eddie_baggins
Joined Dec 2005
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eddie_baggins's rating
The little 2024 film that could, earning a raft of audience and critical praise as well as a large collection of festival awards at some of the industries premiere events, one suspects that the life of Tracie Laymon's debut feature Bob Trevino Likes It is only just beginning as more audiences discover this based on a true story tale for themselves.
Based on Laymon's own personal experiences after meeting with an online contact while searching for a connection with her real life father, Trevino clearly comes from heartfelt place and while it walks the same path of many similar low-budget character driven films of the past, it's hard not to be moved and inspired by this small but effective offering that is worked brilliantly by its two leads.
Finally getting a chance to test herself in the feature film landscape after making her mark in hit HBO series Euphoria, a lot of Trevino's success rests on the shoulders of Barbie Ferreira and she is more than up for the task.
A tricky role for any performer to deliver on, with Lily being a complex and flawed iteration of Laymon's own-self, Ferreira does a fantastic job of keeping Lily on the right side of the ledger while at the same time creating a memorable chemistry with her off-sider John Leguizamo who is as good as his been in years as the softly spoken and kind-hearted Bob, reminding us all that when he is given the right material and he himself invests, he's one of Hollywood's most reliable character actors.
With her two leads on fine form there's any easy-going nature and feel to Trevino yet while viewers may feel as though they have everything pegged as the early stages march on, Laymon has some tricks up her sleeve with where Trevino goes and how it goes there, creating an emotionally resonate and powerful watching experience that is sure to surprise many unsuspecting viewers unaware of what Trevino has too say about life, love, friendship and finding ones way in this big scary world.
In a day and age where small independent films like Trevino feel like a dying breed as they are forced into fighting for space in cinemas or standing out in crowded streaming marketplaces, Laymon's relatable and humanly focussed dramedy isn't a revelatory experience but its a timely reminder of the power of films of this shape and size.
Final Say -
Sure to discover a wide-reaching and passionate fanbase as a larger audience accesses the film on home media, Bob Trevino Likes It is a heartfelt and heart-warming little tale that features two fine central performances anchoring proceedings.
3 1/2 possessed toilets out of 5.
Based on Laymon's own personal experiences after meeting with an online contact while searching for a connection with her real life father, Trevino clearly comes from heartfelt place and while it walks the same path of many similar low-budget character driven films of the past, it's hard not to be moved and inspired by this small but effective offering that is worked brilliantly by its two leads.
Finally getting a chance to test herself in the feature film landscape after making her mark in hit HBO series Euphoria, a lot of Trevino's success rests on the shoulders of Barbie Ferreira and she is more than up for the task.
A tricky role for any performer to deliver on, with Lily being a complex and flawed iteration of Laymon's own-self, Ferreira does a fantastic job of keeping Lily on the right side of the ledger while at the same time creating a memorable chemistry with her off-sider John Leguizamo who is as good as his been in years as the softly spoken and kind-hearted Bob, reminding us all that when he is given the right material and he himself invests, he's one of Hollywood's most reliable character actors.
With her two leads on fine form there's any easy-going nature and feel to Trevino yet while viewers may feel as though they have everything pegged as the early stages march on, Laymon has some tricks up her sleeve with where Trevino goes and how it goes there, creating an emotionally resonate and powerful watching experience that is sure to surprise many unsuspecting viewers unaware of what Trevino has too say about life, love, friendship and finding ones way in this big scary world.
In a day and age where small independent films like Trevino feel like a dying breed as they are forced into fighting for space in cinemas or standing out in crowded streaming marketplaces, Laymon's relatable and humanly focussed dramedy isn't a revelatory experience but its a timely reminder of the power of films of this shape and size.
Final Say -
Sure to discover a wide-reaching and passionate fanbase as a larger audience accesses the film on home media, Bob Trevino Likes It is a heartfelt and heart-warming little tale that features two fine central performances anchoring proceedings.
3 1/2 possessed toilets out of 5.
Arriving onto our screens at home (courtesy of Netflix) 29 years on since the original 1996 sports comedy launched its star Adam Sandler into the big leagues, Happy Gilmore 2 marks the return of one of Sandler's most well-liked and well-known properties, gifting us a final product that is sure too appease fans of the original while not gaining new fans along the way.
More so an excuse for Sandler and his team that includes original members Christopher McDonald as fan favourite/Gilmore nemesis Shooter McGavin and Julie Bowen as Gilmore's loving partner Virginia (getting one of the films most unexpected moments) to harken back to past glories, mix and mingle with an abundant array of celebrity cameos that matter little to the grand scheme of things, Happy Gilmore 2 doesn't worry too much about crafting a real reason to exist but considering what could've been the end result here is about as mindlessly enjoyable as it could've been.
