Category: comedy

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.

It’s people you need a manual for. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” (2008)

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directed by Sanaa Hamri
© 2008 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

That moment when your feel-good film has a sequel and the sequel actually satisfies you – such an unusual situation, right? Well, in this case, I still prefer the first part, yet the second one made me love those characters even more, so I guess that’s a significant plus. If you haven’t read my previous post and haven’t seen the first film, I’m warning about the upcoming SPOILERS. So, the story continues. Our lovely girls have moved on with life, yet they’re still connected by their friendship and the magic pants. Let’s start with Bridget (Blake Lively) – this summer she goes to Turkey for some archeological dig (the girl loves sandy places, I’m telling you), but she’s also dealing with the discovery she made at home. Her grandmother was sending her letters for many years and Bridget’s father kept them in secret in order to protect his daughter. Bridget has to get back in time and face her mother’s death, which is the trauma she has been avoiding all this time. Lena’s (Alexis Bledel) grandpa dies and she goes to Greece for his funeral, during which she finds out that Kostas (Michael Rady) is married and soon-to-be-a-father. Heartbroken, she focuses on her art studies and soon meets a very charming model, Leo (Jesse Williams). Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) still tries to become a filmmaker and at the same time she’s dating Brian (Leonardo Nam), the gamer she met in the first part. Those two have a little accident and Tibby is worried about being pregnant, which becomes her obsession and the couple goes through some difficult time. Finally, Carmen (America Ferrera), helps in the theatre as a member of the background staff. Her acting friend Julia (Rachel Nichols) tells Carmen that she should join her for the upcoming actor workshop in Vermont, where they always need some extra staff. Carmen agrees to go, but at some point she’s noticed by one male actor, Ian (Tom Wisdom), who encourages her to try getting a role in the play they’re working on. So Carmen has a chance to discover something new and perhaps finally find her path. As I said, this part made me like the characters even more. Bridget has to deal with the suicide of her mother, which she tried forgetting about to move on. But in fact, in order to move on she needed to face it. Lena put her feelings on another trial and proved to herself that maybe she doesn’t fall in love easily, but when she does, she’s 100% in. Tibby went through a difficult situation which she naturally wanted to manage on her own, but then realised that she doesn’t have to do it anymore, because she has a loving partner, who’s teaching her to be less independent, especially in such moments. And Carmen – she’s a symbol of not staying in the shadow, because of stereotypes or fear. If something seems like your cup of tea, go for it and never look back. And the right people to support you will appear for sure. The development of these four characters is amazing and I’m sure that both films influenced many girls all around the world. It’s been about 20 years since they were released, so in case they’ve got forgotten, here I am to remind you about them. I hope for more stories like that to turn into film, especially for younger generations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Together and apart. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)

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directed by Ken Kwapis
© 2005 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

There are those feel good films that you could rewatch and rewatch constantly. To me such film is “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. First, I read the book and fell in love with all the characters, but also the idea for the story. When the film appeared, I couldn’t imagine a better adaptation. And in this case, I have to say that film wins in my ratings (sorry book lovers). Perhaps for some it can seem like a silly comedy for girls, but to me, it’s a lovely, heart-warming and uplifting story about female support. If you haven’t heard of it, let me shortly introduce you to Bridget, Lena, Tibby and Carmen. They are for best friends whose mothers met while being pregnant with them, so you can say that’s a real friendship since childhood. Even though each girl is one of a kind, they stay very close and their differences don’t seem to be any issue. Bridget (Blake Lively) is a tall sportwoman, in love with running and football. Lena (Alexis Bledel) is a shy and introverted artist of Greek origins. Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) is a rebel, mad with the world and trying to express herself with filmmaking. And finally, Carmen (America Ferrera), a half American, half Mexican, trying to find herself between two cultures. One day, the girls go shopping and find a pair of jeans that, suprisingly, fit all four of them. That’s some kind of magic, because each girl’s body is different. They buy the jeans and turn it into a special item of their sisterhood. During the summer holidays, each girl has to keep the jeans for one week and then send it to another one. At first, it seems just like a cute game to play during the summer, but it turns out that the jeans actually do some magic, but it’s for you to see. Yes, this film really gives me good vibes, but it also scratches some wounds of mine, like the topic of difficult relations with parents, being resistent to love, feeling like an outsider and not fitting in – all that hits hard. When I was younger, this film was like a movie therapy to me, so you can’t even imagine how much it actually helped me growing up. That is why I decided to write about, even though I’m all grown up, this film is still my to-watch in blue times. And I couldn’t choose a better date to post about it than my birthday, so happy getting-older to me and lets hope I’ll find myself a pair of such magic jeans.

