Category: comedy

Would you like to go to the cinema? “Fallen Leaves” (“Kuolleet lehdet”, 2023)

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directed by Aki Kaurismäki
© 2023 B-Plan Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

I remember when I was still studying Film and New Media at university, we were also discussing Finnish cinema and its icon – Aki Kaurismäki. Maybe I’m not the biggest fan who could watch his films over and over, but I do like to see something by him from time to time. He has a very specific style of filmmaking, which I like to call “raw and slow”. His characters never hurry nor make us feel energised, quite the opposite. If you decide to watch a Kaurismäki’s film, you choose a rather peaceful evening, during which you’re fine not to drift away with your imagination too much. That’s what I mean by “raw” – his films are way too real, even if sometimes with a pinch of absurd or humour. In today’s story, we get to know two singles, Ansa and Holappa (Alma Pöysti & Jussi Vatanen). The woman works in a supermarket and the man works as a sandblaster, and they both aren’t thrilled with what they do. They happen to meet at a karaoke bar, but not like in most romantic comedies, so their relation doesn’t move forward that fast. In fact, it doesn’t move at all, because they didn’t even exchange names or numbers. Their single and pretty gloomy lives go on, but it wouldn’t be a romantic drama if those two didn’t meet again, right? They do, but still, not in a movie way. I kind of felt like watching a documentary about singles in their 30/40s, because all the situations those two are involved in are rather awkward and usual. But at the same time, you feel a real connection between them – just like a connection some of us may have with another human that we’re dating. If you expect two pretty actors in fancy clothes bumping into each other in snow, staring into each other’s eyes and immediately falling in love – then Hallmark productions are waiting. However, if you want to experience “raw” chemistry between two simple people, then this film is a good choice to make. To be honest, it’s actually a quite comforting story, especially since we’re surrounded by all those overly cute and idealistic romances. I’m glad we have such filmmakers like Kauriskmäki to remind us that love can be also presented without filters. The older you are, the more life baggage you carry, so your romantic relations must be different, often more complex. And there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and definitely you shouldn’t feel like love is no longer meant for you. Maybe we should stop following celebrities on social media presenting fake realities, and just grab that nice person we know and go to the cinema? Boring? Nah, it’s just a beginning of a new adventure, just in less saturated colours. 

My rating: 6/10
S.

They are here to take care of your problem. “Wolfs” (2024)

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directed by Jon Watts
© 2024 Apple TV+. All Rights Reserved.

Who would have thought that Clooney and Pitt go so well together on the screen? It’s not the first time those two actors meet in a film, but I guess for the first time I fully appreciated the duo. Maybe because the relation between their characters isn’t clear till the very end, so watching this comedy is actually quite engaging. The story starts with a woman named Margaret (Amy Ryan) whose companion in her hotel room ends up dead. That was some random young man she met at a bar, so calling the services would complicate her life, especially since she’s an attorney. Therefore, Margaret calls some mysterious man who always takes care of such… problems. Then, George Clooney appears and is about to start “fixing” the situation when suddenly Brad Pitt walks into the same room. Turns out that he’s also such “problem-solver” and he was called by Pam, the hotel owner. Which owner needs a dead body in their hotel, right? The two “fixers” aren’t thrilled by these circumstances, but they begin cleaning the room and find a big amount of drugs in the dead man’s bag. Their task is not only to get rid of the body, but also to return the drugs to the person they actually belong to. Sounds like a doable thing until the young man’s body suddenly gets back to life… No worries, this isn’t another part of Paranormal Activity, there’s a very simple explanation for this comeback. Generally, the plot is rather simple and the main focus is on this ridiculous relation between Clooney and Pitt. Each of them wants to prove he’s better at this job, yet until the case is solved, they have to cooperate. They kind of look like siblings who are forced by the parents to clean the house and they actually do it, but don’t want to miss the chance to tease each other. I had fun watching this film and I hope you’ll enjoy it as well. The ending is definitely worth waiting for and it’s the reason why I rated the film one point higher (so now you have to watch till the end). Another element that was a big plus for me was the soundtrack, which made me feel as if I was watching a film from the early 00s – great time machine. I also want to add a few words about the title. If you’re a grammar nazi, you’ve already noticed the mistake. The plural of “wolf” is “wolves” – and that title hurt my eyes as well. But I decided to do some research about it and someone explained it: it’s on purpose, because the word “wolves” indicates that it’s a pack of wolves, a group that are one, but in this film the two “fixers” just work together, but they are still going solo, so that’s why it’s “Wolfs”. Yeah, I also didn’t expect such depth when it comes to an action/comedy film, but here we are. Enjoy!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Remember you are one. “The Substance” (2024)

