"Downton Abbey: A New Era" and The Week in Reviews

[I review the new Downton Abbey movie - "Downton Abbey: A New Era," as well as the movie "Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the TV series "Physical."]

This blog post represents a turning point for Rosy the Reviewer.  

It represents the first time I have been back in a movie theatre since Covid and the Stay-At-Home order, two and one half years ago.  I vividly remember the last movie I saw in the theatre - "Emma."  Watching and reviewing that film, I had no idea what was to come. And then, when Covid hit, that closed up theatre in my small town was a constant reminder of what used to be, because that movie poster stayed on the outside of that closed theatre for almost two years.

But now I'm back at the theatre! And you faithful Rosy the Reviewer fans will recognize the old format.  

When I first started this blog back in 2013, I published twice a week.  On Tuesdays I would rant about retirement, life, how not to get a bad table at a restaurant, talk about fashion and ruminate on how I would do on "Naked and Afraid" or to throw out questions like "Will Your Husband Cheat?"( Okay, I feel your judgment but even the best of us can't be serious and depressed about the state of the world all of the time. We have to have some fun some time).

And then on Fridays I would publish a review of a current movie showing in the theatre along with "The Week in Reviews," DVDs and TV shows I watched that week as well as a book review and reviews of concerts or restaurants. I can't believe I was as prolific as I was but I stuck to that schedule for years.  Then I moved into just the once a week Friday movie and DVD reviews and then Covid hit, so my blog changed again - talking about the virus and reviewing what I was able to watch at home.  

And, by the way, thank you Netflix, Prime, Hulu and you other platforms.  You stepped up and offered us so much content I certainly didn't miss out on movies and TV shows.  But then something else strange happened.  I stopped thinking of myself as a moviegoer. Why go out when I could stay at home, drink wine, eat snacks and wear my jammies and still watch movies?

So pros and cons of going out to the movies?

Pros - I get to see the movie right when it comes out on a big screen with great sound.

Cons - Twenty minutes of previews, people talking behind me or sitting next to me and coughing, no wine.

Mmmm...

But here I am again.  This is a turning point.  Will I go back to my weekly forays out to the theatre?  Not sure but at least my beautiful toes have touched back in (and believe it, I have nice toes!)

So let's get on with it and celebrate.  And there is something to celebrate.  If you are a Downton Abbey fan, you will no doubt love this latest movie version.  And even if you were not a fan in the past, give it a try.  Enter this other world of privilege and forget your troubles for a couple of hours.

Only In Theatres

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Hollywood comes calling to Downton.

As the film begins, it is now 1929 and Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and Lucy (Tuppence Middleton) are getting married (fans will remember that Tom was Lord and Lady Grantham's family chauffeur, who married their daughter Sybil, who died in childbirth). And as the camera pans up the aisle of the church, fans will be happy to see all of their favorite characters. There is Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) with her characteristic seriousness and sometimes disapproving scowl; dithering Lord Granthan (Hugh Bonneville) and beautiful Lady Grantham (Elizaabeth McGovern); and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) as well as Isobel Merton (Penelope Wilton) and all of the servants we have come to know and love. Everyone is back and they are all presided over by Violet Grantham (Maggie Smith), or Old Lady Grantham, as she is often referred to.   

In the first film version, the King and Queen paid a visit.  This time, Lord Grantham has been asked to allow a film to be made at Downton.  Naturally, he is aghast at such a thought, but Lady Mary, who has mostly taken over running Downton, reminds her father that the roof is leaking and Downton needs repairs that they cannot afford.  So it is decided that the film will happen. Despite some reservations by some of the servants, most are all aflutter at meeting movie stars Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock).

At the same time, Violet tells the family that she has inherited a villa in the South of France from a past admirer and she wants to give to Sybby (Fifi Hart), Tom's young daughter, since she is the only one who will not get a big inheritance.  But the identity of the admirer and why he would give Lady Grantham a villa is mystifying to everyone so off most of the family goes to see what's up with that villa...and to get away from those vile movie people.

