Change Your Image
Jackbv123
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
Wreathmaker Christmas (2024)
Pedestrian
The script is what I will call pedestrian. By that I mean that the scenes and dialogue are the usual everyday kind of things. I don't watch movies to see just everyday things. While the story needs to seem real, I think it should have some things that stand out. Take Rebecca's backstory. Nothing stands out, it sounds like so many others. Jason's backstory that he wants his own restaurant is one of the more common ones. The dialogue is the same, no spark. Nor is there much humor.
Rebecca is nice enough, but again, not much that stands out. Jason is very nice which is central to the story. He is outgoing also. Maybe a bit too much of a people pleaser.
Friends and family are pushing really hard on the couple to be dating. This is normal for this genre, but when little else stands out in the story, this seems a bigger deal than it really is.
There isn't a much tension in the story beyond trying to get caught up. The conflict near the end is pretty common. It wasn't telegraphed but it wasn't surprising.
The acting is not good. Especially Wollett and Elliott seem like they are trying too hard. They just deliver their lines back and forth. Most of all there really isn't any chemistry. Jason's climatic appeal almost sounds like it belongs in a debate contest more than a rom/com.
This aired on Great American Family which is a faith based network. There were lines inserted here and there about prayer, but not much more than that.
Castle: In the Belly of the Beast (2014)
Signs of the show's demise
The writing is truly bad, or as another reviewer said, this is a boilerplate story jammed into the Castle universe. Actually though, that almost doesn't make sense because Marlowe is one of the writers, so "what was he thinking?" You know the story is going to be off the beaten Castle path when Beckett is briefed. So why is she the only person who can do it? Because Beckett speaks fluent Russian.
I was totally down on Gates in her first season. This season, her relationship with Castle is up and down, but not blind disdain. She sounds reasonable in this episode, but wrong. Gates should have stopped it without asking Beckett. This setup is a fiasco waiting to happen. Listen to Fowler. He is not convinced of this plan and his intelligence for the op is virtually non-existent. So let's send Beckett in to replace a woman assuming no one has ever seen her. The other reviewer who went off on this pointed out, Beckett's face has been all over the public. She is known professionally by a lot of people who are prominent in crime circles.
We've known for several episodes one thing that will be key, and Beckett doesn't recognize it when it happens, but she eventually figures it out.
Once again, the story paints a picture of people in high places with power, both political and physical muscle. Really high! Becket and Castle, you need to be far more careful going forward than any viewer knows they will be. That's why I really don't like this ongoing plot thread.
There are a few good Caskett moments even when they are physically apart. And I think that's why junk like this episode gets such high marks. There are so many fans that love anything Caskett.
Castle: Dressed to Kill (2014)
The Dress
First of all, I hate the dress, but I'm a man, so who cares?
Trust between Castle and Beckett is becoming a major thread in these later seasons. More that trust in everyday things. More than trust with their lives which for people like this is easier than the deeper issue. Either would step in front of a bullet for the other, and both have come close to that. No the problem in the trust arena is feelings. Castle often pontificates about the origin story. And a lot of what will cause problems in their relationship going forward has to do with feelings related to their origins.
There is a scene where M asks Beckett to model a wedding dress. The scene where she stands in the mirror as emotions pour through her is a poignant one. And it is one I misinterpreted until she explains what it was to Castle later, even though he wasn't there.
In this episode we get an omen for the future of Caskett which is more hopeful than Beckett's sexual teasing which have seen so much of since their engagement.
Castle: Deep Cover (2014)
House of cards
Not that any episode of Castle is that realistic start to finish, but this one just made me abandon belief. That and the fact that I'm not a fan of the Castle's dad thread. For one thing, I have seen the whole series a few times, and for reasons I won't go into, I have no respect for his dad.
Once again we have trust issues in the Caskett relationship. I won't expand on that either except to say that Kate accepts the deception and explanation way too easily. Maybe it is a sign that Kate does trust Castle deep down, but despite Castle's difficult options, I don't think the situation looks good on him. And I'm not convinced that Kate has reached that level of trust yet.
Castle: The Good, the Bad & the Baby (2013)
Look at that face
There are so many great moments in this episode, it is a must watch. Many reviewers, including myself, have noted over the seasons that family is a big thread in this show. We get to see that in so many ways here.
