Tag: Reese Witherspoon

YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED – Review

Margot (Reese Witherspoon) and Jim (Will Ferrell) in YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Prime Video

Now that we’re shaking off the ice and snow (at least for a few days), is it too early to think about weddings, or even movie weddings? Sure, they’re always a ripe setting for romance and drama, though for the last couple of decades, it’s proven to be a perfect backdrop for comedy, from the FATHER OF THE BRIDE reboots to BRIDE WARS, the BEST MAN series, and, of course, BRIDESMAIDS. which often concern the ceremony itself and the long “prep”. Well, for this new flick we get two wedding parties, but the big focus isn’t on the couple, but rather on two relatives of the brides. And it’s the first pairing of two movie comedy vets. It’s a rare mix of a “rom-com” icon and a fellow from the slapstick “fratboy” genre. Hmmm, it seemed to work when Adam Sandler teamed with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston for several movies. Now audiences can find out if this duo generates some sparks and laughs as their fans get word that YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED.


We first meet the male half of this new comic “power couple” as Jim (Will Ferrell) prepares his cozy cottage for a visit from his only child, his adored (now graduated from college) daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan). He has taken pride in his role of “girl dad” since the passing of his wife several years ago (even baking a welcome cake and cookies). His “snuggle-bug” finally arrives, though she’s brought along her old pal Oliver (Stony Blyden). But that’s not the biggest surprise: the two are engaged. Once Jim regains his senses he insists on booking the spot where he was married, a quaint little resort off the Georgia coast, Palmetto Island. The resort’s elderly matriarch takes his call and says she’ll pencil them in on the first weekend in June. And no need for a credit card number, he’s considered family. All is set, until fate steps in. Meanwhile, in LA, TV producer Margot (Reese Witherspoon) gets an unexpected visit from her much-loved “kid sister” Neve (Meredith Hanger). She then stuns Margot with her engagement news to hunky Dixson (Jimmy Tatro). Neve’s rather nervous since no one else in the family knows that Dixon’s an “exotic dancer” and that she’s already pregnant. Although Margot’s estranged from their straight=laced judgemental mother and their siblings, she’ll plan the nuptials, which will take place near the home of their much-missed Grandma, the same Palmetto Isle, in June, natch’. It turns out that a major management ‘shake-up” at the resort took place between Jim and Margot’s reservation calls. The arrival of both wedding parties to the island is just the start of the comedy chaos, which becomes more complicated when the new manager Leslie (Jack McBrayer) begrudgingly agrees to host both over that sunny weekend (though he insists that the facilities only have the space of one wedding). Ah, but what could go wrong? Well, with ‘big sis” Margot and “big daddy” Jim trying to make everything perfect, what do you think?

Oh, this unorthodox pairing works surprisingly well thanks to the welcome comedy return of Ms. Witherspoon after spending much of the last few years on some dramatic streaming shows (limited and series). She gives Margot an aggressive but still engaging “take charge” quality which explains her success with some insipid-looking reality/game shows (“Is It Dead?”). Plus she’s a passionate “mama bear’ to her “lil’ sis” despite her resentment toward their other “kin”. Witherspoon gives us access to the hurt, but driven Margot. Plus, she’s always a perfect “straight-woman” to Ferrell’s passive-aggressive, too “in touch with his feelings” Jim, tapping into the “softer”, less” in your face” roles in the DADDY’S HOME flicks and GET HARD (not to mention the hysterical Lifetime parody “A Deadly Adoption”). Ferrell also adds a funny exasperation to his delivery as his plans begin to collapse while dealing with the “generation gap’ of Jinni’s pals. But he’s also adept at physical schtick whether Jim is styling hair, crooning an inappropriate pop tune, or wrestling a gator. Their brides also give terrific comedy performances. Viswanathan literally throws herself into the role of Jinni, a nice follow-up to her work last year in the quirky DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS ( and “stealing” BLOCKERS), enduring lots of ‘bonkers brutality” (get her some “combat pay”) or just rolling her eyes at her papa. And Sanger rebounds from the dopey VACATION FRIENDS flicks, making Neve a strong comic partner to Margot, while not allowing herself to be pushed around as she valiantly tries to “hide that bump”. The film also benefits from some terrific vets of stand-up comedy, specifically Leanne Morgan as the “no filter’ sister Gwyneth and Rory Scovel as clueless bro Colton. Unfortunately the wonderful Fortune Feimster is given little to do as the resort’s “boat captain”, though McBrayer is very funny as the prim and proper Leslie as is Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Jinni “hard-partying” maid of honor.


