True to the Game 3

Having just watched the 2020 "True to the Game 2" last evening, I opted to continue on with watching the 2021 "True to the Game 3" today.

And I have to say that writer Jeff Robertson and director David Wolfgang definitely upped the game for this third movie. The storyline was more coherently constructed for this third movie, making it a much more enjoyable movie to sit through. And this 2021 movie is a direct continuation of the 2020 "True to the Game 2" movie, so that was a good thing in terms of continuity.

While "True to the Game 3" is listed as a thriller, there isn't really a lot of excitement or thrills to be had throughout the movie. Nay, this is more of a crime movie than it is a thriller.

It was nice to see the cast from the previous movie return to reprise their characters and roles in "True to the Game 3".

I will say that "True to the Game 3" is definitely way more enjoyable than "True to the Game 2".

My rating of "True to the Game 3" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Hated the ending because one it made no sense and two they didn't really make this about gena and quadir which I hoped to see overall bad ending to this trilogy.

What an unexpected gem! Those long, static shots, overwrought seriousness and ludicrous plot devices of 2 were tossed aside in favor of energetic scenes, actors freely embodying more realized characters, and, dare I say, a delicious pulp flavor! Whether Shoog gives cops the cold shoulder, someone is being pressed for information or an assassin is on the move, the deliveries are rollicking and tucked in with humorous innuendo. Really, keep your ears perked. While a heartbreaking scene between Gah-Git (Starletta DuPois) and Shoog (Vivica A. Fox) steals the show, special mention to Saleem's (Jeremy Meeks) absolute flourish in this pulp environment! It felt like the cast was given license - at long last - to truly bring their characters to bear. That showcase of talent, coupled with a far more intense presentation gives the impression of a more generous budget than the last installment. Wish the whole series had this feel (a testament to the directing and writing)! It's a perfect fit for the themes presented - leaving the viewer with a desire to watch 3 again, as there were surely some awesome bits missed. (And if anyone launches a Gah-Git and Shoog road trip movie, I am here for it.)

Where the hell did Gina go after leaving Police Station? Q flew into town, Shoog been by the house, where was she?

Bria how STUPID is she? That hard up?

The last addition to this series is probably the most tension filled. Per usual, the "main" character in the film Gena takes a backseat to the assorted characters and their stories involved in the criminal underworld. Bodies start dropping left and right, including a couple the audience might not have expected. Direction keeps pacing and tone the most level of all three installments. Acting still decent at best from the cast of performers. However, Kris D. Lofton as the main villain in this sequel is a standout. True to fashion in the series, production value remains a high point, with decent camerawork, editing, sound design, and music/score. The ending was bizarre on one front (I assume the books made certain things more clear than the films did) and offered an annoying trope on another. Recommendation? Anyone invested this far will probably want closure to the series. As a standalone crime thriller, nothing new is given to the genre here.