In the picture: Project Power

movie review

Project Power has plenty of visual flair but lacks emotional punch

Project Power

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback, Colson Baker, Rodrigo Santoro, Amy Landecker, Allen Maldonado, and Courtney B. Vance

Directed by: Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost

Tagline: What would you risk for 5 minutes of pure power?

Netflix may have been the undisputed king of entertainment during this peculiar summer but the bulk of its feature length offerings have ended up being frustratingly mediocre. Now joining their list of middling releases is the action flick Project Power, a superhero caper that doesn’t make the most of its interesting concept.

At the centre of the premise is a pill that grants superpowers but comes with a catch: the powers are different for each individual – you don’t know which one you’ll get till you try the drug for the first time – and the effect only lasts for five minutes.

In a city struggling with increased crime brought on by this unpredictable and sometimes lethal drug, we meet Art (Jamie Foxx), a man who is trying to find the distributor of the Power pills. But he ends up being chased by a suspended police officer, Frank (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who has been told that Art is the suspected source of these glowing capsules. The paths of both men intersect with that of teenage drug dealer and aspiring rapper Robin (Dominique Fishback) who sells pills to provide for her ailing mother. Frank has been buying capsules from Robin (and taking them in order to even the playing field while chasing Power-enhanced criminals) while Art tries intimidating her, hoping she will lead him to the people behind the drug.

As their arcs converge, the film reveals the true origin of the pills and the intent of the project that spawned them. With stakes that range from personal to global, the characters must team up to bring down the sinister operation and the vile operatives behind it.

Helmed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost (the team behind Paranormal Activity 3 and Paranormal Activity 4 as well as the film Nerve and the documentary Catfish), Project Power weaves several interesting but unoriginal threads into an uneven action thriller. There is visual flair aplenty here, but the movie doesn’t fully explore the implication – and, at times, consequences – of the topics it broaches, and struggles, in particular, with its dramatic elements. Considering how much is often at risk, it is strange that the proceedings remain emotionally hollow.

The strengths here lie in the visuals and action sequences – a scene that unfolds around a woman with Elsa-esque abilities is striking in particular. But character building and depth aren’t the movie’s strong suites. Even a very committed Foxx as well as a standout performance by relative newcomer Fishback can’t overcome the film’s weaknesses that stem from a predictable storyline and an underdeveloped script. An underutilized Gordon-Levitt also leaves you wishing he’d been given better material to work with.

Project Power is, ultimately, a watchable but forgettable entry in Netflix’s ever-expanding catalogue. It is more likely to feed your yearning for some mindless action than engage you with its supposed social commentary. 

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 23rd August, 2020 *

Animal Crackers - a sweet animated adventure

movie review

Animal Crackers

Starring (voices): John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Ian McKellen, Danny DeVito, Sylvester Stallone, Raven-Symoné, and Patrick Warburton

Directed by: Scott Christian Sava and Tony Bancroft

Filmmakers can find inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Even something like an animal-shaped cookie isn’t just a sweet treat for them; it’s the potential subject of a movie! That explains why we now have Animal Crackers, an animated fantasy adventure centred on a box of magical biscuits.

The movie tells the story of a family that inherits a “run-down, burnt-up, worn-out” circus which they must then save from being taken over by an evil uncle.

We begin in the 1960s as the film explains how circus-owner brothers Horatio (voiced by Ian McKellen) and Bob (James Arnold Taylor) have a falling out because they both like the beautiful Talia (Tara Strong). Bob ends up marrying Talia, while an angry Horatio leaves the circus. With Bob in charge, the show becomes known for its amazing animal acts.

Years later, Bob’s nephew Owen (John Krasinski) also finds love at the same circus, but he has to give up his dream of running the show in order to please his lovely wife Zoe’s (Emily Blunt) demanding father (Wallace Shaw). Meanwhile, Horatio keeps trying to discover the secret behind Bob’s act, but one day, his efforts end in tragedy. Owen then finds out that his uncle Bob has left him the circus as well as a magical box of animal crackers that is behind the show’s spectacle. If someone eats an animal-shaped biscuit from the box, they turn into that animal!

Will Bob (who works at his father-in-law’s dog biscuit factory), Zoe (who starts rebuilding the circus), and their carnival friends manage to save the show and defeat Horatio?

Maybe. Maybe not. But they will certainly learn a lesson or two along the way.

The magical world of Animal Crackers is filled with joy and fun. There are some amusing musical numbers, humorous gags, and moments of excitement.

But the adventure is quite uneven. It’s all a bit confusing at the start, very predictable by the middle, and altogether zany by the end. The characters are a little basic, although the delightful voice cast does a good job bringing them to life.

