Payton Jones

I think the charm of the first movie was also captured in this sequel. While there are some discrepancies that lack in the continuity department, they’re not hard to look past in order to enjoy a light hearted movie. While we remain with our original cast of characters, we are also introduced to some new ones such as Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and Kah Mun Rah (Hank Azaria). Both of these characters were nice additions to the eccentric cast of wax figurines from the Battle of the Smithsonian’s predecessor. I also enjoyed how seemingly the people involved with creating the concept for this movie still remained creative, managing to bring new aspects for the Night at the Museum franchise that we haven’t seen before. A detail I don’t quite enjoy however is the (slight SPOILER) romance between Ben Stiller’s character Larry Daley and Amelia Earhart. It feels extremely unnecessary and inconsistent, often occurring abruptly and in situations that don’t warrant anything romantic. It was a bizarre addition to the storyline and one I could do without. However I still believe this movie ultimately posses charm and personality. With the addition of this sequel, we are still presented with a whimsical journey that is in part historically accurate and fun, and manages to take you along for one fantastical night at the museum.

To me, this movie is a love letter to preteen girls. While Turning Red is goofy and cartoony, it still managers to address generational trauma and the trials of growing up. While this isn’t a new format, I think there’s something refreshing about this movie. A lot of coming to age films that address similar topics to this one (ex: periods, mom/daughter relationships, etc.), often come in more prestigious, serious formats, such as Lady Bird. While still enjoyable, it seems to cut out the middle man, which is the awkward, nerdy, boy-obsessed preteen girl. This movie captures this phase of life in the most charming light, and it allows Mei and her friends to be all kinds of weird and quirky while figuring out what it means to grow up. More importantly, this movie doesn’t look down on the preteen girl experience. In a time when most young girls get made fun of for virtually any interest, like music, tv shows, or clothing and makeup, this movie takes those interests and turns them into something of importance, even using Mei and her friend’s love of 4town, their favorite boy band, as a plot device. Ultimately, I think the strength of this movie lies in it’s ability to emulate what it’s like being a 13 year old girl, and the tumultuous ride of emotions that come with it.

One evening when I was letting my brain go absolutely ballistic, I was making myself a midnight snack when it dawned on me that I’ve never seen Grown Ups. I thought hmm that doesn’t seem right, it’s a classic! I knew I had to immediately stop what I was doing and solve this dilemma of mine, and upon finishing the movie, I’m left with more questions then answers. Adam Sandler is without a doubt iconic and I once believed his Grown Ups role to be iconic as well, but now I’m not so naive. This movie, simply isn’t funny, and Adam Sandler isn’t funny in it. UNPOPULAR opinion, I know, but he’s funny in plenty other movies so I think it’s fine to hold him to a higher standard. I think the main issue with this movie is the lack of plot. It’s so directionless. A group of family friends go to a lake house, reuniting after their childhood coach died. That’s literally it. The biggest dilemma is if Sandler and his wife are going to stay for the whole trip. Their reunion relies heavily on nostalgia, and a lot of times it feels as though we’re supposed to know memories from their childhood when we don’t at all. I’m also just confused by the transitions? Why are there so many times a scene just fades to black and then opens up on another scene?? It’s so abrupt and it happens like 15 times. It really makes it feel like the writers just threw out a bunch of funny summer camp scenarios with no way to connect them. Also I hate to say it, but pretty much all of the jokes in this film either weren’t funny, or even teetered the line of offensive. Listen, I love movies that are so bad they’re good/ funny just as much as the next girl, but this movie was not that. I was really looking forward to a Sandler cult classic, but instead I was met with jokes that fell flat and a storyline that really accomplished nothing. No disrespect to the legend though, I just think Grown Ups was not a movie that let Adam Sandler shine like the star he is.

A good sequel to a good movie! China Anne McClain was a fantastic choice for Ursula’s daughter, and I throughly enjoyed her performance. Her vocals are actually incredible, and I probably enjoy her singing the most out of the whole cast. I wish something was done differently with Hook’s kid, Harry. I like that they tried to make him kinda psycho, but he was ultimately just in the background and really served no purpose. Same with Gaston’s son who’s character I heavily disliked. I think you can make kinda ditzy and clueless characters without being lazy, even it’s for Disney Channel. Also they totally could’ve made him Smee’s kid, but more on that in my Descendants 3 review *wink. I appreciate the follow up of Mal now dating Ben and the pressure she feels to conform to the Kingdom’s expectations. Would half the movie not had to happen if Mal just stopped lying to Ben and they just talked things out. Yes. But I guess if I wanna put any meaning other than they needed a reason for the second half to happen, I would say it’s cause she’s still trying to grow out of her old habits as a bad kid? Perhaps? Also everyone else in her posse gets pushed to the side with no growth really given to their characters. And oh my gosh they did Lonnie (Mulan’s daughter) so dirty. Her little moment in this movie was more interesting than some of the stuff going on with Mal, they should’ve focused on that!!! Oh well, like I said at the beginning. Good sequel for good movie. Made for kids. I have to keep reminding myself that.

