"Special Correspondents"

 2016 * TV-MA * 1h 41m I have mixed feelings about Ricky Gervais. I know a lot of people can't stand him. I enjoy his "Spinal Tap" type characters where he plays the clueless idiot. I also just loved him as the downtrodden, sensitive guy in the brilliant series "After Life." But I just hate his stand-up comedy. Actually, I've never made it through a stand-up performance of his and had to bail early, every time I've tried. 

But if you enjoy his dumb characters, you'll love him in this hilarious movie. He plays off perfectly with the cool, level-headed Eric Bana. Bana is a seasoned radio correspondent and Gervais plays his dim-witted sound man. The two of them get a choice assignment covering a Latin American country in the midst of a revolution. They're all set to head out on the last plane into the country, when by a ridiculous mishap, they lose all their papers, visas, and passports. Rather than confess their idiocy, they hole up in an apartment near their radio station in New York City and fake their "live" coverage of the events as they unfold. 

It's a ridiculous situation, and that's the brilliance of the movie. There's simply one coverup after another. The movie takes a couple unexpected turns that just add to the hilarity of the story. Both actors turn in brilliant performances. I should warn you, if you don't like the dumber side of Gervais, you might want to take a pass. I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny. But then again, I'm an idiot. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Currently streaming on Netflix. 

"Greenland"

 2020 * PG-13 * 1h 59m I call this a Pre-Apocalyptic movie. It's near what could turn out to be the end of life on earth as we know it. It's a nail-biting, action thriller, taken to the next level by fine performance by both Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin. The special effects are also worth mentioning. They're incredibly realistic and will scare the bejesus out of you!

John Garrity (Butler) designs skyscrapers for a living. He lives a comfortable life with his wife Allison (Baccarin) and their son Nathan (Roger Dan Floyd). A potential cataclysmic event is looming on the horizon. A huge comet is heading for the earth. It's going to break up and potentially destroy most of life on the planet. John has been chosen to be transported to Greenland to be a part of a team to rebuild earth. Only one problem: his son has diabetes and the government won't allow sick people to join the rebuilding folks. 

So John and his family opt for "plan B" and are going to head for Canada and make their way to Greenland on their own. The clock is ticking and there's little time left until the major part of the comet is going to hit. Their journey is about an hour and a half of some of the most intense movie viewing I've seen in quite a while. If you like a good thriller, don't miss this one!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on HBO/Max. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon, Fandango, and other services. 

"This is Happening"

 2015 * Not Rated * 1h 24m I'm a big fan of Cloris Leachman. I think she's one of the most underrated actors of all time. I've enjoyed everything I've seen her in, especially her role in the hilarious and off-beat comedy show, "Raising Hope." She an absolute riot in this funny movie. Actually, she outshines everyone else in it. 

Phillip (James Wolk) and his sister Megan (Micky Sumner) are charged with driving their grandmother Estelle (Leachman) up to Seattle where they're going to put her in an assisted living facility. Well, Estelle wants nothing to do with traveling with her grandkids and hops in her car and takes off. Unbeknownst to her, Megan has stashed a bunch of drugs in the trunk of her car. So the siblings are soon in hot pursuit of their grandmother. But Estelle isn't traveling alone. She had her favorite pet dog stuffed after it died, and she keeps her beloved pet with her at all times!

The movie is filled with the usual road trip antics. And Ms. Leachman is a hoot, delivering her usual filthy and caustic comments. I thought the rest of the actors were passable, but Leachman certainly more than made up for the mediocre supporting actors. If you're looking for a funny road trip flick, give this one a try!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Hoopla, Tubi Pluto, and Plex. And to rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and other services. 

"Band on the Run"

 2025 * Not Rated * 1h 28m Let me come right out and say it: I'm a life-long Detroiter and always go out of my way to see any movie that has anything remotely tied to this fair city. So this one went right into my viewing queue. And it did not disappoint.

The film takes place in the late 90s, at the hight of the garage band era. Now you have to remember, Detroit is one great music town. Whether it's jazz, or good ol' rock and roll. The whole punk movement was started by our very own MC5! But I digress.

