Reviews

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" is a movie that combines mayhem and humor, with its opening scene featuring Alvin, Simon, and Theodore throwing a surprise birthday party for their dad/legal-guardian Dave. However, things get out of hand when hundreds of people show up, and a half-pipe is erected in the backyard, skateboarders careen through the air, and a DJ cranks the tunes. Dave throws everyone out and gives the chipmunks a good scolding. The movie's main point is that it is a series of random events where the chipmunks either incite a riot or calm one down with their music. It is reminiscent of The Muppets road trip in "The Muppet Movie," musicals of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, or old comedies where the forces of anarchy bust up snooty drawing room parties. Dave, disappointed in their behavior, is dating a new woman named Shira (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), and wants the chipmunks to be on their best behavior when they finally meet her. On a group outing to play miniature golf, the mischievous chipmunks meet Shira's teenage son Miles (Josh Green), who makes jokes about super-gluing them together. While the chipmunks like Shira, they are terrified that Dave is going to propose to her while on a trip to Miami. They find an unlikely ally in Miles, who doesn't want a new dad at all. The four set off on a crazy trip from California to Miami to track down their parents and bust up the proposal before it's too late. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" is a movie about a group of naïve and naive children who embark on a dangerous journey to find their lost friend, Theodore. Theodore, a mentally unstable U. S. air marshal, is tasked with chasing the evil chipmunks who have ruined his flying record. The film takes them across the country, stopping in Texas, Texas, and New Orleans, where they perform on a wooden sidewalk, play in a dive bar, and transform a jazz parade into Mardi Gras. Director Walt Becker creates entertaining scenes for big energetic crowds, with some cameos, including John Waters' great cameo. Jennifer Coolidge, a genius, is under-used as Dave's bizarre neighbor. "Alvin" is not a movie for kids, with some issues with bathroom humor, product placement, and inappropriate clothing for the audience. However, it is generally funny and sometimes sweet, with Tony Hale as a great villain and the road trip sections being pure, uncynical mayhem. The movie also has a subtle message about families, highlighting that they don't have to look a certain way, but are people who love and take care of each other. Overall, "Alvin" is a fun and entertaining movie for kids, but may not be suitable for children.

"The Wrong Missy" is a Netflix comedy directed by Tyler Spindel and starring David Spade as Tim Morris, who is still in love with his lost fiancée Sarah Chalke. He goes on a blind date with an eccentric woman named Melissa (Lauren Lapkus), who becomes an unexpected and unpredictable handful. Tim meets another Melissa (Molly Sims) at the airport and feels a deeper connection with her. Before a corporate retreat to Hawaii, he plans to invite her Melissa but accidentally texts Lapkus' Melissa. However, as Missy tries to tear her way through one unsettling interaction after another, Tim begins to like her. The movie has a familiar and familial feel, with Sandler's influence dominating the movie. Supporting roles include Rob Schneider, Nick Swardson, Jonathan Loughran, Jackie Sandler, Sadie and Sunny Sandler, and various other Sandler family members. Rapper Vanilla Ice and wrestler Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoai also make cameos. The sweet, timid Tim provides a change of pace for Spade from his typical dirtbag-like persona, but also leads to a saccharine flatness. Lauren Lapkus plays the character's outsized personality, pushing the physical comedy and inappropriateness to extremes. The film's funniest and most savage jokes are when Lapkus repeatedly makes fun of Spade's hair and age. "The Wrong Missy" is a lightweight throwaway, but if your algorithm lands on it, it provides a harmless diversion. Tyler Spindel's Happy Madison tells the story of Tim Morris, a sales executive, who goes on a blind date with Missy, played by Lauren Lapkus. The character is dismally unfunny and would be misogynistic if it wasn't absurd. Tim then meets Melissa at an airport, leading to a sexy interlude and raunchy texts exchanged later. Tim invites Melissa to a Hawaii work retreat, but it's revealed that he has been unwittingly communicating with Missy. Missy initially shocks and embarrasses Tim's friends and colleagues, but eventually wins them over with her in-your-face nonsense. Tim eventually falls for her, despite her horrific behavior leading to him nearly being eaten by an FX shark. The film features a motley mob of Tim's friends and colleagues, including Nate (Nick Swardson), Jack Winstone (Geoff Pierson), and Jess (Jackie Sandler), played by Jackie Sandler's wife Jackie Sandler. Rob Schneider is missing out on the fun, but Steve Buscemi is unavailable. The movie offers originality, wit, narrative sense, emotional resonance, and complex roles for women that reflect progressive contemporary feminist attitudes. It is a Happy Madison movie, strictly for punters who will laugh at anything.

"Steel Magnolias" was a popular Southern film released in 1989, featuring only two black actors who spoke in a nearly two-hour film set in a Louisiana town. The new Lifetime remake of the film, which is now available on Sunday night, features white actors in the background and few of them speak. The film is surprisingly faithful to the original story, which revolves around six women who gather at Truvy's Beauty Spot to gossip, joke, and shed a tear. Director Kenny Leon and his all-star cast, including Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, and Phylicia Rashad, have worked hard to tone down the material and smooth it out.

However, the remake misses the point of the original film. The film essentially consists of a wedding and a death, with everything else being banter and tears. Herbert Ross, a shamelessly effective director of big Hollywood entertainments, wisely pumped up the volume and action in the original film to distract from the script's thinness. He also benefited from the shrewd casting of Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine, three expert purveyors of ersatz emotion and hollow laughs.

The talented cast in the remake doesn't specialize in that kind of hucksterism or exaggerated vividness that Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton brought to the original. The actresses in the remake, even the normally fierce Ms. Woodard, give quiet, skillful performances in roles that barely exist, except as vehicles for wisecracks and outrageousness. They come across as prosperous New Jersey suburbanites rather than stereotypes of Southern eccentricity, which may sound like an improvement but just makes the whole project feel insubstantial. Condola Rashad plays Shelby in the remake of Phylicia Rashad's original film, while Adepero Oduye plays Annelle. Male roles are less significant in the remake, with basketball superstar Julius Erving appearing as a minister. Details have been altered to reflect the new racial makeup and period, such as referencing Michelle Obama and a more organized wedding scene. However, the original quote "Life goes on" remains intact, recited by both white and black actresses, highlighting the resilience of life.