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directed by Coralie Fargeat
© 2024 Mubi. All Rights Reserved.

Who wouldn’t like to stay young forever? Yes, you may argue with me now that “getting older is noble” and “the older you get, the wiser you are” and such. But if you asked me – I’d love to get smarter and stay in a body of a 20-year-old. Especially considering the potential health issues – meds are so expensive right now. People generally try to hold on to their youth either by exercising, following a healthy diet or asking plastic surgeons for some help in that matter. But in the end, we’re all getting older and no surgery or protein shake can change that. Then, we get “The Substance” and it turns out that anything is possible. The character we follow is Elisabeth (Demi Moore), a 50-year-old actress. Except winning an Oscar, she’s also famous for being the star of an aerobics show on TV. Indeed, the woman is sporty and very attractive, so she seems like a perfect fit for such program. However, the producer is no longer satisfied with her and decides to find a much younger star. Elisabeth is devastated because she knows it’s the end of her career. At some point, she finds out about a mysterious substance that makes you younger. It’s no silly face cream, my dear readers, but a strange serum that you need inject into your body and then something unbelievable happens. Your body creates a new you, yet much younger and more beautiful. The whole process and what happens next is for you to see, because even if I described it now, you wouldn’t believe me. This film is weird and disgusting, let’s face it. But I have to say it’s my kind of weird, and not my kind of disgusting. You see, I could say it’s like a mix of “Black Mirror” and Cronenberg’s mind – the first one I adore, the second one I avoid (I’m sorry Mr. Cronenberg, I really tried…). Personally, I love the idea, the main character who wants to win with time, the substance and the rules that come with it – also amazing, in my opinion. But then the ending happens and I hear people in the cinema room laughing (at least those who still stayed till the end). If they’d cut the last 20-30 minutes, I’d give this film a strong 8/10, because it shows how much we don’t understand what we want as humans. We would love to be young, pretty and popular, but all that comes with a huge price to pay. So instead of wishing the impossible, let’s just cherish what we have and work on loving ourselves more. It’s difficult for me to understand why they finished the film is such unfortunate way… to make it more controversial? Well, it worked, but I bet more people would have appreciated it if the production team stuck to the aesthetics of the main part of the film. Still, I recommend you to see it and judge yourselves. Also, try to find popular films references – I spotted several of them, like “The Shining”, “Carrie”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, or even “Doctor Who” series. Good luck finding them all!

My rating: 6/10
S.

If you erase the pain, you erase the person. “Meet Cute” (2022)

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directed by Alex Lehmann
© 2022 Peacock. All Rights Reserved.

