Zola is a dark comedy supposedly based on a true story. But is very eccentric, it retreads previous films and characters, and it relies on disturbing scenarios to a point where it is hard to find value in the film.

Taylour Paige plays Zola, who takes a road trip from Detroit to Florida to learn how to be a better stripper and make money. She is traveling with Stefani (played by Riley Keough), Stefani’s boyfriend Derrek (played by Nicholas Braun) and X (played by Colman Domingo). Zola’s trip takes a turn for the worse when she realizes that X is a pimp. Stefani and Zola are X’s actual targets, but he ends up taking control of Stefani and Derrek, who is just along for Stefani’s safety. The film has a disturbing plot, but there are fragments that are spiced up to try and make the film seem glamorous in a strange and unappealing way.

I saw Zola as a combination of Ingrid Goes West (2017) mixed with Hustlers (2019) and a whole lot of American Honey (2016). All average films and the combination had me struggling to find appeal in Zola.

I have also seen several of these actors in other projects and in Zola they play similar characters as they have in previous films. Nicholas Braun is nearly the same character we know from his portrayal of Greg in the HBO show Succession (2018). Riley Keough is playing the same attractive lady who needs attention as she did in American Honey (which was a much better film with a more honest premise). Taylour Paige has the same attitude that she had in her most recent film Boogie (2021). So, it seems that these actors’ roles are repetitive, and they need to find other, more memorable projects.

Zola was advertised as being based on a true story first told in social media, but there is no evidence that it was actually a true story. And given my view of the film, I saw no value in researching the real facts behind Zola. The film was just too unfocused, silly, and more disturbing than funny.

Trying my best to be positive here, but this film was just not a positive experience for me. Not the worst, but not good. The film did have moments that I enjoyed, but it kept trying too hard. I give Zola two stars. Overall, a crazy road trip flick that seems to be done on acid, and one that could use some retakes and edits.

Bo Burnham is an artist who is one of a kind. He got his career jump started with his Youtube Channel, got millions of subscribers, and by the age of eighteen he was one of the youngest comedians to perform on tour. He has a creative mind that has produced many brilliant comedy specials and films. His comedy special Inside, (currently on Netflix), which he starred in and directed, is clever and often fun to watch, but it can be cheesy and sometimes confusing. And while I found myself laughing at many points, the special pushes the envelope with some of its subject matter.

Burnham shot this comedy special from inside his home (hence the name) over the course of a year. The concept of a comedy special being shot totally inside a home due to the COVID-19 pandemic is creative, and Burnham enhances the film by singing throughout it and rotating the scenery by filming from many rooms of his home. And while Burnham never loses his touch with connections and taglines, this special was just a bit eccentric. Many people may find much of his subject matter funny, but some of his topics may not be funny to a lot of people. I am not judging his subjects as good or bad, but I think he tries too hard at times.

I do have respect for Burnham, but I believe that in Inside he often crosses boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed—mostly with some of his bits on mental health and some scenarios with social media. He often tries to present serious matters in a funny manner, but in real life they would not be funny, and they weren’t funny here. So Inside gave me many moments of confusion—mostly by wondering whether Burnham’s crossing of boundaries on sensitive topics is necessary.

I do give Burnham credit for the technological aspect of Inside. He lays out the rooms in a structured order as he progresses through the special. Burnham also fits the part of being Covid-bound by making himself look like he has not taken care of his personal hygiene. Burnham always has a talent for fitting his scenes and dressing himself for the parts. So the film is technologically amazing, but I found the writing too dark and overly exaggerated.

Overall, I would rate Inside as an average comedy special. Burnham does possess true comedy talent. This film is just is all over the place and confusing with regard to many of its subject matters. It is generally light-hearted, but has some unexpected and unnecessary harshness. So I had mixed feelings about this special, which I give a solid 2-1/2 stars.

Greenland is a global disaster film that is more realistic and captivating than most end-of-the-world flicks. The cosmic collisions and segregation of individuals for safety, combined with the global disaster scenario, heighten the suspense of Greenland. The film is vast, with its worsening environments building more danger as the film progresses. That is what gives Greenland its originality, with its setup of worldwide danger. But the film does leave us wondering how it would be possible for the cosmic collisions to happen so fast.

Greenland focuses on a family with some challenges. Gerard Butler plays John Garrity, who is facing challenges with his wife Allison, played by Morena Baccarin. They have a son, Nathan, played by Roger Floyd Dale, and they are trying to make their situation work out. The concept of them sticking together and working together becomes essential, because in a matter of moments their lives are at risk. They come across news that the world is on the ledge of peril from natural disasters caused by comet fragments. The world is in danger and that danger is growing.  The family only has one hope of survival—to make it to a government sanctuary for safety. As others around the world try to find safety in the sanctuary, the chances become slimmer because the government has set up parameters for who gets to go the sanctuary and who does not.

Greenland had me deep in thought, wondering how the natural resources of our world would face such a catastrophe. Given the many months of the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, I kept thinking how the realistic disaster in Greenland would be handled if a global disaster (separate from the COVID-19 pandemic) happened in real life. Most of the survival in the film involves the characters fending for themselves and going around the parameters that have been established by the government. The film does a good job of helping us understand to why the parameters are avoided throughout Greenland.

The film has a moment where there is a selection process of individuals who will be allowed to make it to safety. The process almost feels like some of the processes that were used for vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The individuals in Greenland get selected via phone and receive wrist bands. The selection process made me wonder—if this situation happened in real-life, would they select and separate individuals due to lack of assistance? This is also an example of parameters being avoided, because the characters realize that they need to stick together, and that going by the orders may not allow them to be together to keep each other safe.

For director Ric Roman Waugh, this is his second perilous film with Gerard Butler. The first one was Angel Has Fallen (2019). That film was the third in the Fallen franchise, but Greenland is a step up from Angel Has Fallen. Angel Has Fallen was repetitive, whereas Greenland is more original and a ride of suspense. Greenland is a worthy watch.