Tag: Jon Park

SWEET DREAMS (2024)

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Written & Directed By: Lije Sarki

Story By: Eric Gross

Cinematography: Sing Howe Yam

Editor: Ken O’Keefe

Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Mohammed Amer, Gata, Bobby Lee, Brian Van Holt, Theo Von, Jay Mohr, Kate Upton, Beth Grant, Jon Park, Anderson Paak 

The film Follows Morris, who must coach a misfit softball team of his fellow housemates during his mandatory stay at Sweet Dreams sober living in order to get his life back on track.

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This is one of those films where you love the message and the characters more than the film or the filmmaking 

There isn’t much to this film. It’s pretty straightforward. It’s a film about a man was reach the end of his rope who has gone to rehab many times before and this is truly his last chance. The only difference is that the character is played by Johnny Knoxville (which truth be told is what attracted me to watching this film as I do have a soft spot for him as an actor and otherwise) 

Meanwhile, this film is a comedy drama. This is so far the most dramatic. I have seen him in a film and he is believable.

Though most of the rest of the cast that seem to be his roommates at this halfway house, rehab are mostly played by stand-up comedians in podcasts who have very few dramatic moments and are more there to lean into the quirks of their characters that makes them lovable losers.

It feels like a film that was made with a bunch of friends on weekends and trying to tackle a serious subject with humor and more of a homespun philosophy. As the cast seems more made up by someone signing onto the film and slowly recruiting comedians and their friends to appear in the film.While filming at what looks to be the same house, they filmed the television show 6 FEET UNDER in. 

The film is predictable yet. It’s fun. He tries to take a hard look at addiction and really, the aftermath the high, the lows the pains of recovery, especially freshly recovered. Also shows you that it’s a small world. We’re all trying to get over something. There is no ultimate answer . All you can do is just like in life take a day by day. See you where it takes you and deal with it as it comes.

The only difference here with this film is that as an activity they all focus on a softball tournament that will give them prize money that will of course help save the house so while the story rings of convenience, it is an interesting character study as far as the lead goes It has a 3 act structure is kind of a crowd pleaser and more focuses on the lead.

It’s watchable and it’s fun and affecting while you’re watching it. It’s not great filmmaking but it’s table filmmaking and it’s a cute little film. No, it’s not anything you haven’t seen before. It’s worth a watch, though. I can’t really say there’s anything special about it. 

Grade: C

QUIZ LADY (2023)

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Directed By: Jessica Yu 

Written By: Jen D’Angelo 

Cinematography: Adrian Peng Correia 

Editor: Nat Sanders and Susan Vaill

Cast: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Holland Taylor, Will Ferrell, Tony Hale, Jason Schwartzman, Tawny Newsome, Angela Trimbur, Charlie Talbert, Jon Park, 

A game-show-obsessed woman and her estranged sister work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts.

At first, I thought this was based on a true story. Though watching it is as outrageous as it gets. It still manages to be identifiable.

While the humor at times is more sitcom level. The film manages to have heart. In the first half of the film, seems to be relying on more comedy to drag it through, but what it effectively does is set up the characters, their issues, and the world they live in.

Then in the second half of the film, the heart comes in and it becomes more about family. 

The two stars are Awkafina and Sandra Oh. Give it their all and while sometimes the script fails them In pushing the comedy and absurdity further. They are still memorable overall. Truly the All-Stars of the film. With some nice support. 

What works is that this is a film starring two Asian American actresses playing against type and directed by an Asian American woman. Though it isn’t the main point of the film. In certain Jokes, there is racial humor, but for the most part, it offers characters that are universal and could have been played by anyone of any race. The film doesn’t rely on that factor. 

Will Ferrell’s small role is essential though a nice performance as he reins it in. To create a beloved patriarch. 

By the end, you just wish it was a bit funnier. A lot of the film and your enjoyment of it is based on the goodwill of liking the actors and some of the situations. Not necessarily the script. 

As in the wrong hands, this could have been another unmemorable paint-by-numbers bland studio comedy. Harnessed to a comedy star to either let their comic personae take over or be a random buddy comedy with another actor. Looking to make a quick dollar. 

It even has a bittersweet cameo of a recently deceased well-known icon. 

Grade: C+