He is QUASI

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently streaming on HULU from director Kevin Heffernan and Searchlight Pictures is the twisted hilarity and the story of QUASI.

It is 1800’s France and the very hunched Quasi (Steven Lemme) is hanging out with his friend Duchamp (Kevin Heffernan). Walking to work, Quasi is subjected to, well let’s just say, bad manners by the people of his village. Working at the local torture chamber, the rest of the village is celebrating Pope Week.

King Guy (Jay Chandrasekhar) is bored with life at the moment and with the new Queen Catherine (Adrianne Palicki). She is stunning but more importantly, very smart as well. She visits the torture chamber below wanting a tour led by Quasi taking an interesting in his work.

In the town square, Quasi finds himself the winner of an audience with the Pope but also the King. During a private conversation, the King reveals what he really wants – the Pope gone! Pope Cornelius (Paul Soter) does not want to spend one dinner moment longer than he has to with King Guy as it seems there is a history there as Cardinal Claude (Erik Stolhanske) gets caught in the dining crossfire.

When Quasi finally has his confessional win with the Pope, it seems the King isn’t the only one who wants a person knocked off with a jewel encrusted dagger. Now Quasi is caught between two men who want each other dead and a Queen who has plans of her own. As with everything in Quasi’s life, things go awkwardly wrong with death is at his doorstep, he shows that even a hunchback can be a hero!

Lemme as Quasi is so sweet and really doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Shocked at the attentions of Queen Catherine, that has to be put aside while he finds his way out of a serious mess. Lemme is just cool, period, and, if it can be said – nice hump dude! Heffernan as buddy Duchamp is a little more than upset that Quasi won the lottery. Getting attention from the lovelies of the village is about one step more than he can handle. Heffernan takes his role and makes me want to spend the evening doing shots with him.

Chandrasekhar as King Guy is a ruler full of, well, himself and has no conscience where death is concerned. That all being said, Chandrasekhar looks frakken fantastic in a crown! I do have to say that I miss his moustache but I can’t be greedy (or can I?). As the King, he is greedy, arrogant and petulant – and I love it.

Soter as the Pope is a man of some god or other with a long-standing grudge toward the King. Soter’s version of the Pope is probably the most hilarious ‘pope’ I’ve seen mainly because he says what a lot of us think. Stolhanske as the Cardinal is the perfect pairing with Soter, their whispering session was sheer hilarity.

Palicki as Queen Catherine is hilarious, beautiful, smart and is not about to let a King or a Pope stand in her way of making sure Quasi is saved. Well, truth be told she isn’t thrilled about being married to this particular King either. Palicki is charming and hilarious all rolled into one, but then again, I’d expect nothing less! Long live the Queen!

SHOUT OUT to Brian Cox, seriously, you can not reunite the gang without bringing back the leader with the voice that makes you want to buy a burger from McDonalds and crushes family in succession. Yea, I did that.

Other cast include Buck Heffernan, Quinn Heffernan, Kelsey Heffernan, Eugene Cordero, Marcus Henderson, Michael Yurchak Hassie Harrison, Gabrielle Lane, Gabriel Hogan and Phil Hudson.

Hulu is the leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand television and movies. The platform gives viewers instant access to current shows, libraries of hit television series and film as well as Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning originals such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Act. For more of what Hulu has to offer please visit www.hulu.com.

Searchlight Pictures is responsible for such films as SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI. They have an extensive film library as well as documentaries, scripted series, and limited series. For more information, please visit www.searchlightpictures.com.

The SUPER TROOPERS band of Broken Lizard consisting of Steve Lemme, Jay Chandrasekhar, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske join writer/director Heffernan in creating their newest comedy. Based on The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, this 1831 class is being set on its ear!

It is nice to see the band is back together again taking on a period piece with the coolest set designs. Running along the borderline of appropriate, I’ve always thought this group is the funniest because of their unique ability to dance along that line while making us all laugh. As a superfan of the 2001 film SUPER TROOPERS and use the lines from the film in everyday life, my funny bone needed a good laugh right meow!

