Finally Friday - Cool off at the Movies

Hot afternoon. What to do? What to do?  Treat yourself to the Pixar film Inside Out 2. It's worthy of a small popcorn and small soda. 

I enjoyed Inside Out (1) in the theater a few  years ago,  and it's currently streaming on  Disney. But if you didn't see it, no worries. You can easily follow the story line. 

 Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Tony Hale), Anger (Lewis Black), Sadness, and Disgust (all  are in the command central body space)  are the stars running Riley's life. She's  excited playing ice hockey, she enjoys her friends, she's a kind  kid, and  she loves her parents. You get this synopsis in the opening scenes.  

Then, Riley's  innards undergo Puberty construction and who  shows  up but Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), and Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos).  Let the power struggle of  being a teenager begin. The original crew don't  know how to handle these new emotions, yet they know Riley to the core. 

This animated romp takes Riley to hockey camp - should  she stay with her old friends (nerds),  or try to  get in the cool girl group?  Being a teenage girl, emotions change by the minute and this movie does a very good job  of  depicting  the confusion. I enjoyed laugh out loud moments, and could completely identify and understand.  Inside Out 2 is a very fun  way to spend ninety minutes enjoying imaginative entertainment.  Big thumbs up
 

Movie Review Madness - Onward

Enjoyed a preview showing of Pixar's Onward last night with Ray. Unusual Thursday evening date night complete with yummy dinner at Red Robin. We both said, "Fun," when the movie ended. This will not be in the pantheon of beyond awesome Pixar movies, but it's in the category of great animation, good voice characters, and a sweet story. What more could you want for a five dollar ticket?

There used to be magic and wonder, and now the world is just bumbling along. It's Ian's sixteenth birthday and he's quietly missing his father who passed from illness; he'd like to actually talk to people in school; he'd like to learn to drive. Ian (Tom Holland) needs to get some ooomph. Older brother Barley (Chris Pratt) misses his dad, plays quest games, and seems to find trouble. Mom (Julia Louis Dreyfus) tries to guide her boys and be strong. What's missing?  Some magic and wonder.

When mom gives the boys a gift from their dad - a wizard wand, they embark on a quest to have time with him for a day. Oh there's a path to peril, raven's point, and the powerful Manicort (Octavia Spencer) to encounter. In this quest, there's humor, danger, and a chance for brotherly bonding. It's fun and funny and poignant.

All in all, Onward is energetic and family fuzzy warm. I cared about the brothers and they find out how much they care about each other. Big hug all around for this sweet movie.

Yes, it's okay to go see it on the big screen in the theater.  Just wash your hands and carry on. 

Movie Review Madness - Toy Story 4

The Toy Story trilogy now has a bonus episode 4 and it's just fun to go to infinity and beyond with this crew.

Woody (Tom Hanks) is a solid old school toy. He cares about his owners - first Andy, now Bonnie and it's their well being that's his world. Fearing for Bonnie on her kindergarten preview, Woody rides in her backpack, guides her quietly, and is pleased when she creates Forky (Tony Hale).

Her favorite new toy, Forky is not convinced and seeks the trash bin whenever he can. The animation, voicing, etc is hilarious, and Woody works to keep everyone on suicide alert for their newest friend.

Summer road trip with Bonnie's family adds to the chaos. And who pops up but a long lost love - Bo-Peep (Annie Potts) who's escaped an antique store and is quite the modern woman. Toys need rescuing. Who knew Charlie McCarthy dolls could be so creepy and villainous?  And what will Woody give up for the sake of another toy?

Toy Story 4 is poignant, raucous, funny, and all about family - the need to be loved. The voice characterizations are great (listen for Key and Peele - oh the riffs!), and of course Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is a solid helper for Woody.  Ray and I enjoyed this "kid movie" a lot. It's fizzy fluff for the summer movie season.

Movie Review Madness - Incredible 2

I am very behind on movies - cannot keep up with Alex Cavanaugh. But here I am with a review. Better late than never.

It took a long time but it was worth the wait – Incredibles 2 has that Pixar magic. Animation, story line, voices, and energy make for a very entertaining two hours for young and old alike.  When we last left the family, super heroes have been banned. So Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) has slogged in the insurance world, and Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) has stayed home with the kids – Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner), and baby Jack-Jack. But trouble is brewing and a very rich entrepreneur Winston D.(Bob Odenkirk – yes, doing his Better Call Saul kind of voice) wants to make super heroes cool and necessary again.

So he wants to promote Elastigirl. After much discussion, Mr. Incredible is home with the kids – oh, that gives some funny scenes. He’s exhausted with Violet teen angst, kid’s New math (Dash), and Jack-Jack exploding into his super powers. The kid can vanish and go through walls, he can become a demon and burst into flames, and he can duplicate into many. Yikes. The dad has his hands full and tries to make it sound like it’s under control.  Meanwhile, through some careful organized saves, Elastigirl is proving woman power, super hero power, and is becoming a legend.

However, a very evil villain – the Screenslaver- threatens the whole atmosphere.  I won’t give anything else away.  Let’s just say that Mr. Incredible gets to don those tights again. Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) totally does his thing. Other super heroes contribute, go bad, and then recover.  The kids are older and more valuable and skilled. And Jack-Jack is tremendous. Plus you have Edna (voiced by the director Brad Bird) in a great sequence – she chooses to babysit Jack and design his little baby super hero outfit. It’s genius!

So much fun is packed into this film. Lots of laughs and you care about these animated characters.  It’s worth the wait.  Classy project, animation, and the pre-movie little animated flick Bao is rather poignant.

