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film criticism by maryann johanson, not an AI | since 1997

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Ben Stiller

Locked Down movie review: criminally awful

Fri, Mar 19, 2021
1 comment

Ejiofor and Hathaway are game, but they’re grasping for something solid, and don’t find it. A deeply unsatisfying novelty artifact of the pandemic that fails to create a necessary sense of transgression.

| 1 Comment

Brad’s Status movie review: when a white man can’t bear not having all the privilege

Fri, Jan 05, 2018
no comments yet

Ben Stiller is having another midlife crisis, and only his sincere, heartfelt performance saves this pile of unchecked white male privilege from self-parody. But only just.

| Leave a comment

Zoolander 2 movie review: fashionably foolish

Fri, Feb 12, 2016
7 comments

A tad dated and scattershot, but the messy package is inventively absurd… and unlike many Hollywood comedies, able to carry that absurdity to a silly end.

| 7 Comments

While We’re Young movie review: 40 is the new 14

Thu, Apr 02, 2015
no comments yet

This stinging GenX midlife meltdown is a bit strained in its plot, but that’s balanced out by lots of melancholy wisdom and bittersweet wit.

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty review: Ben Stiller’s excellent adventure

Mon, Dec 23, 2013
16 comments

A cheery, airy fairy tale filled with a very modern ache and buoyed by an infectious joy. I love this movie.

| 16 Comments

your awards-season cheat sheet… or how to sound like an insider (even if you’re not)

Tue, Nov 19, 2013
6 comments

Shhh! don’t tell anywhere where you heard all this…

| 6 Comments

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty trailer: photo realistic

Fri, Aug 16, 2013
17 comments

I like the looks of this. So elegant and evocative.

| 17 Comments

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (review)

Wed, Oct 24, 2012
1 comment

This is sheer manic animated anarchy, endlessly frenzied and funny; tickles and surprises both visually and intellectually…

| 1 Comment

question of the day: Was Fox right to change the title of the upcoming film Neighborhood Watch?

Tue, May 08, 2012
no comments yet

It seems to me like an overreaction on Fox’s part…

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We Bought a Zoo (review)

Thu, Jan 05, 2012
no comments yet

This week on We Bought a Zoo: It’s hilarious chaos all around for the Mee family as mopey teen Dylan accidentally leaves a delivery crate of snakes open…

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