Movies Merica

Hugh Grant is most well known for his comedic and gentler performances in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “About A Boy.” That’s not what you’re getting from ol Hughie in this week’s movie I’m reviewing, “Heretic.” In this movie he comes off like he’d be right at home being roommates with Hannibal Lecter. He plays the mysterious Mr. Reed, who two Mormon women visiting his home to perhaps convert him, are unfortunate enough to meet. The women are Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, played respectively by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, and they early on suspect that their conversion attempt might turn into a survival game. Mr. Reed is no uninitiated, uninformed candidate for religious conversion. You realize that he’s very well versed in all things religion. However, you also realize he’s got other characteristics that are more sinister that the poor sisters just might have to worry about. What are those characteristics? Will the poor sisters make it out alive? Is it worth finding out in theaters? Check out this episode to find out! “Heretic” also stars Topher Grace, Elle Young, Julie Lynn Mortensen, Haylie Hansen, Elle McKinnon and Anesha Bailey.  

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Remember a scant 12 years ago when, if you wanted to see election stupidity, you likely had to watch a comedy movie? A movie like the subject of this week’s review, “The Campaign”, where you see all kinds of crazy hi-jinks. Of course, most of the zany stuff you see in this movie seems quaint compared to what you see in our elections nowadays. This year’s presidential election is why I’m reviewing this Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis political comedy where Ferrell plays Cam Brady and Galifinakis plays Marty Huggins. They’re both running for a congressional seat and Marty, the newcomer to the political game, finds out how sick and depraved running for office actually is. Marty isn’t what you’d call your typical steak and eggs, iron-jawed, hard hat-wearing, sports-lovin’, rugged man’s man. The donors pretty much running his campaign, the Motch Brothers played by John Lithgow and Dan Aykroyd, send their man to “man” Marty up. Cam is the corrupt veteran congressman and he’s bound and determined to make Marty sorry he even thought about running. That just fires Marty up even more to beat Cam but will it change him for the worse? Is it worth finding out? Check out this episode to find out. “The Campaign” also stars Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Katherine LaNasa, Sarah Baker, Brian Cox, Karen Maruyama, Grant Goodman, Kya Haywood, Randal D. Cunningham, Madison Wolfe, Thomas Middleditch, Josh Lawson, Heather Lawless and Jack McBrayer. 

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I don’t know if you know this but you’re lucky to be alive. Everyone in the universe was on death’s door on January 6, 2021. Even the Death Star quaked in fear when grandma’s stormed the Capitol rotunda and an armed insurrection, minus the arms, shocked the universe. Now the Babylon Bee, because love to cuddle with democracy is bringing us the documentary that Darth Trump and his evil Empire that drips drool and has garlic breath doesn’t want you to see. I give you “January 6: The Most Deadliest Day.” This documents how we’ve never had riots ever before in this country but January 6 was the very first one and it’ll never be topped. There were lecterns being moved and guys in Viking helmets and grandmas in pink Trump shirts! The horror!!! The Babylon Bee takes into this heart of darkness with interviews with most deadliest day experts and with insurrectionists who were there who probably hate puppies and musicals. In closing, as my hands tremble just typing about this most deadliest day, check out my review of “January 6: The Most Deadliest Day!” This documentary features Siaka Massaquoi, Kyle Mann, Jarret LeMaster, J. Travis Woodside, Michael Knowles, Dennis Prager, Adam Christian Johnson and Jacob Chansley. 

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If you’re one of those people that tell others that they should smile more, you likely stop doing that after watching the Smile movies. The latest installment is “Smile 2” which carries on the grin win that was 2022’s “Smile.” In this sequel, we pick right up after the events of the first movie which then introduces us to Skye Riley, a world famous pop star, who is the next in line for the smile curse. She sees someone off themselves right in front of her and the curse is bestowed upon her as is the plot of these movies. Of course, she starts seeing freaky-deaky visions that gradually drive her mad and causes her to lash out and embarrass herself. Considering that she’s a Taylor Swift-type world famous pop star, this raises the stakes exponentially as she’s being driven insane but in the very public eye. Can she defeat the smile curse and how many people will die in the process? Is it worth a trip to the theater to find out? Check out this episode to find out! “Smile 2” stars Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Drew Barrymore, Lukas Gage, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, Raul Castillo, Zebedee Row and Roberts Jekabsons. 

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In this episode, I discuss a sequel that may or may not have really been needed. That sequel is “Joker: Folie a Deux” which means Joker: two people sharing a delusion. The original “Joker” from 2019 was a movie that most people weren’t looking forward to but ended up being a $1 billion dollar surprise at the box office. It wasn’t just a great movie based on a comic book character. It was a great movie period with it’s entertainingly dark atmosphere and menace and a Best Actor Oscar-winning performance from Joaquin Phoenix. Now Phoenix returns to show us the rest of Joker’s story after we last saw him being a bad boy at Arkham Asylum. Does he escape? Does he continue to create bloody havoc? Will he meet a pop star in prison? Well, that last one is true as we see in the trailers with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn. Is this movie worth your time, or should you just watch the original again? Find out with this episode. “Joker: Folie a Deux” also stars Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill, Ken Leung, Jacob Lofland and Bill Smitrovich.

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Are you sick of watching feel-good, heart-warming movies? I think I’ve got the cure with “The Substance.” Demi Moore plays an aging actress, not so unlike herself, named Elisabeth Sparkle who’s Oscar-winning movie career has plummeted. It’s plummeted so much, she’s the host of a Jane Fonda-type workout show. Now, because of her age, she’s even in danger of being fired from that. Also, she doesn’t get the looks from the men anymore that she used to. She’s just feeling extremely depressed about her own mortality and her perceived lack of worth. Enter in The Substance. She’s made aware of The Substance and how it can create a younger, more beautiful, “better” version of yourself. The rule is, the younger version of yourself gets seven days out in the world and then you get seven days. This must be respected. The balance must be respected or else. You are both the same person, not two separate people. As long as you follow the rules, the unspeakable won’t happen. Elisabeth’s younger self, named Sue, is “born” and quickly gets the adoration and career success that Elisabeth once had and it’s addictive. Can she, and Elisabeth follow the seemingly simple seven day rule? As you might’ve guessed, they probably don’t and this movie may, or may not, present the most disturbing and horrifying visuals you’ve ever seen. Is that part of a whole that makes this movie a must-see, or does it just make it a movie you should stay as far away as possible from? Watch this episode to find out! “The Substance” also stars Dennis Quaid in a hilariously, over-the-top performance as a misogynistic Hollywood studio head, maybe not coincidentally named Harvey. 

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You are not supposed to say the name “Beetlejuice” three times, otherwise he will appear. Someone must’ve said gone and said it because he’s back in theaters 36 years after we last saw him in 1988 in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Michael Keaton reprises yet another one of the characters that made him the star that he is along with Winona Ryder, as Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara, as Delia Deetz, from the original. Also, Tim Burton returns to direct this sequel to the movie that pretty much got him the “Batman” job. Burton does again feature the afterlife oddities and general weirdness but amplifies it for today’s audience. It all starts with Lydia seeing Beetlejuice visions and needing to reunite with her daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega. Events soon lead them to the house from the first movie and all that lie within, including the title character, who hasn’t forgotten Lydia. However, there’s a ghostly figure, named Delores played by Monica Bellucci, who hasn’t forgotten about Beetlejuice. She’s on the hunt for her man and woe to any that get in her way. Tim Burton also brings in some new characters like Rory, played by Justin Theroux and Wolf Jackson played by Willem Dafoe. Will it haunt you forever if you don’t go see this at the theater? Check out this episode to find out that very thing. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” also stars Arthur Conti, Nick Kellington, Santiago Cabrera, Burn Gorman, Danny DeVito, Sami Slimane and Amy Nuttall. 

