TV Show Review - Only Murders in the Buiding (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Crime/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2021
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Tina Fey, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane, Amy Schumer, Michael Cyril Creighton, Jackie Hoffman, Jane Houdyshell, Cara Delevigne, Ryan Broussard, Adina Version, James Caverly, Jane Lynch

Description: Three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime suddenly find themselves caught up in one.
 
Review: At the beginning of the second season of “Only Murders in the Building”, things are not looking good for Charles, Oliver and Mabel. A new mystery presents itself when neighbor Bunny Folger is found dead in Mabel’s apartment and it seems this murder is meant to frame the latter. Where most people would choose to wait for it all to blow over, the three amateur detectives choose to take matter into their own hands to clear their names and find justice for Bunny.

It took some waiting to see if a second season of “Only Murders in the Building” would be able to live up to high expectations created by the successful first season. Bunny Folger’s death, at first glance, seems less interesting than the murder of Tim Kono. The motive seems obvious, as the victim was not well-liked, so the question is where this story could go from here. But with the introduction of new characters, secret passages through the Arconia building and once again a connection to one of the main characters, the formula manages to prove itself once again.

“Only Murders in the Building” is still the perfect combination of murder mystery and humor: a cozy mystery. The main characters are well fleshed out and their strong dynamics bring things to life. In the main plot of season 2, the focus shifts from Mabel to Charles, allowing us to learn more about his background. In addition, we are introduced to three important characters: Charles’ almost-daughter, a new date for Mabel and the assistant to podcast queen Cinda Canning. While they all contribute at some point in the investigation, they could have been better integrated into the story.

Everything comes together in the end. The solutions is clever and surprising. And we are also treated to a glimpse of another new season, where Oliver will be the main focus I assume. And Paul Rudd is going to be in season 3 as well, which makes me even more excited.

“Only Murders in the Building” is the perfect comfort watch, I love cozy mysteries. The dynamic between the three main characters is so unique and wholesome. I could watch this series all day.

10s Movie Review - Paul

Director: Greg Mottola
Genre: Comedy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Simon Pegg , Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver, Blythe Danner, Jane Lynch, John Carroll Lynch, Jesse Plemons, Jeffrey Tambor, David Koechner, Joe Lo Truglio

Description: Two English comic book geeks (Nick Frost, Simon Pegg) traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien (Seth Rogen) outside Area 51.

Review: Simon Pegg is a great comedic actor, Nick Frost is hilarious. But they are best when they are together. So seeing them in a comedy about an alien, not directed by Edgar Wright, excites us. It’s not as good as any of the Cornetto films, but “Paul” is definitely funny enough to watch and rewatch.
“Paul” follows two British nerds, Graeme and Clive, who saved money to go to Comic Con. On their way, they want to spot some UFO’s. They bump into Paul, an alien, who has been on planet earth for already 60 years. Graeme and Clive decide to take Paul on their road trip. Of course that’s not a very good idea.
Like I stated before, Pegg and Frost aren’t working with Edgar Wright this time. Greg Mottola is the director and he knows how to make a buddy movie work. Just look at “Superbad”. Here he has to combine the British humor from Pegg and Frost with the typical American humor from Seth Rogen. I can say, that I miss Wright, because it’s a little but to ordinary. But “Paul” is still a very enjoyable watch with lots of successful jokes. It’s a very good comedy. And Seth Rogen is a great choice for voicing Paul.
I really enjoyed “Paul”, it’s a funny film, with three excellent comedic performances.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Ralph Breaks the Internet

Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill

Description: Six years after the events of “Wreck-it Ralph”, Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.

