Prime Video has released the trailer for action-comedy THE PICKUP.
A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.
Everyone’s in for a hilarious and wild ride when THE PICKUP debuts on Prime Video on August 6.
In this horror thriller from the creator of The Purge, a rebellious twentysomething is sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home. The residents on the fourth floor are strictly off-limits, said to require “special care.” As his suspicions grow and he digs deeper, he uncovers a chilling secret that puts both the residents’ lives and his own in grave danger.
As a HUGE fan of the PURGE franchise (as well as FINAL DESTINATION, THE CONJURING, INSIDIOUS horror series), seeing that James DeMonaco is back with another film warms this Geeks horror heart!
“When I set out to create The Home, I aimed to capture the spine-chilling eeriness of 70’s horror, where suspense simmers and ultimately erupts into glorious chaos. Joining me is my Staten Island brother, Pete Davidson, who unveils a darker, dramatic side as his character navigates a bizarre group of residents in an old age home. The growing tension culminates in an epic blood-soaked finale, designed to leave audiences gasping, terrified, and cheering. I can’t wait for everyone to visit The Home. Cover your eyes, folks.”
So, new year (well, a month old now), new slate of cinematic superheroes invading the multiplex. This weekend sees the premiere feature film adaptation of a beloved crimefighter (Captain America will be throwing his shield when he flies in on Valentine’s Day) who’s rather unique in this realm. First off, he’s not a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). nor does he originate at Warner’s DC Studios. And, thankfully, it’s not another Sony “Spider-Verse” spin-off. No, this is from Scholastic, who have published fourteen graphic novels in this series, which sprung from another successful series. I’m certain they and his millions of fans are hoping that this is this will begin a new film franchise for the canine crusader known as DOG MAN.
The action takes place in a big bustling metropolis known as OK City, which seems to be constantly under attack by the supervillain Petey the Cat (voice of Pete Davidson). Luckily the Chief of Police (Lil Rel Howery) enlists the aid of his top cop Officer Knight (Pete Hastings) and his trusty sidekick Greg the dog to thwart the feline fiend. Unfortunately, they’re unable to defuse a bomb planted by Pete, and the duo is caught in its explosion. After being rushed to the hospital, the doctors make a fateful decision to combine their still functioning parts (Greg’s head on Knight’s body) to create Dog Man, champion of law enforcement. This heroic hybrid successfully stops the new schemes from Petey, sending him to prison which seems to have a revolving door. After yet another escape, Petey thinks he can keep ahead of his nemesis, by copying, really cloning, himself. But he’s stunned when the result is a kitten version he names Li’l Petey (Lucas Hopkins). When he’s rejected, Dog Man adopts the innocent fuzzy tyke. Pete continues with a new plan to revive a deceased fish called Flippy (Ricky Gervais), a true super-powered villain with the ability of telekinesis. Can OK City survive the terrible teaming of Petey and Flippy, even with Dog Man and Li’l Petey on the case?
This funny fantasy romp benefits from the expert comedic vocal casting. Davidson proves to be a superb comic villain, giving his lines a bombastic energy while still retaining a snarky spin on his threats and retorts. He’s not the only former SNL castmate enlisted as Cheri Oteri pipes in as the Mayor, Melissa Villasenor is a hard-selling realtor, and even Laraine Newman voices a brilliant scientist. Howery is a frantic hoot as the befuddled, overworked Chief who not-so-secretly pines for roving video reporter Sarah Hatoff, given a crisp energetic delivery by Isla Fisher. Hopkins is adorable as the cute bit never cloying kitty, while Luenell makes the Chief’s main assistant Milly a low-key sarcastic delight. And Gervais is gleefully snide making Flippy a twisted snicking super-menace.
