Max 2: White House Hero is meh

Movie Title:  Max 2: White House Hero

Grade:  C

Rating:  PG, 1 hour 25 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This family-friendly flick is DOGGONE harmless fun for the kids.  It's somewhat of a sequel to the 2015 Max (2015), produced by Warner Brothers and MGM. 

At the end of the movie, you get to see a bunch of cool pictures of U.S. presidents with their dogs.

Uplifting theme: 

• “There is no reward without risk.” – Alex (Francesca Capaldi)
• Keep your promises.
• Obedience, bravery
• Family, friendship

Things I liked:

• I love Washington, D.C.  The images of those epic buildings strike patriotism into every American’s heart.
• Max is a great dog.  When I was growing up, everyone had a German Shepherd.  You just don’t see them as often anymore as family pets.
• Alex, the little Russian girl played by Francesca Capaldi, is super cute.
• Beautiful countryside scenes during the river rafting trip.
• I love twists, even if they’re expected.

Things I didn’t like:

• None of the original Max cast or crew were involved in this sequel.  That’s pretty unique for a sequel…and weird, right?
• A lot of the acting is really bad, like....most of it.
• I have a hard time believing that a child of the president wouldn’t think it was the coolest thing ever.  The First Son does a lot of whining.  It’s pretty hard to believe he’d be sent with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on his first day of public school.  Both seem extremely unlikely.
• Max only does a few heroic acts; otherwise, he rolls around and gets pet a lot.
• As is typical for kids’ movies, the children are smarter than all of the adults.
• Unimaginative dialogue.
• Older kids and parents might get bored.
• The script is pretty dumb.

Funny lines:

• “I hope she looks good in orange.” – TJ Bennett  (Zane Austin)   Parents might need to explain the prison uniform reference to their kids.

Tips for parents: 

• No profanity whatsoever.  Yay!
• You might need to explain American-Russian political relations.  The Russian president in the movie is a version of the manly Vladimir Putin.
• People fall out of a river raft and are caught in peril.
• The children are disobedient.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Gifted charms in a predictable way

Movie Title:  Gifted 

Grade:  A-

Rating:  PG-13, 101 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This quick-witted film charms and pulls tears out of your eyes.  Directed by Marc Wed (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), takes a look at parenting especially gifted children and trying to find a balance for a happy life.

Uplifting theme: 

• Love, family, loyalty
• It’s ok to be a child and not grow up too fast.
• Even Einstein learned how to ride a bike.

Things I liked:

• McKenna Grace is fantastic as the brilliant Mary.  She has a bright future in Hollywood, if she wants it.
• Captain America!  I love Chris Evans in anything.
• Octavia Spencer is always a sure win.  She was recently in Hidden Figures, a wonderful movie about some other females who are great at math.  Maybe this film can help girls to start thinking more about how cool math is.
• We heard Jenny Slate's unique voice in Zootopia, but this time we get to see her too.  She's irresistible.
• The scene in the hospital was really touching.  That was a brilliant idea Frank had.
• I thought it was adorable seeing Mary sit in a college math class wearing her little Brownie outfit.  I was a Brownie when I was her age.  Um….that’s pretty much where the similarities end.  Ha ha
• Nice soundtrack.
• I loved the sunset beach scene where Mary is climbing up Frank, like little kids do, while they have a conversation.  Their relationship is really sweet.
• This reminded me of Jodie Foster’s old movie Little Man Tate that is also about a child prodigy.  It also has elements of Searching for Bobby Fischer in case you’d like to watch a couple of other movies that have similar themes.
• Fred.  I thought it was great that they featured a “defective” pet and I got a kick out of all the loving one-eyed cat jokes they made about their beloved cat.

Things I didn’t like:

• Deadbeat dad.  They make me so furious.
• I always think it’s weird when kids call their parents by their first names instead of “Mom” or “Dad”.
• Pretty predictable ending, although there is a little twist I thought was interesting.
• Evelyn’s character seems a little too one-dimensional.