Taking the story of Quasi and giving it every hilarious moment they could squeeze out is not only what I would expect from this gang of comedy misfits but, to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have watched otherwise. The pairing of Lemme with Heffernan, Chandrasekhar with Soter and Palicki as the sparkling, sugar coated cake topper is everything.

Get ready for a new twist on an old tale, or should I say a new twisted story just waiting for this particular group to share.

In the end – every day is a hump day!

The Name is RENFIELD

 

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres today from director Chris McKay and Universal Pictures is one man’s story of learning how to be RENFIELD.

Robert Montague Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has been spanning the eras being the familiar to the one and only Count Dracula (Nicholas Cage). At a personal cross-road, Renfield finds himself attending a 12-step self-help group with others who are coping with being in a bad relationship with a narcissist.

New Orleans has also been plagued by the Lobo crime family headed by Mom Ella (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and out of control son Teddy (Ben Schwartz). Trying to put them behind bars is officer Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina) who is shut down every time she has Teddy in cuffs.

A chance meeting brings Renfield (his tin of bugs) and Quincy together and angers Ella but Dracula has other plans. Making it clear that he is happy with being in the 21^st century, he shares the plan with Renfield that he must do better at providing, well food, for his master. This isn’t sitting well with Renfield who is learning to be his own man!

Teddy is now after Renfield as well but ends up in Dracula’s lair. That’s where the ancient fanged horror finds out that Renfield has been sort of living a good life. Now the table is about to turn as Dracula finds people who are just as happy to be evil in order to take out the good because, as Dracula says, the good taste so much better.

Co-dependency – its time to take back the power!

Hoult as Renfield is charming, disarming, thoughtful, caring and pretty much accessory to eras of, well, murder. That being said, Hoult brought life to a character that has been a bit overlooked throughout history. I just love how he is given his due and in the most unusual way. The interaction between Hoult and Cage is fantastic and a bit intimidating just to watch.

Awkwafina as Quincy is a cop who has been fighting for years to find justice for her murdered father. Especially when the ones responsible are the Lobo family. She gives us a hard edge but comedy to boot. Awkwafina gets a chance to show some action skills and it’s pretty cool.

Schwartz as Teddy is just ridiculously out of control and pretty much knows he can get away with anything. The corrupt police department makes sure of that. Schwartz looks like he is having a great time in this role.  Aghdashloo as Ella has one purpose, to keep her crime family together even if her son is a loose cannon. Its wonderful to see her take on a comedic role while being the most well-dressed bad gal in the film.

Now, lets talk about Cage as Dracula – I swear I either couldn’t stop laughing or was riveted by his portrayal. This isn’t your handsome, smooth talking nice guy that is misunderstood. Nope, he is clearly got dental issues, controlling tendencies, a plan for world domination and needs a nail technician asap! He has taken this role and given is thrills, laughs, chills and more thrills. Well done from start to finish.

Other cast includes Adrian Martinez as Chris, Danya LaBelle as Karla, Rhonda Dents as Sharon, Christopher Cook as Bob, Michael Sullivan as Weird Kevin, Rosha Washington as Trevante, T. C. Matherne as Kyle, Brandon Jones as Mark, Jenna Kanell as Carol, James Black as Captain Browning, Caroline Williams as Vanessa, Bess Rous as Caitlyn and Camille Chen as Kate.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

RENFIELD is such a horror/comedy filled with amazing performances. Starting with Hoult and Cage then add a spicy dash of Awkwafina and add a well-chosen cast of disturbing characters and this is fun for everyone. There is action, a long history story line, blood, gun fights, body fights, more action and all in the name of the prince of darkness.

The opportunity for Renfield to tell his side of the story makes it clear that working for a self-indulgent, narcissistic ageless boss needed its moment in the sun (pun intended). Jaw dropping moments along with uncomfortable laughs only add to this strange and pretty dang cool telling.

I was all in for Cage being Dracula but man, oh man, did direction McKay get it right from action to cinematography to special effects. It is everything we didn’t know we wanted!

In the end – it sucks to be him!

The Chase is on with COCAINE BEAR on Bluray

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Elizabeth Banks and Universal Pictures Home Entrtainment is the VERY loosely based on the 1985 true story ridiculousness and savagery of the COCAINE BEAR.

