F9: The Fast Saga

Actors: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, John Cena, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, Charlize Theron

Rating: 7 out of 10, As the expression “jumping the shark” ages we’re probably going to have to come up with a new phrase to express when a movie or TV series runs out of gas and just goes too far. F9 might serve as a target rich environment for that effort. I mean, sending street car racers into space! Then there is repeated issue of no one ever being permanently dead. This is the problem when you’re expected to up your game each time from previous movies. The Fast and Furious series has always delivered awesome car chases and incredible, increasingly unbelievable car stunts. This latest is no exception and when they focus on the action it’s great. Unfortunately, they decided to take themselves more seriously than called for. We don’t need to see them emote, especially in the case of John Cena, who proves incapable of doing that. There was too much time creating additional mythology for the Dominic Toretto clan which meant we had to endure repeated scenes of Vin Diesel staring off into the mists of his past. Knock it off and get back behind the wheel. The only ones who seemed to not mail this in were Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris who were too funny and engaging. This isn’t high art, it’s a Fast and Furious movie, which Diesel and whoever edited this, seems to have forgotten the edge that made this series of movies so successful. All this being said, the action scenes are worth sitting through the cringe worthy attempts to emote.

MVP: The huge electro-magnets – too cool

Black Widow

Actors: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, Olga Kurylenko, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz

Rating: 9 out of 10, More than up to Marvel’s usual very high standard. Johansson in what I assume is her swan song for this character easily carries the movie. The plot offers great details in her early, heretofore, mysterious background. The best addition though was Florence Pugh as her “sister”. I’d heard about Pugh but never saw what all the accolades were for, until now. She has real screen presence and more than held her own with the veteran actors she was surrounded by. The stunts were otherworldly and there were some sly comic threads as well. It’s a long movie but it carries you along at a relentless pace leaving you wanting more of the characters. Luckily it looks like this was a handoff from Johansson to Pugh and if that is the case then we are in good hands. A very good flick.

MVP: Pugh as the deadly pseudo-sister Yelena

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Richard E. Grant, Frank Grillo, Tom Hopper, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman

Rating: 7 out of 10, This is the sequel to the very entertaining feature that had Ryan Reynolds guarding Samuel L Jackson against Belorussian hitmen. This time out, as with most sequels, they up the ante and the pair now have to save all of Europe from madman Antonio Banderas’ evil plot. Only it’s not just the two of them, Salma Hayek, as Jackson’s wife, is elevated to a leading role this time and she’s great. I’m not just talking about her chest either, although there is that and it is prominently featured. She steals every scene she’s in from the two guys, both of whom kind of mailed this one in. It’s basically the same story as last time as there is a genuine effort to set a record for the number of MotherF---s used. That’s impressive and you’d have to have Jackson on board to make the effort. The farfetched plot detracts from the “charm” of the original and Morgan Freeman is absolutely wasted but this was still vey entertaining because of the three leads.

MVP: Hayek as the deadly and all too watchable wife

Nobody

Actors: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Aleksei Serebryakov, RZA, Michael Ironside, Colin Salmon, Christopher Lloyd

Rating: 9 out of 10, The movie Nobody proves Hollywood is still there and kicking. In some real movie magic the dumpy lawyer, Saul, from Breaking Bad, and Jim from Taxi, are transformed into lethal killing machines. Huh? The Russian mob needs to look into their cinematic selection of potential victims as they once again run into a buzz saw when they pick on the wrong guy. Bob Odenkirk wouldn’t be your first thought when you’re asked about dangerous leading men but he delivers. He’s a seemingly nebbish businessman whom life is beating to a bored pulp when those unfortunate Russian mobsters decide to liven things up. This will rightfully be compared to John Wick for a lot of reasons but Odenkirk, as Hutch Mansell, comes out of nowhere. There are some incredibly funny dark comedic moments amongst all the havoc and death as well. I wasn’t sure what to make of this after the first few minutes but you slowly and effectively see the veil slipped off his character. A truly fun return to the movies, pure Hollywood escapism at its best.

MVP: Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell, the poor man’s John Wick

Wonder Woman 1984

Actors: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen

Rating: 8 out of 10, It’s tough to arrive as a sequel to a really good film but that’s why sequels exist. This is better than most despite having to climb the high standards set by the original Wonder Woman. Gadot is still the best thing about the film providing gravitas and physicality demonstrating her character has grown up since the first film. There’s a world weariness appropriately conveyed. As with most escapist lore there are huge plot holes but I like the send up of the 1980s as well as the reincarnation of her first love. The plot falters at the finish line with a fairly unsatisfying climatic confrontation but this is still better than most DC movies.

MVP: Gal Gadot owns this as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman

Tenet

Actors: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh

Rating: 9 out of 10, getting a handle on Tenet is not an easy adventure. It’s another Christopher Nolan attempt to thoroughly confuse the viewer. I’m sure he has a lot of fun formulating consternation and this would have been a blockbuster, absent the pandemic, as ardent movie goers (guilty) would have paid to see it multiple times to figure out exactly what the hell was going on. Inside all the twists and turns it is a pretty cool action flick featuring Denzel’s boy in the lead role. My wife picked up some interesting physicality the two share, such as his gait and gestures. Washington plays a CIA operative who is brought into a shadowy organization that is fighting a time traveling war with an evil Russian tycoon bent on destroying the world. Kenneth Branagh does his usual reveling in a villainous role and seemed to emit rancor. Elizabeth Delbicki is kind of wasted in a supporting role, I kept expecting to get more from her. It took me three watches to finally believe I understand what happened and that is interesting in and of itself. Don’t watch this movie a first time if you’re not prepared to revisit it in the future to diffuse confusion. I guess it really is a time travel movie.

MVP: Robert Pattinson as rhe ever evolving Neil

The Sound of Music

Actors: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Eleanor Parker

Rating: 9 out of 10, I finally got around to buying this movie, mostly because I visited Salzburg, Austria last year and was reminded of the many landmarks that were featured the movie. When you consider Julie Andrews did this right after Mary Poppins you can understand why she was launched on her career. She’s perfect as the would-be nun who finds love and family with seven kids and a baron, singing all the way. There are so many moments that have become iconic in film history that I found myself almost surprised to see them all in one movie. The visit to Salzburg turned out to be a distraction as I knew some of the walking scenes were impossible as they went from one side of the city to another in a blink but it was still a bunch of harmless fun and Andrews at her very young peak is something to behold. Heart.  Family.

MVP: Ms. Andrews as the iconic Maria von Trapp