The Running Man (2025)

A totalitarian, dystopian game show seemed oddly prescient back in 1982 when King's novel was first published. In 2025, it's depressingly accurate. 

This new adaptation by Edgar Wright attempts to be more faithful to the source material about an everyman who competes on a reality show for a large cash prize by surviving for 30 days in a city full of hunters. This is an extraordinarily stupid movie full of bad decisions that somehow succeeds in making the 1987 film seem more competent by comparison. It's quite a feat.

1½ lucky socks out of 5

Sacramento (2024)

A couple of man babies go on a road trip under the pretense of scattering their dad's ashes. This is like A Real Pain if all the characters were completely insufferable and irredeemable. It's like mumblecore without any of the charm.

1 loose crib out of 5

Barbie (2023)

There's no way to defend this. I fucking loved it. Who knew a movie about a toy with tits could be this poignant, existential and moving, all in one? Barbie becomes self-aware and travels out of her fantasy bubble into the real world, where she's confronted with the realities of being a woman. On the flipside, Ken realizes he's been a slave to Barbie all his life and achieves a form of self-actualization without the need for external validation. Cynics may call it feminist propaganda, but it's riotously funny with tremendous heart, and tells a story that kids ought to hear while their brains are still soft and malleable.

I cried like a bitch and I'm man enough to admit it.

4½ beach-offs out of 5

Dream Scenario (2023)

This is the film Nicolas Cage was made for. Paul Matthews is the dull professor of evolutionary biology at a local university who suddenly finds himself the subject of national intrigue when people randomly start dreaming about him. At first, it's treated as a passing novelty, until the implications grow much darker. It's a high concept black comedy that's teeming with great ideas and has so much fun with its central conceit. It probably doesn't fulfill the wild limits of its potential, but that doesn't mean it isn't a great time at the movies.

4½ David Byrne suits out of 5

Youth in Revolt (2009)

The title refers to the actions that a sixteen-year-old boy (Michael Cera) feels he must must undertake in order to keep his attachment (and himself relevant) to the girl (Portia Doubleday) with whom he wants to lose his virginity.
Even though it had some big name producers behind it, it has the feel and the heart of an indie movie, which is perhaps its greatest strength, in my opinion.
By externalising the youth's inner conflict it both uses and plays around with the awkward, inexperienced deer in the headlights role that Cera has in many of his films. It likely won't be enough to win over anyone who dislikes his particular shtick, but those that enjoy it will probably still feel right at home.

3 ill-tempered sailors out of 5

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE [2017]

Robot Chicken director Chris McKay delivers the animated fun in spades with his LEGO Movie spin-off, The LEGO Batman Movie.
After accidentally adopting an overly eager orphan named Dick, Batsy must defeat The Joker and his usual band of lawless cronies from overthrowing Gotham City.
It's a very busy film that attacks the senses a bit but thankfully it's pretty damned funny with plenty of moments and gags that will please long-time fans of The Caped Crusader.  It references all sorts of cinematic forms of Batsy, including Adam West, Bruce Timm's animated series, Batfleck and yes, even the one with the nipples.   There's so much going on I'm willing to bet even a third or fourth viewing won't reveal all the jokes and sight gags to the exhausted viewer.  It's clearly the work of greedy Hollywood executives but it's enough batshit crazy fun to let it slide.

3½ family portraits out of 5

SAUSAGE PARTY [2016]

Directors Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends) and Conrad Vernon (Madagascar) turn to the darkside for the highly offensive, yet atrociously funny animated Sausage Party, written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg & Jonah Hill.
It's the Fourth of July and all the food products at Shopwell's Grocery Store are excited to get whisked away to a better place...or so they think.  

Try to imagine Toy Story, then replace the toys with food and then humor yourself with the notion of Mr. Potato Head or especially Jessie The Yodeling Cowgirl getting ripped apart and devoured by their owners.  With that in mind, prepare to feel your ears curl up with the language that would make the South Park guys uncomfortable.  Be ready to laugh till your in pain because it's pretty fucking funny, with some cleverly placed themes neatly woven into all the un-PC crudeness.  In short, it's the perfect example of stupid brilliance.  

4 "Great" Beyonds out of 5

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

To continue dating the girl of his dreams Scott must first defeat her seven evil exes. That’s pretty much all there is to it. There’s some character growth buried under the pop culture/video game mash up clusterfuck that would've been more poignant had I developed any emotional attachment to the surface deep characters, but that didn't happen.
I'm usually a fan of Edgar Wright’s humour, but it threatened to kill every brain cell I had left; after forty minutes it felt like I’d been watching for hours. I was desperate for it to end, but it just kept on going. He deserves credit for the visual flair, transitions, sound effects and for being faithful to the source medium by including speed lines and text, etc, but it's one pilgrim’s journey that I’ll never be taking again.

2½ levels out of 5

THIS IS THE END [2013]

There's something to admire about a bunch of buddies sitting around indulging in debauchery, being ridiculously crude and well, just shooting the shit while the rest of the world is turning to shit.
This Is The End captures that perfectly, courtesy of writer/directors Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg.
It features the entire Frat Pack in both leading roles and cameos playing exaggerated versions of themselves as they try to survive the apocalypse while hiding out in James Franco's house.  I loved the insanely stupid idea brought to life with a witty script, high energy, multiple in-jokes and one of the most pig-snorting, popcorn spewing funniest cinematic experiences I've had in a long time.

4 shitty weird Canadian lives out of 5

Juno (2007)

Juno is a coming of age comedy/drama that proves once again that even on a small budget (it was shot for just $6.5 million) a great cast and a great script are superior to 90% of what the major studios drop out of their inflated, protracted asshole. It deals with teen pregnancy in an intelligent and non-judgemental manner that only a bloodthirsty religious zealot would take exception with.
Ellen Page is perfect. J. K. Simmons is hilarious. Michael Cera is Michael Cera. Even Jennifer Garner can’t ruin it.

4½ blue slushies out of 5