They’re all “clicking” under the guidance of another comedy movie vet, writer/director Nicholas Stoller, bouncing back from BROS after scoring with the NEIGHBORS flicks. He keeps the film running along at a brisk pace, although it feels a bit worn by its 109-minute runtime. perhaps some of the family angst, especially with Margot’s family dynamics, could’ve been trimmed along with the operatic warbling on the soundtrack. But on the plus, Stoller squeezes in some choice satiric jabs at over-produced TV, the “artistry” of DJ-ing, and social media “buzzwords’ (nice they clear up the overuse of “gaslight”). And Stoller doesn’t allow the comic cast to go too “over the top”, though the “gator ‘razzling” (it’s on the poster) seems to be from a more cartoonish Ferrell flick form a dozen years ago. And many of the “misunderstandings’ are too “telegraphed” to have real impact, other than to generate more conflict and calamity. But the resort locale is quite lovely, adding to the baffling decision not to send this out to the multiplex (the same thing happened with several Amazon movies last year). That’s not up for debate, as the streamers hope to lure lots of new subscribers with the welcoming main title phrasing of YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED.

3 Out of 4

YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED is now streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video

Win Passes To The St. Louis Advance Screening Of YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED – Stars Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell 

When two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same venue, each bridal party is challenged with preserving their family’s special moment while making the most of the unanticipated tight quarters. In a hilarious battle of determination and grit, the father of the bride (Will Ferrell) and sister of the other bride (Reese Witherspoon) chaotically go head-to-head as they stop at nothing to uphold an unforgettable celebration for their loved ones.

YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED comes to Prime Video January 30.

The St. Louis screening is 7PM on Tuesday, Jan 28th at Galleria 6 Cinema (6PM Suggested Arrival)

PASS LINK:  http://amazonscreenings.com/WAMGinvited

Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed.

Rated R

Margot (Reese Witherspoon) and Jim (Will Ferrell) in YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson/Prime Video

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING – Review

Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) finds a feather in Columbia Pictures’ WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.

So now we’re at the mid-point of the cinematic “travel-palooza” that has taken up most of the spots at the nation’s multiplexes this Summer. Since the Marvel heroes have taken us to distant worlds and maniacal multiverses, how about something a bit closer to home, say the East Coast of the US? Oh, and for this flick let’s turn to a mainstay of movies, namely an adaptation of a very popular (still on those lists) literary best seller. To be honest I wasn’t familiar with the source material and thought it was in the “young adult” category, much like those HUNGER GAMES novels. Ah, but this is more of an “all ages” page-turner, maybe more of a “beach read” now made into a “watch”. It certainly seems to have “something for everyone” in this torrid tale of late 60’s love and murder set in North Carolina. As the story’s heroine tells us, that’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (though it’s not an animated musical).

And it opens with said murder, as a group of bicycling pre-teens finds a body at the foot of a massive fire tower on a hazy evening way back in 1969. The town sheriff and his deputy make the ID. It’s Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson) former high school football star and part of a rich prominent family. A note wasn’t found, so the death is thought to be “foul play”. The local gossip leads them to seek out the “Marsh Girl”, Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones) resulting in a speedboat pursuit ending in her arrest. As she waits in the local jail cell, Kya reflects on her life. She’s part of a family that’s lived deep in the woods, almost “hidden away” in a rickety shack. Pa Clark (Garret Dillahunt) was a boozy fisherman/trapper who pummeled his family when he wasn’t “hoisting” a bottle. His violent temper drove his wife away along with most of his kids. Finally, Kya was the only one left until he took a hike, leaving her to fend for herself. Luckily a kind local boy named Tate would visit (not knowing she was alone). And thanks to the caring couple who ran a dockside general store, she decided to try and attend the nearby grade school. But her lack of footwear earned her the March Girl label. The humiliation inspired her to hide away from the locals until now teenaged Tate (Taylor John Smith) found her and offered to mentor her. While teaching her the “three R’s”, they fell in love. When Tate was accepted into college, he promised Kya that he’d return to her. Years passed as the broken promise haunted her. So much so, that she entered into an affair with the surly Chase. When she hears of his engagement, Kya rebukes him leading to Chase stalking her and viciously attacking her. So, will she be found guilty of his death or can the “out of retirement” defense lawyer Tom Milton (David Strathairn) convince the jury of her innocence?

