Netflix has a great new film coming out on November 30th called FAMILY SWITCH directed by McG.
A family descends into chaos days before Christmas when a rare cosmic event causes the parents to swap bodies with their teenage kids. Jennifer Garner leads this crowd-pleasing comedy alongside Ed Helms, Emma Myers and Brady Noon. Rated PG-13
Hey fellow geeks, there will be a guest list for this one so all you need to do is just RSVP to the link provided below & WAMG will take it from there. There will be FREE CONSESSIONS for all attendees (Popcorn & Soda or Water)!
The St. Louis advance screening is 7PM Monday, November 27th @ Marcus Ronnie’s Cine
Jess and Bill Walker are doing their best to keep their family connected as their children grow older, more independent, and more distant. When a chance encounter with an astrological reader causes the family to wake up to a full body switch, on the morning of the most important day of each of their lives, can the Walkers unite to land a promotion, college interview, record deal and soccer tryout? Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers and Brady Noon star in this family comedy directed by McG and based on the book “Bedtime For Mommy” by Amy Krouse-Rosenthal.
What if you could make your peace with your own history? What if you could, as an adult, go back and make peace with your younger self, and make your peace with the parents we failed to understand when we were growing up? What if you could go back and reconnect with your parents with the benefit of a lifetime of wisdom and perspective? These are the questions director Shawn Levy asks in his latest film THE ADAM PROJECT. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldaña and Catherine Keener, the film is the story of a time-traveling pilot Adam Reed (Reynolds) who teams up with his younger self, (Scobell), and his late father, Louis Reed (Ruffalo) to come to terms with his past, and losses, while saving the future.
In this throwback to the sci-films from the 80’s, the filmmaker proves with THE ADAM PROJECT the power of nostalgia. It’s filled with themes movie going audiences witnessed and embraced with the likes of E.T., THE LAST STARFIGHTER, EXPLORERS and BACK TO THE FUTURE, with a hint of RETURN OF THE JEDI, as well as exciting battles with time soldiers, evil villains, de-cloaking spaceships and disintegration effects.
At the heart of the story is how these characters come to terms with loss and the past. While Adam’s journey in saving the world involves reconnecting with his younger self and teaming up with his dead father, the driving force is what sent him on this path to begin with – his search for his wife Laura (Saldaña), who is sent into the past by time-traveling supervillain Sorian (Keener) who stole and profited from the invention created by the “Godfather of Time Travel” Louis (Ruffalo).
The chemistry between the young newcomer Scobell and Reynolds is spot on and their adventure adds a beautiful mix of adventure-fantasy with real character emotions.
However the best scene and one driven by the quiet soulful acting of Reynolds is where a grown-up Adam offers his mother (Garner) the encouragement and acknowledgment of how she and her young son are both still grieving with the loss of husband and father. It’s something she never expects, but at the moment she needs it most. The father-son storyline may take center stage in The Adam Project, but it’s this one scene in particular that gave the film one of its most touching moments. “Boys always come back for their mamas.”
Huge thanks to Levy for casting Ruffalo and Garner, who previously starred in another fantasy film from 2004, as the couple Louis and Ellie Reed. Haven’t we all been waiting for a 13 GOING ON 30 reunion?
Written by Jonathan Tropper and T.S. Nowlin & Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin, THE ADAM PROJECT is filled with comedic banter and terrific action-packed sequences.
The Adam Project is the second creative collaboration between Levy and Reynolds off the heels of Free Guy and it was just announced the two will go for a third helping with DEADPOOL 3 as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter
Even Reynolds got in on the announcement over on Twitter.
Of note are the artists also bring the audience an emotional character story first and foremost and the time travel device to facilitate the story. Their work on THE ADAM PROJECT make the audience really care about the the characters’ journey in the end.
