FREDDY VS. JASON (2003)

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Directed By: Ronny Yu
Written by: Damian Shannon & Mark Swift 
Based on Characters Created by: Wes Craven & Victor Miller
Cinematography: Fred Murphy 
Editor: Mark Stevens 

Cast: Robert Englund, Ken Krizinger, Monica Keena, Jason Ritter, Kelly Rowland, Katherine Isabelle, Chris Marquette, Brendan Fletcher, Lochlyn Munro, Zack Ward

It’s been nearly ten years since Freddy Krueger terrorized people in the dreams, and the townsfolk want to keep him erased from their memory. Freddy still has one more plan on getting back to Elm Street. He resurrects Jason Voorhees and sends him off to kill. The more bodies which fall to the ground, the stronger in which Freddy becomes. This is until, Freddy realizes that Jason isn’t going to step aside easily, and must be taken down himself.

Good or bad for a certain generation this was flogging to be a historic crossover and battle of the monsters. It came along when both franchises were in their last legs and helped revitalize interest in both of them and brought out the fans secretly and publicly to both film characters and franchises.

One knows before they got to this version of the movie they were planning many different versions. What we have here is one that plays more conventional and more of an actual lead up to a knockdown bloody fight. While playing by the rules of a conventional slasher film with more supernatural phenomena.

You know what type of film You are going to get. The meet up of two horror titans and icons could have easily gone many ways. Here the film works but doesn’t really cover any new ground. It actually is pretty basic with a more cutting edge style for its time.

When I first saw this film on opening night in the theaters, I enjoyed it immensely. As it was

Like Sugar. It’s so energizing it’s almost like an action film rather than scary or frightening you are paying attention to the kills which feel more like action set pieces. Which might be one of the more disappointing aspects of the film. Is that it runs off of energy and adrenaline do much that other then carnage and special effects it doesn’t really have too much else and never truly seems like a horror film. As even the human characters are barely memorable

The film has plenty of great visuals but they add up to little except to gloss over the thinness of a script that offers nothing new and very little for the audience to really grab onto.

The film more or less plays to the cheap seats and seems very much of it’s time trying to add in plenty of pop culture. Adding singer Kelly Rowland who was in the singing group Destiny’s child to the cast and one character is totally styled after jay of director Kevin Smith’s movie characters jay & silent bob. I am guessing if they added silent bob it would be too oblivious they stole the characters as inspiration. This was obviously catnip for the teenage audience they were trying to entice for a Rated R film. It makes the film more fun but except for its title and subsequent battle, there is very little of note here. As this film would still be subpar as any of their individual sequels. As it comes off very basic and doesn’t age well. It also tries to showcase a sense of humor.

While both series of films and sequels are time capsules of their time periods regardless of quality they will always be memorable and treasured. Though some are more played for shocks And laughs while they are brutal. Which this movie doesn’t provide.

The kills are random and barely noteworthy. Though it’s a movie to see just for the modern merging of two franchise stars. Like a bloodier modern version of King Kong vs. Godzilla. So that many horror fans schoolyard arguments and debates can finally be settled. This crossover seems to be an end of an era. As both franchises have had unsuccessful reboots so far, not really a further sequel.

The film tries to mix in certain details that never seems to exist that make sense but only for the purpose of the film.

Like all of a sudden Jason Voorhies being afraid of water. Which does make sense as he supposedly died because of drowning in the first place but in all the sequels before this water was never a problem for him.

Neither of these killers comes off as he hero, but they try to make Jason come off as more favorable strangely enough.

Kills others get short shrift just to get them out of the way it seems. The director doesn’t even give them the benefit of too much set-up as that would take away from the main event and mean the film might actually have to build up some drama and suspense.

I was excited to see the film overjoyed by what I was watching. Even then some stuff seemed stupid but still entertains. It was a star amongst my DVD collection eventually.

The film is more like a prizefight where the film is meant to get you hyped up for the battle and using all the same theatrics and it’s Good when it comes but liens prize night in modern times easily debates Le but quickly forgotten even though noted.

It doesn’t develop either franchise further. It still stays pop instead of going darker and having more depth.

There is So much potential for what could be it little character development of other characters who are main characters but not the protagonists.

We are here for the main battle but need filler and explanation of how we get there. While having a modern-day set up like a typical horror film still not a good one. So that they wouldn’t even count as good sequels to either franchise.

Which is what both franchises miss. We know the territory so clearly that even the filmmakers give in and don’t try for suspense at all or to even make the film scary it’s all more about violence. Not memorable or original just good enough for the moment to be passable.