Do you know what “meet cute” is in cinema? It’s the scene where two characters, potential future lovers, meet for the first time. We all enjoy that unique feeling of excitement and curiosity, which can never be repeated. Unless you’re Sheila (Kaley Cuoco) from Manhattan, who one day meets Gary (Pete Davidson) at a bar and the date goes so well that Sheila wishes to experience it again. But not just regularly date Gary – she wants to repeat the same first day. In order to do it, she goes back in time using a tanning bed in a nail salon (I know how it sounds, please stay with me here) and meets Gary for the first time, again. It really sounds like a silly romantic comedy, but the longer you watch it, the more you realise how realistic it actually is. Obviously, I still haven’t found a tanning bed that works like a time machine, but the reason why Sheila keeps repeating that date is very much understandable. If you want to find it out yourself, please stop reading the post and go watch the film. I’m about to share her motivation, which allows me to slightly discuss it. So, at some point Sheila reveals that she used the time machine on the day she wanted to kill herself and that very evening she met Gary for the first time. Their date was so unusually pleasant that she wished for it to never end. It was a meeting that literally saved her life. At first I thought it’s just a goofy comedy about time travelling and repeating the date until it’s perfect and the guy falls in love with Sheila. However, it shows the real mask of depression that many people wear on a daily basis. Those are often gorgeous, successful, physically healthy people who deep inside feel incredibly empty and lost. When we first see Sheila, there are no signs of her personal struggles – she’s energetic, spontaneous and cheerful. Why would such woman want to end her life? Well, because that’s how depression works. It doesn’t choose the person, it just hits you hard. This film has quite poor ratings and I know it is a bit too messy when it comes to the screenplay, but generally, I believe more people should see it. The story of Sheila and Gary reminds us that we all have our backgrounds and we all go through difficult moments, so the most important is not to hide this authentic part of us and find a person who stays for better or worse. It’s easy to find a date for a night out, to attend a loud concert and have overpriced drinks till 4 in the morning, but finding a person who’s there for you to listen, to just keep you company when things are the worst – that’s a quality relation. Yesterday, we had World Suicide Prevention Day, but such day should be everyday. We should prevent it everyday by being present, attentive and empathic. Sometimes a simple conversation can literally save a life. Keep that in mind.

My rating: 6/10
S.

The juice is loose. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024)

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directed by Tim Burton
© 2024 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Day-o, day-o!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home…
If that song has been stuck in your head during every family dinner, you’re a Millennial with a very good taste in films. Uncle Burton decided to bless us with a sequel to remind us all about that disgusting green-haired creature in a striped suit. Obviously, I was worried because sequels aren’t generally a great idea (except making money on people’s nostalgia), but seeing Burton’s film on a big screen? Honey, I’m in! Especially, when it comes to such random and fantastic pictures that you can see in “Beetlejuice”. In the second part, we move forward in time where Lydia (Winona Ryder) is already an adult, has a successful careers as a medium and a daughter named Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who isn’t really fond of her much. Oh, I guess I don’t have to tell you this film should be seen only if you’ve seen the first part? Really, don’t even try skipping the 1988 one. Moving on – Lydia’s father dies in an accident so his funeral is an occasion for Lydia, Astrid and Delia (Catherine O’Hara) to meet all together in the old house. And since they are already there, I guess they shouldn’t leave without saying ‘hello’ to Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), right? Let me tell you that the idea for the beginning is quite smooth and logical, in my opinion, considering the circumstances (Jeffrey Jones, who played Charles – Lydia’s father, has had quite dirty problems with the law, so the production team didn’t want him to be a part of the film). Besides, casting Jenna as Lydia’s daughter was a brilliant idea and we can tell that Jenna has a good vibe with the director; she understands his cinematographic madness and joins in. However, the film has rather average ratings and here’s my personal view on that (potential SPOILERS coming): the main reason why this part isn’t as enjoyable as the previous one is because of too many subplots and unnecessary characters. As much as I adore Monica Bellucci, her Delores is just a fun story to tell, but in fact, this whole chasing of Beetlejuice makes no difference. Another character that I would skip is actually Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), the detective/actor. Again, great actor, but if you think about it, completely unnecessary role for the main plot. The character of Jeremy (the treehouse boy), however, very on point and actually loved the idea of him meeting Astrid. I would even extend that relation and skip Delores and detective subplots. You see, in the first part of “Beetlejuice”, we had only the couple of ghosts, Betelgeuse (love the spelling, forgive me), and the family. Period. And that’s why it was easy to follow. In the second part, we have too many distractions from the main story. Personally, I’d make the 3rd film and introduce the character of Delores then – it would actually have a potential for a great main plot. And my last complaint – not enough Beetlejuice. He was way calmer and less visible in this part, which is a huge pity. After leaving the cinema, I immediately wanted to watch the first part to Betelgeuse myself more. Wait, does it sound inappropriate? Didn’t mean to. I just really wanted to see more of Michael in that role, because it’s iconic. But hey, in general, this is still a Burton’s film, totally crazy, totally weird, extending your imagination in all possible ways, so thank you for this ride in a soul train and may a children church choir sing “Banana Boat” at your funeral one day.