Working alongside director Kyle Newacheck, who last collaborated with Sandler on the atrocious Netflix offering Murder Mystery, Happy Gilmore 2 kicks off proceedings in a fast-paced and solidly humorous fashion, enhanced by the films secret weapon John Daly as a Gilmore house co-inhabitant, with anyone who regularly quotes or revisits the original likely to enter peak reminiscing nirvana as we go for a trip down memory lane to a bygone era where comedies in this ilk use to be prime movers at the global box office.
Getting looser as time wears on, Happy Gilmore 2 certainly starts to feel the weight of clocking in at just under two hours in length and looking to draw out a very flimsy premise and audience enjoyment is likely going to depend on how willing one is too go along with an increasingly chaotic and juvenile outing but when you consider much of Sandler's Netflix original work, Happy Gilmore 2 is thankfully one of the more watchable and entertaining examples of their lucrative partnership.
Not so much of a film, more so an excuse to live off the good-will of the 1996 original and get as many willing celebrities to come along for the ride (did anyone ever think a feature film would include Post Malone, Eminem and Bad Bunny?), including a bunch of scene-stealing real life golf pros who have a blast at their own expense in the films second half, Happy Gilmore 2 is as slight as they come but by owning what it is and giving its target audience an experience that was too be expected, Sandler and his merry band of off-siders may not have hit a hole in one but they've struck the right amount of energy and good-natured fun to allow Happy Gilmore 2 to come in just under par.
Final Say -
Unlikely to win over any new fans or convince any naysayers of the brand of its worthiness, Happy Gilmore 2 is unashamedly what it is for better and worse as Sandler takes a victory lap of his most popular past achievement.
3 hidden flasks out of 5.
More so an excuse for Sandler and his team that includes original members Christopher McDonald as fan favourite/Gilmore nemesis Shooter McGavin and Julie Bowen as Gilmore's loving partner Virginia (getting one of the films most unexpected moments) to harken back to past glories, mix and mingle with an abundant array of celebrity cameos that matter little to the grand scheme of things, Happy Gilmore 2 doesn't worry too much about crafting a real reason to exist but considering what could've been the end result here is about as mindlessly enjoyable as it could've been.
Working alongside director Kyle Newacheck, who last collaborated with Sandler on the atrocious Netflix offering Murder Mystery, Happy Gilmore 2 kicks off proceedings in a fast-paced and solidly humorous fashion, enhanced by the films secret weapon John Daly as a Gilmore house co-inhabitant, with anyone who regularly quotes or revisits the original likely to enter peak reminiscing nirvana as we go for a trip down memory lane to a bygone era where comedies in this ilk use to be prime movers at the global box office.
Getting looser as time wears on, Happy Gilmore 2 certainly starts to feel the weight of clocking in at just under two hours in length and looking to draw out a very flimsy premise and audience enjoyment is likely going to depend on how willing one is too go along with an increasingly chaotic and juvenile outing but when you consider much of Sandler's Netflix original work, Happy Gilmore 2 is thankfully one of the more watchable and entertaining examples of their lucrative partnership.
Not so much of a film, more so an excuse to live off the good-will of the 1996 original and get as many willing celebrities to come along for the ride (did anyone ever think a feature film would include Post Malone, Eminem and Bad Bunny?), including a bunch of scene-stealing real life golf pros who have a blast at their own expense in the films second half, Happy Gilmore 2 is as slight as they come but by owning what it is and giving its target audience an experience that was too be expected, Sandler and his merry band of off-siders may not have hit a hole in one but they've struck the right amount of energy and good-natured fun to allow Happy Gilmore 2 to come in just under par.
Final Say -
Unlikely to win over any new fans or convince any naysayers of the brand of its worthiness, Happy Gilmore 2 is unashamedly what it is for better and worse as Sandler takes a victory lap of his most popular past achievement.
3 hidden flasks out of 5.
A key moment in the Marvel cinematic universe, one that has gone through a tumultuous period since The Avengers: Endgame came and went with much fanfare in 2019, The Fantastic Four: First Steps sees director Matt Shakman herald in the beginning of "Phase 6" for the media giant that's looking to strike gold with the currently filming Avengers: Doomsday that is proposed to arrive at the end of 2026.
A seemingly cursed cinematic property thanks to the early 2000's double bill of films and the diabolical 2015 entry that many would regard as one of the worst comic book adaptations of all time, Shakman and the wider Marvel creative team certainly had their work cut out for them in ensuring past mistakes weren't repeated here while at the same time convincing audiences that have been burnt by this series in the past that this time was the time where the stars aligned.
