Trap - Review
Trap - Budget Unknown - 1 hour and 45 minutes
Cooper smiles as his daughter, Riley, dances and sings to her favorite artist, Lady Raven. He got her floor tickets to Lady Raven's concert as a reward for stellar grades. They stand on the catwalk and watch Lady Raven exit her tour bus and enter the Tanaka Arena. As they wait in line to scan their tickets, Cooper notices officers with high-powered rifles.
They settle into their seats as Lady Raven performs for 20,000 people. Cooper wants to go to the men's room and gives Riley a choice. She can wait outside the bathroom for him or stay in her seat. Riley chooses to stay. Cooper spots police officers taking men out of the audience. Cooper enters the stall, pulls out his phone, and checks on Spencer. Spencer is the person Cooper chained in a basement. Cooper gleams as Spencer pulls his chains, cries, and begs for help.
During the intermission, Riley wants concert merchandise. Cooper ushers Riley to the front, and she orders a small concert T-shirt. However, the girl beside her wants the same and demands it. They only have one small shirt left. Cooper tells Riley to let the other girl have it. The vendor, Jamie, loves Cooper's example. He offers to find another later if Cooper returns in 10 minutes. Cooper agrees and asks Riley to look at the other items for sale. Cooper pulls Jamie aside and asks why the arena has a vast police presence. Jamie whispers that the concert is a trap. The FBI discovered that 'The Butcher' would be there. The Butcher is a notorious serial killer who dismembered a dozen victims. They have SWAT covering every exit, FBI profiler Dr. Josephine Grant in The Butcher's head, and they will stop every man. Cooper puts a smile on his face, pays for Riley's items, and says goodbye to Jamie.
Cooper tests the security. He tells Riley he wants a funnel cake and has her walk around the building with him. Cooper can't find a clear exit anywhere. Then, he sees a drunken girl wobbling near a staircase. He bumps into her, and she falls. Arena security runs to her aid, but SWAT doesn't move. Cooper has to find a way out of the trap without tipping off Riley. Can he make it out?
This movie builds slowly for 15 minutes to allow the audience to see Cooper's bond with Riley and Riley's admiration for Lady Raven. Viewers will notice little quirks in Cooper's character before he sits with his daughter. It's not until Cooper looks at his phone that you understand the depths of his depravity (unless you've seen the trailer). His eyes have a special glow when he watches Spencer screaming for help. Cooper maneuvers around the arena with precision, finesse, and dumb luck. With this director, you expect a twist. However, there are several that will keep you guessing. Don't be surprised if you root for Cooper. This movie is one of the best thrillers of the year. And there is one mid-credit scene that will make you howl with laughter. See this film before the spoilers ruin the surprises.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Save him. Catch me. Save him. Catch me. - Cooper
I release you - Lady Raven
You're acting strange. Are you okay, dad - Riley
Our person won't panic - Dr. Josephine
Hamilton - Jamie
Top of this Post
Harold and the Purple Crayon - Review
Harold uses his imagination and a purple crayon to draw the world around him as a narrator dictates his actions. He wonders if he illustrated his friends, Moose and Porcupine, then who drew him. The narrator explains Harold's creator is him. He is Harold's old man. Harold wants to meet the 'old man,' but the narrator tells Harold they can't meet because he lives in the real world. Harold accepts this answer and goes to sleep.
Harold wakes with a list of questions for the 'old man,' but he doesn't respond. Porcupine thinks the narrator is too busy to talk. Harold thinks Porcupine is right. He draws a door to the real world and walks through. Porcupine forces Moose through with her quill but gets stuck in the door. Harold and Moose land in the real world. Harold stands awed by his three-dimensional form and Moose's human body. They find older men but not theirs. So, Harold draws a bike and peddles in the middle of the street.
Terry drives while talking to her boss on the phone with her son, Mel, in the back seat. She reaches to recover her dropped phone, and Mel screams. Terry swerves to miss two men on a bike. They fall to the grass, and Terry's tire blows. Terry checks on Harold and Moose while introducing them to Mel and Mel's imaginary friend, Carl. As Terry calls roadside assistance, Harold draws her a tire that manifests. Mel sees this and remains mum. Harold and Moose explain they are looking for Harold's old man but don't know his location. Mel reminds Terry that his father would help anyone in need. Terry allows Moose and Harold to stay in her garage apartment for the night. Later, Porcupine makes her way into the real world. However, she can't find Moose and Harold. So she sniffs them out and looks for any purple clues.
