Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Best of the series?

I do genuinely think it is the most fun and entertainment I've personally had at one of these movies. They did have me sold full truth here since the end of the last movie on Shadow alone, so I was very much looking forward to this. And if you've seen the trailer you know the gist, Shadow has escaped containment and is battling team Sonic (cute reference) while Robotnik meets his long lost grandpappy as they command a doomsday weapon. Solid plot for a video game movie, and speaking as an individual who has really only played five Sonic games, Sonic 1 & 2, Sonic Adventure 1 & 2, and Sonic Heroes but has beat precisely zero of them I loved seeing all the easter eggs and especially Shadow's backstory seen on the big screen. Since we already know most of the players let's talk about our new arrivals. Keanu Reeves though not my immediate first choice for Shadow conveys everything you need to know and does do a damn fine job juggling the heartbreak, rage, and initial confusion to his origins in the flashback scenes and it was absolutely awesome to see so many nods to his character from the games, motorcycle and guns included! As for Robotnik Sr. I was very surprised to see him as the true threatning villain, sure he has his moments of humor but at the end of the day he is a serious villain and I applaud Jim for being able to bring both sides to the table, plus the guy is a manipulative bastard and it like works too and doesn't feel slapdash in the writing. Commendable! I'll add on a brief opinion of seeing Sonic actually buckle the hell down and get serious even vengeful was a good move and added more to his character. I was hoping and praying they wouldn't do the thing, I didn't say anything cause I didn't want to jinx it, but they can't let a trilogy be a trilogy. Granted it was even I'll admit a great mid credits scene but come on! We went out on a relatively high note, with multiple instances of goosebumps at the climax, it's a solid made film with very good production values, the writing and humor still worked for me, it did what every sequel should do, and I was very happy to see it! We had a pretty healthy attendance at the screening and hearing the kids get so excited seeing stuff like Shadow and the Chao's while also laughing at Jim Carrey put me in a good mood. Thumbs up from me, 3 stars, 7.5/10! And next week is the end and what more of a perfect day to end it on than Christmas, at least it'll be a spooky Christmas...

In Retrospect: Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Alright I've made a bit of peace with it.

See this is really why I do these In Retrospects and honestly it's been a hot ass minute since the last one but it was time to watch Sonic 2 again. Yeahhh it still kinda has a tangent issue even if it's a relatively small one, but the plot does keep moving and while the human characters aside from Robotnik could have been written and utilized differently, they don't ruin the movie. The Hawaii stuff no doubt was compared to the Canto Bight scenes from Last Jedi, but like that sequence it isn't terribly long and isn't boring either. The dynamic between Sonic and Tails is really nice, the fragile alliance with Eggman and Knuckles is interesting to watch, the eventual shift with Knuckles makes sense and I like the fact he has the personality of an honorable warrior. Let's just be on the level right here right now, this is a movie for kids and that's exactly what they delivered so I can make a fuss or simply acknowledge that despite my big kid heart it doesn't all work for me and that's fine. I mean yeah, Jim and Idris are still undoubtedly the highlights of the film but that's not a besmirch on Ben and Colleen who still commit fully to the roles! I'll be interested to see if Sonic gets a bit of a character arc in the 3rd movie to go from a fully comedic hero to having a severe sense of seriousness that can be seen progressing film to film. I don't really want to trash talk the effects, because they're not bad at all but it is easy to see the strings as it were, but how else would they have implemented the game's art direction otherwise? We get to see so many nods to the games shown faithfully and with love, so I couldn't possibly give it good grief. Loved seeing the Chaos Emerald and super saiyan Sonic (Try saying that 3 times fast!), the various Robotnik robo-transports, a flat out Sega Genesis instruction manual, that's great stuff! One minor quibble that I just can't let go is, if you take the time and more importantly the money to buy the rights for songs why in the holy love of fuck are we just playing 30 seconds of it?? Just play the damn song! I want Robotnik's world domination playlist you sum'bitch, if frick fraking Walk by Pantera is track #1 you damn well better give me more! And yes I fully headcanon Eggman is a thrash metal kind of guy. Odd thing to bitch about but I go on weird tangents myself, so game recognize game. It's a decent video game movie and that's all I really needed from it. Will Shadow, my favorite Sonic character by the by, elevate this series and could we have a banger of a film hit this Friday? I'd be a happy camper if that was the case! So I'll bump up the score a notch to 2.5 stars, 6.5/10! And apologies in advance for not getting a review out for the Knuckles series, I do not have every streaming platform under the sun and frankly never will so I'll see you later on this week.

Bruce Almighty

Probably been longer than 10 years since I've seen this.

