Movies In Mo

The Tinder Swindler is intriguing and informative, but at a runtime of 2-hours, it becomes repetitive after the first hour. Three women detail their accounts with the person they thought was exclusive only to them. For most of the film, his name was Simon Leviev, the son of a billionaire diamond dealer. First up was Cecilie. For a relationship that lasted a little over a month, she had the most evidence against Simon, but she also lost the most monetarily. Her story alone was enough to make you feel empathy for any woman unlucky enough to come across Simon’s path. She bravely tells her story in detail via multiple images, texts, and audio messages. As she continues to tell her side of things, we get introduced to Pernilla. She’s not falling for the usual sweet talk, but in the end, she was just as susceptible as Cecilie when it came to giving him money. He swindled many other women, but that would be unnecessary to discuss since he did the same thing to every woman he met. Therefore, with about fifteen minutes left, they introduce victim number three, Ayleen. She was with him for more than fourteen months. She found out about Simon’s escapades through articles about his encounters with Pernilla and Cecilie. As this documentary comes to an end, Ayleen gets some slight revenge, while the other two women continue to organize efforts against Simon and his fake lifestyle. Since this is a true and ongoing story, the ending is more realistic than most documentaries and might not be as satisfactory for those wanting a Hollywood ending. Regardless of what you might want to happen to Simon and his many victims, there is solace in knowing when this film ends, it’s ultimately not over. OUR RATING – A SWIPE RIGHT 8

After five theatrical releases, 20th Century Fox decided to debut number six as a Disney+ only release. This franchise has had more than 6-billion, and kids and adults love this franchise. So, I know the parents with young kids will love that they don’t need to spend the equivalent of a mortgage payment on theater tickets. Before seeing the film, I praised Disney for thinking about all of those parents burdened with the cost of movie tickets. After seeing the film, I now know why it’s a streaming-only title. It’s the worst one of the series. For starters, the voice actors have been replaced. Manny, Sid, Diego, and Elle. Even Eddie and Crash’s voice actors were different. And what happened to Manny and Elle’s kid, Peaches? Apparently, the only voice actor to return was Simon Pegg as Buck. The missing voices weren’t that much of an issue because ninety percent of this movie is mainly Buck, Eddie, and Crash. This is when you realize how important Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, and Queen Latifah are to the overall quality of the series. Even worse, there’s no Scrat. Every Ice Age movie has Scrat – except this one. It seems like the actors read the script and unanimously said hell no. The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild is a trainwreck. The story focuses on the two opossum brothers, Crash and Eddie, as they leave home to make it on their own. They end up falling through a hole in the ground into the lost world. . .again (a callback to the third film Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs). From there, we get re-introduced to Buck, the eccentric adventure-loving weasel. If this was a standard 15-minute or less animated cartoon, I would have no problem enjoying it. But this is an eighty-minute feature, and much like most Saturday Night Live sketches, certain characters are only good in short one-dimensional bursts. OUR RATING – AN ICED AGE 2

With everything going on with the pandemic, it’s time we get an action-packed, earth-destroying epic movie. Moonfall is a non-stop thrill ride of improbable possibilities surrounding the moon. In the spirit of Armaggedon, Deep Impact, 2012, Greenland, and Don’t Look Up, comes another film with a promise of destroying the planet. This is a scenic-heavy movie best seen on an IMAX screen. As for the story, it’s about the moon falling to Earth – duh. It’s a simple story with phenomenal scenery and action that looks like they hired the people that worked on The Fast & Furious series. Also, you will know what a Megastructure is in great detail by the end of this movie. Sometimes the dialog is interesting, but you really don’t care what they’re talking about. Besides, several characters repeat most of what’s said throughout the film. As usual, the human spirit is highlighted as world leaders come together to try and fix the moon’s orbital problem. And true to human nature, crimes are happening globally until people realize what was the point if the planet is destroyed. Needless to say, there are still tons of sci-fi action and stupid one-liners that I’m sure will flood social media with memes from this very quotable movie. I can’t say much about Moonfall’s overall plot without spoiling it. Still, I can let you know it is a fun film that’s visually exciting to look at, with a premise they try really, really hard to convince you that the reason behind the moon falling is an entirely rational and explainable concept. So don’t see Moonfall expecting to see something other than global destruction and the moon falling. In my opinion, the 2-hour runtime of Moonfall may be the most nonsensical fun you’ll have in theaters for a while. OUR RATING – A MEGASTRUCTURE 7.5

