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Reviews
The Perfect Couple (2024)
Seen worse, seen better
I'm going to do my best to not give anything away. This was not a terrible mystery, I have seen much worse. But I think there were some flaws that killed the potential to be better. For one, I think there were too many cliches- in scenario and in characters. You've seen these kind of people and situations before. So it really wasn't that daring or clever. Two, to combat that, I think they added an overabundance of little twists and turns that went nowhere just to "stir the plot," if you will. There were characters with no real relevance just to confuse the mystery. They created questions without answers that weren't even important anyway. In short, too much unnecessary filler. But lastly, the ending fell completely flat. A drawn out story with too many details finally comes to its crescendo and you realize you already knew who dunnit & why all along... duh.... and there was nothing that intriguing about it at all. Just another cliche. PS bonus- the last scene? Why? What was the point?
Die Hart: Die Harter (2024)
Language
What a foul-mouthed movie. I've seen plenty of Kevin Hart movies that were hilarious, where his character shined through and he didn't use this kind of language. I don't know, maybe this goes back to his old comedy schtick from his earlier years, but he has evolved beyond that and made a name for himself as something better. And after the Jumanji movies, he became well-known and liked by children. So what a disappointment to see he chose to make this (and the prior) movie back in what I consider to be low budget, low-life comedy, where you rely on dirty words more than talent. I hope he leaves this franchise in the past and goes back to what he is so good at, being a clean cut, likable and charming man.
Mother of the Bride (2024)
Boring
I wanted to like this, thinking the caliber of actors would carry it (at least for the type of movie it is- a Hallmark-esque rom com). But oh, was it just so dull. Not sure I cracked a smile the entire time. The story was weak and predictable (which I somewhat anticipated) but even the acting was not great, from people who have some acting chops. Chad Michael Murray's character was unnecessary. Benjamin Brat's character should've been an uncle to make it less weird than the mother-daughter-father-son "triangle". Nix the token gay couple, not needed. And Miranda Cosgrove will always be Meghan or iCarly, esp when she dressed like a 7 yr old for half the movie. I'm truly not sure how they got the funding to shoot on location for this poorly written/produced movie.
Last Seen Alive (2022)
When you can't find anything else interesting to watch, this is a good option
This wasn't the best suspense thriller action flick I've ever seen, but it really wasn't bad either. It was a good option on a Friday night when completely bored with or have already seen every other option on streaming (which btw has gotten exceedingly lame as of late). Back to the movie, I found the basic concept of the film to be believable and pretty simple to follow along with. No big shocking surprises, twists or turns. Just a situation that happened and what an average guy acting in emergency mode might do to resolve it. Sure a few things might raise an eyebrow, but what I really liked is that it was a story that got to the point. No need for major character development. No drawn-out unnecessary action/dialog used as a time wasting filler or that bogs down the plot. It's just a good Point A to B to C movie with enough tension to keep you interested until the end, leaving you generally satisfied when it ends. Don't overthink it!
New Amsterdam (2018)
Why do good shows go so bad?
New Amsterdam tanked itself. Season One was really good. It was something different and the characters were well written and likable. Season Two wasn't bad. But then, along came Covid in Season Three, and like so many other shows, they wrote their own death sentence as it became more important to tackle EVERY possible social justice issue ever thought of, while medical & hospital operations came second. Worse so was the complete loss of character & storyline development. If you don't have likable characters with depth and development, you lose your audience interest and do not have a show. It was just a hot mess! Dr Max became a political cartoon racing to solve every world crises in 42 min. They lost Dr Kapoor, one of the most lovable characters. Iggy turned into one of the least lovable people. They forced loves stories (most completely immoral/amoral) only to rip them apart anyway with no rhyme or reason. The ONLY saving grace & breath of fresh air was Dr Wilder in Season Four. I was proud to see the deaf community represented in such a continuous main-character storyline. But by the end it was clear that cancellation was the best call for New Amsterdam. Viewers don't mind working through some social injustice. But we don't want to be bombarded with it week after week! TV is where we go to relax and be entertained. We have the news if we want propaganda. I guess this is why I rarely ever watch current TV programming anymore.
Wine Country (2019)
Had a good laugh and enjoyed it!
