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I only watched the first one and a half episodes of season one. The highlight for me was Giovanni Ribisi. Later I found out Bryan Cranston was in it too, but sadly not in a memorable role. I liked him far better in Breaking Bad or Wakefield.

Shows like this tend to glorify pickpocketing. Like the Now You See Me movies, they present slick tricks and confident cons, but it all feels too predictable. Ribisi is, of course, the best at everything: stealing, bluffing, manipulating. He infiltrates the family of his former cellmate, and somehow always knows what to say and do. Because, again, he's the best.

When he and his so-called "niece" chase down a big guy in the first episode, the outcome is obvious. The way they catch him is staged, the tension non-existent. The acting doesn't help. The actress who plays the niece didn't convince me at all. None of the family members seem genuinely stressed about their supposed money problems. It's as if they're just actors reading lines, not characters dealing with real stakes.

The world of "Pete" feels strangely small. The woman he left his girlfriend for is now with Cranston's character. How did that even happen? I didn't care, it felt too farfetched. Like a child drew a plot map in crayon and the writers just went with it.

Final verdict: Ribisi does his best, but the show feels too self-impressed, too artificial, and not grounded enough to make me care.

I like Paul Rudd as an actor, but I hadn't seen this one until recently. In This Is 40, Rudd plays Pete, married to Debbie (Leslie Mann), and together they're navigating the chaos of turning 40, with two bickering daughters, difficult parents (one who reappears after years, another who mooches off his son), and two struggling small businesses: Pete's record label and Debbie's boutique, which is losing money thanks to a thieving employee.

The movie touches on a lot of real-life issues for people in their 40s; family stress, financial trouble, marital strain, but here's the problem: every scene tries too hard to be hilarious. The jokes are fine, but few actually land as big laughs. And most of the problems the characters face? They just float around and quietly vanish without being resolved.

There's no real momentum, just scene after scene of midlife stress, minor arguments, and awkward family dynamics. Megan Fox makes an appearance and while she's certainly watchable, even her role doesn't seem to know what it's supposed to be. That kind of sums up the film: lots of loosely connected threads, but no clear direction or payoff.

It's not bad. It's not great. Watching it is just as okay as skipping it. Mildly entertaining, mildly frustrating; a bit like turning 40, I guess.

I truly enjoyed watching Stranger Things, all the way through Season 4 and I'm very much looking forward to Season 5. What makes this show so special to me is not just the story, but the time period: 1983-1986. I was a boy during those years, and watching the series brings back memories in the most vivid way, much like It (2017) did, also starring Finn Wolfhard. The music, the clothes, the bikes, the cars... it all feels authentic. It's a beautiful tribute to a time that shaped many of us.

There's something Harry Potter-like in how we get to see these kids grow up together, facing danger, discovering themselves, and dealing with both trauma and friendship. The core cast is fantastic: Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, along with Joyce and Hopper. Their chemistry and development bring the show to life. Even the nearly 2.5-hour Season 4 finale flew by.

The decision to split up the group was bold. At first, I thought it might have been a budget decision; less screen time, fewer costs, but it turned out to be a smart storytelling choice. Watching each character fight Vecna from different fronts, while also being attacked emotionally and physically (Papa, Chrissy's obsessed boyfriend) added real depth.

Still, I was sad to see great characters leave the show like Billy (Dacre Montgomery), Bob (Sean Astin), and especially Eddie (Joseph Quinn). Eddie became a fan favorite for a reason.

If I had to mention one weak link in the casting, it would be Maya Hawke as Robin. It reminds me a bit of Harry Potter's casting of Evanna Lynch as Luna; a misfit character that just didn't land. Maya comes across as trying, but lacking the same depth or presence as her co-stars. Despite having incredibly talented parents, I simply don't find her performance convincing.

But all in all, Stranger Things has it all: horror, suspense, action, emotion, romance, humor. It's a thrill to watch. Even my 16-year-old daughter enjoys watching it with me and sharing that experience across generations is a blessing I don't take for granted.

Stranger Things isn't perfect, but it has heart. It's eerie, exciting, and deeply nostalgic.