People We Meet On Vacation

My View:  People We Meet on Vacation  (2026)  PG-13   People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth), best friends and almost exact opposites who live far apart, but for a decade, they have spent one week of summer vacation together. Will the two ever realize that they were meant to be more than vacation buddies? I am a fan of rom-coms, and this one works because the storyline is fun and the chemistry between the two leads works. Emily Bader is perfect as Poppy, the woman who is a writer who travels for a living, which fits her because she never aspires to be tied down to anything, especially the small town that she is from. Alex is the opposite as he loves their small town and wants order in his life. They have a meet-cute as both are off to college (reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally), and things do not go as planned, but both realize that maybe, just maybe, they have found a friend in each other. As usual in this type of film, the two don’t know they are meant to be together, but of course, we figure out that they are from almost the first few scenes. The film is fun and light and follows your usual will-they, won’t-they type of romance, with lots of breakups along the way to show the two that they just might be right for each other.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee  People We Meet on Vacation Website Now playing on the Netflix platform

My View: Greenland 2: Migration  (2026)  PG-13   In Greenland 2: Migration, it’s been five years since the Garrity family found safety in the bunker in Greenland when the world was being destroyed by an interstellar comet. Unfortunately, the bunker is becoming unsafe, and the family will have to travel across the vast wasteland of Europe to find a new home. I didn’t like the first one, and this one has even less action and therefore is incredibly slow, with a lot of meeting new people who help the family out. The action sequences are few and far between, and when they happen, they aren’t even close to the scenes in the first film, which was its only saving grace. I will say that, unlike the first film, which made the son feel like an addict by making insulin a constant source of drama, this film only mentions it at the start of the escape and never brings it up again. This time, the family is in search of Eden, in a crater that somehow wasn’t affected by the comet. So, if you want to hear Gerald Butler cough a lot and Morena Baccarin cry a lot, go ahead and watch this one. At least in this film, they find little pockets of humanity, and in this day and age, that’s something.  My Rating: Cable  Greenland 2 Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Primate  (2025)  R  Primate is about a family living in Hawaii who have a chimpanzee named Ben as a pet. Left alone for the weekend, Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) invites her friends over for a pool party. Unbeknownst to the partygoers, Ben has been bitten by a rabid animal, and the once lovable, gentle chimp has become a killing machine. Primate is a movie that deserves an R rating, and even though it has a pretty and young cast, it’s not because of sex or language. It’s because it is bloody and grisly as heck. Most of the scares are not your usual jump-out-of-the-dark horror bits, but an evil presence that is just as horrific as Jason or Freddy. The action sequences are a little weak, but the horror aspect is ramped up as this is one scary and smart chimp that isn’t having a good night, unless you count all the dead bodies he racks up. For a January horror film, this isn’t a bad way to spend some time with a not-so-cute, pissed-off chimp.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Primate Website Now playing in theaters nationwide