In the past two weeks, two horror movies have been released in America, focusing on young American nuns arriving in Italy to discover a sinister plan by a demonic faction of the Catholic Church to impregnate women. The first movie, The First Omen, is a prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 classic, The Omen, about an American couple who secretly adopt their son as the child of Satan. Wes Craven, a renowned filmmaker, emphasized that the horror genre began providing images of torture around the time the real world became filled with such images. The First Omen, directed by Arkasha Stevenson, incorporates what's happening in society at large into its genre tale of creepy occurrences behind cloistered walls. In 1971, Rome is seized by protests, and young novitiate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) asks her mentor, Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), about the turmoil. He explains that the Church is among those institutions where these young people have lost trust and faith.

The film cuts between the chaos in the streets and the chaos in Margaret's mind. She becomes intrigued by Carlita Skianna (Nicole Sorace), one of the girls at the orphanage where she serves. Carlita is quiet, odd, and unable to play with others, and the nuns often send her to "the Bad Room," a sort of solitary confinement for unruly girls. Margaret sees something of herself in the girl and tries to forge a bond with her. When a rogue priest (Ralph Ineson) warns her that Carlita might be marked with the sign of the Beast, and that she might have been bred by the Church specifically to give birth to the Anti-Christ, Margaret is in denial. The First Omen is a horror film that explores the concept of loss of control and helplessness. The priest, who receives information about the Omen, is revealed in a gruesome opening scene featuring Charles Dance. The film is a mix of horror and science fiction, with images that are both textured and shocking, tapping into visceral fears. The film features black veils, monstrous figures, and grimy claws pawing at delicate female flesh. The film also features drawings on walls whispering dark nothings and black habits hanging on hooks that come to life with a burst of wind and a queasy glance. The film is a true horror film that leaves the audience with more questions than answers, highlighting the need for an active horror franchise.

In 1964, professional ice skater and animal trainer Dave Pitts encountered a young hitchhiker who was on a killing spree. The story was fictionalized in Conrad Hilberry's book "Luke Karamazov," which is the source of "He Went That Way," the feature directing debut of cinematographer Jeff Darling. Jacob Elordi plays Bobby, the nasty, brash killer, while Zachary Quinto plays Jim, the diffident trainer. Jim has troubles, including a wobbly marriage, debt, and bad work prospects for the chimp. Bobby is apt to add to his woes, but the two bond anyway. Elordi's performance in "He Went That Way" lacks the discipline he applied to his work in "Priscilla" and "Saltburn." The film is laboriously quirky, with an indifferent script that feeds Elordi almost as much profanity as Al Pacino uses in "Scarface." The best entertainment is archival footage of the actual Spanky ice-skating, but the rest of the movie is not worth watching. "He Went That Way" is a mid-century indie film that tells the true story of Dave Pitts, an ice-skating chimpanzee who was a star in the Ice Capades. The film stars Australian cinematographer Jeffrey Darling and adapts the book "Luke Karamazov" by Conrad Hillberry. However, the film fails to find a steady tone, veers off into bizarre subplots, and features two underwhelming performances from the talented lead duo. Set in 1964, the story begins with an in medias res development involving a dead body and flashes back a few weeks earlier. Zachary Quinto's Jim Goodwin is driving his rickety old van through Death Valley when he picks up Jacob Elordi's Bobby, a lanky and movie star-handsome stranger. Bobby claims to be an Air Force veteran who has been roaming America and is now trying to reunite with his girlfriend in Milwaukee. Jim is driving to Chicago, and the movie is heavy with symbolism about the uncertainty of America in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, the Vietnam War, and social protests. The chimp, played by an actor in motion capture (with some puppetry as well), never really seems like an actual chimp. There's something sad about the idea of a chimp taken from West Africa, forced to train for hundreds of hours, and turned into a costumed performer who is now spending most of its life in a small cage in the back of a van. Zachary Quinto delivers icy and distant work as Jim, while Jacob Elordi goes way over the top, as if he had watched "Rebel Without a Cause" a dozen times and decided to turn up the James Dean impersonation to an 11. "He Went That Way" ends as it began with a series of self-conscious and eccentric developments that feel inauthentic and forced.

LOOT, a comedy show, explores the theme of billionaires and their relationships, showcasing sarcasm and irony. The show leaves viewers with cliffhangers and a focus on friendship, love, and life-changing decisions. The show's surprises and honesty make it difficult to predict what Molly and her cohorts will do next. Jazz is a highlight, lasting at least three hours. Despite not always being taken seriously, LOOT provides valuable insights into how to solve some of the country's problems. Fans appreciate the brave, thought-provoking moments while still making them laugh out loud. Kudos to LOOT for its humorous and entertaining content. In Loot Season 2 Episode 10, Molly and Grace appear on a magazine cover with the title "We Shouldn't Exist: A New Type of Billionaire." Norman Lofton wants to tour a "Space for Everyone location" and funds it, but Arthur calls their almost-kiss a mistake. Ainsley tells Sofia how inspiring she is for always putting others before herself, which shakes her. Molly talks with her about Isaac and encourages her to take the leap if she truly loves him. Nickie gets a call from a Korean woman, possibly his birth mother, who is interested in him for a role that would take him to Korea for six months. When she meets him, she encounters a group of men in robes and masks who threaten her activities and demand she cease them. The leader of the group is Norman, who tells her she's crazy for upsetting the natural order of things. Molly doesn't want to join them, but she and Grace decide to start their own group, finding people who care about humanity. However, the group swayed Grace over to their side, as she realized she loves money too much. Sofia shows up at one of Isaac's shows and stops her from talking more with a kiss. When Sofia texts Molly about her successful "leap" with Isaac, Molly is convicted to share her feelings with Arthur. The expansion of Space for Everyone isn't looking promising after the reveal of the cult of billionaires, but Loot pulls off the absurd characterization of billionaires. The finale may not be an impressive finale, but the charismatic cast makes the most of it, making the characters lovable and flawed.

