Movie #3623 ....,....................."The Roses" (Hulu/Prime Video))

 Movie #3623 "The Roses" (hulu/Prime Video)  this is a movie that is loosely based on the old classic film "War of the  Roses" with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner - this time the competitors in the marriage are even better:  Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch, and boy are they guide -- quick patter --- I could barely keep up the pace of their insinuations , accusations, smarmy cuts to each other --- and those poor kids of theirs.  The arguing and fighting go way beyond the believable, but it ws a fun watch --- if you can stomach all of the arguing.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

"The Roses"      2025     R    1 hour and 45 mins  (hulu, prime video) 

A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the facade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband's professional dreams come crashing down.

Director:  Jay Roach

Writers:  Warren Adler, Tony McNamara

Actors:  Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate McKinnon

Movie #3622 ........................"Nobody Wants This" - Season 2 (Netflix)

 Movie #3622 "Nobody Wants This"  - Season 2 (Newetflix)  I really really enjoyed the first season and this one had some episodes better than others, but all over I felt it was a bit repetitive.  It keeps pushing toward her  (Kristen Bell) thinking about converting to her boyfriend's Judaism, but it also focussed on the secondary characters even moreso in this season - especially. the sister, who thinks she has found her soulmate in her therapist.  The rabbi gets a job offer by Seth Rogen, but it seems to be too liberal of a group for the rabbi --- but he tries to stick with it because they are lenient about his girlfriend being a non-jew.  The ending is a lot like the ending of the first season, and that's why even though there were changes in a lot of areas during season 2, it seems to have moved very little with the same kind of ending as the first season.  Still, the scripts are funny for the most part, and the acting is strong.  I would give this season a 3.8.

"NOBODY WANTS THIS"    SEASON 2     2025      30 minutes , 10 episodes

An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, discovering if their relationship can survive their wildly different lives and meddling families.

Creator:  Erin Foster

Actors:  Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe

Movie #3621 ........................."Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)

 Movie #3621 "Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)  I saw the trailer for this one, and it looked like fun, but it was not one I would recommend after watching it.  It was all over the place --- Up and down, dialogue full of starts and stops, everyone seemed to overact, pushing the movie which was annoying.  The one saving grace was Jamie Lee Curtis, who, as usual, did not disappoint.  I was disappointed with the script because the lead woman has so much talent that she deserves better.  There was a lot unsaid that needed to be said .  A weak 3 out of 5 from me.  Disappointing from James L. Brooks, a usually great director

"ELLA McCaY"    2025      PG-13      1 hr and 55 mins       Hulu/Prime Video

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.  

Director:  James L. Brooks

Writer:  James L. Brooks

Actors:  Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks

Movie #3620 ........................."Project Hail Mary" (theatre)

 Movie #3620 "Project Hail Mary" (theatre)  This was a Wow movie for me!  From the opening to the closing, I sat in awe, fascinated by the story, by the acting, by the photography and the music.... I could write all day on this one, but I need to go to bed to catch a plane tomorrow, but I want to take a few minutes to tell you how much I enjoyed the film.  And it is right out of the gate for this year's offerings of films.,.... this is a movie that SHOULD BE REMEMBERED COME OSCAR TIME!  We need to keep mentioning it throughout the year because the oscars seem to be given to movies that open way at the end of the year.  I am so glad we didn't have to wait for this one.  The "fish out of water" character  fits Ryan Gosling so well in his portrayal of a h.s. science teacher who has made a discovery that turns out to be useful to Nasa.  I don't want to give too much away, but  it is science fiction in its approach, and it is slow in pacing at times (although kudos to the writers and directors who kept  trying to energetically keep our attention throughout with humor, dazzling photography, music, etc;)  and if I hear this  negative one more time!!!!!! okay, it runs loooooooong, but I honestly didn't notice that ---- and I don't remember hearing that about the Adrian Brody's  movie two years ago, and that was brutally long!  Putting those negatives aside, this is one you want to see ---- I know not everyone will like it as much as I did, but it sure is a think piece and has a theme that's so needed right now --- it's time to make friends, to extend a hand to others in peace and love --- and there's so much more to the story and theme, but I must end this now.  I'd give it 4.5, just because I think we could have been told a bit more at times. Otherwise, spot on!

"PROJECT HAIL MARY"    2026     PG-13    2 hours, 37 mins

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship.  As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun and that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

Directors:  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writers:  Drew Goddard, Andy Weir

Actors:  Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, James Ortiz (Rocky)

Movie #3619 ........................."Swing Into Romance' (GAF channel, Amazon)

 Movie #3619 "Swing into Romance" (GAF channel, Amazon)  I normally don't watch movies on the GAF channel (competitor with Hallmark) but when I see Danica McKellar on it, I get interested.  I remembered she was on DWTS a few years back and didn't win, but she was pretty good, so when I saw how much dancing she had to do in this film, I decided to watch it.  To add to the fun of watching her dance, they cast a DWTS pro as her exporter, and she got to dance with him, as well.  Weak story, but loved her and the dancing.  I'd give it a 3.8.

"SWING INTO ROMANCE"    2023       1 hour and 30 mins    Prime video

When former dancer Christine Sims returns to her hometown, she discovers her family's store is in trouble.  In an effort to save the business, she needs to dust off her dancing shoes , face her ex-fiance and maybe find love

Director;  Bradley Walsh

Writer:  Scott Sveslosky

Actors:  Danica McKellar, David Hayden-Jones, Taya Messier, Gleb Savchenko

Movie #3618 ........................."Regretting You" (plane)

 Movie #3618 "Regretting You" (plane - Paramount +, Prime video)  I saw the trailer for this on t.v. and noticed that one of my favorite actresses was in it (McKenna Grace - I have been a fan since she was a little girl in "Gifted")  and also that it was based on a Colleen Hoover book (not a fan, but I know she's popular) so when it appeared as a choice on United flight, I watched it --- couldn't finish it, but found it on Amazon and saw the end.  I read one critic's view:  "Fantastic and horrible" --- yeah, it has a "creep" factor in it (people sleeping around with people they shouldn't be and causing lots of family angst) but what a story!  Some good twists and turns along the way, and some heart in it --- I esp. like the boy McKenna is dating and how he caretaker his grandpa and moves a county line sign around so he can get the grandpa his health benefits.  So it is a tough one to rate, but I'd give it a 3.8 because for me there was more to like than dislike --- and seeing some good mother/daughter discussions made the rating higher for me.  I recommend it.

"REGRETTING YOU"        prime video 2025       PG-13     1 hour and 56 mins

A mother and daughter must grapple with what's left after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal  and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover themselves .

Director:  Josh Boone

Writers:  Susan McMartin, Colleen Hoover

Actors:  Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, Dave Franco

Movie #3617 ........................."Dead of Winter" (plane)

 Movie #3617 "Dead of Winter" (plane - hulu, Max)  This was a movie that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.  It's quiet, in the dead of winter, out in the middle of nowhere.  Emma plays a woman who is grieving over the loss recently of her husband, who takes a trip to a place way out from where she lives (and she lives in an isolated area already!) with a mission - we find out what it is later, but the important thing is that she sees a woman in distress and quickly realizes she is the only one who could save her....but can she?  I really liked this one a lot -- very entertaining, esp. on a plane.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

Director:  Brian Kirk

Writers:  Nicholas Jacobson-Larson , Dalton Leeb

Actors:  Emma Thompson, Judy Greer