4.5 Stars

Jingle Bell Heist – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Jingle Bell Heist.

Story

They manage to meld the formula of a heist movie with the heart of a Christmas romance. It was happy, sad, stressful, twisty, and ends happily.

Score: 1

Characters

The two main characters could have been extremely bland but the actors were amazing and elevated them into real, feeling people.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue was good, especially when the two main characters were talking with each other, but there were times when they are talking about the heist where it felt very unnatural on the exposition.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The movie had very muted colours but overall was still pretty and well shot.

The music was excellent, melding the Christmas songs with more dramatic score.

Score: 1

Fun

We guessed several of the twists before they happened but didn’t feel cheated by it. Everyone liked it. Not sure it’ll become a yearly rewatch but it was good.

Score: 1

Overall

A fun and well thought-out combination of rom-com and heist movie set at Christmas. The actors are phenomenal and the story will keep you guessing.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Knives Out – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2019 film Knives Out.

Story

The movie throws so much information at you and barely gives you time to sort anything before adding more. It’s delightfully confusing in the best way. The down side of it is that you risk hitting a point where you just don’t care.

Score: 0.5

Characters

So many characters and so much talent. The movie is great and Daniel Craig plays a great detective even if his accent fluctuates a little.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The entire dynamic of the family is completely believable and the minor amount of politics are just as relevant six years after it was released… unfortunately.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals are fast and filled with interesting things. The set, the costumes, and the locations are spectacular.

The music is good and supports the story.

Score: 1

Fun

This was my first rewatch since I saw it in theatres and I was surprised by how much I remembered. It was just as fun working it out the second time. The rest of the family enjoyed it, although the 6yo was a little bored.

Score: 1

Overall

A wonderful revival of the detective film with an allstar cast and fascinating mystery. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is a welcome addition to Holmes, Poirot, etc.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2010 film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Story

This story takes liberties with history, mythology, literature, and physics but it has excellent beats and a good urban-fantasy story.

Score: 1

Characters

The leads are charismatic and so are the villains. There’s a distinct arc for all the characters and it’s well acted. I did find the love interest a little bland and his behaviour around her a little creepy. She felt like she was in the wrong movie but she did save their asses so that’s nice.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Cheese and one liners between scenes of pining and info-dumps. It sounds tedious but they did an excellent job of alternating and keeping thing fresh.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The movie was stunning. The special effects look fresh even a decade and a half after it’s release. They did a great job with night filming without making it too dark.

The music used the original theme extremely well and created a pretty epic soundtrack.

Score: 1

Fun

This movie was made for fun and everyone in the family loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

One of the best urban-fantasy movies, it keeps you on your toes and despite the warping of history, it’s well paced and wonderfully acted.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.

Story

A twist on Romeo and Juliet that makes both main characters into leaders on opposites on a racial feud. The romantic leads are charismatic and do a great job. The original cast shines as mentors. It’s nice to seem them happy, working together, and without any interpersonal drama. There was plenty of that with the romantic leads and the two clans.

Score: 1

Characters

The original cast are consistent with the previous movies and managed to understand the importance of being with the people you love. They romantic leads have identical stories about proving they are good enough. It’s nice to see, if less and less believable, that the authorities changed their ways when presented with overwhelming evidence.

The whole cast is charismatic and owns each scene and song.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue is a little young but there are some great quips and the message of tolerance and being stronger together is, unfortunately, very timely.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The night shots were much too dark. It was frustrating to not see the dances and character movements. When there was a lot of light it was a wonderful mix of the candy coloured and monochrome.

The sounds are catchy and had some great callbacks to the previous movies.

Score: 0.5

Fun

This was a perfect cap on the series and a great beginning for future ones without the original cast. Everyone loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

Another fun and colourful movie in the franchise that pushes hope. It’s only really hurt by the literal darkness of a lot of the scenes.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

The Fantastic Four: First Steps – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Story

The story was fairly simple using the Marvel formula and infusing a little bit of a family drama. There were times it was a little self-indulgent and times it moved a little fast but it was fun.

Score: 0.5

Characters

Each of the characters was well established by quick clips and the impressive acting. It was nice to see all four get screen time and to prove their intelligence. For the first time in a Fantastic Four movie, I believed they were exceptional, not just for their powers but their minds as well.

Galactus was all forms of silly and terrifying. A threat that needed them to truly rise to new heights.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The silences spoke as much as the dialogue. The dialogue is both cheesy and well-thought out. I loved the characters playing with words, and the use of media as a framing device for information is one of my favourites.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

This movie was stunningly beautiful. All the elegance of 50s futurism and colour of a superhero movie. It was well filmed and everything felt grounded, despite the science fiction elements. (If Disney is going to do an update to Tomorrowland, this is the right aesthetic.)

The music was epic and sad and everything you needed it to be. Hearing the chorus in theatres was great.

Score: 1

Fun

I went to see this with my mother-in-law and the kids. The 8yo was a little freaked out but loved the action. The 6yo didn’t stop saying, “It’s clobbering time” for a few days.

Score: 1

Overall

A standard Marvel feature that is elevated by its superb cast, aesthetic, and music. The fun of the characters is seeing them interact and be a family, and this movie understands that.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Ocean’s 8 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2018 film Ocean’s 8.

