Tag: musical

Trolls (2016) Film Review

Find your happy place.

Rating U
Length 1h32
Release 21.10.2016
Director Mike Mitchell
About When the Bergens kidnap a group of trolls, Poppy, the troll princess, goes to their rescue all alone and is soon joined by Branch in her mission.
Moon: Full moon seen frequently in the first half of the movie
Where to Watch: BBC IPlayer
Trailer:

The Good

Anna Kendrick has that ability of playing both sides; the super super happy and the darker sarcastic gal. I would never have wanted anyone other than her in the role of Poppy.

I really quite liked the Bridget and King Gristle Jnr romance storyline and how it fits in with the main Bergens versus Trolls story.

It’s relatively short, so while it’s painful… it doesn’t last long.

The Bad

Why does Hollywood insist on making Russell Brand and James Cordon a thing? Course, RB is finally blacklisted it would seem, but Cordon?! You made him Peter Fucking Rabbit!
Both of their voices make my skin crawl.

It’s a fucking musical! Oh my god, there’s one thing to be super duper happy people… but to have them SING about it?! Yes, good song choices. Kudos on the reworkings, but did it have to be so many songs?

The Ugly

The first act is just way too sickly sweet and sugar filled toxic positivity. There’s just something about it that really makes me yak. I get that it contrasts nicely with the Berkens, but that only works if your audience stays with you.
Of course, when your audience is in single, or early double, digits there’s a good chance the adults don’t get a choice. Man, I feel for you all. I really do.

Final Thoughts

Will I watch this again; fuck no! Will I hate watch the other two for some completist compulsion? Alas, yes!

Mean Girls (2024)

Plastic is forever.

Rating 12
Length 1h52
Release 05.06.1998
Director Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
About New student Cady Heron gets welcomed into the top of the social food chain by an elite group of popular girls called the Plastics, ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend, she soon finds herself caught in their crosshairs.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: In cinemas
Trailer:

The Good

I love that it gave a full swing and not only presented its own story, but a sweet homage to the original. It’s not a straight retread with added singing.

Most of the songs work for me. They suit the tone of the film and having some of them appear as tiktoks is a genius move.

I love Angourie Rice. She really gives us a very different Cady, but also a different character to what Rice has presented before. She’s showing that she can lead a film. I just cannot wait to see where she goes in her career.

The Bad

As much as this film is its own thing, they do recycle a *lot* of lines. Okay, it’s a quotable film but I do wish this had been given the chance to come up with its own.

The Ugly

It’s not often a film makes me feel old. This one does. The fact that the original is old enough to have a remake depresses the shit out of me. Could we not have waited 10 more years?

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed it as a Musical. As a reboot, it does take a swing to be different but spends too much time reminding you of the original to really be successful.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (2022) Film Review

Meet the Exception to the Rules.

Rating PG
Length 1h57
Release 02.12.2022
Director Matthew Marchus
About Matilda lives with her brother and parents, who are unappreciative of her. She utilises her telekinetic abilities to settle the score after her principal brutally tortures her with the help of her kind-hearted teacher.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Netflix
Trailer:

The Good

I’m very happy the film did not keep to the stage adaption’s tradition of casting a man in the role of Ms Trunchball. I found it odd it the play, but had they cast raph fines as originally planned it wouldn’t have translated.

Keeping with Trunchball, Emma Thompson is glorious in the role. I was curious how she was going to have the physical presence given her naturally tiny frame. Not quite sure how it was achieved, but it all works.

Alisha Weir does an incredible job at carrying this film as the powerful and courageous Matilda. As much as I don’t want the Harry Potter adaptation to go ahead, Weir is perfect for Hermione.

The production design is stunning, particularly the school which you can see clearly the prison inspiration. 

I do love that the story has returned to England for this production. There’s something inherently British about the story and while the Danny DeVito directed film is incredible, there’s a charm and tone here that is missing in the other.

The Bad

I do not like most musicals, and this is not exception. The opening number almost saw me turning it right off.

The Ugly

There’s something about a musical worked around children. Perhaps it’s that they are not able to sing using the full range, but it’s musical talking over a score. It makes me want to rip my ears off.

Final Thoughts

I’ll never watch it again, but if you love your musicals you might gain some enjoyment from it.