JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Starring Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Pena, Eva Longoria Directed by James Bobin The Story: Living in the jungles of South America, young Dora (Madelyn Miranda) grows up with her explorer parents Cole (Michael Pena) and Elena (Eva Longoria), but she doesn't really associate with other humans since her cousin Diego moved to America ten years ago.  She befriends an aloof monkey named Boots and has wild imaginative adventures with a talking map and backpack, and is constantly upbeat and positive about everything - and is eager to join her parents in the search for the fabled City of Gold, Parapata. Ten years later, Dora (Isabela Moner) is even more excited to learn that her parents have discovered Parapata, until she learns that they're exploring it without her - and sending her to Los Angeles to go to school and spend time with kids her own age.  She's reunited with Diego (Jeff Wahlberg), who's now trying to be a no...

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? Starring Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Emma Nelson, Kristen Wiig Directed by Richard Linklater The Story: Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett) used to be one of the most acclaimed architects of her time, a woman who designed the most beautiful buildings and really had a second sight for what was needed.  But for the last twenty years, she went off the grid and now lives in a huge rather run-down home with her Microsoft husband Elgin (Billy Crudup) and her intellectual, endearing daughter Bee (Emma Nelson), who's become basically the only human Bernadette cares for.  She's despised by the other moms at the school, especially her neighbor and head of the PTA Audrey Griffin (Kristen Wiig), and Bernadette doesn't enjoy being around people anymore. When Bee says she wants the family to go on a trip to Antarctica, Bernadette retreats into herself and shows obvious signs of depression and agoraphobia, and eventually disappears.  Bee discove...

The Friday Five:  Adam Driver Adam Driver emerged onto the scene in stellar work in the television series "Girls" and his career has only gone up since then, starring in some of the biggest blockbusters of the generation as well as standout independent performances.  With "The Dead Don't Die" being released on home video this week, I take a look at my five personal favorite Adam Driver films. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #5 Star Wars: The Last Jedi The most divisive of the long-running franchise, "The Last Jedi" sees Driver's Kylo Ren struggling with his own dark nature as he grows closer to Rey, but also desires for complete control.  Driver again gives a strong performance as we see his internal struggle come to life and experience some top-notch Saber battling as well. #4  Silence In this underrated Martin Scorsese epic, Adam Driver stars alongside Andrew Garfield as two Jesuit priests who travel...

Pokemon Detective Pikachu Starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy Directed by Rob Letterman The Story: Young Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) is a loner who doesn't have many friends and lives a life of regret due to past mistakes, but when he finds out that his detective father Harry mysteriously disappeared, he returns to his old home in Ryme City to find out what happened.  He meets Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds), a Pokemon who used to be Harry's partner, and is shocked to learn he can understand him, as it seems Pokemon and humans can never interact. Pikachu convinces Tim to investigate the disappearance, and also enlists his help to find the memories he lost himself.  They bring in young reporter intern Lucy (Kathryn Newton) who's been investigating a strange rash of Pokemon attacks, and investigate Howard Clifford (Bill Nighy), the brainchild behind Ryme City and bringing together Pokemon and humans.  As they unravel the mystery, they c...

It Chapter Two Starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa Directed by Andy Muschietti The Story: Twenty-seven years ago, the Losers Club defeated the evil demonic clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), but he promises to return to Derry, Maine again - but they also made a pact to return as well.  Now Pennywise has returned, and a now-grown-up Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) is the only one who remained in the town, and goes to contact the other Losers.  Beverly (Jessica Chastain), Bill (James McAvoy), Richie (Bill Hader), Ben (Jay Ryan) and Eddie (James Ransone) return to the town, but none of them have full memories of what happened there.  Mike tells them that the town is cursed so when people leave, they forget what happened, but they soon recover memories of their fight with Pennywise.  Mike tells them he knows a way to kill Pennywise for good, and each of them embark on their own personal journeys through their past to find the items they n...

The Intruder Starring Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Joseph Sikora Directed by Deon Taylor The Story: Young married couple Scott (Michael Ealy) and Annie (Meagan Good) Howard are looking for a new home, and come across Foxglove, a beautiful estate owned by Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid), who takes a shine to the young couple because they remind him of he and his wife who died of cancer.  They take the house, and Charlie plans on moving to Florida were his daughter already resides. However, Annie soon finds Charlie still hanging around the house and doing chores for them, which angers Scott but causes Annie to feel sorry for the older man, as she invites him to family functions and maintains a friendship with him to Scott's dismay.  Soon Charlie's actions become more and more dangerous, and the young couple finds themselves ind anger in their new home. The Synopsis: When I first saw the trailer for "The Intruder," I already drew the blueprint ...

Yesterday Starring Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran Directed by Danny Boyle The Story: Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling musician who's only audience consists of his childhood friend/manager Ellie (Lily James) and his friends, while everyone else seems oblivious he's even there.  He's about to pack it in for good when a worldwide blackout occurs, and he gets hit by a bus.  When he comes to, he plays the classic Beatles song "Yesterday" for his friends, but they don't seem to know it - or The Beatles. Jack discovers that all memories of the Fab Four have mysteriously been erased, and it's like the band never existed - except for their songs, which seemingly only Jack remembers.  He writes the songs down and passes them off as his own, and suddenly he's shot to international fame thanks to Ed Sheeran (playing himself), who invites him on tour after seeing an interview.  Soon Jack finds himself immersed in the pi...