Alien at the Movies

Goat

It’s “Space Jam” meets “Bad News Bears” when a small goat named Will dreams about playing professional ball on his favorite team along side of the player he idolizes. In this animated all-animal world, basketball is called roarball & it's co-ed featuring the fastest & fiercest creatures. With lots of practice, self confidence, & luck, Will gets his once in a lifetime chance to play pro ball with the Thorns. His teammates aren’t thrilled with his diminutive size. However, he brings a new inspiration to this lackluster team. This action comedy is for sports & basketball fans. It’s a great inspirational film for the young & the old. 

Alien gives it 3 “small can ball” stars out of 4.

Paris Hilton: Infinite Icon - A Visual Memoir

My first impression when I️ heard about a documentary on Paris Hilton… Why? Who cares? But I️’ll try to be open minded & objective. This is a documentary promoting Paris Hilton’s music career while looking back at her past & current life & expressing her thoughts & feelings. Deep down this project still feels like that spoiled rich girl from the “Simple Life” days trying to bathe in the spotlight again. She is trying to feel relevant & promote her dream of becoming a rock star. But can she sing, dance, & perform? Her songs are not awful but they all sound alike driven by a techno beat. She dances like she did during her night clubbing days. Her concert numbers were well staged & choreographed but nothing special. Her singing voice was nothing special either. The highlight of one concert numbers was when Meghan Trainor joined Paris for a duet. I️ found the old family footages of young Paris more interesting. There is a look back at her rise to fame & popularity and the criticism that came with it. Her leaked sex tape & Carl’s Jr commercial are discussed. Her public on camera stylish image seems to persist at her home life too or maybe just because it was being filmed. (white fingerless gloves coordinated with her white sweater similar to her black stage show pair) There is a nice reunion with Nicole Richie. My advice is focus on your loving husband & darling kids. Music is only a hobby.

Alien gives it 1½ “attention that money can buy” stars out of 4.

Send Help

It’s “Horrible Bosses” meets “Cast Away” meets “Mean Girls” meets “War of the Roses” with a hint of “Misery” & sprinkled with director Sam Raimi’s dark horror sense of humor. Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is a skillful numbers person working in a planning & strategy department of the Preston Corporation. But she is a mousy Mary type that will let people walk all over her & take advantage. She knows her strengths but lacks the confidence to project them. She is also a diehard Survivor TV reality show fan. Her boss is Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), a spoiled rich kid who inherited the CEO position when his father passed. He runs the company like a boys club & the females get discounted. He flagrantly mistreats Linda. On a business trip to Bangkok, their plane crashes & the only survivors are Linda & Bradley although Bradley is badly injured. This is where the fun begins & the tide turns. There is a power shift as boss/servant roles switch. It’s a deliciously dark over-the-top survivor cutthroat island situation. The island is beautiful but also terrifying that made my heart shutter at times. Be forewarned if blood & gore are not your thing. There were so many surprises that I️ could not see coming. Will they get rescued? Will they live happily ever after on their deserted island? Will one finally kill of the other? What’s your sense of humor? It was a fun thrill ride for me.

Alien gives it 4 “engagement ring” stars out of 4.

Mercy

In the near future, crime has exploded & criminals are clogging up the justice system. A new advanced Artificial Intelligence MERCY Court Algorithm Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) controls the justice system as judge, jury, & executioner giving prisoners just 90 minutes to defend themselves using any system files, film footages, & phone calls to individuals. Police officer Raven (Chris Pratt) wakes up strapped into a chair & accused of killing his wife. This plays out like your typical crime action plot with the defendant looking more guilty as the evidence is revealed. Of course, as the plot thickens the real truths are revealed. The gimmick here is that all the film audiences sees is display images of the guilty-as-charged-until-proven-innocent desperate defendant, the unemotional impartial judge, & incessant film footages flashed before our faces.This typically decent plot line feels very impersonal & chaotic until the defendant breaks loose to play an active part of his defense. It is a ludicrous premise that sets up defendants at a disadvantage without any legal consul nor experience in how to properly prove themselves innocent with the clock ticking. Fortunately, Raven is a cop & at least has some investigating experience. I️ saw no point to screening this film in 3D nor at this IMAX theater. I️ give the filmmakers an A for effort but a D for disastrous film display. This was an unsatisfying experience & experiment.

Alien gives it 2 “flawed system” stars out of 4.

