The Secret Life of Pets 2 in 3D (Early Screening)

I was fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to attend an early screening of “The Secret Life of Pets 2”.

It’s been 3 years since the 2016 Blockbuster that showed us what our pets are really doing when we leave home. This second installment is no different. The lives of our pets are on full display and take on new meaning after we leave for work and school each day in this second installment.

“The Secret Life of Pets 2” has its moments. The movie is funny, hilarious and entertaining. There is definitely a story.

One of the best elements of the first installment was the Poodle changing the boom box music from classical to “Acid Rock” and inviting his friends over for a party the minute his owner got on the elevator. Disappointingly the Poodle did not appear in this 2nd installment.

“The Secret Life of Pets 2” opens wide Friday June 7th. If you want to know what your pets do when you are not at home, then go see this follow-up to the 2016 Blockbuster hit.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

A Dog’s Journey

“A Dog’s Journey” finds Bailey on the Michigan Farm living the good life with Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). They now have a granddaughter her name is CJ (Kathryn Prescott). Bailey tries his best to watch out for CJ and keep her out of harm’s way. CJ’s Mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin) does not like dogs. This is obvious to Bailey. The problems really start when Gloria decides to move and take CJ away. This leaves Ethan, Hannah and Bailey very sad. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life, he promises Ethan that he will always watch over CJ no matter what. The story unfolds from there…

“A Dog’s Journey” is very heart-warming, entertaining and enlightening. It starts off a bit light, but half way through the movie you get the idea that a dog’s journey through life is deeper and more meaningful than we realize.

If you saw the first installment, “A Dog’s Purpose” and liked it, you should definitely see “A Dog’s Journey”.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in AMC Dolby

In this third installment, the super-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) finds himself with a $14 million dollar price on his head. There is no limit to the number of bounty-hunters on his trail who are trying to take John out so they can claim the prize. After a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table is killed, John Wick is then excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every move. The story unfolds from there…

If you haven’t seen the first two installments you are doing yourself a disservice. This is an action packed non-stop entertaining adrenaline-fueled franchise. Seeing the first two installments will help put everything in context. I love the continuation and references back to the first installment.
Halle Berry makes an appearance in this installment and it’s obvious she trained for this movie. There is tons of action, suspense and edge of your seat entertainment. It’s bloody, but remember this is John Wick.

“John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum” is a must see for all Action Movie Lovers.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!!

Long Shot

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted Journalist who has an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is the Secretary of State who plans to run for the 2020 Presidential nomination. They both meet at a party, but wait!! Recognition dawns on them. Charlotte was Fred’s baby sitter when he was twelve. Fred was madly in love with Charlotte at that time. Now Fred wonders if he has any remote chance with Charlotte. Charlotte is going places because she is very influential. The two come together by accident and the story unfolds from there…

“Long Shot” is funny, refreshing and a bit different. I wasn’t sure about the on-screen chemistry between Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen, but it does work. At least they make it work. The comedy is funny.

“Long Shot” is definitely an adult film. Charlize Theron was great in this movie. She is good with comedy.

“Long Shot” is worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

The Intruder

My husband was so excited about this movie from its trailers that I promised him we would go when it opened. So on Friday night May 3rd there we are in the theater to see “The Intruder”.

Scott (Michael Ealy) and Annie Russell (Meagan Good) decide its time to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life and purchase a home in the country where they can start a family.
Scott gets a line on a beautiful country home with lots of acreage. Scott and Annie go out to check out the home. The owner, Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid) is there and after some discussion he hesitates to sell the property. The Russell’s decide to leave, but at the last minute Charlie has a change of heart.
Scott and Annie purchase the property, move in and make many changes. This seems to upset Charlie Peck. The story unfolds from there…

The problem with “The Intruder” is that the plot is short and there is really nowhere to go with it, but there is an attempt to stretch it out. You know what is eventually going to happen, you just wonder how long it’s going to take. This makes the movie painful to watch.

There is a more detailed back story behind the character Dennis Peck, but it’s not fully developed in this movie. This forces you to draw your own conclusions.

There are some small thrills and chills, but nothing to really make the movie suspenseful. There is also some light-weight drama, but it too is fluff. Last by not least the ending is strange and abrupt.

The best element in the movie is Meagan Good. She is beautiful and the wardrobe she wears in the movie is fantastic!! Unfortunately that’s not enough to make it worth paying to see “The Intruder”.

“The Intruder” is best viewed on Cable.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!

