MOVIES WATCHED IN FEBRUARY (2026)

MOVIES WATCHED IN FEBRUARY (2026)

THE REWRITE (DRAMA)(COMEDY) 6/10 

EDEN (DRAMA)(TRUE STORY) 7/10 

TOMORROWLAND (SCIENCE FICTION)(FANTASY)(FAMILY) 6/10

WAKE UP (HORROR) 5/10 

ELLA MCCAY (COMEDY) 

I’M CHEVY CHASE AND YOU’RE NOT (DOCUMENTARY) 6/10 

BIRDEATER (THRILLER) 7/10 

THE INSTIGATORS (ACTION)(COMEDY) 6/10 

PREDATOR: BADLANDS (SCIENCE FICTION)(ACTION) 6/10 

SCARED SHITLESS (CULT)(COMEDY)(HORROR) 6/10 

THE LAST DUEL (HISTORY)(DRAMA) 7/10 

SPLITSVILLE (COMEDY)(ROMANCE) 7/10 

SEND HELP (THRILLER) 8/10 

DETOUR (THRILLER) 8/10 

HONEYBUNCH (SCIENCE FICTION) 7/10 

MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES (COMEDY) 7/10 

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (SCIENCE FICTION)(COMEDY) 7/10 

THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA  (DRAMA) 6/10 

ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER (COMEDY)(TEEN)(MUSIC) 4/10 

*BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (LGBTQ+)(COMEDY)(ROMANCE) 7/10 

MAYDAY (DRAMA)(THRILLER) 6/10 

CRUST (HORROR) 

THE BLUFF (ACTION)(ADVENTURE) 6/10

DO NOT REPLY (THRILLER) 3/10 

YOU’RE KILLING ME (THRILLER) 4/10 

SECRET MALL APARTMENT (DOCUMENTARY) 7/10 

TELEVISION SERIES, TELEVISION MOVIES, STAND-UP & SPECIALS

HIS & HERS (LIMITED SERIES) 8/10 

SOMMORE: CHANDELIER FLY (STAND-UP) 6/10 

REALITY CHECK: INSIDE AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (LIMITED SERIES) 6/10 

TAYLOR TOMLINSON: PRODIGAL DAUGHTER (STAND-UP) 8/10 

THE INSTIGATORS (2024)

Directed By: Doug Liman 

Written By: Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean

Cinematography: Henry Braham 

Editor: William Goldenberg, Saar Klein, Brett M. Reed and Tatiana S. Riegel 

Cast: Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Ron Perlman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames, Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Toby Jones 

Rory and Cobby, who team up to rob a corrupt politician but end up in a chaotic escape after the heist goes wrong. Pursued by police and crime bosses, they enlist Rory’s therapist to help them survive.

---

Considering the cast involved and the director, this film should’ve been much better.

While he plays like a perfectly good crime caper with a good helping of comedy. It also feels like it’s all over the place, especially totally as when it does try to be more action oriented or gritty crime incomes the more comedic elements out of nowhere and then when it’s resting on its more comedic elements, it’ll have the odd intense action sequence.

Also, with its full cast, it feels like most of them are guest starring in the main plot like this is an ongoing series as very few remain throughout the film and only seemed to be there for a senior or two before disappearing and are quickly forgot not that they’re bad in their roles but again there just doesn’t seem to be that much significance for them even though they are just a piece of the puzzle

So that our main stars Casey act like who also who wrote the film and Matt Damon just seemed to be too strangers thrown into this caver together that ends up being more of a buddy comedy as they are different types of thrown in together just trying to survive all of this. Representing their hometown 

Now this should’ve worked, especially as of course, representing its location of Boston and the characters in the neighborhoods of that town but the film just feels a little too quick paste. It never seems to quite slow down for you to get a grip on what is happening or what has happened. So it’s hard for you to get your bearings, even though it shouldn’t be that confusing.

It just seems to flash here in there in the editing, intense not to focus on anything so it even feels faster than the classic 2000s MTV flash editing which only reminds you that this feels more like content more than an actual film. Which might be the result of having four editors on this film, who each might have been aiming at something different. Asbeverything feels so disposable and familiar even when trying to put a new spin or at least anspin on certain conventions.

Again the leads and cast are likable enough. You just wish that this was a film that wasn’t afraid to take its time had more consequences and was quite a bit tougher as the film is more comedic and not darkly comedic more just comedic.

It has spectacle when the film should’ve been more detailed, smaller and tighter. Noah tries to be gritty. It comes across more as a Hollywood production. Then it should which throws all credibility out the window and turns it more into a romp.

there is a certain irony that lays throughout the film whereas Casey Affleck is a best actor Oscar winner here playing more the co-lead and being more comedic or as Matt Damon, who is more thought of as a serious actor is playing the more serious role here and while he has more prestige, he does not have an Oscar for best actor, even though he does have an Oscar for writing. Yet Casey Affleck who has the acting prestige is the Co-Writer here. 

This obviously isn’t there first pairing on screen they have paired up in various projects, but this is the first time where they’ve been costars as a lead in a more comedic, an original production of their own as they were in the film GERRY as costars, and also really, the only leads in that film, as well as one of the only actors in that film

The film has come across as the type of body crime caper comedy that felt more at home in the 70s and 80s try some modernize it, but it has way too much going on for it to truly ever be centered or quite understandable

Grade: C

ARGYLLE (2024)

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn 

Written By: Jason Fuchs 

Cinematography: George Richmond 

Editor: Lee Smith, Tom Harrison-Read and Col Goudie 

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Henry Cavill, Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophia Boutella, Rob Delaney, Ariana Debose, Richard E. Grant, Dua Lipa 

A reclusive author who writes espionage novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate realizes that the plot of the new book she’s writing starts to mirror real-world events in real time.

