Animal Farm (2025)

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

George Orwell adapted for family audiences. Except I would feel bad for any little kid who was dragged to see this. Not because it's bad, but because it's bleak and depressing as hell. Barnyard animals run away and form their own society founded on freedom and equality for all, which lasts for about a day before the pigs become corrupt with power while the rest of the animals are used as slave labor. It's an ambitious take on the authoritarian allegory of the novel, transposed to the modern era with overt political ties to corporate consumerism. I give it major props for what it attempts to do, at any rate.

I can't wait until they do a children's version of Nineteen Eighty-Four next.

2½ laughter houses out of 5

HOME [2015]

Director Tim Johnson's CGI animated kiddie-comedy, Home, doesn't even attempt to break any new ground but it's so damned lovably cute I really didn't mind it at all.
It's the familiar tale of a friendship that bonds between a teenage girl and an alien, both of whom are looking for a home for their heart and find it through colorful silliness, wacky hijinks and a plethora of family-friendly pop tunes.  Adults will get the most joy watching the kid's faces light up for the entire duration of the film and move on without giving it a second thought.  It follows the tired CGI animated formula like clockwork but has just enough flair and postitivity to make it a worthwhile waste of time.

3 number threes out of 5

WISH I WAS HERE [2014]

The humorous drama Wish I Was Here has passion project for actor/director/co-writer Zach Braff written all over it.
Braff plays a down-in-the-dumps family man who's struggling as an actor that finds himself at a huge turning point in his life when he discovers his father is dying of cancer.  Through all the cookie-cutter timed indie-rock songs, smug observations on everyday life and "edgy" cuteness, Braff explores some pretty heavy themes that ground it with fluffy grace.  I appreciated the comfort zone laughs and tears but found it did nothing to make it stand apart from all the other films like it.  It's a good film but I wish it were great, considering the acting talent and other potentials it had going for it.

3 swear jars out of 5

THE NORMAL HEART [2014]

Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story) has a way of shamelessly pandering to a specific audience and spoon-feeding them by the truckloads to match exactly what their generic tastes might be.
The Normal Heart is no different as it is handed to the Academy audience on a silver platter.
Based on Larry Kramer's play of the same name, the film follows the rise of the AIDS crisis in the early '80's within the gay community.  With it's heavy subject matter, we're treated to some pretty great performances that never let a lot of the melodramatic speeches get too out-of-hand.  Murphy's direction isn't as flamboyant as it usually is (with the exception of a few distracting sequences), instead he focuses on the human drama that is actually quite compelling for the better half of the film.
Awards season might have swallowed this like honey but don't let it completely scare you away.

3 Rolodex cards out of 5