Avengers: ENDGAME in 3D

I am not as happy with “Avengers: Endgame” as I have been with the other installments. This is not to say the movie isn’t good because it is. It was executed brilliantly! I am just not totally thrilled with the ending. Additionally there are a couple of events that occur in the movie that are very unsettling to me. It leaves me with questions as to what’s next. Where is the Marvel Universe going in the future? You will have to see the movie and make your own assessment.

In the previous Avenger’s installment Thanos rose up and ruled. Much of the universe was wiped out and the Marvel Universe was severely fractured. Time passes and the few Marvel Heroes that are left decide to make one final run at taking Thanos and his army out. The story unfolds from there…

As I previously stated “Avengers: Endgame” is executed brilliantly!! The action is non-stop. There is suspense and intrigue. It’s definitely “Edge of Your Seat” entertainment. The cinematography and special effects are fantastic. The 3-D aspects are very good. There are a few dead spots in the movie where you are not sure what’s coming next, but that does not take away from the over-all execution of the movie.

I am just not happy with the way the movie ended. I found myself a bit confused and deep in thought when I left the theater because I knew I needed to get my thoughts together to write this review. It was very quiet when everyone was leaving the cinema. Usually there is loud chatter, laughter, clapping etc…But not today!

The movie is 3 hours and 2 minutes long. This does not include previews!! I now can understand that the long running time was really necessary. This is the longest movie in this genre that I have ever seen. Previously the longest running movie in this genre was “The Dark Knight” at 2 hours, 42 minutes.

If you are a Marvel Universe fan, you must see “Avengers: Endgame”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Little

“Little” is about a super successful female CEO, Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) who owns her own company, when the pressures of the day overwhelm her, she is given the chance to go back and relive her care-free youthful life. The story unfolds from there…

“Little” is cute. I expected more laughs. The movie did not turn out as funny as it appeared on trailers and previews. It is however a tastefully done comedy. The teenage set will get a kick out of this movie.
I am sure at one time or another we have all wished to go back to our childhood, in “Little” you get the chance to do just that.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Best of Enemies

Based on a true story, “The Best of Enemies” is centered around the unlikely friendship between Ann Atwater (Henson) an out spoken civil rights activist and C.P Ellis (Rockwell) a local Ku Klux Klan Leader. Together they both reluctantly co-chair a community committee that is centered on eliminating racism and desegregation of the schools in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina in 1971. The events that occur will change both of their lives and Durham, NC forever. The story unfolds from there…

The movie gets off to a really slow start and I was bored at first, but along the way it picked up steam and became not only interesting but comical. This is once again another movie with HUGH racial undertones.
Hollywood seems to like making these types of movies as they continue to enjoy award success (“Green Book” took home the Best Picture Oscar)

“The Best of Enemies” is no “Green Book”. In fact the best elements of “The Best of Enemies” is Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. They both turn in excellent performances, but you will remember Taraji P.

The paid critics were ‘Luke-Warm” about “The Best of Enemies”. I think it’s worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Five Feet Apart

“Five Feet Apart” is about seventeen year old Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) who is like most teenagers, she has friends, she’s popular, attached to her phone and laptop, but one thing is very different, Stella lives with Cystic Fibrosis and she spends most of her time in a hospital.

Stella meets a fellow CF patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse).
There’s an instant attraction but because of their illness Stella and Will must remain five feet apart. As their friendship in the hospital blossoms they are tempted to throw caution to the wind. The story unfolds from there…

“Five Feet Apart” comes very close to being one of those “Been There Done That” type of movies, but the performances of Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse keep you watching. They are the best elements of the movie.

Some elements/scenes in “Five Feet Apart” will remind you of the 2014 film “The Fault in Our Stars”. The movie is ok, but I am not sure it’s worth the hefty ticket prices at the box office.

This is a 2 ½ Star Movie!!

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral

What is supposed to be a fun family reunion turns into a nightmare when instead Madea and her crew arrive in Backwoods, GA and unexpectedly have to plan a funeral. The story unfolds from there…

This was the most boring of all the Madea movies. I did not find any aspects of the movie funny or entertaining. When the Madea franchise started she was entertaining and very hilarious!! But, as time moved on she became less funny and more cheesy.

“Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral” is supposed to be the last installment in the Madea Franchise. This installment should be going out with a bang instead it’s whimpering on its last leg as it exits stage left. The movie ended abruptly without warning. It’s like a live audience play that is brought to the big screen, although there are some key elements missing.

Don’t waste your money. Wait for Cable.

This is a 1 Star Movie!!