In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018), from screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, from the best selling novel by Kevin Kwan, the film is directed by Jon M. Chu.  Native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend's wedding in Singapore, only to discover that he comes from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Asia.  Thrust into a world of opulence and high-stakes social maneuvering, Rachel finds herself the target of jealous socialites and Nick's formidable, disapproving mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) who believes she is not a suitable match for the family heir.  As she attempts to navigate this unfamiliar and judgmental environment, Rachel must decide if her love for Nick is worth the challenge of defying the strict expectations of his elite heritage.  The film clocks in at 2 h, is rated PG-13 and we caught it on HBO Max.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#CrazyRichAsians #KevinKwan #AdeleLim #PeterChiarelli #JonMChu #ConstanceWu #Rachel #HenryGolding #Nick #MichelleYeoh #Eleanor #GemmaChan #Astrid #LisaLu #AhMa #Awkwafina #PeikLinGoh #HarryShumJr  #Charlie #KenJeong #WyeMunGoh #SonoyaMizuno #AramintaLee #ChrisPang #Colin #JimmyOYang #Bernard #RonnyChieng #Eddie #RemyHii #Alistair #NicoSantos #Oliver #JingLusi #Amanda #CarmenSoo #Francesca #PierrePng #Michael #FionaXie #Kitty #VictoriaLoke #Fiona #JaniceKoh #Felicity #AmyCheng #Jacqueline #ChiengMunKoh #Neenah #CalvinWong #PT #KhengHuaTan #Kerry #ConstanceLau #Celine #SelenaTan #Alix #RomanticComedy #Comedy #Drama #Romance #AAPI #AsianAmerican #PacificIslanders #AsianStories  @HBOMax  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE RAMEN GIRL (2008), from writer Becca Topol, the film is directed by Robert Allan Ackerman.  A young American woman named Abby (Brittany Murphy) finds herself suddenly stranded and directionless in Tokyo after her boyfriend abruptly abandons her.  Seeking comfort in a local noodle shop on a rainy night, she is so deeply moved by the food that she impulsively resolves to learn the craft, desperately convincing a tyrannical and temperamental ramen master to take her on as his apprentice.  Despite a severe language barrier, grueling physical labor, and her mentor's intense skepticism, Abby undergoes a demanding emotional and culinary journey as she struggles to infuse her cooking with genuine soul and reclaim her sense of purpose.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 42 m, is rated PG-13 and we caught on the Hoopla app - go support your local public library.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#TheRamenGirl #BeccaTopol #RobertAllanAckerman #BrittanyMurphy #Abby #ToshiyukiNishida #Maezumi #SojiArai #Toshi #KimikoYo #Reiko #DanielEvans #Charlie #TammyBlanchard #Gretchen #RenjiIshibashi #Udagawa #GabrielMann #Ethan #ComingOfAge #Drama #Romance  @Hoopla  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing UPTOWN GIRLS (2003), from writers Julie Margaret Hogben, Mo Ogrodnik and Lisa Davidowitz from a story by Allison Jacobs, the film is directed by Boaz Yakin.  A carefree Manhattan socialite named Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) loses her entire rock-star inheritance to an embezzling business manager, forcing her to find employment for the very first time.  She takes a position as a live-in nanny for Ray Schleine (Dakota Fanning), a fiercely independent, germophobic, and emotionally guarded eight-year-old girl who has grown up way too fast.  As Molly's whimsical, childlike nature clashes with Ray's rigid, overly mature exterior, the unlikely duo begins to crack each other's shells and teach one another what it truly means to grow up.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 32 m, is rated PG-13 and we caught on the Hoopla app - go support your local public library.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

#UptownGirls #JulieMargaretHogben #MoOgrodnik #LisaDavidowitz #AllisonJacobs #BoazYakin #BrittanyMurphy #Molly #DakotaFanning #Ray #MarleyShelton #Ingrid #DonaldFaison #Huey #JesseSpencer #Neal #AustinPendleton #MrMcConkey #HeatherLocklear #Roma #ComingOfAge #Family #Comedy #Drama  @Hoopla  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952), from writers Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson and from Anna Perrot Rose's book, the film is directed by Norman Taurog.  