---

Watching this movie, one constantly is wondering is this supposed to be a parody, spoof or do they honestly expect us to think of it as an action-comedy. Unfortunately, by the end that question is never answered. It is obviously supposed to be based on spy novels and espionage stories. More the fanciful ones that take place in movies and fantasy. Rather than the Tom Clancy para-military and political type stories.

As The scary part is that if this film came out in the early 2000’s. it might have to be considered  of as stylish and be thought of as smart. This plays like more like THE AVENGERS (the classic British show) as there is a lot of spectacle. But not much sense to follow. Which is why one wonders what exactly is it trying to be or aiming for. Maybe as it comes across more comic book like and goofy than anything else. 

I would say this is a perfect Netflix movie, but it looks way better and doesn’t rely on so much green screen or a muted look. It’s actually colorful and you can see the budget onscreen. 

With all the dancing involved I believe this role was specifically written for Sam Rockwell. As that is something that he is known to with his characters on screen. Though the role he plays here feels familiar. As he played a similar role in the movie MR. RIGHT. As he can do action and seem like a more deranged comedic character.

The joke here is that he doesn’t seem like an action hero type. Just as lead Bryce Dallas Howard doesn’t usually come across that way. Not quite as the sexy seductress. Though by the end you beleive or at least are forced to. Though the film doesn’t embarrass them. 

as that seems to be one of the films aim, whereas in the fantasy, we see more of the type of actors we would expect to play these types of roles effortlessly, but in the reality we get more stunt, casting or miss casted actors who are the real life counterparts and the leads of this film so it seems a little bit more often comedic watching them do action sequences, and thriller situations

The film unfortunately gets more ridiculous as it goes along and more confusing. As it keeps building where the film doesn’t even necessarily know if it all makes sense. As the film is trying to keep topping itself with surprise, after surprise after surprise and then many twits, double and triple crosses. Although it seems to want to have a. ROMANCING THE STONE vibe. Done better in films such as THE LOST CITY 

it seems practically to be a reunion for director Matthew Vaughn and some cast members, like Samuel L. Jackson and Sophia Boutiella, but it still didn’t need to be this long. 

It’s also hard to take the film too seriously. When there are comedic actresses like Catherine O’Hara playing someone dangerous.

By the end Dua Lipa’s cameo is the only thing interesting, entertaining or dazzling in this film overall. Other than some nicely choreographed and lit action sequences. That deserve to be in a better movie. 

Even The ending makes no sense. As it is shocking this was not only supposed to be the first in a trilogy, but also supposed to be interconnected with the Kingsman franchise also directed by Matthew Vaughn. 

So while throughout the film looks gorgeous. It just feels kind of misdirected like someone who doesn’t know how to do comedy trying to make one but knows how to do. The action sequence is really well and it’s a shame I was really rooting for this film.

Grade: D+

KILLING MARY SUE (2025)

 

Written, Directed & Edited By: James Sunshine 

Cinematography: John Sawyer 

Cast: Sierra McCormick, Dermont Mulroney, Jake Busey, Sean Patrick Flannery, French Stewart, Martin Kove, Kym Whitley, Jason Mewes

A corrupt senator arranges for the murder of his biggest liability, his erratic burnout step-daughter, only for her to unwittingly discover her natural talent as an untouchable killer.

————————————————————————

This film is based on the term Mary Sue, coined by infamous canceled Screenwriter Max Landis the definition of the term is a type of female character who is depicted as Unrealistically  lacking in flaws or weaknesses 

So someone decided to write a whole film around this character that is supposed to be a dark and dirty action comedy that is rather vulgar and really has no characters to like or really root for that takes ridiculous big plot swings, even though using very limited locations 

this film ends up feeling more like a comedic riff on the Becky movies, which is Becky and wrath of Becky, which are about a teenage girl who is pretty much a psychotic sociopath and gets put in situations where she has to be the hero, taking down a gang of villains which she does quite easily as there is no real threat.

It’s the same here as she seeks her stepfather‘s love throughout, even though he’s the one who has set her up to be assassinated so that he can be reelected with the sympathy vote.

The character here obviously has daddy issues and it seems to be an addict of many things drugs, rough, sex, violence, sensationalism, and luckily, only part of this is shown throughout the film 

wow, this film should be fun and it’s ridiculous scenarios. It almost seems like a tax write off for character actors to make guest appearances or cameos and there’s not really that much meat to it and as much fun as the film wants us to have and as much as it wants us to laugh, it just feels grating.

like a comedian telling you a joke that they insist is funny and that they laugh at themselves, but you as an audience member you get the joke, but it’s just not that funny as much as I think it is and that’s what it’s like watching this film, this should be somewhat of a low budget guilty pleasure 

but watching it, you just can’t wait for it to end as it seems pretty predictable even when it thinks it’s offering surprises and even when it tries to be more outlandish, it sounds ridiculous and stupid that you are already not taking this from seriously but it just makes the film seem all the more not worth it

Which is a shame as they do have material here that could’ve been used to make something at least a little more entertaining and creative in the end. This just comes off as a waste of time even as the back movies aren’t that great at least the first one is somewhat entertaining. This feels like an unofficial, comedic, spoof or sequel

feels like one should have known as it’s rare that when French Stewart is NFL that it will actually be good or enjoyable as even in Bob Trevino likes it he comes across as the weak link. Though LOVE STINKS was somewhat enjoyable but for all the wrong reasons.

This is a film that tries to be hip, cool and in on the joke and it just ends up being corny and tired.

It’s also a female oriented movie that you can tell was written by men with no subtlety. 

Grade: F