After a drug runner throws tons of cocaine, and himself, in red bags out of a plane, it crashes. Investigating the incident is Officer Reba (Ayoola Smart) and Bob (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) who recognizes the runner.  In the forests of Georgia, scattered about are the bundles of cocaine and a 500-pound bear has found and ingested said white powdery substance.

Skipping school is Henry (Christian Convery) and his friend DeeDee (Brooklynn Prince) much to the dismay of Mom Sari (Keri Russell). Sari turns to Ranger Liz (Margo Martindale) to look in the forest for the kids. The drugs are also wanted by Eddie (Alden Ehrenreich), Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and Syd (Ray Liotta).

So, Mom is looking for kids, drug dealers are looking for drugs, the cops are looking for drugs, the ranger just wants a little cuddle time with her crush, the hiker is just sad and it all falls under the category of ‘don’t do drugs!’

With so many people in the forest, its easy for the cocaine laden bear to go on a rampage because he only has one goal – more cocaine and clawing up anyone who gets in its way!

Russell as Sari is a Mom that is not going to let her kid get away with skipping school, even if she’s been kidnapped by a bear. Whitlock, Jr. as Bob the cop is doing his job and a bear isn’t going to stop that – someone else might, but not a bear.

Martindale as Ranger Liz had me cracking up every minute. She’s sassy and a badass all at the same time. Liz might need a few more weapons lessons but hey, stress is a bitch. O’Shea and Ehrenreich as Daveed and Eddie are trying to get their product back for dad Syd. Speaking of Liotta, he has always made an awesome bad guy and in this film he, as always, nails it.

Prince as DeeDee is talked into skipping school until she becomes a babysitter and Convery as Henry is a wise cracking kid who isn’t so wise when they find him up a tree!

Shout out to Allan Henry as Cokey the Bear, awesome job! Also, Kristofer Hivju as Olaf the hiker, dude, if you can take on White Walkers then you can definetly handle a cocaine induced bear.

Other cast includeAaron Holliday as Kid, J.B. Moore as Vest, Leo Hanna as Ponytail, Kahyun Kim as Beth, Scott Seiss as Tom, Hannah Hoekstra as Elsa, Jess Tyler Ferguson as Peter and Matthew Rhys as Andrew Thornton.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.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.

Bonus Features include Alternate Ending, Deleted and Extended Scenes, a Gag Reel, All Roads Lead to Cokey: The Making of COCAINE BEAR, UnBEARable Bloodbath: Dissecting the Kills, Doing Lines, Feature Commentary with Director/Producer Elizabeth Banks and Producer Max Handelman and so much more!

COCAINE BEAR is based on the 1985 story of drug smuggler Andrew C. Thornton II who was dropping cocaine out of his plane. His parachute didn’t open so we all know how that ends. They 175 pound brown bear was found a few months later a bit dead and all that was found was forty plastic containers of cocaine - opened. If you care to see the bear, you can visit his display in the Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington.

If you are a fan of early 80’s films, then COCAINE BEAR is for you. It has the cheesy music, bad clothes, and slightly off acting with references that the tykes of 2023 might not get right away. Don’t worry, there will be someone in the room to explain it to you. Its hilarious, its bloody, it quirky

You take all of that and put it into the Elizabeth Banks mixer and COCAINE BEAR comes out. A mixture of ‘ewwwww’s’, laughter, jaw drops and righteous 80’s music means that this twisted tale of mayhem is going to be a good time had by all (without the cocaine side effects!) The cast is perfection and their interaction with ‘Cokey’ is hilarious.

So, get a big bucket of popcorn, turns the lights out and stay still when COCAINE BEAR comes on the screen!

In the end – get in line!

 

He Tell His CHESS STORY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently available on DVD from director Philipp Stolzl and Film Movement is a stunning story of the mind when telling the CHESS STORY.

Dr. Joseph Bartok (Oliver Mascucci) is living the life of a lawyer-notary in 1938 Austria with his love Anna (Birgit Minichmayr). Spending time with her, music, books and their nighttime parties is a wonderful existence. That is until the Nazis sweep in and begin to take Vienna apart piece by piece. Although he is warned to leave quickly, the Gestapo is quicker.