That has become the main problem with modern horror either cheap scares or no scares. Trying to make it more psychological or trying to outsmart the audience. Later sequels seemed more gimmicks simple turned creatively bankrupt.

Reading the book on the franchise histories as well as the documentaries helped inform me of different interactions on the history of the films. Have histories, backstories, mythologies how much you care and how deep you want to investigate. So there was a lot going on and to consider when going into this. As do you throw it all out or do you keep some and get rid of others. They went with the simplest to try and make a slaughter-fest that is almost a meeting of the minds but fulfills what is expected in all areas. 

Jason surprisingly comes off the more favorable

Grade: C+

FRIDAY THE 13TH: PART 2 (1981)

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fRIDAYTHE13TH2

Directed By: Steve Miner
Written By: Ron Kurz
Based On Character Created By: Victor Miller
Cinematography By: Peter Stein
Editor: Susan E. Cunningham

Cast: Amy Steel, Adrienne King, Warrington Gillette, Kristen Baker, John Furey, Walt Gorney, Betsy Palmer 

Months after Alice beheaded psycho killer/mother Pamela Voorhees at Camp Crystal Lake, survivor Alice is still traumatized because of the murders. But there is one problem: Mrs. Voorhees’ son Jason never drowned and died, so he saw Alice behead Mrs. Voorhees. Jason finds Alice soon and murders her. Five years later, a camp counselor-in-training program begins at Packanack Lodge, right near Camp Crystal Lake. As teenagers in the program start snooping around Camp Crystal Lake, they start getting killed violently one by one.

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SCOUT’S GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE (2015)

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Directed By: Christopher Landon
Written By: Carrie Evans, Christopher Landon & Emi Mochizuki
Story By: Lona Williams, Carrie Evans & Emi Mochizuki
Cinematography By: Brandon Trost
Editor: Jim Page

Cast: Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, David Koechner, Cloris Leachman, Joey Morgan, Sarah Dumont, Halston Sage, Patrick Schwartzenegger, Missy Martinez

Three scouts, on the eve of their last camp-out, discover the true meaning of friendship when they attempt to save their town from a zombie outbreak.

The film delivers the title, but when you see the advertisements. You expect a squadron or at least Boy Scouts. Who are at the least 12 years old or younger. Which is horrifying and unique. Yet funny.

The screenplay for this film was featured in the 2010 Blacklist; a list of the “most liked” unmade scripts of the year.

Here it is three teenagers and a cocktail waitress. So it becomes more of a teen movie with respective gross, low class sense of humor that tries to be explosive, but never goes fully to its capacity and tries too hard with no enthusiasm as some zombies are capable to think to a degree that leaves the film just seeming to revel in what it thinks is cool or what it believes the audience is after. Rather then tell it’s story with confidence and skill.

Though the film feels small scale and a bit scattershot with the throw everything and the kitchen sink type of plotting. The film seems more mainstream and wanting to tell a joke and get the audience to laugh with it. Though the jokes seem innocent they come off more as raunchy, but seem to want to have heart.

The film just ends up feeling like a cheery caffinated cheeerleader when you just want to watch asimple game.

Though strangely the film is scored like a Steven Spielberg film. Though not as skilled and knowing how to make the score work for the film and the emotional current of the scenes. Not using it for it’s strength or depth. Especially as Spielberg seems to be one of the masters of incorporating it as a desired ingredient and needed thread to his films. The soundtrack songs seem More like outdated music cues that one wonders if for recent nostalgia? Or for how pathetic they are and in bad taste? Or did the filmmakers really think it was still hip and was doing it as an audio version of product placement.

The film tires to do what it can with the premise that you would think would leave some opportunities for comedy and some originality to a familiar tale. Though it ends up going the more crass and uninspired route. That plays like a teenage sex comedy to a degree. That happens to have the threat of zombies at it’s center.

The film had very few inventive or innovative additions to the genre. Then again this isn’t a film that was made to do that or further cinema. Luckily the film doesn’t make the mistake of trying to incorporate any zombie film homages.

What happens here in this film is that it sounds like the tons of cash-in low budget films that fill the V.O.D. Market that end up making a quick buck out of general wonder if the audience and the late night crowd looming for something generally fun but entertaining. Studios see this and attempt to do the same with a film and title like this and though the film plays up a juvenile attitude and humor it still feels like a safe film that fits more into blockbuster entertainment for the masses. It feels too inside of the joke to really let loose and be the oddball curiosity type film that the title might imply. It lacks a certain explosive zeal the title seems to hint at. In other words, it fakes the funk. Just as when rich kids try to make themselves look of the people or poor. Yet they can afford extravagant things while having no job and their parents pay for everything.

