20s Movie Review - Zootopia 2

Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Patrick Warburton, Danny Trejo, Bonnie Hunt

Description: Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.

Review: “Zootopia 2” is a fantastic, fast-paced, and socially relevant sequel that lives up to the high expectations set by the first film.

The detective duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back. This time, they dive into a mystery that takes them to a whole new part of their city where the reptiles used to live.

Like its predecessor, the film dares to tackle bold social themes. Topics such as gentrification, abuse of power, and historical segregation are cleverly woven into the plot. Despite the heavy themes, the story remains manageable and understandable for the whole family thanks to its humor.

Adults will revel in the countless pop culture reference and clever puns and there are some new characters like Gary De’Snake and Nibbles Maplestick, bringing a fresh, dynamic energy to the film.

The film is an absolute must-see for Disney fans and people who loved the first “Zootopia” film. Rock-solid humor, stunning animations and a layered message.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The Roses

Director: Jay Roach

Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, Allison Janney
 
Description: A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down.
 
Review: It is not uncommon for a remake of a film to be given a slightly different title. However, int the case of “The Roses”, the difference says it all. Danny DeVito’s 1989 original was called “The War of the Roses”, and that war, the (literal) divorce battle that took up most of the film, is merely the dessert in this new version.

Back then the stars were Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, now they are Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. Two actors who know how to handle both the verbal and physical dimension of comedy and who thoroughly enjoy their roles.

Some of the dialogue hits home. At one point, Andy Samberg’s character Barry says “When we were younger, I knew what she was going to say before she said it. Now I don’t know what she’s said after she’s said it.” This feels like something many couples might go though after being together for a long time.

Sometimes you really want a film to live up to your expectations. But a quarter of the way through “The Roses”, you know that’s not happening. It’s understandable that the film needs an introduction. But for at least half of the film, we watch a happy marriage. It’s just like any other romcom. Their marriage is then slowly falling apart, before it finally comes to an outrages divorce battle.  

No complaints about Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, both great, together and apart. Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon, who play friends Barry and Amy, are give little funny material. A waste of comedic talent I would say.

It was still and entertaining film. This is mainly because of the two leads. I expected a more raw, tragicomic film about a broken marriage. But we got a pretty standard romcom with some dark humor at the end.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - The To Do List

Director: Maggie Carey
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Alia Shawkat, Sarah Steele, Johnny Simmons, Rachel Bilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Andy Samberg, Connie Britton, Clark Gregg, Donald Glover, Nolan Gould, Scott Porter

Description: Feeling pressured to become more sexually experienced before she goes to college, Brandy (Aubrey Plaza) makes a list of things to accomplish before hitting campus in the fall.

Review: Brandy Klark is the smartest girl in class. Her room is filled with diplomas and awards and a brilliant career is in the works. She has a bunch of great friends and a wonderful summer job at a local pool. So nothing to complain about right? But there is. While Brandy knows everything about math and history, she knows absolutely nothing about sex. So it’s about time for extra lessons.

In order to brush up on her knowledge, Brandy makes a to-do list of sexual acts and then works through her male circle of acquaintances. Her sister has some tips and her mother brings along a tube of lubricant. All this has to lead to deflowering in the place where half the city lost their virginity, in a parking lor at Beaver Creek (no pun intended).

Those who find that Beaver Creek is funny, will have fun with “The To Do List”. The film is a string of lame jokes, flat jokes, predictable jokes and non-funny jokes. Someone pushes Brandy into the pool, Brandy loses her top, Brandy takes a bite of a fake turd that turns out to be a real turd, Brandy applies mayonnaise instead of sunscreen. The to think that these aren’t even the weakest jokes.
Since the characters barely impress either, all attention to the film quickly disappears. And it’s kind of questionable why all those well-known actors show up for this movie. And I find it kind of offensive that pressuring your friend into having sex before going to college, just to fit in. Or is that just me?
“The To Do List” is a comedy that pairs explicit sex talk with lame jokes and characters that remains as flat as a dime. I liked Bill Hader, but I always like Bill Hader. So, that’s a plus!