At the film’s center, doing a splendid job of juggling the cliches and making the overheated dialogue bearable is the talented Ms. Edgar-Jones (another Brit carrying on the tradition of Vivian Leigh by doing a “pitch perfect” Southern belle accent). She expertly conveys the “floating on air” joy of first love and the soul-crushing sorrow of heartbreak. But she also imbues Kya with a determined dignity, even as the townspeople gawk and whisper, never staying silent when the mockery begins. Smith has the thankless role of the “dream beau”, a golden-haired sensitive lad who seems plucked from the latest CW teen drama. Yes, he makes her swoon, but his flaws do help put the main mystery in motion (his excuses are pretty weak, though). The juicer role may be Chase, played with a perpetual sneer by Dickinson, the dark-haired flipside of the noble Tate. We know he’s the worst type of “break-up back-up’, but Kya is somehow unable to see it until his inner monster bares its fangs. As for the veteran co-stars, Dillahunt makes for a most menacing patriarch, but he somehow injects some humanity into Pa when he’s touched by Kya’s gift to him (perhaps this prompts his departure, trying not to snuff out her kindness). And that kindness just flows from Strathairn as the underdog lawyer we’ve seen go against the powerful in countless dramas. It’s a testament to his talent that he steers Milton away from parody and cartoonishness.

It’s a pity that the film itself quickly submerges under the murky water of Southern-fried gothic satire. We’ve led astray almost immediately as the local’s descriptions make us think that the “Marsh Girl” is a riff on the Wolf Gal of the classic Lil’ Abner newspaper comic strip, with bushy eyebrows, strategic facial smudges, and verbal skills that make NELL sound like a Havard grad. No, she’s mostly seen in simple sundresses without shoes. Speaking of costuming, her lawyer Milton is mainly seen in crisp light-colored linen suits ala Mr. A Finch, though I’m surprised he wasn’t saddled with suspenders, in order to pluck them as she says, “Now, yore’ Honor, ‘ahm jes’ a simple country defendor…”. Just a nod to many tropes including the couple running the country store who often veer dangerously into “magical minority” territory. It’s certainly a step down for screenwriter (adapting the book by Delia Owens) Lucy Alibar who gave us the really imaginative bayou fable BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD. In her second feature directing effort, Oliva Newman is able to sprinkle in a few visual flourishes that occasionally elevate this from being a “super-budget” Lifetime Cable TV tear-jerker. The glorious forest and swamp settings and the recreations of 60’s Americana (Ah, Western Auto and Piggly Wiggly) are done with skill, but then some ridiculous sequence will tarnish those bits of artistry. To put it succinctly, this is an over-heated, sudsy, soapy mess, but it can provide some amusement for those in the right frame of mind. Outside the theatre, I threw out alternate ideas and plot twists that would’ve made those 125 minutes zoom by (I imagined an Agatha Christie big courtroom reveal). The book’s readers may appreciate this, but for those who don’t get a “camp” kick out of this tale, it’s a sure bet they won’t be eager to revisit WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. Oh, and we never hear the critters, but we know where they hang out.

One Out of Four

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING is now playing in theatres everywhere

SING 2 – Review

So, did you blow out your vocal cords when you went from house to house caroling this holiday season? Would you rather watch somebody else croon some tunes for your entertainment? And if they’re cute and fuzzy, why all the better! After you knock back some hot tea and lemon, head over to the multiplex because an encore concert is about to start. Encore? Yes, can you believe that it’s been five years and a day since a menagerie of cuddly critters warbled dozens of pop tunes and standards. Yes, that long ago! So take a break from the Christmas “crunch” and shuttle the whole family to the moves to tap your toes (but please refrain from joining vocally) along with the cartoon cast of SING 2.

