Downsizing

Matt Damon stars as Paul, a Midwestern regular guy, who in a quest for "upward" mobility chooses to be Downsized.  Being shrunk to 5 inches but still having resources of a larger person leads to an increased quality of life in the Celebration, Florida style.  Or so he thinks.

When his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) throws him a curveball, he really has to start from the "ground up" in his new world.  This is very much a New World story and that is the best part, as seeing how the different people, the Smalls must live together and find significance in their new life.  Excellent support by Christoph Waltz and Hong Chau

Very creative and definitely deeper than expected.  Directed by Alexander Payne.  He can take what could be a Middle Age Loser theme and turn it into an important journey into a new age (e.g. Sideways, Nebraska)

It's Christmastime!  * * * * * 5 stars!

You've Got Mail (1998)

Nearly 20 years old, this remake of The Shop Around the Corner (1941)  has a very modern feel.  The premonitions of Barnes and Noble [and now Amazon], Starbucks and online dating have all come true in a defining manner for this new generation.  No wonder Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were having a hard time of grasping the concept.

Joe Fox (Hanks) is owner of Fox Books which is opening a mega bookstore in Manhattan.  Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) is a local bookstore owner, threatened by the big competition.  As she demonizes Fox for what he is doing to her little business, the two unwittingly start up an online correspondence.

As  they get closer to meeting, Fox finds out that Kelly is @shopgirl.  So he in creepy RomCom fashion weasels into her life and strings her along until .... well, you know how these movies end.

* * * *

The Last Jedi

Still a long, long time ago in a world far, far away, we start with a horizontal screen crawl.  The Rebels are under attack by the First Order.  Will Luke Skywalker reappear to energize the Rebellion?

I'd like to say this was an effective reboot.  I'd like to say that showing the old stars Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher would lead to the new generation.  I'd like to say there was originality under the veneer of the familiar.

But ... we've seen this movie before.  No much new under the sun.  Daisy Ridley tries to do a serviceable job but she's just a female Luke struggling to find her Jedi powers.  Not sure where John Boyega's Finn is going.  Oscar Issac plays the Hans Solo role.  All your old favorites are here.  Isn't that what you wanted?

* * * of 5

Sicario 2 - Soldado *** out Summer 2018

Coco

An outstanding effort by the Pixar team to tell a non-American cultural story in a respectful way, Coco is the story of a young boy Miguel living in Mexico.  Never mind that he speaks English mostly.  What he wants most desperately is to be a musician but his family forbids music of any kind [Footloose]


On the eve of Dia de Los Muertos where custom dictates that family must prepare for a visit from their long-lost relatives who will cross over for a visit during the night, Miguel gets trapped in the land of the dead.  He seeks to find Ernesto De La Cruz, the famous musician, who he believes is his long-lost relative.  On the way, he encounters an interesting cast of characters.  Will he make it back before the night or will his family disappear and he be trapped in the world of the Dead?  [Back to the Future]

An interesting story on several levels, there is a lot of visual sights as well as a stretched plot line to draw out maximum drama.  Will he make it back?  But wait!  There's something else!

A warm-hearted look at old Mexico customs.  You'll learn something new.

* * * * * (highest rating)

Would be even better En Espanol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Unr35ws-E