Sara And I saw this wonderful movie the other night at a theater. Both of us highly recommend it. Below is a review by Pete Hammond of The Deadline Review which I totally agree with and says it better than I could although I made a few revisions.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN  4.0***

might sound odd to say it, but Kevin Costner gives one of  his better performances  in The Art of Racing in the Rain, but you never once see him onscreen. His touching, funny and very wise work as the voice of Enzo, the dog at the heart of this adaptation of Garth Stein’s bestselling book, is truly extraordinary. The book stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for 3 1/2 years, translated into 38 languages, and has finally, and lovingly, been brought to the screen in a superb way by director Simon Curtis (Woman In Gold) and screenwriter Mark Bomback. They have created a real crowd-pleaser, a wonderful, funny, joyful and enriching motion picture experience not just for dog lovers and lovers of dog movies (count me in), but everyone who still has a beating heart.

Milo Ventimiglia ( TV’s “Life is Us”) plays Denny Swift, an aspiring Formula One driver who one day adopts golden retriever Enzo as a puppy. The two are inseparable, and Enzo takes a keen interest in his new master’s profession, uniquely tying a philosophy of life into what drivers must use to win on the track. As the years go by, eventually life intervenes when Denny meets the woman he will marry, Eve (Amanda Seyfried), and they have a daughter named Zoe. Suddenly Enzo has his hands full, and this becomes a full-bodied family story, one in which tragedy intervenes. That is where complication also rears its head in the form of a major family conflict between Denny and his in-laws, Eve’s parents (Kathy Baker and Martin Donovan). Balancing the personal problems with his professional goals, there’s always Enzo, who acts as kind of a guide for the audience through it all.

 The Art of Racing in the Rain is first and foremost a human and humane story that is simply glorious, centered on a dog whose real desire in life he says is to become human one day. It seems Enzo, who watches a lot of TV, saw a documentary about Mongolia, where local custom convinces him that in his next life he will indeed become a human if he is a good deserving dog. That is always lurking in the background of the current life he leads, a dog often wiser than any human he actually knows.

Costner is key to making this work, with a vocal performance that never misses a beat. There wasn’t a moment in this heavily-narrated film that I didn’t believe he was Enzo. This is the art of doing voice-over in movies. Ventimiglia is perfectly cast in the lead human role, a compassionate man facing some tough times and trying to keep his life on track. Seyfried offers a warm presence as always, but beyond Costner’s superlative work, you have to credit the three dogs who play Enzo so brilliantly  with  those soulful eyes that will make you melt. Camera work by Ross Emery is right on target, always seeming to feature the POV of the dog, not an easy task. In a summer of sequels and remakes this one is a purebred original about a dog who can teach us all invaluable lessons about life.

Rated PG for thematic material ( meaning every day events that sometimes but rarely affect kids)

THE KITCHEN  2.3***

The Kitchen, is a double entendre, referring to women’s traditional place, but also to Hell’s Kitchen, the Manhattan neighborhood which in the late ’70s was home to poor working-class families and Irish American gangs like the one portrayed here.

Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire (Elizabeth Moss) are the wives of three small-time Irish crime bosses in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen in 1978. When the men are sent to prison, the financially strapped women decide to take over their husbands’ work, gathering protection money from local businesses. The organization-minded Kathy becomes an empowered community leader. Ruby’s ruthlessness and uncompromising negotiating tactics help the women get what they deserve. Claire, whose husband, Rob, abused her, uses the opportunity to learn to defend herself (and how to efficiently dismember and dispose of a body), and she eventually becomes the group’s enforcer, alongside her partner, Gabriel (and Claire’s sometime lover).

The three lead actresses and the rest of the cast work hard but the poor script fails them. But I have to say I had a hard time imagining Melissa McCarthy as a bad-ass mobster .. so that did not work for me at all.  The writing  is messy, uneven, and somewhat bland. It’s also hard to root for the characters. After all, they become full-fledge criminals and murderers.  The movie just feels like a lot of disjointed scenes that don’t always connect into a story, leading to a third act twist that feels both forced and obvious. Also Gangster films rely heavily on tension, and unfortunately that is lacking in this movie.

Essentially, The Kitchen is a movie that I wanted to like more than I did. It’s not a terrible movie but ends up being a disappointing waste of talent.