During those years it appears that all’s going well at the New Moon Theatre. The current musical revue based on “Alice in Wonderland” produced by Buster Moon (voice of Matthew McConaughey) is a smash. He’s so confident that he invites a talent scout from The Crystal Tower Theatre in fabulous Redshore City to catch it, with hopes that her boss will pick them up for a residency. Unfortunately, Ms. Suki ( Chelsea Peretti) is unimpressed and heads to the lobby right after the big “Let’s Go Crazy” number. She tells the pleading Buster that they’re just not ready for the “big time”. But he and his troupe are not deterred, so Gunter (Nick Kroll) blurts out an idea for an outer space revue, and they soon pile into a bus for a road trip to Redshore. After a bit of subterfuge, they make it into the plush penthouse office of Mr. Crystal (Bobby Cannavale) himself. But he’s not interested until the cast guarantees that reclusive music superstar Clay Calloway will come out of retirement to be part of the cast. Crystal gives them a “go”, so now Buster and number one Clay fan Ash (Scarlett Johannson) have to convince the “legend” to perform again. And there’s still plenty of backstage drama to deal with. Male lead Johnny (Taron Eggerton) clashes with the impatient dance director Klaus (Adam Buxton), but he learns the “moves’ with help from street dancer Nooshy (Letitia Wright). Then Crystal insists that his talent-challenged daughter Porsha (Halsey) replace the nervous (afraid of heights) Rosita (Reese Witherspoon). Plus the female lead Meena (Tori Kelly)has no chemistry with vain Crystal Theatre star Darius (Eric Andre), as she’d rather spend time with dreamy ice cream vendor Alfonso (Pharrell Williams). Can Buster and his pals possibly pull everything together in order to avoid the wrath (and pointy fangs) of the vicious Mr. Crystal?

As is the case with many film sequels, I can say with confidence that if you enjoyed the first flick, then you’ll probably enjoy this one, too. I must admit that I’m not in that group. Watching a hundred or so minutes of “fuzzies’ and friends doing karaoke just wears thin on me. Now, you got each main character’s “origin” story last time, so this all hinges on the new plot or “show’ and all the new characters introduced. Buster’s got a pretty fearsome villain to butt heads with in Mr. Crystal, a snarling sociopath in the mode of Shere Khan or Scar, with street guy swagger. Kudos to the filmmakers for making him more dangerous than buffoon-ish, even at the risk of spooking the “wee ones”. And I like his daughter Porsha, who’s more dim than deadly, though she often enjoys flaunting her privilege. Plus Halsey and Carnavale do a great job as their respective “pipes”. But the best of the bunch is Clay, a slow-moving stoic silver lion with a surprisingly warm Texas drawl, considering his vocal “source” ( a true rock icon that I won’t spoil, though he’s on the poster). Also visually pleasing is the background design which makes Redshore a bright shiny pastel-colored near-mirror image of a certain gambling/entertainment mecca. Ditto for the forced perspectives of the outer-space show sets and auditorium with the singers and dancing zipping along on wires that dangle them dozens of stories above the adoring throngs. All this tries to make up for another fairly thin story and some tiresome slapstick bits. Recent films like the superb ENCANTO have set the bar very high for animated musical features, as the tunes reveal more info on the characters while pushing the plot forward, rather than stopping everything for a big brassy solo. And this flick’s hero, Buster, is just pleasant to the point of dull banality. Like its predecessor, it may make a good “first film” for toddlers with its tunes and soft colors. But for more discerning viewers, and fans of the talented folks at Illumination Animation, you may get more than a bit “fidgety’, and wish you were seeing another adventure of Gru and his Minions, rather than the simple show-biz shenanigans of SING 2.

1.5 Out of 4

SING 2 opens in theatres everywhere on Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Win Free Passes To The St. Louis Advanced Screening Of SING 2 On Wednesday at 7pm!

SING 2 Opens In Theaters December 22 and WAMG has you free passes to the advance screening!

For a chance to win 2 free passes to the advance screening on December 15, 2021, Wednesday @7:00pm, enter at the link below.

http://gofobo.com/DumJf10502

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | GIPHY | #Sing2

This holiday season, the new chapter in Illumination’s smash animated franchise arrives with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as the ever-optimistic Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut—to join them.

Buster (Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey) has turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit, but Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: Debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City.

But with no connections, Buster and his cast—including harried mother Rosita (Oscar® winner Reese Witherspoon), rocker Ash (Scarlett Johansson), earnest Johnny (Taron Egerton), shy Meena (Tori Kelly) and, of course, provocateur Gunter (Nick Kroll)—have to sneak their way into the world-famous Crystal Entertainment offices, run by ruthless mogul Jimmy Crystal (Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale).