Ultimately, the film is somewhat like its namesake biscuits: sweet, a little bland, not particularly nutritious, but visually cute and fun to experience once in a while.

- By Sameen Amer

Young World, Dawn - 22nd August, 2020 *

In the picture: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

review

An interactive special reunites us with Kimmy Schmidt and her friends for a zany adventure

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

Starring: Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane, Jane Krakowski, Daniel Radcliffe, and Jon Hamm

Written by: Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Sam Means, and Meredith Scardino

Directed by: Claire Scanlon

The Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt may have come to an end last year, but its sunny protagonist’s story now continues in a delightful special that not only gives us a chance to spend some more time in Kimmy’s whimsical company but also makes good use of its web-based platform.

Billed as a television movie at the Primetime Emmy Awards where it has snagged two nominations, Kimmy vs. the Reverend finds our resilient heroine (played with fitting gusto by Ellie Kemper) and her friends – Lillian (Carol Kane), Titus (Tituss Burgess), and Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski) – continuing their shenanigans in an interactive episode in which you, the viewer, get to decide how things play out.

Since the events of the finale, Kimmy has fallen in love with a British royal and is now days away from her wedding to Prince Frederick (Daniel Radcliffe) who has had a life almost as peculiar as hers. But wedding planning takes a backseat when she discovers a book inside her old backpack that does not belong to her. Closer inspection reveals that the paperback was borrowed from a school library six years after she was kidnapped.

Realizing that something is amiss, Kimmy sets out on a quest to unravel the mystery, which leads her back to her now-incarcerated kidnapper Reverend Wayne (Jon Hamm) and the revelation that there is a second bunker with more kidnapped girls. 

Kimmy must now find and free the girls, and it is in the viewer’s hands how she gets there, if she gets there at all.

You are given the chance to make decisions, ranging from silly to serious, that impact the outcome. Choose wisely and you will lead Kimmy to her happily ever after. Make one wrong move though and you could end up dooming the victims, ruining the Time’s Up movement, or even killing the protagonist. But fear not, for the episode will always give you a do-over – make better choices, fix your mistakes, and find the happiest ending. Or mess up on purpose just to discover where each arc leads.

The special offers silliness aplenty as the absurd drama of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt proves to be perfect for a choose-your-own-adventure styled epilogue. The plot may not be very complex but it’s clear that considerable work and creativity went into crafting all the storyline. Not only are there several endings (after most of which you get chided by a character for messing things up), but even something as simple as skipping the theme song leads to humorous results.

It is fun to be reunited with the exuberant characters that populate Kimmy’s world, plus there are also several surprise cameos that keep things entertaining. The cast – from newcomers like Radcliffe (who fits right in) to old favourites like Hamm (who is as amusing as ever as the villain) – remains terrific.

A few inconsistences and dated references – do we really need more jokes about the Fyre Festival and Mark Wahlberg’s schedule? – notwithstanding, Kimmy vs. the Reverend is an enjoyable episode, the interactive elements of which work really well. Kimmy’s joyous disposition continues to be contagious, making her delightful comeback a bright spot in an otherwise dreary summer.

Rating: 4 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 16th August, 2020 *

In the picture: Feel the Beat

movie review

Dance comedy drama Feel the Beat is a formulaic but sweet family flick

Feel the Beat

Starring: Sofia Carson, Donna Lynne Champlin, Enrico Colantoni, Wolfgang Novogratz, Rex Lee, and Marissa Jaret Winokur

Directed by: Elissa Down

Tagline: Take your chance. Make your move.

A self-absorbed young dancer starts coaching a group of preteens and (eventually) learns life lessons as a result in Feel the Beat, a formulaic comedy drama that is let down by its predictability.

After a mishap not only embarrasses her publically but also threatens to end her Broadway dreams, icy perfectionist April (Sofia Carson) moves back to her hometown, where she is welcomed enthusiastically by her old dance teacher, Barb (Donna Lynne Champlin). April rejects Barb’s offer to coach the town’s struggling tween dance troupe, New Hope, but rethinks the proposal upon realizing that the situation could potentially work in her favour. Should New Hope do well and proceed to the finals of a dance competition, April could get the opportunity to perform with her students in front of judge Welly Wong (Rex Lee), a Broadway producer who could save her career.

Things unfold exactly how you would expect. No surprises are in store for viewers here. The story just puts together basic plot points that we have seen many times before (Bring It On, Glee, Pitch Perfect, School of Rock). You have misfit underdogs trying to succeed; a driven protagonist who needs to learn what’s important in life; a requisite romance (that, in this case, is never fully developed); and an uninspired, predictable resolution. 

