Stream2BigScreen_Movie_Reviews

Happy Holidays, Streamers! This Thanksgiving break has given us a bunch of content to review. On the top, or bottom, of that list is the revived and renewed sequel, Good Burger 2. Kenan and Kel have renewed their comedic duo for one more "All That" ride. Good Burger 2 follows Dex after his last failed invention when he is welcomed back by Ed with open arms at Good Burger. The old burger shop is threatened again and the two have to figure out if they still have the sauce to save the shop.

Do I really need to say it? This movie is too late! This movie feels like it's for kids, but I have no clue how the main characters resonate with them. Then, you have adults watching some of the most ridiculous comedy that brings back moments of nostalgia of "All That" and "Kenan & Kel" but just awkwardly. Either way, there are some laughs but fewer than you want. The biggest giggles come from the random cameos by a plethora of celebrities that signed up to be in this movie, true to Good Burger fashion. Also true to Good Burger fashion, this movie took the same tropes from the first movie and just brought it to the present day. It didn't necessarily not work but for those of us that loved the original, it felt way too derivative and carbon copy than a sequel. Kenan does his normal. Kel, although his face looks weird, does his normal. Then, everyone else is doing some version of the same jokes as the original movie in a different but similar fashion, I'm looking at you old lady.

At the end of the day, Good Burger 2 is only 23 years too late and it shows in every scene of the movie. Kenan and Kel try to rekindle what they had and it works a bit but not enough. Good Burger 2 is too late but if you're bored and want to remember your past or force your past on your kids check out Good Burger 2 with a handful of popcorn.

What's the what, Streamers! Netflix has a robust slate of new releases at the end of this year, which includes the new movie directed by David Fincher, The Killer. David Fincher has made some really amazing films that are meticulously controlled and brimming with suspense like Se7en, Zodiac, and The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. After his foray into prestige, biopic territory with Mank, it is good to see Fincher return to this pure genre exercise. Here's how it went.

Based on a French graphic novel, The Killer follows the story of an assassin (Michael Fassbender) who makes a fateful mistake on a job that leads to an international race to clean up the mess the only way he knows how. The Killer spouts his philosophy on doing his job, but it all seems to unravel minute by minute. As things crumble in successive vignettes, The Killer has to maintain control as best he can. Bloody, bloody, heavily-narrated hijinks ensue.

Well, to be generous, The Killer is deliberately paced. Okay, it is very slow. Fincher has made the choice to build tension by very slowly unfurling this story. There is so much narration by the main character that it becomes oppressive. It's a good way to get us inside the mind of this unreadable, unknowable man, but it is exhausting and borders on boring. It takes a while for the action of this "Action" movie to kick in, but it might be too little, too late when it does. There is one epic fight sequence that would almost be worth the price of admission, but it comes very late in the film. Beyond that, the Killer uses some interesting and chuckle-worthy aliases on his various travels. Fincher has his typical, cool aesthetic that makes the movie look very slick. I think trimming this movie about 30 minutes would have made it a much more engrossing and vital suspense thriller.

Side note: Tilda Swinton comes in for one scene and kills it as usual.

Ultimately, The Killer is very slow and there's not enough story to justify the runtime. This movie should have been cut down by 30 minutes. Fincher is a master of suspense and has a cool aesthetic, but overall, this film is too slow and boring except for one intense fight sequence. I'm bummed to give this is only a handful of popcorn because Fincher movies are typically a favorite of mine.

Hey, Streamers! As holiday and awards seasons approach, the theaters will be overflowing with new releases. We've been seeing the trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes for months now. It is a prequel to The Hunger Games movies that starred Jennifer Lawrence. Now, we get to see how the world that Katniss revolutionized came to be. Here's whether this prequel proves its worth.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes takes place 64 years prior to the action of the original The Hunger Games movie just before the 10th Hunger Games is about to begin. Our main character is Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), a bright, ambitious young man determined to win a cash prize that will help him restore his family's stature in the Capitol. Snow becomes one of the first set of mentors for the 24 tributes for the 10th Hunger Games. Snow also comes up with a plan to revitalize the Games and provides counsel to the head game maker, Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis). Meanwhile, Snow is assigned the feisty tribute for District 12 Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). Lucy Gray has a magnetic personality and a beautiful singing voice. Snow uses his ingenuity to help Lucy Gray try to survive the Games. Singing, snakes, and child-murdering hijinks ensue.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes like its title is too long and a bit convoluted. At 2 hours 27 minutes, this movie really could have used a trim. In fact, while the story is told in 3 chapters, it is pretty distinctly 2 movies. There is about an hour and 15 minutes that feels out of place. Despite that, this movie is never boring. There is so much going on that your attention will be held for the entire runtime.

The cast will hold your attention. Even though I don't think she is that good an actress, Rachel Zegler makes you care about Lucy Gray. Moreover, she is beautiful singer. She gets to do a lot of it in this movie. The songs aren't great, but her voice is beyond. Tom Blyth does a good job as Snow as well, but it is the supporting cast that overshadows the two leads. Viola Davis is doing the absolute most in this movie and I am here for it. She relishes every moment of screen time and when she is not on screen, you will be thinking about her. Davis is perfect here. Jason Schwartzman and Peter Dinklage also get to ham it up and add some spice to this movie. I could have used more of both. The production design and visual effects utilized throughout help to build the world of Panem. This dystopian era is portrayed very vividly. It is a feast for the eyes.

Ultimately, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a very entertaining movie. Even though it is too long, it is able to keep your attention with moving songs, a virtuoso performance by Viola Davis and great production values. You'll get your money's worth if you choose to go to the theater. Grab a big box a popcorn and return to the world of Panem.