Review: With the arrival of Pixar and the incorporation of this studio by Walt Disney you would almost forget that Disney still has its own animation line. Meanwhile the canon, which started with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and includes titles like "Bambi", "Pinocchio" and "The Lion King", has over seventy titles. The latest addition is “Ralph Breaks the Internet”, the sequel to the successful animation film Wreck-It Ralph.
Disney has continued its own series despite the fact that the studio has almost completely switched to the computer as its main drawing tool. In 2012 we were able to get to know the very well-built and very strong Ralph, who acted as the main character in his own arcade game. Actually, Ralph was a bad guy whose mission was to destroy pretty much everything with his enormous fists. But Ralph was done with it to be a villain.
In the inevitable sequel, the characters from the arcade games see a new enemy looming. The internet is full of unknown secrets and temptations. Ralph's former enemy, but now best friend Vanellope, is bored to death in her richly coloured racing game in which nothing exciting ever happens again. Ralph tries to break the rut by introducing a bonus level in Vanelope's game. The daring race that follows ends hopelessly wrong and the steering wheel of Vanellope's classic arcade game breaks.
Because the game is no longer being made, there is no other option than to go deep into your pocket for a new steering wheel. The only place where the attribute is still available is on the internet. Ralph, Vanellope and their computer friends have to raise money online to get their hands on the wheel via eBay. Due to a stupid action by the impulsive Vanelope, the price has also risen considerably.
In terms of approach and set-up, this second movement, Wreck-It Ralph, is reminiscent of the hopelessly flawed “The Emoji Movie”. Here it turns out once again that everyone can animate pictures very well, but all that stands and falls with a good story and finely worked out characters. Moreover, it is wonderfully refreshing when the makers seek out contrasts. Ralph and the overly cute Vanellope suddenly end up in a very rough racing game. Exactly the fun Vanellope was looking for, but it's also an unfamiliar world where danger lies in every corner. The dark, ominous colours form a wonderful alternation with the multicoloured shades with which the worldwide web has been designed.
As in the previous film, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is full of videos, references and allusions. This is most obvious at times when Disney is taking a beating about the bush. By far the most successful scene is the one in which a whole army of Disney princesses make their appearance. Even the translation to the digital canvas is a success, and on top of that all the princess interpreters who are still alive have flown in to speak to the voices of the princesses. The makers also play with the clichéd and often unemancipated appearance of the heroines.
Precisely because of its capacity for self-mockery and its ability to address the modern digital world in which communication takes place in a very special way, this second part of Wreck-It Ralph is a successful animation adventure with layers for both young viewers and a mature audience. The main criticism is the crowded plot and the sometimes very fast action and chases. They are small blemishes on an otherwise almost undamaged blazon. It remains to be seen whether Ralph Breaks the Internet will go into the books as a classic. A plus point is a new song by Alan Menken, the man who, with his magical music, also pulled Disney out of the doldrums at the end of the eighties.

Rating: 4 / 5

00s Movie Review: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Director: Adam McKay
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Leslie Bibb, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, Michael Clarke Duncan, Amy Adams, David Koechner, Rob Riggle, Molly Shannon, Greg Germann

Description: Number one NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) stays atop the heap thanks to a pact with his best friend and teammate, Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly) But when a French Formula One driver (Sacha Baron Cohen), makes his way up the ladder, Ricky Bobby's talent and devotion are put to the test.

Review: NASCAR: fast cars driving hundreds of laps on a simple oval track. In America it’s one of the most viewed sports. The NASCAR world was already put in the spotlight with the Tom Cruise film “Days of Thunder” and in the animated Disney film “Cars”. In “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Rocky Bobby” it takes on the comedy genre and the world is brought to us with a big fat wink.
We follow Ricky Bobby, a successful NASCAR driver. At first, everything goes uphill for him. Rocky becomes an egocentric superstar, but eventually ends up in the gutter. And everything that he once had and loved, slips through his fingers. And although this all sounds super cliché, which it is, the film is so entertaining and funny.
Will Ferrell is one of those actors that makes me laugh, no matter what. I just have to look at him and he cracks me up. And surely not everyone likes his humor. If you don’t like Will Ferrell’s films or roles, you don’t like this one either. Because it’s Will Ferrell, being Will Ferrell. The humor is never subtle, yet very hilarious.
Sacha Baron Cohen is really funny as Ricky Bobby’s big rival, Jean Girard. The way he pronounces Rocky Bobby is something that cracks me up constantly, even now, while writing this review and saying it in my head. My dad can do a killer impression of him by the way!
“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is definitely not a masterpiece or one of America’s best comedies. But somehow, this movie always makes me laugh out loud and that’s what a fun comedy should do.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 3: Wreck-It Ralph

Director: Rich Moore

Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family

Runtime: 92 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, jane Lynch, Adam Carolla, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Ed O’Neill, Dennis Haysbert, Horation Sanz, Rachael Harris, Skrillex

Description: A video game villain (John C. Reilly) wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Review: Fix-It Felix Jr. is a computer game in an arcade hall. In this game Ralph has to wreck an apartment building every single day. Felix, the hero of the game, has to fix it all. Ralph is the villain in this game. He actually wants to become a hero and he has to win a medal for that. Ralph does something he is not allowed to do: he enters a different video game. He meets many new characters and befriends another outsider: Vanellope. What Ralph doesn’t know is that because of his absence, his game is in danger.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is a party for every gamer. Lots of references from famous games and heroes. Like when Ryu and Ken from Streetfighter II decide to go out for a drink after a long day of work in the arcade classic Tapper. And Q-Bert, Pac-Man and Sonic pass by as well. There were different styles used for this film. From 8-bit figures to a more realistic style of a ‘first person shooter’. It works and is recognizable. And there is a lot of humor too.

Off course there is also an emotional aspect. The friendship between Ralph and Vanellope is just adorable, believable and touching. And the moral is something we can all relate to.

“Wreck-It Ralph” has a good combination of action, tension, humor and heart. A fun Disney film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 96: A.C.O.D.

Director: Stu Zicherman

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 90 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara, Jane Lynch, Amy Poehler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jessica Alba

Description: Carter (Adam Scott) is a grown man caught in the crossfire of his parents' 15-year divorce discovers he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced children and is enlisted in a follow-up years later, which wreaks new havoc on his family.

