The King Of Staten Island

Scott (Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. He’s now reached his mid-20s having achieved little, chasing a dream of becoming a tattoo artist that seems far out of reach. As his ambitious younger sister (Maude Apatow) heads off to college, Scott is still living with his exhausted ER nurse mother (Marisa Tomei) and spends his days smoking weed, hanging with the guys—Oscar (Ricky Velez), Igor (Moises Arias) and Richie (Lou Wilson)—and secretly hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Bel Powley). But when his mother starts dating a loudmouth firefighter named Ray (Bill Burr), it sets off a chain of events that will force Scott to grapple with his grief and take his first tentative steps toward moving forward in life.

I am stunned at how good this movie was and how much I enjoyed it.  Pete Davidson was great and had some incredible one liners.  It might have helped massively that he was basically playing himself but it was still great.  The comedy that was like 2 hours and 15 minutes long avoided that usual death sentence.  Had a lot of heart and a lot of laughs with a bunch of characters that you definitely cared about.  

I would absolutely recommend that people check this one out.  Granted not a lot has come out this year but this is one of the best movies of the year so far.

Artemis Fowl

Based on the book series and character of the same name, the story details the adventures of Artemis Fowl II (Ferdia Shaw), a 12-year-old Irish prodigy who teams up with his family’s faithful servant and bodyguard, a kleptomaniac dwarf and a fairy reconnaissance officer looking to prove herself to help rescue his father, Artemis Fowl I, who has been kidnapped by a gang of fairies looking to reclaim a mysterious weapon known as the Aculos that the Fowl family is accused of having stolen.

There is a reason why Disney took this off the movie release schedule and debuted it on Disney Plus.  Because this was really bad.  Like really bad.   Like I can't believe that this would have been the Memorial Day weekend movie if there was no coronavirus.  That is just not okay.  And with such an awesome cast like this?  Unreal.  This was such a wannabe Harry Potter meets Men In Black kind of thing and failed in every way.   Very disappointing.

I wouldn't recommend people bother with this.  After getting delayed a year and then put on a streaming platform instead of wide release as a later date was clearly all for a reason.

High Note

Set in the dazzling world of the LA music scene comes the story of Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross), a superstar whose talent, and ego, have reached unbelievable heights, and Maggie (Dakota Johnson), her overworked personal assistant.  While stuck running errands, Maggie still aspires to her childhood dream of becoming a music producer. When Grace’s manager (Ice Cube) presents her with a choice that could alter the course of her career, Maggie and Grace come up with a plan that could change their lives forever.

This was a very fun and simple movie.  The characters played very well off of each other.   The whole "what a small world" story that plays out was very entertaining.   I was very surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did.   

I would recommend people checking this out if they want a simple and enjoyable watch.  It's not a must see by any means but it was a good, breezy kind of watch.

The Lovebirds

A couple (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

This was a wide release that got sold to Netflix during the covid shutdown.  I had thought this movie looked funny in the trailers just because of the chemistry shown between the two leads.  That extended through the rest of the movie and made for a very enjoyable watch.  The movie is super short which is perfect because it doesn't wear itself out.  And like I said - the two leads were great playing off of each other.

I would definitely recommend people checking this bad boy out.  Nice short watch with plenty of laughs.  

Scoob!

Warner Bros. Pictures is looking to reboot the cartoon into a new animated movie franchise. Created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" introduced the world to a group of four mystery-solving teens, Daphne, Fred, Shaggy and Velma and their cowardly talking dog, Scooby-Doo. - Chris Columbus boards as creative producer.

Honestly - this movie benefitted by doing the VOD release instead of postponing for theaters.   This never should have been a wide theater release.   Like this was a made for bluray movie all along.  I'm all for a good animated movie and have always been a Scooby Doo fan but this movie was pretty much straight trash.  Like highway robbery for families if it was in theaters.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this turd.  Very disappointing entry of a Scooby Doo wide release movie.

Bad Trip

The hidden camera comedy follows two best friends go on a cross-country road trip full of hilarious, inventive pranks, pulling its real-life audience into the mayhem.

This was a pretty funny watch on par with the Sacha Baron Cohen or Jackass type of movies.   Lots of ridiculous situations with some pretty funny legit reactions from people to said situations.  The movie was nice and short and had enough laughs to be worth it.

I would recommend people checking this out if they want some laughs.  I mean the movie is stupid as hell and pretty vulgar at times but still able to make people laugh for sure.

