"Chamagne Problems"

 2025 * Not Rated * 1h 39m Sidney Price (Minka Kelly) works in acquisitions at a wine and spirits conglomerate. She’s one of those all work and no play types. Before she travels to Paris to try and buy a prestigious champagne vineyard, her sister advises her to have a day to herself and just enjoy the experience. So, soon after she lands, she goes out exploring the city and along the way, bumps into a handsome Frenchman Henri Cassell (Tom Wozniczka), at a bookstore. Of course, the two immediately fall for each other. And guess what? His father just happens to own the vineyard she’s on a quest to purchase!

After making her pitch to Chateau Cassell’s owner Hugo (Thibault de Montalembert), she and the other three reps vying to buy the winery are invited to the Chateau for the weekend. Her fellow reps are a bunch of lively characters. There’s Roberto (Sean Amsing), a flamboyant millionaire who loves to have a good time and always serves the vineyards’s champagne at his parties. The German Otto (Flula Borg), is a very serious, philosophic type who constantly makes dark comments. And there’s Brigitte (Astrid Whettnall), who seems to have the inside track since she’s French. Let the battle begin!

The movie is well written and well acted and is just full of surprises. The interaction between the guests was hilarious, and there was a definite spark between the two leads. If you’re in the mood for a delightful romantic comedy, set in Paris and the beautiful French countryside, you should enjoy this movie.

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix

"Man vs Baby"

 2025 * TV-PG * 4-30m episodes  I'm going to break from tradition and review a tv show. The reason being is that I wanted to review something new in the way of holiday movies. Unfortunately, this year's offerings are really lame. So when I noticed a four-part tv show starring Rowan Atkinson, I had to check it out. I was not disappointed. I've been a huge fan of his since his wonderful "Black Adder" series. I know he can get goofy at times, but hey, I grew up watching the Three Stooges, so that's my excuse!

Naturally, the story takes place over the holidays. Trevor Bingley is the custodian at the local elementary school. After he helps put on the annual Christmas play, the infant that played the part of Baby Jesus is left behind. Everyone has split for the Christmas break, and he doesn't know where it came from nor what to do with it. Then he gets a very lucrative opportunity to housesit at a posh apartment in London. But the catch is, he can't have any guests with him. So he heads down to London, baby in tow, without a plan as to how he'll hide the baby. 

As you'd expect from a Rowan Atkinson production, everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. But the situations are so ridiculous, they're laugh out loud funny. And without too much of a spoiler, let's just say there's a happy ending to this caper. If you're looking for something refreshingly different to watch over the holidays, be sure to catch this one. 

4 out of 5 stars

Currently streaming on Netflix

"Honest Thief"

2020 * PG-13 * 1h 39m  When it comes to action flicks, Liam Neeson is pure royalty. I don't think he's made a bad one. Add this one to his collection of heart-pounding, exciting movies where you're just along for the ride. And what a ride this one is!

Tom Dolan (Neeson) is a notorious bank robber. He's amassed a whopping $9 million in a series of robberies. But one day, that all changes when he meets and falls in love with Annie (Kate Walsh). He decides he's going to come clean and turn the money over the the authorities in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. But there's a snag. When he turns over part of the money to a couple of FBI agents, the tempting deal gets the best of them.  They're both corrupt and decide they can take the money and kill Tom and no one will be the wiser. 

However there's a little problem--they've decided to mess with the wrong guy. Neeson, as usual is the total badass. There's no way they're going to get away with it. What ensues is a solid hour of chase scenes and close calls. Hang on to your hats folks, you're in for a wild ride! If you're looking for some mindless entertainment, don't miss this one!

4 out of 5 stars. 

Streaming on Netflix, Prime, Pluto, Plex and the Roku channel. And to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Fandango, and other services.

"Oh, Hi!

 2025 * R * 1h 35m  I thought this was a fresh and offbeat take on the traditional rom-com. The writing was good., and the acting was great as well. If you're in the mood for something out of the ordinary check this one out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. 

Iris (Molly Gordon) and Isaac (Logan Lerman) have been dating for four months. They decide to get away for the weekend and rent a cabin in the woods. You can tell the young couple is truly in love. Or are they? Their relationship is tested the first night they're away. They discover some bondage equipment locked in a closet. So they decide to have some fun with it. Iris ends up handcuffing Isaac to the bed. And he makes a huge mistake. He tells her she's not the one and he's not ready to make a commitment to their relationship. In fact, he's actually been cheating on her.

So Iris refuses to unchain him. No matter how hard he pleads, she keeps him shackled to the bed. Iris then  starts to panic and gives her best friend Max (Geraldine Viswanathan) a call and invites her to the cottage to help her figure out what to do. Max brings her boyfriend Kenny (John Reynolds) along. Things were already weird before her friends arrived, but it gets even crazier once they get there. At this point it could get real dark, or it could have a happy ending. You'll just have to see it to find out which way it went.

31/2 out of 5 stars

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