Seeing as I’m far from the targeted age for this movie, I’m surprised I don’t really have anything bad to say. When this movie came out I was fresh out of my Disney channel days, so the idea of enjoying a Disney Channel original movie repulsed me. I grew up with Dove Cameron and Cameron Boyce on my screen, but nooOo I refused to watch this movie. But alas, now that I’m older and more ~mature~, I was able to watch this movie without the preconceived notion that by doing so would definitely get my new teenage rights revoked, and I genuinely enjoyed it! The entire concept is great, and I think one that many kids dreamed of when younger. What would it be like to be Snow White’s kid? Or Cinderella’s? I know that idea isn’t foreign to many, and this movie does a good job at exploring the villain side of that fantasy. The acting actually wasn’t terrible. By no means was it Oscar worthy, but I like to think much of the campiness and grandiose performances were given to liven things up for the kiddos. So overall not bad, but where does the 4/5 stars come from? For one, the girl’s dancing was uhhhhh questionable? I’m definitely no dancer, but even my untrained eye could catch all of their hiccups and timing issues in seemingly every dance sequence. Some parts they just 100% messed up and I really wonder why they didn’t just do another take. My other reason? Give me more Kristin Chenowith! And give me less of the other villain actors! That and the special effects were definitely bad but hey, they had a budget. All minor personal preferences, but enough that takes off that last shiny star. Overall it was an enjoyable movie! Great set design, and a lot more effort put into it compared to other Disney channel movies, (I’m looking at you Zapped and How to Build a Better Boy.)

This is Pixar’s magnum opus. I don’t think I could say anything about this movie that hasn’t already been said, just that I believe this to be the pinnacle of a good PG animated movie. It by no means is simplified or dumbed-down for a younger audience. In fact, this was one of my least favorite Pixar films when I was younger. But I think that’s what separates this film from a lot of other PG movies targeted towards kids. It didn’t underestimate it’s audience. I still learned the lessons and values it was trying to teach at a young age, even if I didn’t know it. And what makes it so enjoyable watching it as an adult is having that realization that those messages have been hidden within all along, I just now have the ability to fully comprehend them. It’s a simple storyline with a simple concept; a rat wants to cook and a human wants to find his place. Each of them feel like outcasts, but they find a way to make themselves belong without conforming to other people’s expectations. It’s a broad enough concept that anyone can relate to, but just special enough to where sometimes it feels like it was written just for you. It’s a visual and auditory treat, seeing as the music is top tier and is definitely in the top 5 scores in Pixar’s repertoire. I have nothing else to say except I really really love this movie. It will without fail make me laugh and cry and want to try ratatouille, and if you haven’t seen it you 1000% should.

I really love this film. I’ve rewatched it maybe 6 times since it’s release and each time I find something new that I love about it. Mother Gothel is a fantastic antagonist, and her whole “Mother knows best” song and attitude throughout the film is brilliantly done. The way she manipulates Rapunzel and preys on her naiveté is done in such a way where we as the audience can easily dislike her but can still understand why Rapunzel continues to seek out her mother’s comfort and protection. Rapunzel and Flynn are great protagonists to follow, seeing as each of them grow and learn from each other as the film progresses. I especially like how Rapunzel’s gullibility and clumsiness are done in such a way where it is charming rather than annoying. Some films can take these characteristics too far to where the character is just messing things up rather than helping and ultimately would be better off excluded from the movie. My only gripes with this movie is if Mother Gothel lied to Rapunzel about her birthday and changed the date, possibly her desire to see the lights would be subdued. Maybe she would still want to see them but she definitely wouldn’t take it as a sign that they were meant for her. For a character who really tried to take every precaution to hide Rapunzel, this seems like a huge oversight. Something that is more of a personal preference rather than an actual issue with the movie is I half wish we weren’t told the big reveal at the beginning of the movie. I think it would’ve been exciting to experience the reveal of Rapunzel’s kidnapping along with her, but then again the dramatic irony was still quite enjoyable. Ultimately I consistently enjoy this film, and I think it’s impressive that in Disney’s more modern age they were able to create another princess that can stand in the same likeness as the classics.

