Film Review - "The Garfield Movie"

I don't write a review for every film I see, clearly. Sometimes life and time just get in the way, but regardless of wether I enjoyed the film or not, sometimes I just feel like I don't have enough to say about it to warrant a written piece.

However, oddly enough, I feel like I have enough about this one...

The Garfield Movie

Directed by Mark Dindal

Starring Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, etc.

I low-key enjoy the character of Garfield, and frankly as I grow older, crankier, and more cynical I relate to him a lot more. Who doesn't hate Mondays? I haven't touched those live-action films with Bill Murray in ages but I saw them in theaters. The DVD's are around here somewhere. It's a little surprising that it took until 2024 for Garfield to get a fully-animated, theatrical film. I was probably going to see it no matter what, or no matter who voiced the titular character (I think we all thought it was a prank since it was announced not too long after the Mario casting.)

The Garfield Movie came to theaters on Memorial Day weekend, and was met with less than favorable reviews. Many viewers, myself included, expected this film to be laughably bad. After having seen it for myself though, I think it's a flawed but enjoyable animated adventure.

The film finds Garfield (Pratt) reunited with his long-lost father Vic (Jackson) and roped into his life of crime. One of Vic's former partners, Jinx (Waddingham) wants revenge after he left her to rot in prison after a heist went south. Jinx will let bygones be bygones if Vic, Garfield, and Odie (Harvey Gullièn, but don't worry, Odie doesn't talk) can steal a large quantity of milk from the same dairy farm where she was caught all those years ago. Obviously, during all this Garfield is very reluctant to help and reconnect with his father.

So yeah. The Garfield Movie is a heist film. Not exactly the kind of caper you would expect a lazy, lasagna obsessed cat to be involved with. Honestly, maybe they just had a script about a generic father and son cat reuniting on some adventure, but were afraid it wouldn't have much draw without it being attached to a well-known IP, so they went "...Make it Garfield." That's at least the sense I get.

It's fun, though. There were a few moments I genuinely laughed out loud, and surprisingly there were also a lot of heartfelt moments that damnit, got me right in the feels. However, despite being just under two hours, there were times where the film dragged. Also there's a weird bit of product placement. I'm not saying there's a lot of it, but when it's there, there's no effort put into hiding it. It was almost like it was an afterthought, and they just went back and edited the PNG file of the product logo somewhere into the scene.

The animation is very charming, and the Jim Davis style translates to CGI seamlessly. The new characters lik Vic, Jinx and others also feel like they could've fit into one those classic animated television specials or the Garfield & Friends series. The voice acting is fine. No one really stands among the cast, except for Ving Rhames as Otto the Bull. He is the true MVP of the film. Hannah Waddingham is clearly having fun playing Jinx. Brett Goldstein and Bowen Yang have some funny moments as her henchman. I really want to know what the thought process was in getting Nicholas Hoult to show up and do his best American accent for the less than ten minutes Jon Arbuckle is in this film. There wasn't a thousand other white boys stateside that could've sufficied? It's not as egregious as getting Snoop Dogg to show up as a cat for literally five seconds I suppose...

Okay let's talk about Chris Pratt now. He's not putting as much effort (and I use the word "effort" lightly) into disguising his voice as he did in The Super Mario Bros but it works, but it would only work for this specific version of Garfield. He was casted because of his star-power, not because he was the best for the part. Everything I say about Pratt could also be said about Samuel L. Jackson as Vic, Garfield's father. A fine performance...but it just doesn't fit Garfield. For a portion of the film I was listing all the actors in my head who would've been a better fit, not just for Garfield, but Garfield's father (Nick Offerman, H. Jon Benjamin, Beck Bennett, maybe we could've convinced Bill Murray to come back for a third round? Actually that would be pretty clever if he was the dad in this film. I digress.)

Pratt (and Jackson's) performance is pretty symbolic of the film as a whole. It's fine, but it's just not Garfield. I loved the original animated series and the television specials, and the hijinks Garfield got into there are not the same here. I know it's weird to get critical about a Garfield movie but when you slap that name on it, that comes with a certain set of expectations. I do think if the filmmakers actually were more concerned with the father-son relationship, exploring Garfield's origins, and what makes Garfield who he is, this could've reached the same heights as say, The Peanuts Movie. I'm not saying Garfield can't go on crazy adventures, but those adventures should at least make some sense. 

Despite its flaws, The Garfield Movie is an enjoyable film with some heart, laughs, and quality animation. There's clear effort on the screen, albeit effort that's a bit misguided. Families will enjoy it, die-hard Garfield fans (??) maybe not so much. But I would happily revisit this one again.

