Bell, Book and Candle

Bell, Book and Candle is a romantic-comedy staring James Stewart and Kim Novak, as well as, Jack Lemmon, Else Lanchester, and Ernie Kovacs. A while back I wrote a piece titled  '10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See' and, while I do stand by those ten selections because they're all fantastic films, this is a movie that is certainly worth watching as well. Released in 1958, it's definitely been overshadowed by another Stewart/Novak film from that same year; Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

The plot is straight forward and fun: a witch named Gillian (played by Novak) has a bit of a thing for a man named Shepard (played by Stewart) who lives in the apartment just a floor up from her shop. Gillian originally plans to try to win Shepard over without using any magic but when she learns that he's already engaged and to be married soon, she decides to cast a love spell on him. So now she has Shepard infatuated with her, however, there are a couple problems with this plan. First off, obviously she can't tell Shepard she's a witch because he won't be too happy if he finds out he called off his engagement because of witchcraft. Second, witches can't fall in love and there is a legend among the witches that if you do, you lose your powers. Early on you'll know how this film is going end but it's a fun ride getting there.James Stewart and Kim Novak are both solid but, the two actors who steal the movie are Jack Lemmon and Erine Kovacs. While there are funny lines from just about everyone in the film, Lemmon and Kovacs provide the overwhelming majority of the jokes.

Overall, it's an enjoyable film full of laughs and charm. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The Greatest Showman (2017)

The Greatest Showman is a new musical to hit theaters, and is inspired by the life of P.T. Barnum.

With a strong cast consisting of Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Zendaya just to name a few, I was pretty excited going into this one. Now, if you go into this expecting a fairly accurate biopic about P.T. Barnum then you need to know that this is not that. Its a big, glitzy, crowd-pleaser, with a lot of heart.

At approximately 1hr 45mins the film moves along at a brisk but satisfying pace. It's well directed, well acted (for the most part), and has a captivating plot. The only knock on the film is that there is one particular song and dance sequence in the middle of the film that felt a bit shoehorned in and I didn't feel like it added anything to the film. 

Overall, is this the best musical of all-time? No, but it is fun, a few of the songs are pretty catchy, and Hugh Jackman is fantastic.

I enjoyed it and, though I can foresee this one getting some mixed reactions from audiences, I recommend it.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Coco (2017)

Coco is the latest film in long line of (mostly) quality movies from Pixar. While recently there have been a few Pixar films that missed the mark for me, I was still excited to check this one out.

The film starts out with a young Mexican boy named Miguel who is passionate about music but belongs to a family that has forbidden him from becoming a musician. He learns pretty early on that his great-grandfather was a famous musician and of course he takes this a sign that he should pursue his dreams. Although this is a pretty basic setup and the first 20mins are nothing special, the film picks up and gets really good after that. Miguel travels to the 'Land of the Dead' in search of his famous musical relative and there are a couple fun, though predictable, little twists along the way. As with most movies from Pixar. the characters are fun and, visually, it's a beautiful film.

Overall, Coco a solid film. It's probably not going to be a lot of people's all-time favorite Pixar movie, but it is one of the better ones and did exceed my expectations. The story is strong, heartwarming, and I'm sure will leave more than a few viewers with a tear in their eye by the end. 

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Ranking the DC Extended Universe Films

 With six films under their belts, it seemed like it was finally time to start ranking these DC films that all exist within the same movie universe. This is also something I've done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and you can check that out by clicking here. Much like that Marvel list, this ranking will only consist of this specific lineup of films. So, animated films, the Tim Burton Batman movies, the Christopher Reeve Superman, etc. won't be included. Also, like the Marvel list, I'll update this after each new installment.

#6 Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

 This film feels like four movies were smashed into one... and none of those four were any good. The first viewing will hold your interest while you wait for it to get good (it never does). However, repeat viewings offer little more than a challenge to see if you can stay awake for the 2 1/2 hour (which feels like 5hrs) runtime.