The Roses, Poppy and Anna (Cary Grant and Betsy Drake), decide to open their busy household to foster children who have struggled to find a place in the world.  They first welcome a defensive, troubled teenage girl and later a young boy with a physical disability, testing the family's patience and their "room for one more" philosophy.  The story follows their journey as they navigate the domestic chaos and emotional hurdles required to turn a crowded house into a genuine home for children in need of stability.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 38 m, is rated Approved and is currently in streaming on the Hoopla app - go support your local public library.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

This episode is dedicated to all the Moms - whether by biology or choice - we thank you all!
#RoomForOneMore #AnnaPerrotRose #JackRose #MelvilleShavelson #NormanTaurog #CaryGrant #Poppy #BetsyDrake #Anna #LureneTuttle #MissKenyon #IrisMann #Jane #GayGordon #Trot #MalcolmCassell #Tim #GeorgeWinslow #Teenie #CliffordTatumJr #JimmyJohn #LarryOlsen #Benji #Family #Comedy #Drama  @Hoopla  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing EIGHTH GRADE (2018), from writer/director Bo Burnham.  An introverted teenager named Kayla (Elsie Fisher) navigates the final, agonizing week of middle school while filming upbeat self-help YouTube videos that mask her profound real-world social anxiety.  As she pushes herself into uncomfortable social situations—from high-stakes pool parties to daunting high school orientations—the film captures the visceral, sensory-rich awkwardness of being an adolescent in the digital age.  Amidst these pressures, Kayla struggles to bridge the gap between her curated online persona and her vulnerable private self, all while navigating a fragile, evolving connection with her well-meaning but overbearing father.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 33 m, is rated R and is currently in streaming and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#EighthGrade #BoBurnham #ElsieFisher #Kayla #JoshHamilton #Mark #EmilyRobinson #Olivia #JakeRyan #Gabe #CatherineOliviere #Kennedy #ComingOfAge #Comedy #Drama  @PrimeVideo  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing SHE'S ALL THAT (1999), from a screenplay by R. Lee Fleming Jr., the film is directed by Robert Iscove.  High school golden boy Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) accepts a bet from his friends that he can transform any "plain" girl into the school’s prom queen in just six weeks.  He selects Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), an introverted and cynical art student who has zero interest in the shallow social hierarchy of her peers.  As the deadline for the big dance approaches, Zack finds himself unexpectedly falling for Laney’s genuine personality, though the looming secret of the bet threatens to undo their burgeoning romance.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 35 m, is rated PG-13 and is currently in streaming on the Starz app, Pluto TV and to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#ShesAllThat #RLeeFlemingJr #RobertIscove #RachelLeighCook #Laney #FreddiePrinzeJr #Zack #JodiLynOKeefe #Taylor #MatthewLillard #Brock #PaulWalker #Dean #KevinPollak #Wayne #KieranCulkin #Simon #EldenHenson #Jesse #GabrielleUnion #Katie #LilKim #Alex #DuleHill #Preston #AnnaPaquin #Mackenzie #Romance #Comedy #RomanticComedy #TeenComedy #TeenRomance  @Starz  @PlutoTV  @PrimeVideo  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (2003), from a screenplay by Audrey Wells and based on the book by Frances Mayes, the film is directed by Audrey Wells.  A recently divorced San Francisco writer named Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) impulsively buys a crumbling, centuries-old villa in Italy during a group tour meant to help her heal.  As she navigates the grueling process of restoring the dilapidated estate, she finds herself forming a makeshift family with a colorful cast of locals and expatriates who help her rediscover her zest for life.  Immersed in the lush scenery and sensory richness of the Tuscan countryside, Frances struggles to reconcile her painful past with the unpredictable and beautiful new future she is slowly building for herself.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 53 m, is rated PG-13 and is currently in streaming on the Starz app.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#UnderTheTuscanSun #FrancesMayes #AudreyWells #DianeLane #Frances #SandraOh #Patti #LindsayDuncan #Katherine #RaoulBova #Marcello #VincentRiotta #Martini #GiuliaLouiseSteigerwalt #Chiara #PawelSzajda #Pawel #Romance #Comedy #Drama  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which the Monsters join me in reviewing YOU, ME & TUSCANY (2026), from a screenplay by Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle, the film is directed by Kat Coiro.  