Visual Effects Supervisor Alessandro Ongaro (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) delivers a certain wow-factor without tipping too far into sci-fi. The time soldiers’ decloaking and decimation effects (think cool digital poprocks candy) were created by VFX studio Scanline to give them a more tactile feel than what would traditionally be seen in sci-fi movies without it being too violent, Editor Dean Zimmerman (Free Guy, Stranger Things), who has worked with Shawn Levy for 20 years, beautifully cuts together a film that keeps the pacing of the story moving and provides some cool battle scenes, and Director of Photography Tobias Schliessler uses classic framing and uncomplicated lighting in order to draw the audience’s attention to the characters at all times.
What gives the film its emotional cohesiveness is composer Rob Simonsen’s simple score, while also making it sci-fi epic. He creates a futuristic feel with his use of orchestra and piano but keeps the human drama very human. Simonsen truly sets the tone for the entire film with the sound “The Adam Suite Theme.”
In the end THE ADAM PROJECT is a wonderful movie and a contemporary version of a movie really not being made anymore — the Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis-type action-adventure movie like The Last Starfighter, E.T. , The Goonies or Back to the Future – and one to watch with the family.
Netflix has released the fantastic trailer for THE ADAM PROJECT from director Shawn Levy (REAL STEEL, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, FREE GUY, Producer of ARRIVAL and LOVE AND MONSTERS).
A time-traveling pilot teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future.
Sc-Fi Genius. I can’t wait for March 11.
So why watch this sci-fi film?
It’s got a great cast starring Ryan Reynolds, Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo, and Jennifer Garner (yes Marvel fans – Gamora, Elektra, The Hulk, Deadpool). The editing of the trailer along with the rousing music is brilliant. The other-worldly score by Rob Simonsen is gripping. The story, written by Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin, is funny, emotional, heart-warming and somewhat relatable. The Baddies. The spaceships and how we want these in Lego form! The cool weapons and that platform! And lastly time travel!!
Aside from going to the movies (natch’) what’s very very high up on the lists of kids’ fun activities? Right at the ‘tippy-top” would probably be a visit to a big ole’ amusement park. Not the traveling carnivals that go from town to town and set up for a few days in an empty field or a parking lot. We’re talking the big permanent vacation destinations like your “several flags over…” or “something land or world” with the Griswold family running in slo-mo toward the front gate. And just what could make such an excursion even more fun, aside from a multi-day express pass or unlimited refreshment vouchers? What if that place was based on your own ideas, if you were the “Imagineer” thinking up the perfect coaster or ride? Well, as this new animated movie suggests, that would truly be a WONDER PARK.
Actually, this place, in the film, is called “Wonderland” and it springs from the daydreams of precocious seven-year-old June (Sofia Mali) and her devoted fun-loving Mom (Jennifer Garner), with the encouragement of Dad (Matthew Broderick). All’s well until June (without Mom) enlists the neighborhood kids to help her put together the ultimate “Wonderland” style coaster from stuff gathering dust in their families’ garages and basements. Of course, chaos and calamity spill out into the town. But after a lengthy “time out” punishment, the family team’s back plotting and building miniature versions of their fantasy place. Then Mom has trouble keeping up with lil’ June. She’s so pale and tired that she must leave their home and travel far away to a place that will hopefully heal her ailments (perhaps a hospital or spa). The trio’s now a duo and, as the months become years, now middle-school-aged June (Brianna Denski) wants nothing to do with Wonderland, becoming obsessed with safety (particularly fixated on potential dangers to Dad). Finally, he convinces her to join her classmates on a bus trip to a math competition. But worried June finds a way off the bus and ventures homeward through the nearby forest. And that’s where she stumbles upon the “real” Wonder Land”. She’s even greeted by the ‘official mascots’: Greta the wild boar (Mila Kunis), big blue bear greeter Boomer (Ken Hudson Campbell), jittery porcupine Steve (John Oliver) and beaver brothers Cooper (Ken Jeong) and Gus (Kenan Thompson). The place is in disrepair because an army of now alive stuffed toys, the “Chimpanzombies”, are dismantling the rides and tossing them up into a swirling dark magenta storm cloud. June and the mascots must work together, but they can’t win without the park’s missing director/ ride builder, the chimp known as Peanut (Norbert Leo Butz). Evan if they locate him, will they save their Wonderland before it’s too late?
