One of Them Days – Review

One of Them Days – Budget of $14 million – 1 hour and 37 minutes

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Dreux finishes the night shift at Norm’s Diner and waits for her best friend, Alyssa, to pick her up. Alyssa arrives with a list of excuses because she assumes she’s late. However, Dreux lied about the pick-up time. Dreux looks forward to resting at home because she has an interview at 4 p.m. today to become a franchise manager. She knows that most managers have degrees, but Alyssa assures Dreux that no one is better than her. Dreux remembers it’s the first of the month and asks if Alyssa paid their landlord, Uche. Alyssa says yes.

Dreux enters her complex and sees her braider, Jameel, doing another woman’s hair. She’s upset because Jameel didn’t finish hers. He promises to get to Dreux when she pays him. Dreux walks to Mama Ruth’s apartment to buy snacks. Dreux stops when she sees her crush, Maniac, approach. After he leaves, Mama Ruth laughs at Dreux and tells Dreux to ask him out. However, Dreux knows about his past and wants to avoid him. Dreux enters her apartment and trips over Keshawn’s sneakers. She’s furious because Alyssa’s boyfriend asked to stay for six days six months ago. He hasn’t helped pay for anything and puts his shoes everywhere, including on Alyssa’s paintings. Dreux thinks Keshawn is disrespectful, but Alyssa says her paintings aren’t good enough.

Dreux lies in bed and puts on her eye mask to sleep. Then, she hears banging on the door. It’s Uche demanding the rent. He says Alyssa didn’t pay him. They must pay him by 6 p.m., or he will evict them. Dreux bangs on Alyssa’s bedroom door. She admits that she gave the money to Keshawn to pay Uche. They turn to face Keshawn, but he and his sneakers are gone. Alyssa calls Keshawn, but the phone rings in her drawer. He left it behind to avoid her. They unlock the phone and find text messages from a girl named Berniece. Alyssa heard a rumor from Jameel that Keshawn was cheating with Berniece.

Dreux and Alyssa scam their way into Berniece’s home. Alyssa finds Keshawn asleep with his wallet between his knees. She looks inside, and it’s empty. Alyssa wakes Keshawn, and he admits he used their rent money to make fake Gucci t-shirts called Cucci. Alyssa attacks Keshawn, and his screams alert Berniece. Berniece chases them out of her home but stops when she hits a parked car. Alyssa and Dreux escape. Berniece stands and sees people in the neighborhood laughing and filming her. She vows to find Alyssa and Dreux and attack them. Dreux and Alyssa, thinking Berniece will forget about them, must create a plan to make $1500 in 9 hours and get Dreux to her interview in 7 hours. They will fight, deal, bleed, and test their friendship before the day ends.

Alyssa and Dreux considered every possible option to obtain their rent money. They try applying for payday loans, donating blood, and selling things online. However, two steps forward bring them one step back. It’s all for a reason. Unlike some comedies, every scene has a purpose and comes full circle. So you must come to this film on time, or you will miss critical plot points. This day brings their friendship to the ultimate test. They believe the other can be more, but don’t believe in themselves. This movie has steady laughs and shows the family aspect of underprivileged neighborhoods. The plot interjects heart, life lessons, comedy, and perseverance at the proper moments. The script allows itself to be serious but doesn’t become preachy. This film is not for the whole family, but an entertaining night out for the adults.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

God heals all things – Alyssa

You’re not my type – Dreux

Can I get those honey buns – Maniac

It just depends on how he does it – Mama Ruth

I’m worried about your blood pressure – Keshawn

They hunt you literally. It’s perverse – lucky

Thank you – Berniece

What people – King Lolo

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Companion – Review

Companion – Budget of $10 million – 1 hour and 37 minutes

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Iris awakens after a long drive to a rustic small cabin in the woods with her boyfriend, Josh, in the driver’s seat. Iris worries about impressing Josh’s friends, but he promises they will like her. Kat answers the door but gives Iris the cold shoulder. Iris and Josh greet Patrick as he cooks, and Patrick’s boyfriend, Eli, offers Iris and Josh hugs. Later, Kat’s boyfriend, Sergey, descends the stairs and welcomes everyone to his home.

After dinner, Iris sits with Kat and asks about her relationship with Sergey. Kat admits Sergey is a terrible boyfriend and husband, but he has money. She feels like an accessory in Sergey’s life. He can say or do anything to her. Kat confesses that she doesn’t dislike Iris. She dislikes what Iris represents: Kat’s replacement. Iris assures Kat that no one can replace her. The couples turn in for the night, and Josh and Iris make love. Afterward, Iris professes her undying love to Josh, and he tells her to go to sleep.

