Summer’s Last Resort – Review

Summer’s Last Resort – Tubi – 1 hour and 37 minutes

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Summer stresses through her driving exam with her Vice Principal Glenn. But stress is a normal state for Summer because her mother, Milly, has a laid-back personality. Summer tells Milly to pay the bills, while Milly reminds Summer to have fun. Summer mistakes the gas pedal for the brake and almost hits the mascot, Troy. As Glenn checks on Troy, Milly runs to her daughter’s side. Milly blames Glenn for the mistake. Glenn doesn’t get angry but validates Milly’s concerns. The two fall in love.

It’s been 3 months, 1 week, and 6 days since Milly and Glenn met. Summer knows her mother has a 4-month relationship lifecycle. She counts down until Glenn is out of her life. However, her brother, Grayson, thinks Glenn is great and wishes Summer could accept Glenn. Milly is elated. He is a good, goofy man who is nominated for the Vice Principal of the Year Award. And the ceremony will be at an all-inclusive tropical resort. Glenn is taking the whole family, including his daughter Sadie.

They arrive, and Summer’s anxiety takes over. However, she loses focus when she sees a cute boy named Crosby. Milly encourages Summer to enjoy life and spend time with Crosby. But Summer can’t relax when she finds an engagement ring. She doesn’t want Milly to marry Glenn, and Sadie agrees. She offers to help Summer rip them apart in an evil version of the Parent Trap (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). This vacation is Summer’s last resort to get rid of Glenn for good.

This slapstick, observational comedy brings laughter to a challenging family dynamic. The script plays with Summer’s need for rigid rules and tight schedules. And Glenn is the stereotypical stepdad. He does everything to get in Summer’s good graces, but it hilariously backfires. Now, some of the jokes are for mature audiences. So this film is best for teens. The plot develops at a fast pace and evenly distributes the jokes and life lessons. That interwoven dialogue makes the movie clever and watchable. Each mishap and joke adds a layer to the family’s chemistry, pulling them together. The characters learn lessons about each other and how to build bonds through communication. Glenn delivered the physical jokes with expertise while the young lead maintains a cool demeanor that elevates the observational comedy. While you will laugh out loud several times, you won’t replay the film. However, the ending hints at a sequel.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

I remind her when the bills are due, and she reminds me it’s better late that present – Summer

Oh, sweetie, it’s not a drug test; it doesn’t matter – Milly

A woman – Gil

God gives his toughest battles to his bravest soldiers. There, there – Grayson

Are all American girls this tough – Crosby

I feel like I already know you – Sadie

Strung – Review

Strung – Peacock – 1 hour and 59 minutes

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Violinist Laila practices when her friend, Jasmine, bursts into the room. She thinks Laila needs to have fun and spend a night on the town. Jasmine forces Laila to go clubbing and meet men. Laila has fun, but she leaves early and sits at a diner. She hears beautiful music over the speakers and looks around. She sees a man named Marcus sitting at another table playing with the table’s jukebox. Laila knows he picked the beautiful piece. Laila looks through the jukebox catalog on her table and orders a song. Laila follows Marcus to his hotel, and they spend the night together. She wakes up and finds an origami message from Marcus.

After Laila performs at a school, Audra stops her in the hallway. She adores Laila’s performance and wants her to tutor her granddaughter, Zuri. Laila wants to reject it, but the offer is too good to refuse. Laila will get a place to live, $2500 a week, and a private driver. Also, Audra has connections to the record industry. Zuri is the daughter of the late rapper RGB. He became more famous in death than he ever was in life.

Later, Laila arrives at the home, meets the staff, and gets startled by a masked Zuri. Audra introduces Laila to her daughter, Imani, who is pregnant with her 2nd child. Imani has 1 word for Laila before continuing her yoga. Audra explains that Zuri is from Imani’s first marriage to RGB. Her second child is from her current husband. As the family settles for dinner, Audra asks Laila to get Zuri’s plate. She hears Zuri’s stepfather enter and can’t believe her eyes. It’s Marcus. They pretend to meet each other for the first time in front of his family. But when they are alone, he demands to know why she is there. She explains that she didn’t know it was his home and that Audra hired her. He knows quitting will make Imani suspicious, so she can keep the job for now. Laila plans to toe the line, tutor Zuri, and earn a paycheck. But someone in the house is playing her like a puppet on a string. If she doesn’t watch out, Laila will die. Can she survive?

This suspense thriller is a step above Lifetime because of its sexual nature and mature subject matter. The plot leans into creepy motifs and an off-putting child for the first half of the film. Once Laila realizes something is wrong, viewers get jump scares and pearl-clutching moments. It’s the final reveal that will leave your jaw on the floor. However, this picture doesn’t offer anything new to the genre. It’s actually 4 movies rolled into one, and it leans on the crazy-rich family trope. With the slow pace, the ramped-up drama is necessary to keep you watching. This story contains some unhinged moments, but you shouldn’t rearrange plans to watch.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

As long as you live under my roof, you live by my rules – Jasmine

Do you believe in fate or serendipity, Laila – Audra

True love is dangerous. It’s terrifying – Imani

You first, Gram – Zuri

But oh no. You’re still dying – Laila

Just this once – Marcus

Little Brother – Review

Little Brother – Netflix – 1 hour and 40 minutes

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Marcus reads an email from his big brother Rudd and interprets it as a cry for help. He emails his brother that he will be there soon. Marcus escapes from the mental institution by jumping out of the window. He steals a car and gets into several incidents before a garbage truck hits him.

