Genie

This is a Peacock Original movie, the Executive Producer is Melissa McCarthy. Fittingly she also is the star of the movie, playing the Genie named Flora. With that as background we should all be surprised if it turned out to be an excellent movie. It is also a remake of "Bernard and the Genie" from 1992, which has Alan Cumming as the Genie. He is in this movie as the uncaring boss.

Having just watched it I can say authoritatively "Genie is a very ordinary movie." But the real question, "Is it entertaining", and my wife and I were mostly entertained. It is the kind of movie that, if you never see it, you are fine.

It starts with Paapa Essiedu as Bernard, a family man with the inability to properly balance work life and family life. Like missing his young daughter's birthday party because his boss asks him to stay late. At home alone, after mom and daughter go visit grandma, he picks up an old, bejeweled box and rubs it. That is how he meets Flora.

Most of the movie covers somewhat unimaginative instances where Bernard uses Flora's magic to grant wishes. But in the end he decides that wealth and fancy wishes were less important than mending relationships. Many won't like the end when he fails to wish for riches untold but that is in essence the message of the movie. Who you are and how you treat others is more important than wealth.

This movie isn't going to solve the world's problems but it was great for 90 minutes of holiday entertainment. Perfect fun for children and a couple life lessons are thrown in for good measure. Don't look for anything deep here including character development - it's all just fun.

Who doesn't love NYC at Christmas time, a fairy tale Genie who can help you with anything, a bad guy with ann incredible acting resume and a happy ending.

I don't know what the naysayers were looking for when they panned this movie , but I say take a chance on this one. Melissa McCarthy is her usual silly self and you can't go wrong with Alan Cummings.

I thought this film was terrific. It was funny and fun, plus the soundtrack was excellent. I thought the film was well cast, too. It's not Hallmarkish at all. Melissa McCarthy has been in a couple of stinkers, but this is not one of them. Don't expect a deep or profound message. This is just about a guy (excellent actor, Paapa Essiedu) who realizes that he has put his family on the back burner and he tries his best to remedy that. I'm not sure where all the hate for this movie is coming from. It was written by Richard Curtis (Love Actually and Notting Hill) so seriously, how could it be bad? Ignore the hate and watch for yourself.

If you watched this movie expecting anything other than a delightful, LIGHT, family comedy, that's on you. It's a great holiday movie and everyone in it is believable enough...FOR A MOVIE ABOUT A GENIE. Get a grip on these comments, revert back to your pre-internet days before you criticized every.single.thing. This is a great movie. Turn off your anger and enjoy something for once. McCarthy is great. The main character is sweet, you will laugh, you will cry (if your heart is not two sizes too small), and you will think about how your wishes all revolve around money, while those in this movie do not...

I just love these reviewers that give movies like this a 1 or a 2 and say it's "unbelievable". Would they also give a Tom and Jerry cartoon a one because Jerry hits Tom over the head with a frying pan, and "Oh my gosh!! The cat didn't die! That's so ridiculous!!" C'mon folks, this movie is like a big cartoon, with human characters. You pretty much know where this movie is going by watching the preview. But so what. It's still loads of fun, and rated PG so you can watch it with your kids. Sorry all you serious film buffs. No naked women, no sex, no swear words, just a whole lot of fun and "fish out of water" type jokes. Melissa is a fun title character, and Paapa Essiedu is the perfect "straight man". Have yourself a nice, clean enjoyable evening watching this one.