Alien at the Movies

The Intruder (El Prófugo)

This Argentine film is about Inés, a voice actress & singer, who seems to be struggling with her dreams/nightmares & possibly from taking too many unprescribed pills. Leopoldo, her mother Marta, & Alberto play key roles in her life. It’s a confusing story as audiences start to question her sanity. Is she delusional? Is she schizophrenic? What is real & what is not? This film is spoken in Spanish with English subtitles but I’m questioning whether something may be lost in translation and/or in cultural design. Have I️ misinterpreted the genre? Is it not a horror/psychological thriller? Or is it an unrecognizably ultra dark comedy?  I️ simply don’t get it so I️ wasn't entertained.

Alien gives it 1 “concert hall organ tuning” star out of 4.

The Harder They Fall

It’s an intense story of revenge between rival gangs in this revisited Wild West version. The nearly all black cast includes Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, & Lakeith Stanfield. These are ruthless killers involved in brutal beatings & deadly shootouts. It’s ultra violent & not for the squeamish. Still it’s classic cowboy action. At the end, the untold portion of the story is revealed. As the survivors ride off into the sunset, someone watches. Is this a hint for possible sequel?

Alien gives it 2 “crimson hood gang” stars out of 4.

Army of Thieves

This terrific action thriller is a prequel to “Army of the Dead” but don’t expect to see any zombies roaming across the big screen, just a few mentions on TV newscasts. A nerdy bank teller, Sebastian, with a huge fascination with safe locks get lured by a mystery woman into joining her crack team of thieves in a wild adventure to rob 3 of the world’s 4 toughest vaults to crack. He’s no criminal, but he potentially has the skills & talent needed for this series of outrageous bank jobs. Of course, law enforcement are on their heels every step of the way. Will they succeed or will they get caught? At the end you’ll see how this film ties to the original film. It’s rumored that a third film is in production, “Planet of the Dead”? I️ prefer seeing Dead before Thieves & can’t wait to see Planet. It’s looking like a great franchise.

Alien gives it 3½ “honor among thieves” stars out of 4.

Friendsgiving

Actress/divorced single mom Molly (Malin Akerman) & recently dumped lesbian Abby (Kat Dennings) are best friends. Their plans to hold quiet Thanksgiving together go comically awry when unexpected guests, some last minute invites & some self invited, show up for a hilarious dysfunctional gathering of odd friends, relatives, & others. Among the guest cast is Aisha Tyler & Jane Seymour. Also, Wanda Sykes & Margaret Cho make a brief appearance. This R-rated comedy is loaded with drugs, alcohol, language, & sexual content. 

Alien gives it 2½ “photo booth” stars out of 4.

Life in a Year

It’s Square & Izzy instead of Oliver & Jenny in this modern day “Love Story” revisit. When Harvard-groomed Daryn (Jayden Smith) tries to sneak into a rap concert, he spots free-spirited wild child Isabelle (Cara Delevingne) & it’s love at first glance for him. He pursues but she plays coy. His over-controlling father (Cuba Gooding Jr) thinks she is beneath his class & a distraction. When he discovers she is ill, he is determined to give her a lifetime of experiences. Smith showcases his rapping skills in this romantic drama produced by his parents, Will & Jayda. Delevingne does a good job being that eccentric person but there doesn’t  seem to be much chemistry between the 2 leads. This one follows the predictable tear jerking formula.

Alien gives it 2½ “hedgehog” stars out of 4.

Extinct

It’s the Time Tunnel/Stargate/Atavachron meets the Expendables when Ed & Op, sibling flummels (donut-shaped creatures) on the Galápagos Islands in 1835, accidentally discover a floral portal taking them to present-day Shanghai. When they discover that their species has become extinct, they must find their way back to save their kind. This is an animated family fun sci-fi fantasy slapstick comedy with cartoon violence to amuse the kiddies. 

Alien gives it 2½ “losers must save the day” stars out of 4.

8-Bit Christmas 

An entertaining nostalgic look back at a 10-year-old’s obsession with owning a Nintendo Entertainment System in the late 80’s. Neil Patrick Harris as adult Jake Doyle narrates his childhood story to his daughter who is insistent on getting a cell phone for Christmas. It’s a fun family friendly film recalling fad crazes like the Cabbage Patch Doll, idolizing the spoiled rich kid who got everything, & selling door-to-door to win a grand prize. This Christmas message about values is directed at today’s social media & gaming obsessed generation.

Alien gives it 2½ “Endo Nintendo” stars out of 4.

Tick… Tick… Boom!

In 1990 approaching his 30th birthday, struggling musical theater composer Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) begins to doubt his career choice. At the New York Theater Workshop, Larson performs his autobiographical musical hoping to finally make it to Broadway. Lin-Manuel Miranda directs this marvelous musical about a man’s insecurities & his relationships with the people around him. It’s an emotional ride accompanied by some wonderful songs. Look for some surprising cameos. I️ didn't realize until the end that this was based on a true story. See footage of the real Jonathan Larson at the end of the film.

