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

Movie # 3616 ........................."Rental Family" (plane)

 Movie #3616 "Rental Family" (plane - hulu)  I loved this movie and learned so much about this actual agency that works in Japan.  It is a cool idea in concept:  you need extra mourners at your dad's funeral, hire actors to  play the part.  You need a dad for an interview to get into a high--powered school and he isn't available, hire an actor to play him..... there are so many situations that Brendan Fraser, a freelance actor in Japan, finds in Japan to use his acting talents....but more importantly to feel needed.  But that's the problem --- he's an actor who is in search for more than a job, so this rental agency needs some changes because he finds that emotional attachments with his clients are causing problems.  The story is charming, emotional, and light-hearted with poignant moments, as well, and good humor.  I am not a Brendan Fraser fa, but this is the best I have seen him.  I give this a 5 and highly recommend.

"RENTAL FAMILY"         2025   PG-13   1 hour and 49 mins

An American actor in Tokyo struggling to find purpose lands an unusual gig:  working for a Japanese rental  agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers.  He rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the beauty of human connection.

Director:  Hikari

Writers:  Hikari, Stephen Blahut

Actors:  Brendan Fraser

Movie #3615 ........................."Zootopia 2" (on plane)

 Movie #3615 "Zootopia 2"  (on plane)  In any other year (a year without  K-pop demon hunters) this would have been a shoo-in for the Oscar for Animated Feature, but it didn't make it. Still, quality is here for the sequel to a an equally good opening movie.  This movie is very involved -- there's "meanwhile back at the ranch" type of editing, so it is showing at least two stories at once (in a kid's movie), the humor is directed a lot to the adults, rapid pacing and dialogue throughout would keep the young ones' attention I should think, and I esp. loved the sloth!  And the energy and story line.  This was an all around fun watch for adults as well as kids.  I highly recommend and give it a 4 out of 5.

"ZOOTOPIA 2"      2025   PG      1 hour and 48 mins        Disney

Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up to crack  a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.

Directors:  Jaren Bush, Byron Howard

Writer:  Jared Bush

Voices:  Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman

Movie #3614 ........................."Exes of Christmas Past " (Netflix)

Movie #3614 "Exes of Christmas Past" (Netflix)  We watched this because we knew the little girl in the cast, and she was fun to watch.  Otherwise, this was a step below Hallmark because the script/actors weren't all up to par.  The stage business was boring with typical xmas stuff which has been done over and over and over... nothing new here.  Except it was fun to watch someone in the film whom we knew,  and we are looking forward to more work from her in better films.   I'd give it a 3 out of 5, just okay.

"EXES OF CHRISTMAS PAST"  Netflix    2025     1 hour and 26 minutes

An ambitious hotel manager returns to her family's B&B for Christmas to find all three of her high school exes staying there.  

Director:  Jake Jarvi

Writers:  Jake Jarvi, Eliza Toser

Actors:  Brittany Underwooid, Alex Trumble, Debo Balogun, and our friend Genevieve Jane