In Episode 9 of Loot Season 2, the show takes a more serious tone with emotional swells, payoffs, and downbeat drama. The episode revolves around Isaac and Sofia, who are both struggling with their pasts and the future. Isaac decides to pursue music as a career, which alarms Sofia, who dismisses it as a midlife crisis. This highlights the fundamental differences between them, as they would never drop their entire lives for music. Grace, who helped attract billionaire donors to Space For Everyone, returns to work at the Wells Foundation, but his success is short-lived. John, on the cusp of launching his rocket, Molly-1, publicly implies that he and Molly are back together. However, most Space For Everyone donors hate John, leading some to refuse to work with Molly. Molly-1 explodes during takeoff, possibly killing John. However, he reveals to Molly that he orchestrated the disaster to try and win her back, choosing a moment when Molly has just had a personal realization that she's in love with someone else. This episode serves as a reminder that Loot is one of the better comedy shows airing right now and deserves more respect than it gets. In "Mood Vibrations," Molly and Arthur are forced to spend quality time together, but are distracted by their phones. The finale promises to bring them closer. Howard's attempts at running a wrestling league go wrong, with no hotdogs, speedos, or a double-booked venue. Nicholas is on hand for logistical backup, but Howard is defeated. He wants to cancel the event, but Nicholas refuses. Howard and Nicholas main event the show themselves, putting on a fun match with the Wells Foundation crew. Nicholas shows a softer side to himself and is a true friend to Howard. The payoff is that they have put too much effort in and will never forgive themselves.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 8, the Wells Foundation team brainstorms ways to raise money for the "Space for Everyone" project. Sofia proposes a list of billionaires to ask for donations, including Grace, an old friend of Molly's who is newly divorced. Grace agrees to give the foundation $11 billion, but Molly struggles to accept it. She spends time with Grace in Iceland, while Sofia returns to work. Howard helps Nicholas learn Korean for an audition but goes too far when he suggests they go on a trip to Korea together. This disheartens Nicholas, who feels like he's not Korean enough. When Howard learns this, he promises to be there for him. Molly struggles to get through to Grace, but she shares her experiences following her divorce and how she discovered she could lead people and make a better world. Grace calls into the foundation with the pledge to give them all her money, and other billionaires also want to contribute. Sofia has to hand the money to Molly, as she was right to be there for Grace. The plot of the season progresses in a significant and meaningful way, with Molly finding a more joyful life in helping others rather than spending her money on meaningless frills. In "Loot" Season 2 Episode 8, Molly and Sofia's meeting with Grace reveals a mirror image of Molly's previous difficulties following her divorce. Grace is in a cycle of self-destruction, using drugs, alcohol, and reckless behavior to soothe her agony. Molly decides to get to know Grace personally instead of taking the money. She stays longer in Iceland to help Grace, while Sofia goes back to work. Molly's choice to travel with Grace to Iceland reflects her awareness of Grace's need for a confidant during her turbulent downward spiral. However, Grace's misery is worsened by her downward spiral, which ends with the party DJ rejecting her. Molly's use of alcohol as a coping strategy reflects Grace's difficulties and highlights their mutual suffering. Sofia struggles after learning about Arthur's relationship with Willa, forcing her to address Arthur's boundary concerns. Sofia sets up a public show of affection with Isaac to express her discomfort, challenging Arthur's assumptions and emphasizing the importance of having boundaries. The episode explores empathy, individual limits, and the complexity of interpersonal relationships as characters work through personal challenges and consider the nature of closeness and connection. Nicholas confides in Howard about his problem with cultural identification and how he feels cut off from both his Asian background and his American culture. Howard highlights Nicholas's story as representative of many immigrants navigating cultural assimilation in America while demonstrating empathy and providing support and understanding.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 7, Molly's growing attraction to Arthur is confirmed when she meets him in his boxers. She confides in Nicholas, who suggests hosting a work retreat to grow closer. Molly proposes a retreat at her palace in Dubai, which Sofia agrees on. However, her confidence takes a hit when she meets Willa, who has been dating Arthur for a few weeks. Molly tries to change the retreat to show her down-to-earth nature, but everyone except Arthur is upset when they learn they will be going to a cabin in the San Bernadino Mountains instead of Dubai. Sofia and Howard bond over the fire while sharing tales of their childhood friendships. Nicholas sets up a meal for Molly and Arthur, and they have a great time together. However, Molly becomes angry when Arthur brings up Willa and how happy she made him. She drives off in a rage and hits a naked Rhonda, who has been skinny-dipping. Rhonda and Molly end up okay, but Molly decides to focus on herself and her work. The next day, she tells Sofia she wants to do "Space for Everyone" across the country, but Sofia stops her with the statement that she doesn't have enough money. This is a departure from Loot's previous vagueness about Molly's wealth, as it now matters for the "Space for Everyone" project. While the drama of the episode was enjoyable, there was no attempt to provide a strong secondary plotline. Instead, the focus should be on Howard and Sofia's conversations. The episode begins with Molly accidentally walking into a hidden bathroom at work where Arthur is changing, leading to awkwardness between the two. Molly admits her feelings for Arthur to Nicholas, who tells her that Arthur confessed his feelings for her while in Corsica. Nicholas proposes a work retreat for them to figure out their feelings about each other. Molly and the team, including Sofia, are excited to go to Dubai, but soon discover that Arthur may not be as available as they had hoped. The rest of the episode is a standard rom-com-style series of events where Molly acts jealous of Willa, projecting her feelings onto everyone else. This is uncomfortable and cringey, but Maya Rudolph chooses her moments of vulnerability to make Molly still happy. After meeting Willa, Molly spirals and looks up Willa's Instagram account, believing she can't compete with her down-to-earth nature-loving friend. Nicholas convinces Molly that she's not out of the running for Arthur. Molly decides to change her work trip from Dubai to a cabin in San Bernardino, California instead of Dubai. She speculates that Arthur might want someone more laid back, so she decides to stay in San Bernardino instead. Ainsley is the only one not present for this information, and the rest of the episode is spent stuck at the Dubai airport. Sofia and Howard bond over the change in plans from Dubai to a cabin, as they both had terrible camp experiences as kids and aren't keen to relive it. They try to find reception to distract themselves on their phones, but are unsuccessful. Howard mentions building a fire, which he actually does.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 6, Sofia attends work in casual wear for the first time, despite having slept over at Isaac's and forgetting to bring a change of clothes. The team teases her about their relationship getting serious, but she insists on keeping it casual. Isaac offers to buy her a ticket to the Hollywood Bowl, but she tells him this isn't working. Molly participates as a model in LA Fashion Week, themed "Women Who Rule," but starts feeling her age and losing confidence. Nicholas offers to put her through an intense beauty regimen to make her feel younger and beautiful again. However, the regimen involves TikTok dances and headstands, which Molly can't handle. She takes a supplement, which is mostly herbal, and Arthur arrives at the show wearing the same outfit as the security guards. Molly is incredibly high during the show, and she has to be escorted off stage and taken to the hospital. The same model who offered her the pill ends up there as well, and when asked to be in one of her videos, Molly refuses. When Sofia returns home, Isaac doesn't realize they have broken up, but they go inside together. Michaela Jae Rodriguez plays Sofia's freak out about commitment, and the chemistry between her and O-T Fagbenle is lovely. Molly's arc is hard to get invested in, except for Maya Rudolph. It seems that Loot has lost its anti-billionaire focus when Nicholas reminds Molly she has billions to spend on her beauty regimen, and nobody blinks an eye. "Loot" follows Molly Novak, a philanthropist who faces a divorce and finds herself in a world of wealth and instability. After receiving a $87 billion settlement, she finds purpose through her philanthropic foundation. Molly embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reconnecting with society and immersing herself in philanthropy. The second season has been popular, and viewers eagerly anticipate the next installment. On "The Cup" morning show, Molly Novak suffers a loss and struggles to express her devotion to her homeless project. Speculation about her relationship with Isaac and Sofia's relationship is also prevalent, with coworkers questioning the depth of their connection. The show promises to be a thrilling ride as Molly navigates her newfound sense of fulfillment.