So the film goes back and forth between those two plot lines - the making of the movie and the investigation of the villa and all of the characters get some screen time and a storyline, though some more than others.  Lots of characters, lots of storylines, all packed into just a little over two hours.

The movie storyline has a familiar plot that fans of "Singin in the Rain" will recognize.  The film being made at Downton is a silent film but talkies are taking over so the film is shut down until someone gives Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy), the director, the idea to turn it into a talkie.  But here's the problem.  The beautiful leading lady has a voice like a truck driver.  What to do?  At the same time, the leading man is attracted to Barrow and makes him an offer he can't refuse.

In the South of France, while investigating the villa and it's former owner, Lord Grantham discovers something about his mother's past that upsets him.

Written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis, it's all very British, very proper and, though there are some surprises and some tears, it's very slow-moving. But that's okay. While watching, I couldn't help but hear the booming of the new "Top Gun" movie playing next door, and I couldn't help but see the dichotomy between the two films, the contrast between the time we live in now and Downton Abbey time. Yes, this movie moved at a snails pace and had no breathtaking cinematic tricks or heart-stopping acrobatics, but we fans of Downton Abbey don't care if the story moves slowly and the film lacks excitement, because we are here for a quieter experience, to revisit characters we care about and to go back to a time of civility, something that seems sadly lacking these days. And that's what we got.

Rosy the Reviewer says...just what Downton Abbey fans would expect and an enjoyable break from modern day turmoil that brought back some happy memories.  I was actually there at Highclere Castle where Downton is filmed, and when I was in that iconic drawing room, I touched every sofa and every curtain! It was fun for me watching the movie and remembering that day!

Now On DVD and Streaming

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2022)

When her estranged father dies, a single mom inherits his farm where she and her two kids discover his connection to the original Ghostbusters.

The film begins with a high speed chase and the man being chased uses everything at his disposal to get away from the unseen forces chasing him. He is killed but he leaves a mysterious device behind.

Fast forward - Callie (Carrie Coon), the man's daughter, has inherited his farm and moves in with her two kids, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). The farm is clearly in disrepair and they discover that her father was heavily involved with the paranormal. And guess what?  The house is haunted! That mysterious device her father left behind is a ghost trap and when Callie pushes the button, she unleashes a monster.  

Phoebe discovers that her grandfather was Egon Spengler (played by Harold Ramis, in the original "Ghostbusters," and who sadly is no longer with us) one of the original Ghostbusters, and with her round glasses and interest in science, Phoebe looks like him and is clearly meant to carry on her grandfather's legacy as is Trevor, who finds the old Ghostbusters car in his grandfather's garage.

The kids end up riding around in that car fighting off the forces of evil and end up in jail.  When they ask for a phone call, the cop asks...wait for it...all together now..."Who ya gonna call?"

I usually have an aversion to precocious kids but Trevor and Phoebe are engaging young actors. Maybe I am getting soft. And Carrie, you are not in "The Gilded Age" anymore, and actually she is much better as a modern mom. Paul Rudd plays a local seismologist who seems to be channeling Rick Moranis from the original film.

And that's what is going on here.  Lots and lots of nostalgia for the original film.  It is even directed by Jason Reitman, who is the son of Ivan, who directed that first "Ghostbusters." As with most sequels, this one, written by Reitman and Gil Kenan lacks the luster and originality of the first film, but there are all of those nods to that first one that you might enjoy - from the arrival of hundreds of mini-marshmallow babies to the ghost Muncher, who could be related to Slimer from the original, to the iconic theme song played at the end. You might have fun catching all of the references and inside jokes related to the 1984 film.  Or maybe not. 

And then here's the question. Do the remaining original Ghostbusters (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson) show up?  Duh. I mean, you got ghosts? Again, let's say it together..."Who ya gonna call?" And there is also a sweet and very sentimental (did I say VERY SENTIMENTAL) CGI homage to Ramis.