Funny lines:

• “I dunno.  Try being a kid.” – Frank (Chris Evans)
• “If anyone takes that baby away, I’ll smother you in your sleep.” – Roberta (Octavia Spencer)
• “Fred’s not a killer.  He’s a lover.” – Mary (McKenna Grace)
• “If we separate our leaders, if we segregate them from people like you and me, you get….Congressmen.” – Frank
• “I’d kill a priest for a Benadryl.” – Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan)    I can relate.  My allergies this year have been INSANE!
• “Manufacturers of Legos should all be in jail.” – Frank  (I can relate to that one too.  I stepped on a million Lego pieces while raising my 4 sons.
• “Frank says I’m not supposed to correct older people.  Nobody likes a smart-ass.” – Mary
• “I don’t watch TV, but I got hooked on Sponge Bob.” – Mary
• “Foster people….they can watch Sitcoms with her, take her to Olive Garden, teach her to say ‘irregardless’…”  - Evelyn         I had to laugh at that because I’m such a grammar Nazi.
• “You drive like an old lady.” – Mary

“It’s Florida.  I’m blending in.” – Frank

Interesting lines:

• “Never get on the bad side of small-minded people who have a little authority.” – Evelyn
• “What about Jesus?” – Mary

“Love that guy.  Do what he says.” – Frank

• “It doesn’t count if it’s not eye to eye.” - Frank, referring to apologies

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, including one F-bomb.  I especially hate it when little kids swear in movies.
• Pre-marital relations.
• It’s an interesting look at how parents with gifted children need to balance those gifts and provide appropriate education levels with just being a little kid.
• There are no explosions or huge action scenes, so some kids may be bored.  It’s one of those “talking” movies, which I love, but it may not keep some kids engaged long enough.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 entertains fans with more silly fun and incredible special effects

Movie Title:  Guardians Of The Galaxy 2

Grade:  A

Rating:   PG-13, 137 minutes

In a Nutshell: I loved the first Guardians Of The Galaxy and have been sooo excited to see this next one!

I wasn’t disappointed.  James Gunn's Volume 2 sequel is creative, fun, wacky, action-packed, and extremely entertaining.   

Because it's Volume 2, there are 2 times the action, 2 times the explosions, 2 times the gags and laughs.  One of the planets in the movie was created with a trillion polygons, the biggest special effect ever made to date.  Double wow.  It's also the first film to be shot in 8K (Red Weapon camera system).

As Groot says, “Welcome to the frickin Guardians Of The Galaxy!” (Although he didn’t use the word “frickin”.)

Uplifting theme: 

• “There are 2 kinds of beings in the universe: those who dance and those who do not.” – Drax (Dave Bautista)
• “I wanted more.  I desired meaning.” – Ego (Kurt Russell)
• You need to dance more.
• Family isn’t always just what you are born into.
• Friendship, sacrifice
• “Sometimes the thing that you’re searching for your whole life is right there by your side all along and you don’t even know it.” - Peter Quill/Star-lord (Chris Pratt) 

Things I liked:

• The opening credits alone were awesome and hilarious.  That’s what I’m talking about!  What a way to start the ride.
• Groot!  Oh my gosh, he’s soooooo awesome!
• Chris Pratt sure has come a long way since his flubby days on Parks and Recreation: The Complete Series.   Female fans even get to enjoy his new six-pack abs when he takes his shirt off. He lost 60 pounds for the original movie and has kept in shape ever since.  
• Kurt Russell!  Nice job on the scenes in the opening of the movie when he was younger.
• Harpulary Batteries.  Ha ha  We learn so much more about Rocket and his motivations in this one.
• Sylvester Stallone! 
• The music soundtrack Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is a lot of fun and plays an important role in the story, like in the first flick.
• As expected, a lot of slow motion shots.  Hilarious.  Epic.
• Talk about a sister feud.  Jeez.
• I love that Marvel always puts Stan Lee in their movies.  He actually shows up twice this time in Volume 2.
• Really great special effects.
• The talented cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, and Kurt Russell.
• Taserface.  Ha ha
• There was actually a lot of character development and backstory information about our heroes and even some of the villains.  It really adds depth to the movie and care even more.  Chris Pratt's own father died and he said that making this movie helped him deal with that trauma better.
• In the last movie, Kevin Bacon got some funny shout-outs.  This time it's David Hasselhoff.  Ha ha
• Zune.  300 songs.  Ha ha
• Keep watching after the credits start to roll at the end and stay seated until the very, very end.  There are quite a few scenes to watch.