The question now remains...which obscure character will Chris Pratt voice next? My vote? Ziggy.

Film Review - "The Super Mario Bros. Movie"

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic

Starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, and Jack Black

I really don't understand movie critics sometimes. Why are we tearing down a film that's based off an over forty-year-old video-game franchise, where an Italian plumber, goes off to rescue a princess, from an evil turtle? A "thinly plotted animated adventure". Did you really expect to walk out of here forever changed, emotionally rocked to your core at the Pixar level? Anyway The Super Mario Bros. Movie is goddamn delightful and it gave me the biggest smile I've had in theaters for awhile.

Mario and Luigi (Pratt and Day) are two Italian-American brothers in Brooklyn struggling to get their plumbing business off the ground. One night when they go into the underground to fix a water leak, they get sucked down a Warp Pipe into another dimension. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom, and Luigi in the Dark Lands, which are ruled by King Bowser (Black). Bowser is determined to marry Princess Peach (Taylor-Joy) and will destroy the Mushroom Kingdom if she refuses. Mario teams up with Peach to save his brother and the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser and his army.

Simple but effective is the best way to describe this film. It knows its source material and speaks its truth. This was a Mario video-game come to life in the best way. The film wastes no time in explaining power-ups or Koopas or Rainbow Roads. It just goes "No. This is the world of a video-game. Deal with it. Let's-a-go." The animation is spectacular, and probably some of Illumination's best. They stay close to the style of the games and all the characters look amazing. The set pieces are gorgeous and filled with vibrant colors. It's a true feast for the eyes. 

There's so many Easter eggs and visual nods to the games. You have to watch this film in slow motion to catch them all. One particular scene where Mario and Luigi are rushing to a job-site and its framed like a level on the games is so much fun, the sequence where the characters drive on Rainbow Road triggered me in ways I didn't know possible (Mario Kart!!), and I won't spoil it but the ringtone on Luigi's cellphone put such a stupid smile on my face. 

I know I said this film is "simple but effective" and no one should expect a Pixar-level narrative here, but the film does have a lot of heart, especially when it comes to the relationship of Mario and Luigi. You really believe these two brothers love and care for one another. It's unfortunate that they're apart for most of the film. But at the same time you sympathize with Mario's own character journey. It's basic Joseph Campbell, hero-journey stuff. He dreams of a better life, he's called to action, and he's given the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, to be something greater. I might get shot for this but in some ways its structure isn't that different from the original Star Wars!

Really all the characters in the film are wonderful, and now's a good time to transition into the voice-acting. I think when this cast was announced a lot of people were worried, especially about Chris Pratt. Honestly though he was pretty good. We shouldn't be totally surprised this isn't his first animated film*. There's a lot of surprising subtly to his Mario. I completely understand them not going hard on the Italian accent. It's the same with John Mulaney and Andy Samberg voicing Chip and Dale. Hearing their original stylized voices over an extended period of time could get kind of grating.

Charlie Day was super fun as Luigi. Seth Rogen, despite giving his very distinctive voice to an animated character for like the twelfth time, is a really good Donkey Kong, and I love the reluctant friendship he has with Pratt's Mario here. They play off each other so well. Keegan-Micheal Key is a real scene-stealer as Toad. Anya Taylor-Joy is sweet and charming as Princess Peach. The real MVP of the film though is Jack Black as Bowser. This is one of the best villain performances in animation ever. You can tell he is just having so much fun behind the mic being completely over-the-top evil.

One thing that brought this film down for me was its jukebox soundtrack. It relies way too much on popular hits from the 70s and 80s, which is a shame because there's so much rich music from the video games they could've adapted (or in some cases did adapt and then cut in favor of using a popular song). I've said this before but one too many "needle drop" moments can really take you out of the viewing experience. Let's all agree to not use "Holding Out For A Hero" in film anymore. This was the second instance in one month. Don't use AC/DC you're just asking us to remember Iron Man. Also..."Take On Me" by A-Ha? Just compose your own music! 

Maybe the majority of the critics out there didn't play Mario video-games growing up, or just forgot to have fun with a film. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a real treat for audiences young and old, no matter how much you did or didn't play the games. I was never a big gamer but this film brought me so much joy with its simple story, wonderful characters, and dazzling animation. This is another mark in the win column for Illumination as far as I'm concerned.

But please...can we just let the "Peaches" song go for a little bit? Before the Academy decides to have Jack Black perform it in costume at next year's Oscars?

