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Film reviews

Heart Eyes Review

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the color of red which symbolizes love always finds its way into slasher flicks. This is especially true in films where romance takes a drastic turn for the worst which is the case in Heart Eyes. Directed by Josh Rubin, there are elements of joy and humor to go along with this unique title. The movie is neither a terrible nor amazing slasher full of terror, but it is relatively entertaining and fulfilling. With Rubin having credits as a director for Netflix specials and different TV series, his creativity and ability to hold audiences’ attention is on par with arcade fun in Heart Eyes. This movie has moments which feel interactive but not in a way that requires the audience to take it too seriously.  It is a fun thriller to take in for most any type of occasion.

The film’s title refers to a killer known as the “Heart Eyes Killer.” He is a murderer that targets couples on Valentine’s Day. The story begins by taking the audience to a place where true love is being displayed during a proposal. When this killer comes into the scene, the grizzly tone shivers at high level as the stage for murder is set and the loss of innocence spirals. The director is experienced at making his work joyful to watch even when the subject involves death.  

The new targets are a unique pair. The film introduces us to Ally (played by Olivia Holt) and Jay (played by Mason Gooding). They are co-workers doing news work on the night of Valentine’s Day, and they become the new targets of the “Heart Eyes” Killer. The film feels like the setting of a Scream movie. However, it is less violent. Heart Eyes captures the moments when characters try to find the right answers in the suspenseful moments. The film also feels like a puzzle, because thecharacters who play authorities are questionable as well. The two detectives are Detective Hobbs (played by Devon Sawa) and Detective Shaw (played by Jordana Brewster). No, their titles do not relate to the Hobbs and Shaw film, although that is even joked about during the movie. Overall, the film focuses ona group of misfit characters dealing with a killer. The killer’seyes are the shape of hearts, but the hearts signify death. 

I appreciated the cheesiness throughout Heart Eyes. It has a plot that seems predictable, but it does not rely solely on violent tactics to sell the story. The director works to add quirky chemistry between the many characters who are navigating the dangers. A spirit of teamwork in a group of not-so-bright minds is how Heart Eyes lands on an intriguing vibe. The film is kind of like a Hallmark holiday movie filled with both slashes andlaughs. It also succeeds by having an antagonistic tone which keeps the story on track. Hugs and kisses do not see eye-to-eyein Heart Eyes, but the film glows with evil. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Heart Eyes.

Film reviews

You’re Cordially Invited Review

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What’s worse than wedding plans not falling into place? Having to share your time with a whole different group of people who are not related whatsoever. That is the storyline in You’re Cordially Invited. Written and directed by Nicholas Stoller, this R-rated comedy is filled with lighthearted joy. You’re Cordially Invited made me think of the saying, “It takes two to tango!” The double-booked wedding is at the center of what must come together to make the scenario work. It is a clever comedic setup. All the moving parts, including disasters and disagreements, create a chemistry that works. There is sporadic stupidity, however it’s mostly funny and adds to the film’s comedic charm. 

The idea of weddings and marriage makes for an interesting theme. Happiness in life (and in this movie) hits many plateausand it is a mad world at one wedding venue in Your Cordially Invited. The film focuses on Jim (played by Will Ferrell) and Margot (played by Reese Witherspoon). Jim’s daughter Jenni (played by Geraldine Viswanathan) is getting married, and Margot’s daughter Neve (played by Meredith Hagner) is also getting married. One small error has led to a double-booking of the weddings. From this point on, the reality of having a wedding to remember goes into high gear with so many issues at hand. It is boisterous and entertaining. It all comes down to money and tradition—both of which play key roles and are portrayed in egotistical characterizations.

With Ferrell and Witherspoon playing the parents who mustlearn to share the venue, they both have personalities to causeanxiety to go awry. The wedding is on an island, and a lot can go wrong in that setting. For example, an alligator falls into Jim’s bed. The dim-wittedness of You’re Cordially Invited is different because it navigates new territory instead of only what many expect in family conflicts. It keeps the laughs coming by having the two opposing parties falling apart and then learning to work together to share the venue again. The common ground of family turmoil finds a relatable place in You’re Cordially Invited.

The drastic scenarios throughout You’re Cordially Invited had me sold. Surprisingly, I went in with mixed expectations, but I walked out feeling positive. With Ferrell and Witherspoon playing parents going through treacherous disasters, I felt the sense of lines being drawn and the idea of the saying, “You only live once!” The film finds itself on a mission to keep its audience in tune with the hope that happiness will eventually come around. It was sometimes hard to maintain hope given all the weird moments in the film. The stressful scenes were a little bonkers at times and had wedding bells ringing in some crazy ways in You’re Cordially Invited. It seemed like just when oneagreement was made a new can of worms opened where disasters and uncharted, yet hysterical, perils were inevitable.

This is a film where a comedy and drama combine in a lighthearted flow of writing and characterization. The wedding setting provides perspective. In the end, You’re Cordially Invitedis appealing. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Companion Review

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Why do humans rely on technology? They do for many reasons such as organization, boredom, and life essentials. But where is the line drawn? It is drawn at utilizing technology to enable human connections. Writer and director Drew Hancock pushes the boundaries of AI in Companion. It is a film that correlates with robot and human suspense for an entertaining result. The level of seriousness just right. Companion is about a matter that goes awry which leads to twists and secrets to be revealed.

The film focuses on a couple, Iris and Josh (played by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid). They go on a weekend getaway at a lake house with friends. The other folks are a gay couple, Eli and Patrick (played by Harvey Guillen and Lukas Gage). There are also Sergey and Kat (played by Rupert Friend and Megan Suri). Iris is a robot and her emotions are mixed. Josh tells her, “Remember to smile and act happy!” For Iris, this is rather complicated. She displays feelings of tension which arecultivated by the narration from the very beginning of the film. The script delivers the key fact that Iris is not a normal human. Her sensitivity is the cornerstone of intriguing suspense in Companion.

The film’s genius is aided by the uncomfortable vibe in its lake house setting. Given Iris already has a boiling mind of vengeance, Companion loops in the feeling that many cans of worms are waiting to be released. Companion boils until the film’s point of destruction as so much goes wrong along the way. Iris commits homicide due to being unable to properly handle human emotions. After the homicide she walks into the living room holding a knife with spattered blood. Josh, Kat, Eli, and Patrick are stunned and horrified. Josh must figure out how to clean-up Iris’s mess which was prompted by a technical failure. Josh refers to Iris as a “companion robot” or “emotional robot.” He does this to try and cover his tracks before her functions worsen… which they certainly do. 

The film gets hysterical when it becomes a battle between an “emotional support robot” against real humans. On top of that,the scenes have an interactive component when the “emotional support robot” uses the functions on a tablet to help with functionality. This happens in moments of suspense. The storyline of covering up a murder and getting a crazy machine on the loose is results in a crazy ride that dangles shambles of wonderous audacity in Companion. AI takes a deadly turn of demise in Companion. Despite the quirky layout, what makes this film a gem is its ability to create an atmosphere where viewers must think. There is more here than what is expected and that gets the audience involved.

The vividness comes from the desperation in the performances of Thatcher and Quaid. Since Thatcher is a machine and Quaid is the consumer (of her). The error falls on both sides but there is no excuse for the cause. They both have the minds to fend for their lives. The film’s message is NEVER RELY ON TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN EMOTIONS! No good comes from that! The creativity behind the boisterous disasters results in a grandeur of comedy and suspense with technology going full throttle. Not entirely a masterpiece, but very close. Three out of four stars for Companion.