The filmmakers have done a pretty good job of balancing the voice cast with “name” stars and relative “up and comers” (a frequent “pet peeve” of mine is the reliance on “celeb” talent to sell an animated flick). Both Mali and Denski brings lots of youthful exuberance to the June lead with the latter taking on most of the “heavy lifting” of her traumatic turn into a safety “sentry”. Unfortunately, Garner is once again cast as the dutiful, nurturing, now almost martyred matriarch, too close to so many of her recent live-action roles. She gets the right amount of “sweetness”, but never gets to showcase her comic skills. The same might be said of Broderick (the original Simba) whose pop persona harkens to his dim, but doting dad without that “snark” that marks most of his live work (not just Bueller, but the recent TO DUST). Then there are the mascots, the “cuddly creature crew”. Most prominent (seen and heard a whole lot) is Oliver as the manic, motor-mouthed Steve. He’s an engaging comedian commentator, but his constant chatter, repeating phrases and whimpers, becomes tiresome and monotonous, as if they needed him to hammer the gags. Pixar proved (particularly with WALL-E) that the quiet can draw the viewer into the story’s world. His dominance takes away from the others, especially the talented Kunis who has little to do as the plucky and determined wild boar Greta (sad because she’s been great for so long as a regular voice on TV’s “Family Guy”). Relative newcomer Campbell brings a loveable, engaging gregarious quality to Boomer in between sudden naps (a clever gag involves his narcolepsy, called “frequent hibernation syndrome”). Just as he did in the recent Grinch feature, Thompson brings much-needed energy to Gus the beaver and is almost matched by Jeong as brother Cooper. And though, it’s more of the heroic “straight man” role Butz brings loads or warmth and charm to the courageous, clever chimp Peanut.
This flick is fairly unique in a couple of ways. It’s a Nickelodeon Movies co-production with Paramount Pictures (not that unusual), but it follows in the footsteps of JIMMY NEUTRON: BOY GENIUS and BARNYARD, in that it’s really a feature film TV “pilot” for a series on that basic cable channel that debuts later this year (so, don’t be surprised, parents). Kinda’ sneaky, eh? The other unusual tidbit is the fact that no director is credited. Of course, there was one, but he was fired after an accusation of Sexual Misconduct (it’s “Time’s Up” for family flicks too). So the main credits are to the screenwriters, Robert Gordon (actually story) and Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (both co-producers, too). And as for that script, well maybe the blame should mainly go to the marketing folks because it goes very dark fairly fast. There’s no warning that the adored mama is nearly at death’s door by the twenty-minute mark. She’s doing the “full Camille” complete with pale flesh, coughing into an ever-present scarf, and eyelids at “half mast”. Many of the tots at the Saturday morning screening needed quick “comforting” by their escorts. Not that any kids’ flick should be free of tragedy, but this seems to come out of nowhere. Aside from that, the last half hour in the park is pretty much a near-constant story treadmill of screaming, running, and bouncing that loses any real sense of urgency and drama. Some of the rides are cool (that big robot squid that tosses rider-filled orbs is a dream/nightmare) and the hordes of lil’ chimps have much of the creepy (but not too scary) menace of the winged monkeys of Oz, but it’s not enough to sustain this story for 85 minutes. The character design is serviceable as are the settings, but it’s nothing really new or engaging. It’s just a shame there’s not nearly enough of a sense of wonder in WONDER PARK. Now, please board the shuttles back to the parking lot…
Revenge has no limits for Riley North in the action-packed thriller, Peppermint, arriving on Digital on November 20, 2018 and on Blu-rayCombo Pack, DVD and On Demand on December 11, 2018 from STXfilms and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A powerful story about an underdog hero fighting for justice, the high-octane film is directed by Pierre Morel (Taken, The Gunman) and stars a stellar cast including Golden Globe® winner Jennifer Garner (“Alias,” Juno), John Ortiz (Silver Linings Playbook, American Gangster), John Gallagher, Jr. (10 Cloverfield Lane, Hush), Juana Pablo Raba (The 33, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Annie Ilonzeh (“Person of Interest,” “Arrow”).