*Do not come for me I wasn't originally sold on The Lego Movie and now I love it.

Film Review - "Jurassic World: Dominion"

You know I've never written a review for a Jurassic film, Park or World. Shame that this is (supposedly) the last one...and it's bad...oh well.

Jurassic World: Dominion

Directed by Colin Trevorrow

Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, etc.

I like the original Jurassic Park and Jurassic World, and that's where my enjoyment of the franchise ends. A lot of movie-viewers probably share that sentiment, although I know Jurassic World has its fair share of critics. It's been a long time since I've seen the second and third films in the original trilogy so I might not be the best judge on them. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was...okay. It definitely could've been a lot better.

I had hope the franchise could bounce back for a proper conclusion with Jurassic World: Dominion. Unfortunately this is a very disappointing and frustrating film, and easily one of the weakest entires in the Jurassic series.

Following the events of Fallen Kingdom, the world is struggling to cope with the fact that de-extinct dinosaurs freely roam the Earth. Owen (Pratt) and Claire (Howard) have gone off-the-grid living the log-cabin life, trying to raise and protect teenage clone Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon). Blue, one of the raptors Owen trained on Isla Nubar, has taken residence in the woods by their cabin (Convenient...) and given birth to a baby, which Maisie names Beta. One day, operatives from an organization known as Biosyn Genetics kidnap both Maisie and Beta. Owen and Claire quickly give chase to rescue them both.

Elsewhere, Doctors Ellie Sattler (Dern) and Alan Grant (Sam Neill) set out to investigate Biosyn on their own, believing they may be behind a recent plague of prehistoric locusts that threaten the world's food supply. They're able to successfully infiltrate Biosyn's compound under the invitation of recent Biosyn employee, Dr. Ian Malcom (Ultra-Daddy Jeff Goldblum). It's also so *so* important for viewers to know that the CEO of Biosyn and our antagonist is Dr. Lewis Dodgson (Played here by Campbell Scott). Dodgson as in "Dodgson. Dodgson! Hey we got Dodgson here!!...See? Nobody cares." 

Who would've thought a single, disrespectful taunt by Newman from Seinfeld would turn a minor character from the original Jurassic Park into the franchise's final big bad...

Right off the bat you can see there are two plot lines going at the start of this film, and frankly neither are very interesting. The one with the classic characters gets bonus points because it's great to see the actors reprise these roles. The pacing is also terrible. This film is a half-hour shorter than The Batman while at the same time feeling an hour longer than it. The two plot lines take forever to converge, and when the old guard finally meets the newbies it's not even an exciting moment. It's almost a relief, that maybe we're finally approaching the film's end.

The marketing for this film and its predecessor heavily pushed the idea that the series was going to start exploring the idea of dinosaurs existing out in the modern world. Dominion starts out honoring that promise, but way too quickly drops the ball...in favor of locusts. LOCUSTS. Dinosaurs, in a Jurassic World film, become less relevant to the plot than LOCUSTS...BUGS. The ball has been dropped. That's not to say dinosaurs disappear from the film entirely. When they do show up on-screen they look great, and there's a nice blend of practical and CGI effects, which are both effective. There are some cool shots and interesting sequences. One standout is a motorcycle chase with raptors through the streets and rooftops of Malta. However these moments are far too fleeting in a lackluster film.

Dominion also relies heavily on good old cinematic nostalgia. It's a common thing in film today, and in films like this, that are sequels/follow-ups that come out years or decades after the original. There are good ways to use it, and bad ways. I feel like the last Star Wars trilogy gets a bad rap for how it relies on nostalgia, but I think the Jurassic World trilogy does it way worse, and Dominion is a prime example. I can't go too into it because spoilers, but I mean Dodgson is the villain, and don't worry, if you've seen any Jurassic film the T-Rex is going to show up, and you know when it's going to show up...

The cast is probably the saving grace of the film, particularly the returning Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, who all slide back into their roles so smoothly. As one would expect, Goldblum almost steals every scene he's in. Pratt has proved he's a talented leading-man and action star before, and he continues that line of work in Dominion, but I wouldn't say he's a standout in this ensemble. Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire has certainly had the most compelling arc in the World trilogy. She balances the heavy-action and the heartfelt moments well. I guess that time directing those Star Wars series on Disney Plus rubbed off on her. 

