Movie #1544 ........................."Now You See Me 2"

Movie #1544 "Now You See Me 2" --- I liked the first one so much, I was eager to see this second one --- I missed it in the theatre, so when the opportunity came up tonight when it was on t.v., I took the chance.  It was just okay.  It ran way too long, too many set ups to get to the pay off --- but I did like some parts of it (esp. the flip of the card scene) and I like the humor and the characters; I just wish it had a better script here.  But it was fun to have it on while I was working on the computer tonight.  So that's what I recommend it for ----- background film while you are doing something else. 3 stars out of 5.

"NOW YOU SEE ME 2"   2016      2 hours and 9 min., PG-13

Who better than a band of illusionists to pull off a heist that leaves everyone bewildered? In this mind-bending sequel, the Four Horsemen do it again, this time with the intent of exposing a shady technology tycoon.

Cast: Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Daniel Radcliff, Morgan Freeman

Movie #1543 ........................."Episodes"

Movie #1543 "Episodes" --- 5 seasons, 41 episodes total.  And we watched all of them and enjoyed them all!  This is a very funny show.  I wouldn't have believed it would be so good with Matt LeBlanc playing himself!  Sounded pretty cheesy to me, until I remember that he won an emmy for playing that part --- which, again, I thought was either really cheesy, or of such good quality that they awarded him an emmy for playing himself so well!  I know it sounds strange, but you have to see the show, and if you like witty banter, mixture of brits and california hollywood characters, running gags, and very funny set-ups for physical humor, you might want to check this t.v. show out --- available for streaming on netflix.  I do have to admit that it gets bluer and bluer as it goes on, and so we didn't like it as much at the end, in comparison to how it began, but still, the show comes to a nice closure.   4.5 out of 5.  We highly recommend it!

"EPISODES"   2011  

Hoping to create an American version of their successful British sitcom, a married TV writing team runs into a wall of cultural obstacles -- starting with the questionable casting of the unsophisticated Matt LeBlanc as the show's lead character.

Movie #1542 ........................."RBG"

Movie #1542 "RBG" -- I'm not a huge fan of documentaries, because they tend to all depend on one way to get across information (like interviews), and they tend to go long, but this one is a winner.  It uses a variety of ways to get across a lot of information on our supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and it covers a lot of parts of her life --- her family, her education, her work on the court and previously to it, and her fans (thus, the nickname RBG).  I especially found it amusing how serious she is in most things, but that her husband was such a cut up --- that's probably why that worked so well.  You learn a lot of information, little tidbits of her daily life (like she hardly sleeps, and that she has battled with pancreatic cancer, that she was good friends with Scalia, and a lot more).  I honestly didn't notice the time flying by, and I highly recommend this documentary --- it just takes a few minutes to get into it --- could have a better opening!  otherwise, I give it 4 stars out of 5.  It might help that I was a big fan of hers before seeing the film?

"RBG"         2018        PG


Providing an illuminating look at the life of trailblazer Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- including her career-defining work in gender-discrimination law -- this engaging documentary charts her journey to becoming a justice on America's highest court.
Cast: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Bill Clinton

Movie #1541 .........................."Hailey Dean Mysteries: 2 + 2 = Murder"

Movie #1541 "Hailey Dean Mysteries:  2 + 2 = Murder" --- I have always liked Kellie Martin (from   "Life Goes On" and other t.v. shows) so I wanted to check into at least one of these mysteries, so I watched it on t.v. the other night, and I don't think I need to watch many more, at all.  I was only watching it halfheartedly (while working on the computer), and I looked up and said a particular character was the bad guy, and 90 minutes later, it came out the way I guessed.  Along the way, Kellie seemed to mumble her way through, pretending she was good friend with this African American guy who just looked for food trucks through the whole show.  Commercials said Chad Lowe would be starring with her, but he was just in a few scenes, so a little disappointment there.  I guess because he knew her dead husband, he will appear more.  And I did notice that the show that I watched didn't divulge how her husband died (was shot?) so that seems to be something they are dangling for the audience to keep watching through a lot more of these mysteries.  I'm checking out.  3 out of 5.

"HAILEY DEAN MYSTERIES:  2 + 2 = MURDER"       2018

Hailey attends her niece's school recital only to learn that the beloved music teacher has vanished. Hailey soon discovers several startling secrets amongst the staff, as well as a link between the missing young teacher and the school's reconstruction funds

Director:

 Michael Robison

Stars:

 Giacomo Baessato,  Samantha Cole,  Ellen Ewusie, Kellie Martin, Chad Lowe

Movie #1540 ........................."Book Club"

Movie #1540 "Book Club" --- I read this quote which I think made a good comment on this film:  "The ultimate message of 'Book Club,' beyond asserting the vitality, sexual appetite and humanity of older people, is that everyone, of any age, who feels stagnant or stuck in his/her ways has the opportunity, nay, the responsibility to shake it up and put himself/herself out there --- a heavily sanitized riff on '50 Shades.' 'Book Club' just might be the best adaptation of that book series yet."  Kind of funny, but I want to reiterate what this quote says, the book "50 Shades" and the book club these women are in is just used as a springboard to getting them to start thinking about how unstuck they can be in their lives --- and that's good for any of us.  However, that being said, I'm not sure this is a movie for everyone --- my age would glom on to it, male or female, and maybe people dealing with moms and dads, or those who  have lots of friends who would be qualified as senior citizens...... some of the situations we've seen before (esp. when the topic of viagra pops up (excuse pun), and the women seem to work too hard to get across that they have known each other so long  (I personally felt the scenes where they are together were a bit pushed), but when left alone, each actress is more than capable of handling the moments given to her, whether comic or dramatic.  Jane Fonda looks the best --- of course, all that exercising, all that cosmetic work..... and let it be known she is the oldest of the bunch.  But looks aren't emphasized here ---- they all bring their own personalities to the table, and they seem to be playing characters they are comfortable with or even close to themselves --- Fonda, the best dressed owner of motels, who is smarmy, knowledgeable about sex and willing to befriend the others; Diane Keaton plays the high strung mother of two, who are just starting their families and who want their "aging" mom to live in the basement of one of their houses so she's available to babysit; Mary Steenburgen (youngest of the crowd) is dealing with a stale marriage, and she's trying to put some oomph back into it; Finally, Candace Bergen, who kind of steals the movie by playing a very intelligent judge who is dealing with an ex-husband who is marrying a young blonde --- she gets many of the funny lines and doesn't miss a one.  What she goes through with on-line dating, dealing with technology (or not), buying today's clothes to put on a yesterday's body, etc.  is the most universal of all the side stories, and I think anyone of any age might laugh at those points.  I encourage you to see it if you are looking for something fun to see that brings relationships to the forefront --- but that actually switches it around so that the women have most of the lines, yet the men have their due lines in support.  Everyone I went with enjoyed it and laughed hard at some of the moments .  Hope if you go see it, you enjoy it, too.  I'd give it 4 out of 5.

"BOOK CLUB"    2018     PG-13

Friends and members of the 60-plus set, Diane, Jane, Sharon and Carol have seen it all when it comes to relationships. But after reading "Fifty Shades of Gray," they're inspired to make bold choices in the romance department, with hilarious results.

Cast: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen  , CRAIG T. NELSON, ANDY GARCIA, DON JOHNSON, ED BEGLEY, JR.  ALICIA SILVERSTONE.