fun

Princess of Thieves – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2001 film Princess of Thieves.

Story

The story feels like a mid 1990’s feelgood made for TV movie. It’s slightly silly and it refuses to let its main character do much.

Score: 0

Characters

The main love pair are a lot of fun when they’re together. The rest of the cast is much too good for the material.

I am severely annoyed that they talked her up as being an expert archer, rider, and swordsman but she only seemed able to shoot. She needed saving far too often. They’d never have written the character in the same way had it been a boy.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Some lines could be iconic, others are just bad. It has a lot of, “But daddy!” energy that could have been way more annoying with another actor.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The visuals are pretty good, it shows that they filmed on location. The camera work is steady and well done, if very 90’s in style.

The music is a great match to the Disney Robin Hood and later versions. It’s heroic and fun.

Score: 1

Fun

This is the kind of movie that I expect is someone’s childhood favourite. It has all the elements to be great but needs the imagination of a child to put it together in a more coherent way.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A fun period movie that is bound to be someone’s favourite but that can’t decide what it wants to be. The acting and locations are excellent, but the rest is a little meh.

Final Score: 2.5 Stars out of 5

The Wild Robot – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film The Wild Robot.

Story

This treads the line between traumatic and adorable. On its surface, it’s a cutesy film about adoption and found family. Below the surface, the movie has a lot of awkward colonial tones.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The voice actors did a fabulous job. I particularly loved Lupita Nyong’o’s evolution throughout the movie from pure robotic to more humanized.

At the beginning it felt like the characters acted out for the gag more than the plot and it was a little tiresome.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue was good mostly. It was a nice exploration of what it means to be a parent and a friend. The jokes were sometimes funny and sometimes over the top.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The movie was beautifully animated and really did a great job giving each animal a personality.

The music was good, it did a great job at helping with the mood.

Score: 0.5

Fun

It was a fun movie. There are a lot of unanswered questions and word building issues, but they probably just annoyed me and weren’t that important.

The kids loved it.

Score: 1

Overall

A fun kids movie that explores what it means to be a family while showing the importance of change. It has its flaws but the acting will make you forget about it.

Final Score: 3 Stars out of 5

The Thursday Murder Club – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film The Thursday Murder Club.

Story

Two of the hardest things to write are adaptations and mysteries. Netflix succeeds at both with this movie that is as much fun to watch as it is to guess the murderer.

Score: 1

Characters

A group of retired professionals try and solve cold cases. It’s a fantastic idea to expand the Marple formula. Each of the four main characters has their own arcs and specialties.

The rest of the cast is large enough to make sure we already know who did it and small enough that we can recognize them all.

Score: 1

Dialogue

There are more jokes in this about the actors’ previous roles than I can count. I’ll need to rewatch a few times to catch them all. It’s clever, cheeky, and definitely well written and delivered with an abundances of skill.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The camera angles are well done and the movie is mostly shot in a very calm way that makes you forget you’re watching something. The residence, clothes, and sets are vibrant and beautiful. I particularly liked how each apartment reflected the style of the resident.

Score: 1

Fun

This was a great mystery and so much fun to watch. The whole family was glued to their seats.

Score: 1

Overall

A mystery story that is both fun and well written. Once you’ve watched it for the mystery, rewatch it for the references, jokes, and fantastic acting.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

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

Heads of State – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Heads of State.

Story

The perfect meld of comedy and action with a story that keeps you guessing and never condescends.

Score: 1

Characters

This movie would have been interesting with one well fleshed out character but in a film with this much action it’s rare to get three mains and a half dozen others with realistic motivations and nuanced backstories.

The three main characters not only hold the film together, they make it both entertaining and interesting.

Score: 1

Dialogue

A lot of the dialogue is hammy but done in an intentional way. The trailer shows a lot of these lines without the buildup which made seeing the whole thing more interesting.

There are a few lines that really stand out because of their delivery. The British PM is complaining about how bad a day they’re having in the middle of the banter and the American President replies with something along the lines of tell that to all the people who died. It’s an exchange that starts out funny but reminds both the characters and the audience about the stakes of the movie. It also shows the kindness of the president and helps to build character.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The movie avoids the sin of shaky-cam and uses some extraordinary pans. The cinematography matched the tone and the events in the film, leaning into the comic book action when needed and then the more dignified when it became more serious.

