M3GAN Gives Horror Fans A Surprisingly Enjoyable Though Non-Scary Experience

      

       What makes the horror genre so endearing to audiences is not just the type of scares that the films generate, but moreso the creativity that goes into making them work so effectively as horror stories when executed masterfully. The most successful horror films are those which find new ways of terrifying their audiences. That is especially true of Universal Pictures M3GAN. Despite never being truly scary, M3GAN delivers as being a solidly entertaining horror-comedy that puts its own fun spin on the killer doll genre while inserting clever bits of camp humor to the story. 

      M3GAN's plot has a young girl named Cady being sent to live with her workaholic aunt after surviving a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of her parents. While doing so, the latter builds her niece an AI doll named M3GAN, that's directed to keep the child safe. However, when a series of violent acts and disappearances occur, suspicions arise with questions regarding the closeness of their relationship coming into question. To horror fans, M3GAN's plot is essentially Chucky meets Terminator with the film providing the rare opportunity for a horror film to be both equally funny and terrifying. Despite leaning on familiar source material to craft its own horror tale, M3GAN does so in a way that makes it feel refreshing as well as being self-aware in what type of story it wants to be. For horror fans, M3GAN delivers loads of fun while brilliantly presenting audiences with a new face of terror.

      When it comes to performances, M3GAN's cast convincingly plays their characters with each actress and actor appearing to have a complete blast in doing so. Allison Williams excels as roboticist Gemma, who works at the high-tech Seattle toy company Funki. Williams does well with conveying her characters inexperience towards parenting as well as being engulfed with work. Violet McGraw gives an impressive performance as Gemma's young niece Cady, whose still coping with the loss of her parents and finds a companion in M3gan. Both Williams and McGraw effectively portray their characters struggle in adapting to their new living situation with their dynamic feeling natural. The character of M3GAN is played well by young Amie Donald acting out the character in suit with Jenna Davis providing the voice. Both actresses do a fantastic job of bringing the character to life and making her delightfully fun for audiences. The rest of the cast churn out solid work including Ronny Chieng as Gemma's demanding boss David, Jen Van Epps and Brian Jordan Alvarez as Gemma's faithful colleagues, Tess and Cole, Stephane Garneau-Monten as David's assistant Kurt, and Lori Dungey as Gemma's neighbor Cecilia. Much of M3GAN's level of fun comes from the admirable effort that its extremely talented and notably diverse cast put into making the story work here with the results being genuinely satisfying.

      When it comes to directing, M3GAN helmer Gerard Johnstone steadily builds up the suspense while making the titular characters CGI work look impressive given that the film costs just $12 million to make. With the PG-13 rating, Johnstone presents the violence as being tame with much of its gore being left up to the audiences imagination. The gruesome moments that are actually shown include a sequence involving characters ear being ripped off with quick shots of blood, another character being shot with a nail gun, and one being sprayed by a chemical sprayer. Despite the films surprising PG-13 rating that's uncommon for most horror films, Johnstone still finds ways to present the violence as being strong though relatively clean. At 102 minutes, M3GAN's story is kept fast-paced with horror fans never left feeling bored but always kept waiting in anticipation to see what happens next. Overall, Johnstone does a noteworthy job of crafting a new kind of killer robot tale that's thrilling, funny, and looks more expensive than what the film actually cost with its use of fairly decent CGI. 

      As with any movie plot that revolves around the concept of killer machines becoming self-aware and ultimately turning against their creators, M3GAN's story embraces these themes and throws its own fun spin on them. Other themes including loss, grief, and desiring a parental figure for support are prevalent here with Cady struggling to cope with the loss of her parents and forming a close relationship with M3GAN, given that Gemma is too preoccupied with work as well as being inexperienced to be a parental figure. The real thrill that audiences get with watching the story, is witnessing Cady's bond with M3GAN with the latter becoming more protective with her as she begins to defy basic commands and inflict harm on others she perceived as a threat to Cady. This is where the film works at its maximum level and also functions as being its heart. The films supporting characters for the most part are one dimensional and mainly exist to help further the plot along to the next intended scary moment involving M3GAN. As a whole, M3GAN's writing is serviceable enough to make its concept work while demonstrating a healthy amount of creativity. 