My Spy

The film will follow a hardened CIA operative (Bautista) who finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family.

This movie has become the blueprint for every bulked up action movie star trying to broaden their resume with a cheesy family film.  Arnold and Sly did it back in the day.  Vin Diesel was The Pacifier, The Rock was The Tooth Fairy, John Cena was Playing With Fire and now Batista did this.  They are all carbon copies of the same movie.  So if you were entertained by those then you will be entertained but this.  I still can't believe that Batista has been the second biggest wrestler turned actor behind The Rock.  Baffling.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this when it comes out a month or so from now.  This should not be how you celebrate the end of Coronavirus quarantine.  It might make you and the kids want to go back.  LOL!

Trolls World Tour

Can’t stop the feeling as the colorful, wondrous Trolls return for the follow-up to 2016’s breakout global hit about how far you’ll go for happiness… "Trolls World Tour" will continue to where the first film left off. It’s all glitter and happiness in Troll Town until Queen Poppy and Branch make a surprising discovery — there are other Troll worlds beyond their own, each defined by a different genre of music. When a mysterious threat puts all the Trolls across the land in danger, Poppy, Branch, and their band of friends must embark on an epic quest through unfamiliar terrain to do the impossible: create harmony among the diverse Trolls to unite them against certain doom.

This was pretty much massively disappointing.  The original had a certain level of cuteness that hooked both kids and adults with great music and characters.  You really couldn't help but enjoy it on some level.  They have since turned it into a cartoon on Netflix that was actually pretty good too for what it was.  But this sequel was pretty much missing all of that.  Like all of it.  It came across as more of a blatant money grab.

I wouldn't really recommend people bothering with this when it comes out (if it comes out with how things are in April).  But let's be honest - by that point parents and kids will be happy to go to a movie just to get out of the house after this month long sabbatical.  

I Still Believe

The film, a sequel to the surprise indie religious drama I Can Only Imagine, will follow the true-life story of singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp and his father Tom.  

This is one of those those Christian movies and I had no idea.  Saw it was out in theaters, saw that is showed up online, was stuck in the house so figured why not.  Most times I would make it like 30 minutes in and lose any interest in the holier than thou thing that these movies tend to push.  But this was one of the ones that was actually tolerable.  Yes it was completely formula.  Yes it pulled every imaginable heartstring that it could.  But there was good chemistry between the leads and it hooked me.

I would actually somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  Maybe it is the desperate times that made me like it or the chords it struck in my heart but I was pleasantly surprised.

Emma

The Jane Austen novel was first published in 1815, a comedy of manners focusing on Emma Woodhouse, who can't help herself from constantly meddling in the love affairs of others.

I tried.  I did.  I don't know why I do honestly.  I have never been able to make it through fully attentive or enjoy any of these Jane Austen type of movies but it showed up online so I tried.  Made it 45 minutes and didn't care at all so I pulled the plug.  

Not sure that I can recommend it or not because I just didn't care for it or any of these movies.  Sorry.

The Hunt

Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don’t know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen… for a very specific purpose … The Hunt. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, a group of globalist elites gathers for the very first time at a remote Manor House to hunt humans for sport. But the elites’ master plan is about to be derailed because one of the hunted, Crystal (Betty Gilpin, GLOW), knows The Hunters’ game better than they do. She turns the tables on the killers, picking them off, one by one, as she makes her way toward the mysterious woman (two-time Oscar® winner Hilary Swank) at the center of it all.

This movie is 100% what you thought it would be by the trailer.  A bunch of political infused society commentary intertwined with the idea of hunting humans.  There really is not much more to say about it.  It is what it is.  If you are able to stomach both the violence and the commentary than it is an okay watch.  If you can't - stay far far away.

Like I said above  - can't really blindly recommend this based on the quality of the movie because of those two factors.  I was able to watch it for what it is and think it was decent.  Not awesome.  Not great.  Not bad.  Not atrocious.  Just kind of there and watchable but I would just as easily understand someone completely loving this or completely detesting this too.  A very big point of view movie.

Bloodshot

Based on "Bloodshot," the best-selling Valiant comic book character. "Bloodshot" first appeared in Valiant comic books in 1992 and quickly became one of the comic world’s most popular characters. Angelo Mortalli has become the ultimate killing machine. His memories were erased and his blood was infused with microscopic computers called nanites. These nanites allow him to heal wounds quickly, dominate electronic devices, and fully control every aspect of his body to maximize his physical capabilities. A modern-day Frankenstein, he wages a one man war taking out the mob, the police and his covert government creators in his struggle to find out who he was and what he has become.

