'Supergirl' A Review

Supergirl is a superhero movie about the titular hero Kara Zor-El(Milly Alcock) as she deals with the grief of losing her family and planet(shown through flashbacks) as well as facing off with a cyborg gang of slavers who have poisoned her dog.

Alcock is perfectly cast- she's funny, charming, handles the action with élan, and conveys her emotional arch with a realism and poignancy this genre typically doesn't bother with. The supporting cast is uneven- Eve Ridley as Ruthye really struggles mostly a fault of the script which pretty much reduces her to a plot device, Matthias Schoenaerts as the heavy is two-dimensionally evil but doesn't seem to have any actual personality or motivation, Jason Momoa as Lobo as wonderful and under used, David Krumholtz and Emily Beecham are really excellent and effecting as Kara's parents but the flashbacks are truncated.

Visually the movie has a lot of cool planets and backdrops and embellishments but there's not enough action and the fight sequences that there are it's hard to see what Kara is actually doing. The script is derivative it starts off John Wick(bafflingly sidelining Krypto one of the breakout stars of last year's Superman) then makes it's way to Mad Max: Fury Road as Kara faces off against the gang enslaving women as their 'brides'. The influence is so transparent it comes across as derivative. Ultimately it's just overly plotted and doesn't seem to realize the potential star at it's center Alcock, she doesn't need the multiple McGuffins in order to shoulder the movie, in fact all the add-on's and convulsions detract from what she's doing.

An incredible lead weighted down by the classic studio exec misconception: more plot = better movie. Still, worth it for Alcock alone.

Currently in theaters.

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'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' A Review

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a superhero movie set in an alternate technologically advanced 1960's, the latest entry in the MCU, refreshingly more of a standalone installment. In a brief opening montage(packaged as a talk show clip) the origin story of the foursome is set up, effectively and efficiently, another pleasant surprise not spending the first movie on that part of their story. The movie kicks off with the Silver Surfer(Julia Garner) announcing the approach of Galactus(Ralph Ineson) and Earth's doom. Reed Richards(Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm(Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm(Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm(Ebon Moss-Bachrach) aren't gonna take that lying down!

Pascal is maybe more understated and serious than we've ever seen him, it's actually kind of great to see this side of him, he's playing against type and it brings a new freshness to his appearance here. Kirby is a dynamo and brings much needed emotion, reality, and gravitas to, what can be, a silly franchise. Quinn doesn't get as much screen time but he continues to show he's got range and screen presence to spare. If there's a new British IT leading man it ain't Austin Butler or Jacob Elordi it should be this guy. Moss-Bachrach is given short shrift by the design of his character, I don't doubt he gave an inspired mo-cap but the clunkiness of the rendering made it extremely difficult to get any emotion or intent from The Thing, something they'll hopefully resolve in future appearances. The supporting cast is full of talent(but certainly notable another example of the encroachment of British actors playing Americans in American movies) but there's clearly been some relatively significant reshoots and edits, to what purpose I don't know but I suspect for pacing, as a result a lot of the side characters don't have much to do and seem like their stories were cut or truncated.

Visually the film is sleek, effective, and occasionally pretty inspired(aside from The Thing). The score is really incredible and very atypical of the MCU of late, it's orchestral and choral and uses the same repeated theme throughout, really potent and serves to give the movie a real identity of it's own. The pacing is break neck and the runtime hits the sweet spot with a couple intimate moments that really hit, if there's a fault it's just it would have nice to have just a bit more of those. With this and with Thunderbolts* it seems that Marvel is finally turning the ship, making compelling fun blockbuster movies, the goodwill they squandered the past several years may take a bit longer to snap back but they're on the right track.

A return to a winning formula for the MCU.

Currently in theaters.

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'Superman' A Review

Superman is a superhero movie, the second reboot of the Superman franchise and the first film in James Gunn's DCU. The movie begins in media res with some title cards setting the scene- Superman came to Earth 30 years ago, metahumans have existed for hundreds of years- and Superman is losing his first fight. Superman(David Corenswet) recently stopped a foreign war and is getting flack from the government and the public, this effort spearheaded by techno-baron Lex Luthor(Nicholas Hoult). There are other superheroes, pocket universes, metahuman prisons, comments on fascism and cancel culture the movie is brimming with ideas and easter eggs setting the stage for the character and where the DCU will go from here.

Corenswet is a great Superman and a decent Clark Kent, although his time in that persona is minimal. He balances the power, nobility, and humanity pitch perfectly and it'll be fun to see where he takes the character from here. The cast is jammed packed with talent mostly all of whom are putting in great work- Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane is edgy and tough and a great foil for Corenswet, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific steals the movie for the time Superman is sidelined- funny and thrilling, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern and Isabela Merced as Hawkgril also great, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen surprisingly fun. The list goes on and on. The one off-note is Hoult who plays Luthor with a slathering one-dimensional fervor that just doesn't really jive with the tone of the movie or what the rest of the cast is doing.