My rating: 7/10
S.


P.S. I just LOVE the fact that the first part is titled “Beetlejuice”, and the second one “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” instead of adding numbers or some pointless subtitles to that. Thank you for this little gift to cinephiles! Now they have to make the third part or our OCD destroys us from the inside…

One never knows what joy one might find amongst the unwanted. “Kinky Boots” (2005)

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directed by Julian Jarrold
© 2005 Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. All Rights Reserved.

About two months ago I went to see “Kinky Boots” play at a theatre in my city. Later, when I was recommending it to my friend, he said: “Oh I know this story, I’ve seen the film”. Wait a minute… The film? And that’s basically how I found out about “Kinky Boots” by Julian Jarrold. Sometimes all you need to do is visit a theatre to later end up watching the same story on the screen. Life can be mysterious. Anyway, as you can see, I’m recommending the film, so seems like I enjoyed it. But did I liked it more than the play? That’s for you to find out at the end of the post. First – the plot. We’re going to Northampton in England where Charlie (Joel Edgerton, Sebastian Hurst-Palmer as young Charlie) is running his family business – a shoe factory. Charlie’s father was incredibly dedicated to his work, so the factory was flourishing. Unfortunately, his son isn’t equally enthusiastic about it, plus some difficulties have occurred since their shoes aren’t that sought-after anymore. No selling, no money, muchos problemas – simple maths. One night, Charlie notices a lady being harassed by a group of men and he decides to save her. Turns out that the lady is named Lola (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Courtney Phillips as young Lola) and she’s a drag queen. For Charlie it’s really difficult to understand the concept of being a drag queen, but Lola is more than happy to make it clear to him. Except those two sharing private sociocultural lessons, Charlie comes up with a great idea how to save his business. You see, drag queens are mostly men (because we also have female drag queens, just so you know) who dress up in a more feminine way, which often includes wearing high heels. However, the heels that are made for women might not necessary be comfortable or even safe for men. Besides, generally men have bigger foot sizes, so finding a pair of heels becomes a challenge. Charlie decides to cooperate with Lola and start producing high heels for drag queens. Brilliant, right? Well, keep in mind that being a drag queen is still controversial in many places, so this new adventure requires a lot of patience, understanding and support from both sides. The screenplay is based on a true story, which makes it even more interesting. If you asked me to come up with an idea for a film about tolerance, I’d probably never end up with anything like “Kinky Boots”. Saving a shoe factory by making heels for drag queens? How crazy and brilliant that is? So the story definitely needs to be shared. However, not sure whether it’s because I also saw that play in the theatre with a different cast, but I actually wouldn’t choose Chiwetel Ejiofor for the role of Lola. He’s a fantastic actor, don’t get me wrong, he gave me chills with some of his other performances, but in this one – I felt nothing. It’s not about the appearance, but about this something, this spark that drag queens have. I believe not everyone could be a good drag queen, because it’s not enough to wear a dress, a wig and strong make-up. As a man, you have to wake up this feminine part of yours and make everyone around you feel your feminine power. Every step, every glance, every hand movement has to be screaming with this beautiful feminine and sexual energy. Chiwetel did a very good job preparing for the role, but you either have the spark or not, and in this case I couldn’t spot it. But hey, maybe you will, so make sure to check this film out. Despite touching quite difficult topics, it’s still a comedy to enjoy. Plus, the performance at the end is worth waiting for, trust me. So, did I like the play more? Yes, I did, and it’s because of two reasons. First, the screenplay was a bit different and, in my opinion, some elements were more engaging in the play (for example the relation between Lola and her father). Second, Lola was played by one of my beloved actors and he really understood the task. No idea how he did that, but he didn’t play a drag queen – he became a drag queen. Still, give a chance to the film because this story is really worth your time. And remember: “Red is the colour of sex! Burgundy is the colour of hot water bottles!”