Bartok is taken to a hotel meeting the secret police operative Bohm (Albrecht Schuch). It is simply explained that he wants the codes that would access the bank accounts of several of the Austrian aristocracy. When Bartok makes it clear that he doesn’t know what Bohm is speaking about, Bartok is led away to a room in the hotel.

Bartok begins to understand that they are going to keep in locked away until he gives them what they want. The days begin to pass in solitary confinement where he is provided the very basic food and nothing else. He begins to lose track of time as a man once in the thick of society is left alone.

After one interrogation, Bartok is taken to his room but not before a ruckus breaks out. That’s when he sees a stack of books and grabs the first small one and hides it. Getting back to the room he discovers it is a book about chess, a game he is known for making jokes about. Drawn by something other than bare walls and silence, Bartok begins to read soaking in every word.

Then something begins to click in his head and he gets creative about how to play without his captors knowing. If he can not get away physically, he will mentally to stay alive. The game is on between one man and a war.

Mascucci as Bartok is a man who loves the finer things in life. When a friend warns him to leave Vienna, Bartok knows he has to do what is necessary to save Anna and then his clients. What happens next is a psychological voyage of wills, survival and where the mind can take a person under extreme circumstances. Mascucci is absolutely marvelous in this role keeping me riveted from the first frame until the last taking me through every range of emotion.

Minichmayr as Anna is so lovely and it is clear that Bartok is mad for her. This not a large role for Minichmayr, but her presence in the film is large and poignant. Schuch as Bohm is the man in control of the situation. Keeping his demeanor calm and unthreatening, he hopes to get the codes from Bartok. When that doesn’t happen, he is patient believing that how they are handling their “guests” will bring better results than the normal Gestapo handling.

Other cast include Dieter Bernhardt as Fahrer, Elias Gabele as Hafen, Rafael Stachowiak as Harry, Isa Hochgerner as Kochin, Johannes Zeiler as Dr. Fink, Markus Schleinzer as Dr. Auer, Clemens Berndorff as Dr. Swoboda, Lukas Miko as Gustav Sailer and Andreas Lust as Johann Prantl.

Film Movement, founded in 2002, is an award-winning independent and foreign film company that has released more than 250 feature films and shorts. Theatrical releases include American independent films, documentaries, and foreign arthouse titles catalog such directors as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maren Ade, Jessica Hausner and Ciro Guerra and Melanie Laurent. Bluray and DVD films bring such directors as Eric Rohmer, Bolle August, King Hu, Sergio Corbucci and Luchino Visconti and many more. To discover what Film Movement is all about and find out more about what they have to offer please visit www.filmmovementplus.com.

Bonus Features include Introductory Essay by Writer and Curator Larry List and Bonus Short Film DER TUNNEL directed by Christoph Daniel and Marc Schmidheiny.

CHESS STORY is a stark film director Stolzl also directed NORTH FACE and THE PHYSICIAN brought to the screen through the novella written by Stefan Zweig.

This film is so beautifully done with a difficult background story. Mascucci carries the film filled with emotions, confusion, frustration, anger, fear and the difficulty between reality and what his mind is telling him. That is an intense thing to do and Mascucci brought me in effortlessly into those emotions and my jaw dropped a few times absolutely.

The cinematography and set designs are perfection for bringing in this 1930’s period piece. Stripping away the story from luxury to a barest room with only the mind left brings us all to a level that we cannot possibly imagine, so director Stolzl gives us a glimpse. The game of chess that Bartok thought so silly a game turns into a reason to live.

In the end – it is the story of his mind.

THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE Brings Iconic Family Fun

 

 Jeri Jacquin

In theatres today from directors Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Pierre Leduc, Nintendo, Illumination and Universal Pictures is the iconic THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE.

Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) have started their own business in Brooklyn but everyone seems to think they aren’t capable of making a success of it. When Mario sees that the city water main is broken, he sees this as an opportunity of a lifetime!

Discovering a tunnel of tubes, Luigi looks inside and disappears and when Mario goes into the tube he is sucked in as well. They try to hang on but both go different ways. Mario lands in the Mushroom Kingdom and met by Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Luigi ends up in the Dark Lands.