This is an episode with very little friction between Castle and Beckett for any reason. Even what might have caused some friction didn't. Beckett is anxious about the idea of babies, but when Castle wants to take Cosmo home, she not only agrees but takes the everyday obstacles that come with a baby like a champ. Even faced with a soiled diaper, she still has a smile. There are so many funny moments and cute baby moments. The morning after scenes are totally upbeat and the vista of their previous night's suffering is just one more that is cute and funny.
The crime mystery is clever. And the climax of that whole story is uplifting. The epilogue of the family Thanksgiving dinner has a cute typically Castle/Beckett twist, or two.
Castle: The Squab and the Quail (2013)
Painfull, but it makes total sense
Castle is the little boy in this episode, just as he has been for 5 seasons. But instead of being mostly funny, there is a heavy element of sadness here. Instead of being the cute child in a man's body, he is kind of pathetic.
Begin with him playing his video game and ignoring Beckett who is about as sexy and appealing as anyone can be on broadcast television. She doubles down and he still resists. That alone is pathetic. Now introduce a potential rival. And what a rival. The story makes a big deal out of how great Vaugn is. Even Castle expresses some hero worship. Castle doesn't even react like a man to his jealousy. Actually I'm not sure how a real man would react, but it's obvious to anyone that this isn't it. Then Vaugn kisses Kate. Other reviewers have expressed extreme anger over this episode and that kiss and what it represents is the center of most of that anger. For Caskett shippers this is painful. Funny, the kiss is only the tip of the iceberg. And once again, the murder mystery itself is secondary in the story.
*** What follows are huge Series SPOILERS***
Face it, this follows a few episodes where Caskett shippers were riding high. The Lives of Others (Rear Room homage) was especially satisfying. It is time, especially as the season end draws near, to pull them away again. But it is more than that. Other reviews I have written, including the one for the series as a whole, discuss the chinks in this relationship. In this episode, those flaws are no longer subtly revealed, the quiet thing is said out loud.
I already mentioned the video game scene and Castle's childish response to Vaugn. Kate even tells Castle he doesn't trust her and that is never really rebutted. Not even Castle's attempt to make it up to her at the end deals with it. His attempt is all physical, not emotional. Castle is still hiding behind his walls. Vaugn has mentioned lack of commitment, yet Castle doesn't respond to correct that failing either. This episode exposes weaknesses in the relationship that will be dealt with even more before the Season 8 finale. If all this is the point of this episode, it is well done. I didn't enjoy this episode. As a shipper it made me cringe, but I believe this is a milestone episode.
One might think I mean it is jumping the shark. Maybe! But from what I have read I would guess it is intentional on the part of Marlowe. As Season 8 progressed, he seemed to be totally willing to toss Stana Katic. I had always thought that so much separation of Castle and Beckett in Season 8 was just more teasing of the Caskett relationship, but I get the impression that it was more trying to return the focus of the series to Castle, not Caskett. Read articles about where he was intending to go in the finale and season 9 (which never happened).
Castle: The Lives of Others (2013)
Watch it again
If you watch this again so many remarks have a completely different meaning.
It is already a great homage to Rear Window. It's like the viewer doesn't even care about the official murder investigation. All the conspirators do such a good job of acting. Beckett looks so annoyed with Castle. Even Gates is involved. Their plot was pretty good too. So many red herrings. They make it so Castle has to apologize for being wrong. Then Beckett sets Castle up again with the line about the drink from the fridge which of course means Castle can't let go, even when Beckett is dressed to the nines. The climax, at least of the fake, is great. Then Beckett has a Castle moment. It's that moment when someone (Castle in this case) says something that makes the lightbulb go off for her real case.
There is also another enjoyable aspect for this episode, at least for Caskett shippers. There is so much affection between them here. Even Beckett's annoyance only masks her inner glee.
Castle: Significant Others (2013)
Bad omens
***SPOILERS. Not just this episode, but for the whole series down to the finale.***
If you look too closely at this episode, it does not bode well for the Caskett relationship.
