TOY STORY 4   4.0****

After the release of Toy Story 2 in 1999, many believed the franchise had ended, until a third film came along over ten years later. Really putting a capper on the Toy Story story as fans knew it from its  beginning, Toy Story 3 (2010) seemed like a definitive conclusion. So why was a third instalment even in the works? Until the release of the movie, that was the question on many viewers' minds (especially Toy Story enthusiast). But being a Toy Story fan, I was of course  going to check this one out, and I'm glad that I did

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Toy Story 4 has earned a worthy place in the franchise in my eyes. Picking up pretty soon after the events of the third film, we now see how our favorite, loveable toys have moved on from their previous owner (Andy) and how they've settled in with their new one in Bonnie. Without getting into the specifics of how or why a new toy (Forky) is introduced,  I'll just simply state that Bonnie on her first day of Kindergarten builds him from things she found in the school trash can and he miraculously comes to life, giving Woody a new job, so to speak.

The plot really kicks into gear, however, when Forky is accidentally dropped from the family car onto the street during a family vacation car trip.. Woody leaps after him and the Woody/Forky excursion begins. Each toy has a moment to shine, but this truly is a film about Woody. Some may say that Buzz Lightyear doesn't get enough screen time and there is some repetition of lines of dialogue from previous movies throughout  the movie, but that would just be me complaining about an otherwise near-perfect animated film. I just have to be honest and say that any complaints would just be scratches on a canvas that was painted beautifully as a whole.

As always, the animation is astounding and life-like at times, which feels a little funny when comparing it to how simple the animation was in the original film.  On top of that, this is a film filled with heart, that cares about its characters, and even takes the time to introduce many new, memorable faces along the way. From Ducky and Bunny to Duke Caboom, these new characters will actually remain in my mind as memorable side characters, which is what many sequels fail to do these days. In the end, fans of the first three movies are more than likely going to love watching this instalment and newcomers will get a fresh story and fans of comedy will also get many clever laughs here as well. I'm not ready to call Toy Story 4 my favorite film of the franchise, but in terms of character progression, emotion, and an overall extremely enjoyable film, I have to say  that I loved it. 

Rated: G (probably the only movie this year to get a “G”)

  

MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL  2.2***

     Men in Black International is an okay movie but it's hard not to feel that the franchise was  going through the motions in an attempt to recapture the elusive magic that made the original 1997 movie the standout it was.

This time (being the 4th movie in the MIB series) we're introduced to new agents and new agencies, with  Tessa Thompson (as Agent M) and Chris Hemsworth (as Agent H ) decked out in black and on the hunt for rogue alien life forms in Europe and the Middle East. The two actors are charming and Thompson's character is interesting as young a woman who has devoted her life to finding and becoming a Man in Black.

 As we go from scene to scene, it felt like an MIB spy thriller evoking the undercover missions, arms dealers, shady informants, potential MIB mole to expose, exotic locales, and crackling banter of that genre, and that's something none of the sequels have done before. However, I also noted just how forced everything felt. What should be jaunty and droll came across as flat or overly exaggerated, trying to recreate the energy and style of the original but falling short. It feels like when someone is trying to retell a joke but has lost the rhythms that made it so amusing in the first place.

The pieces are there but they don't feel right.

 I also kept noting how it should have been funnier. Many of the jokes are flat or at best thin. The set pieces are pretty humdrum and even the integration of the strange, otherworldly elements and aliens feels lacking.

With that said, Hemsworth and Thompson remind you how winning an onscreen pair they are, and even with their charm kept at a lower, simmering level they are still enjoyable to watch.

There's a predictable storyline about an alien invasion and a predictable turncoat reveal, but it's all played so blandly that it's hard to get feel any tension. MIB International is a sometimes amusing movie that's hard to hate and hard to love. If you're a fan of the series  it should provide enough entertainment, but much like one of those handy-dandy MIB neutralizers, you won't remember much after. 

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material. |

Booksmart  3.5***

    “Booksmart" (2019 release; 102 min.) brings the story of high schoolers Amy and Molly. As the movie opens, Molly is meditating in her bedroom (adorned with Michelle Obama's book, a picture of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, etc., you get the idea), before she is picked up by her BFF(“best friend forever”) Amy. It's the very last day before HS graduation, and straight A students Amy (admitted to Columbia) and Molly (admitted to Yale) have made it with top grades and loads of AP credits! But when Molly learns that the party-goers and "losers" have also been admitted to elite colleges, Molly realizes that they have missed out on so much, and she talks Amy into going to a party that night and make up for lost time. At this point we are 10 to 15 minutes into the movie but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

This is the directing debut of actress Olivia Wilde, and what a debut this is! Working from a script co-written by 4 women, Wilde brings a coming-of-age story with a decidedly female perspective. Protagonists Molly and Amy are played with fervor by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever. The script is crisp, funny and yes, raunchy, so if that is not your thing, you may want to stay away. I thought it all blended together quite well. "Booksmart" reminds me in spirit of last year's "Eighth Grade", which also brought a fresh perspective on the coming-of-age theme.

“Booksmart” is delightfully charming, refreshingly funny and chock full of delightful characters. The leads are without a doubt the highlight of the movie. Kaitlyn Dever's Amy and Beanie Feldstein's Molly are a dynamic pair, both girls as fun and witty as each other. There is fantastic depth to both characters, and the chemistry between them is undeniable ( they lived together during filming to make it more realistic). We can't forget the supporting characters, however. The colorful, diverse array of characters make up an ensemble of quirky, charming and thoroughly hilarious personalities. Each one adds something special to the film.  I did find that the hilarity and charm fizzled  a little bit towards the end of the film. But overall the movie is wonderfully unique and well made. It is sweet and honest, and very, very funny.

Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking - all involving te