Now you can win the PEPPERMINT Blu-ray. We Are Movie Geeks has 4 copies to give away. All you have to do is leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite movie with Jennifer Garner in it? (mine is ELEKTRA!). It’s so easy!
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.
Young mother Riley North (Garner) awakens from a coma after her husband and daughter are killed in a brutal attack on the family. When the system frustratingly shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself from citizen to urban guerilla. Channeling her frustration into personal motivation, she spends years in hiding honing her mind, body and spirit to become an unstoppable force – eluding the underworld, the LAPD and the FBI – as she methodically delivers her personal brand of justice. From the director of Taken, this film is being hailed by critics as “a total adrenaline rush from start to finish!” (Dave Morales, Fox TV Houston).
Charged with non-stop action and kick-ass fight scenes, Peppermint on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital showcases exhilarating bonus content including a special featurette and film commentary with director Pierre Morel.
BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL
Justice: A behind-the-scenes featurette with Jennifer Garner & Director Pierre Morel
Feature Commentary by director Pierre Morel
Peppermint will be available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital.
Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
Revenge has no limits for Riley North in the action-packed thriller, Peppermint, arriving on Digital on November 20, 2018 and on Blu-rayCombo Pack, DVD and On Demand on December 11, 2018 from STXfilms and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A powerful story about an underdog hero fighting for justice, the high-octane film is directed by Pierre Morel (Taken, The Gunman) and stars a stellar cast including Golden Globe® winner Jennifer Garner (“Alias,” Juno), John Ortiz (Silver Linings Playbook, American Gangster), John Gallagher, Jr. (10 Cloverfield Lane, Hush), Juana Pablo Raba (The 33, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Annie Ilonzeh (“Person of Interest,” “Arrow”).
Young mother Riley North (Garner) awakens from a coma after her husband and daughter are killed in a brutal attack on the family. When the system frustratingly shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself from citizen to urban guerilla. Channeling her frustration into personal motivation, she spends years in hiding honing her mind, body and spirit to become an unstoppable force – eluding the underworld, the LAPD and the FBI – as she methodically delivers her personal brand of justice. From the director of Taken, this film is being hailed by critics as “a total adrenaline rush from start to finish!” (Dave Morales, Fox TV Houston).
Charged with non-stop action and kick-ass fight scenes, Peppermint on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital showcases exhilarating bonus content including a special featurette and film commentary with director Pierre Morel.
BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL
Justice: A behind-the-scenes featurette with Jennifer Garner & Director Pierre Morel
Feature Commentary by director Pierre Morel
Peppermint will be available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital.
Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
Though the Summer movie season officially ended with the previous three-day holiday, one big, bombastic “shoot-em-up” is arriving in advance of the serious Fall flicks. This “hard R” action thriller is riding the still new wave of “female-fronted” stunt spectacles that began last year with the surprise (to many studio heads) smash WONDER WOMAN, proving that a superhero saga starring a woman could attract the big box office numbers. A couple of months later, Oscar-winner Charlize Theron took things much further in the very adult, extremely violent tale ATOMIC BLONDE. Near the start of this year, another Best Actress, Jennifer Lawrence, was the lead in the equally bloody and sexy RED SPARROW. Now comes a star who actually earned her action accolades on TV, a dozen years ago on “Alias”, though the last decade or so she’s been a staple of “rom-coms” and domestic dramas. Can she get her martial arts “mojo” back now, not as another superhero or super-spy, but as an angel of vengeance, seeking justice while amassing a very high body count in PEPPERMINT?