Rosy the Reviewer says...I know, I know.  This isn't "Citizen Kane" but it's a light diversion from all of the bad that is happening in the world. Is it as good as the original?  No, but if you miss that movie, this is a fun revival and kids will especially enjoy this. (On DVD and STARZ and available for rent on Apple+)

Now Streaming

Physical (2021)

A bored, angry and frustrated housewife, who also suffers from an eating disorder, finds meaning when she discovers aerobics.

It's 1981 and Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) is a lonely and very angry mom who tortures herself with negative self talk.  She also mentally bad mouths everyone else too.  She is a very unhappy woman battling personal demons, one of which is an eating disorder, which is depicted, so be warned. Sheila and her professor husband, Danny (Rory Scovel), have moved to San Diego from Berkeley. Sheila has anger issues because she gave up her career to care for their daughter and him, and he is a jerk. And things are not going well for Danny, who has been fired from his job. So what do you do when you get fired from your job teaching political science?  Well, you run for political office!  So that is another disruption to Sheila's already disorderly life.

But then she discovers Bunny's (Della Saba) aerobics classes in the newly opened mall and becomes obsessed. She discovers a way to empower herself. But she is still pissed off most of the time.

Remember those Jane Fonda aerobics videos?  "Feel the burn!"  Well, this series, created by Annie Weisman, embodies that, leotards and leg warmers and all things 80's. 

I watched all ten 30 minute episodes in one night, and it was strange watching this series from beginning to end, because even though I didn't really like any of the characters, I couldn't stop watching. It's that kind of series. 

I enjoyed seeing Rose Byrne carrying the weight of this series.  I always think of her as playing wives to the stars in comedies, but I am going to stop thinking of her that way. She has incredible range as an actress.

Rosy the Reviewer says....with its edgy and unusual concept, rather unlikable characters, and dark comedy, it's a strangely compelling series that brings back the 80's. Season 2 starts June 3 (Apple+)

And lest you think that all I did this week was watch movies and TV, you would only be partially correct.  I also went to a killer Boz Scaggs concert. Our rock heroes may be getting older, but with age comes more and more skill.  Boz still has it going on. 

If you have a chance to see him, highly recommended, so says Rosy the Reviewer!

Thanks for reading!

See you again soon!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

(NOTE:  If you are looking for a particular movie or series, check out this cool site: JustWatch.  It tells you where you can access all TV series and movies)

A Mixed Bag of TV Series - Some Biopics, Some True Crime and a Documentary

[I review these TV series: "Julia," "The First Lady," "The Girl from Plainville," and "The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin."]

Julia (2022)

An absolutely delightful dramatized series about how Julia Child became the queen of French cooking in America.

Most people probably have some sense of who Julia Child was, that she wrote cookbooks and had one of the early TV cooking shows on PBS, but how many of you know her story and how she got there? This charming HBO Max biopic series wants to remedy that.

It begins in Norway where Julia’s husband, Paul (David Hyde Pierce), works as a diplomat for the U.S. State Department. But he has been called back to the U.S. and both Julia (Sarah Lancashire) and Paul think that it’s because the State Department wants to station them in Paris again, something both really want. Not to be. Paul is actually forced into retirement and Julia and Paul move to Cambridge, Massachusetts to start civilian life.

As a bit of a back story…Paris was the dream and they lived it. While in Paris, Julia discovered French cuisine and the French lifestyle. She attended Le Cordon Bleu cooking school and later joined a cooking club where she met two women who were working on a French cookbook for Americans. They asked Julia to join them and the three collaborated on what would become the seminal cookbook on French cooking for the American market - “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.”

Now back in Cambridge, the tables have turned a bit on Julia’s and Paul’s marriage. They are loving and dedicated to one another, but remember, this was the mid-20th century. Women, no matter how accomplished, still put their husbands first, and Julia was no exception. Women got their way by making their husbands think everything was their idea. Julia’s book has been published and after a funny TV interview where, instead of talking about her book, she made an omelet, a producer at WGBH in Boston proposes a cooking show for her and “The French Chef” is born. Against all odds, the show takes off. And then the San Francisco public television station, KQED, is the first to pick it up and off she goes. Paul on the other hand must find something to do with himself now that he is no longer working. How does Julia follow her dream while keeping her husband happy?

