Category: comedy

Welcome to the headquarters of the human resistance. “Bugonia” (2025)

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directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
© 2025 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

With each new film, I like Lanthimos more and more. I have to admit that I wasn’t such a big fan of his productions before. To me those were good ideas, but in the end I was a bit disappointed with the final outcome. However, his latest films are totally my cup of tea, and “Bugonia” excited me way more than I’d expected. At the beginning, we follow Michelle (Emma Stone), who’s a CEO of a pharmaceutical company, and one day she’s kidnapped by two men – Teddy and Don (Jesse Plemons & Aidan Delbis). When the woman wakes up in a basement, she notices that her hair has been shaved. One of the kidnappers explains that it’s to prevent Michelle from contacting her ship. If you feel confused, no worries – that’s the point. Generally, Teddy believes that he detains an alien who, together with its alien buddies, wants to destroy humanity and… honeybees. And since Teddy’s hobby is beekeeping, then you understand it’s clearly necessary to do something about it. As ridiculous as it seems, the film is fantastic. At first, you have no idea what’s going on and you feel like you’re missing something, but in fact, it’s just such a weird story. Then, you may start questioning the genre of this production, because at one point you laugh, at another you are concerned, and then, when you think nothing will surprise you anymore, Yorgos decides to blow your mind. Personally, I still don’t know exactly what this film is about. Of course, I have lots of scenarios in my head, but I guess I don’t feel like choosing just one option. Also, after watching, I recommend you to read a bit about the ritual of bugonia, so you can find out where the title comes from. It actually helps understanding the whole story, but make sure to watch the film first. Is it the best picture of 2025? I don’t know, but surely it’s on top. Should Emma Stone get another Oscar? I believe so. Maybe I’m not being objective because I adore her as an actress, but she again showed a new set of skills in building the character of Michelle. So if she ends up with her 3rd Oscar, I wouldn’t complain at all. Also, the marketing team did a great job. Apparently, you could find fake materials online about the Michelle’s company and herself. Plus, in Los Angeles there was a special free screening of “Bugonia”, but in order to see the film, you had to be bold. They even provided a barber at the entrance so you could shave your head on the spot. I love it! Would you shave your head?

My rating: 8/10
S.

You always gotta connect on a human level. “Steve” (2025)

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directed by Tim Mielants
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

First of all – great casting. After watching the film, I cannot imagine a better actor to play the role of Steve. Cillian Murphy had an incredibly difficult task to do and he managed. Oh, he managed… Today I’m recommending you a drama, which may be important to all the saviours reading it right now. I’ll explain later. We get to know Steve, a headteacher of a specific school. There are only boys who have certain behavioural issues… or as someone could say “a bunch of hooligans”. As you can imagine, working in such school isn’t the easiest job in the world. Each student is a different story. A rather complex and dark story. So the staff must be very careful and patient while working with the boys. Steve, despite lots of obstacles, believes in helping those young people and he wants to make sure that they will actually find their purpose in life. Easier said than done. Especially since everyone around you have already given up on those children and the financial situation of the school is bad. This is a story about a man who wanted to be a saviour. Or perhaps needed to be a saviour. Steve has done something that makes him feel guilty and fighting for his students is a way to atone for it (not spoiling). What’s sure is that Steve needs help himself, but he ignores it and keeps on being the shoulder to cry on for others. And that’s not improving his own state. That is why I wrote about saviours at the beginning – if you feel like one, then watch this film. I used to be a saviour, but at some point I realised that I cannot save the world, not even the neighbourhood. And if I keep trying to do what’s impossible, I’ll be destroying myself. There were days where I didn’t care about my basic needs like sleeping or eating because I wanted to do something for someone else. Don’t reach this point. And if you have, it’s time to change your habits. One thing I’ve learned for good is “if you want to help others, you first need to help yourself”. Why do you think it’s the parent who puts an oxygen mask on their face first and then saves their child? Exactly. But is it simple? Not at all… I know it myself. If you’re vulnerable and empathic, giving up on someone because you’re not in the best shape is out of the question. That is why we should watch such films like “Steve” and treat them as reminders.

