Views from the Couch

Playing catch-up with this unfortunately long neglected blog and the best way I can think of to do so is to rehash my unwarranted opinions of some of this year's crop of movies, all of which seen in what is known as the comfort of my own home. I haven't ventured out to an actual cinema since my birthday which makes me feel like a total hypocrite, but that's a blog of a different color. For now, let's roll film!

PROJECT HAIL MARY was the first big hit of the year box office-wise along with some pretty decent critical adoration. This is very encouraging for a non-franchise/reboot/ remake/rehash, almost an anomaly since it also wasn't in the horror genre. I found it to be a breezy, overlong experience, certainly something I've seen before and so have you if you've got an semblance of a memory left in your head. It's CAST AWAY in outer space with THE MARTIAN thrown in for good measure, not surprising given its source material. (Andy Weir wrote the novels for this one and the other one without the volleyball) PROJECT HAIL MARY isn't bad by any means, just a wee bit too cutesy-pie for my taste. Ryan Gosling makes it palatable for the most part and made me glad Ryan Reynolds hadn't been cast instead. It was jokey enough as it was. Plus it seemed ungodly long to me. The loss of a half hour would have helped. Overall, as derivative as it was and draggy it became, I still give it a passing grade. Your mileage may vary. On Prime Video and MGM+

Having succumbed to the lure of chatty CGI farm animals, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES was as sweet a little picture if there ever was one, for the most part. I didn't care much for the mystery itself or the humans in the piece with the exception of Hugh Jackman. The title characters were the whole show and worth the watch. But try to avoid the trailer since it spoils the best gag in the movie. On Prime Video

Here's something new. An AI cautionary tale. Sigh. What isn't these days? GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN AND DON'T DIE is probably the best of the bunch, at least thus far. Overblown, over-caffeinated, but oh-so-much-fun with a pitch perfect Sam Rockwell as a soothsayer extraordinaire. Welcome back from Movie Purgatory, Gore Verbinski, though you're probably on an AI hit list after this one. On Hulu

Netflix's THE WHISPER MAN is 2/3 of a decent thriller with some actual well-earned tension until it falls down the stairs in the last half hour and can't get back up. However, the whole enterprise is saved by the performance of an actor left out of the marketing for this due to its spoilerish nature. Far be it for me to screw it up for you. Oh fuck it. It's Michael Keaton and he steals the whole goddamn movie. Give him his due already. He deserves it. On Netflix

Geeks and nerds raised their swords with both hands (because they're too heavy for their weak little arms) ready to take down SUPERGIRL way before it hits theaters and boy, aren't they proud of themselves for doing so? And who did they choose to slice and dice the most? Milly Alcock in the title role. Whatever failures this movie might have and they are plentiful, none should fallen into her lap because she's the main attraction and lives up to it. No, the fanboys attacked her physical appearance and did so in such sniveling, conniving and cowardly manner  that belies their own atomic wedgie and locker stuffing history. Did you call the words "Get a life"? Shame on all of your cyber-bullying bullshit, you chickenshits. As SUPERGIRL itself, it was a botch from the word go. What the hell was James Gunn and Warner Brothers thinking by falling up the SUPERMAN reboot with SUPERGIRL? It didn't work in the 80s. Why take the stupid gamble again? The end result was a Crock Pot full of too many ingredients left on too long becoming a mush that may satisfy your hunger momentarily but you'll forget about it as soon as you wash out your bowl. You know. Another superhero movie. On HBO Max (future home of Paramount Plus)

Other recommendations:

OBSESSION (Peacock)

LAST HOUSE (Netflix)

WOLFS (Apple)

All for now, kiddos. See you on the couch.