Has time aged a film almost 2 decades old? God only knows but I'll tell you what I think anyway. I had no clue whatsoever this movie even existed until one day either my mom or my Nan handed the DVD to me, and me still being the young and enthusuastic Jim Carrey fan I was, I immediately went for it. A movie where Jim Carrey was God, I mean he wasn't that far off when I was younger and I enjoyed it a lot. Looking back, I still had a good time with it but I will admit I didn't love it as much. Not to say the story isn't a very good and interesting one, with a news reporter who feels very down on his luck and left behind in the dust is contacted by the Almighty who grants him all of the heavenly powers to see if he can do better. A fascinating concept, albeit a very predictable because ohhh our main character is a human, a very fallable, kinda self centered, average human. Of course he would use such power for entirely selfish reasons but something I applaud in the writing is not only the fact that Bruce isn't a complete ass and totally irredeemable, but his actions as an all powerful figure have consequences almost from the start. Any other film would just brush it off and not even acknowledge that oh yeah if he made the moon that big, the oceans would go mental, and all that stuff. Well done. In fact there really isn't a real antagonistic force in the movie, apart from perhaps human hubris and being vain. But it's great to see a movie confront that in some sense. Jim Carrey though not as hilarious in other films gives a good performance, balancing jokes and body humor akin to Ace Ventura and The Mask to more serious and dramatic points like Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine, and yes I could tie reference string to all those and more within his filmography. Jennifer Aniston though not as prevalent as I would like or as grand as she is in more recent years is great to see and sells everything beautifully. Morgan Freeman, I'm not saying a word. No really, there is no point, we all know it. You know it, I know it, your great-great-grandparents know it, your unborn children know it. I will however bring up a certain discussion point, what about this performance wowed so many people? Because I'm fairly certain if you flat out asked people what do you think God looks like, I think a good chunk of them unironically would say Morgan Freeman. There's a reason they gave him the host duties of a show called The Story Of God. I rest my case. Now, this is where I act kinda like a dick. You know that scene, probably the most famous scene of the movie when Bruce makes Evan have a verbal meltdown on the news? I think that's breaking one of exactly two rules set for him by God, don't tell anyone you're God and don't mess with free will. He is messing with free will! He might as well have shoved his hand up Evan's backside like a puppet, I call plothole. 3/10! But in all seriousness, it's a decent movie that has good stuff in it and even if you're not slightly resembling a religious person can still enjoy it a fair bit. We all know the best part, and I'm happy such a thing came to pass. 3 stars, 7.5/10! And I will not be reviewing Evan Almighty tomorrow but something a lot more different from a television writer I enjoy a great deal.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

See this is why we go back and watch things again, just so you know how good you had it.

I wanted it to work, I wanted it to be good, I enjoyed the first movie a good deal and had zero clue what this movie was about. No trailers, no TV spots, fully blind watching, and booooy did a good chunk of it fall so flat for me. It's not even bad, there is undoubtedly parts I vastly enjoy in this but there is a lot of unnecessary stupid bits. Which you would think a story that involves Sonic and Tails vs. Robotnik and Knuckles in the race for the chaos emerald wouldn't be that difficult to make good, and in fact when the story focuses on those dynamics and the actual story it's fairly fun and enjoyable. However. This script is such a mess that desperately tries to have set up and payoff but fumbles it so bad and it wasn't even as funny as the last one. For instance they take James and Tika out of the movie, they're off to Hawaii, cool but a bit tropey, so now the story can focus on Sonic and Tails without our humans being in danger. Nope. An extended sequence of the film takes place in Hawaii with our humans who albiet are still cute as hell together but this movie goes on tangents. I thought Halloween Kills got sidetracked. Naw good friends, this is sidetrack the movie for a good chunk of it. But when we get back on track and see Robotnik and Knuckles scheme, or our dynamic duo finding clues to the emerald it works fairly good. It's super difficult to fully judge it because there is plenty I love, and more than enough of stuff I felt was unnecessary, idiotic, slightly pandering, and just eh. This is a movie that falls in the middle, it's not bad but not that good. So what did I like about it? Voice cast is still doing good, I like Colleen as Tails, Idris Elba is still my king and is easily the best part of the whole damn film, Jim is still fun to watch, I like more of the video game lore they bring in and incorporate into this world, hell even the cliffhanger gives me some hope they can regain their footing and give us a good 3rd movie. But it just is okay, 2.5 stars, 6/10 for real this time. Kind of a bummer for the end of this week so I might have something up my sleeve to try and go out on a good note.

In Retrospect: Sonic The Hedgehog

I can't honestly believe I haven't seen this since opening day two years ago.

But I think it goes to show how much I remembered, which was essentially everything, and looking back on my review I think I was a bit rough on it. Not at all that I hated it but a 6.5/10 seems a bit mean. I think I enjoyed myself and liked the movie more on the second viewing, now that I have the ability to rewind and pause I could take my time and appreciate what was presented. For the first film in a series, it actually sets up it's universe with relative ease and intrigue knowing such famous iconography from the games but adapted in an interesting way. Sonic's world is just like the games, the rings are transport portals, we get some set up with the Echidnas though brief it is, I think taking a rather stereotypical megalomaniac scientist like Robotnik and working it as a highly inventive and intelligent man who views everyone else as idiots and prefers robots works flawlessly. It's just like I said, it's The Riddler but more techy and I love that. Jim is still the best part of the movie period and made me laugh even harder to the point of almost tears, and hearing murmurs of him retiring from acting does kinda break my heart. Ben Schwartz I found to be proper good this time around, able to pick up more on Sonic's personality and mannerisms. He is a teenager, a late teenager perhaps, but he still has that emotional angst and high octane energy that a kid would have, just trying to figure out how to fit in, I very much liked that. James Marsden has expert chemistry with Tika Sumpter, being such a endearing and cute couple, and seeing a cop in a movie just try to be a helpful individual and not a super bad ass, action movie, bang bang you're dead type character was heavily appreciated in this movie. Another aspect I was like, wow spot on work guys, was the pacing. Expert pacing, perfect runtime, can keep up the pace without going super fast and still have brief moments to wind down, they knew exactly how long this should be and what they should keep in. It's wild enough to keep your interest, but still fairly grounded, yeah you could argue this is a movie that could end in about 30 minutes but while the rings are a slightly unnecessary McGuffin in the grand scheme I feel the point was more about the characters and not the plot. So it will be super interesting to see exactly what occurs in the second movie and where it will leave off. So yeah, a sure fire improvement that I was happy to watch again. Existence of this series, totally justified. 3.5 stars, 7.5/10, new movie time again coming on up in 2 & 2.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

