Cast:

Emily Blunt                   Evelyn Abbott

Millicent Simmonds      Regan Abbott

Cillian Murphy              Emmett

John Krasinski               Lee Abbott

Noah Jupe                    Marcus Abbott

Djimon Honsou             Man on Island

Over the last few weeks we have been extremely busy so we have not managed to catch a movie or show that I felt inclined to review. First, I tried a film that I had been looking at for awhile, it was a sci-fi adventure drama with Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones to name a few of the top billed actors. This film was “Ad Astra”, but like the Shania Twain song, that refers to Pitt (and also mentions rocket scientist like in the film) so it fit the song twice over, Ad Astra did not impress us much! So after 40 minutes of plugging through the film I had to stop it and move on. Flicking through the Amazon Prime selections we came across “A Quiet Place – Part 2”. Now, I reviewed the first film over a year ago https://www.notinhalloffame.com/blogs/was-i-entertained/11332-review-review-a-quiet-place-2018 and we found the film was pretty entertaining overall, so I was looking forward to the sequel.

In the sequel, the opening starts sort of where the last film ended, with a small addendum. They actually fixed some of the plot holes of the first film by showing a flashback on when the alien/monsters actually came to Earth and the carnage that resulted after their arrival. In the opening scenes we find our family alive and in one piece attending their son’s baseball game. We can tell that this is small town USA as most of the town is at the game, and watching with enjoyment. We are re-introduced to the main characters, Evelyn (Blunt), Lee (Krasinski), Regan (Simmonds) and Marcus (Jupe). We also see their younger brother who dies in the first film. Additionally, we come across Emmett (Murphy) a neighbour and friend. As his character is just thrown in, you know he will be important later.

So the game continues, Lee (Krasinski) shows up with some fruit for the kids after buying it at a local store. Mind you, while there we see a few scenes on the television in the background of things crashing to the Earth, not to mention a few shots of key items that were critical in the first movie’s story. So, lo and behold, a meteor cuts across the sky over the game, panic ensues as all the parents grab their kids to run to safety. It is at this moment we see the Alien monsters go whipping around the town killing/eating anyone that they can come across. 

The film flips back and forth a bit at this time, giving us a bit of a backstory on the attack as well as starting right after the last film where their home is burning, Lee (Krasinski) is dead and the remaining Abbotts are on foot looking for a new home. In short, they meet up with Emmett (Murphy) who is having a clash of conscience, Evelyn (Blunt) continues to try and keep her family safe, Marcus (Jupe) tries to find courage, Megan (Simmonds) has an epiphany on how they can destroy the aliens, and naturally the baby continues to cry. As this is a new film on the streaming services (as it did not really get a chance in the theatres due to Covid) I don’t want to give out too many spoilers. But needless to say, the film does have a lot of drama and sufficient action to keep you tuned in. While there is some predictability in the film and obvious foreshadowing at times, the action scenes and dramatic sequences still made us jump as the directors/script had planned.

So, what did we like about the film? We enjoyed the fact that this sequel actually filled in some story gaps that were present in the first film. In the first film, all we see is some newspaper articles and wreckage with no real explanation, the sequel expands on the few nuggets of information while providing some clues to what would become important in the film (i.e. the toy spaceship, the pharmacy etc). We also liked the fact that the children’s roles were enhanced and that this film was not just a film with Emily Blunt at the forefront. The story line was a fair continuation from the first film, and actually did not have too many plot holes or inconsistencies.

However, having said all that, lets take a look at what was lacking. One thing that always bothered me with this film was the fact that the Abbott family always walked barefoot, yet when they hook up with Emmett (Murphy) and go to the island, everyone else has boots on. What’s up with that? It is like I said in my first review, I could not understand the whole barefoot thing in the country.  Additionally, the tops of their feets are dirty, ok I can get that, but why not the bottoms, they should have been caked in grime.  Even though I enjoyed Emmett’s (Murphy) lair, his booby traps and hidey holes would have made McCauley Culkin proud. Yet, the one thing I noticed, it would have been extremely difficult to ensure that it was quite when the traps were being set. Would that not have called the monsters/aliens? Sure there are a few other technical goofs like how can a manual turntable be playing consistently for months without human interference, or why is a train car showing claw marks on the outside, yet when they enter it, the hole created on the side is from something escaping, or my personal favourite, Evelyn (Blunt) yelling “run” to her daughter who is deaf and facing the other direction …that one just made me want to scratch my head. I also found that there was more discussion in this film, the first one had very little talking, and they acted with their eyes, emotions and facial expressions. In this outing, there was more discussion so there was less emphasis on the acting, but still it flowed nevertheless.

While we are on the subject of the acting, lets take a quick look at the characters in the film:

Emily Blunt as Evelyn Abbott: Blunt pretty much is the focal point of the film, even when not on the screen her character affects all. As with the first movie, Blunt displays great chemistry with her co-stars and she portrays an intensity of a lioness protecting her cubs throughout the film. Another good performance by Blunt in a thriller/horror film. The more I see her in film/television, the greater I can appreciate her talents.

