FRIDAY FAMILY FILM NIGHT

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing TOKYO GODFATHERS (2003) which is currently available on YouTube/Tubi/PlutoTV.  The screenplay is by Keiko Nobumoto, from a story and directed by the late Satoshi Kon.  The story follows three homeless people, with complex and layered backgrounds and personas but have found common ground of sorts and formed their own family. ...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE (2017), currently playing on Netflix.  Written and directed by Macon Blair, the film follows Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) who is finally taking a stand and not allowing anyone to walk all over her.  After her home is broken into and things are taken, including her grandmother's silverware, she gets no sympathy...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL (2017) which is currently streaming on HBO Max.  The film is directed by Masaaki Yuasa, with a screenplay by Makoto Ueda and based on the novel by Tomihiko Morimi.  The story follows the Black-haired Girl, as she over the course of an evening, has an adventurous night meeting new people, indulging...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing SMILE (2022), currently playing on Epix and Paramount+.  Written and directed by Parker Finn, the film follows Rose (Sosie Bacon) who witnesses a traumatic incident by a patient and then finds herself in a race against time to try and figure out what's happening to her.  A clever ad campaign helped this film generate some serious revenue but its...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing BLACK ADAM (2022) which is currently streaming on HBO Max, but also still in theaters.  The film is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and has screenplay credits to Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, from characters by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck.  This is the first and last story to focus on the Black Adam/Teth Adam characte...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022), currently playing in theaters.  Directed by Ryan Coogler, from a script by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, the film follows the story of the Black Panther and how the death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) impacts his Mother (Angela Bassett) and Sister (Leticia Wright) and how a possible threat from the...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and is the second part to the Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) story .  The story follows Benoit as he's recruited to solve a case and winds up in Greece at the estate of Miles Bron (Edward Norton), who's...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS (2011), currently available on  HBO Max and AMC+.  Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, from a script by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, the film follows Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn), six years after their Guantanamo Bay adventure, who've gone their separate ways with Harold focusi...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) which is currently streaming on HBO Max but you can probably find it on 24-hour rotation on TBS & TNT.  The film is directed by Bob Clark from a screenplay by Leigh Brown and based on the book by Jean Shepherd, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash".  The story follows the trials and tribulations...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing BULLET TRAIN (2022), currently available on Netflix.  Directed by David Leitch, from a script by Zak Olkewicz, the film is based on Kôtarô Isaka's book.  The film follows Ladybug (Brad Pitt), an assassin on a mission who finds himself crossing paths with other assassins on a  bullet train in Japan.  The cast includes Brian Tyr...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing A CHRISTMAS MYSTERY (2022) which is currently streaming on HBO Max.  The film is directed by Alex Ranarivelo from a screenplay by John Ducey.  The story follows young Violet (Violet McGraw) as she tries to solve the mystery of who framed her friend's Dad for a theft he did not commit.  The film is rated PG and clocks in at 1 h 27...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (2022), currently available on Netflix.  Directed by Edward Berger, from a script by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell, the film is based on Erich Maria Remarque's novel.  The film follows Paul (Felix Kammerer) a young man sold on the propaganda peddled by his country elders and he enlists and goes to w...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing Guillermo del Toro's PINOCCHIO (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  The film is based on the Carlo Collodi book and has a screenplay by Guillermo Del Toro and PatrickMcHale and is directed by Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Gustafson.  The story shows us what happens to Geppeto's (David Bradley) son, Carlo, and how t...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing SEE HOW THEY RUN (2022), currently available on HBO Max.  When Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody) is murdered, Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) and Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) are called in to solve the whodunit in 1950's West End, London.  Heavily influenced by Wes Anderson, this film sadly lacks the character and charm of an Anderson movie.&nb...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing KLAUS (2019) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  The film follows Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) as he's sent to Smeerensburg to be the new postman.  Here he meets Klaus (J.K. Simmons) who teaches him that a simple act of kindness always sparks another.  The film is directed and from an original story by Sergio Pablos, with&nbs...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing HATCHING (2022), currently available on Hulu.  A strange and riveting horror story from writer/director Hanna Bergholm, the story touches on themes of mothers and daughters and "daughters" and children looking desperately for parental love and acceptance.  Equally horrific and heartbreaking in some parts, this Finnish film is a MUST WATCH.&n...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing MY FATHER'S DRAGON (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  Based on the book by Ruth Stiles Gannett, the film is directed by Nora Twomey, with a screenplay by Meg LeFauve.  The story follows Elmer Elevator (Jacob Tremblay) who along with his mother, move to the city for a new start and opportunities.  But the big city is...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing DISENCHANTED (2022), currently available on Disney+.  A follow up to the 2007 original, this film falls flat in spite of a great cast by ignoring what made the first film so great.  A very weak script and uninteresting story make this a huge disappointment.  The original is on Disney+ and you're better off watching the 2007...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing ENCHANTED (2007) which is currently streaming on Disney+.  Directed by Kevin Lima, with a screenplay by Bill Kelly, the story follows Giselle (Amy Adams) who's been awaiting her Prince to come, finally meets him (James Marsden), falls madly in love and on her wedding day, is tricked by the evil Queen Narissa and transported to a place of n...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MORBIUS (2022), currently available on Netflix.  I have nothing kind to say here other than do yourself a favor and head over to HBO Max and check out PADDINGTON 2 - you won't regret that.  The film has a run time of 1 h and 44 m and is rated PG-13.  Please note there are SPOILERS in this review. Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, cou...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing ENOLA HOLMES 2 (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  Based on Nancy Springer's "Enola Holmes Mysteries' book series", the film is directed by Harry Bradbeer, with screenplay credits to Jack Thorne, and is the sequel to the 2020 ENOLA HOLMES movie that premiered on Netflix.  The film opens up and finds Enola (Millie Bobby Br...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing BARBARIAN (2022), currently available on HBO Max but also still in theaters.  Written and directed by Zach Cregger, the film is making waves and rightly so.  The story follows Tess (Georgina Campbell) who arrives one evening to her AirBnB only to discover that there's already another guest staying there.  She meets Keith (Bill Skarsgård...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing STEVEN UNIVERSE: THE MOVIE (2019) which is currently streaming on HBO Max, Hulu and for rent/buy on Prime.  Directed by show creator Rebecca Sugar, with co-director credits to Joseph D. Johnston and Kat Morris, the movie reconnects with Steven (voiced by Zach Callison) at 16 and how everything is good in Beach City and his major battles be...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing WENDELL & WILD (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  Based on a book by Henry Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman,  with a screenplay by Selick and Jordan Peele, the film follows Kat (Lyric Ross) who suffers a devastating personal loss and 5 years later is sent to a school for girls and encounters two demons,&...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing MR. HARRIGAN'S PHONE (2022) which is currently streaming on Netflix.  Based on a short story by the Master, Stephen King, the film was written for the screen and directed by John Lee Hancock.  The film follows Craig (Jaeden Martell), a young man who's lost his mother, is lonely and facing the challenges of growing up with little...