#5 Suicide Squad (2016)

 This movie is a mess. It's fun at times, but it's a mess. It throws vibrant colors, comedy, and musical cues at you like it's trying to capture a 'Guardians of the Galaxy" vibe while simultaneously telling you that the filmmakers have no idea how to make that work in a film. Additionally, it's poorly written and edited which is a shame because there are a few good actors sprinkled among the cast that could've shined with a better script.

 #4 Justice League (2017)

 Honestly, #3 and #4 are basically interchangeable and they suffer from a lot of the same problems. The edge here goes to 'Justice League' mainly because Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Superman, Flash, and Cyborg  are just more interesting than Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Killer Croc, Katana, Captain Boomerang, and El Diablo. 

#3 Man of Steel (2013)

Yes, this version of Superman is about as interesting as block of wood, but at least this feels like a real film. It's competently made, and has a fairly well structured, coherent story. It's pretty joyless most of the time and a bit dull to look at, but it doesn't feel like you're just watching a bunch of movie trailer money-shots.

 

#2 Wonder Woman (2017)

I'm hopeful that there are going to be some really amazing DCEU films in the coming years but, as of right now, it's slim pickings. Wonder Woman is far from a perfect film and if you're looking for plot holes and a few sub-par special effects you'll find them. However, the movie is fun, it feels like care was taken with the main character, it actually leaves you wanting to see the next Wonder Woman film, and it's one of only two films on this list that I actually recommend. 


#1 Aquaman (2018)

Of these films this is the one I had the most fun watching the acting is pretty solid, the effects are good, and I was totally invested in the story. Unlike the folks at Marvel, WB/DC doesn't seem to have a set, long-term game plan for their comic book properties but I hope they make an Aquaman sequel because I really enjoyed this one.

I'm a fan of many of these comic book characters, so hopefully this list will become more populated with good movies in the years to come.

 

The Good, the Bad and the 'Justice League'

Quick Review: Is it good? No.

However, if you disagree and think that it is good, my only advice is that you start watching better movies. You've set the bar too low.

Now, for those of you that want a little more indepth review, keep reading.

With so many well known comic book characters in this film, I figured I'd approach this review with a breakdown of each one in the film, in addition to some overall thoughts.

Batman: If you liked Ben Affleck's version of Bruce Wayne/Batman in 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' then you'll probably like him in this one. He's a little more lighthearted, but at times he feels a bit out of place.

The Flash: The costume is horrendous and the acting matches. If you get a good laugh out of twitchy, socially awkward humor then maybe you'll like it. I found it annoying.

Wonder Woman: Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. She steals just about every scene she's in, and is the real bright spot of this DC movie universe.

Cyborg: Honestly, they could've cut him out of this movie entirely and it wouldn't have mattered. He serves no real purpose other than to ramble off exposition.

Aquaman: It works... mostly. Jason Momoa was a good choice for the character and, after seeing him in this, I'm hopeful that the solo Aquaman film is good.

Superman: Henry Cavill is ok, he's not in it all that much but this interpretation of Superman never seems to quite hit the mark for me so that's probably a plus.

The Villain: Wow. The Justice League finally has a big budget live-action movie, and they dropped the ball when it came time to come up with a villain. Steppenwolf is yet another dull, grey, CGI, foe. He's no more impressive than 'Aries' in Wonder Woman or 'Doomsday' in Batman v. Superman. Disappointing.

Overall, I wasn't expecting this to be great, but I was hoping it wouldn't be bad.

Surprisingly, for a movie with so many iconic characters, I'm probably going to forget about it in a few days. Although the film does have a few bright spots, the bad far outweighed the good. The plot was a bit of a mess, some of the special effects look awful, it's all over the place tonally, the runtime is actually a little too short so there are some pacing issues, and most of the comedy fell flat. Additionally, the choppy editing and the strange obsession with slow motion often times make the film feel less like a flowing narrative and more like a scattershot of comicbook imagery.

This film is a big deal because it's the first 'Justice League' movie, so a ton of people are going to go see it and it'll probably make an insane amount of money.

However, I personally don't recommend it

I give it a 2 out of 5.