Millicent Simmonds as Regan Abbott: This is the 2^nd film I have watched with Simmonds, but she is still playing the same character. In this film, her character has been expanded and we still see the obstinate teenager, but we also get to see the brains hiding behind the silence. Emulating her father for ingenuity, she realizes the importance of her hearing aid and the role it can play to defeat the aliens. Additionally, she puts the pieces together to use the devices with the Radio station as a weapon against them. Though she is relatively new to Hollywood, I am curious to see her in other roles and see how much her talents can grow. 

Cillian Murphy as Emmett: Even though Cillian Murphy has been around for quite awhile, I did not really pay much attention to him and/or his roles. However, along came Peaky Blinders, and during the last lockdown my wife and I managed to watch the whole series. It is at this point that I realized how talented Murphy was, and how many programs that I had watched over the years that he had either a starring role or a supporting one. In this film, while Murphy is in a supporting role as the family friend and fellow survivor he still manages to portray the intensity that we loved to watch in Peaky Blinders. Even though there was some predictability on whether Emmett (Murphy) would aid the Abbotts, you knew it was going to happen, it was just a matter of time. However, he did project enough angst in his decision process to make you wonder if he would. Another fine performance from Murphy…too bad Peaky Blinders is finished as I really liked him in the show and the character he built.

John Krasinski as Lee Abbott: Krasinski really only had a minor role in this film, primarily in clips from the first film and some scenes at the start with respect to the Aliens first contact. His small portions were played well and I did like the fact that some of the plot holes or questions were answered in this film. A good, but minor outing for Krasinski overall (as far as his acting is concerned), but as a Director he did a very good job not only in this film, but also the first one as well.

Noah Jupe as Marcus Abbott: I found Jupe’s performance far better in the sequel than he did in Part 1. His fear was amplified in this outing as well as his uncertainty, and he did an excellent job of projecting these emotions throughout the film. I did like the fact that his character ultimately found the courage that he was lacking in the first film. This is the 4^th film I have seen him in and I enjoy the fact that his talents are expanding with each outing.  

Djimon Honsou as Man on Island: Honsou is a personal favourite of mine. He has a very small, un-named role in Quiet Place, Part 2, but it is integral to the climax of the story. I would love to say that his screen time was amazing and that he gave a great performance, but in this film, his part could have been played by anyone. They did not need an actor of his calibre for this, unless it was just another way to get a big name on the ticket. To me, his skill was underutilized for this film. I look forward to his next adventure/thriller movie where he will get a chance to show his talent on the screen again.

So, now, were we entertained? Yes, we were! My wife and I enjoyed the film, the story was well written and directed. It flowed well and the effects and script were fairly well done. We jumped when we were supposed to and cheered for the heroes on que. The added benefit was the completion of backstory which was lacking in the first film. My only criticism, was again, in this film they left it open for a sequel. Can Hollywood not tell a story from start to finish without leaving an opening for a further money grab? All things considered, we were entertained for a Friday Night, and we felt that our time was not wasted. If you are a fan of the original film, Blunt and/or Krasinski, give this movie a watch. You will enjoy yourselves, and should not be disappointed. If you are not into the whole Alien/Monster thing, you might want to give it a pass. 

Our Rating: 6/10

If you are interested in other films/shows with the main cast, please consider the following recommendations!

Emily Blunt                   Devil wears Prada, A Quiet Place, The Girl on the Train, Edge of Tomorrow, Sicario, Looper

Millicent Simmonds      A Quiet Place

Cillian Murphy              Peaky Blinders, Dunkirk, The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight, Red Eye, 28 Days Later

John Krasinski               A Quiet Place, Tom Clancy’s: Jack Ryan, The Office, Jarhead

Noah Jupe                    A Quiet Place, Ford vs Ferrari, The Titan

Djimon Honsou             Captain Marvel, Furious 7, Blood Diamond, The Four Feathers, Gladiator

Cast:

Chris Pratt                    Dan Forester

Yvonne Strahovski         Colonel Muri Forester

J.K. Simmons                 James Forester

Betty Gilpin                  Emmy Forester

Sam Richardson            Charlie

Mary Lynn Rajskub        Norah

Hello Again! It has been a few weeks since my last contribution, but as it is summer, the COVID lockdowns have started to ease, we have just been a little too busy lately to watch movies and write a review. However, last night we managed to find a good film to watch and I take pen in hand (ok keyboard) and attempt another review of a film or program. 

For the last several weeks I have been seeing an interesting trailer on Amazon Prime every time I turn on the fire-stick. This film is called “The Tomorrow War” starring Chris Pratt. The trailer’s seemed interesting, the concept, while not new, appealed to the sci-fi geek in me, and it starred Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic Park, Avengers etc),  Strahovksi (Chuck, Stateless, Dexter),  and Simmons (Spiderman, Justice League, The Accountant, etc), all actors that I really like. So what could be wrong with the selection? Actually, nothing. The film was an enjoyable escape that was decently written, filmed and executed. While not perfect by any means, it was entertaining enough to keep us watching and enjoying the ride. Sure, it had some technical and story line goofs, a little too many clichéd lines and some very predictable scenes, but it was fun, and in this day and age, fun is what we were looking for. 

