The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Maybe if this film had been made and released two decades ago, before the entirety of the superhero splurge, I might have watched it thinking, wow, they really made something amazing here. But we cannot undo these things we’ve done, as someone once said, and the effect of having seen superhero group after superhero group after superhero group save the world again and again and again cannot be easily nullified. As it is, no amount of interesting conceptual design, or nostalgic kicks, or even just plain, good storytelling and performances, can get this work to break through against all that has come before it and lead the viewer to anything more than mild appreciation, to a diminished admiration that battles against a flattened sense of what a movie like this is supposed to be. It’s fine, really; all of the above mentioned elements are well done, and if you’d never seen another entry in the genre you’d probably rave about this one. But few of us out here are infants without prior experience, so the impact of this iteration is very much dulled. More standard than fantastic. 

Yoga Hosers

One of the most committed feature-length goofs you’ll ever encounter. Clearly, there was never any intent to make a serious film here, so the viewer has to match the spirit of the piece in order to get the most out of watching it. That calls for viewing this flick with a persistent smirk on your face and not much in the way of critical examination in your mind. For sure, the humor here runs the gamut from silly and clever to breathtakingly stupid, so you really can’t go in looking for greatness. And the missteps in the story, while gargantuan, are ultimately forgivable given the obvious lack of seriousness. (This movie would have played much better if it had been a simple ghost or monster story, or even just a straightforward slasher pic, but the actual backstory is just downright ridiculous and dumb—the sort of thing that happens when you’re overly dedicated to making movies while being totally baked.) All in all, though, if you play it loose and silly—as does everyone in the cast, including title protagonists Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp, who add beaucoup de cuteness to the mix—then you’ll find yourself having a lot of fun with this pic. That is, unless you’re Canadian, in which case you may be mortally offended by the film’s (mostly) gentle but relentless teasing. But the rest of us can just sit back and spend 90 or so minutes enjoying some entertaining if ultimately meaningless fun. And that’s aboot all there is to it.

But I'm A Cheerleader

A subject ripe for satire--homo hysteria--but the treatment here isn't nearly smart or biting enough. Most of the jokes fall flat, and only the presence of numerous familiar faces can flag down the viewer's attention. The message of tolerance barely registers; indeed, the ultimate outcome in many ways seems to validate the targeted hysteria. And it all gets lost in too much blandness. Bottom line: this razor needed a much sharper edge.

Slums Of Beverly Hills

If you like quirky, this is just your flavor. It's funny without being obvious, "coming of age" without being trite, a "family" movie without being schmaltzy, and a period movie without being showy about its details. Oh, yeah, did I mention funny? Mostly low key funny, but at least a few laugh out loud moments, too. Find it and enjoy.

Detroit Rock City

"Coming of age" is a phrase that usually sends me running in the other direction, but this one deserves special attention. Make sure you're in the right mood--nostalgic for the seventies, ready for goofy fun, etc.--and you'll get plenty of kicks out of this flick. The young actors are dead on in their take on '70s youth, and the story runs its varied courses to a neat little tie-up. And, if nothing else, you have to admire this movie's exuberance and energy. Just sit back and enjoy.