For an April 1st post, there's not a lot of stinkers this month!
As usual, linked titles will take you to a trailer.
Gatchaman Progress
Only watched 2. Now up to: 75
Streaming Series
Wonder Man (Disney+)
The MCU TV series can really shine when they take a chance and do something
different. This isn't a "superhero" show. It's a show about a guy making his
way through life that happens to have super powers. I love how they made
"Wonder Man" an 80s sci-fi movie icon and that they brought back Trevor. who
has no trouble stealing the scenes he's in. Looking forward to season 2!
Ted (S2, Peacock)
Simultaneously more crass than last season (hilariously so) but also balanced
with an equal amount of heart. MacFarlane has said this is the last season due
to the cost of the show which is really too bad because it's just so damn
funny.
Movies
Project Hail Mary (2025, IMAX)
I've only really seen Gosling in Barbie and the Fall Guy and he does a phenomenal job here. His co-star is no slouch either and will likely be one for the record books. There was a lot more comedy that I was expecting which is kind of ironic as Lord and Miller were booted off Solo: A Star Wars Story for trying to make it more comedic. If you're on the fence about seeing this in a theater, do it! The little kid in me that used to stare at the moon through a telescope and wonder what was out there is glad he did.
Rating: 9/10
The Last Video Store (2023, Shudder)
The Videonomicon, a strange video tape, traps two people in a video store and
forces them to face off against movie characters. I often rip on low budget
horror but then there's ones like this that have something special that I
thoroughly enjoy. Just about everything hits for me: the synth score, the meta
movie tropes, and the knockoff fictional stereotypes of famous movie
characters. Horror kids that grew up renting everything and anything in the
80s, this one's for you!
Rating: 8/10
Solid action movie with a social commentary that's a little too close to home
these days. It's one of those movies where some things don't make sense if you
stop and think about it, but it's also not that kind of movie and before long
there's another action set piece to keep things moving.
Rating: 8/10
Speaking of movies that don't make sense... I mentioned with the first one of these how
crazy it was that Someone constructed these elaborate escape rooms which must
cost into the billions and that's even more true here. Not only that but it
feels like things happen because that's the way they have to in order for the
plot to progress. Even just the way the main characters are forced together
must have taken an improbable amount of planning. Still, kind of a fun watch
for the traps.
Rating: 6/10
Alligator (1980, Prime)
This is one of those movies that was always at my periphery of horror. It was
always on the rental shelf, frequently saw it popup on TV but for some reason
never watched despite it being one of my favorite sub genres: giant animal on
the loose. It may be a B movie Jaws knockoff but they pull it off! I was
surprisingly entertained for the whole thing
Rating: 7/10, not really but it was a fun watch
Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991, Prime and
YouTube)
As much fun as the first one was, this direct-to-video bomb needs an MST3k
treatment to get to the same level of fun. It's a poor retread of the original
and everything about it is worse. The plot, the acting, the effects, you name
it. At one point, the alligator is making its way through a fair and it's
clear they're just shooting the snout from the side while it's on a dolly,
rolling it through the crowd.
Rating: 3/10, flush it
Have you ever watched a movie that you've never seen but parts of it felt
familiar? That was my experience here, very odd. Anyway, it's a pretty wild
ride and if it's possible seven years later, best to go in blind. The plot
becomes apparent to the audience almost immediately but the build up to the
main character being let in on it and the roller coaster that follows is
wonderful and the dark humor woven in is chef's kiss.
Rating: 8/10
Relaxer (2018, Shudder)
I feel secure promising you, you've never seen and will never see, another movie like this in your life. The basic plot is about a guy trying to get to the Pac-Man kill screen on New Year's Eve 1999. The whole movie takes place in his living room with the occasional visit from oddball characters. And there's some extra weird layered on top of all this. It's something you have to see for yourself because I sure as hell can't explain it! While I kind of get what they were doing and the performance of the main character was fantastic, it's just a little too out there for me...and I love Rubber!
Rating: 4/10
This Month
New: 8 Rewatch: 0
Year to Date
New: 22 Rewatch: 0