Tag: comedy

Sometimes you can just smell a horrendously shitty day on the way, can’t you? “The Paper” (1994)

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directed by Ron Howard
© 1994 Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Today, I’m taking you to a newspaper office, where you’re going to have a short internship. We’re following Henry (Michael Keaton), the editor of The New York Sun, a tabloid paper. Working there means you need to drink a lot of coffee, stay glued to the phone (and back then they weren’t using cellphones, so imagine the struggle), walk and talk super fast, and also ignore the fact that you get paid a lame amount of money for all this effort. However, Henry seems to like his job very much, but he also wishes to move his career forward and try working in a slightly more prestigious office. We’re watching one day of his workday, during which he has to make a difficult decision. Two bodies of white businessmen have been found. According to the police, two African-American teenagers are the responsible ones for this crime. In Henry’s opinion, it’s just an unfounded arrest, and when he gets the information that proves the boys’ innocense, the newspaper office has to choose between bad and worse. They may either publish the next-day paper sharing the police’s statement, or they may actually inform the public that the teenagers aren’t guilty. The first choice is wrong from the moral point of view, but the second one might have serious consequences on the whole team. Except a thrilling case, we also get a picture of a typical workday at an editorial office, which looks interesting for an ordinary viewer. There are also numerous jokes typical for this profession and those times, so the film can be highly enjoyable for many people. And if you’re planning to study journalism, maybe it’s the best thing to see before choosing your path. You’re welcome.

My rating: 7/10
S.

They really lived. “Secondhand Lions” (2003)

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directed by Tim McCanlies
© 2003 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

Another legendary actor has left us here… Robert Duvall, known for his spectacular roles in top films, has definitely made a significant impact on cinema. However, today I won’t recommend any of the most common productions he starred in, and instead, I’m taking you to a farm in Texas. It’s 1962 and a teenager named Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is sent to live with his eccentric uncles, Hub and Garth (Robert Duvall & Michael Caine). The men are said to have a big fortune, but they are living a rather simple life. Their favourite activity is sitting on the porch and shooting at salesmen. I mean, I feel them. I’d add religious cult followers and postmen with bills… Anyway, the uncles aren’t really thrilled to welcome Walter, but soon, the boy shows them that he might be quite useful here. They begin to bond and the men tell him the stories of their travelling adventures. They sound ridiculous and hard to believe in, but at the same time it’s a quite entertaining activity. Generally, it’s an adorable and quite absurd comedy that might cheer your whole family up. I actually never heard of it before, but I decided to see it now and I’m sure I’d have loved it as a child as well. I guess I don’t need to mention that the acting here is of the best quality – in the end, we get three very talented gentlemen. But what I enjoyed the most was the message coming out of this story. Or actually, two messages. One – live your life to the fullest and say “yes” to whatever shows up on your way. Two – don’t stop living to the fullest even when you’re older. I often joke that I’m too old for doing something (and I’m not really old), but in fact – I wish to stay active and spontaneous until my last day on this planet. And I hope you will finish this film with a similar reflection. Thank you Mr Duvall for your work, rest in peace.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Permission to hug? “Zootopia 2” (2025)

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directed by Jared Bush & Byron Howard
© 2025 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

As I promised, here’s my recommendation of “Zootopia 2”. If you haven’t seen the first film, you may check out my previous post and perhaps watch both parts together. Although, if you decide to see only the second film, you’ll still understand everything there, because the characters are introduced to us again and the story is not really connected to the previous one. But if you haven’t seen the first part, you may find my post a little spoiler, so just so you know. In this film, Judy and Nick (Ginnifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman) are work partners at the police department, but even though they managed to succeed last time, they are still very different from each other, which causes lots of problems. During one mission, Judy spots a shedded snake skin, which seems unreal, because there haven’t been any snakes in the city of Zootopia for years. However, the more they investigate the case, the more probable it becomes that there is, in fact, a snake somewhere here. Since they are considered a threat to the community, Judy and Nick must find it before anything bad happens. And soon, those two might realise that nothing is that obvious and simple… Intrigued? I hope so. What I definitely loved about this part is that it doesn’t stand out from the first one. If you watch them together, I bet you can’t really say they were made 10 years apart. The jokes are still there and I actually liked the main plot twist, because, again, the filmmakers take stereotypes and crush them into tiny pieces. I have to say I’m not a big fan of modern children’s animations, because they seem too complicated and, in fact, tiring to me. I get it, now, younger generations expect everything, everywhere, happening all at once. But it would be nice to see more animations like “Zootopia”, because there are still adults who like watching such films and we feel discriminated. On behalf of millenials, please, keep making such animations! Thank you in advance. Besides, in what other film you may watch a gazelle singing with the voice of Shakira? That’s a very unique experience.

