Tag: Comedy

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Movie Review

Don Q (2023) Movie Review

Don Q – Movie Review

"Don Q showcases a wannabe Mafia boss facing a real threat, blending humor with neighborhood values in a comical manner."

First Reaction – Don Q gets some good laughs and laughs the Mafia mentality.

Where to Watch

Don Q is on digital 15 September from Reel2Reel Films.

Director: Claudio Bellante

Writer: Claudio Bellante, Michael Domino (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Don Q, a Little Italy resident, imagines himself as a powerful mafia boss aiming to restore the neighborhood’s values. The return of a ruthless ex-con challenges Q’s delusion, embroiling him and a loyal recruit in a turf war over the area.

Runtime: 1 Hour 48 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Don Q starts as we meet a little Italy resident Don Q (Assante) who believes he is a powerful Mafia boss. He values improving the local neighbourhood and keeping people safe. However, most people put up with him and let them enjoy his everyday routine.

His life is turned upside down when a real ruthless ex-con arrives in the area and his peaceful world is destroyed. He must turn to the locals to stand up for what is right before the ruthless gangster takes over.

Verdict on Don Q

Recap

The movie follows a senior member of a neighbourhood who believes he is a Mafia boss. However, the local crime boss returns and it leads to a clash between the two. He must decide where he stands in the area and protect his neighbourhood.

Best Parts

The movie gets to poke fun at the Mafia stereotypes in the neighbourhood. It shows the macho mentality becoming a Mafia gangster can create. The performances are good, and the leading one creates a fun comedic role without playing for laughs.

Worst Parts

The movie does most things well, but it can feel a little bit longer than it needs to. Elsewhere, the laughs are slightly shorter than expected and it becomes far too serious for no reason.

Final Thoughts –Don Q is a fun poking laughs at the Mafia life style.

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Movie Review

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives (2025) Movie Review

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives – Movie Review

Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives is a chaotic comedy about friendships tested by a missing groom and fantasy football disruptions.

First Reaction – Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives reflects the chaos a small group of friends and obsession can get themselves in.

Watch Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives on Netflix now.

Director: Alessio Maria Federici

Writer: Giulio Carrieri, Michele Bertini Malgarini (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Giacomo Ferrara
  • Silvia D’Amico
  • Enrico Borello
  • Anthonio Banno
  • Francesco Russo

Plot: A Fantasy Football League group loses a member. When soccer enthusiast Andrea joins, it disrupts their dynamic. They must search for Gianni, who vanished following his bachelor party.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives starts when a group of friends Simone (Ferrara), Gianni (Borello), Federico (Banno), Nicola (Russo), Jacopo (Giordano) and Francesco (Bottoni) prepare a Gianni’s wedding. However, the day of the wedding Gianni vanishes, and the friends become the prime suspects.

The group must search for a new player and Andrea (D’Amico) joins the league causing disruption in the ranks. With the police investigating the case, we follow the friends try to remember what happened to their friend, but the bigger secrets come to life.

Verdict on Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives

Recap

The movie follows a group of friends whose friend goes missing the day before his wedding. However, the group become the prime suspects in the case, and a detective tries to figure out what happened. It leads them to explore their strange relationship in the fantasy football world.

Best Parts

The movie follows the chaotic series of events following a group of friends whose life is turned upside down. It shows they have become close but still have secrets in their lives. This has a feeling of The Hangover, with an over-the-top series of events during an event. It uses the love of fantasy football to create the chaotic events and we get good performances.

Worst Parts

Some of the comedy doesn’t click as well as others and if you don’t understand fantasy football or football in general it is harder to follow.

Final Thoughts – Fantasy Football Ruined Our Lives is a chaotic, Hangover like comedy.

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Movie Review

Dual (2022) Movie Review

Dual – ABC Film Challenge – Sci-Fi – D – Dual – Movie Review

Dual – ABC Film Challenge – Sci-Fi – D – Dual - Movie Review

Director: Riley Stearns

Writer: Riley Stearns (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A woman opts for a cloning procedure after she receives a terminal diagnosis but when she recovers her attempts to have her clone decommissioned fail, leading to a court-mandated duel to the death.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Dual starts when Sarah (Gillan) learns she has a terminal illness and decides to take a drastic step. She agrees to get a clone made to continue living her life. However, when she recovers from her illness, it is too late to decommission the clone.

The only option for Sarah is to prepare for a dual to the death. Her boyfriend Peter (Koale) has moved on with his life by joining the clone Sarah. Meanwhile, the real Sarah turns to Trent (Paul) to master the art of combat so she can get her life back.

Verdict on Dual

Dual is a sci-fi comedy following a young woman who agrees to have a clone after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, when she recovers, she learns she must fight her clone to the death to see who makes it out alive.

This is a real dark oddball comedy that relies on the monotone style being delivered. It shows how society can offer a way out and a future for loved ones with you. However, it shows the barbaric side of society that lets people kill each other. The completely odd style behind the movie brings the comedy to life, in more of I can’t believe this is the only option type of discussion.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Dual is a strange dark comedy.

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Movie Review

Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) Movie Review

Happy Gilmore 2 – Movie Review

Happy Gilmore 2 fails to capture the charm of the original, lacking humor and depth despite a promising premise.

First Reaction – Happy Gilmore 2 struggles to get near to the level of the 90s classic.

Watch Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix now.

Director: Kyle Newacheck

Writer: Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Revisit Happy Gilmore’s golf career after his win in the Tour Championship.

Runtime: 1 Hour 54 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Happy Gilmore 2 begins by showing the downfall of Happy Gilmore (Sandler), whose celebrity status has been shattered. He has given up golf and turned to drinking to cover up his tragedy. However, when his daughter Vienna (Sunny Sandler) has the opportunity to join an elite dance school, he must figure out a way to fund it.

When someone creates a new fancy golf tournament, it draws Happy out of retirement. He must overcome his demons to fund his daughter’s dream. However, a ghost from his past, Shooter McGavin (McDonald) escapes the institute. The pair must work together to defeat the new league and prove that the traditional game is still the best.

Verdict on Happy Gilmore 2

Recap

The movie follows Happy Gilmore as he needs to overcome his demons and save his career to send his daughter to college. However, his problems have caused bigger problems, and a new upstart, flashier golf league has risen. Happy must play with the traditional golfers to defeat the social media favourites.

Best Parts

Part of this is laughing at how social media stars have taken over the world and thrown away traditions for a moment of entertainment. Some of the support roles are fun, if you know who they are, so for me, Becky Lynch was a funny role.

Worst Parts

This wants to be Dodgeball so badly, and it fails on nearly every level. I mention a lot of support characters, and I think a lot of social media stars or people from worlds I know nothing about. Meanwhile, it does nothing to make golf remotely more popular, and most of the jokes completely miss.

Final Thoughts – Happy Gilmore 2 is a soulless sequel without a laugh to be seen.

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Movie Review

It Ends with Us (2024) Movie Review

It Ends With Us – Movie Review

It Ends With Us presents a convoluted narrative on abuse, hindered by tonal inconsistencies and lackluster performances, ultimately disappointing.

First Reaction – It Ends With Us is a messy message on an important subject.

Director: Justin Baldoni

Writer: Christy Hall (Screenplay)

Writer: Colleen Hoover (Book)

Cast

Plot: When a woman’s first love suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with a charming, but abusive neurosurgeon is upended and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.

Runtime: 2 Hours 10 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: It Ends With Us starts when Lily (Lively) begins the next adventure in her life. She opens a flower shop, leading to a chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle (Baldoni), whose sister Allysa (Slate) starts working in her shop. While the relationship begins in a whirlwind way, Lily begins to look back at her first love.

Lily bumps into her first love Atlas (Sklenar) and feelings come back. She is left wondering what the right decision is, after Ryle starts showing a more aggressive controlling attitude.

Verdict on It Ends With Us

Recap

The movie follows a woman who was raised in the shadow an abusive father and finds herself in the same position as her mother. Her new love begins controlling her until she meets her first love and must decide whether to break the cycle.

Worst Parts

It was hard to find anything interesting in this movie. It felt tonally wrong for the subject of abusive relationships to be portrayed like a charming romantic comedy. Leaving us in the position of will they, won’t doesn’t make any sense. Elsewhere, the performances are not the best, except for Jenny Slate, a fun supporting character. It lacks the intensity the story wants to give us and loses any credibility in explaining how manipulative the guy is meant to be.

Final Thoughts –It Ends With Us is a drag, tonally wrong movie.

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Movie Review

What Men Want (2019) Movie Review

What Men Want – ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – W – What Men Want – Movie Review

What Men Want – ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – W – What Men Want - Movie Review

Director: Adam Shankman

Writer: Tina Gordon, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A woman is boxed out by the male sports agents in her profession, but gains an unexpected edge over them when she develops the ability to hear men’s thoughts.

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: What Men Want starts when self-centred sports agent Ali Davis (Henson) loses out on her latest promotion in the male-oriented world. She has always battled back to overcome the sexist minds but has the most impressive numbers. On a bachelorette party, Ali meets a psychic and ends up bumping her head.

When she wakes up she suddenly learns she can hear the thoughts of men. At first, she sees it as a nightmare, but soon she turns it into a gift. Ali uses her new gift to woo the hottest free agent that should secure her promotion. However, certain tricks she uses could come back to haunt her.

Verdict on What Men Want

What Men Want is a romantic fantasy comedy following a selfish career-driven woman who accidentally gains the ability to hear men’s thoughts. When it first happens, she uses it to help her career and personal life. However, it takes her time to learn what is really important to have with this gift.

This is a remake of a film we have seen remade over the years. It does spin the concept to give a woman the chance to learn what men think and go through a series of disturbing thoughts. However, the message is still clear and it isn’t about knowing what people think, it is more about understanding what they want. Taraji P Henson does a great job in the leading role, with the supporting cast getting the laughs when they need them.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – What Men Want is a fun comedy with a nice message.

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Movie Review

Trapped in Paradise (1994) Movie Review

Trapped in Paradise – Movie Review

Discover the hilarious comedy 'Trapped in Paradise' with Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey. Read our movie review and find out if the three brothers' bank robbery plan gets foiled!

ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – T

Director: George Gallo (Eye for an Eye)

Writer: George Gallo (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Residents of a friendly Pennsylvania town foil three brothers’ plan to rob a bank on Christmas Eve.

Runtime: 1 Hour 51 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Trapped in Paradise starts when Bill Firpo (Cage) learns his criminal brothers Dave (Lovitz) and Alvin (Carvey) are getting early parole. He is reluctant to listen to their plan upon their release. However, their mother pushes them into a job which would break parole.

The three head to Pennsylvania to complete a robbery. However, along the way, they come into a series of mishaps. Even if they end up wanting to make sure they do the right thing over the Christmas holidays.  

Verdict on Trapped in Paradise

Trapped in Paradise is a comedy adventure movie following three brothers who end up completing a Christmas heist. However, they find themselves in deep water and must decide whether to do the right thing.

This is a nice friendly crime comedy, with a strong cast. It gets the laughs when needed without doing too much with everything it has to offer. This gets laughs when needed, while Nicolas Cage brings the heart the movie needs. In the end, it is a tidy Christmas film, which is watchable, without being anything truly memorable.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Trapped in Paradise is an entertaining Christmas crime movie.

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Movie Review

Rory’s Way (2018) Movie Review

A Life-Changing Journey: Rory’s Way Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – R

A Life-Changing Journey: Rory's Way Movie Review

Director: Oded Binnun, Nihal Brezis

Writer: Michael McGowan, Michal Lali Kagan (Screenplay)

Writer: Jose Luis Sampedro (Novel)

Cast

Plot: Rory MacNeil, a rugged old Scotsman, travels to San Francisco to seek medical treatment. He moves in with his estranged son Ian, as he sees his life getting transformed through a newfound bond with his baby grandson.

Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Rory’s Way starts when Rory MacNeil (Cox) leaves his Scottish home to visit his estranged son Ian (Field). Ian lives in San Francisco giving Rory a massive clash in culture and learning Ian has his own family. Rory gets to meet his daughter-in-law Emily (Birch) and his baby grandson Jamie.

However, Rory has another reason for visiting, he is ill and needs to see a specialist doctor. Upon learning the news, Rory wants to spend his remaining days reconnecting with his father and leaving a lasting memory for his grandson.

Verdict on Rory’s Way

Rory’s Way is a comedy-drama following a rugged Scottish man who looks to reconnect with his estranged son. He travels across the world to San Francisco and learns about a new family he never knew about. However, he also learns that he is dying and is left with a limited to reconnect and leave a legacy on his grandson.

This is a story about reconnecting with family and forgiving people after time apart. It shows the importance of knowing what is important in life and how easily life can change. Brain Cox is brilliant in the leading role of the movie. The movie itself is filled with laughs and has plenty of heart throughout.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Rory’s Way is a moving story about reconnecting.

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Movie Review

The Perfect Score (2004) Movie Review

How to Ace Your SAT Test with ‘The Perfect Score’ Movie

ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – P

How to Ace Your SAT Test with 'The Perfect Score' Movie

Director: Brian Robbins

Writer: Mark Schwahn, Marc Hyman, Jon Zack (Screenplay)

Writer: Marc Hyman, Jon Zack (Story)

Cast

Plot: Six high school seniors decide to break into the Princeton Testing Center so they can steal the answers to their upcoming SAT tests and all get perfect scores.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Perfect Score starts when Kyle (Evans) finds his dream college in doubt when he struggles on his SAT test. He teams up with his best friend Matthy (Greenberg) to find a solution. The pair turn to the daughter of the building owner Francesca (Johansson) to break in and steal the tests.

As the team comes together, they are joined by stoner Roy (Nam), aspiring basketball star Desmond (Miles) and Ivy League student Anna (Christensen). Now the six come together with a plan to break in and steal the test results to get their dream colleges.

Verdict on The Perfect Score

The Perfect Score is a comedy heist movie following six high school students who are struggling to get into their desired colleges due to their SAT scores. They team up to steal the answers, in an elaborate heist which could save their futures. However, the risk is worth it to them or more about going against the testing system in the high schools.

This is a movie that brings the heist movie to life for a younger group. It shows the challenges being faced by high school students battling it at a certain college. This gets to show the flaws in the system in that a test puts everyone into a bracket, rather than understanding the best way to learn. Away from that side of the story, we get the generic high school students coming together Breakfast Club style.

The cast is the most interesting here. An early couple of roles for future Avengers Chris Evans and Scarlet Johannson. It all fits the era and has a message about the struggles high school students faced.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – The Perfect Score is an enjoyable high school heist comedy.