Wish Dragon

You have three wishes! Go!

Of course Din, our dear, kind-hearted Din, can’t go. What he wants most in this world can’t be granted. 

It has to do with Li Na. She’s gone from the neighborhood and on to richer things. But she still remembers Din and their friendship, right? If there ever was a time for him to find out, it’s now, with the help of a wish-granting dragon from a teapot.

Don’t let the extremely-on-the-nose opening sequence scare you off. What we have here is a wholesome story for the whole family to enjoy, one that highlights the deep joys of human connection. You’ll smile and chuckle plenty—and breathe a sigh of relief when you realize it’s not another story where a dull boy pines for an impossibly perfect girl.

Smooth, soft animation rounds out the feel-good feeling. Though we’ve seen this idea done before, good execution is good execution.

Cruella

In to déjà vu? Then Cruella is for you.

It’s the origin story of a fashion designer, though you need not care about clothes to enjoy: Everything about this outfit is high-end.

From the larger costume and set design down to the quirks of the perfectly acted, perfectly one-dimensional supporting characters, many of its threads are creative and entertaining. How can you not feel for a little girl wronged before she had a chance to do right? And did I mention that the lead acting is fantastic? Cruella and her frenemy boss provide brilliant, brilliantly wicked performances.

The problem is, we’ve seen this all before—and to better effect. A hard-driving, ungrateful superior; the strength of chosen family; revenge and dirty tactics posing as justice. OK, but what have you done for me lately?

Although the movie’s production aspects deserve display at the poshest runways and movie theaters, the goal of its writing seems to be lionizing a deranged selfishness. This is not something our world needs more of, and no amount of glamour should change that.

Dead Pigs

There’s a special anxiety that comes from not having. Not having someone to talk to; not having enough money; not having what they have. Insert your problem here.

We all share in this feeling, and it’s partly why Dead Pigs is so good. The movie taps into our natural anxiety—in a way that somehow relieves the pressure.

It’s a true cinematic experience, where five human stories converge into something larger than life. Sure, Candy’s doing well—but she lives in the last house in a neighborhood being torn down. And her brother? He’s a pig farmer with less money than pigs. His son, a troubled rich woman, and an expat architect round out the problem-fest.

That all sounds like a lot. Too much. But smart writing eases us in. Scene changes don’t distract or confuse; they pique our interest.

Further drawing us in is how the moviemakers create atmosphere. Each place mirrors the mood of its characters: a dark, neon city broods and seethes here; buildings fall apart there. In widescreen that both overwhelms and helps us take it all in, we find a sad, sweet, and funny story which reaffirms human connections.

Limbo

Life works in fits and starts. Things we’d like to change are slow to change; things we’d hate to change change suddenly and the most. Limbo, mostly.

Omar’s current one is the Scottish countryside. He’s a Syrian refugee stranded here, with just enough money to stay and not enough money to go. His parents feel the same—but in Turkey.

We watch Omar process this predicament. It’s a subtle, verging on minimalist movie. If someone asks you what happens?, all you can say is nothing much. And yet the movie holds our attention by choreography and countrysides, facial expressions and silly scenarios.

Omar and his supporting cast nail their roles. Though life away from family and past comforts is hard, they take it in quiet stride. This lets us contemplate their dilemma—and giggle at the naiveté of those around who aren’t struggling through such a thing.

It’s hard to fault any one part of the moviemaking here, and the themes are lofty. But the resolution (if you can call it that) doesn’t fit. This can feel a frustrating send-off for those who were waiting the entire time for something to happen.

Énorme (Enormous)

Frédéric wants a baby? That’s funny; his wife already acts like one.

Claire’s a world-class piano player—but aloof, and overwhelmed by the world. She needs Frédéric to plan her schedule. Feed her. Relax her. And it works, because the two are in love.

So what’s the problem? It’s not that Frédéric is ready for the responsibility of a child while Claire can’t even remember his birthday. It’s that Claire doesn’t want a baby, and that Frédéric does something unforgivable to get one.

