What to Watch in the Theater:
Greta (R) is in theaters now. This suspenseful film is carried by an over-the-top performance by Isabelle Huppert in the title role. Chloe Grace Moretz plays a young woman named Frances, who befriends a lonely older woman after returning a purse she found on the subway. The relationship takes a turn when Frances discovers that Greta is manipulative, but it’s too late – she’s already become the object of Greta’s obsession. This thriller pushes all the right buttons, with jump scares, suspense, and a title character whose actions we can’t anticipate – yet without a lot of gore. Even Jennifer liked it, and she doesn’t do horror films.
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Cold Pursuit (R) is in theaters now. Liam Neeson’s character, Nels the small-town snowplow driver, exacts revenge on the drug dealers who killed his son. This isn’t your typical Neeson action film – he has NO prior training in special ops or anything. He’s just an angry guy bent on payback, who knows where to bury the bodies. It’s not just violence, but also a bit of comedy, as title cards help us keep up with the rising body count. Nels unknowingly sets off a turf war between rival drug cartels, which makes the premise even more interesting. And there’s a touch of sweetness, involving a young son. Neeson says it’s his final action film, but we’d be down for more like this.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
The Meg (PG13) is on DVD. We just HAD to watch it, after interviewing HP about the special effects! An undersea research facility (and the rest of the ocean) is in danger, after an experiment unknowingly unleashes a behemoth of a shark (actually a prehistoric megalodon) from the previously unexplored depths of the ocean. Jason Statham’s character, Jonas, is their only hope. It’s a fun actioner full of everything you’d expect – a billionaire, a father/daughter research team with granddaughter in tow, team members with a wide variety of personalities, an ex-wife, a giant beast, lots of people in a lot of danger, and a flawed hero. We’re not going in the ocean any time soon!
Our rating: 3.83 out of 5
The Little Mermaid (live action 2018) (PG) is streaming on Netflix. This film is NOT a live action remake of the classic Hans Christina Andersen (or Disney) tale, and we’re still not really sure what it IS. Perhaps and attempt at a new fairy tale, about a little girl with an ailment, her loving uncle, a circus, and a real mermaid in jeopardy. Aside from the low-budget production values (they must’ve spent it all on Shirley Maclaine’s wrap-around), the story goes from plodding to confusing, with a song thrown in the middle and a hint of romance. It’s a mishmash that’s hard to get through.
Our rating: Skip it!
The Little Mermaid (1989) (G) 30th anniversary edition is now available on DVD/Blu-Ray/digital/4K. This Disney classic returns with some new bonus features, including behind the scenes footage, Alan Menken and some Disney leading ladies, and lots of fun facts about the movie. You can also watch it in sing-along mode – if you don’t already know all the words to the catchy soundtrack! Disney princesses have certainly evolved in the last 30 years, with new goals beyond marriage to a prince. Still, this fun family film is a great addition to any video library, and we thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it.
We recommend this movie.
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