movie brings stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt into the mix with gratifying success, and director Dan Scanlon ("Monsters University") brings just enough creativity to lift off more than the standard kids flick. Also, we get a fresh story with new characters after so numerous Disney sequels. This is nothing less than satisfying for audiences, and perhaps the movie will create its own franchise. Certainly not as wonderful as the four "Toy Story" movies, but I would watch a sequel of this inventive picture. The film has the perfect running time, clocking at about 102 minutes, and solidly makes usage of it. "Onward" will never exactly give you boredom, but its heavy themes about loss might make you somewhat emotional in the theatre. Not as much as more superior installments, but that's Disney-Pixar's signature move.

The movie takes place in a fantastical suburban town that has gradually lost its magical touch, with the narrator explaining the slew of inventions that flew in to make basic activities easier than learning wizardry. We focus on the main character, called Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland) who's dad died before he was born. Ian is about to turn 16 years old, and on his birthday, his mother Laurel (an impressive Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) gives him and his brother Barley (Chris Pratt) a gift from their father. The present turns out to be a magical staff, and a spell to bring him back for one entire day. However, when the spell malfunctions, Ian, Barley and half of their dad (you'll get it once you watch it) head out on a quest to find the coveted Phoenix Gem, the only thing that can save their father.

While it isn't the only reason to watch the movie, the immensely likable cast (the opposite of "Planes") is already some massive persuasion. Tom Holland plays Ian with an amiable quirkiness and has some above-average chemistry with Chris Pratt, who portrays Barley. The script isn't pitch-perfect, but Scanlon writes with rock-solid comic-timing and gives the movie's two main characters enough to work with. What's really terrific is that both Holland and Pratt have experience working together in the MCU, and the duo happens to already have excellent comedic roles under their belts. I know, Scanlon literally brought two Marvel actors into a Pixar movie, brilliant. Also, we see actress Julia Louis-Dreyfuss team up with the talented Octavia Spencer, who turns out to be a likable couple to watch on-screen. So if you like superhero movies, and laughs--you'll almost be able to forget the flaws.

This is Scanlon's second Pixar movie after "Monsters University", the uncalled for, but a solid prequel to the iconic "Monsters INC". Clearly, you see the resemblance in "Onward", but he gives the picture a little more pizazz to make it worth watching. The adventurous and especially interesting premise will be more than a distraction for younger viewers, and may even touch older audiences. It's emotional themes and intelligence makes it better than the common diversion such as "Storks", or this year's so-so "The Call of the Wild". And to make up for its mainly childish third act, the magnificent visuals and enough signature humor to keep it from sinking too down in the ranks Pixar's seemingly myriad films. There may be a franchise, there most likely won't be--but truthfully, I enjoyed this picture--and that's enough.

The final opinion is: Disney-Pixar and Dan Scanlon's "Onward" isn't one of the best efforts of the franchise, but it makes its mark as a suitably iconic film that benefits from its likable voice-cast and visuals...$PLURGE IT

Buy on Prime Video for $19.99

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 39.1M

Domestic Total: 61.5M

Worldwide Total: 103.1M

"The Call of the Wild" is a Visually Impressive, but Uneven Family Adventure

By: Keaton Marcus

59/100 “sour”

There have been a few adaptations of Jack London's classic novel, but the 2020 edition of "The Call of the Wild" brings Buck to the big screen with special effects galore, but uneven storytelling keeps it from being more than another diversion for younger audiences. Sure, there are a few intense moments that keep it more for the older kids, but it is overall a tame adventure. While the newest remake does have A-lister Harrison Ford in the picture, he takes the chunk of the film that isn't nearly as entertaining as the first half. Despite having an underwhelming conclusion though, the flick has its moments and the positives such as the visuals and the swashbuckling feel of the opening hour do commonly outweigh its many flaws. It's only about 100 minutes long, and despite many computer-generated scenes being thrilling, the unnecessary digitization of the film's canine hero lets it down. There's fun to be had, just not enough of it.

The movie kicks off with a dog named Buck, living in a lavish mansion down in the countryside with a wealthy family. Harrison Ford also narrates, explaining that Buck isn't spoiled or poor, and has been through both. However, when some men trick the dog and kidnap him, Buck is traveled to Yukon by boat, where he's never been before to become a sled dog. The fun really begins when Buck is put in the delivery service, led by a kind man named Perrault (an excellent Omar Sy). And as he gradually becomes more experienced, the canine ends a leader for the others. But that concludes when Perrault gets a note that their mail route has been terminated, which is when Buck meets John Thorton (the grumpy Harrison Ford). John and Buck then decide to travel where nobody's been before. The movie begins a fast-paced ride but then concludes to a slow, mildly exciting adventure.

