Tag Archives: Kristen Wiig

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

WONDER WOMAN 1984 (2020): The Things I Liked…

6 Comments
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Kristen Wiig, Warner Bros. Pictures
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Kristen Wiig, Warner Bros. Pictures

The trailer for Wonder Woman 1984 didn’t fill me with as much confidence about the movie as the trailer for the first Wonder Woman film in 2017. Having now seen both films, unsurprisingly, the first one is better.

Key highlights of director Pattie Jenkins’s sequel include most of the time Gal Gadot is on screen, simply because the lady is quite magnetic. Secondly, there’s the final fight sequence between Wonder Woman and Kristen Wiig’s Cheetah. There’s also the cleverly executed moment towards the end when Wonder Woman addresses the people.

If you haven’t watched the movie yet but plan to, be sure to wait for what happens after the end credits start to roll; something tells me it may just lift your spirits. Last but in no way least, we have the musical score by Hans Zimmer. The only unfortunate thing about it is that the worst scenes had me thinking of Zimmer’s talents as wasted on this project.

I had hopes of loving Wonder Woman 1984. The problem is I kept noticing more and more things that increased my level of disappointment. Additional examples include the dreamstone element of the story which came across as silly and somewhat nonsensical. I’m also not a fan of a fair amount of the aerial work, including when Wonder Woman is ‘flying’.

Furthermore, why, oh, why wasn’t the father/son reunion dialogue more tightly edited? It was so unnecessarily long-winded. There’s also the fact that I still remain unsure about how Kristoffer Polaha’s character came to be Steve (Chris Pine). And I’m mad that this movie/story did not make Pedro Pascal look great in the villain role. As for Wiig, I liked her best once she went to the dark side. I still think that the Cheetah look is too much like Cats (2019). I haven’t seen Cats but I hear that such a comparison is not a compliment.

What good or bad things stood out most for you in Wonder Woman 1984? I really could go on about the things wrong with this movie but I have other tasks to complete today. Watch Wonder Woman 1984 if you’re curious enough.

Happy Film Loving 

G

Comedy

BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR (2021): New Trailer From Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Annie Mumolo, Damon Wayans Jr…

7 Comments
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2020), Jamie Dornan, Lionsgate
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2020), Jamie Dornan, Lionsgate

Starring Jamie Dornan, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo; Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a new comedy about two lifelong friends who decide to leave their small Midwestern town, for the very first time.

Directed by Josh Greenbaum; friendship, romance and a villain’s evil plot are what can be expected in an adventure of a lifetime.

Damon Wayans Jr., Wendi McLendon-Covey, Michael Hitchcock and Kwame Patterson are among the additional key cast.

What a quirky little thing this one is. At the very least I have to see how it turns out.

I also find myself randomly wondering how many people this could potentially inspire to leave their small towns. I’m sure the answer will depend, in part, on how effective the villain is. I think we’ll be OK as long as the villain isn’t too much like the ones in Taken (2008).

Reyn Doi, Mark Jonathan Davis, Tom Lenk, Karen Maruyama, Hank Rogerson and Shantira Jackson also star.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar Release Dates: February 12th, 2021 (US & UK)…

Where to watch…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama

WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE (2019): New Trailer From Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson…

2 Comments
Where'd You Go Bernadette (2019), Cate Blanchett

Where’d You Go Bernadette (2019), Cate BlanchettDirected by  Richard Linklater and starring Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Billy Crudup and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Where’d You Go Bernadette tells the story of 15-year-old Bee’s attempt to track down her anxiety-ridden mother after she disappears…

I see the words ‘anxiety-ridden’ and the name Cate Blanchett a.k.a ‘acting queen of my heart’ and the excitement is real. I’m looking forward to finding out the circumstances of her disappearance and just watching Blanchett act.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette Release Dates: Aug 16th, 2019 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Adventure, Animation, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

DESPICABLE ME 3 (2017): The Thing I Liked…

4 Comments

Despicable Me 3 (2017), Steve Carell (Gru)
Despicable Me 3 (2017), Steve Carell (Gru)

I never, ever thought I’d say this, but it’s official, the minion magic no longer works on me. The minions are not even in Despicable Me 3 that much but long gone is the version of myself that would literally squeal with delight at the mere sight of them. Now they’re more like a favourite song played over and over again that I can kind of no longer stand.

I actually found myself adequately bored in parts as I watched Despicable Me 3. The main reason being, my favourite moments in the movie were the ones I already saw in the teaser trailer with the Michael Jackson loving super villain, months earlier. One of the newest things in this instalment, namely the introduction of one of Gru’s relatives unfortunately felt a little too much like a desperate attempt to find any reason, any reason at all to keep the franchise going.

Just to be clear, I’m definitely not saying that Despicable Me 3 is terrible, generally speaking. I’m saying that I didn’t love it because it felt tired and I’m over all the characters; most surprisingly to myself, I’m tired of the minions.

Immediately below are just some of the thoughts that went through my mind as the credits rolled. In some ways, I really should have known.

‘What was I thinking?’

‘Why was I looking forward to this when I knew that I never really enjoyed the first two Despicable Me movies anyway?’

‘I simply must have forgotten that the minions were the ones I really loved (back then) – not super villain Gru and his children.’

If you’re super intrigued, watch it and see how you like Despicable Me 3.