So you ask what “The Tomorrow War” is all about? I am glad you asked, this film starts with Dan Forester (Pratt) coming home to what seems to be a party, I can’t quite figure out if it was his daughters birthday, a party for a football game, or some other unknown occasion. Busy on the phone while juggling the all important beer case and other necessary supplies, we discover that Forester (Pratt) lost out on a new position that would have set up his family. In this scene, we also see a shadow box filled with military memorabilia, (so at this point we know he is a vet, for almost every Vet I know (including myself) we all have a shadow box to highlight our career). We also find out that he has an estranged father who is trying to reach out to him and it is to no avail (J.K. Simmons). These points become important later on. So, back to the opening, his daughter is waiting for him to watch the game with her, they sit down, and lo and behold, a series of light and mist appears in the middle of the game and a platoon of heavily armed soldiers suddenly appear. 

Naturally the crowd goes batshit, everyone is tuned to them and the leader of the group of soldiers informs the players, audience and the world at that time that they are from the future and they need help. Earth has been invaded 30 years hence from a group of aliens that look like a cross between Predator, Alien, Tremors and the sandworm from Dune. These aliens are winning the battle for earth, and our future children need our help. They convince the world powers to provide military assistance, and after a short time a world wide draft is brought into place. Anyone can be drafted to serve a 1-week tour of duty in the future. However, they must have certain requirements (we will find out what later). After the tour of duty, only about 20 percent of the time soldiers dispatched return, and many of them are expressing PTSD symptoms, and lost limbs like no other war. So the war continues, we see clips from the news on how its going and Emmy Forester (Gilpin) just happens to be a psychiatrist who is treating these returning vets, so we get a little dramatic foreshadowing of what to expect.   

Well we see it coming a mile away, Dan (Pratt) gets drafted and meets up with a bunch of other civilians who have never seen the dangerous part of a rifle or have heard a gunshot. They get a crash-course on weaponry, and then do the time-shift to the future to begin their tour of duty. It is at this time that the rubber really hits the road and the film’s excitement begins. Humanity is on its last legs, battles are raging world wide and valiant heroes are fighting the aliens in Miami Beach. There are the requisite clichéd one liners, some pretty decent CGI, and great amounts of gore and violence during the battle. Yes, there is some predictability as well as some plot holes and technical goofs. But the story moves at a brisk pace so that you don’t really say WTF till later when you think about the films plotline in further detail. Overall, a pretty fast moving film that kept you watching.

What did we like about the film? As mentioned previously, the CGI was pretty decent, and the aliens were pretty cool. Sure, it was a melange of some of the other aliens in previous films, but it did have one added feature. These bad guys could throw spikes out of their tentacles like one of the characters in an X-Man movie (X-Men: The last stand to be specific). So that was pretty cool. The story line was a bit of a twist on some previous time-travel films, but it did have a glimpses of “Starship Troopers” and “Aliens” that were brought to mind during the film. Not that I minded it, just some scenes appeared very familiar to me. The chemistry between the main characters were pretty consistent and enjoyable. I especially liked the chemistry between Pratt and Strahowski, as well as Pratt and Simmons. Some of the supporting cast were mainly present for comic relief and in some cases to fill in missing plot holes. So that was not too bad. 

What didn’t I like? (Some spoilers will be given at this point) The fact that they would time-warp individuals who were young or old, fat or thin, with no military experience (for the most part) provided automatic weapons, grenades etc with minimal training to fight the war seemed a little out there. But I believe that the writer/director wanted to demonstrate urgency for it. But in reality, there would have been more friendly fire deaths than the Aliens just due to lack of experience. As with all war/space movies, the limitless magazines always annoy me. I know firing an assault rifle on full auto will empty the clip in about 3 seconds. Yet these guys can fire for an eternity before reloading. There were a few technical goofs. Like flying a C130 about 3 times the range of the aircraft, they would have to refuel at least once. Also, what was the point of landing the plane, yet then travel on snowmobiles for hours. Would it not have made more sense to fly closer? Also, how can an alien get at least 3 mags full of bullets into him, then when all else fails, a pistol shows up, and 2 rounds later it is killed. It did require some consistency, this became even more apparent when the F35’s were dropping ordinance to kill them and it did not seem a problem, aliens would get blown up. So, if they can be shot or blown up, why were we losing? If something can be killed, it can be defeated. One thing that really did annoy me was that there was no real explanation for the time travel. There was some banal explanation, but it could have been amped up more. (at least in my opinion). Additionally, there were several other inconsistencies, but oh well, overall, it was a pretty good film.

Now to the subject of the cast, I am only going to discuss some of the key characters and they are:

Chris Pratt as Dan Forester: Pratt is used to playing the hero lately and he does it well. He often comes across as the unwilling hero who rises to the situation. He easily plays the action star who is quick with a weapon, wise-crack or solution to the problem. Naturally, as the script provided the foreshadowing, we see he was a Special Ops guy in Iraq conflict, so that is why he has all the skills, and that he is a bit of a amateur scientist, he has the knowledge to defeat them. All very convenient, but hey this is an action movie time-waster, not a documentary! Additionally, Pratt demonstrates great chemistry with all his co-stars and supporting cast. This is what helps make him a very marketable actor. All in all, a pretty good performance from Pratt in a decent film.