There are Disney vibes aplenty here, and a Disney star (Carson) also takes centre stage. A considerably talented supporting cast – both in the form of seasoned actors (Champlin, Colantoni) and young performers who play members of New Hope (like Eva Hauge and Lidya Jewett) – try to make the emotional beats land, even when the drama doesn’t feel particularly authentic.

Not much about the project is very memorable, partially because the film doesn’t have anything new to say. To stand out, Feel the Beat needed a different spin on its worn-out concept, but the movie just doesn’t have a distinctive take on things or a unique flavour. The tale may have moments of warmth and there is the occasional humorous touch that works, but in its decision to take a by-the-numbers approach, the film misses the chance to make a mark. What we are left with is a safe, indistinctive retread that borrows heavily from better productions and isn’t as remarkable or joyous as it should be. 

All in all, Feel the Beat dutifully follows the competition-themed tween/teen dramedy recipe, and while it is sweet enough to be palatable, it doesn’t leave much of an aftertaste. The film isn’t likely to impress those who have already experienced numerous similar cinematic offerings but may get a more enthusiastic response from its younger, less jaded target audience.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 9th August, 2020 *

In the picture: The Old Guard

movie review

The Old Guard is an uneven but entertaining action flick

The Old Guard

Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Tagline: Forever is harder than it looks.

Over the last decade, we have become so accustomed to Marvel and DC escapades ruling the cinematic summer that the current lack of superhero blockbusters seems downright peculiar. But while members of the Avengers and the Justice League have been forced to take an unexpected hiatus, Netflix is making sure that comic book characters aren’t entirely missing from our screens.

The streaming giant’s latest action flick finds the immortal heroes of Greg Rucka’s The Old Guard making their film debut in what Netflix clearly hopes will become the first installment of a successful franchise.

The movie follows a team of mercenaries - Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), and their leader Andy (Charlize Theron) - whose regenerative abilities have kept them alive for centuries. But there’s a catch: their healing powers don’t last forever.

Dreadful past experiences have taught the group that they need to hide their presence from the world for fear of being ostracized, captured, experimented on, and/or tortured.

They realize their secret is out, though, when their latest mission turns out to be a set up. Hired by an ex-CIA operative, James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), to save kidnapped children, the team instead has to fight their way out of an ambush.

The seemingly miraculous recovery of a U.S. Marine in Afghanistan, meanwhile, alerts the group to the presence of a new immortal, Nile (KiKi Layne), who is then rescued by Andy but is reluctant to accept her destiny.

With or without their newest member, the heroes must try to figure out how to neutralize their foe before they are turned into lab rats for a money hungry pharma exec (Harry Melling) who wants to study them and unlock the secret to their powers.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood builds an interesting world led by a strong character who is all the more compelling thanks to the performance of the very well cast Charlize Theron; the actress excels at playing such ass-kicking, moody roles. A handful of well-orchestrated action sequences add thrill to the proceedings and are at their best when they make use of the immortality aspect during the fights.

But in its attempt to mix the action with human drama, the film runs into pacing issues. Because of the weaknesses in the screenplay, the exposition isn’t exactly the most riveting part of this two hours long film. There are developments that aren’t entirely convincing and elements that just feel shoehorned into the tale. And even with its overlong running time, the movie still fails to explain even the basics of its immortality premise and the mechanics of the regeneration. (What, for instance, would happen if they were dismembered?)

And for an outfit of amazing immortals, the team sadly doesn’t get the chance to face a worthy foe. Instead we have an antagonist who seems more cartoonish than menacing.

That said, The Old Guard is still a fun, entertaining popcorn flick. The film may make you wish it had shed its more generic elements, and while it may not make the most of its intriguing premise or dig as deep as its themes demand, it does manage to create a fascinating world and deliver an enjoyable action outing.

Rating: 3 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 19th July, 2020 *

In the picture: Desperados

movie review

An unoriginal premise and a weak, unfunny script make the new Netflix comedy Desperados a complete disappointment

Desperados

Starring: Nasim Pedrad, Anna Camp, Lamorne Morris, Sarah Burns, and Robbie Amell

Directed by: LP

The accidental or regrettable email has been a subplot in several comedies. Anne Hathaway’s frazzled Jules sent one not too long ago in The Intern (2015); her employees then went on a mini heist to delete the offending message from the recipient’s computer. Julia Roberts’ love-struck Jules also wrote one in My Best Friend’s Wedding all the way back in 1997, albeit with entirely different intentions. In each case, the shenanigans revolving around the problematic email were used mostly as brief detours along the central journey. The new film Desperados, however, takes this unoriginal concept and unwisely decides to stretch it to feature length, and, even more unwisely, chooses to pair it with crude humour. The results are more cringe-worthy than amusing.