In addition to Julia’s story, the series is also eye-opening in its depiction of the early days of public television (think PBS), where Julia’s show started. WGBH was the first public television station in Boston and the first non-commercial station in all of New England, and let’s just say it was a bit stuffy and pretentious, and the idea of a cooking show was shocking to what was mostly a male dominated educational station. And they didn’t really know how to showcase a cooking show either, not to mention that Julia was not your typical TV performer. She was a big woman with a very high-pitched voice and she was not young. But she had charm. She was scared to death but determined and this all makes for a completely delightful series about a lovely, fascinating woman and the very first cooking show on TV. I dare you to not full in love with her!

And lest you think this show is just for foodies or cooks, or women, it’s not. Created by Daniel Goldfarb, it’s cultural, historical, wise, heart-felt, well-written, funny and just damn enjoyable. And you men will enjoy it too. Hubby is totally hooked! Can I gush enough? No.

Sarah Lancaster plays Julia and is a fixture on British TV. You “Last Tango in Halifax” fans will recognize her as Caroline, though maybe you won’t, because she has been completely transformed into Julia Child, voice and all, and she is just wonderful and fascinating to watch as she brings Julia to life. David Hyde Pierce, who specializes in playing snobby, fussy but endearing men, and plays Paul, is reunited with Bebe Neuwirth, his co-star from their “Frasier” days, who plays Julia’s good friend, Avis.

Rosy the Reviewer says…this series is a confection, the best meal you will ever have. It’s bingeable, delicious and satisfying. You won’t be able to put down your fork, er, the remote! Bon Appetit!

(HBO Max)

The First Lady (2022)

Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt are in the spotlight in this new Showtime series, a dramatization of the personal lives of three First Ladies and their impact on American politics while in the White House.  Who were they really? 

Viola Davis (Michelle Obama), Michelle Pfeiffer (Betty Ford) and Gillian Anderson (Eleanor Roosevelt) wonderfully bring them to life in this revealing series, that is well worth your time.

Created by Aaron Cooley, the series covers many of the stories most of us already know about: Betty Ford’s health problems and alcoholism and the founding of The Betty Ford Center, Michelle Obama’s efforts to promote health care and Eleanor Roosevelt’s outspoken activism at a time when women were supposed to be domestic and support their husbands.  But the series also highlights what you might not know: Michelle Obama’s fears for the safety of her family (because of threats,  Barack Obama was assigned Secret Service protection nine months before the Democratic National Primary, something that had never been done before) and the racism she endured; Eleanor’s disappointment at not getting a cabinet position, her sexuality, her involvement in international affairs and her limitations as a mother; and Betty Ford’s activism on behalf of the ERA and other feminist issues.  And there is much more revealed as these three strong women participated in the history of the United States.

Viola Davis uses a pursed lips approach to portray Michelle Obama, that sort of works but then becomes annoying after awhile.  Michelle Pfeiffer has the Michigan accent down (and I should know. I grew up there)!  And Gillian Anderson has worked her whole acting career to live down her role as Special Agent Dana Scully in “The X Files” (she always seemed to have an uneasy relationship with that role), and now seems to specialize in character roles.  All three actresses are all wonderful but Pfeiffer especially stands out. She is just phenomenal in this role.  If you had thought she got by on her looks, think again. She is an actress at the top of her game.  So believable as Betty Ford and so poignant. Expect an Emmy nomination for her performance. But all three are great. Each of these actresses could have carried a series playing these roles all on their own.  Kiefer Sutherland plays FDR, Aaron Eckhart plays Gerald Ford and O-T Fagbenle plays Barack Obama, and they are all fine but can't really compete with these tour de force performances by their actress counterparts.

There is something to be said about “the power behind the throne,” though I am not a believer that women need to take a back seat to their husbands.  But the Presidency is an institution that is slow to change, so thanks to Showtime for putting the spotlight on these heroic women, who played huge, though often unsung, roles in American history. We need heroes these days.  And thank you to these wonderful actresses who portrayed their stories so believably.

