RECENTLY VIEWED: THE END OF OAK STREET

Sometimes it seems like the same movie is made over and over again. I had the pleasure to see The End Of Oak Street in the movie theater, and I was glad I did. The movie is so much different than anything I have seen before. It is definitely no Jurassic Park! The End of Oak Street is a 2026 American science fiction survival film written, co-produced, and directed by David Robert Mitchell. It stars Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery as a family whose suburban neighborhood has been transported from 1982 into the age of dinosaurs. The End of Oak Street premiered at the Steven J. Ross Theater on August 9, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 14 by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $47 million worldwide against a production budget of $80–92 million.

I'd love to give the plot away, but I don't want to spoil it for viewers. The movie takes place in 1982 so it is a period piece set against the backdrop of carnage at the hands of dinosaurs. The movie is darker than I thought. I literally jumped at least five spots. I haven't jumped at a scene in Jurassic Park/World in years!

In March 2023, an untitled film directed, written and co-produced by David Robert Mitchell was in development at Warner Bros. Pictures, with J. J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella producing for Bad Robot and with Matt Jackson and Tommy Harper producing for Jackson Pictures.Anne Hathaway was cast in the lead role in 2023. By February 2024, it was revealed that Ewan McGregor had been cast,with Maisy Stella and Christian Convery joining in March. In late March, the title was revealed to be Flowervale Street. In April, Jordan Alexa Davis, P. J. Byrne and Chris Coy joined the cast.

The cast is great Anne Hathaway and Ewen McGregor are a believable married couple. What is interesting is the movie is not just about dinosaurs. There is a family dinamics there that is explored. In addition to dinosaurs there are other issues like divorce, bullying, and drifting apart that are wonderfully explored. The movie's storytelling is just about perfect, but there is a minor gripe I have about the ending that I will not talk about here. Just do yourself a favor, and see this action packed thriller of a movie. You will not be disappointed...

MY RATING: 9 OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: THE LAST HOUSE

Some movies entertain you for two hours and then disappear from your thoughts. Others linger long after the credits roll. Netflix's The Last House is one of those films. At first glance, it looks like a science fiction thriller about a family trapped inside their own home. But underneath the mystery and suspense is a story about fear, resilience, and what happens when a family is forced to face itself. 

The premise is simple yet terrifying. A family wakes up to discover they can no longer leave their house. Doors won't open. Windows offer no escape. Resources begin to dwindle, and the outside world becomes an unknown threat. What starts as confusion slowly transforms into a desperate fight for survival.

As I watched, I found myself asking a question that the movie quietly places before its audience: What would I do?

We all like to believe we'd stay calm in a crisis. We'd make smart decisions, protect our loved ones, and find a way through. But The Last House challenges that confidence. The longer the family remains trapped, the more their fears, frustrations, and hidden emotions rise to the surface. Survival becomes about more than food and water. It becomes about trust.

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura deliver performances that ground the film's unusual premise in human emotion. Their characters are not superheroes. They are parents trying to hold their family together while navigating uncertainty and fear. Their struggles feel authentic because they mirror challenges many families face in everyday life, just under far less extreme circumstances. 

What struck me most was the symbolism of the house itself.

A house is supposed to be a place of safety. It shelters us from storms, danger, and the outside world. In The Last House, that symbol is turned upside down. The very place designed to provide comfort becomes a prison. The walls that once protected now confine. It serves as a reminder that security is often more fragile than we realize. 

The film also explores how people respond differently under pressure. Some become leaders. Others withdraw. Some cling to hope, while others surrender to despair. Watching the family's emotional journey felt just as compelling as the mystery surrounding their confinement.

While viewers may debate the film's twists and ending, the central message remains powerful: when everything familiar is taken away, our greatest resource is each other. 

The Last House may be marketed as a sci-fi thriller, but at its heart, it is a story about human connection. The suspense keeps you watching, but the emotional questions stay with you afterward. And perhaps that's why the movie resonates. It reminds us that sometimes the greatest challenge is not escaping the house. It's learning how to survive together inside it. I enjoyed the movie as a whole, but the ending was kind of abrupt and left me wanting more questions answered. For a Netflix movie though this was pretty watchable though...