A Brief Review of Thor Ragnarok

The third film in the 'Thor' franchise and Marvel's 17th entry in its cinematic universe, Thor Ragnarok shows a continued effort by the studio to keep the stories and characters fresh. The movie has a lot of solid comedy, good acting, some entertaining action set pieces and, for most Marvel fans this will probably end up being their favorite Thor film. Now, that doesn't mean its perfect. There are some minor flaws, particularly with pacing, but since this is a new release I'll save some of that for a more in depth review later on so I don't spoil anything.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and, while its not my favorite MCU film, it's probably pretty high on the list. The comedy was laid on a bit too thick in a few places which took away from any real tension developing, but when the jokes work they really work. It's a fun movie. An all-time great movie? No, but fun.

4.5 out of 5

A Look Back at 'The Trouble with Harry'

Alfred Hitchcock was, without a doubt, one of history's all-time great filmmakers. 'Vertigo', 'North by Northwest', 'Psycho', 'Rear Window', 'The Man Who Knew Too Much', 'The Birds', and 'Strangers on a Train' are all classics. However, there are some really great Hitchcock films that have been largely forgotten. This is the case with the 1955, dark-comedy, 'The Trouble with Harry'.\

Harry is found dead at the onset of the film, just outside of a small Vermont town. While multiple people think they may have caused his death, no one is really all that concerned. One man thinks he accidentally shot Harry while rabbit hunting, one woman thinks he died after she hit him with her shoe, and even Harry's wife thinks it may have happened after she knocked him over the head with a milk bottle. Throughout the film the only real concern is what to do with the body and making sure the local deputy doesn't find out, and this leads to a lot of funny moments. The whole cast, from Edmund Gwenn, to John Forsythe, to Shirley MacLaine, and Mildred Natwick are all terrific and, for me, all of the comedy hits the mark.

Even though it's a comedy, it still has the great cinematography, the interesting characters, the solid Bernard Herrmann score and everything else you'd expect if you're a fan of Hitchcock's many of other films, particularly from the 50's and 60's.

Overall it's never going to rise to top of any 'Greatest Hitchcock Films' list, but it's one I enjoy and recommend checking out.
I give it a 5 out of 5.


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Movie Review: American Made (2017)

Those who frequent this blog may remember that I wrote a piece a few months back titled "10 Tom Cruise Movies Everyone Should See" (you can check that out by clicking here). Obviously 'American Made' wasn't out at the time I wrote that but if I ever decided to update or redo that list of films, this one would be hard to leave off.

Without giving too much away here's a sort overview:

Tom Cruise plays Barry Seal, an airline pilot, who is recruited by the CIA to gather reconnaissance information regarding a communist threat in Central America. It isn't long before Barry finds himself not only in charge of a massive covert CIA operation, but also flying drugs into the U.S. from a South American cartel. Tensions ramp up with Barry caught between the CIA, the DEA, and the cartel. It's a wild ride.

 The film is well directed and Cruise turns in a really solid performance. The movie is fun, exciting and even the little moments of comedy sprinkled throughout all hit the mark. It was definitely nice to go to the theater and watch a film that felt like something fresh among the vast landscape of prequels, sequels, reboots, and re-imaginings.

Overall, this is one I definitely recommend seeing.

 I give it a 4.5 out of 5


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Movie Review: Dead Awake

Well, I haven't reviewed a horror movie in a while...

While scrolling through Netflix suggestions at 1am, in the mood for a so-bad-it's-good horror flick, I came across this I came across this 2016 psychological horror movie. 

The film is about a woman named Kate who decides to investigate her twin sister's mysterious death and the sleep paralysis that her sister suffered from. Well, while connecting the dots between people who die in their sleep and the sleep paralysis condition, Kate ends up stuck with an entity that takes the form of an old creepy hag and kills people in their sleep.  But here's the kicker: the 'hag' only targets those that believe in it, and a person can rid themselves of the entity by getting a adrenaline shot while they're experiencing sleep paralysis.

It sounds dumb, but the movie almost works. The concept is interesting, the plot moves along at a decent pace and, even though some of the characters are blandly written, the acting isn't terrible.