Indiefest:  All That’s Left of You  (2025)  All That’s Left of You starts with a Palestinian teen getting swept up and hurt during a protest on the West Bank. As she waits to see if her son will recover, she tells the story of their family and their relentless struggle to survive through the years of Israeli occupation. This is a heartbreaking, emotional look at what has happened to the Palestinians throughout the years and how continuing violence can bleed through the years into generations as a three-generational family goes from having a home and business, to living in settlements that are constantly being taken away, and moving to another country is always on the table. The film is a bit too long, and the timeline gets a little confusing, but at its heart are some beautiful moments that show that the love of family can be a comfort in a time of unrest. This is a film of bravery, of loss of both homes and lives, and of how family sometimes is your only hope in tough times.   My Rating: Full Price  All That's Left of You Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Father Mother Sister Brother (2025)  R  Father Mother Sister Brother follows three families from three different places around the world. Each family is reunited when estranged siblings are forced to confront unresolved feelings and strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents. To say that this film is low-key would be an understatement. The movie is three stories about parents and their adult children, all of whom don’t know each other very well and, for the first two stories, don’t make any effort to improve the relationship. The movie is from Jim Jarmusch, a filmmaker that I am not a huge fan of, though I enjoyed his 2016 film Paterson. I'm just not a big fan of watching three people sit around, not talk about anything for 20 minutes, and then leave. Even with acting talents like Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, and Vicky Kreips, I found the film boring and unamusing. Only the third section, about two adult twins (Luka Sabbat, Indya Moore) paying their last respects to their late parents' apartment in Paris, was where there was any life to this film, mostly because of the back-and-forth chemistry the two actors displayed in some touching moments. Fans of Jarmusch’s style of filmmaking will, I’m sure, adore this film and find it warm, funny, and moving. I found it boring, somewhat cold, and strange. My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Father Mother Sister Brother Website Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  The Chronology of Water  (2025)  The Chronology of Water tells the story of Lidia (Imogen Poots), haunted by memories of an abusive father and an alcoholic mother. Her journey is one of raw loss, fragile love, and painful self-discovery, as she struggles to heal old wounds through her art and the vulnerable relationships she forges. This film, written and directed by Kristen Stewart, is based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir about her journey through life. I had a hard time with the first half of the film, especially the voiceovers during Lidia’s early years. For a first-time director, this was a major undertaking, but it doesn’t always work. Stewart’s storyline in the first half of the film feels like a writing exercise Lidia would later give her students. It’s very arty, stream of consequence scenes, which feel taped together, that don’t always flow or work. Once Lidia puts her life together, the film follows a more traditional sequence, starting with her studies with author Ken Kesey. Imogen Poots gives an incredible performance as a woman searching for a way to deal with her past, and she finds it through writing. It’s not an easy journey to recovery, and this film isn’t an easy watch. However, watching Poots take her character down a long, very dark, winding road is a fascinating ride worth tagging along on.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  The Chronology of Water Website Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  Panic (2000) R  Alex (William H. Macy) has a secret; he kills people for a living. The only person who knows this is his therapist (John Ritter), whom he is seeing because Alex isn’t a happy man. He is married to Martha (Tracy Ullman), and they have a kid, Sammy (David Dorfman). Alex doesn’t want Sammy to follow in his footsteps as Alex did with his dad (Donald Sutherland). Alex doesn’t know what to do and, to make matters worse, he is fixating on a fellow patient from his therapist's office, Sarah (Neve Campbell). And to complicate things even more, dear old dad has given Alex his latest hit…his own therapist. This is a fun, strange, and at times very funny movie, carried by a great cast and Macy's amazing performance. I loved every character in this film, and it’s worth seeing for Barbara Bain’s performance as Alex’s mom. What will Alex do? Watch and find out.  My Rating: Full Price.  Panic Info The film is available to rent/buy on Amazon

Weird Credits: From the credits of Greenland 2: Migration: Wire Supervisor

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Scream 7 (2026). Sidney (Neve Campbell) has retreated to a quiet new town with her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May). But peace shatters when a new Ghostface emerges, targeting Tatum. Now, Sidney must confront a relentless evil that’s closer than ever. Neve Campbell returns to the series that won’t die. This is the first film in the saga directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 4 (2011).   Scream 7 Info  The film slashes into theaters on Friday, February 27, 2026

Until Next Time!

Chasing Mavericks

My View:  Chasing Mavericks (2012) Based on a true story, a high school student, Jay (Jonny Weston), lives for surfing, and he discovers that a legendary wave formation, “The Mavericks” is just down the road from where he lives. He becomes determined to ride one of the biggest waves on Earth, but he needs the help of a legendary surfer, Frosty (Gerald Butler), to train for this death defying ride. The best part of the film is the spectacular, vivid surfing footage, and the sound track that features some of the better rock songs of the late 80’s (the time period when the film takes place). But, I found that the storyline was very cliché from the best friend getting jealous when Jay gets a girlfriend to the alcoholic mother (Elizabeth Shue) whom Jay takes care of. There is good chemistry between Butler and Weston, as slowly but surely, Frosty becomes the father whom Jay never had, but that sincerity gets wasted with dialogue that just doesn’t work.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Chasing Mavericks Webpage