Pleasingly for long-suffering fans, Marvel acolytes and those just wanting to watch a fun and fast-paced summer blockbuster, First Steps is a (pardon the pun) step in the right direction for the future of "Phase 6" and while it absolutely doesn't do anything extraordinary, this back to basics like offering that is well-casted, shot and produced is a breezy and enjoyable experience that puts in place a solid foundation for what is too come.
Steering clear of attempting to do another fully fledged origin story, Shakman gets stuck straight into things as we are transported to a retro-futuristic New York in 1961 and the awesome foursome that is Reed Richards ( Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) are tasked with their greatest challenge yet trying to protect the world from the threat that is Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his loyal offsider Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
While this stereotypical world destroying threat and battle plays a key part in First Steps, what's impressive about this enjoyably baggage free offering is the fact Shakman is just as keen to allow the family element of this group play out, even more so than CGI spectacle or carnage, an angle that allows his talented cast to take centre stage and First Steps to become more than just another excuse for Marvel/Disney to waste their significant budgets on eye-candy and cameo loaded sugar rushes.
It's refreshing to see a more stripped back Marvel offering, one that has the brands most striking visual palette in some years thanks to the old-school Jetson's like atmosphere and in particular one that isn't obsessed with one liners every other minute and wink wink jokes with the performers natural charms all generating natural emotions both of a frivolous nature and far more serious when the time calls for it.
All doing well with their debuts in the Marvel universe, all casting choices here work well with Kirby and Quinn standing out amongst the Four while Ineson and Garner do a lot with limited screentime, making their respective marks as some of the most interesting Marvel villains to grace the big-screen over the last decade.
Clocking in at under two hours, moving along at a constantly moving pace and even featuring a notable score (very unlike Marvel) courtesy of the legend that is Michael Giacchino, First Steps may not be ground-breaking but this is an enjoyable and polished experience that sets the scene for what is all of a sudden an appealing next era of the Marvel universe.
Final Say -
With an on-song cast, a fun and visually memorable retro-futuristic setting and some impressive villains, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an easy to like summer event film that continues the Marvel momentum after Thunderbolts.
3 1/2 rock beards out of 5.
A seemingly cursed cinematic property thanks to the early 2000's double bill of films and the diabolical 2015 entry that many would regard as one of the worst comic book adaptations of all time, Shakman and the wider Marvel creative team certainly had their work cut out for them in ensuring past mistakes weren't repeated here while at the same time convincing audiences that have been burnt by this series in the past that this time was the time where the stars aligned.
Pleasingly for long-suffering fans, Marvel acolytes and those just wanting to watch a fun and fast-paced summer blockbuster, First Steps is a (pardon the pun) step in the right direction for the future of "Phase 6" and while it absolutely doesn't do anything extraordinary, this back to basics like offering that is well-casted, shot and produced is a breezy and enjoyable experience that puts in place a solid foundation for what is too come.
Steering clear of attempting to do another fully fledged origin story, Shakman gets stuck straight into things as we are transported to a retro-futuristic New York in 1961 and the awesome foursome that is Reed Richards ( Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) are tasked with their greatest challenge yet trying to protect the world from the threat that is Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his loyal offsider Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
While this stereotypical world destroying threat and battle plays a key part in First Steps, what's impressive about this enjoyably baggage free offering is the fact Shakman is just as keen to allow the family element of this group play out, even more so than CGI spectacle or carnage, an angle that allows his talented cast to take centre stage and First Steps to become more than just another excuse for Marvel/Disney to waste their significant budgets on eye-candy and cameo loaded sugar rushes.
It's refreshing to see a more stripped back Marvel offering, one that has the brands most striking visual palette in some years thanks to the old-school Jetson's like atmosphere and in particular one that isn't obsessed with one liners every other minute and wink wink jokes with the performers natural charms all generating natural emotions both of a frivolous nature and far more serious when the time calls for it.
All doing well with their debuts in the Marvel universe, all casting choices here work well with Kirby and Quinn standing out amongst the Four while Ineson and Garner do a lot with limited screentime, making their respective marks as some of the most interesting Marvel villains to grace the big-screen over the last decade.
Clocking in at under two hours, moving along at a constantly moving pace and even featuring a notable score (very unlike Marvel) courtesy of the legend that is Michael Giacchino, First Steps may not be ground-breaking but this is an enjoyable and polished experience that sets the scene for what is all of a sudden an appealing next era of the Marvel universe.
Final Say -
With an on-song cast, a fun and visually memorable retro-futuristic setting and some impressive villains, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an easy to like summer event film that continues the Marvel momentum after Thunderbolts.
3 1/2 rock beards out of 5.
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