Things I didn’t like:

• A lot of inappropriate jokes.
• Some of the lines and scenes in the trailer are different from the actual movie.  That always bugs me.
•  To truly appreciate it, you need to have seen the first Guardians Of The Galaxy.
• The "gold" people look cool, but I didn't quite get into what they were all about.
• As much as I enjoyed it, it's still not as good or fresh as the original.  Sequels rarely are, right?

Interesting lines:

• “All you do is yell at each other.  You’re not friends.” – Nebula (Karen Gillan)

“You’re right.  We’re family.” – Drax

• “When you’re ugly and someone loves you, you know they love you for who you are.  Beautiful people never know who they can trust.” – Drax  (In the first movie, it took up to 4 hours to apply his make-up, but they got it down to only 90 minutes in the making of the sequel.)

Funny lines:

• “So, we’re really saving the galaxy again?” – Rocket (Bradley Cooper)

“I guess!” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord

“Awesome!  We’re really going to be able to jack up our prices for 2 times galaxy savers!” – Rocket

• “Yes, I prefer to make people the old-fashioned way.” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord
• “I’m sorry.  I’m using the wrong eye again.  That was supposed to be behind your back.” – Rocket after calling the high priestess a douche-bag and then winking.
• “Don’t call me a raccoon!” – Rocket

“I’m sorry.  I took it too far.  Trash Panda.” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord

• “Like they say, you’re out of luck until you go duck.” – Howard the Duck (He made a surprise and funny appearance at the very end of the first movie, voiced by Seth Green.) 
• “Ha ha.  You look like Mary Poppins.” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord

“Is he cool?” – Yondu (Michael Rooker

            (Standee advertisement at my local Regal theater)

Tips for parents:

• There is a lot of crude humor.
• Some profanity.
• Lots of violence.
• SPOILER ALERT:  You’ll laugh out loud and be able to relate to the teenage Groot at the very end.  Ha ha   Loved it.

CHIPS movie is a piece of garbage

Movie Title:  CHiPs

Grade:   F

Rating:  R, 101 minutes

In a Nutshell:  I rarely give a movie an F score, but I thought this movie was a true piece of garbage with very little uplifting value worth noting.  It’s a gutter movie. 

If you want to watch this movie through a filter that cleans up the profanity, violence, and scenes with sexual or other offensive material, this would be a 2 minute clip.

You're better off watching the original TV series.  You can start with CHiPs: The Complete Sixth Season 

Uplifting theme: 

• Friendship, persistence, loyalty

Things I liked:

• Michael Pena and Dax Shepard have good chemistry together, but are so much more talented than this film allows them to display.
• Fans of the original CHiPs TV show will get a kick out of the surprise cameo at the end.
• I liked seeing Kristen Bell and Maya Rudolph, although both of them play very minor roles and have extremely short screen time.  Why would they sign on to be in such a disgusting film?  Oh yeah…money.

Things I didn’t like:

• The two main cops are terrible role models.  One is an egotistical, disrespectful sex addict and the other is a slovenly, reckless opiate addict.
• A LOT of crude humor and offensive material.
• Lots of screaming and arguing.
• I’m so sick of yoga pants.  Women and girls don't seem to see how immodest they are.
• It’s not funny.  It’s offensive in so many ways.