Quickly captured and taken to their leader Bowser (Jack Black), he learns where Mario is and what Bowsers evil-love-laid plans are for Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). In the meantime, Mario meets Princess Peach explaining that he needs to rescue his brother. She reluctantly agrees but also needs to save the Mushroom Kingdom from a Bowser takeover.

Knowing they need help; they go to King Cranky Kong (Fred Armisen) of the Jungle Kingdom. To get help, Mario must tackle Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) and all too soon, Bowser arrives with his own army! Now, the battle to save the Mushroom Kingdom, as well as all the Kingdoms, and bringing brothers back together are intertwined and its on – well, you know, like Donkey Kong!

Pratt as Mario gets a chance to play one of the most iconic Nintendo characters and does so as only Pratt can. He takes us all away into the Mario character completely making it easy to forget whose voice you are hearing. Don’t worry, the voice change is all explained and then it’s off to the adventure and it certainly seems like Pratt had a good time because, well, everyone in the theatre certainly did.

Day as Luigi is the brother who goes along to get along and it is clear he loves being with his brother. A little more apprehensive and slightly less adventuresome than Mario, Day still gives us a character that would do anything for family. He is loveable and enjoyable which is how we have always seen him.

Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach is perfection. She is exactly what I believed she should sound like. She is strong, caring, compassionate and yet won’t hesitate to get in the middle of the action and show her stuff. Taylor-Joy gives us a powerful Princess Peach and the vocal performance is worth every moment the animated character is on screen.

Black as Bowser, I mean what can you say. He has always been known to take on different characters but as Bowser he is, oddly, strange, evil but with a soft spot of love that can be destroyed in a millisecond. Bowser made us laugh, shout and even ‘awwwwwwww’ for a few seconds mixed in with giggles. He is strong, he is loud and Black gave us a fantastic Bowser.

Rogen as Donkey Kong is absolutely fantastic. As a fan of that particular video game, he gave me everything in this vocal performance. I laughed, cheered, loved his comebacks and one liners (that will be added to our families film lines) and heart of friendship. Rogen gave all of that and I the next time I play Donkey Kong I’m going to hear him.

Key as Toad is fun, protective and has a heart full of courage. Wanting to be a part of protecting the Mushroom Kingdom, he just has no fear, not to mention how cute he is. Armisen as King Cranky Kong is a laid back but entertaining from start to finish.

Shout out to Jelenic as the blue Lumalee for the existential view of the film’s situations that totally cracked me up and to the penguins for their bravery and charm.  

Other cast include Charles Martinet as Mario/Luigi’s father, Khary Payton as the Penguin King, Jessica DiCicco as the brothers Mom, John DiMaggio as Uncle Arthur, Eric Bauza as the Tod General, Juliet Jelenic as the blue Lumalee, Sebastian Maniscalco as Foreman Spike, Kevin Richardson as Kamek.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has just added an amazing film to their library and making it available for us to all experience and re-experience in our own home theaters. There are films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the industry’s leading producers of event animated films. Bringing the DESPICABLE ME franchise, to include Minions, features some of the world’s most renowned talent. To read more please visit www.illumination.com.

THE SUPER MARIO BROS MOVIE is a film that everyone who loved/loves the Nintendo video games to see this weekend. Almost every iconic thing that is in the games has come to life and what would be expected. Illumination did not try to reinvent the wheel but instead is giving fans what they crave.

I absolutely love that nothing was out of place but instead brought to life in such a way that going on this ride is going to happen again and again. My family and I weren’t out of the film five minutes before my granddaughter, da Kid, asked excitedly, ‘can we go see it again right now?’ The answer is clearly going to be ‘yes!’ because, even at my age, want to see it again.

The film is colorful, vibrant and fun, with a storyline that clearly comes from the game (thank you writer Matthew Fogel, you have my heart!). The characters are iconic but also seeing the way they are brought to the screen is absolutely thrilling.

On a personal note, what a joy it was for me to see this film with my daughter and granddaughter. Nintendo has been a part of our lives since the first little gray box sat on our television. When da Kid was about four or five I introduced her to video games (I know, a grandma doing that – whaaaaaaaaaat?), and I taught her how to play the original Mario Bros.