In this his animated feature debut, Pete Hastings (yes, the voice of Knight and all the growls and howls of the title hero), directs his screenplay adaptation of the Dav Pilkey series, giving it a jovial, bouncy pace expanding from an origin story to introduce us to the many players and elements of Dog Man’s world. The animators have taken Pilkey’s line drawings into the CGI universe, making the characters resemble fuzzy, rubbery toys and retaining the child-like simplicity of the settings (we can imagine a kid constructing buildings of folded cardboard with funky hand-lettered signage). I was a tad surprised that much of the story’s first act echoed themes of the original ROBOCOP as Dog Man finds he can’t return to his old life (GF has split and put his home up for sale). Then the jokes swiftly connect until the tempo loses a bit of momentum by the one-hour mark, but Flippy’s fantastic feats involving some nifty walking skyscrapers invigorate the finale. Sure, there are a couple of crude gags mocking canine habits and a scathing “burn’ from Li’l Petey that may get repeated on the schoolyard, but this is really an all-ages romp that the whole family can enjoy (again, thanks to a talented cast), making a howling, tail-waggin’ triumph for the first screen adventure of DOG MAN.
3 Out of 4
DOG MAN opens in theatres everywhere on Friday, January 31, 2025
DUMB MONEY is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world’s hottest company. In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano), who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich – until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down.
DUMB MONEY also stars Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley and Seth Rogen. Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo, based on the book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich.
Rebecca Angelo, Writer/Executive producer, Lauren Schuker Blum, Writer/Executive producer, Teddy Schwarzman, Producer, Aaron Ryder, Producer, and Craig Gillespie, Director, attend the gala screening of DUMB MONEY at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In their review, The Hollywood Reporter says: the film receiving its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival proves entertaining enough, thanks to its canny screenplay relating the story as a Frank Capra-style battle between the little people and the rich bigwigs hoisted by their own petards, and the fun performances by a terrific ensemble.
L-r, CHEETOR, MIRAGE and ARCEE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Ok, another Transformers movie. All the others (6 in total if you include Bumblebee) have been pretty solid fan favorites under the direction of uber-action director Michael Bay. I was expecting more of the same this time around…. but hang on, not so fast. This is different.
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is set in 1994, and for those keeping score, that’s a whole 8 years before the Bay-helmed Transformers: The Movie (2007). And because this installment is more like a prequel, it doesn’t have to worry about being a continuation of the same story. One of the more noticeable differences is that unlike the first film, the Transformers are not here to save and protect the human race, rather they are suspicious and view humans as enemies. They are “hiding” on earth because there is something preventing them from getting back to their home planet.
This is where we come in. A giant, malevolent, planet-eating dark god known as Unicron is out to destroy every planet in the universe, starting with one that is inhabited by a faction of Transformers known as the Maximals (yes, there are other Transformers besides Autobots and Decepticons). Before the planet is ultimately destroyed, the leader of the Maximals, a gorilla named Apeling, sacrifices himself and sends what is left of the Maximals through a time-traveling portal to prehistoric earth. This includes Airazor (Michelle Yeoh) a peregrine falcon, and Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) a lowland gorilla that was named after the hero of the Autobots, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen).
L-r, OPTIMUS PRIMAL, CHEETOR, WHEELJACK and ARCEE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Back to 1994, Brooklyn, NY. When museum researcher Elena (Dominique Fishback) accidentally cracks open a bird sculpture relic with strange markings, it turns out to be a Transwarp Key that can open a portal that either gets the remaining Autobots on earth back to their home planet of Cybertron, or much worse, it can allow the aforementioned evil Unicron to use the portal to destroy the universe.
Across town, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) is an ex-military electronics expert, trying to support his family. He attempts to steal a silver-blue Porsche 964 Carrera, and once inside discovers that it’s really an Autobot named Mirage (Pete Davidson). Let me just stop here and say, yes, THAT Pete Davidson. Whoever made the decision to cast him in this role was GENIUS. Davidson delivers with the sarcastic, smart-ass wit and humor of Bugs Bunny, combined with the ultimate heart of Bumblebee. He connects so well to the audience that it makes me wonder why the past Transformers movies didn’t think to make use of household names to voice the Transformers. It really made a difference here (this reviewer secretly hopes for a stand-alone Mirage movie because Davidson is so fun!)
MIRAGE in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS” Courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Meanwhile, Optimus prime becomes aware of the Transwarp Key and puts out a call for all Autobots to assemble. Unicron is also coming for the key, and he sends the Terrorcons, led by the especially nasty Scourge (Peter Dinklage) to retrieve it. This is where Mirage enlists Noah’s help and convinces a skeptical Optimus Prime to let him join the team. The Terrorcons have snatched the key and the only way to get it back is to combine forces with the remaining Maximals to get it back and thus, save the universe.