The main theme is about two rival groups, Hot Freaks and Bull Roar. The two bands have a heated rivalry as they both head down to South by Southwest to perform. It's a fun roadtrip/buddy flick with plenty of amusing encounters along the way. And the drummer's dad, who has his share of medical problems, is along for the ride.

I really enjoyed the film from beginning to end. I thought the acting and storyline were both great. I especially like the fact that the drummer was in advertising. I'm a former copywriter myself and could relate to his encounters at work. I would have loved to have told my employers to "Shove it!" like he did. But alas, I had to put bread on the table.

Anyway, if you looking for a fresh take on the road trip genre, be sure to check out this fine flick!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming for free on Hoopla with your library card. And to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, and other services. 

"Room 8"

 2024 * Not Rated * 50m If you're not moved by this wonderful tribute to a remarkable cat, you need to check your pulse. I didn't know anything about this movie before watching it. What a great surprise. It's about a cat that wanders into the classroom of an elementary school in Los Angeles in 1952. He quickly decides this is where he's going to spend his days, much to the delight of the young students. They take to the cat and the rest is history.

The cat became a beloved member of the school. Every morning he'd arrive when the school bell rang, and he'd spend the day with the kids. A huge honor was to be selected as the official feeder of the cat. By the way, since he hung around room 8 at the school, the students officially named him "Room 8."

Room 8's photo was included in the school year book, both as faculty and as a student. This little documentary is a loving tribute to a well loved cat. And a cat that was known around the world! He even got tons of fan letters from children and adults the wold over. What a beautiful movie!

A great big "thank you!" goes out to anyone involved in the making of this sweet film!

4 out of 5 stars

Watch for free on Hoopla (with your library card), Tubi, YouTube, and Prime Video. And to rent on Amazon.

"Red Eye"

2005 * PG-13 * 1h 25m  I know this isn't a new film, but for some reason I never saw it when it came out. Ya just can't see everything, can ya? But it popped up on Netflix recently and I put it in my queue, because hey, who doesn't like a good thriller? And this one had me on the edge of my seat, right until the end. Wow!

Lisa (Rachel McAdams) is a hotel manager, forced to take a red eye flight home back to Miami. At the airport, she runs into Jackson (Cillian Murphy)and the two strike up a conversation. They bump into each other several times and it just so happens, they're sitting next to each other on the plane. What are the odds, eh? Right from the start, you get creepy vibes from Jackson. There's just something about him. 

Well, my inner creep-o-meter paid off. It turns out, Jackson is part of a plot to kill the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. Lisa is forced to call the hotel and make arrangements for the Secretary and his family to be transferred to a new suite or her father will be killed. Not one to give in easily, she makes several bold attempts to thwart the assassination attempt. Each nerve-racking attempt is foiled and it all makes for one intense, exciting movie. I haven't seen a film that was this thrilling in quite a while. If you like nail-biting thrillers, don't miss this one!

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix and to rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Fandango. 

"Wild Goat Surf"

 2023 * Not Rated * 1h 43m I love little indie flicks like this. Just about everything about it was perfect. The acting, writing, story, and even the cinematography.

The story is about a young girl nicknamed Goat (Shayelen Martin), who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her single mom Jane (Caitlyn Sponheimer). They rent a house in a small town and illegally sublet it over the course of the summer. The two move into their motorhome and live in an RV park. Mom works a couple jobs and is just getting by while the Goat is left on her own.

She hooks up with a young boy Nate (Leandro Guedes) who's her own age and lives next door. The two of them spend the summer together getting into a little trouble, but have a great time together. They love to bomb around town on their skateboards, and Goat is absolutely obsessed with becoming a surfer. That's mainly due to her deceased father who was a profession surfer. What a sweet little movie. I thought it was funny that the young girl looked almost like the spitting image of Woody Harrelson! Check it out and I think you'll agree with me.

If you're in the mood for something different, be sure to put this gem in your queue!

4 out of 5 stars