The story begins as the quiet of a pre-dawn LA is broken by the strained “shocks” of a car’s that’s seen better days. From the gasps and grunts, we’re thinking “we shouldn’t come a’ knockin’ “. The camera zooms into the interior where we do see a couple getting quite “physical”. A gunshot ends the noise. Exiting the vehicle is a woman, Riley North (Jennifer Garner). “Just how did she get here?”, we’re wondering, just as the movie shifts into reverse and comes to a halt nearly five years ago to the day. Riley’s a working mother trying to make ends meet along with her husband Chris (Jeff Hephner), who’s the owner of a struggling auto shop. Still they’ve made a wonderful, cozy home for themselves and nine year-old daughter Carly (Cailey Fleming). However, Chris is tempted when one of the mechanics offers him a job as the “wheel man’ in his plan to rip off a drug dealer. But Cailey’s birthday night is a “wake up call” for Chris, who leaves a message on the mechanic’s cell, declining the gig. Too late. Drug kingpin Garcia (Juan Pablo Raba) has gotten wind of the plot, offing Chris’s pal before sending a hit squad to get Chris. The assassins tail the North family car to an outdoor Christmas/Winter carnival. Under the neon light of the ferris wheel, the gang opens fire, killing Chris and Cailey as Riley is seriously wounded. When she awakens in the hospital, sympathetic police detective Carmichael (John Gallagher, Jr.) delivers the bad news. But they’ve picked up some suspects. Riley immediately agrees to pick them out of a line up, which she does without hesitation. After a defense attorney tries to bribe her, Riley throws him out of her home on the eve of the hearing. This turns into a farce, with the Judge releasing the three suspects. When Riley lunges for them, she is restrained and placed into an ambulance bound for a mental hospital. Riley escapes and disappears on the busy streets. And flash forward to today as Carmichael , who’s now spiking his morning coffee with booze (clue) and colleague, Detective Beltran (John Ortiz) are called in to meet with FBI agent Inman (Annie Ilonzeh). They’ve tracked Riley across the globe as she transforms herself into a killing machine, expert in hand-to-hand combat, and skilled in all manner of firearms and explosives. The anniversary of the attack is in the next couple of days. Will Riley take down Garcia and his operation, along with crooked cops and judges in his pocket, and make it a blood red Christmas in Los Angeles?
So has Ms. Garner gotten her action hero “groove” back? Oh, she most assuredly is a force of nature, and retribution, in this flick. Not a “mama grizzly”, more of a “mama T-Rex”. Riley is a stretched out Sarah Conner from T2 mixed with equal parts Pvt. Vasquez and Ripley from ALIENS. Though she’s hyper-focused on “taking out the trash”, Garner brings some vulnerability to her during the quiet moments, when every child becomes her lost daughter. Cailie’s ghost pops up several times, hubby Chris, not at all. On the witness stand, Garner shows us how the barely together mother, not fully healed physically or mentally, completely unravels, realizing that the cards are stacked against her. Plus she gets just as down and dirty as the Rock or Cruise this past Summer. Welcome back from “PG purgatory” and the string of noble, often interchangeable parent roles. I’m sure she’ll do a few more, but let’s hope she gets more parts in this similar mode ( and better written). As for Riley’s “mop up crew” (scouring the aftermath of her “project”), Gallagher is all clean-cut (despite the bushy “porn ‘stashe”), earnest concern in the flashbacks, while in the now, he’s more cynical, less easy to “read”. Ortiz’s Beltrand is pretty much the somber, straight-talker in both timelines, as he tries to hide his admiration for the avenging “angel of Skid Row”. Raba makes a most intimidating villain as the brutal, “iron-fisted” ruler of the underworld, Garcia. No “three strikes”for him, make a foul or error and you’re out…permanently.