The sender of the email this time around is shockingly not a Jules but a guidance counselor named Wesley (portrayed by SNL alum Nasim Pedrad) who isn’t having much luck finding a job or a boyfriend. Right after a failed blind date with a man named Sean (Lamorne Morris), a chance encounter with the charming Jared (Robbie Amell) makes her feel like she has found the perfect guy. Desperate to make the relationship work, she hides her eccentricities and turns into a completely different person in the hopes of pleasing her man. But when her new beau proceeds to ghost her, Wesley gets drunk with her best friends, Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns), and sends Jared a very insulting email, only to find out that he is in fact injured and stuck in a hospital in Mexico.

Scared that if Jared reads the email it would mean the end of their relationship, Wes goes to Cabo, her BFFs in tow. The ladies’ plan is to break into Jared’s hotel room, find his devices, and delete the message. 

You’d reckon things would go amusingly wrong, but sadly hilarity is in short supply here. Instead you have predictable developments, tired shenanigans, and distasteful gags, courtesy of an unfunny script by Ellen Rapoport and LP’s indistinctive direction.

Desperados clearly wants to emulate the success of the significantly funnier Bridesmaids and Girls Trip but its crew lacks the talent to match the wit and warmth of these acclaimed comedies.

Even its cast, as charming as the actors may be, struggle to do much with the weak material they have been given. Pedrad has chemistry with her onscreen love interests, but there are times when she seems like a supporting player who has been put in charge of a vehicle she can’t fully command. Camp just makes you wish her talent hadn’t been wasted on this tired script.

Towards the end, Desperados tries to deliver a few heartfelt moments and positive messages, but the film ultimately lacks the wit and emotional depth that would make the morals impactful or the journey worthwhile.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 12th July, 2020 *

In the picture: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

movie review

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is charming, feel-good fun

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Starring: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, Dan Stevens, Melissanthi Mahut, Mikael Persbrandt, and Demi Lovato

Directed by: David Dobkin

Tagline: Nobody wins solo.

The ongoing pandemic may have deprived the world of the Eurovision Song Contest this year, but a new Netflix musical comedy is now here to fill the void left by the campy contest’s absence.

Co-written and co-produced by its star, Will Ferrell, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga warmly captures the Pan-European competition’s over-the-top spectacle and joyous ridiculousness while telling a heart-warming tale of small-town dreamers along the way.

Ferrell plays hapless Icelander Lars who has been obsessed with Eurovision ever since he witnessed ABBA’s legendary winning entry, ‘Waterloo’, in 1974 when he was a child. His lifelong goal thenceforth has been to win the popular show, much to the embarrassment of his disapproving father Erick (Pierce Brosnan). Supporting his ambitions, though, is his childhood friend Sigrit (Rachel McAdams) with whom he has a band called Fire Saga and who happens to have unrequited feelings for him. 

Lars’s musical dreams seem highly improbable, which is why it comes as a complete surprise to everyone when, by the power of flukes, Fire Saga find themselves on track to represent their country at the forthcoming Eurovision ceremony.

As the underdogs progress (almost always despite themselves), each ridiculous turn finds the film amusingly paying homage to the competition that inspired it while gently poking fun at its eccentricities, backstage shenanigans, and politics. Being familiar with the contest certainly helps the viewing experience; there are cameo appearances by past contestants as well as references to others, and plenty of in-jokes that will make more sense to those who have experienced the annual extravaganza.

Even if you’ve never heard of the contest before though, you’ll still find it hard not to be invested in the goofy drama, thanks in large part to the charms of Rachel McAdams who brings such warmth and sweetness to her role that you can’t help but root for her character. Ferrell (not the most intuitive choice for the lead, but this is a project he appears to have spearheaded after all) is likable enough as Lars; however, it’s ultimately McAdams’s talent that makes the unlikely pairing work.

It also helps that the movie’s soundtrack is a catchy, cheesy Europop triumph. The original tracks are so perfectly suited to the setting that it isn’t a stretch to imagine songs like ‘Double Trouble’, ‘Come and Play’, and the hilariously OTT ‘Lion of Love’ being performed on the actual Eurovision stage. Also, the film makes the very wise decision to not let Pierce Brosnan sing and that’s always a plus.

There are, however, several missteps on the Fire Saga trail. The journey is overlong; there are a few slow stretches and times when the tale loses momentum. And the overall take on Eurovision is more affectionate than satirical; a more skewered slant could have potentially made the wit sharper, although then we would have admittedly ended up with an entirely different movie altogether. (Some would also point out the redundancy of lampooning a competition that often seems to accomplish that very goal all by itself.)

Despite all that, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is still a whole lot of escapist fun. The film is very likely to leave you with a smile on your face, and given the kind of year we’re having, this just might be the burst of joyous silliness that this dreary summer needed.

Rating: 3 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News International - 5th July, 2020 *