Charlie the Wonderdog

Typically we don't see animated films at this time of year--something that is reserved for the summer film season, but this independent film company decided to release "Charlie the Wonderdog" now hoping to receive a return on their investment and then some. If I had to put a word to describe this film, it would probably be heartwarming. 

A young and timid boy, Danny, (Dawson Littman) imagines a wondrous world in which he and his cherished dog, Charlie (Owen Wilson), star in their own superhero adventures. When Charlie is mysteriously abducted by aliens, he is gifted true superpowers and emerges as Charlie Wonderdog, the greatest and most famous superhero dog the world has ever seen. He is beloved by all except for Puddy (Ruairi MacDonald), the evil cat next door. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, Danny and Charlie must go above and beyond to thwart Puddy's diabolical plans.

Others to round out the cast are Tabitha St. Germain as President Rose, Rhona Rees as Alien Queen, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Alien Prince, Zac Bennett-McPhee as Otis, Jenn Rogan as Danny's mom and Sam, Anthony Bolognese as Jacob and Lindsay Gibson as Judge Gruff.

This was directed with heart and whimsy by Shea Wageman ("What Could Have Been" '11, "Rocket Club: Across the Cosmos" '24) plus TV, a short and a video game. The huge difference in these characters was that of Charlie--going from an older, slower dog to a more powerful, quicker, seemingly younger dog, and this filmmaker was able to encourage his actor (Owen Wilson) to become this much improved version of Charlie by his sheer expressiveness, however Wilson is a talented actor, but this is fine directing. It was effectively written by Steve Ball, Shea Wageman and Raul Inglis. Inglis has the lion's share of the writing experience here, so I'm not quite sure why he took last in the credits, but obviously the other two were pivotal with their input. The premise of this was interesting, however it did become a bit disjointed in a couple of places. And it was a bit show in a couple of places, but what it lacked in some places of script, it more than made up for heart, humor with a definite family-oriented fare that will sure to please by small children. 

As aforementioned, this is a film that the kids and even the whole family should come and see and enjoy. It's heartwarming, whimsical, humorous and, let's face it, this was Owen Wilson's film as his portrayal of the lead character. Grab the popcorn and enjoy this.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                    Rated: PG                                       92mins.

 

I Was a Stranger

There have been films in the past that chronicles humanity and how important it is lest we become an extinct species. The way we treat each other for the short time we are on this planet is staggeringly awful, especially the farther we travel into the future, and it doesn't seem to getting any better. Now, we have "I Was a Stranger" offered to show us that, no matter what happens to us individually, we are still fellow humans and should be treated as such.

When a Syrian doctor, Doctor Amira Homsi (Yasmine Al Massri) is forced to flee Aleppo with her young daughter, Rasha (Massa Daoud) one desperate choice sets off a chain of events that ripples across borders and pulls four strangers into the same storm. A smuggler, Marwan (Omar Sy) trying to save his son. A soldier, Mustafa (Yahya Mahayni) wrestling with his conscience. A poet, Fathi (Ziad Bakri) searching for home. A Greek coast guard captain, Stavros (Constantine Markoulakis) caught between duty and mercy. Their paths collide on one night in the Mediterranean, where survival and humanity is revealed in its rawest form. "I Was a Stranger" is a tense, deeply human story about the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. 

This was intensely directed with grit and compassion by Brandt Andersen ("Refugee" '20--a short). This filmmaker doesn't have a stream of films to his credit, but considering he spent years over in the area that this film centers on to see for himself how challenging this place is, speaks volumes in my opinion. He was able to tell his story of these individuals' plight with so much pathos and expressions that emitted from these actors. He will receive more work. It was written as well by Brandt Andersen ("Refugee" '20--a short) in an equally intense and sobering way. Again, he doesn't have a plethora of experience, but considering his desire and passion to delve into the culture in which he was writing about speaks volumes as well. The writing was tight, gripping, cohesive and concise. Even though he wrote this in a way that overlapped from one stranger to the next, by films' end, they were inexplicably connected by the connecting events. At first, one might not think that this story doesn't connect, however, be patient; the longer the film runs, the more it does connect, and that's fine writing. 

Again, Brandt Andersen's sole reason in making this film was to showcase how we are connected even when we don't think so. It's the humanity he is attempting to show and the more we have differences, the more we are truly connected. This is something we all can learn from in spades. Even though the writing, directing and acting in this is consummate, not all can see this because of its sheer intensity, so be forewarned. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                       Rated: PG-13                                       104mins.

