Mortal Kombat (2021)

‘Mortal Kombat’ is a 2021 action movie starring Lewis Tan (Wu Assassians), Jessica McNamee (The Meg), Josh Lawson (Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues), Joe Taslim (Fast & Furious 6), Mehcad Brooks (True Blood), and Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine). So we all know Mortal Kombat is based off the popular video game from the 90’s, and was made into a popular movie from 1995 that has had a cult like following. In this version, Earths greatest warriors, the one’s with the dragon mark, are being hunted by Outworld’s best warrior, Sub-Zero, in order to ensure Outworld wins the Mortal Kombat tournament. Earth’s greatest warriors must now team up and defeat Outworld, and Sub-zero before they’re all killed off.

There is a lot of hype surrounding this movie, I’ve seen memes, video clips, posts, etc.. all hyping this movie on social media. I think the majority of it, is just the nostalgia fact of the 90s. I remember when the 1995 version came out, I saw it when I was about 8 years old, then went around the house kicking and punching and twirling around, like I was next up to compete in the tournament and fight to the death. I’ll never forget that, It wasn’t a quality movie by any means, but we all watched it for the fight scenes. Honestly, it sums up this version as well, I wouldn’t describe it as a quality movie, but the fight scenes are awesome. They did a great job nailing the nostalgia, it has a 90s feel to it the entire film. From the music, to the writing on the opening scene, to the scenery itself. If I didn’t know it was made in 2021, I would have sworn it was a 90’s movie. The acting is good, and it is filled with funny part (mostly from Kanos), the fight scenes are awesome, but overall, the story is a little cheesy and it’s more or less the nostalgia that makes it. If it wasn’t for that, not much would separate it from a fighting/action movie you could find on cable TV. I went and saw it in theaters, if that’s not an option for you, you can watch it on HBO Max. I give it a 6.5/10.

Tom and Jerry

‘Tom and Jerry’ is the 2021 family/comedy adaptation of everyone’s favorite fighting cat and mouse. They finally bring them to life and give them a shot at the big screen, it stars Chloe Grace Mortez (Kick-Ass), Michael Pena (Ant-Man), Jordan Bolger (Peaky Blinders), Pallavi Sharda (Lion), Ken Jeong (The Hangover), and Colin Jost (How to Be Single). Tom and Jerry are in the big apple, and with no where to live they both try to move into a prestigious hotel. There’s a royal wedding happening that weekend and the hotel doesn’t need a mouse problem so they hire Tom to get rid of Jerry, and now we have our classic tale of the two.

As I’ve stated in previous posts, I’m in an area where theaters are still an option, which I love, so we went to see this one in theaters. However, if you don’t have the option to see it in theaters you can catch it on HBO Max. There’s a lot of mixed reviews on this movie, most ranging in the not good and okay area. I personally don’t think it’s bad movie, but starring Chloe Grace Mortez, Pena, and Jeong I was expecting it to be a lot funnier than it was, it’s pretty slow in parts. Tom and Jerry take a back seat, and are more of a secondary story in their own movie. The main story is about Chloe Grace Mortez impersonating someone else and taking a job on at the hotel and trying to pull off coordinating the perfect wedding for the royal couple. So that’s a little offsetting, that they’re not even the main part of their own movie. On top of that Tom and Jerry become friends, which yes is good, but that’s not the Tom and Jerry we all came to know and love. We love how Tom continuously comes after Jerry with his halfcocked plans that never work out in the end. Most of their fighting and craziness is in the trailer, there’s not much outside of that. I think it’s a good heartfelt family movie, but it is a little forgettable and underwhelming. I give it a 6.5/10, not bad but not great either.

The Little Things

I’m excited to be doing my first review of a 2021 movie, and what better one than ‘The Little Things’. This is the biggest movie so far of 2021, which really isn’t saying much considering there isn’t a whole lot being released right now. They bring a heavy hitting cast staring Denzel Washington (Training Day), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Jared Leto (Suicide Squad),and Natalie Morales (Santa Clarita Diet). A burnt out, one time hot shot cop (Washington), returns to his old stomping grounds in L.A. and teams up with new hot shot detective (Malek) to track down a serial killer (Leto).