In a desperate attempt to get Mr. Crystal’s attention, Gunter spontaneously pitches an outrageous idea that Buster quickly runs with, promising that their new show will star rock legend Clay Calloway (Bono). Problem is, Buster has never met Clay, an artist who shut himself away from the world more than a decade ago after the loss of his wife. Even worse, Buster has failed to realize that Mr. Crystal is an egocentric gangster who would rather drop somebody off the roof of a building than be lied to.

As Gunter helps Buster dream up an out-of-this-world theatrical masterpiece, and the pressure (and sinister threats) from Mr. Crystal mount, Rosita’s leading role in the show gets ripped away and handed to Mr. Crystal’s spoiled daughter, Porsha, played by Grammy-nominated artist Halsey. Desperate to save the show, and his life, Buster embarks on a quest to find Clay and persuade him to return to the stage. 

What begins as a dream of big-time success becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.

Sing 2 is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Garth Jennings and features additional new characters played by music superstar Pharrell Williams, Black Panther’s Letitia Wright and comedians Eric André and Chelsea Peretti. The film is produced by Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and by Janet Healy. Sing 2 combines dozens of hit songs from pop to rock, K-pop to Latin, and from artists including Billie Eilish, Drake, U2, The Weeknd, Prince, Taylor Swift, BTS, Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello. With electrifying performances, breathtaking artistry and Illumination’s signature humor and heart, Sing 2 is sure to be the definitive feel-good cinematic event of the year.

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Pharrell Williams, Letitia Wright, Eric André, Chelsea Peretti and Bono.

A WRINKLE IN TIME – Review

Less than a dozen weeks into the movie year of 2018, and a couple of flicks squarely aimed at the tots have scored some big box office bucks and surprisingly strong critical praise (that lil’ Paddington Bear, in his second feature adventure, is still at a whopping 100 percent at Rotten Tomatoes). So, the folks at the “mouse house” are eager to jump into the arena, though the smash BLACK PANTHER is from their Marvel Studios branch. Now, this new flick is from their Disney Pictures banner, not Pixar (recent Oscar winner COCO), or Disney Studios Animation (like the previous year’s winner ZOOTOPIA), or even Disney Nature with its “real life” animal extravaganzas. Now many of the Disney Pictures stamped films have been set in the world of sports like MCFARLAND USA (track and field) or QUEEN OF KATWE (chess) or have been big live-action versions of the classic animated features such as THE JUNGLE BOOK and last year’s megahit BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. And then there’s the Jack Sparrow PIRATES franchise (which may never sink). This time they’re adapting a much-beloved piece of children literature, hoping to repeat the box office bonanza from 2005’s first NARNIA outing. We’ll see if a new trilogy can be culled when Disney, along with a lauded film-maker and a true multi-media superstar, brings to life Madeleine L’Engle’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

The tale’s main character is the brilliant teenager Meg Murry (Storm Reid), the daughter of equally brilliant parents Kate (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Alexander (Chris Pine). We first meet them as they prepare for the arrival of Meg’s kid brother Charles Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Murry have been trying to convince the scientific community that long distance space travel can be accomplished, not with rockets and thrusters, but through the power of the mind to cause a jump, or wrinkle, in the vast distances. Years later, Alexander disappears without a trace, perhaps while proving his theory. Unfortunately this helps makes Meg and now six year-old Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) outcasts at school, derided by fellow students and teachers alike. One evening, as Kate and Meg discuss the playground altercation that sent Meg to the principal’s office, Charles invites an eccentric adult into their home, a woman he calls Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon). After making several odd statements she disappears. Soon afterward, Meg is befriended by a classmate, Calvin (Levi Miller), who finds her fascinating. Charles leads the two to another friend of his who lives in an old run-down house, the even stranger Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), a lady who only responds by reciting famous quotes. Soon the two women are joined by a third, the towering (she hasn’t adjusted her size), Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), who tells the children that their father is alive. Their surroundings begin to simmer and quiver as if the fabric of their dimension is unraveling. The three kids, along with the magical trio, burst though their undulating world and arrive on the planet Uriel, a beautiful utopia. Mrs. Which explains that she used a device known as the “terreract” and “tesserd’ them to this place. But papa Murry is not here, rather he’s somewhere far from Uriel, a planet of darkness known as Camazotz. With the help of Mrs. Whatsit’s sometimes beau the Happy Medium (Zach Galifianakis). Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace will enter “the Darkness”, face down the “Red-Eyed Man” (Michael Pena), and try to locate their long-lost father.