My rating: 6/10
S.

No pain, no gain. “Novocaine” (2025)

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directed by Dan Berk & Robert Olsen
© 2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Hell yeah! That’s what’s I’m talking about! A superhero who flies? Boring. A superhero that is very fast? Lame! A superhero that’s huge and green? Cute, but nah. Let’s take a random guy with a rare disorder who makes use of it to save the love of his life. Yay! Welcome to “Novocaine”. We get to meet Nathan (Jack Quaid), who used to be called “Novocaine” when we went to school. Why? Because he cannot feel pain. At all. And in case you didn’t know, novocaine is the drug that doctors use to make you stay still during the procedure. Sounds fun not to feel any pain, right? Well, not really. It can also be dangerous, so Nathan has to be very careful and because of that his life has always been quite boring. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new seems like a chance to hurt yourself without noticing it. However, there’s a person who changes his way of thinking – Sherry (Amber Midthunder), a colleague working at the same bank. Those two have a great chemistry between each other, but they need to learn to be together – because he’s a very reserved introvert, and she’s a yolo extrovert. Unfortunately, one day their bank is robbed and Sherry is kidnapped by the criminals. At this moment, Nathan stops worring about himself and decides to save his girlfriend. And his annoying disorder may actually become quite useful. I had so much fun watching this film! We really needed such superhero, because those old ones are way too copy-paste, aren’t they? Nathan is adorably clumsy, yet clever and dedicated. That’s a character you simply cannot dislike. The story is simple, but the lines – hilarious! I don’t remember when was the last time I felt so hyped watching an action film. Even though I know sequels are usually worse than originals, I really hope for another part about Novocaine. No more to say – it’s probably the best action film made this year.

My rating: 8/10
S.

What’s the special ingredient? “Mystic Pizza” (1988)

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directed by Donald Petrie
© 1988 The Samuel Goldwyn Company. All Rights Reserved.

November has been a quite depressing and spooky month, so let’s change the vibe and enjoy a cute rom-com from the 80s, shall we? Even though it seems like a film to play in the background at a lazy weekend, it’s full of topics to reflect on. I’d especially recommend it to young women and female teenagers, who feel overwhelmed with the world around them. But what is it all about? We get to know two sisters, Kat and Daisy (Annabeth Gish & Julia Roberts), who work together as waitresses at a pizza place called “Mystic Pizza”. They also have a great friend working with them – Josephine, called JoJo (Lili Taylor) and all three women are of American-Portuguese origin. So the first thing that you may notice is the spotlight on how the life of mixed-heritage people looks like in the USA. And I guess not only there – we tend to stay together with those who are similar to us, because it gives us comfort. Unfortunately, some people may discriminate us because of who we are. Even though it’s important to adress such problem, that’s not the main topic of the film – the focus is definitely on the diversity of goals that women may have in life and how they achieve them. Kat is very ambitious, she wishes to become an astronomer and except studying hard, she also works in order to save as much money for her future education as possible. Her sister Daisy, however, loves to have fun, flirt and enjoy life as it is. Finally, JoJo is a hopeless romantic in love with her boyfriend Bill and she wishes to get married and settle down. Each woman has different needs and expectations, but life likes to play games, right? So as you can be guessing, each of them faces some troubles in reaching their goals. In order to deal with them, all three will have to fight their inner demons and accept that very often you have to take what’s given. It’s an adorable story about how diverse we are and how absolutely okay it is to have our own paths, even if others don’t approve of them. A woman doesn’t have to be anything, but she can be anyone. Oof, that was deep, wasn’t it? But jokes aside – I truly believe that. If you don’t hurt anyone, you’re free to do whatever you want, sister! Now, order a pizza and enjoy the film.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Revenge has never been sweeter. “Thelma” (2024)

