MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE (2026)

 

Written & Directed By: BenDavid Grabinski 

Cinematography: Larry Fong 

Editor: Tim Squyres 

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Eliza Gonzalez, James Marsden, Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Stephen Root, Dolph Lungdren, Arturo Castro, Ben Schwartz, Emily Hampshire

Two friends navigate the dangerous world of organized crime, testing their loyalty and survival skills as they get deeper into the criminal underworld.

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I really wanted to enjoy the film. As what it does have going for it there’s a lot of colorful characters that analyze the underworld that you wish they all had their own movie to star in

Instead of this time, travel mildly science fiction film that decides to pepper those ideas in with your typical b-movie crime film.

That has a good percentage of comedy, but then chooses to sprinkle in some harder or more. I wouldn’t say emotional but serious moments even though half the time it reminds one of one of those 90s post Tarantino pulp fiction type films.

It also has a good soundtrack that helps save the film with a lot of music from the 90s in 2000s era so that there are plenty of needle drops that work certain magic of nostalgia on the audience of a certain age who this film is made for, especially with many of the pop culture references. 

As this film has it stride and when it does, it’s actually entertaining and funny, but there seem to be so many distractions and disturbances that it can’t play a straight tune harmoniously. You have to wait for those moments and hope it will play through and see how long it can last that way.

As the film has all the ingredients, great cast, surprising cameos, a dynamite, gorgeous leading lady who still deserves more screen time better roles played by Eliza Gonzalez 

In Vince Vaughn, in a double roll has the smoothness and comfort to play these types of roles, though his character from the future is far more in his wheelhouse than his more uptight version in the modern, though he does manage to make them to distinctly different characters. Though he can do this type of role in his sleep. It’s not very challenging. 

James Marsden is good in his role as kind of the straight man playing up his looks but gives him a chance to prove himself as he definitely manages to keep up with Vince Vaughn. Though nice to see him in this type of film. 

The rest of the cast in their small and supporting roles are really what help make this film, more pleasurable and one really wishes they could give this film more or a higher rating but while it’ll probably be entertaining for most specially Vince Vaughn fans it just never quite worked. It’s magic for me and couldn’t wait for it to reach its conclusion and and I guess you could call it a perfectly fine time waster but it’s not a film. I would rush back to ever see you again.

As throughout watching the film, I just kept wondering what’s this all about? Why why is this happening and it never quite answer that question so that by the end I was just happy it ended.

It’s not terrible, but maybe it’s just too average a project that one would expect from streaming at least it has its moments of good

Grade: C

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (2021)

 

Written & Directed By: Mikey Alfred

Cinematography: Ayinde Anderson 

Editor: Alex Tsagamilis 

Cast: Ryder McLaughlin, Nico Hiraga, Aramis Hudson, Vince Vaughn, Miranda Cosgrove, Angus Cloud, Gillian Jacobs, Blake Anderson 

A kid must decide between choosing the future his father wants and following his dream of becoming a pro skater.

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This film unfortunately feels sort of like a b-movie version of the film MID 90S or a more independent version of it, as it feels similar but being not quite as sharp. as there are no major names in the cast, except for Vince Vaughn playing the main characters, strong willed, father, and he makes his presence felt And gives the strongest performance. 

The majority of the film is plotless. It’s more of a becoming of age comedy drama, where we watch our main character who wants to be a pro skater through the ins and outs of a few weeks into his life and the various situations he finds himself in. 

As in most coming-of-age films, he finds a romance and faces alienation or the breaking up of friendships as they mature and change and head off in a different directions, though there’s a little actual plotter story a bunch of stuff happens that help to define the characters 

Though the characters being kind of unlikable, juvenile and bland, which one is sure is the main point of the film. As we all are at that time but here it doesn’t come off as fun or poignant. It comes off more as annoying more like someone looking back at that age, and trying to be hip with the current generation as it feels a little Just out of date for some reason. So that there feels like no one in particular to root for or even look forward to. 

What the film does have is a good soundtrack and greats and photography that make you sit through the film and study the shots and notice how well film they are really your patience will be tested with this film and how much you actually get into either the characters or your wonder to see what’s gonna happen next 

As the film isn’t quite as polished or confident as mid 90s and has a more open ambiguous ending, that seems a bit more downtrodden and then positive, but hold out hope strives for a DIY attitude and tone.

As it seeks to be authentic, it just constantly seems a bit off brand and a little more manufactured rather than telling it’s truth or being autobiographical or someone’s passion project

Watching it it just feels way too familiar even in different clothing and locations. You’re going to have that I’ve seen this before, but maybe it works for a new generation and will speak to them. 

The film is worth watching if you don’t have too many expectations or expect that much from me it’s perfectly fine entertainment. Give the film a chance, though you can’t say you weren’t warned beforehand 

Grade: C 

NONNAS (2025)

 

Directed By: Stephen Chbosky

Written by: Liz Maccie

inspired by the life story of: Jody Scaravella

Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus

Editor: Anne McCabe

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Joe Maganiello, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Susan Sarandon, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Mateo, Michael Rispoli, Geoffrey Owens, Campbell

Scott

After losing his beloved mother, a man risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers as the chefs.

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First off will say that Vince Vaughn here plays more of an every man so if you’re expecting his motor mouth, fast talker type of character you’re going to be sadly disappointed.

The film is based on a true story and real restaurant that I did not know I thought this was a made-up story, but was happy that by the end you find out this is based on truth.

Interestingly, this was directed by Stephen Chbosky, who I mainly know as a novelist, for the film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, he also directed and wrote the adaptation. He wrote and Strites' other novels, but he is also a practicing filmmaker, as he has also DORECTED made films DEAR EVAN HANSEN and WONDER. all family films of a sort.

Here this film automatically feels like a family film as the subject matter is clean, it revolves around the power of friendship and families, and there’s nothing offensive in the film, and you get to know most of the characters so that they’re not one-dimensional 

This is one of those films that you’re gonna be hungry after watching just seeing not only the preparation of the food but how it comes out just makes you so hungry so that it’s kind of like soul food or tortilla soup or big night all these films that center around food meals, the meanings of them the expression of making food can be an art of itself, and this is one of those films. It helps relieve or comfort, or it just makes everything OK

Does have a minor romantic, of course what else would you expect and also preserves that whole thing of Vince Vaughn‘s characters and every man where you would think given how strong and good of a character he would’ve been married already by now, but he was taking care of his mother and now that she has passed on and he’s pursuing something with passion for the first time that he’s had no female in his life to take care of or take care of him and at first, it seems like it will be that filling, but now he meets a woman and romance is on the menu so that he’s left in good hands with her and she’s left in good hands with him in the knives are there to approve andhelp nurture

Film also provides material and characters for Lorraine Brocco,  Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, who still work, but you don’t see in major releases as much as well as I’m putting the queen of playing older female roles, Susan Sarandon as the more flirtatious and vivacious of the Nonnas, who of course makes the sweet stuff the desserts and the revealing outfits

While the others are more traditional, Lorraine Bracco, the angriest and volatile one of tradition Talia Shire is more of the shy one with a secret, and Brenda Vaccaro is more of the traditional grandmother who misses her husband and doesn’t have that much to do 

Just these women provide their specialties in cooking. They also provide what cooking has always meant to them, which is an expression of love and care for their families whoever they’re serving food to so that they feel like fam and that’s what this film also feels like an expression for the audience out there who might be feeling off or might miss family and friends this film is meant to bring you in and either remind you or fill you with that feeling of love that comes from family.

As the restaurant with a love letter to the cooking and to his mother and family, the screenplay written by Liz Maccie is a love letter to her family, and her husband Stephen Chbosky has said that this is a love letter to her him directing the film

It’s a tearjerker, a family film for all ages that I wish didn’t talk down to its audience. It doesn’t mean to, but it is also just that simple, what you see is what you get, the title alone. Tell you everything you need to know, it’s a nice warm fun little movie. Not offensive and not too many stereotypes.

That of course plays on Netflix streaming, but definitely could’ve made it mark in theaters, even if it doesn’t have that many locations nor is the story that big.

Grade: C+

FRED CLAUS (2007)

 

Directed By: David Dobkin

Written By: Dan Fogelman 

Story By: Jessie Nelson and Dan Fogelman

Cinematography: Remi Adefarasin 

Editor: Mark Livolsi 

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Rachel Weisz, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Kathy Bates, Miranda Richardson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Bobb’e J. Thompson 

Always living in the shadow of his younger and utterly popular brother, Nicholas--or the one and only, Santa Claus--the polar opposite of his holy sibling, Fred Claus, now faces an unforeseen predicament that drags him all the way up to the frozen North Pole to beg for Santa's help. However, there's a catch. To get off the hook, Fred must work his fingers to the bone along with the jolly elves during the hectic pre-Christmas Eve period, against the backdrop of a thorough and merciless efficiency inspection. Can the wayward brother Fred save himself, and above all, Christmas?