Rated R for violence, language throughout and some sexual content 

SPIDERMAN: Far From Home  3.3*** When the movie starts out the viewer gets all the emotions back from the ending of Avengers: Endgame which included Spider-Man and his very special relationship with Iron Man a/k/a Tony Stark.  The movie follows Peter Parker and his high school science class on their field trip around the world. The film does a great job of showing how a teenager, here Peter, develops a crush on a girl, MJ, and how nervous he is about being around her. It's a nice touch to have super hero with teenage angst about a girl.  When things start going well, a villain appears and Peter Parker must work with a new hero that people name "Mysterio." The movie does a great job of keeping the viewer sucked into the screen with constant, well timed humor and heart-tugging moments. Once you feel like the movie should be coming to an end, you look at your watch and realize you're only an hour in. That is when the movie has a brilliant plot twist and much of what you thought you knew about the movie was just an illusion. As characters get reestablished in their roles, the viewer is treated to more thrills, suspense, and fun as the story unfolds.   Surprisingly enough, the centerpiece of this film is not the superhero's extraordinary world-saving abilities, but the budding romance between  very ordinary human characters. It might be more accurate to describe this film as a blend of rom-com and action-comedy under the disguise of a superhero movie, since the scale of the "world-saving" and the stakes for the final showdown are more much limited compared to what happened in Endgame.   I was impressed with Zendaya's performance as MJ, which finally breaks the stereotype of a superhero's love interest. Instead of your typical dumbed-down eye-candy, Zendaya's MJ is intelligent, quirky, interesting, and absolutely lovable. Tom Holland is, at this point, Spider-Man's alter ego. I cannot really imagine Spider-Man being anyone else other than him although I liked Toby McGuire in the 1st Spider-man movie. Mysterio (played by Jake Gyllenhal) is the new Marvel character appearing for the 1st time in a Marvel movie.  Gyllenhal was born for this role and performed the part quite well .  The movie makes us cheer for its big heart in addition to the action sequences. Maybe Spider-man falling in love is just as important as saving the world. That's something we can relate to. "Spider-Man: Far from Home" is definitely worth seeing and if you can,  see it at I-MAX in 3D.

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

.

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

    BUTCH CASSIDY and the SUNDANCE KID (1969)  4.0***

  George Roy Hill's best film and one of the best western movies as well as buddy movies ever made. Excellent direction, cinematography, setting, screenplay and score. Robert Redford and Paul Newman are in top form and deliver knockout performances. Their real life friendship is portrayed naturally on screen. Katherine Ross is also good as Sundance’s girlfriend The plot revolves around two seasoned outlaws who have robbed almost every bank/train in the West. With the law unable to catch these two likeable bandits, a master tracker and band of bounty hunters are set on their trail. Their only option to lose their chasers is to head South, as far as Bolivia. It turns out that the Bolivian government will have nothing to do with the two American The film focuses on the endearing mis-adventures of these bandits/heroes, using  slapstick comedy, conventional Western action, contemporary music, and humorous dialogue to characterize the past and  poke fun at typical western film clichés                  

 The plot is clever, funny, unique, exciting and has one of the most memorable endings in film history. It's a one of a kind western that has all the action and combines that with hilarity. It is a work of art and masterpiece of its genre that has never been able to be duplicated. It has resonated throughout generations and has influenced many filmmakers. To this day fans of the film still quote some of its famous lines such as:

          Butch Cassidy: Well, that ought to do it.

          [after blowing the train car to smithereens]

          Sundance Kid: Think ya used enough dynamite there, Butch?

          

          Butch Cassidy: Who are those guys?

               Butch Cassidy: Alright. I'll jump first.

           Sundance Kid: Nope.

           Butch Cassidy: Then you jump first.

           Sundance Kid: No, I said.

           Butch Cassidy: What's the matter with you?

           Sundance Kid: I can't swim!

           Butch Cassidy: [pauses, then laughs] Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill ya.

          [pause, then they start running to the edge]

           Sundance Kid: OOOOH SHIIIIIT!

                Of the 7 Academy Award nominations, there were 4 Oscar winners :William Goldman for Best Screenplay; Conrad Hall  for cinematography. 2 went to Burt Bacharach for Best Song ("Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head) and Best Original Score. The other three nominations were for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Sound.