Alien gives it 3 “Moondance Diner” stars out of 4.

King Richard

This is the story of a man with a plan, a man with a vision, & a man with a philosophy. This man is the father/coach of now famous tennis phenoms, Venus & Serena Williams. This may be Will Smith’s greatest performance yet. He’s the larger than life patriarchal driving force behind this family’s fascinating success story. Watching, I️ only saw Richard Williams up on the big screen, hardly a trace of Smith. The 2 young girls playing the talented sisters are terrific. Although this film is in King Richard’s court, his Queen Brandy may be the only one allowed to succeed at challenging his royal majesty. This one is about family and providing & protecting its members. See the struggles & the determination of the Williams family as they journey from Compton CA to Florida, doing it Richard’s unconventional way. Against all odds & succeeding with not just one daughter but with two daughters. See clips of the real characters at the end of the film.

Alien gives it 3½  “Ghetto Cinderellas” stars out of 4.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Louis Wain, British artist famous for his anthropomorphic cat illustrations during the Victorian period. This is a most peculiar film about a most peculiar man. Saddled with being the main family provider when his father died, he became a freelance illustrator with entrepreneur dreams but was rather naive & had little business sense. He finds love & marriage with his sisters’ governess, Emily Richardson (Claire Foy). Her illness & a rescued cat, Peter, marks the beginnings of his fame & no fortune through to his later decline in mental health. Cumberbatch again gives a marvelous performance demonstrating his wide acting range.

Alien gives it 2 “fear of drowning & fascination with electricity” stars out of 4.

Endangered Species

A family’s dream African safari vacation turns into a nightmare. Real life couple Rebecca Romijn & Jerry O’Donnell star in this not so subtle thriller. The lure of a working vacation must have been too great for them to resist; plus minimizing their onscreen time. This film feels more like a made for TV movie. All of the anticipated scenes are so obviously telegraphed that it becomes almost comical. The film’s messages are so heavy handed. It was just not very believable how things played out in the film. But it was a great view of Kenya. 

Alien gives it 1½ “baby rhino” stars out of 4.

Red Notice

In a globe-trotting heist caper, it’s Deadpool meets Luke Hobbs meets Wonder Woman as these three each engage in a wild game of oneupmanship. The trademark talents & personalities of Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, & Gal Gadot are melded together in this funny action comedy about INTERPOL agents & a FBI profiler trying to catch a world class jewel thief when another world class jewel thief shows up to upset the plans to steal valuable art objects. It’s a tongue-in-cheek romp that’s a little bit buddy/cop, Odd Couple, Romancing the Stone, Ocean’s Eleven, Indiana Jones, & The Sting. See whether it’s bust or boon for this trio. INERPOL’s Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate & provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Will these three be back for more crazy antics?

Alien gives it 3 “Cleopatra’s Eggs” stars out of 4.

Bruised

It’s “Rocky” meets “Million Dollar Baby” in an unsanctioned female fly weight mixed martial arts match. Years after walking away from a promising career, aging Jackie Justice (Halle Berry) accepts an offer to re-enter the cage against a top MMA fighter. While receiving rigorous tough love training preparations, Justice’s world seems to go from bad to worse. It’s the classic underdog story as the challenger gets pummeled & bloodied going toe-to-toe against her dominant opponent. Berry is terrific as the woman/mom/fighter struggling against abusive situations, dealing with homelessness, & providing for her estranged son. Berry is also convincing as the cage warrior struggling to prove herself. Producer/star Berry also makes her directorial debut here. This girl power film is about turning your life around.

Alien gives it 3 “Big & Little” stars out of 4.

Finding You

A romantic comedy involving a girl named Finley & a movie star who has come to this small town to shoot a film…hey, doesn’t that sound like the plot of “A Cinderella Story: Starstruck”?

After a disappointing audition to get into a prestigious New York music school, an uptight aspiring violinist named Finley enrolls for an overseas semester in Ireland while awaiting her final action attempt in 3 months. A chance meeting with heartthrob movie star Becket Rush sets up the classic rom/com format. Girl meets boy. She doesn’t like him. He is persistent & pursues. They like each other. They break up & you know the rest. Ireland is a spectacular backdrop. I️ love the Irish accents. The locals & their small town are quaint & charming. There is a great cast of delightful interesting characters including a town drunk & a grouchy old woman (Vanessa Redgrave) in a convalescent hospital. There are a couple of mysteries to be solved. There is even a meaningful message from beyond the grave. Everything may not be what they seem to be & be true to yourself are 2 lessons to be learned here. The writers took some care & effort to tie their subplots together. It has everything you’d expect from this genre plus a little more as you laugh & cry. 

Alien gives it 3½ “Fair Warrior & Bee Cottage” stars out of 4.

