Tag Archives: Netflix

Unfrosted Review


Directed by and starring Jerry Seinfeld, Unfrosted is one of those clever and sarcastic comedies that dives into ambitious aspirations in a quirky way. A film where the revolutionary days of sweets and profits meant a lot more competition. It’s approached from a storytelling angle. The film jumps right to the events within the title itself. As one who has been fascinated by cereal products from a young age, Unfrosted felt like a comic book experience of heroes and villains fighting for first place in a creative race to the top. It is a wonderful delight and a bizarre adventure. The quirkiness works well with the pairing of two comics of lighthearted humor in Seinfeld and Gaffigan.

The invention of the Pop Tart brings a universe of comical corruption. The film reaches back to a time where marketing and logos were all that mattered. Think about the series Mad Mendiving deep and blending with bits of Seinfeld and a whole lot of fancy commercialism. This is a colorful trend of comedic motions that keeps landing its punchlines and delivering witty outcomes, and there are plenty of them in Unfrosted. Finding the frosting is the essence of the film’s mission in Unfrosted. POP-TART in all caps is what finally sells Unfrosted. The minds of Gaffigan and Seinfeld coming together use their talents as successful comedians to create a pure adrenaline experience of solid fun.

The two focuses of the film are Bob Cabana and Edsel Kellogg III. Seinfeld is Bob, and he has a fascination with creating a breakfast recipe that sells and hits the spot. Jim Gaffigan is Edsel, the head of the cereal empire. Both Bob and Jim are business partners at Kellogg. Their competitor is Post. A film that is purely in the comical mind of Seinfeld, Unfrosted works to find the sweetness with having the layer of being quirky. Its context of silliness dives deeply, especially when Bob and Edsel team up with Donna Stankowski, played by Melissa McCarthy.  Donna works with NASA. The search for success and creating a brand of celebratory food is all about diversity in ingredients and delivering a new and appealing product in Unfrosted.

The rival between Bob and Edsel is Marjorie Post, played by Amy Schumer. The comedians dive into the competitive mode in a universe where food commercialism matters. The writing inthe film is pure in the sense that it wants its audience to keep humor in the back of their mind throughout. Gaffigan and Seinfeld deliver their lines much like they are performing, like there should be an outbreak of laughter after each punchline. It may seem silly and overrated, however, deep-down it is acreation of a comedy that is different and unique—it is truly heartfelt. Hugh Grant is truly endearing playing a mascot for a cereal. Grant plays Thurl Ravenscroft, and his performance is like seeing someone who would normally do Shakespeare looking like they needed a break or some extra money The joy of the dynamic of the film is how the audience does not have to take any of the characters seriously and still have a wonderful time.

For Seinfeld as a director, this is the type of film he would direct. Even though it went back and forth for me, it serves as a film that I find to be a nice change-of-pace for many audiences. A film that makes its viewers think back to the days when having breakfast foods with sponsors served a bigger purpose. The competition side though, is a bit over-the-top. Overall, I found the film to be pleasant, despite how mediocre it could be at times. Still, it is a joy in the positive mood and humor it brings to the screen. The fight between Kellogg and The Post is challenged with humor, egos, and quirky adventures. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Unfrosted.

Spaceman Review


This is a space adventure that is not a normal space movie. Spaceman dives into the world of lost connection. Directed by John Renck, Spaceman explores the unsettling notion of loneliness and boredom while an astronaut is solo in space and deep in thought. Spaceman causes its audience to think deeply about how that individual is feeling. I was mesmerized by the film’s stunning cinematography that heightened the emotions that flow through the film’s narrative.

Spaceman focuses on an astronaut, Jakob Prochazka (played by Adam Sandler). Jakob is alone in space, but famous back home on Earth. His fame comes from the fact that he is from the Czech countryside and is the country’s first astronaut. He is on his way to do research on a mission in Venus. Back home, however, there is conflict with his wife Lenka (played by Carrey Mulligan). Jakob has not made his wife a priority, because he was focused on his life as an astronaut. Based upon Jakob’s background which involves a tainted relationship with his father,a Communist informer, he feels he needs to prioritize his mission…no matter the costs.