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When people make a list of iconic American presidents, the subject of this week’s movie is on most of them. Dennis Quaid plays our 40th American president, Ronald Reagan, in the long-coming movie “Reagan.” This movie doesn’t just tell the tale of the presidential years of Reagan. It spans his life from when he was a young boy up until his death. We see his humble beginnings in Iowa to him realizing he needs to stand up to bullies, including the Soviet Union. Even as far back as when he was simply known as an actor, he saw the Soviet Union attempting, and succeeding, to infiltrate many institutions in America, including Hollywood. He knew they were trying to turn America into another Soviet Union and he fought it. Later we see him meet the love of his life Nancy and it’s made apparent that she stands behind him in everything he does. Of course, the movie features the Reagan most people over a certain age know. The California governor and our president. Does this movie do this American icon justice? Check out this episode to find out. “Reagan” also stars Penelope Ann Miller, Mena Suvari, C. Thomas Howell, Amanda Righetti, Jon Voight, Justin Chatwin, Kevin Dillon, Kevin Sorbo, Xander Berkeley, Lesley-Anne Down and Robert Davi. 

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In the original movie “The Crow” in 1994, there’s a prominent refrain of “It can’t rain all the time.” of course meaning sometimes it rains and sometimes there’s sun. Is this new retelling of “The Crow” in 2024 going to bring us rain or sun? Is it going to disappoint or will it entertain? You’ll have to watch this episode to find out. The new “The Crow” stars Bill Skarsgard (It, Barbarian, John Wick 4) as Eric Draven and FKA twigs as his true love, Shelly. The movie is kicked off by a friend of Shelly’s letting her know that there is something she has that incriminates the big, bad guy in this, played by Danny Huston. As you’d expect, the bad guys know about this and kick off the chase element of this movie. Shelly, in the meantime, is sent to a massive drug rehab center/prison where she meets, and strikes up a relationship with Eric. In one way this turns out to be a bad turn of fate for Eric because he and Shelly are murdered because she knows about that incriminating evidence. Eric, however, isn’t sent to the afterlife, he is offered a chance to go back to the land of the living and put right what was made wrong. In other words, find the scumbags that killed him and Shelly and exact terrible revenge on them. This way he and Shelly can find peace. Also, he has a crow to play criminal Google Maps for him to help Eric find the right baddies. This “The Crow” remake also stars Josette Simon, Laura Birn, Sami Bouajila, Karel Dobry, Jordan Bolger, Sebastian Orozco, David Bowles, Trigga, Samba Goldin, Isabella Wei, Jordan Haj and Dukagjin Podrimaj. 

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In 1979, director Ridley Scott got caught up in the “Star Wars” hype and knew he needed to direct a space movie. That movie ended up being “Alien.” Now 45 years later, the Alien franchise is still alive and kicking with the new movie, “Alien: Romulus.” In this latest installment, we start out on a space mining planet with our main character, Rain, played by Cailee Spaeny. She’s trying to find a way off this hazardous planet, to a better planet, with her “brother” Andy who is really a synthetic her Dad programmed to protect her. She then is presented with a plan to get them off the planet by her friend Tyler, which is to fly up to another ship floating above the planet and use that to escape. All of them get up there, along with some others in the group, only to realize it’s not a ship. It’s a seemingly deserted massive scientific space station. They move forward with their plan to find some cryo-pods to use for them to cryo-sleep they’re way to the new planet but you know what they say about best laid plans. Little do they know that this space station isn’t deserted, it’s a graveyard. The reason it is, is still on board and this group unintentionally unleash it and its a nightmare from there. Soon Rain and the group are being chased down by alien face huggers looking to implant their alien seed. On top of that they have another synthetic trying to secure some corporate research from the space station and if humans have to die for it, so be it. The group aren’t allowed off the space station until this mission is complete, all the while, having to try not to get killed or impregnated by killer aliens before the space station crashes. Is it good enough to blast off out of your house to go see? Check out this episode to find out. “Alien: Romulus” also stars David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu, Rosie Ede, Soma Simon, Bence Okeke, Viktor Orizu, Robert Bobroczkyi, Trevor Newlin, Annemarie Griggs, Ian Holm and Daniel Betts.  

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