This is not something to gloss over. But however it makes you feel, it makes the movie. Frédéric himself becomes a doting mother: buying all the baby gear; reading all the baby books; eating into his own baby bump. His excitement is sweet, and very often hilarious.

The way the couple reacts to their situation reminds us that both sexes contain multitudes. Throw that together with jokes? What’s not to like?

The Night is Short, Walk On Girl

Remember that best night ever? When somehow, everyone out was tapped into the same line of electricity in the air?

This movie is that night, thanks to The Girl with the Black Hair. She knows life is short, so she’s going to take a hit of that new drink; to chat up that stranger. Though her positivity is irresistible, so is her appetite.

Her quest for more lights up the entire city. Each place she visits, each character she meets, brings its own charming quirks.

The movie is a drunken delight. A poem to serendipity, with exaggerated animation that’ll change the way you take in the world, if just for one night.

Kajillionaire

What kind of parents name their kid Old Dolio?

The kind that like—no, that need—a scam. The kind so scared of how the world takes, they spend all their time scheming how to take first.

So, their grown daughter is as maladjusted as her parachute pants are big. But when a charming stranger nudges her way into the family’s latest scam, Old Dolio starts to see more of what she’s been feeling lately. Maybe there’s something worthwhile about other people, after all.

This movie is as breathtakingly creative as it is furiously romantic. Quirky, delicate, deep, and endearing, storytelling does not get better than this.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Speak now or forever hold your peace? I’ll take the third option.

Like Lara Jean. Instead of telling people how she really feels, she writes letters—never to be sent, of course.

Of course. Once these letters (mysteriously) make their way into the world, what had felt like a sappy movie transforms. When all the boys you’ve loved before are at your door, funny things happen.

It’s not a likely story. You’ll see more group hugs and self-possessed teenagers here than you will in a lifetime. But it’s hard to roll your eyes when the rest makes you feel so good. You can sympathize with the hard stuff, and laugh at the light. Lara Jean playing her part to perfection helps.

Soul

If you died tomorrow, would you be OK with it?

Without any words, that’s what Soul asks us. The short story is that Joe needs to pick between following his jazz-piano-passion and holding down a steady job. The long story is that he has other things to figure out, and it takes a journey through space and time for him to realize it.

Sound heavy? That’s because it is. But this remains a movie for the whole family, filled with approachable characters and silly scenarios. The music is mesmerizing, and the animation everchanging. You’ll be hooked in the first two minutes.

It’s something special when a movie can work on multiple levels; when your child can have fun learning a life lesson—and you can have fun re-learning it. So now that you know there’s something special in your life, what are you waiting for?

Godmothered

The Godmother industry is going out of business. People just don’t believe in happily-ever-after anymore.

That includes Mackenzie, which is bad news for Eleanor, Godmother-in-training and complete ditz.

Will Mackenzie ever rekindle the light in her life? Eleanor thinks so, and tries her best to make it happen. She’s completely out of place—and hilarious and charming. The same can be said for the whole movie. This fairy tale includes funny twists on oldies-but-goodies, but leaves behind outdated values.

The cast gels together, and every so often, camerawork adds to the theme of magic in our everyday. What we have here is a wholesome story just in time for the holiday season.

The Prom

Prom is cancelled! Thanks PTA. Now the cool kids won’t be able to flaunt it, and Emma won’t be able to finally enjoy a night in public with her girlfriend.

Outrage at this small-town injustice is trending. So Dee Dee and Barry, fresh off their Broadway flop, try to score publicity points by saving the day. Think sequin-bomb exploding in an Indiana Applebee’s.

What follows is relentlessly upbeat, filled with loud colors, broad smiles, and impromptu (but perfect) performances. It can be a bit much, especially with such a long movie, but it’s all there to create a mood of positivity in the face of pain. Snarky and self-referential jokes make it clear that the moviemakers knew exactly what they were doing here: just having fun with it.

Vampires vs. the Bronx

Miguel loves his community. But more and more, neighbors are leaving: The Bronx is gentrifying.