Yeah yeah this movie is good and all, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I would just like to acknowledge the character Mort, ya know King Julian’s little companion? Apparently he’s a near-immortal species that can suck out the life force from other “morts” giving him multiple personalities? He’s consumed his grandma’s life force meaning she now lives inside his mind. Apparently she’s been trying to take control of Mort and has already taken control of one of his alter egos Smart Mort. That conflict has been going on for 50 years, so... fun times. He is confirmed Jewish. He’s had at least 11 wives and his entire household is filled with pictures of King Julian’s feet. His father was a bear and he also posses some starfish DNA, which in fact, is enough to where he can grow gills and regenerate his head. He also has some spider DNA and can produce webs. All of this information is 100% canon. Please research for yourself, cause it’s gonna rock your world, truly. I cannot in good conscience give this movie anything lower than a 5 star rating knowing what I know, knowing that Mort is a lovecraft demon that can access other planes of reality but needs a physical avatar in order to do so. Less than 5 stars would be a disservice to the crackheads at Dreamworks who created this little ball of pure evil and chaos.

My cousins gaslit me into thinking Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra wasn’t in this movie, even though I KNOW from the very core of my brain that it is indeed, in this movie. I distinctly remember hearing the iconic 1977 hit playing over a montage of Megamind training Titan and seducing Roxanne. I found a clip of this scene on YouTube and showed it to them. “SEE?!!” I cried out as I frantically waved my phone in their faces. They all laughed at me and claimed that the song had been edited into that scene, and that it was nothing more than a fan edit, declaring I was delusional. Quickly reacting to their manipulator tactics, I whipped my phone away as my fingers typed in a panic to seek the truth. I went onto the Dreamwork's fandom wiki page and right there before my eyes, Mr. Blue Sky was noted as being used in Megamind. Surly this was enough? Surly they would see the error in their accusations and come to know my word as the one honest truth? To my dismay, they shook their heads and chuckled. They turned their snooty little noses upwards, with deceit and malice gleaming in their eyes. With their long gangly fingers pointed down at me they spat out the words “ False. We believe you to be the admin of that page. We smell your deception. We know your sins. Repent now cousin, or face a life of disownment.” I couldn’t. I could see in their shadowed faces just how far gone they really were. Corrupted. I knew if I dared to speak the truth any longer that I was at risk of being sucked into the madness that consumed them. I bolted away from them as the world around me turned red. Fire erupted from the ground, rocks crumbled beneath my feet, and the sky ripped open into a fiery rage. As I sprinted for my life, I turned to see that my cousins were gone, and instead what stood in their place was a creature beyond my comprehension. It continued to morph as I struggled to focus on it. It never quite took a recognizable form, but it looked like a biblical angle, with four giant wings, and a million eyes all staring straight through me. It emanated dishonesty and hate, and it was now hurtling towards me. I tore my eyes away from the creature, kicking up dirt as I sprinted from my once cousins. I reached my car, barely reversing out of the drive way and onto the road before it caught up to me. I shifted my car into drive and stomped on the pedal, my back tires skirting as I lurched forward, barely evading the horrifying and disfigured creature. I could see it getting smaller in the distance as I drove to safety. I didn’t know what to make of the horrors that I witnessed that day, and I still don’t. All I know is that my truth is too important to share, and that nothing will stop me from doing so. So let it be known, here and now I declare to you and the world; MR. BLUE SKY IS IN MEGAMIND

Were the writers at Dreamworks on crack when they did the storyboard for this movie? Dreamworks really knows how to take the absurdity and quirkiness from their successful films to a whole new confusing and messy level. Obviously the Madagascar films have always been bizarre but for the first and even the second film it worked. For this one however, it felt like an unnecessary addition to the franchise, and often times left me more confused than entertained. I would argue that the DuBois character was a decent antagonist however, seeing as she was threatening and seemingly invincible? Was she necessary? No. Did a lot of what she do defy all physics and logic? Yes. All I know is I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that lady so that qualifies as a decent antagonist in my book. The circus aspect was a fun idea and I actually enjoyed it, I just wished that DuBois and the circus didn’t exist together. I think the movie would have been fine if they decided to focus on one or the other, and that way we as the audience wouldn’t have to bounce around so much from each storyline. Overall I think it’s the worst Madagascar out of the 3, and I still question the Mental state of the Dreamworks team when making this movie. Literally how else do you create a character like DuBois if you’re not out of your mind on drugs?