J W

It was a cute family-friendly film to kick off the holiday season. It wasn't terribly original and at times enormously cliche but light-hearted enough to simply enjoy it for what it was. The actors were well-chosen even though much of the humor was forced.

It's a light, fun movie. If it's a rainy day and you're looking for something with cheesy puns and easy humor, this is a go to. I know it has mostly poor reviews, but I enjoyed it and have seen it a few times.

It’s somewhat cheesy in places but I love it and especially enjoyed some small plot twists. I didn’t try to predict anything - just enjoyed it for what it was. I liked it enough to buy it. It’s a good movie for when nothing looks good on streaming.

The beginning of the film infers that Will is popular. He's on the basketball team about to score a winning shot and Joanna (J.J.) is a popular cheerleader. How does Will not know J.J. is also a mean girl and bully? The scenario later seems too contrived and fake. It was too cringeworthy to watch. I love the leading ladies as actors and especially love Kristen Bell, but couldn't get behind it.

The animation is quite incredible in how they blend the characters with live action - it's seamless and shows us how far we have come. The attention to detail on the cobblestones at the beginning of the movie when Jiminy Cricket is walking and then squeezes himself under the door did not go unnoticed to my movie-goer/watching eyes. However, the conversation between Jiminy's past and present self seemed superfluous and unnecessary. I love a good yarn about grammar any day (I'm an ESL teacher) but it felt forced. The backstory on the creation of Pinocchio was touching as was how he came to life. The effects as the movie continues were a treat to watch, but there were just too many cringeworthy dialogues, glances to the camera (Jiminy Cricket), and other places that felt like they were trying too hard. These scenes could have been cut out and nothing would feel amiss. The movie would continue and those of us who loved the animated version could reminisce about our childhood pleasures of watching a Disney movie on cable TV with our families (before the Disney Channel). I have mixed feelings about this version. I enjoy Tom Hanks' movies, but this one is a hard pass on watching again. Watch without expectations, enjoy the attention to detail and check your phone during the cringeworthy parts.

What I enjoyed: the beginning and how “grown up” Mei Lee’s believed she was. It made me laugh as I remembered when I became a teenager and thought the same thing. I like how she’s trying to figure out who she is and balancing the responsibilities between being an 8th grader, her social life, interest in boys, and her family’s expectations. I found the movie to also be edgy in its handling of PMS and changing hormones. These are all facts of life and many girls go through puberty in middle school, some younger and other’s older. To put it into a kid movie makes it edgy. As the movie progressed however, I found myself becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Mei Lee’s relationship with her mom became increasingly awkward. I get the over-protective helicopter parent, but it went too far. The part I didn’t love: the whole concert scene. The mom went too far and it was just awkward and hard to watch. The ending was cute though and it worked, but all in all, I felt like something was missing throughout.