My rating: 7/10
S.

What Do You Call A Three-Humped Camel? “Zootopia” (2016)

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directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore
© 2016 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I’ve seen “Zootopia 2” and, while writing a post about, I realised that I haven’t recommended the first part on my blog. So today we’re moving back to 2016… wow. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! It’s about time to create a post about it then. Some of you probably already know this animation, but for those who don’t, sit comfortably and enjoy the plot: Imagine a world without people. Awesome, right? Instead of them, we have animals, who can talk and do everything humans do. There, we meet Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a very ambitious little rabbit who wishes to move to the city of Zootopia and become the first ever bunny policeman. Or… police-bunny. I’m trying to be politically correct, ok? So, Judy is assigned to do rather basic boring stuff at work, but then things get complicated and she is given an urgent case to solve – but she must do it quickly. In order to succeed, she has to cooperate with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a smart but rebellious fox. As we know, bunnies and foxes don’t really go together, but, surprisingly, those to make a great team. Will they manage to solve the case? It’s for you to see. Even though I was already an adult watching “Zootopia”, I enjoyed it very much. If you miss good old animations for children, then this one shouldn’t disappoint you. The characters are well-written, the plot is fun to follow and you may spot numerous jokes that are actually hilarious. Besides, I’m sure that you’ll love their sloth – because if you’ve ever been to any office, you’ll definitely have flashbacks. Fun fact, at first the filmmakers wanted to make Nick the main character, but then decided to switch roles with Judy, and I actually believe it was a great choice. Not only they created another inspiring female character (even if she’s not human), but also made Nick in the supporting role a more insteresting element of the whole story. Generally, the film is fast, entertaining and educational, so to me, it makes a very good animation. If you still haven’t seen “Zootopia”, it’s about time! Especially since I’ll be writing about the second part soon, so stay tuned.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Scooby-dooby-doo. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (2025)

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directed by Rian Johnson
© 2025 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to day 4 of 2026! How many of your resolutions are already postponed to 2027? Come on, be honest, we know how things work. I just hope that you’ll be regularly checking my blog and watching lots of good films. The rest can be done later. Let’s begin the year with something funny, thrilling and mysterious – so retired 007, Daniel Craig, playing Sherlock Holmes. This is the third film of the Knives Out series, where we follow Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who each time has a different crime to investigate. If you haven’t seen the previous two parts – no worries, because it’s made in a similar way like other detective stories, so each part is a separate story. In this one, I’m taking you to church (just like Hozier wanted – wink, wink), where a young priest Jud (Josh O’Connor) becomes an assistant of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Since it’s a little town they serve in, new things aren’t very welcome here. Still, Jud notices Jefferson’s strange behaviour that influences the parishioners and he tries to make some changes, which is difficult on many levels. One day, Jefferson gets murdered in an unusual way and, obviously, Jud is the main suspect. However, here comes our mastermind Benoit Blanc whose job is to learn about this village’s secrets and find the actual murderer. I’ve seen all three parts of the series and as much as I enjoyed the first one, the second film wasn’t that exciting. So I didn’t feel like checking out the third part, but somehow I did out of boredom and actually got surprised. In my opinion, it’s almost as good as the first one. The mystery is so weird and complex that it makes it even funnier to be solving it. Not to mention the magnificent cast that you could watch for hours. I guess I had extra fun because not that long time ago I took part in a city game where the main task was to solve the mystery of a stolen object in a church. It was all made up, obviously, but we had to analyse how the thief actually managed to hide, steal and escape. So this film reminded me of that game and I was watching it thinking “yeah, Blanc, I know how you’re feeling, been there, done that.” I believe this is an awesome title to begin your year with. Let’s just hope you won’t need to wake up any dead men in 2026. Crossing my fingers for that.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Can this night get any better? “Unaccompanied Minors” (2006)