I don't even know what to say!

What the f***, why was that so good??! I loved it! My brain can't form cohesive words right now except I love it! This is pure Kino if I have ever damn well seen it, this movie has zero right being as good as it is and I consider it a new age masterpiece. I don't even think this movie can be properly conveyed and summarized, I'd have to go almost scene by scene but that would ruin the effect and you need to get your ass out there and watch it. Okay, gotta be calm. So the movie basically is about this couple Joel and Clementine, played by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, who just sort of meet and odd people make odd couples, yet the movie takes a hard right straight into...I don't even know how to properly describe it. It's like Inception before Inception, and had touches of Memento, and it gets butt wild and I for one love everything about this movie. It honestly looks like an independent film that could have been released in 2019, the cinematography is a masterclass in it's own style and never for a microsecond is boring to the eye. Jim Carrey gives the zenith of his acting skills here, I know Truman Show was the peak for me but naw man, not after this movie. Best performance of Jim Carrey ever. Kate Winslet is a weird girl in this movie and I treasure her to the moon and back, she's so out there and so vocally transparent, and both of them are so undeniablly human in all their bizzare faults and mannerisms, it's brilliant. For years I thought Eternal Sunshine was more a movie of romantic depression, no idea why though cause honestly the movie is really friggin' funny. I was cracking up often throughout, because this cast is such a weird collection of people and as you watch them you just start laughing at the odd stuff they do. Marvel alumni Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst are in this movie as work colleagues/dating couple and you are witness to some mad shit with them two interacting on screen and by God is it fun. The soundtrack is perfect for the movie, very quiet, bit jazzy bit almost dream like music, and I find that apt because it's a dream like movie. From the visuals, to the editing, to the character interactions, to the plot itself. How....the f***....have I slept on this? I mean you could no doubt read into this movie until the cows come home, maybe it's a giant metaphor or allegorical interpretation of Alzheimer's as you fight for your memories, maybe it's a statement on how memories are what defines you as an individual and is the core basis of your mind and how you can play around with memories inside your head, I don't know. I just know I loved everything about it, this is going right up there with Lost In Translation and Her and you know what that means. 4 stars! 10/10! Goddamn this was a great movie! Happy Valentine's Day to me and do yourself a favor and watch it today.

The Cable Guy

This was the one man.

Can you believe that? This movie above all others was the one that nearly tanked Jim Carrey's career and nearly also Ben Stiller's directing career. It's really not that bad! I really and truly wish I could have seen this as a kid just to see if I would have loved it or not, because I have seen movies where Jim is an absurd funny man but also an actor that can do other things beyond comedy. Obviously The Truman Show comes to mind, but I saw him do a romance movie with still plenty of comedy in Yes Man, so how would this have stacked up for me? Cause for a lot of people back then, they did not like it. At all. Why is Jim Carrey weird? Why is he creepy and awkward? He's not being himself on camera. And on one hand I can see why they thought that, his catalogue of films were very similar in tone and this pushed it somewhere far out and weird, but on the other hand and this is the bad part folks, human beings are creatures of habit and we don't like things that are different. To see Jim Carrey play a cable guy that stalks/befriends a client played by Matthew Broderick, and just be a socially awkward, over the top, and kinda weird dude (which to be perfectly honest ain't much different from his other roles) threw people off. Now I personally very much enjoy this film, and I don't think I have ever said this in a review before but this movie, for lack of a better term, was ahead of it's time. How many people do you know nowadays that are like Jim Carrey in this movie? The person who is socially weird, is obsessed with old TV shows, has an odd sense of humor that only he gets, and is generally an absurd personality. Now think about how many people you knew who were like that either when you were a kid or living in the 80s or 90s. To be fair, Jim Carrey is a riot in this movie for me, I was laughing a lot and I'm not sure what this says about me as a person but I identify with this guy. I was babysitted by television, I do quote countless shows and movies just on a whim, I am a bit socially awkward granted not to this extent, but I really understood what character the writer and director was going for and watched Jim bring it to life. Matthew Broderick is a good lead, I'm always happy to see Leslie Mann in friggin' anything because that woman is an absolute treasure, Jack Black has a kinda fun role, and the supporting cast through different scenes do good work. The comedy was on a roll for me, I probably laughed more at this movie than any others this week! Hell the movie was ahead of it's time by flat out calling how the future was going to be, usually in movies or shows when people talk about or show the future they are way off, not this movie! Jim has a bit of dialogue where he talks about how television, computers, and phones will work hand in hand with the ability to watch two things at the same time, that you can do your shopping at home, and you can play Mortal Kombat with a friend halfway across the world. Damn. If that ain't serendipitous, I don't know what is. Honestly if this movie got a modern retelling, it probably would get recieved well and have a good run in theaters and on video. Jim Carrey is a versatile actor and not just in a comedy sense, which is what really aggravates the living daylights out of me because people just wanted the same shit. They wanted more dumb fun, goofy, wild haired comedy and wasn't willing to see an actor try something similar but different, cause God forbid an actor wants to break from a certain role and do something totally different and show they have further and better acting talents. Now you may be saying "Well Dude why are you so upset in this instance?", well because Jim's other movies worked! Truman Show was funny but could pull off strong drama with good characters and a great setup and got almost glowing reviews and audiences loved it, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind was way darker than this and won an Academy Award and is regarded as some of his best work. So I urge and beg people to watch this movie again and re-evaluate it, which is why I said I wish I watched it when I was younger. Would I have had the same reaction? Would it have scared me when I see Jim Carrey with glowing green eyes (Probably yes, but let's not dwell on that.)? Would I have adored it just as much as The Mask and Ace Ventura? I'll never know. But damn it, I think this is a really good movie, 4 stars, 8/10! It is well worth the time and money and I seriously hope it gets a bigger cult following and more appreciation.