Again, director Steven Caple Jr.’s TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS, feels so different than previous Transformers movies. You have the new characters, the Maximals, who because they have the characteristics of the animals they embody, they feel more real and more personal than what was, in the past, just basically talking robots. There is much more emotion in their existence. And speaking of emotions, it’s really quite a feat that the star and most recognizable of the Autobots, Bumblebee, still elicits such a reaction from the audience. Any time Bumblebee is onscreen in this movie, the audience goes absolutely nuts.
Another cool aspect of TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is the music. The score from film composer Jongnic “JB” Bontemps is fantastic, but what really connects is the early 90’s hip hop tracks that are used to pump up the action sequences. They fit nicely into the time frame and has the audience moving in their seats. This fun film will delight fans of the classic ’90s animated television series “Beast Wars: Transformers.”
All in all, TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS is the best TRANSFORMERS of them all and is exactly what the franchise needed. It feels fresh and the infusion of the new characters is what is needed going forward, and we are ready for more of the same! Transformers, Roll Out!
4 out of 4 stars
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS arrives in theaters June 9, 2023.
L-r. RHINOX, WHEELJACK, OPTIMUS PRIME, MIRAGE, CHEETOR, ARCEE, OPTIMUS PRIMAL and Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, below, star in PARAMOUNT PICTURES and SKYDANCE Present
In Association with HASBRO and NEW REPUBLIC PICTURES
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production A TOM DESANTO / DON MURPHY Production
A BAY FILMS Production “TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS”
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023. The score is from composer Jongnic “JB” Bontemps (Wedding Season, Redfall).
Use the new “Transform Your Car” AR Lens on Snapchat to convert your car into a full-size robot!
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts presents the Transform Your Car AR Lens on Snapchat. For the first time, Transformers fans can experience what they’ve always imagined: seeing their own car convert into a full-size robot. Built on SnapML, Snapchat’s machine learning technology, a user’s phone can scan any car—regardless of make, model, year or color—and watch as it converts into a robot.
Paramount Pictures is the first brand to utilize CarML (Machine Learning), a new technology created using SnapAR to apply effects to cars everywhere. The Transform Your Car Lens experience brings the blockbuster IP to every fan by giving them a Transformer, created from their own car.
Paramount Pictures has released the hot new trailer for TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS, based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.
The film stars Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Velez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Cristo Fernández, Tongayi Chirisa.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.
Paramount Pictures and Skydance PresentIn Association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures
It’s time to shift into high gear. Mirage makes his debut as a legendary 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.8 in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Cristo Fernández, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.
Starring Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Cristo Fernández with Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage and Michelle Yeoh, check out the awesome trailer for the upcoming film based on the Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new breed of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on earth between Autobots and Decepticons. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.
For those who watched the tv series, time to rejoice.
Beast Wars: Transformers was a computer animated television series that debuted in 1996 and ended on March 7, 1999. The series was set in the future of the “original” Transformers franchise, 300 years after the events of The Transformers, and featured the Maximals and Predacons, descendants of the Autobots and Decepticons respectively.
The story focused on a small group of Maximals (the new Autobots), led by Optimus Primal, and Predacons, led by Megatron, 300 years after the “Great War”. After a dangerous pursuit through transwarp space, both the Maximal and Predacon factions end up crash landing on a primitive, uncivilized planet similar to Earth, but with two moons and a dangerous level of Energon (which is later revealed to be prehistoric Earth with an artificial second moon, taking place sometime during the 4 million year period in which the Autobots and Decepticons were in suspended animation from the first episode of the original Transformers cartoon), which forces them to take organic beast forms in order to function without going into stasis lock.
Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present
In Association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures
So, it’s one of the last Summer weekends as the time for vacation getaways dwindles down to less than a month. And the same goes for the virtual trips at your local multiplex, where we get to look in on a group of old friends who have gathered at a lush spot to chat about the past, plan for the future, eat, drink and be merry thanks to some “substances” and some “party games”. So, could this be a modern-day spin on THE BIG CHILL (minus the opening funeral) with scandals and secret “hook-ups”? Or does it take a dark turn into AND THEN THERE WERE NONE territory with an Agatha Christie-style “whodunit” and,more importantly, “who’s next”? That’s just what the characters in this week’s ensemble thriller have to ponder while having to step around and try not to join the BODIES BODIES BODIES.
