Good Burger 2 (2023)

Good Burger 2 (2023)

 

3/10

 

Starring

Kenan Thompson

Kel Mitchell

 

Directed by Phil Traill

 

I think the bar for what qualifies as a good movie must be very low if this film made it past the development stage and into production. I know streaming services are fighting for content, but perhaps they should focus on creating quality movies that genuinely draw viewers to their platforms.

As I watched this, I couldn’t help but wonder: who thought Good Burger needed a sequel? The first movie, released in 1997, didn’t leave any room for a follow-up. Seeing the characters all grown up, still acting silly, and showing no character development was more sad than entertaining.

Ed (Kel Mitchell) is now an adult but still hasn’t gotten a handle on life. He continues to act like a child yet somehow manages to have a large number of children himself. The "grown man-child" trope lost its appeal a long time ago, and it’s baffling that the writers thought this was a good direction for his character.

Dex (Kenan Thompson), on the other hand, has become consumed by greed and a relentless desire to get rich. His schemes have alienated his family and destroyed his chances of success. One such scheme, where he tests his ideas on his own house, was utterly ridiculous and far-fetched.

The plot centers on yet another attempt to take over Good Burger. This time, the antagonist is a company called MegaCorp, which wants Ed to sell his single Good Burger restaurant so they can turn it into a franchise. Ed isn’t interested in selling, but Dex, now broke, homeless, and friendless after ruining his life with get-rich-quick schemes, gets involved. Dex reaches out to Ed, who lets him stay at his house and gives him a job at Good Burger. However, when MegaCorp offers Dex a cut of the deal to convince Ed to sell, he jumps at the opportunity. The movie attempts to explore the consequences of that decision.

The movie as a whole was boring, irritating, and unfunny. It failed to evoke any nostalgia for the original characters the way rewatching the 1997 Good Burger still does. Instead, it relied too heavily on Ed’s goofiness, which might have worked for kids back then but feels like lazy writing now.

The lack of character development made the acting quite disappointing. The aim was to trigger nostalgia for those who grew up with these characters, but this absence of development resulted in the same old goofy acting, which no longer appeals.

If you’ve never seen the first Good Burger, don’t bother with this one. If you have fond memories of the original from the 90s, this sequel will only ruin them. I do hope the negative reviews will deter any idea to make a further sequel.

 

Genie (2023)

Genie (2023)

 

2/10

Starring

Melissa McCarthy

Paapa Essiedu

Denée Benton

Marc Maron

 

Directed by Sam Boyd

 

If you’ve never heard of this movie, congratulations, you’ve dodged a bullet, and I wish I was you. If you came across this post before watching it, do yourself a favor and don’t bother, there are better things you can do with your free time.

The story begins with Bernie missing his daughter Eve’s birthday. Bernie decides to prioritize work, choosing to close a deal for his boss instead of attending the celebration. Naturally, his wife Julie is upset because Bernie has a habit of being a disappointment. She takes Eve to her parents’ house, leaving Bernie behind.

This setup is a tired cliché we’ve seen countless times: "Why can’t you be there for us? We’re going to my parents. Don’t come." Unfortunately, this familiar start is paired with questionable acting that left me wondering if this movie was worth my time. I only stuck around because I usually find Melissa McCarthy funny.

This movie, however, was far from her best. It wasn’t funny, and the writing was downright poor. Strangely, the movie is a remake written by the same person, but this version takes a bizarre direction. The jokes, scenes, and overall execution completely missed the mark.

The plot of Bernie finding a genie (played by McCarthy), but this genie doesn’t follow the usual conventional three-wish rule, would at first seem exciting. But the bad execution will make you wish you did not press play on this movie. I may have missed something, but it seems like there’s an infinite number of wishes. Yet, the things Bernie wishes for are so unimaginative that it makes you question his intelligence. The "all-around good guy" act he plays is unbearably annoying; it made me want to throw something at the screen.

McCarthy’s performance felt phoned in, as though she was only there for the paycheck. Her actions lacked conviction, and the movie as a whole made no sense. It was boring, devoid of any urgency, and filled with moments where Bernie seemed to forget the most important thing: reuniting with his family.

The illogical decisions Bernie made throughout the movie left me longing for the days before streaming services, when studios didn’t feel the need to churn out subpar movies to pad their libraries. Adding a big-name star like McCarthy might make people curious, but it doesn’t save this disaster.

If I had a genie, I’d wish for the time I wasted watching this movie back. Save yourself the trouble, it’s not worth your time.

Gran Turismo (2023)

Gran Turismo (2023)

 

7/10

Starring

David Harbour

Orlando Bloom

Archie Madekwe

Darren Barnet

 

Directed by Neill Blomkamp

 

Gran Turismo is a fun racing game, and the idea of making a movie based on someone’s real-life experiences with the game is epic. This film is a biographical sports drama about the life of Jann Mardenborough. For me, the game was one of the first games I owned on the Sony PS1, so it has a place in my heart.

