sinsro

Almost all Superman stories for TV or movies has obsessed over Clark Kent. I get it, it brings a human element to the story to make the audience feel connected and it is simply cheaper to produce as there is no need for expensive special effects. But, then they should just call the movie Clark Kent.

Finally Superman gets more than 1% of screentime, which is a nice welcome change.

The movie still is mainly invested in making him look human though, not super at all, to have the audience root for him I guess. He is generally speaking the weakest looking superhero in the movie, the extras like Mr Terrific is by far the most superior superhero in the movie. He is basically a god. Following a Hollywood trend of empowering certain groups I guess.

"Superman" is constantly bleeding or being beaten up. The other superheros in the movie are the ones who actually seem to be getting stuff done, while Superman seems more invested in rescuing squirrels and addressing his many health issues. In the end, did he even need to be there at all? Seems it was all sorted without him. He comes off as a bit naive with the mind of a child, while the rest of the world around him somehow grew up.

The movie is stuck a bit between this naive child world and an adult world where politics and real wars is a thing. I'd much rather see it go in the direction of realism, like The Boys or the Dark Knight comics made by Frank Miller, where things take a much more adult and real turn. Sometimes they go there, like when some of the extras superheros simply dispose of the badguys, but then the next moment they go back to Superman rescuing squirrels and having children running around happily around soldiers battling it out without anyone getting too badly injured.

To me the movie tried too hard to please everyone. At least the acting and visuals are top notch.

The movie starts with Matt and Emily on some secret spy mission, barely surviving a plane crash since it lands on snow. Miraculously the wings and fuel tanks are ripped off in the impact, keeping them safe from any explosion or fire. Finally they jump out and the remaining skeleton left of the cabin tumbles down a cliff and explodes in a huge fireball, apparently the seats were very flammable or something. That sets the tone, and you know if you want to enjoy the show you will need to turn that logical part of your brain all the way off.

They wow to use this as a ticket out of the CIA, because now everyone thinks they are dead. And I guess if you work in the CIA pretending to die is the only way to leave the company or whatever, and they are safe from their enemies this way and blah blah.

15 years later they have kids, and now nothing is more important than getting approval from their teenage daughter, the movie is now basically just about impressing her and be the cool parent she wants to hang out with. They first try to do this by creepingly and poorly use their spy talents to stalk her, until it all goes wrong because they forget that well trained spies should not cause loads of drama in public places. But other than that not grasping basic concepts of staying under the radar, they are great spies, who are amazing at anything, even after 15 years off their game.

So amazing in fact that we keep hearing how sexy, handsome, strong and fantastic Matt is. Not sure why the movie is so eager to shower him with compliments from every character in it, it becomes a bit cringe after a while, its like the writer is super scared of being labeled racist and went all in to prove he is not.

Anyway, it now goes all off rails, and we learn that some outdated 15 year old tech apparently can control all the modern infrastructure of the world, and eveyone thnks Matt and Emily has it and wants it back, so its all back into the spy world from here for this family.

Next, basically, image James Bond with whining teenagers tagging along, then the typical women with toothpick arms beating up anyone and some funny moments like the empowered grandmother with a young lover.

Anyway, by now you get the gist. Another story written by chatgpt that ticks off all the necessary checkboxes netflix has to approve a story. It wont offend anyone, and will barely entertain anyone either.

Cousins reunite after long time apart due to very different life choices to go on a pilgrimage to honor their diseased grandmother. It is not without friction as they are basically opposites of each others. Yet, in many ways also very much the same. I am sure many can relate to being stuck with a family member you both hate and love, the story hits home in this way and is touching.

However, I watched this as it was categorized as a "comedy" and "buddy comedy", because I felt down and needed a light hearted movie and a good laugh.

Well, unless "comedy" now means melancholic, sad, serious and depressive starring characters with clinical mental illness portrayed in a realistic way, I feel I was misled into watching a heavy movie I was not in the mood for. And touched by a movie when I did not want to be touched. Lol

There are some light hearted moments, but neither me or my gf laughed even once. I think that should be necessary for a comedy to be labeled as such.

So as a comedy, a three star. If you would enjoy a touching, thought provoking story involving holocaust, suicide, mental illness and dive into the heritage of jews and how they feel about it, then I suppose it is a solid 7-8.