      Where M3GAN lacks in true scares, it more than makes up for with unexpected laughs and providing a tired old trope such as killer dolls with a slick makeover. Horror fans will undoubtedly get a kick out of some of M3GAN's catchy one-liners like "This is the part where you run" after slicing a characters ear off, or her becoming defiant to basic commands saying "Oh, I'm afraid that won't work anymore, Cady. I have a new primary user now: me." On the conditions that one isn't looking for something truly scary and doesn't mind an equal amount of laughs combined with chills, they'll find M3GAN to be a genuinely fun experience.

Final Verdict: Worth A Watch but also can be enjoyed streaming at home.

Images Courtesy Of Universal Pictures.

Plane Makes The Most Of Its Paint-By-The-Numbers Plot With Surprising Results

       What does one get when they place a charismatic action star such as the likes of Olympus Has Fallen's Gerard Butler in a mindlessly fun action-adventure fare? The answer that both audiences and action fans get get is Lionsgate Films Plane. Also co-starring Luke Cage's Mike Colter, Plane takes what could've easily ended up being a forgettable straight-to-video feature and turns it into a surprisingly fun and respectably decent action fare that's powered by Gerard Butler's strong screen presence and relentless action mayhem that's unapologetically brutal and genuinely satisfying. 

      Plane's plot has Pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saving his passengers from a lightning strike by performing an emergency landing on a war-torn island. However, when dangerous rebels take the passengers hostage, Torrance finds himself teaming up with an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI to save them. The concept for Plane feels standard for the action genre with nothing being shown that hasn't been executed before in previous action films. Although it relies heavily on old formulaic structures and character cliches, Plane manages to make them work once again here with a story that works as being a serviceable action fare with its true power coming from the charismatic performances of its main leads, as well as the promise of delivering raw action. While it doesn't present anything new or groundbreaking for the genre, Plane still offers audiences a reasonably fun flight worth boarding. 

      One key element that makes Plane work so effectively as an exciting action thriller are the strong acting performances from its main leads. Gerard Butler delivers a taut performance as commercial pilot Brodie Torrance with his work serving as being the backbone of the film, along with keeping things grounded while elevating the story to the level of being compelling to watch. Mike Colter is equally compelling as Louis Gaspare, a prisoner being extradited on charges of homicide who Brodie ends up pairing with in order to rescue the hostages. Colter delivers fine work with him playing his character as being one big enigma for the audience with him showing both a dangerous side to Louis, along with a redeemable one. Both actors not only share a strong screen presence but churn out believable work as being the savior of the passengers. The supporting cast surrounding them also present strong work with Tony Goldwyn playing former Special Forces officer Scarsdale, who leads the rescue effort, Daniella Pineda as head flight attendant, Bonnie, Yoson An as Brodie's whip-smart co-pilot Samuel Dele, and Paul Ben-Victor as the airlines owner, Hampton. When it comes to performances, Plane's cast makes the most of their roles and do a fine job of supporting the films main leads with Butler and Colter providing the strongest work.

      With Plane's directing, Jean-Francois Richet instills realism and heavy tension with the films cinematography which largely consists of close-up shots of the actors faces, along with some crafty hand-held work that often feels like audiences are put in the films most intense moments. Although the score by Marco Beltrami and Marcus Trump is paint-by-the-numbers, it help enhances the films level of suspense much like its camera work. One of the films most intense sequences include Brodie and his co-pilot struggling to fly their plane through a lightning storm and landing it on the island. The films action sequences are executed as being anxiety-inducing with the violence appearing gruesome and relentlessly gory, almost giving off a John Wick style vibe. While the films directing is nothing groundbreaking to write home about, Richet's work is noteworthy for his efforts to both surprise and shock audiences with the heavy amounts of blood and guts shown being admirable.