MY RATING: 6.5 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: TOY STORY 5

I really didn't cry during Toy Story 5, like I did at the other movies, but the film was still extremely sad. I saw the movie with my 13 year old daughter, who announced this past Father's Day weekend that she wants to see the new live action Moana movie with her friend. I am crushed but back to Toy Story 5. Toy Story 5 is a 2026 American animated adventure comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton, who conceived the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Kenna Harris, it is the fifth main installment in Pixar's Toy Story film series and the sequel to Toy Story 4 (2019). The ensemble voice cast features Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack among those reprising their roles from the previous films, joined by Conan O'Brien, Scarlett Spears, Greta Lee, Shelby Rabara, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Craig Robinson. Set two years after the events of the fourth film, Toy Story 5 follows Jessie (Cusack), Woody (Hanks), and Buzz Lightyear (Allen) as they and the other toys deal with the presence of Lilypad (Lee), a tablet and the new favorite plaything of Bonnie (Spears).

While Hanks said in May 2019 that Toy Story 4 was the final film in the franchise, the possibility of a fifth film had not been ruled out. Development on a fifth film was confirmed in February 2023, with Hanks and Allen returning. Stanton was confirmed as the director in June 2024 and later as a writer. It is the first main film in the series with no involvement from co-creator John Lasseter, who left Pixar in late 2018. The franchise's composer, Randy Newman, returned to score the film, marking his tenth collaboration with Pixar, while Taylor Swift contributed the number-one single "I Knew It, I Knew You" to the soundtrack. With a budget of $250 million, Toy Story 5 is one of the most expensive animated films ever made, and the most expensive film produced by Pixar.

Toy Story 5 had its world premiere in Los Angeles on June 9, 2026, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 19. Like its predecessors, it received positive reviews from critics, who praised its visuals, voice performances, humor and themes, although some questioned the screenplay and justification for existing. It has grossed $310.2 million worldwide, breaking several box office records, and becoming the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2026.

I won't talk about the plot, but there are some truly tender moments. Now that my children are teenagers, I feel like those toys. One line in the film stuck with me: "You may not feel like you don't matter anymore, but what's important is you mattered to someone sometime"

MY RATING: 8 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: SCARY MOVIE 6

Okay, I know what you think - Scary Movie 6 is hardly a classic movie, and it is not. However, the original two movies that came out in 2000 and 2001 represented a different time in my life. Back then I was single, and it seemed like the world still could laugh then. So when this new comedy came out, I had to see it. Scary Movie (colloquially known as Scary Movie 6) is a 2026 American parody film directed by Michael Tiddes and written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez. It is the sixth installment in the Scary Movie film series, following Scary Movie 5 (2013), and has been referred to as the spiritual sequel to the first two films. It stars Marlon, Shawn, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall. The plot follows Cindy Campbell and her friends Ray Wilkins and siblings Shorty and Brenda Meeks reunited when the same masked killer from the first film resurfaces.

A sixth Scary Movie film was announced in 2024 and later that same year, it was revealed to have the involvement of the Wayans family for the first time since their departure from the franchise following the release of Scary Movie 2 (2001) due to creative conflicts with the original producers. Scary Movie was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on June 5, 2026. Like the previous films, it received negative reviews from critics, but grossed $106 million against a $30 million budget.

The movie parodies almost every horror movie and some popular movies that have come out. The cast is excellent and Annna Faris, Regina Hall, and The Wayans Brothers have not missed a beat. Two welcomed returns that I think made the movie is the return of Cheri Oteri and Chris Elliott. I wish thet were in the film more.

Now the comedy is great, and I actually laughed a lot at the gross out humor. It's been awhile since a film came out like this. However, the story is not there, but who needs a plot in a Scary Movie film! For some of the humor and inside jokes, you have to be a Scary Movie fan. I am so it was just a fun movie to see. Nothing more and nothing less...

MY RATING: 7 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2

My daughter wanted to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, and I said to myself - "oh no not another sequel". I was pleasantly surprised. I liked that the movie touched on what is happening to journalism in 2026 with everything going digital and AI. A sequel to the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, it sees Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles, with Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, and Kenneth Branagh joining as new additions.

