Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.9
Is there anything Glen Powell can’t do? (The answer is no)
He and Adria Arjona’s chemistry makes this whole thing tick. The story is bananas, but it’s the romance at the center of everything that really anchors the insanity and makes everything work. As with any type of film, it’s the heart that makes it work. As with most all of Netflix’s romantic comedies, this one knocks it out of the park. The streak continues. Strap in, and enjoy the ride of this incredibly fun caper.
7.8
Where the Purge series seemed to shy away from going full purge – welcome to A Quiet Place grabbing you by the shirt collar and never letting go for 2 hours of nonstop anxiety inducing terror. You’re dropped right alongside our main characters in never feeling safe the entire time. What this series does better and more consistently than most is environmental immersion and character. This film really rounds out the trilogy by maintaining and even growing these strengths. Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn really hold down the fort as leads, and give such rich performances that it lends itself to intensifying the terror when even the slightest sound is made, inciting the potential violence that lurks just out of frame. You care so much about the characters that it really makes everything else that much more effective. A great example of attention to detail and care.
7.5
Was this batshit insane? Yes. Yes it was.
Did it still work? Hell yes it did!
What could have easily fallen into stupid territory somehow ended up in so stupid its fun territory that the “Fast & Furious” franchise has been aiming for for years now. The cast is perfect. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence really have these characters figured out, and the supporting cast they’ve assembled fire on all cylinders to deliver a powerhouse ensemble performance. I’m not sure the plot really matters. What matters is the creativity in the cinematography and the almost constant risk taking that pays off at every turn. They had fun with this one, and it comes through in almost every frame. A breath of fresh air in the middle of blockbusters trying to take themselves too seriously. Well done!
8.2
This movie is INSANE! But it’s also insanely good.
In a sneak attack out of nowhere, this followed the likes of “Book Club” and “Last Vegas” to add a legendary chapter to the Elderly shenanigans cinematic universe. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat… this one never missed! At a tight hour and a half, it was firing on all cylinders the entire time and had the sellout crowd cheering by the time the credits rolled. You can’t ask for a better popcorn flick with heart!
8.2
I had to actually hunt a bit for a nearby IMAX screen to see this one, which was an unexpected hurdle. Once we got that out of the way, it was full afterburners, baby.
Strap in and get ready to be in awe of the dedication to the craft for almost 2 hours straight as real life Top Gun takes place. Watching the team come together and grow over the the course of a Blue Angels season was truly inspirational. As expected, there were quite a few life lessons tucked away in between the wing tips of the formations that make you wince on the edge of your seat, but the action rarely stops the entire time. You’ll leave with a newfound or renewed appreciation for aviation and expertise. Way to go Glen Powell and team!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 