 The real problem is a failed execution ideas: It deals with something attacking while your helplessly asleep but it doesn't really delve into what that can really do to you psychologically other than a throw away line or two and one brief scene with a guy who found a way to never sleep. Also, it fails to deliver any memorable scares. There are no over-the-top deaths, or gore, or even variety. The hag is a pretty basic design and all she does is choke people while they sleep.

 

It's not a terrible movie, but it's one you can skip.

I give it a 1.5 out of 5 

 

10 Steven Spielberg Movies Everyone Should See

The latest entry in this ongoing series focuses on Steven Spielberg, one of cinema's most famous Directors. As always, rather than a "Best of" or "Top 10" this is more of an overview highlighting some of the notable movies of a person's career. Also, at the bottom of this post I'll leave a link to all of the other '10 Movies Everyone Should See' posts.


#10 Bridge of Spies (2015)

This is the 4^th pairing of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks (the previous three films being ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and ‘The Terminal’) I wasn't sure about this one going in but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a pretty outstanding Cold War, espionage movie.

#9 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Well acted, engaging story, great musical score, and massive success at the box-office.
This big hit (along with Jaws) helped catapult Spielberg to top of every studio's Director list.

#8 Lincoln (2012)

When you pair up an all-time great actor in Daniel Day-Lewis with an all-time Director you can even turn a film about Abe Lincoln into not only a financial success but also a multiple (2) Oscar winning film.

#7 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

There are a ton of WWII movies for anyone looking to watch one. The fact that this one often rises towards the top for a lot of people says a lot. It's a really solid film.

#6 E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)

I've seen this one multiple times over the years and there's no way it should be as good as it is. Kids fly on bicycles, the alien is basically a bumbling child, none of the acting is amazing... In the hands of a lesser filmmaker this is a crappy movie, but Spielberg made it a classic.

#5 Schindler's List (1993)

This period-drama about the Holocaust won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, and it's easily one of Spielberg's most critically acclaimed films.

#4 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The film that launched one of cinemas most beloved characters, Indiana Jones, still holds up pretty well. While it's not my favorite Indiana Jones movie (that distinction belongs to 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) it's impact is undeniable.

#3 Jaws (1975)

It's one of cinema's greatest summer blockbusters and one of the only legitimately good shark movies ever made. All you have to do is say the word "Jaws" and most people will immediately think of this early Spielberg classic.

#2 Minority Report (2002)

This one also appeared on my list of '10 Tom Cruise Movies Everyone Should See' (which you can check out by clicking here) and while it's not as famous as a film like  "Jaws" or  "E.T.", I think it's a great, tension-filled movie that is definitely worth checking out if you've never seen it.

#1 Jurassic Park (1993)

Early on as I started rewatching a bunch of these films for this list, this one jumped to #1. Everything I like about different Spielberg's films come together in this one. You get adventure, memorable characters, great special effects that still hold up, and an interesting story that's easy to get fully invested in.

Have a suggestion for a '10 Movies Everyone Should See' list?

Leave it in the comments below, and if you want to check out the other other entries in this series you can find them all by clicking Here.

The Founder (2016)

I had been meaning to watch and review this movie for a while now, and I finally took the time tonight to check it out. 

While I am a big fan of Michael Keaton, I wasn't sure if a movie about how McDonald's came about would really be something I'd find all that entertaining. To my surprise, the story was pretty interesting and I was into it from start to finish. The acting, particularly Keaton as Ray Kroc as well as John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman as the McDonald brother, was really solid and the whole thing clicks along at a fairly decent pace.

The film, as you may expect, is about how Ray Kroc saw the potential in a small burger joint owned and operated by the McDonald brothers. Kroc, a very determined businessman, realizes that the efficient McDonald's system could be a major franchise with locations all over the United States, and his big picture way of thinking often doesn't gel with what the brothers see as the best way to protect their brand. The McDonald brothers are nervous about rapid expansion and they don't want to sacrifice quality just to save a few bucks. Of course Kroc on the other hand wants to go big and get rich, resulting in mounting tensions over the course the film between his vision for McDonald's and theirs.