Despite the success of The Devil Wears Prada, starring cast members Streep and Hathaway were initially hesitant on the prospects of a sequel. Development on the film began in July 2024, with all four leading actors – Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, and Tucci – signing on to reprise their roles, and Frankel and McKenna returning to direct and write, respectively. Additional castings for new characters were revealed between then and November 2025. Principal photography took place from June to October 2025 in Manhattan and Milan, with additional filming in Newark, New Jersey.

The cast was stunning and perfect, and Meryl Streep is perfect in evey film she is in. For me though, the standout was Stanley Tucci. I think he stole the movie in this film, and was great without trying. A nice added face to the movie was BJ Novak, from The Office fame, in a nice supporting role. 

As of May 3, 2026, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has grossed $77 million in the United States and Canada, and $157 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $234 million. In the United States and Canada, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is projected to gross $75–80 million from 4,150 theaters, with some estimates going as high as $100 million. The film made $10 million in Thursday previews. Internationally, the film is projected to debut to around $100 million from 35 countries. It made $40.5 million on its first day of release.

Like I said, I thought the movie does a great job showing how the characters from 2006 are now dealing with the reality of 2026. It is a different world now, and the magazine business has definitely changed. There were some really good laughs, even though the tempo at certain parts of the movie seemed slow. The movie was darker, which actaully made it better. For a sequel, this film can stand on its own, and there is never a dull moment with Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt on the screen...

MY RATING: 8 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: MICHAEL

Growing up in the 1980s, Michael Jackson was everywhere. My sister loved his music, and we both grew up with the Jackson sound. This past weekend with my daughter we went to see the Michael Jackson bio pic Michael. It follows the life of Michael Jackson, covering his involvement in the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to the Bad tour in the late 1980s. Jackson is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson and as a child by Juliano Krue Valdi, both in their film debuts. The supporting cast includes Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.

Development began in November 2019, when it was reported that the producer Graham King had secured the rights to produce a film about Jackson, with Logan attached to write. Lionsgate announced the film in February 2022. In January 2023, Fuqua was announced as the director and Jaafar was cast as Michael. Further casting took place from January to April 2024. After delays caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, principal photography took place between January and May 2024. After a clause was discovered in a legal settlement, references to the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were removed, the third act was revised, and reshoots took place in June 2025.

The result is a really great movie. The movie ends in 1988, before the dark side of Michael Jackson's life happens. The end of the film leaves an opening for a sequel, but I would much prefer it to end here. The movie shows the abuse that Michael had to endure at the hands of his father. His father is played by Colman Domingo, and Domingo should win an acting award for his portrayal of Joe Jackson. Yes, there was a dark side of Michael Jackson, and not to take away from that, but the movie does an excellent job laying the ground work for why possbily Michael Jackson did what he did in later years. If you like Michael Jackson or solid movie biographies, then I think you'll enjoy Michael...

MY RATING: 9 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: WICKED FOR GOOD

No spoilers here! I had the oprttunity to see an early showing of part 2 of the Wicked saga last night, and it was truly an experience! Wicked: For Good (also known as Wicked: Part Two) is a 2025 American musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The sequel to Wicked (2024), it adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum return from the first film, with Colman Domingo joining the cast. Set in the Land of Oz before and during the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film explores the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, announced the film adaptation in 2012. After a long development and multiple delays, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in 2021. The adaptation was split into two parts to avoid omitting plot points and further develop the characters. Principal photography on both films began in December 2022 in England, was interrupted in July 2023 by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed and concluded in January 2024.

Wicked: For Good premiered at the Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo, Brazil on November 4, 2025, and is scheduled for release in the United States on November 21. The film received mixed reviews from critics. I feel the critics are too hard on the film. The first film had the better songs, but the story on part two was darker and a lot better I feel. There are a couple of plot holes and questions I had, but they were minor and did not take away from my viewing of the moving. Ariana and Cynthia were outstanding, and Jeff Goldblum was a scene stealer. So it was another great trip down the yellow brick road...