Funny lines:

• “I’m kind of powerless when it comes to yoga pants.” – Frank “Ponch” Poncerello (Michael Pena)    
• “Hot and helpful?  See, it doesn’t have to be both.” – Frank “Ponch” Poncherello

Tips for parents: 

• LOTS of profanity and F-bombs.
• A VERY close-up text picture of a topless woman and another of a fully naked woman.
• Talk of homophobia.
• You see a peek of a naked man in front and other men from behind.  LOTS of crotch shots.
• Addictions of various kinds.
• Lots of violence and destruction.
• Trash talk in Spanish, mostly without subtitles.
• Quick glance of a naked man’s rear having sex.
• Adultery
• It's just disgusting.  Don't let your kids watch it.  If they're interested in cop shows, choose something else.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Zookeeper's Wife is a sobering true story of WWII drama and heart

Movie Title:  The Zookeeper's Wife

Grade: A-

Rating: PG-13, although I would give this movie an R rating due to its grim nature and two glimpses of a topless woman.  
126 minutes long

In a Nutshell:  This sobering film is based on the true story that unfolded in Poland during World War II.  It’s an adaptation of Diane Ackerman’s bestseller The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story and does a very good job illustrating different kinds of cages: for animals, Jews in the Ghetto and on trains headed to concentration camps, small-minded Nazis imprisoned by Hitler’s terror, and more.   

Uplifting theme: 

• Heroism, sacrifice, friendship
• Humanity
• We will never know all of the stories of the many brave men and women who risked so much to save others during “the war to end all wars.”

Things I liked:

• Jessica Chastain did an excellent job as Antonina Zabinska.  Her emotional performance made me cry several times.  I loved seeing her with the animals and she seemed to genuinely care for them. Oscar-worthy?  Should be.
• How they managed the animals in the zoo is truly impressive.  How did they get the animals to do all those things they did?  You get to see people cuddle with skunks, lion cubs, elephants, a symbolic bunny (aww), and more.  I loved the little camel that ran freely around the zoo.  All of the animals were real; there was no CGI used!
• The film does a very good job demonstrating the cruelty of Hitler and his Nazis.  They destroyed soooo much that was good in this world.
• Belgium Daniel Bruhl is slickly evil, but even still not quite as menacing as he could be. He has too likable of a face.  Jessica Chastain said that he taught her how to swear in German during their breaks.
• Before the credits roll, the screen displays text where you can read about what happened after the last scene, including the good news (SPOILER ALERT) that the Zabinska’s zoo has survived as the Warsaw Zoo.  Although the film is about Warsaw, it was filmed entirely in Prague!
• Critics complain that the movie isn’t realistic enough, as in….they want it to be more gruesome and bloody?  I thought it had so much gore and violence that it should have been rated R.  Besides, we REALLY don’t have to see people’s heads get blown off in every disgusting detail to know what’s happening and be affected by it.  Sometimes we see the gore and brutality in this film, but sometimes we just hear gun shots and the horror is implied.  Both were equally effective, making the audience I sat with groan, jump, and gasp every time.
• It was clever and symbolic that a piano was used to give both comfort and warning to the Jews hiding in the zoo.
• SPOILER ALERT: I thought the scene where the children innocently trusted Jan to lift them up into the train was powerful and heartbreaking.
• It made me think of the many refugees that are in the world today.  If you would like to find out how you can help, check out JustServe.

Things I didn’t like:

• Critics don’t seem to like this movie very much, but I’ve noticed that most of those who don’t are men.  Just sayin... Everyone in the audience I sat with seemed to be really touched, based on the crying and sniffling I heard around me in the dark theater.

• It’s not on par with the epic Schindler's List, but I appreciated the perspective from a woman’s lived experience in this story.