Story

Convoluted, twisty, and ridiculously well planned; everything a good heist needs to be. I did miss the traditional hiccup in the plan but it was understandable to cut out.

Score: 1

Characters

The little development in the characters was extremely well done. It felt like veterans teaching a new generation. The acting was fantastic.

I do feel like the main character had the least growth and that’s a shame.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue is quippy and has so many Easter eggs you’d have to watch it several times to catch them all. It’s a movie you can passively watch and enjoy or pay really close attention and get a lot of it.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Visually stunning with amazing camera work and great costuming.

The music stayed with the classic jazz vibes of the original and added some more high fashion style.

Score: 1

Fun

Despite the complex story, twists, and numerous flashbacks, the movie was easy to follow and everyone in the family liked it.

Score: 1

Overall

A stand-out heist movie that manages to feel fresh while still bringing all the tropes we loved of the first three. A must-watch for heist and Ocean fans.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Now You See Me – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2013 film Now You See Me.

Story

One of the cleverest movies I’ve seen. It uses all the tricks of stage magic to pull an excellent twist.

Score: 1

Characters

The cast is excellent but a little too large. Although probably intentional, it leaves little time for character growth.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Extremely clever dialogue that is delivered rapid fire. Everything feels like it has more than one meaning, even when it doesn’t.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Stunning visuals that suck you into the magic and almost make you believe. There are a few things that made me wonder if they thought of the visual first and not the trick.

The music is a great cross between procedural and mystery with an extra flourish of magic.

Score: 1

Fun

The movie is fun from beginning to end. The entire family was transfixed.

Score: 1

Overall

A movie that takes its inspiration from stage magic and truly delivers the tricks. A must-watch for anyone who enjoys mysteries, magic, or fun.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Moana 2 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Moana 2.

Story

This was a textbook hero’s journey structure, just like the first one. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of old Greek myths and makes me wonder if the movie feels more European than Polynesian. I’m not familiar enough with Polynesian story structures to be the judge.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The expanded cast of heroes were a lot of fun. I loved that they chose to make the unabashed fan a man and the genius engineer a woman. They were all very entertaining but the little sister was pure adorable.

I appreciate how consistent the characters feel, which has not always been the case with Disney sequels.

Score: 1

Dialogue

Lots of great jokes and pop culture references. Maui follows Genie and Merlin in breaking the third wall in the most enjoyable ways. Also lots of little jokes relating to the first one.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The water animation looks more real then I ever thought possible, the characters are vibrant, and the choice of camera angles was fantastic.

I’d heard a lot of complaints about the music but it was wonderful. Built off the first really well and Maui’s new song was so much fun.

Score: 1

Fun

This was fun from the first frame to the last. Everything moved fast and was a feast for the eyes. The kids saw it in theatres and have been anxiously awaiting the Disney plus release to watch it with me. They loved it just as much the second time, and my 5yo asked for the Bluray so he can watch special features.

Score: 1

Overall

This follows the mythic structure of the first movie while adding some amazing characters to keep it fresh. The music lives up to the first and the animation levelled up in the best ways.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star  – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2021 film The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.

Story

Taking a completely different approach from the previous movies and making this one a heist movie was a great idea. It made the whole thing feel fresh without losing the Christmassy and romance vibes.

Score: 1

Characters

The new love interest for the third look-alike is nuanced and the history between them feels real. There’s a lot of slapstick with the minions and I felt like we didn’t see enough of the original look-alikes.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Some excellent double meanings and wonderful quips.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Like the first two, filming on location made the whole thing pop and feel more three dimensional than a traditional Christmas movie. The little amount of CG was well done.

The music was catchy and fun.

Score: 1

Fun

I love heist movies, as does the entire family, and this didn’t disappoint. It had all the right pieces to meld the romance, holiday, and heist drama.

Score: 1

Overall

Now with a heist, this movie once again shows how good an actor Vanessa Hudgens is, while bringing in new elements and keeping the franchise fresh. If you liked the first two, you’ll love this one.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

A Biltmore Christmas – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2023 film A Biltmore Christmas.

Story

Both an homage to time travel movies and old Hollywood. The movie balances its gimmicks and the actual romance extremely well. Also, in a reversal of the standard holiday movie, it’s the guy who gives up everything for the girl.

I love the parallels between the characters in the movie and those in the movie inside the movie.

Score: 1

Characters

The characters are vague stereotypes that are elevated by both the quality of the writing and the acting.

Score: 1

Dialogue

Although corny and sappy, the dialogue works extremely well, and I like that they point out when she says things that are out of time.

Jonathan Frakes’s tour guide voice is straight out of Believe it or Not.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

As good as the movie was, there were a few scenes that feel like they were only added to showcase the location, and that made it a little awkward and feel amateurish. That being said the location was spectacular.

A lot of great touches with the lighting differences between time periods, the costumes, the sets, and some creative camera work.

The music was okay but nothing stood out in the score.

Score: 0.5

Fun

This was pure time travel and romance fun. Just enough angst for flavour but not enough to be annoying. Everyone in the family loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

One of the better Hallmark movies with a gimmick, it pulls off both the time travel and the romance while being clever, sappy, and witty. I’m going to want to rewatch this next year for sure.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5