Category Archives: Comedy

DESPICABLE ME 4 (2024): New Trailer Starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan,

The fourth instalment of the Despicable Me movies has Gru (Steve Carell) and his family on the run from a new nemesis. This time, Gru has a brand new cute son named Gru Jr., A mischievous being who happens to enjoy tormenting his father.

Directed by Chris Renaud and Patrick Delage; additional key cast of Despicable Me 4 includes Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Sofía Vergara, Miranda Cosgrove and Steve Coogan.

Several years ago, if you’d told me that one day I’d look at the minions and be largely unaffected, I wouldn’t have believed you. I was one of those adults who squealed in delight at clips of The Minions, and unexpected sightings of their soft toys.

In fact, at the height of my obsession, I admit that I even briefly fantasised about permanently relieving a young child of their Minions backpack; something I’d of course NEVER do.

These days, now that The Minions fever has largely died down for myself and many others, I no longer refer to the small animated cuties as ‘The best happiness-inducing yellow beauties.’

Gru is fine and all. However, the only character I was interested in besides the many yellow ones was the bubblegum-chewing, purple shoulder pad-wearing supervillain, Balthazar Bratt of Despicable Me 3 (2017).

My fingers are crossed that I’ll also be enchanted by the new villain, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). It might be a challenge without the dance moves and musical taste of Monsieur Bratt. We’ll just have to see. Still, something tells me that I’ll enjoy Gru Jr. in this new instalment. Especially because of the moderate Jack-Jack from The Incredibles 2 (2018) vibes he’s giving.

Are you still on the Despicable Me train?

Dana Gaier, Madison Skyy Polan, Stephen Colbert Chloe Fineman and Pierre Coffin also star.

Despicable Me 4 Release Dates: July 3rd , 2024 (US); July 5th, 2024 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

BAD BOYS – RIDE OR DIE (2024): New Trailer Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig…

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for the fourth instalment of the Bad Boys movie franchise.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah; this time, Mike lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are on the run.

Hello, fun!

I say bring on the famous Lowrey/Burnett shenanigans and funny dialogue. I’m also looking forward to seeing Eric Dane, a.k.a. McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy as what looks to be a villain.

Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Rhea Seehorn, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Melanie Liburd, Jacob Scipio and Tasha Smith also star.

Bad Boys – Ride or Die Release Dates: June 7th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE GARFIELD MOVIE (2024): New Trailer From Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames…

Mark Dindal directs Chris Pratt, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham and Ving Rhames in a new movie about Garfield, arguably everyone’s favourite obese, orange tabby cat.

After years of being the pampered orange one, Garfield and his dog brother Odie go on a wild adventure with Garfield’s long-lost father, Vic (Jackson).

I was a little afraid that my favourite thing about this movie might be the cuteness of Garfield as a kitten. Not anymore. After this trailer, I’m ready for the fun adventure this is very likely to be.

Besides the cuteness, I’m excited to hear Waddingham as the deranged cat. The lady has a great voice after all.

Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén, Brett Goldstein and Bowen Yang also star.

The Garfield Movie Release Dates: May 24th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (2024): New Trailer From Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Garner…

Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Morena Baccarin are the stars of Deadpool and Wolverine; the third action/comedy/sci-fi instalment of the much loved Deadpool franchise.

Directed by Shawn Levy; Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool is the irresponsible hero, who’s due to change the history of the MCU with Wolverine.

Wow! I’m more excited than I thought I would be. Thank Heavens for all the actor-Ryans. It’s a Ryan-strong year, 2024, and I’m quite happy about it, actually.

As someone who doesn’t read comic books, I can’t wait for the surprise of how this Deadpool and Wolverine partnership is going to go. Deadpool may just be the only superhero movie franchise I’m not fatigued with. Let’s see how I’ll feel once ‘Marvel Jesus’ has done his thing.

How do you feel about this Deadpool/Wolverine pairing? I’m going to guess about as excited as a Reynolds and Jackman partnership, which is more than reasonably high, probably.

Additional key cast includes Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Tony McCarthy, Stefan Kapicic and Patrick Stewart.

Deadpool & Wolverine Release Dates: July 26th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

THE FALL GUY (2024): New Trailer From Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham…

In new action/comedy/drama The Fall Guy, Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling) is a retired stuntman who gets drafted back into stuntwork after the star of a big-budget studio movie goes missing.

A key complication is that the director of the mega-budget film is his ex-girlfriend Jodi Moreno (Emily Blunt), with whom he has unfinished business.

