Here are my thoughts on the movie releases from the weekend of 04.01.2022 in alphabetical order of their respective release dates. A reminder, you can click this link to see how I grade films when I review them.
MOONSHOT
- The Plot: In a future where Mars is terraformed and colonized by the best humanity has to offer, two very different college students wind up joining forces and sneak onboard a space shuttle to the red planet in order to be united with their significant others.
- Quick Review: Felt like this should've been on Netflix as a throw-away cheap rom-com than on HBO Max which has given us some actual decent theatrical quality type originals. The writing and the two lead characters didn't vibe with me, but the concept and the romance made up for it to a certain degree. Overall, an okay enough at best, and quite frankly forgettable, straight to streamer.
- Initial Grade: B/C
APOLLO 10 1/2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD
- The Plot: A man narrates stories of his life as a ten year old boy in 1969 Houston, weaving tales of nostalgia with a fantastical account of a journey to the moon.
- Quick Review: As impressive as the animation is, this clearly could've just been done in live action and thus it feels gimmicky to me at the same time? Also I felt like this made me sorta get those who had their beefs with Belfast that I didn't in regard to how this does feel very episodic and sorta aimless to me. And to top it all of, I am so sick and tired of the coming of age story of the Boomer growing up in the middle of the space race era. That all said, the writing is sharp and it kept my attention to the very end. Decent but certainly lower tier Linklater for me.
- Initial Grade: B-
BETTER NATE THAN EVER
- The Plot: Thirteen year old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams but there’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. When his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to “the Big Apple” for a once in a lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams.
- Quick Review: Some nice musical numbers (Though not enough of them), some nice production design, and I got a chuckle or two from how insider this was on the theatrical kid stuff in regards to its humor. But its also very much a straight to streamer, cheaply made kids film and it shows. I can't say I liked this, but I certainly didn't hate it. Its something you can play for the kids as background especially if they’re fledgling Broadway fans.
- Initial Grade: B/C
MORBIUS
- The Plot: Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Michael Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success soon reveals itself to be a remedy potentially worse than the disease.
- Quick Review: While I wouldn't label this as GOD-AWFUL as others have, this isn't particularly good either thanks in main part to sloppy writing, bad pacing, medicore CGI, and hopeless attempts by Jared Leto and Matt Smith to rise above the mediocre script. This is a reminder what separates legit good comic book movies from the mediocre fly by night ones like this. It ain't no Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it isn't Catwoman either.
- Initial Grade: C+
THE BUBBLE
- The Plot: Sneaking out. Hooking up. Melting down. The cast and crew of a blockbuster action franchise attempt to shoot a sequel while quarantining at a posh hotel.
- Quick Review: Thirty minutes in I was looking around my own office space as I watched this on my phone and wondered if I was going to end up in the minority. Thirty minutes later I was begging to escape this film every bit as much as the characters in it were asking to leave theirs. Besides it looking super cheap for a Judd Apatow film, the comedy wears itself out as the film just keeps going on endlessly and never seems to know when to end; and by the time it does end you only end up with a headache. Without a shadow of a doubt, the worst film from a man who has delivered much better than this.