Overall, I think this film is entertaining enough to watch at least once. There are a couple parts that drag a little and 10-15 minutes could've easily been shaved off the runtime, but it's a decent movie.

I give this one a 3.5 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

Movie Review: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

About a month ago I added to my ongoing '10 Movies Everyone Should See' series with a look at 10 Tom Cruise movies (you can check out that blog entry by clicking the link here: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2017/07/10-tom-cruise-movies-everyone-should-see.html). 

However, as always when I make those lists, there are films that are deserving but get left off for one reason or another. One of the films I just didn't have a place for on the list was 2014's 'Edge of Tomorrow', but that's not to say I don't enjoy it. It's a really cool sci-fi/action movie that I found entertaining it when I saw it in the theaters and have since rewatched a few times. Interestingly, despite a 91% critic rating and a 90% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film wasn't a box-office hit and a lot of people I know haven't seen it. Also, for some reason, after originally being titled 'Edge of Tomorrow' for the theatrical release when it was released on DVD and Blu-ray it was retitled 'Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow'. 

The film stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and takes place during an alien invasion. Cruise plays Bill Cage, an Army officer that reluctantly gets sent to fight on the front line. After killing one of the aliens, some of the blood gets on Cage and he ends up stuck in a time loop, leaving him to fight and die over and over again while he tries to find a way win the battle and break the cycle. Think of it like an action-packed "Groundhog's Day". There are some great action scenes, and just about all of the comedy that's sprinkled in hits the mark. Additionally, the chemistry between Cruise and Blunt is pretty good and the plot moves along a brisk, entertaining pace during a runtime just shy of 2 hours.

Overall, if you haven't seen this one then I recommend giving it a try.
I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.


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10 Tom Cruise Movies Everyone Should See

With Tom Cruise's latest film having just come out recently (You can check out my review of that here: 'The Mummy' 2017) it seemed like a good time to add a new entry to my '10 Movies Everyone Should See' series. I have previously written similar posts about Sean Connery, Tom Hanks, Alfred Hitchcock, and others and I'll leave links to those at the bottom of this one. If you're not familiar with how I make these lists, they aren't necessarily a 'Best Of' or 'Top 10', It's merely 10 films that I feel would be the best representation of someone's total career.


#10 Knight and Day (2010)

'Knight and Day' isn't a fantastic movie, in fact parts of it are kinda dumb. However, I think the goal the filmmakers were shooting for was to make a fun, action-filled, romp with a couple bankable movie stars. That is exactly what they achieved.

#9 The Last Samurai (2003)

If you like war movies then this one has some pretty good battle scenes between those who still practice the ways of the ancient Samurai and a Japanese military that is trying to adapt to the type of weaponry the U.S. was using at the time. I thinks it's also one of Tom's more complex performances.

#8 Risky Business (1983)

The oldest movie to make this list, 'Risky Business' was a breakout film for Cruise and it's still a pretty entertaining watch.

#7 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

You won't find many sequels on Tom Cruise's filmography but, the 'Mission: Impossible' series has been going strong since '96 and this one is certainly in the discussion for best 'Mission: Impossible' film.

#6 Far and Away (1992)

The plot is a little thin and Tom's attempt at an Irish accent is a bit dodgy but, it's directed by Ron Howard, there's some really good cinematography, a solid John Williams score, and great chemistry between the two leads.

#5 Days of Thunder (1990)

If you've ever seen Top Gun and thought "I'd like to see a version of this, but with race cars instead of fighter jets" then you'll probably enjoy Days of Thunder.

#4 Rain Man (1988)

Even though most people associate Cruise with action movies, he is capable of putting in solid performances in critically acclaimed films as well. The best example of this is the multi-Oscar winning film 'Rain Man' (winner of the 1989 Oscars for Best Picture, best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor: Dustin Hoffman, and Best Director: Barry Levinson).

#3 Mission: Impossible (1996)

The first film in the 'Mission Impossible' franchise may not have as much over the top action as some of the later entries in the series but, its still a really enjoyable flick.