I’m fortunate enough to be in an area still showing movies in theaters, but if you’re not HBO Max is showing it as well. Washington, Malek, and Leto all play great roles, but the problem doesn’t lie in their acting, but in the story itself. The story really drags for what it is, it feels its full two hour and seven minute run time. Again the acting is great just not the story, I’m a huge fan of Malek, and if you need a weird role, Leto will nail it. My wife described this movie as seriously boring, and two others I talked to about it, one liked and it and one described it as “ok”. I would still recommend seeing it, but don’t be surprised if you find it as just okay. Unfortunately, it’s not the slam dunk we were all hoping for, and falls into mediocracy. I give it a 6.5/10.

Welcome to Sudden Death

‘Welcome to Sudden Death’ is a 2020 action film starring Michael Jai White (SPAWN), Michael Eklund (The Call), and Gary Owen (Daddy Day Care). ‘Welcome to Sudden Death’ was released today 9/29/2020 and is a sequel to 1995 film ‘Sudden Death’ staring Jean-Claude Van Damme. I haven’t watched ‘Sudden Death’, so I can’t compare the two, I can only talk about this one.

Jesse (White) is a security guard who works at a professional basketball arena. He has taken his two kids to a game when a group of terrorist’s disguised as tech workers take over the arena. Unknown to them though, Jesse has an extensive background in special ops.

From what I’ve read about ‘Sudden Death’, ‘Welcome to Sudden Death’ doesn’t seem like a sequel but more of a remake. The main difference seems to be instead of a hockey arena, it takes place at a basketball arena. The acting is terrible, but no one watches a Michael Jai White film, or a Jean-Claude Van Damme for that matter, for quality acting. We know it’s going to be cheesy, we know the acting is going to suck, we watch it to see Michael Jai White kick ass. I love Michael Jai White, he’s one of the baddest dudes on the face of the planet. So a recap, this movie is cheesy, the acting is bad, and Michael Jai White kicks ass. Is it worth watching? Yes. Is it a quality movie? No. But it will kill an afternoon. You can catch this one on Netflix, I give it a 6.5/10.

Words on Bathroom Walls

‘Words on Bathrooms Walls’ is a 2020 drama/ love story starring Charlie Plummer (Looking for Alaska), Taylor Russell (Lost in Space), Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men), Molly Parker (Lost in Space), Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight), and Lobo Sebastian (The Longest Yard). ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’ follows the story of Adam (Plummer) who is a high school student diagnosed with schizophrenia. None of the drugs or treatments are helping with the voices or seeing things that aren’t there. He starts a new trial drug that seems to be helping, and meets a girl he falls for at his new school, but how long can normality keep up?

This is pretty much your typical teen movie, high school kids fall in love and have something great to overcome. A typical them against the world situation, it just happens this time the situation is mental illness. ‘Words on Bathroom Walls’ does a good job at touching on the sensitive subject of mental illness. Which mental illness has it’s back turned on too much in our society, and it’s good to see movies touching on this subject. The acting is good and the movie is heart felt, however I was expecting a little more. I felt that it was dragged out and lagged in some parts. It’s not a bad movie, just a little disappointing. I give it a 6.5/10

Magic Camp

‘Magic Camp’ is a 2020 Disney family comedy that you can stream on Disney+, it stars Adam Devine (Workaholics), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Gillian Jacobs (Community), and Nathaniel Logan Mcintyre (David Makes Man). Andy (Devine) returns to a prestigious magic institute as a camp counselor where he was once a stand out magician. He has been given a bunk of newbies who struggle in magic. He must help them pull together and win the coveted golden hat that goes to the best bunk.

‘Magic Camp’ is a typical Disney movie where a rag tag team pulls together to accomplish their goal. What is surprising about this movie is their casting choice in Adam Devine, I love Devine, I find him hilarious. His comedy however, is very raunchy, just take ‘Workaholics’, ‘Jexi’, and ‘Game Over, Man!’ for instance, so Disney casting him in this is an odd choice. Devine plays a great part though, even with his comedy toned way down. ‘Magic Camp’ is a heartfelt movie that the whole family will love. I give it a 6.5/10.