Review: In America the chance of a marriage ending is fifty percent. At least that’s what the beginning of this movie tells us. A.C.O.D. stands for Adult Children of Divorce and the successful Carter is the classic example of that. Always the mediator between his parents, trying to get their approval and always insecure. Then he discovers a book written by a child psychologist, and he is one of the subjects. When Carter’s brother is getting married, he needs his parents to act civil around each other.

Carter’s personality crisis is told in a light fashion and is never dull. This is director Stu Zicherman’s debut film and scenarist Ben Karlin wrote episodes of “Modern Family”. Together they manage to get some good jokes and funny dialogues. Adam Scott fulfills his leading role very well, but it’s his on screen parents Richard Jenkins and Catherine O’Hara that give “A.C.O.D.” the living color. And also Jane Lynch, as psychologist Dr. Judith, steals the show.

There is a good balance between comedy and drama, but towards the end it’s losing that balance. It gets more serious and is trying to go a bit deeper. The humor doesn’t have the edge like a satire, so it doesn’t work.

“A.C.O.D.” is an enjoyable film, a pretty good debut by Stu Zicherman. Sadly it didn’t manage to keep that same level the entire runtime, but it’s still a fun film.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Moments: "The 40 Year-Old Virgin

This movie is so funny and we can thank Steve Carell for that. I don’t think anyone else could have done a better job. Here are my favorite moments from “The 40 Year-Old Virgin”.

Moment # 1: Meet Andy
We meet Andy, who wakes up with a huge boner. He starts working out, making breakfast, talking to his elderly neighbors. Andy is a nice guy with absolutely no social life.

Moment # 2: The guys find out
Andy is invited to a pokergame with his co-worker from Smart Tech. They start talking about sex and when they ask Andy about his sex adventures, they find out he’s still a virgin.

Moment # 3: Andy’s fulfilling life
Andy tries to explain to Dave why he doesn’t need to get laid. He has a very fulfilling life. We see him playing the tuba, painting miniatures, playing videogams, singing karaoke and reading comic books.

Moment # 4: Andy and the drunk lady
Andy picked up a woman in a bar. She had a little to much to drink, but she drives Andy anyway. Seems that she is a very reckless driver and a bit crazy too.

Moment # 5: Waxing
Jay advices Andy to get his chest waxed, so Jay, Dave and Cal join him when Andy goes to a waxing salon. And it hurts like hell.

Moment # 6: Condoms
Andy went on a date with Trish and they end up in her bed. When Trish is going to the bathroom Andy has to put on a condom, but he has no idea how to use them. He uses a lot of them, but it doesn’t work out. And then Trish’ daughter walks in.

Moment # 7: Health clinic
Andy takes Trish’ daughter Marla to a health clinic, to learn about birth control. He sees a model of a vagina and when he picks it up it falls apart and he can’t put it together anymore.

Moment # 8: Heat of the moment
Andy and Trish had a fight and she gets in her car and drives off. Andy follows her on his bike, but Trish is to fast. He takes a shortcut, but when a huge billboard pops out of nowhere he flies trough it.

Moment # 9: Hair medley
After Andy’s big moment, all the characters start singing a medley from the musical Hair.



Favorite Moment: : Moment# 5: Waxing

In the Picture: The Characters from "The 40 Year Old Virgin"

I recently rewatched "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and I decided to give all the characters some individual attention.

Andy Stitzer
Played by: Steve Carell
Andy is 40 years old and still a virgin. He is involuntarily celibate. Andy lives alone and is somewhat childlike. He collects action figures and plays videogames. But Andy is a very kind, shy and loveable man.

David
Played by: Paul Rudd
David is Andy’s co-worker. He really wants a serious relationship, but he is still hung up on his ex-girlfriend. It’s almost disturbing.

Cal
Played by: Seth Rogen
Cal also works at SmartTech and has a perverted sense of humor. He talks about sex a lot, many forms of it.

Jay
Played by: Romany Malco
Another co-worker of Andy. He’s the only one in a serious relationship of the SmartTech group. But he’s whipped. Jay is not aloud to do anything, he’s kinda her bitch.

Trish
Played by: Catherine Keener
Trish is a storeowner across the street of Andy’s work. They hit it of immediately and Andy goes on a date with her. She is really nice and is seriously interested in Andy.

Paula
Played by: Jane Lynch
Paula is the storemanager of SmartTech. She should actually be sued for sexual harassment, because she makes sexual remarks to her colleagues all the time. She even wants to be Andy’s sexbuddy. Strange woman.

Beth
Played by: Elizabeth Banks
Beth is a woman Andy meets at a bookstore, where she works. She seems interested in Andy and she would be perfect for Andy to finally lose his virginity. But Beth’s a bit crazy.

Favorite Character: Andy Stitzer