Real estate agent Rudd nervously waits for TV executives with his assistant, Mia. She assures Rudd that they will choose him to star in a reality TV show. When the executives enter, they show Rudd his introduction. To his surprise, they focus on his relationship with his older brother, real estate agent Josh. They center on Rudd trying to get out of his brother’s shadow and be an individual. Rudd hates the idea, and they tell him to sleep on it. As they leave to attend an award ceremony, Mia gets an email that stops her in her tracks. She tries to inform Rudd about the message, but he tells her to handle it.

Rudd relaxes with his family when he gets a call from the hospital. His brother was in an accident. Rudd, his wife, philanthropist Deirdre, rushes there. They expect to see Josh; instead, it’s Marcus. Rudd explains that he was a part of the Big Brother/Little Brother Program in high school to make his college applications more attractive. He met Marcus a few times but hasn’t spoken to him since then. When Marcus divulges his upbringing, Deirdre takes pity on him and offers to let Marcus stay at their home, much to Rudd’s chagrin.

Rudd chooses to take the injury-prone Marcus to the TV shoot. At first, Rudd takes bad advice from another co-star. He bombs the first take. Marcus makes his way onto set, and the executives love their chemistry. Rudd leaves in frustration and speaks to Mia. Mia admits that she’s been talking to Marcus as Rudd for years. She didn’t mean to catfish Marcus, but she fell in love with him over email. Rudd wants Marcus gone, but his family and TV executives love him. If Rudd wants to get out of Josh’s shadow, he needs the show. However, to stay on the show, he has to do it with Marcus. Can Rudd get through this without killing Marcus?

This raunchy comedy has slapstick, sexual, and gross humor, but the leads pull it off without being campy. Rudd’s strait-laced attitude melds perfectly with Marcus’s carefree lifestyle. They are two sides of the same coin because they want to impress their big brothers. Rudd compares his success with Josh and tries to one-up him. However, Marcus admires Rudd’s life and hurries to assist him. While this film isn’t on par with Step Brothers or Hangover, it will develop a cult following (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). And the end-credit outtakes are just as funny. The camera caught the best angles to back up the jokes while making fun of reality TV and social norms. This film is what Balls Up wished to be. This film deserves a well-written and equally funny part two.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

No, you keep her. You’re her rock – Marcus

That’s why it’s your job to get rid of all the pebbles – Rudd

Anything for my baby bro – Josh

You’re serious – Deirdre

In the Hand of Dante – Review

In the Hand of Dante – Netflix – 2 hours and 35 minutes

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Dante is at war with the church. Pope Boniface VIII kicked Dante and his family out of the city and forced them to move into a friend’s home. When Dante’s wife, Gemma, uncovers that the friend is dead, she doesn’t know what will become of their family. Dante learns of a man named Isaiah who can help him become a better writer. Dante will follow Isaiah’s teachings and create something that will have an untold effect on generations to come.

Writer Nick is writing his next book, but hates the thought of someone editing his ideas. Crime boss Joe calls Nick into his office to discuss a business proposition. Joe uncovered that a handwritten manuscript of Dante’s Divine Comedy exists (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). He knows its location and wants Nick to accompany Lou in a heist. Nick doesn’t believe Joe because no one has seen Dante’s original work or his handwriting. Joe assures Nick it exists. When they succeed, they will get millions of dollars when Joe sells the priceless manuscript. Nick doesn’t know, but Lou is an assassin. He will eliminate any problem in his way with a gun. Nick will go through hell to get the manuscript, but will he survive unscathed?

This movie was made for awards, not mass consumption. The director shot Dante’s era in vibrant color with a 1:1 ratio. However, Nick’s was in monochrome with a 16:9 ratio. It makes the past look like the future and the present mimic the past. It is a roller coaster for your senses. This mindful swap lets the audience focus on the performance without overlooking the same actors playing different roles. While the film jumped from one era to the next, it dragged. The film could have spoken of Dante’s past once, and that would have been enough. The constant jumping to draw an unnecessary parallel is boring. Also, the film felt like two movies in one. It was a gangster movie and a period piece. And the ending feels forced and cheesy. This film tried too hard to be art. However, the gangster film was entertaining.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

I don’t get edited – Nick

So you didn’t start nothing, he did – Uncle Carmine

Don’t call me that – Lou

How do you put a price on beauty – Joe

There are six priors. I am but one – Dante

The city burns. And I weary of its smoke – Pope Boniface VIII

If you trusted her, you’ll trust me – Giulietta

Loose lips sink ships – Lefty

Life is but a breeze – Isaiah

The world shall have your poem – Guido

I’ll overlook this if you behave – Rosario