 

Is This Thing On?

We have entered the 'dead zone' as of 1-1-26 and although many films are typically not the best that Hollywood has to offer, there can and are some gems thrown into the mix as a treat for hanging in there. Although "Is This Thing On?" is a well directed and acted film, it does need a bit of polish in the writing realm. 

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex Novack (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York stand-up comedy scene while his wife, Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, including their two sons, Felix (Blake Lane) and Jude (Calvin Knegten)--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether  love can take a new form.

Others to round out the cast are Andra Day as Christine, Bradley Cooper as Balls, Sean Hayes as Stephen, Scott Icenogle as Geoffrey, Ciaran Hinds as Jan, Alex's dad, Christine Ebersole as Marilyn, Alex's mom, Amy Sedaris as Kemp and Peyton Manning as Laird. 

This was brilliantly directed with subtlety and realism by Bradley Cooper ("A Star Is Born" '18, "Maestro" '23) plus music videos. Assuredly this filmmaker has not an extensive resume behind the camera, however what he has done has been exquisitely directed well including this film. His ability to get his actors to dig deep to find the correct character development in order to convince the audience is second to none. Bradley is an accomplished actor, but with each film he directs, he will be known as an amazing director as well. He also had a co-starring performance in this and was a pivotal character. It was effectively written by Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell, based on a story by Will Arnett, Mark Chappell and John Bishop. All these writers have a fair amount of experience--Chappell having the lion's share, but what they have, especially Cooper is impressive. The premise however intriguing, became a bit convoluted and meandered a bit, but once it found its footing, finally became the story it wanted to be. It was a slow burning epiphany for both Alex and Tess in their respective avenues in which they turned to in order to get on with their lives. Could it be too many writers involved? Not sure, but suffice it to say, it did need some polishing. The premise was certainly fraught with a lot of great fodder for a distinct screenplay, but missed a beat. The direction of Cooper more than made up for the script, and the script wasn't a wash--it just needed more clarity. And they could've used a bit less F-bombs, especially where it was obvious that they weren't needed in several scenes. 

If you're a Bradley Cooper fan, this will appeal, especially if you can appreciate his direction. The direction, acting and photography were first rate, and while these aspects were amazing, the screenplay could've been tighter--but definitely worthy of the price of admission.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: R                                          122mins.

Greenland 2: Migration

When we viewed "Greenland" back in 2020, little did we realize that this would become an apocalyptic film subsequently, assuming there would be sequel. Well, six years later, and we have "Greenland 2: Migration" which is...you guessed it, an apocalyptic film trying to survive five years after the first comet strike fell from the sky.

This sequel is a continuation of the story where the Garrity family, including John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his wife  Allison (Morena Baccarin) and their son, Nathan (Roman Griffin Davis), who survive a near-extinction level event when an interstellar comet hits Earth. must leave the safety of the Greenland bunker because of a string of earthquakes due to the conditions of the earth, and embark on a perilous journey across the decimated frozen wasteland of Europe to find a new home. Others to join their trek are Dr, Casey Amina (Amber Rose Revah) and Camille (Nelia Valery Da Costa).

Others to round out the cast are Sophie Thompson as Mackenzie Matthews, Ken Nwosu as Obi, Jules Dousset as French Captain, William Abadie as Denis Laurent, Alex Lanipekun as Riley Watson, Faraz M. Khan as Officer Bradley and Gordon Alexander as Lt. Blake.

This was directed with action-packed frenetic tenacity by Ric Roman Waugh ("In the Shadows" '01, "Felon" '08, "Snitch" '13, "That Which I Love Destroys Me" '15, "Shot Caller" '17, "Angel Has Fallen" '19, "Greenland" '20, "National Champions" '21 "Kandahar" '23) plus a video. This filmmaker certainly didn't stray from his comfort zone as he typically doesn't with most of his other films, and that makes him a confident ant consistent director. The characters in this showed their true emotions of how they were going to survive this precarious situation. He was able to convince his actors to find the emotions that were needed given a certain scene. It was written by Mitchell LaFortune ("Kandahar" '23, "Last Breath" '25) and Chris Sparling ("An Uzi at the Alamo" '05, "Buried" '10, "ATM" '12, "The Atticus Institute" '15, "The Sea of Trees" '15, "Mercy" '16, "The Warning" '18, "Down a Dark Hall" '18, "Greenland" '20, "Falling Slowly" '20, "The Desperate Hour" '21, "Intrusion" '21) plus a short. One could ascertain that this writer was attached to the original as well considering the amazing similarity of the films--which needed to be similar since this was a continuation of "Greenland". The problem with this script was that it meandered in certain places of the screenplay where it just wasn't fluid in how it was put together. Was it a wash? Certainly not! In each scene, there was a certain amount of action that kept the audience on the edge of their seats, however it needed more polish to create more smoothness. 