The film is an average time waster that keeps your interest to a degree. Even after the initial appeal has worn off. Rather quickly and the premise plays itself out, to only be another zombie surviving another zombie attack film. That time to time reminds you that the main characters are boy scouts. Though really the film at heart is just a teen comedy with zombies. That typically happens all in one night, which leads to the truth that has an Initial betrayal but leads the main characters to bond and learn lessons whole overcoming their fears and problems.

It seems like the horny character keeps getting piss and blood sprayed on his face as sort of a punishment for his character’s behavior and overall attitude that comes across as a money shot (facial) at least.

The film also offers the violence, Sex, and nudity that a teenage or audience that really looks for that in films. (Which includes a revealing Cameo from an adult movie star Missy Martinez) Which seems to be making a comeback recently. Though this isn’t necessarily a film where you would expect it. Just a lot of talk about it.

The film is easily forgettable, but it interested as long as your hopes aren’t high. You might actually enjoy it. Though if not you definitely can skip it and not really miss anything.

 Grade: D+

CAPONE (2020)

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Written, Edited & Directed By: Josh Trank
Cinematography: Peter Deming

Cast: Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon, Kyle Maclachlan, Al Sapienza, Katherine Narducci, Noel Fisher, Jack London, Neal Brennan, Tilda Del Toro

The 47-year old Al Capone, after 10 years in prison, starts suffering from dementia and comes to be haunted by his violent past.

There is a lot here to deal with. Most of the film and material comes off as a fever dream that hints at or points out places of interest. Though pretty soon the films succumb to the madness of the protagonist and soon becomes where you can’t tell memory from a flashback of reality or madness.  

Tom hardy is clearly enjoying himself going fully overboard in a lived-in performance under tons of make-up and using active tics constantly. He sounds like a human cobra commander and the makeup seems realistic in that it is overdone think Johnny Depp in BLACK MASS where neither of them looks natural or all that human necessarily. Where he mostly makes noises and his character continuously poops on himself. To show degradation and how sick he is and the mighty have fallen but it happens so often. After a while, you feel like you could program a drinking game to it.  

The film swings and attempts a kind of David Lynch vibe of the film where the strangeness and non-linear storytelling will be fascinating in Itself and it’s own art that the audience will find the beauty in all of this. Which works with a director who is used to or knows for telling stories in that way. Unfortunately, this one isn’t. Casting Kyle Maclachlan in the film only helps strengthen this theory.  

As this is supposed to be writer/director Josh Trank’s comeback after the FANTASTIC FOUR movie bombing. One can understand why he went this route. As most of the films he made before were special effects spectacles and science fiction. Here he gets his hand to try drama and thriller of sorts. As well as a crime story based on real people.  

This film just seems all over the place and might have been more interesting with some cohesiveness and an understanding as half the people in his house we are left wondering their relationships. A lot of stuff isn’t explained And it comes off as more random And not fun random. 

As the audience might not know that much about al Capone and his past. So when bringing in various information, characters and showing them to have significance later in the film is purposeful but when we are introduced we don’t know of their importance and seem more random or built up to not mean as much when their character is more revealed. 

This is a film that has a lot of symbolism but nothing really behind it as it offers no hints or notes. So it keeps building to ultimately nothing. It could have been tightened by the missing buried money plot, a treasure hunt if you will, making it stronger. 

Even if it feels like a point of interest for the other strands of stories and characters to revolve around, it would also help as half the time making us wonder if this is all an act and he actually is mad or at first he is faking and then slowly he and we realize he is actually going crazy. As watching it now we know he is crazy but never knows what is real, fantasy, flashback. 

Which doesn’t help when we see scenes of characters that have nothing to do with him mixed in. So we take those as real and then later male reveals where maybe they weren’t. The randomness includes Matt Dillon being introduced during a sex scene why? So the film will have some Sex In it? Then being called into Florida with his amour. We never see her again and as it is separate why are we seeing it when we eventually learn of his character and his eventual fate. 

In the end, you can see what attracted the cast and why the director made the film Or at least his intentions, but it seems to have had the equivalent of shooting himself in the foot.

While also having the last hurrah on a sinking ship that only he thought might survive and prosper.  

