The Suicide Squad (2 ½ stars out of 4)



The good news is that 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” is better than 2016’s “Suicide Squad.” The bad news is that the new movie still isn’t very good.



While it’s technically not a remake or a reboot, most everyone understands that James Gunn’s new take on the criminal super-squad is a re-do after the

“I'm sorry, I know ‘cheap’ is a trigger word for you.”“‘Frugal’ is such a better word!”



This is a low budget comedy that comes with all the cheesiness you can expect for a movie intended for a niche audience, but it is unexpectedly insightful. 



Premise



Bree Carrington (Clare Niederpruem) had the next few years of young adulthood all planned out. She would be

“Stillwater:” 2 ½ stars out of 4



In August of 2019 I took my first trip abroad, and quickly understood that my two years of French at Centerville Junior High wasn’t going to take me very far. That trip became one of my favorite memories of our last pre-pandemic year, but on my own in a foreign land, it felt more

"Jungle Cruise:" 2 ½ stars out of 4



Going in, I expected to like “Jungle Cruise,” and halfway through the movie, I still wanted to like “Jungle Cruise.” But by the time the end credits rolled, I just had to admit that I didn’t really like “Jungle Cruise.” Like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Jungle Cruise” was inspired by a ride at

Premise



An army from 30 years in the future comes to recruit people in the present, as humanity’s last chance to fight in a seemingly hopeless war with alien invaders. Ex-military biology teacher, Dan Forester (Chris Pratt), is torn from his family and enlisted to spend seven days fighting in this future war. While his particular skill set is a valuable

2 ½ stars out of 4



I’ve always argued that the TV show “Lost” was built on a combination of suspenseful storytelling and great characterization, and its failure to resolve the former was at least tempered by its success with the latter. Sad to say, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old” feels like the movie version of “Lost,” minus the great characterization.



Set on

Premise



Based on stories in the New (and Old) Testament, “The Chosen” brings to life how Jesus Christ led his followers as they went about doing good. I first thought from the previews that the show would center on all the expected Bible stories, following the life of Jesus--you know, as a “Chosen One.” I was wrong, though, as “the chosen”

Review of The Boss Baby: Family Business



Summary



Now grown up, Tim (James Marsden) and Ted (Alec Baldwin) have grown apart, but they come back together for a new mission from Baby Corp: to stop an elementary school that is conspiring against the parents. Using special baby-inspired technology, the brothers become young again to infiltrate this highly rated school that Tim’s daughter,

"Black Widow": 3 stars out of 4



The postponed blockbusters of 2020 are always going to exist in their own special category. So are all of the post-“Endgame” Marvel movies. “Black Widow” adds a third complication to its release: it’s the long-awaited solo movie for Scarlett Johansson’s underrated title character.



The good news is, even with all of the contextual complications, “Black

"Summer of Soul": 3 1/2 Stars out of 4



It’s a fascinating story: an all-star music festival from the summer of 1969, set in Harlem at a critical juncture in black history, lost to history for fifty years.



Until now.



"Summer of Soul (or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)" is a godsend for classic soul fans, and for anyone who has