Mother, Couch (2023)

Some movies are so inscrutable, sometimes you just have to tackle it head on. Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans and Lara Flynn Boyle play estranged siblings whose mother (Ellen Burstyn) refuses to get up off the couch at a furniture store. No, this isn't some body horror/fusion-type deal. It's a 'thinker.'

If you sit to the end, the answers don't become much clearer. Its logic is ripped straight out of a fever dream. If I had to take a stab, I'd say this movie is about the process of letting go, moving on, or something or other. It just doesn't do a very good job of keeping its audience invested throughout. The performances are compelling, which is all that saves it from getting a much lower score.

2 dressers out of 5

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS [2016]

Director Chris Renaud supplies the laughs and heart by the truckloads with the CGI animated comedy The Secret Life of Pets.
Two dogs (one big & one little) end up getting themselves lost in New York City which leads them into all sorts of trouble and adventures all in the span of a single day.
Like most Illumination Entertainment & Dreamworks animated films, it doesn't quite hold the same sort of depth or story subtleties of Pixar's output but it still manages to pack in the jokes, sometimes even better than the reigning CGI animation company.  It doesn't really ask a whole lot of the viewer other than to sit back and enjoy the ride, which is really easy to do considering the lovable characters we get to follow around for the jam-packed 90 minute running time.

3½ sewer-bunnies out of 5

MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN [2014]

I didn't think I'd want to see a CGI animated update of an old Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman proved me wrong with it's high energy, non-stop humor and all around time-travelling romp of a good time.
Directed by The Lion King's Rob Minkoff, the film is surprisingly fast-paced, jammed with witty historical jokes and enough heart to keep you smiling when the credits begin rolling.  It's nothing like it's source material but that really doesn't matter because, let's face it, the original cartoon was about as much fun as watching paint dry in a funeral home.
By no means will this become a classic but it's got enough flash and enthusiasm to enjoy multiple viewings and then some.  

3½ creepy boys out of 5

IN A WORLD... [2013]

Writer/director/star Lake Bell asks what would a world be like if a woman did the voiceover work for movie trailers in In A World....
It's a comedic satire of the Hollywood-ized industry but never thinks it's smarter than it really is, like many of these films try to do and in doing so remains realistically grounded with a sense of charm and reserved wit.   Movie buffs will find a lot of humorous lines scattered throughout the film but nothing particularly laugh out loud which is all right if you don't go in expecting much.  Each actor inhabits their character with passion and charm which makes each and every one of them quite watchable.
Easily digestible without a bitter after-taste makes for a pleasant but forgettable watch.

3 sandwich bars out of 5

BLACK ROCK [2013]

I like the Duplass Brothers, so I was eager to see them involved in another horror film, Black Rock, with them serving as executive producers and a script written by Mark.  Unfortunately it's directed by and stars his wife Katie Asleton and while she does a serviceable job in her acting role, she doesn't have a whole lot going for her in the director's chair.
The pacing and all the performances are great, however it never really amounts to much in originality or really any point at all.  There's a few tense moments but are somewhat watered down by some questionably dumb tactics made by the characters.  In the end, I found it to be reasonably entertaining but needed much more depth and thought put into it.

2½ secret forts out of 5