Grade: D

THE SQUEEZE (1977)

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Directed By: Michael Apted 
Written By: Leon Griffiths 
Based on the book “Whose Little Girl Are You” by: David Craig aka James Tucker 
Cinematography: Dennis Lewiston 
Editor: John Shirley 

Cast: Stacy Keach, David Hemmings, Edward Fox, Stephen Boyd, Carol White, Alan Ford, Freddie Starr 

A dangerous, violent gang kidnaps a woman and her daughter to extort some money from her rich husband. He and her down-on-his-luck ex-cop ex-husband decide to deal with the kidnappers themselves.

While not the most exciting heist film. The film does keep the audience interest. As the opening where we follow a drunken Stacy leach through the UK transit system until he falls down a set of stairs and collapses. He is then taken to a hospital and put through rehab. Then he flirts and slater sleeps with his rehab nurse. As well as has a drink or two.

This is before the plot even begins but alerts us that what we are watching will be more character-based then anything. Getting us used to our hero or really our anti-hero. By the end he is really one of the few honest and moral characters. Once he gets home then the plot moves forward. 

Throughout the film, Keach’s Character stays sober but seems to drink heavily when the pressure is on and when he is needed he seems to be able to dry out after getting wasted and is brand new after a few hours. He doesn’t have leading man looks and is usually the toughest guy in the room but might be the smartest. Even as an alcoholic who never seems to want to quit. He is tied into the case as it involves his ex being kidnapped. Like the film, we get to learn about all the figures involved.  

Once the third act begins. So does the action there isn’t A lot but it seems to be the release the film builds towards. Then once it ends the film is more matter of fact and take care of. The film is definitely an old school where you could make a mainstream movie for adults that takes it’s time to set up instead of straight to or putting in action scenes to placate the audience with action until the finale. 

 The villain proves to be the evilest of all. He has a more gentlemanly approach first but then slowly reveals a more vicious side. Though he does have a weakness. Which seems to be the only way for him to show any humanity. He is memorably played by Edward Fox 

The kidnappers second in command has doubts and seems to be the only one who has the right ideas and ends up being correct. Even though he initiates a rape. Which has a scene that is disturbing and still maintains the film’s subtle side. As she is soon treated like a maid or slave by the kidnappers.  

This is a film you soak in as you watch. Getting to know the characters, moods, and tones of the film and story. As going with the unorthodox tone there is a side adventure to a massage parlor that only adds to the film’s quirks and up’s the nudity and gives the film a bit of exploitation. Though it does tie into the Story barely. Showing it trusts it’s Audience to follow even some Ridiculous detours  

GRADE: B-

JOHNNY COOL (1963)

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Directed By: William Asher
Written By: John McPartland
Based On the novel “The Kingdom of Johnny Cool” By: Joseph London
Cinematography: Sam Leavitt
Editor: Otto Ludwig

Cast: Henry Silva, Elizabeth Montgomery, Telly Savalas, Sammy Davis Jr., Elisha Cook Jr., John Dierks, Jim Backus, Richard Anderson, Joey Bishop, Brad Dexter

Colini, An exiled American gangster living in Sicily, rescues Giordano, a young Sicilian outlaw, from the police. After Giordano is groomed, polished, and renamed “Johnny Cool,” Colini sends him on a vengeance mission to the United States to assassinate the men who plotted his downfall and enforced exile. Johnny arrives in New York and quickly kills several of the underworld figures on Colini’s list. Meanwhile, he picks up Dare Guiness, a wealthy divorcée who becomes his accomplice, and she is severely beaten by the gangsters as a warning against the vendetta.

Th is is a great and beautiful gangster film that I have heard anything about going into it and glad I didn’t. Didn’t have a hype to love up to but was thoroughly entertained and by the end shocked I had never heard of it. Even with it’s a more groovy sounding title. It’s a tight little thriller. This a surprisingly brutal and dark-hearted mob movie where no one gets away scot-free or clean.

You would think this based on a graphic novel made today. As the protagonist at the heart of this tale is a kind of anti-hero sent to do a mission but also has plans of his own. So in the beginning, while the film wants ya to feel for him by the end he has become a villain himself with no happy ending in sight.

The film ends with sorrow as even the innocent character played by Elizabeth Montgomery could have gotten away with her parts in the crimes but ends up being the only honest character and ends up paying the price.

What is interesting about her character is that her character is truthful ashamed and disgusted by the actions of her boyfriend Johnny cool. But she knows if he showed up right then and there it would be impossible to resist him. So she is self-aware realistically.