MY RATING: 9 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: PROJECT X

My son is not a movie person, so when this 15 year old kid wanted to watch a movie with the family, I jumped on it. The movie he picked is not for the faint of heart. It is n Fred Astaire musical. There are adult themes, langauage, and nudity. However, the movie Project X was a pretty good movie overall. Project X is a 2012 American found footage teen comedy film directed by Nima Nourizadeh, written by Michael Bacall and Matt Drake and produced by Todd Phillips. The film follows three friends—Thomas (Thomas Mann), Costa (Oliver Cooper) and J.B. (Jonathan Daniel Brown)—who attempt to gain popularity by throwing a party, a plan which quickly escalates out of their control. Kirby Bliss Blanton, Dax Flame, Brady Hender, Nick Nervies, Alexis Knapp, and Miles Teller also star.

The title Project X was initially a placeholder for a final title, but interest generated by the secretive title kept it in place. A nationwide open casting call was employed to find fresh faces. The majority of the cast were sourced from this casting call, but a few with prior acting credits, such as Mann, were accepted after multiple auditions. Filming took place on sets in Los Angeles over five weeks on a US$12 million budget. The film is presented as a home movie from the perspective of an attendee using a camera to document the night's events.

Project X was released theatrically in the United States on March 2, 2012, and grossed $102 million worldwide during its theatrical run. Criticism focused on the "loathsome" behavior of the lead characters and the disregard for the effects of drug use. Other reviews considered it funny and thrilling, and equated it to a modern incarnation of National Lampoon's Animal House. Following its release, organizers of various large-scale parties either referenced or used the film as inspiration, with some parties being directly named after the film.

Despite the criticism, Project X grossed $54.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $48 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $102.7 million, against a budget of $12 million.The film opened to $1.2 million in midnight takings from 1,003 theaters in the United States and Canada. Throughout its opening day, the film's release was expanded to 3,055 theaters, where it grossed a total of $8.2 million including midnight takings. The end of the opening weekend saw the film take a total of $21 million—an average of $6,891 per theater—finishing as the number-two-grossing film of the weekend behind the animated family film The Lorax ($70.2 million), and exceeding expectations that it would finish with a gross in the mid- to high teens. Project X was highly popular with males and youth; 58 percent of the opening-weekend audience for the film was male, and 67 percent of the audience was under the age of 25.

Again, if you have an issue seeing real life depicted on film, then do not watch the film. There were some general laughs and heart warming moments. Good or bad, this is how teenagers are today. The film is already 13 years old, but it resonates today. I enjoyed the film, but my son is NEVER allowed to have a party at our house...

MY RATING: 8 OF OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: JAWS

The movie used to terrify me when I saw it as a young boy, but now 50 years I got to see Jaws in a movie theater for the first time. It is now my favorite movie of all time. For anyone born under a rock, Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, it stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, who, with the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark that attacks beachgoers at a New England summer resort town. Murray Hamilton plays the mayor, and Lorraine Gary portrays Brody's wife. The screenplay is credited to Benchley, who wrote the first drafts, and actor-writer Carl Gottlieb, who rewrote the script during principal photography.

Shot mostly on location at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts from May to October 1974, Jaws was the first major motion picture to be shot on the ocean and consequently had a troubled production, going over budget and schedule. As the art department's mechanical sharks often malfunctioned, Spielberg decided to mostly suggest the shark's presence, employing an ominous and minimalist theme created by composer John Williams to indicate its impending appearances. Spielberg and others have compared this suggestive approach to that of director Alfred Hitchcock. Universal Pictures released the film to over 450 screens, an exceptionally wide release for a major studio picture at the time, accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign with heavy emphasis on television spots and tie-in merchandise.

Regarded as a watershed moment in motion picture history, Jaws was the prototypical summer blockbuster and won several awards for its music and editing. It was the highest-grossing film in history until the release of Star Wars two years later; both films were pivotal in establishing the modern Hollywood business model, which pursues high box-office returns from action and adventure films with simple high-concept premises, released during the summer in thousands of theaters and advertised heavily. Jaws was followed by three sequels, none of which involved Spielberg or Benchley, as well as many imitative thrillers. In 2001, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Seeing the film on the big screen was monumental for me. I have sene the movie close to 100 times, and I jumped at every scene as if I was seeing the film for the first time. The film is not in theaters long, but you have to go see it on the big screen. I had tears in my eyes watching the movie, and not from fear. This movie has meant so much to me growing up, and I was overjoyed to be able to see it not in the theaters 50 years later. It was an amazing movie experience for me...