Visually the film is colorful and intricate and compelling with a rousing score, great costumes, and just clearly so much loving care and attention taken with the production. The action scenes are all really effective and feel motivated by story rather than necessity. They help tell the story which is a function not always met with superhero movies. As the first entry in James Gunn tenure as head of the DCU that movie does include a lot of, if not set up then, necessary worldbuilding and this at times makes the movie feel a bit over-stuffed, sacrificing streamlining of this movie to launch a greater platform on which future movies and TV shows will be built. But even then that aspect is actually kind of exciting rather than a drag.

Above all fun. A quality sadly in short supply with summer blockbusters the last several years.

Currently in theaters.

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'Thunderbolts*' A Review

Thunderbolts* is a superhero team-up movie featuring the misfits of the MCU. Yelena(Florence Pugh) has been working as a black-ops agent for CIA head Valentina(Julia Louis-Dreyfus) but is plagued by an increasing ennui. When Valentina attempts to pit her black-ops agents against each other to kill each other off it back fires and they team up.

Pugh proves her A-list bonafides and is absolutely, incongruously, arresting as the lead. She gives an emotional depth and complexity that you'd usually find in an Oscar bait movie not an MCU installment. The other big surprise is Lewis Pullman as Bob, a damaged but powerful stranger that pops up. Both Yelena and Bob's mental health struggles form the real backbone of the film and as a result Thunderbolts* is probably the best MCU film, as an actual story not some kind of franchise chess, in quite a long time. The supporting cast help to build this out, everyone is committed, having fun, and allowed to be more lived-in than in their previous appearances- Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen. Sebastian Stan is almost a supporting-supporting character but he is, as always, totally assured, totally comfortable, and delightful to watch. 

Visually the movie doesn't vary that much from the standard MCU aesthetic but within those confines it's able to be pretty compelling, with a darker color pallet to reflect the theme. Most of the scales are small, there are some cool set pieces, but it appears a fair amount is practically shot. There is, unfortunately, a big NYC is threated sequence at the end but there isn't a huge body count and the heroes are quickly sucked into a psychological space, a series of 'shame rooms', which is one of the big inspirations and triumphs of the script, funneling the MCU typical big-bad face-off from CGI skyscrapers collapsing to a more intimate confrontation.

Why Thunderbolts* succeeds where the past dozen MCU entrees have fallen short is because, although the various characters are tied to other projects, knowledge of those other projects are absolutely not necessary and the actors are given the space and trust by director Jake Schreier to create characters that exist within the story that they are in(not what they were in or will be in) and as a result it feels like a satisfying stand-alone, complete on it's own, no strings attached, movie. The last of which for the MCU was probably 2018's Black Panther, seven years and and 16 movies ago!

Overall, honestly, a pretty good flick.

Currently in theaters.

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'The People's Joker' A Review

The People's Joker is a superhero parody/coming-of-age film about the journey of trans woman Joker the Harlequin(Vera Drew also director/co-writer/editor). Through a smorgasbord of visual styles and references Drew brings an irreverent, gonzo take on the Batman comics with a beating heart and surprising pathos. She achieves a precarious ADHD narrative alchemy that is utterly unique.

Visually sumptuous to the point of being at times overwhelming with performances which are effective but that are occasionally so exaggerated it shifts into performance art creating its own kind of mode. The soundtrack has some real bops, a handful performed by Drew herself which are the highlights. There's lots of green screen, tons of 2D and 3D animation in various styles, puppetry, prosthetic work, excellent make-up design, it's a more-is-more approach and it can feel cacophonous but it works.

A singular piece of cinema, galvanic, potent, a stunning debut from Vera Drew.

Currently streaming on MUBI and available to rent on most VOD platforms.

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'Kraven The Hunter' A Review

Kraven The Hunter is a superhero origin story about the titular Spider-Man villain. Kraven(Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is a vigilante who hunts and kills crime bosses having gotten his powers after a lion attack and a potion from Calypso(Ariana DeBose). Kraven has to deal with his estranged crime boss father(Russell Crowe), his wayward brother(Fred Hechinger), and competing crime boss Rhino(Alessandro Nivola).

Taylor-Johnson certainly looks the part and he throws himself into the role full force, unfortunately a lot of his choices just don't really make sense or make for an actual human character. He uses a bizarre American accent the cadence of which is(weirdly) pure John Wayne. DeBose is in the movie very little and she and we the audience are confused by what purpose she is suppose to serve. Hechinger has had a good year and it's nice to see him so much, I'd take him over Austin Butler or Chalamet any day of the week, but he doesn't do much here. Crowe is having a ball and absolutely making a meal out of his Russian accent, the story may be convoluted and dumb, the majority of the actors may seem lost, but Crowe give you your money's worth. The same is true of the heavy Nivola who gives, the most bizarre, idiosyncratic, performance in any major release this year. The cast has talent but, similar to Gladiator II, the directing is absent, there is no one facilitating the casts performances, they are all seemingly in different movies and only the real seasoned pros(Crowe and Nivola) can make any sense of it.

