Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
5.8
Let the meteor hit me too!
I think they were aiming for the deadpan humor of “Portlandia,” but for me, it was a little too heavy on the dead, with a side of hit me in the head with a pan. A couple of heavy exhale chuckles, but nothing as funny as I was expecting, unfortunately.
6.9
This would have been a great one to see at the drive-in. B-Horror movie perfection.
Regardless of whether or not you connect with the numerous nods to the classics in this one, even the casual viewer will find enjoyment in this tight hour and a half run time. It’s just meta enough to pique one’s interest and sufficiently serious without taking itself too seriously. It threads the needle perfectly to leave you thoroughly entertained. It’s definitely one of my better finds in the depths of Amazon Prime lately. I’d put it alongside “Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse,” genre-wise. Definitely out there but pulls it off nicely.
8.4
Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd make this movie.
Did they carbon copy the story from parts one and two? Yeah… kinda. Did it work like a charm because they changed it just enough to make it interesting? Also yes. This was an incredibly fun and well-done film. It had the nerdy factor that made the first two seem genuine instead of cheesy, the character depth to make it interesting, and the perfect callbacks to pay homage to the originals, including some really well-done cameos by the original busters. This one doesn’t go overboard or overcorrect like “Answer the Call” did once upon a time. Turns out that not EVERYONE on screen has to play the comic relief. You can be silly and fun without losing the plot. Bravo to the team on this one. It is deserving of the canon.
8.4
*Chef’s Kiss*
This film is a masterclass in self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking horror-comedy filmmaking.
New technology and horror tropes to play with. Incredibly well directed suspenseful violence. The perfect balance of nostalgia and newfound room to grow into a second renaissance. Wes Craven would be proud.
A fantastically fun two hours in the theater. I highly recommend it.
8.1
Not your typical A24 film… Although, it is horrifying in its own way.
A cross between “Shameless” and “Boogie Nights.” Twisted love stories seem to be the official theme of the 2021-2022 Oscar season. Bookending the film with an NSYNC song was a bold move but is oddly fitting in this oddball of a movie. Still not sure if I’m rooting for or against Mikey…
“Going to hell for laughing at this” filmmaking at its finest. Much better than last year’s “Zola.” Definitely not suitable for children. (It’s right there in the title.) And yes, you get to see his red rocket. Or is it in reference to the redhead, Strawberry? I’m confused again about what I just witnessed. If you’re looking to feel like you have your life together, this is the film for you!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 