Yvonne Strahovski as Colonel Muri Forester: As I have mentioned in previous reviews (i.e. Stateless) we have been fans of Strahovski since her appearance as Sarah in the tv series Chuck. Again, she has proven herself to be an entertaining actress in a halfway decent role. Her portrayal as the future Muri, a combination warrior/scientist was pretty good and her action sequences were well played. The chemistry that she had with Pratt was believable and helped to improve the film. Another good role for Strahovski that she can put in the resume with her other ones. 

J.K. Simmons as James Forester: J.K. Simmons has seemed to be around forever. His booming voice and over the top style has managed to make his characters endearing in many of his previous roles. As the estranged grandfather with some very unique skills, he again delivered. Sure, his history and backstory in the film is pretty anorexic, and hardly laid out, but what the hell, He is the curmudgeonly grandfather who can fly a plane, work with transmitters, handle explosives and weaponry. But, he is exactly the type of character you need in this film to help save the day. Even though his screen time was extremely limited, it was still vital to the stories conclusion. 

Betty Gilpin as Emmy Forester: Gilpin, another solid actress with actually minimum screen time in this film. Basically, just the start and finish with a few memory sequences. While not a major player in the film, her character as well as the young Muri Forester (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) provided the anchor and the reason to succeed for Pratt’s father character (Dan). Additionally, as her character was a doctor trying to rehabilitate the returning veterans it provided some dramatic insight on what he would experience when Dan got drafted (as we all knew he was going to) once it was mentioned in the film. Not a bad performance by Gilpin, nor a great one. But done well enough to help the film along.

Sam Richardson as Charlie: I am only adding Richardson in here as he was great for the comic relief in the film. As a nerdy guy who gets drafted along with Dan (Pratt), he is carried along for the ride and the one liners. I had to look to IMDB to see what I had seen him in and was surprised on all his character work and voicework that he had done over the years. He is one of these “minor co-star/extra” that you see all the time and can never figure out where he was before. Regardless, I found his contribution to the film enjoyable and as with all of the action films to-date, he provided the comic relief in the middle of the battle sequence. 

Mary Lynn Rajskub as Norah: Here is another character that I had to give an honourable mention. When she gets drafted along with Dan (Pratt) and Charlie (Richardson), I had to do a double take to figure out who she was. Then it dawned on me that she was one of the central characters from 24! In the heat of her fight sequences I was waiting for her to shout for Jack Bauer to come save her! Not a major role for her by any means, but it was nice to see her in an action role instead of playing the voice/brains behind a keyboard.

Now the big question, were we entertained? Yes we were! The Tomorrow War is a nice little Sci-Fi romp with lots of action, one-liners and CGI. Sure it has plot holes and inconsistencies…(really what movie doesn’t?) and there were a few times that I scratched my head after the film. But, it is not an Oscar contender but a nice little escape for a few hours. Amazon Prime did well in obtaining the rights for this production and if you have Prime, like the Sci-Fi genre, and are a fan of Strahovski and Pratt, then definitely give this one a go! I don’t think you will be disappointed. 

Our rate: 7/10

If you are interested in any other productions from the main cast, please consider the following recommendations!

Chris Pratt                    Guardians of the Galaxy (Franchise), Avengers: Endgame & Infinity War, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Passengers, The Magnificent Seven, Delivery Man, Zero Dark Thirty, Bride Wars

Yvonne Strahovski         Stateless (https://www.notinhalloffame.com/blogs/was-i-entertained/11655-review-stateless-2020 ) , Chuck, The Handmaids Tale, 24: Live Another Day, Dexter

J.K. Simmons                 The Stand (2020), Justice League, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Patriots Day, The Accountant, Spider-Man 3, Numbers, The Mexican, 

Betty Gilpin                  Nurse Jackie

Sam Richardson            VEEP, Mike and Dave need Wedding Dates, We’re the Millers, The Office

Mary Lynn Rajskub        24, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sweet Home Alabama

Till Next time!

Cast:

Michael Pena                Mr. Roarke

Maggie Q                      Gwen Olsen

Lucy Hale                      Melanie Cole

Austin Stowell               Patrick Sullivan

Jimmy O. Yang              Brax Weaver

Portia Doubleday          Sloane Maddison

Ryan Hansen                 JD Weaver

Michael Rooker             Damon

Parisa Fitz-Henley         Julia

Kim Coates                   Devil Face

Summer is finally upon us, the third wave of Covid is starting to get under control in my province and we have been spending more time outdoors, thus the reason for not watching as much television of late.  But, it has been more than 2 weeks since my last review, so I decided to give it a go once again. For this week, we decided to watch the latest adaption of Fantasy Island. Many people have fond memories of this weekly television show as it was a staple in most homes in the late 70’s. Fantasy Island as well as Love Boat, were my generation’s go to on night of television watching. For those people who were born much later, remember, during my youth there was no streaming services, and Blu-ray, DVD’s had yet to be invented, and even the venerable VCR’s, while in existence were only for the homes of the wealthy. The rest of us depended on either the old trusty antennae, (with rabbit-ears) or for the very lucky, there might have been cable service in their area. Also, in our house, as most homes at the time, we the children, were the parent’s remote controls to change the channel as well as move the antennae to get the best reception!