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directed by Josh Margolin
© 2024 Magnolia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t mess with grandmas! I mean it. They won’t only feed you till you can’t move – they can also fight criminals like pros! If you’re in need of good vibes, this comedy is definitely for you. We get to know Thelma (June Squibb), who’s a 93-year-old woman living alone and enjoying her retirement. She has a loving grandson, Danny (Fred Hechinger), who’s overly protective and always makes sure his grandma is fine. One day, Thelma answers a phone from Danny who says that he’s arrested and the woman has to send $10 000 to a certain adress to let him free. The woman panics and does it, but soon after she finds out that the caller wasn’t her Danny and she’s got scammed. Thelma is furious about the situation and asks the police for help, but they don’t even bother. And when people don’t seem to care, what do we do? Yes, baby, we do it ourselves! The brave granny decides to find the scammer’s address and visit them in order to get her money back. But how will an elderly lady like her actually manage to fight a criminal? Oh, you’d be surprised… I absolutely loved this comedy and the story about Thelma, because it gives positive vibes and shows how much power elderly people still have. We often see grandmas and grandads being pushed away from our everyday life as if they weren’t able to join us in numerous activities. Well, if you ask them to run a marathon, they may rather refuse, but so would I and I’m much younger. However, they deserve to be seen and included. And they have the right to catch the scammer that fooled them. As I said, I had a lot of fun watching this film, but I also find it important when it comes to picturing seniors nowadays. I wish for more productions like this one, so please – feel free to tell stories of brave and crazy grandparents who break the boring stereotypes! Cheers to Thelma and all the unstoppable seniors!

My rating: 7/10
S.

We have survived. “It’s Not My Film” (“To nie mój film”, 2024)

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directed by Maria Zbąska
© 2024 Mówi Serwis. All Rights Reserved.

I’m generally quite critical about my country’s cinema, but I still give all films a chance and I keep searching for hidden gems. And I’m thrilled to say that “It’s Not My Film” is one of them. I definitely wasn’t expecting to enjoy it, especially since I’d read a short description and known what it’s about. Perhaps I should start watching the productions that seem like not my cup of tea… Anyway, in this story we meet Wanda and Janek (Zofia Chabiera & Marcin Sztabiński), a married couple that have been with each other for 10 years. Unfortunately, they both feel tired of this relation and everyday arguments about trivial things. Janek comes up with an idea to go on an adventure, which could either be their last one or the only salvation. They buy a sledge to carry all the necessary items and they start a winter walk along the Baltic coast in Poland. There’s an important rule – they cannot stop the walk and go to the city. They need to count on themselves and each other, no matter what. If any of them breaks a rule, they end the relationship. You may think it’s a ridiculous idea, but I actually love it and it’s a great metaphor of fighting for the marriage. You see, currently a lot of people give up on each other quite easily, because we’re so sure that true love and a perfect marriage is a Hollywood romantic comedy, where everything goes well, you kiss in the rain and yada yada yada. But it’s not. And whenever a slight inconvenience pops up, people run away. Wanda and Janek are not satisfied with their current relation, but just watch them walking on that beach. They are both furious, cold, exhausted and irritated, but they keep going. They may argue, they may hate each other 24/7, but in the end they keep going. Isn’t it toxic? No, not at all. Because in a healthy relationship there’s space for everything. Arguing over small things and teasing each other is not important. What’s important is that at the end of the day you have your person next to you and you feel their support. Say whatever you want, but I need more of such love stories. Real, honest and imperfect. What’s interesting about the cast is that it was Zofia’s debut, which adds some raw emotions into this film next to an experienced actor like Marcin. Those two created a wonderful chemistry and made me believe in the story. What can I say? I wish you all such relations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Nothing is as simple as black and white. “Pleasantville” (1998)

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directed by Gary Ross
© 1998 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

