The Hangover is way better than it has any right to be. Todd Phillips takes what seems to be a pretty sleazy concept and turns it into a comedic classic, injecting the film with a lot of humor and charm. Some of the jokes don’t land all that well and rely too much on shock value, but the majority of the film had me rolling on the ground. The leads were excellent in their roles and complemented each other wonderfully, and the side characters were just as good, if not even better. The music selection worked well at times but felt misplaced at others, but the narrative was pretty hilarious to follow. Overall, despite a couple of flaws, I would consider The Hangover to be the perfect hangout movie to watch with friends.

8.2/10

Dune: Part 1 is an extremely ambitious adaptation of the classic novel. The visuals are breathtaking. The production value and cinematography are magnificent, with the film feeling massive in scale and scope. The cast is filled to the brim with A-listers who bring their A-game, with Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson being my favorites among them. Hans Zimmer’s score is one of the most unique I’ve heard, and it adds so much to the film’s atmosphere. The dialogue felt a little stiff, and the movie moves at a snail’s pace, but the intergalactic political intrigue and strong character work kept me engaged throughout. Overall, Dune: Part 1 serves as a beautifully crafted setup for Part 2, while still feeling like a complete narrative.

8.3/10

Ratatouille is Pixar at its creative peak. The animation works really well to make the rats likable, and the film makes wonderful use of warm colors and an ambient, catchy score. It is thoroughly entertaining, with hilarious gags coupled with intense editing and shot selection. Remy is an incredibly uplifting protagonist who forms an endearing relationship with Linguini. Some of the character decisions in the movie didn’t land particularly well, feeling unearned, but the side characters were a lot of fun to watch. The narrative isn’t afraid to use themes such as greed, morals, consequences, and our place in the world to drive the story forward. Yes, the premise is silly, but Ratatouille is a mature animated flick with something meaningful to say.

8.6/10

Now You See Me is a snappy heist film with magic. It’s bold and ambitious, maybe sometimes too much for its own good. The cast has great chemistry, and the Four Horsemen are a pleasure to watch, but Mark Ruffalo’s Dylan steals the show. The story is easy to follow and engaging, but some of the magical elements can be far-fetched, although with great production value. I also felt that some of the plot points and character beats were underdeveloped and could have been expanded on. All in all, the execution of the film doesn’t live up to its lofty ideas, but Now You See Me still offers a fairly entertaining watch that keeps you guessing.

6.7/10

Thunderbolts* is a unique take on the superhero genre. The movie looks pretty good, much better than most of the newer MCU products. The team is fun to watch for the most part, with Florence Pugh being a standout. The villains, however, are very weak and drag the movie down. The humor was enjoyable, but a more balanced and darker tone would have done wonders for the film. The movie is character-driven and explores themes of mental health and depression with the tact needed, but the finale felt very anticlimactic. Overall, I think Thunderbolts* is a strong but flawed addition to the MCU.

6.8/10