      As far as scriptwriting goes, Plane's script is serviceable stuff with the audience being delivered just enough information regarding the films plot and characters to become invested in both. Butler's character is written as being a sympathetic figure to audiences immediately from the start with him  being a widow, whose trying to move past his wife's passing while raising their daughter. His character is also shown to be selfless with him putting his own safety on the line in order to protect his passengers. Redemption is also a key theme here with Louis being introduced as a suspicious and intimidating prisoner with him ultimately redeeming himself by helping Brodie save the passengers. The main villains appear as being typical generic Hollywood rebels with the same being said about the films mercenaries, but these characters were never intended to have an enormous amount of depth and rather serve as being chest pieces for moving the plot along. The stories real focus and moments of character depth are reserved for exploring the thrilling team up between Brodie and Louis as they battle rebel forces together. With the latters character, the audience is kept in suspense in regards to whether he'll remain loyal in helping Brodie or betray him in pursuit of his own freedom. As a whole, Plane's script works because of its ability to provide a plausible scenario for the films action along with giving audiences main characters whom the audience can get behind. 

      Although it's story-structure may amount to being just typical action fare, Plane makes maximum use of its basic plot with loads of explosive action and mindless fun while bearing a surprising amount of emotion that's largely attributed to a strong performance from Gerard Butler. As standard action fare that delivers old school action while providing some solid tension, this one delivers and will make for satisfying popcorn entertainment. It carries the right balance of action mixed with surprising moments of drama with the combination ultimately resulting in a enjoyable action experience, though nothing more. 

Final Verdict: Worth Watching Either In Theaters Or Streaming.

Images Courtesy Of Lionsgate

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Entertains But Doesn't Beat Knives Out

      In a year that sees the release of numerous long-awaited yet phenomenal sequels ranging from Top Gun: Maverick to Hocus Pocus 2, Puss In Boots 2: The Way Of Water, and Avatar: The Way Of Water, both Netflix and director Rian Johnson finally deliver their much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 smash hit Knives Out with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Bringing back the originals main lead, Daniel Craig and boasting a new killer ensemble cast, Glass Onion takes murder mystery to the next level with a follow-up that's witty and entertaining, even if it doesn't quite match its knockout predecessor.

      Glass Onion's plot See's Detective Benoit Blanc once again being put on the case when tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek Island with one of the guests turning up dead. Glass Onion offers more of the same clever buildup of thrills while maintaining the originals wittiness with the main difference being the switching up of the stories setting being secluded to an island along with a new batch of talented charismatic faces. With Onion, Johnson takes all of the essential ingredients required in crafting a strong sequel and applies them here with the end result making for a generally satisfying sequel to a film that could've essentially worked as being its own standalone story. 

      One of the key elements that made Knives Out such an entertaining and fun experience is the energy put forth by its fantastic cast with Glass Onion's ensemble being no exception. Daniel Craig delivers a wily and joyful performance as private investigator Benoit Blanc with him brilliantly combining both comedy and seriousness simultaneously. His character is truly compelling with audiences left wanting to see more of him once the story ends. Edward Norton gives what's undeniably his best performance in years as New York billionaire Miles Bron, who invites everyone to his island in hopes of participating in a murder mystery game. Norton plays his character as having an Elon Musk type persona with audiences left guessing on what surprises his character has up his sleeve for his guests. Janelle Monae shines in a duo role as twin sisters Helen and Andi Brand, with the latter being Mile's ex-business partner. Monae is not just terrific here but displays some impressive range in playing both roles. Kate Hudson kills it as politically incorrect and hedoinistic former supermodel Birdie Jay, who says what's on her mind without thinking. The rest of the ensemble deliver noteworthy performances with Dave Bautista continuing to stretch his acting skills as video game streamer and men's right activist on Twitch and You Tube, Duke Cody. Kathryn Hahn and Leslie Odom Jr. both add to the fun as the governor of Connecticut, Kathryn Hahn with Odom as Lionel, the head scientist for Mile's company, and Jessica Henwick as Birdie's assistant, Peg. As a whole, Glass Onion's cast delivers.