Iris wakes up and prepares for an evening on the beach with Josh. However, he doesn’t want to go. He tells Iris to go alone and relax. Iris walks to the beach chairs and breathes in the morning air. She puts her hands in her pocket and pulls out a switchblade. Sergey joins Iris and asks her to lotion his back and shoulders. Iris obliges. Later, Iris returns to the cabin with a large blood stain on her shirt. Josh demands answers. Iris explains that Sergey attacked her, and she defended herself. Iris didn’t care about dying but was afraid not to see Josh again. Josh tells Iris to go to sleep, and she powers down.

Josh and Patrick tie Iris to a chair, and Josh asks to be alone with Iris to say goodbye. He wakes Iris up and explains that she is his companion robot from Empathix Robotics. Her memories are fake, and Josh can control Iris with her phone. They will explain to the police that Iris killed someone. Empathix will label her defective and turn her off. Kat enters the room and demands to know why Josh turned Iris on. He leaves with Kat to explain himself. Iris doesn’t want to live without Josh. She pushes herself and the chair over and moves to the switchblade on the ground. She cuts herself free and escapes from the house with Josh’s phone. Patrick sees Iris escape and warns the others. Josh says they must get Iris back. If Empathix examines her, they will see he jailbroke Iris to make her more aggressive and go against her factory settings. He and Kat planned Sergey’s murder and asked Patrick and Eli to come to strengthen their alibi. Can Iris escape them before they destroy her?

This movie is leaps and bounds better than the trailer. The trailer gives viewers one plot twist. However, there are several. This plot leans into the warnings of artificial intelligence and the dehumanization of people while being bloody and funny. The companions are realistic, so they didn’t have to rely on massive amounts of CGI. Kat and Josh are equally horrible people. They are manipulative and cunning. And their monologues will make the audience hate them more. The script touches on the importance of autonomy, the pitfalls of entitlement, and why you should read the user agreement without being preachy. This film isn’t a horror movie but falls in the same category as M3GAN. It’s a thought-provoking, bloody, cringy good time. You can also take a date.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

Iris, wake up – Josh

You make me feel replaceable – Kat

Hey, you – Iris

I love you – Eli

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Mufasa: The Lion King – Review

Mufasa: The Lion King – Budget of $200+ million – 1 hour and 58 minutes

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Simba runs to find Nala and leaves their daughter, Kiara, with Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa. Kiara fears the rain. Rafiki laughs. Simba was the same until Mufasa took him to Pride Rock to roar. Kiara dreams she could be as strong as her grandfather. Rafiki explains that Mufasa wasn’t always a king. He was once a lost stray looking for his family. Rafiki sits Kiara down and tells the story of her grandfather, Mufasa: The Lion King.

Mufasa and his parents, Afia and Masego, are living through drought. Mufasa’s mother, Afia, tells Mufasa that the drought won’t last forever. Until then, he should look at the horizon. Beyond the light is a land called Milele. Milele means forever. Everything in Milele flows in abundance. Then, the rain falls. Mufasa and his family go to the watering hole with the other animals. Then, they hear a rumble and see a flood. Mufasa and his family get separated. An elephant hits the dam, and the water sweeps Mufasa away.

Mufasa struggles on a branch when a cub, Taka, appears. He is the son of King Obasi and Obasi’s mate, Eshe. Taka warns Mufasa that the crocodiles in the water hunt him. Taka saves Mufasa and brings him ashore. Eshe tells Taka to leave Mufasa alone because Obasi doesn’t like strays. Mufasa explains that he’s not a stray, only lost. Eshe has compassion for the cub and brings Mufasa to the pride. Obasi wants to eat Mufasa, but Mufasa says he is too fast. Obasi creates Taka’s first challenge to prove he can be a king. If Taka beats Mufasa in a race, Obasi will eat Mufasa, and Eshe will add to the competition. If Mufasa wins, then he can stay with their pride. They race, but Eshe sees that Taka lets Mufasa win. Obasi keeps his promise but tells Mufasa he must live with the females.

As Taka and Mufasa grow, their brotherly bond becomes tighter, much to Obasi’s displeasure. Taka wants to learn how to hunt like Mufasa, but Obasi says his place is sleeping on a rock, protecting the pride. When Obasi falls asleep, Taka follows Eshe to learn. Eshe teaches Mufasa how to hunt, track scents, and sense danger. They hear others approaching but don’t have time to escape. Mufasa saves Eshe while Taka runs away. When they return, Eshe forgives Taka for fleeing. Obasi tells Mufasa that he owes him a debt. Then he orders Taka to keep his running a secret. The lie will save the pride.

The remaining white lion returns to the leader, Kiros. With a bowed head, the surviving lion explains that Mufasa killed Kiros’s son while saving Eshe. Kiros has his soldiers eliminate the surviving lion. Then, he pledges vengeance for his son.

