RECENTLY VIEWED: HUBIE HALLOWEEN

In the heart of Salem, Massachusetts—where Halloween spirit runs as deep as the town’s spooky legends—lives Hubie Dubois, a man-child with a thermos full of gadgets and a heart full of good intentions. Played by Adam Sandler in one of his most eccentric roles to date, Hubie is the self-appointed guardian of Halloween, though the townspeople treat him more like a punchline than a protector.

Hubie Halloween is a film that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a silly, slapstick comedy wrapped in orange and black. Directed by Steven Brill, the movie leans into the absurd with gusto. Sandler’s Hubie speaks in a mumbly voice reminiscent of his earlier characters, and the plot—if you can call it that—follows a series of strange disappearances on Halloween night that only Hubie seems to take seriously.

The film is packed with familiar faces from the Happy Madison universe. Kevin James plays a mullet-wearing cop, Julie Bowen is the sweet love interest who inexplicably adores Hubie, and Steve Buscemi and Rob Schneider bring their usual offbeat energy. There’s even a cameo from Shaquille O’Neal that’s as bizarre as it is hilarious.

What Hubie Halloween lacks in narrative depth, it makes up for in festive charm. The town is decked out in Halloween decor, the costumes are colorful and creative, and the soundtrack is filled with spooky-season staples. It’s a movie that feels like a Halloween party—chaotic, loud, and not particularly meaningful, but fun if you’re in the right mood.

That said, the humor is hit-or-miss. Much of it relies on juvenile gags—fart jokes, food fights, and people screaming in exaggerated terror. If you’re not a fan of Sandler’s brand of comedy, this movie won’t change your mind. But beneath the silliness, there’s a surprisingly sweet message about kindness, bullying, and the importance of being true to yourself, even when the world laughs at you.

Hubie Halloween isn’t a great film, but it’s not trying to be. It’s a seasonal treat—like candy corn or a plastic pumpkin full of cheap chocolate. You might not crave it year-round, but when October rolls around, it hits the spot...

MY RATING: 5 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: 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: 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: BLONDE

I think I have only stopped watching a movie two or three times without finishing it. Even the worst movies like Jaws 3, I am usually able to suffer through. However, for the Marilyn Monroe biography Blonde, which was shown on Neflix, I had to turn it off. It is an unwatchable piece of film garbage. The film is a fictionalized take on the life and career of American actress Marilyn Monroe, played by Ana de Armas. The cast also includes Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson.

Along with shifting aspect ratios, most of the film is presented in black and white. Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, Brad Pitt, and Scott Robertson produced the film, which, after a lengthy period of development that began in 2010, entered production in August 2019 in Los Angeles. Production wrapped in July 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The film also garnered controversy and notoriety for its lead casting, graphic sexual content, and status as the first NC-17-rated film to be released via a streaming service.

Blonde premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2022, and began a limited theatrical release in the United States on September 16, 2022, before its streaming release on September 28, by Netflix. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with De Armas's performance being praised, while Dominik's depiction of Monroe's life was criticized as being exploitative, sexist, and dehumanizing.

Real footage from Monroe's filmography is used in this movie mixed in with scenes recreated by Ana de Armas, who was placed in the films All About Eve (1950), Don't Bother to Knock (1952), Niagara (1953), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and Some Like It Hot (1959). Andrew Dominik said that he initially didn't get permission from MGM to use footage from their films, so he had to shoot backup versions, such as for the scene with de Armas and Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot, which he shot with an actor playing Curtis in case he couldn't get permission to use the original footage. Dominik was allowed to use the footage after an MGM executive got fired and was replaced by Michael De Luca, who finally gave him permission to use it.

The only good part about this movie was Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe. She was perfect in the role, but the plot is horrible, and the movie was graphic just for the sake of being graphic. Don't waste your time on this horrible film. It will be 166 hours of your life that you will never get back...

