Some say that Pixar films are in decline after their latest releases. This criticism does not hold up when looking at the individual films. Onward, Soul, and Turning Red each explored different stages of life (and death) in unique and creative ways. Luca and Lightyear comparatively were misfires but, when viewed independently of the Pixar … Continue reading Review: Elemental – A Feel-Good Romance that Boasts Pixar’s Signature Beautiful Visuals
TV Review: ‘XO, Kitty’ – A Very Funny Continuation of “To All the Boys…” Series
When To All the Boys I Loved Before debuted on Netflix, it caught lightning in a bottle. It turned Noah Centeneo and Lana Condor into instant stars. Fans of teen romcoms rejoiced. They finally had a fun return to the subgenre. The following two films were met with mixed success, but Netflix sought to continue … Continue reading TV Review: ‘XO, Kitty’ – A Very Funny Continuation of “To All the Boys…” Series
Review: ‘Rye Lane’ Charms Your Pants Off as the Rom-Com Returns
The rom-com, as we once knew it, died years ago. Now every version seems to embrace the meta-storytelling of women who know they’re in a rom-com. In many other cases, they’re relegated to romance novels, which have delightfully found a resurgence in recent years. Yet while we wait for the IP-inspired rom-com revolution, viewers disappeared … Continue reading Review: ‘Rye Lane’ Charms Your Pants Off as the Rom-Com Returns
SXSW 2023: ‘If You Were the Last’ – A Lovely Lo-Fi Sci-Fi Romance
In a post-Covid world, the concept of isolation is all too real. However, even in the most dire circumstances, we reach out for connection from those around us. If You Were the Last takes this idea a bit further. Director Kristian Mercado delivers one of the year's cutest and most unique visual spectacles. His lo-fi … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘If You Were the Last’ – A Lovely Lo-Fi Sci-Fi Romance
SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
The comedy about directionless people feeling the pressure of arrested development has been a staple of indie cinema for years. Popularized by films at Sundance throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a reliable method of storytelling. Yet there are stories that can break through the genre for one reason or another. Peak Season … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
Sci-fi rarely gets credit for its ability to cross-pollinate genres. Yet many films in the genre borrow elements from other stories to tell a complete story. It's rare to see a full-fledged rom-com/sci-fi mashup, but Molli and Max in the Future pulls off the challenge. Directed by Michael Lukk Litwak, the futuristic romance takes advantage … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
Review: Your Place or Mine: A Time Capsule Full of Dated Rom Com Clichés
When your movie starts with on-screen text declaring the year is 2003 and then proceeds to point out all the reasons you can tell it’s 2003, that may be a sign that the filmmakers are living in the past. Jokes where a character fumbles with a smart home control tablet also lend to the sensation … Continue reading Review: Your Place or Mine: A Time Capsule Full of Dated Rom Com Clichés
Review: ‘Maybe I Do’ – A Deconstruction of Love in the Golden Years
With a cast of Hollywood veterans and the creator of Boy Meets World one could reasonably expect Maybe I Do to be something special. Instead what they would get would be a humorous look at infidelity and the meaning of love. If Boy Meets World was an examination of growing up and growing together, this … Continue reading Review: ‘Maybe I Do’ – A Deconstruction of Love in the Golden Years
Review: Shotgun Wedding – This Trainwreck Wedding is Hard to Look Away From
In premise, a destination wedding that gets hijacked by armed assailants and must be saved by the bickering bride and groom seems like a fun concept. In Shotgun Wedding, however, the plot never truly lands. While there are a few laughs, most jokes fall flat and the action is uninspired. However, the charm of leads … Continue reading Review: Shotgun Wedding – This Trainwreck Wedding is Hard to Look Away From