Sean Sees Movies – April 2023 Review Roundup
April was a unique month (but then again, aren’t they all). Here’s a window into what I watched and what I thought. Welcome to the April Review Round Up.
Entries are not in ranked order. Each entry will feature the title, year released and in what format and/or streaming service I saw it in.
1. Only the Lonely (1991) (Borrow Disc from the Library) – What if I told you there is an amazing John Candy movie that you probably have never seen. What if I told you that it starred the great Maureen O’Hara in one of her last roles. Interested yet? What if I told you, it was written and directed by Chris Columbus. Yeah, the guy that directed the first two Harry Potter movies. Oh, by the way it’s completely shot in Chicago and features an iconic baseball stadium that no longer exists. Does this sound interesting? This is what Only the Lonely has going for it.
Now, I have always loved this movie. Is it a perfect movie? No. I think John Candy’s character has too many daydreams of the potential harm that could befall his elderly mother. But this is still a good movie. John Candy stars as devoted son and hopeless romantic, Danny, who has resigned himself to the reality that he will likely never fall in love. However, when he meets Ally Sheedy’s Theresa (a funeral beautician) hope becomes renewed. The only thing standing in the way is Danny’s very old-world mother, Rose. Rose holds onto (and freely verbalizes) her opinions about other cultures (specifically Italian), in what could be considered incredibly offensive in the film’s and today’s culture. However, I will defend this movie till I am backed up against the wall. Do I agree with Rose’s remarks? Obviously not…and neither does the movie. The script shows how out of touch she is, and the audience watches her change by the end. This is a good movie. It’s a great John Candy movie. And I wish more people could see it.
For some unknown reason, this movie is one of the hardest movies to gain access to watch for no good reason. You can’t stream it. You can’t buy it. You can’t even watch an illegally uploaded version on YouTube. (There used to be one, but it was taken down). You either take your chance with buying a copy on eBay or pray that your local library has a copy. I have a legitimate fear that this film will one day be entirely unavailable and will forever be doomed as lost media.
2. A Good Person (2023) (Cinema) - I really enjoyed this movie. It's the first new movie that I had enjoyed in several weeks. The adage that I live by is that if you hire great people, they are going to do great work. Great casting can cover some impurities with a script or filming. Both Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman are excellent at navigating the difficult landscape of addiction, recovery, depression, and forgiveness. And if that sounds like too serious of a film, there is plenty of humor in the film as well. Zach Braff did well in crafting this story and bringing the best from Freeman and Pugh.
3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) (Cinema) – This is a fun movie filled with easter eggs, references, and delights for the entire family. If you have played the Mario Bros. games through the years, you are going to delight in all the worlds brought to the big screen. It was a nice distraction. And that’s all I have to say…OKAY, let me say one more thing. So, everything that I said earlier is true. However, hours after seeing the film something kept nagging at me and I finally figured out what it was. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is just vanilla. It plays everything super safe and somewhat predictable to such a calculated degree that it was almost guaranteed box office success. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you leave the movie feeling ultimately hollow inside, know that you’re not alone. Vanilla is not a bad flavor, and this is not a bad movie. It just left me wanting more…not more of what I just watched, but just something. A bold choice. Anything. As much as the original 1993 live action movie has and will continue to be criticized, at least they made a choice and stuck to it. Was it a good choice? That’s for you to decide. I just wish there had been something slightly more substantive in this movie to really discuss.
4. We Have a Ghost (2023) (Netflix) – A surprisingly delightful film about two kids trying to help a ghost discover who they were in their past life, despite the interruptions from the children’s parents, internet bloggers and the US government. Personally, I think that this is a delightful enough movie, all be it a half hour longer than it probably should have been. The invasion of government officials felt a little too much like ET, but that shouldn’t steer people away from this movie. David Harbour puts in a solid performance as the ghost, Ernest, as does his co-star Jahi Di'Allo Winston, the young man trying to help the wayward spirit. The movie also includes a myriad of other co-stars and cameos that are effective at varying levels. I think that the movie could have been simplified a little and still have kept the audience’s attention. B-/C+ overall.
5. Renfield (2023) (Cinema) – I love good horror comedy. I took my dad to this, and we had a great time. It’s bloody and funny. Is it the height of comedy or cinema, probably not. However, if you are not grossed out by bodies getting their arms torn off and used as weapons, you might enjoy this movie. As one of my friends described it, “just a campy good time.” Nicolas Cage is fantastic as Dracula.
6. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Once and Always (2023) (Netflix) – Look. I’m glad that I saw this, but I never want to see this again. This “reunion special” did the best that it could, considering that most of its ideal cast members are either deceased, holding extremely controversial beliefs, or just refused to be involved. While I was watching it, I kept asking myself: Was the original show this bad? I think that this special is a prime example of what happens when nostalgia is used incorrectly. An animated special covering other parts of the Ranger lore, perhaps would have been the better route to pursue. That way you could have visually created a better, more cohesive story, that kept all the original characters (recasting voices as needed) and playing into nostalgia to its best potential. Watch this special if you want to but know that you have been warned.
7. Spirited Away: Live on Stage (2022) (Fathom Events/Cinema) – Personally, I typically loathe stage adaptations of films. I fully recognize that much of my primary profession has been overtaken by such theatrical offerings, but in my opinion these adaptations typically struggle to capture the magic of the original source or even its pacing. Although this is true for most it couldn’t be further from the truth about Spirited Away: Live on Stage.
Spirited Away: Live on Stage excels where so many others have fallen before and truly captures the essence and magic of the original adventure by Hayao Miyazaki. Through brilliant use of puppetry, set design and choreography the stage adaptation captures the speed and fluidity of movement that I think of when recalling the film. Some examples include a whirlwind of moving doors that transports the audience early in the play as Haku and Chihiro race through the town to find safety. Through simple set devices we physically can feel the sense of fear coming from Chihiro as she races over a series of falling pipes. The sense of relief of freedom from a relieved River Guardian after its bath can be felt as the puppet rises and flies throughout the theater.
This was a filmed presentation of a live performance, so I cannot guarantee if or when another screening opportunity will be available. I know if it does become available, I will see it again. Until then, if you have not seen the original award-winning movie, please do so. Admittedly, I had not begun watching Studio Ghibli films till a few years ago. So let me assure you, you are never too old to begin adventuring into these wildly imaginative and beautifully animated films. That having been said, I recommend starting with My Neighbor Totoro.
8. The Owl House: Watching and Dreaming (2023) (Disney+ & YouTube) – It feels so rare over the course of television for a series to end on a finale that not only expertly wraps the show but does so in a way that leaves fans satisfied with the ending. Of course, as fans of the show, we would always want more, but corporate interests seemed against that…at least until it was too late, and they realized the colossal error that had occurred. But perhaps, I am getting ahead of myself. You might be thinking, isn’t this a television show? Yes, you would be correct. However, I have watched the hour-long finale multiple times this month and I felt that it was only right to add it to this honored list.
For those that are unfamiliar, The Owl House is a Disney animated series about a girl named Luz who wants more than anything to be understood and live the eclectic life that she loves. After following an owl through a mysterious door, Luz finds herself stranded in the Demon Realm, a place of magic, wonder, and danger. Through the guidance of her new friends and mentorship from Eda the Owl Lady, King (the King of Demons (or is he)), Luz sets herself on the path to becoming the first human witch of the Demon Realm. Although the show might be simple to describe, it would be hard for me to describe the profound effect it has had in it’s massive LGBTQIA+ representation on the small screen. I don’t know any other show or programming of this genre that has done a better job of giving representation to so many. Care and thought goes into every episode. Observant viewers will notice that pronouns such as They/Them are not given exaggerated emphasis or focus, but instead are used simply as pronouns.
The Owl House was cancelled prematurely by Disney under previous management after two seasons. A third season consisting of three one-hour specials was granted to wrap up the series as a metaphorical consolation prize. Where some creators might shrink at the prospect of trying to wrap such a large story in less than three hours, show creator Dana Terrace masterfully weaved a story that challenged our characters to overcome dangers coming from the ever changing world around them but also the emotional trama that they had endured in the time leading up to the finale. This last episode of The Owl House, “Watching and Dreaming,” had me crying, cheering, smiling and then some more crying throughout its 55-minute run time. I am hesitant to say much more in fear of inadvertently ruining multiple surprises for people just beginning their Owl House journey.
Seriously, I love this series…and for those that have seen the finale, might understand why I am tempted to get a tattoo for the first time in my life. And so, I can think of no better way to end this blog than the final words of The Owl House. Okay, everyone. On the count of three. One, two, three…. BYEEEE!!!
