DADDY’S HOME 2

Having finally gotten used to each other's existence, Brad and Dusty must now deal with their intrusive fathers during the holidays.
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More of the same but with the granddads this time. There are a few very funny moments but most of it is pretty bland and formulaic. John Lithgow’s character is the most interesting, but, of course, not explored in depth or given enough time on screen. Would make for a movie you can put on for the family on Christmas Day if there’s nothing else to do.

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

The journey that led to Charles Dickens' creation of "A Christmas Carol," a timeless tale that would redefine the holiday.
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A quirky biographical tale that, because of its comedy and fantasy elements, is difficult to distinguish truth from reality. A unique way of telling the story that essentially has Dickens experiencing the story as we are told how the story was developed. At times, so over the top it was hard to take seriously. And it’s too long. I got a bit tired of it after a while. Would be ok to put on for the kids to watch on Christmas Day while the adults party.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

A behind-the-scenes look at the life of author A.A. Milne and the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories inspired by his son Christopher Robin.
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A sweet story of the way the Winnie the Pooh stories came to be. The acting is good with an outstanding performance by newcomer Will Tilston who plays Christopher Robin. The best part of is the relationship between Christopher Robin and his father, played by Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machine). The main problem with this movie is that about two thirds of the movie is spent on the idyllic life of Christopher Robin and so little of what happened when Christopher Robin was thrust into the public limelight.  Doesn’t quite come off as being completely authentic. Feels like it needed to have more tension and drama. It’s a movie made to please.

JUSTICE LEAGUE

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen, Arthur Curry, and Victor Stone to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.

An average superhero movie. Seems a bit dull and humourless after recently watching Thor: Ragnarok, although, there are a few funny moments if you catch them. Wonder Woman is the best character in the film. Most of the film consists of fight scenes so it’s all pretty spectacular action. It would have been good to have richer character development. If you are going to see it, you might as well catch it on the big screen so you get the full effect. It is, at least, better than the dreadful Batman vs Superman that came from the DC studio!

LUCKY

Follows the journey of a 90-year-old atheist and the quirky characters that inhabit his off-the-map desert town. He finds himself at the precipice of life, thrust into a journey of self-exploration.

There’s a sadness about this movie given that the star, Harry Dean Stanton (Alien), has died since completing it. It makes the existential angst portrayed in the story even more poignant. LUCKY is a reflection on the meaning of life and mortality when one accepts that there is no higher purpose imposed by a god. Stanton is excellent, bearing the weight of the whole story on his shoulders — he is on screen in every scene. Despite the serious themes, the narrative is told with a sense of humour making for a bitter sweet viewing experience. It’s in limited release, but if you are looking for something thought provoking while watching a masterful character actor at work, it is worth seeking out.

BRAD’S STATUS

A father takes his son to tour colleges on the East Coast and meets up with an old friend who makes him feel inferior about his life's choices.
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Supposed to be a comedy drama but there is very little to laugh at. BRAD’S STATUS is a very serious meditation on the demoralising effect of comparing our lives with those we often define as “successful”. Ben Stiller, who plays the father, is having an existential crisis because he feels his life has been a waste when compared to a number of his old school mates who have made it big. There’s a very important message in this movie about valuing the simple lives that most of us lead rather than pursuing status, money, and power. It’s good to see Ben Stiller (Zoolander) in something substantial. His performance is good, as is Austin Abrams (Paper Towns) who plays the son and is on screen with Stiller most of the time. It lags a bit at times and could have been more daring. I felt very depressed at the end of this one — but with a needed nudge to reflect on what things I truly value in life. An insightful movie — especially for those living in the so-called “first world”.

THREE SUMMERS

The new ensemble romantic comedy written and directed by Ben Elton.

Set over three summers at The Westival, a fictional West Australian rural folk festival redoubtable local radio personality ‘Queenie' describes as "Australia in a tent". Two young musicians fall in love against a wider collection of tales dealing with a microcosm of contemporary discussion points, including Indigenous, immigration and refugee issues.

THREE SUMMERS comes across as if an immature screenwriter has tried to include as many Australian social observations and issues as possible in 1 hr 42 mins without worrying too much about how they fit together. Despite that, there are moments that are touching, funny, and incisive. It’s like watching a series of disjointed comedic gags that have no real plot line, although the romance between two of the characters does provide a bit of a backbone to the movie. It’s fun and, although a short movie, seems longer than it needs to be.

THE MIDWIFE (Sage Femme)

Claire is a midwife and has devoted her life to others. At a moment when she is preoccupied by the imminent closure of the maternity clinic where she works, her life is further turned upside down when Béatrice, her father's former mistress, turns up on the scene. Béatrice is a capricious and selfish woman, Claire's exact opposite.

A gentle, human relationship drama that I enjoyed. I’m not a midwife, but the birth scenes in the movie seemed very real and authentic. The plot is somewhat contrived but the performances of the two lead actors make this movie worth watching.

CATCH-UP RATINGS

Every so often, I get a bit behind in reviewing movies I’ve seen. So, here are my star ratings for a few recent movies.

THE DANCER - Nothing in her background destined Loïe Fuller from the American Midwest to become a Belle Epoque icon, even less a dancer at the Paris Opera. Even at the risk of destroying her back and burning her eyes with the stage lights, she will never falter in the quest to perfect her dance. But her encounter with Isadora Duncan, a prodigious young dancer hungry for fame and glory, will precipitate the fall of this icon at the beginning of the twentieth century. ****

THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK - When a young man learns that his overbearing father is having an affair, he tries to stop it, only to be seduced by the older woman as well. ****

THE FOREIGNER - Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love -- his teenage daughter -- dies in a senseless act of politically motivated terrorism. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers. ****

INGRID GOES WEST - Ingrid becomes obsessed with a social network star named Taylor Sloane who seemingly has a perfect life. But when Ingrid decides to drop everything and move west to be Taylor's friend, her behaviour turns unsettling and dangerous. ***

BRIGSBY BEAR - Brigsby Bear Adventures is a children's TV show produced for an audience of one: James. When the show abruptly ends, James's life changes forever, and he sets out to finish the story himself. (Brigsby Bear Productions) ****

See you at the movies!

Movie descriptions are from IMDB or TMDB unless otherwise stated.