Rosy the Reviewer says…the fascinating stories of real female influencers. (Showtime)

The Girl from Plainville (2022)

This dramatization is based on the true heart-breaking story of teens Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy III and their ill-fated relationship.

Note: This story of teen suicide could be triggering for some.

Conrad Roy III (Colton Ryan), also known as Coco, killed himself by suffocating himself with carbon monoxide in his truck in a Kmart parking lot while Michelle Carter (Elle Fanning) was over an hour away from him and yet she was indicted for involuntary manslaughter. It became known as “The Texting-Suicide Case.” How can she be responsible for Conrad’s death?

I was drawn to this series because, as you know, I am fascinated by true crime, and I already knew about this case, an unusual and intriguing case if ever there was one, heavily reported on in the press. But the fact that I knew all about it was also the reason I was torn about whether or not to recommend it.

I asked myself, does everyone else already know all about this, too, how it happened, how it ended? Is there anything this series can tell us that we don’t already know?

But as I made my way through this series created by Liz Hannah and Patrick Macmanus, I realized there was quite a bit that I didn’t know, some very interesting nuances, and there was much more to it than was reported in the press. These kids weren’t just names in the news. They were real, this really happened, and this series does a good job of bringing them to life and providing some context to this very sad story. Even if you thought you knew all about this case, this story has not been told in its entirety. It's a story of teen-aged angst, families in crisis and nobody talking about any of it, and from an artistic standpoint, it’s also a very engrossing, well-done, well-acted series. Ryan and Fanning are particularly wonderful with Chloe Sevigny putting in an affecting performance as Conrad’s mother.

Here is the back story: Conrad met Michelle on vacation in Florida and yet it turned out they lived only an hour from each other in two different Massachusetts towns. When they returned home, they considered each other boyfriend and girlfriend, but they rarely saw each other. In fact, after Conrad’s death, no one in his family even knew anything about Michelle. The two conducted their relationship via text. Lots and lots and lots of texts, creating a false intimacy that ultimately lead to tragedy. And don’t worry that this series is all about reading texts. Even though Michelle and Conrad spent little face-to-face time together in real life, the writers have done a good job of integrating their texts into fantasy sequences.

Conrad was a very sensitive but troubled young man who had tried to kill himself before he met Michelle. Michelle was also troubled. She struggled with an eating disorder and with self-esteem. She desperately wanted to be liked, to have attention and for her life to be more like her favorite TV show, “Glee.” The fact that these two lonely, wounded kids would find each other and that it would end as it did is horrific and scary. You don’t want your troubled, suicidal son to meet a Michelle Carter.

When Conrad and Michelle first met, Michelle was supportive of Conrad and tried to help him with his suicidal thoughts, but the two fed off of each others’ neuroses and it all went very dark. Michelle needed purpose and her purpose turned out to become the grieving girlfriend. And all the while, neither of the parents on either side knew anything at all about what was going on with their kids. If you think that texting relationships are safe relationships, this series will disabuse you of that notion. The series is sensitive and respectful of this subject matter and begins and ends each episode with resources to help those struggling with these issues.

Rosy the Reviewer says…you true crime fans, this is for you, an intriguing, well-presented, though very disturbing case. And you fans of a really well done intriguing drama, this is for you too. But it's a cautionary tale for families and a reminder that teenagers can lead secret lives.

(Hulu)

The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin (2021)

This documentary series details the story of Gwen Shamblin Lara and her fame as a diet guru and religious leader.

One of my ex-husbands (okay, yes, there was more than one) once said that if you wanted to be super rich, start a church and tie it somehow to losing weight.  Well, my ex should have followed his gut, er, hunch and jumped on that idea, because as this five-part documentary series, now streaming on HBO Max, shows, Gwen Shamblin had the same idea and beat him to it.

I love documentaries, and I have always been fascinated by cults.  I just can’t understand why my fellow humans give up their free will here on earth to follow another human who promises them they will get into heaven if they do what she says, or in this case, lose weight by praying to God.  I don’t get it but I eat this stuff up.  I want to understand it.