I would call the performances a true mixed bag, some impressed me, others didn't meet the quota. As I noted in the previous paragraph, Omar Sy gave the best showcase in the picture, delivering most of the humor and having natural chemistry both with Buck and his companion Françoise (Cara Gee with a solid outing). What really didn't work was Harrison Ford's time on screen, and while the guy tried his hardest, Michael Green's script and Chris Sanders' direction didn't match up. Ford was advertised as the main role, which could have been great, but Sy and Gee stole the show. The canine, as you know, was computer-generated, which didn't exactly help the movie's case (bumping up the cost to 135 million)--but Sanders does add some heart into the doggy. Audiences may be able to tell Buck is fake, and it's very uncalled for, but the cinema will get a kick out of the gags and misadventures of the large dog.

This "Call of the Wild" is a perfect example of how VFX can only take a production so far, and one of the few things keeping it from sinking is the enjoyable first half. It is worth the price of admission, but not much more than that, which is disappointing. I mean, an adventure film starring Harrison Ford, based on an acclaimed novel should have been better than this. Especially since Ford is done with the "Star Wars" franchise. Overall, this is a largely hit-or-miss affair, feeling more mechanical than free, yet having just enough soul to pull it out of disaster. The movie could either be a massive hit, or a complete bomb in the box office, depending on families' decision to let their kids go or not. A sequel won't happen, but for a family film, this harmless movie is a fine excuse to go to the multiplex during the weekend.

The final opinion is: Chris Sanders' take on "The Call of the Wild" benefits from strong visual effects, and a couple notable performances for a decent, but largely uneven execution of the classic novel...$KIP IT

Rent for $5.99 or Buy for $9.99 in SD or HD on Prime Video

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 24.7M

Domestic Total: 62.3M

Worldwide Total: 107.5M

"Sonic the Hedgehog" is Familiar, but is a Visually Dazzling Adaptation With Jim Carrey

By: Keaton Marcus

67/100 “sweet/sour”

Against all odds, largely anticipated video-game adaptation "Sonic the Hedgehog" has been released. And with grand success, I may add, being the box office blur of the weekend and shockingly turning out to be a watchable movie itself. Of course, there are flaws, the storytelling is nothing less than chaotic, and occasionally manic, but the blue hedgehog exceeds with its flashy action sequences, and a surprising amount of humor provided by its three co-stars, Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, and James Marsden. The chemistry within the main and supporting cast is top-notch as well, and in a few instances, there's a proud amount of good old heart amidst the 95 minutes of utter insanity. Remember, this is basically "The Godfather" for a video-game adaptation, even topping the likes of "Detective Pikachu" (60/100 "sweet/sour"), funnier and more intact, despite feeling a tad overstuffed. The youngsters will absolutely adore the picture, completely oblivious to the fact that it's all just an expertly set up distraction. But it becomes a little more than the average diversion, and may even appeal to older audiences. Who knows?

The movie kicks off with a young Sonic (an amiable Schwartz) finding out that his original planet isn't safe for him anymore, and his guardian, Longclaw, sends him to a far off land dubbed Earth. After that, the pic cuts to ten years later, and we find an older Sonic all alone in a town called Green Hills, California--however, one night he runs so fast that the speed causes a power outage throughout the globe. With the military and an evil genius called Dr. Robotnik/Eggman (a brilliant Jim Carrey) on his tail, the hedgehog teams up with a small-town cop named Tom (James Marsden back in the talking animal gig) to save the world. There's nothing exactly wrong with the plot, but there's nothing too creative, and it ends similar to the standard good vs evil layout. However, maybe that's sufficient enough for a flick such as this, and it's a whole lot of fun, so I forgive the somewhat familiar storyline.

While Ben Schwartz and James Marsden have some solid buddy-comedy chemistry, it's really Carrey who steals the show with the energy that launched his career. He isn't given the amount of screen time he had in "The Mask", or perhaps "Dumb and Dumber", but director Jeff Fowler gives Carrey enough to get his signature performance across. Principally, when you get a little fatigued watching Marsden and Schwartz doing the same routine again, audiences will always have Jim Carrey to save them. Schwartz is no Ryan Reynolds, who voiced Pikachu, but he still nails the egotistical Sonic with ease, bringing loads of charm to the CGI'd hedgehog. Marsden, who's known best for his roles in "Hop", "Enchanted", "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "X-Men", does a fine job. His role isn't groundbreaking, but its just what the actor needs. There are times where these guys wear out their welcome, but it's seldom unfunny.

Now one thing readers are waiting to hear about is: how the heck was the redesign? Well, we got a glimpse of it in the most recent trailer, and in the film, its a whole lot better than the moderately ugly original look. Thank god for social media, who are the guys that review bombed the teaser solely because of the odd design. So, Fowler and Paramount then seemed pretty committed to spending another five million dollars to redesign the iconic character. It certainly paid off, as they make the character look like a nearly flawless match to the design from the video game, which many adaptations fail to achieve. Don't get me started about the 1993 "Super Mario Bros." movie. Its gonna be a huge success in the box office, its faithful to the game, and Fowler is sure to come back to helm a sequel with the usage of the big reveal at the end! I'd watch it!