I was having a rough day so I put this on, had some laughs & felt better after watching it! Going into it I thought it would be raunchy and that I'd probably have to shut it off. But I was surprised to find it milder than expected. I liked the relationships between the women, and didn't find it "anti-men" at all. And so what if their characters were a little "cliche" as some have said? People in real life ARE like that- work too much, or are in dull marriages or stuck in mom-life, or have obsessive worry, or are single & trying to figure it out! That's life sometimes, even at 50! I agree there were some kooky moments, sure, but I'd expect that from SNL alum. And the music was top-notch take me back retro. Loved it!
Ok, maybe my opinion is jaded, as I also turned 50 in 2019, so maybe I'm more the target audience. But to say this was a waste of time and talent is a bit strong- I've seen far worse movies. (Like Bridesmaids!) To each their own I guess.
But to the reviewer who said she felt sorry for women who "relate to these "plain, fat, old, used up, washed out, and hopeless women" .... Shame on you. These actors represented REAL women, not the fake, shallow, plastic wannabes that Hollywood usually promotes. I'm happy to relate to them!
Revenge (2011)
Mostly good, until S4
I watched this show during its original airing, and liked it, but for reasons I don't remember I didn't follow through very far. So now years later I saw it on Hulu and thought I'd give it a go. I found it to be pretty good, especially in the beginning when it was directly focused on exacting revenge on those involved in David's set up. For the record, Nolan was by far my favorite character through the entire series! But Madeline Stowe is impeccable at delivering high society sugar-sweet insults! But then we get to Season 4- an absolute train wreck. The whole thing was a mish-mash of random characters and useless bird trails with little value to the show... just time-wasting fillers in an attempt to put out a full season. Bringing David back from the dead was a mistake and added zero value to the story. I absolutely hated the way they ended Daniel's life by portraying him as a drunken, abusive, stalker. It was a. SLOPPY for Emily's meticulous character, b. A betrayal to him, like 5 min after Emily/Amanda said yes, she had in some ways loved him, and c. An obvious segue to another ridiculous storyline (with Margaux). I can think of several different ways they could've explained Daniel's death that didn't tarnish his legacy, at a moment he was turning his life around. The last two episodes were a decent finale, but Victoria's heart going to Amanda was just cheesy. Amanda and Jack's sudden reunion felt forced, I didn't believe their "destined" connection anymore, not after all they'd been through. And I wish Nolan would've gotten a happier ending than a future of being the "tech sidekick" in rando revenge plots.
All in all I enjoyed it, but my final thought is that it could've ended in S3 and been justified. Cuz you know you've jumped the shark when you bring Courtney Love on as a mercenary.
The Guest (2014)
STINKER. Want my money back.
Zero plot development. The characters were cliche. A stranger walks in, five minutes later he is like longtime family, running errands for mom. Huh? I still have no idea how he was connected to the brother or why he came to this family. There was a "secret military experiment" explanation given but was so loosely explained, it made no sense. And let's face it- that storyline is so lame and played out. The horror house was over the top drama. And who is he, Michael Meyers, he can't die? The ending was cheesy, but clearly left open for a sequel that thankfully never happened. This movie was so full of holes it's ridiculous. Waste of my night.
Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
Meh
I guess you have to be a big Law & Order fan to like this show. I've seen episodes here and there of the different series over the years, but never really got into it. So to me this show doesn't hold any special connection to Stabler. From what I've seen (Albanian storyline) the acting and dialogue weren't great, the plot too cliche. In short, I've seen much better cop shows, but this makes an OK summer filler while the others are on rerun.
Chicago Med (2015)
So disappointed
I loved this show for the first several seasons. The medical scenarios were decent. Characters and relationships were engaging. There was some PC but it wasn't played up enough to be intolerable. But then S5 came and it was starting yo go downhill. Covid came and it turned to crap. They ripped every left wing headline they could think of and made an episode of it. The characters have become annoying, their relationships forced and overplayed. The medical scenarios just seem to repeat. Nothing is engaging anymore. I've seen 3 med dramas handle Covid and this by far was the worst. I don't know if I can stand to watch any more. Bummer. They killed a decent show.
The Wedding Trip (2021)
Middle of the road
Not bad, not great. I actually felt the main actors had chemistry together. Their scenes together seemed real and honest. So I enjoyed that. Every single other character was unnecessary to the story. Bad acting, horrible lines, and not funny "gross" humor. I could've done without all of them. The movie felt a little long to get through, but I was interested enough to see how it ended. So I give it a solid 5.