My rating: 7/10
S.

Your family dynamics are about to undergo tremendous changes. “The Pod Generation” (2023)

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directed by Sophie Barthes
© 2023 Quad. All Rights Reserved.

Before even reading this post, let me just remind you how ridiculous trailers are. I watched the trailer of today’s film to refresh my memory and get into the right mood for writing, and I realised – they are spoiling the whole film. What the hell is wrong with you, trailer producers?! Trailers should encourage people to watch a film, not tell the whole story short and basically leave us with “alright folks, you can do something else now”. Outrageous! Anyway, in case you haven’t caught my point yet – don’t watch the trailer because you won’t enjoy the film. And I believe the film is actually worth your time, so find those spare 2 hours and see it yourself. In the near future, we get to meet a cute couple, Rachel and Alvy (Emilia Clarke & Chiwetel Ejiofor). Rachel is a very dedicated employee in a fancy-schmancy company, while Alvy is a botanist, taking things slow and clearly not feeling comfortable in the new reality. The world is becoming more and more artificial that even plants are not that common to find – in fact, there are certain stations where you can put on a mask and breathe fresh air coming from a box full of plants. Creepy, I know. Time to go and appreciate your monstera or any green buddy you share home with. Anyway, since everything is easier in the future, so is having a baby. Now, women don’t need to carry a child in their own bodies for 9 months. Instead, the couple may rent a big egg, which imitates a mother’s womb, and the child grows all those months in that very egg. The woman may focus on her career, doesn’t have to change her habits, and is freed from giving natural birth. Rachel wishes to have a “baby from an egg”, but her husband isn’t so sure about the unnatural process. When they finally make a decision, it’s just the beginning of another series of complications. This film is partially a comedy, but the main topic is quite dramatic. I mean, in the future we will probably have this option and then couples will have a choice to make. But if you know that the natural process is more difficult for the woman and she has to sacrifice a lot, then the choice should be obvious, right? Well, in this film you may see that not necessarily. The character of Alvy is crucial here, because he’s the yin to Rachel’s yang. He has a lot of respect and trust towards nature and natural processes, while Rachel has sinked into the artificial reality and accepted things as they are. After all, everyone lives like that, so why shouldn’t we? Well, perhaps we shouldn’t. Perhaps it’s up to us how far this life modernisation will go. And in the meantime, enjoy the film. In case you’ve forgot – don’t watch the trailer! I beg you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

They love me in Beverly Hills. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024)

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directed by Mark Molloy
© 2024 Netfix. All Rights Reserved.

