Movie Review: "Stitch!: The Movie"

A fairly recent addition to the Disney franchise, Stitch has left viewers divided.  I've known many people who adore the little blue alien, and just as many who despise him.  I'm sort of middle of the road: not an ardent fan, but not against him either.  For what it was, this movie was good fun; it provides the cuteness you'd expect from a animated film from the House of Mouse.  Other than the wardrobe of some of the human characters--which was present in this franchise from the beginning, as it takes place in Hawaii--and a male alien wearing a young woman's clothes (played for laughs), there's little here that could be considered offensive.  If you're not into Stitch, nothing in this will change your mind, but it makes for a fun diversion for an hour, though the length seems a bit short, even for a direct-to-DVD flick.  Unless you're absolutely obsessed with that little blue thing, though, I can't recommend purchasing this.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Stuck in the Suburbs"

My friends and family know that I've been a fan of Disney Channel for quite a while.  However, I wasn't always keen on their Original Movies, also known as DCOMs.  Just after discovering Lizzie McGuire, I was all excited for the telefilm You Wish!, which starred Lalaine...only to be super disappointed.  After a few other bad experiences, I stuck with the sitcoms...until recent viewings of DCOMs on DVD were actually fun and entertaining, if only for one viewing.  Some of my friends may also know that I've been a fan of Danielle Panabaker, this telefilm's lead actress, for years; I even named my first iPod touch after her.  So, you probably would expect me to enjoy this...and I pretty much did.  While it can be silly at times, it provides cutesy escapism, which is the kind of movie I enjoy the most.  Gritty realism is not my thing--I watch movies and television shows and read books to get away from that--so, if it's yours, you won't enjoy this...but, for fans of innocent entertainment like me, this is a great one.  There's no profanity, the violence is only comedic, and about as sexual as it gets is the main character wearing a midriff-baring outfit, which she soon changes out of.  The one issue I take is with the closing credits: While I love Anneliese van der Pol and her song "Over It," it doesn't fit with the rest of the movie; it's like ending Cinderella with "Enter Sandman".

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "The Mighty Ducks"

(As part of my New Year's resolution for 2018, I will be more focused in my movie reviews and avoid unnecessary filler.  Therefore, my reviews from now on will be shorter and more to the point.)

I grew up around Disney.  Between seeing their films both in theaters and on VHS and DVD, watching their cable network and even their production on ABC, and playing computer and video games based on their properties, you could say I had a very Mousey childhood.  So, you'd probably expect me to say that I enjoyed this movie.  To a degree, I did; the stories of both Coach Bombay and his ragtag hockey team were very inspiring.  As an old-school flick, this also took me back to my childhood.  Unfortunately, it was also edgier than I was expecting.  With a movie about hockey--or pretty much any contact sport--you expect some rough-and-tumble action, and that's what you get here, though none of it is bloody or graphic.  What I didn't expect was some un-Disney-like language: the d-word and h-word get a bit of a workout, and there are also a-words and misuses of God's name.  Worse yet, some of the expletives are uttered by the kids.  While I expected a small amount of profanity--seriously, a "PG" film without any is rare--I found the amount here to be a little too high.  Add a scene involving kids looking at dirty magazines (though no nudity is shown,) and I can't recommend this to discerning viewers or families with little kids, unless you have a device that eliminates profanity from your viewing choices.

Score: 2.5/5

Movie Review: "Right on Track"

Synopsis: Erica Enders (Beverley Mitchell, 7th Heaven) wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a champion drag racer! The only problem is: Drag racing is a male-dominated sport! Determined to prove she has what it takes to keep up with the boys, she practices hard and wins many a race, inspiring her little sister, Courtney (Brie Larson), to follow in her footsteps.  However, school, relationships, and other teenage issues get in the way of Erica's dream.  Will she give up drag racing in order to be a normal kid?
Based on a true story.

The Good: Okay, so, I'm not the target audience for this movie.  Still, I found Erica and Courtney to be likable protagonists, and the story to be inspiring, especially since it's true.  The race scenes were nicely done; it helped that the real Enders sisters served as stunt doubles for the actors playing them.  A scene showing Erica refusing to cheat to get ahead was a big plus.