Gwen Shamblin was an unlikely prophet. But she wrote a book called “The Weigh Down Diet” where she called on people to bow down to Jesus instead of the refrigerator, and, believe it or not, for many it worked (I actually think it’s called not eating), and Gwen Shamblin became famous and very, very rich.  Add workshops and conferences where her disciples could hang out with her and voila.  A church is born – Remnant Fellowship.  And then let the mind control and indoctrination begin!

Even though Gwen was the head of the church, the doctrine was a conservative, male-dominated one.  Not only was everyone supposed to lose weight but the women were supposed to be submissive and the children highly disciplined – the usual fundamentalist doctrine that seems to give people comfort.  If you don’t have to think for yourself or make your own decisions, and you leave it all to God, everything will be okay, right?

Well, a fascinating element to this series is the fact that Gwen, her husband and five friends died in the crash of their private plane. How do you explain that?  Now that is not a spoiler, because the series begins with that event, though the first three episodes were filmed before that happened.  So what was originally meant to be a three-parter, turned into five, dealing with the aftermath of the plane crash and losing Gwen. 

Gwen was an unlikely leader of a church.  Her hair alone would make me ask myself, “Do I want to be led by this woman?”  Gwen’s hair seemed to get higher and higher as she gained more and more power.  Maybe she thought, the higher your hair, the closer you get to God? 

During the series, testimonials from ex-members abound and they express the low self esteem and guilt they experienced when they left the church.  Some even committed suicide.  But survivors say that sharing their stories helped them heal. There is also plenty of footage of Gwen doing her thing in front of her congregation and commentary from experts on cults who offer insights into this phenomenon.

Rosy the Reviewer says…a fascinating story and here is my insight. Beware of the promise of a quick fix, especially weight loss plans that say God wants you to be thin.  I think he doesn’t give a...well, you know. (HBO Max)

Thanks for reading!

See you again soon!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, Twitter, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critic Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

(NOTE:  If you are looking for a particular movie or series, check out this cool site: JustWatch.  It tells you where you can access all TV series and movies)

 

A Mixed Bag of Movies - an Animated Feature, a Drama, and a Rom-Com - all with Latin Flair!

[I review the movies "Encanto," "Parallel Mothers" and "Marry Me."]

Encanto (2021)

Everyone in her family has magical powers except Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz)!

During an armed conflict, Alma and Pedro Madrigal had to flee their village in Colombia with their triplets, Julieta, Pepa and Bruno. Pedro is killed but Alma, left to raise three children alone, manifests a magic candle that protects her and her children and it creates a magical house - the Casita - a house that responds to the family's moods and needs and it is located in a magical, protected place called Encanto.

The candle is still providing protection 50 years later and the house is a miracle house, now in a village where the candle grants magical gifts to every Madrigal child when he or she turns five, gifts like shape shifting, controlling the weather, lifting heavy objects and healing with food. These magical gifts are meant to serve the villagers.  But young 15-year-old Mirabel, Julieta's daughter, had received no gift and appears to be a disappointment to her grandmother, Alma (voice of Maria Cecilia Botero). But Mirabel is a good girl who still wants to make her family proud.

One evening, when 5-year-old Antonio is given the ability to communicate with animals, Mirabel sees the Casita cracking and the candle flickering and an unknown darkness threatening the village, but no one believes her. Then the magical gifts of the other family members start to weaken but stern matriarch Alma will have none of it.  She blames the messenger - Mirabel - for causing the family's problems, saying she is jealous that everyone has a magical power but her and likens her to her Uncle Bruno who was banished from the family for seeing into the future (I guess he also told the family things they didn't want to know)! 

But Mirabel is undaunted.  She knows something is wrong and resolves to save the miracle. She goes to her Uncle Bruno's room, a forbidden tower in the Casita, where Mirabel discovers that Bruno (voice of John Leguizamo) had never left.  She begs him to help, and reluctantly, he does as Mirabel tries to fix various family issues and restore the family's powers.