Oh boy! I took a very deep breath before playing this film. I mean, all those sequels that happen yeeeeaaars after the last part turn out to be incredibly awkward. Especially, if they don’t change the cast and you can see all those tired and old actors trying their best to keep up with their characters… which is actually depressing to watch. Yes, I’m kind of referring to Indiana Jones, but not only. I know business is business and making such sequel will bring a lot of money because all those fans will go to see their idols, but very often they will leave cinemas disappointed, go back home and watch older parts that they love. However, I gave this film a chance and oh boy! I have no idea how they did it, but they did is so gooooood! But let’s discuss the plot first: so, if you don’t know the series of films with Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), he’s a cop working in Detroit, but seems to be incredibly bored there because he constantly ends up in Beverly Hills to take care of new cases. Anyway, he’s a very relaxed and easy-going guy, who keeps his head up and a wide smile no matter how shitty the situation gets. Obviously, other cups, especially his supervisors, disapprove of his methods, but he always succeeds, so it annoys them even more. Before the fourth part made in 2024, we had 3 previous ones in 1984, 1987 and 1994. So the fans had to wait 30 years to see Axel again… imagine that! In the newest part, nothing seems to be different. Obviously, the cop is older, but he’s still working in Detroit and, guess what, he has to go to Beverly Hills! Who would have thought that? But this time the case is even more important because his own daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is in danger and Axel has to do everything to help her. The problem is that he and Jane haven’t been much in touch and the woman is equally stubborn as her dad. So two strong characters, one pretty serious, one quite the opposite, and a case to solve. Oh, let’s add more spice! They are accompanied by Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who turns out to be Jane’s ex partner… Lovely! So what can I say about this film? Not much except: I’m so happy they made it! The series with Axel F reminds me of my childhood and weekends at my Grandma’s place. They were often playing his films on TV, so even as a kiddo I was humming the theme song. The fourth part doesn’t stand out from the previous ones and you can actually feel nostalgic watching it. Axel is 100% himself and I don’t know how Eddie did it, but I can barely spot he’s got older. The humour is the same, the storyline is the same, the funny gags are the same, and even the score is the same. So if you remember Axel F from the 80/90s, you won’t be disappointed at all. Fun fact, they wanted to do the fourth film yet in the 90s, but they struggled with too many issues, so the project was postponed, and postponed, and finally they managed to release it in 2024. Eddie really wanted to make one more part because he didn’t actually like the 3rd film, so he didn’t want the series to finish like that. I hope he feel accomplished, because as a little fan of Beverly Hills Cop, I’m satisfied and thankful. And to newbies – I highly recommend you a movie night with the whole series. It’s going to be a great night, I bet!

My rating: 8/10
S.

Copernicus was a woman. “Sexmission” (“Seksmisja”, 1984)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 1984 Film Polski. All Rights Reserved.


Writing this post is not easy for me. The film I’m recommending you is a classic sci-fi/comedy, perfect for a relaxing evening. However, the reason why I decided to write about it today is because we’ve just lost one of its actors – Jerzy Stuhr. He was a marvellous artist, there was no role he couldn’t handle with pride. Jerzy was truly meant to be an actor. An Actor! He’s given us so many wonderful moments to remember and I’ll definitely have a big rewatching of his productions. What’s more, he made my childhood a bit brighter because he was the one who dubbed Donkey in “Shrek”. You don’t know this about me, but when the first part of “Shrek” was out, I went to the cinema 5 times to see it. Even now, I can recite most lines – that’s how much I loved the film. And obviously, Donkey was my favourite character. Later, I discovered the films in which Jerzy played not only with his voice, and I admired his talent. He was incredibly authentic in his acting, no matter whom he played. In order to remember him and also introduce him to those of you who haven’t seen his roles, I’d like to recommend you “Sexmission”. We move back to 1991 where two brave men, Maks and Albert (Jerzy Stuhr & Olgierd Łukaszewicz), agree to be hibernated for three years in order to support one professor in his experiment. Unfortunately, they are woken up in 2044, so over 50 years later. Turns out, the world looks totally differently from what they remembered. In 2044, there are no men due to a bomb explosion that destroyed male genes. All people left are women who reproduce with the use of parthenogenesis, bringing up only girls, obviously. They don’t know who men are and what they are for, so Maks and Albert have to do everything to teach them about themselves and gain the women’s trust. Otherwise, the last men of this planet might be feminised, if you know what I mean. Before you even think about it, yes, this film is rather controversial in our times. Perhaps some extreme feminists would even say it’s disgusting, because it kind of shows that women wouldn’t be complete without men in such reality. But if you take it as a comedy, I bet you’ll have a lot of fun. After all, it’s a sci-fi production from the 80s – it’s awkward and ridiculous, and that’s how it should be seen. Besides, I actually notice a great message coming out of this film. Women are absolutely capable of doing everything – they can be leaders, mechanics, scientists – 100%. However, life seems more colourful when both men and women coexist, even as friends. At the same time, all the ladies in the story are incredibly independent and proud, which was a rather surprising concept back then in the 80s. This film isn’t about favouring either of the sexes – it’s about totalitarianism and how harmful it may be. If any group is discriminated and limited, there won’t be peace, balance or natural order. But this is more of a deep analysis so, in my opinion, if you don’t take the story seriously, you’ll have a lot of fun and a great time. Jerzy played here an iconic role and his lines are quoted up to this day. He’s made millions of people laugh, which is of the biggest value, and I believe that’s what he’d like to be remembered for. Dziękujemy za wszystko, Mistrzu!