Not to spoil. but there probably won't be a part 3 considering the out come of this. However, who knows...since it's a Hollywood film, as long as it makes a truck load of money, anything can happen. The visual effects were impressive, so seeing it on the large screen would showcase it better. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                      Rated: PG-13                                        98mins.

The Plague

How many films has Hollywood produced that is either directly centered around a bullying situation or certainly had a bully situation within the premise? Quite a number comes to mind. "Bully" in 2001 was directly focused on a bullying situation, which was an admirable attempt at the subject. Now we are offered "The Plague" which has a challenging script that could've been more polished. 

In the summer of 2003, at an all-boys summer water polo camp, socially anxious twelve-year-old Ben (Everett Blunck) struggles to fit in amidst a ruthless social hierarchy. When he befriends Eli (Kenny Rasmussen)--a lonely, acne-ridden outcast shunned by others, mostly by Jake (Kayo Martin), for allegedly carrying a contagious "plague"--Ben becomes entangled in a cruel, escalating ritual of scapegoating and fear. As the lines between teasing and real harm blur, Ben is forced to confront his own complicity and the terrifying cost of belonging. This is a tense, dark coming-of-age story about masculinity, peer pressure, and the horrors that fester when cruelty masquerades as a game. 

Others to round out the cast are Joel Edgerton as Coach Daddy Wags, Lucas Adler as Logan, Caden Burris as Matt, Elliott Heffernan as Tic Tac, Lennox Espy as Julian, Kolton Lee as Corbin and  Nicolas Rasovan as Charlie.

This independent film was directed with a cutting edge delineation of how he wanted this fellow students to interact, by Charlie Polinger (shorts) and he succeeded in spades. One could feel the raw intensity, the cold stillness of the characters when the scene called. This aspect of the film kept the audience on the edge. However, when it came to the writing also by Charlie Polinger (shorts), the film had a tendency to meander and become choppy--so much so that for the first 20 minutes of the film, I was wondering where the film was. Nothing was adding up, and this only having approximately an hour and 40 minutes to its running time, usually most films this short have a tendency to cut-to-the-chase. With this premise, it was an exemplary attempt of such an important subject matter. I would truly love to see more films directed by this filmmaker since his ability to work behind the camera is amazing. The film was really about how the young boys and how they interacted. Edgerton was there as a Coach, but that was about it. He truly yawned his way through his role, but I'm sure that was a planned thing. If this film shows the audience anything, it shows us how much fear can be leveraged in manipulating others which made this film palatable if anything did. 

If you're into the psychological drama using fear and manipulation to gain what the majority wants, this is the film for you. It really doesn't need to be viewed on the large screen to get the full impact of it, so maybe you could Netflix it. While the writing definitely needed polish, the direction was simply spot on. Writing wise, maybe this writer needed more work...or not.

Out of 4 Stars: 2                                     Rated: R                                           98mins.

Song Sung Blue

For years Hollywood has presented biopics on numerous singers--just about a film a year, but now we are offered a docudrama on the singing team that fronted for headliner groups like Pearl Jam. So, this being not about the actual singer--Neil Diamond, but the singer who gave audiences a Neil Diamond experiences, to quote him. 

"Song Sung Blue" is a biographical musical drama centering round Mike and Claire Sardina (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) respectively, a real life couple who performed as a Neil Diamond tribute band called "Lightning and Thunder" in Milwaukee. The film follows their journey through love, marriage, and the highs and lows of their musical career, including a devastating car accident that Claire survived and Mike's tragic death in 2006. 

Others to round out the cast are Jim Belushi as Tom D'Amato, Fisher Stevens as Dr. Dave Watson, Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla, Ella Anderson as Rachel, King Princess as Angelina, Hudson Hensley as Dana, Mustafa Shakir as Sex Machine, John Bethwith as Eddie Vedder and Jayson Warner Smith as Earl.