MOVIESinMO REVIEW This is the Bond we’ve been waiting for. Not because it stars Daniel Graig, but because it incorporates everything that we have come to associate with the infamous 007 movies. It has an action-packed opening sequence that lasts about thirty minutes. Then there’s the classic “walk into the circular view, turn and shoot,” right before the theme song and title. The action continues, and we get more classic Bond stuff. Exotic locations, women, cars, and those wonderful gadgets. Even the enemy is a throwback to the Dr.No type of villain. He’s cold, doesn’t smile, has plenty of henchmen, is very devoted to his cause, and (drum roll please) has a secret lair. And those classic henchmen. Oddjob had the sharp hat, and Jaws had metal teeth. The list goes on. The main henchman in No Time To Die has a high-tech eye that gives his boss a front seat to all the action. Since the villain’s plan always includes killing James before world domination, James is forced to abruptly end his five-year retirement. The story is easily understood, and if you are a Bond fan, you’ll appreciate it more than the casual moviegoer. No Time To Die is by far the best Bond film to date, even if the 007 title is now a woman. The franchise has always managed to keep the series relevant and ensure it stayed in touch with current world views and issues. So if that means disrupting rocket launches via radio signals as in Dr. No or dealing with a nuclear EMP as they did in Goldeneye, the Bond movies use our potential fears to fuel its stories. No Time To Die uses our fear of technology to tell a story not even Bond can rectify. Luckily, he’s never alone. He has an entire agency on his side, but this time, there are unexpected barriers. Those barriers add the elements of shock and awe throughout the film and, knowing this is the last time Daniel Graig will be Bond, gives it a more emotional tone by the end of the movie. OUR RATING – A DOUBLE-OH-SEVEN 8

MOVIESinMO REVIEW The year is 1991, and Samuel L. Jackson plays yet another man with a gun. This time he’s a world-renown killer when he comes across a young girl hiding in a closet holding a gun. Frightened and traumatized, Moody (Jackson) takes her under his wing and raises her the only way he knows how – as an assassin. Fast forward to present day, and Moody and his protégé Anna are a team no one wants to cross paths with. As the story unfolds, you find out what type of assassins they are, Anna’s tragic backstory, and Moody’s analysis of himself as a bad guy. The Protégé is an action flick with enough kills and choreographic fights to give it a little taste of realism while delivering plenty of one-liners determined not to take itself too seriously. It has a story that gives it a natural dramatic feel but with heart. So it’s not just a bunch fighting and kicking. You have genuine empathy for Moody and Anna as a team. When Rembrandt, Michael Keaton, made his appearance as one of the many bad guys, as the film added another plot twist to an already crowded movie. Throughout the film, no less than three plots were going on at the same time. They are each great individually, but most are not needed for this movie to work. Although, every last one of them was used to completion. Most of the unnecessary side plots can be forgiven because of the great performances by the main three actors, but The Protégé could have been so much better. OUR RATING – A VENGEFUL 7.5

MOVIESinMO REVIEW Thanks to the pandemic, we’ve been seeing the trailers for this film (and others) for over a year. So was it worth the wait? Unless you think you’re too old to like or understand video games, then yes, it was worth it. Everything in Free Guy screams pop culture as far as video games go. You will definitely see the inspirations of Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite throughout the movie. As for the story, it’s exactly what you see in the trailers, with enough of an interesting plot to keep you watching in awe until the end. Ryan Reynolds is Guy, one of the random background characters living in Free City. Guy decides to change his daily routine in an attempt to talk to the girl he has been dreaming about. Once he finally made his move, his whole world changed, and the truth about his existence was apprehensively revealed to him. The girl he has been dreaming about, Molotov Girl, is a player on a mission. She needs proof that Free City is based on and still using the code she helped develop. Meanwhile, Guy was told by Molotov Girl, real name Millie, to level up if he genuinely wanted to help. That bit of advice sends Guy on a semi-nonviolent mission to level up as fast as possible. The rest of the film plays out as it should with all of the visual excitement you would expect to see in a high-res video game. Overall, Free Guy is fun, exciting, funny, slightly predictable, with a cameo-filled finally that moviegoers will be talking about for years. Just don’t forget, it’s a movie filled with fun over-the-top stuff, so don’t overthink it. OUR RATING – AN OPEN-WORLD 8

MOVIESinMO REVIEW Finally, a movie worth honoring my childhood memories of the animated series G.I. Joe. The best part is the character they chose – Snake Eyes. If you remember the cartoon, you know it was childish cheesy fun. The had unbelievable plots, their weapons shot lasers instead of bullets since it was a kids’ show, and nobody ever died, no matter how many times they were shot at or how far they fell. That was the life of an eighties cartoon, and if you were a kid, that’s about as violent as the censors would allow it to get. Now, it’s 2021, and the censors are a little more lax. Because of this, stories are retold to take advantage of the current rating restrictions. The new origin of Snake Eyes falls somewhere in the middle. Guns shot bullets, but there’s no blood. They use swords extensively, but it’s never graphically grotesque – and once again, there’s no blood. They even got away with a few hardcore curse words. As for the story, it was as close to the series as you were going to get, but with a lot of Hollywood liberties sprinkled throughout. In the comics, Snake Eyes is blonde with blue eyes, doesn’t talk, and had a relationship with Scarlett, to name a few. In the film, he’s not blonde, has dark brown eyes, talks all through the movie, and it’s too soon to see if he will have a thing with Scarlett. This is an origin story, and all of those familiarities are still possible with a second film. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins introduces as much of the series in this 2-hour release as possible. There’s mention of General Joseph Colton, the original G.I. Joe, and their purpose within the U.S. Military. Both Scarlett and Baroness are there, with a brief explanation of their skills. Cobra is cryptically explained as is the norm when it comes to the enemy of the Joe’s. Snake Eyes’ character has a story that could have easily spanned several episodes of a television series. Still, since this is just a two-hour movie, all of his upbringings are missing, including any formal combat training types. To save time, nearly every character has dialog that explains the who, what, when, where, and why we’re in whatever the situation is. When they’re not describing an issue, they’re fighting through one, and the fights were awesome. The most significant problems with this movie are the large amounts of backstabbing and the, unfortunately, very noticeable, horrible CGI in the pit. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is leaps and bounds above the other two movies. With an ending that guarantees a sequel. OUR RATING – A YO JOE 6.5

