Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.6
A much better than expected comedy!
The chemistry of the cast really surprised me with this one, with De Niro anchoring a lesser know, but equally effective troupe. The story is pretty straightforward. Almost an Uno reverse card play on the script of “Meet the Parents.” I found myself enjoying the genuine nature of the heartfelt moments that heavily impacted the punch of the laughs.
7.7
“Worrying’s like a rocking chair. Gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere.”
This around the millennium renaissance of National Lampoon cinematic universe films were one of the wave peaks in comedic cinema. This is one of the strongest contenders.
Offensive? Absolutely. Inappropriate? Wildly. Still somehow delivers a heartfelt message about life and love and finding meaning? You bet. And with an amazing underground pop-rock soundtrack to boot!
7.8
This film was fun, and it was gorgeous to watch. It nailed it. Everything I wanted and more, but didn’t take itself too seriously and get lost in search of something more. Perfectly balanced. And, I mean… Ana Taylor Joy. You knew I’d be there to watch this one.
8.4
First off – NOT a film for children. Rocket’s backstory is HEART-WRENCHING and hard to watch, especially if you love animals. That being said, the pain is… purposeful, as it makes the impact of the story all the more powerful. James Gunn’s finale before bidding Marvel adieu is his masterpiece, and the strongest entry of the trilogy, in my opinion. Unlike many in Marvel, the crew get their full arcs. Not since “I love you 3000” have I felt this sense of calm closure was over me in the closing of the third act. It’s truly a beautiful thing, and not at all common in today’s cinematic landscape. Easily the best of Phase 4, but also one of the best in the MCU overall. Who woulda thunk it? These guys? Carrying the MCU…
7.2
A feel good sequel to one of my favorite Boomer Bait films of the 2010’s. And of course, they’re going global! You go to Italy, and you know you have to run into a long lost love. “Letters to Juliet” told us so. If I ever travel to Italy, I expect to run into the Italian foreign exchange student I had a wonderful time getting to know my junior year of high school. If not, my love of film has been all for naught!
Friendship and fun. That’s what you expect and it’s what you get a lot of from this film by the time the credits roll. A perfect match of expectations and execution.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 