August 18, 2019 “47 Meters Down: Uncaged” (*** out of four) was a tense thriller about four teen girls (Sophie Nelisse, Corinne Fox, Brianne Tju, and Sistine Rose Stallone) who go on a scuba-diving expedition to a lost Mayan city and soon realize they’ve entered the bloody waters of a deadly group of sharks and try to escape before it’s too late. Yes, it’s one more killer shark movie but it delivers the goods with scares and goose-bumps and features exceptionally good-looking cinematography from Mark Silk. Film is the sequel to “47 Meters Down” but actually bears more similarities to “The Descent” and “The Cave.” Continue reading →
August 18, 2019 “Good Boys” (** out of four) was a pretty forgettable comedy about three sixth-graders (Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon) who ditch school and accidentally wind up in possession of some stolen drugs and are hunted by a group of teenage girls and try to make it back home for a long-awaited party. Likeable and spirited performances from the boys try to wring as much laughs as they can out of a paper-thin script and story. It’s simply not that hilarious hearing young kids say the “F” word all the time. Although the laughs are few, the scene in which Tremblay sings “I Want To Know What Love Is” almost makes this worth a look on a very draggy night. Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “One Remains” (* out of four) was a lifeless horror movie about a group of documentary filmmakers (Ryan O’Quinn, Vanessa Leigh, and Katelyn Gault) who venture to a cabin in the woods but find themselves (yawn) besieged by a mysterious killer. Yet another found-footage horror movie in which you wish the footage had remained lost. By now- you would think filmmakers would be tired of making horror movies about cabins in the woods but let’s hope this is the last of the “remains.” Daniel Pace’s creepy music score is one of film’s few virtues. Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “Fall Girls” (** out of four) was a contrived and dumb comedy about a group of corporate women (Tami Roman, Erica Hubbard, and others) on a business getaway trip who wake up after a night of partying to find their boss dead (Joely Fisher) and have to go through the motions of keeping her alive to discover what happened and who killed her. Enthusiastic cast helps and there are some scattered laughs but plot gets progressively sillier until it falls apart at the seams. Didn’t anybody learn their lesson from “Weekend At Bernie’s”? Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “A Dark Place” (** out of four) was a monotonous melodrama about a young man (Luke Baines) struggling to find work after a past criminal mistake. When his nagging girlfriend (Jazzlyn Yoder) informs him she is pregnant, he is driven to desperation but this leads him on a downward spiral that threatens his sanity and the safety of everyone involved. Interesting at first but stalls after a while and remains lukewarm and film’s dramatic and emotional interest gradually drains away. Even Baines’ strong performance in the lead becomes tiresome after a while, much like the film itself. Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “Pulled To Hell” (*1/2 out of four) was a jumbled horror thriller about two private investigators (Toochukwu Anyachonkeya and April Ezell Wilson) who specialize in missing persons cases and cross paths with a serial killer with three pets who devour humans and they must do their best to stay alive, solve the case, and save some of the killer’s next victims. Director James Ryan Gary has a good sense of visual style but little concern for narrative or plot coherence especially as film gets grislier and gorier in its second half. Obviously inspired by the “Evil Dead” series but missing Sam Raimi’s ghoulish and inspired touch. Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “Sextuplets” (** out of four) was a mildly amusing Netflix comedy about a family man (Marlon Wayans) who meets a long-lost brother (also Wayans) and they realize they were born sextuplets (all played by Wayans) and they embark on a road trip to reunite with their long-lost siblings. Scattershot comedy has some occasional laughs but a little of this goes a long way, especially at nearly two hours. Hooray for Wayans in amusingly playing 6 different roles but this isn’t exactly up to Eddie Murphy and The Klumps in “The Nutty Professor.” Oddly- none of Wayans’ actual siblings show up in this. Continue reading →
August 17, 2019 “The Art Of Racing In The Rain” (**1/2 out of four) was a pretty cute and engaging adaptation of Garth Stein’s novel about a golden retriever named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner) who forms a lifelong bond with his owner (Milo Vertimiglia) which is tested when his wife (Amanda Seyfried) dies and various other life conflicts start to pull them apart but their emotional connection and relationship nevertheless always remains. Never fully reaches a dramatic or emotional peak but keeps you watching and entertained thanks mostly to the adorable dog and some of its funny comedic wisecracks. Fans of the novel and dog-lovers (like me) will want to check this out. Continue reading →
August 16, 2019 “Hometown Holiday” (*1/2 out of four) was yet another plastic Lifetime movie about a small-town girl (Krista Troyer) who is swept off her feet by a slick entertainment lawyer (Bradley Hamilton) who is passing through her area but they soon realize they both have baggage from the past and the present that they need to unravel before they are to embark on a happy relationship together. Treacly story is full of Lifetime’s usual hollow sentiments and cliches and overripe acting. Shimmering cinematography (by Pure West) and some beautiful locations are film’s only virtues but this is purely for Lifetime addicts only. Continue reading →
August 16, 2019 “The Martyr Maker” (*1/2 out of four) was a wandering misfire about a young American-born Muslim (Alexander Mercier) who struggles with his Islamic roots and becomes susceptible to terrorist groups who attempt to recruit him while a rogue agent from the Feds (Tom Sizemore) attempts to bring him down and save the city. Scattershot story veers from heavy-handed character drama to weak action thriller, with an over-the-top Sizemore chewing and throwing up the scenery. At this point, he has become an undenial “martyr” of bad living. Continue reading →
dlepikcom 