Ace Ventura When Nature Calls

I'm pretty certain I watched the first movie more than this one.

Is it bad? No, I don't think so. I did enjoy parts of it, and while it's not one of the better films this week there's good elements to it. Okay so Ace Ventura is recruited to travel to Africa to discover the whereabouts of a sacred animal to a small village before all hell breaks loose, we start off with a decent but sort of pointless parody/homage to Cliffhanger and we end on a kind of humorous ending. Apparently both the director and Jim were kind of against a sequel to the first movie, and really didn't want to do it but were contractually obligated to do so, but Carrey gives an enthused performance and not pulling a Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice, and the production is half decent with good shots of Africa landscape and animals. The comedy isn't as strong as the first time around, and if I'm being really honest it's the weakest comedy we've seen this week but isn't all bad at all, I mean for God's sake it gaves us the leg spear scene. I can't really call it a mystery this time around cause who has the means and motive to pit two villages against each other? Hmm, well it's either two australian poachers, the owner of a zoo, or the rich asshat white guy. And we don't even have to play Blue's Clues cause you're already really smart. And I know this gets brought up a bit so here we go, does the film reinforce stereotypes of native african people? To a dumb white kid, I didn't see too much that irked me, I mean yeah one group is called headhunters and for all I know could be talking in a language so fake it makes Klingon sound plausable so what do I know, and even Jim Carrey and the director were concerned about it before the movie premeired but I didn't see anything incredibly racist or horribly offensive, and I thought Maynard Eziashi and Sophie Okonedo were the standout performances besides our star, I just really liked seeing them. I'd give it 2.5 stars, 6.5/10, it's not imperative you see this movie unless you really need more Ace Ventura in your life. But it's an okay movie, and even if it's just to be seen once in your life, sure why not, go for it. Last film of this week will be an odd choice, the movie which almost killed Jim Carrey's career just one year after he got super famous, so stay tuned and I'll tell you about it.

Ace Ventura Pet Detective

Yeah, it's my favorite. What a twist!

I'm pretty sure this was the first Jim Carrey movie I saw, might have been Batman Forever but I'm hedging my bets on it being this one. And I could be here all damn day telling you how much I love it, I was reciting lines left, right, and center through the whole thing and had a total blast with it, so it's gonna get the best rating even if I'm very nostalgically biased towards it. I can't even imagine how big the movie was in 1994, seeing as how I wasn't born yet but I can certainly imagine! I mean Jim got a one-two punch with The Mask and Dumb And Dumber, but this was just a knockout for that year. And while it is undoubtedly a comedy first it still has crime elements, with Ace Ventura the world's best and only pet detective called in to retrieve the Miami Dolphin's mascot and figure out who kidnapped the poor creature and why. Incredibly basic plot that I can attest that even a small child can understand, and to be fair the mystery/detective parts are handled well and keep you invested until the end. But the comedy is what gets people coming back, and Jim Carrey is on top form in this, though I've loved his performances in the previous movies of his that I've reviewed, this is just next level. I actually found out recently that Carrey built his Ace persona around birds, the colorful hawaiian shirts, the absurd yet glorious hair, the exaggerated neck movements, I certainly see it now. To be honest, his comedy hits every time for me in various degrees, from a quick smile to hard laughs, and I'll be honest his schtick never got old for me. These 3 movies I reviewed were the big ones for me, watched them constantly and never got tired of the antics, and while I've grown and my taste and sensibilities have changed there's still a part of me that loves these movies. But Jim isn't the only one who is good in this, Courtney Cox is fun and has quite good chemistry with Jim, Sean Young hasn't aged a day since Blade Runner and is friggin' fit as hell in this movie, I even liked seeing Tone Loc again though bless him I don't think he's been in much since the 90s. So cast is great, comedy is a blast, the crime solving aspects are handled well, and it even made football tolerable to me. Is there anything I don't like? Well I can see one thing about a certain aspect of the film that might not have aged well, if you know you know, and while I certainly can totally understand where people are coming from and even agree with them on points, I can also say that people shouldn't take it too seriously to the point you can't enjoy the movie. I'd blame more the individual for taking a certain mindset away from this movie than the movie itself, because the director and cast absolutely meant no ill will, but I totally get a bit of the concerns. Does it hurt the score? No. Do I think people should take a chill pill and not make everything an issue? Yes. All in all, it's still a favorite of mine, and not even like a guilty pleasure I unironically love Ace Ventura, I think it's a very funny and entertaining movie and I'll no doubt keep watching it in the future and just as a bonus I'm gonna review the sequel too. But in the meantime, 4 stars! I dare even give it an 8/10, and I'll see you next time when nature calls.