The song choices were perfect, really focussing on what was going on and not just going for the feeling of a scene. The score was good and its use was fantastic.

Score: 1

Fun

Witty banter, silly fights, a hopeful message, and lots of social commentary. It was lots of fun. The whole family liked it.

Score: 1

Overall

A film that balances humour, action, and hope in a way that I wish more did. This is a movie that believes humanity can be great but only if we work together, without being preachy or ignoring our faults. It’s cheesy, funny, and the three leads are fantastically charismatic.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Now You See Me 2 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2016 film Now You See Me 2.

Story

The movie spends too much time recapping and dealing with the events of the first movie. Once we get to the actual story, it goes out of it’s way to humble the protagonists. Several scenes feel like they were written before they had a story and just wanted to do something cool.

Score: 0.5

Characters

There’s a little more development of characters but not much. I like that they didn’t just replace the woman in the group with someone who did the exact same things.

Overall, it feels like the few lessons for the characters there are, are too short, and the growth doesn’t feel deserved.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Witty and quippy and just as good as the first.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Several parts of the movie feel disconnected. The entire heist in the vault is overly long and ridiculously overdone. If it had been on stage it would make sense, but otherwise it feels like they are playing to an audience that didn’t exist.

The music is the same but just a little different to make it unique.

Score: 1

Fun.

The movie was a lot of fun. We had issues with the DVD which wasn’t great, but besides that it was a good movie and everyone loved it. There were some ambiguities that frustrated me though, and the twist at the end didn’t have much impact.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A fun sequel that isn’t as good as the first, but it’s still a lot of fun.

Final Score: 3.5 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

My Spy: The Eternal City – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film My Spy: The Eternal City.

Story

Mixing the teen travel drama with a spy thriller isn’t new, but they do it fairly well.

Score: 0.5

Characters

Transitioning from the previous reluctant partnership to the much more banal and overdone father-daughter fighting dynamic is just frustrating. They did such a good job turning the tropes on their heads for the first one that this just feels recycled. Separating the two for most of the movie ruins the charm of them working together.

The additional cast were fun and the new villain was interesting.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Bautista has wonderful comedic timing as does Coleman, but they really shine when they are together, which doesn’t happen much in this one.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

Beautiful scenery and great camera work.

The music was fun and did its job.

Score: 1

Fun

Had this been the first movie in the series, I would have liked it more. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough of what made the first one great, which was spoofing spy movies and the relationship between the leads.

The rest of the family did enjoy it.

Score: 0.5

Overall

An acceptable sequel but despite the bigger set pieces, bigger cast, and massive budget, it doesn’t have the same charm as the original.

Final Score: 3 Stars out of 5

You can buy Winging it and The Copper Tarnish RIGHT NOW!!!!

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Hello Readers,

I’m so excited that these two books are out. You’re going to love them!

Winging It
by Jen Desmarais

A wedding and a summer camp that Tommy and Carter are never going to forget.

Tommy discovers magic exists, his boyfriend is a rock giant, and his sister is marrying one of the leaders of a supernatural community called Aetherborn.

Carter learns to navigate an in-person relationship, introducing Tommy to the magical world, and being involved in his Ariki’s wedding.

Both boys need to build their confidence in each other, themselves, and their relationship. The Door Tech summer camp seems to be the perfect way to do that, until they get magically transported to the not-so-fictional world of Everdome. In this realm of Domed continents floating in space, winged beasts, and new cultures, the boys will have to overcome challenges beyond anything they’ve seen before.

The only way they, and their relationship, can survive is if they start Winging It!

49th Shelf Crushing It
Indigo Books Crushing It
Archambault Crushing It
Amazon Crushing It
Rakuten Kobo Crushing It
Apple Books Crushing It

The Copper Tarnish
by Éric Desmarais

Until last summer, I was the most popular girl in school. Then I was accused of killing my boyfriend when he disappeared. Luckily, he didn’t die, but he wasn’t the same when he came back. Murder accusations are nothing compared to the rumours that I kissed said boyfriend’s sister. That rumour proved to be the real killer for my popularity.

Now everyone hates me except the gorgeous new girl who seems determined to ruin any chances of being popular by hanging out with me. There’s also a cute soldier hanging around my mom’s diner and freaky sounds in the woods.

Autumn definitely won’t be dull. All I need to do is graduate…and stay alive.

eBook
Paperback
Hardcover

What are you waiting for? Go buy some books!

Éric