Now we play Mario Kart 8 on her Nintendo Switch – if that isn’t love through the generations, I don’t know what is. What am I getting to? Well, just this, get your generational family together and hit the theatres this Easter weekend. Enjoy watching icons come to life in a way that is endearing, fun, exciting so that when everyone walks out, the joy is still on all faces.

In the end – let’s-a gooooooo!

The Adventure of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves

 

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from directors Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, eOne and Paramount Pictures is the adventure of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves.

As a member of the Harpers, Edgin Darvis (Chris Pine) has turned away from his order when a Red Wizard brings pain into his life. Raising daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) with companion Holga Kilgore (Michelle Rodriguez), they have turned to becoming thieves. Along with Simon the sorcerer (Justice Smith) and Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), they take without hurting anyone.

Forge brings a mission that could change Darvis’ life but it all turns when a Red Wizard Sofina (Daisy Head) puts Darvis and Holga in prison leaving Forge to take care of Kira. A few years later, Darvis and Holga make their way out of prison discovering Forge has become the Lord of Neverwinter. Finding lovely daughter Kira, Darvis also learns that Forge has not been telling the truth about what happened.

Leaving Neverwinter without Kira, Darvis knows there is only one way to change this, find Simon to help get into the castle for Kira and retrieve the resurrection tablet. Needing more help, they look for the tiefling shapeshifting druid Doris (Sophia Lillis). She begrudgingly decides to help and each step leads them to more relics with the help of Xenk (Rege-Jean Page).

All of this is to get inside the vault to change their fates and deal with Sofina during Forges’ opening of public games. Not swayed by the danger, Darvis, Holga, Simon and Doris take on everything thrown at them because together – they are a mess, but a mess with heart!

Pine as Darvis leads this rag tag group of misfits on an adventure that is really kind of cool. He is a man on a mission and sometimes the character forgets that it isn’t all about him. Pine has got some great lines, swing into action and is fun to watch. Coleman as daughter Kira is a delight to watch. Her character obviously cares for her father but hurt can be a powerful thing. Kira gives a performance of how I would think a young daughter would feel believing what she does about her father Darvis.

Grant as Fitzwilliam is clever, silly, hilarious and cowardly. I just loved watching his character be as shifty as I know Grant can play a character. This is also the character type of a man who will use anyone to get what he wants – even if it kills them. He has the twinkle eye of greed and Grant has such timing and it is totally fun to watch.

Rodriguez as Kilgore has a short fuse when it comes to people attacking her or pretty much anyone else for that matter. She is strong, swings what ever is in her hands like a pro and does not suffer fools. I actually enjoyed watching Rodriguez in this role believing that it is actually she who holds them all together.

Smith as Simon just wants everyone to know that he needs to learn a lot more about the world of magic. Yet, when he is called upon to help take on the big mission, he rolls his eyes, protests a bit and then off he goes to help Darvis. Smith is funny and yet sweet at the same time in this role. Lillis as Doris is another strong female character that just does not have time for stupidity. Wanting to stop the madness that is happening all around them, she reluctantly joins Darvis on his mission.

Page as Xenk is the handsome good guy that offsets Darvis’ sort of bad guy. He is charming, thoughtful, giving and wants to help the band get what they need. From the moment he is on the screen he oozes smooth and I’m okay with that. Head as Sofina is a woman that has powers to make even the earth shake. She is on her own mission to turn the world into zombieland and stopping her becomes just as important. Head is awesome and a tad scary in her portrayal, well done.

Other cast include Spencer Wilding as Gorg, Will Irvine as Tobias, Nicholas Blane as Chancellor Anderton, Bryan Larkin as Chancellor Norixius, Sarah Amankwah as Baroness Torbo, Colin Carnegie as Elvin High Harper, Georgia Landers as Zia and clayton Grover as Chancellor Harnathan.