The films that both Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are in are usually good. And, I’m quite sure that The Fall Guy will be quite entertaining.

However, I think it’s taken me a while to post about this trailer because I wasn’t sure about the casting of Blunt and Gosling as a couple. I just don’t see it so easily for some reason. Maybe my slight aversion has more to do with the main song in this trailer. Sorry, Jon Bon Jovi fans!

Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Hannah Waddingham are no doubt great additions to the cast. May the end result be as fun as one hopes, even though the plot seems quite far from meaty.

Are you excited to see The Fall Guy?

Directed by David Leitch; Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu and Matuse also star.

The Fall Guy Release Dates: May 3rd, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

LIFT (2024): The Things I Liked…

Director F. Gary Gray’s latest action/crime/comedy, Liftwhich stars Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Worthington, is the kind of film I watched in two different ways. 

I watched the first half of Lift while simultaneously busying myself on my phone. It’s likely that I would have been okay with continuing to multitask as the movie played, and just considered the film my ‘downtime’ and categorised it as ‘easy viewing.’ However, writer Daniel Kunka’s story about an expert thief and an intriguing plot to steal $500 million in gold bullion from a moving plane became much more engaging once the key characters were on the flight and doing ‘the job.’

Lift (2024), Yun Jee Kim, Billy Magnussen, Úrsula Corberó, Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Netflix

The second half is when much of the cleverness and fun begins. Before then, Lift felt like plenty of set-up that isn’t particularly new. As such, one can get away with only half-watching. 

What just occurred to me right now is that the action sequences in Lift are not quite as memorable after the fact, even though they were engaging as they happened. It’s no wonder that my favourite moment in Lift is the funny, perfectly acted scene featuring air traffic control’s Harry (David Proud).’ ’Poor Sandra’ (Caroline Loncq) is all I have to say about that.

Give Lift a chance if you’re curious. It’s not the best, but perhaps it’s worth a try for that second half.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Magnussen, Yun Jee Kim, Úrsula Corberó, Jean Reno, Viveik Kalra, Burn Gorman and Martina Avogadri also star.

Happy Film Loving

G

SALTBURN (2023): The Things I Liked…

There’s been plenty of talk about writer/director Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn  since it hit the film festival circuit in August 2023. And I’ve finally given in and watched the comedy/drama/thriller. A film that turned out to be an equally delightful and shocking experience. One that follows Oliver (Barry Keoghan), an Oxford University student who becomes obsessed with his classmate, the charismatic and aristocratic Felix (Jacob Elordi). 

Also starring Rosamund Pike, Archie Madekwe and Carey Mulligan, things soon take quite the unexpected turn once Felix invites Oliver to his eccentric family’s vast estate for an unforgettable summer.

Saltburn (2023), Rosamund Pike, MGM
Saltburn (2023), Rosamund Pike, MGM

It’s the dialogue and performances that delighted me most, especially all the lines delivered to perfection by Mulligan and Pike’s characters. As for the more shocking aspects, let’s just say it has to do with two specific moments that reveal the extent of Oliver’s unsettling obsession and how that manifests.

In terms of my experience of the story, I had the most fun before the dark turn, which wasn’t unexpected considering how I found myself waiting for the other shoe to drop for much of the film. The general gist of what Saltburn is about and how aspects of the story unfold may not be new, but the two most shocking events and the super wonderful dialogue are reason enough to see it for yourself. 

Last but not least, Saltburn features a soundtrack of what seemed to be largely hit British songs of the noughties. I say give Saltburn a chance if you’re curious and for all the guaranteed giggles courtesy of the dialogue, particularly once Oliver arrives at Felix’s family estate. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

THE FAMILY PLAN (2023): The Things I Liked…

The Family Plan, the latest action/comedy from Mark Wahlberg may not offer anything new story-wise, but I did find it fun, well-paced and strangely Christmassy.

The Christmassy vibe is because a likeable family is central to the story’s heart. There’s also Vegas, a destination often described as camp as Christmas. 

The charisma and aesthetic that is Wahlberg had all the usual magic to make director Simon Cellan Jones’s film into what I needed. Especially considering that my movie appetite has leant towards less emotionally taxing productions of late.

My favourite thing about The Family Plan is thE aforementioned special Wahlberg magic, including the unexpected dynamic between his character, Dan and Max, his youngest son.

Watch The Family Plan if you need some light action/comedy fun that has an unexpected Christmassy quality.

Lastly and randomly, here’s something fun on the internet featuring Wahlberg, Will Ferrell and Chelsea Handler.

Happy Film Loving,

G