IF (2024)

Bea is a 12-year-old girl going through a rough time in life who begins to see the imaginary friends (IFs) of the kids who have outgrown them and left them behind. I thought this movie was adorable. Made me sad for many reasons, but it was very sweet and had its heart in the right place. Reminded me a bit of Spirited (also with Ryan Reynolds), mixed with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and of course, Harvey. I feel like Cailey Fleming is going to be a huge fucking star one day. She's been great in everything I've seen her in.

There's a bit of a credit cookie at the very end for Louis Gossett Jr. (RIP), who plays Lewis, the old bear. I kept wondering the whole movie, whose IF was he?

3 invisible IFs (played by Brad Pitt) out of 5

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI [2016]

Director Michael Bay makes an attempt to step into more mature movie-making with the explosive biographical war film 13 Hours.
It follows 6 members of a rough security team, stationed in Libya, that struggles to defend the U.S. compound from a violent terrorist attack.
The action is what is the star here and it delivers with some frighteningly intense warfare sequences where Bay's trademark chaotic film-making actually is used to great effect.  However, as one character says himself in the film, it's the downtime where the mind starts to wander and it couldn't be more true.  The acting is fine but it's boring characters leave much to be desired.  Sadly, the film is afraid to make mention of the political wrong-doings the U.S. made in this situation but maybe Bay just wanted to focus on the horrors of the direct situation.
Funny how Bay finally makes a film that isn't actually all that terrible and no one went to go see it.  Irony is a hilarious bitch.

3 interrupted dinners out of 5