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Reviews
Noelle (2019)
Funny, Clever, and Warm-Spirited
I love Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, and they were wonderful in this movie that captured the spirit of Christmas. Anna plays Noelle, Santa's daughter. Her brother, Nick, is in line to be Santa. Noelle wishes she could do more, but her father tells her that her job is spreading Christmas spirit at the North Pole. She clearly wants more, but she has a positive outlook and does her best in her limited role.
After her father passes away, Nick has to take over for Santa. He isn't cut out for the job and leaves the North Pole for Phoenix, just days before Christmas.
This is where the fun really begins, as Noelle goes to find her brother and bring him back. She is sweet and funny as a fish out of water in the real world.
In perfect movie story-telling, Noelle, her family, and the people she meets grow and change and connect with the spirit of Christmas.
Everyone in this movie plays their characters with heart. It really is Disney magic.
Candy Cane Lane (2023)
Horribly Acted, Horribly Written
This was a complete waste of time. I can't believe Eddie Murphy took this gig. Didn't he read the script first? Bad jokes and over-acting by a third rate supporting cast, and Murphy honestly seemed to not care. Either that, or there was only so much he could do with his pathetic lines. He seemed to be phoning it in. I really like him, and hope he gets something better to work with.
Special effects were awkward. Lines ended nowhere with a thud. Also, a very objectionable anti-Christian joke.
I was wondering whether this movie was written by a relative or something. There had to be some reason to put this poor excuse for entertainment on Prime.
The Orville: Twice in a Lifetime (2022)
Sorry - VERY Disappointing Ending
I loved seeing Malloy's relationship with Laura brought back from a previous season. I always liked her, and they did such a great job with it back then.
Now Malloy is trapped in the past and ends up marrying her and starting a family, which is apparently very dangerous to the timeline, although there's no proof or evidence of this.
The captain and crew comes to "rescue" Malloy, and because he's broken all of these timeline rules by not living as a hermit for the rest of his life to minimize his effect on the past, and deciding to actually have a life instead, they're particularly mean about it when Malloy refuses to go.
Eventually, they travel deeper into the past, when Malloy first arrived, before he met Laura again, and bring him back to the future.
My problems were with the callousness with which they treated Malloy, and with the ending, where Malloy is very cool with everything that happened after they explained it all to him. I think both of these things were completely out of character and off-putting as well. I understand there was the larger problem of interference with the timeline to wrestle with, but there's practically no angst or second thoughts or reflection about it at all.
This was a rushed, ill-conceived ending, which is a shame, because almost everything else about it was compelling and great.
Ghosts (2021)
Better than UK!
Watched all of the US version, then 3 episodes of the UK. I got more laughs from the US version, and found it warmer and more engaging. I'm looking forward to Season 2, and might not bother with more UK episodes.
Night Sky (2022)
Slower paced than Anything You Can Imagine
Imagine the slowest pace you can, and then slow it down by about a factor of 10, and you have Night Sky! Listen, I am so disappointed because I would have loved to love this. Instead we are literally put to sleep watching people stare and walk and talk and stare and walk. Oh, and sit!
I love Sissy Spacek and J. K. Simmons, and they are wonderful in this. I wish they'd have been given something to do.
Cinderella (2021)
Funny, Charming, and Entertaining
This movie was a modern, fun, entertaining, cute and romantic take on Cinderella. Camila was wonderful. The music, settings and costumes were spectacular. The mice were hilarious. And the romantic scene at the ball was perfect. Both my wife and I loved this, and I'm sure we'll be watching it again.
I know some have a problem with the "political correctness" in this movie, but I feel like they're getting hung up on that. This movie is not heavy-handed, it has great humor, and it was refreshing to see a diverse cast and strong women that wanted more than they were expected to have.
Mapleworth Murders (2020)
So funny, and I love all the cameos.
Funny! And so great to see surprise visits by so many wonderful comic actors. I have to slow down watching this, because I want it to last. I hope there's another season. I love Quibi!