Dumb And Dumber

Now it's getting good.

You know, I forgot how raunchy this movie is at times, like I laughed at the more outrageous comedy bits and didn't get half the jokes when I was younger but looking at it now it was a bit of an eye opener. I mean the same goes for The Mask so I was a bit of a filthy kid. I will say however the comedy is actually not half bad written at times, you think it'd just be slapstick physical comedy but there's some genuine funny bits of dialogue and the performances are what made this film so popular. I mean let's be honest, if this movie starred anybody else it would have come and gone in the blink of an eye so I have to give huge props to Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels not only because of the way they potray the comedy but their chemistry is a strong point of the movie for me. So we follow fledgling fools Harry and Lloyd as they trek across the country to return a lost briefcase to a young woman that Lloyd met at the airport, yet again another Jim Carrey movie where he gets swept away in this crime drama stuff. First the gangsters in The Mask and now a kidnapping ransom in this, it sort of seems like two different movies being mixed but it doesn't do a bad job at it in either cases. The Mask was just crazy entertaining antics tethered along by the plot, but here the comedy permeates the foreground from beginning to end credits with plenty of different scenarios that pop up throughout their journey. I would say I did like the film and the jokes better this time around, though of course I hold no hate for The Mask. Man, 1994 was a big year for Jim Carrey, he got not one or two big movies but 3 of them, with the last being Ace Ventura which we'll get to tomorrow, not many actors have that sort of breakthrough with vast audience appeal, and those are treasured comedy movies of the 90s to many, myself included. I was kinda shocked at how good the movie was a certain points with quite a gorgeous shot at one point and a surprisingly emotional performance delivered by Carrey. No joke, when Lloyd breaks down and says he's sick of being nobody Jim was on the verge of tears cause it was how he felt about his life. Those tears are real with little acting involved, and my God that hit me like a ton of bricks when I first learned that. I still have a soft spot for the man, he was my idol when I was a kid, I wanted to act because of him and try to make people laugh as often as I could, and hell the love hasn't waned much if you saw my Sonic The Hedgehog review where I flat out said he's the best part of the movie period. Yes his films might not be acclaimed, but I have respect for the man and his performances, he's a comedian first and always finds a way to make me laugh. I think Dumb And Dumber is a good movie, it's very entertaining and at times super funny even if it is ridiculous. I like the jokes, I like the setting, the soundtrack once again is pretty dang good, and I just had a good time with it. I don't know if there's a term for comedy films like how action films are called popcorn flicks, because it's not really shut your brain off entertainment but I would say this is a movie perfect to watch with friends and drinks as you admire the comedy of errors before you. 3 stars, 7/10 once again, and I can't wait for tomorrow as we look at by far my favorite Jim Carrey movie ever.

The Mask

Not a bad start at all with being back.

I remember a time when I worshipped The Mask, like one of my favorite movies ever, could quote and recreate the scenes every day, loved Jim Carrey in it, the whole nine yards. So how does it hold up after not watching it for more than a decade? Not half bad to be honest, granted it's by no means a great movie but it certainly isn't bad either. It certainly has one of the most relatable characters in my eyes with Stanley Ipkiss who is a super nice and very funny guy who happens upon a mask (apparently worn by Loki but I don't think Tom Hiddleston could pull it off) that can transform him into an exaggerated, manic, love starved alter ego as he meets a performer at a nightclub played by Cameron Diaz as hijinks and comedy ensue. There's quite a bit to like and even appreciate with this movie, usually people would say oh The Mask is just another 90s movie that constantly uses CGI when it's not necessary and it dates the film, which is far from the truth, yes there is CG and very cartoon-y CG at that but I feel it genuinely works in this movie mainly because with such an exaggerated character I don't expect it to look real! It looks silly at times but it's one of the few instances where CG is used to convey comedy through over the top motions, so I'm totally 100% fine with the effects and I like the fact the movie only uses it when necessary. I think the cast, in particular Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, all do fine work and take the roles as seriously as they need to, though it is safe to say Jim and Cameron do the best of them all. Oddly this was Cameron Diaz's first movie role and she does quite well in this, though good God does this movie just oggle the hell out of her, I mean it's not gratuitous but boy howdy does this movie love to show off some cleavage. Hmm, maybe there were more reasons why I liked this as a kid....uh, anyway Jim Carrey is the man and I genuinely like him more as Stanley than the Mask but you can tell he's having fun playing this Jekyll and Hyde character, and apparently when Carrey got the script he said this was a role he was born to play. To which I agree, his fluid body motions and voice inflections provide a good source of comedy, and he's well I just have to say it, kind of adorkable as Stanley. Just a very lovable shy guy with a penchant for cartoons and is a hopeless romantic. I relate to that a bit too much. I got to say the music really took me for a trip combining very sweeping orchestral pieces and a damn fine jazz soundtrack, and the visuals are kind of interesting too with very run down dark streets lit by neon signs I mean the film kind of has a look of it's own, sort of Dick Tracy meets the '89 Batman movie. And I really did not know about the comic origins of this character until about 15 years later, I mean sweet Jesus if you have a weak stomach stay the f*** away from the comics, cause that is some hardcore stuff. I can admit this is entertainment fluff and I don't have a problem with it, yeah you could argue it's for kids but I can see adults getting a bit of a kick out of it too. A good 3 stars from me, 7/10, a decent start to the week and it brought back some happy moments. And now it's party time, P-A-R-T. Y? Because happy birthday to me!