Castle has always had flaws that would put a warning sign on him for any prospective long term girlfriend, but most of those have always been things you could write off with "boys will be boys". Most importantly from the writers' point of view, you could laugh at him. There is some misogyny in this series, especially Castle and "the boys". It has always been used for comedic effect. Comedic effect over his ex-wife trouble is what it appears to be at first in this episode even if it is raised to lofty levels. Is Castle being chicken or sweet by letting Meredith stay? Maybe both, but the chicken conclusion comes off as much more obvious. In short, we see a major character flaw in Castle. He won't stand up for himself or Beckett. There is a definite lack of honesty in the whole thing. Honesty with himself as much as with Beckett.
Then we come to the final scene with Beckett and Meredith. I'm not sure if the writers, probably Marlowe, intended for the omens of that conversation to be more than setting the stage for meeting his father, and maybe good for some tension with Beckett in coming episodes. But if you really look at this, perhaps with some hindsight having seen the entire series, there are not just red flags, but sirens going off over the Caskett future. Meredith hits it on the head, and this is part of everything harmful to come in this relationship. Castle does not trust anyone to really know him. He doesn't trust Beckett down deep yet, maybe ever. Meredith says "but he's grown up now". However he is not. He is still a child inside and his behavior in this episode proves it.
The crime mystery is about as good as most of them in this show. There is a nice twist, and even having seen this episode before, I forgot it enough to miss seeing it coming. Alexis and Martha are only present to the extent required by the Meredith thread. As I alluded to above, there is a lot of the usual teasing from the boys and more than the usual tension from Beckett. Beckett's dinner date with Meredith is more about being funny than their last scene and all the viewer sees is when they return home afterward.
Castle: After the Storm (2012)
It's complicated
My star rating trashes this episode. But I have to admit that the beginning few scenes are fun to watch. The bedroom invaded by Martha scene is exactly what you would expect from this series given how they got there. It's well done. A scene later at Beckett's echoes that first scene. I was almost disappointed that Castle didn't hide. Then there is the Alexis scene. Molly Quinn is so adorable, even if perhaps a tiny bit overdone. And there is Castle rambling a ridiculous explanation for why not to give Alexis aspirin as Beckett tries to escape undiscovered. Obviously the director doesn't care about realism as Beckett pats her chest realizing she left her bra behind and has to go back, but it just makes the scene that much better.
The drama of finding Smith and Maddox is a decent story. It's good to see one thing settled.
(Hopefully I'm cryptic enough that this isn't a SPOILER.) So why do I trash it? Two reasons, mainly one. The ending with the face off and the ongoing results just didn't resonate as believable. A lot of useless words. But more importantly as I say in reviews throughout this series - I really really don't like the whole ongoing thread the grows out of Beckett's mom and Beckett's shooting. As I quoted Kate in the last episode "I can't believe I'm alive." She is bucking forces that are so well set both financially and politically vs one cop that really isn't that hard to kill. There are a million ways. Hey writers and producers - drop it. Let's get back to the fun with new opportunities to exploit like what Beckett does with in the elevator on the last fade to credits.
Castle: Always (2012)
Why is this episode rated so high? Simple
This episode is rated so high because the shippers finally get what they have been waiting for. The fact that this is part of the long running thread of Beckett's mom is a factor also. I think this latter one works both ways.
This thread is totally negative to me. Why? Beckett says it early in this episode before she knows how deep this case goes. "Why am I still alive?" Indeed! With the recklessness that she chases this thread through 8 seasons, she should be dead 100 times over. It is not that hard to kill one cop. The shadowy figures she is chasing have too many assets. Any one of them may not be invincible, but as a whole, spread out, it is just too much. And the literal hanging by a finger climax scene puts an explanation in it! But the chase just keeps going on and on.
This episode has echoes of another thread and the scene where Castle reveals everything is at the root of it. First, we see the depths of Castle's feelings. But we also see the flaw in his love which comes up again a few times in the next 4 seasons. Castle is making decisions about Kate without her. They don't really communicate. He is both right and wrong. You can't do that with someone you truly love. But he is right that Kate isn't thinking straight. At this moment she is all emotion and no brain. Before the epilogue, this episode ends with what so many people wanted. Or did it? They obviously make love off screen, but they don't join in the most important way, their minds and hearts. Not yet.
This episode also brings Alexis in as she ends a chapter in her life and gives a commencement speech. The editor weaves this in with shots alternating between Alexis and Beckett after Beckett too seems to end a chapter in her life.
