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mcelwood
Reviews
Animaniacs (2020)
I understand the criticisms, but I still enjoyed it
I haven't seen all of the original series, so I can't call myself a purist or an expert of it. I have watched both seasons of the reboot, though, and had a pretty fun time, particularly with season two. While this series does get too political at times, that doesn't prevent me from still loving the animation, returning voice actors (who remain magnificent as ever), and often very clever writing, which thankfully still aims for kids and adults alike. My biggest problem, however, is that I hugely miss characters such as Slappy, the Goodfeathers, Buttons and Mindy, etc. Their absence leaves a gaping void in the show, which sadly does damage it to a certain degree. With that said, the characters who remain haven't lost any of their charm and zaniness. Overall, it may not be the finest reboot the series could have hoped for, but it's not a bad one either. Although I agree with most people that it should definitely veer away from trying to lecture us politically, so many jokes in this series made me laugh tremendously. In spite of its flaws, I'll always have a soft spot for this reboot.
Only Murders in the Building: I Know Who Did It (2022)
My favorite episode BY FAR
OMITB introduced so many new elements this season, which were all incredibly interesting, but I was slightly afraid the finale was going to leave some of them lost in the mix. I needn't have been the least bit worried, though, because "I Know Who Did It" not only provided a satisfying conclusion for every single plot thread, it also set up a plethora of new ones. This episode was absolutely next-level for the show. The humor was on-point as usual, the story was brilliantly laid-out, every character had their moment to shine, and the ending was a whirlwind of new possibilities. It'll be difficult for OMITB to top itself yet again in season three, but with an ending like this, I am very optimistic for what's in store.
Dumbo (2019)
I liked it just enough
Tim Burton's Dumbo is far from a perfect movie. The story is formulaic, the child actors are wooden, and it mostly plays things pretty safe. As someone who has never seen the original, though, there were enough positive elements to keep me entertained. In my opinion, Danny DeVito gave a very solid performance as Max Medici, bringing considerable heart and energy to the role. Michael Keaton is enjoyably hammy as the villain, and Colin Farrell and Eva Green both hold their own nicely. It actually was pretty cool to see Keaton and DeVito reunite with Tim Burton for the first time together since Batman Returns. Like most Burton films, the sets and visuals are incredibly pleasing to the eye, and Dumbo himself is animated with charming expressiveness. On the whole, while it's nothing great, I still thought this was a decent-enough film for families.
Only Murders in the Building: Sparring Partners (2022)
Fantastic episode!
While I didn't think "Flipping the Pieces" or "Hello, Darkness" were bad by any stretch of the imagination, "Sparring Partners" felt like a return to top form for the show. All of the acting is terrific as usual, and the episode thankfully revisits several plot points that were just starting to feel lost in the mix. My only complaint is that I wish they had shown what happened between Charles and Lucy after the events of the previous episode, although they hopefully might be saving that for next week. I'm realizing more and more how underrated Michael Rapaport is. I'm glad he's still finding work that allows him to shine. On the whole, this is one of my favorite episodes by far, and the ending has me psyched for the season finale!
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)
I had fun
In my opinion, this film gets way too much hate. I really like the Hotel Transylvania movies, and while Transformania is not as good as the first two, I actually enjoyed it much more than the third. As someone who adores cartoons, so many jokes in this film made me laugh hard, and the animation was as top-notch as ever. The climax, in particular, was hilarious, emotional, and wildly creative. Sure the story itself is predictable and the moral can be a bit too obvious, but I still thought this was a sweet and very funny capper to the series.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020)
As a die-hard SpongeBob fan, I had a great time
I really enjoyed this film. The animation was wonderfully stylized, every voice actor brought their A-game, and the majority of the humor matched the spirit of the show. I understand why this film isn't for everyone. The plot can be messy and not every joke gets a hard laugh, but the aspects that work are too strong to overlook in my opinion. While the first film is still the best, I actually liked this a bit more than Sponge Out of Water. I just thought it had a little more heart. I truly enjoy all three movies, though.
Only Murders in the Building: Performance Review (2022)
Might be the best episode yet
This episode was incredible! So many characters make a return, the acting from everyone was top-notch, and the ending was both shocking and legitimately sad. To me, this episode felt almost next-level for the show, and I can't wait to see where it all leads.
Only Murders in the Building: Here's Looking at You (2022)
Very charming episode
This is easily one of my favorite episodes so far. Zoe Colletti really brought a lot to her role, and her connection with Charles was very sweet. This episode contained several heartfelt character moments that were acted remarkably by every cast member. Only Murders in the Building has always been a very charming series, but this episode cranks it up to 11 without forgetting its wonderful sense of humor. Also, the surprise ending was great to see. Can't wait for next week's episode!