The Bad: As good as this was, it was a bit pokey at times; it could have used more racing action and less school and home scenes.  Still, that's a minor complaint.

Conclusion: This movie was advertised on Disney Channel like crazy back when I first got into Lizzie McGuire; however, after a bad experience with the DCOM You Wish!, I passed on it...until it became available on iTunes; then, it sat on my hard drive for a while...until this past week, when I watched it in its entirety and had fun with it.  I doubt I'll watch it again, but it was great for what it was.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "In Search of the Castaways"

Synopsis: Young Mary Grant (Hayley Mills) has found a note in a bottle written by her father, who was lost at sea and presumed dead! She is sure that he wrote it, so, she finds a ship and a crew, and they travel around the world in search of Captain Grant...only to face one peril after another.  Between earthquakes, a flood that leaves them stranded in a tree, and getting marooned, finding Mary's father will be tough! Will they succeed?
Based on a book by Jules Verne.

The Good: Like the previous film I reviewed, this is the kind of old-school cinema adventure they don't make anymore: clean-cut, and with plenty of thrills.  I love Disney's live-action productions, and this is a perfect example of why; it stands the test of time very well.

The Bad: One quibble, and it's a bit of a spoiler: A character who quotes the Bible left and right is not only crazy, but is revealed to be a forger--aka a criminal--by the film's end.  Though I was glad to hear quotations from the Word of God, I didn't care for the fact that the character uttering them was nuts.

Conclusion: Lately, I've really been delving into Disney's history! Thanks to the library I work for and garage sales, I've been able to find these older films from the House of Mouse.  They really stand the test of time, more so than some of the studio's most recent releases will.  Fans of Mickey's live-action productions will have a blast with this.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"

Synopsis: There's an undersea monster that has been taking the lives of sailors, and nobody can catch it! What could it be? It's soon discovered that the "monster" is actually a submarine, captained by a man named Nemo, who uses his submersible to isolate himself from society.  Professor Aronnax, his assistant, Conseil, and their cocky harpooner, Ned, believe Captain Nemo to be crazy, and try to escape...only to put the ship and its entire crew in danger.  Will the professor and his associates be able to safely emerge from the clutches of the insane Captain Nemo?
Based on the book by Jules Verne.

The Good: This is the old-school kind of adventure they don't make anymore.  Not only is it clean-cut and exciting, but there's nary a female character in sight.  (While I don't mind a character of the fairer sex, I do mind when she becomes a Mary Sue, and starts outdoing all the males in everything, which happens far too often in modern entertainment.) While this film may be quite old, it stands the test of time quite well.  It's easy to see why this continues to be revered, several decades after its release.

The Bad: The violence wasn't graphic or bloody, but some may find there to be a bit too much here, especially for a "G" film.  Also, the scenes involving smoking or drinking were rather disturbing, especially when they get their pet seal to join in.

Conclusion: Believe it or not, I haven't read the original Jules Verne novel.  (I know; what kind of bibliophile am I?) Still, I enjoyed this throwback to a time when films were meant to be enjoyed, not brooding with hidden meanings.  If you're a fan of Disney's live-action productions, you should check this out.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Once Upon a Mattress"

Synopsis: Lady Larken (Zooey Deschanel) is expecting...but she isn't married! To avoid shaming the kingdom, she and her fiancée must wed; the only problem is, the queen of the kingdom (screen legend Carol Burnett) won't let anyone say "I do" until her son finds a bride...and Mother Dearest is making it nearly impossible for that to happen! Out of desperation, the price ventures into a faraway land and finds the Princess Winnifred (Tracey Ullman), whom he is immediately smitten with...but, the queen isn't impressed! She sets up an impossible test for the princess: Winnifred will sleep on top of twenty mattresses, under which there is a single pea.  If Winnifred falls asleep, she fails...and the queen does everything to make her insanely tired! Everyone in the castle has been waiting forever and a day to get married...but, if the princess doesn't pass this seemingly insurmountable test, they'll be waiting even longer! Can she do it?
Also starring screen legend Tom Smothers.