The assassination and action scenes are riveting and don’t usually show too much violence more alludes to them.  The film has an old school charm where even dealing in the underworld With plenty of doubles crosses everyone comes off dignified and sharp.

This is half a rat pack film as it has small roles played by Sammy Davis jr who also sings a few songs on the soundtrack and Joey bishop plays a small pivotal role, as well as the film Was produced by peter Lawford. Plus Henry Silva playing the title role. has co-Starred in many frank Sinatra and rat pack films. Playing various races in films over the years. 
 

This film is a little known gem that deserves to be seen and appreciated more. 

Grade: B-

DRACULA 2000 (2000)

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Directed By: Patrick Lussier
Written By: Joel Soisson (Rewrites By: Scott Derrickson & Ehren Kruger
Story By: Patrick Lussier & Joel Soisson
Cinematography By: Peter Pau
Editor: Patrick Lussier & Peter Devaney Flanagan 

Cast: Gerard Butler, Johnny Lee Miller, Sean Patrick Thomas, Christopher Plummer, Omar Epps, Justine Waddell, Jennifer Esposito, Danny Masterson, Lochlyn Munro, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Shane West, Jeri Ryan, Nathan Fillion

A group of thieves breaks into a chamber expecting to find paintings, but instead they release the count himself, who travels to New Orleans to find his nemesis’ daughter, Mary Van Helsing.

This film is like pop music. It has the ingredients to interest you at first with a hit single/preview that looks good but when you sit back and actually watch/listen you realize how bad it really is in quality also, Then you realize you have been hoodwinked. Sure it was good enough at the time with all of it’s up to the minute references but it ages badly.

I’m giving this film too much credit the preview never looked that good, though with a title like DRACULA 2000 should have suspected it was going to be cheesy. I went into it knowing this hoping for some trashy fun. I was still left disappointed the film has a then young cast of at the time Recognizable up and coming talent to get the audience to see a film with no real recognizable star. Few of the actors last that long in the film further than a cameo. The Film Features Gerard butler before he buffed up. Here he is skinny and looks just like another pretty boy.

For the main story, it has a bunch of thieves who steal from a tomb that includes a coffin that awakens Dracula who is in the tomb. He soon slaughters then in route to America where Dracula sees a woman who he believes to be the reincarnation of his lost love and as he slowly seduces her. hr transforms her into a vampire. A vampire hunter and her ex-Boyfriend try to stop him and hunt him as Dracula grows his defenses and builds an undead army from her friends.

The film is one of those could have been’s but it feels rushed and simple-minded. Which it should since it went from production to being released in six months. The film has too many quick cuts. The action which there is a bunch of isn’t even that interesting. This is a movie with little to no personality. The effects are just passable. It’s a reminder of what used to be passable for mainstream horror around the time it was made. The film lives up to its title. There are a lot of CGI digital effects which are more distracting in its fakeness then actually being scary or awe-inducing.

Even the cast just seems to be a hodgepodge if whoever they could get, was young and recognizable. As most of them seem to be cameoing in the movie to add to the fact that the two main stars were barely known at the time. So that gives the film a feeling loek they were making it up as they went along.

The only reason this film is not a complete failure is its unflappable energy. IT’s never slow and i like the cast. I just wish they were in a better film. I can see why they signed on the potential is here but never quite utilized.

GRADE: D

THE DAY AFTER (1983)

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Directed By: Nicholas Meyer
Written By: Edward Hume
Cinematography By: Gayne Rescher<
Editor: William Paul Dornisch & Robert Florio

Cast: Steve Guttenberg, JoBeth Williams, Jason Robards, William Allen Young, Arliss Howard, John Lithgow, Amy Madigan

The frightening story of the weeks leading up to and following a nuclear strike on the United States. The bulk of the activity centers around the town of Lawrence, Kansas.
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STARDUST (2007)

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Directed By: Matthew Vaughn
Written By: Matthew Vaughn &amp; Jane Goldman
Based on the Novel By: Neil Gaiman
Cinematography By: Ben Davis
Editor: Jon Harris

Cast: Ben Barnes, Robert Deniro, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill, Mark Strong, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Ian McKellan, Ricky Gervais

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.

For the grand adventure that the film is. It lacks an epic feel or grandiose locations and sights. Half the time it feels like the surroundings are sets. The film does end up better then you’d imagine though.

The lead Ben Barnes seems to be miscast. He feels weak and in effect unbelievably when he eventually becomes heroic. Especially when all the supporting characters are much richer and entertaining than the lead. Who lacks charisma and never comes close to being dashing. Though they try to make him so. Maybe that was the intention to go against type but it ends up not working at all.