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directed by Paul Feig
© 2006 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

How many of you can still move and how many of you promise themselves not to make the same mistake again next year? Well, either way, you may need something to cheer you up, so here’s my little recommendation. This film was actually one of my favourites when I was a teenager, so even though it might not be liked by adults that much, I still feel pretty nostalgic about it. The story takes place in the US on Christmas Eve, where Spencer and Kate (Dyllan Christopher & Dominique Saldaña), siblings, are travelling from California to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with their dad. The charm of having divorced parents, you know what I mean. They need to have a layover during which the weather gets so much worse that it’s impossible to fly anywhere. Since they are both minors, they end up in a special room where all children and teenagers travelling alone wait for their flights. The place is pure hell and I bet nobody wants to spend their Christmas Eve like this. What’s more, at some point Spencer and Kate get separated and might not see each other till the next day. The boy must find a way to reunite with his sister because little Kate still believes in Santa and if he doesn’t get her a gift by the morning, it’ll ruin her Christmas… Yes, I loved Spencer for being such a great brother! He manages to make some friends and together with other teenagers, they’re trying to survive at the airport and make sure that little Kate will still believe in Santa! Not gonna lie, when I was a teen myself, I dreamed of being stuck at an airport and just play with my peers. Especially, since in this comedy children are way smarter than adults (and not only in this comedy, apparently) and seeing grown-ups being tricked all the time is pure joy. I feel like this production has been forgotten, so I’m more than happy to remind you about it. It’s not only a funny family film, but it also teaches great lessons and I bet everyone can find something for themselves there. The most important is that it’s kind of based on a real story. Lots of children have to travel like this between cities or countries because of their parents’ divorce and the “best” decision made by the judge. I’m sure they will remember those airports or train stations more than spending time with both parents every year. So, as I wrote, not only in this comedy children are smarter than adults. Wish you a meaningful reflection.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Do you usually write letters to people who don’t exist? “Dear Santa” (2024)

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directed by Bobby Farrelly
© 2024 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Ho, ho, ho! Is this the time we can finally meet to argue and eat so much we can’t move anymore? Indeed! Of course, some of you celebrate Christmas in peace and joy, like in those cute songs, and some others don’t do anything specific that day and just try to survive till the end of the year, which is also fair. Personally, I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I love winter and this December mood, so I have to recommend you something Xmassy to watch. And since I’m also quite sarcastic, this year I’m writing about “Dear Santa” – a comedy like no other. We get to know little Liam (Robert Timothy Smith), who’s a lovely primary school student. The family has lost Liam’s brother, which also led to tensions between the parents, who seem not to notice how that influences Liam. Anyway, the boy has one more issue to deal with, which is dyslexia. He keeps making mistakes and his classmates make fun of him for that, except Emma (Kai Cech), Liam’s crush. His disorder is actually very important in this story because when he writes a letter to Santa, he accidentally addresses it to Satan (Jack Black). And since the global post works incredibly well, the letter indeed reaches Satan, who decides to pay Liam a visit. The confused boy is sure that this man is Santa, and Satan doesn’t correct him to have a bit of fun. Liam is given three wishes from the red guy, which sounds like a dream come true, but nothing comes without a price… I’ve seen quite average ratings, but I actually enjoyed this comedy. Especially, since I’m tired of all those copy-paste romcoms, so a dyslexic boy meeting Satan sounds like a brilliant idea to me. I agree that some jokes were cringy, but in the end, I liked it more than another “girl from a big city goes to a little town and meets the most handsome man there and it’s Christmas time”. Jack Black is a marvellous comedian, so I never get bored with his performances. Perhaps it’s not a film to watch with your grandparents or that annoying aunt that feels offended by literally everything, but if you’re looking for a ridiculous production with Xmassy vibes, then that’s a great choice. Anyway, no matter what you’re planning to do these days, eat well, sleep well, take care of yourself and don’t get surprised to see Jack Black in your living room one night. Merry and bright!

My rating: 6/10
S.

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.