Mufasa can smell Kiros and his pride coming. Eshe tells Taka and Mufasa to leave and protect each other. Obasi and his remaining pride stand firm as Kiros approaches. Obasi says he doesn’t have a problem, and a stray, Mufasa, killed Kiros’s son. Kiros believes there can only be one king. To take over the land the light touches, Kiros must kill Obasi. They slaughter the pride. However, Kiros knows the lion who killed his son isn’t there. He orders his pride to track Mufasa and Taka. He vows to kill the pair, avenge his son, and become the king.

This Lion King prequel starts with a tribute to James Earl Jones. Then, it transports the audience to Pride Rock. Simba and Nala continue to rule over the land with the same courage as Mufasa. While they are gone, Rafiki tells Mufasa’s story. However, it’s not his story alone. It’s the tale of two brothers, entitlement, courage, and the king’s court. By staying with the pride’s females, Mufasa learned lessons that separated him from the others. Mufasa loves his adopted mother and brother but still longs for home. Mufasa’s journey mirrors Simba’s. He leaves home for safety and finds friends along the way. The graphics far surpass the live adaptation of The Lion King, and the voice acting is stellar. The music flows wonderfully with the theme, although it drowns out the vocal performances. Also, the backing track makes the room vibrate and crescendos with the sun. This film is an astounding prequel.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

I have notes – Timon

Suggestions. Take them or leave them, but take them – Pumbaa

Mufasa, I got you – Sarabi

One day, he will betray you. That’s what strays do – Obasi

It’s easy to doubt everything when you know nothing – Rafiki

The truth is standing behind you – Kiros

Listen to what she says – Mufasa

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Love Hurts – Review

Love Hurts – Budget of $18 million – 1 hour and 23 minutes

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Realtor Marvin bakes cookies before riding his bike to his next house showing. He loves to find the right home for his customers. Marvin’s assistant, Ashley, calls to remind Marvin about the office Valentine’s Day party. He believes a new day brings a new opportunity to change your life. However, Ashley dreads it.

After the house showing, Marvin arrives with leftover heart-shaped cookies for the staff. He opens a red envelope with a note saying Rose is back. Dumbfounded, Marvin asks Ashley to give him some alone time in his office. Marvin walks through the door and wakes up. Someone stabbed Marvin’s left hand onto his desk and zip-tied the other to the chair. Marvin lifts his head to see assassin Raven sitting on the couch reading poetry. Raven only has one question for Marvin: where’s Rose? Marvin says he doesn’t know and fights. He knocks out Raven and heads for the elevator. Before Marvin makes a hasty exit, his boss, Cliff, stops him. Cliff hands Marvin the Realtor of the Year Award. Marvin looks at the award in awe. He asks Cliff to borrow his car and drives home.

Marvin quickly bags clothes and money. He grabs his award and an amethyst crystal before walking to the door. Then, hitmen King and Otis break in and attack. They want to know why Marvin didn’t kill Rose as Marvin’s brother, Knuckles, instructed. Years ago, Rose was Knuckle’s accountant and kept his dirty money clean. However, Knuckles discovered she stole $4,000,000 from him. He kills anyone who takes his money. Marvin took the hit because Marvin secretly loved Rose. He told her to hide and never return. Marvin did the same. Marvin escapes Otis and King, but Rose shocks Marvin with a stun gun before he makes it to Cliff’s car.

Marvin wakes up with a new shirt in the back of a club. He finds Rose serving drinks at the bar. She is tired of hiding because ‘hiding ain’t living.’ She misses her old life and the old Marvin. Rose found information to prove she didn’t steal Knuckle’s money. So she sent Valentine’s Day cards to Knuckles and everyone in his inner circle to announce her return. She wants Marvin to reclaim his hitman life, end Knuckle’s crew, and control the empire. Marvin is happy with his new life and doesn’t want to return to death and destruction, but he still loves Rose. With Rose announcing her return, Knuckles wants his goons to bring them to him alive. What path will Marvin choose, and will he live to see it?

This film is a Valentine’s Day movie that has something for everyone. It has true love, betrayal, and violence. The highly choreographed fights will remind the audience of Kill Bill (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The director used interesting point-of-view angles from inanimate objects. However, the cuts make the stunt doubles and wire work obvious while taking away from the cinematography. The writers used the holiday to inject some much-needed humor into the script. Before King and Otis attack Marvin, they discuss Otis’s marriage. And Ashley dreads the holiday but finds love in a unique place. While the film has flaws, it will entertain you and become your go-to Valentine’s Day movie.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

If you find something you love, go after it – Marvin

I really don’t need a bumper sticker right now – Ashley

What did you think of that last stanza – Raven

Now, you can’t change a man who doesn’t want to be changed – Cliff

A secure outcome at all cost – Rose

All you had to do was kill Rose. – Knuckles

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