This fantasy journey is firmly grounded by the compelling confident performance of Ms. Reid in her first (of many, no doubt) starring role. Particularly in the opening Earth sequences, she conveys the pain of being an outsider, yearning to fit in while knowing she may be destined for more than just popularity. The confusion at her new surroundings is all in her eyes and movements, along with her fear, then the hesitation giving way to determination. Later she experiences the first tugs of romance, stirred by Calvin played by Miller as a true “teen dream” right out of Tiger Beat Magazine (it’s still around, really). But all is not perfect, as we see his torments from his perfectionist pop. Plus he eagerly succumbs to the Darkness’s temptation, needing to be rescued by the level-headed Meg. McCabe, as the precocious “third wheel” kid brother has energy to spare, bouncing between obnoxious and endearing within seconds. The movie’s marketing department may be banking on the magical ladies played by some show biz heavy-hitters. Winfrey projects the right amount of gravitas, even as she hovers above at over thirty feet in her first scene (“The Amazing Colossal Oprah”, to borrow a “B” movie classic’s title). Later she provides much-needed plot points while being the stern mother (or the “Moe”) to her flighty sisters. Witherspoon is light, ethereal beauty as Whatsit, playful and odd, but never threatening (when she is lead into the Murry home). Kaling is dream-like, a delightfully dotty aunt as she runs along the fleeing flowers and uses bits of trivia for her dialogue. Galifianakis is a prickly, but endearing “drill sergeant”, putting Meg through her “paces” and trying to unleash her potential. Pena is an affable “genie-like” pixie, who reveals his true colors with frightening glee. Back at the homestead, Pine is a playful and passionate papa, who delights at his children as his peers reject his life’s work. And Mbatha-Raw is a nurturing matriarch, nearly overwhelmed at sole parental responsibilities while mourning the loss of her partner and soul mate. Solid support is provided by MOONLIGHT’s Andre Holland as Meg’s stern, but understanding  principal and Rowan Blanchard as the school’s “queen B” who bullies others to hide her own insecurities.

Director Ava DuVernay leaps from the indie world of SELMA into this big budget film fable with a fairly steady hand after a somewhat rocky opening act. The Earth-bound sequences are marred by extended close-ups, making this widescreen epic feel like an old Perry Mason episode. Perhaps this is used to make the other planets seem more expansive, but the tightly framed scenes almost induce claustrophobia. We are given a visual “breather” once the quest begins, but the principle characters are posed and still, drinking in the CGI wonders along with the audience.The landscapes are lovely as are the bizarre creatures, the floating butterfly like flowers and a soaring dragon with leaf-like skin. The three “missuses” have looks that may work in book illustrations, but the intricate design make-up and billowy “tarp”-dresses become distracting and cumbersome (we wonder when one will get entangled and trip). The script becomes far too precious with the odd speech patterns of the mystical trio, and it often feels too preachy as Mrs. Which delivers many platitudes (ready-made for framing) and solemn life lessons (a bit of humor would be welcome). Some of the imagery is refreshingly dark (the demise of “Red” and the “Stepford” plastic suburbia are creepy), but there’s no great sense of danger (oh, for a cackling witch). Meg Murry’s is such a terrific role model for boys and girls, that it’s a shame that her first outing isn’t more exciting. The wee ones may enjoy seeing this “bedtime” tale come to life, but the sluggish pace may cause the older audience to wish they could “tesser” and make another crease to forward through A WRINKLE IN TIME.

2.5 Out of 5

Win A Family Four Pack of Passes To The Advance Screening of A WRINKLE IN TIME In St. Louis

WAMG has your passes to see Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

The film is an epic adventure from visionary director Ava DuVernay based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic, takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love. Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

A WRINKLE IN TIME stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa, Storm Reid, Levi Miller and Deric McCabe with Zach Galifianakis and Chris Pine.

A WRINKLE IN TIME opens in theaters nationwide March 9.

Visit the official site: disney.com/wrinkleintime

Enter for the chance to win FOUR (4) seats to the 2D Screening of A WRINKLE IN TIME on Monday, March 5th  at 7pm in the St. Louis area.

Answer the Following:

“A Wrinkle in Time” is the first book in Madeleine L’Engle’s series. What is the name of this series? How many books are there total?

Enter your name, email address and answers in the 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.