But things start off sweetly as Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) professes her love for new girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova), as they park their vehicle outside the family estate (deep in the woods) of her old pal David (Pete Davidson). They bypass the front door to join the party in the backyard pool. Bee is a bit nervous as Sophie introduces her to the surprised revelers (they assumed Sophie wouldn’t show as she never responded to their online “group chats”). David is the host along with his aspiring actress girlfriend Emma (Chase Sui Wonders). Giving the ‘stinkeye” is the stoic Jordan (Myha’la Herrold) while giggly podcaster Alice (Rachel Sennott) flirts with her new beau, the slightly older “laid-back” Greg (Lee Pace). Before the talk can get too “deep” the rain starts really coming down. It’s the start of the forecasted hurricane, which will keep everyone inside as they “ride it out”. As the liquor and “herbs” flow, the flashlights, batteries, and “glostick” jewelry are passed out. When the sun goes down, Emma suggests they play the “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies”, a variation of the “murder in the Dark” party game in which the participants must guess who drew the murderer “card” before the killer taps them as their next victim when the lights are turned out. Ah, but soon after the first “corpse” is “found’ the lights go out “for real” as the raging storm takes out the power lines. Things go from bad to much, much worse as the party “crew” discovers a real corpse just outside the patio doors, blood gushing from a fatal wound. What to do? Of course, cell phone reception is nil. The only “escape vehicle”, Sophie’s “wheels” has a dead battery. If they can hold out till morning, there’s hope that another friend, Max (who left after a “dust-up” with David) will be back. Or has he already returned to stalk them?Pitch black paranoia, mixed with a brutal blinding rain amplifies the terror as the long-time friends try to become sleuths in order to survive the long, long night.
The best-known of this young cast is probably Davidson of SNL and tabloid fame (or infamy). Unlike his title role as THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND, he can dart in and score some big laughs in a few sequences without doing all that”heavy lifting”. He’s assuredly the film’s MVP leaving us wanting more more of his wry often caustic wit. Speaking of comic actors, I was delighted to see Ms. Bakalova relishing her wonderful work as Borat’s daughter in that improv comic gem a few years ago, She shows us her “dramatic chops’ as the timid Bee who is thrown right into a well of hungry, very rich sharks. Sophie’s there to shield her, but Stenberg makes her a bit of an enigma as she appears to have a cloaked agenda. Much the same can be said of Gerrold’s Jordan, whose barely repressed anger and disgust form an invisible barrier. This doesn’t affect Pace’s amiable Greg who may have studied with “The Dude” to hone his “chill” vibe and free spirit. And that’s a big contrast to his paramour Alice played with a manic high-maintenance energy as she tries to ‘jump-start’ the fun and hi-jinks. While she’s fairly eager to join in, Wonders as Emma has a deep need to indulge into heavy dramatics in order to grab some of the “spotlight”.
Director Helena Reijn deftly turns many of the old “trapped in a murder house by a storm” into original explorations of the “group dynamics” of familiar friends with more than a bit of friction. That’s aided by the often very witty script by Sarah DeLappe and Kristen Roupenian, which takes mush-deserved digs at the ‘social class” system. modern tech, and the “sense of entitlement” that pervades society. But then the horror elements take over, with so many scenes of the principals stumbling in the dark, screaming while being lit only by the bright glowing sticks and tubes ( a hip twist on those BLAIR WITCH imitators). Then the satire is smothered by “finger-pointing’ and stilted confessionals along with the big reveals that are never explored. Finally, the characters are so shrill and irritating I was somewhat rooting for the storm to really strike (perhaps an impaling tree would shatter a window) in order to silence the caterwauling that quickly became “fingernails on a chalkboard”. The final denouncement is fairly clever, but the long slog to reach it is so draining and makes for a near interminable 95 minutes. Teen viewers may get a charge out of a variation of a blood-soaked party mystery, but the talented cast and the few smart zingers can’t soften the histrionics and hysterics of BODIES BODIES BODIES.
One and a Half Out of Four
BODIES BODIES BODIES is now playing in theatres everywhere