The Good: This was a fun musical adventure, with great musical numbers, amazing choreography, and a winning story.  Having two stars of yesteryear among the cast was a big plus, and gave this a classic feel.  Though the ending is obvious from the outset, seeing the finale made me want to cheer nonetheless.  This film even taught me a new word--incipient--which rarely happens these days, as I have a large vocabulary. All in all, I had a blast with this, except...

The Bad: I didn't like how a pregnancy outside of marriage was a main plot device.  Also, there's a scene with a sex talk of sorts, though both of those topics were handled with very old-school decorum.  The biggest concern, however, was the outfits of the female characters; too many low-cut dresses were seen.

Conclusion: I grew up on songs from Broadway musicals; my mom was a big fan, so, I heard tunes from productions ranging from The Phantom of the Opera to Les Miserables to even Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat countless times.  I'm sure I was the only kid I knew who knew who Michael Crawford, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Michael Ball even were.  So, this kind of thing is right up my alley...and that's why I enjoyed it.  It may be over a decade old, but it's a serious throwback to even older Disney movies...the kind you rarely see from any studio anymore.  Plus, I still can't believe it taught me a new word.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "G-Force"

Synopsis: They may look like ordinary guinea pigs...but, the G-Force team is anything but! When they discover that appliance manufacturer Saber is hatching a nefarious plot to take over the world using kitchen appliances, it's up to G-Force to stop him once and for all! They hit a roadblock when the FBI shuts their operation down, and the guinea pigs end up in a pet store.  Will they be able to escape and save the world?

The Good: I love movies like this: live-action, clean-cut, thrill rides.  Though the premise may be silly, the film drew me in, and kept me until the end.  The special effects were outstanding, and the voice work was fabulous, as were the action sequences.  This is the kind of Disney film I enjoy most.

The Bad: Some crude humor was present.  Also, I was disappointed in the ending.

Conclusion: Faithful readers of my reviews know that I have preferred Disney's live-action productions to their animated ones from a young age; see my earlier reviews for more on that story.  So, you'd probably expect that I enjoyed something like this...and I mostly did.  It's not a perfect film, and I don't think I'll watch it again, but, I enjoyed it for what it was.  This is a throwback to the days of old-school escapism, not the gritty realism that we see far too much in media these days.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Monsters University"

Synopsis: You know the dynamic duo of Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc....but, do you know how they first met and became friends? All young Mike (Billy Crystal) has hoped for is to be a scarer at Monsters University...but, he gets upstaged by James P. Sullivan, a member of the legendary Sullivan family.  After getting kicked out of the scaring program due to lack of scariness, Mike issues the dean of the college a challenge: If he can win a competition, they must readmit him.  Unfortunately, Mike and his fraternity of misfits don't seem to be well-suited to the games.  Will they emerge victorious, and get readmitted?
A Pixar film.

The Good: Words can't describe how blown away I was by the animation; it was so detailed, I thought I was watching either a live-action film or stop-motion animation.  The lighting, the scenery, the character designs...all incredible.  It's also fun to see what happened before Mike and Sulley met Boo, and...well, you know that story.  The narrative of the film is inspiring, and the content is very clean.

The Bad: Like with the other film in this series, some moments could be scary for young children; for older fans of movies like this, though, it's no big deal.  That's really the only complaint I have.

Conclusion: It's been a while since I've seen it, due to us not having a DVD copy...but, Monsters, Inc. is my favorite Pixar film.  It's much funnier than Finding Nemo and easier to appreciate on a small screen than The Incredibles, not that those flicks weren't great in their own right.  I had my doubts on how Pixar could follow that film up...but, they did a bang-up job, especially with the animation.  If Pixar keeps making movies like this, they've got my support.

Score: 5/5

Movie Review: "The Cheetah Girls"

Synopsis: Four musically talented New York City teenage girls (Raven, Sabrina Bryan, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams) are collectively known as the Cheetah Girls, and have dreams of making it big in the music biz.  Unfortunately, obstacles plague them at every turn: family issues, a music mogul who wants to turn them into some cutesy kiddie act, one of the Cheetahs who is a bit selfish, and plenty more.  When it seems like the Cheetah Girls are over, will they be able to reunite and rediscover what brought them together in the first place?
As seen on the Disney Channel.