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi

DOWNSIZING (2017): New Trailer From Kristen Wiig, Matt Damon, Christoph Walltz, Brigette Lundy-Paine…

1 Comment

Downsizing (2017), Matt Damon, Jason Sudeikis
Downsizing (2017), Matt Damon, Jason Sudeikis

Directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, Downsizing is a movie / social satire about a man who realises that he’d have a better life if he were to shrink himself. Kristen Wiig, Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz and Brigette Lundy-Paine star…

The cast is great and the above synopsis seems perfectly ridiculous and a great predicament for potential humour.

Niecy Nash, Jason Sudeikis, Laura Dern, Neil Patrick Harris and  James Van Der Beek also star.

Downsizing Release Dates: December 22nd, 2017 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Adventure, Animation

DESPICABLE ME 3 (2017): New Trailer From Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Minions…

2 Comments

Despicable Me 3 (2017), Minions
Despicable Me 3 (2017), Minions

I’m very pleasantly surprised to learn that a new Despicable Me movie, Despicable Me 3 is coming in less than seven months. Starring Steve Carell as Gru, Kristen Wiig as Lucy Wilde and Trey Parker as a new Michael Jackson loving super villain called Balthazar Bratt, this trailer has really helped to make my week…

I can’t wait because  of those beautiful yellow happiness inducing cuties – the minions, of course. I also love that the new villain is a big Michael Jackson fan; anything to remind me of MJ’s magic.

Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove and Pierre Coffin also star.

Despicable Me 3 Release Dates: June 30th, 2017 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Adventure, Animation, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

SAUSAGE PARTY (2016) Movie Review: Filthy Goodness…

Leave a comment

Sausage Party (2016), Seth Rogen - Frank (Voice), Michael Cera - Barry (Voice)
Sausage Party (2016), Seth Rogen – Frank (Voice), Michael Cera – Barry (Voice)

Finding out the truth about one’s existence isn’t just a journey important for humans. Frank the sausage from Shopwell’s supermarket has heard some extremely disturbing news about what happens after he and his fellow food product friends are chosen and taken out of Shopwell’s and into ‘the great beyond.’ So begins the mad food horror / comedy / adventure that is Sausage Party, the latest from writing partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

Starring Rogen, Michael Cera, Kristen Wiig, Nick Kroll, Jonah Hill, and many more, I found Sausage Party entertaining and definitely filthy. It’s the clever and well written wordplay that makes the comedy. The film’s general look and animation style is another personal highlight. I particularly love the walks of Teresa Del Taco and Frank’s girlfriend Brenda. Yes, we’re  talking about animation here but the sexiness is really, undeniable. Then there’s the  villainous Douche who is nicely played by Nick Kroll (probably my favourite of his roles, ever).

There’s no writing about Sausage Party without mentioning the, let’s say… ‘good times’ that happen towards the very end. WOW! That’s a great word for it.

Sausage Party (2016), Salma Hayek - Teresa Del Taco
Sausage Party (2016), Salma Hayek – Teresa Del Taco (Voice)

After thinking a few times, ‘How on earth are they going to end this?’as the movie played, I’m not mad at what actually happens at the very end – because how else could they have wrapped it up, really? Especially since food is ultimately for eating,  potatoes need peeling and no one should ever take ill treatment.

In terms of the things I was at odds with, Sausage Party features some commentary on religion that feels a little odd and out of place. However, at the same time it makes some sense for a world where food both talks and thinks. Nevertheless, it still didn’t quite fit somehow.

 Watch this movie for the smartly written filthy, fun dialogue and the general madness of it all.

Happy Film Loving

G

Action, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

GHOSTBUSTERS (2016): The Things I Liked…

4 Comments

Ghostbusters (2016), Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones
Ghostbusters (2016), Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones

Starring Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Chris Hemsworth, Ghostbusters is simultaneously everything I expected and also what I did not expect. The former because the trailers were so very disappointing that I really ought to have known. The latter because the director is Paul Feig, the man who brought us big comedy hits such as Bridesmaids (2011) and Spy (2015). 

Surely if anyone could do right by the much loved Ghostbusters classic it would be Feig, no?  Apparently not because the words that went through my mind as I watched Ghostbusters were ‘Oh, this is bad and slow.’ ’Why does the green slime feel ridiculous, unfunny and the special effects dated?’ ‘Why am I not laughing?’ ‘Is this movie made for nine to fourteen year-olds?’ Was the production just a mad rush?’ ‘Where did it all go wrong? I had such high HOPES! (before I saw the trailers)’.

Ghostbusters (2016), Leslie Jones
Ghostbusters (2016), Leslie Jones

Even though the trailers did leave plenty to be desired, I didn’t really believe that we’d end up with  what feels like a wasted opportunity and a Paul Feig movie I’d much rather forget.

Within all the madness, I did manage to find a few highlights. Firstly, there’s the great line or two delivered by Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) when he’s questioned about his glasses. Second, Leslie Jones’s energy and commitment to her character is something that really helped with my engagement levels. Third, the role played by Zach Woods – because he has great facial expressions and eyeballs. Last but certainly not least, Bill Murray. His character’s appearance actually helped lift things for a good few seconds, far from long enough, obviously.

At this point, I’d just really love for  Feig’s next movie to be great because rightly or wrongly, he’s the one I’m most disappointed in.

Happy Film Loving

G