Loot Season 2 Episode 5 begins on Molly's birthday, which she no longer celebrates due to last year's fiasco. After receiving an unwanted gift from John, Molly decides it's time to sell her megayacht to Swedish billionaire Emil. Arthur helps her go over the paperwork and they spend time together at the mall, where Molly experiences nostalgia from a time before she was rich. Arthur reminisces about his past, including getting in trouble with an officer. Molly buys the mall to keep the people there in work and renovate it. Meanwhile, others prepare for fieldwork for the Space for Everyone hotel, and Sofia organizes a competition to get signatures for the project. Nicholas and Howard encounter a wronged ex of Nicholas' and another ex at a juice bar. Howard encourages Nicholas to apologize to those he has wronged, leading to growth as a person. When everyone reunites, Molly decides to do something for her birthday, and Nicholas proposes Mariah Carey live in Vegas. Arthur can't join because he has to pick up his daughter, but he gets Molly an engraved picture frame from the mall. Molly is smitten with the nice guy, and they are pretty precious together. The picture frame from Arthur symbolizes that it's time to simplify Molly's life and chase after what's truly good. Although not a deep message, it makes for enjoyable storytelling. Loot Season 2 Episode 5 is a warm and moving episode that showcases the evolving relationship between Molly and Arthur. The episode, "Mally's," is a reminder of the Season 1 finale and allows Molly to spend the rest of the episode with Arthur. Arthur accompanies Molly to meet with a Swedish billionaire named Emil, who is purchasing her superyacht. Emil's assistant, Bjarke, is twelve years old, and they spend time in the local mall. The episode showcases the earnest character development between Molly and Arthur, as they see how Molly's wealth has isolated her from normality and how much she misses everyday things. Arthur, in his bumbling way, represents these things. Both characters are clearly into each other, but Molly is warmest about Arthur when she sees him helping an old lady. Molly lies about the time Emil is taking to sign the contract as an excuse to spend more time with Arthur. They continue to mess around in the mall until they are taken into the back room by security, presumably for a stern telling off. Fortunately, when you're a billionaire, these things don't really apply. Molly buys the mall instead, and Arthur suggests calling it "Mally's," the title of the episode.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 4, Molly's horniness causes Sofia to advise her to forget about swearing off men for casual sex. Molly resolves to recenter herself at a retreat to conquer her desire, but her desire gets out of hand when handsome actor Benjamin Bratt arrives. Howard and Arthur audition people for the role of the Heel in their new wrestling league, but each person feels too mean. Ainsley struggles with her own problems, such as making a seating chart for her wedding. After a phone call from Nicholas, Howard and Arthur realize that Nicholas is the perfect Heel for their league. Molly and Benjamin get kicked out for sneaking around at the retreat, leading to a one-night stand. Molly returns to work happier and less horny, much to Sofia's relief. The episode has charming moments, but the focus on Molly's current journey is colder. The question remains: will we ever refocus on the "Space for Everyone" project? What is Molly doing to give away her billions if she's comfortable spending money on an expensive retreat? And why is Sofia, the moral paragon of the show, less concerned about Molly's getting laid than the show's critique of one-percenters? Sofia, a observant and honest friend, finds her billionaire partner Molly horny and unable to water a single herb without her drooling over him. Molly's recent search history, revealed at a team meeting, forces Sofia to take action. She admits to her boss that Molly is horny and feels weird, and suggests she go to a bar for sex. Molly appreciates Sofia's hyping of her melons but is not one to just have a one-night stand. Instead, she has booked a meditation retreat at a Malibu wellness center to refocus and re-center herself after her first relationship post-divorce ended in disaster. The retreat is a low bar, as there was water involved, making it a low bar for Molly's cravings. The episode of Loot and Loot is a strong example of the writing on the show. The story revolves around Molly, a character who has been burned twice in a row and is hesitant to put herself out there. The episode uses the Jean-Pierre fiasco to develop Molly's character, highlighting her reluctance to put herself out there and her fear of getting hurt in a relationship again. Molly attends a retreat where she is paired up with Benjamin Bratt, a single, hottest version of Benjamin Bratt. He tells Molly he is a fan of her charity work and sometimes works out to her Silver Moon Summit speech. Molly struggles to sit down correctly after this, and they are instructed to face each other and touch each other's hearts while maintaining eye contact. This episode showcases Loot's ability to add layers to a character while also providing a hilarious plot. Overall, the episode showcases the strength of the writing on Loot.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 3, Molly is excited to see Nicholas in his upcoming play, "Vengeance Falls," and invites his parents to attend as a surprise. Nicholas is embarrassed by his conservative parents' support and tries to explain that he has a great relationship with them. Molly believes that if Nicholas puts in the work like she does, he could have a more open relationship with them. To prove to Nicholas that she can be alone, Molly gives him and the rest of the staff the day off. Sofia tries to get Howard to finish a presentation for the "Space for Everyone" project, but is distracted when he receives a notification of a Taylor Swift concert. Howard tries to prove that Sofia is a Swiftie, but she denies it. He even makes a presentation to prove Sofia is a fan, showing that she asked off work the same day as the concert. Sofia admits she is a Swiftie and that she made up her great aunt to be taken seriously. Howard understands and promises not to tell anyone, and they fangirl together over theories about the music. Back at Molly's place, the billionaire is doing a good job at being alone, but she gets into bed and the smoke alarm starts beeping. After an intense battle with it, she fails to take out its batteries and decides to put it in her panic room, but it locks behind her, leaving her trapped inside. In "Vengeance Falls," Nicholas, who is alerted when the panic room locks, helps Molly out of her room. Molly is embarrassed about her inability to do anything alone, but Nicholas encourages her. She apologizes for giving him advice about his parents, but he admits she wasn't entirely wrong. The episode ends with Nicholas showing up at his parents' place, asking them out for dinner and sharing a commercial he booked. This episode is the most wittily written and delivered of Loot so far, allowing it to function more simply as a classic sitcom episode with likable characters who go through funny escapades and learn life lessons. Ron Funches is endearing as Howard, while Maya Rudolph's fight against her smoke detector is both absurd and relatable. The ending between Nicholas and his parents is sweet and shows that, despite Molly's unreasonable expectations, small steps can be made to build bridges.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 2, Molly and Nicholas watch Clueless and compare Molly to Cher. Molly wants to swear off men, while Cher wants to help her friends out with love. They meet with architect Issac at a hotel for the Space for Everyone project, but they both butt heads. Molly arranges a meeting between them, and they hit it off great. Molly gives Sofia his number, but she sends him embarrassing texts, which he ignores. When Molly uses her security detail to track down Isaac at a bar, Sofia confronts him. Arthur learns about Howard's financial difficulties and suggests selling some of his assets. Howard sets up a stand at a wrestling match to sell his memorabilia, but Arthur offers to invest so Howard can start a wrestling league for his wrestling heroes. At the bar, Sofia finds herself in the middle of a memorial birthday party for a friend of Isaac's who had passed away. Isaac finds the situation amusing and asks her out again, and she agrees. Molly is happy for Sofia, but as she watches the end of Clueless, she feels lonely. The storyline is strong, with comparisons to Clueless being apt and watching Michaela Jae Rodriguez fight falling for someone. It also continues Molly's inner war of wanting to come out from the shadow of her ex, which makes sense as she wants to swear off men.

