October 2, 2022 “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” (*** out of four) was a winning comedy drama based on a true story set in 1967 in which a blue-collar NYC guy (Zac Efron) became tired of going nowhere in his life and decided to make a difference in the Vietnam war by bringing beer to his serving friends and a multitude of other troops and became enveloped and involved in the war himself. Efron has never been more charismatic and engaging and the Farrelly Brothers offer pertinent period detail and give solid supporting roles to an unrecognizable Bill Murray as a neighborhood bartender, Russell Crowe as a war journalist, and others. Film sags a little once Efron does actually make it to Vietnam but regains its footing for a heartfelt conclusion. Continue reading →
October 2, 2022 “The Razing” (*1/2 out of four) was an uninvolving melodrama about a group of childhood friends (Jack Whooton, Dawson Mullen, and others) who regroup for a get-together but find that old wounds resurface which starts to tear away at the fabric of their relationship and their sanity as well. Writer/director J. Arcane seems to be trying for a psychological/horror version of “The Big Chill” but he should have remembered to include likeable characters and a coherent script. Might have worked better as a play, instead of a feature-film. Continue reading →
October 2, 2022 “Devil’s Workshop” (*1/2 out of four) was an anemic horror thriller about a struggling actor (Timothy Grananderos) desperate for work who finally lands a new role in a horror thriller and does research on this with a demonologist (Radha Mitchell) at her house but soon finds out that there might be more than meets the eye and she might be trying to demonically possess him. Interesting storyline of dark irony is bungled by tedious execution and monotonous script. Feature-length debut from noted short-film director Chris Von Hoffmann but judging from this effort he may need to go back to the filmmaking “workshop.” Continue reading →
October 2, 2022 “Other Monsters” (*1/2 out of four) was a generally ugly melodrama about an ex-Marine (Anthony Herrern) who embarks on a final mission to settle a score and get even with the four men who robbed him of the love of his life but finds that the path to this is more troubled than he may have ever realized. Dreadful film gives you no one to root for since the heroine is as sleazy and unlikeable as the bad guys he’s chasing! Herrern- who looks like a cross between Liam Neeson and James Russo- tries to hold this together but viewers would fare best picking an “other” movie instead. Continue reading →
October 2, 2022 “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” (**1/2 out of four) was a mindless but somewhat entertaining horror comedy set in 1988 about two friends (Elsie Fisher and Amiah Miller) who have to grapple with the fact that an exorcism is growing in one of their bodies and the social/physical/psychological uncomfortabilities this could result in ’80’s high school. Affectionately done nostalgia piece for the ’80’s with plenty of cheeky set design and costumes and soundtrack hits but not quite enough for a satisfying feature-length film, as story starts to grow thin after a point. A loose adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s horror novel and worthwhile for his fans and ’80’s fanatics. Continue reading →
October 2, 2022 “Blackout” (**1/2 out of four) was a moderately entertaining suspense thriller about a man (Josh Duhammel) who awakens in a hospital after a severe accident and has no memory of his past but has to relearn it fast and piece together his memories as he’s pursued through the hospital by deadly assassins (led by Omar Chapparo) and a grizzled cop (a well-cast Nick Nolte). No masterpiece, as film derivatively tries to mold together a Hitchcock mystery with “Bourne” thriller elements, but keeps its grip thanks to taut pacing and a solid cast. Abby Cornish has a key ambiguous role as a mysterious woman by Duhammel’s side. Continue reading →
October 1, 2022 “Hocus Pocus 2” (*1/2 out of four) was a stultifying sequel to the even-worse 1993 original about the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) who are resurrected once again in modern-day Salem on Halloween and it’s up to three high-schoolers (Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escopedo) to put a stop to their bewitchery. Midler, Parker, and Najimy seem to be having fun together once again but film is an unlucky brew from start to finish. Fans of the original (I was NOT) may like this better but let’s hope it’s another 30 years at least before another one is unleashed. Continue reading →
October 1, 2022 “Nix” (*1/2 out of four) was a pretentious muddle about a dysfunctional family (Michael Pare, Dee Wallace, James Zimbardi, and others) who discover a mysterious and unknown entity that has manifested itself from their own madness and secrecy and only when they resolve their dysfunction and conflict can this creature go away. More fun (and scares) may have ensued if they had all embarked together on family counseling instead; ridiculous and molasses-moving psychobabble seems to be building but has no real story to tell. Ryan Broomberg’s moody and bleak cinematography is film’s only asset. It’s nice to see Wallace and Pare back on screen again but they and you should have “nixed” this from their list. Continue reading →
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