You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a coming-of-age comedy about Stacy(Sunny Sandler) and her middle school trials and tribulations leading up to her Bat Mitzvah.
Sunny is a solid lead, she has presence and carries the movie with a harmonic kind of tween frenetic energy. The real surprise is Sadie Sandler as Ronnie, Stacy's sister, who is pitch perfect as the sarcastic knowing older sister. Both performances, from Adam Sandler's daughters(he plays their dad Danny), are kind of stunningly fully formed. There's been much talk of nepo-babies but at least in this instance there is no shortage of merit. The supporting cast are all solid and, in total, create an energetic, funny, infectious ensemble(with a standout turn from Sarah Squirm as Rabbi Rebecca).
Visually sharp and lavish, especially the various Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties. The soundtrack is consistent and propulsive, the costuming slick and fun. All in all the production is tip top. Its another example of a Netflix original that should have, and would have done well in, theaters.
Funny, heartwarming, at times actually kind of challenging(in a good way). A solid homerun from Sandler's brood and a good modern day companion piece to Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
See It.
Landscape with Invisible Hand is a science fiction film set in the near future where an alien species, the Vuvv, have taken over Earth. Highschooler and artist Adam(Asante Blackk) befriends a new student Chloe(Kylie Rogers) and invites her and her family to live with his. The two start dating and decide to broadcast it to the Vuvv in order to make money. Economic, romantic, and familial struggles ensue all under the pressure of Vuvv occupation.
Blackk is perfect in the role- grounded, open, emotive- both he and Rogers bring necessary reality and nuance to the high-concept story. Blackk shoulders the lead and much of the emotional and social commentary with an ease and vulnerability beyond his years. Rogers, in the smaller but no less impactful part, has a similar affecting gravitas that belies her years. The two together make this film unique, what may appear as YA is actually an R rated scifi allegory. The supporting cast is stacked with talent first among them Tiffany Haddish as Adam's mom, it's great to see her in a more grounded dramatic role, probably her best since her stunning debut in Girls Trip. Josh Hamilton as Chole's dad, Michael Gandolfini as Chloe's brother, William Jackson Harper as Adam's dad in one impactful but brief appearance- all know what kind of film they are in, all understand the tone and are able to thread the needle of genuine humanity, absurdism, and socio-economic commentary.
Visually the film is evocative with conservative but effective CGI, the rundown buildings, the food, Adam's artwork servicing as chapter guides, the aliens themselves, it all works together to create something eerie and mesmerizing, more akin to writer/director Cory Finley's excellent first feature Thoroughbreds than his more work-man-like(but still quite good) follow up Bad Education.
A stunning, transportive piece of genre filmmaking.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Don't Miss It.
Nicole and I have been together 10 years today, celebrating by spending a couple days in and around Starved Rock SP. Been great to get away and get out on the bluffs and in the canyons, spending time together away, relaxing, reflecting, and just taking it in.
Happiness For Beginners is a romcom about a divorcee, Helen, who signs up for an Appalachian Trail survivalist course to 'try something new'. Helen(Ellie Kemper) discovers her brother's best friend Jake(Luke Grimes) has also signed up for the trip. The two unpack some baggage and get to know each other better.
Both Kemper and Grimes are stretching a bit, not only with the kind-of straight-down-the-middle Eat, Pray, Love/Wild knock-off but with the script which is better than Hallmark movie-of-the-week but not by much. Even so they put in credible performances, the comedy(which is unfortunately sparring) is effective and the saccharine elements mostly land, it works. The supporting cast is solid- Ben Cook as the trip leader and the various other participates all know their roles and deliver.
It's a cute, mostly well acted, unsurprising piece of Netflix filler. With the dearth of legit romcoms in the current Hollywood landscape, this is a pleasing piece of entertainment, in the romcom heyday of the 90's and 00's this wouldn't have made the smallest blip.
Currently streaming on Netflix.
Stream It.
Theater Camp is a comedy mocumentary about an upstate New York theater camp. The movie opens with the camp owner Joan(Amy Sedaris) preparing for the upcoming season and attending one of her camper's school productions during which she goes into a coma. Her son Troy(Jimmy Tatro of American Vandal fame) takes over and struggles to acclimate to being in charge both with the theater kids and staff as well as financially. Life at the camp unfolds with the two main plot lines being the financial problems of the camp as well as the production of the original musical Joan: Still co-directed by acting and music counselors Rebecca-Diane(Molly Gordon, also co-writer and co-director) and Amos(Ben Platt, also co-writer).
Overall the cast is impressive particularly the kids, all presumably theater kids in real life, and they really go for it and many have substantial talent. There's a lot of laughs as a result but also some genuinely good performances both within the context of the film and the various scenes the kids perform. Sedaris is wonderful but her appearance is brief, Tatro is underutilized slotted in a bizarre way as the straight man which kind of hamstrings him. Gordon and Platt are great but their will-they-won't-they friendship storyline mostly distracts from what's great about this- theater kids at an objectively great and hilarious theater camp. But the real star is Glenn the tech counselor who just happens to be a stunning performer played by Noah Galvin, he's an absolute stunner. Taken all together its a great ensemble but too much of the script is distracted by manufactured conflict, you can almost hear a studio exec or one of the co-writers saying - "something has to happen"- but the reality is the best parts of the film are when we see the kids in classes, just going about their time at the camp, and the kids actually performing. There is a reference to them putting on The Crucible Jr. but bafflingly we never see it.
Visually the film has the hand-held shaky feel of a documentary but there is really no direct address by the actors, no confessionals, no interviews and the only indication that this is supposed to be a documentary is through title cards. The genre isn't really used in any real way so mostly comes across as an afterthought or an idea that wasn't developed. The score is effective if mostly forgettable but the singing from the various campers and in Joan: Still is sensational. First time co-directors Gordon and Nick Lieberman show promise, the film is paced well, has energy, is well acted, and straight up is just a good time. But there is that blush of a freshman project, it is overstuffed- the camp being in financial trouble, the two veteran counselors and BFFs growing apart, the mocumentary element- that stuff is mostly unnecessary and function to pull us away from the real electricity that is captured in the other scenes- there's a protracted audition sequence that's just delicious, towards the end there's a reveal and Glenn gets the spotlight for the first time and its borderline transcendent. That's the stuff the movie is about.
A funny, compassionate, eccentric film that's good but could have been great.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Rent It.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated action comedy, a fresh take on the titular turtles. The movie opens on Baxter Stockman and the mutagenic ooze and serves as an implied origin for our heroes. We then flashesforward to the teenage turtles chaffing under their adopted father Splinter's over protectiveness. As they go out into NYC they meet April O'Neil a high school reporter and they hatch a plan to make the turtles media heroes so that they will be accepted outside the sewers.
The voice cast are all solid particularly the main four, the animation style is kind of a retro watercolor claymation type look that feels unique and is effective. The story plays a bit like a protracted episode of the 90's TV show which is great, it's a necessary return to form for the franchise after Michael Bay's bizarre takes. Its fun, its funny, its got heart. A good flick for kids and adults.
Not as innovative or rich as Into The Spider-Verse but a well made, well executed piece of popcorn entertainment.
Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.
Rent It.
