Tag: Michael Showalter

‘The Lovebirds’ (2020) Review

The Lovebirds Synopsis: A couple experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.

Leilani and Jibran have just come to the painful realization that their relationship is over when they unexpectedly become prime suspects in a murder case. Driven to uncover the true killer and clear their names, they embark on a thrilling chase across New Orleans, following a trail of clues. Along the way, they begin to reassess their feelings for each other and rediscover what initially brought them together.

The Lovebirds is a prime example of stale material made fresh by its talent. Michael Showalter has already proven himself to be a more than capable director in this genre, and I feel like he excels even further when given an incredible script to work with, like The Big Sick.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing incredible or even original about The Lovebirds. Instead, it feels like a hodgepodge of other movies, and I came away from it calling it Date Night-lite with a touch of Eyes Wide Shut. It’s a very by-the-book romantic comedy that clearly yearns to be more but just falls short.

As Jibran and Leilani begin to unravel the murder mystery, which eventually includes a sex cult and Congressmen, the movie feels like it is building up to what will undoubtedly be a hilarious climax that will tie up all of the crazy loose ends. All I can say is lower your expectations. The last twenty minutes felt like the screenwriters had no idea how to wrap up the movie, so it felt rushed and lacking. I wanted more and perhaps something not so easy.

That being said, I still enjoyed the hell out of (most of) it. Why? Because of its stars, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. They are perfectly matched for this kind of movie, and Showalter is the perfect choice to direct them. Not all jokes land, but Rae and Nanjiani exude enough chemistry and comedic timing to make even the more forced situations work.

The rest of the cast are nothing more than stock characters that don’t really add much to The Lovebirds, and to be honest, there’s nothing overly interesting about Jibran and Leilani either, other than the fact that Rae and Nanjiani play them. They’re two of the more exciting and talented actors out there today, and I hope to see them in more leading roles, preferably with a stronger script that will showcase what they can do.

Watched: 05/04/2020
Notable Song: Firework by Katy Perry

Rating:

05/28/2020
‘The Big Sick’ (2017) Review

Aspiring comedian Kumail Nanjiani (Kumail Nanjiani) meets Emily (Zoe Kazan) at one of his shows, and the two immediately hit it off. Although Emily isn’t looking for a relationship and Kumail’s parents expect him to marry a Pakistani woman, the two begin dating and quickly fall in love. Kumail’s mother tries to set him up with various women she approves of, while Kumail hides his new relationship from his family. To his family, dating a white woman is worse than a hit-and-run or check forgery.

Eventually, the familial and cultural pressures prove too much for Kumail, and he ends things with Emily. And then, Emily ends up in a medically induced coma due to an undiagnosed illness. Kumail is still listed as one of her emergency contacts. At the hospital, Kumail meets Emily’s parents, Beth (Holly Hunter) and Terry (Ray Romano). Kumail begins to bond with them unexpectedly, leading him to re-evaluate his feelings for Emily and his desire to please his family.

The romantic comedy then becomes a romantic dramedy with Emily’s hospital stay, and director Michael Showalter expertly handles the shifting tone. Nanijani is excellent in The Big Sick. He’s a charming, self-deprecating wit about him, but he can also play to the more dramatic moments with ease. I would love to see him in more leading roles. He and Kazan share the kind of tender chemistry that never feels forced, and despite her somewhat limited screen time, Kazan is quite an enthralling force as Emily before she spends the rest of the movie in a coma.

I loved The Big Sick. It never follows the predictable route of a typical romantic comedy. You’re so quickly emotionally invested in Kumail and Emily’s love story, but the heart of the movie belongs to Nanjiani, Hunter, and Romano. Their uncomfortable beginning (“9/11. What’s your stance?”) soon evolves into something more profound.

Romano once again proves his talent goes much deeper than Everybody Loves Raymond. Hunter is magnetic as a no-nonsense, frightened mom trying to remain strong amid her daughter’s mysterious health scare. The three find some common ground, as awkward as it might be, and Nanjiani holds his own on-screen against two incredible performers.

The runtime is a bit long, but it maintains a steady pace and keeps you invested until the very end. There are no bad performances in this movie. Kumail’s family is so charming and funny, and his stand-up friends (Aidy Bryant, Bo Burnham) deliver some of the best one-liners in the film.

At the core of The Big Sick is an excellent script. Nanjiani and Emily Gordon wrote the screenplay based on their real-life courtship, Emily’s mysterious illness, and more. They turn something that could have been tragic into something so heartfelt and funny while touching on so many themes – cultural differences, marital discord, deliberate and casual racism, stress, and grief… everything is handled with grace and humor, which is why I think The Big Sick was so successful, and absolutely deserved its Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

Watched: 10/25/2019
Notable Song: My Love by The Bird and the Bee

Rating:

10/26/2019
‘Hello, My Name Is Doris’ (2015) Review

Hello, My Name is Doris Synopsis: A self-help seminar inspires a sixty-something woman to romantically pursue her younger co-worker.

After losing her mother, a self-help seminar pushes Doris (Sally Field) to pursue an attractive younger co-worker, John (Max Greenfield), who has just started as the company’s new art director.

With help from her best friend’s granddaughter, Doris finds John on social media and uses an alias, Lilith Primrose, to stalk his Facebook to learn about his hobbies and enjoyments. Doris and John strike up a friendship that leaves Doris optimistic for something more… at least until John’s girlfriend, Brooklyn (Beth Behrs), enters the picture.

Hello, My Name is Doris is equal parts whimsical and cringe-worthy. Sally Field is brilliantly funny and sweet in this movie as she tries to balance her life as it is and her life as it could be (or could have been) with John’s younger crowd of friends.

Despite the intense secondhand embarrassment that occurred from a variety of Doris’s bad decisions – I literally covered my eyes when she was typing a drunken message onto John’s Facebook page – this was a quirky, fun, not-so-typical rom-com, if one could even label it like that.

I’m giving an extra half a star for Doris’s wardrobe – and that ‘yesssss’ ending.

Watched: 09/27/2018
Notable Song: Dance Rascal Dance by Baby Goya and the Nuclear Winters

Rating:

09/27/2018