• There was no humor to break up the tension.  It was 100% drama. 80% tension.  One of the best WWII/Holocaust movies I've ever seen and one that was able to mix humor with incredible drama was Life Is Beautiful  It still haunts me.

Interesting lines:

• “Maybe that’s why I love animals so much.  You look in their eyes and you know exactly what’s in their hearts.  They’re not like people.” – Antonina
• “A human zoo.” – Antonina
• “Whatever we do, we have to hide it in plain sight.” – Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh)
• “You are a wonder.  You are Eve in the garden.” – Jan
• “People always want to run when they don’t know what’s coming.” - Antonina

Tips for parents: 

• Both animals and people are slaughtered in this movie.  In other words, this is NOT a family-friendly movie.  It is powerful and only appropriate for older teens.
• You see dead, bloody animal carcasses.
• You see a bloodied, stunned girl after she has been raped and you see another man attempt to rape a woman.  There is also a passionate scene in bed, although clothes are on.
• You see some animals mating while Nazis cheer on.
• There is a lot of violence and suffering.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Salt and Fire showcases acting as flat as the salt fields in Bolivia

Movie Title:  
Salt and Fire

Grade:  C+

Rating:  It is posted as NR (Not Rated), but I would give it a PG-13 for some violence and people in perilous situations.  98 minutes long.

In a Nutshell: Filmed in Bolivia, this eco-drama was shot in only 16 days and features Michael Shannon.   Salt and Fire is named for the famous and expanding Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, and the volcano nearby.  The location is stunning, but the acting is as flat as the salt fields.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” – a parrot quoting Ecclesiastes in the Bible
• “Truth is the only daughter of time.” – Matt Riley (Michael Shannon).  The original quote has been attributed to several people, most commonly linked to Aulus Gellius.
• “It’s ok to be afraid of the dark, but the real tragedy in life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Matt Riley, quoting his grandmother
• Personal and social responsibility
• Nature, saving the environment
• Perspective

Things I liked:

• Director and writer Werner Herzog gets a cameo as one of the passengers on the plane near the beginning of the movie.  I always get a kick out of directors who slip into their movies.
• The cinematography of the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia was captivating.
• Gael Garcia Bernal’s character was entertaining.  I would have liked to see more of him in the film.
• I thought the scene with the contorted, anamorphic artwork was really interesting, requiring the tall, reflective cylinders in order to see the paintings.  I’ve never seen that before!
• The cloister painting at Santissima Trinita in Rome was fascinating.  From afar, you see one picture, but as you walk closer, the image completely changes. I've been to Rome twice (I LOVE ITALY!!!), but I missed this fascinating mural on both trips.  Next time!  The reference of this art piece illustrates a theme in this movie: perspective.
• I loved the goofy photographs they took on the salt flats.  The salt flats are the highlight of the movie.
• Most Americans have never seen the beautiful Veronica Ferres in anything before, although she has been acting in Germany for many years.  Sometimes her acting seemed very stiff, but she was believable at other times.  She has such wonderfully pouty lips.  She was genuinely sweet with the two little blind boys.
• There was a scene where they went to see an old train stuck in the desert, Herzog's metaphor for mankind and civilization.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the acting was just terrible.  
• Some of the music choices were quite odd. 
• The writing is VERY forced.
• Michael Shannon, who is normally very good, seemed extremely stiff.  Poor writing does that to even good actors.  Too bad.
• The story is just silly.  Kidnapping was simply not needed and added a false, weak sense of urgency.  It was more annoying than anything else.  
• Some of the characters are absolutely ridiculous, like Lawrence Krauss, whose acting was dreadful and whose existence in the story was dumbfounding.  The whole wheelchair thing was just bizarre and made Matt Riley seem even more unhinged.  And he has two names.  Just weird.  And those goggles at the end?  I know he was meant to provide some comic relief, but it fell salt flat.
• The film is listed as a thriller on some web sites, but it is far from that.  Most viewers will be bored.
• The movie was adapted from video game writer Tom Bissell's short story Aral, which proves, again, that not all video games translate into good movies.

