The Adam Project (streaming on Netflix)
Hey y’all! I’ve been lazy and haven’t written a review in a few weeks. I hope everyone is well. So, what all has happened since I’ve been “away?” Let’s see. It’s been a pretty exciting March Madness. Definitely bummed to see AR lose on Saturday, but proud of the season we had! Putin, well, you SUCK big-time. My love to the people of Ukraine!!! RIP Madelaine Albright! RIP Taylor Hawkins! Oh…and Will Smith acted like nothing more than an imbecilic thug at the Oscars. I have always been a huge fan, but that was a disappointing moment. At the same time, I have never been a fan of Chris Rock, but he handled the situation quite well. Good for you, Rock. Shame on you, Willy.
Okay, let’s get to the movie now! Ryan Reynolds with yet another homerun here! This guy has really been on a roll in recent years. In “The Adam Project,” Reynolds (Deadpool, Free Guy) plays time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed. He accidentally crashes in 2022 and teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to safe the future. 12-year-old Adam is played by Hollywood newcomer, Walker Scobell. This was his first big role onscreen, and he is now filming a movie called “Secret Headquarters” also starring Owen Wilson and Michael Pena.
This movie really has it all. There’s a lot of really fun action. It’s funny and is full of that classic Ryan Reynolds sarcasm. It has a lot of heart too. 12-year-old Adam is still grieving the loss of his father who passed just a year before the movie starts. The father is played by the great Mark Ruffalo (Avengers, Foxcatcher) and Adam’s mother is played by the talented and beautiful Jennifer Garner (Alias, Juno).
It’s weird to try to explain, but the two Adam’s are kind of like brothers in this movie in that they don’t really like each other a lot of the time and they fight and bicker. They do, however, learn to love each other and they figure out that to accomplish what they set out to accomplish, they have to figure out how to work together. There really is a great lesson to be learned here.
Overall, I say watch it! It’s a good family movie night for sure. Pop some popcorn or order in some pizza, pile up on the couch, and snuggle up with a feel-good movie! “The Adam Project” is rated PG-13 for violence/action, language, and some suggestive references. It’s MAYBE not for itty-bitty ones, but my 9 and 10-year-old girls LOVED it! I give this one a solid 4.2/5!
Turning Red (streaming on Disney+)
I’ll give you fair warning now. This one may invoke a soapbox moment or two. There’s been a fair amount of controversy online in response to this movie, and…well…it’s stupid. There. I said it. Anyway, let’s get to the actual movie and TRY to look past some people’s petty stupidity.
To me, “Turning Red” is a beautiful coming of age story. Mei Lee is a confident, dorky 13-year-old girl torn between staying the “perfect” daughter to her overbearing mother AND the chaos of adolescence. Mom, voiced by Sandra Oh, is never far away and always quick to embarrass her daughter. Mei Lee, voiced by Rosalie Chiang, again, is thirteen. She’s going through changes. She’s trying to figure out life and feelings and emotions and who she wants to be. As if the typical challenges faced by a 13-year-old girl aren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited, she “poofs” into a giant red panda.
So, what’s the problem with the movie. Oh boy. I’ll be referencing a Facebook post by a woman named Kaitlyn Willing. Now I don’t know her (and I’m kinda glad.) She says, “” Turning Red” is NOT for kids…at all (especially not for families trying to keep their children close to Jesus.” Again…oh boy. She says, “The little girl talks about at age 13 you’re your own person.” Okay…why is that a problem? Are you a fully developed, independent person at 13? No, but you SHOULD be figuring out who you are and who you want to be in my opinion. You should still be taking cues from your parents and learning (hopefully good things) from your parents, but you are getting to the age where you really don’t have to be your parents “clone” any longer.
She also says, “Her and her 3 friends talk so poorly about their parents and come up with a plan to sneak out and go to a boy band concert (which they end up doing.)” So, I guess the holier than thou soccer moms that have a problem with this one never sat up with their friends trying to figure out how to get out to the N’SYNC or NKOTB concert with your friends, and you never complained about your parents behind their back. Right? Come on! It’s not “encouraging” that behavior. It’s showing a somewhat realistic view of adolescence.
Here’s a good one. She also says, “The word “crap” is used.” OH MY GOD! Bahahahahahaha
I could go on and on, but I won’t. Listen. If you really want to find a problem with something, you will. You can find an issue with ANYTHING if you look hard enough. It’s a super cute message that girls around that age can really relate to. Does it encourage “rebellion?” I don’t think so. Does it show a pretty accurate picture of a group of 13-year-old girls being embarrassed by mom and wanting to get out and “grow up?” Yeah, it does.
I loved it and so did all of my kids (who are 9, 10, and 13.) To Kaitlyn Willing, maybe you should just stick with “Veggie Tales.”
“Turning Red” is rated PG for some thematic material, suggestive content and language- most of which, to me, are in regard to Mei’s mother thinking that Mei is getting her period and freaking out about it. I give this one 4.8/5!
The Lost City (in theaters)
I’m going to keep this one pretty short because there’s really just not a lot that needs to be said other than that “FUN” is the keyword here. This movie is so much fun! A reclusive romance novelist on a book tour (that she doesn’t even want to be on) with her cover model gets swept up in a kidnapping attempt that lands them both in a cutthroat jungle adventure.
The always incredible Sandra Bullock (The Proposal, Speed) plays romance novelist, Loretta. Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, Dog) plays her not so smart cover model, Alan. Daniel Redcliffe (Harry Potter series, Swiss Army Man) plays millionaire (or billionaire) “bad guy” Abigail Fairfax. Brad Pitt (Se7en, Fight Club) has a couple of really great cameos, and you’ll see Oscar Nunez (The Office, The Proposal) throughout the movie. Funny enough, Oscar’s character is named…get ready for it…Oscar, just as it is in “The Office.”
“The Lost City” is “Indiana Jones” meets “Romancing the Stone” meets…well…other fun, adventure comedies. Bullock and Tatum’s chemistry is great! The pace of the movie is good. It’s really funny. In all honesty, this movie is really just what we all need right now. It’s not overly serious or weighed down by drama. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s silly, fun, mindless entertainment.
“The Lost City” is rated PG-13 for some bloody images (nothing gruesome), suggestive material, language, and partial nudity (Channing Tatum’s butt.) I give this one (the movie, not Tatum’s butt) at 4.5/5. I say 100% go see it.
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