MY RATING: 10 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: HAPPY GILMORE 2

 Last night I turned on Netflix for some pure nostalgia and watched Happy Gilmore 2. Watching this sequel is like spending time with an old friend that you haven't seen since 1995. Happy Gilmore 2 is a 2025 American sports comedy film directed by Kyle Newacheck, and written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. It is a sequel to Happy Gilmore (1996). Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, and Dennis Dugan reprise their roles from the original film while Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny join the film as new cast members.

In September 2022, Adam Sandler stated that he hoped to eventually make a sequel to Happy Gilmore, saying he had been creating ideas for what a follow-up film would be, while stating the character would be involved in a senior golf tour. In March 2024, Christopher McDonald revealed that a sequel was in development, and that Sandler had shown him a draft of the script to read.

In May 2024, it was announced that Netflix had greenlit the film, taking over for the first film's distributor Universal Pictures. Kyle Newacheck was hired to direct the film, with Tim Herlihy co-writing the screenplay with Sandler. In July, Nick Swardson announced he would star in the film. In August, Sandler revealed Benny Safdie would have a role in the film, with football player Travis Kelce set to make a cameo. In September, McDonald and Julie Bowen were confirmed to be reprising their roles, with Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, and Maxwell Jacob Friedman also added to the cast. John Daly would reveal he had filmed scenes for the film. Happy Gilmore 2 premiered at the Lincoln Center in New York City on July 21, 2025. The film was released on Netflix on July 25, 2025.

In order to get the movie at all, you need to see the original movie. This sequel is LOADED with callbacks, and for fans of the original film it is a treasure trove of memories. Some of the high points in the movie are the appearances of Christopher McDonald and Ben Stiller. I love how they brought their characters up to present time. Like I said the movie is a fun romp, full of nostalgia. As a comedy sequel it is definitely no Caddyshack 2, but it is no 1995 Happy Gilmore. The movie has some really serious moments, that I don't want to spoil for you. Also, I think Adam Sandler is using his wife and children too much in his movies, and they are not really good actors. That being said, I recommend this movie. It was a fun 2-hour nostalgic golf comedy movie...

MY RATING: 8 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: JURASSIC WORLD - REBIRTH

This weekend I dragged my kids to the latest Jurrassic World movie. Actually they wanted to go. I had seen every Jurassic Park/World movie in move theaters since the first one in 1993. Jurassic World Rebirth is a 2025 American science fiction thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp. A standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion (2022), it is the fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein.

Work on the film began shortly after the release of Jurassic World Dominion, when executive producer Steven Spielberg recruited Koepp to help him develop a new installment in the series. Koepp previously co-wrote the original Jurassic Park film (1993) and wrote its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). Development of Rebirth was first reported in January 2024. Edwards was hired as director a month later, and casting commenced shortly thereafter. Principal photography took place in Thailand, Malta, and the United Kingdom from June to September 2024.

Jurassic World Rebirth premiered on June 17, 2025, at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, and was released in the United States and Canada by Universal Pictures on July 2. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some deeming it an improvement over the previous entries. It has grossed over $322 million worldwide against a budget of $180 million, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2025.

I won't bore you or spoil the movie with plot details, but the film includes dinosaurs. The dinosaurs as awlays, are the main attaction in the film. What changed from the prior six movies is I did not care for the characters as much as I did in the prior six films. Scarlett Johansson was the lead in the film. I like her personally, but her character had not personality. Almost any actress could have been plopped down into her generic role. The standout actor to me was Mahershala Ali. He played Duncan, one of Scarlett's friends that came along on her mission. I hate to say this, and I have never said it before, but the franchise is getting tired. I will never stop watching these movies because I love them. Yesterday I rewatched the 1993 original film, and it was just so amazing. This most recent film is good, but the film is no longer amazing. I'm glad I went to see the film, but the movie made me a little bit sad. It made me think of some of the prior films in the series that really made me excited...