A Surprise To Be Sure But A Necessary One.

Now this took a bit of time to work out, and I can strongly say I feel this is the right decision. With the huge impact this month is taking on me, several films being pushed months back, work hours being cut, this whole social distancing thing closing what little time I actually get out of the house, I do truly feel I need to take some time off. Now I'm perfectly fine, healthy as possible, nothing bad has happened. But I am thinking logically of this, usually I take my break in September when no new movies have come out and I can plan for the only constant in this ever shifting review schedule, October, and square away a schedule leading into the new year, but with this utter and complete train wreck of a month I feel some time needs to be taken off to plan a solid form of action. Now I'm not taking the whole month off, I'll be gone for about 3 weeks and be right back at it on my birthday week showcasing the movies of my favorite childhood actor Jim Carrey. That gives me time to figure out new release schedules for movies, plan a schedule for the reviews, and review some backlog material that can be posted for months to come. In fact, with this course of action I will have not one but two big surprises for you coming this fall which will more than make up for this lost upcoming month. So I'm sorry I couldn't wheel and deal for a full month but new shit has come to light and steps have to be taken to help keep this going. 3 odd weeks and I'll have schedules for May and June, probably even July, plus the off time to square away stuff and get some reviews said and done just waiting to be posted. Which gives me more time to plan later on for the big events coming before and after October and I can't wait to share it with you. I definitely appreciate you and hope this won't bum you out but just know I'll be working regardless and getting out more stuff for the rest of the year. With a heavy heart I step away from this as I normally do every year. And on that bombshell it is time to leave, thank you so much for joining me, good night.

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)

Eh, not bad.

I would say the new Sonic movie does fit into the good video game movie catalogue, I have seen better but I've also seen worse. I truly thought it was a decent movie and when I was on my way home the question arose to me, "What makes a video game movie good?" and the simple answer is it has to have the spirit of the game in it (and we're talking strictly live action here, cause animation almost automatically wins every time) and work in the movie's setting. This actually does, it quickly establishes this isn't a world where humans coexist with Sonic characters but the world Sonic comes from is different and very akin to the game setting. I found it interesting how the golden rings work like basically a Doctor Strange sling-ring, but it was executed well. I will say the story is very basic with no frills, it is quite predictable at times, and there's some glaring plot holes that keep the film from lasting as long as an episode of Sonic X, but it's certainly not bad. Sonic lives in the peaceful small town of Green Hills in secret before he is discovered, and the military call in Dr. Robotnik to seek out the blue devil while Sonic is trying to retrieve his rings to leave Earth. Dirt basic plot but I will fully admit there's good stuff in it. I do like Sonic's voice and mannerisms though to be perfectly honest I think he has psychological issues, from my own diagnosis I saw elements of bipolar disorder, depression, and multiple personalities. I genuinely thought there were cute and endearing moments occasionally from our two human protagonists, Tom and Maddie. And last but certainly not least Jim Carrey. Jim, Jim, Jim I have no issue saying you were the best part of the entire movie. Yes he has his Jim Carrey-isms a bit, but he did genuinely make me laugh quite strongly and is such a strange casting choice that it becomes completely awesome. It was like Edward Nygma 2.0 with 35% more facial hair, and a true craftsmanship with robots. Hell the best scene in the whole film is him doing experiments in his lab and just being his weird crazy self, and in all honesty I really really, without question or doubt, want that friggin' coat he has. Black and red, nothing is more aesthetically pleasing to my eyeballs. The negatives are really just the basic and recognizable plot, coupled with the less than positive tropes of kids movies nowadays. It's not skull peeling, but it has it's moments where you just roll your eyes. When they do the, oop Sonic's dead guys, thing not once but twice....eugh. Yeah it's that kind of movie. Truth be told if they kept that meth head nightmare creation of a design this film would have suffered a much worse rating, and while I am happy they delayed the film to fix the design, here's the double edged sword: They were okay with putting that out there, they didn't do the classic design first and foremost, they were fully willing to spew that bullshit across every theater screen around the globe. Which I find inexcusable from the production company, not the designers. So I would take a half point off just because they thought they could pull that travesty on us and get away with it. Overall, I'd give this movie 3 stars, 6.5/10. It's not garbage but it's not super good either, it's just a decent movie with good elements in it. It's fine for what it is and does have some fun and entertainment, but boy could it have been worse. At least the movie reminded me why I worshipped Jim Carrey in my youth, any movie of his I saw was a favorite of mine and I'd totally love to do some tribute reviews soon. PS. I would not suggest this movie for a Valentine's Day date but if the product placement in the film told me anything, get your butt down to an Olive Garden (Seriously, what the f***?).