 Funny lines:

• “This is the mother of all diarrhea.” – Dr. Arnold Meier (Volker Michalowski)
• “I only use the wheelchair when I’m tired of life.” – Krauss/Aristidis

Interesting lines:

• “There is no reality. There are only views of reality, only perceptions...all collective anxieties condensed into conspiracy theories.” – Matt Riley
• “I think I was meant to live a different life.” – Matt
• “I’m trying to bring who I really am into focus.” – Matt 

Tips for parents: 

• No profanity.
• Most kids will lose interest after only a few minutes.  Skip forward to the scenes that show the amazing salt flats 

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

The Lost City of Z explores the jungles of South America and the mind

Movie Title:
The Lost City of Z

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 140 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This savage story features the true tale of Percival Fawcett and his dream to discover The Lost City of Z along the Amazon river in the early 1900’s.  

Also explored is what makes people tick, their dreams, motivations, and how they hold on to hope.

Based on David Grann’s best-seller The Lost City of Z, it has the look and feel of one of those old-time exploration dramas and will remind you a little bit of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Uplifting theme: 

• Hope
• Discovery
• “To dream, to seek the unknown, to look for what is beautiful is its own reward.” –  Nina Fawcett (Sienna Miller)
• “We are all made of the same clay.” – Percy (Charlie Hunnam)
• “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” - Nina Fawcett  

Things I liked:

• Good for British actor Charlie Hunnam!  He did an excellent job in portraying a complex character who is brave, hopeful, and even reckless.  He also stars in the upcoming King Arthur: Legend of The Sword: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack movie.  He has been in several movies and TV shows, but people are just now starting to really take notice of his wide range of talent.  As the newest hunk to get attention, he doesn't take his shirt off in this film, but he does in King Arthur, ladies.
• There is an interesting USA vs. England dimension as the two countries raced to explore and discover the world first in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Twilight fans of Robert Pattinson will see him in a new light if they even recognize him at all underneath all that beard and hair.
• I loved that Percy became quite humble and respectful of the land and people he explored, as opposed to his contemporaries, both American and British who arrogantly called the natives "savages."
• While Sienna Miller plays the dutiful wife, she also has some great moments when she reveals graceful wisdom and insight.
• Spiderman!  Tom Holland, who stars in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming - The Art of the Movie, does a great job as Percy's eager son.
• There's a smoky, old-fashioned air to how the movie is filmed that adds to the eery feeling.
• At the end of the movie, text on the screen tells you how the story ended. 
• It's a fascinating character study on what makes men cowards and others brave.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the dialogue is pretty weak. The movie was written and directed by James Gray.
• It drags on a bit.  Experts who like that might call it "methodical pacing."
• It's really hard to avoid people suffering in a variety of ways in an exploration story like this.  Wounds, illness, fighting, drowning, being eaten by piranha, arrows, sacrifice, etc.
• I never saw a single trailer for this movie before it played.  The marketing was extremely thin.

Interesting lines:

• “All that matters now is the future.” – Percy
• “Nothing will happen to us that is not our destiny.” – Percy
• “Have fun and be bold.” – Nina  (that's the same advice I give my sons!)
• “So much of life is a mystery, my boy.  We know so little of this world.” – Percy
• “It’s not possible to choose a safe passage through life.” – Jack Fawcett (Tom Holland II)
• “We’ve never let fear determine our future.” – Nina
• ‘It’s his essential nature.  Who am I to betray that?” – Nina Fawcett (Sienna Miller) when she decided to let her son go on a voyage with his father
• “Peace means only that nothing will change.” – Spanish guy at beginning
• “Am I a fool to leave my family for this place?” - Percy

Tips for parents: 

• Topless native women
• Profanity
• There are subtitles you’ll need to read to kids who can’t keep up.
• Violence and brutality.  Some people die in horrible ways. 

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice