Masters of the Universe

My View: Masters of the Universe  (2026)  PG-13   In Masters of the Universe, a boy named Prince Adam was sent to Earth for his own safety. Two decades later, the now young man (Nicholas Galitzine) uncovers the legendary Sword of Power and is suddenly hurled into the extraordinary world of Eternia, where he must rally his long-lost allies and engage in battle to defeat the menacing, evil Skeletor. I enjoyed watching this film, though it takes a heck of a long time for our hero to discover the sword and then even longer to become “He-Man.” The film is an ode to the 80s cartoon series, using the backdrop of Adam leaving his home and living on Earth as a kid. While growing up, he constantly drew pictures of his life on Eternia, and, because he was a kid, he gave nicknames to everyone he knew, including himself (i.e., He-Man). While I felt the film went too far into Adam being a human resources worker and trying to use the same skills in talking to employees as he does when talking to people he is trying to lead into battle, or even trying to talk the bad guys out of killing him and his allies. However, the film is a fun watch, and the battle sequences are well done. I especially enjoyed Camila Mendes's performance as Teela, a warrior who knew and liked Adam when he was a kid and is now willing to follow him because he has the sword that could save her world from the evil Skeletor. I also enjoyed Jared Leto voicing Skeletor, the evil lord who seeks the Sword of Power to become even more powerful. The performance is done with a ton of tongue-in-cheek lines, including a couple of times when Skeletor does an evil laugh and doesn’t get the response he needs. The film is greatly helped by an incredibly supporting cast ,including Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn (the name says it all), Idris Elba as Teela’s father and disgraced former guard in charge of Adam’s family safety, and Kristen Wiig as the voice of a once mighty warrior robot who is now a maid. Kids are going to have fun, though the two-and-twenty-minute run-time may test their patience a bit (I know it did me). Adults reliving their childhood are going to love this, with a ton of Easter eggs and a few cameos from the past. Overall, it’s a fun ride; I just wish the big muscle blond guy had shown up a bit sooner. And be sure to stay for both a mid-credit and an end-credit scene.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Masters of the Universe Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Scary Movie (2026) R  Scary Movie follows Cindy (Anna Faris) and Brenda (Regina Hall), who have reunited and must gather the rest of their friends, as the masked killer from 26 years ago returns. So we get to see some of the original cast return, including Anna Faris and Regina Hall. Add in every member of the Wayans family appearing, a running joke in itself, and this should have been funnier than this film is. In fact, I saw the film with about 20 other people, and I think I was the only one laughing at the few bits that worked. Sure, they mock Weapons, Sinners, Nope, Get Out, and a bunch of newer horror films, almost all miss the mark, making almost every joke fall incredibly flat. I will say that both Anna Faris and Regina Hall are game for just about anything and seem to have fun playing these incredible idiots. There are a bunch of cameos from the early films that I won’t give away, so fans of the series will have some fun with that. For the rest of us, Scary Movie just feels like the Wayans wrote this in about 1 week, throwing everything they could against the wall, not to see if the jokes would stick, but to see if they would just bounce back to them. Unfortunately, most of them did. There are two bonus scenes, one after the first portion of credits and a another extended scene during most of the remaining credits.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again  Scary Movie Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide

My View:  Office Romance  (2026) R  Office Romance follows Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez), a high-powered, no-nonsense CEO of an airline, known for its rigid anti-fraternization policy for all employees. When lawyer Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein) is hired, suddenly sparks are flying between Jackie and this new, hot-shot hire. Will Jackie risk losing everything she’s built and drag Daniel down with her in pursuit of love? Look, I really like Jennifer Lopez and loved Brett Goldstein in Ted Lasso; this film made me dislike their characters. For two characters who are in very important jobs, they are two really stupid people who are having an affair without thinking that a very famous person would be seen out with someone else. Instead, we are to believe that these two keep their romance hidden from anyone with an iPhone, while only a private detective discovers them. The film wants us to love Daniel because he has come from a rough childhood in England and is now a successful lawyer. The film also wants us to love Jackie because, despite the board and her father challenging her every move, she has created a successful airline. To say this isn’t your usual rom-com would be an understatement. It’s crass and foul-mouthed, with the F word being used with abandon, often for no reason. Office Romance then wants us to believe that Lopez is so beautiful that our lawyer (hero?) gets an erection when they first meet, so much so that Jackie can’t notice. That was my first sign that this film would keep going for cheap, shocking jokes. This cheap, shocking humor continues, as when Jackie's determined-to-work assistant goes into labor in Daniel's office, and the camera lingers twice, on a close-up of the baby's head crowning. The so-called fun continues as we see a man almost die choking on a breakfast burrito, a woman get so drunk she breaks a tooth falling over on a date, and the HR head (Tony Hale) is shocked when Daniel continually keeps using an obscene word that goes on way too long. Some may find Office Romance funny or charming, but for me, it just left me reaching for the airsickness bag. And to make matters worse, there is a series of very unfunny scenes during the credits in which the beleaguered HR person endures a parade of office romance confessions.  My Rating: Cable  Office Romance Website   Now playing on the Netflix platform

Indiefest:  Carolina Caroline  (2026)  R  In Carolina Caroline, a young woman working at a gas station, Caroline (Samara Weaving), meets a charismatic drifter, Oliver (Kyle Gallner), and impulsively embarks on a journey to master the art of the con. The pair will blaze a trail of deceit and deception until their luck inevitably runs out. This is a Bonnie and Clyde-type cross-country crime spree film that, like that 1967 film, you know won’t be ending on a happy note. The film works because of the sparks between Samara Weaving, as the waitress who wants to escape her life, and Kyle Gallner, who is willing to show her how to hit the road and live an endless life of con jobs. What starts out as a game for Caroline soon becomes real as their con jobs become more and more dangerous, as the couple wants more and more thrills. Caroline soon learns that people get hurt and cons can go bad, but must decide if it's worth it to stay with a man who only knows how to lie for a living. What makes Caroline interesting is her connection to home and a father who cares about her and insists on keeping in touch as she travels across the country. Caroline is also on a mission to find her long-lost mother. While I won’t reveal the story, Kyra Sedgwick gives a brilliant performance as Caroline’s mother, rounding out the film's strong cast. This is a tale of star-crossed lovers that is sure not to end well. Or does it?  My Rating: Full Price  Carolina Caroline Website  Now playing in select theaters

Indiefest:  Silent Friend  (2025)  Silent Friend revolves around a majestic Ginkgo biloba tree as it watches humans over the course of a century, observing their lives marked by longing, belonging, and consciousness. The story follows three storylines, set in 1908, 1972, and 2020, set in a university town in Germany. The three stories are: the university’s first female student, in 1908, who is challenged by her professors and fellow students, finds solace through the lens of a camera, studying plants through her pictures. An awkward student in 1972 meets a woman whose project is a geranium she is studying to see if it can be proven to bond with her. He is tasked with caring for the plant while the young woman is on vacation, and his life is changed when he connects with the plant. And a neuroscientist who is stuck alone on campus when Covid hits, and he decides to find out whether he can see the same type of brain waves humans have in the giant tree that has been on the university grounds for all this time. The film follows how each person tries to connect with nature, and we see how the tree responds, even if the people don’t know it’s happening. The three people undergo their own metamorphoses as they attempt to connect with nature, each in their own way. This is a fantastic journey of discovery, seen from the tree’s quiet perspective on how nature reacts to us, even as we often ignore it. Silent Friend is about trying to belong when you don’t feel part of the group, but if you let yourself be open to new ideas and feelings, you might find the bond with nature you have been missing.  My Rating:  Full Price  Silent Friend Website  Now playing in select theaters

Forgotten Film:  After Life  (1998)   After Life follows recently deceased people who arrive in a mysterious place, where they have three days to choose the single memory they will bring with them into eternity. A group of counselors, including Takashi (Arata lura) and Shiori (Erika Oda), are on hand to help new arrivals pick their memory, helping them go over what was most important to them. The counselors will then create a film that will allow the people to relive their memory and move on. The film is by Japanese writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda, known for his recent award-winning films Shoplifters (2018), Like Father, Like Son (2013), and Monster (2023). This is a beautiful, warm, and funny film that explores not only the lives of the people trying to pick a memory but also the counselors working hard to help each person pick the perfect memory. One of the fascinating things about this film is that Kore-eda filmed over 500 hours of interviews with ordinary people about which memory they would want to remember. He then used some of those interviewed for the film, so some of the people are actors, and others are ordinary people telling their own stories. This is one of those films that, while watching it, you are invited to reflect on your own life and pick which memory you would choose, joining the film’s journey of wonderment and self-discovery.  My Rating: Full Price   After Life Info   Available to rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Masters of the Universe: Pig Boy Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Toy Story 5 (2026)  PG   When Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang meet LilyPad, a chatty electronic toy, their connection to playtime is put to the test. New characters join the fun, including one voiced by Conan O’Brien.  Toy Story 5 Website  The film will be released in theaters everywhere on Friday, June 19, 2026 

Until Next Time!

Power Ballad

My View: Power Ballad  (2026)   R  In Power Ballad, Rick Power (Paul Rudd) is a past-his-prime musician singing in an Irish wedding band. Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a former boy band star who is desperate to put his old image behind him, joins Rick and his band on stage at a wedding for one song. The two musicians bond, get drunk, and spend the night jamming. Months later, Rick discovers that a song he wrote has been stolen by Danny and has become his breakout hit. Rick is about to go on a quest to reclaim his song and restore his reputation. This film is from John Carney, the Irish writer-director behind Sing Street, one of my favorite films of the past 15 years. This time, instead of a romance, we get a bit of a bromance, with Rick and Danny having a great time late at night playing and discussing music. The film does a brilliant job of giving us two characters who love music: Rick, who left a big-time music career because he fell in love, and Danny, a man desperate to prove he isn’t just a boy band member but a true musician. When Rick shares a song he wrote long ago, it’s the song that Danny has been looking for to make his solo career take off. The problem is that Danny stole the song from Rick, and now Rick wants Danny to admit it. This is a funny, fun look at how music can change lives and mean so much to so many people. It’s also about how personal songs can be, and how sometimes the music world isn’t fair or just. Paul Rudd gives a winning performance as the wedding singer who loves playing music but also loves his family life. We want Rick to win in this war between a small-time player and the big music machine that Danny is a part of. Rudd carries the film as its heart and soul, though Nick Jonas does a fine job as Danny, a man who wants to be a big star on his own and is willing to screw someone to get it. The film has a terrific soundtrack, and the song that Danny steals is incredibly moving and catchy. My only quibble is that I wanted more original songs, but I guess when your main character is a wedding singer, he’s kind of stuck singing the old standards. Power Ballad is an incredibly enjoyable film that will leave you with a song or two stuck in your head. And in this case, it’s a good thing. My Rating: Full Price  Power Ballad Website  Now playing in select theaters and releases everywhere nationwide on June 5, 2026

My View: Tuner  (2025) R Tuner is about Niki (Leo Woodall), an apprentice to master piano tuner Henry (Dustin Hoffman). Niki has a hearing condition that allows him to hear incredibly well. When Henry has huge medical bills to pay, Niki starts working for a mob boss (Lior Raz) who uses Niki’s talent to hear the mechanisms inside a safe, allowing him to open almost anything. But crossing into this dangerous world soon puts everything Niki values at risk. Leo Woodall gives a mesmerizing performance in this film that artfully blends the conventions of a buddy movie, a romance, and a crime thriller. Woodall is perfect as Niki, a man who was a talented pianist but then developed a condition in which his hearing is incredibly sensitive; he constantly wears earplugs to function, but his hearing has perfect pitch, allowing him to master the job of piano tuner. The chemistry between Dustin Hoffman and Woodall is so much fun to watch as they have a grandfather/grandson type of back and forth that allows Hoffman’s character to tell stories and sleep while Niki does all the heavy lifting in the piano tuning business. The strongest scenes are the ones with Hoffman and Woodall as the two go from job to job, with a running joke that they get asked to do things like fix a toilet while tuning a piano. Niki soon discovers by accident that he has a talent for safe-cracking and is soon involved with a mobster, Uri (Lior Raz), who uses Niki to crack safes in rich homes. Along the way, Niki meets student composer Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), and soon they are in the midst of a romance. The film does an artful job of mixing the new romance with the crime heists, as Niki makes money to pay for Henry’s hospital bills. The film develops into a thriller when Niki realizes he needs to sever his ties with Uri, but we know Uri isn’t going to give up his cash cow without a fight. This storyline keeps you wanting more and engaged in the lives of Niki, Henry, and Ruthie as we worry about how things will turn out. The ending may surprise you. My Rating: Full Price  Tuner Website   Now playing in theaters

My View:  Backrooms  (2026)  R  Backrooms follows Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner who discovers that his store has an otherworldly dimension full of rooms that seem to go on forever. When Clark goes missing, his therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), sets out to find him. The first two-thirds of this film, directed by YouTuber and first-time director Kane Parsons, are scary as heck. Clark isn’t a character that we like (he has a lot of problems, anger being one of them), and we can see why he is seeing Dr. Kline. However, once Clark discovers the secret world inside his store, with endless rooms filled with stop signs and chairs that seem to be stuck in the floor, the tension builds and doesn’t let up. Parsons has an eye for creating a world in which each room Clark explores becomes more puzzling and, at times, menacing.  Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are both compelling in their roles, with Ejiofor shifting back and forth between wonder and fright, and Reinsve as the curious, headstrong woman who soon realizes that Clark wasn’t lying or imagining this bizarre world.  This is an unnerving film that keeps throwing more and more at you, without ever explaining anything. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t sustain the tension, and the final third lets us down. It’s as if Parsons didn’t know how his film would turn out, making it feel unresolved and flat. Which is a shame because the first two-thirds of Backrooms is scary. Maybe it was just one too many rooms to go into.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Backrooms Website  Now playing in theaters

My View: Pressure  (2026)  PG-13   Pressure takes place 72 hours before D-Day, with the invasion of Europe days away, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) has to decide whether to launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history. Eisenhower calls in meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott) to deliver a forecast that could win or lose the war. The film tries very hard to keep the tension going throughout, though, spoiler alert, we know that the weather broke and the invasion went on the 6th of June. I liked Scott, the British meteorologist who went against almost everyone else on his team, telling Eisenhower that the weather would be too severe to mount the invasion successfully. Fraser is fine as Eisenhower, but isn’t given much to do beyond showing up and demanding answers. Kerry Condon puts some life into the film as Kay Summersby, Eisenhower’s right-hand woman who keeps everyone on track. The film feels rather slow and spends significant time explaining weather maps to both Eisenhower and us. Ultimately, since most of the action is confined to a single room, the story’s tension and character driven focus seem better suited to the intimacy and immediacy of stage performance than to film. Though I will admit, it is fun to hear Ike talk about kicking some Nazi ass.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee Pressure Website Now in theaters

My View: The Breadwinner  (2026)   PG  The Breadwinner takes place when Nate’s (Nate Bargatze) wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), lands a Shark Tank deal, but only after Nate stumbles into an agreement on national TV to switch roles with her and become a stay-at-home dad to their three daughters. What could go wrong for the month his wife is on a business trip? The movies have a tradition (TV too) of putting stand-up comics in situations they have talked about in their comedy. This idea has been done before, with Michael Keaton giving a hilarious performance in Mr. Mom. So, they throw Nate into this mix. They tried to help Nate out by surrounding him with some comic talent in Colin Jost as another stay-at-home dad, Kumail Nanjiani as a car salesman rival, and Will Forte as a bumbling roofer, but they stumble badly due to such a poor script and Nate’s constant deadpan delivery.  In fact, Nanjiani looks incredibly uncomfortable in his role as a trying-too-hard, jealous salesman. The storyline just keeps adding on how badly Nate is handling everything to the point where you just want it to stop. I mean, the man never tried to Google a damn thing on how to do anything. The kids aren’t funny at all, and the situations that they put them in are so predictable that you know what is going to happen before it does. I looked at my watch, thinking I had about 30 minutes left in the 90-minute film, and instead I had an hour to go. And if you are a fan of Nate’s standup, no need to see this film, since during the credits they show him doing his standup, and a bunch of the stuff in the movie he talks about in his comedy. Let’s put it this way: Nate is no Michael Keaton, Moore can’t compare to Terri Garr, and Nate and fellow screenwriter Dan Lagana don’t have John Hughes wit and heart.  My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again The Breadwinner Website  Now in theaters nationwide

My View:  Miss You, Love You  (2026) Miss You, Love You follows Diane (Allison Janney), a grieving widow forced to plan her husband’s funeral with a total stranger, her estranged son’s assistant, Jamie (Andrew Rannells), who has been sent in place of the son. This collaboration will reveal old family secrets and long-buried resentments. Allison Janney delivers a tour de force performance as a grieving widow who is hurt that her only son is not showing up to help with the funeral preparations of his stepfather. She instantly takes it out on Jamie, an assistant to her son, who is game to try to help Diane any way he can. The first scene where Jamie shows up at her doorstep is a master class on how to demand the screen by Janney, who, in the course of just a few minutes, makes it very clear that while she will tolerate Jamie staying at her home, she will not lift a finger to help him in any way (including pouring him a drink of water). Rannells holds his own in his scenes with Janney, but she gets all the funny or cutting lines and has “side eye” down to perfection. As the two spend time together, the multiple layers each person has put up around themselves are slowly revealed, and we get to see why both are very hurt and fragile people who constantly deny their pain. The film is often funny thanks to Diane's wit, but its core explores grief and long-buried past issues. Miss You, Love You is a film of impactful moments with both actors making each count.  My Rating: Full Price     Miss You, Love You Info   Now playing on HBO Max

My View: Propeller One-Way Night Coach  (2026) Propeller One-Way Night Coach is about aviation enthusiast Jeff (Clark Shotwell) and his mother, Helen (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett), who embark on a cross-country overnight flight in 1962 from New York to L.A. that will be filled with unexpected moments. Based on a children’s book that John Travolta wrote 30 years ago, Mr. Travolta decided it was time this story was made into a movie. Now, someone should have told writer/director/narrator John Travolta that in order to be eligible for the Academy Awards, a short film has to be shorter than 40 minutes. Oh, if only someone had given him that information. Instead, this film drags on and on for just over an hour. If you didn’t know, John in real life is an aviation nut and used to own a Boeing 707 (which was 145 feet long and 130-foot wingspan). This film is an ode to when plane travel was still about wearing a suit and tie, being served full-course meals, and kids being able to go up to the cockpit and talk to the pilots. I am guessing that since it’s based on a children’s book, Mr. Travolta thinks this is a family film. Well, we find out right away, through the kids’ narration (voiced by John as an adult looking back on the trip), that his mom was on the prowl and, at one point in the movie, has a one-night stand. The film, through the narration, goes on and on about the plane that they are flying on. And I mean in detail. The story goes nowhere, and the narration is excessive. Hey John, next time, let the kid tell us instead of your voice-over that drones on and on. Nothing much happens (other than Mom trying to pick up every man she meets), and the ending tries too hard to be cute. About the only fun you can have is with a drinking game for spot-the-Travoltas, because there are a bunch of them in this film. I’m sure that Apple gave John the green light to make this vanity piece so that he would star in something else. I hope he hasn’t talked them into a return flight. Oh, stewardess (sorry, it’s 1962), I’ll have another drink now. I think I see another Travolta.  My Rating: Cable  Propeller One-Way Night Coach Info  Now playing on the Apple TV+ format

Forgotten Film: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) I hadn’t seen this movie since I saw it at a midnight screening while in college. While I remembered that the film was incredibly violent, with blood spurting out with abandon and limbs being whacked off, I had forgotten about the nudity and the sex scene. Lots of women’s breasts, which I am sure got a hearty R rating in Japan (probably wasn’t rated in the States since it was mostly shown in art houses and college campuses. What makes this work is that the samurai is a savage killer, but he loves his wife and son. One of the best scenes in the film is when he asks his one-year-old to choose between a samurai’s life and being killed to be with his mother, having to choose between a sword and a colorful ball. The fight sequences are fun and action-packed, and watching the Lone Wolf outsmart everyone is a blast. The film is a must for any exploitation film fan.   My Rating: Full Price   Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengance Info  Available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+

Weird Credits: From the credits of Tuner:  Stunt Pre-Visualization

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Office Romance  (2026) R Office Romance follows Jackie Cruz (Jennifer Lopez), a high-powered, no-nonsense CEO of an airline, known for its rigid anti-fraternization policy for all employees. When lawyer Daniel Blanchflower (Brett Goldstein) is hired, suddenly sparks are flying between Jackie and this new, hot-shot hire. Will Jackie risk losing everything she’s built and drag Daniel down with her in pursuit of love? The film was written by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly while both were working on the Ted Lasso TV series, specifically for Jennifer Lopez.  Office Romance Website  Premieres on Netflix on Friday, June 5, 2026

Until Next Time!