So with that in mind, we were left with what the 5 or 6 stations provided us on a weekly basis. Fantasy Island usually came on a Saturday night if I recall correctly and was a regular occurrence in our household when growing up. In a nutshell, the concept of Fantasy Island was that a guest would come to the island to have a fantasy come true. The wise and dapper Mr. Roarke (then played by Ricardo Montalban) and his ever present sidekick, Tattoo (Herve Villechaize) would welcome the arrivals. First with Tattoo running into the office shouting “The Plane Boss, the Plane” and Mr. Roarke serenely welcoming the week’s arrival, with “My dear guests! I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island!” Each week, a selection of mediocre celebrities would join Mr. Roarke on the island, sometimes get their fantasy fulfilled or learn a valuable lesson about themselves or a loved one. As a young kid, I did not mind the show, it was better than what was on at the time and I did not mind if the plotlines were extremely thin, the acting mediocre and the sets kind of lame. Hell, we had nothing else to compare it to, and without Fantasy Island and it’s predecessor on primetime (The Loveboat) where else would stars who needed a job or give a reminder to fans that they still existed do!

With all the previous comments in mind, let’s take a look at 2020’s version of “Fantasy Island”. While loosely based on the original show (titles, characters and theme), this version went for a much darker portrayal. This film did not make a lot of money at the box office, and was panned by some reviewers and critic’s, however, I was actually looking forward to watching it. This was for several reasons, first, it did bring back memories of my childhood watching the show as a family, secondly, I like several of the cast, primarily Pena, Q, Yang, Hale, Rooker and Coates. While they may not be A-listers in Hollywood’s hierarchy, they are solidly in the B category and usually take part in films or shows that pique my interest and keep me watching. 

This film opens just like the series where a seaplane would fly over a pristine beach and plantation like house. A woman in this case, who we later learn is Julia (Fitz-Henry) runs into the house to shout the traditional line “The Plane”. Mr. Roarke (Pena) makes his appearance and strolls down to the pier to meet the aircraft. The hatch opens and the guests for this film exit the aircraft. So who do we have on board that will undoubtedly enjoy what the island has to offer? First we have Gwen Olsen, (Q) a stoic lady who carries a pained and lonely expression all the time. Melanie Cole (Hale), a young lady with a huge chip on her shoulder and an attitude to match. Stowell (Sullivan) a young man sporting Dog dags exits the aircraft along with Brax and JD Weaver (Yang and Hansen respectively). Brothers (by adoption) who are just out have a good time. With the opening sequence completed, the very “unique looking” porters take everyone to their rooms so that they can prepare for their Fantasy’s to come true. 

At the “Welcome Drink” ceremony, Roarke (Pena) says that they are all there to live out their fantasies and desires. However, if they want to continue they must see each fantasy out to the end and natural conclusion, and that it is the island that is fulfilling their fantasies, not him. Julia (Fitz-Henley) watches all this with a very strained look on her face. The reason for this will come out later in the film. 

Just to touch on the fantasies a bit, and not wanting to give out too much of the plot, here is what everyone has come to the island to fulfill:

Gwen Olsen (Q): Gwen (Q) is searching for redemption of a past decision. She wants to change her mind in a pivotal moment in her life where she could have had it all. A loving husband, a wonderful child and life of happiness. Due to her fear, she said no and from that time on, her life seemed to fail horribly.

Melanie Cole (Hale): Melanie is a troubled young lady with a huge chip on her shoulder and attitude to boot. Coming across as a rebellious youth and headstrong, she wants to wreak revenge on all who have wronged her in her life. Especially Sloane Maddison (Doubleday), who was the stereotypical mean girl in high school and started Melanie’ path to emotional hell, not to mention feelings of little worth and an abysmal level of self esteem. In Melanie’s eyes… Sloane ruined her life. Her fantasy is the most vengeful of all the guests. 

Patrick Sullivan (Stowell): Sullivan (Stowell) is a police officer who always wanted to join the military. He wears a set of dog tags that were not his, and all he wants to be is a hero and be honourable. A kind hearted individual, he is about to find out what being a hero truly is.

Brax and JD Weaver (Yang and Hansen): The Weaver brothers (brothers by adoption) are just out to have fun. JD, the older brother has always given up his dreams to help his younger brother and get him through life. They are the stereotypical frat brothers party people. High-fiving all the time, punctuated by the odd chest-bump, these two individuals don’t have enough intelligence combined to power a light-bulb. They just want to “have it all!” for their fantasy, and as Roarke warns them at the outset, if you have it all, someone will want to take it from you in the end. (…. oooh dramatic foreshadowing!!) 

So, I do not want to give up too many plot points, but let me put it this way, this is a new twist on the Fantasy Island shtick, such that there will be more horror and gory parts than light fanciful moments. We will find that all the fantasies actually intertwine with some unexpected results…. but…even though there are some twists to the tale, the outcome is predictable. 