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Doug was severely on top form with his review of this movie.

And entirely correct too. Yes, the Jim Carrey Grinch movie isn't held highly in my eyes. But why you might be asking? Well there is surprisingly some stuff I really like. Jim Carrey looks just like The Grinch, the make up and suit allows so much expression and movement which of course is a big part of Jim's performance. I really like Taylor Momson as Cindy Lou she is absurdly cute, and makes up the only decent person in Whoville. The art direction really nails that Seuss style of drawing, and there is an incredible amount of sets and practical effects. But with every positive I noted there is negative connotations with it. Carrey plays an eccentric grump, and does have his funny moments but only when he acts like a jerk. When he's being Jim Carrey in a green suit, it's not distracting but it's not good. Cindy Lou Who has Christmas doubts because well, Whoville is filled with materialistic and commercial assholes. A town that loved the spirit of Christmas? I guess that was too hard to believe! God help me. Though they brought the world of Whoville to the realm of the 3rd dimension, it doesn't all work, sure the buildings and props look all fine and well but the Who's themselves look freaky as hell! Mainly because in animation if a character has no upper lip, it can work but if a character in the real world has no upper lip it looks disturbing. And while we're on the subject of Who's they're not doing well as a society, the city looks smoggy and kinda dingy with no real burst of color anywhere, as I said the Who's are heavily delved into commercialism and care nothing more than to get their presents on Christmas day, and the fact that I don't think they care what happens in their town, kids run with hacksaws, people fall and get in wrecks, they don't care about delinquet behavior. Do you see why I have such issue with this movie? It entirely misses the point of the story. I heard some people bitch about Cumberbatch's Grinch because they softened him up, he doesn't hate Christmas or the Who's, he acts more like a millenial adult with emotional support animals etc., and he acts somewhat nice to his dog and Cindy. Okay first off, he's a dog owner so he wasn't a total jerkface, he had nice moments in here too like saving Cindy from being crushed and not running over a woman and her baby carriage, so they can get off my planet. I still prefer it to this! Oh my God, it's like every time I think I ran out of stuff to hate, it just. Keeps. Going. I counted 3 moments that Dr. Seuss would roll in his grave for! The face plant in a woman's chest, an explosion a la' Michael Bay occured, and the worst offense, the Grinch lets his dog be kissed on the rear. I honestly want to eat cyanide laced gingerbread men after typing that. I want to give up on life. Ron Howard, what the **** have you wrought??! I'm done! **** it!! This movie is garbage, it's ass sauce, this is the worst Christmas movie I ever saw in my life!!! It's proof that Jesus was crucified for nothing and legally changed his middle name to ****ing!! A few funny moments and one genuinely nice lovely moment cannot change the fact this is garbage that should be taken to the summit of Mt. Krumpit to dump it.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

This is a review that has been long since coming, and has finally come to light.

Now I must stress that I have not seen the Netflix series bearing the same name as this film nor have I read the collection of books. Though I do recall them being highly popular right alongside Harry Potter from a time since past. And I recall even more loving and enjoying the adaptation that was surprisingly released before the book series ended; 3 books to be exact. I am not sure if it was well recieved or widely loved when it came out, and I have no doubt that it has achieved cult status in recent years. The story concerns a group of children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny who one day have the unfortunate news to bear that their parents have perished in a fire that has destroyed their home. They are sent to live with the odious Count Olaf who is hell bent on obtaining the orphans inheritance no matter the cost. With no help from the authorities or their distant relatives, the children must unmask Count Olaf themselves. I believe it is a very good film indeed, with excellent set design, good acting, and a interesting story that will keep you interested until the end. What I especially love besides the awesomeness that is Jim Carrey in one of his better and yet less known comedic roles, is the underlying mystery. Throughout the film there are hints, glimpses, and questions surrounding the children's parents who were part of some secretive society and it is genuinely intriguing and there are no real answers, but it does make one desperately wish to know them all. I must praise the attention to detail in these very expansive and lovely sets, each having it's own identity and character connection. Which thus brings me to the actors, and in the case of the Beaudelaire children they are wonderful. Emily Browning is amazing and really does deserve to be in more films, Liam Aiken is smart and attentive which comes in handy when foiling the plans of a despicable actor, and of course we have Jim. In my humble opinion I cannot see how Neil Patrick Harris could ever top Jim Carrey in this role. I almost dare to say this character was made for Jim to potray, because he hits every mark for the character. Threatning, funny, despicable, prideful, and able to play against anyone and steal the show. He is what makes this movie so loved in my eyes, I was a huge fan of his comedic roles in my youth and have delved into his more serious roles in my adult years, so his appeal has never truly died for me. There is much to be enjoyed in this film, and should be looked at again to see if the fanbase can grow even more. But one word of warning, for those of you who suffer from ommetaphobia I urge you to turn away now.