#2 Top Gun (1986)

If I were just ranking film quality, then 'Top Gun' wouldn't have landed as high as #2. However, it is one of Tom Cruise's most iconic roles. Yes, parts of it are dumb and cheesy but it's also just an overall fun movie.

#1 Minority Report (2002)

It was a bit of a close call on some of these and there were a few films that I went back and forth on. That was not the case with the #1 spot. I think this one is hands down the best film starring Cruise.


Honorable Mentions: A Few Good Men (1992), Jerry Maguire (1996), Jack Reacher (2012), and Edge of Tomorrow (2014)


 If you have a suggestion for another "10 Movies Everyone Should See" leave it in the comments below.

Also, check out these other entries:
 10 Sean Connery Movies Everyone Should See
10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See
10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies Everyone Should See
10 John Travolta Movies Everyone Should See
10 Tom Hanks Movies Everyone Should See
10 Chuck Norris Movies Everyone Should See 
10 Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Everyone Should See

Spider-Man: Homecoming

It's no secret that we are living in something of a golden age for comic book movies. With even more obscure characters getting a lot of love at the box-office, it's no surprise that the big Hollywood decision makers keep green-lighting films about the most marketable of all superheros; Spider-Man.

Just within the last 15 years we've had Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and now Spider-Man: Homecoming. So, is it really worth spending you're hard earned money to see yet another Spider-Man movie? Yes, because this time I think they nailed it. I'm not going to give a bunch of spoilers away because this film is new and I do think it is worth going to see.

  

Now, for starters, the previous five Spider-Man films have ranged from good to awful. Both Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield have taken up the role of the title character and both received mixed reviews. The general consensus is that Maguire didn't fully capture the Spider-Man side of the character and Garfield wasn't a believable Peter Parker. This time around they got it right, as Tom Holland was a great casting choice. He's believable as both a high school age Peter Parker and as Spider-Man, making it easy to become fully invested in this character. The supporting cast of Peter's friends and classmates is solid, Marisa Tomei is great as Aunt May, and Robert Downey Jr. delivers the goods as Tony Stark like he always does. However, the real standout in the film is Michael Keaton as the Vulture. It's easily one of the best villain performances in the MCU.

Which brings me to my next point; this is a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Previously, because of Sony holding the movie rights, Spider-Man films have existed off in their own little world. Now, we have the extra complexities of Spider-Man wanting to become an Avenger and prove himself Tony Stark. Being part of a movie universe that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, etc. allows this film to have a simple story without the need to make it about saving all of New York city. The film does have some good action and spectacle, but for the most part it all takes place Queens. It's established that the Avengers will save the world, Peter should just focus and on being a "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" and that really works in the movie favor.

Overall, the movie is fun, it has a lot of heart, and it exceeded my expectations. If you're a Spider-Man fan then you're going to have a ton of fun watching this one. It's by far my favorite Spider-Man movie to this point, and I highly recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

If you'd like to see how I think Spider-Man: Homecoming stacks up against the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can check out my complete MCU rankings by clicking here.

Sandy Wexler (2017)

Curiosity finally got the better of me. Despite repeatedly seeing this title pop up on Netflix and saying to myself "Not this time Sandler, I won't get burned again", I couldn't help it. There was a time in my life when I was a big fan of Adam Sandler, I had a few of his comedy albums and movies like 1995's 'Billy Madison', 1996's 'Happy Gilmore' and 1998's 'The Wedding Singer' are films that I still get a lot of laughs out of. However, over the last 15+ years, the decline of Sandler has resulted in many films that don't even come close to duplicating the entertainment value of his earlier works. 

 

This film, about a small-time 90's talent manager, is just another bad movie in Adam Sandler's filmography. The jokes don't land, the main characters aren't that interesting, the 'heart-felt' moments feel contrived, and even though the runtime is just over two hours it feels like it's never gonna end. It's another dumb voice, awkward Sandler character bumbling and stumbling through a paper-thin plot. 