MY RATING: 8 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: LILO & STITCH

My daughter is my BFF when it comes to going to the movies, and she wanted to see the new live action Lilo & Stitch movie. I wasn't too excited to see it, but I am glad we did! (Although she made us dress in Lilo & Stich themes - see below).

Lilo & Stitch is a 2025 American science fiction comedy film directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Rideback, the film is a live-action animated remake of Disney's 2002 traditionally animated film Lilo & Stitch, with some elements also based on that film's animated sequel films and TV shows. It stars Maia Kealoha in her film debut as Lilo Pelekai, with original Lilo & Stitch writer-director Chris Sanders reprising his voice role as Stitch. Kealoha was officially cast for the movie in 2023 by Disney. It also stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, with original cast members Tia Carrere, Amy Hill, and Jason Scott Lee appearing in different supporting roles.

Lilo & Stitch premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on May 17, 2025 and was released in the United States by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on May 23, 2025. The film has received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $341.7 million, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 2025. The story of Lilo & Stich is about a lonely girl that longs for a friend. Stitch is an alien that gets exiled on our planet. That is all you really need to know.

This is Disney's second live action movie of 2025, after Snow White. It was so nice to watch a Disney movie with no politics or internal issues. Lilo, played by Maia Kealoha is excellent. I worry about her going down the pathway of countless other child stars, but I would go see her in another movie. I didn't know Zach Galifianakis was going to be in the movie either, but his comedic relief was excellent. Lilo & Stitch is a fun movie that harks back to a time when Disney made fun and non political films. Hopefully, with this movie Disney will be returning to better film making...

MY RATING: 9 out of 10

GUEST REVIEW: PIN-UP GIRL

Here is another guest review from a friend I truly miss Bruce Kogan. He is reviewing the light hearted Betty Grable musical - Pin Up Girl...

With the title of Pin Up Girl this film could only star Betty Grable. As the GI favorite in World War II only Rita Hayworth ranked up there with Betty and those legs.

With a plot thin as a Gillette razor blade and a leading man who is the definition of bland Betty and the rest of the talented musical cast carry this one. But make no mistake she's box office draw.

Betty is a USO hostess in Missouri and she and friend Dorothea Kent get the call to serve as typists in the Navy Department. But that's after first going to New York and appearing in Joe E. Brown's nightclub and scoring a big hit. Betty's also a big hit with John Harvey, medal winner from the South Pacific now on shore duty.

But after getting a lecture from another desk bound sailor Eugene Palette, Harvey thinks Betty's just using him as a career booster. So what does Betty do? She puts on a pair of glasses and fools Harvey until the final moments of the film that she's someone else. It does work for Clark Kent and as I remember also for Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman.

But with all those numbers from folks like Martha Raye, Charlie Spivak's Orchestra, the Condos brothers, but most of all Betty who really cares about a truly silly plot. Pin-Up Girl cleaned up at the box office, made a lot of money for Darryl Zanuck and 20th Century Fox.

The last number with Betty drilling the WACS was a thinly disguised attempt to hide her pregnancy. She hated the number and everyone else did including me.

No deep thoughts here, just sheer entertainment...

BRUCE'S RATING: 6 OUT OF 10

MY RATING: 7 OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: BACK IN ACTION

 The kids for a change did not need anything on a Saturday after dinner so my wife and I sat down to check out the Netflix film Back In Action. The movie is a 2025 American action-comedy film directed by Seth Gordon from a script he co-wrote with Brendan O'Brien. The film stars Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, Kyle Chandler, and Glenn Close. The film was released by Netflix on January 17, 2025. 

CIA NOC operatives Matt (Jamie Foxx) and his pregnant fiance Emily (Cameron Diaz) are tasked by their superior and friend, Chuck (Kyle Chandler), to obtain the key called the Industrial Control Systems (ICS) - a device that can control any electronic system. They must get it from the Polish KGB agent-turned terrorist Balthazzar Gor (Robert Besta during his children's grandiose birthday party. Gor is the head of the terrorist organization named Volka. Chuck says that Gor could the key to trigger another catastrophe like the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Before embarking on the mission Emily had taken a pregnancy test and found that she was expecting a baby. Observing them through remote cameras, Chuck finds that Emily and Matt are now together.