The visuals are mostly generic with some really terrible CGI animals. There are a couple solid, surprisingly gory, action sequences but there aren't enough of them, the movie doesn't really take full advantage of its R rating. The other glaring problem is the ADR, there are multiple scenes where the dialogue is out of sync to such a degree it's laughable. The script itself is the other main offender. There's just no life to it, not enough fun, not enough ingenuity, too convoluted. It's clear it was commissioned by an executive(not a creative) and probably half a dozen screenwriters(or more) 'took a pass at it' and the end result is this pastiche of vague ideas rather than a coherent narrative. Watching it it feels like an elevator pitch.

Teetering on the so-bad-it's-good edge, destined to be a streaming hit.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

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'Venom: The Last Dance' A Review

Venom: The Last Dance is a superhero/buddy comedy, the third and final installment in the Tom Hardy helmed series started with 2018's Venom. Eddie Brock(Hardy) is on the run from the law after the events of Venom: Let There Be Carnage only to be attacked by multi-dimensional monsters at the behest of the symbiotes creator Knull. Eddie also crosses paths with the Imperium the alien-focused branch of the government/military.

Hardy is as compelling and funny as ever, taking his performance even further turning what has heretofore been a kind of a double act, he and Venom(who he also voices), into almost a straight up love story. Its gonzo and effective. The supporting cast don't have a ton to do but its great to see Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, and Rhys Ifans although Temple and Ifans have some pretty bizarre American accents. Overall a solid cast if a noticeable glut of Brits. The best of course is the return of Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen who makes a brief appearance for a wonderful dance sequence.

Filmed in Spain it doesn't really look like the American southwest but it looks good. There are a fair amount of needle drops which are cool but don't totally make sense tonally. The CGI is used sparingly until the final battle and it works well.

This has always been an odd series, not quite sure what it wants to be, conventional superhero fair or an inversion of it. At least tonally this hits closer to home, it is exceedingly odd, which it seems to have been trying to be all along. But its not really able to go fully off the leash and not only here but throughout the series has never been able to meet its potential.

Pleasingly bizarre and surprisingly heartfelt if constrained by convention.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

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'Deadpool & Wolverine' A Review

Deadpool & Wolverine is a superhero movie, the third installment in the Deadpool franchise. Deadpool(Ryan Reynolds) attempts to join The Avengers and is rebuffed sending him into a depressive spiral. He's picked up by the TVA and told because Wolverine(Hugh Jackman) is dead(from Logan) his timeline will collapse, he searches the timelines for a replacement and together they attempt to save his friends.

Reynolds brings his patented irreverent humor and sincerity and it still works, Jackman revisiting his iconic role is fun but doesn't pack as much presence as he has in the past particularly in the wake of the definitive turn in Logan. Its nice but a bit odd. The two though have wonderful chemistry and the best parts of the movie are their fights with each other and them just spending time together on screen. The plot is convoluted to say the least and doesn't feel altogether necessary, there's no real need to narratively justify Disney's acquisition of Fox and although it makes for some good jokes the plot mechanics weigh down the enjoyment. The supporting cast is basically non-existent, all other characters are in essence cameos, and there are a lot of them and some of them are really wonderful. But the sheer size of the cast and the sidelining of the characters from the previous two installments does lessen the emotional effectiveness.

The movie looks slick if a bit over CGI'd, the fight sequences are cool, particularly the van one between the titular characters. The soundtrack is one needle drop after another and is great. There's a sense of exuberance and momentum from all the production elements which is really great and sweeps you up in the fun of it all. If there's a downside its with all the plot the movie has to get to and all the new toys it has to play with given the merger the story takes somewhat of a backseat.

High energy fun if lacking some heart.

Currently in theaters.

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'Blue Beetle' A Review

Blue Beetle is a superhero movie about the origin of the titular hero Jaime Reyes(Xolo Maridueña). After graduating college Jamie returns to his home town of Palmera City to find work. After a run-in with nefarious billionaire Victoria Kord(Susan Sarandon) and her niece Jenny(Bruna Marquezine) Jamie befriends Jenny and comes into contact with an alien artifact that gives him powers.

Maridueña is charming and affable as the lead but its his family that really steals the show- Belissa Escobedo as Milagro, Adriana Barraza as Nana, George Lopez as Uncle Rudy- the family dynamic and their more casual times together are the best parts of the movie. The rest of the supporting cast is all solid and its a treat to see it full of Latinx actors the plot machinations with Sarandon are less successful not because of her performance but because that aspect of the movie is pretty stereotypical superhero and at this point we've seen too many variations on the origin story.

Visually bright, lots of neon and a fair amount of practical effects make for a good look with a catchy soundtrack the production has some life to it, its not stupendous but its certainly a cut-above the average superhero fodder in terms of its look, its energy, and its cast even if the plot itself is derivative.

An entertaining if never quite surprising diversion.

Currently streaming on Max.

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