Coming back to this as an adult, the notice in the TV versus movie production quality is noticeable. This was handled by the direct to video unit and it's noticeable right away. The story is very slight and far too reminiscent of Aladdin to be memorable. DuckTales is great but I got bored quick (especially after just being enthralled by The Little Mermaid, which absolutely deserves credit as the beginning of the Disney Renaissance). It's also a shame they couldn't work The Beagle Boys in here somewhere.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Uncut Gems
(2019)
Not worth the hype
22 December 2019
I don't usually write reviews, but I'm taking the time out now because I genuinely feel as if this film is being misrepresented. The hype got me in the door and now I'm bewildered to see it referred to as "brilliant" or "suspenseful."
What we have here is Sandler playing a totally unlikable character in a movie full of unlikable characters, and because he is such a sleazeball, he deserves whatever misfortune that comes his way. Because the guy has no redeemable qualities, the audience is basically waiting for his bad luck to catch up to him and for him to "get his." I don't know where all the tension and suspense is supposed to come from when the guy continually makes bad decisions that are all begging for a bad outcome.
And Sandler's character is so closely related to the kind of dirtbags that he's played in the past that I don't see what's so special about his acting job here. In fact, the character itself is so one-dimensional and bordering on cartoony that it feels as if Sandler isn't acting at all. Sleaze comes naturally for him here, but there's absolutely nothing else to latch onto.
The only time a real development happens is towards the end, after spending an hour and a half with this clown playing with other people's money. The hype is undeserved and clearly a push campaign by Sandler's people to get him an Oscar.
What we have here is Sandler playing a totally unlikable character in a movie full of unlikable characters, and because he is such a sleazeball, he deserves whatever misfortune that comes his way. Because the guy has no redeemable qualities, the audience is basically waiting for his bad luck to catch up to him and for him to "get his." I don't know where all the tension and suspense is supposed to come from when the guy continually makes bad decisions that are all begging for a bad outcome.
And Sandler's character is so closely related to the kind of dirtbags that he's played in the past that I don't see what's so special about his acting job here. In fact, the character itself is so one-dimensional and bordering on cartoony that it feels as if Sandler isn't acting at all. Sleaze comes naturally for him here, but there's absolutely nothing else to latch onto.
The only time a real development happens is towards the end, after spending an hour and a half with this clown playing with other people's money. The hype is undeserved and clearly a push campaign by Sandler's people to get him an Oscar.
Deep space fine, but not great
14 May 2019
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