What did I like about this film?  First, I liked the premise. For once, this is one show that I was looking forward to see the movie. I can’t say the same for the fecal matters that were favourite shows from my youth and then became horrible movies 20 years later (i.e. Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch) Fantasy Island always had a bit more imagination involved. Also, we loved the scenery, as we can’t go on any holidays due to COVID, we must live vicariously through the movies and television. So all the beach shots and tropical settings were always considered a bonus. As I stated previously, I liked the main characters as well. They usually give half decent performances, and are in films/programs that I like. 

What didn’t I like? Well, even for the actors that I liked, they gave uneven performances. Roarke (Pena) did not really have any chemistry with the other characters. Also, Damon (Rooker) was almost a throwaway character. What part did he really play here? Even if he was not introduced, I don’t think it would have really changed the story arc to much. Even though I like Rooker and his crazy, mad scientist look about him, he was not really value added. Also, there were some definite goofs with respect to the Melanie Cole (Hale) character. Some of the dialogue that she says when alone does not fit with the outcome. Again, I don’t want to give out the plot, but when you watch the film you will see what I mean. However, this is not the fault of the actress, but the writers if you know what I mean. I also felt that Maggie Q and Michael Pena did not get the opportunity to flex their capabilities. I felt that they were really underutilized in this film. I also found Devil Face (Coates) to be a little over the top. But, it did add some camp to the film, maybe a bit of an homage to the campiness of the original series. 

While we are discussing characters, lets take a look at the main cast:

Michael Pena as Mr. Roarke: I have mentioned several times that I like Pena as an actor. He is extremely versatile and can play a comedic or an action role with equal ease. However, he is usually a side-kick or supporting actor. A supporting role is his wheelhouse, to be the primary lead in a drama/horror film, he did not seem to carry it well. His character was pretty one-dimensional and really lacked chemistry with the rest of the cast. There were a few glimpses of Pena’s talent through the film, but they were few and far between. Not his greatest performance, but it could be the fault of direction or screenplay, not necessarily the actor.

Maggie Q as Gwen Olsen: This is another case where an actor’s talents were not used to it’s fullest. Stoic and/or pained looking throughout the film made it hard for her character to connect with others. While she appeared to be the brightest of the guests in figuring out what was going on and help solve the issues at hand, it took a while to get there. Her chemistry with co-stars, while better than Pena’s, still had something to be desired. Her character was integral to the solving of the mystery, but her delivery, seemed forced. Again, maybe the fault of direction or script. She does have greater skill than what was presented. Much the same as the aforementioned actor, not her best role, but then again, not her worst either. 

Lucy Hale as Melanie Cole: Hale actually had the most opportunity to project her range. From her snarly attitude at the outset of the film, seeker of revenge, fearful and full of panic to rage yet again. She did the full gambit and did it well. Her character was pivotal to the film. Her chemistry with her nemesis, Sloane (Doubleday) was done well. We thoroughly enjoyed her performance in “Fantasy Island” and I have not doubt that I will enjoy seeing her in future productions. 

Austin Stowell as Patrick Sullivan: Even though Stowell’s character took me the longest to like, in the end I did. He held on to his fantasy in a believable fashion, especially when the world was falling apart around him. I had only seen him in a few productions previously and primarily in much smaller roles, this was the first time that I had actually noticed him throughout the film. For a little factoid, Stowell and Pena worked together before in 12 Strong (if you are interested in 12 Strong, I have also reviewed this film and it is located on this website) ! Not a bad performance from Stowell overall, and I am sure I will see him in future films/shows. 

Jimmy O. Yang as Brax Weaver: Brax (Yang) was actually my favourite character in the film. He balanced goofiness, fear, comedy and bravery all at the same time. Playing the “dufus” adopted brother to JD, he complimented Hansen’s own ineptness. They worked well together and his scenes were quite well done. I have seen him in a few movies and tv shows in supporting roles and always enjoyed his part. From what I read about him he has truly made an easy transition from stand-up comedy to acting. He is another actor that I look forward to seeing in future roles. 

Portia Doubleday as Sloane Maddison: Here was another actress and part that I enjoyed in the film. I had only previously seen her in “Carrie” another remake from my childhood, and her presentation of a mean girl in both films (Carrie/Fantasy Island) were extremely well done. She easily transitioned from the wounded and scared young girl and back to bitch in the blink of an eye. As the lifelong nemesis to Cole, she not only enhanced the scenes that she was in, but also made them entertaining. As with Carrie, she did quite well in this type of character, and I hope that in future roles she leaves the Mean Girl shtick and tries to broaden her horizons.

Ryan Hansen as JD Weaver: Hansen gave an admirable performance in this film. Usually relegated to much smaller roles in comedies and television, it was nice to see him in an ensemble piece where he managed to get the same screen time as his co-stars. He worked will with Yang, and continued to play the well meaning imbecile well. Not a break out role for Hansen, but still one that was enjoyable. 