DeWanda Wise is a fun new addition as pilot Kayla Wise, and I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future. Isabella Sermon holds her own against other seasoned cast members, and works hard to make Maisie a more fleshed-out, dimensional character in this film. Campbell Scott...I'm not sure what choices he was making playing Dodgson but it came off as weird. My best guess is he was trying to provide commentary on eccentric billionaire types like Bezos and Musk, but it fell flat. 

I wouldn't call Jurassic World: Dominion an unwatchable film by any means, but it's not great. A top-notch cast and some great visuals don't do enough to save it from its lackluster plot and abysmal pacing. I do feel like I'm nitpicking a bit, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable in expecting dinosaurs to take center stage in a dinosaur film (LOCUSTS.) Ever since COVID became a thing I've chosen my time at movie theaters carefully. I've watched some bad films the last few years, but this is the first time I wished I was at home with my remote and comfy couch opposed to the theater. Don't rush to see this one. Wait to rent or stream it at your leisure.

Six films and almost thirty-years later, the Jurassic franchise comes to a close. Maybe now we can stop trying to bring dinosaurs back, because it never works out...for viewers, and characters in the films.

I hope Top Gun: Maverick lives up to the hype...

 

Film Review - "Onward"

Onward
Directed by Dan Scanlon
Starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus

I firmly believe during this pandemic, it's important to not get caught up in all the news updates. There's so much being thrown out at once, and honestly it's not all equally accurate, nor pleasant. So you should take some time to escape into some positive media. That can be an unread book that's been sitting on your shelf for sometime, a new show to binge on Netflix, or just some films.

There's plenty of films to take in, either streaming or on your DVD shelf, but access to any new releases is going to be pretty limited for now. However through The Mouse's good graces, it released Pixar's latest film Onward, on Disney Plus early, for everyone to view from the safety and comfort of their home.

I recently watched it myself and let me tell you...this film was like a gift. Onward is top-notch Pixar.

Onward takes place in a world full of magic and fantasy, but nowadays magic has taken a backseat to modern technology. The film focuses on two elf brothers, Ian being the youngest (Holland), and Barley the oldest (Pratt). Ian is right in the middle of his teenage years, lacking self-confidence and struggling to find himself. Barley is a goofball lost in his roleplaying games and magic history.

On Ian's sixteenth birthday, their mother (Dreyfus) gives them a birthday present from their late father, whom Ian has no memory of. The gift is a "visitation spell", which when cast, will bring someone back to life for 24 hours. Unfortunately, they don't get the spell quite right, and they only bring back the bottom half of their dad (Think like a magical Weekend at Bernie's). However Barley believes he knows where they can get the magical items they need to cast the spell again. So the two brothers set on a quest to complete their spell and see their dad before time runs out.

Onward follows the basic Pixar film formula. There's two leads who don't quite see eye-to-eye, and they have to work together to get somewhere, achieve a goal, etc. But as the studio has proved time and time again, it's not the formula it's what you do with it. Dan Scanlon draws on his own personal experiences to deliver a real-life story, set in a fantasy world. The relationship between Ian and Barley is so well-written. Ian loves his brother but can be annoyed or embarrassed by him. Barley is all about fun and adventure, but is Ian's biggest cheerleader. It's as complex and layered as a brotherhood like this should be.

Ian and Barley are brought to life perfectly by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, who both have shown before they can balance comedy and drama seamlessly. Arguably I think Holland gets more of the drama and Pratt gets more of the comedy, but undoubtedly they both turn in killer Pixar performances. They play together incredibly well, and make you wonder if Star-Lord & Spider-Man will share more scenes together in the eventual Avengers 5. One thing I will say though is Pratt's Barley does take some time to getting used to, because at first he's all about his mythology and jokes, and embarrassing anyone sharing a scene with him. But much like another Chris Pratt character, Andy Dwyer on Parks & Recreation, he gets more dimension as time goes on, and it's not long before you're rooting for him.

As far as the supporting cast, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss has a lot of great moments as their mother Laurel, and plays a pretty active role in the story. Octavia Spencer is almost unrecognizable as Corey The Manticore, and you can tell she is having a lot of fun. Personally I really enjoyed Mel Rodriguez's Colt Bronco, the boy's centaur cop stepfather.

Pixar once again turns in some spectacular animation. It's amazing how much detail goes into the littlest thing that they end up actually looking real. Things that really stood out for me were like the lighting, especially in the sequences when they're driving on the interstate. The fantasy side of things are okay, like the character designs aren't groundbreaking or as "inventive" as the creatures in say Monsters Inc. but they're fine. Honestly it was really cool seeing Pixar tackle the fantasy genre. The quest is very enticing, and the film is entertaining from beginning to end. Some of the situations the boys get into are very creative. While I don't want a sequel to Onward, I wouldn't mind seeing more of this world in a future Pixar film.