Rated PG

Buy Tickets at: http://bit.ly/WrinkleTix

Oprah Winfrey is Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon is Mrs. Whatsit and Mindy Kaling is Mrs. Who in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Make A Fantastic Voyage In New Trailer For Ava DuVernay’s A WRINKLE IN TIME

From visionary director Ava DuVernay comes Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love.

Through one girl’s transformative journey led by three celestial guides, we discover that strength comes from embracing one’s individuality and that the best way to triumph over fear is to travel by one’s own light.

Watch the brand new warrior trailer from Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” which debuted on the “American Music Awards”.

Directed by Emmy(R) winner and Oscar(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominee Ava DuVernay from a screenplay by Oscar winner Jennifer Lee based upon the beloved novel by Madeleine L’Engle, “A Wrinkle in Time” stars: two-time Academy Award(R) nominee Oprah Winfrey, Oscar and Emmy winner Reese Witherspoon, Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa and introducing Storm Reid, with two-time Emmy winner Zach Galifianakis and Emmy nominee Chris Pine.

Produced by Jim Whitaker and Catherine Hand with Doug Merrifield serving as executive producer, the film also boasts an impressive creative team featuring some of the most talented artisans working today, including: Tobias Schliessler, ASC as director of photography, Naomi Shohan as production designer, Oscar(R)-nominee Spencer Averick as film editor, two-time Academy Award(R)-nominee Paco Delgado as costume designer and four time Emmy(R) nominee Ramin Djawadi as composer.

Visit the official site: movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time

Zach Galifianakis is The Happy Medium in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

Storm Reid is Meg Murry in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME, an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classis.

HOME AGAIN (2017) – Review

 

Okay, Summer’s pretty much done, one for the books (and if we’re talking the”balance book” or financial ledger, it’s one Hollywood would like to forget). Things were so dire, that the major studios pretty much gave up on the last half of August. But look out “indies”, they’re back with a one-two punch. On one hand (and in most of the theatres) is Stephen King’s killer clown, and for a little alternative marketing there’s this family themed “rom-com”. It’s set in the upper classes of LA with homes outfitted and decorated with impeccable taste. Sounds like the work of writer/director Nancy Myers, you say? Well actually this is the feature film making debut of her daughter. So does the apple fall far from the tree (or the expensive ceramic coffee table fruit bowl)? Let’s find out when we go HOME AGAIN.

 

The opening title/montage gives us a look at the story of Alice Kinney (Reese Witherspoon), well the story of her famous parents really. Her late Pop was a celebrated film maker back in the wild 70’s who married his muse, leading lady Lillian (Candice Bergen). Thanks to his restless libido they split shortly after the birth of daughter Alice. Now she’s returned to his swanky LA home to set down roots along with her two daughters, second-grader Rosie (Eden Grace Redfield) and anxious pre-teen Isabel (Lola Flanery). It’s their first day of school along with Alice’s 40th birthday. This stresses her out, in part because she’s separated from her hubby, the girls’ dad Austen (Michael Sheen), an East Coast music mogul who insists he’ll be out west soon. Oh, and she’s starting a home decorating (or is it now “lifestyle consultant’) business. Across town a trio of transplanted twenty-something movie hopefuls are being booted out of their cheap motel digs (overdue rent you know). But this will not deter the three from success. They’ve made an award-winning short and are now looking to expand it into a feature film. Producer/director Harry (Pico Alexander), writer George (Jon Rudnitsky) and leading man Teddy (Nat Wolff) have a scored a meeting that day with one of the big talent management firms. The agents have some exciting prospects for the guys, so that evening they head out to celebrate. Oh, and they’re at the same bar/eatery where Alice is also celebrating her B-day with her gal pals. She and Harry generate sparks almost immediately, despite the age difference. Drinks flow, and…they all eventually head back to her place. While Teddy and George crash on the couches, things get steamy in the master bedroom between Alice and Harry. The next morning she’s surprised when Grandma Lillian drops by with the girls to pick up backpacks on the way to school. After clumsy introductions, the guys tell her of their lack of domicile. Lillian reminds Alice of the empty guest house and suggest the guys crash there until they save enough for a new pad. Sounds great to everybody but Alice. How will this affect the girls? What will become of her budding romance with Harry? And what will happen when Austen finally shows up?