The Good: First and foremost, the musical numbers were fabulous, and not just by the title group.  All of the actors do a great job, and I found the four Cheetahs to be likable.  This movie is much superior to the terrible book on which it was based.

The Bad: As good as this is, it wasn't anything spectacular, and it won't change the minds of those who aren't already Disney Channel fans.

Conclusion: This movie premiered back when I was a huge fan of the Mouse network...yet, I'm just now seeing it! How can that be? (In my defense, I was a much bigger fan of the sitcoms than...well, anything else on the channel back in the day.) I had a blast with it, and it definitely brought me back to my high school days.  However, I probably won't watch it again, though I'm interested in checking out the sequels.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Queen of Katwe"

Synopsis: Young Phiona lives in the African country of Uganda, and sells corn her mother grows only because it's the only source of income her family has.  When Phiona is introduced to the ancient game of chess, she finds she has an affinity for it; she learns to predict her opponents moves so far in advance, they think she is reading their minds.  Phiona has what it takes to become an international chess champion...but, between the funds required for entering and traveling to the tournaments, her family losing their home, and Phiona not believing 100% in herself, the odds to reaching that dream seem insurmountable.  Can she overcome them?
Based on a true story.

The Good: What an amazing film! It took me to a faraway yet real land, and illustrated its people's struggles quite vividly.  It also features a main character who overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds, and challenged me to refrain from chickening out when faced with problems, whether small or big.  Better yet, it portrays the Christian faith in a positive light.  Though there are references to sex, they're handled with very old-school decorum.  The performances, sets, and production values in general were all fabulous.

The Bad: Other than one misuse of God's name, I can't come up with any complaints.  I will say one thing: Largely accented dialogue may make you want to turn on the closed captions or English subtitles in order to understand what they're saying.  Also, some Lugandan dialogue, which is subtitled in English, may present a problem for those with reading issues.

Conclusion: While I've adored many of Disney's live-action productions, this is in a class all its own.  Inspiring and affirming, this is the kind of cinema we need more of.  If you haven't seen this, you definitely should.

Score: 5/5

Movie Review: "Oz the Great and Powerful"

Synopsis: Oscar, also known as the great and powerful Oz, is a magician with a traveling circus whose act hasn't been doing very well lately.  When he lands himself in trouble with the circus' strongman, he hops into a hot air balloon to make an escape...only for a storm to take him to the land of Oz, where it was prophesied that a great wizard who bears the name of the land will save them from utter disaster.  There, the magician meets three witches, two of which turn out to be evil, and want to rule the land of Oz with an iron fist.  However, Glinda, the good witch, wants Oz saved, and she believes Oscar can do it.  However, the so-called "wizard" is merely a master of illusion, not a sorcerer.  Will he be able to rescue his namesake land from the clutches of the two evil witches?

The Good: I love a good, clean-cut, fantasy/action story, and this is definitely one.  The special effects were amazing; the characters either easily likable or utterly despicable; the action sequences were on point; all in all, a fun adventure that brings L. Frank Baum's fictional land into modern cinema.

The Bad: While minor, some content concerns did exist, namely the low-cut wardrobes of the witches, including Glinda.  There's also magic present, but, anything that deals with the land of Oz would have that, right? Occasional name-calling and misuses of God's name pops up, and there are a few scary moments.  However, this film does not betray its "PG" rating.

Conclusion: I've mentioned more than once that I've always been more partial to Disney's live-action productions; while the House of Mouse has done some animated marvels, especially with Pixar, I've always preferred the non-cartoon ones.  So, something like this is right up my alley...and that made me enjoy it all the more.  Maybe this isn't Disney as you've come to expect it, but this is how I like my Mickey Mouse productions.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "The Muppets"

Synopsis: Walter, a lifelong fan of Kermit, Miss Piggy and crew, dreams of visiting the Muppet studio.  When he, his brother Gary, and Gary's significant other, Mary (Amy Adams), finally make the trek over there, they discover that it's been largely abandoned.  Worse yet, Walter overhears an evil tycoon's plan to buy the Muppet studio only to dig up the oil reserve beneath it.  The only way the nefarious scheme can be stopped is if Kermit and friends can raise ten million dollars.  Kermit assembles the old crew together to put on a benefit...but, that nefarious oil baron will stop at nothing to be the owner of the Muppet studios.  Will Kermie prevail in the end?
Features appearances by Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez, Emily Blunt, and several other celebrities.

