Solo: A Star Wars Story

When's the next one out?  I asked after seeing Solo:  A Star Wars Story.  It seems like we just had The Last Jedi and now more.   [December 2019 is the answer].

Solo is a good gap filler of the origin story of Han Solo.  He's an orphan of course, no pesky father and mother to get in the way (Superman, Batman, Spider-Man).  He grows up scrappy, outspoken, fearless, all traits that he continues to embody throughout the Canon.

There is of course his first love:  Chewie!  We have the origin story of Chewbacca as well in their meet-cute.  And some other romantic love in the main character of Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) who after they go their separate ways as teenagers, she appears as a force of the Empire (so to speak).

Written by Lawrence Kasdan (again) with a co-writer nod to his son Jonathan Kasdan, this movie is like the teenage son to the father.  A lot of the same genes, but not putting it all together.  But we can overlook that.

New characters include a young Lando (Donald Glover) and a stand in father figure, Tobias (Woody Harralson).  Guess what happens to father figures?

All in all a good summer film.  But don't come looking for anything new.  Same Millennium Falcon, same bar scenes, same Kessel Run in less than 25 Parsecs.

* * * * of 5

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Recalling this as a birthday movie "I can't believe they forgot my fucking birthday!" I decided a rewatch was in order.

Like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, you can't go home again.  This movie was WAY below the standard that I thought I remembered.  Much more of a raunch movie that a RomCom, it was strongly influenced by Animal House and Grease.

Sam turns 16 but since the family is completely up in arms about her older sisters wedding, they bustle around so much that they forget (Home Alone).  She fortunately has her friend Robin (Jami Gertz) to confide her crush in Jake Ryan (Michael Schoffling).  But interference comes in the form of The Geek (Anthony Michael Hall).

While I recall the movie primarily as a showcase for the nerdy AMH, it was very crude by modern standards:  the stereotypical "Chinaman", the passed out prom queen who Jake could "violate in 10 different ways", the prescription drug overdose, and so forth.  Then at the end [spoiler alert] it turns into a beautiful date and the perfect birthday gift.

So in the combo of Teen Raunch and RomCom, it fails at both.  Don't try this combination again.

** of 5

Early appearances by John and Joan Cusack!

The Predator * out Sept 14

Reboot of Predator (1987)

Overboard

Bringing back the RomCom, one movie at a time.  The classic formula - the meet cute, 2 people who don't initially like each other, the extended prank, it's all here.

The new twist is that this is just as much a Mexican story as an American story.  Eugenio Derbez is Leonardo Montelongo, scion of a rich family and noted playboy.  When he falls overboard of his yacht he washes up on shore and Kate (Anna Faris) takes him in as her imaginary husband to help her raise the kids and so she can study for her nursing exam.

Leo then has to learn some real work.  The best part is him becoming part of the working group and getting accepted by the guys.  The second best part is his scheming family, some of who want him back and some don't. 

A fairly complex plot with a telenovela within a movie.  Excellent Mexican actors and American Hispanic characters.  Eva Longoria is a nice addition as the spark behind the prank.


* * * * * (highest

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Best movie ending ever!

Yoga Hosers (2016)

One tenet of how to get a movie financed is to put a family member into the movie.  So... Voila!  we have have Harley Quinn Smith (daughter of Kevin) and Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny) in this Kevin Smith female version of Clerks.

Colleen M (Smith) and Colleen C (Depp) are 10th grade students in Winnepeg, who also work at the local convenience store Eh 2 Zed.  They are concerned with usual teenage things:  parents, boys, phones, Lululemon.    But when a menace to Canadian society appears at the store (in the cartoonish form of Bratzis) the girls must fight back.  Their yoga training becomes a weapon to make them warriors.

A fun little piece, with nods to classics like Strange Brew, Gremlins and Clueless.  Poking fun at all things Canadian is a strong theme.   This originally came out at Sundance 2016, so you will see the off-the-wall nature.  It did get picked up for distribution but did not make it to Multiplex Land.

I liked the music aspect, as well as that it was somewhat believable that the girls could be young enough for high school.  Worth it for the end credits of Oh Canada.

Avengers: Infinity War

At the end of season 7 of the sitcom Happy Days, the lead character The Fonz attempted a water ski trick to jump over a shark.  While in the air, it ended the episode, making a Grateful Nation wait until the open of season 8 to see what happened.    To Jump the Shark became a catch phrase for a franchise that had its heyday and was now in decline.

With Infinity War, the Avengers and more broadly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has jumped the shark.  We even have the Fonz character, Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) as Too Cool For School.   The gig has gotten old.   Steve Rogers/Captain America is trying to grow up but he is one of the few characters with any development.  He does have a new uniform and an impressive beard.

What about the movie?  Thanos (Josh Brolin) is attempting to gather all 6 Infinity Stones.  Once he has filled up his glove with all 6 different colors, he will win a prize, to Control the World.  First he battles the Guardians of the Galaxy for stone #4, then Doctor Strange for stone #5 and finally must come for The Vision to complete the set.

It's almost several movies within a movie:  Guardians 3, Doctor Strange 2, Black Panther 2, Spider Man 9, Iron Man 15.  Not all bad, just that we've seen these movies a lot.  Some new things:  A teenaged Groot, Spider Man and Hulk with Iron Man suits, Hulk with Enrage-tile Disfunction (ED), But no Hawkeye.

We are moving into The Force Awakens territory.  The Intellectual Property of the MCU is so valuable, you can't stop making the movies the exact same way.  Change is not good.  They will continue until the show gets cancelled.

 And the characters seem to have everlasting life:  they just will not die no matter what skull is crushed or sword is run through them.    So I guess we will see more and more.  See you in 2019 for Avengers:  Endgame

* * * of 5

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