The CineFiles

Saturday, May 9, 2026

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.

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

Friday, May 8, 2026

SPLITSVILLE (2025)

Directed By: Michael Angelo Covino

Written By: Michael Angelo Covino & Kyle Marvin

Cinematography: Adam Newport-Berra

Editor: Sara Shaw

Cast: Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino, Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Nicholas Braun, Charlie Gillespie, David Castaneda, O-T Fagbenle, Nahema Ricci, Tyrone Benskin

When Ashley asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.

Even though this is more supposed to be a broad relationship comedy, I dislike most of the characters for different various reasons throughout as most of them come across as so selfish and vain, especially Adria Arjona’s character who could be seen as a hot blooded stereotype, but if anything, she more sums up spiritual or wellness seeking characters who are supposed to be about inner peace, but if you ever get to know them come across more self initially because it tends to be all about them in their pleasure rather than others emotions, especially those who are in their lives or love them. Though she is undeniably, jaw-droppingly attractive. Then again maybe as I have had experience with those types it’s a bit too familiar.

Though for her character makes sense as a life coach and the initial opening scene the accident that happens in the results it would seem natural for something like that to shake the boundaries and look for a rebirth or at least a change in their lives as that being assigned of it.

Not to mention, knowing the two male characters are the writers and directors of the film. They set the bar high with who they cast as their girlfriends and wives in this film as the women come across is too beautiful for them believably but again it’s a film so we do see the qualities that make them fall for them.

Though everyone throughout comes across as so reprehensible yet wise, but might hit upon an ugly truth throughout, that might be painful for certain members of the audience to hear, especially those who are more romantic and believe in monogamy as the film is certainly cruel to more the supporting character characters

Then there is one character who thankfully is minor who is openly trying to pick up Dakota Johnson’s character at a carnival with their own chikd that I thought the movie was gonna do more with him, but is only there for one scene. It seems almost more like a prop or antagonist to get the most out of the main characters or add to the weirdness and silliness of the situation.

This film is downright funny though you have to be on its wavelength of just strange situations. It feels like another BOB, CAROL, TED AND ALICE. For the modern day age, but not trying to be as revolutionary or introduce the audience into a different way of thinking.

As it feels like a Woody Allen comedy played as a romantic comedy. As tinwaht happens after the happily ever after.

For all the qualities that make the film work there’s also things that just make you not like not necessarily the movie but the characters but then again it makes you uncomfortable and awkward, which the film seems to want to rest on sort of like a curb your enthusiasm, but where everybody is treated equally and each has their own personality disorder so to speak.

The two characters who stand out are Dakota Johnson surprisingly as she seems to be one of the more decent characters who gets confused and just can’t make up her mind and the character of Casey played by Kyle Marvin, who is just seems or comes across as an innocent and nice guy who gets pulled in to this situation and keeps trying to make the best of it, but at heart is just a romantic and who some will see as just too nice, but he comes across the most authentic and you can understand why people fall for him and trust him.

Even thevfilmmaking is quite impressive. on a technical level as the camera work is beautiful and it’s angles inventive, even the rhythm of the scenes which can go from intimate to slapstick on a moments notice. still manages to work and be perfectly blocked as the camera always knows where it’s supposed to be.

This is a film for the more adventurous, even if it seems like it’s gonna play more suburban and it isn’t as sexual as dirty as the premise or the trailer might make it look or sound there is nudity, but it’s more male nudity than anything and just examines the absurdities of relationships and the selfishness that can result in them, especially in the complications of trying to PLEASE a partner or seemingly open up for their pleasure and you might be sabotaging your own relationship

I am a fan of the filmmaker, Michelangelo Covino and Kyle Marvin in their previous film, the climb, and just as with that film here they play best buddies who’s romantic entanglements rule them and also the characters tend to switch partners who are their friends previously partners in the main characters tend to bicker, be ruthless to each other yet still come together and maintain that friendship that feels like slapstick, but also has a bit of truth behind it.

this one is no exception as it almost feels like a continuation of their previous film only with different characters and situations so again it has that kind of Seinfeld or curb your enthusiasm, energy and vibe while entirely being its own entity and personality

Grade: B-

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

ROOMMATES (2026)

Directed By: Chandler Levack

Written By: Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara Jane O’Sullivan

Cinematography: Maria Rusche

Editor: Tim Constain and Brian Robinson

Cast: Sadie Sandler, Chloe East, Billy Bryk, Aidan Langford, Sarah Sherman, Nick Kroll, Natasha Lyonne, Janeane Garofolo

When a hopeful, naive college freshman, Devon, asks the cool and confident Celeste to be her roommate, a blossoming friendship spirals into a war of passive aggression.

This is one of those almost films. It has everything mostly going for it and then just falls short. It’s Slightly Silly but stayed entertaining and really Manages to make you care about the characters. Then the third act happens and it’s like they just want to end the film. As after that no subtlety. Just straightforward hostility.

The third act the film falls apart. As feels like it goes for the easy out. instead of doing something original and different. It goes safe and just settles to villainize certain characters.

I know looking for some kind of realism or three dimensional characters in an Adam Sandler, HAPPY MADISON production is a lot to ask but it could amhave been something new or different.

As with This film anytime it approach’s depth, It runs far and wide away from it.

Some will look at this as a vanity project for Adam Sandler’s daughter Sadie Sandler and they would be correct, but she holds her own surrounded by other talents. Not to mention this film is better then the original comedies he has been offering lately. At least this is better then YOU ARE SO NOT INVITED TO MY BAH MITZVAH.

Chloe East impresses, as far as showing range and being totally different then the last performance I remember her from HERETIC. She again defintely makes her presence felt. As the antagonist.

This can be seen as its own kind of relationship comedy. Only Without some homoerotica, yet never leaning heavily on it. Happy to see a fun female centered comedy that is mostly successful.

Director Chandler Levack does the best she can. As her original movies such as I LIKE MOVIES are much more character-driven. Especially as far as the action goes, but are as breezy and caring. Here working from a script that is not her own. She manages to still bring her style and skill. Showing range and that she is a director who can rise to the occasion.

Grade: C