Colony (2026)
Zombie flick, ‘Colony,’ undead on arrival There’s a quarter of a good movie lurking inside the zombie dance recital that is Yeon Sang-ho’s “Colony.” Set in a soulless Seoul, it posits the fascinating idea that a bioengineered mold can both regenerate damaged tissue and open the door for humans to think and behave cooperatively […]
The Whisper Man (2026)
Nothing here beyond a faint ‘Whisper’ Psst! There’s a rumor circulating that Netflix’s adaptation of Alex North’s “The Whisper Man” involves a heinous murder callously abetted by an all-star cast. Don’t say you got it from me, but I feel the need to inform you it’s all true. The likes of Robert De Niro, […]
Buddy (2026)
Inane ‘Buddy’ rapidly runs short of laughs He’s a big, deranged, narcissistic orange know-it-all who separates children from their parents and throws hissy fits when not receiving the praise he thinks he deserves. Remind you of anyone? Of course, I’m talking about Buddy, the hulking tangerine unicorn hosting the “Barney”-like educational TV show that […]
Idiots (2026)
Lunacy looms large in the doltish ‘Idiots’ In borrowing the blueprints from classics like “The Last Detail” and “Midnight Run,” writer-director Macon Blair has mounted something dumber than a box of hammers, appropriately called “Idiots.” And who better to play the titular morons than Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.? OK, yes, Jim Carrey […]
Coyote vs. Acme (2026)
‘Coyote’ makes the case for nostalgic fun It’s good to be the Road Runner. He’s had a car named after him, even has his own theme song. Not so for his rival, Wile E. Coyote, the Captain Ahab of cartoonville. He has been, excuse the expression, dogged in his pursuit of the bird bearing […]
Paper Flowers (2024)
Bland ‘Paper Flowers’ is an empty garden Cancer is never funny, but movies about it sure can be, even unintentionally so, such as the insipid wannabe weeper “Paper Flowers.” It produces more corn than the entire state of Iowa in canonizing a selfless martyr not seen since the days of Mother Teresa. I’m […]
How to Divorce During a War
Tepid ‘How to Divorce’ is a split decision Perhaps it’s due to my analytical ASD brain, but I struggled to understand how the breakup of a married couple in Lithuania parallels Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Heck, it’s not even the same country being violated. Nor does it even border it. Besides, Lithuania is protected […]
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
Lumbering ‘Tree’ is all bark, no wood Tomatoes play a major role in Ben Gregor’s adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved “The Magic Faraway Tree,” but, alas, they all go splat. Well, not entirely. The colorful costumes and imaginative production design are ripe for praise, but Simon Farnaby’s script too often veers toward the rotten. […]
The End of Oak Street (2026)
Quaint ‘Oak Street’ is woefully short on excitement I’d be hard-pressed to name the best flick of this summer, but I can’t instantly cite the dumbest. That would be the dinosaur of dinosaur movies, “The End of Oak Street.” Why do I not pine for “Oak”? The reasons are many, from the awful […]
The Rivals of Amziah King (2025)
You’ll savor the sweet nectar of ‘Amziah King’ Forget Ulysses and Spider-Man; the buzziest superhero of the summer is a mandolin-strumming apiarist with a honey of a tale to tell in the brilliant bee-noir “The Rivals of Amziah King.” And all I can say is all right, all right, all right! Because this unexpected […]