The Good Doctor (2017)
Noticeable Change in Show
I ate up seasons 1-3, binge-watching. I laughed, smiled and cried. But in S4 there was a noticeable shift in the show. A great character, Dr Melendez, was killed off; new characters were brought in; and Dr Shaun Murphy, for whom the show is aptly named, seems to have taken a back seat to become a secondary storyline. Clare has become the headliner and developing the new characters is the goal. Shaun just weaves in and out of their weekly dilemmas. We rarely see any meaningful interaction between him and Leah or Dr Glassman, once both being pivotal characters in his social and medical development. His autism is treated more as a "quirk" now than a blessing/challenge. I feel like the show has erased the emotional connection they worked so hard to gain with their audience! So for me, it's lost its appeal as it no longer predicates upon "The Good Doctor".
Also don't like being forcibly bombarded by weekly "woke" agenda (thanks to ABC and Disney, no doubt).
Home & Family (2012)
Love the segments, dislike the hosts
I stopped watching this because I find Debbie and Cameron insufferable. They may be wonderful people for all I know, but on this show they come across as self-involved, condescending and fake. At least Mark used to balance Debbie's contrived and narcissistic personality. But now with Cameron co-hosting it's a like a challenge to see whose star shines brighter, even at the expense of their guests. I do miss the craft segments, though.
A New Year's Resolution (2021)
Lukewarm
High expectations based on previews. Wanted to like it but just couldn't really get into it.
American Housewife (2016)
Lost its way
This show has become a caricature of itself. Over the top acting and ridiculous storylines with no purpose. It's like a chicken without a head- a total mess and all over the place. Cancel it please.
6 Underground (2019)
I feel vindicated
After reading the many other reviews, I feel vindicated for leaving the movie to another room at the end of the first action scene. I was told it got better, I'm not buying it. What I saw was an excess of foul language, gratuitous bloody violence, a very poor attempt at (failed) humor, impossible action sequences plagued by awful slow mo and ridiculous explosions, and no character or plot development to care. It was pathetically rudimentary and formulaic. Ryan Reynolds should stick to what he does best- boy next door rom-com. And this movie should go directly in the trash. Most people are more intelligently evolved than this barbaric garbage.
PS. Parkour. Really?
I Am the Night (2019)
Exquisite Storytelling
This show had me hooked from the beginning and I found the characters to be rich in depth and detail. A suspenseful portrayal of a real life story. Anyone who says the story is slow must not have the aptitude to appreciate the emotionally-driven direction given to weave and engage viewers through different time periods and societal divisions. It isn't meant to be a "flash in the pan" movie-thriller most people lap up these days. It's meant to be an experience, to be savored. A throwback to Film Noir. A+
Coffee Shop (2014)
Letdown
The review sounded promising. It had the potential to be a decent romantic comedy. Sadly, it was nothing more than a waste of time. Brooding, boring, cheesy and predictable. Not a single Alabama accent to be found, even though it takes place in Alabama. The singing was obviously lip synced, and poorly. Nearly all the characters just fell flat- two dimensional at best. Skip this one... snooze.
Twin Peaks (2017)
Confusing
I watched this show when it originally aired and was a fan. Was disappointed when it was cancelled, but could see it was a show ahead of its time and just wasn't appreciated. I've since binge watched it by streaming several times. I've always loved the quirkiness of the characters and slightly over-the-top drama. There was action and intrigue, mystery and frightening darkness, love and humor all rolled into one. And it was a masterful mix of vintage and modern.... when was this happening 1989 or 1950? Best of all, it was the Pacific Northwest, an all important character that was the living, breathing essence of the show. So now, 4 hrs into this long awaited revival of the story, and I don't really know what the heck is going on! There are definitely elements from the original, but they add so little to the story. They make it difficult to navigate and slow the movement of the show. I can discern no real storyline thus far. It's just all over the place. I love seeing the original characters, but honestly there is a lot of bad acting going on by the newly added characters. Bad. What also bothers me the most, is that I feel like the quirkiness I so enjoyed in the past, has been turned into a spoof of itself. Some scenes are so ridiculous that I feel like the viewer has been tricked into watching an overtly dumbed down version of Twin Peaks so we can be laughed at for taking the bait. And where IS Twin Peaks? There has been hardly any time shown in the great PNW! That missing presence is what Hawk is looking for, if you ask me! I watched these 4 eps on a free preview and will most likely have many months for it to stream (if it does) to decide if it's worth finishing. I hope it is. I hope it gets better. That it flows better and grows a plot. The fans of old deserve that. The original Twin Peaks deserves that.