QUEENPINS (2021)

Written & Directed By: Aron Gaudet & Gita Pullapilly Cinematography: Andrew Wehde Editor: Kayla Emter 

Cast: Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Bebe Rexha, Paul Walter Hauser, Vince Vaughn, Joel McHale, Eduardo Franco, Dayo Okeniyi, Annie Mumolo, Stephen Root, Paul Rust, Timm Sharp, Nick Cassavettes, Jack Mcbrayer, Greta Oglesby

Loosely Based on a true story. A pair of housewives create a $40 million coupon scam.

OLD SCHOOL (2003)

Directed By: Todd Phillips  Written By: Todd Phillips & Scot Armstrong Story by: Court Crandall, Todd Phillips & Scot Armstrong Cinematography: Mark Irwin  Editor: Michael Jablow 

Cast: Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Jeremy Piven, Juliette Lewis, Ellen Pompeo, Elisha Cuthbert, Craig Kilborn, Leah Remini, Perrey Reeves, Seann William Scott, Rick Gonzalez, Simon Helberg, Matt Walsh, Artie Lange, Sara Tanaka, Patrick Fischler, Harve Presnell, Sarah Shahi, Bryan Callen, Eddie Peppitone, Jerod Mixon, Gregory Alan Williams, Rob Corddry, James Carville, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, 

Mitch, Frank and Beanie are disillusioned with their personal lives beginning when Mitch's nymphomanic girlfriend, Heidi, cheats on him, then former party animal Frank gets married, but unwilling to let go of his wild life, and Beanie is a family man seeking to reclaim his wild and crazy youth. Beanie suggests that they form their own fraternity in Mitch's new house on a college campus to re-live their glory days by bringing together a variety of misfit college students, losers, middle-aged and elderly retirees as their new friends and later try to avoid being evicted by the new Dean of Students, Pritchard, whom still holds a personal grudge against all three of them.

FREAKY (2020)

Directed By: Christopher Landon  Written By: Christopher Landon & Michael Kennedy  Cinematography: Laurie Rose Editor: Ben Baudhuin 

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Celeste O’Connor, Misha Osherovich, Emily Holder, Nicholas Stargal, Katie Finnaren, Dana Drori, Mitchell Hoog, Melissa Cellazo 

After swapping bodies with a deranged serial killer, a young girl in high school discovers she has less than 24 hours before the change becomes permanent.

SEBERG (2019)

Directed By: Benedict Andrews  Written By: Anna Whitehouse & Joe Shrapnel  Cinematography: Rachel Morrison  Editor: Pamela Martin 

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn, Jack O’Connell, Anthony Mackie, Zazie Beetz, Yvan Attal, Margaret Quaker, Colm Meaney, Stephen Root

Inspired by real events in the life of French New Wave icon Jean Seberg. In the late 1960s, Hoover's FBI targeted her because of her political and romantic involvement with civil rights activist Hakim Jamal.

DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE (2019)

Written & Directed By: S. Craig Zahler 
Cinematography: Benji Bakshi 
Editor: Greg D’Auria 


Cast: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Jennifer Carpenter, Michael Jai White, Thomas Kretschmann, Don Johnson, Udo Kier, Laurie Holden, Fred Melamed, Justine Warrington, Myles Truitt, Vivian Ng 


The script centers on two policemen, one an old-timer, the other his volatile younger partner, who find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics become the media's cause du jour. Low on cash and with no other options, these two embittered soldiers descend into the criminal underworld to gain their just due, but instead find far more than they wanted awaiting them in the shadows.

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (2019)

Written & Directed By: Stephen Merchant 
Cinematography By: Remi Adefarasin 
Editor: Nancy Richardson 


Cast: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Stephen Merchant, Olivia Bernstone, Julia Davis, Paul Wight, Stephen Farrelly 


A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment.

RETURN TO PARADISE (1998)

Directed By: Joseph Rueben 
Written By: Wesley Strick & Bruce Robinson 
Based on the original Screenplay FORCE MAJEURE by: Pierre Jolivet & O. Schatzky Cinematography By: Reynaldo Villalobos 
Editor: Craig McKay & Andrew Mondshein 


Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jada Pinkett Smith, Anne Heche, Joaquin Phoenix, David Conrad, Vera Farminga, Nick Sandow, David Zayas, Richard Yang, Elizabeth Rodriguez 


Three friends share an exciting vacation in Malaysia, full of fun, drinks, women and hash. When the vacation is over, each have dreams of continuing their lives, and they all go their separate ways. One of them remains on the tropical paradise to fulfill a dream of working with apes for research. Two years later, a lawyer comes to New York and hunts down the other two friends to give some sad news. A few days after they left the island, police raided their camp and found amazingly large quantities of hash left about. Phoenix was still residing there, so he had to take the blame. He is set to be put to death in 8 days, and the only way the charges can be decreased is if the two friends come back to paradise and take their share of the responsibilty. If they do, they both will spend three years in prison. If only one does, he will spend six years behind bars.

BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 (2017)

Written & Directed By: S. Craig Zahler 
Cinematography By: Benji Bakshi 
Editor: Greg D’Auria 


Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, Marc Blucas, Udo Kier, Don Johnson, Tom Guiry, Fred Melamed, Clark Johnson, Rob Morgan 


Bradley Thomas is a hard working man. After him and his wife's miscarriage they admit the spark isn't there anymore and decide to have a baby. After being fired from his job, he turns to his friend who hires him as a drug dealer. A trade goes bad and he ends up in prison, the only problem is that a gang has kidnapped his wife and they will do an experimental operation on the baby unless Thomas kills one of the inmates in cell block 99. Bradley will not stop at anything until his wife is safe again.

HACKSAW RIDGE (2016)

Directed By: Mel Gibson 
Written By: Robert Schenkkan & Andrew Knight 
Cinematography By: Simon Duggan 
Editor: John Gilbert

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey 

The true story of Desmond T. Ross, the conscientious objector who, at the Battle of Okinawa, won the Medal of Honor for his incredible bravery and regard for his fellow soldiers. We see his upbringing and how this shaped his views, especially his religious view and anti-killing stance. We see Doss's trials and tribulations after enlisting in the US Army and trying to become a medic. Finally, we see the hell on Earth that was Hacksaw Ridge

BE COOL (2005)

Directed By: F. Gary Grey 
Written By: Peter Steinfeld 
Based on the novel by: Elmore Leonard 
Cinematography By: Jeffrey L. Kimball 
Editor: Sheldon Kahn 


Cast: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Harvey Kietel, Christina Milian, Kimberly J. Brown, James Woods, Cedric The Entertainer, Andre Benjamin, Vince Vaughn, Steven Tyler, Danny DeVito, Robert Pastorelli, Dwayne Johnson, Arielle Kebbel, Scott Adsit, Gregory Alan Williams, Paul Adelstein, Debi Mazar

THE INTERNSHIP (2013)

Directed By: Shawn Levy 
Written By: Vince Vaughn & Jared Stern 
Story By: Vince Vaughn 
Cinematography By: Jonathan Brown 
Editor: Dean Zimmerman 

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Max Minghella, Dylan O’Brien, Tiya Sircar, Asif Mandvi, Josh Gad, Rob Riggle, Rose Byrne, Jessica Szohr, Eric Andre, Gary Anthony Williams, B.J. Novak, Josh Brener, Tobit Raphael

DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE (2001)

Directed By: Harold Becker 
Written By: Lewis Colick 
Story By: Lewis Colick, William S.Comanor & Gary Drucker 
Cinematography By: Michael Seresin 
Editor: Peter Honess 

Cast: John Travolta, Vince Vaughn, Teri Polo, Steve Buscemi, Matt O’Leary, Rueben Santiago-Hudson, Debra Mooney

COUPLES RETREAT (2009)

Directed By: Peter Billingsly
Written By: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn & Dana Fox
Cinematography By: Eric Edwards
Editor: Dan Lebental

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Malin Ackerman, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Kristen Bell, Tasha Smith, Carlos Ponce, Jean Reno, Tamuera Morrison, Peter Serafinowicz, Ken Jeong, Amy Hill, Alexis Knapp, Dana Fox

THE WATCH (2012)

Directed By: Akiva Schaffer Written By: Jared Stern, Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Cinematography By: Barry Peterson Editor: Dean Zimmerman Cast: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Will Forte, Richard Ayoade, Nicholas Braun, R. Lee Ermey, Doug Jones, Erin Moriarty

STARSKY & HUTCH (2004)

Directed By: Todd Phillips
Written By: Todd Phillips, Scot Armstrong & John O'Brein
Story By: John O'Brein & Stevie Long
Based On Original Characters By: William Binn
Cinematography By: Barry Peterson
Editor: Leslie Jones

Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Juliette Lewis, Jason Bateman, Amy Smart, Fred Williamson, Snoop Dogg, Carmen Electra, Richard Edson, Chris Penn, Brande Roderick, Molly Simms, Matt Walsh, Patton Oswalt, Judah Friedlander