This season finale leaves the viewer with plenty to think about even beyond exploiting the happy moment. Danger. Drama. Peril. Life choices. Failure. Climax.
Castle: Undead Again (2012)
The fun is back
In the second to last episode of the season, much of the fun that we loved early on is back. Castle, the child, is back. He persists in the Zombie theories well into the episode, and maybe more than the early formula. The banter is there. Beckett's skepticism is there, with appropriate comebacks. Perlmutter contributes his usual sarcasm. Even some facts in the case are hard to explain without the fantasy theories.
The Beckett-Castle relationship is at a crossroads. Castle says this is his last case. Then at the end, they talk. I was disappointed in the talk because I think Beckett chickened out some. She knew this was a crossroads and in earlier episodes had talked about that repeatedly. But all she gives him is subtext. True, it's hopeful, but other than the obvious TV storytelling reasons, there is no reason for the character not to be more honest. Again, she and Lanie have discussed the need to be honest. The explanation is because of the story presentation for the season climax.
Even the Alexis arc is at a crossroads. Her need for a decision is also prominent in the story. At least there is some decisiveness here.
Oh, boy, does the crime story have plot holes, mostly at the end. There is no way Kyle will get convicted, even without Tom's confession. He was drugged. I doubt a DA would go to trial. They might try to bluff Kyle into a plea deal with some prison time. This show doesn't acknowledge how much DA's use plea deals like some shows do. As for Tom, again I don't see him being convicted by a jury given that fantastical climax scene. More likely Beckett would get bureaucratic blowback.
Still, it is easy for the viewer to just fail to notice those holes in the interest of enjoying the fun ride.
Castle: 47 Seconds (2012)
Rom/coms like Hallmark do this
We have a romantic lead viewing the other lead from afar, sort of, and jumping to conclusions that put an obstacle in the relationship. Just like so many Hallmark-like movies. Except with Hallmark the two will work out the misunderstanding before the end of the 1-1/2 hour screen time which is usually within 10-15 minutes of the misunderstanding. In this case it will take probably a few episodes. In the rom/com genre I am usually able to be patient and wait for how it gets worked out. In this case it annoyed the heck out of me because Castle is so stupid to act this way. We begin to see hints of the chinks in their relationship which will plague them for 4+ more seasons. Castle assumes the worst. Admittedly, the Beckett of this season has not been the one from the first three seasons which is who he was able to say "I love you" to when she lay near death. There hasn't been as much of the affectionate, sub-text laden banter. Not as much, and not as affectionate. Beckett has spent off duty time with him, especially his family, but with no depth. So I just talked myself into an almost excuse, but I still say he is being stupid and unfair.
There are definite plot holes in the bombing story. The FBI was a kind of straw man, being acknowledged in the story, but being unusually ineffective even given the usual TV scenario of jealousy between LEO's and Feds. This site lists the "Goof" that you can't track cell phone signals that way. And how did Beckett make the leap to the culprit. She had no evidence to get warrants.
One of the best things about this episode is that Gates is finally developing into a human being. Castle jokes that she is starting to like him after she shows some respect for his abilities. I'm not sure if her response was intended by her as a joke. I'd like to think so.
Castle: Cops & Robbers (2011)
A great entry in the Castle repetoire
This is at least the third time I've watch this, probably more. Somehow, I appreciated it more than the 8 stars I previously rated it. Let's look at different elements and see how they fit in the Castle playbook.
Family. There are few of these episodes that tweak the Family heartstrings more or for more screen time. Martha was in most of it, but that is nothing compared to Alexis moments. Molly Quinn plays this theme like a virtuoso violinist. And not just once. Then there is another emotional sequence that you will know what I mean when you see it.
Mystery story. There are so many great twists over the years. It's hard to pick one over the others, but this one ranks on the list.
Castle - Beckett moments. The very last Castle lines are classic for the series. We see real emotion from Katic with Beckett's concern and then relief.
Pause the plaudits for this episode for one thing. The Castle - Beckett relationship has been creeping along since the shooting and I'm pretty sure it gets set back again before season end. This episode makes it leap forward. Kate has completely lost all of her reservations, even if only for a minute. Sure, no kissing or smooshy stuff, but it is odd that there isn't. At the end of this episode, their relationship is as high as it could have gotten. I guess my point is that this episode belongs much later in the season. Or perhaps that's the point of showing how up and down it iis.
