As the summer blockbuster season begins its ramp up, we’ve reached the point in the year where there are just too many movies to review individually. While I do my best to get to as many films as I possibly can, there just isn’t enough time and aren’t enough words to match the amount of popcorn I eat at the theater. Nevertheless, here are 3 new films we watched recently!
“Karate Kid: Legends” – In Theaters
If we’re being honest, there’s no real reason to mine “Karate Kid“ for every single shred of resources something rather basic can possess. But some 40 years later, here we are; a hit tv series on Netflix in “Cobra Kai” and a new film in “Karate Kid: Legends” that seems to have been made to cash in on the goodwill of the aforementioned show but comes a little too late and without a kick worthy of a competition win. It’s the definition of a mixed bag, the kind of film that, on paper, has all the right ingredients to be a great new entry for a new generation. But “Karate Kid: Legends” squanders any of its potential for a mishmash of undercooked ideas and underdeveloped plots that never blend in any coherent way. It’s left without an identity, a partial retread of its source material framework paired with a feeble attempt to connect the whole franchise while also trying to tell a new, unique story. None of those pieces come together to make a cohesive film, leaving “Karate Kids: Legend” deep in the land of nothingburger cinema.
It’s a massive disservice to Ben Wang, who has all the charisma, charm, and fighting skills to be a great new lead. Wang and Joshua Jackson are actually the best new additions to the long running franchise, but “Karate Kid: Legends” actively works against them and stifles their potential at every turn, serving more as a direct sequel to 2010 “Karate Kid” (which very few people actually like) than it does trying to make sense of the story at hand. It also doesn’t help that it is the most poorly edited film I’ve seen all year. I’m talking whiplash inducing, constant cutting, TikTok constructed mess. Nothing breathes, nothing is in frame, and almost everything feels put together out of order. “Karate Kid: Legends” feels hacked to bits even without reshoots and feels rushed even when there’s nothing happening. It’s all so inconsequential and never does enough to justify its existence, leaving it completely stake-less and a slog to get through. I should love everything about “Karate Kid: Legends” and there are some things I did enjoy, but mostly its a frustrating experience that takes all the fun out of All Valley. If do wrong, can defend, and you can wax off on this one. I know how that sounds…just leave me to my puns.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
“Dangerous Animals” – In Theaters June 6th
I may have been wrong about Jai Courtney, because when he’s used like he is in “Dangerous Animals,” he’s a hidden gem of a performer. Packed with terrifying charisma, he’s clearly having the time of his life as a psychopath serial killer who captures his victims by boat and then films himself feeding them to sharks. “Dangerous Animals” is a taut, engaging thriller that keeps its premise simple, its plot threads minimal and largely delivers a unique take on a generic premise. Courtney is the driving force of the film, with Hassie Harrison rising to the occasion as a solid final girl. Director Sean Byrne gets the most out of his cast and elevates the simplicity with sharp execution and superb action blocking. Byrne knows his genres and knows how to mash them together in effective ways, keeping everything in “Dangerous Animals” humming with suspense and efficiency. It’s exactly the kind of 90 minutes or less thrill ride we crave, operating with very little fat so we can just enjoy the fight for survival.
There’s some strange character choices that at times slow down “Dangerous Animals” and don’t quite fit as cleanly with the rest of the ideas. This mainly pertains to Moses (Josh Heuston) a love interest that feels like he crammed his way into the story and is one of the only underdeveloped characters and odd duck additions. I know WHY he’s in “Dangerous Animals,” as the film’s basic outline kind of requires it, but it’s the only part of the whole film that left me scratching my head and wanting it to be better utilized. That’s a small complaint though, because overall I was never bored and constantly engaged in the rest of the story. Courtney really is outstanding here, approaching his villainous role with complete abandon. “Dangerous Animals” is proof that if you use him correctly, he shines bright and can absolutely be a leading man. Let him go off and he’ll certainly deliver. It may not even be the best of its kind, but “Dangerous Animals” is more than worth your time. A small by mighty thriller that captures both the dread of the serial killer and the terrifying violence within the depth of the ocean. Sharks, badass women, and an unhinged killer, “Dangerous Animals” has it all in spades. What more could you ask for?
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
“Just Sing” – Tribeca Film Festival
I typically try to only include films that are available to watch either at home or in the theater, but “Just Sing” was kind of right up my alley and deserves a little bit of shine. At the time of this writing, I’m not even sure if this one will ever actually have a wide release but I couldn’t pass up a chance to shed some light on the real life “Pitch Perfect.” That’s right, “Just Sing” follows the USC A Capella group the SoCal VoCal as they work their way through the ICCA (the very real International Competition of Collegiate A Capella) competition hoping to make it to the finals and win for a never before done 6th time in a row. “Just Sing” follows some of the members of the group and their lives both in and out of the A Capella world, and paints the picture of how challenging and incredible the performances they do actually are. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the talking heads documentary format, but as a former choir kid and a diehard “Pitch Perfect” fan, “Just Sing” is the kind of doc tailored made for me. It’s emotionally charged and packed with beautiful harmony and despite its basic framework, is magically infectious.
You can easily sense the limited resources available to filmmakers Angelique Molina and Abraham Troen because “Just Sing” isn’t quite as in depth on the competition and performances outside of the primary group as I would’ve liked. We never actually see any of the other competitor’s performances, which would’ve made “Just Sing” more dynamic and layered. Seeing what they’re up against and not just what they’re capable of helps paint the picture of the ups and downs and importance of the competition and why the group means so much to the students we meet. “Just Sing” spends most of its time with those individuals and their stories, which are as compelling as they are talented. It also stumbles to follow them after the competition, another example of how limited they were in making the film. Despite that though, “Just Sing” is packed with heart and music, two things that more than compensate for any of its restrictions. Even under pressure with high and low notes, there’s joy in following your dreams and seeing incredibly talented individuals sing their hearts out. “Just Sing” would make an excellent double feature with “Going Varisity in Mariachi” which is currently streaming on Netflix.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
There is no trailer for this film currently.