      With directing, Rian Johnson applies the same sharp, layered style of directing that he presented with Knives Out. Here he incorporates enormous amounts of sharp humor that cuts away at the stories main characters, particularly those who are social influencers. For the films setting, Johnson picks a rich location that gives the sequel a flashier presence than the first with cinematography that's both sharp and crisp. Returning as composer is Nathan Johnson, who composed the first and once again assembles a slick soundtrack that enhances not only the mystery surrounding the plot, but also its level of fun. In terms of pacing, Glass Onion feels more like a slow-burner this time around in comparison to its predecessor. However, despite running 130 minutes, Johnson keeps audiences engaged with the mystery surrounding the island along with the unique ensemble of characters. As far as directing goes, Johnson does a fine job here and adds more comedy to the mix to make things twice as fun, despite his work not being quite as flawless this time around. 

      When it comes to scriptwriting, Glass Onion keeps the same refreshing satirical humor that made the original Knives Out such a pleasant surprise. Whereas that film dealt with the greed that lies within wealthy families with political undertones regarding immigration status playing a key role within its plot, Glass Onion has Johnson poking fun at the rich and showing that the wealthy and powerful aren't much smarter than that of normal people. Whereas both films are solely murder mystery stories, it's the spoofing of the political moment in the United States that makes them click with audiences. Craig's character, Benoit, is even more enjoyable here with his character losing none of the sharpness that made him a driving force previously. Like the first Knives Out, the sequel comes with its own share of twist and turns, including one in the films latter half that'll blow audiences minds. Johnson also incorporates colorful characters including an arrogant genius who appears to be a clear rip-off if Musk, a clueless fashionista who thinks saying what others don't want to say is smart, and an unpleasant YouTuber who screams comparisons to controversial podcaster Joe Rogan. Johnson establishes distinctive characters who are all prime suspects in plotting a murder. Like Knives Out, the key element that makes Glass Onion work is how the script balances the endless amount of shade that Johnson was throwing at the toxic wealthy figures, while delivering another mystery puzzle for audiences to unpack.

      Is Glass Onion better than Knives Out? No, the first film still stands out as being the more impressively crafted whodunnit that took its genres old plot tropes and reinvigorated them in a way that felt fresh and highly fun to watch once again. Although the sequel doesn't quite feel as sly or well-crafted as the first, it possesses enough of what made Knives Out a hit with audiences to work as its own story. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is loud, funny, flashy, and ultimately a generally satisfying sequel with great performances from its stellar ensemble cast.

Final Verdict: If you loved Knives Out then you'll enjoy Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery almost as much. SEE IT.

Images Courtesy Of Netflix

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Is A Funny, Charming, And Heartfelt Sequel That's A Pleasant Surprise

     If 2022 has proved anything, it's that audiences have a genuine craving for nostalgia with long-awaited sequels including Top Gun: Maverick, Hocus Pocus 2, and Avatar: The Way Of Water opening to surprising results with DreamWorks Animated sequel, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish joining the list. The long-awaited sequel to the 2011 smash hit and spin-off of the popular Shrek franchise, Puss In Boots see's the return of the lovable swashbuckling cat who became so popular with audiences, that he received his own spin-off franchise. Instead of the typical 3 to 5 year window that's standard for a sequel release, audiences waited over a decade for the next adventure in the popular franchise. Released 12 years after the previous film, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish continues the adventure of the popular folk hero cat with a sequel which proves that some franchises do improve with age. 