Thank heavens there were no Gates moments. I have been dying to say this so I put it here even without Gates in this one. I have said elsewhere that Gates is a cardboard figure, at least this season. But worse than that, she is too stupid to believe. Even in bureaucracies that are famous for promoting people who shouldn't be there. Even she has seen Castle's contributions but she denies them.
Castle: Knockout (2011)
You can't win this
I hated this episode because it is part of the Becket's mom thread which points to powers that can't be beat. I hated everything to do with this thread, and it only gets worse through the remaining seasons. This episode highlights that in ways those involved should have seen. But TV dramas are all about overcoming the odds. I just never believed these were odds such that even our favorite heroes could overcome, and I wasn't completely wrong. It's not a spoiler to say the series goes another 5 years and at least the most main characters will still be there to the last episode.
OK, it's really that I hated what the episode represents, all of what I say above. This episode has a good story within the set boundaries. Once the climax starts, it's a wild ride all the way to the final seconds. The acting is good. The characters are real and there the viewer sees deeper into them even if some of the motives are hard to fathom.
Castle: To Love and Die in L.A. (2011)
Vacation
In some ways this episode is a diversion from the usual Castle. I have said in my overall series review that one of the main elements of this show is the family aspect. We don't see Martha or Alexis at all here, as noted in Trivia. You could say the family aspect is included in Beckett's devotion to Royce's memory and with Ryan and Exposito's covering for Beckett, but it is a different flavor from the usual family themes.
The Castle - Beckett relationship gets developed a little. There is a through-the-door device where each character considers crossing the so-far uncrossed line. There are moments that stop just short. Even a line from Royce's letter as noted in Quotes tells Beckett what she has already heard from others earlier in the series that she has something in Castle worth pursuing. But somehow the writers with pull them back from the brink once again in coming episodes.
This episode is set in LA, so some wardrobe is noticeably different so as to fit the location. Katic has had a few smoking outfits prior, but she is usually more modest as one would expect from an on-duty NYPD detective. The scene at the pool is intentionally cheesy, but still hot. In addition Katic is seen several times in very tight tops, which I mention only because it stands out from the usual wardrobe back in NYC.
Castle: When the Bough Breaks (2009)
Perfect example of this series at its best
In my review of the larger series as a whole, I make note of the inevitable issue that TV series' encounter as they build up episodes. The simple formula that caught the viewers' attention ages and producers fear their fan base will lose interest. So they introduce an ongoing thread that rarely fits the original formula. In crime shows, those threads are often dark and ominous. In my opinion, the Castle series did this as badly as any of the dozens of series I have been devoted to.
BUT, not yet in this episode. A couple of earlier episodes have hinted very quietly of that thread to come, but this episode is based deeply in the show's roots.
Banter, oh my! Subtext, even more! Romantic tension and chemistry, yes! Plot twists, always. And if that isn't enough, the climax and ending give us some Kleenex moments, which isn't completely foreign to what this series sometimes does. Deep in the roots of this show, despite it being a crime show, devotion to family is almost always there, perhaps as much as any of the other shows.
Gifted (2017)
How have I not seen this til now?
McKenna Grace was amazing and probably 90% of what makes this film great. Cute, with missing teeth just like my granddaughter. Precocious as all get out. And fun. She does the sad parts well also.
I take it back. The script was 90% of what makes this film great. OK, so my math isn't as good as Mary's. The script was funny, sentimental, sad, thoughtful. What did I miss? Here's what makes me sure I liked it - I laughed out loud, more than once. I watch a lot of TV and movies. I'm in the over 1000 club on this site. I laugh out loud at less than 1 in 20 shows I watch. Then there is the story. Predictable? Maybe to a point, but getting to that point, not even close to predictable. I had a prediction and it didn't pan out.
The cast was good. Several A listers even though I've only seen Jenny Slate in a major role once, in Venom. She and Evans had some chemistry, but their relationship was not one of the top threads in the story.
Another reason I know I liked this movie is it had two things I hate in movies. A court battle, and custody issues where the system has its rules. I guess the two are tied together. Anyway, I still walk away loving the movie.
