Daddy Mojo at the Movies | Page 3 of 27

The Adam Project fills the big shoes of the films that inspired it

For teens in the early 1980s the only time-travel jam that was worth your time was The Final Countdown. Years before Europe made it the title to one of the best songs ever, it was a head-bending, what-would-you-do, escape onboard a wayward American aircraft that traveled from modern day times to just before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Similar to The Black Hole, that film put an indelible mark somewhere and somehow into my movie-going psyche. The Adam Project has that same vibe, but it’s a movie that is sharper, more contemporary and much faster paced than its time travelling contemporaries. It’s also on Netflix, which is a fact that might add to people’s enjoyment of the film.

The Adam Project is a feel-good movie that blends time travel, action, humor and heart.

Check logic at the door-this is a blast for the family

The Batman is the most Batman movie yet, from any vantage point

What to say about The Batman? Does one look at it from the perspective of quality, as an action movie, superhero flick or gauged simply against the cannon of Batman films that preceded it? Alternately, you could evaluate The Batman as a contrast in movie styles when it comes to DC and Marvel. As a comic book fan and one who appreciates movies of all sort, The Batman is fabulous tour-de-force on every level.

The Batman is big, loaded with action sequences and a sense of dread that suits the dark knight.

The Batman is so very much Batman, and fans will love it.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, more of the same, but it looks great

Remember when direct-to-video was a pejorative? The expectations of a direct-to-video movie aren’t as high as something you see in the theater. It’s also a term that is quite dated and I’m probably showing my age just by uttering it as if it’s a phrase that most moviegoers use. Planes is the most recent film that I can think of that was supposed to go straight to video but was redirected when Disney thought they had a low-key hit on their hands. That film was OK, but it wasn’t in the same league as Cars, or even Cars 2. Those were the days when every animated film had the aurora of somewhat being worth ticket prices (and snacks) in movie theaters.

Once more into the undead pool

Sing 2 runs the same game plan for ages 5-9

When Sing came out in 2016 it was a pleasant treat. The story about a group of underdog, singing animals seemed earnest, cute, and was genuinely entertaining. Granted a majority of the ‘earnest’ label was provided by Buster Moon, voiced by Matthew McConaughey. That character’s can-do, optimistic demeanor still delivers in this film’s sequel, Sing 2. Actually, most of Sing 2 will still deliver, assuming that the audience is in fourth grade or younger. That’s not meant to be a slam or a pejorative, it’s just the way it is, especially having just seen the film with a fourth and sixth-grader.

Sing 2, if you want to,

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is solid entertainment

Cinema folks have been asking what is the movie that will get us back to the movie theater? For thousands of people and many families, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the film that got us to purchase four tickets to see it. It’s an odd intersection for films right now because movie theaters would like people in their buildings and people are willing to leave their houses, but the movie-paying public has realized that the emperor has no clothes. Now that people have been watching ‘big screen’ movies on television for almost two years a lot of families have either raised their caliber of film entertainment, have less money to spend on optional things, realized that the entertainment level of films has been decreasing, or some combination thereof. So, with all of this in the mixing bag is Ghostbusters: Afterlife any good?

This time, it’s entertaining to answer the call

Ron’s Gone Wrong, mid-grade satire in a used package

A couple of years ago in the pre-COVID era, Ron’s Gone Wrong would’ve greeted cinemas as a pleasant distraction from the concerns of daily life. Movie theaters are back open and I’ve seen several releases in them. However, I’ve noticed that my threshold of entertainment, especially movies that are in movie theaters, has increased. I suspect that I’m not alone, but I haven’t done any surveys, studies, or polls to confirm that. It’s worth mentioning that because Ron’s Gone Wrong isn’t a horrible movie, it’s just not the red carpet, welcome back to the movie theaters trumpet call that animation is looking for.

Ron’s Gone Wrong, not totally, but not right either

Onward, keeping Pixar weird and wonderful

Keep Pixar weird. If it were a city then this could be its rallying call among some of its citizens. They’re the folk who’ve lived there for a long time and love the place, but they also like the time when it just got started. Onward is a film from brings the oddity back to Pixar does it with an original story that feels unlike anything they’ve done since the late 2000s. In short, Onward manages to assure critics of Pixar that they’re too reliant on sequels or need them to create ‘those’ moments that we’ve come to expect from them.

Onward is original, weird, emotional, creative, human and very fun

Spies In Disguise hits digital and Blu-ray on March 10

On March 10 it’s going to get pigeon-jiggy. That’s the day that Spies In Disguise hits digital and Blu-ray. Spies In Disguise is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and is just the sort of PG rated, family friendly film that you need to pass those late winter days. At least, that’s what we’ll be doing in our house. For us this was a film that both kids wanted to see, but the hubbub of the holidays got in the way of us going to the movie theater.

Spies in disguise is available on digital and blu-ray on March 10, pigeon not included