MEAN GIRLS Review, THE BOOK OF CLARENCE Review — 1 Works
IIn her Mean Girls review, Lisa Johnson Mandell says the remake of the high school classic sings. But her The Book of Clarence review says the biblical dramady falters. Mean Girls Review Let’s settle one thing at the very beginning — if ‘rizz,’ a derivative of of ‘charisma,’ can be the 2023 word of the…
ARTHUR THE KING Review — This Good Boy Saves the Day
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Arthur the King review says that even though latest the Mark Wahlberg project may not be an award-worthy film, the dog, as usual, saves the day. Upfront, I’ll put out the reminder that I’m partial, susceptible and yes, hopelessly drawn to dog movies. Frankie Feldman is partially responsible for that. So yes,…
AMERICAN DREAMER Review — House Hunting Runs Amok
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s American Dreamer review says this home buying hell comedy is elevated by the soaring virtues of Peter Dinklage and Shirley MacLaine. You feel a bit of a kinship between The Holdovers and American Dreamer. Both center on curmudgeonly verging on misanthropic educators frustrated by their inability to reach certain goals, and get…
KUNG FU PANDA 4 Review — Packs a Lot of Punch
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kung Fu Panda 4 review says that while this is not the most brilliant installment in the franchise, it’s bound to make a lot of kids happy, which will in turn satisfy the adults who see it with them. Really, does anyone expect much from the fourth installment of any series that…
Dune Part 2 Review — The First Glorious Epic of the Year
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Dune Part 2 review says that the year’s first blockbuster is a bracing spectacle that is well worth the wait. All the best movies take you on a journey through an intriguing world full of sights and sounds unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Even if you’ve read the books that inspired them,…
MADAME WEB Review — One for the Record Books, But Not in a Good Way
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Madame Web review wonders why a film with no romance, care, excitement or emotion was given a Valentine’s Day release. It seems a little cruel to dogpile on a movie that has been bashed even before it was released. But for the life of me, I’m having a really hard time coming…
ARGYLLE Review — Not the Cat’s Pajamas
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Argylle review says the film starts off as catnip and ends up as kitty litter, despite the best efforts of the engaging cast. Argylle starts out engagingly enough, with Bryce Dallas Howard (known mostly for her work in the Jurassic World franchise but whom we don’t see nearly enough of) playing introverted espionage…
NIGHT SWIM Review — Don’t be Afraid to Dive Right In
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Night Swim review says the latest Blumhouse movie is horror light, which is fine for those who don’t want to be too scared to go near the water. I usually defer to my fellow critic, horror expert Staci Layne Wilson, for reviews of frightening films. She knows so much more about the…
See the TV Nominations for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards
I’m really happy with our TV Nominations for the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Although a few of my favorites were snubbed, on the whole, I think it’s an excellent roster. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Chelsea Handler, which will broadcast live on The CW on…
POOR THINGS Review — SALTBURN Review — 2 of the Best Movies of the Year
In Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Poor Things review and Saltburn review, she reveals that these two original and beautifully crafted films are on her 2024 top five movie list, with Poor Things coming out on top. Poor Things Review Although the insane beauty, outrageous creativity, transcendent performances and the divine originality of Poor Things cannot be…
