Get Ready to SEND HELP

 

Jeri Jacquin

This week on Digital, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango and coming to 4K Ultra HD and DVD from director Sam Raimi and 20^th Century Studios, comes a look at the need to SEND HELP.

Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is a corporate strategist who works hard while everyone else takes the credit. Taking each stab at her, the only reason she stays at her job is that the CEO of the company has promised her a promotion. Unfortunately, with the CEO’s passing, his son, the brat Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), has taken the reins. Their first meeting doesn’t go so well, and to make it worse, she learns his position has been given to someone else.

Confronting Preston, he is blunt with her, saying she isn’t the right person for the job. Willing to give her a shot, a trip to Bangkok for a company merger is his way to appease her. The next day, Linda arrives at the airport only to discover that Preston has brought a plane load of his guy friends, leaving her in the back of the plane. Once in the air, she gets to work while the others play. That is, until the plane explodes and sends everyone into the sea below.

Surviving, Linda finds Preston hurt and takes care of him. How does she do that? Linda is a fan of the show Survivor and has learned a thing or two. More than a thing or two as she begins to make their lives a little more comfortable. When Preston wakes up, he almost immediately takes on a superior tone with Linda, reminding her that he is the boss. From that moment on, Linda finds ways to remind Preston that they are no longer in the office and she doesn’t need him to survive.

He, on the other hand…

McAdams as Linda is a woman who has been living a life that has allowed others to use her. Waiting for her time to move up into the job she has worked for, it takes an arrogant son to collapse that dream. Once on the island, she shows that everyone underestimated her. I love that McAdams played this role because it is unlike any other that she has had. She had me laughing and dropping my jaw a few times. There is nothing better than a surprise film that made me sad it was over.

O’Brien as Preston is a bratty, entitled man-child who’s only interested in being rude and dismissive to people, most of all Linda. The roller coaster of being on the island with her, he takes countless shots, only to realize he isn’t the smartest person on the island. O’Brien, taking on the character of Preston, is awesome because he easily pulls off the arrogant boy, and I’m here for it. Even though Linda made me laugh, Preston made me laugh harder in his reactions.

Other cast include Edyll Ismail as Zuri, Xavier Samuel as Donovan Murphy, Chris Pang as Chase, and Dennis Haysbert as Franklin.

Twentieth Century Home Entertainment brings award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital HD. Their amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have, please visit www.20thcenturystudios.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that, you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere, please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

There is over two hours of bonus content that audiences can view to take a deeper dive behind the scenes of Sam Raimi’s twisted survival thriller.

SEND HELP gave me a mixture of WAR OF THE ROSES (1989), MISERY (1990), and CASTAWAY (2000). The best part of that? Those three films are some of my absolute favorites. Writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift went for the brass ring in their writing, from hilarious to shocking to jaw-dropping, and didn’t hide behind guessing. Raimi takes their script and bathes us in every word and every idea that includes shocks and twists.

McAdams and O’Brien hold their own in every single frame of the film once they are on the island together. It is a chance to explore these two characters, and just when it becomes clear who they are, the script is flipped – on us. The clever writing and directing means that SEND HELP is a film that should be enjoyed with a group of friends who are, well, dying to enjoy a good night into the bold, darker side of life.

In the end – she’s from strategy and planning!

DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital and currently on digital from director Sam Raimi, Marvel and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS.

American Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) is being hunted by a demon while looking for the Book of Vishanti and oddly enough is rescued by Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Trying to get away, America accidentally brings herself to Earth-616. At the wedding of ex-girlfriend Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), Strange has jump into action and rescue America with the help of Sorcerer Supreme Wong (Benedict Wong).

American tries to explain that she has the power to travel through multiverses and that’s why the demons are hunting her. Strange discovers rune markings but knows only one person who would understand them, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). The problem is, she is the one responsible for America’s problems after getting the Darkhold, she is now the Scarlet Witch.

She believes that taking America’s powers will bring her back to sons Billy and Tommy. Dr. Strange refuses to let him have the girl and that’s when the Scarlet Witch attacks the Kamar-Taj. In the midst of it, America and Dr. Strange transport to Earth-838. There, Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who is the Sorcerer Supreme in this version of Earth, takes Dr. Strange as a prisoner believing it is for the best.

When America and Dr. Strange confront the Scarlet Witch, but it is when Maximoff sees what she has become through her children’s eyes is their hope that the madness will stop!

Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange returns to his cloak and attitude except this time there are more of him to deal with. I have to say that it seems Cumberbatch is having a great time even though the story is an intense one. Gomez as America is a young lady that does not know the extent of her own powers but soon will. She gives a fast-paced performance in a story that is very complex.

Olsen as Maximoff is terrifying in this incarnate of her role but then again when last we saw her, the world she had made for herself was falling apart. Her anger is getting the better of her and everyone in her way will feel that wrath. Olsen gives an amazing performance and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this character that lives in pain and only sees revenge.

Wong as Sorcerer Supreme helps Strange even though every fiber of his being knows that is going to be trouble and chaos. I love watching him in this role. Ejiofor as Mordo also has a chance to play his character differently. Being good at hiding the lies and getting his hands on Strange (no matter what incarnate) is the only way to stop more chaos.

It was great to see Captain Carter, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel and Reed Richards on the screen. I think Krasinski would do a stellar job as Richards as well as Theron as Clea.

Other cast include Jett Klyne as Tommy Maximoff, Julian Hilliard as Billy Maximoff, Michael Stuhlbarg as Dr. Nic West, Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter, Anson Mount as Black Bolt, Lashana Lynch as Captain Marvel, John Krasinski as Reed Richards, Charlize Theron as Clea, Sheila Atim as Sara, Adam Hugill as Rintrah, Bruce Campbell as Pizza Poppa and Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier.

Bonus Features include Method to the Madness – Join various crew members and Marvel employees in interviews as they discuss their love of Sam Raimi and all the details of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS that make it quintessentially Raimi, Introducing America Chavez – In this short and fun profile piece, we’ll learn about America’s humble beginnings in the comics. We’ll meet Xochitl Gomez and discuss the complications her character’s unique power presents for the future of the MCU.

Also, Constructing the Multiverse – Writing a feature film for Marvel is no easy task. In this playful yet informative featurette, we’ll dive into the challenges that writer Michael Waldron faced in creating the twisting and turning story of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes such as A Great Team, Pizza Poppa, It’s Not Permanent, and Audio Commentary.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

DR. STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS lives up to its lengthy title. It is fast paced so keep up and don’t look away from the screen. There is so much unraveling in the story that the intensity goes with a big bowl of popcorn.

Cumberbatch, Gomez, Wong and Olsen bring the story out slowly and the answers are not always what we would expect. Especially since there are different universes with different stories about Strange. Enjoy watching it all come together with vivid special effects as well!

In the end – enter a new dimension of strange!