Change Your Image
ndmhs
Reviews
Not Dead Yet: Not in the Game Yet (2024)
Abandoned premise
I have no idea what this show is about anymore. It was about a ghost writer and the lessons she learned from the dead. I enjoyed the first season. This season not so much. They literally drug sitcom vet Marla Gibbs from her home for a three minute cameo to fulfill the premise for a millisecond.
The show seems to be trying to transition into a basic office comedy. I LOVED Gina Rodriguez on Jane the Virgin. Here her performance seems forced. I think it is because she is working so hard to make the script work. Hannah Simone is playing the same character from The New Girl. Nothing more, nothing less.
I have enjoyed all the other actors on other projects, but together in this show they have zero chemistry. I get the feeling, they have no idea what show they are on anymore. Lauren Ash was great on Superstore, but forcing the roommate to become her lover and adding Brad Garrett as her father has been a bust.
They and we deserve better.
Death and Other Details: Impossible (2024)
Really? This show was a waste of time!
I love a good mystery and this is not it. I have only stuck with it praying for a pay off. It did not come.
Once I recognized that Kira and Hilde were played by the same actor, I knew she was Viktor Sams. What bugs me is not one person recognizing her or at least saying that she resembles Kira.
The show portrays Imogene as this observant sleuth and she doesn't recognize the mother she has been obsessing over for years. She only changed her hair and eye color. She is one step away from Clark Kent's glasses. The governor and Mrs. Chun didn't recognize her either.
We were played for fools along with the cast. It is not a mystery, but a hoax.
Lift (2024)
Extremely disappointed
Lift is atrocious. The writing was extremely poor as if it was written by AI. Here is a sample of dialogue that literally had me yell at my TV. Kevin Hart and GuGu Mbatha-Raw, a criminal and cop trying to steal gold from a terrorist, are undercover as a rich douche and his "trophy" wife. When Kevin calls her that, she responds with, "Is calling me your trophy wife your idea of flattery?" Kevin responds with all the seriousness of a discount Billy Dee Williams, "No, calling you my wife was." Good writing should have the actors showing and not telling everything. They did things in the movie and explained it before, during and after. There was one cliché after another.
The only thing weaker than the script was Kevin Hart's performance. It was so flat. I guess he was attempting to change it up and not just be the manic comic relief. Instead he was channeling Danny Ocean from Ocean's 11, if Danny was played by a vacuum salesman coming out of a year long coma and not George Clooney.
The cast was stacked with great actors and most were game and ready to play. Most of them knew what movie they were in. Kevin, not so much. He had zero chemistry with GuGu and we were supposed to believe he was an action hero level fighting, sexy genius.
I was looking forward to this movie because I normally enjoy Kevin and I love a heist movies. Everyone involved deserved better than this. Kevin, GuGu ,the entire cast, me and movie goers at large. I expected better.
The Morning Show: White Noise (2023)
Nicole Beharie for the win
What an episode!
First, seeing Cory bounce from highs to lows in this episode was gratifying. He torched his own company for zero reward. I wonder what his next play will be.
Second, by far the winners of this episode were Nicole Beharie and Holland Taylor. Holland is always stellar, but Nicole showed why she is one of my favorite actresses. Their interview was riveting to watch and rewatch. It was great writing which is sorely lacking in TV right now.
Third, I love Karen Pittman on this show and I am glad this episode reminded me why. Her character on the Sex and the City reboot is so bad it made me question her skills. Again, the difference between poor writing and good writing.
The Little Mermaid (2023)
Halle Bailey was a stellar Ariel
I went into this remake as a skeptic. I have utter distain for this remakes with the exception of The Jungle Book. I came out wanting to see to this one again. Halle Bailey was exceptional. She acted and sang wonderfully. Melissa McCarthy was great as Ursula. She had large shoes to fill. I enjoyed Eric and the story between him and Ariel. Their relationship was more fleshed out than in the animated film. The new songs were fine, but Ariel's inner monologue was a standout.
For the minus, the look could have been better. The CGI in the water was spotty at best. In the visual, the animated version is the winner hands down.
I felt this remake stands on its own and brought something to the table.