JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Hunt Her Kill Her Starring Natalie Terrazzino, JC Oakley III, Larry Bunton, Philip Zimny Directed by Greg Swinson & Ryan Thiessen What I appreciate about horror is the ability for anyone to create a story based on their ideas because generally speaking a horror film doesn't cost a lot to make, as opposed to action or dramatic works. Plus the writer can use their imaginations to their highest degree to craft a unique, terrifying tale shot with pennies on the dollar, and provide something memorable. Unfortunately sometimes these films don't really take off, and that's the issue with "Hunt Her Kill Her," which had an interesting premise and a capable female lead, but was basically one long chase scene. Single mother Karen (Natalie Terrazzino) has just gotten over a toxic relationship and is ready to work to provide for her daughter, so she takes a job as a night cleaner at a warehouse where she'll spend the night alone cleaning until daybreak. Her brief encou...

The Drop Starring Anna Konkle, Jermaine Fowler, Jillian Bell, Utkarsh Ambudkar Directed by Sarah Adina Smith What happens when frienemies come together to celebrate the wedding of two of their own? What happens when an unspeakable accident happens that threatens to darken the entire proceedings? What happens when a married couple is on the rocks because he wants a kid but she doesn't? What happens when Hulu funds a comedy that's completely, utterly, wholly, absolutely, undeniably, unequivocally, unashamedly, wholeheartedly not at all funny from the first moment to the last? These questions will echo into eternity as "The Drop" seems to have dropped more than a baby in this less-than-lackluster "comedy."  Married couple Mani (Jermaine Fowler) and Lex (Anna Konkle) are heading to the islands to celebrate their friend's wedding, and everything seems like perfect marital bliss. Both are excited to hopefully have a kid of their own someday, and their reunion ...

Jesus Revolution Starring Joel Courtney, Kelsey Grammer, Jonathan Roumie, Anna Grace Barlow Directed by Jon Erwin & Brent McCorkle In 1969, America was highly divided. On one end there was the conservatives who wanted to go to war, and on the other was the growing liberal Hippie movement led by the youth of America who wanted something more, but not knowing how to find it, resorting to drugs in order to achieve what they thought was a higher sense of purpose. It's in this time that the Christian church was diminishing, with the elders of the church basically being the only ones in attendance, and it looked like it was going to be the end. Then a Hippie named Lonnie Firsbee arrived in southern California at the doorstep of Calvary Chapel pastor Chuck Smith, and he offered a new idea: including the Hippies in church, giving them something real to follow. What resulted was the Jesus Revolution, the largest spiritual awakening in American history, one that's never been equaled ...

Creed III Starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris Directed by Michael B. Jordan Being a director can't be an easy job, and tackling your first directing gig has to be something truly terrifying for a person - but when you add the fact that your first feature film directorial debut is the continuation of a nearly 50-year beloved franchise, the pressure is exponentially added. Throw in the fact that it's a franchise that you're the main star of, and it only compounds the pressure. Yet for Michael B. Jordan, the result is a great continuation of the Rocky/Creed film franchise, even if it misses a few punches along the way. Adonis "Donnie" Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is living his fairy tale life. He's just retired from the world of boxing after his final win, and he's living in the lap of luxury with his music producer wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their adorable young daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent). He's training new b...

Worst2First: My Most Anticipated Films of Spring 2023  Spring is in the air which means warmer weather, longer days, and a wide array of different films hitting theaters during the months of March and April, ten of which I'm the most excited for. Here are the top ten films I'm most excited to see this spring... **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** #10 Air April 5 People might not remember, but there was a time Nike shoes was in the tank, and looked like they would go under due to their more popular competition. Then came an idea so outlandish and crazy that it just had to work: signing an unknown basketball player who's never set foot on the court and making a shoe after him. That player's name is Michael Jordan, and the rest is sports history - but no one knew that then. Directed by Oscar-winning director Ben Affleck and also starring himself alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, and Chris Tucker, "Air" look...

  Cocaine Bear Starring Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ray Liotta Directed by Elizabeth Banks There are films that, when you go into it, you really don't have any idea what you're about to see. One example is last year's stellar "Everything Everywhere All at Once," which was a highly thoughtful, existential, nihilistic family drama-action-comedy-horror spanning multiverses. Then there's other films that you know exactly what you're getting into when you buy a ticket, such as "Cocaine Bear" which, simply, is about a...cocaine bear. Much has been said that this is based on a true story, and it is, but the true story is much more boring than what the film portrays. Still, you know what you're getting into and it's a wonderfully breezy 90-minute gory comedy romp about a lovable black bear who ingests a lot (and I mean a LOT) of cocaine and, as everyone who takes that much cocaine does, goes on a blood-fueled rampage i...

Marlowe Starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaie Directed by Neil Jordan The concept of the hard-broiled suit and hat wearing detective has existed in literature for literally centuries, and one of America's most famous detectives of the sort is Philip Marlowe, created by author Raymond Chandler back in the 1930s. Long after Chandler's death, Marlowe continued to live through  the approved works of other authors, including John Banville, who's 2014 novel The Black-Eyed Blonde is the basis for the latest film iteration "Marlowe." Joining the likes of Hollywood royalty Humphrey Bogart, George Montgomery, James Garner, Elliot Gould and Robert Mitchum, Liam Neeson is the latest actor to take on the role, and by all rights it should've been a terrific neo-noir thriller, but is so generic and void of any excitement I found myself nodding off several times throughout the film. Detective Phillip Marlowe (Liam Neeson) is hired by the...