Indiefest:  Pusher  (2012)  Frank (Richard Coyle) is a drug pusher working the streets of London. He has a sometime girlfriend, Flo (Agyness Deyn) and a partner in crime, Tony (Bronson Webb). Things start going bad when Frank’s drug mule, Danka (Daisy Lewis), goes missing and Milo (Zlatko Buric), a local mob boss, wants his money back – money that Frank borrowed to make the drug deal.  Richard Coyle is the reason to see this film, as he gives a powerful performance.  This is a remake of the Danish 1996 film of the same name.  If you haven't seen the original (there were also two sequels), then it is worth seeing this movie.  If you have seen the original, there are very few changes in plot other than setting the film in London instead of Copenhagen.  The supporting cast is good, especially Agyness Deyn, as the stripper/girlfriend who is ready to leave the drug way of life.  This film isn't bad, it's just been done before.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Pusher Info

The 50 (A Movie From My Best/Worst Films of All Time)

#13 Worst Film

Baby Geniuses (1999)  Two evil scientists (Kathleen Turner and Christopher Lloyd) have discovered a way to tap into a baby's mind before it turns two and becomes a normal kid.  Already confused?  Yeah, so were audiences back in 1999.  There is a very slim plot where twin babies are separated at birth. One goes to a normal family, and the other is sent to the mad scientist's lab.  The baby with the normal family finds out his twin is being held hostage and decides to break him out.  The film is full of bad jokes, mostly told by the babies, and some of which are inappropriate for kids (good going studio).  It's sad to see Kathleen Turner, who at one time was one of the biggest box office draws, be forced to make this bad of a movie.  Skip this movie unless you want to see something that is as smelly as the baby geniuses diapers.    Baby Geniuses Info

Forgotten Film:  Can't Buy Me Love  (1987)  Ronald (Patrick Dempsey) is a nerd who mows people's lawns so that he can save money to buy a high power telescope.  Cindy Mancini (Amanda Peterson) is the most popular girl in school.  When Cindy borrows her mother's suede outfit and ruins it at a party, she is desperate to replace it.  In walks Ronald, who is tired of being unpopular and picked on at school.  Ronald finds out that Cindy needs money to buy the outfit, so he makes a deal with her.  If she will make him popular, he will give his lawn money to buy her mom a replacement outfit. And so, Cindy takes Ronald under her wing, transforming him from nerd to big man on campus.  This film has a little more heart than most of the high school comedies that came out of the 80's, as the relationship between Cindy and Ronald is allowed to slowly build.  Cindy learns that people can't be taken for granted, and Ronald learns that it's more important to have friends than to be popular.     My Rating:  Bargain Matinee     Can't Buy Me Love Info

In Case You Missed it (A Film Just Released on DVD):  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) I liked this film about an asteroid that is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth and will destroy life on the planet.  Steve Carell plays Dodge, who, after his wife leaves him, decides to find an old high school sweetheart.  He gives a ride to the next door neighbor, played by Keira Knightley and they go off on a road trip, literally to end all road trips.  Carell does a masterful job as the sad sack man who is desperate to find love and just might find it in an unexpected place.  This is a film that is surprisingly uplifting, a film where love becomes more important than any asteroid.   My Rating:  Full Price    Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Website

In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've Only Seen in Trailers But Just Looks Like a Bad Idea):  The ABC's of Death (2012)  I can't find much about this film, but it has a million cast members and just like your ABC's, it has 26 parts…and that may be 25 too many.   The ABC's of Death Website

Weird Credits: From the credits of Least Among Saints:  Atmosphere Casting

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  A Late Quartet  (2012)  Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener and Mark Ivanir are members of a long standing, popular and critically successful string quartet.  But the quartet may not survive the coming changes that are on the horizon.  The cast, alone, makes this a film to go see.    A Late Quartet Info

Until Next Time!