“Alien: Romulus”
(Science Fiction/Horror: 1 hour, 59 minutes)
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson and Archie Renaux
Director: Fede Álvarez
Rated: R (Bloody violent content and language)
Movie Review:
“Alien: Romulus” is an echo of 1979’s “Alien,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver. Director Fede Álvarez (“Don’t Breathe,” 2016) and co-writer Rodo Sayagues offer more of the same. The 1979 screenplay and this one have a similar beginning and end. “Alien: Romulus” may be entertaining, but it feels more like a remake than something new for this longtime franchise.
Rain Carradine (Spaeny) and her adoptive synthetic human brother Andy (Jonsson) work with two men and two women to commandeer operation pods to escape the industrial life for the Weyland-Yutani corporation. They enter a derelict space station to retrieve cryostasis chambers. The space station is a graveyard, once the home of scientists. The five young people and android Andy quickly discover some of the galaxy’s alpha predators are onboard also.
“Alien: Romulus” stays true to its science-fiction horror roots. It has thrills and nice visuals. It also plays like a modern horror movie, which means the characters do stupid actions that override their instincts for survival.
Andy, the android, tells the humans that the aliens respond to sound. Immediately after and surrounded by dormant aliens, one of the humans decides to answer his communication device. The action leads to them running while trying to survive.
Clearly, these five young people will not last long. This screenplay has them doing one stupid action after the next, a long process of running and screaming.
What is getting even longer is the repetitious screenplays produced by this franchise. “Alien: Romulus” does provide some surprising bits scattered throughout, but everything before and after seems like something already seen multiple times.
Grade: C+ (While entertaining, the franchise is becoming more alienated.)
“Rob Peace”
(Biography/Drama: 1 hour, 59 minutes)
Starring: Jay Will, Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Rated: R (Drug use throughout, language and violence)
Movie Review:
“Rob Peace” is a biopic about the short life of Robert DeShaun Peace. This adaptation of Jeff Hobbs’ “The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace” is fascinating, even if scenes are repetitive. Because of such, rather than getting to know Peace, we see what motivates him — mainly his work to free his father from prison.
Robert Peace is talentedly played by Jay Will of television’s “Tulsa King” (2022). His motivation is his father Robert ‘Skeet’ Douglas (Ejiofor, who also directs this drama and is its writer). Peace is an intelligent, ambitious young man. He excels in school and becomes a student at Yale University. He plans to graduate and earn a research doctorate to study cancer. However, Peace cannot stop doing the one thing that keeps him in trouble. Trying to prove his father is innocent of a crime, Peace is willing to risk everything.
This movie proves mostly that the person who needed saving was Robert Peace, not his father. Even if his father was innocent, you think a good parent would have told his son at some point, “You have a great life. Now, move on.”
Skeet Douglas does not tell his son that. Instead, he watches as his son becomes like him.
This part of the movie is the first tragedy presented. The moments are irritating to observe, but they perpetuate “Rob Peace” as a photoplay.
The cast helps facilitate the story even more with sound performances. This starts with Jay Will. He is engaging. Secondary roles by Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also effective. Together, they manage to charm, although Rob Peace’s actions appear recurrent.
Grade: B- (An intriguingly intelligent young man, although one never receives a full sense of peace with his story.)
“Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure”
(Action/Animation/Comedy: 1 hour, 23 minutes)
Starring: Ryan Kaji, Evangeline Lomelino and Jack William Reid
Director: Albie Hecht
Rated: PG (Action violence)
Movie Review:
“Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe” is an adventure based on the antics of YouTube’s The Kaji Family. The problem is the animated world is much better than the live-action world.
Ryan Kaji goes into a mystical comic book he created to rescue his twin sisters, Emma and Kate from the Big Bad (voiced by Jack Reid who shines in the animated world). In the animated comic book world, he transforms into his anime superhero alter ego, Red Titan. He meets several superhero characters. Together, they must work to defeat Big Bad and his evil entourage.
YouTube stars with no acting talent — and it is very evident — plague the live-action portions of this action comedy. These bits are the initial and last scenes and are the worst part of this movie. Bad acting and lackluster dialogue are abundant.
The animated part of the movie, which is a sizable part of the movie thankfully, is better. These scenes offer viewers adventure with added superhero antiques resembling anime.
Regrettably, the whole movie does not remain in the animated world.
Grade: C- (Duality of a bad real-world juxtaposed with a better anime existence.)
“Close to You”
(Drama: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Starring: Elliot Page, Hillary Baack, Wendy Crewson and Peter Outerbridge
Director: Dominic Savage
Rated: R (Language)
Movie Review:
“Close to You” attempts to be a romance, but family theatrics interrupt. It stars Elliot Page as Sam, a transsexual from female to male. Sam decides to go home to visit family on his father‘s birthday, but not all family members welcome his transition..
Art imitates life with this drama that could easily be a sequel to Ahyoka Saas’ 2022 comical movie short titled the same. Audiences may remember that Elliot Page was once Ellen Page, so “Close to You” should be something Page can relate well to since she transitioned in 2020.
Known for excellent performances in movies such as “Juno,” Page remains an excellent actor, but most of this movie is molded with crying and arguments. Some of the characters seem to be confused. They do not know what they want, and when their desire is presented to them, they change their mind. This back-and-forth becomes tiresome although it works well to mirror Sam’s and others’ rollercoaster of emotions to adapt to change.
This is especially true with Page’s romance with Katherine, performed by Hillary Baack, a hearing-impaired actress known for her work in movies and on stage. The two may be lost lovers, but their chemistry is lacking. They are interrupted by what they want and do not want plus Sam’s family drama.
The wait for this movie to go somewhere profound never arrives in a meaningful manner. Elliot Page and Dominic Savage (“Love + Hate,” 2005) leave viewers with a public service announcement-type message about how we should all be tolerant of others even when we disagree. Message received... Now, make the characters’ actions equally meaningful.
Grade: C+ (Inviting but does not allow one to get close enough.)
“My Penguin Friend”
(Drama/Family: 1 hour, 37 minutes)
Starring: Jean Reno, Adriana Barraza and Alexia Moyano
Director: David Schurmann
Rated: PG (Thematic elements)
Movie Review:
“My Penguin Friend” is a moving family feature about a man, Brazilian fisherman João Pereira de Souza (internationally known actor Jean Franco), and a penguin named Dindim. Every year the penguin finds its way back to the home of João and his wife Maria (Barraza, “Babel,” 2006) in Ilha Grande, Brazil. The animal stays for a while and then departs until next year. Dindim gives João a sense of purpose, ending the man’s depressive streak.
Jean Franco and Adriana Barraza are capable and charming actors. They are intriguing as much as this screenplay allows their roles to be. However, they are upstaged by the penguin, yet that is fine because Joao’s relationship with the animal is a sound emotive element that works well.
Based on a true relationship, the entire family can enjoy this screenplay. The story is good and worth audiences’ attention. It has an agreeable message about how we live with animals.
Grade: B (A friendly movie for all audiences, it is pleasing.)
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