That may be a bad thing, but there’s something worse to be tackled, and only Miguel and his friends seem to recognize it. The Bronx is now feat. vampires.

The kids’ quest to save home is witty and entertaining. Bronx-ness permeates every scene without feeling fake or forced. The movie is meant to be spooky, but you’ll find yourself more happy than haunted.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Borat has given a bad name to his home, Kazakhstan. To make up for it, he must travel to the U.S., and make good with its leaders.

That’s the idea. The execution is ridiculous, cringe-worthy, and many times, laugh-out-loud funny.

The movie oversimplifies things, and is arguably pretty offensive. But it also spotlights ridiculous behavior. Because the leads play their exaggerated characters to perfection, it makes us wonder—as we laugh—where satire ends and sad reality begins.

Get Duked

Teenagers can suck. These three stand out even in that crowd, so they’re sent to the Scottish countryside for detention. The idea goes: You can’t fool around if you want to survive.

What could go wrong? A lot, it turns out. Especially when drugs and secret societies are involved.

This movie is just outrageous. It’s hilarious, punchy, and filled with youthful irreverence. The leads work well together, and as silly as it is, it makes an interesting point.

My Spy

Jeff is ex-special forces, a hands-on type. He’ll need to learn subtlety for his new spy gig.

The next mission might help. Or, it might be glorified babysitting. Only one way to find out.

This leads to more than a few funny moments. Sophie, her wit and relationship with Jeff, is the source of most. When she’s off the screen, though, the movie loses its charm. It’s a sweet premise that requires one too many stretches of the imagination.

Andhadhun

Akash may be blind, but he’s always on the lookout. Somewhere out there is the key to better music. He’s sure of it.

Good intentions aren’t helping, though. In fact, they usually lead Akash into trouble. This is when the movie is at its best: Akash’s reactions are as cheeky and inventive as his predicaments.

It’s clever yes, and long. We meet many characters, some of whom are frustrating, and some of whom add nothing to the story. But isn’t that life? Long enough to be unexpected, funny, confusing, dangerous? And so this movie.

Office

Oh, the Office! What will today bring?

Two new recruits are ready to find out. As they learn about work(/life), so do we.

It’s a musical equal parts play and movie. Dazzling set design builds emotion, and songs amplify it. There’s promise, intrigue, romance, and more.

The movie certainly has an opinion on the corporate world, but it’s never as tedious as a team meeting. It stays fun and energetic while exploring the highs and the lows.

Guns Akimbo

Guns Akimbo shoots and misses.

Skizm livestreams real deathmatches. Miles has always preferred screen life over real life, but even he knows this is wrong. He fights back by trolling Skizm’s fans; real tough guy stuff.

Bad decision. When Skizm toys with Miles, he has no choice but to fight for real—and for his life.

The movie has an interesting premise, but it’s no more than one long chase scene with gun battles. Writing aims for woke though uses violence just like the bad guys do: to glorify and entertain.

Early camerawork and editing hit the target at least. They are powerfully disorienting, forcing us to feel a sickening situation.

Shakuntala Devi

Shakuntala Devi was a human whirlwind.

And she knew it. It doesn’t take a math genius to figure that, if you’re going to school just to teach the teachers, your future is bright. She happily sped past hometown and family.

Her globetrotting journey is exciting and impressive. But the second half of the movie is as much about her capabilities as it is about her mistakes. Family life was never her strong suit, and raising a daughter forces her to deal with this.

The movie is based on a true story, though was clearly edited to be light, entertaining, and modern. Some points drag, but they’re soon picked up by Shakuntala’s devastating aptitude and charm.

The King of Staten Island

Who’s the King of Staten Island?

It can’t be Scott. He’s aimless; jobless; addicted. And this even though people love and support him. He just can’t seem to move on after his father died fighting a fire.

But his family is. Everyone else is. So something’s gotta change, for better or worse.

There are heavy themes here, but the movie is never heavy. It’s as smart, sweet, and funny as its characters. Perfect casting keeps Scott’s journey real but entertaining, and transports us to a place and mindset called Staten Island.