REUNION (2024)

 

Directed By: Chris Nelson 

Written By: Willie Block and Jake Emanuel 

Cinematography: Dino Parks 

Editor: Rick Grayson 

Cast: Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howey, Jamie Chung, Nina Dobrev, Jillian Bell, Michael Hitchcock, Chace Crawford, Dianne Doan, Cassandra Blair, Shaun White 

Snowbound at their high school reunion, former classmates uncover a murder and scramble to identify the killer among them before they’re all iced out for good.

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This film is OK a pretty good time waster though it’s comparison to the similarly themed and released television series from Apple TV THE AFTERPARTY is truly it’s downfall, which is a shame as if not for that this would’ve been a good comedy

So if you haven’t seen THE AFTER PARTY, this actually might be something you’ll enjoy but if you have, you’ll see how much more creative the show is with it story as well as similar characters in their development in African-American protagonist who looks more and more like the guilty party, the unexpected reveal of the killer and an Asian female love interest for one of the characters. 

What is film does have going for it is a good cast. That all deserve better, but strangely always seem cast in these types of films that goes straight to streaming have interesting premises but don’t quite live up to their potential and could easily be better and seem to lack a certain flare

I will admit I have a weakness when it comes to actress Jamie Chung. I remeber her from THE REAL WORLD reality television show and is one of the breakout successes of it but never given that respect or credit.  as I believe her to be one of the most beautiful actresses who seems to never get the right or that many good roles she should definitely be a star by now, but seems stuck in these clunky, comedies and roles where she has very little breakout potential, but is easily the most interesting or best thing in it. In films like this. BURNING PALMS, STONE COLD FOX and the television series LOVECRAFT COUNTY. Though at least she is constantly working 

She’ not alone most of the cast are recognizable and deserve better then this Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howey, Jillian Bell, and Nina Dobrev as most of them have been scene stealers  and comedic relief in bigger films. They just never quite got their chance to shine in their own high-quality film.

It also doesn’t help that by the end once the killer is revealed it just feels like they just threw it out there because they were running out of time as they don’t really explain motive they give a blanket one, but after you’ve spent so much time with these characters, it would be nice if it ran a bit deeper than what we are given

The film is a perfectly fine time waster but it seems to just get by and never go for the juggler when it can. It never takes the opportunities it sets up. It never quite pushes the envelope or trusts itself to go further or be better so that it always just stay safe and in the mid range and you can feel the frustration watching it.

The cast seems to be having fun and enjoying each others company. As half of them are exec producers and producers of the film. 

The one thing it does have going for it is that it does set out clues so you can’t say that the ending is made up and it does have a high rewatch ability factor even if it doesn’t quite succeed.

Grade: C 

STONE COLD FOX (2025)

Directed By: Sophie Tabet

Written By: Sophie Tabet and Julia Roth

Cinematography: Ken Seng 

Editor: Joel Griffen and Jennifer Lee

Cast: Kieran Shipka, Krysten Ritter, Kiefer Sutherland, Jamie Chung, Mishel Prada, Karen Fukuhera, Gabrielle Maiden, Adam Elshar 

In 1986, the defiant Fox breaks out of an abusive commune in search of her family. But when the queenpin kidnaps her little sister and sends a crooked cop after her, Fox has no choice but to infiltrate the very place she escaped.

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Set in 1986, though truly could be modern except for a lack of electricity and maybe the fashions. As the film plays like a throwback. Especially when it comes to retreading a familiar story. Only here from more of a female perspective. 

This was a major disappointment, especially considering the cast. As it’s one of those films where they have an actually interesting story in plot and managed to keep it moving and interesting, but at some point, the film just seems to stand there and brings no excitement, nor does it build on the things that it sets up.

It has one clever twist and definitely has style, but you can tell the films limitations because there’s so much more that can be done in the film. Just seems to leave it there and let the audience use their own imaginations which can be inventive if left for us once or twice, but not constant.

The film also offers no real surprises. You know where it’s gonna go as a telegraphs it before it gets there and then when you get there, it just does nothing new or all that interesting except for a few points and perks of the fellow.