In Loot Season 2 Episode 1, Molly Wells is not living up to her promise to donate her money to the foundation's Alameda Street Project, which was canceled by the city. She and Sofia must find another way to help unhoused people or risk losing her credibility. Molly also faces interference from her ex-husband John, who believes they are meant to be together after having sex in Corsica. Molly insists that John needs space right now. Howard and Nicholas intervene in Arthur's life at work, seeing his new leather bracelet as a midlife crisis or a cry for help after losing Molly to John in Corsica. Sofia finds a solution in Noah Hope-Devore, a former billionaire who funneled his money into Hope 2.0, a philanthropy platform designed to find the most statistically optimal way to save lives. They set up a meeting with him, and Molly agrees to invest 120 billion dollars into Noah's model. Molly fears that if she can't do it, she will only be known for being rich guy's ex-wife. After talking with Arthur, she feels better about her mistake. Later, Molly discovers Howard has secretly been living in her guest house, and when he notes her lack of space, she pitches her idea to Sofia, "Space for Everyone." When the foundation announces the new initiative, people praise Molly, but John releases a video announcing he will be leading the Novak Aeronautics team into space, thanks Molly for inspiring him. Loot Season 2 revolves around Molly's personal journey and her financial struggles, providing most of the show's commentary. Despite its strong premise, the show's humor has not improved since last season, turning serious topics into cloying ones. Despite this, the show continues to poke fun at Molly, holding her accountable as a billionaire. While there is room for improvement in tact and wit in satirizing the rich, the show's future remains hopeful. Overall, the show's strong premise and continued poking fun of Molly make it a worthwhile watch.

Concert movies are a common way for artists to monetize events, but the quality of the music and the live performance show are crucial factors in making an exceptional concert film. Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball, filmed live at Dodgers Stadium in California with over 52,000 monsters in attendance, represents multiple eras of her music in a visually striking love letter to her extensive catalogue. The film features seamless editing, trippy visuals, projection, strobing lights, flashy pyrotechnics, and intricate dance moves, making it one of Gaga's best ever performances. The concert splits into four distinct acts, topped off by a jaw-dropping finale. While some staples may be absent, Chromatica Ball gets an awful lot right about what a dream Gaga setlist would be, including some deeper cuts. The full catwalk, constantly changing set, and multiple costume changes add an extra burst of pizazz. Bizarre interludes for Chromatica carry us over into different elements of the show, with visuals onscreen melding with the images, such as effects during "Telephone." Gaga's flawless vocals are paired with masterful stage design, and the stage itself is a constantly moving tapestry of beauty. Big, booming instrumentals each have their moment to shine, with "Babylon" serving as an iconic, gold-tinged highlight. In summary, Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball is an epic concert that showcases her diverse musical eras and the power of her live performance show. Fans can now enjoy a front row ticket to her most ambitious show yet, thanks to Gaga herself. Gaga's variety show, Gaga Chromatica Ball, is a captivating performance that showcases her greatest hits. She effortlessly transitions from high-energy fun to inspirational themes, and her piano performances are particularly impressive. Gaga's ability to incorporate her true feelings without making them into a pep talk is evident, as she encourages the audience to celebrate their pride and makes "Born This Way" a major part of the show. Her personality is filtered through every frame, creating a deeply touching portrait of Mother Monster without requiring talking head interviews. The show falls within the realm of a concert movie, leaving viewers feeling as if they were in the room with the thousands of other Monsters. While it is unclear how strongly people will connect to this, those with a casual interest in Gaga's sound or persona are likely to be watching. A concert movie is about giving back to the warm, accepting masses that have loved Gaga since the beginning. The show leaves a lasting impression on the audience, whether they are wiping away tears from emotional ballads or singing along to the lyrics from the comfort of their living room.