My rating: 8/10
S.

Where nothing is as it seems. “Red Rock West” (1993)

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directed by John Dahl
© 1993 Roxie Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

As you know (if you’ve been following me for some time) I’m not the biggest fan of westerns. However, seems like using western-like structures in film is actually my cup of tea. Today’s film isn’t a classic western, but it’s considered a post-western, which is a strange creation to me, but hey – I liked the film so I don’t care much about its labels. Our protagonist here is Michael (Nicolas Cage), a drifter who’s in need of finding a job. That is why he comes to Red Rock town, walks into a bar and… gets hired. But in a specific way. You see, Michael is mistaken for a hitman that the bar owner was waiting to meet. The job is to kill the man’s wife, which Michael obviously doesn’t want to do. He just pretends to be the killer, takes the first half of the money and wishes to leave the town. Since he’s a good-hearted protagonist, he actually visits the bar owner’s wife and tells her about his task. She offers him even more money to kill her husband instead, which again Michael isn’t going to do. Unless the town won’t let him out… I was looking for some relaxing action film from the 90s and that’s exactly what I got here. The story is simple like in a western, but there are some slight plot twists, a pinch of humour and Nicolas Cage in a pretty enjoyable role. A film that was supposed to be a background noise to my cooking became a decent entertainment. I kind of moved back in time to my childhood: Sunday dinner at my grandma’s place and such cinematic gems on TV. I guess I have nothing more to add, because it’s not a masterpiece that has to be analysed for hours – it’s a film that should cheer you up at the weekend and give you nostalgia vibes. And who doesn’t like that from time to time?

My rating: 7/10
S.

We don’t want to steal, right? “Vinci 2” (2025)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 2025 WFDiF. All Rights Reserved.

Not that long time ago I shared a post about “Vinci” by Juliusz Machulski and I said that if I like this year’s sequel to it, I’ll let you know. So, here I am, letting you know that “Vinci” is still a must-see, but “Vinci 2” isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. There’s absolutely no point for you to be learning about this part if you haven’t seen the first one. Plus, there’ll be some SPOILERS, so be aware. 20 years have passed since the famous heist. Cuma (Robert Więckiewicz) lives in Spain, drinks wine and swims in the pool. Perfect life, huh? However, one day he has a visitor from Poland, who asks Cuma to take part in another “boom boom”, for big money of course. The thief doesn’t agree at first, but then changes his mind and goes to Kraków in Poland, where the first part of the film was set as well. But when he contacts the other criminal, that one changes his mind saying that Cuma is too old for such games and he has younger guys to do it. As you may guess, Cuma definitely won’t just let it be. He decides to stop the other one from stealing the “thing” and also steal it himself. So, robbing the thief. How cool is that? And that “thing” is for you to discover, because the heist is about to be just like the first one, yet different… I was feeling super nostalgic seeing those characters again on a big screen. The second part is way more dramatic, which is something I disliked. So Julian (Borys Szyc), Cuma’s bestie, has relationship problems and instead of a fun action production we get a bit of Brazilian soap opera. As I think about it now, this plot was rather pointless, because it doesn’t affect the main story that much. Speaking of unnecessary parts – the dancing scene. Very pretty, but what the hell for? Also, I know Cuma is 20 years older, but come on – he’s not a senior in a wheelchair. I expected him to be more involved in some actions instead of just managing them. So now you might think this post will be generally negative and my rating will be quite low? No, because I think that Machulski treated the characters with respect and he didn’t ruin the main story like most directors do in sequels. Also, he was aware that the two parts cannot be similar, because there’s a 20-year gap between them, so we have lots of elements from the modern world included like AI or even electric scooters. Another thing that made me enjoy the film are those Easter Eggs and references to his previous work. If you like Machulski, I’m sure you’ll spot some. My favourite egg, however, is the book. In one scene, Cuma is talking to a woman (you’ll see, you’ll know) and she’s holding a book in her hands. That book is “Wisząca Małpa” written by… Juliusz Machulski. Fun surprise or smart marketing? Either way, I smiled seeing it. And generally, I wanted to rate this part 6/10, but then the ending happened. Each time I watched “Vinci”, I couldn’t clearly understand what happened with the painting and the copies, who has which, who has the original one. And in the second film, after 20 years, we finally get the answer, which is a marvellous way to close the story. I was incredibly satisfied with that, so my rating goes higher. Generally, I recommend you to see both parts and simply relax with the cleverest art thief in Kraków.

