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

PLAYDATE (2025)

 

Directed By: Luke Greenfield

Written By: Neil Goldman 

Cinematography: Darren Tiernan

Editor: Joe Mitacek 

Cast: Kevin James, Alan Ritchinson, Sarah Chalke, Isla Fisher, Alan Tudyk, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Root, Banks Pierce, Benjamin Pajak 

Brian has just been fired from his job. He becomes a stay-at-home dad. He accepts a playdate invitation from another stay-at-home dad who turns out to be a loose cannon.

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This film is silly and pretty much knows it’s audience wish I could be more of a family film as it seems like it would play more, but it does have its fair share of violence, bad language, and adult juvenile humor. Though strangely it seems like its perfect audience would be teenagers and adults who just like juvenile humor.

It’s an action comedy that once it gets down to the plot line is silly, but I found this from to be quite a guilty pleasure as I found it constantly hilarious throughout no matter how stupid it might seem at times 

What helps is that a lot of the supporting characters are so ridiculous and funny. You wish they had longer screen time or would come back into the film after their scenes are done. Like Isla Fisher’s character you wish as always that there was more of her throughout.

Well, Kevin James plays with his typical type of humor lead character. It does appear that he’s having fun and is affable whereas Alan Ritchinson who takes more of the action sequences is perfectly cast as he reminds one of Sean William Scott when he first came out where it seemed like everything he did even his facial expressions Are humorous only Alan Ritchinson looks like a more muscular version, but has that same comedic and silly spirit that Sean William Scott has and some rules and makes it all his own so that it might remind some people who watched the show BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE what Ritchinson can do specially with an inspired committed character.

This is a film made up of humorous moments that all going into the story, though the moments are more valuable ultimately than the story this is also more of a male bonding film so that fathers and sons watching it together can definitely feel something special watching this film as there are female characters, but they are more put into the background.

This film is a harmless time waster where if the trailer or poster intrigues you this is definitely your type of movie, but if not, this isn’t going to necessarily win you over unless you’re a fan of the lead actors 

It feels on the same level as Hulu yearly John Cena, buddy action comedies only this time playing on Amazon prime so they’re getting their own version 

Grade: C

HEADS OF STATE (2025)

 

Directed By: Ilya Naishuller 

Written By: Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Harrison Query 

Story By: Harrison Query 

Cinematography: Ben Davis 

Editor: Tom Harrison-Read 

Cast: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Paddy Considine , Stephen Root, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Sharlto Copley, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle 

When the UK Prime Minister and US President become the targets of a foreign adversary, they're forced to rely on one another to thwart a global conspiracy.

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With John Cena in the cast, you already kinda know what this film is going to be good as long as you go in with that frame of mind you’ll be perfectly entertain as at least this time he shares the action with Idris Elba, and it’s not another film where you just watch John Cena be the ultimate action hero who’s unstop Now he has Idris Elba, and together their unstoppable, as well as with their costar Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The alter two instill the film And their characters with a suave charm. 

The villain is pretty disposable other than his ruthlessness and it’s surprising how many recognizable character actors are in this film and relatively small roles but you’re happy to see them.

As the film comes off better than expected and better then it should be. 

Though it’s billed as an action comedy, I didn’t expect it to be as actually funny as it is, which is what differentiates it from most of its elk whereas if it had just been an action film, this really wouldn’t have been that interesting, but with the comedic elements it at least stays fun and rises above the cliché somewhat

It also helps that some of the humor comes from unexpected places than what you can see coming and some are even just stylistic comedic choices though luckily for the film, even though it’s predictable, it still manages to keep you on your toes to see how it’s going to get where it gets to.

As even the action sequences are a bit more memorable and noteworthy than the usual fair of straight to streaming films. The fighting farm scene is one of the more impressive scenes of  film. As well as one of the more impressive action sequences seen recently. 

Plus the henchman, though they don’t have many lines just come across is unlikable and reprehensible, but then again looking at the main villain, you can understand why they are the way they are, though with the villains actions it does make me wonder why anybody would really want to work for other than the obvious money, which is then made me fonder whether he pays them in cash or check and is it on a weekly or biweekly basis or maybe it’s crypto since it has to be more underground and do you work until he gets his payday and that’s when you get your haircut or is he paying you for the work done and then it maybe if it goes through he’ll give you a bonus but then again if he successful, he could just keep the money because what court are you gonna go to even if you have the skills in the guns?

If anything this movie would go great on a double bill with the film WHITE HOUSE DOWN as at least here all the action takes place overseas and on more European streets that are more narrow and cobblestone so it’s not in some random American city where you would expect to see the action so that adds a different element to the proceedings.

Though he has been in many action films before it’s nice to see Idris Elba be more of a bad ass action hero in the film rather than the villain or a sidekick. Though with this film and starring in the film beast, he is proving to be not only an all-around leading man, but also quite a believable action hero lead.

Grade: C+

LOUSY CARTER (2023)

 

Written & Directed By: Bob Byington 

Cinematography: Carmen Hilbert and Lauren Pruitt 

Editor: Kristie Boustedt 

Cast: David Krumholtz, Martin Starr, Luxy Banner, Olivia Thrilby, Jocelyn DeBoer, Stephen Root, Macon Blair, Andrew Bujalski 

Man-baby Lousy Carter struggles to complete his animated Nabokov adaptation, teaches a graduate seminar on The Great Gatsby, and sleeps with his best friend's wife. He has six months to live.