      Continuing from where the original Puss In Boots left off, The Last Wish has the fugitive cat realizing that his passion for adventure has come to a halt with him burning through eight of his nine lives. In an effort to reverse his fortunes, Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore the lives lost while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. What makes The Last Wish's story a worthy sequel is that its self-reflective of its main characters legacy in addition to promoting some vital life-lessons that audiences can take away from it. The Last Wish's story is one that's pure heart and retains all of the originals charm while moving the characters legacy forward. As a piece of fun entertainment which the whole family can enjoy, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a true winner.

      Much of Puss In Boots charm can be attributed to the fantastic voice performances from its remarkable cast. Antonio Banderas is both funny and heartfelt as the charismatic swashbuckling cat fugitive, who finds himself staring at his own mortality upon realizing that he only has one life left. Salma Hayek Pinault surprises as street-savvy tuxedo cat, Kitty Softpaws, who's revealed to be Puss' female counterpart and love interest. Their chemistry is spot-on with both appearing to have a complete blast with their roles. Harvey Guillen shines as therapy dog Perrito, who starts out as one of Mama Luna's pet cats and becomes a close friend of Puss and Kitty. Florence Pugh impresses as Goldilocks, leader of the Three Bears Crime Family who wants to get the Last Wish in order to use it to regain her biological family. Rounding out the films colorful cast is Olivia Colman as Mama Bear, Ray Winstone as Papa Bear, Samson Kayo as Baby Bear, John Mulaney as feared crime lord "Big" Jack Horner, who plans to reach the wishing star, and Wagner Moura as a white wolf in black hooded cloak who desires to take Boots final life. Overall, The Last Wish's voice cast adds a ton of heart to the film.

      As far as animation goes, director Joel Crawford crafts a visually enchanting world that's sharper, crisper, and more dazzling than the Shrek films combined with DreamWorks stepping up their game once again in the animation department. Along with the films overall look, the music ranks among its strongest elements with Brazilian composer Heitor Pereira assembling a soundtrack that mixes original pieces sung by both him and Banderas to other works performed by Gaby Moreno and Karol G with revised classics such as a Spanish remix of "The End", originally performed by the The Doors. At 102 minutes, The Last Wish never feels like it's moving too slow nor fast for its plot and characters to receive their proper amount of development. With directing, Crawford gives the sequel a more mature feel along with pushing the technological boundaries of Dreamworks animation.

      A big part of why The Last Wish works is because of the thoughtfulness that went into writing its script. The messages being conveyed here are deeply meaningful not just to young children, but their parents as well. The main plot revolves around the concept of one realizing that they have only one life and that they should use it wisely as evidenced by Puss' characters revelation. The latter lived a carefree and adventurous life until he realizes that he used up eight of his nine lives with only one remaining. Other themes including rekindled romance and accepting family members for who they are, are touched upon with Kitty's character forcing Puss to reflect on what was lost between them, along with Goldilock wanting to bring back her biological family though later realizing that she loves her bear family regardless. Other themes including retirement, trust, and sacrifice are at play here with Puss realizing that he must hang up his legendary status as being a swashbuckler in order to maximize the one he has left. He also learns about what real bravery and courage is in the face of death as the white wolf pursues him to seize his final life with Puss not willing to go out without a fight. The films ultimate message has Puss completing his character arc and realizing that one life is enough and that it should be lived to the fullest along with making friends throughout it. 

      What could've easily ended up being a pointless follow-up largely surprises with the level of smarts that went into crafting its story, along with maintaining the series charm and heart. Whereas the Shrek franchise steadily flamed out due to a lack of fresh ideas, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish finds ways to surprise audiences while being extremely heartfelt with the sincerity behind its storytelling. Although not be the best animated film to be released in 2022 (Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio wears that crown), it's undoubtedly one of the years strongest films along with showing how long-distance sequels when properly executed, can become a pleasant surprise. 

Final Victory: SEE IT

Images Courtesy Of DreamWorks Animation