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Film reviews

Kung Fu Panda 4 Review

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The adventures of Poe are continued in a creative adventure in Kung Fu Panda 4. With Jack Black still starring as the voice of Poe, his dialogue and humor are featured in this entertaining, family-friendly film. Kung Fu Panda 4 had a variety of scenes which caused me to laugh due to their positivity. This installment does not have as much combat as the originals did.This time around, the story is primarily in journey and adventure mode. Kung Fu Panda 4 dives in with full-on and almost continuous giggles.

The plot is a continuation from the third installment. Poe is experiencing success and opens a restaurant which leads to additional fame. The animation in this fictional world then diversifies. Poe has a new goal; he is training to become the spiritual leader of his Valley of Peace. This goal that is not as easy as it seems. Due to his departure as a Dragon Warrior, someone must take his place. Zhen (played by Awkwafina) is on his side and has hopes of taking Poe’s place. Poe has come a long way since the three previous films. His sensei is still Master Shifu (played by Dustin Hoffman) and his adopted father is still Mr. Ping (played by James Hong). Poe’s world is still one of a Warrior. However, a treacherous task awaits because a new enemy lies ahead for Poe. This enemy is the Chameleon (played by Viola Davis).  Her abilities include the power to assemble people from the past. Poe’s extensive training and many years of dedication are put to the test in Kung Fu Panda 4.

It’s all about the pieces of the puzzle in Kung Fu Panda 4. The elements Poe faces are detrimental, yet joyfully engrossing. There is a pattern of humor that swims through the many corners where obstacles lurk for Poe and Zhen. They even have moments when they distrust each other because they questioneach other’s skillsets and tactics. The film’s writing is fully in tune with the formula which works for animated movies to keep families enthralled.

The fighting scenes have effective dialogue and humor which connects. The journey has obstacles that are interesting and invigorating. The continuity is blurry and disconnected at times, but it still manages to send positive vibes throughout the film which results in non-stop fun. The message of the story in this movie is about connection and it is brought to life through the creativity of the martial arts.

Unfortunately, I did not love Kung Fu Panda 4. I do, however, have appreciation for the continuity of the franchise and this installment’s faithfulness to the franchise. Poe continues to be the primary focus of the story and grows into being the leader going forward. The voice of Black is stellar as always. Two-and-a-half out four stars for Kung Fu Panda 4.

Film reviews

Problemista Review

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This is a one-of-a kind creative film with loads of artistic value. Writer/director Julio Torres is also the lead and audiences will enjoy falling into his invigorating world in Problemista. Time is of the essence in this surrealist experience that is attention-grabbing. Problemista addresses real-life struggles and exploresmoments of desperation but leaves a trail of hope. The film is an immersive tale of wonders that succeeds thanks to the innovative direction and performance of Torres.

In Problemista, Torres plays Alejandro, an individual doing what he can to make ends meet as a toy designer. Alejandro comes from El Salvador and keeps hitting plateaus with the opportunities he is pursuing. The harsh world of rejection is very frustrating in Problemista. However, Alejandro gets a chance when he meets Elizabeth, played by Tilda Swinton. She is an inspired artist with a wild and egotistical sense of humor who serves as aa role model for Alejandro. She is also the one person who may be able to help Alejandro overcome his work visa conflict while also finding ways to approach his career path.

The scenes in Problemista are colorful. The writing has anaudacity of grandeur that is deep within the narration of the film. Isabella Rossellini is the narrator, and her voice has a tone which fuels the audiences’ faith in the artistic life of someone who has grown desperate. Problemista is revolutionary and engrossing. It is a portrait of the bigger picture of an artist trying to find work in a difficult field. 

The story provides context which helps demonstrate how who you know in a complex job arena can make all the difference when it comes to landing a job or an opportunity. Alejandro has limits due to his work visa and New York is a complicated and costly city to navigate.  Alejandro must stay close to Elizabeth and keep sucking up her in order toimprove his status and chances of growth and employment.

As someone who loves the arts, the story of Alejandro’s struggles enthralled and moved me. Problemista offered a landscape that caused many questions to come to my mind. Is Alejandro’s art repetitive? Are Alejandro’s ideas not in-demand? Is Alejandro’s voice enticing enough to pitch to the level it needs for fulfillment? While Alejandro’s works to complete his tasks, Elizabeth proves overwhelming for him to work with. Although she provides needed benefits. She provides the benefit of consistency so that Alejandro has someone to fall back on when he hits plateaus with his visa and art projects. Will Elizabeth remain true to Alejandro? Problemista offers a realistic look into an arena where the right voices and connections to the right people truly count. 

There is a long road of irritations for an individual who is hopento broaden his path into something more worthwhile. Problemista shows how tolerance and perseverance matter.Alejandro is destined to find his dream, and Elizabeth is his guide to that. Does art eventually lead to bigger aspirations? Find out in Problemista. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Drive-Away Dolls Review

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Drive-Away Dolls, a film by Ethan Coen in his solo directorial debut, has a bizarre setup with tons of weird moving parts and, unfortunately, a plot that is not executed properly. It tries to be funny and clever, but neither element comes through in the film’s writing or structure. It’s also supposed to be suspenseful with laughter, but it devolves into turmoil, and the dynamics among the characters is simply a mess.

Drive-Away Dolls focuses on a girl named Jamie, played by Margaret Qualley. Jamie is lesbian and she is getting over a break-up with a girlfriend. She feels the need for an escape, and she gets together with her friend Marian, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, to make that happen. Jamie is more of the party-type and is into voyeurism, while Marian is a lot more introverted. Jamie is about finding sex parties with other women, and she wants Marian to join her. They sign up for a “drive-away” car service to take a client’s car to Tallahassee, but they get the wrong car. Unbeknownst to Jamie and Marian the car they’re driving has a briefcase in the trunk containing some “valuable” items, and this mistake puts them in the path of many criminals, including Arliss (played by Joey Slotnick) and Flint (played by C.J. Wilson), and a criminal boss known as “The Chief” (played by Colman Domingo). There is also a character named Gary Channel (played by Matt Damon), who is a United States senator.

There actually are many suspenseful moments in Drive-Away Dolls, and many that have the potential to be hysterical if done properly, but the film is just dreadfully written. Like other Coen films, its pacing is dark and narrative has cues for laughter. But this one is a blur, and the laughs never come. 

The film is set in 1999, a year when I was a young man, and it did have me thinking about good times back in the day. I felt that the film was spot on in picking up the social vibes of that time. But not much else was executed well. The film attempts to be funny with its explicit sexual moments. These scenes are not necessarily offensive, but the context of the film is undefined and much of the premise made no sense, including the road trip, the ridiculous items that were supposed to be of such value, and criminals who seemed to not have a clue what they are doing. Although I’ll admit that the many absent-minded characters may be the only mildly entertaining aspect of the film.

Drive-Away Dolls is a suspense film with no thrills, and it has a foundation and dynamics that are pure confusion. There were a number of what I would call “Coen moments”, but the writing on this one is completely out of focus. The setting of 1999 adds some interest, but not much class, and at times seems to actually add to the confusion. Is Drive-Away Dolls supposed to be a love story, or an escape story? I couldn’t tell. There may have been times to laugh in the film, but it was too disorganized to know when those times were. I did find many moments, however, where I was wondering whether the film was worthy of my time. Two out four stars for Drive-Away Dolls.