A Cinderella Story: Starstruck

This is the sixth installment of the “A Cinderella Story” series. Following in the footsteps of Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, & Lucy Hale before her, Bailee Madison stars as Finley, the new Cinderella who happens to wear cowboy boots & talk with a country twang. Instead of the invitation to the royal ball, it’s an audition opportunity for a Hollywood film part. Madison then follows Amanda Bynes’s path in “She’s the Man”. Of course, her stepmom & step siblings (Saffron & Kale) are idiots. It’s cheesy, silly, over-the-top family fun in this musical comedy. Singing, dancing, & even horseback riding is not unexpected for an actress, but I️ was surprised by Madison’s rope trick skills. It’s the classic Cinderella storyline so we know how everything is going to play out. This one is geared for the younger ones who never tire of the same old story over & over.

Alien gives it 2 “a pet pig named Jon Hamm” stars out of 4.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

A San Francisco hotel valet Shaun (Simu Liu), who has been hiding from his past, must return home to find & protect his estranged sister from his father’s plot to reunite with his lost love. Shaun reveals to his best friend Katy (Awkafina) that he is actually Shang-Chi, trained by his father to be a deadly assassin. Marvel Studio’s has spun off another thrilling action-packed superhero blockbuster. Steeped in Chinese culture with ties to previous Marvel films, an underground fight club, a magical forest, mythical beasts, a mysterious Ten Ring organization, guardians of a hidden village, a love story, & a dysfunctional family, what could go wrong? Look for a mid & an end of credits clip revealing clues to possible future films from Marvel.

Alien gives it 4 “Ta Lo” stars out of 4.

The Half of It

In this modern day Cyrano de Bergerac twist, a petite, shy, introverted, & smart Ellie Chu is pestered by an inarticulate football player Paul Munsky to write a letter for him to his crush Aster Flores. This comedy/drama centers around an awkward high school love triangle in the small town of Squahamish. This is a cute & charming coming of age story where these teens are trying to figure out who they are & where they are going. Leah Lewis who plays Ellie is terrific as the driving force of the film.

Alien gives it 3 “Chugga, Chugga, Chu, Chu” stars out of 4.

Flashback

This film begins with Fred Fitzell (Dylan O’Brien) visiting the hospital where his mom is suffering from diminishing mental capacity. His life seems to be thrown in turmoil when he starts to have flashbacks about a girl gone missing back in high school. He & his old buddies try to figure out what happened to her. They realize their teen drug use days has clouded their memories. This mystery is told with confusing flashbacks to the point audiences will question Fred’s mental state or the writer’s mental state. This whole plot appears senseless & stupid. When the film ends back at the hospital with his mom, you’ll wonder what did I️ just watch & what was real here.

Alien gives it 1 “Merc” star out of 4.

2149: The Aftermath

In this future dystopian society after the Great War has supposedly poisoned the atmosphere, a young man, Darwin, has been confined to his sanctuary pod for 9 years since his mom left him there as a child. His world is controlled by a computer until a lightning storm causes a massive power failure & he is forced to venture outside to search his mom. He stumbles across another family living privately in the wild & hiding from the police cruiser drones. This simple low budget film is a statement about isolation, over dependence on technology, & putting too much trust in fear mongering misinformation. Is surviving in your sanctuary pod really living?

Alien gives it 3 “World Authority” stars out of 4.

See You Next Christmas 

Every year, Tom & Annie Clark invite their friends & neighbors to an annual holiday party. In this romantic comedy, Natalie & Logan, both chronically single, keep bumping into each other at “Clarkmas”. With a cast of quirky characters, this film explores the funny side of hosting parties, awkward situations, & personal growth. Much of the humor is conveyed in one-liner jokes & clever repartee.

Alien gives it 3 “Polaroids” stars out of 4.

To Whom It May Concern

Bartender Anna has closeness issues & uses one night stands & drugs/alcohol to dull her pain. She contemplate suicide & starts making preparations. When Sam, Anna’s next door neighbor’s boyfriend, gets tossed out, Anna let’s him sleep on her couch. Thus begins an awkward relationship. This is a slow paced film where not much really happens but you’ll wonder why is Ana so messed up. It’s not hard to figured out where this sad dark story is going.

Alien gives it 2½ “hole it the wall” stars out of 4.

The Wedding Trip

The groom Murray makes a last minute call to his buddy Jack (Bart Blachnio) requesting that he pick up a stranded bridesmaid Samantha (Sydney Bakich) for a 2-day drive to the Nashville wedding. This is a low budget rom/com road trip film. He is a wildlife photographer with a medical degree & she is a New York fashion marketer. They are opposites with not much in common except an almost forgotten crossing of paths. Of course, they bicker & annoy each other. Along the way, they meet each other’s relatives & past secrets are revealed. Bakich is very watchable as the charming high maintenance girl. Don’t judge a book by its cover nor a film by its poster. If you like romantic comedies, you might enjoy this one. 

Alien gives it 2½ “blind date” stars out of 4.