The Truman Show

I'm actually really happy I'm reviewing this. I can't believe I've put it off this long.

The Truman Show is a very well made film which showcases Jim Carrey's amazing dramatic acting skills and shed a new light on the actor. The story is weird and very metaphysical I would say, it centers around the life of an ordinary man Truman Burbank, who just lives his day to day life. But his whole life is a show, it is filmed for millions of people around the world who are enthralled to just watch an ordinary man live his life, broadcasted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is a fascinating concept, and can be delved into very deeply, not just on a simple physical level but deeper into a psychological, ethical, and emotional point of view. Granted the idea of our reality being untrue and another lying beyond our knowledge is not new, but the way the film potrays it all and how it deals with the subject matter makes it very endearing to watch. Carrey's performance as I said is great, he can be a bit of a clown and have fun but when it hits hard you buy it, you totally buy the emotion. It's a great movie, and certainly should be viewed by lots more people in the years to come mainly because of the character of Truman Burbank and not the concept of a life being televised non-stop. The sets are exaggerated but work, the music is upbeat but can slather good dramatic and impactful pieces when needed, the humor is good but the drama is better. It's a movie greatly enjoyed by me, and hopefully you tune in to it whenever it comes on.

The Dead Pool

Yeah, you read right. The next time you say you're going to watch that Dead Pool movie, keep your audience in suspense until you decide to tell them Clint Eastwood is in it.

The Dead Pool is the last in the Dirty Harry series, and surprisingly the shortest, clocking in at an hour and a half. The plot revolves around Harry being put on a hit list with several other celebrities forming the dead pool, with Harry trying to stop as many deaths as possible including his own. For the last installment in the series, it doesn't end on a bad note. The plot though simple works, and this movie really delves into the 80s tropes from the get go with in your face badass 80s music, the clothing, the hair, the workout fad at that time, a friggin' Guns N' Roses song showcased in the movie, it doesn't screw around. Now for the whole identity behind the creator of this dead pool list, it starts out good but really gets better. I give credit where credit is due, but most of the time I wonder why they add these mystery elements to the stories if they don't really play them all the way through, with the exception of this movie. I know they are more action films than detective films but still. But anyway, the cast is not half bad in this movie, Clint in my opinion really gets better with age and this is a good series to prove that, we get Liam Neeson in this movie (I am so not kidding!) and my God it's weird but really cool, and we even get Jim Carrey (Again, no joke!) in a bit part before he became super famous which is interesting to see. Really got to admit though the final ending to the entire series feels kind of abrupt, it just sort of ends immediately after the final kill. Still a good movie though, but I think it is the weakest of the series and that's the interesting thing. Not one of these movies are bad so you really just have to judge each of them on their merits and see which one you like the best. Now for next week, not really anything planned but who knows? So until next time my friends.

Batman Forever

Yeah, this was the movie that made me the Batman fan I am today.

I may view this movie through rose tinted nostalgia but I love this movie. When you see a movie at such a young age it always leaves an impression on you. It went from the dark and disturbing previous film to a more mainstream, safe and marketable version of the Batman. But hell even in a kinda cheesy, fun, and all around good time several things have always stuck in my mind above the rest. And that's something since I can pretty much quote the whole movie from beginning to end. First is the casting of Jim Carrey as The Riddler, and most people have a problem with that but honestly I think he is perfect for it. Yes, it's more of a homage to Frank Gorshin's Riddler from the 60's TV series but there is one scene right at the end that cements that even a fun superhero movie like this can be very dark and kinda scary. Second is the music, specifically the soundtrack and not the original composed score. Now everyone and their mother remembers that Kiss From A Rose by Seal was the hit song from this album but Bad Days by The Flaming Lips is perfect, it hits that sweet spot right when Nigma snaps and I love it! Did you know that Bob Kane, the creator of Batman actually said Val Kilmer was the best choice to play Batman so far? And I think he does a really good job! He's a great Batman! In fact, most of the cast is pretty great. Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face is a sight to behold and I just love the scene chewing, it's marvellous. Chris O'Donnel is a bitter, angry, and haunted Dick Grayson who rises through the movie to become Robin. Like I said, Jim Carrey is terrific as The Riddler and except for like maybe two other people, he is the only actor worthy of potraying him in a live action film. Also major big props to the art director, taking a dark gothic city and bringing such color and grandeur to it all! The plot is still a little busy, with some interesting ideas behind it so I'll see if I can properly recount it to you. Batman must now face two of his most memorable foes, Two-Face who has sworn vengeance against the Bat for failing to save him, and the subsequent birth of The Riddler who teams up with Two-Face to amass wealth and power to answer the greatest riddle of all: Who is Batman? Meanwhile, Bruce takes in an orphaned trapeze artist after Two-Face kills his family, who soon learns of his secret night life and wishes to become his partner in crime fighting. Fairly straightforward, highly enjoyable to me. Yes I don't care that I am biased, this was my very first Batman movie and I hold it highly for introducing me to my favorite superhero of all time. And you know, you're not gonna believe me but um...I really like Batman & Robin too. I do not think it is that horrible of a movie, it takes cues from the Adam West show and I really love the Adam West show but I still have a few problems with it. Tune in tomorrow where we finish this Bat-A-Thon with the film that killed the Batman movie franchise for about 10 years.