Connor3820

I understand the negative views, but only to an extent. This is one of those scripts that in the right hands (Jacques Audiard or Lynne Ramsay come to mind) and with a larger budget and name actors, would earn critical acclaim. The acting is serviceable and it looks like it was shot 30fps on a camcorder or early digital, but the story/writing/characterization is all there. Love an unconventional friendship narrative that brings two very different people together, without feeling unnatural and contrived. This is a solid movie with a unique, original, and touching story.

Anyways I saw this on Netflix and was reminded how much I liked it years ago. Appreciate it for its very unique strengths. I hope it gets it's day in the sun now that it's steaming.

The parts are greater than the sum. Limited spoilers, but as with the previous Safdie film, there really is no through line. I felt it could have kept up its pacing with about 30 minutes cut from it. Would have been much more "relentless" and "enthralling" as I'm sure others have put it if so. Sandler is good, since he is truly a great actor. He makes scenes which could have felt forced run seamlessly. A huge part of his character has to do with downplaying the intensity of the situation to calm the people around him, and he does a great job. A big part of great acting is forgetting you're watching an actor, and in several moments I did completely. The movie is fun and at times kinetic, but it feels self and wanders. Overall, I had a decent time, but it lacks the structure and depth it painfully attempts to convey, which at times is painfully obvious.

Is the writing good? No. Do alligators eat people? Yes. It's a well shot reasonably tense alligators putting people in peril movie and I was thoroughly entertained.