KINDA PREGNANT (2025)

Directed By: Tyler Spindel 

Written By: Amy Schumer and Julie Paiva 

Cinematography: Stuart Dryburgh 

Editor: Tom Costain and J.J. Titone

Cast: Amy Schumer, Will Forte, Brianne Howey, Jillian Bell, Damon Wayans Jr., Lizzie Broadway, Urzilla Carlson, Chris Geere, Joel David Moore, Molly Sims

When Lainy’s plan to settle down and start a family falls apart, she puts on a fake baby bump, tells a lie, and accidentally falls for her dream guy.


Not shocked by the quality of the film it comes from Adam Sandler’s production company Happy Madison Productions.

It maintains that kind of goofy stupid humor of most happy Madison productions. That seems more devoted to throwing everything you can at the audience to see what sticks and satisfies them.

So that you know going into these movies Hamlet or anything close to that though what I can give this film is that it’s simply entertaining. It’s not good but it’s not that horrible and the time passes there’s nothing that memorable about it but again you stay entertaining if you’re a fan of Amy Schumer this is the first leading role in a movie that she’s had in a while, especially in a romantic comedy

The film is not insulting and the cast does what is required of them. Though if you’re not into Adam Sandler movies or his type of comedies, I would say definitely skip as this tends to go for not necessarily the gross-out but more wacky as of course his daughter and wife have cameo roles.

Actress Urzilla Carlson gets the more over-the-top supporting role that probably in the past would’ve gone to Rebel Wilson, who would’ve either played that role or the lead. 

The one thing I can say that is likable about this film is it’s nice to see a female lead comedy that can get nasty when it needs to, but still here plays pretty much tame. 

The film is overly predictable, but at least it doesn’t insult your intelligence and everybody seems like they’re thrown at them and they seem like they generally are having fun and like one another so it is a pleasant viewing experience.

It’s not original nor good it’s just more of a comfort movie than anything that offers very few surprises. 

Grade: C-

CHERRY (2021)

Directed by: Joe Russo & Anthony Russo 
Written By: Jessica Goldenberg & Angela Russo-Otstot 
Based On The Novel By: Nico Walker 
Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel
Editor: Jeff Groth

Cast: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Forrest Goodluck, Jeff Wahlberg, Michael Rispoli, Michael Gandolfini, Damon Wayans Jr. Kelli Burland, Daniel R. Hill, Pooch Hall, Thomas Lennon

Cherry drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq – anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and crime as he struggles to find his place in the world.


It might be that one really wanted this film to succeed. As it is the first film for the Russo brothers directing after THE AVENGERS  movies and a starring role for Tom Holland in a more dramatic role. Not to mention actress Ciara Bravo in a leading female role after the streaming Series WAYNE was unfortunately canceled before it’s time and she was so good on it. That the film’s problems might’ve taken a little more personal. 

While I never read the book. I know it was critically acclaimed and had its fair share of fans. 

This is a clear case of style over substance. As the film gives us a story adapted from the book of the same name.

Though throughout the film flirts with so many different genres a mind types that it never has time to settle into any of them flirting but never quite sealing the deal. As they are just escapades that help us get to the next part of the story.

The film mainly revolves around two characters and at heart is a love story of two people trying to find themselves in one another. While dealing with constant mistakes that seem to get bigger whenever trying to solve the last problem.

It is also a drug addiction story. While the two leads are capable Tom Holland and Ciara bravo they look so young which might be the age of the characters, but they look Ike they are playing dress-up half the time. Especially as their characters get older and for Tom Holland especially the later scenes where he grows a mustache Looks more like make-up than a naturally grown character. Though Ciara bravo tries very hard with her character. Her more adult scenes just never hit home. As she is a good actress.

When it comes to the direction of the film. It is overly stylized which can be appreciated when done with just enough panache. The problem here though is that the story never quite earns it so it usually feels over the top. Though it does give the film an operatic presentation. It feels overdone and at times like it is taking suggestions from other films but is never quite as sharp as those other films. So that even in some scripted scenes that are more comedic it still falls flat.

Even as it tries to base itself on the book and present each new time period in their lives as a new or different chapter. Trying to elevate the material higher.

Even the bank robbery scene has no flair. We get that they are trying to show it’s not like the movies are glamorous or necessarily well thought out, but they just feel lifeless. As the film goes on everything feels familiar but the film keeps trying to present it in a different way that ends up going overboard and not actually adding anything to the overall experience or film. Be

The film seems to go out of its way to show that life isn’t fair as the good moral characters have a way of always having hardships or dying. While the characters who showcase bad moral behavior sometimes are punished but at other times seem to succeed or at least survive. At least In our time with them.

One of the problems is that throughout the movie the scenes feel melodramatic and examples of emotional beats you have seen done bigger and better and more deserved in Other films. Making the film again feel like it is more trying to be like films of this type instead of just being itself. It’s let’s put on a show rather than let’s stay true and tell a story.

It’s not a bad film but like the main character, it feels full of ambition but never quite makes it to where it wants to go or wants to be. Though it is a nice try. It ends up feeling like it is trying to show off to prove it belongs and in doing so showcases why it doesn’t.

It might be that the film feels more like a dramatic graphic novel with its style and with the filmmakers behind it. It just feels like a movie of moments that might have been handled better emotionally,  gritty and dramatic rather than grand and so visual and surreal. 

There is a plan here it just doesn’t match the story or material 

It’s an interesting try that in the end doesn’t quite stick to the landing. By the end, you have a film that will keep your interest but you might not have anything to really grab onto to remember or even truly feel.

Grade: C