Michael Rooker as Damon: First off, let me say, that I usually like Rooker in all of his roles and characters. However, in Fantasy Island, while his acting was fine, his character was almost a throwaway role. While he was wandering around the island looking more and more like a refugee from Robinson Caruso, it was hard to take in, even when it was explained why. Was this character essential to the Sloane/Melanie portion? Not really, it could have been written with either of the girls figuring it out, and/or maybe a lesser character, either way, Rooker’s talents were actually wasted in this film. Hopefully the next project I see him in, he will be far more entertaining.

Parisa Fitz-Henley as Julia: Fitz-Henley’s role and part of the film was actually quite predictable. It did not take long to figure out her importance to Mr. Roarke and the reason why. Her chemistry with the other characters seemed a little wooden, much like her character. This could have been due to the actress, or the direction, as I have not really seen her in many roles, I can’t tell at this time.

Kim Coates as Devil Face: I only included Coates in this review because I always like his twisted characters. He can look like a psychopath and carry it off like few others. While he played the un-named Devil Face, his accent and mannerisms were almost cartoonish. Sure, this could have been part of the camp that is Fantasy Island, but I wish that they did not play it up so much. He would have been scarier with a persona similar to the character he plays on Sons of Anarchy, then trying to lay on a cheezy accent, but it did add to the camp factor of the movie. As with some of the actors mentioned above, not his best role, but surely not his worst either.

So overall, were we entertained? Actually, yes we were. We enjoyed the storyline and the characters. It was not a great film by any means, but it had enough elements in it (characters, story, theme, cinematography) to keep us watching. I would only recommend this film if you were a fan of the original concept and of the key actors, if not, maybe you might want to give it a pass. 

Our rating: 4.5/10

If you are interested in other films/shows starring the main cast, please consider the following recommendations:

Michael Pena                12 Strong, The Mule, Ant-Man and the Wasp, CHIPS, The Martian, Fury, Ant-Man, American Hustle, The Lincoln Lawyer, World Trade Center

Maggie Q                      Designated Survivor, Allegiant, Divergent, Insurgent, Nikita, Live Free or Die Hard, Mission Impossible III, Rush Hour 2

Lucy Hale                      Pretty Little Liars

Austin Stowell               12 Strong, Bridge of Spies

Jimmy O. Yang              Crazy Rich Asians, Space Force

Portia Doubleday          Carrie

Ryan Hansen                 ChIPS, Santa Clarita Diet, Central Intelligence

Michael Rooker             The Dark Tower, Guardians of the Galaxy (Franchise), The Walking Dead, The Bone Collector, Tombstone, Cliffhanger, The Dark Half, JFK, Sea of Love

Kim Coates                   Sons of Anarchy, Entourage, Prison Break, Black Hawk Down

Till Next Time!!

Cast:

Harrison Ford                      John Thornton

Omar Sy                                   Perrault

Cara Gee                                 Francoise

Dan Stevens                         Hal

Well, it has been a few weeks since my last review so I figured I better spool up a film and give it a go before my brother (aka “The Chairman”) stops giving me my performance cheques for these blogs. Hey, wait a minute…I haven’t received my first one yet! Anyways, here goes with another review.

For this week we decided to go into another direction completely with respect to film genre’s. With that in mind, we selected “The Call of the Wild” for the evenings entertainment. This latest version stars Harrison Ford, a fantastic actor with an incredible film resume. You would have to be living in a cave for the last 40 years to not know of him and his impact on the film industry. Besides the Indiana Jones series (lets forget the last one…Kingdom of the Crystal skull was complete garbage), and the Star Wars franchise, Ford has been key in several other phenomenal productions; for example, Blade Runner, The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games, Air Force One, and K-19: The Widowmaker. Each and every film I have previously mentioned has been iconic and left a lasting impression on all who have watched them. The other co-stars in this film, Sy, Gee and Stevens were known to me, but to a much lesser extent. But, one co-star was really not mentioned in the film’s cast above, and it is that of the CGI talents that created “Buck” the film’s hero. 

“The Call of the Wild” was based on the epic novel by Jack London. I remember having to read this book while in school, and have not really thought of it much since. If I am not mistaken, this film has been done at least 6 times, and also has had a few spinoff series as well. For this version, they have changed some of the character’s gender, race and even the tone to make it more inclusive and palatable to the audiences of today and ensure that it would be a true family film. For the few people who do not know what “The Call of the Wild” is about, here goes a quick synopsis.

“The Call of the Wild” is the story of “Buck”, a very large, exuberant, kind and intelligent dog who was dog-napped from his home in California to be taken to Alaska and be sold as a sled dog. While “Buck” is a cross between a Collie and a St Bernard, it actually resembles a Bernese Mountain dog more, but that is just my opinion. Back to the story, due to the Klondike Gold rush, dogs are in great demand to work as sled dogs to take the prospectors to their imaginary fortunes. “Buck” being for all intents and purposes a city dog, had led the life of luxury till then, but finds himself first in a crate, then subsequently a reluctant member of a sled team, to becoming the leader of the pack. However, after his capture and voyage to Alaska, he gets sold a few times, first to an arctic version of the pony express and then he becomes property of some rather stupid, and cowardly greenhorns looking for gold. Abused and left exhausted and near death by the aforementioned idiots, he subsequently finds a true home with Thornton (Ford) who nurses him back to health. Together, the trek northwards where Thornton (Ford) finds himself again, and “Buck” learns to trust his own wilder instincts and make a new home in the North with a pack of Wolves. Even with some instances of abuse to the animals and the demise of some of the characters, the tone of the film is very family friendly and is pretty much suitable for all ages.