This was directed with pathos and compassion by Craig Brewer ("The Poor & Hungry" 2000, "Hustle & Flow" '05, "Black Snake Moan" '06, "Footloose" '11, "Boomerang" (TV movie) '13, "Urban Cowboy" (TV movie) '16, "Dolemite Is My Name" '19, "Coming 2 America" '21) plus TV and a short. The passion and the unwillingness to compromise his show simply was unrelenting in the eyes of Mike 'Lightning' Sardina (Jackman), and, not only was this amazing acting, but fine directing as well that Brewer was able to extract out of him as well as Hudson's Claire and all others. It was also sequenced well by writer Craig Brewer ("The Poor & Hungry" 2000, "Pressure" '02, "Water's Edge" '03, "Hustle & Flow" '05, "Black Snake Moan" '06, "Footloose" '11, "The Legend of Tarzan" '16, "Urban Cowboy" (TV movie) '16, "Yellow River" (Hustle & Flow monologue) '20) plus a short, based on the 2008 documentary by Greg Kohs. Sequencing is everything when it came to delineating the script appropriately, and this script was cohesive, tight, concise and was culminated effortlessly. The chemistry between Jackman and Hudson was incredible whether the couple was going through hard times or good. For a film that ran for about two and a quarter hours, it moved right along and that's exemplary writing along with great acting. 

Certainly, if you are a Neil Diamond aficionado, this is the film for you, however the story was captivating as was the acting by Jackman, Hudson and even Jim Belushi. The songs will leave you wanting to hum and even though it leaves us bittersweetly, it still leaves one feeling up.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                           Rated: PG-13                                        131mins.

Marty Supreme

As Hollywood spews out more biopics than ever before, we are offered yet another biopic by the name of Marty Mauser, a professional table tennis player, who as a professional, his life was and those around him were incredibly emotionally and mentally messed up, assuming this script has validity. But even if these people were problematic, the directing and acting was first rate.

Timothee Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser, a fictionalized version of real-life 1950s table tennis hustler Marty Reisman. This sports drama follows Mauser's chaotic pursuit of table tennis stardom in 1950s New York, hustling games to fund his dream while navigating a world that doesn't take the sport seriously. The film is known for its kinetic, high-energy style, similar to the director, Josh Safdie's other works

Others to round out the cast are Gwyneth Paltrow as Kay Stone, Odessa A'zion as Rachel Mizler, Kevin O'Leary as Milton Rockwell, Larry 'Ratso' Sloman as Murray Norkin, Tyler Okonma as Wally, Luke Manley as Dion Galanis, Fran Drescher as Rebecca Mauser, Emory Cohen as Ira Mizler and Koto Kawaguchi as Koto Endo.

This was brilliantly directed with grit and dramatic flair by Josh Safdie ("The Pleasure of Being Robbed" '08, "Daddy Longlegs" '09, "Buttons" '11, "Lenny Cooke" '13, "Heaven Knows What" '14, "Good Time" '17, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus TV, shorts and music videos. Even though Chalamet is an incredible talented actor, it still takes an amazing and calculating director to pull off this kind of performance. The audience was back and forth on whether they were for Marty or totally against him since he was so manipulative. And the way that Marty finally became desperate due to his own devises, and still people really didn't want to trust him because of his past--this is golden Safdie. It was effectively written by Josh Safdie ("The Pleasure of Being Robbed" '08, "Daddy Longlegs" '09, "Heaven Knows What" '14, "Good Time" '17, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus shorts and a music video, and Ronald Bronstein ("Frownland" '07, "Daddy Longlegs" '09, "Heaven Knows What" '14, "Good Time" '17, "Uncut Gems" '19) plus a short and music videos. While the direction was delineated with amazing clarity, the writing had a tendency to meander and became a bit choppy in certain areas. The sequencing also was a bit off, but after a while, the film started to come together and then the story was much more captivating. Even though this is a fictionalized version of what actually happened, assuming these characters were depicted accurately, it was incredibly difficult to have pity on most of the characters in this. 

If you're an aficionado of biopics, you'll like this, even though there were liberties taken. What made up for the choppy writing was the acting by Chalamet, the direction by Safdie and the cinematography by Darius Khondji afc/asc, which all will undoubtedly be nominated come Oscar time. 

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                        Rated: R                                            150mins.