MY RATING: 2 OUT OF 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: AFTER LIFE

I am not a big television fan unless I am watching classic movies or re-runs of The Office or The Twilight Zone. However, I finally entered the modern age and became a Netflix member. I was recently lucky enough to catch the new series After Life. After Life is a British dark comedy web television series created, executive produced, and directed by Ricky Gervais (who also plays its main character), that premiered on 8 March 2019, on Netflix.

After Life follows Tony, who has a perfect life before his wife dies from a battle with breast cancer. After contemplating suicide, he then decides to live long enough to punish the world for his wife's death by saying and doing whatever he wants to. Although he thinks of it as sort of a superpower, the situation turns tricky when everyone around him starts trying to make him a better person again.

No review can do justice to the show. Season one is six episodes long, and I have never had a television show affect me the way that Gervais' show did. I laughed. I squirmed. I cried. This is all within a 28 minute episode. Luckily, I have never lost a spouse, but I have lost extremely important people in my life like my grandfather and my father. Ricky Gervais' portrayal of Tony is just amazing. He manages to capture every emotion that someone has when they lose a loved one. I have always liked Ricky Gervais' work, and he makes me laugh hysterically with his stand up comedy specials, but I never realized what a striking actor he is. He deserves and Emmy for this role.

After watching the sixth and final episode the other night, I crawled in bed with my wife who went to bed earlier, and I just looked at her and held her hand as she slept. (Unfortunately, she woke up and was none to happy with me!). This show made me laugh, but it also made me realize that I will never take my wife for granted. After Life made me realize that I want to make every moment to matter with my wife and kids, because life is too short.

If you want a show that will make you ball your eyes out as well as cause you to pee your pants in laughter, then Ricky Gervais has really given us a treat with this new show. Keep the tissues and clean underwear handy when you watch this one. The only fault I could find with After Life is that a six-episode season is too short. I hope there will be a season two...

MY RATING: 10 out of 10

RECENTLY VIEWED: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE

After years of avoiding it, I have entered the world of Netflix. A new world has opened to me, and now I never want to leave the house! I took recommendations from friends at work, and everyone told me that I had to watch the limited series The Haunting of Hill House. My wife refused to watch it with me, and even a 40 year old man like myself was scared at the end of some of the episodes. I have not been scared or spooked like this in years!

The Haunting of Hill House is an American supernatural horror web television series created and directed by Mike Flanagan for Netflix, produced by Amblin Television and Paramount Television. The series is a re-imagining of the 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson. The plot alternates between three timelines, following five adult siblings whose paranormal experiences at Hill House continue to haunt them in present day. The series also features flashbacks to 1992, depicting the events in Hill House leading up to the eventful night the family departed.

The ensemble cast features Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, and Victoria Pedretti as the adult counterparts of the siblings. Carla Gugino and Henry Thomas portray Olivia and Hugh Crain, the parents, with Timothy Hutton appearing as an older version of Hugh. Promoted as a ten-episode limited series, The Haunting of Hill House was released on October 12, 2018, on Netflix.

The premise is that in the summer of 1992, Hugh and Olivia Crain and their children – Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke, and Nell – move into Hill House to renovate the mansion in order to sell it and build their own house, designed by Olivia. However, due to unexpected repairs, they have to stay longer, and they begin to experience increasing paranormal phenomena that results in a tragic loss and the family fleeing from the house. Twenty-six years later, the Crain siblings and their estranged father reunite after tragedy strikes again, and they are forced to confront how their time in Hill House had affected each of them.

The writing is superb. You would think the horror genre would be getting stale, but this limited series found new ways to scare viewers. The cast was excellent with Timothy Hutton and Carla Gugino stealing the scenes from everyone. The whole cast is outstanding though. Classic movie fans, look for Russ Tamblyn in a supporting role as a therapist as well. I haven't seen him in anything in awhile. If you have Netflix and like a great spooky show, then this is the show for you! You will be scared senseless but you won't be disappointed...

MY RATING: 10 out of 10