My rating: 8/10
S.

I’ll date his brains out. “No Hard Feelings” (2023)

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directed by Gene Stupnitsky
© 2023 Sony Pictures Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

I needed to see some silly comedy to relax my brain, but I ended up with a story that covers quite important social topics. Why does it always happen to me? Oh well… at least I have something new to recommend you, so a win is a win. In this film, we get to know Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence), who’s an Uber driver and bartender. Not the easiest or best-paid jobs, but she’s managing somehow… until the day when her car is taken away due to unpaid taxes. It’s quite hard to be a car driver without a car, right? So not only she cannot commune, but she also loses one of her incomes. The situation is really bad because Maddie may lose her house. Then, she finds an unusual offer from a very wealthy couple – they’re looking for a girlfriend for their son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman). The boy is 19 and he’s incredibly shy, so flirting and dating are something he struggles with. Soon, he’s leaving for Princeton, so his parents wish to boost his ego and “make him a real man” before he becomes a university student. In exchange for dating Percy, the couple offer a Buick Regal, an expensive car (I’m terrible with cars so please don’t ask more questions, it’s just a fancy car and worth all kinds of sacrifices, apparently). Maddie is desperate, so she agrees to seduce Percy and become his girlfriend, despite the age gap between them. You see, Percy is only 19 and Maddie is already 32, but the boy’s parents see some benefits coming from such deal. After all, Maddie is more experienced and she won’t fall in love with the boy – she will just… you know… “make him a man”. But no matter how attractive and sexual Maddie tries to be, Percy is, as we may say, undatable (or another word but I don’t want to be obscene). Will she manage to open-up young Percy before his university life? You have to see yourselves. Obviously, it’s a comedy, resembling those silly comedies from the 90s/00s, which is a plus because we need such productions as well. However, I’m glad it was made because of two more reasons. Number one – we may see a relation between an older woman and a younger man. Times change and we may know more of such couples nowadays, but let’s face it, such combination is still not as popular as when the man is the older one. And if you ask me, I believe young men would benefit so much from a relation with a more experienced woman, especially if it’s their first relationship. Not talking only about sex, but they could learn certain behaviours that mature women appreciate. Plus, for some women it’s a great feeling when they can lead such young man into adulthood, so let’s stop treating it as a taboo topic, because it’s beneficial for both sides. And the reason number two (*SPOILER COMING*) – I like how this film reminds us that we shouldn’t just go with the flow and change ourselves because others are different. Percy is an intelligent introvert, full of emotions which he expresses in his own way. Perhaps his peers are currently dating 3 women at a time and party all night long, but he wants to focus on himself, on volunteering in the shelter, on education, and when the right time comes, he’ll open up for someone. But the time has to be right for him, not anyone else, so feel free to change when you’re ready. Or don’t change at all. As long as you listen to yourself, it’s fine. So, here’s a very sexual comedy with some taboo topics to reflect on – what a great option for a Sunday watch, huh?

My rating: 6/10
S.