Exclusively On Max May 28. 2024.

Disney's animated output has been a predictable laze in recent years, with a focus on mass market appeal and sequels. However, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon serves as a reminder of Disney's ability to transport audiences to a beautifully crafted universe and tell fresh stories. The film follows Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a young girl who lives in the fragmented world of Kumandra, split into different warring clans after the evil Druun led to the sacrifice of the dragons they had once lived peacefully alongside. Years later, Raya finds herself on a dangerous quest to bring everyone together with the help of the last dragon Sisu (Awkwafina). Set in a fictionalized version of south-east Asia, the voice cast is almost entirely of actors of Asian descent. The film's diversity sells, but its positioning of a female lead is an unfortunate misstep. Raya is the driving force behind the action-led plot and is focused on her family, mission, and friendship with Sisu. Tran's steeliness is well-matched with Awkwafina's goofy comedy, and their buddy comedy back-and-forth is funny without bordering on the "this one's for the adults" smugness that can often seep into post-Shrek animation. The intricate and immersive world of Raya and the Druun is visually escapist Disney films, with the design of the dragons feeling a little cheap in comparison to everything else. The script, from Crazy Rich Asians screenwriter Adele Lim and playwright Qui Nguyen, aims to offer simple life lessons along with the adventure, urging unity over division. Raya and the Last Dragon is a charming, sweet-natured YA-leaning adventure that serves as proof that Disney needs to focus on moving forward rather than continuing to look back. The film tells the story of Raya, who has long heard the stories of the last dragon from her father Benja. The dragons united their forces into a stone, and one named Sisu used it to stop the pending apocalypse. She sacrificed herself in the process, although rumors persist that she survived. The stone resides with Benja and Raya's people when the film begins, but the other clans steal it, break it into pieces, and scatter it across the land. Years later, Raya goes on a quest to find Sisu and the fragments of the stone, trying to bring her people back together and fulfill her father's vision of loyalty. Along the way, they are chased by the princess of a clan seeking full power named Namaari. Along the way, they encounter several memorable supporting characters, including the gregarious Boun, one-eyed Tong, and even a "con baby," a kid who uses her cuteness as an alley con artist. All of these lively characters were impacted by the stone's fragmentation, and they form an unforgettable core in this old-fashioned adventure movie that recalls everything from Indiana Jones to "Princess Mononoke." "Raya and the Last Dragon" is a unique and unforgettable film that explores themes of fallibility and courage, blending mythology with its own past, present, and future. Despite the closure of theaters in recent years, many films have been overlooked, but "Raya and the Last Dragon" is a unique and memorable experience that will undoubtedly find its audience. The film is a testament to the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit, making it a must-watch for fans of history.

Emily Blunt's performance in Netflix's Pain Hustlers is a rare lead role, as she is not chased by aliens or forced to banter with Dwayne Johnson. Blunt's magnetism is both blessing and curse for director David Yates, as it gives the film a pulse it doesn't deserve or always know what to do with. The film follows Liza, a quick-thinking single mom who resorts to body over brain to make a buck and takes a job at a strip club to make ends meet. She meets Pete, a miscast Chris Evans, who suggests she take a job back at the startup. To his surprise, she excels at the role, pushing rival sales reps out of the way and insisting herself into the lives of doctors she's trying to seduce into prescribing her pain-killing medication containing fentanyl.

The movie is mostly involving, shocking us with the gnarly details of an American system that puts far too much control over people's wellbeing in the hands of those who care very little about it. Blunt makes for a captivating Erin Brockovich-lite, sauntering into doctor's offices flaunting her figure to those who underestimate her intelligence and showing off her rarely flexed muscle for comedy. However, director David Yates is no Soderbergh, and the film never moves with the same confidence as she does. The Netflix version of the film looks as cheap and flat as a Kissing Booth sequel, a surreal discordance when compared to Blunt's radiance. The film's excess of it all as the good fortune skyrockets is too shoddy-looking for us to feel any secondhand thrill. Yates's decision to splice janky black-and-white interviews with the characters is also an unforgivably bad one, an attempt at style that only shows what little the film has. The movie "Pain Hustlers" follows the decline of a pharmaceutical company and its subsequent decline, with the script by Wells Tower being written with a heavy hand. The film's scale of the opioid epidemic is horrifying, but it lacks the necessary jaw-drop and heft that could have been contained in the book. Blunt remains committed to the end, but the pleasure of seeing her on screen is replaced with the pain of another undeserving project. The film begins with a staged black and white documentary, where Pete Brenner (Chris Evans) explains his shock and disappointment that Liza would betray him. Liza begins as a mystery woman with a GED education who brought down an empire. Wells Tower's congested screenplay concerns the desperation Liza feels as she and her daughter Phoebe are evicted from her sister's garage and Phoebe is battling seizures from a lethal medical condition. They move to a motel with potential future episodes. Liza needs a break when Pete appears at her strip club and they begin to talk. Pete offers her a job, promising her six figures in her bank account before the end of the year. Pete works for a floundering pharmaceutical startup founded by Jack Neel (Andy Garcia), selling fentanyl, a drug they promise isn't addictive and works better and quicker than usual pain relief for cancer patients.