This was pretty decent watch and exactly what you would expect.  Wasn't lights out awesome but wasn't bad by any means either.  The action was done in a way where it was either too fast or like slow motion effects.  Could have been better if that was more fluid.  But other than that it was a decent action movie watch.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not a must see by any means but it is a decent watch.

The Way Back

A former high school basketball star struggling with alcoholism who has lost his wife and family foundation due to it is offered a coaching job at his alma mater, to which he accepts in the hopes it will redeem his soul.

Don't get me wrong - this movie is 10000000% formula.  If you saw the trailer then you saw the movie.  There is nothing you don't see coming.  There are no heart strings that don't get pulled.  That being said - it was still a very enjoyable watch for a sports and redemption type of movie.  Ben Affleck was really good in this simple movie.

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It's not remotely a must see movie but it is a better than average watch for sure.

Onward

The story is set in a world with no humans, only elves, trolls and sprites. The film centers on two teenage elf brothers whose father died when they were too young to remember him. But thanks to the little magic still left in the world, the boys embark on a quest that will allow them a chance to spend one last magical day with their father. In the film, unicorns are so common that they’re considered pests.

I feel like I ask this every time but does Pixar make bad movies (outside of Cars 2)? No.  No they do not.  And this was no different.  This was a very excellently told tale of siblings but in a post fantasy world.  The subtext social commentary was awesome.  The characters were awesome.  There were plenty of a laughs and the pacing was great.  I even got choked up unexpectedly a couple of times.  Gotta love Pixar!   My only knock against this is that you are used to Disney/Pixar characters becoming kind of iconic.  I don't see that happening for these characters as enjoyable as they were.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  Again - Pixar never fails (except for Cars 2 which I will give them a pass for).

The Invisible Man

The film centers on Cecilia Kass, a woman trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist. She escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister, their childhood friend and his teenage daughter. But when Cecilia’s abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turn lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.

FINALLY!!!!   A scary movie that lives up to the scares it advertises.  I feel like I have seen so many unscary movies in the last year or so that I've become numb to them.  But this movie was awesome.  This is the most tense I have been watching a movie since A Quiet Place.  Like I was actually sore when the movie was over from how long I spend tensed up.  The acting was great.  The camerawork was phenomenal and the creepiness of it absolutely sticks with you and makes it a little bit uncomfortable at times when you are alone and wondering if you really are.   

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It's pretty much a must see and absolutely a movie that lives up the creepiness that is advertised.

The Call Of The Wild

Harrison will play John Thornton, a prospector braving the Yukon on the hunt for gold. Based on the Jack London novel published in 1903. The novel focuses on the Klondike gold rush of the 1890s from the point of view of a sled dog named Buck.

This movie was really just an extension of the trailer.  Like there was nothing that I felt I hadn't seen already or didn't see coming.  That being said - it was still an enjoyable movie for any animal lover.  They did a great job narrating with Harrison Ford when he wasn't on screen and I loved how they gave the dog so much personality.  It also helped that the movie was nice and short.

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a pretty good and enjoyable mouth even though it was beyond formula and is definitely a breath of fresh air in a two month window of total garbage getting release week after week so far in 2020.

Brahms: The Boy II

The Boy 2 is a follow up to the successful horror-thriller feature "The Boy" (2016), which starred Lauren Cohan and Rupert Evans. Katie Holmes (Batman Begins, Phone Booth, Ray Donovan) will headline the cast in the role of Liza. Unaware of the terrifying history of Heelshire Mansion, a young family moves into the estate, where their young son soon makes an unsettling new friend, an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms.

I'll be honest - I barely remember the first one.  That alone speaks volumes about if a sequel was warranted whatsoever.  And to do one and mail it in as much as this one did is ridiculous.  Like I'm not even sure this was a movie.  Wasn't scary.  Had no point.  They cast Katie Holmes in the lead.  I am completely baffled as to why this was a thing.

I would absolutely not recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a giant turd and a complete waste of time.

The Photograph

The film will focus on intertwining love stories across the past and the present. 

Was that synopsis boring?  Well that is exactly how this movie was.  Total and complete snoozefest.  I was hoping for some kind of a story and like the cast but it was just there and I could not have been less interested if I tried.  I gave up about halfway through after truly pointless back and forth between past and present that inspired a nap instead of finishing the movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It was a really pointless movie.