Matt and Emily manage to steal the device and escape to a rendezvous point. However, on their flight home, the crew ambushes them for the Key as they are on Gor's payroll. Just before the ambush, Emily had told Matt that she is pregnant and that he is the dad. The duo manages to neutralize the flight crew, and the pilot is accidentally shot by a stray bullet. The plane hurtles to the ground and the duo barely escapes the plane crash. The plane crash lands on a mountain slope and slides towards a cliff, triggering an avalanche. There was only a single parachute in the plane and Matt wanted Emily to save herself, but Emily grab onto Matt as she deploys the parachute, saving them both. Realizing someone must have fed the flight crew information of their Key, the two decide to go off the grid. They give up their careers and their secret identities for a life together as a family.

Fifteen years later, the now married Matt and Emily reside in Atlanta under new identities while trying to care for their children Leo (Rylan Jackson) and Alice (McKenna Roberts). Emily has a side business selling custom puzzles on Etsy. Alice and Leo are now teenagers and don't really listen to their parents. Alice has doubts about her parents being truthful as she had heard Matt speaking to the AC repair guy in Russian, which Emily explains to their stint in the peace corps. Emily tries hard to connect with Alice, but she needs her own space and keeps pushing back.

Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz are sucked back into the CIA, so as you can guess they not only have to deal with getting killed but have normal family problems with teenagers. The movie really hit home with my wife and I as we try to figure out how to raise teenagers. Jamie Foxx was ill during the film, and he looked tired in some parts, but Cameron Diaz really shined. She has not appeared in a movie since 2014's Annie. The action is amazing, and there are some really good laughs. Critics were not kind to the film, but anyone that has teenagers will find a lot of good humor and lessons in this film. I highly recommend this film...

MY RATING: 9 OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: SNOW WHITE

Okay, if you have heard or read the news lately about Disney's Snow White, you will have known about the political problems between the stars and how bad the movie is. I went to see the film with my daughter, and it is not that bad. Disney's Snow White, or simply Snow White, is a 2025 American musical fantasy film directed by Marc Webb and written by Erin Cressida Wilson. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Marc Platt Productions, it is a live-action reimagining of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. That animated film was based on the 1812 fairy tale "Snow White" by the Brothers Grimm. Starring Rachel Zegler, Andrew Burnap and Gal Gadot, the new film follows the pure-hearted Snow White (Zegler) who joins forces with seven dwarfs and a bandit named Jonathan (Burnap) to free her kingdom from her cruel stepmother (Gadot).

Plans for a remake of 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were confirmed in October 2016, with Wilson announced as a screenwriter. Webb entered talks to direct in May 2019 and was announced as director in September 2019. Filming took place primarily in London from March to July 2022, with additional filming and pick-ups in June 2024. With an estimated production budget of $240–270 million, Snow White is one of the most expensive films ever made and Disney's fifteenth-most expensive. Before release, controversies arose about the film related to its color-blind casting, story changes, Zegler's public critiques of the original film, Zegler and Gadot's conflicting political views, and the reimagining of the Seven Dwarfs.

Politics aside, it was a pretty good film. The music was spot on, and I was surprised by Gail Gadot singing. The only weak part for me weas how the cruel stepmother was defeated at the end. My daughter is a huge Disney fan, and we have been going to all the remakes. This movie does not compare to 2017's Beauty And The Beast or 2021's Cruella, but it is definitely better than 2019's Dumbo and 2023's Little Mermaid. Don't listen to critics and check out this movie for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

MY RATING: 8 OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: ZERO DAY

 Recently I was look on Netflix and a limited series caught my eye by the name of Zero Day. Zero Day is an American political thriller television miniseries created by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt for Netflix, directed by Lesli Linka Glatter, and featuring an ensemble cast led by Robert De Niro. It is about a former president investigating a devastating zero-day cyberattack in the US. The series was released on Netflix on February 20, 2025.

A former President of the United States is appointed to lead an investigation into a massive zero day cyberattack that causes multiple deaths and disasters nationwide.