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is the conclusion to last year's highly anticipated film, Kill Bill. The film follows the Bride (Uma Thurman) as she tries to dispose of the last three members on her revenge list: Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), Budd (Michael Madsen), and Bill (David Carradine). Tarantino had promised that Vol. 2 would be more of the classic Tarantino style with slick dialogue, pop culture references, and bad-ass characters, but it may be his most talky film to date. Carradine's Bill is revealed in the flesh at the beginning of Vol. 2, making him less intimidating than in Vol. 1. While Carradine is effective in the role, he lacks the flair for Tarantino's dialogue delivery mastered by Sam Jackson, John Travolta, and Michael Madsen. Warren Beatty, originally cast as Bill, might have done better with the part. Michael Madsen's character Budd is also revealed in greater detail in Vol. 2, but the problem with Budd is the character himself. He seems little more than a washed up hick, and his training from his past is never displayed in the film. The fight scene between Elle Driver and The Bride is the film's shining moment, and Tarantino has once again proven his skill for fight sequences. In the two volumes of Bill, Tarantino has crafted some of the most exciting and fresh action since John Woo's Hong Kong cinema work of the late Eighties. The film Vol. 2 has a slow pacing, more reminiscent of Tarantino's Jackie Brown than Vol. 1. The first half of the film is primarily about backstory, with scenes about The Bride, Bill, and Elle Driver. The film could have been cut down to speed up the pace. On a second viewing, the film moved quicker, but many scenes seemed unnecessarily lengthy. Both films feature sequences that could be easily lost, especially Vol. 2. Tarantino could have combined the two into one incredible revenge epic, but it is not necessary to cut the films in two. While longer films result in less showings per day and lower box office take, a three-hour version could have been more spectacular and audiences would have made time for it. Three-hour films have been successful in the past, including the soppy boat thingamagig at the top of the all-time box office list. Quentin, if you happen to read this, could you consider a re-cut Kill Bill film combining, rearranging, and reordering the entire film into one tight three-hour film?

"Kill Bill, Volume 1" showcases Quentin Tarantino's mastery of martial arts techniques, resembling a virtuoso violinist racing through "Flight of the Bumble Bee" or an accordion prodigy setting a speed record for "Lady of Spain." The movie's story is a distillation of the universe of martial arts movies, elevated to a trancelike mastery of the material. Tarantino's story engine is revenge, with the opening scene where Bill kills all members of a bridal party and leaves The Bride (Uma Thurman) for dead. She survives in a coma and is awakened by a mosquito's buzz, reminding us of Manny Farber's definition of the auteur theory.

The Bride is no Emily Dickinson, but she reverses her paralysis in her legs by "focusing." She vows vengeance on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, and as "Volume 1" concludes, she is about half-finished. She wipes out Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Kill Bill: Vol 1 , is a film by Tarantino, features a blend of black and white, slo-mo, and bleeped names for effect. The animated sequence, which takes us to Tokyo and introduces O-Ren, is sneaky and allows Tarantino to deal with material that might seem too real in live action. The scene deals with a Mafia kingpin's pedophilia, which works well in animated long shots but would get the movie an NC-17 in live action. Before arriving in Tokyo, The Bride obtains a sword from retired Hattori Hanzo, who is hesitant to use it. Later, the sword must face Go Yubari, O-Ren's teenage bodyguard and a major in medieval studies, who uses the mace and chain as her weapon. Thurman wears a costume identical to Bruce Lee's from his last film, which is not intended as coincidence or impersonation. The Hannah character whistles the theme from "Twisted Nerve" (1968), which could be a leakage between parallel universes in the movies. Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), Budd (Michael Madsen), and Bill (David Carradine). The movie is all storytelling and no story, with motivations having no psychological depth or resonance. The characters consist of their characteristics, suggesting a parallel universe where all of this makes sense in the same way that a superhero's origin story makes sense. In a sequence where The Bride single-handedly wipes out O-Ren and her entire team, including the Crazy 88 Fighters, we are reminded of Neo fighting the clones of Agent Smith in "The Matrix Reloaded," except the Crazy 88 Fighters are individual human beings. The Bride wins because she kills everybody without getting killed herself, and as far as the martial arts genre is concerned, it might as well be the heroine. All major characters except Bill are women, with the men being emasculated right out of the picture.

'Zapped' is a movie that reevaluates the world of cinema and makes viewers question whether it truly deserves a half-star rating. The premise of the movie, 'Girl has a smartphone app which lets her voice-command males', should have been abandoned and the idea should have been sent back to the porn studio. The movie's lack of realism and unrealistic portrayal of the characters makes it difficult to enjoy. The male-love interest calls the heroine'smartphone', as she has a smartphone. He also hangs out in a replica 60's diner with the chess team or sits in class in a leather jacket and sunglasses. In another scene, the two leads meet in a park and share perspectives on 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. The movie makes viewers feel bad and stupid for giving their time to it, making them feel bad and stupid for having given their time to it. 'Zapped' is not just a bad movie, but a bad one on every level. Cthulhu have mercy on us all. Zapped is a story about teenager Zoey Stevens, a perfectionist and skilled dancer who finds herself in a new house and school with a loud stepfather and three accident-prone stepbrothers. Zoey struggles with her new environment and the boys at her school. When she discovers a dog training app on her phone, she uses it to control boys' behavior and creates change. Her love interest, Jackson, and her dance nemesis, Taylor, stand out as perfect for her. The film follows the antics and misadventures of these unique circumstances, with Zoey's best friend Rachel highlighting the genre's shortcomings. The movie is highly polished and well-acted, with comedic moments from Zoey's best friend Rachel. Zoey reflects on her behavior and questions whether it is the best choice to manipulate others, especially her family and the dance crew she is directing. Taylor challenges her in unexpected ways, but Zoey sees the power of motivation coming from their heart. When she chooses to accept people as they are, she integrates herself more fully into their lives, leading to success for everyone involved. The movie is based on Leslie Margolis' popular book Boys are Dogs and follows Zoey's journey as she navigates her new environment and the challenges she faces.

Netflix's "Thelma the Unicorn" is a humorous animated feature adaptation of the 2015 children's book by Aaron Blabey. The film follows a female pony, Thelma, who disguises herself as a magical creature to pursue musical stardom. The adaptation marks the animated feature debut for co-directors Jared Hess and Lynn Wang, who received an Oscar nomination for their handcrafted animated short "Ninety-Five Senses" about a Death Row inmate. Thelma betrays herself and those who truly know her, making it a far cry from the universe where humans coexist with talking animals. The film is a departure from the traditional animated series genre. "Thelma the Unicorn" is a computer-animated film directed by Brittany Howard and starring Otis and Reggie. The film tells the story of Thelma, a mischievous and mischievous animal who works at a farm with her bandmates Otis and Reggie. The Rusty Buckets, a band that has failed to qualify for a major music festival, becomes a sensation when Thelma transforms into a glittery pink fake unicorn. Viral video footage convinces unscrupulous manager Vic Diamond (Jemaine Clement), who seeks to transform Thelma into his next success. The film also leans towards a cynical parody of the music industry, with scenes involving Nikki Narwhal (Ally Dixon) and Vic discussing the perils of the business. Once signed with Vic, Thelma enters into a fabricated romance with a famous horse, and there's even a jab at artificial intelligence when a computer writes an idiotic hit single about cud. The visuals of "Thelma the Unicorn" are uninspired, with most human characters appearing as if they could be plugged into a "Despicable Me" movie without anyone noticing. The animals could walk on stage in "Sing" as if they had always belonged there. However, the Hess duo interject bizarre humor into their screenplay via background characters, giving us a glimpse into their inner lives. The collection of tangential moments rings more memorable than the core narrative and its obvious message. Although not as offbeat as last year's "Leo," "Thelma the Unicorn" has enough gutsy flourishes to redeem it.