Harold and Mel talk that night, and Harold shows Mel the magic behind his purple crayon. He gives Mel the crayon and lets Mel's imagination run wild. Harold breaks the crayon in half and gives a piece to Mel. In exchange, Mel offers to help Harold find his old man. After an exhaustive search, Harold finds a flyer for the library. Mel begrudgingly takes Moose and Harold there.
Mel finds the head librarian, Gary, reading excerpts from his book in a nearly empty room. Gary doesn't waste time enquiring about Terry. Mel rolls his eyes and asks for help. However, searching for an 'old man' in the real world brings too many results. Gary jokingly suggests they sky-write a message with a phone number. Harold runs outside with Mel and Moose and begins to draw. Gary looks out the window and sees Harold's plane come to life. He runs to the shelves and finds Crockett Johnson's book. Gary wants Harold's crayon and will do anything to get it.
Based on Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, this comical movie has charming qualities while entertaining a younger audience (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It glorifies the power of imagination as Harold draws a tire, skate ramp, and puma. When Porcupine hears someone chastising their child for writing on the table, she encourages the kid to draw everywhere. Harold is on a quest to find his narrator but finds his purpose. The writers allow the audience to accept Harold in the world by turning him into an adult over time. He embraces other's imagination and leads with kindness. However, he is a rule breaker. He trades pie for ice cream and gets creative with phone numbers. You will get sad when Harold loses his way, and his drawings become dust. This film is for Harold fans, fantastical plot lovers, and families.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Mine's bigger - Gary
Maybe he's busy being real in the real world - Porcupine
Draw - Harold
You guys have done plenty. I think you can stop now - Terry
When people need help, we help - Mel
You got a bed on the wall. Now, that's class - Moose
Top of this Post
The Fabulous Four - Review
The Fabulous Four - Budget Unknown - 1 hour and 39 minutes
Marilyn met Lou in their first year of college. Marilyn was the life of the party, and Lou focused on her pre-med studies. Marilyn made Lou have fun, and Lou kept Marilyn's head in the books. After graduation, they left and moved to New York. They met Alison, a wild child, and Kitty, a nature goddess. The four women became best friends and thought they would be together forever.
Recently, Marilyn moved to Key West to restart her life after her husband, John, died. Six months later, Marilyn calls Alice with exciting news. Marilyn's boyfriend, Bradley, wants to get married this weekend. And she wants Lou, Kitty, and Alice to be her bridesmaids. Alice is gleeful but knows Lou won't go because Lou and Marilyn had a falling out in New York. Marilyn resigns to having two bridesmaids.
Alice drives to Kitty's house, and they plan to trick Lou into attending. Also, they want to have an intervention for Marilyn because Marilyn is a TikTok addict (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Kitty and Alice plan to lie to Lou. They meet Lou at her job. They tell Lou they entered her in a raffle for a Hemingway Cat, and she is a winner. However, they must be at Hemingway's House in Key West, Florida, to retrieve her prize. Lou boards the plane with an empty cat carrier.
Lou wants to retrieve her prize the second they land, but Kitty and Alice tell Lou the cat isn't ready. They need to wait for a few days. They arrive at the AirBnB, and Marilyn bursts out the door to greet them (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). She stands in shocked silence when she sees Lou, and Lou mirrors Marilyn. Marilyn hugs Lou, but Lou doesn't reciprocate. Lou keeps her composure as they walk to the back patio. Marilyn gives Kitty and Alice a box. They open and get confetti and a message, 'Will You Be My Bridesmaid?' Lou abruptly exits and fumes in her room. She can't believe Marilyn found a new husband so soon. John was perfect, especially since Lou was dating him first. Lou met John in college and fell in love. When Marilyn saw John, they eloped. Lou became a doctor and never found love. Can Marilyn and Lou fix their friendship when history repeats itself during this bachelorette trip?
This raunchy and funny movie follows women around Key West during a bachelorette excursion. These friends aren't your average grandmothers. Kitty grows cannabis and makes edibles from her plants, while her daughter disagrees with Kitty's life choices. Alice parties and loves fast. She is a rock star who loves Kitty's gummies and men. Marilyn found a second life on TikTok. She performs for her audience daily. Lou is a successful heart surgeon, but her broken heart plagues her today. Her professional life blooms, but her personal one is stagnant. As the women walk around Key West in a haze, you may believe these are two women arguing over a dead man. However, the final act reveals so much more. That last scene saves the movie.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
I can't cook. I can't make a bed, but I can break a bed - Marilyn
I hate cats - Alice
When are you not taking pictures - Lou
My gummies are a religious experience - Kitty
Top of this Post
No comments:
Post a Comment