MOVIE REVIEW: ALL MY LIFE

 

Jennifer Carter and Solomon Chau are a sweet, fun-loving, newly engaged couple who are ready to start their lives together. But when Solomon is diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, their hopes for a summer wedding become impossible. With time running out, their friends and families soon devise an inspirational plan to help Jennifer and Solomon realize their dream wedding.

Director: Marc Meyers

Cast: Jessica Rothe, Harry Shum Jr., Kyle Allen, Chrissie Fit, Jay Pharoah, Marielle Scott, Keala Settle

Release Date: December 4, 2020

Genres: Drama, Romance

Rated PG-13 for brief language

Runtime: 1h 33min

Review:

All My Life won’t win any prizes for realism or depth but it works because of the charisma and chemistry of its two leads.  Marc Meyers directs the film with a generally rose tinted hue even when the film hits some of its more tragic notes.  As such some people might be disappointed the film didn’t delve into the pain of cancer with a bit more realism in fact Harry Shum Jr.’s Sol never displays any sort of physical decline during the course of the film.  It feels like the film would have packed a bit more of a punch had given that aspect of the story a more realistic arch.  That issue aside Jessica Rothe & Harry Shum Jr. make the film far more watchable than it deserves to be because it’s schmaltzy with a clear intention to pull at your heart strings.  As a light breezey romantic comedy / tragedy hybrid it works because Rothe & Shum are incredibly easy to like and they both give their character more depth than what’s actually written on the page.  They make you care about their story and journey even though the film itself is a step up from a Lifetime movie of that week.  That being said, once you reach the finale nearly everyone will be reaching for the tissues over this glossy retelling of love story cut tragically short, 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: VALLEY GIRL

A valley girl and a punk rocker from the city defy their parents and friends to stay together.

Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Cast: Jessica Rothe, Josh Whitehouse, Mae Whitman, Judy Greer

Release Date: May 8, 2020

Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance

Rated PG-13 for teen partying, language, some suggestive material, and brief nudity

Runtime: 1h 42min

Review:

The Valley Girl remake, much like the Hairspray remake before it, takes a beloved 80s cult classic and sprays a fresh coat of gloss and glitter to deliver a fizzy and nostalgic candy coated pill.  Rachel Lee Goldenberg is respectful of the original but it’d be fair to call it more of a spiritual remake than a straight up remake.  The original captured a specific moment in time and Nic Cage’s first real introduction to the world with all his general weirdness on full display.  This remake drops all that and goes super colorful with rose colored glasses of nostalgia.  A new framing sequence explains the jukebox musical element early on letting the filmmaker go all in with their conceit.  The musical sequences are all well choreographed with one near the middle truly shining with three separate 80s jams going back and forth.  Jessica Rothe sits firmly at the center of this film and she’s always the most interesting person on screen.  She just has an innate magnetism that shines through every sequence much like her work in Happy Death Day.  Rothe drives the film and makes a solid on screen couple with Josh Whitehouse who looks like a tall Great Value Robert Pattinson.  He’s charming and charismatic enough to work for this film but those yearning for Nic Cage’s take will be disappointed.  Mae Whitman gives a nice supporting turn even if her character is both superfluous and underused.  Ultimately, if you love the original you’ll probably enjoy this one since it’s different enough to enjoy on its own.   On its own accord it’s a fun little film that’s got the caloric value of a donut. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: HAPPY DEATH DAY

Tree Gelbman is a blissfully self-centered collegian who wakes up on her birthday in the bed of a student named Carter. As the morning goes on, Tree gets the eerie feeling that she's experienced the events of this day before. When a masked killer suddenly takes her life in a brutal attack, she once again magically wakes up in Carter's dorm room unharmed. Now, the frightened young woman must relive the same day over and over until she figures out who murdered her.

Director: Christopher B. Landon

Release Date: Oct 13, 2017
 
Cast: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, Charles Aitken, Rachel Matthews

Rated PG-13 for violence/terror, crude sexual content, language, some drug material and partial nudity 

Runtime: 1 hr. 36 min. 

Genres: Mystery/Thriller, Horror

Review:

Happy Death Day takes the Groundhog Day conceit and gives it a fun horror spin.  Christopher Landon directs his film with tongue placed firmly in cheek.  Those expecting some sort of a straight forward hardcore horror might be a bit let down since the film isn’t ever really scary or thrilling.  That being said, it’s still an impressively fun film that really never loses energy during its incredibly efficient runtime.  There are plenty of laughs abound as the day replays over and over again with Jessica Rothe delivering a great central performance.  Rothe has some impressive comedic timing and she puts it to great use throughout.  The central mystery isn’t all that difficult to figure out but that really doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment.  Horror fans have to trudge through a lot of garbage before something worthwhile pops up, thankfully Happy Death Day is a nice surprise.

B+