Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.6
A Randy Marsh subplot? Count me in!
Definitely not suitable for children, with so little “safe for work” content that it couldn’t have a full-length trailer… but dead on in its satire, as always. From the energy drink craze to OnlyFans to their collision in a collusion between the deep state and societal puppet masters vying for control of our minds… It’s exactly what you want out of a South Park special event.
8.1
Far better than any of the U.S. Godzilla films. This film has stakes and substance in abundance. Well worth the subtitles.
The first 10-15 minutes of this film are truly ruthless. Where our American counterparts suffer from fear of alienating audiences, opting to play it safe, this film goes for broke at every opportunity. It delivers a much deeper message about the human experience and harkens back to the original themes of the Godzilla franchise, grappling with our use of technology and obsession with progress without regard for collateral damage and general consequences.
For such a small budget, this film also looks absolutely gorgeous, even in its destruction. The attention to detail and creativity is evident in almost every frame, and there’s a collective sense of care put into the craft that comes across throughout the entire runtime. An all-time blockbuster on the year!
5.8
Umm… I’m at a loss. I’ve seen some sick and twisted things on the silver screen, but typically there is a general direction or purpose to the chaos. Not here. You’ll want to burn the thing to the ground and salt the earth so it can’t come back after this one. If there was a deeper meaning here, they lost me at drinking bath water and necrophilia. A bridge too far in my book. Even as “shock and awe” filmmaking, it didn’t stick the landing for me.
6.5
The first half hour of this had so much promise. The role so perfect for Nicholas Cage…
Then, it crashes and burns. Leaving originality to succumb to mediocrity and in the end lands on being quite bland and predictable. Sad, really. To see such a great premise wasted.
7.3
In one word – adorable. A bit on the nose, but adorable.
A situation that hits a little close to home for a lot of us out here on the battlefield of love. “Not from my perspective.” is a comeback for the ages! Owen Wilson playing the heel is a fun twist in this one. I enjoyed watching him play against his usual, while Paul Rudd does Paul Rudd things and brings a strong adorable puppy dog love to the equation. Jack Nicholson really seemed sparse, but plays a great bad guy and sells the finale of the film. A traditional, by the numbers rom-com that won’t let you down.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 