What I really appreciate about the film is it’s macabre sense of humor and a mean streak to go with all this fantasy. While keeping the film fu adds a general sense of danger rather than films like THE PRINCESS BRIDE. Which while funny feels almost childlike and storybook clean. Whereas this film is a storybook and fantasy fairytale but with a bit of an edge. so that the film plays more for teens and adults.

Words like cute and fun come to mind while watching the film. Though it’s not what I would expect a director like Matthew Vaughn to make especially after his debut film LAYER CAKE a gangster film. He went to make this a full-fledged fantasy adaptation which is a wise choice showing he has range. In his talents though so far all of his films are adaptations. He is showing a diverse resume as he hasn’t made a truly bad film yet. So he has shown his talent which I would expect as a former producer of Guy Ritchie films.

The film is a fun little fantasy that you can get lost into the universe of and enjoy yourself. Which is rare these days. At least without it seeming processed and set up to sell toys.

It’s better than I personally thought it would be. The world they live in is never clearly defined. We never get to know the characters some of whom just seem like ideas more than developed characters integral to the story, Almost like distractions to pad out the story and have us not realize how thin the main story is but letting us get caught up in the situations, though the film is quite likable. The film stays within the fantasy limits but also tries to come off as smarter or more winking to the audience then most films of it’s type.

Though disappointingly another fantasy world that lacks minorities. It’s not a huge point but one I’d like to note probably not entirely the filmmaker’s fault but more could try. Minorities are underrepresented or not represented in most Fantasy Sci-Fi leaving you to wonder are they afterthoughts or in these so-called fantasy worlds are they Aryan wonderlands. Sorry to go off on a rant just a point that needed to be expressed.

Terry Gilliam Also almost directed the film which is a perfect example of the right director with the right material, but after directing THE BROTHERS GRIMM he was wiped out creatively. This would have been actually better for him to make.

GRADE: B

FLOWER (2017)

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Directed by: Max Winkler
Story by: Alex McAuley
Written By: Max Winkler, Alex McAuley & Matt Spicer
Cinematography: Carolina Costa
Editor: Jeff Seiben & Sarah Beth Shapiro

Cast: Zoey Deutch, Joey Morgan, Kathryn Hahn, Tim Heidecker, Adam Scott, Dylan Gelula, Maya Eshat, Eric Edelstein

A sexually curious teen forms an unorthodox kinship with her mentally unstable stepbrother.

Though the story focuses on a teenage girl. This still reeks of a kind of romantic fantasy that throws in some quirks but then some hard-hitting subject matter and scenes, but then tries to get off on a certain crude charm and edge.

As we are supposed to follow the teen characters more and be compelled yet the fil keeps wanting to remind us though they are doing serious actions. They don’t know any better or think about the consequences they are just kids.

While the ending is sweet, it also feels more like wish fulfillment. Which goes against the whole vibe the film seems headed towards. Even with its quirky quality realism.

Especially when it asks you to believe that it ends up as a love story after all of a sudden between two characters you wouldn’t expect.

We never fully understand somewhat, what makes the main character work. Though she still comes off as a kind of fantasy. quirky, cute, with daddy issues, and overtly sexual as she likes giving oral sex and seems to constantly offer it. As even the first scene we see her in the middle of it. Yet dresses like a tomboy. She is a teenage manic pixie dream girl only here the protagonist. She is the main character who doesn’t know any better that she needs to be saved. She thinks she is the one who is helping.

Luckily she is played by Zoey Deutch who shines in the role and always feels believable. One of her first leading roles and she goes through it with flying colors as she stays believable. While being relatable and a comedic character of sorts.

Adam Scott provides great shades to his character where you find him charming and angry enough to believe he is an innocent man railroaded but at other times white devious looking enough to believe maybe he is guilty. So a nice guy bad boy charm. Who should know better than to be hanging around with a teenage girl after what he has been accused of. At first, he seems like a viable inappropriate love interest as they bond but a nice guy none the less, but at every turn, there is a question as his shifting behavior doesn’t help. 

The movie was filmed for half a million and filmed In 17 days. This is impressive in fact a return for writer/Director Max Winkler his first since 2010’s CEREMONY. His films are usually

Dramatic and fun comedically quirky with some artistic merit. As they are inventive only wish he made more of them. When not being a successful television director. Didn’t even know he had made it until the end credits.

The film is smart in having a vision and matching it with a laid back California vibe. Definitely a geek fantasy of sorts.

GRADE: B-