Movie Reviews

Rise of the Guardians – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2012 film Rise of the Guardians.

Story

A fun twist on the reluctant hero story with a better lineup than the Avengers. The story is fresh while still using standard superhero tropes. The worldbuilding is amazing.

Score: 1

Characters

Each of the characters had unique feel and character motivations. The actors did a great job, really throwing themselves into it. Even with a larger cast there was a lot of character development for all of them except Sandy.

Score: 1

Dialogue

Very quippy, funny, and isn’t afraid of being serious at the same time.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The animation has aged fairly well, there are some lighting issues and a few less smooth sections but it’s still very pretty.

The music is phenomenal and worth listening to if you ever need to get pumped up.

Score: 1

Fun

I saw this in theatres and loved it. This was the kids’ first time and they were glued to the screen. Everyone had a great time.

Score: 1

Overall

A classic animated film that has more heart and goes way harder than it needed to. The acting, writing, and music make this a family favourite and an all around fun movie.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

Cold Storage – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2026 film Cold Storage.

Story

A combination between zombie and disaster movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It strikes the perfect balance between expected plot and surprise twists.

Score: 1

Characters

I like that for once it’s the guy who’s overly talkative and a little bit of a mess. The girl is grounded and clever while still being dangerously curious.

Liam Neeson was extremely entertaining as the elderly expert that no one listens to until it’s too late.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue was fast, quippy, and smart. It managed to move the plot forward and create character development even while being sarcastic and funny.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The movie was gory, gross, and over the top, but it was well shot and interesting. Despite the dark locations, it was always clear.

The music was a little underdone and didn’t add much.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I love smart and quippy movies and this was a great horror/end of the world movie. It was cheesy but oddly believable. I watched it on my own and enjoyed it a lot. I’ll probably watch it again.

Score: 1

Overall

A terrifying, funny, and fascinating film. Filled with quips, gore, and Liam Neeson being awesome. More than worth a watch for horror fans.

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Boss Level  – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2020 film Boss Level.

Story

A hyper violent time loop story. I’m surprised there aren’t more than a few of these. The story was good and unfolded well but felt like the character development wasn’t as extreme as most time loop movies. The ending felt like the screenwriters got stuck and couldn’t think of anything better.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The main character is likeable and trying really hard to pretend to be a dick. The interactions and emotion with his son are the best part of the movie.

The rest of the cast does a great job but most of them are very cartoonish.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The narration was fantastic and the snappy dialogue was a lot of fun. Again, the dialogue between the main character and his son make the movie.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The action was great, the cinematography passable, and the special effects were well done.

The music was perfect for the film.

Score: 1

Fun

I watched this one on my own and there are so many fun moments but the ending was so bad it made me enjoy the movie less.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A run of the mill time loop movie where the action and character drama are fantastic but the story and ending are mediocre.

Final Score: 3.5 Stars out of 5

The Carmilla Movie – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2017 film The Carmilla Movie.

Story

A sequel to the 3.5 seasons of the web show Carmilla. It does a good job of recapping what happened, but it’s quick. I think someone who hasn’t watched the show would be confused.

The story itself is interesting and really uses the locations well. It felt like a shorter version of the show.

Score: 1

Characters

The characters, even after five years, acted the same and retained the character growth from the show. The new characters were nice but didn’t have much screen time.

Score: 1

Dialogue

The dialogue was flippant and irreverent, just like the show. I particularly appreciated the sound mixing since I didn’t have subtitles.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals were obviously a large improvement from a webcam-based story and were well thought out. The locations, particularly the manor house, were beautiful.

The music was okay but felt lacking at some points.

Score: 0.5

Fun

This really is a love letter to the fans and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Score: 1

Overall

The movie is a lot of fun for those that already have a nostalgic love of the show. If you haven’t watched it, you won’t get as much out of the movie. (Go watch the show.)

Final Score: 4.5 Stars out of 5

The Princess Diaries – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2001 film The Princess Diaries.

Story

This was an interesting take on the My Fair Lady trope but without the bet. I like that the love interest is secondary but the angst and teen drama is still just as cringy as it was two decades ago.

Score: 0.5

Characters

The characters are fairly true to life for the teens while still being caricatures in a good way. It really reminds me of the early aughts.

The Queen is amazing and Joseph is absolutely perfect.

Score: 1

Dialogue

Quippy, fun, memorable, and most of all, it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The cinematography is good and the framing done well. The colours feel muted a little but that could be Disney+.

The music is excellent and supports the action.

