It’s a Christmas miracle: All four of us are actually here for the first time. And it’s a good thing, too, because this week’s What the Flick?! Podcast features blockbusters, comic book extravaganzas, serious awards contenders and everything in between. Ben, Alonso, Matt and I review the thrilling animated adventure...
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What the Flick?! Podcast
What the Flick?! Podcast 11/30/18
I know I say it every week but it really is a jam-packed episode of the What the Flick?! Podcast. Christmas movies, awards contenders, cheesy Netflix flicks — we’ve got ’em all. Alonso, Matt and I review the Scottish rom-com-zom musical “Anna and the Apocalypse”; Andy Serkis’ performance-capture take on “The Jungle...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is an enormous, expensive lump of coal, as complicated and convoluted as its title. It’s so garish and misguided, it reminded me of “Cloud Atlas” at times. If you’re going to see it, just go for the costumes and the brief, beautiful snippets...
Read moreWhat the Flick?! Podcast 10/4/18
We’re off the deep end, watch as we dive in, we’ll never meet the ground. This week, Alonso, Matt and I dig into Bradley Cooper’s swoony remake of “A Star Is Born,” the wildly uneven comic book movie “Venom” and “The Hate U Give,” a powerful, Young Adult take on...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Smallfoot
The animated “Smallfoot” is full of big ideas: Question authority. Question religion. Think for yourself. Don’t accept the status quo. If only its visuals and dialogue were so ambitious. Channing Tatum, Common, James Corden and Zendaya are among the starry voice cast in this musical comedy in which yetis and...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
The sequel to the 2008 schmaltzy smash “Mamma Mia!” features even more characters and more subplots and more romantic entanglements. But it’s also less entertaining, the stakes are lower, and despite its frantic energy, it goes absolutely nowhere. It has its moments, though, so if you want an empty summer...
Read moreChristy by Request — Newsies
“Newsies” was not exactly a massive hit when it came out in April 1992. It made only about $2.8 million at the box office and currently stands at a meager 39 percent on the Tomatometer. But something has happened over the years since then — a change of heart through...
Read moreChristy by Request — Graffiti Bridge
When I came up with this new “Christy by Request” feature, I agreed to embrace the randomness of it. That’s part of the fun: You guys suggest movies for me to see, Nicolas chooses one from a giant, plastic bowl, and that’s what I have to review. Whatever happens, happens....
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Pitch Perfect 3
“Pitch Perfect 3” supposedly is the final film in the wildly successful series about the musical misadventures of the Barden Bellas. Lots of overlong, tearful group hugs after the final a cappella song make that clear. But we really didn’t need a second “Pitch Perfect” movie, much less a third...
Read moreWine the Flick?! — Pitch Perfect 3
“Pitch Perfect 3” is the Barton Bellas’ swan song. Not that we needed three of these movies — the first one was a blast, and it’s been a matter of diminishing returns ever since — but nevertheless, here we are. And I couldn’t imagine a better person to aca-analyze this...
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