The Following Not Approved By Kermit Thee Frog
GUESS THE QUOTE
"Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it?
That's what it is to be a slave."
Kind of the slow time for movies right now, both in amount and quality.
But a reminder that there are still some solid releases out, like last weekend's Crazy Rich Asians (which did quite well at the box office - woo hoo!), BlacKkKlansman and the sixth Mission: Impossible.
Gettin cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
THE HAPPYTIME
MURDERS
AKA
"puppets use the word dick!"
R / 1 hr 31 mins
Comedy/ STX
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Within a minute, the trailer for The Happytime Murders has two separate scenes where puppets mistake Melissa McCarthy for a man and offer her "services." It also has a puppet ejaculate (silly string) all over a room for 10+ seconds.
Subtle this movie is not.
It looks kinda like Who Framed Roger Rabbit except instead of telling you a funny story with innovation and heart, it has a desire to unfurl a tale of muppet murders while punching you in the throat and yelling how naughty it is right in your stupid face.
You up for that?
Note: directed by Jim Henson's son Brian, who also directed The Muppet Christmas Carol & Muppet Treasure Island.
REVIEWS
Saying it misses out on telling an interesting story, and not having the jokes to fill in the blank spots.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%
(31 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Seems pretty forced to us. And as we've said before, we like Melissa McCarthy lots so that's a bit of a salve, but probably not enough to make it worth it.
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SEARCHING
AKA
"meta"
PG-13 / 1 hr 41 mins
Suspense-Mystery / Screen Gems (Sony)
WHAT'S THE DEAL
If you suddenly disappeared, how much could one discover about your life if they looked on all your devices?
Don't worry, that was rhetorical. Because we all know the answer is the well understood amount of, a fuck-ton.
Which is "lucky" for dad John Cho when his daughter goes missing and there's no evidence of what happened. He not only searches (tee hee) his daughters devices, but stars on them - making this yet another entry in the quickly burgeoning genre of screen based stories that are told via, well, more screens.
Note: we did a bit of a cheat here as this isn't a wide release, but it's still from a major studio, so apologies to those outside of NY/LA (where it is opening).
REVIEWS
Praising it all really. Seems to blend solid story telling with the cheeky screen aspect well.
Also enjoying the how well do we really know those closest to us vibe.
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
(32 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Love Cho and we've been waiting for a good "everything happens on screens" movie so we're kinda stoked.
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A-X-L
AKA
"Another Xeroxing Loss"
PG / 1 hr 38 mins
Adventure-Family-Sci-Fi / Global Road
WHAT'S THE DEAL
Second movie in two weeks where a young boy befriends a dog-like creature. Instead of a wolf from last week's Alpha, we get a super intelligent four legged robot that looks likes a dog, buuuut is also a super crazy dangerous weapon (cuz, duh). Government can't let that get away, can it now? Oh no no no.
Most interesting aspect of this flick is how it's a part of the "nostalgic based" trend where movies harken back to some aspect of the 80's or 90's (also see next week's Kin). This one keying off that Short Circuit vibe.
REVIEWS
None yet!
Rotten Tomatoes Score: TBD
(0 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
If you're in need of something from the very specific "teen adventure dog like befriending" genre, seems like the aforementioned Alpha is the better bet.
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INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
SUPPORT THE GIRLS
AKA
"euphemism central"
R / 1 hr 30 mins
Comedy / Magnolia Pictures
WHAT'S THE DEAL
With all the superhero and action movies out there, doesn't it feel like "the fate of the world" is always at stake?
But sometimes it's nice when a movie is simply about the day in the life of a Hooters like restaurant manager who wants to do right by her female waitresses, protect them from the crappy/leering customers and help deal with all the going ons of their lives.
Then again, maybe this movie is about saving the world.
REVIEWS
Lots of nice words, but seems to boil down to funny with heart.
"The sharp-elbowed humor is laced with aching tenderness, tightrope-tense frustrations over money and love, and an underlying mix of social pathologies that bubbles through the show-biz surfaces..." - New Yorker
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
(22 reviews @ publish)
OUR TAKE
Looks like that movie you give a chance to one Friday night splayed out on the couch while clicking through streaming services and become pleasantly surprised by.
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ALREADY IN THEATERS + BOX OFFICE
(3-Day Weekend / Domestic Total - $ = Millions)
1) Crazy Rich Asians ($35.3) NEW
Cultural moment romantic comedy
93% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
2) The Meg ($21.2 / $84)
Tiny shark movie
47% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
3) Mile 22 ($13.7) NEW
Marky Mark shoot em up
20% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
4) Mission: Impossible - Fa... ($10.8 / $181)
Ethan Hunt hunts the baddies
97% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
5) Alpha ($10.3) NEW
Boy meets wolf adventure story
85% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
6) Christopher Robin ($8.9 / $67)
Pooh comes to help his now stodgy friend
70% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
7) BlackKklansman ($7.4 / $24)
The hate group gets unexpected member
96% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
8) Slender Man ($4.8 / $21)
Internet creeper becomes (movie) real
9% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
9) Hotel Transylvania 3 ($3.8 / $154)
Monster crew is on a boat, on a boat
61% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
10) Mamma Mia! Here We.. ($3.4 / $111)
Abba filled musical gets a side B
80% RT - Trailer - Showtimes
KIN
Yet another late 80's/90's vibe adventure flick. Two brothers run from human criminals and aliens(?), but luckily they have a super massive sci-fi gun to protect themselves. Also stars Dennis Quaid, Zoë Kravitz & James Franco.
OPERATION FINALE
Oscar Isaac hunts Ben Kingsley, who plays Aldof Eichmann, the "architect" of the Jewish Holocaust.
INDIE"ISH" SPOTLIGHT
THE LITTLE STRANGER
Next movie from the director of Room and Frank. Creepy house horror flick (at least on the surface ) starring Domhnall Gleeson.
NIGHT SCHOOL
September 28, 2018
Third trailer, and the one they should've launched with. Kevin Hart gets taught by Tiffany Hadish in, well, you know.
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THE OATH
November 21, 2018
It's Tiffany Hadish week. She and writer/director Ike Barinholtz (the not Jon Cena dad in Blockers) in kooky "political comedy."
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