MOVIESinMO REVIEW As far as dialog goes, it don’t get no more ghetto than this. Zola is a raw, unapologetic look at how easily someone can get caught up in the world of prostitution. From the moment this film starts, it immediately forces you to become accustomed to its unique cinematic style. Every line is delivered in a straightforward manner, as realistically brash as possible while walking a fine line of artistic versus caricature. By comparison, it felt like an early Spike Lee film. This movie’s most significant difference from an early Spike Lee Joint was that it is based on a true story, or as true as a story can be written around the text messages between Zola and her (no longer) friend. The story starts simple and becomes more complicated as the film progresses. A waitress named Zola befriends a lady named Stefani, one of her restaurant customers. As they get to know each other, Stefani convinces Zola she can make more money stripping over a weekend in Florida than she makes in a month. For whatever reason, she agreed to go. Within minutes of meeting Stefani’s boyfriend and the guy driving, it was very apparent that things would not go as planned. Anyway, they arrived in Florida, and things play out like you think they would involving a person you just met. This is when the true colors of Stefani and her friends come to light. This is also when Zola truly realizes she made a huge mistake. There are times when things get so dark that it forgets it’s supposed to be a comedy, and that’s ok given the actual subject matter. Zola is a great film that takes a creative look at sex and sex trafficking. Still, I feel that the people who need to see this movie will never get the chance to because of its limited theater release or the lack of everyday conversation by regular moviegoers. OUR RATING – A SOCIAL MEDIA 8

MOVIESinMO REVIEW Fear Street Part Two is A slight step up from the first one but still lacks twenty-first-century quality. So far, they have captured the essence of every campy seventies horror film ever made; A mysterious undead killer, satanic rituals, witches, superstitious authorities, a secluded location, a longstanding school feud, bullies, extreme pranks, and gratuitous nudity. Bravo. Now, if they could only make it worthy of 2021. If I wanted to see a bad version of a camp horror movie, I would watch Sleepaway Camp. Netflix spent a lot of advertising this franchise as if it was going to change the genre magically. Unfortunately, nothing changed, and part two is essentially a story being told by a character from part one. The first film sets up the next two movies, and that’s not a bad thing, it just doesn’t work. The story is juvenile and poorly acted by a young cast in need of much more practice if they ever plan on being successful actors. The movie does have its moments, but it’s too little too late when it comes to trying to save this film. Fear Street Part Two will appease an older crowd looking for nostalgic call-backs to a time when this was the best you could get from a horror film. For the younger viewers, read the books – they’re a lot better. OUR RATING – A BLOCKBUSTER VIDE-NO 5.5

MOVIESinMO REVIEW It’s been such a long time, and most of us, because of Covid 19, is having a hard time getting back in the Marvel movie mood. That said, Black Widow is the perfect re-introduction to the Marvel cinematic universe. It’s has everything you would expect from the franchise; action, funny quips, a feeling of family, and a common enemy. Since this film takes place before Endgame, there are several mentions of Hawkeye, Banner, Thor, and Tony Stark. I think they said Avengers about fifteen times in the first hour just because. The overall purpose of this movie is to give closure to the Black Widow character, Natasha Romanoff. The opening scenes focus on her “family” and training as a weapon. Watching her as a child gives you a better understanding of her thought process and somewhat excuses her negative actions as an adult. When she is seen for the first time, twenty-one years have passed, and she’s on the run for violating the Sokovia Accords. So far, everything up to this point was just a recap of where Marvel left us from Captain America: Civil War. Now for the new stuff. Natasha is in Norway, her sister, Yelena, is on a mission, and super-soldier Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A., Red Guardian, is in prison. Once we are introduced to Taskmaster, the rest of the movie gives you what you’d expect from a Marvel film. The story is decent, but the fact that so much time has passed since the last movie in the franchise will make it somewhat tricky for those not into the whole comic book scene to re-familiarize themselves with the characters. If that will not be an issue for you, this is a great addition to the MCU. Overall, Disney has made the most intelligent decision of its companies history by literally forcing fans to see every film and television show if they want to know, or in some cases, fully understand the complete story. Black Widow is just another chapter in a story none of us, not even Disney, knows how it will end. OUR RATING – A ROMANOFF 8