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Reviews
Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli (2024)
Multiple moments of excellent comedy
I can see that Pete's standup skills have improved since his first special. In this one, he's become more confident and has a smoother delivery. I like that he still comes across as somewhat relatable despite his fame - he hasn't lost the casual vibe that's become his signature. This special also had a good pace, with plenty of content, and just enough callbacks to show that he's put thought into making it a cohesive performance. There was definitely some dark humour, and I didn't enjoy the mum jokes (those who've seen it know what I'm referring to), but conversely there were multiple other parts when I laughed so hard it nearly hurt. If you like Pete's usual style of comedy, you'll enjoy this.
Persuasion (2022)
Once I leaned in, I loved it
I'm a huge Austen fan who always takes the side that BBC's 1995 P&P is better and more authentic than the 2005 Keira Knightley film. So when I first saw this film upon its release, I agreed with the criticism that the fourth-wall-breaking and modern language were unwelcome changes to the source material.
But having just watched it again almost 2 years later, somehow I've decided it's now one of my favourite films of all time. The important thing to remember is that there are already 3 other classic screen adaptations of this novel, so there is plenty for us to enjoy when we want a traditional adaptation. This film gives us all the beauty of a Jane Austen storyline and our favourite characters from this tale but adds a sassy modernism that makes Jane Austen's underlying wit and humour more accessible to any audience. The ease with which we can connect with the characters and see how easily they parallel people we know in our own lives (all within the limitations of the film format) is partially dependent on the modernised dialogue, and it's also what made it a really engaging watch for me.
In short - if you consume it with an open mind and understand that this is an unapologetically modernised twist on the original novel, you'll find yourself enjoying it just as much as any other adaptation - and, if you're anything like me, laughing out loud much more than you would have expected.
Strife (2023)
Well-made, entertaining, clever.
I consumed the whole show within a 48 hour period and I'm impressed with what they've achieved here. The production quality and acting are great, and the storyline is well-paced - it stays interesting the whole way through whilst still being light enough to suit any mood. I really enjoyed seeing current, potentially dicey issues addressed directly in a way that's entertaining and self-aware. No character or storyline is unrealistically perfect here, and that authenticity makes the story easy to connect with. The script's style of humour reminds me faintly of one of my all-time favourite shows, The Bold Type - specifically, the hilariously-awkward cold opens with manifold missteps taken in the character's stride. In the year of the Barbie movie, Strife does an admirable job of depicting the nuanced struggles of modern feminists and of celebrating and showcasing real people in all our imperfect perfection.