Haven (2010)
Declines
Season 1 9*
Season 2 8*
Season 3 6*
Season 4 4*
Season 5 2*
Good SciFi and/or Fantasy creates a Universe with rules and limitations and sticks to them. Twists are hinted at earlier in the plot. I don't know so much about Horror or whatever you call Stephen King's genre, but it should be similar. Otherwise it's just a jumble.
Haven starts out well. Rules progress in succeeding episodes but they are building toward an endgame which the writers had clearly in mind. At least I assume so. Even Season 3 is still holding on to most of the original assumptions, mostly. Did the showrunners plan past the first 2 or 3 seasons. You have to be optimistic if you expect the original premises to hold that long.
With Season 4 they start revising the original rules. They start introducing characters with fewer and fewer limitations. I lost count of the new progenitors/creators/gods in the last two seasons. And Season 5 was just too long. Too much rehashing and repeating. The Audrey character with her associated ones started changing rules and personalities. Even the basic Audrey character did more than evolve. At times she regressed.
I hate plot threads that involve possession resulting in a new personality that in many ways is opposite of the original protagonists. Several of the characters undergo such personality contradictions.
Antagonists were often cardboard characters, even the main ones representing their group, although not as much in Season 1. Driscoll was a complete cliche and not even consistent. Jordan's character devolves into a one dimensional one and makes two severe personality shifts that are almost explainable, but not quite. So many others. Vince and Dave make some of the biggest changes over the 5 seasons and I'm pretty sure many of those were afterthoughts (again due to the show running over 3 seasons).
So many TV series depend on love triangles and Haven definitely uses one. Like so many shows that do so over multiple seasons, it is hard for the viewer to keep up with the evolution of Audrey/Nathan/Duke. The ongoing story teases the viewers seeming to give what they want, then taking it away.
My advice is stop at the end of Season 2.
God's Country Song (2023)
Fair amount of Country music singing
I agree there was too much crammed into a TV movie. I would have like to have seen more development of Noah's relationship with JJ and Leane if you are going to have those in the story. Noah had a drinking problem. We get that. Pretty stupid, but then that can be blamed on his relationship with his dad and the event that torpedoed that. Probably should have left out the Leane part. The screen time spent on that was trite and cliche. What in the world did she see in him and why did she give him JJ so easily? When they were dating he didn't treat her that great. He was happy to have her around without putting in a lot of effort.
Except for overdoing Noah's downward spiral given the screentime constraints, the movie does have some good moments on the serious side. This is a faith-based movie, but seems like his journey to repentance was rushed also. It almost seemed like his dad's awards were what brought Noah around.
Not a bad movie, but it had some problems especially rushing everything.
The Engagement Plan (2024)
The message got through to me
The movie starts out with a lot of silliness, about like you'd expect. Wade is a Planner. I think he said every hour of every day and at times it seems like. He plans a proposal down to details that rank up there as above and beyond.
You might get some laughs over his early times on the farm. Of course they had to overplay the city boy on the farm. He runs into an electric fence and looks like a cartoon version for a few seconds. He gets out of a pickup and lands in about a two foot square pile of manure. Later he falls in it and then gets covered in it. He has a couple of shining moments. He delivers a calf by himself.
This is a faith based movie, but there appears to be a hypocritical villain trying to break up Wade and Kayla. At times Cam doesn't seem very Christian. One thing in particular was very bad.
But there are a lot of serious moments and many of the circumstance were true to life, even for Christians. Obstacles that discourage and appear to derail all hope. Wrong choices and actions followed by repentance. Man plans and God just does his thing.
For me personally, some of the "funny" things and some of the deviousness really didn't appeal to me. I think that's just me, and many will enjoy it making this a good movie as a whole. Even if you are like me and dislike some of that, the serious moments make this movie worth sticking with.
Finding Faith (2024)
Why?
Why do bad things happen to good people? I expected the marriage trouble between Victoria and Billy to be something else. The real reason is pretty well buried until time to reveal. It was a problem many couples face and the casualty rate to their faith is high in general.
This is definitely a faith-based movie, but I think fitting more for those who already are Christian rather than messaging to those who aren't.
I saw Ashley Bratcher in Unplanned about Abby Johnson. I think she did well in that and this. Both of the characters are not your ordinary people.