An aspiring chef named Anna (Halle Bailey) impulsively travels to the Italian countryside to honor her late mother’s culinary dreams, only to find herself squatting in an empty villa after local hotels are fully booked.  When she is caught by the villa owner’s unsuspecting family, she avoids arrest by spinning a desperate lie that she is the fiancée of their son, Matteo, a recent acquaintance she met briefly in New York.  As she is warmly embraced by the spirited Italian clan, Anna's deception becomes increasingly difficult to maintain when she begins to develop genuine feelings for Matteo’s charming cousin, Michael (Regé-Jean Page).  The film clocks in at 1 h and 45 m, is rated PG-13 and is currently in theaters.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#YouMe&Tuscany #RyanEngle #KristinEngle #KatCoiro #HalleBailey #Anna #AzizaScott #Claire #RegeJeanPaul #Michael #LorenzoDeMoor #Matteo #MarcoCalvani #Lorenzo #IsabellaFerrari #Gabriella #StefaniaCasini #NonnaAlessia #PaoloSassanelli #Vincenzo #StellaPecollo #Francesca #TommasoCassissa #Enzo #EmanuelePacca #Giuseppe #Romance #Comedy #NewRelease  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which Kid 2 joins me in reviewing THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (2026), from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel, the film is directed by Aaron Horvarth and Michael Jelenic and co-director credits to Pierre Leduc and Fabien Polack.  

Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and their new companion Yoshi (Donald Glover) embark on an intergalactic odyssey to rescue the cosmic Princess Rosalina (Brie Larson) after she is kidnapped by the cunning Bowser Jr (Benny Safdie).  The team must navigate spectacular, gravity-defying galaxies to stop the young heir from harvesting Rosalina’s celestial energy to fuel a universe-destroying weapon and restore his father's former glory.  As they journey toward the Comet Observatory, the brothers face high-stakes space battles and uncover surprising secrets about the stars that threaten to reshape the fate of the Mushroom Kingdom forever.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 38 m, is rated PG and is currently in theaters.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.

This episode goes out to Sameer - a cool Dad and excellent human - thank you!

#TheSuperMarioGalaxyMovie #Nintendo #NES #ShigeruMiyamoto #TakashiTezuka #KojiKondo #SatoshiTajiri #SatoruIwata #GunpeiYokoi #KensukeTanabe #YoshiakiKoizumi #TakashiIizuka #TakayaImamura #HirokazuYasuhara #AlexeyPajitnov #ChrisPratt #Mario #CharlieDay #Luigi #AnyaTaylorJoy #PrincessPeach #BrieLarson #Rosalina #JackBlack #Bowser #BennySafdie #BowserJr #KeeganMichaelKey #Toad #KevinMichaelRichardson #Kamek #IssaRae #HoneyQueen #GlenPowell #FoxMcCloud  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

In which Kid 1 joins me in reviewing PILLION (2026), from a screenplay by Harry Lighton and Adam Mars-Jones, the film is directed by Adam Mars-Jones.  A shy parking ticket officer and barbershop quartet singer named Colin (Harry Melling) finds his mundane life upended when he meets Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a charismatic and imposing gay biker.  Colin is quickly drawn into a complex and unconventional BDSM relationship, moving into Ray’s home to serve as a live-in submissive while navigating a strict set of rules that govern his every move.  As he becomes deeply immersed in this leather-clad subculture, Colin must reconcile his yearning for genuine affection with the lopsided power dynamics of the arrangement, ultimately forcing him to confront the true nature of his own identity and desires.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 46 m, is unrated and is currently in theaters but also available to buy/rent on Prime Video.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.
#Pillion #HarryLighton #HarryMelling #Colin #AlexanderSkarsgård #LesleySharp #Peggy #DouglasHodge #Pete  @PrimeVideo⁩  #FridayFamilyFilmNight

Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library