Get that tub of popcorn, buy those sodas, and spring for a really fun family outing. They are Incredible….2

Movie Review Madness - Coco

Coco is Pixar’s Hispanic reworking of the Wizard of Oz. I have not read that anywhere, but that’s what struck me.  There’s no place like home or family is at the heart of the story. It is a lovely story and movie. The animation is gorgeous. The story is rich. The actors who voice the characters are excellent. I highly recommend this movie for ages 6 and up. Based on the audience I sat with, those kids sat still, stayed quiet, and enjoyed the flick. Any child younger – NO. Do not bring them. Get a babysitter – no, I do not care if you are trying for family bonding. That is rude for the rest of the audience.

So – Miguel wants to play music, but it is forbidden in his family. On the Day of the Dead celebration, the family salutes the ancestors but one man is cut out of all pictures. Miguel is sure it is Ernesto de la Cruz – the greatest musician ever. So he steals Ernesto’s guitar from the mausoleum and is suddenly sent to the afterworld in a transitory state.  He must get approval from an ancestor to return and be able to pursue music.  But alas there are complications. Miguel gets help from Hector who worked with Ernesto. But there’s far more to that story……spoiler alert that I will NOT divulge.

Let’s just say it’s a race against time for great –great grandmother Coco to not forget her true love. This is the key to Miguel’s future.  There’s murder, there’s death, there’s humor, and there is the theme of life and family. All truly heartwarming and of course, it ends well.  Root for Miguel. Enjoy the brilliant palette of animation.  I really loved this movie and highly recommend it.

The Day of the Dead has a whole new meaning for me……

Movie Review Madness - Finding Dory

Oh Pixar – you are wonderful. The magic of film truly lives with this company. An opening short film called Piper is magical – not many words. Just cute images of a baby sandpiper learning to dig up shells, learning about the power of the ocean, and truly finding his sea legs. Extraordinarily cute.  

Then our main event, Finding Dory, is beyond excellent. Superb animation – the film glows with color. Excellent story line – it picks up where Finding Nemo left off and has Dory finding her parents. But it also highlights learning challenges, memory, family, and friends. So many messages in a short film. However, it does not beat you over the head with stuff – the message is subtle but strong.  Enjoyable humor – nice warm chuckles with so many lines. Engaging characters – Dory, Marlin, Nemo, and Hank the octopus. Fabulous voice acting and well thought out rich characters.

Yes, I gush. This film is just entertaining and worthy of your money – see it on the big screen. Ellen DeGeneres is so sincere and rather poignant as Dory. With her short term memory loss she’s challenged. Yet the glow of her spirit shines and perseverance wins out. Her mother (Diane Keaton) and Dad (Eugene Levy) left her with good life lessons and slowly she works her way back to find them (spoiler alert – will there be a reunion??)

And Hank the octopus deserves his own film. Such a hoot. We know, from real life, how clever octopus are in escape, etc. Hank sets the example for intrepid escapes, schemes, and true friendship. He does not let Dory down.

I won’t give more away. Just go now and see Finding Dory– hear Albert Brooks (Marlin) fret for Dory, Nemo, and life. Root for Dory, the blue tang with a huge heart and big eyes to navigate the seas, the Marine Wild Life Institute (shout out to Sigourney Weaver), and find her roots – her path of seashells.  Glorious film making………this is why I love the movies!!!

Movie Review - Inside Out

 Inside Out is my favorite film so far this summer. It’s clever, exuberant, original, and just a gem. Riley is eleven and loves her life in Minnesota. But now her family is moving to San Francisco. New school. New friends. New ice hockey team. Change is the worst, especially as a pre-teen girl with enough emotions roiling through her body to light up a zillion computer circuits. When we join the movie, the brain is functioning nicely. Command control is harvesting memories, containing stories, and building the life of Riley. But the move brings transition and the brain panel evolves. 

Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling) all come into play. The voicings are perfect and the inner and outer dialogue are spot on. Dinner time is no longer pleasant. Riley is a time bomb every night and the parents are at a loss with how to handle this new tween creation.  And in Riley herself, the islands of goofiness, family, et al are adrift. She’s charging through the day and destroying so much calm that was built in eleven years. 

Joy tries to win, but realizes Sadness has to play a part, along with the other emotions. It’s bittersweet and we see loss of innocence arrive. Fortunately, there is a strong family element that tugs at Riley’s heart and she’s able to turn to her parents for help in coping with life’s changes and pain. All emotions come into play and Inside Out proves we need them all to survive. Yes, this is a “kid” movie, but it’s truly for adults who understand the depths of the brain and are still seeking control at times. I loved this film. It’s sublime.

Movie Review Madness - Monsters University

Monsters University is a Pixar prequel to Monsters, Inc and it's another clever concoction. Mike (voiced by the irrepressible Billy Crystal) is our one-eyed green glob who's wanted to go to the elite Scarer School forever. He's been admitted to the university, but must prove his worth. He studies hard, works hard, and can answer every question asked by professors. But he's just not scary - he's the funny guy.


Big blue Sully (John Goodman) is lazy, never has a pencil, and doesn't study, but he can roar. Plus his father was a superb scarer, so everyone assumes Sully has it made. He's invited to the elite fraternity and is the popular dude. However, he and Mike are on a collision course.

Sure enough, they are kicked out of Scarer school for various reasons and then must work together along with other losers to try to get back in. The very scary Helen Mirren monster dean is very disapproving of their quality, but they keep proving her wrong. It all comes down to the Scare Fest contest. Can the guys pull together and manage to get a win? I won't give away the shenanigans, but this is one fright fest you'll want to watch with both eyes open.

Monsters University is fun for kids and adults alike. It's very clever with sharp dialogue, plenty of humor, and amazing animation. Apply now with a ticket to movie entertainment.