Veteran action director Pierre Morel (TAKEN) keeps the tension very taut during the violent set pieces, though the film starts to sputter during the cuts to the cops closing in on Riley. This may be due to the somewhat cliched script by Chad St. John that features “cannon fodder” baddies who strut and grimace as though they were lifted from old episodes of TV’s “Miami Vice”. And because of their ethnicity, the shadow of xenophobia rears its ugly head. Yes, Riley does take out one shady guy that she might have run into at the PTA meeting, but two other “wasp sell-outs” are liquidated off camera (tossed off in a mention by a “G-man”), while Riley mows down a near army of heavily “tatted” Latinos who get the old JOHN WICK, “head shot” treatment. There’s even a huge gun battle in a pinata (?) warehouse (well there were packs of drugs hidden in the candy). And the film makers missed out on a major “crowd pleasin'” scene by not letting us see Riley take down the worst, most smarmy of the “white collar” creeps. Yes, we know it’s a revenge fantasy much like DEATH WISH (the original, not the recent tepid remake), but much of the plot comes off as ham-fisted and silly, particularly the overwrought Skid Row smackdown (yes these gangs are that dumb). Plus the last few seconds nearly scream “franchise” before it fades to black. I’m thinking this might be the only “mission” for this lady “Punisher” (her origin was very close to the recent Netflix Marvel series, only missing the carousel), although it’s a huge step up from Garner’s last revenge seeking character, ELEKTRA (a major Marvel misfire before they had their own studio). This bit of PEPPERMINT is far from refreshing, leaving a bad aftertaste.
(L-R, front row) Steve, Greta, June, Cooper, Gus, Peanut, (back row) Boomer in the animated film, WONDER PARK by Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies
Opening in theatres on March 15, 2019 is Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies WONDER PARK.
WONDER PARK tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.
The voice cast includes Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, Norbert Leo Butz, Brianna Denski and Ken Hudson Campbell.
Here’s a first look at the super cute first preview.
Time to plunge into a movie genre that strikes fear in many a film goer (or it does so with me, I’ll admit). No, it’s not a horror, monster, or thriller flick, nor from the sub-genres like “torture porn” or the played out “found video footage”. Nope, this is an adaptation, or to be precise it’s based on a “young adult” novel, but (here’s the good news) it’s not from a series like “The Maze Runner” or “Divergent”. Whew, thank heaven for small favors. This one’s a coming of age story set in the lead character’s last months of high school, full of dreams and romantic entanglements. Hmmm, sounds a whole lot like last year’s critical darling, and Oscar shut-out (awww) LADY BIRD. Well, that’s where the similarities end. LB was set around 16 years ago, and it was a low-budget, non-studio independent flick (with Greta Gerwig writing and directing it practically screamed, “Indie!!”). The new movie is set in the here and now and is from a major studio, Fox (not Fox Searchlight, either). But the biggest difference in this week “newbie” is that it’s not just a “coming of age” tale, it’s also a “coming out” story. Yes, it’s the first big studio gay teen romance, the affectionately tiled LOVE, SIMON.
The title refers to high school senior Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a high school senior whose upper middle class family adores him. There’s his adorable kid sister, cooking whiz Nora (Talitha Eliana Bateman), doting psychologist mom Emily (Jennifer Garner) and goofy, loving but clueless pop Jack (Josh Duhamel). And he’s got a close circle of friends that adore him also. His school carpool consists of long time (maybe kindergarten) pal Leah (Katherine Langford), soccer-obsessed pal Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), and new transfer, the bubbly Abby (Alexandra Shipp). who’s the “apple’ of Nick’s eye. But Simon’s hiding a secret from all of them. He realized three or four years ago, that he’s gay. He’s decided to keep it under wraps and cruise through his senior year without a lot of drama. Speaking of drama, aside from attending Nick’s soccer games, he and Abby are in the big school musical of “Cabaret”, where they try to avoid the obnoxious Martin (Logan Miller), who has a big crush on Abby. All’s going smoothly until Leah, his constant texting pal, alerts him to a new post in the school’s social media blog site, “Creeksecrets”. An anonymous male student posted his gay confession. Simon’s intrigued and sends a response to the poster with the handle “Blue” under the name “Jacques”. Their online conversations become an obsession for Simon, so much that Principal Worth (Tony Hale) catches him texting in the school hallway and confiscates his phone. But Simon can’t wait to retrieve it at the end of the day, so he logs on to one of the library’s computers. Unfortunately, he forgets to log off, and the next user can access his very private emails with the “Blue”. And, wouldn’t you know, the next user is Martin, who takes screen shots of the messages. He strikes a deal with Simon: unless he helps with his pursuit of Abby, Martin will put those shots online. Talk about “a rock and a hard place”! Can Simon stave off Martin’s threats by playing cupid. More importantly can he continue with “Blue” and convince him to reveal his identity? Simon doesn’t want to hurt his family and friends while going after his big chance at romance.