 

 

Witherspoon brings endless energy to this, her “rom-com” return, and proves to be a true team player, even when the material is inconsistent. She conveys the worry and conflicting emotions that stem from plunging back into the single world. Alice seems to be concerned that this new love will swallow her up. This makes some of the “plot beats” ring false. Throwing a “mini-tantrum” when he new beau is kept at a business meeting and misses a dinner party? That’s almost teen behavior. Perhaps it seemed a way of “jump-starting” her scenes with Alexander. After the initial flirtations, there’s not a whole lot of chemistry between the two. Unfortunately Harry’s laid-back “smoothness” becomes too aggressive and smarmy, acting as if he’s trying way too hard to seduce Alice. As for his buddies, other than “being on the make’ for all the ladies, any lady in sight, Wolff as little to do, other than getting acting compliments (we never really get to see his talents, but people insist he’s got “it’). Rudnitsky fairs a tad better as the writer with integrity to spare (the movie’s gotta’ be in black and white because, you know, for “art’s” sake), but he’s reduced to being a manic mentor for the very needy Isabel (she even calls him her “support animal”). Thank the “movie gods” for two veterans who bring a bit of comic life into this. Bergen is forward and feisty with almost no filter, who can still cut other characters down to size with a glare or a raised eyebrow. And cheers to Sheen as the flick’s hissable villain, going from passive-aggressive to pompous ass at the drop of a travel bag. Sure he’s played this role before, but he ‘s so darned compelling you forget. He fares much better than Lake Bell, totally wasted in the thankless role as Alice’s “boss from Hell”. This multi-talented actress delivers the goods as the blithely selfish diva, but she deserves a much better role, as does her co-star in the recent I DO…UNTIL I DON’T Dolly Wells as the cliché’ BFF who’s cheering Alice on from the sidelines.

 

As mentioned earlier this is the feature debut of writer/director Hallie Myers-Shyer, who seems to be almost making a parody, rather than an homage, of the previous work of mother Nancy (who’s a producer here). More thought seems to have gone into the home accessories than into the characters. As I said, Alice is ‘all over the place”. After the ‘dinner party incident” she goes on a blind date (getting back at Harry), and proceeds to get “blotto” in front of her more age appropriate, dullard date. This enables Witherspoon to do her best “Dudley Moore as Arthur” woozy word slur as she confronts her ex-client in a sequence that’s more “cringe-worth” than comic. As the story lurches towards its conclusion (it’s a long 90 or so minutes), they resort to the time-honored frantic rush to a big school event, which results in much hugging and mutual understanding, feeling like a rancid 70’s “dramedy”. Yes, it’s a ‘safe’ flick’s that the older relatives can handle (it’s almost a middle-aged Goldilocks and the three twenty-something doe-eyed non-threatening bears…one’s even named Teddy). A tad racy, but nothing that will shock or offend. An ultimately nothing compelling or original. Perhaps the old adage is right, you can’t go HOME AGAIN. Or in this case, there’s no interesting need to return .

 

1.5 Out of 5

 

Win Passes To The Advance Screening Of Reese Witherspoon’s HOME AGAIN In St. Louis

HOME AGAIN stars Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies,” Wild, Walk The Line, Sweet Home Alabama) as Alice Kinney in a modern romantic comedy. Recently separated from her husband, (Michael Sheen), Alice decides to start over by moving back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her two young daughters.

During a night out on her 40th birthday, Alice meets three aspiring filmmakers who happen to be in need of a place to live. Alice agrees to let the guys stay in her guest house temporarily, but the arrangement ends up unfolding in unexpected ways. Alice’s unlikely new family and new romance comes to a crashing halt when her ex-husband shows up, suitcase in hand. HOME AGAIN is a story of love, friendship, and the families we create. And one very big life lesson: Starting over is not for beginners.

The cast also includes Pico Alexander, Nat Wolff, Jon Rudnitsky, Candice Bergen, and Lake Bell.

Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, HOME AGAIN opens in theaters on September 8.

WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of HOME AGAIN on September 5th at 7PM in the St. Louis area.

Answer the following:

Actor Michael Sheen has recently starred in PASSENGERS (2016), as well as the upcoming BRAD’S STATUS alongside Ben Stiller and in Gareth Evans’ APOSTLE (2018), starring Dan Stevens.

Name the films in which Sheen portrayed Tony Blair and David Frost.

TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWERS 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.

See more about the movie here: https://www.facebook.com/homeagainmovie/

Twitter: @HomeAgain_Movie