MOANA Review — The Live-Action Version Still Enchants
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Moana review says the award-winning music, the setting, the story and the cast bring a welcome island breeze to the cineplex. As a film critic, wherever I go there is someone, or two or three who asks me, “Have you seen ___? I heard it’s _____.” Lately, there are two films that…
GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS Review — Totally Oz-Some!
Lisa Johnson’s Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass review took hours to write, because she was repeatedly interrupted by fits of lascivious laughter and lingering libidinous lines. The title pretty much sums up the movie — if you know what a Celebrity Sex Pass involves. And those who are aware will giggle about it…
THE INVITE Review — The Dinner Party From Sexy Hell
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Invite review predicts Olivia Wilde’s small film with a four person cast will garner big laughs and bigger accolades. Although The Invite is the ultimate couples clash—an intimate evisceration of two very different marriages, I’d advise you not to see it with your romantic partner, but a good natured friend. Otherwise,…
MINIONS AND MONSTERS Review — Too Much of a Good Thing?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Minions and Monsters review says the adorable little yellow guys are as engagingly chaotic as ever, but this time around they’re a bit overwhelming, proving that you can have too much of a good thing. I shamelessly confess that I adore Minions. So when I went to my critics screening of Minions…
SUPERGIRL Review — Caped and Confused, the New Girl Soars
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Supergirl review admits that the movie is a bit messy and dark, but it’s also exciting, refreshing and moving, mostly thanks to the presence of fluffy sidekick Krypto. You know the plot of most superhero movies before you see the trailer, read the review or walk into the theater: big scary bad…
THE DEATH OF ROBINHOOD Review — A Dark and Stormy Antihero
In her The Death of Robin Hood review, Lisa Johnson Mandell feels that this take on the cinematically overexposed character is original, but it’s a long slog through violence and mayhem to get to the lovely end. Hollywood has decided, for roughly the four hundredth time, that what the world needs is another trip to…
10 Tips for Enjoying Summer Lemons — the Fruit, Not the Movies
Those big, juicy tarts known as summer lemons are literally falling off the trees here at home in Hollywood, and if you’re not collecting your own stash as we are, or graciously accepting bags full from friends, you’re fondling them in the supermarket, trying decide which would be best to accent your ice water, which would be best…
DISCLOSURE DAY Review — Provocative Sans the Punch
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Disclosure Day review reveals that while not up to Spielberg’s astronomical standards, it’s still masterfully crafted and leaves you with much to contemplate. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day takes some processing. Here you have a film gift-wrapped in craft, loaded with genuine emotion and ambition, and by some actors doing some of the…
2026 Fathers Day Gift Guide — Make Dad Feel Like a Star
Your dad, friend, uncle, whomever will feel like a celebrity when you give him any one of these original, fun and festive prezzies from our annual Fathers Day Gift Guide. When preparing our annual Fathers Day gift guide, there were several things we crossed off the list immediately. Ties? Don’t even think about ’em! Ties…
STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU — Too Cute
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu review notes the cuteness of Baby Yoda and the scariness of the monsters can’t quite make up for the film’s flaws, but its still very much worth the watch. As a fan of all three seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+, I believed a feature length…
