film criticism by maryann johanson | handcrafted since 1997
Guy Ritchie ups his game on his signature subgenre with a hilariously sublime crime comedy that acts as mirror on the legit world and oozes with crackling cynicism about culture and politics as well.
The deliciously entertaining Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling take center stage in a comedy about women in a male-dominated world. Laugh-until-you-cry and witheringly funny, often even keenly skewering.
The romance lacks chemistry, and the villain lacks bite. It seems embarrassed to be a musical, failing to embrace the necessary ineffable daydreaminess. Somehow even more cartoonish as live-action.
The most soulless of the live-action Disney remakes yet, weighted down by too many blah characters, too much convoluted plot, unconvincing CGI, and a message that doesn’t say what it thinks it does.
“You’ve heard of the golden rule, haven’t you? Whoever has the gold makes the rules.”
You know how they say that cops come in only one color, blue? Well, Disney princesses come in only one color: pink.
Someone says “ultimate Disney experience,” what springs to mind? Maybe a trip to Disney World including a stay in one of the luxury resort hotels there? That’s pretty ultimate. Maybe when there’s a Disney park in zero-g, that’ll be considered the ultimate. Thing is, I’m not sure that “The Ultimate Disney Experience” that Disney is … more…
Damn! Mulan is thisclose to being not just a brilliant animated film, but a brilliant film, period. It has a dramatic story, a heroine who kicks butt, a villain who kicks butt, a square-jawed hero with a not-so-nice side, and some of the most sweepingly gorgeous visuals since Beauty and the Beast. But Mulan is dragged down by insipid songs that feel tacked on and silly, inappropriate sidekicks and secondary characters.