Marty Supreme

Meet Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a table tennis hustler from New York’s Lower East Side. It’s 1952 & Marty is a slick shoe store salesman working for his uncle, but he has big ping pong champion dreams. He is a manipulator who can convince people to do things for him. He’s a ladies man who can charm women, young & old. He is a schemer who always has a plan to solve his problems. He’s is arrogant & goes after what he believes should be his. Once he sets his goal, he perseverses to make it happen. By hook or crook, Marty heads off to London to prove himself to be the best, but he runs into a snag. Next, he sets his sights on Japan for another shot at fame & glory, but financial troubles continue to plague him so he must hustle, con, & humiliate himself to get there. Will Marty get to play for the big table tennis championship? Chalamet gives an outstanding performance & takes us on a wild ride. Fran Drescher & Gwyneth Paltrow are among the supporting cast. This film is inspired by a real life person.

Alien gives it 3½ “reward for Moses” stars out of 4.

Becky

Becky (Lulu Wilson) is a rebellious 13-year/old daughter who lost her mom to cancer a year ago. Her dad Jeff (Joel McHale) trying to reconnect with Becky takes her to their lakehouse house, but she is still grieving & traumatized, When a woman & her son, Kayla & Ty, show up & Jeff announces his engagement to this woman, Becky is upset & runs off to her fort in the woods. Meanwhile, 4 convicts escape from their transport vehicle & come to the house. Their leader Dominick (Kevin James) is trying to retrieve something he hid there. The next thing you know, Becky goes R-rated Kevin Macallister on these killer cons. She is a stubborn & smart little girl who will use violence to fight violence. This is a bloody gory David versus Goliath underdog story. If this wild thrill adventure doesn’t quench your thirst mayhem & curiosity about little Becky, look for the sequel “The Wrath of Becky”.

Alien gives it 2½ “red fox beanie & the key to unknown treasure” stars out of 4.

Anaconda 

BFFs Griff (Paul Rudd) & Doug (Jack Black)  reunite at Doug’s surprise birthday party.They reminisce about their 13-year-old selves’ experience videoing their homemade big foot horror film. They dream up the wild idea doing a remake the 1997 “Anaconda” film. Unable to secure proper financing, they set out anyway for 3 weeks in the Amazon with their other childhood friends, Claire (Thandie Newton) & Kenny (Steve Zahn), on a shoe string budget. Of course, it’s a comedy of errors as everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. If you are a fan of Rudd & Black, you’ll pretty much know what you’ll be getting. It’s over-the-top zany humor as the film pokes fun at the original Sony picture & the horror genre. This action comedy also slips in an illegal gold smuggling plot into the storyline. Look for a surprise cameo or two. 

Alien gives it 3 “movie rights” stars out of 4.

Friendship

Craig (Tim Robinson) is a socially awkward marketing executive. His wife Tami (Kate Mara) runs her flower business out of their home. Craig meets his new neighbor Austin (Paul Rudd) when Craig returns an mis-delivered package to Austin. Austin is a local TV weather reporter. Later, Austin invites Craig over for a beer. Austin spontaneously takes Craig on some unusual outings. Craig begins to be obsessed with his new friend & desperately tries to fit in with Austin’s buddies. However, things start to go wrong & quickly spirals out of control in this supposed black comedy. Maybe, this film’s humor crossed the line & was just too dark for me to find funny. Craig’s ill attempts to be like his playful neighbor just digs himself deeper in his awkward hole. I️ just felt more & more frustrated with each pathetic attempts by Craig. It felt watching a slow-mo car wreck while I was strapped into the passenger seat. I️ was expecting some Paul Rudd style humor but he was basically a straight man here. If you are in the mood for something sad & depressing… or maybe your sense of humor is strangely very dark… I️ was just glad it was over with a wink.

Alien gives it 1 “sewers & wild mushrooms “ star out of 4.

Song Sung Blue

Mike (Hugh Jackman) was a Vietnam War veteran, a recovering alcoholic, & an auto mechanic. But now, he is struggling to be a Neil Diamond interpreter singer. When he meets Claire (Kate Hudson), a hairdresser/Patsy Cline interpreter singer, they team up as “Thunder & Lightning”, the Neil Diamond Experience. This is their story as they rise to popularity in the Milwaukee area beginning in the 1980’s. This film is based on a real couple’s love story. If you are a fan of Neil Diamond’s music, you’ll enjoy the musical numbers. Jackman is in his element here singing & entertaining as his showman personality clearly excludes from his performance. Hugh & Kate have great chemistry together. This story is an emotional rollercoaster as life can be complicated & messy. It’s not always “Sweet Caroline” & “Cracklin’ Rosie”. Sometimes it is a “Song Sung Blue”. If you know the lyrics, you’ll be singing along with your favorite tunes (at least in your head). This film will make you sing, laugh, & cry. There were 2 moments that surprised & startled me (grasp). Look for a photo of the real Mike & Claire during the credits.

Alien gives it 3½ “lightning strikes twice” stars out of 4.