The final opinion is: "Sonic the Hedgehog" surprisingly features a considerable amount of good humor, a dose of heart and a scene-stealing Jim Carrey to make a suitable--if chaotic adaptation to the popular game...$TREAM IT

Buy for $19.99 on Prime Video SD or HD

By: Keaton Marcus

Box Office Info:

Opening: 58M

Domestic Total: 146M

Worldwide Total: 306.7M

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

Buy for $19.99 in SD and HD on Prime Video

By Quinn Marcus

(2020)

Age: 7+

70/100: SWEET/SOUR

So What’s The Story?

Sonic, a little blue alien is chased off of his home planet by island warriors who want his power. So, Sonic’s protector and mentor Longclaw gives him rings that open portals to anywhere in the universe. Sonic is sent to Earth with a backup plan in case something goes wrong. He spends his days in a cave reading comics, playing ping-pong and trying to keep himself hidden from the world. That all changes when Sonic causes a power surge. The Pentagon decides to bring in Dr. Robotnik to find and neutralize the creature. Sonic immediately turns to Tom, a San Francisco cop and someone Sonic has been watching for some time. Together they go on the run, protecting each other from Dr. Robotnik’s creations.

Is It Worth Your While?

It’s hard to think of a good video game film adaptation since most of them are so bad. For example: Tombraider (2018, 30% sour). They can never come up with a great story idea. Instead they have hope that a bunch of references and action that resembles the game will get players hooked. While many of these films make money, they are not great. Well, I found this film to be a surprise. We all remember the memes and hate that were built up due to the original Sonic design (terrifying). However, the film did do what most movies wouldn’t waste their time on. That is to go back and redo everything about the visuals. I have to say, it worked. The effects were more satisfying and energetic. Is it only for the gamers? Well it depends, the film has material for both gamers and non-gamers alike. Although some references might slip past some people’s minds, there is a substantial amount of jokes and story to keep non-gamers entertained. Take it from me, a guy who is not a gamer, but still thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

The director (Jeff Fowler) is a first time director having done mostly only a few tv movies. As his first big opportunity, I was generally impressed. Sometimes the film felt muddled and frantic, but he binded a solid story together with just enough action to keep viewers entertained. The writers jokes didn’t always land and sometimes scenes felt tired. Then again, there were some genius, well written scenes such as Sonic’s baseball scene and Jim Carrey’s first scene. Although the writing may sometimes have been simple and no more than average, it’s way better than what other video game adaptations could come up with. Yes, there were a few noticeable plot holes, but over time you forget about them and just enjoy the film. Detective Pikachu (2019, 65% sweet/sour) was another video game movie that surpassed expectations. The only thing keeping it from reaching the same quality as this was the thrown away ending. Sonic The Hedgehog wrapped up the film in a dazzling spectacle with even a little heart. Overall Sonic The Hedgehog was entertaining, generically, but amusingly written, eye catching, and a fine push for Jeff Fowler’s career as a director.

How Was The Cast?

Sonic The Hedgehog’s cast did a committed job of bringing their character’s to life. First, we have Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic The Hedgehog. Not only did he get this popular game character’s voice right. He also brought into the film his sense of over confidence and his need to protect his friends. At points it was a battle between who is more entertaining, Ben Schwartz or Jim Carrey. Although Jim’s role was smaller, he was extremely funny. Next, we have James Marsden as Tom Wachowski. James hasn’t had a hit film in a while, or at least a film he did good in, but I thought he was decent in this. Most of the time you just wanted to see Jim Carrey and Sonic brawl it out and not have this generic, small town cop in the story. However, James’s character was interesting enough to keep in the film. James had some good jokes and always seems to work well with what I would imagine to be a broom on set. Obviously it’s not a game changer for him, but it’s a start. Third and finally, we have Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik. I missed Jim Carrey, or at least his wild, insane performances. This film really brought back to life his flair for making every twitch, every move he made hysterical. Every good Jim Carrey movie has his signature scene. Without a scene like this, you might as well not call it a Jim Carrey film. In this they managed to squeeze the dancing in the lab scene in there. Now that was a classic Carrey scene: funny, crazy and full of the comedic force that jump started his career. Although he did his best with what he had in the film, I generally thought Jim Carrey was underused. I hope that in future projects Jim continues to bring his brilliant charisma to his films.

Aging ‘The Little Spacehog’

Sonic is one of the more tame video game adaptations. There is minimum flirting. There are a few kisses on the cheek. Sonic is forced into seclusion from others and feels lonely. Dr. Robotnik is a fun, kid-friendly villain that will make all audiences laugh. There are some explosions, laser battles and a quick bar fight. Character’s are in peril often. However, there is a warm message of belonging in the film. Sonic is taken in by those who he saved and is marked a hero by his town. Overall if you’re in a family looking for something fun to watch, this is the one for you.