The Good: After Jim Henson died, the Muppet franchise went into a downward spiral.  Muppet Treasure Island and Muppets from Space were pretty good...but, after the mediocre and somewhat crude It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, the absolutely horrible The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and the inane A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa, things seemed bleak for Kermit and crew.  Well, I'm happy to say that this film brings back the Muppet magic.  It's a serious throwback to a time when movies were made to simply be enjoyed, not picked apart for hidden meanings.  Humor abounds; the musical numbers were great; the heroes were likable; the villain was utterly despicable; and, there's many a cute moment.

The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers felt the need to add some occasional crude bits, though it's nowhere near as egregious as in the other Muppet flicks mentioned above.  Without them, this movie could have scored a "G".

Conclusion: I grew up watching the Muppets in various forms: movies, both older and newer; Muppet Babies; Muppets Tonight; and, yes, even Fraggle Rock.  That may make me a bit biased, but, I still had a blast with this movie.  Say what you will about Disney; they brought back the Muppets to their former glory.  Whereas the movies from the 2000s would have made Jim Henson turn in his grave, this would have made the late Muppet creator proud.  Let's hope the next movie, Muppets: Most Wanted, continues this trend.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Tomorrowland"

Synopsis: As a kid, Frank Walker (George Clooney) dreamed of being an inventor.  When he showed his jet pack prototype to Governor Nix (Hugh Laurie) at a World's Fair, he ended up discovering Tomorrowland, a futuristic world featuring technology he could only dream of.  A few decades later, an arrest leads to teenager Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) getting a pin that also leads her to Tomorrowland...only for it to run out of power.  When she and now middle-aged Frank find each other, they discover what the futuristic world really is...and how it has a huge impact on our world today.

The Good: I'm not a big George Clooney fan, but, I have to hand it to him: He did an excellent job in this movie, as did the rest of the cast.  The special effects were amazing, and the plot kept me involved.  This kid of old-school action/adventure flick is the kind of Disney movie that I like, and I had a blast with this one.

The Bad: If only they'd kept things a bit cleaner.  While I expected violence--what is science fiction without it?--I wasn't expecting at least twelve to fifteen profanities, ranging from d-words to h-words to misuses of God's name to even the British crudity "b-----ks".  Also, a scene or two may frighten children.

Conclusion: When people think Disney, they usually think animation: Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, etc.  However, I have always been more partial to their live-action productions; even before Lizzie McGuire changed my life, my favorite Mouse House flicks were ones such as Flubber or George of the Jungle.  So, as you'd expect, this kind of movie is right up my alley.  Profanity aside, this was a fun live-action thrill ride with a convoluted plot! I know the critics didn't like it...but, what do they know? Fans of non-animated Disney productions will enjoy this.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "The Cat Returns"

Synopsis: While walking home from school, Japanese teenager Haru (Anne Hathaway) rescues a cat from the middle of a busy highway.  When the cat talks to her and tells her that her good deed will be greatly repaid, she is shocked...and is even more dismayed to discover that the Cat King has arranged for her to marry his son, the prince...which would mean Haru would have to become a cat.  When a voice tells her to find the Cat Bureau, the felines there vow to help her out of her predicament...but, with Haru already growing whiskers and paws, they may be too late.
Produced by Studio Ghibli.

The Good: The above plot sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, as bizarre as the storyline may seem, this movie makes it work really well.  It definitely kept me gripped until the end, something that other movies from this studio (Spirited Away, The Secret World of Arrietty) didn't do.  The animation is excellent, and the voice work--in the English dub, at least--was spot-on.

The Bad: The only complaint I have is that this was a bit short; seventy-five minutes is rather a low runtime for a theatrically released film.

Conclusion: Back in the day, I was a big Anne Hathaway fan...but, I'm just now seeing this.  While I've moved on from her and celebrity crushes in general, I still enjoyed this movie quite a bit.  I need to check out other movies from Studio Ghibli; the library I work for has plenty of them!

Score: 4.5/5