A bunch of 2020 movie reviews

HUBIE HALLOWEEN (2020)

Well, 2020 has been full of unexpected developments, and near the top of the surprise list is that the Adam Sandler Halloween Netflix comedy was kind of solid. It's not high art by any means. After Uncut Gems these flicks feel more like slumming than ever. But this one was actually funny at points, and it has a lot of fun callbacks to the classic Sandler movies. 

HONEST THIEF (2020)

Liam Neeson's a serial bank robber who wants to come clean and restart his life, but it's not that easy. It's a midpack Neeson actioner. The plot is pedestrian and the action itself is just okay, but Neeson's a lot of fun in this. I'm glad he hasn't quit doing these movies just yet. 

FREAKY (2020)

Likely my last theatrical experience for 2020, Freaky mashes up a body switch comedy with a slasher flick. And with the director of the Happy Death Day movies you expect something pretty excellent. Instead you get a decent movie that I wished were better. The movie isn't very balanced. Vince Vaughn gets way more of the screen time after the switch, leaving the plucky Kathryn Newton to just give death stares most of the time. 

ANTEBELLUM (2020)

The twist of this movie, that what for the first act appears to be a story set on a slavery era plantation, is in fact taking place in the modern day, was spoiled by the trailer. But even knowing that the film still holds a lot of power and tension, at least aside from a modern day section featuring Precious being insufferable. Janelle Monae is of course outstanding. It isn't quite at the level of the Jordan Peele movies (I believe he was a producer here) but it's very solid. 

VALLEY GIRL (2020)

This is pure 80's candy, a jukebox musical featuring all the classic early 80's pop songs you can think of. For me it wore pretty thin, although some of the bigger musical sequences were fun. I watched it cause Chloe Bennet (playing a high school girl 😒) is in it, but the star here is the dazzling Jessica Rothe from Happy Death Day. I don't know how she can possibly not achieve superstardom. 

UNPREGNANT (2020)

I was almost more entertained watching some of the reviews for this on YT from the pearl-clutching Trumpers than I was by the movie itself. What got em so riled? Well this is a road trip movie about a high school girl heading out of state to get an abortion. And it's really quite good, largely due to the infectious chemistry of Haley Lu Richardson and Barbie Ferreira. Richardson has been gold in a lot of things now, but Ferreira (who I like a lot on Euphoria) unleashes just a sonic boom of charisma. 

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020)

On paper this was a can't miss having Aaron Sorkin write and direct a film based on the sham trial of a group of political protesters. It's a great story, and incredibly timely. And the film mostly lives up to that. Of course Sorkin's dialogue is razor sharp and funny, and you never care that people are way too witty. The cast is highlighted by Sacha Baron Cohen in a largely serious role, and Frank Langella as the biggest son of a bitch judge you'll ever see. 

BILL AND TED FACE THE MUSIC (2020)

I am not the world's biggest fan of the earlier 2 movies, but I did like them. I probably watched Excellent Adventure on cable 100 times back in the day. I wasn't one of the people longing for a threequel, but we got it. And it's....fine, neither excellent nor bogus. It's too overstuffed with plot and not all that funny, but Reeves and Winter are still a fun pair to just hang out with. I really liked Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine from Atypical as their daughters. We've certainly seen worse long delayed comedy sequels. 

HILLBILLY ELEGY (2020)

Man the critics hated this one, a Ron Howard film about a boy growing up in the Kentucky sticks (it's based off his book). It's got some pretty obvious Oscar bait (Amy Adams is practically screaming for an Oscar in every scene, and Glenn Close is doing the hiding behind a bunch of conspicuous makeup thing). I still think Adams in particular does give good awards bait. The problem with the film is the main character is just a really uninteresting guy, particularly in the scenes of him as an adult (which also waste the terminally underused Freida Pinto). Maybe he should have realized he wasn't the part of the story that was the most compelling.

SPONTANEOUS (2020)

Kids at a high school start to spontaneously combust and nobody knows why. What starts as a dark comedy ends up being pretty deep with a twist halfway through. I really liked this movie. The writing is sharp, it has some unexpected 2020 relevance, and it has a fabulous lead role for the ever amazing (and never more gorgeous) Katherine Langford.