The movie is intense and does its best to sidestep the usual dramatic cheesiness of Hollywood films. One standout moment is when CGI is used to depict the character imagining himself in a game car, driving recklessly this visual is worth seeing. The fact that these events happened to someone in real life makes it even more fascinating to watch.

The question is, will you, regardless of how good you are in a racing game, want to turn it into reality? This question kept running through my mind as I watched, and it made me respect the character even more for believing he could accomplish this.

The acting is excellent, and the movie’s adrenaline-pumping moments are consistently engaging. I didn’t even notice that the film was over an hour long it flew by.

I also enjoyed learning about the inspiration behind the game and how Nissan came up with the idea to take the highest-scoring players and turn them into real-life race car drivers. The movie begins by exploring the creation of the game, designed to make players feel like they’re on a real racetrack. We then meet Danny (Orlando Bloom’s character), a marketing executive who pitches the idea to Nissan’s board to recruit top players and train them to become professional drivers. Danny hires a former driver-turned-mechanic to help prepare these gamers, selecting the best of the top ten racers worldwide.

Jann is ultimately chosen to transition from SIM racer to real-life driver. The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the challenges he faced during this transformation, including the pain and hardships involved. And, of course, no good movie is complete without a rivalry, so this one includes its own villain to add tension.

In the end, Gran Turismo delivers an exciting and satisfying cinema experience. Although I don’t know much about racing, regardless of how much I played the game this movie drew me in and inspired me to read more about the sport and watch clips I’d only seen in advertisements.

The movie's major draw can also be a drawback if you're not into car racing or have never played the game before.

If you’re considering going to the cinema, this movie is an easy recommendation. It’s well worth your time.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)

 The Equalizer 3 (2023)

 

6/10

 

Starring

Denzel Washington

Dakota Fanning

David Denman

 

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

 

Contains Spoilers

I’m not sure if this is what we need right now, as Hollywood has drained all the creativity out of making hits. I wasn’t even excited to see this film, and judging by its Box Office numbers, I’m not the only one who feels the film industry is struggling to produce movies we actually want to watch.

This film isn’t as good as the first, and like the second, it serves no real purpose, just another attempt by the studio to squeeze more money out of us, the viewers. The more movies they make, the more they dilute the effect of the first film.

Robert (Denzel Washington) finds himself in an impossible situation. He allows himself to be captured by guards at a Sicilian winery, only to break free and kill everyone. This was entirely predictable, so the movie needed twists and turns to stand out, but it didn’t deliver. It felt like they just wanted to wrap up the trilogy without putting in the effort.

In one scene, Robert is held at gunpoint, waiting for the boss, Lorenzo, to show up. This was exactly what Robert wanted, as he kills everyone at the winery, retrieves the money he came for, gets shot, and narrowly survives thanks to a kind officer who takes him to a local doctor.

As Robert slowly recovers in the town, he tips off the CIA about illegal dealings at the Sicilian winery. Meanwhile, the criminal family running the town begins pressuring local store and landowners to gain control of the area. The officer who helped Robert discovers footage of the culprits, and as a result, he and his family are attacked.

Robert steps in and warns the criminals to leave the town alone, but when they refuse, he kills them all. This sparks a conflict that nearly costs him his life, until the townspeople come to his rescue.

The pacing of the film is problematic. It drags on for far too long before anything significant happens, and the abrupt ending makes the entire build up feel pointless.

Just as Chloë Grace Moretz felt like a bystander in the first film, Dakota Fanning’s character serves a similarly insignificant role here.

If you want to complete The Equalizer trilogy, you can watch this movie, but neither this film nor the one before it measures up to the original. That said, both are still better than the disappointing TV series which stars Queen Latifah.

Blue Beetle (2023)

Blue Beetle (2023)

 

5/10

Starring

Xolo Maridueña

Adriana Barraza

Damián Alcázar

Raoul Max Trujillo

 

Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto

I enjoyed this film enough to say it’s not the worst superhero movie I’ve seen, that said, while it tries to stand out at times, it’s held back by its refusal to embrace a darker tone. This limitation prevents it from reaching its full potential. It has no A-list actors, but they deliver a good enough performance. It's a movie that's watchable without losing your mind, but that's about it.

The film also falls into familiar clichés, such as the hero losing control when their family is threatened, only to be stopped at the last second to preserve their moral integrity. If the cheesiness and predictability were removed, the film wouldn’t be half bad.

This is the fourteenth installment in the DC universe and centers on the comic book character Blue Beetle, also known as Jaime Reyes. The film explores how Jaime discovers the Scarab, bonds with it, and learns to control its powers.

Jaime, a recent law graduate, returns home to find his family on the brink of losing their house while his father struggles with a heart condition. Desperate for work, he takes a cleaning job at the mansion of Victoria Kord, a woman obsessed with exploiting the Scarab her late brother, Ted Kord, left behind.

Victoria’s niece, Jenny, discovers her aunt’s plans and tries to stop her. She steals the Scarab and, to avoid getting caught, gives it to Jaime. The two had met earlier when Jaime defended her against Victoria and was fired for it. At home, Jaime succumbs to family pressure to open the box, and the Scarab bonds with him.