Score: 1

Fun

This movie always makes me uncomfortable and then happy. The kids liked it and the rest of the family have loved it for years.

Score: 0.5

Overall

This is a classic movie with all the teenage angst of the early 2000’s. Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews are iconic and it’s a lot of fun to revisit these characters with my kids.

Final Score: 4 Stars out of 5

Fear Street: Prom Queen – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Fear Street: Prom Queen.

Story

The story plays out like a mediocre R. L. Stine novel without the creative deaths or any form of tension. The twist was spoiled part way through and copied from Scream.

Score: 0

Characters

Most of the characters were cardboard cutouts of 80’s slasher movies or teen dramas. The main character was interesting and I did like the gender swap of the lovesick friend.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue was decent if a little over the top. Some really cringy moments. It also felt like the villains had very little originality, and it would have been nice if someone had pointed that out.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The cinematography, gore, and overall camera work were great. Not too much shaky-cam. Some of the deaths were a little predictable and lacked the Stine flare.

The music was good, especially the soundtrack.

Score: 0.5

Fun

Even though I’m not a huge fan of the movie, it was fun in its predictability. It’s nostalgic, has a few Easter eggs for the other movies, and is an okay slasher.

Score: 1

Overall

A fun slasher with lots of nostalgia, both for Fear Street and the 80s. It’s not original and falls flat, but it’s a good time.

Final Score: 2.5 Stars out of 5

 Zootopia 2 – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Zootopia 2.

Story

The movie pulls from the buddy cop tropes but like the first, it infuses it with heart, empathy, and more than a dash of political commentary.

Score: 1

Characters

Making the main conflict between the main characters be fear of losing each other was not only sweet but a great continuation of their dynamic from the first movie.

The new characters fit well into the found family? pack? Fluffle!

Score: 1

Dialogue

There were a lot of good lines and callbacks to the first movie. The dry sarcasm and loving jibes never felt overdone.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

I was amazed by the snow and water. Disney has come a long way with its digital animation. The framing and cinematography were great.

The music was almost as epic as the first one.

Score: 1

Fun

This felt like coming back to a great story and not like a disconnected sequel. I had a lot of fun and the rest of the family loved it.

I really appreciated the social commentary and jabs at modern politics.

Score: 1

Overall

All the charm of the first movie with a whole new adventure. This feels like a perfect continuation and was done with respect and empathy.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.

 Playdate – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Playdate.

Story

Another clueless man gets roped into a “spy” situation. It’s also a buddy comedy and I use the word comedy reluctantly. The entire story was surface level and didn’t make sense if you examined it at all. But it somehow managed to keep my attention.

Score: 0.5

Characters

Kevin James plays the same character he always does, and the rest of the cast plays idiots. No one, except the wife, does anything with any form of forethought or common sense.

I could almost forgive that if anyone in the movie was likeable.

Score: 0

Dialogue

Arg. There was nothing clever, quotable, or even interesting.

Score: 0

Visuals and Music

The chase and action scenes were well filmed and the choice of camera angles were solid. Most of the choreography was good but lacked logic.

The music was acceptable and did its job.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I was excited because I like Alan Ritchson as Reacher but honestly even his natural charisma wasn’t enough to make the movie watchable.

The kids seemed to like it but the adults wanted to turn it off by the first thirty minutes.

Score: 0

Overall

A waste of talent, time, and an insult to comedy. The action is passable but this movie is bad. Don’t waste your time.

Final Score: 1 Stars out of 5

 The Wrecking Crew – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2026 film The Wrecking Crew.

Story

Estranged siblings, crime syndicates, and lots of violence. It was ridiculously formulaic with little new added.

Score: 0

Characters

I think Momoa and Bautista could make any character likeable. They are naturally charismatic. I wish the movie leaned more into their humour and dynamic.

The rest of the cast was great and they all did a wonderful job making a family dynamic.

The British villain with a French name was ridiculously boring though.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The exposition was delivered in small bits between action scenes and fun quips, perfect for this type of movie. When the mains actually opened up, it was very well done.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

I found the fights focused a lot on shock instead of cool choreography but they didn’t use shaky cam.

The music was great.

Score: 0.5

Fun

The movie was fun but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart or kids. Both the 9yo and the 6yo were a little freaked out by the cheese grater incident. (We spent a lot of time talking through the stunts afterwards, which they loved.)

The adults liked it well enough but not sure we’d want to rewatch it.

Score: 1

Overall

A predictable action movie that relies solely on the charisma of its cast. Even though that charisma is massive, its still just an okay action movie.

Final Score: 3 Stars out of 5