Fantasy Island

Based on the ABC series created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling. "Fantasy Island" ran on ABC from 1977-1984 and quickly became a fan-favorite. The island drama dealt with dark themes and the supernatural with a little bit of cheesiness as visitors would come to the island to live out their fantasies. Guests could request any fantasy on the unique resort island in the Pacific Ocean, overseen by the mysterious Mr. Roarke (originally played by Ricardo Montalban) and Hervé Villechaize’s Tattoo, but those fantasies rarely turned out as expected as visitors found themselves facing challenges that tested their character.

This was a much more enjoyable movie than I thought it would be.  I'm not going to rave about how great it was but it held my attention so much more than I expected.  The build up was good.  Some of the swerves was good.  But it was a cool and different take that kept you hooked.  Unfortunately they will probably try to turn this into a franchise and ruin what was a pretty cool concept.  

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  It was a pretty good watch and a pleasant surprise.

Sonic The Hedgehog

The hybrid CG-animated/live-action feature is based on the acclaimed "Sonic the Hedgehog" video game series. The film will look to capture Sonic’s irreverent tone and spirit, reuniting him with some of the most revered and infamous characters of the franchise, including the evil Dr. Eggman. Playful, mischievous, and quick on his feet in more ways than one, the world’s fastest hedgehog is known for his ability to move at supersonic speed to protect his friends from their enemies.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.  I thought that this would be watered down nonsense for kids and it was not.  It wasn't just as good for adults as kids like a Pixar movie or most Disney fare but it was enjoyable enough for adults and anyone whoever played Sonic to enjoy along with the kids who will absolutely love it.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out - especially families.  It's a great option for the week off from school and plenty entertaining.  It was also a bonus to finally watch Jim Carrey being silly in a movie again.

The Rhythm Section

Blake Lively to star in the new female-driven international espionage thriller. "The Rhythm Section" is a contemporary adaptation of the first of British thriller writer Mark Burnell’s “Stephanie Patrick” series of four novels. Heroine, Stephanie Patrick (Lively) is on a path of self-destruction after the death of her family in an airplane crash, a flight that she was meant to be on. After discovering that the crash was not an accident, her anger awakens a new sense of purpose and she rises to uncover the truth by adapting the identity of an assassin to track down those responsible. The new, and lethal, Stephanie Patrick is on a mission to fill the void between what she knows and what she is told.

How was this a wide theatrical release?  This was like a homemade, watered down version of Black Widow.  This would have been an absolute joke of a made for tv movie.  How did this get released in theaters at all?

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this.  It was a total waste of time.  I don't get how this is a thing or how these actors were in it.

Birds Of Prey

Cathy Yan has been chosen to direct Margot Robbie in the "Birds of Prey" film, that will feature Robbie’s Harley Quinn and a number of female DC characters, with the likes of Batgirl and the Birds of Prey reportedly also in the mix for the film. The film will introduce the villain Black Mask to the big screen. Black Mask is known as being one of Batman’s greatest foes and a mob boss in the city of Gotham.

This was actually a pretty decent watch.  I can't complain about it like I would complain about most DC movies - except for the CONSTANT references to the Joker that is not the same Joker about to win an academy award for a totally different origin story that took place like 40-50 years ago.  Outside of that - this was pretty simplified.  Good action.  Lots of laughs.  Continued perfect casting of Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.  I wish that they would have formed the team a little bit earlier and seen them together more because it kind of felt like all of a sudden they were finally altogether and then all of a sudden the movie was over.  But it was a decent watch regardless.

I would lukewarmly recommend people seeing this.  Definitely better than your usual DC movie.  But I wouldn't rave about it or anything.  Kind of like a R rated Shazam.

Gretel & Hansel

Another twist on the classic brothers Grimm tale, the film is set a long time ago in a distant fairytale countryside and will tell the tale of a young girl who leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.

Not even going to bother writing much here.  Just another garbage January horror movie release that is a total waste of time, money and couldn't be less scary/creepy if it tried.  So done with these movies.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's a big ol turd and I just don't understand how these keep getting made.

The Last Full Measure

Based on the true story of a present-day cover-up investigation, "The Last Full Measure" follows young Pentagon investigator Scott Huffman (Stan) as he battles the political machine in Washington. He reluctantly teams with veterans of Operation Abilene to convince Congress to award the Medal of Honor to a courageous Air Force medic, William Pitsenbarger, who is seen saving the lives of over 60 Marines ambushed in one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. As the battle waged on, and after the last helicopter left, he continued to save lives until his own was sacrificed.