What did we like about it? First, the story. While it is a classic tale, which has been told several times, with the advent of current technology, it pretty much allows the film to be told from the dog’s perspective for the first time. “Buck” was the principle character, and in the case of this film, a total CGI fabrication. It did take us a few minutes to adapt to this “dog” version, but after awhile, we could almost think he was real. As the dog was completely CGI, it allowed the director the opportunity to give the dog a greater personality and range of emotions, vice using a live animal and hoping that the dog would cooperate and do what was required of it. The CGI was impressive throughout the film and only added to the film, versus taking away from it, especially when CGI can either be overused or mismanaged. One thing we did find extremely interesting was that in film’s extra segments, there was telling information on how motion capture motion technology was used to assist the CGI creation. Apparently, Buck was a cirque-de-soliel performer who mastered a dog’s gait and movements in such a way that the other co-stars had something live to interact with when filming the scenes. Not like say a MCU film, where I have seen the extra’s and Thor is talking to a tennis ball on a pole to give him a reference. In this aspect I feel that “Call of the Wild” handled some of the CGI aspects in a superior fashion when compared to other films using this technology. 

While CGI was integral to the film, it was also used extremely well. The audience felt for the dog, could read it’s emotions and were in tune with “Buck”. Kudo’s to the CGI team who brought a fabled dog to life. With respect to the remaining cast, here is a quick breakdown of their role and contributions:

Harrison Ford as John Thornton: What can I say about Ford that has not already been said before by others. He is a fantastic actor with a substantial resume and even when the film is weak, he still adds to the overall enjoyment. In “Call of the Wild”, as John Thornton, he plays an old man who has lost his way and his family. He is trying to find himself again in the wilds of Alaska and become a better man, so that maybe, just maybe, one day he can go home. He is a kind hearted soul with a love for animals as well as alcohol as was evident throughout the film. He has truly aged well and has taken on the mantle of aged and exceptional thespian quite well, on the high side of 70, closer to 80, he can still manage to carry a film! We really enjoyed his performance in “Call of the Wild” and I truly hope that I can still catch him in a few more films in the future before he finally retires.  

Omar Sy as Perrault: I actually enjoyed Sy’s portrayal of Perrault. He came across as a genuine individual who not only cared for his job, but also his charges (sled dogs) and treated them with respect. To emanate these feelings while working with CGI is truly a testament to his skills. His character was integral to the early development of Buck and his transfer from a domesticated pet, to a leader in his pack. This transformation also introduced us to the wilder side of Buck that was buried beneath the surface. Perrault was a truly enjoyable character, even though I had seen Sy in other films/shows, this was the first time that I actually paid attention to his acting skill. I will pay more attention to his future performances.

Cara Gee as Francoise: Once I saw Gee on the screen it only took me a few seconds to recognize her from another favourite show “The Expanse” where she plays the hard as nails Camina Drummer. This role of Francoise was performed with equal skill. I must say that even though the character was changed from a male to a female for this adaption, it still worked, and Gee gave a good performance to support not only her partner “Perrault” but also that of the dog’s. Looking at her resume on IMDB, I see that she is predominately listed in supporting roles, I look forward to see how her talents grow. I do believe that she is someone to watch in the Canadian Film industry and that she will shine more if given the roles and the opportunity. 

Dan Stevens as Hal: Stevens played the role of pompous aristocrat or rich guy to a “T”. Mind you he has had plenty of practice in “Downton Abbey” where that is pretty much all what the cast play. Even though a relatively small role, his character was important as it led to the final joining of Thornton and Buck as a team. Stevens emoted the arrogance of aristocracy well, not to mention the entitlement. When it all crashed down on him, the petulance and revenge were equally well displayed, as was really his cowardice. A fine performance by Stevens to go along with some of the others that I have seen in the past.

So, overall, were we entertained? Yes we definitely were. “The Call of the Wild” had all the elements to keep a family entertained on a movie night. The CGI was fantastic, and the few real actors also gave a strong performance to keep us intrigued. The highlight of the film was the aspect in which it was shot, that of the “Buck”, not the humans interacting with him, a pleasant change! Would I recommend it, yes, definitely. Especially if you are looking for a family film that not only the kids will like, but also the parents. Heck, we don’t have kids, and we both enjoyed the film!

Our rating 6.5/10

If you are interested in further projects with the main stars of “The Call of the Wild” please consider the following recommendations:

Harrison Ford                      Indian Jones (First three movies), Star Wars (Franchise), Blade Runner, Air Force One, K-19: The Widowmaker, Apocalypse Now, The Expendables 3, Random Hearts, Clear and Present Danger, The Fugitive, Patriot Games

Omar Sy                                   Inferno, Jurassic World, X-Men: Days of Future past.                        

Cara Gee                                 The Expanse

Dan Stevens                         Downton Abbey, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, A Walk Among The Tombstones

Till Next Time!