Paramount Pictures is the longest operating and remaining major studio in Hollywood that has been on the ground floor of every major development in film. From the advent of motion pictures to the emergence of television, through the digital revolution, Paramount Pictures has been there. During our 100-year history, we have served as the production site for thousands of notable movies and television shows. For more please visit www.paramountstudios.com.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves is definetly a fun family film. I saw it with family and we had such a good time together. I did not know what to expect and left the theatre talking about the film. There is action, adventure, a solid story, great special effects, and lots of humor that everyone gets to enjoy.

Directors Daley and Goldstein might have a franchise on their hands for sure. Yes, it did remind me a bit of THE MUMMY franchise but I’m a huge fan of those films so sure, do it with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS. If you can keep the story from breaking off into ridiculous directions then I’d be all in.

Get ready for a whole lot of fun because that’s what DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Honor Among Thieves brings. If non-stop action is your thing, if video games are your thing, if having fun is your thing then this is the film to see this weekend!

In the end – who needs heroes when you have thieves?

When Mom Goes MISSING

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray from directors Will Merrick, Nick Johnson and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the story of a mother who goes MISSING.

June (Storm Reid) lives with her mother Grace (Nia Long) after her father passes when she is very young. Into technology and friends, June is thrilled when Grace decides to go on a vacation with new boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung) to Cartagena, Columbia. As Grace gives her final instructions that friend Heather (Amy Landecker) is in charge and June pretending to listen, the first thing the teen does is set up party time.

One week later, June is supposed to be picking Grace up from the airport but as passengers leave the plane, June’s mother is not in sight. Using her savvy of the computer, June starts looking for where her mom could be. Running out of ideas, she turns to a Columbia P.I. Javi (Joaquim de Almeida) to do some of the leg work for her.

June also manages to get into personal information about Kevin and learns about his past and how it effects what is happening now. Not able to find anything, she needs Javier to find out where they were seen last. June also finds a man named Jimmy (Tim Griffin) who says that Kevin is a good guy and really cares for Grace.

Elijah Park (Daniel Henney), an FBI agent, also stays in touch with June giving her information as he gets it. That doesn’t stop June from following her own leads and investigating through the internet. With all her investigating, June discovers the horrible truth about her mother and it leads to a situation that could end her own life.

Reid as June Allen is a young girl who believes that because she is 18 that she does not have to follow rules and feels her mother is just a kill joy. Once she realizes that life is much more complicated and dangerous, she dives into a world of secrets and lies. Reid is the main focus of the film and does her utmost to portray a young woman who does not rely on others to find her mother.

De Almeida as Javier gives us a part time private investigator who knows his way around Cartagena. Getting the information just leads to more questions and a very long distance relationship with June. His soft spot for the young girl is showing and he chases leads with a vengeance. I have always enjoyed the roles that De Almeida has taken and this film joins the list of performances.

Landecker as Heather is the ‘adult’ while Grace is away but when it is clear she is missing, she helps June get the ball rolling on finding her. Leung as Kevin is the man dating June’s Mom. He has a past and June has to discover whether it has anything to do with what is happening now.

Long as Grace has a small role in the beginning setting up her life with June/Reid. She is a mom who is dealing with a daughter that is starting to show her independence (even if she really isn’t ready for it). Wanting to be a good mom and wanting a love life as well can be complicated enough without disappearing as the cherry on top.

Other cast include Ava Zaria Lee as young June, Michael Segovia as Angel, Megan Suri as Veena, Tracy Vilar as Det. Gomez, Lisa Yamada as Alison, Jameel Shivji as Karthik, and Lauren B. Mosely as Rachel Page.

The film follows the 2018 film SEARCHING and also reminds me of the 2018 film PROFILE. These are also two interesting films dealing with people and their sleuthing ability to use the internet.

MISSING is a film about family, love, and the ability to outsmart bad guys. The character of June is definetly tech savvy because I couldn’t even keep up with how to do what she was doing. I need a class just to figure out how to install an app most of the time. Once June starts, her magic is fast and furious.

It is interesting to watch the trail of breadcrumbs she follows and, although illegal, the ways in which she gets information. That’s the world we live in however, information is key to everything and the internet is full of information. Good or bad, the search for answers is diligent by June and where it all leads her is an absolute shock.

Cuddle up with popcorn because this is about to get strange, fast and intense and jaw dropping in its conclusion.

In the end – no one disappears without a trace!