Haven’t you ever wanted to enter the film/series that you’re currently watching? You know, just jump into the screen and become one of the characters there? Become a superhero fighting the bad guy? Or kissing the beautiful lady/handsome gentleman in a romantic scene? Or just enjoy peace in a silent film? Well, I bet we’ve all thought about it at some point. Today, I’m recommending you a film in which the main characters actually make it happen. We get to know David (Tobey Maguire), who’s a high-school student and a huge fan of “Pleasantville” – a black and white sitcom from the 50s. There’s about to be a marathon of the series and David wants to watch it, but he starts fighting over the remote with his sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon), which leads to breaking it. Suddenly, a repairman visits them and offers a better remote instead of their broken one. When the siblings use the new remote, they are magically transported into the world of Pleasantville. David and Jennifer are taken for Bud and Mary Sue, the series children. They obviously want to go back, but the repairman, who contacts them through a TV, says they should be thankful for this opportunity and disappears leaving the teenagers in the black and white world. They need to adapt to the situation and act like they actually belong there. They will not only learn about the reality of Pleasantville, but also become a chance for its people to discover what’s beyond. I was pleasantly (see what I did there?) surprised watching this film because it’s not just a silly comedy about two teenagers stuck in a TV show. It’s another reminder that nothing is as it seems and very often we’re all forced to pretend. Back then they were watching TV – now we scroll on social media and we envy all those people and their perfect lives. In fact, they aren’t perfect at all, it’s just an illusion, although hard to believe. That is why we should put the whole energy into strengthening our self-worth and don’t let anyone deprive us of our own colours. Damn, that sounded serious and smart. But hey, I’m being honest – that’s the exact reflection I’ve had after this film. So, I invite you to Pleasantville and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

A country without a language is only half a nation. “Kneecap” (2024)

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directed by Rich Peppiatt
© 2024 Wildcard Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

First things first – me and rap are not a friendly combination. I grew up listening to pop, then rock and metal, then I had a phase with jazz and classical music, and now I generally listen to everything… except rap. I’m sorry to disappoint rap fans reading this, but I really cannot force myself to this genre. However, it doesn’t stop me from appreciating their work… from the distance. So when I heard about today’s film, I wasn’t so eager to see it, because I was worried that my music taste would make me dislike the film no matter how good it would be. But recently, I decided to finally give it a try and get out of my comfort zone. And you know what? I’m glad I did, because I still don’t listen to rap, but I really liked the story behind this band. If you don’t know (I didn’t, so don’t feel ashamed), Kneecap is an actual band and this film presents their beginnings. In fact, the real band members play themselves, which makes the experience even more realistic. However, it’s not a documentary, so mind the fact that you still watch it like a fictional drama/comedy. But what’s so interesting about a rap band, you may ask? Well, Liam and Naoise are young and rebellious men who sometimes get in trouble. Youth, you know. One of the things they are fighting for is their right to use Irish as their first language. One day, in quite unusual circumstances (you’ll see), they meet JJ, a music teacher, who finds out that Liam has been writing song lyrics in Irish. The man suggests starting a hip-hop band that would be rapping in Irish, which was something strange, especially to younger generations who’re used to listening to music in English. A silly idea turns out to be an absolute hit, the band starts attracting more and more listeners, but it also ends up in the spotlight of numerous authorities for their political messages in songs. The band has been performing since 2017 and so far they aren’t going to stop. And even though I’m not a hip-hop or rap fan, I cheer for them. Why? Because despite different music tastes, we share one thing and it’s love to our own culture and language. I believe that thanks to them, a lot of young people in Ireland have decided to study and practise Irish, and this leads to the continuation of their traditions. Plus, when it comes to the film, I sympathised with the band and enjoyed their way of being, so in the end it was a pleasant experience. So no matter what you listen to, give this title a try. Síocháin!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Like I’m born to be. “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025)

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directed by Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

