review

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

Flow – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Flow.

Story

A strong and almost Ghibli-level narrative that is only marred by a weak ending.

Score: 0.5

Characters

All the characters are recognizable and have unique traits. It’s impressive how well they managed to bring that forward without any dialogue.

Score: 1

Dialogue

There are no words spoken in this movie but there is plenty of communication. The writers and animators managed to convey so much with just facial expressions and actions.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals were stunning for what they were, but there were some odd choices like making the whales different but nothing else. I also found the style of animation kept making me think I was watching a cutscene from an older game.

The score was fantastic and really went a long way to elevating the movie.

Score: 0.5

Fun

The movie is fascinating and fun to watch but the ending doesn’t feel resolved and certainly wasn’t uplifting. We all enjoyed it except for the end.

Score: 0.5

Overall

Combining a lot of recognizable stereotypes while only using expressions to tell a story about animals in a post-apocalyptic world is a huge challenge. One that Flow mostly manages amazingly. The ending, however, falls a little flat, and a few of the choices felt unrelated to character or plot.

Final Score: 3.5 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

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

KPop Demon Hunters – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film KPop Demon Hunters.

Story

The story, like everything in this movie, is a clever combination of tropes, story structures, and character archetypes. It does something that most animation targeting children doesn’t: it creates a world with loose ends that can be explored later or just by the fans.

Score: 1

Characters

The characters take a lot of influence from Kpop personalities with a dash of fantasy archetypes and some mythological references. The design, the costumes, the movements, everything is intentional and recognizable to multiple different audiences.

I do wish we’d found out a little more about the other boys in the band, but I understand that would have bogged down the story.

Score: 1

Dialogue

So quipy and irreverent it was great. The dialogue that is said for drama purposes hits so much harder because of the humour in the rest of the movie.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

Seen as a whole, the movie was stunning. There were a few times where they went lower resolution and the characters looked like claymation from adult swim. I’m not a fan of that style, but the rest of it is absolutely gorgeous.

The music was spectacular and is playing on repeat in our house.

Score: 1

Fun

My first time watching it, I was stressed for the characters and loved all the little twists. It’s a movie with a lot of layers. The second watch really showed how much detail they put into everything.

Jen and the kids are obsessed (as are a lot of other people). It’s a fun and heartwarming movie that doesn’t shy away from the dark.

Score: 1

Overall

Every detail matters and the movie has rich storytelling and fantastic music. The worst part of the movie is how epic a world they built and how we have to wait for more.

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 – 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

Captain America: Brave New World – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Captain America: Brave New World.

Story

This was a Captain America movie, it had all the heroics, all the intrigue, and all the big set pieces that were needed. That’s not to say it was predictable or boring. It dealt with twenty years of lore and not only told a story but connected it with the world.

I know it’s setting up a lot of the next Avengers movies but I never felt like I was watching a prologue.

Score: 1

Characters

There was so much in this that I found the villain got lost. I get that the real villain is the systemic oppression of the American people, especially those that are different, but the Leader wasn’t all that scary once they figured out his mind control trick.

Captain America, the new Falcon, and the agent following them around were a great group and a lot of fun to watch. The softening of Ross was interesting. Much more than the Red Hulk. I also loved the cameos.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

You’d think with such a big brain, the Leader would be able to come up with better one liners. His dialogue was boring.

The quips by the heroes were great and there were some great lines about government’s mistreatment of people.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

I think, hope, and pray that this movie is proof that Marvel is fully moving away from jump cuts and shakey cam. The action was clean and the special effects were pretty good. The camera work was spectacular.

The music was great.

Score: 1

Fun

I wasn’t looking forward to this movie but I really enjoyed it, as did the rest of the family, although there were a lot of questions about who people were and what they were talking about. Thankfully, I can’t remember important information but I’m great with superhero lore and trivia.

Score: 1

Overall

The movie lives up to the first three in every way possible. It’s an excellent set up for future movies, while being a great political thriller and having fun with superheroes. It’s Captain America and if you loved the others, you’ll love this one.

Final Score: 4 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

Quest for Camelot – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 1998 film Quest for Camelot.

Story

It’s a basic quest story with the main character being completely oblivious and helpless most of the movie.

Score: 0

Characters

It’s nice to see a blind character who is self sufficiant and isn’t looking for a cure. It would have been better if he didn’t think his disability made him a monster.

The rest of the cast is mostly odd comic releif, a villain that didn’t sound right.

There was a princess character and she was the most disapointing. She was shown to be super compitant in the begining and by the time the villains attacked she was useless. I would have liked to see her actually do something.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

There are a few funny lines but most of the humour is really dated. The vilain was menacing but not particularly interesting in his dialogue.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The animation was choppy and rough. It looked cheap and there were some consistency issues.

The music was good. Nothing stood out but it did it’s job.

Score: 0.5

Fun

This was okay. The kids kinda liked it and the adults kinda liked it. Not going to be a movie we rewatch very often.

Score: 0.5

Overall

This was an interesting concept that failed it’s celebrity cast and potential.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5