You Should Have Left

‘You Should Have Left’ is a 2020 horror/mystery by Blumhouse Productions starring Kevin Bacon (Footloose), Amanda Seyfried (The Clapper), and Avery Tiiu Essex. A Husband rents a house in the countryside of Wales for a vacation with his wife and their six year old daughter. The family starts having strange nightmares, and the house may not be what it seems.

I had my reservations about this movie. I don’t think Kevin Bacon is a strong lead, but Blumhouse always puts out strong movies so I figured I would give it a shot. The acting is solid especially from Avery Tiiu Essex, she holds her own with a much more experienced Amanda Seyfried and Kevin Bacon. Kevin Bacon also pleasantly surprised me and did a good job as the lead role.

‘You Should Have Left’ has the creepy factor going for it, and what I like most about this movie is it leaves a lot up for interpretation. However, parts of it drag more than most Blumhouse movies. I give it a 6.5/10.

The Lodge

‘The Lodge’ is a 2019 horror/ thriller starring Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road), Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), Jaeden Martell (IT), Richard Armitage (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), and Lia McHugh (Totem). Two kids are stuck in a cabin with their future mother in law for a couple of days once their father is forced to leave for the city due to work. The kids are bitter over their mothers own death, and blame their future mother in law. Now being snowed in and stuck with her, they’re unsure they will survive.

‘The Lodge’ starts off with a bang, literally. After that however it is a drag for a solid 50 minutes where nothing happens, to the point where I almost fell asleep during it. After that though the movie takes off and is non stop, it has you on the edge of your seat filled with WTF moments. In that aspect it’s a great horror movie, if it wasn’t for the solid 50 minute lag I would score it higher, but I have to give it a 6.5/10.

The Invisible Man

‘The Invisible Man’ is a 2020 horror/ thriller with it’s own take on the classic story of ‘The Invisible Man’. A woman’s abusive ex dies leaving her five million on the condition she is mentally sound. If she is proved to be mentally unsound, she loses all the money. She is convinced her ex faked his death and is now tormenting her as an invisible force. ‘The Invisible Man’ stars Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Oliver Jackson- Cohen (Faster), Harriet Dyer (No Activity), and Aldis Hodge (What Men Want).

‘The Invisible Man’ is put out by Blumhouse productions, and like I mentioned in my review on ‘Fantasy Island’, Blumhouse puts out some really good horror movies. So I was excited when this came out, after seeing the trailer I was a little hesitant, it appeared to be one of those that basically show the entire movie in the trailer. I figured I would still give it a shot though. It’s a decent movie, a little slow of a build up for my tastes. Also I found it to be predictable, other than that the writing is good, it does manage to throw a couple of twists in there, and the acting is solid from the main stars. I have to go with a 6.5/10.

The Wrong Missy

‘The Wrong Missy’ is Netflix’s new comedy starring David Spade (Joe Dirt), and Lauren Lapkus ( The Big Bang Theory). It’s currently number one in the U.S. for Netflix. Tim (Spade) goes on a blind date with Melissa (Lapkus), Melissa turns out to be beyond crazy and Tim hopes to never see her again. He ends up inviting her to Hawaii by mistake after meeting another Melissa. He texts the blind date by mistake thinking it is the new Melissa and now Tim is stuck in Hawaii on a corporate retreat with the crazy one.

‘The Wrong Missy’ is a Happy Madison production. You know when it’s a Happy Madison production, Adam Sandler is going to bring the whole crew. I love it, I love how he uses pretty much the same actors in all Happy Madison productions. ‘The Wrong Missy’ isn’t any different, other than David Spade it has Nick Swardson, Jackie Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Loughran, Jared Sandler, and Vanilla Ice. You watch any Adam Sandler film you’re going to see one or several of these guys in it.

The film is a little on the crude side, if you don’t like those type of movies this ones not for you. It’s pretty good, Lauren Lapkus steals the show with her crazy part. She has you saying WTF more than once, it also has its laugh out loud parts. I give it a 6.5/10