Robert De Niro leads the cast as a former president who is suffering from memory lapses. His portrayal of this  character is pretty reserved compared to other film roles. He appears presidental, but I do not feel this is De Niro's best performance. At times it seemed he wasn't so into the performance. Maye that is just. His daughter is played by Lizzy Caplan, who I have been aware of since her appearance in the monster movie Cloverfield in 2008. She was excellent in her role, and she elevated De Niro's performance. The current president is played by Angela Bassett. While she had some good scenes with De Niro, she was pretty much wasted in this film.

The plot was actually pretty good. At times it was convoluted, but it is scary because that kind of cyber attack is realistic and could happen. How government and society is completely divided these days is also realistically portrayed in the series. 

Lizzy Caplan made the Series for me, and Robert De Niro is still great to watch. The limited series is not the best show I have seen, but it was worth my time. There are only six episodes and most of them are around 50 minutes long. It's not a long committment, so definitely give this series a watch. It makes you think...

MY RATING: 7 of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: SATURDAY NIGHT

 

Wow, I just had the opportunity to watch the excellent film Saturday Night on Netflix. What a great movie! Saturday Night is a 2024 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman, about the night of the 1975 premiere of NBC's Saturday Night, later known as Saturday Night Live. The film stars an ensemble cast portraying the various Saturday Night cast and crew, led by Gabriel LaBelle as the show's creator and producer, Lorne Michaels. Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O'Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kaia Gerber, Tommy Dewey, Willem Dafoe, Matthew Rhys, and J. K. Simmons also star.

On October 11, 1975, up-and-coming producer Lorne Michaels arrives at NBC Studios in New York City to prepare for the airing of the first episode of NBC's Saturday Night.

The evening is fraught with accidents and a dysfunctional cast and crew. Michaels' boss, Dick Ebersol, warns him that David Tebet has brought executives from across the country to come and view the broadcast. Despite Tebet giving encouraging words to Michaels, Ebersol makes it known that Tebet has no faith in the show and is ready to replay a taping of an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to fill in the time.

Garrett Morris, who has a background in operatic theater, ponders his place among a cast of comedic performers; John Belushi remains detached from everyone and constantly initiates fights; Jim Henson complains over how his Muppets segment is being treated by the writers; the writers themselves are at war with censor Joan Carbunkle and her demands; host George Carlin thinks the whole show is a sham; and everyone is trying to figure out what exactly the show is about. Meanwhile, Chevy Chase confronts Milton Berle when he begins to hit on his girlfriend, Jacqueline, gets told off and is warned that he will become nothing. Michaels soon receives a call from Johnny Carson himself, who gives a very unsupportive warning.

Despite Michaels warning him not to, Ebersol attempts to sell the idea of performing a sketch with a Polaroid camera for product placement purposes. Belushi becomes enraged and storms off set with the intention of quitting. As everyone looks for him, assistant Neil Levy is given a joint by Paul Shaffer and panics, locking himself in a closet. He is eventually coaxed out by the cast. To ease the stress, Michaels heads to a local bar, where he comes across comedy writer Alan Zweibel and hires him on the spot to become a writer on the show. He, along with Gilda Radner, later find Belushi ice skating and convince him to return to the show and sign his contract. Michaels is further motivated to continue with the show after having a brief chat with Henson.

Tebet arrives, demanding that the show be shut down unless Michaels shows him exactly what it entails. Andy Kaufman performs his Mighty Mouse skit, which makes everyone laugh. Michaels then tells Chase to take over Weekend Update, which he had planned to host himself. Chase does an impromptu version of Weekend Update using Zweibel's newly written material, which lands. The audience arrives and fills the venue as cast and crew finish all the sets and get into place. Tebet allows the live show to proceed on air. Michael O'Donoghue and Belushi perform the Wolverine sketch, which is well received by the audience. In the film’s final moments, Chase enters the scene and announces, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Nicholas Braun amazed me in a dual role as Jim Henson AND Andy Kaufman. He gained fame on the HBO series "Succession". The real scene stealer for me was J.K. Simmons as Milton Berle. He not only captured how Berle acted but he looked so much like him. The whole cast did well, and while they were not the famous first season cast, they all resembled and acted like the original stars enough that you forgot for a moment this was a bio film and not a documentary. I recommend this movie for anyone who was a fan of the early Saturday Night Live, and also just a fan of a good biographical film...

MY RATING: 9 OUT OF 10