Animation today sure isn't what it was when I was young.

 But, okay, I'm old.  I actually saw "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp" and "Sleeping Beauty" in their first runs in the theatre, and I can't watch Dumbo visiting his mother in prison without crying my eyes out. That tells you how old I am (Note: I didn't see "Dumbo" in its first run.  I'm not THAT old)! And when I say that animation isn't what it used to be, I am not complaining about today's animation per se.  It's just that it's so different. It's more three-dimensional which is a good thing, but what's with those eyes?  Why do all of the modern day animated kids have those gigantic eyes? Actually, the adult characters have them too! Kind of gives me the creeps.

Written and directed by Charise Castro Smith, Jared Bush and Byron Howard, kids will probably enjoy this, but as an adult watching this, I don't know.  I was kind of bored. It felt very basic and slapstick, and it didn't really go anywhere. It's the usual Disney formula - a girl who doesn't quite fit in but who is good and brave, a mission, a silly animal sidekick, sibling rivalry, a surprise villain who is not really a villain, and family rifts healed - but nothing much really happened. Maybe this film needed a real villain so there would have been more conflict. However, the film is beautiful to look at paying tribute to Colombian culture and its diversity, and the Lin-Manual Miranda musical numbers were fun and lively, though, apart from "We Don't Talk About Bruno," not particularly memorable. 

And speaking of the musical numbers, isn't it funny that musical comedies have gone the way of the dinosaurs? They just can't seem to draw an audience anymore.  Movies like "Singin' in the Rain" or "Grease" are few and far between.  Maybe that abysmal version of "Cats" put the nails in the coffin for musicals.  But yet movies with animated characters singing and dancing still seem to draw an audience.  And they often generate big hit songs.  All of our kids can probably sing all of the words of "Let it go" from "Frozen" and from this film "We Don't Talk About Bruno" has taken the world by storm. And in fact, this film is going on tour as a sing-along event (Note: the DVD also has a sing-along feature so you can sing along with the movie at home too)!  So go figure.  I guess we like musical comedies if the characters are animated.

Despite my complaints, the intent of this film is good. It has a good message for kids, and it's a feel good film. Who doesn't love an intrepid young girl saving the day? Who doesn't want to hear that they don't need to change, that they are enough just as they are? Who doesn't want to believe in the importance of family?  

Rosy the Reviewer says...not my favorite Disney film but then, like I said, I'm old. I'm still crying over "Dumbo."  See it for yourself and you decide. (Available on DVD, Disney+ and for rent on most streaming platforms)

Parallel Mothers (2021)

Writer/director Almodovar combines motherhood and political history in this story of two women who give birth on the same day and end up with an unlikely bond.

Pedro Almodovar is one of the all-time great writer/directors. I remember the first time I discovered him.  It was “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” and I was enamored by his vibrancy – the originality, the colors and his amazing ability to highlight women.  And that was followed by the controversial “Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down,” starring a young Antonio Banderas. I was hooked.  I have not missed a new Almodovar film ever since. 

So here is his latest.

Penelope Cruz, Almodovar’s muse (it’s their eighth film together), stars as Janis, a successful fashion photographer in Madrid, who connects with Arturo (Israel Elejalde), a forensic anthropologist, who she meets so that he can exhume the graves of her grandfather and other townspeople who were killed and buried by Franco’s goons after the Spanish Civil War.  The two also connect in another way…um…and she gets pregnant. But he is a married man and doesn’t want the baby.  She is single and time is running out for her, so they separate and she has the baby.

In the hospital, Janis meets Ana (Milena Smit), a young woman who is also giving birth.  Her story is different.  She is also unmarried, but very young, living with her mother, and she doesn’t know who the father is.  The two women give birth on the same day and forge a bond that becomes very entangled in the present and, ultimately, with the past.

It is clear that Almodovar loves women, and they are often the centerpieces of his films.  And motherhood and friendship are the themes, this time with political overtones as it becomes clear how mothers have, over the years, suffered through so much political upheaval, and how they have had to be strong, raising children alone and helping each other.  Considering what is going on in the world now, how more relevant can he get?