Victoria, eager to harness the Scarab’s power, sends her forces after Jaime. Although the film isn’t a box-office hit, I wouldn’t attribute this to the SAG-AFTRA strike. DC films rarely achieve major success, and while this movie follows that trend, it’s better than some of its predecessors.

Watching this film wasn’t a bad experience, but it could have been improved by eliminating the cheesy tropes and predictability.

Now that the DCEU has come to a close and James Gunn has taken the reins, there is hope that the upcoming DC movies will adopt a structure similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I am eager to see engaging, well-crafted plots and meaningful character development that extends beyond a single film, so there will be a cohesive and immersive universe.

A key expectation for me is the possible new Justice League of DC hero’s ensemble. I hope when Gunn does his, it will be as good as MCU’s The Avengers. If done right, this new era of DC films could finally rival the MCU’s success by delivering memorable cinematic experiences that captivate audiences worldwide.

Richie Rich (1994)

Richie Rich (1994)

 

6/10

 

Starring

Macaulay Culkin

John Larroquette

Edward Herrmann

Jonathan Hyde

Christine Ebersole

 

Directed by Donald Petrie

 

The whole film is a nostalgia fest for me. While it’s not fantastic and may not become the go-to film for family fun today on a Sunday, it holds a special place in the heart’s of 90s kids like me. As my friends were smiling as we watched and lived through the feeling of the first time we first saw this film and wished to be this rich. Watching it again after twenty-nine years brought back childhood smiles, especially seeing Macaulay Culkin in action.

For a movie made in 1994, the special effects were decent. The bee flight and control sequences, in particular, looked impressive for the time and added charm to the film. However, the story itself is quite shallow. It transitions quickly from introducing the Rich family and their son Richie struggling to fit in, to the sudden disappearance of Richie’s parents.

The film offers a childlike view of how kids might perceive wealth and social status. Based on a comic of the same name by Alfred Harvey and Warren Kremer, it introduces us to the Rich family the wealthiest in the world and their son Richie, who is the richest boy in the world. Despite his wealth, Richie feels lonely and friendless. His loyal butler, Cadbury, takes him to the park, where Richie plays ball with other kids and impresses them with his skills.

When the Rich family plans a trip, Cadbury persuades Richie’s parents to let him stay behind to combat his loneliness. Cadbury even invites the park kids over to the mansion, where they all have a great time. Meanwhile, on the plane, Richie’s parents discover a bomb. Though they manage to dispose of it, the explosion damages the plane, and they are declared dead. This leaves Richie in a position where he must navigate his new life alone (with the help of Cadbury and his new park friends), dealing with a scheming CFO eager to take control, and clearing Cadbury’s name after he is framed for the bombing.

What I liked most about the film was Richie’s journey of opening himself up to others and finding happiness through friendship rather than wealth. While the acting wasn’t Oscar-worthy, it was goofy enough to bring smiles and make kids dream about living Richie’s life.

That said, the film doesn’t hold the same appeal today. Modern kids, exposed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Transformers, might find this type of comedy outdated. Back in the 90s, though, films like Richie Rich and Home Alone were staples of Sunday movie nights.

Joy Ride (2023)

Joy Ride (2023)

 

7/10

 

Starring

Ashley Park

Sherry Cola

Stephanie Hsu

Sabrina Wu

 

Directed by Adele Lim

 

Coming from a guy, I liked the way this film handled women and sexuality. It did a great job with the character development of the four main ladies and kept finding ways to pull a rabbit out of a hat just when you thought you had guessed how things were going to turn out.

This is a good film, and it deserves more attention, especially for how well it was written and directed by Adele Lim in her directorial debut.

It’s easy to walk into the cinema expecting to see something with B-movie-level acting and writing when the premise is about women going on a trip. That’s what Hollywood usually delivers in these kinds of films, so you can already predict a few things that might happen. This movie has some of those predictable moments too it sticks to the road trip formula, but the way it executes the familiar is where it shines.

There’s always one overly serious character in road trip films, and here, it’s Audrey (an Asian woman adopted by white parents as a child). She needs to visit China for a business trip but doesn’t speak any Chinese. Audrey’s childhood friend, Lolo, who grew up in a Chinese family and speaks the language, comes along to help translate. Audrey also plans to meet her university friend, Kat, an actress living in China. Rounding out the group is Deadeye, Lolo’s cousin, who joins them on the trip.

As expected, things go wrong. The group loses their passports after a mishap, and just when they seem to catch a break, the film takes a strong sexual detour that only adds to their troubles. From there, the group's bad luck was piling up, and their friendship gets pushed to the limit.

In the end, while the overall structure follows the typical road trip formula, I like the spin this movie adds to it. It starts with a business and then turns to a series of unfortunate events, which eventual ends with the group breaking up and reconciling. The movie is full of funny and occasionally surprising moments, and doesn’t stray far from what you’d expect. The actresses did a great job in their roles, bringing the characters to life with performances that were both goofy and engaging. While this film wasn’t a massive box-office hit, it’s definitely a standout in its category. If any movie deserves another go at the road trip formula, this one does it better than most we’ve seen try.