This movie felt more like a documentary.  I'm not saying it was a bad movie.  It was a decent movie if you are into history/politics but outside of that its just there.  There is no big story or hook.  It's one of those movies that are just telling you about this thing that happened.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this or paying money for it.  You can just catch it whenever its on tv or something.  It's not a bad movie but its really just kind of there.  I'm actually pretty surprised this even got a wide theatrical release.

The Turning

Based on Henry James’s famous novella "The Turn of the Screw." For more than 100 years, a deeply haunting tale has been passed down to terrify audiences. "The Turning" takes us to a mysterious estate in the Maine countryside, where newly appointed nanny Kate is charged with the care of two disturbed orphans, Flora and Miles. Quickly though, she discovers that both the children and the house are harboring dark secrets and things may not be as they appear.

This is literally just another lame January PG-13 horror movie.  I was never scared.  I was never hooked to the story.  It was just there and something I watched for 90 minutes.  I hate that 3-4 of these come out every January and I always am left disappointed because they manage to make the trailer look somewhat decent.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's just there and 90 minutes of your life that you can't get back.

Bad Boys For Life

The new installment centers on the Miami PD and its elite AMMO team’s attempt to take down Armando Armas (Jacob Scipio), head of a drug cartel. Armando is a cold-blooded killer with a vicious, taunting nature. He is committed to the work of the cartel and is dispatched by his mother to kill Mike Lowery.

This is honestly one of my favorite and most enjoyable movie franchises ever.  Loved the first movie and have seen it a million times.  The second one is probably one of my favorite sequels ever and I've probably watched it even more.  This one did not disappoint at all especially considering how much time had gone by between movies.  The chemistry was still off the charts.  The action was awesome.  The laughs were huge.  And they gave so many shoutouts to classic moments from the previous two movies that made it even better.  I was super psyched for this movie and it did not disappoint at all.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  This is the type of movie that made me fall in love with going to theaters in the first place.  Just an awesome ride.

Dolittle

Robert Downey Jr. brings a signature new take on a very particular genius in the Untitled Doctor Dolittle Project, a sweeping adventure directed by Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan and based on the enduring tales imagined by Hugh Lofting.

I couldn't even make it through this whole movie.  What was the idea?  Just a bunch of voices and throw Robert Downey in there and it would work?  Because they were wrong.  This movie was so mailed in and came across as a 100% money grab.  Very disappointing.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's really just a waste of time and had no substance whatsoever.

Like A Boss

Best friends Mia and Mel (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) are living their best lives running their own cosmetics company they’ve built from the ground up. Unfortunately, they’re in over their heads financially, and the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the cosmetics industry Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) proves too tempting to pass up, putting Mel and Mia’s lifelong friendship in jeopardy. The beauty business is about to get ugly. LIKE A BOSS also stars Billy Porter, Jennifer Coolidge, Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair and Karan Soni.

Another January release that is exactly what you thought it would be.  But it followed the most important rule of simple comedies - they kept in short.  It wasn't even 90 minutes long so didn't run the simple plot and laughs into the ground.  There were some decent laughs and was watchable for what it was.

I wouldn't recommend anyone rushing out to see this.  It's not a must see by any means but it is short enough and had enough laughs to make me able to be okay with it.

Underwater

A crew of underwater researchers must scramble to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory.

This movie is exactly what you would think it was from the trailer.  It's a wannabe Aliens - deep underwater with a horribly miscast lead in Kristen Stewart.  There are so many actress options in Hollywood and I will never understand why they keep trying to force her as a leading actress.  She very much is not.  And most of the "alien" moments in this were too dark or shaky camera work anyway.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's a just there movie that really leaves you unimpressed.

The Gentlemen

The Gentlemen (formerly titled Toff Guys) follows American expat Mickey Pearson (McConaughey) who built a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business forever it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.

If you are a fan of textbook Guy Ritchie movies - this movie will absolutely not disappoint.  It had the quick and witty banter.  It had a ton of side characters that were equal parts entertaining and intriguing.  And the intensity of it all just keep escalating throughout giving you a fun - although sometimes crazy - play out and ending.

I would definitely recommend people watching this.  I've been a fan of most of his movies and this is pretty much more of the same with a really awesome cast.