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.

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.

BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE PLAYER (1992)

Directed By: Fran Rubel Kuzui 
Written By: Joss Whedon 
Cinematography: James Hayman 
Editor: Jill Savitt & Camilla Toniolo 


Cast: Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Rugter Hauer, Paul Ruebens, Andrew Lowery, David Arquette, Candy Clark, Hillary Swank, Stephen Root, Sasha Jenson, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Thomas Jane, Randall Batinkoff, Mark DeCarlo, Paris Vaughn, Michele Abrams 

Buffy Summers has the lifestyle any young woman could want. Cheerleading, dating the captain of the basketball team, and copious amounts of time spent shopping with friends. She had no idea of her true calling until a mysterious man named Merrick approached her and told her that she is the Slayer; one woman called to defend the world from vampires. Reluctant to concede to the fact, Buffy soon learns that Merrick speaks the truth and so begins to take her new life seriously while trying to maintain the sense of normality her life had once been. With her best friends slowly abandoning her, Buffy finds solace in the town outcast, Pike, who knows very well the terrors that have arisen. Together, they combat the forces of the old and powerful vampire, Lothos, who has his eyes set on Buffy.

LIFE OF THE PARTY (2018)

Directed By: Ben Falcone 
Written By: Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone 
Cinematography By: Julio Macat 
Editor: Brian Scott Olds 

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Matt Walsh, Julie Bowen, Molly Gordon, Gillian Jacobs, Debby Ryan, Jacki Weaver, Stephen Root, Chris Parnell, Jimmy O. Yang, Nat Faxon, Adria Arjona, Luke Benward, Jessie Ennis 

When her husband suddenly dumps her, longtime dedicated housewife Deanna turns regret into re-set by going back to college - landing in the same class and school as her daughter, who's not entirely sold on the idea. Plunging headlong into the campus experience, the increasingly outspoken Deanna -- now Dee Rock -- embraces freedom, fun, and frat boys on her own terms, finding her true self in a senior year no one ever expected.

JUST FRIENDS (2005)

Directed By: Roger Kumble 
Written By: Adam Davis 
Cinematography By: Anthony B. Richmond 
Editor: Jeff Freeman 


Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Amy Smart, Chris Klein, Stephen Root, Julie Hagerty, Chris Marquette, Robin Dunne, Ashley Scott

EVERYTHING MUST GO (2010)

Written & Directed By: Dan Rush 
Based on the Short Story “Why Don’t You Dance” By: Raymond Carver 
Cinematography By: Michael Barrett 
Editor: Sandra Adair 


Cast: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher C.J. Wallace, Laura Dern, Michael Pena, Stephen Root, Glenn Howerton

DRILLBIT TAYLOR (2008)

Directed By: Steven Brill 
Written By: Kristofor Brown & Seth Rogen 
 Story By: John Hughes, Kristofer Brown & Seth Rogen 
Cinematography By: Fred Murphy 
Editor: Brady Heck & Thomas J. Nordberg 

Cast: Owen Wilson, Troy Gentile, Nate Hartley, Ian Roberts, Lisa Ann Walter, Beth Littleford, Lisa Lampanelli, David Koechner, Matt Walsh, David Dorfman, Shaun Weiss, Alex Frost, Josh Peck, Leslie Mann, Stephen Root, Danny McBride, Tichina Arnold, Cedric Yarbrough, Robert Musgrave, Rance Howard, Steve Bannos, Adam Baldwin, Frank Whaley, Chuck Liddell, Matt Besser, Kevin Hart, Jerry Minor

THE LADYKILLERS (2004)

Written & Directed By: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen Cinematography By: Roger Deakins Editor: Joel Coen & Etahn Coen (As Roderick Jaynes) Cast: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons, Tzi Ma, Ryan Hurst, Diane Delano, Jason Weaver, Stephen Root, Greg Grunberg

CEDAR RAPIDS (2011)

Directed By: Miguel Arteta Written By: Phil Johnston Cinematography By: Chuy Chavez Editor: Eric Kissack Cast: Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Sigourney Weaver, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Thomas Lennon, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith, Alia Shawkat, Mike O’Malley, Rob Corddry, Mike Birgiglia

RED STATE (2011)

Written, Edited & Directed By: Kevin Smith
Cinematography by: David Klein

Cast: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo, Stephen Root, John Goodman, Nicholas Braun, Michael Angarano, Marc Blucas, Damian Young, Kevin Alejandro, Ralph Garman, Kevin Pollack, Anna Gunn, Matt L. Jones, Kerry Bishe, James Parks

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1992)

Directed By: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Written By: Joss Whedon
Cinematography By: James Hayman
Editor: Jill Savitt & Camilla Toniolo

Cast: Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Rugter Hauer, Paul Ruebens, Donald Sutherland, Hillary Swank, Natasha Gregson Wagner, David Arquette, Stephen Root, Andrew Lowery, Thomas Jane, Ben Affleck, Candy Clark, Mark DeCarlo, Alexis Arquette, Ricki Lake

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)

Written & Directed By: Joel & Ethan Coen (The Coen Brothers)
Based On The Book By: Cormac McCarthy
Edited By: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen as Roderick Jaynes
Cinematography By: Roger Deakins

Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Kelly McDonald, Woody Harrelson, Stephen Root, Barry Corbin, Garret Dillahunt