I was avoiding this film for so long, but one day I gave up. It’s because I was too tired of everyone talking about it and playing its songs over and over. Kpop is not what I listen to and anime is difficult for me to watch (forgive me anime fans!), because everything’s too exaggerated for my European eyes. And how surprised I was when a film that was supposed to be just a background noise turned out to be one of the best animations I’ve seen in years. Yeah, I’m still shocked myself, but I’m more than happy to recommend it to you if you still haven’t seen it. We get to know a female Kpop band named Huntr/x – Rumi, Mira and Zoey (Arden Cho, May Hong & Ji-young Yoo). They are not only the most famous music trio with lots of fans, but also demon hunters. You see, in this world, demons steal humans’ souls and give them to their ruler Gwi-Ma. That is why we need such hunters like the girls to stop them and keep people safe. Everything goes well until a new band shows up – the Saja Boys, with their leader Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop) – and their song “Soda Pop” becomes an absolute hit. At first, Huntr/x believe it’s going to be just a music bands battle, but it turns out the Saja Boys are undercover demons, who want to manipulate people using their popularity. The girls obviously cannot let it happen and they begin preparing an even bigger performance to win with the demon band. In the meantime, Rumi and Jinu start talking to each other in private and it seems like they have more in common than you could imagine. If you’re a grumpy adult (like me) who says “such animations are not for me”, then take a deep breath and play it. And I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. First of all, I loved the animation style and how dynamic it was, yet not annoying like most anime productions I’ve seen. Second of all, the girls reminded me of “Totally Spies!”, a cartoon I used to watch as a child. Back then, it was a true hit and the girls had a similar energy to Huntr/x, which made me feel a bit nostalgic. Third of all, the songs are very catchy and impressive! For example “Golden” has become a true challenge for singers, because you need to be horribly talented to hit the right notes. I was vibing a lot while watching and I still listen to the soundtrack now. And last but not least, the messages coming with this film. I’m moved because to me this film is about acceptance. The girls are fighting some cartoon demons, but in fact, it’s just a metaphor of fighting our real demons, which “steal our souls”. They make us believe we’re not enough, we are not meant to succeed, we should hide our true self. Even though the main character here is Rumi and we get to learn about her personal issues, the two other members are dealing with their own demons too. And if thanks to this animation some children and teenagers change the way they see themselves for better, I couldn’t be happier. We really need such films. Especially younger generations do. So I’m crossing my fingers for sequels and I hope the meaningful messages keep reaching those who need them.

My rating: 8/10
S.

We took earth from here and made hills there. “The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain” (1995)

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directed by Christopher Monger
© 1995 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

Once upon a time, when Christopher Monger was a little boy, he was told a story by his grandfather. Years later, inspired by it, he decides to make a film that becomes iconic and makes people believe it’s true. Today, I’d like to recommend you “The Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain”, which couldn’t have a more accurate title. We move back to 1917, during the WWI, where in a fictional (yes, let me point it out) Welsh village named Ffynnon Garw there’s a hill. Because of that hill, two cartographers arrive and decide to professionally measure it. According to their first measurement, the hill is 930 feet tall. When they repeat the procedure, the more accurate number is 984 feet, which still means that it is a hill. However, the villagers wish their hill to be considered a mountain, so they come up with an idea to make it taller. How? Oh, that’s for you to see. But even this short introduction to the story should already put you in the right mood. I’m not going to spoil you the ending, but I guess the title does it for me. Or maybe not? Maybe that’s just to trick you? You need to find out yourselves. I have to say that it’s a classic comedy from the islands and it’s full of Welsh humour, so I know it’s not for everyone. Personally, I like it, but not in big doses, if you know what I mean. What I adored about this film is Welsh language and culture present from the beginning till the end. There’s even this cute “culture battle” between the Welsh and the English, which creates a joyful atmosphere. Just to make it clear – this story is probably made up. We don’t know whether it actually happened, but there are people, who took the story too seriously. The Garth Hill, which is considered to be the inspiration for the hill in the legend, has become quite popular among tourists since the release of this film. If you ask me, I wouldn’t say this story is totally fictional, because in each legend there’s a pinch of truth, and I’d love to climb this hill/mountain. Or maybe I should say: I’d love to climb this hill and come down from the mountain. That would be more accurate. Anyway, if you’re looking for a heartwarming and quite fun comedy for a cold evening, this one is perfect.

My rating: 6/10
S.