That's really all I have to say about Onward. I had a great time with it. It's a very sweet, fun film, that in typical Pixar fashion, will have you shedding a few tears before the credits roll. It's a beautiful story not just about the relationship between brothers, but the relationships we have with the people who always support us, and the times when we have to support them. Pixar have always been master storytellers, but I think this story about brotherly love and being there for one another, came at the right time.

We're in a rough period right now. Life as we know it has completely changed, and we're cut off from one another. It's pretty grim out there, and I think Onward is a nice reminder of the love, and the "magic" that's still there. Even though we may not be able to physically be there for one another, we still can be in our thoughts and our actions. So yes, I am thankful Disney put Onward on Disney Plus a little early, and I hope everyone out there can take some time to share it with their family and friends from the comfort and safety of your home.

Film Review - "Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2"

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2
Directed by James Gunn
Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Kurt Russell, etc.

I don't think anyone expected the first Guardians of The Galaxy to be the smash hit it turned out to be, but here we are, and personally it's one of my favorite films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From the way James Gunn and Kevin Feige have been talking, it sounds like the series will play a major role in shaping the future of the MCU post-Phase Three. I think the majority of Marvel fans are perfectly fine with that. Early last month, Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 hit theaters and proved that the first film was no fluke. The sequel is another strong entry into the franchise and stands toe-to-toe with "Vol. 1"

After Rocket (Voiced again by Bradley Cooper) lands the team in hot water with the alien race known as The Sovereign, the Guardians crash-land on a remote planet, where they are located by Peter (Pratt)'s long-lost father Ego (Russell) and his assistant Mantis (Pom Klementieff).

Ego invites the group to his personal home planet, to reconnect with his son and teach him of his heritage, but Peter naturally remains skeptical of his estranged dad, as does Gamora (Saldana). Meanwhile Yondu (Michael Rooker) finds himself on the outs with his crew and other Ravager factions as a result of his past mistakes, and Nebula (Karen Gillan) continues her hunt to kill Thanos (Josh Brolin but not here) and settle her beef with her sister Gamora.

It's a simple story, elevated to the greatest of heights with tons of heart and emotion. James Gunn once again takes this weird batch of characters and makes it so easy for audiences to connect, feel, and fall in love with them all over again. We should be super thankful he returned for Vol. 2, and will come back again for Vol.3. 

The underlying theme of family gives each character a chance to grow and shine throughout the film. The cast nails it once again. Chris Pratt is as lovable as ever as Peter Quill/Star-Lord. Kurt Russell is perfect as Ego. Dave Bautista once again brings buckets of laughs as Drax, and is also given more emotional bits to work with. Bradley Cooper I felt wasn't as funny in the role of Rocket this film, but like Bautista he got to flex his acting chops with more dramatic material, given the little trash panda's arc in the film.

Zoe Saldana again embodies the character of Gamora, and because the film expands on her relationship with Nebula, she gets to do more than just kick ass and not get Quill's references. Speaking of Nebula, Karen Gillian is given so much more to do and owns the role. The same can definitely be said for Michael Rooker as Yondu, who arguably steals the spotlight.
I say arguably because yes, there's Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), and yes he's adorable, and yes all eyes are on him when he's onscreen.

Before I end up praising every actor on the cast list, I'll just say that Sylvester Stallone in his role was actually really great. He's not in the film a lot, but you can tell he's giving it his all, and not just working to make a quick paycheck. Finally, Elizabeth Debicki is good as Ayesha, the High Priestess of the Sovereign but is really just an incidental character. Hopefully we'll see more of her in future films.

I'll go back and forth for awhile on whether Vol. 1 or Vol. 2 is the better film but I will say that the latter does a much better job of integrating the music. There's an incredible variety of wonderful tracks in Awesome Mix Vol. 2 that work to progress the story and elevate the tone of the film. Also I found the look and production design of Vol. 2 to be on a higher level. Every planet or ship looks so distinct and it's all just so colorful and well crafted, they really created a whole universe and it's a beautiful film to look at.

Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is an amazing film packed with laughs and heart. It's an easy recommendation for anyone, and if you didn't see the first one watch it right now and then go see this one ASAP. This series continues to prove it's one of the most unique out there, inside and out of the MCU. Who would have thought a film featuring a talking tree and raccoon could carry so much weight?