Penelope Cruz received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, and it was well-deserved.  Though this is not a big, flashy, histrionic performance, she has the ability to be real, to exude poignancy, vulnerability and warmth. Almodovar clearly loves women and Cruz is his perfect muse.  His use of juicy close-ups (that’s what my Dad used to call those up close and personal close-ups of actresses so common in the films of the 30’s and 40’s) says it all and it’s all done with respect and love.

Rosy the Reviewer says…whether it’s comedy or drama, with Almodovar, expect a good story, vibrant colors, beautiful cinematography and twists and turns. Tie me up, tie me down, you will not keep me from Almodovar’s films. I look forward to each and every one. They are all gems. (In Spanish with English subtitles, available on DVD and for rent on Amazon, Apple+ and Vudu) 

Marry Me (2022)

When singer Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) discovers her singer boyfriend has cheated on her right before they are to be married on stage in front of an audience, Kat impulsively points to a stranger in the audience and marries him!

I have to admit up front that I am a huge Jennifer Lopez fan. I know she is not the best actress in the world nor the best singer, and though she is certainly beautiful, she is not the most beautiful. But there is a certain warmth about her. I want to be her bestie. So because of that, I tend to give her a pass on most things, especially rom-coms, no matter how absurd.

And speaking of rom-coms. I love romantic comedies. Where have they gone? They used to be a constant in our lives and now it’s all superheroes and horror. Romantic comedies seem to get a bad rap by movie snobs, er, in some circles. They are dismissed as silly and unimportant, but since when is love and humor silly and unimportant? And sometimes we just don’t want to have to think too much. We want to chuckle as we watch people fall in love and then cry tears of joy during the credits.

So needless to say, I looked forward to this latest romantic comedy from Jennifer Lopez.

Here she plays Kat Valdez, a singer who has had a huge hit with her singing partner, Bastian (Maluma). The hit song is called “Marry Me” and the two just happen to be in love. They decide to promote the song and themselves by actually getting married on stage during their concert and the wedding is minutes away when Kat discovers that Bastian has been cheating on her. So when she gets on stage, she starts talking to the audience to explain what happened and notices a man in the audience holding a sign that says “Marry me.” So far, so good.

But here is the absurd part. In a moment of grief and then impulse, she points to a stranger in the audience whho is holding a "Marry Me" sign and says “Yes!”

The man is Charlie (Owen Wilson), a math teacher, who just happens to be at the concert with his colleague and his daughter and he just happens to be holding the sign. His daughter made him do it. And, then more of the absurd part, when Kat points at him and says "Yes," he just happens to go up on stage and marries Kat (he doesn’t want to make things worse for her). However, here is a more realistic angle. The two make a deal that she will contribute to his school if he goes along with the marriage for a few months.

And then lots of rom and lots of com and more absurdity ensues. Remember I said I love Jennifer no matter what, right?

Now I know that seems like an unbelievable plot, but c’mon, this is rom-com. You have to suspend disbelief for most of them anyway, but now that we have that TV phenomenon called “Married at First Sight,” maybe this premise isn’t too unbelievable after all. I mean, there are actually some people from that show who are not only still married, but they have kids!

Comedian Sarah Silverman plays the school guidance counselor, which is absurd and funny all by itself, but in its defense, the film written by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill and directed by Kat Coiro, pays homage to teachers; there is a nod to feminism; and the film comments on celebrity, single parenting, marriage and friendship. And there are lots and lots of performances from J-Lo singing some good songs, one of which – “On My Way” - is likely to get an Oscar nomination for Best Song at the next Academy Awards.

Rosy the Reviewer says…is it so cute you want to pinch someone’s cheek? Yes. Is it silly at times? Yep. Must you suspend disbelief? Duh. But in this time of so much bad news, sometimes you just need something silly and cute and you want to believe. I know I did.

(On DVD, streaming on Peacock Premium and for rent on most platforms)

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