Rating: 2/ 5

00s Movie Review - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Genre: Animation/ Family
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, Will Forte, Andy Samberg

Description: Local scientist Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) is often regarded ad a failure until he invents a machine that can make food fall from the sky. But little does he know, that things are about to take a turn for the worst.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 16: A MOVIE BASED ON A CHILDREN’S BOOK

Review: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is the debut film of Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Flint Lockwood still lives with his father in a town that is known for sardines. In his room, he works on his inventions and every single one of them has turned into a disaster. Until he creates a machine that turns water into food and it actually works. By accident, the machine gets up in the air and all of a sudden it starts raining food.
The set-up is pretty standard. Flint has a struggling relationship with his father, he meets journalist Sam Sparks that also likes ‘nerdy stuff’ and both relationships and Flint’s journey to success are going to develop towards the end. In between there is enough to enjoy both visually and comedically.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is definitely a fun animation, with an enjoyable story based on the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett. A great family film.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Brigsby Bear

Director: Dave McCary
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill, Jane Adams, Greg Kinnear, Michaela Watkins, Claire Danes, Beck Bennett, Andy Samberg, Matt Walsh

Description: After being freed from his life in an underground bunker, a man (Kyle Mooney) sets out to make a movie of the only TV show he has ever known.

Review: Twenty-something James’ life is all about the fictional bear Brigsby. Every week a new adventure awaits him, in the form of a VCR tape on his doormat. Brigsby Bear teaches its viewers life lessons, math and morals. James’ bedroom is filled with Brigsby Bear stuff and you would think a toddler lives there. But James doesn’t know anything outside the bunker he lives in: his parents and the Brigsby Bear TV-show.
“Brigsby Bear” is the type of film I love to watch the most: light drama with a subtle hint of comedy. James’ life inside the bunker is interrupted and he has to try and survive in the real world. But is it necessarily better for him?
The film has a high level of feel-good and you want everything for James that he is fighting for. Two world come together, instead of exchanging one for the other. Because why shouldn’t James introduce the people in his new life to Brigsby Bear. His transition to this reality can go much smoother this way.
In director Dave McCary’s film, there is no room for misunderstanding and intolerance. It never gets mean or hostile. And I loved that about “Brigsby Bear”. There is so much hatred already, it’s great to see a film without any of that nasty behavior.
“Brigsby Bear” is movie that probably not a lot of people saw and that’s such a shame. It’s a movie that shouldn’t be left unseen, I loved this film. Never lose the child within yourself.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 94: Hotel Transylvania 2

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Fantasy/ Adventure
Runtime: 89 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher, Molly Shannon, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Dana Carvey, Rob Riggle, Mel Brooks, Chris Kattan, Jon Lovitz

Description: Dracula (Adam Sandler) and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis (Selene Gomez) from leaving the hotel.

Review: A couple of years ago Sony brought us “Hotel Transylvania”, not one of the best animations, but successful and very enjoyable. And because the young audience liked it, the inevitable happened: a sequel.
At the end of “Hotel Transylvania” hotel ownder Dracula realizes that he has to let his daughter go and let her live her own life. In this second film, it looks like he has taken a step back. Mavis marries Johnny and together they have a son. Dracula doesn’t want little Dennis to grow up in the ‘normal’ world, but as a monster.
The opening of the film is a bit rushed, a lot happens in the first half hour. The film is beautifully animated and has some really good jokes. And although “Hotel Transalvania 2” is entertaining, it brings us nothing really new or memorable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 126: Hotel Transylvania

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family

Runtime: 91 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, Kevin James, Andy Samberg, David Spade, Fran Drescher, Jon Lovitz, Molly Shannon, Cee-Lo Green, Rob Riggle, Chris Parnell

Description: Dracula (Adan Sandler), who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy (Andy Samberg) discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter (Selena Gomez).

Review: Prejudices are everywhere: in our society kids are afraid of monster, but in the monster society kids are thought the be afraid of people. And not without reason, because the men armed with pitchforks and fire are a true threat to vampires, werewolves and zombies. But times change. Dracula, who is a lot nicer than you might think, build a giant castle behind a haunted forest and a creepy cemetery and turned it into Hotel Transylvania. Monsters can come over but it’s human-free.

Besides the owner of a hotel, Dracula is a single dad of Mavis, who just turned 118. This means not only a big party, but Mavis is a grown up now. And she is allowed to go outside and discover the world. Dracula pulled off some tricks so that Mavis will never go outside again. When this works, Dracula is glad that he succeeded in protecting Mavis. That is until they are visited by Jonathan, a human backpacker.

The animation by Sony doesn’t only look good, the humor is outstanding and well dosed and it’s enjoyable for the entire family. Some jokes are a bit easy, but the overall humor is great. The story might be predictable, but who cares. “Hotel Transylvania” is a very entertaining amination, perfect for some quality time with the family. Or just for fun off course.

Rating: 3,5/ 5