My rating: 7/10
S.

You don’t like raisins? “Benny & Joon” (1993)

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directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik
© 1993 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I shared a post about “Materialists”, so a modern picture of the dating scene. Today, I’d like to continue the topic of quality relations, but this time from a different perspective. We get to know two adult siblings, Benny and Joon (Aidan Quinn & Mary Stuart Masterson), who lost their parents. Benny is a mechanic and works hard to provide for both of them, since Joon cannot really take up any job. She’s mentally ill and she can barely stay home alone, so working anyhow is impossible. One evening, Benny takes Joon to a poker night, because he couldn’t find any caretaker for her. At some point, Joon loses a game with another player and has to host the man’s weird cousin. Benny is angry, because he already has a lot to manage with Joon, but a bet is a bet. The cousin is named Sam (Johnny Depp) and he’s a quite eccentric person indeed. He doesn’t seem to bother what other people think of him, so he’s considered a weirdo, yet he has a big heart and an open-mind. He doesn’t treat Joon like others do, instead he focuses on her specific character and wishes to understand her better. Those two slowly create a strong bond between each other, which is a real surprise to Benny, who can finally focus more on himself. Perhaps you’ve seen parts of this film with Johnny Depp who’s performing gags in Buster Keaton style. I have to say that he did great in this role and I generally love when Johnny gets such extraordinary characters to play, like Sam, like Mad Hatter in “Alice in Wonderland”, or Willy Wonka in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. That’s his thing and he nails it. And when it comes to the story itself, I was truly moved because it showed how the world treats people with certain difficulties. They should stay at home, not cause any problems and that’ll be perfect. In the meantime, those people want to experience life like all of us. They want to go on trips, they want to learn new skills, they want to fall in love etc. And just because their behaviour might be considered strange to us, it doesn’t mean we should be judging them for that. Instead, we should help them find people who will appreciate them for who they are. The relation between Joon and Sam is adorable, because they aren’t the same – not at all – but they are curious about each other and they’re not afraid of being themselves. And isn’t it the recipe for a perfect relationship? Also, it’s not like only Sam is there to help Joon. In fact, Joon is able to give him a hand as well. And suddenly, this girl who has always been a problem becomes someone’s support. And in the meantime, Benny may finally stop being a caretaker 24/7 and do more for himself. This film is hilarious at some points, but it also teaches several lessons, so I truly recommend you to see it. And remember – avocado is a fruit.

My rating: 7/10
S.

We promise them love, but the math doesn’t add up. “Materialists” (2025)

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directed by Celine Song
© 2025 A24. All Rights Reserved.

