You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

Adam Sandler’s ongoing partnership with Netflix hasn’t exactly produced much in the way of quality entertainment, but every now and then, a pleasant surprise comes along. Last year, that was Hustle, and now we have the delightful You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah.

This could’ve easily been your typical “teenage girls fighting over a boy” type of movie, and on the surface, that’s mostly what it is. However, this coming of age story is elevated by the representation of Jewish culture seldom seen in family films, and by giving us an honest look at adolescent anxiety. Yes, there’s still plenty of that signature Happy Madison goofiness (for better or worse), but it’s dialled back in favour of something more heartwarming and genuine than we’re used to from Sandler’s production company.

Speaking of Sandler, this movie is quite the family affair. You’ve not only got the Sand-Man himself, but also his wife and two daughters. This is the acting debut of his youngest - Sunny Sandler, and she leads this movie wonderfully. It’s an awkward, vulnerable performance that comes through so sincerely. Adam Sandler’s real life chemistry with his daughters also shines bright. Even with the limited time he has on screen with them, their dynamic makes for some of the film’s best and most heartfelt moments.

If you grew up in a Jewish household where religion played a big role in your family, this movie will likely resonate with you in all the right ways. Even if you didn’t, this coming of age story is funny, relatable and heartfelt in a way that anybody can enjoy. Now give it up for DJ Shmuley!

3.5/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett

#toronto #review #movie #film #adamsandler #netflix

Rating all V/H/S/Halloween Segments

Like sorting through your candy after a night of trick-or-treating, V/H/S/ Halloween is a mixed bag. The eighth instalment in this cult-favourite horror anthology series comes up short of previous entries, but there are still a couple of treats in here that should satisfy your twisted cravings. A chilling still from V/H/S/ Halloween . Diet Phantasma This wraparound segment follows an R&D team testing a new low-calorie soda made with “real ghosts.” It’s silly fun, but gets a bit repetitive with each new test subject. The commercial playing during the end credits was a nice touch. Rating: ★★½☆ Coochie Coochie Coo This short feels like walking through a haunted house — but not in a good way. The plot is like something torn from a creepypasta thread. Everything is constantly being spelled out in a painfully obvious way. The practical effects and makeup are decent, and this is probably the only segment that comes close to being scary...

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

Boss Level Film Review

Boss Level is a new addition to the time loop genre, with a twist. Ex-special forces officer, Roy Pulver, played by Frank Grillo, relives the same day until he dies. Every day he is hunted by assassins and when killed, he wakes up back in his bed where he started, only to have to try and survive all over again. Roy has no idea why he is stuck in this infinite time loop but he must do what he can to survive, and the longer he survives, the more he uncovers about his particular situation. Unlike most action films that take time to build up, this film gets right into it and offers tons of non-stop combat sequences that would satisfy any lover of action films. Its erratic flow makes for some fun action scenes which come out of nowhere since Roy can expect the assassins to attack at any moment. If you play video games often and have ever been stuck on a level for hours or even days, you know the feeling of having to repeat the same thing over and over again u...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog