Movies That Celebrate Female Friendship at Every Age!

[I review "The Fabulous Four," "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" and "Desperados," movies that remind us how important our girlfriends are!]

The Fabulous Four (2024)

Four old college friends reunite for a wedding in Key West.

Kitty (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Alice (Megan Mullally), Marilyn (Bette Midler) and Lou (Susan Sarandon) were besties in college but over the years they have grown apart.  In fact, Marilyn and Lou are estranged because of something Marilyn did to Lou years before.

Now Lou is a doctor, never married, because she "didn't need a man." Kitty is a cannabis farmer, with an overly religious daughter who thinks her mother is going to hell. Marilyn is a widow who is getting married again only a couple of months after the death of her husband of 48 years.  She is also a dingbat with an addiction to Tik Tok. And Alice is a bit of a druggie.  

Marilyn has invited Kitty and Alice to come down to Key West for her wedding and Kitty and Alice decide this is a good opportunity to get Lou and Marilyn back together.  They hatch a plan to lure Lou down to Key West by telling her she has won a raffle from the Hemingway House to win a polydactyl cat.  I know... They also think they need to do an intervention on Marilyn to get her off of Tik Tok. And speaking of which, I actually met a 75-year-old woman who was obsessed with Tik Tok, so I guess that's a thing with older women. Not that I would know anything about that.

Anyway, when the three arrive at Marilyn's house in Key West, Lou is furious at the ruse - what?  No polydactyl cat?  Lou wants to leave, but Kitty convinces her to stay and then Lou meets "Ted (Bruce Greenwood)," a handsome stranger she is attracted to and I could see where this was going a mile away. 

Written by Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly and directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, silly antics ensue as the women reclaim their friendship. But at least the antics aren't cringey, well, mostly not cringey. Yes, marijuana plays a role.  For some reason, older women getting high is supposed to be funny.  Not.  I cannot stand movies about older women that make fun of older women.  The egregious "Summer Camp" is an example of that.  But though this one can be silly, it is not disrespectful.

It's good to see Bette Midler again.  I have always been a fan and no one does dingbat better than she does. Sarandon, Ralph and Mullally are all good foils for her and each other and the friendships are believable.

But speaking of cringey.  Michael Bolton has a singing cameo and I thought, "Geez, what's with Michael Bolton?  He really seems out of it." But then recently I learned he had a brain tumor so then I felt guilty about my reaction. Sorry, Michael.

Rosy the Reviewer says...though I had some issues with some of the silliness, the movie was fun, the women were interesting, believable characters and it drew me in. A satisfying story of long-term and renewed friendships. (Apple+ or for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime)

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can- Eat (2024)

Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean form friendships in the 60's and weather happiness and heartbreak together over several decades.

Odette was born in a tree; Clarice had a mother who sought perfection; and Barbara Jean was born on the wrong side of town. Well, actually her mother was a stripper and rumor has it that Barbara Jean was born on stage!  But all three of these women form a bond at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Diner, which serves as a backdrop to their lives. 

In 1968 when the girls are 18, Clarice (Abigail Achiri) is a concert-level pianist with a recording contract in the offing. Odette (Kyanna Simone) is her best friend and the two are sent over to Barbara Jean's house to leave some food for Barbara Jean (Tati Gabrielle), whose mother has just died.  When the girls realize Barbara Jean is there alone with her step-father and possibly being abused, they whisk her away to Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Diner. When the three walk in, Big Earl (Tony Winters) dubs them The Supremes because the three of them together reminded him of that famous singing group from the 60's and Big Earl is a charming guy. And when Big Earl realizes Barbara Jean's situation, he invites her to move in with him and his wife. And did I say that Big Earl was not just charming but also fatherly?

Fast forward to 1999 and Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Clarice (Uzo Aduba) and Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan) are married and still friends, but weathering life's challenges. 

Adapted from the novel by Edward Kelsey Moore by Tina Mabry and Gina Prince-Bythewood and directed by Mabry, the movie uses flashbacks and flash forwards to tell the story of these women's friendships over the years, and it's epic melodrama but of the addictive kind and the talented cast makes it all believable.  There is a teenage pregnancy, lost love, lost dreams, a cancer diagnosis, cheating, racism, alcoholism, the murder of a child, revenge, fights and reconciliation. It's all here in less than two hours - life's disappointments and tragedies made survivable because of the love and support of friends.  You will care about these women and feel grateful for your besties.  

Rosy the Reviewer says...sentimental but satisfying with a message that reminds you to love and fight for your friends. (Hulu)

Desperados (2020)

Friends Brooke, Kaylie and Wesley rush to Mexico to try to waylay a nasty email Wesley sent her boyfriend when she was drunk.

Wesley Darya (Nasim Pedrad) is kind of a mess. No, not kind of.  She is a big mess.  She is struggling to find a job and is desperate to get married and settle down but can't seem to figure out what she is doing wrong. The problem with getting married and settling down is that she doesn't even have a boyfriend.  But after a disappointing blind date with a guy named Sean (Lamorne Morris), she literally falls into the arms of handsome Jared (Robbie Amell).  Yes, she trips on the sidewalk and he picks her up. 

Wesley is so taken with Jared that she cleans up her act and, in fact, literally puts on an act to be what she thinks he wants her to be. After dating for a month, Jared and Wesley finally have sex, but when five days go by and Wesley doesn't hear from Jared, she thinks he is ghosting her. She gets drunk with her two besties, Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns), and the three write an angry email to Jared telling him off. 

But then wouldn't you know, Jared does call and Wesley discovers that he was in Mexico at a resort and had a serious accident and has been in the hospital for the last five days without his computer.  Oh, noooo. What has she done? If he reads that email...  

So to save her relationship, Wesley concocts a plan.  She and her girlfriends will go down to Mexico, sneak into Jared's room at the resort and delete the email. Brooke and Kaylie reluctantly agree. I mean, that's what friends do, right?  A road trip and hijinks ensue.  Oh, and wouldn't you know.  Remember that guy, Sean, who Wesley met on that blind date?  Well, he is at the resort too and gets roped into the hijinks.

Nasim Pedrad (probably best known for her five years on "Saturday Night Live" and last seen in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F") is really funny in this as are Camp and Burns. Each character has a distinct personality that adds to the fun. Written by Ellen Rapoport and directed by LP, the film has a "Bridesmaids" vibe, and like that film, there are some raunchy moments.  Let's just say there is an oversexed dolphin as well as an oversexed pre-teen. 

You have to suspend disbelief for a lot of this but if you are in the mood for a silly romp and you are not easily offended, it's fun.

Rosy the Reviewer says...absolutely raunchy at times but absolutely hilarious and a good message: Boyfriends come and go but your girlfriends are forever so don't take them for granted. (Netflix)

NOW CALL YOUR GIRLFRIENDS TO TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT!!!! 

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

Movies Now Playing in a Living Room Near You! "Tarot," "Find Me Falling," and "Summer Camp."

[I review "Tarot (a current Top Ten Movie on Netflix)," "Find Me Falling," and "Summer Camp" - a little horror, a little romance and a little mess of a movie to avoid]

Tarot (2024)

While doing a tarot card reading, in classic horror movie mode, a group of friends unknowingly unleash evil and death.

A group of college friends - Haley (Harriet Slater), Grant (Adain Bradley), Paxton (Jacob Batalon), Paige (Avantika), Madeline (Humberly Gonzalez), Lucas (Wolfgang Novogratz), and Elise (Larsen Thompson) - rent a creepy mansion in the Catskills for Elise's birthday. Haley and Grant have recently broken up so the group distracts themselves from the tension by playing with a tarot card set they have found in the basement.

Haley does some astrological readings using the tarot cards. Elise is matched with "The High Priestess" card that predicts she will "climb the ladder of success." Well, that's good, right? Lucas gets "The Hermit." Paige is matched with "The Magician" and Paxton "The Fool." Okay, not sure what those mean.  But then Haley pulls "The Hanged Man" for Madeline and "The Devil" for Grant. Haley gets "Death." Oops.

So... this is a horror film. The typical young people in danger scenario.  I am sure you can figure out what is going to happen when these kids get back to campus. Yes, they start dying in the manner of their tarot card. If you like horror films, the fun here is who, how and when.  The "how" is particularly good.

When the kids figure out, uh, things are bad, they consult Alma (Olwen Fouere), a tarot expert they find online. I mean, when you are looking for an expert, you go online, right?  She is able to identify the cards as those belonging to an 18th century astrologer who worked for a Hungarian Count.  After telling the Count that his pregnant wife and child would die in childbirth and it came true, the Count ordered his men to kill the Astrologer's daughter which really pissed off the Astrologer, who in turn, doomed the Count and his friends to death and cursed the cards.  Oops.  Alma tells the kids they need to destroy those cards. 

So off they all go back to the mansion to destroy the tarot cards.  Not a good idea because there is more scary stuff to come, but for you squeamish folks, it's only mildly gory (I only had to put my hands over my eyes once).

Written and directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg (based on the book "Horrorscope" by Nicholas Adams) and starring a cast of talented and attractive unknown actors, this is kind of silly but it is fast-moving, stylishly done and is currently in Netflix's Top Ten Movies.  

Rosy the Reviewer says...I enjoy the occasional "gotcha" and "Don't go up there, in there, out there!" moments that horror films provide, and this film is full of them.  If you like stylish horror films, and especially if you are into tarot and astrology, you might enjoy this too.  (Netflix)

Find Me Falling (2024)

Rock star, John Allman, is licking his wounds in Cypress after his latest album bombed, and it doesn't help matters when he discovers that his remote cliffside home attracts unwanted "visitors." 

Morose John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.) is not happy to discover that his new home high on a cliff in Cypress is also a hotspot for suicides.  But, oh well, that fits his gloomy mood.  He is a musician and his latest album tanked.  He has moved to Cypress to escape and to hope no one recognizes him. That ain't gonna happen because not only is he recognized, but he runs into Sia (Agni Scott), a woman he had met in Cypress many years ago.  It just so happens that John's most famous song is about a woman he once met on a beach. And it just so happens that Sia is a single mother with a daughter, Melina (Ali Fumiko Whitney), who is also a singer.  Mmmm.

Sia and John rekindle their romance, but it is not without bumps on the beach especially when John writes a possible hit and contemplates returning to New York. In the meantime, lots of people continue to try to throw themselves over John's cliff, John gets caught up in village life, and we find out why Sia and John broke up years ago. There is also a twist that I saw miles before it was revealed (and you probably will too), but those miles you see are all over the picturesque Mediterranean location so like I always say, "It's the journey."

Harry Connick Jr. is not much of an actor, but he is a handsome guy, well-supported here by a quirky plot and interesting (sometimes quirky) actors, especially Scott, who is interesting, not quirky. I just wish there had been a bit more sexual chemistry between our two lovebirds. But the film, written and directed by Stelana Kliris, is very, very sweet, like a cupcake with frosting and then some sugar on top of that and there's nothing wrong with a little sugar. It makes you feel good.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you are a Harry Connick Jr. fan or a fan of Hallmark Movies, you will like this.  It's a feelgood 90 minute getaway to beautiful Cypress. (Netflix)

Summer Camp (2024)

Nora (Diane Keaton), Ginny (Kathy Bates), and Mary (Alfre Woodard) have been close friends since they were children, spending every summer together at summer camp.  But life has kept them apart so when an opportunity arises to attend a summer camp reunion, they jump at the chance.

God knows I love films that showcase female friendships, and I wanted to believe that's what this movie would be, but when these kinds of movies go wrong, they go very, very wrong, especially when they are about women of a certain age.

First of all, let me say...Diane, Diane, Diane...what happened to you?  You used to be a serious actress or at least take yourself seriously.  I remember you in "The Godfather," "Reds," "Looking for Mr. Goodbar." But then along came "Annie Hall," a perfectly wonderful film, but for some reason, you have decided to embrace your Annie Hall persona in your Golden Years.  You now play a Dingbat practically every chance you get.  And you do it in real life as well right down to the way you dress.  I have never gotten over your appearances on "Ellen," when you would flutter onto the set and drink wine and fiddle-dee-dee your head off.  And that's what we have here.

So anyway, Nora, Ginny and Mary have known each other since childhood and "promised to stay best friends forever..." and now 50 years later they are getting together for a reunion at summer camp.  Ginny is a best-selling self-help author, who can't seem to help herself; Mary is a nurse who had really wanted to be a doctor but gave up her dream to marry a bad husband; and Nora is a recluse scientist, who doesn't know how to have fun.  Naturally, they all find themselves and solve their life problems after going through some wacky, slapstick stuff at camp, none of which are funny.

Written and directed by Castille Landon, what could have been a funny but heartfelt exploration of long-term female friendships was actually an exercise in bad dialogue and over-acting and not one laugh to be had.  Case in point.  Eugene Levy plays Stevie D, who we are supposed to believe is a longtime object of Nora's lust.  Nothing against Eugene Levy but kind of a stretch. And then, of course, we had to have the sex-starved older woman stereotype at play.

Ginny and Mary do a makeover on Nora so she can seduce Stevie, and I kid you not, the outfit they put her in is...wait for it... an exact replica of an Annie Hall outfit, full-skirt, wide-cinched belt and even that dumb, I mean, signature hat that Diane wears all of the time. But no surprise, really, because Diane has been dressing like that for years in real life.

I know it is not easy for women of a certain age to find work in Hollywood and they are willing to put up with stereotypical and disrespectful roles to get work, but then think about 94-year-old June Squibb recently starring in the wonderful film "Thelma." She managed to find a film that didn't make her look like an idiot.

Rosy the Reviewer says...just awful.  Can someone please find these veteran actresses a vehicle worthy of their talents?  Until then, you can skip this one (for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, but don't bother).

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

We May Be Old, But We're Not Dead! - Movies That Celebrate People of a Certain Age

[I review the movies "Thelma," "Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story" and "The Trip."] 

One is about an old lady who is scammed; one is about older folks finding romance; and one is about a married couple trying to kill each other, literally, but an unlikely hero saves the day.  It's a seemingly disparate group of films, but they have one thing in common - Older adults feature prominently and they are not treated as objects of ridicule.  I am so sick of movies that ridicule older people for laughs.  Oh, let's have a foul-mouthed old lady smoke some dope or chase a young man around for sex.  Wouldn't that be a hoot?  NO!  

So I present to you, three films that treat us older folks with the respect we deserve.  And you whippersnappers might learn a thing or two!

Thelma (2024)

When 93-year-old Thelma realizes she has been phone scammed out of $10,000, she gases up her scooter and sets out on a quest to get her money back. 

After a 70+-year career, 94-year-old actress June Squibb finally gets to carry a movie in a starring role.  And what a role it is.

Squibb plays Thelma Post who lives alone in Los Angeles.  She has a close relationship with her grandson, Danny (Fred Hechinger), which is heartwarming, but Danny spends more time looking after Thelma than looking after his own life. Thelma's daughter, Gail (Parker Posey), and her husband, Alan (Clark Gregg), live nearby but most of Thelma's friends have died and Thelma is lonely.  

Danny enjoys time with Thelma and he is teaching her how to use her computer. Good thing because there will come a time when she will need it.

One day, Thelma gets a phone call from "Danny." "Danny" tells Thelma he is in jail and needs her to mail $10,000 to a post office box to get him out.  So Thelma is rattled and mails the money.  Well, people, it's actually not Danny but a fairly prevalent scam aimed at old people. Believe it or not, I actually had one of those calls.  I heard this hoarse older voice say "Grandmaaaa."  I hung up because, one, I already knew about this scam and my oldest grandson was about three at the time!

Anyway, when Thelma discovers she was scammed, she is embarrassed.  And it doesn't help when she hears her daughter talking about putting her in an old folks home, so then Thelma gets mad and decides to take the matter into her own hands.  She enlists the help of her old friend, Ben (Richard Roundtree), who has a two-seater scooter.  Off the two go on Ben's scooter to get Thelma's money back, but first Thelma thinks they need a gun - just in case - so they head to Thelma's friend's house to get a gun.  When Ben asks Thelma if she knows how to use a gun she replies, "How hard is it?  Idiots use them all the time."  Hijinks ensue.

Speaking of old folks homes, I have to add that my son has an odd sense of humor.  He likes to point out those places to me and say, "That looks like a nice place."  Ha-ha.  Over my cold dead body.  

Written and directed by Josh Margolin, this happened to his grandmother in real life, but this film is not just about getting Thelma's money back.  It's also about how we Americans don't give our old people much credit, rather warehousing them so we don't have to worry about them anymore, where in other cultures, the older people get, the more revered they are.  Not here.  And it's also about helicopter parents hindering the adulthood of their children.  We have both ends of life's spectrum here. But most importantly, though, the film is fun, but this is not a film that makes fun of Thelma. She is not a wise-cracking, sex-starved, dope-smoking object of ridicule that we see so often in films featuring old people. This is a film that celebrates life and celebrates a fully formed woman of a certain age as Thelma takes her life into her own hands.

And this film celebrates June Squibb.  She is absolutely marvelous in this film and puts to rest any idea that old people can't still live life to the fullest. It's difficult to believe she is 94. This was Richard Roundtree's last role before his death but at 80 he still looked wonderful. "Shaft" on a scooter! It was also fun to see Malcolm McDowell as a bad guy and one wonders where Parker Posey has been.

As actress Bette Davis famously said, "Old age is no place for sissies."  She is right.  It's not easy but the message is not to give up.  Thelma doesn't give up no matter how hard it is until she gets her money back. And we older folks need to do the same.  Keep living until the end. 

I thoroughly enjoyed spending this time with Thelma and you will too. She is an inspiration.  I may not make it to 94 but it's a goal. 

So congratulations, June, on finally having your own movie.  You were wonderful. 

This was based on a real story so wait for the credits and you will see the real life Thelma. By the way, while I was watching this film, a scammer called me!  I must be on the old lady list.

Rosy the Reviewer says...we may be old but, like Thelma, we are not sissies! Us older folks still have a lot of life to live and wisdom to share.  Now call your Mom! (For rent on Apple+) 

Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story (2021)

Opposites attract...literally.

This is an odd little movie but I have to say it struck a chord. Jennifer Lopez's film "This is Me...Now" is a Gen X true life love story that celebrated the rekindling of her romance with Ben Affleck (though we know how that turned out).  This film is actress Mariette Hartley's version, but a film about finding love for Post War Babies, though Baby Boomers will also be able to relate.

For those of you who remember actress Mariette Hartley, this is her true life story of meeting her husband, Jerry Sroka, late in life.  Now 84, she and Jerry have written and produced this little film highlighting their love story along with commenting on what it's like for aging actors and actresses in Hollywood (Morgan Fairchild, Tess Harper and Bernie Koppel have cameos - remember them)?

And for those of you who don't know who she is, Hartley starred in the films "Ride the High Country" and "Marnie" as well as tons of TV shows and TV movies but is probably most famous these days for her Polaroid camera ads that she did with James Garner. Sroka is less famous, though he starred in "Godspell" and is known for doing "voices ("The Wild Thornberrys").

Hartley and Sroka have been married in real life for almost 40 years and this film written by them and directed by Don Scardino is their (almost completely true) love story about two unlikely people meeting later in life: she a tall, famous, aging actress, he a short, out-of-work, Jewish voice actor. The film touches on the perils of finding love in your 60's, the difficulty being vulnerable.  We get insight into Hartley's life, her issues with her father who killed himself and though Sroka can be annoying with his constant jokes and fake voices, he finally realizes how he has been hiding his insecurities behind those voices.  When the two take the risk to be vulnerable they find love. 

The film also touches on the difficulties of finding work in Hollywood when you are of a certain age. So what do you do in Hollywood when you are past your prime and the offers stop coming?  Why, you write and star in your own movie! And that's what Hartley and Sroka have done. 

Rosy the Reviewer says...this couple and this sweet little love story will grow on you and remind you that love can come at any age and comes in all shapes and sizes. (Amazon Prime)

The Trip (2021)

A married couple head off on a trip to a remote cabin, neither realizing that each is planning on murdering the other.

Lars (Aksel Hennie) is an unhappy soap opera director and his wife, Lisa (Noomie Rapace), is an unsuccessful actress. They are not happy together and bicker constantly. They can't even play a game of Scrabble without getting into a big fight.  However, they decide to get away to a rural cabin owned by Lars' dad (Nils Ole Oftebro), but what they don't know is that they are both planning to murder the other. And what else they don't know is that there are also some bad guys out there who are not only going to mess up their plans but try to mess up their lives.

As Lars goes up behind Lisa to attack her with a hammer, she tasers him, leaving him temporarily immobilized. But then Lars' friend, Viktor (Stig Frode Henriksen), arrives and knocks Lisa out. Viktor has been promised half of Lisa's life insurance policy for helping Lars kill her. But when Lisa wakes up, she offers Viktor more money to kill Lars and a fight ensues.  A gun goes off and the bullet goes up into the ceiling, the ceiling collapses and down fall three men! 

They are Petter (Atle Antonsen), Dave (Christian Rubeck) and Roy (Andre Eriksen), three escaped convicts, who had taken refuge in the deserted cabin not realizing that Lars and Lisa were going to show up. Lots of shocking brutality ensues, some of it reminiscent of "Deliverance," if you know what I mean.  Who knew these Scandinavians could be so violent?  It's almost one of the most violent movies I have ever seen, but it's the kind of violence that is so over the top that it becomes funny. I mean, how many times can you get bashed over the head but keep coming back for more?  I felt like I was in an adult version of "Home Alone."

Though this is a Norwegian film, Rapace is actually Swedish. She was Lisbeth Salander in the original "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," the Swedish version, which was a great movie.  

And now I am going to rant a bit.

The Swedish version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" was a perfect example of how unnecessary it is for us Americans to remake a perfectly good film just because it's not in English and viewers have to read subtitles. Ironically, Rapace went on to have a big international acting career anyway and the American version of "Girl" was also a big hit and made Rooney Mara, who played Lisbeth, a big star. But that doesn't always happen.  Often, the original film that inspired the American version is forgotten and replaced by an inferior film and that makes me mad. Rant over.  

Not to be confused with the 1967 movie of the same name, this is a different kind of trip entirely. This is a dark comedy written by Tommy Wirkola, Nick Ball and John Niven and directed by Wirkola, but though you can see a mile away how banding together to fight off the bad guys will make Lisa and Lars rethink their relationship, (because nothing bonds a marriage together more than bad guys trying to kill you both), but there is a big twist at the end that you won't see coming that makes this film fit into my old people theme. Never discount us old folks!

Rosy the Reviewer says..."The Trip" is a trip! (Netflix - in Norwegian with English subtitles)

Thanks for reading!

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer 

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

If You Like Documentaries...#2

[I review the documentaries "Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces" as well as "Brats" - remember "The Brat Pack?" - and "Dancing for the Devil" - a three-part series about a dance cult]

 

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces (2024)

An absolutely extraordinary documentary about Steve Martin.

I am saying that up front because I know people don't read much anymore, and you probably are not going to read this entire review, so I wanted to give you the bottom line from the get go. Whether you are a big Steve Martin fan or not, this is how biographical documentaries should be done.  It's an extraordinarily wonderful journey.  

Directed by Morgan Neville, there are two parts to the documentary - "Then" and "Now." 

In Part 1, "Then," Martin's voice-over documents his family life and early days as a performer.  Steve grew up in Orange County, California.  His family had moved there because his Dad wanted an acting career. Steve's father lacked affection and was a disapproving guy, so it makes sense a young kid would want to make his Dad laugh. At an early age, Steve discovered magic, and he got away from home by spending a lot of time at the very new Disneyland where he found work. It was there that he was influenced by Disneyland comedian, Wally Boag, whose act consisted of wearing bunny ears and doing magic tricks, obviously an early influence on Steve. Saying Steve's early stand-up comedy was "out there" is an understatement.  He had no shame, which was why he was funny, but it took awhile for people to get him, but eventually, Steve had career breakthroughs with his comedy and some successful segments on late night talk shows secured his popularity.

I was lucky enough to see Steve in San Francisco in the 70's, in the early part of his career when he was opening for "The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band." We were there to see the band, not the opening act, but there he was, Steve, in his white suit, arrow through the head, playing his banjo, making balloon animals and having "happy feet."  He was outrageously hysterical.  Nobody was doing what he was doing, and yes, he tried to lead the audience outside to go get fast food (one of this schticks)! Who knew what a career he would have? Well, I did. I have never forgotten that night (kind of forgot The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). After that night, I knew he would have a big career. I am so glad I was there. 

And what a career it has been. "Excuuuuuuze me!" and "I'm just a wild and crazy guy" are now part of the comic lexicon, and I had forgotten just how many movies Steve has starred in.

Part 2 - "Now" - documents the older Steve and his career accomplishments with no voice over, but rather this part has an interview feel with Steve in real time telling about his life. We also learn things we might not have known about him, e.g. that he has been an avid art collector and cartoonist; he has been away from stand-up for 30 years; he and Martin Short are good friends in real life; and Steve suffered from anxiety as a young man. That's kind of a tough thing for a stand-up comic.  I can't imagine anything more anxiety producing than standing up on an empty stage all alone trying to make hundreds (or even thousands) of people laugh. 

But now in his 70's, Steve has found contentment as a happily married man with a young child and then, of course, there is "Only Murders in the Building." This second half of the documentary is a rare glimpse into the very private man.

Rosy the Reviewer says...you don't need to be a huge Steve Martin fan to enjoy this documentary because it's so well done, but if you are not a fan, you will be after seeing this. (Apple+)

 

Brats (2024)

Those growing up in the 80's were affected by the youth movies that "The Brat Pack" starred in, but how did being called "The Brat Pack" affect these young actors?  Here is the story.

Andrew McCarthy never really got over being called a "brat."  At the height of the teen movies of the 80's, an article appeared in "New York Magazine" called "Hollywood's Brat Pack," a play on words from Sinatra's "Rat Pack."  It was meant as a profile of Emilio Estevez but ended up being a not very flattering account of the young actors starring in such movies as "St. Elmo's Fire," "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club."  They were all lumped together as untrained young actors and partiers, and they were not happy about it. That nickname stuck on some of them in a bad way. It implied that they were not serious actors. Was Martin Scorsese going to cast someone who was called a "brat?"

 

So who were the members of the "Brat Pack?" 

Though there were many young stars in movies aimed at teens, it is generally accepted that the Brat Packers were McCarthy, Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.  

So McCarthy, now 61, takes a look back on that time by writing the screenplay, contacting his fellow Brat Packers and directing this documentary. He interviews Estevez, Lowe, Sheedy, and Moore (Molly Ringwald turned him down and he kept trying to find Judd Nelson), all lumped together as "brats" to see how they were affected by the moniker all those years ago, and they all have different perspectives o what that did to them and their careers. "Brat Pack adjacent" stars - Timothy Hutton, John Cryer and Lea Thompson - are also interviewed along with writers Bret Easton Ellis and Malcolm Gladwell, the latter adding some perspective on how the "Brat Pack" affected pop culture.

 

Despite the fact that everyone in the 80's assumed these kids were friends in real life, few of them had seen each other in 30 years.  Some, like Demi Moore, went on to have really successful careers, others like Sheedy and even McCarthy, not so much. You can tell the article really affected McCarthy who was a moody young man back then and I think still takes himself really seriously now.

But McCarthy also tracks down David Blum, the author of that infamous article, and interviews him in a particularly interesting segment.  Blum explains himself a bit but is unrepentant, and even takes some credit for the success of some of the "Brat Pack" films.  However, I think, talking with Blum helped McCarthy put that whole period and his life into perspective.

The film also touches on the generational transition that was happening in the 80's in Hollywood with so many movies about teens, and the film breaks down why those movies were so significant. Before that, movies were about adults for adults, but the 80's was the Golden Age of youth movies, and though these "kids" didn't like being called "brats," especially McCarthy, he and they have worked it out and realized that "The Brat Pack" was and is a positive part of the movie lexicon.

Rosy the Reviewer says...an interesting, introspective flashback to the 80's about a pop culture phenomenon. If you were a teen in the 80's, you will love this. Oh, and McCarthy never did find Judd Nelson. (Hulu)

 

 

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M Tik Tok Cult (2024)

A documentary series about Robert Shinn and his Shekinah Church and cult allegations against him and his talent management company 7M Films.

Former clients of 7M Films and past members of the Shekinah Church shed light on young dancers lured into a religious cult supposedly masquerading as a talent management company. They allege that Robert Shinn, the founder of the church and the management company, abused his followers and financially exploited young dancers he represented, taking over 80% of their earnings. 

The series follows several young people who joined the church, some from the early days and some lured into it later with the promise of becoming a famous dancer via the management company. Some of the survivors of the cult are interviewed.  However, the primary focus is on Miranda Derrick, a TikTok dancer previously known as Miranda Wilking, who along with her sister, Melanie, gained millions of followers making cute sister dance videos before Miranda joined the Shekinah Church and was recruited by 7M.  Her parents and sister allege that she and other dancers have been isolated and controlled by Shinn. Also two Korean sisters, Melanie and Priscylla Lee, who Shinn preyed, upon are highlighted. 

If you are a fan of "So You Think You Can Dance" or "World of Dance," you might have seen some of the dancers in this series.  It is not uncommon for young people to be lured into cults with the promise of fame and fortune. In this case, Shinn's daughter, Kloe, was a singer/songwriter who was also involved with dance videos and filmed dancers performing in videos (the documentary features some great dance segments). From that, Shinn got the idea to form a management company and manage the dancers while at the same time luring them with his religious message.  When young people are "at sea," a regimented religious group can be inviting.  You will not just be saved religiously, but in life as well. It can be comforting to have someone tell you what to do and that is what Shinn did. And of course they were promised fame.

One of Shinn's tenets was "dying to yourself," which meant giving up loved ones to save them.  Then everyone would go to heaven together.  So that's what Miranda supposedly did but her family wasn't having it and much of the series focuses on their attempts to contact her and get her out of the cult, though Miranda has come out to say she is not in a cult. 

I have always been fascinated with cults, wondering, how does this happen?  How are handsome, beautiful, talented young people manipulated and willing to give up everything to follow one person, especially when they endure abuse and isolation?   

Naturally, 7M Films has denied the allegations raised in the documentary and Derrick herself released a statement on the documentary in an Instagram story, characterizing the allegations as part of a family dispute. Shinn and other members of 7M declined to be interviewed for the documentary.

Rosy the Reviewer says...directed by Derek Doneen, the series shines a light on the dark side of social media fame and ends with a sobering fact.  It is not easy to bring a cult down because it is not against the law to run a cult. The Shekinah Church is still operating today. Fascinating and scary stuff. (Netflix)

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