Jakob is in space to research ancient dust. His assistant Peter (played by Kunal Navyar) communicates with Jakob about anything aboard the spacecraft. Jakob’s knowledgeable colleague is Commissioner Tuma (played by Isabella Rossellini). Lenka, Peter, and Commissioner Tuma are all back on Earth. Jakob’s solitude causes him to have deep and dramatic thoughts. All his thinking begins to shift when a giant alien spider comes aboard with him. Jakob names the creature Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano). Once Jakob is with Hanus, Hanus helps guide his thinking and helps him realize how he can be a better person. The bond between Jakob and Hanus is one of empathy and compassion—two friends alone in space examining life far away.

Hanus becomes Jakob’s savior and allows him to be fulfilled. As Hanus says, “Perhaps my presence can lessen your solitude,” Spaceman transitions into a world of revelations as Jakob discovers truths which help bring him happiness once the mission in space is accomplished. As The film alternates between life on Earth and life in space with details that are in-depth and compelling.

The thorough exploration of feelings in Spaceman and their impact left me breathless. The performances of both Sandler and Mulligan are knockouts. Dano delivers the voice of wisdom as the creature companion in the film. The dynamic of mixed relationships with mentorship from Hanus creates a space odyssey in which sadness find a purpose. Will Jakob make things right with Lenka when he returns home? Do Jakob’s accomplishments make him feel important? Is Hanus there to encourage Jakob? There is the saying in the film that goes, “I have lived a life for all the wrong reasons.” From the film’s point-of-view seen through auteur direction, those reasons should not mean giving up.

With all the doubts, trials, and errors, Spaceman is a poetic deliverance. The friendship of Jakob and Hanus is like the Wilson connection from Cast Away. The astronaut loves the creature as much as Tom Hanks loved the Wilson ball. Spaceman beautifully portrays solitude and the desperation to have friendship and company. With the scenes of hardship and sadness so amazingly directed, Spaceman hit close to home for me. It made reflect upon how the past cannot be undone but there is still hope for things to be better in the present and the future. Will Jakob truly find love with Lenka after his mission? Find out in Spaceman. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Society of the Snow Review


Director J.A. Bayona delivers a film in which surviving peril is critical. Society of the Snow is a breathtaking experience filled with heightened suspense. The cinematography highlights the film’s emotions, and the scenery is truly amazing. The writing is a narrative on the importance of staying put. Society of the Snow reminds viewers that some moments in life require sacrifice and patience, two key factors in this film about friends who are as close as brothers in a detrimental situation. Everyone is hoping for one thing…to make it home alive. Will they make it?

Society of the Snow is a true story. It takes place in 1972 and focuses on a plane crash where a rugby team finds themselves stuck in the Andes mountains with the plane for shelter for over two months. The main characters are the team’s deeply connected rugby players, Fernando ‘Nando’ Parrado (played by Agustin Pardella), Adolfo ‘Fito’ Strauch (played by Esteban Kukuriczka), and Daniel Fernandez Strauch (played by Franciso Romero). While they expected to be on a vacation, they instead survive a plane crash but must learn to navigate uncharted territory. With weather getting colder, food and water supplies running low, and no connection for help, time is running out. Fortunately, they have each other.

The turbulence of the peril they’re in is brutal. The film’s narrative explains each detail of the mountainous environment and how it feels to suffer. The story also dives into what keeps everyone afloat and delivers the message that time is of the essence because as the narrator says, “The only thing that doesn’t belong is us.” Everyone is suffering because they are in a harsh environment where their bodies cannot handle the changing conditions. Cold is the evil which contributes to the horrific crash and terrible aftermath of the passengers on the Uruguayan flight featured in Society of the Snow.

The film emphasizes how the rugby team holds out for chances and holds on until help comes for them. The desire to live is the most enduring element in Society of The Snow. The plane’s passengers think back to their lives and what could have been different back in the past and the present. They wonder if things would have been different if they had not boarded the plane. 

During the movie, I was reminded of a college weather course which touched on global warming and other issues related to changing weather conditions. Since the brutal cold and harsh environment play such a vital role in this film, I couldn’t help but reflect upon the importance weather plays in our world.

Society of the Snow is an experience filled with hope. Although the film has moments in which the audience can feel hopelessness beginning to set in, the stranded rugby players retain a sense of faith. This true story is about a challenging fight for a chance to live in a perilous situation where resilience and hope never end. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Society of the Snow.