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jeff-brewer
Reviews
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
It's good - lighthearted, and entertaining.
Nice to see Steve Martin and Martin Short back together again, and with Selena Gomez, to boot!
I've been around for over fifty years, so Martin and Short's older stuff is right in my wheelhouse.
As to the show, it is a slow burn, but very enjoyable. There is no knee-slapping, laugh out loud comedy here, so don't go into this thinking you are going to see humour such as you find in, "The Man with Two Brains", or "The Jerk", but there is great subtle humour, as one obserbes when spending time with friends.
As of episode six, there are twists and turns, but most are not obvious, and keep me genuinely interested in where the show is going.
I am enjoying the gradual revelations of the characters' backstories, and the stories of others as they become more important to the plot.
My one hope is that this is all leading up to a payoff that makes sense, and has a destination that is worthy of the journey.
Fear Street: 1978 (2021)
Enjoyable, And Better Than Part One
I know I am not the target audience for this film, as I was born in the late 60's, but the period, setting, and genre are right in my wheelhouse.
I wasn't quite old enough to see the original Halloween and Friday the 13th in cinemas on first release, but I certainly watched them as soon as I could after the fact (on home video for both, actually). Both of these movies really scared the crap out of me, but I loved them at the same time.
"Stranger Things" really brought back the nostalgia for when I was growing up - I had four close friend (three boys, and one girl), and we were all Uber geeks, with great imaginations. I can see us reflected in each of the main characters of the first season, without the actual supernatural stuff.
This instalment of Fear Street also has nostalgia feels for me. It took me right back to the Friday the 13th franchise, or, at least, the original trilogy.
This film is not a masterpiece, and is not an accurate reflection of the '70s, but it is enjoyable as a popcorn movie, and is a substantial improvement over part one.
As others have said, the cast from the scenes set in '78 are all excellent.
I find myself now eagerly anticipating the next film in the series. I assume this is the finale, as I never read any of the R. L. Stein books - I think I was just the wrong age when they were popular, and had started reading Stephen King, etc, around that time - but I understand there were at least five about "Fewr Street"?!?
Also, is it just me, or was anyone else looking for a steel rebar whenever they played "Carry On, My Wayward Son" (I'm not even sure if that is the correct title for this piece)? I know it was written in the '70s, but I will always associate this music with "Supernatural".... :)
Cheers,
I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
Loved It, But Glad There Is No Second Season
First, I am 51 yo, and probably not the target audience for this.
That being said, I thought this was a great show. The ongoing narrative sucked me right in, and I had to binge watch the season. This issues raised were dealt with tastefully. The acting is great, from all the cast. The cinematography is excellent.
However, with the show ending as it did, a second season would need to have a dramatic change in tone, and I think that would have ruined the dynamic. So, I am OK with no second season.
I would still like to see the aftermath of the finale, though, and for loose ends to be dealt with. I am not familiar with the source material, and am assuming the show is reasonably close to the comic, and such threads were, or are being, dealt with there.
Despite being cancelled, it is still well worth a watch, just for the "origin" story.
Lovecraft Country (2020)
I'm here after watching Episode 10 (no spoilers)
This was a fantastic series, from start to finish. I started having doubts during the third episode, but stayed with it, and am glad I did.
I have not read the novel this is taken from, but am glad, because I had no expectations,
The cast were superb, and the story was excellent. I am assuming the "normal" events portrayed are historical, or based on them (I am Australian, and do not have a great knowledge of American, let alone Black-American history).
The true horror, for me, is how non-white people were treated (and still are treated, to this day, sadly). It pleases me that the heroes of the piece are all black Americans, something Lovecraft would find abhorrent, as he believed all non-whites to be sub-human.
Everything in this show was top-notch: acting, story, sets, costumes, effects, etc. Even the use of contemporary music in places, which I found jarring in the first instance, but it seemed so naturally appropriate, thereafter.
I hope this is not a "one-and-done" show. I don't know if the author wrote any subsequent books in this setting, but I think it deserves to be explored further, especially in light of how this season ended.
I have to give this a 10/10.
You're Not a Monster (2019)
Bite-Sized Fun
This is my first review, of anything, on IMDb. I have been using this site for years, but this is the first time I ever felt like doing a review of a show, so that should tell you something...
I am a sucker for witty animation, and this hit the spot! Episodes are on-point, and easy to digest (that's enough of that - on to the review!).
The writer(s) really know their stuff, and the cast are top notch. Each patient, and their issues, were spot on, pop-culture wise. The humour is a good mix: over the top sexual innuendo from Kelsey Grammer, and mostly dead-pan deliveries from the other regular cast. The guest cast are all great, with special mention to Patton Oswalt. Such a distinct voice. I would listen to him doing a reading of the phone book...
The ten episodes flew by, and it was over too soon. I hope there are more seasons planned, as I really want to see how the shock twist ending pans out. Also, is there a future for a Succubus and a therapist, and will he even notice?