Him? Over 180 cm tall, handsome, muscular, dark hair, very good salary. Her? Maximum 165 cm tall, gorgeous, fit, long hair, definitely before her 30s. Sounds like the expectations towards your partner? Or maybe it sounds nothing like that? Either way, you should watch this film. We get to meet Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a professional matchmaker, thanks to whom 9 couples have already got married. Even though she’s great at matching other people, she stays single, until she marries someone wealthy. And then, Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal) appears. A very good-looking, charming financier, who asks Lucy to help him find a match. However, it’s just a way to get closer to the matchmaker, because he’s actually very interested in her. In the meantime, Lucy bumps into her ex boyfriend, John (Chris Evans). They used to be a pretty sweet couple, but the main problem was money. John is an artist, taking up random jobs to survive, so he couldn’t satisfy Lucy’s needs to live more fancy. Now, Lucy has a chance to date a man of her dreams, but it seems like the relation with John still cannot be forgotten. Generally, it’s a modern version of a common love story – should the protagonist choose the rich or the poor? Is it surprising? Not really, but this film is a prefect analysis of what dating is all about nowadays. You see, Lucy gets annoyed that at some point her clients have very shallow expectations and they seriously look for their imaginary perfect partner. On the one hand, they pay Lucy for that, so I kind of understand. On the other, we really don’t like to think about the future, do we? I mean, sure, a good looking partner is a blast, but it’s not their height, weight or bank account that will support you in a difficult moment. Personally, I cannot imagine dating someone who is just visually attractive, even though I’d surely appreciate their looks. What if they get me an expensive gift? That’s very nice of them, but will they make me laugh or listen to me when I’m feeling blue? And I mean LISTEN to me. Buuuut, being financially stable is also incredibly important, so I’m not going to judge people for choosing the wealthy partner. Personally, I’ve dated people who weren’t Bill Gates, but I appreciated them for other features. However, if I see the other person doesn’t mind living a basic life with almost no savings, then it becomes quite disturbing. Because I don’t care we don’t have a private plane and we don’t spend holidays in Maldives, but I want my partner to be able to pay for my dinner and take me to the cinema without feeling guilty they won’t have money for their bills. And I have to admit that I’ve felt such way several times and that is why financial stability is crucial to me. I wouldn’t call it being materialistic – it’s pure responsibility about both sides. So if you’re searching for a partner, don’t get rid of your standards, but also make sure they are reasonable. And then, hopefully, you’ll find the one. Wish you that, dear reader.

My rating: 6/10
S.

They like to own something forbidden. “Vinci” (2004)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 2004 Studio Filmowe Zebra. All Rights Reserved.

Over twenty years later I’ll soon see a sequel to one of my favourite Polish films. But before I see part II, perhaps it’s a good moment to introduce you to part I, which was released in 2004. If you like action films that trick you with several twists, then you’ll enjoy this one as well. We get to meet Cuma (Robert Więckiewicz), a quite known art thief, who’s just got out of prison. Even though he was sentenced for stealing art, he doesn’t mind going back to business. This time the spotlight is on the “Lady with an Ermine”, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s about to return from Japan to Poland and it seems like a perfect occasion to steal the piece. Cuma contacts his old friend Julian (Borys Szyc), hoping the man will join him again. However, even though Julian owes Cuma a lot, it turns out that he’s now… a police officer. If that’s not complicated enough, Julian comes up with an idea – he will help Cuma steal the painting, but at the same time he’ll make sure that the painting won’t be sold to some overly wealthy guy who just wants to have something special in their mansion. And in order to succeed, Julian starts cooperating with Magda (Kamila Baar), an incredibly talented art student. What comes out of this cooperation is for you to see. Generally, I’m a big fan of Juliusz Machulski as a director, so you may say I’m not being objective. However, I saw “Vinci” before even exploring his other films and I already loved it. It’s a complete story to me, because it has well-written characters, an adventure, lots of plot twists, a pinch of humour and all that is covered with respect for art. I remember that after watching this film for the first time I wanted to learn more about painting techniques. No worries, I’m no art thief – I’d rather die of anxiety than plan something like this. But what I mean to say is that good films don’t only entertain you – they should also push you to exploring some topics. And I guess that’s the best about Machulski’s productions. Recently, I rewatched “Vinci” and I still felt entertained, even though I knew the story very well. Soon, we will have a chance to see “Vinci 2” and I’m both excited and worried about it. On the one hand, I’ll be thrilled to see Cuma and Julian once again, after all those years, but on the other – it’s a sequel made about 20 years later. The possibility that it might be a slight failure is high, like with most sequels. But hey, I’m staying positive! So if you see a post about part II in a few weeks it means they succeeded with the sequel. If there’ll be no post, let’s accept the reality, alright? After all, there’s always part I, which is truly awesome, so go ahead and join the heist in Kraków.

My rating: 8/10
S.