The one positive about the film is that it's fun to see the ridiculous amount of cameos in the film. "Weird Al" Yankovic, Jimmy Kimmel, Dana Carvey, Darius Rucker, Mike Judge, Penn Jillette, Henry Winkler, Jon Lovitz, Chris Rock, Judd Apatow, Jay Leno, and a long list of others pop in at various points throughout.

Overall, it's a bad movie and I can't honestly think of one person I know that would actually enjoy it.

I give this one a 0 out of 5.

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Ranking The Pixar Films

For over 20 years Pixar animation has been making films that are fun for the whole family. The most recent addition to the Pixar library, ' Toy Story 4', was just recently released and I thought it would be fun to take a look back at all these films for an overall ranking. I have done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe films (to check out that list click here). I update those rankings after each new film comes out and I plan on doing the same with this one. As with my Marvel rankings, this is just how I see the films when I compare characters, story, and overall rewatchability. I'm only going to be ranking the major theatrical releases, no animated shorts or direct to DVD movies.

#21 The Good Dinosaur (2015) 

One of these had to be the worst and I found this film thoroughly unenjoyable.

#20 Cars 2 (2011)

Barely escaping the bottom spot on this list is the dumb, misguided 'Cars 2'. If you haven't seen it, don't bother.

#19 Finding Dory (2016) 

It all worked in 'Finding Nemo' but this entry felt stale and about 10yrs too late.

#18 Ratatouille (2007)

This is odd one in that, though it's not a bad film, it's just forgettable. I often don't even remember that it's a Pixar movie.

#17 Cars 3 (2017)

I wrote a whole review on this one that you can check out here. In short, it's fine. Some good animation and a laugh or two, but nothing special.

#16 Inside Out (2015)

A lot of people fell in love with this one, so maybe its just me, but I thought this one was really underwhelming. The voice acting is solid and I like the concept, it just didn't work for me.

 

#15 A Bugs Life (1998)

It's a cute, entertaining movie. It's not amazing but I enjoyed it when it came out and it still holds up ok.

#14 Up (2009)

This was a hard one to rank because it starts out really strong. Unfortunately, for the most part the film is just average with a decent moment or two scattered throughout.

 

#13 Brave (2012) 

I'm not going to rave that this is an excellent film, but I do think it's a bit underrated by most.

#12 Monsters University (2013) 

This one is a mixed-bag. It's not nearly as good as 'Monsters Inc.' but there's still some funny moments and I like all of the characters.
 

#11 Cars (2006) 

Unlike it's two sequels, I actually do like the first 'Cars' film. I've rewatched it a few times and always enjoy it.

#10 Toy Story 2 (1999) 

This one, in my opinion, is the weakest of the 'Toy Story' films. However, it's still a real good movie. 
 

#9 The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar's attempt at a superhero movie ended up being one of their better ones.

#8 The Incredibles 2 (2018)

I like this one better than the first. It's not an all-time great film, but it is fun.


#7 Toy Story 4 (2019)

Toy Story 4 is a completely unnecessary sequel, but a ton of fun nonetheless.


#6 Coco (2017)

Though it may move up or down a spot on this list with more viewings, I think it's safe to say this one is a return to form after a few films in a row that I found underwhelming.

 

#5 Wall-E (2008)

Usually I have a good idea of what I'm going to get going into these movies, 'Wall E' was a rare exception. While it's not perfect, it was far better than I expected it to be.

#4 Finding Nemo (2003)

This one effectively combines a simple but interesting plot with unique characters and some really impressive animation.

#3 Toy Story 3 (2010)

 This one hit every beat I was hoping it would when I first went to the theater to check it out.
It's a really solid movie, with a lot of heart.

#2 Monsters Inc. (2001)

I love this one. It's a ton of fun, and still enjoy it with every repeat viewing. Mike and Sully are right up there with Buzz and Woody as my favorite set of Pixar buddies playing off one another.

#1 Toy Story (1995)

This is the gold standard by which I always compare Pixar films too. It's fun, the characters are great, it's enjoyable start to finish, and it represents a milestone in animation.


Do you agree with my rankings?
How would you rank all these film?
Let me know in the comments below.