"Unfrosted" is a live action leading film directed by Jerry Seinfeld, featuring Bob Cabana as a fictional cereal flack who revolutionizes the breakfast industry. The film is based on the real-life life of William Post, who helped create Pop-Tarts. Seinfeld portrays the launch of a mylar-wrapped, shelf-stable, heatable pastry as a technological innovation on the scale of the space race and the Manhattan Project. The film is as estranged from the facts as Pop-Tarts are from genuine fruit. Battle Creek, Michigan, was ground zero of a Cold War rivalry between Kellogg's and General Foods to sell a breakfast that broke free from the need for a bowl and spoon. General Foods' owner Marjorie Post (Amy Schumer) enlists Nikita Khrushchev (Dean Norris) in her cause, while the dimwitted head of Kellogg's allows his company to align with President John F. Kennedy (Bill Burr), Chef Boy Ardee (Bobby Moynihan), the celebrity fitness guru Jack LaLanne (James Marsden), and the early computer Univac (who acts up in ways that recall Bing's sexually charged A. I. chatbot). The film takes an even darker turn with the entrance of a vengeful milkman (Christian Slater) and a threatening figure named El Sucre (Felix Solis), who realizes millions of dollars hinge on access to his addictive white powder. "Unfrosted" is a delightful film with a touch of morbidity, following a publicity stunt where an anthropomorphic Pop-Tart cooked and served itself to the Kansas State Wildcats. The film features Snap, Crackle, and Pop performing ceremonial duties. The jokes are fast-paced, and the running time is filled with goofy detours, such as Tony the Tiger's rebellion. The scene stealer is child actor Eleanor Sweeney, who makes her debut as an opinionated taste tester. The film is filled with memorable moments and a memorable experience for viewers. "Unfrosted: The Pop-Tarts Story" is a film that explores the rivalry between breakfast cereal giants Kellogg's and Post, who compete in a processed food company's version of the space race. The film is set in 1963 and is directed, produced, co-wrote the script, and stars Jerry Seinfeld as the lead actor. The film is set in 1963 and is set in a time when cereal giants Kellogg's and Post are engaged in a space race to produce a revolutionary new breakfast treat. The film also criticizes foods, consumer products, and graphic design elements it references. The elf mascots of Kellogg's Rice Krispies, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, become overworked actors who wear costumes and play bagpipes at the funeral of a man who died testing the Pop-Tart. After the man's coffin is lowered into the earth, Kellogg's Corn Flakes rooster mascots pour boxes of cornflakes into the grave site. The film's hackery level is so high that the great Thurl Ravenscroft, who did voice-over work in recording studios, is turned into a petty, embittered, run-down, Shakespeare-trained Brit who hates his usefulness as a copyrighted character and worries that no one respects him as an artist. "Unfrosted" is available for free viewing on a streaming platform with thousands more, making it a critic-proof, artistry-proof, and audience-proof movie.

In Episode 7 of City on Fire, Sam is captivated by William's rock band but more intrigued by Nicky than frontrunner William. As she emerges from the crowd, police storm Nicky's hideout, finding evidence such as bomb tests and a secret lab next to it. Detectives McFadden and Parsa discuss this while letting the pigeons out of their cages. As they wait for Nicky's gang to make their move, Charlie shows up to see Sam and spills his truth to her. He believes she's a good person and plans to turn himself into the cops and reveal everything he knows. He also wants to say goodbye as he doesn't know when he will be back. Will introduces himself and has a proper conversation with the kids. Regan admits that she's glad she didn't ditch motherhood altogether, but William knows about her child, Regan, who gave up her semester abroad to Italy and drove to Buffalo for adoption after initially going crazy and psychotic about her inability to have an abortion. Charlie falls asleep by Sam's side and is forced to scramble for cover when the nurse shows up in the morning. Keith arrives and begins speaking to Sam, holding her hand. When Charlie notices him, he surprises him with a birthday surprise, which also gets the pair talking about Amory, "the demon brother." Charlie and his father, Farsa, are arrested after a fight over a bomb designed for a building. They are later reunited with their father and Parsa, who reveals that Nicky is motivated by money and being paid by Amory to burn down buildings in Liberty Heights. Amory's plans to acquire the land were made easier by hiring Nicky to burn down the entire neighborhood. This allowed him to apply for a Blight Decree, expropriating the land and selling it back at a low price.

Keith shows up, as he has overheard the whole thing and is not in lock-up or being interrogated. Regan also mentions that Keith is Amory's "bagman" and was told to ferry an envelope downtown for Amory in exchange for keeping Keith's secret. A bomb threat is called against Hamilton-Sweeney, and Amory is forced to evacuate. However, he skips away before everyone else, just as an arrest warrant comes in for Amory himself. Amory rides with Charlie, who tells him to stay in the car. As Charlie chases after SG, William and others catch up to Amory Gould, who is on the rooftop. His bodyguard gets involved and stabs William, prompting everyone to be too concerned with his wellbeing to stop Amory. As the episode closes out, Charlie tries to talk SG out of blowing up the building, but Sewer Girl reveals that it is down on the window washer outside. Charlie takes a leap of faith, trying to get the bomb, leading to a massive blackout and a massive blackout. The whodunit becomes less of a whodunit, as it becomes increasingly clear that Amory Gould is responsible for the shooting of Sam. He manages to escape after a big montage up on the rooftop.