I fully resonated with Victoria's desire to remain anonymous. Extraordinary advice like seemed to be Victoria's forte comes only from God and no human person should step in front of that. I am still not sure why she even considered going with Samantha's company, not am I completely sure how that turned out.
John Schneider was excellent and his character of John was compelling.
His & Hers (2024)
Familiarity
This is a very light hearted offering that almost seems like it is not taking itself seriously. I wondered at times if there was some parody, but I wasn't sure of what. Married professionals? Reality stars? I can't imagine why everyone wanted them to oppose one another in the case because it didn't seem healthy for either couple to have Dana and Mark as opposing counsel. So many things seemed even more unrealistic than you come to expect in this genre.
Chabert and Elliot did look like their characters had been married awhile, especially their kisses. They kissed like "an old married couple" with a glancing peck. Not like stories where a couple is having a first kiss and each goes in with vigor and ... tongues.
I wondered where the story was going and definitely did not see that one coming despite the clues. It didn't seem like any great highs or lows or even tension until ... Surprise!
Our Dream Wedding (2021)
Definitely not the usual stuff
I will lump this story in with all those movies where the protagonist can see her life in an alternate timeline based on different life choices. This is a bit different than most where the protagonist is not the same age as before the switch but viewing the resulting different life choices. In this case, she travels to a future she has never lived based on a possibly different life choice.
I'm not a fan of the inevitable confusion of her not having memories of her new life. There is a little of that here, but they don't overdo it with constant embarrassment. The writers play with it a little. There is a cute sequence where Natalie is trying to explain her dilemma to her mother and for a few seconds you think mom is going to admit she had the same experience with the veil, but then that bubble bursts. At least Mimi of the future knows what is going on. Another nice sequence is a date away from the kids with future Scott where Natalie can pump him for info without arousing suspicion. There are a few more cute sequences.
There are also some more serious sequences. The movie explores some of the family drama that occurs when two parents aren't on the same page exactly on issues involving their children. In this case, Natalie wouldn't know whether they ever discussed those things previously or not. Even so, the tension in the story never gets to be a lot.
The acting is good and there is some good dialogue. Natalie is appealing enough but a little neurotic about making decisions both with Scott and her professional future. She is also not great at really communicating. Proposing Scott is presumptuous, but future Scott seems like a good husband and parent.
Overall I think the script is fresh. I found most of it, after the jump forward, to be hopeful. It presents a surprisingly positive marriage where the few obstacles that pop up seem to be solved by reaffirming of love for each other.
Clockstoppers (2002)
Nickelodeon
This is a sci-fi spy movie for kids. As such the story, dialogue and acting are not the same as I usually watch. There is plenty to appeal to the younger crowd including a nice sequence at a DJ contest. In addition to the style of audio, the time stopping duo put on a show of manipulating the body of their buddy who is one of the contestants. No amount of scientific mumbo jumbo will explain the physics of what they do with him, or for that matter themselves throughout the movie, but the sequence is fun.
There is some teenage romance which is very tame for what's usual for the age of these kids.
I imagine the movie fits for kids but it was on the juvenile side for me.
Planning on Forever (2022)
Wedding Planning?!
Is that enough for a story? But they weren't high school sweethearts who split when one went off to college. No, their past is limited to a failed blind date. Still somehow Liam seems to know a lot about Emma. This is another story where the bride and groom completely leave town for the full six weeks leading up to the wedding so Emma and Liam have to "stand in". She keeps saying she is not a wedding planner even though she is a corporate event planner. She keeps telling her sister it will be "the wedding of your dreams." The writers sneak in a couple of "we are not together" disclaimers by the not-couple. But another deviation from the usual rom/com story about an employee is that the boss keeps telling her to stop working, not work faster. The story is relatively thin with the usual wedding planning things. It seems too good to be true that there are no disasters until... lets just say they stole one from the common Christmas pageant disaster. There is a very small side story where Emma's widowed mom meets someone.
I think Emily Tennant comes close to saving this. She is likeable with few faults. She and Alec Santos have quiet chemistry.
Every rom/com needs a conflict to throw a kink in the lead romance. This one revolves around the usual wrong assumptions but didn't seem that big a deal.