The film rests on Robinson’s young but experienced (quite a feature resume) shoulders. He carries the weight with confidence (no wonder he’s the only face on most of the promotional art) giving us a hero we’re rooting for right from the start. He balances Simon’s sweet nature with just the right amount of snark, and, oddly, is a superb “straight man” for many of the more outlandish characters. Most importantly, he conveys that sense of longing, of hoping that the future will be brighter and better. Langford, as oldest pal Leah, has much of the same soulful longing in her gaze. Her desire is clearer to all but her heart’s target. The spark in their “click” is the energetic Shipp (Storm in the last X-Men movie), whose outgoing personality masks a difficult home life. Then there’s the more fervent of her two suitors, Martin played with total lack of inhibition by Logan Miller in a performance full of foolish bravado. Martin is truly “fingernails on a chalkboard”, maybe the most obnoxious villain (yes, despite some last scene remorse) in any recent teen comedy/drama. Perhaps it’s a testament to Logan’s skills that we yearn for his comeuppance. As for Simon’s folks, Garner is much the same sweet, nurturing matriarch we’ve seen in most of her recent run of films (I hope she cuts loose as a femme fatale soon). Now the really pleasant surprise is the warm, compassionate turn by action flick staple Duhamel as confused papa Jack. His realization that he may have unintentionally added to his son’s turmoil via his silly jokes may cause the most jaded film goer to tear up. Happily the school’s faculty includes two truly gifted comic talents. Hale is joyfully awkward as the school’s enforcer that tries too hard to keep up with the kid’s “lingo” while fighting a losing battle against tech (“life is happening beyond that tiny screen, yo!”). There’s that same exuberance in Natasha Rothwell as the bombastic drama coach Ms. Albright, the most frustrated arts advisor since Mel Blanc played Jack Benny’s apoplectic violin teacher (now there’s some ancient history). Her take down of two bullys in the cafeteria is a big highlight.
In his first feature film directing in eight years (hey, the guy’s been building the terrific DC superhero shows for the CW TV network, shows far more entertaining than most of the dismal DC movies) Greg Berlanti directs with a light touch, keeping the pace swift, while knowing when to slow down to give the drama the right impact. Sure the suburban backdrop is a little too pristine and antiseptic (no hint of drugs or violence here), seeming as though the Spier household may be right around the corner from most TV sitcom households with the most diverse high school body this side of SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. But it’s forgiven, since the story is, at its core, a modern fairy tale, a good-natured fable that mashes-up CYRANO, EMMA, and bits of countless “rom-com” staples. And despite the marketing, the film never gets two cloying or precious, despite a couple of fantasy sequences (“what if straight kids had to come out to their folks” and Simon’s dream of rainbow-colored college life) that never overstay their “welcome”. And it’s refreshing to see kids and parents more tolerant and enlightened (perhaps truly “woke”), along with faculty that intervenes quickly (unlike last year’s similar MOONLIGHT). LOVE SIMON is an engaging antidote to these toxic times. If only all the young adult novel-based films could be as entertaining and kind.
Everyone deserves a great love story. But for seventeen-year old Simon Spier it’s a little more complicated: he’s yet to tell his family or friends he’s gay and he doesn’t actually know the identity of the anonymous classmate he’s fallen for online. Resolving both issues proves hilarious, terrifying and life-changing. Directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters), written by Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), and based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, LOVE, SIMON is a funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about the thrilling ride of finding yourself and falling in love.
The film stars Nick Robinson, Katherine Langford, Alexandra Shipp, Jorge Lendeborg Jr, Miles Heizer, Keiynan Lonsdale, Logan Miller, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel and Tony Hale.
LOVE, SIMON hits theaters everywhere on March 16, 2018.
For the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of LOVE, SIMON, March 14, at 7:00 pm in St. Louis.
ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.