Everyone gives a good performance, you just wish there were more to their characters or were given better dialogue, than something a little more to do. as it’s a film that seems like it’s gonna be more but plays pretty basic.

Most of the cast is female and talented females. So that they’re very few men in the film and the few that there are seem very inept. So it’s more like ladies are doing it for themselves. it is a little empowering.

Though there are two characters in the film that just seem to be there for no real reason, more in the background, but they’re not really workers nor are they henchman and they don’t seem to be the main villains even their love interest so are they just there for company it seems and while they are of some use. A little bit more towards the end, they really didn’t still really need to be there.

Going into this film, I wanted to really root for this film as it has a bunch of actresses who I really admire their work Jamie Chung Krysten Ritter, Mishel Prada, and they’re given good roles. It’s just that they all feel a little bit more cliché Mishel Prada is the only one who kind of gets the more interesting not typical role, but it still leaves her with very little to do and few chances to truly go to weird or dark places that the role seems to demand.

Though it is nice for a leading role for Kieran Shipka, who seems to be becoming quite of the character actress and has finally grown into more leading female roles.

Luckily, this film goes by fast. As it’s under 90 minutes

Grade: C- 

FLIGHT 7500 (2014)

 

Directed By: Takashi Shimizu Written By: Craig Rosenberg  Cinematography: David Tattersall Editor: Sean Valla 

Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Amy Smart, Leslie Bibb, Jamie Chung, Scout Taylor-Compton, Jerry Ferrara, Christian Serratos, Johnathon Schaech, David Banner, Nicky Whelan 

Flight 7500 departs Los Angeles International Airport bound for Tokyo. As the overnight flight makes its way over the Pacific Ocean during its ten-hour course, the passengers encounter what appears to be a supernatural force in the cabin.

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY (2007)

Directed By: Dennis Dugan 
Written By: Barry Fanaro, Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor 
Based on a screen Traatment By: Lew Gallo 
Cinematography By: Dean Semler 
Editor: Jeff Gourson 


Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Nicholas Turturro, Ving Rhames, Rob Schneider, Allen Covert Dan Aykroyd, Richard Chamberlin, Steve Buscemi, Blake Clark, Rachel Dratch, Nick Swardson, Mary Pat Gleason, Jamie Chung, Rob Coddry, Robert Smeigel, Richard Kline, Gary Valentine, Dave Matthews, Lance Bass, David Spade, Peter Dante, Jonathna Loughran 


Two straight, single Brooklyn firefighters pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits.

RUDDERLESS (2014)

Directed By: William H. Macy 
Written By: Casey Twenter, William H. Macy & Jeff Robinson 
Cinematography By: Eric Lin 
Editor: John Axelrad 
Music By: Eef Barzelay 


Cast: Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Huffman, Laurence Fishburne, Selena Gomez, William H. Macy, Jamie Chung, Kate Micucci, Zoe Graham, Miles Heizer 


A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.

SORORITY ROW (2009)

Directed By: Stewart Handler 
Written By: Josh Stolberg & Peter Goldfinger 
Based on the original Screenplay “SEVEN SISTERS” BY: Mark Rosman 
Cinematography By: Ken Seng 
Editor: Elliot Greenberg 

Cast: Briana Evigan, Margo Harshman, Rumer Willis, Leah Pipes, Carrie Fisher, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge, Matt O’Leary, Matt Lanter

THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS (2012)

Directed By: Rza 
Written By: Rza & Eli Roth 
Story By: Rza 
Cinematography By: Chi Ying Chan 
Editor: Joe D’Augustine 

 Cast: Russell Crowe, Rza, Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung, Rick Yune, Dave Bautista, Byron Mann, Zhu Zhu, Pam Grier

SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

Story & Directed By: Zach Snyder 
Written By: Zach Snyder & Steve Shibuya 
Cinematography By: Larry Fong 
Editor: William Hoy 

 Cast: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish, Carla Gugino, Oscar Issac, Scott Glenn, Jon Hamm

GROWN-UPS (2010)

Directed By: Dennis Dugan
Written By: Adam Sandler
Cinematography By: Theo Van De Sande
Editor: Tom Costain

CAST: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Joyce Van Patten, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, Jamie Chung, Colin Quinn, Steve Buscemi