Robin Thede – Cut To The Chase

Directed By; Reginald Hudlin

Written By: Kelly Younger

Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel

Editor: Kenny G. Krauss and Jim May

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Jillian Bell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Nick Offerman, Genneya Walton, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome, Trevante Rhodes, David Alan Grier, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Danielle Pinnock, D.C. Young Fly, Catherine Dent, Stephen Tobolowsky, Penatonix, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyer

A man is determined to win the neighborhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win–and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which brings unexpected chaos to town.

The film has a lot of goodwill, but it also has a bunch of familiar tropes. They are dressed up and try to feel fresh and for the most part, fit the season and set-up.

The film tries to stay inventive but then falters under the weight of its own predictability and plays it way too safe and familiar.

The film isn’t necessarily good but it’s entertaining and keeps you invested. Even though star Eddie Murphy goes through the motions. He even has his moments to flex an original comedic lie here and there. Unfortunately for the most part it also feels like he is playing a role any actor or star could have played easily. That is how bland it is written. Though as always it is always in his strengths when his character is under pressure and his reactions can be priceless, Just not here

It does bring the audience back to when he was making more family films for better or worse. Though when they were just passing.

What works within this film is the spirit and the fact that his family in the film all get a chance to shine and be the hero throughout and come together when needed. Reminding the audience of the importance and need of family and enforcing the holiday spirit.

Though those looking for laughs might be hard-pressed to find any genuine comedy throughout.

Directed by Reginald Hudlin, it leaves you expecting more. Even though it does have a great production design. The less said of Santa Claus. Huggy bear ,velvet suit the better.

In the end, it’s a film that fits the holidays but isn’t the triumph you are hoping for when it comes to an Eddie Murphy film.

Grade: C

Written & Directed by: Justin Simien
Cinematography: Topher Osborn
Editor: Philip J. Bartell & Kelly Matsumoto

Cast: Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Vanessa Williams, Blair Underwood, Laverne Cox, James Van Der Beek, Usher Raymond IV, Kelly Rowland, Robin Thede, Judith Scott, Michelle Hurd, MC Lyte, Chante Adams, Nicole Byer, Steve Zissis, Yaani King Mondschlien, Ashley Blane featherstone, Daheli Hall, Courtney Sauls

In 1989 an ambitious young woman gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career may come at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.

While the film is definitely inspired, as it comes off as modern-day folklore. It also seems to become more fascinated with its time period of being set in 1989.

Which leads to plenty of comedy and laughs due to fashions and even hairstyles. It also comes at a certain cornerstone of culture. Where weaves really started to become popular and were seen as a symbol of beauty and professionalism and the film explores that concept to a degree. Which is a horror in itself becoming someone else or to a degree letting go of your natural self for something more processed and artificial.

Here the hair is haunted to a degree. This leads to some social satire and follows the general rules of a horror film though without much of the violence you usually see. Though it gets it’s point across.

There are plenty of laughs, not as many thrills and chills. As the film comes across as looking for more depths, but still feels shallow itself or a kind of artificial product. The film comes off weak for what it seems to promise.

Even filming in old film stick seems inspired but also reminds us how much of a throwback the film is and makes it come across. As more synthetic than it should.

As it also never comes off as playful as it seeks. It wants to be campy but then wants to be serious and teach some kind of story. It tries to be of the time it is set in but seems to rest more in humor as everything else seems or feels like it falls short in what it seeks. As there is little to no tension.

It also doesn’t help when it tips it’s audience off so many times. Like at the salon when Laverne Cox shows up and her make up is already obscured and the tone looks more zombie-ish. You can tell something is off or not right.

For most of the movie, you wait for something to happen as you keep getting hints until you finally want to see some action.

The special effects seem like CGI when it was first beginning. So that when used it never comes across as scary if anything it comes off as elementary and almost comical. So that the film never has any scares and the kills are unimpressive.

The film tries to have style but comes off as more artificial. As the film seems to want to say anything tiring in many issues into the horror but it comes across as shallow. As the characters come off as.

Don’t get me wrong it does entertain but comes across as a movie that never comes fully. It feels filled with filler. So that it feels more like an episode rather than a movie. Especially with it’s ending.

In the end, it has such promise and seems like it is going for a goal that has the audience excited only to fizzle out. More like an overwrought anthology story that goes on for too long.

Grade: C

Tag: Robin Thede

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