Reacher (streaming on Amazon Prime)
Based on the books by Lee Child, and following the Tom Cruise action films, “Reacher” follows the exploits, if you will, of Jack Reacher, a drifter and retired MP, who was arrested for murder, but the police now need his help.
So, I had relatively low expectations for this one. We’ve all seen some series that were based on books that followed movies that didn’t really hit the mark. However, this one, to me, is a homerun! Jack Reacher is played by Alan Ritchson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Fired Up!) and he was absolutely born for this role. He nails this role WAY BETTER than Tom Cruise did in the movies. Nothing against Tom Cruise now. I’ve always been a fan even though he is pretty cuckoo with the whole Scientology thing. Anyway, Ritchson is fantastic, and the dude is massive!!! Like it’s the return of the Incredible Hulk almost.
Great supporting cast too. Malcolm Goodwin (Breakout Kings, American Gangster) plays Chief Detective Oscar Finlay. Willa Fitzgerald (Scream: The TV Series, Royal Pains) plays Officer Roscoe Conklin, and she is really great in this role. And then there’s the great Bruce McGill (Cinderella Man, Animal House) who plays Mayor Grover Teale, who you will absolutely hate. Just saying.
Not only is the action fantastic. The storyline is great, and there’s quite a big of comic relief as well. IN my opinion, the story of Jack Reacher is better suited for the small screen, and this one is a homerun.
“Reacher” is rated TV-MA for adult language, violence, some gore, and brief nudity. Probably not one for the kiddos. I’ll give this one a 4.5/5.
I Want You Back (streaming on Amazon Prime)
Two weeks in a row I’ve watched and reviewed a Rom-Com! And two weeks in a row I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. Last week was “Marry Me” with J-Lo and Owen Wilson. This week it’s “I Want You Back” with Scott Eastwood and the always funny Charlie Day.
Who doesn’t love Charlie Day? Really! “Horrible Bosses” is one of my favorite comedies of all time. Now, admittedly, I’m a massive Jason Bateman fan. I love his dry, quick wit and his just general smart-alleckness, but let’s be honest, Charlie Day absolutely made “Horrible Bosses” what it was. Then there’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Holy crap!! Talk about classic comedy! Now there’s this one. It’s absolutely still classic Charlie Day. He plays his typical sweet, innocently oblivious character that you can’t help but love.
“I Want You Back” is the story of two newly dumped thirty-somethings, Peter and Emma, who team up to sabotage their exes’ new relationships and win them back for good. Now let’s be honest, MOST rom coms are pretty formulaic. What typically happens in the end is exactly what you want to happen in the end. That’s why we love the genre. They are feel-good movies. Are they predictable? Usually, they are for the most part, but that’s okay. I feel like we go in kind of already knowing what’s going to happen, and that takes the angst out of it. It’s why I watch “Friends” over and over and over again. I know what’s going to happen and there’s absolutely no anxiety. It makes me feel good.
So, is this movie predictable? I’d say yeah, it’s somewhat predictable, but that’s okay. Does it hold up against classic rom coms like “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Pretty Woman,” etc?! Maybe not, but if you like the genre, I think you’ll like this one. Charlie Day is great. Scott Eastwood (Suicide Squad, The Longest Ride) is good. The film’s leading lady, Jenny Slate (Gifted, Obvious Child) is really good. Give it a shot. Fellas, pop some popcorn, and surprise your lady with a rom com tonight.
“I Want You Back” is rated R for language, sexual material, some drug use, and partial nudity. I give this one a 3.9/5.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Homecoming (streaming on Netflix)
Y’all, I had no idea this was coming. I thought the last Madea movie was going to be the last Madea movie, and I was over the moon excited on Friday when I saw this pop up on my Netflix suggestions! We sat down as a family on Friday evening and watched. Maybe not my best parenting decision, but we loved it! Christie isn’t a big silly comedy person, but she laughed a lot. And thankfully, I don’t think Emma knew what was going on. Hahaha
The whole gang is back! Hallelujer! Madea, Bam, Cora, and Uncle Joe are all at the top of their game in this latest addition to the Madea saga. When family drama erupts at Madea’s great-grandson’s college graduation celebration, Madea has to do what Madea does- squash it all! This movie is also a crossover featuring Mrs. Agnes Brown, played by Brendan O’Carroll. “Mrs. Brown’s Boys” is an Irish television sitcom that features Brendon O’Carroll as the loud-mouthed Irish matriarch whose favorite pastime is meddling in the lives of her six children.
In an article in Screen Rant, it’s reported this crossover is “five years in the making.” Perry supposedly reached out to O’Carroll back in 2016 “after being impressed with the fanbase the Irish comedian had built for “Mrs. Brown’s Boys.”
I don’t think I have to sell you on this one. If you like Madea, you’re going to like this one. If you hate Madea (don’t see how, but whatever), you’re going to hate this one. I do feel like there’s a fairly noticeable decline in the production value of this latest movie, but the comedy is absolutely still there.
“A Madea Homecoming” is rated TV-MA for language and drug references. I give this one a 3.8/5.
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